Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop

Bob Stanley knows his stuff. One third of St. Etienne, music writer, label boss and, probably above all else, a pop music obsessive, this book is quite obviously a labour of love. It's also one of the best books on music I have ever read.

Taking as his starting point the publication of the first British chart in 1952, Stanley traces pop music's development via Rock ‘n' Roll, Elvis, The Beatles, right up through Hip Hop, House and modern R&B. He pretty much covers all the bases, hopping back and forth across the Atlantic as the epicentre of pop switches between London, New York, LA and back again. He tracks the peaks and troughs, the explosions of creativity, the attempts of the music business to catch up and control each trend and profiles the major players with a succinctness that is admirable. For instance he manages to nail the essence of the Beatles in one chapter.

Yes he gives short shrift to some and eulogises others and you won't agree with everything he writes, but mostly he's incisive, witty and enthusiastic. This is a great read, it's not dry and academic, it's a fan's love letter to pop music. Stanley knows that pop music is ephemeral, it's here today and gone tomorrow, but it has also been the soundtrack to our lives for the past 60 odd years. And that's no small thing. Be it Marvin Gaye, Green Day or Stereolab, those of us that love pop music will have been moved, amused, shocked or even bored by it at one time or another. Stanley knows that and Yeah Yeah Yeah celebrates that fact.

Highly recommended.