GETTING MORE TALE #433.999: The Aftermath (of the Top 15 on the 15th)

That “1537” guy can get to be a bit much sometimes.  “Oh you have to listen to this!” or, “Be sure to read that!”  He’s so demanding of our collective time and attention.  The fact that he writes good shit (jatstorey.com) about music with great visuals to boot, well, that’s just window dressing isn’t it?

Back in September, over 20 writers put down our Top 15 of “all time” lists for posterity.  These lists were mostly albums with a few anomolies…like Mr. 1537’s.  No, he wouldn’t be content to sit with the sheep and do a plain ordinary list.  No, he had to stand out from the crowd (as usual) and do something a little different.

Mr. 1537 (just ’37 to his friends) did the Top 15 music books of all time for his list.  It was a quite excellent list featuring the likes of the Stones, the Beatles, the Crue, Hawkind, Chuck Klosterman, and more.  The one that jumped out at me was Mick Wall’s Sympton of the Universe.  Historically speaking, Black Sabbath are a fascinating band.  How many dozen members have Sabbath had over the decades?  The count varies, depending on criteria, but regardless it’s an extremely interesting history.  For a while it was impossible to find anything decent in print.  Mr. 1537 assures us, Mick Wall did right by Sabbath:

“This is a wonderful rollicking tale of the underdog having its day, being neutered by excessive drug use and some appalling choices, triumphing again and then falling prey to being used as pawns in a father/daughter struggle of mythic proportions.”

That right there is a perfect tagline for a rock book, isn’t it?

As mentioned, Mr. 1537 can get to be a bit much sometimes, always trying to convince us to spend more of our money on music (specifically vinyl).  Like we need encouragement?  Music fans have wishlists as long as the day.  We don’t need more added to them, do we?

In steps Mr. 1537 again.  Look what just arrived in the bloody mail.

It’s Symptom of the Universe, by Mick Wall!  My very own brand new copy!  Now, I suppose he’ll expect me to read it.  See what I mean?  Just a bit too much sometimes!

All joking aside, I can’t wait to get my face into this book.  There is still a lot of Sabbath history that is foggy, and I’m eager to see what research Mick Wall has to clarify the mudification!  The 1980s in particular are a puzzling period, featuring band members from the Clash, Deep Purple (x2), Lita Ford, and just about everybody else.  Wall covers all of this.

Thank you, 1537.  I suppose I should send that parcel of Lego I’ve been sitting on for like 6 months?

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Uncle Meat – Top 15 on the 15th

Iron Tom Sharpe – Top 15 on the 15th

James at the KMA – Top 15 on the 15th

Aaron at the KMA – Top 15 on the 15th