Off the record

Rip It Up, Issue 81, 1 April 1984, Page 31

Off the record

The Jam A Beat Concerto Paolo Hewitt (Riot Stories) Paolo digs into the Jam's roots and beyond. As a result, there is little left to know about the Woking Wonders apart from the music, which the snap\ compilation covers admirably. The layout has a smooth and clean approach but tends towards the. monotonous, revolving around the same theme. The all black and white snaps (cover excepted) are a mistake commercially, but not artistically. Where does your heart lie? These pages are not (as you will suss) an excuse to cash in on a name. They are for the devoted Jam enthusiast, for those who have felt, cared and mattered. The Boy Wonder said it best: "There is no more to be said on the Jam's formation and rise than is contained in this book." Surrender to the beat concerto, enjoy and never forget. TS The Doors: Illustrated History Danny Sugerman (Hutchinson, 527.95)

Danny Sugerman, author of the Morrison biography No One Here Gets Out Alive, assembled the paraphenalia from the original scrapbook he kept, encompassing concert and album reviews and significant incidents in the Doors' somewhat stormy career, embellished by a fine selection of photographs. For anyone remotely interested in the Doors this illustrated history, told by the people who, were there at the time, is essential reading. Divided into time capsules based around the various albums the book proceeds chronologically through to Morrison's death in Paris. A bargain at the price. ~ DP Culture Club: When Cameras Go Crazy Kasper de Graaf, Malcolm Garrett (Virgin, 514.95) As the title suggests, this book is chiefly composed of photographs of Boy George and (to a considerably lesser extent) the boys in the Club. Being a personality long before, he actually did anything, George was well

snapped and the pictures are a fine document of the dozens of looks he went through on the way to the Boy we know. It becomes clear that the image that caused such a stir when it was launched was one of George’s more conservative ones the good proportion of colour plates gives an indication of the spectrum of his makeup box. The accompanying biography is concise and sensible, written for fans without the vomit-making gush that can turn up in these books. The use of newspaper and magazine clippings throughout provides an interesting commentary on George's rise and rise. Fine value for fans. RB HM Photo Book Various (Omnibus, 518.95)

Since you never get to see metal bands in Enzed this offers a tantalising glossy glimpse of the biggies on and off stage in Japan. The full gamut of macho metal posturing is featured here. CC Book Enz (A Split Enz Book, 514.95) Yes, it's true! Split Enz in their swimsuits! But that's only one page of a book crammed full of excellent colour photos. This book isn’t designed as a history of the band, more as a glimpse into the lives of the members. It does this exceptionally well, showing the monotony of constant travel and the inevitable waiting that goes with it. Often humorous, it captures perfectly the spirit which has kept this band together. Along with the photos are brief quotes from each member of the band. Perhaps that of Noel Crombie is the most apt: "I'm a ferm bee leeva in tha a pikchaz werth a thowzind werdz' therree, so 111 le tha pikz tork from here." AC Rock Family Trees Vol 2.

Peter Frame (Omnibus) • This second instalment" of Frame's unique chronicle of rock 'n' roll. Among the 27 family tree titles in this book are 'Marc Bolan and Motley Mates', 'Motorhead and the Pink Fairies’ and 'Liverpool 1980: Eric's Progeny'. Madness, the Damned, the Police, and the Dan/Doobies/Little Feat axis are also covered, along with the overviews of the rock 'n' roll era, the "British Invasion" of the 60s and the British pop 1955-1979. Not as interesting or vital as the first book but still fascinating to leaf through. RB