Best DJ books?

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Best DJ books?
Posted on: 17.08.2012 by Vanna Hochstadt
Hey guys,

Not interested about learning to DJ. Just interested to know if there are any interesting books about DJing or DJ culture that are a good read.

Anyone know?
Desire Piedmont
20.08.2012
Originally Posted by princesultan
so last evening a dj saved my life is still a good read? not too outdated?
As I mentioned earlier an updated version is due out shortly, could be worth waiting.

20.08.2012
Originally Posted by calgarc
dj mag, mix mag, dj mag, mix mag
Do Not Do This.



Here's a link to that 'How To Dj Properly'. There is no better book for becoming a better dj imo.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-DJ-Prope.../dp/0593058119

20.08.2012
Originally Posted by princesultan
so last evening a dj saved my life is still a good read? not too outdated?
The good thing about history is that it doesn't change It's not dated at all past the fact that when they wrote it the future hadn't happened yet so they couldn't write about it.
Bobby Kowach
20.08.2012
Originally Posted by princesultan
Hey guys,

Not interested about learning to DJ. Just interested to know if there are any interesting books about DJing or DJ culture that are a good read.

Anyone know?
The best book I have read was the excellent "Class of 88" by Wayne Anthony, this details the journey of one of the UK's pioneering illegal rave promoters. His Genesis parties are stuff of legend in and around London from 88 to 90. Read it, it is ace.

Also HappyDaze is good, published by Sam Williams who runs www.radioactivefm.co.uk

The Revised Edition of Happydaze will be available on the 11th August
and For Sale at http://www.ravereunited.co.uk/
Ossie Pooley
18.08.2012
Originally Posted by Emery
any that you would like to recommend?
Anything from 'The Complete Idiot's guide to Music Theory' to 'Musicians Institute: Harmony & Theory. It completely changes your perspective on what DJing is all about - Adding harmonic mixing and phrase translations to your bank.
Joesph Kasian
17.07.2013
The best book to read when starting to mix is 'How to DJ (properly)'....it's not even a contest, this is THE book you need in your life.

When I read that book it changed my life, how I look at mixing and has been the one thing I've told people to check out when they say they are getting into mixing music.
Marjorie Fallucca
17.07.2013
'All Crews Muss Big Up Journeys through jungle / drum & bass culture' by Brian Belle-Fortune

http://www.allcrew.co.uk
Danae Dumler
17.07.2013
So I just thought I'd revive this thread to announce that the book I mentioned several months ago in this discussion is now available for pre-order, and will be coming out in a few months! I'll post a separate thread on its official release date when we have one (and will probably have a book party in LA that I'll announce here as well) but in the meantime you can take a peek here: http://www.amazon.com/DJ-Culture-Mix.../dp/1623560063
Libbie Orion
05.04.2013
i know this is an old thread but ill give it a go

http://www.djranking s.com/2013/04/0...and-producers/
Desire Piedmont
20.08.2012
Originally Posted by princesultan
so last evening a dj saved my life is still a good read? not too outdated?
As I mentioned earlier an updated version is due out shortly, could be worth waiting.

20.08.2012
Originally Posted by calgarc
dj mag, mix mag, dj mag, mix mag
Do Not Do This.



Here's a link to that 'How To Dj Properly'. There is no better book for becoming a better dj imo.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-DJ-Prope.../dp/0593058119
Vanna Hochstadt
20.08.2012
anyone know if energy flash by reynolds is just an updated copy of generation ecstasy?

20.08.2012
Originally Posted by princesultan
so last evening a dj saved my life is still a good read? not too outdated?
The good thing about history is that it doesn't change It's not dated at all past the fact that when they wrote it the future hadn't happened yet so they couldn't write about it.
Vanna Hochstadt
20.08.2012
so last evening a dj saved my life is still a good read? not too outdated?
Bobby Kowach
20.08.2012
Originally Posted by princesultan
Hey guys,

Not interested about learning to DJ. Just interested to know if there are any interesting books about DJing or DJ culture that are a good read.

Anyone know?
The best book I have read was the excellent "Class of 88" by Wayne Anthony, this details the journey of one of the UK's pioneering illegal rave promoters. His Genesis parties are stuff of legend in and around London from 88 to 90. Read it, it is ace.

Also HappyDaze is good, published by Sam Williams who runs www.radioactivefm.co.uk

The Revised Edition of Happydaze will be available on the 11th August
and For Sale at http://www.ravereunited.co.uk/

20.08.2012
The world would be a better place if all people new to djing read 'How To DJ Properly' by Bill Brewster (same bloke who wrote 'Last Night a DJ Saved My Life', another must-read).

I only read it for the first time last year but I wish it had existed when I started. Great book full of wisdom.
Lashawn Maycock
20.08.2012
I'm biased but highly recommend (written by a couple of pals):

http://www.amazon.com/On-Record-Scra.../dp/0312531249

A lot of research/checking/interviews went in to this book.
Stanley Topoleski
19.08.2012
dj mag, mix mag, dj mag, mix mag
Ossie Pooley
18.08.2012
Originally Posted by Emery
any that you would like to recommend?
Anything from 'The Complete Idiot's guide to Music Theory' to 'Musicians Institute: Harmony & Theory. It completely changes your perspective on what DJing is all about - Adding harmonic mixing and phrase translations to your bank.
Danae Dumler
18.08.2012
Oh I almost forgot the best read I've had all year on this topic, Mark Katz's book on hip hop turntablism, Groove Music. And if you're into the music theory side of things check out Mark J. Butler's book Unlocking the Groove.
Danae Dumler
18.08.2012
Originally Posted by sdjm
It's not necessarily a DJ book, but "The Dance Music Manual V2" - http://www.amazon.com/Dance-Music-Ma...anual+volume+2 provides a clean, easy-to-read look at the basics of music theory and how dance music blends together.
^^^ oh yeah this book is fantastic!

Simon Reynolds Energy Flash is also good stuff too (same guy who wrote Generation Ecstasy), though I've only read a bit of it.
Geri Jarra
18.08.2012
Originally Posted by Lilac
I can honestly recommend any books on music theory. You'll use it more than you know in DJing, not just producing.
any that you would like to recommend?
Paulene Netz
18.08.2012
It's not necessarily a DJ book, but "The Dance Music Manual V2" - http://www.amazon.com/Dance-Music-Ma...anual+volume+2 provides a clean, easy-to-read look at the basics of music theory and how dance music blends together.
Desire Piedmont
17.08.2012
Originally Posted by SirReal
I'll second Last Night a DJ Saved my Life. Written by a guy I met in Mexico in 2000 at a week long retreat of DJ's put together by dubtribe sound system. Really nice book, although a bit dated now.
+2... There's an updated version out in October. Not sure of the differences.

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Last.../9780802146106

I also read a great book on techno and rave called Generation Ecstasy: Into the World of Techno and Rave Culture.


http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Gene.../9780415923736

The articles and interviews on this site are worth a look:

http://www.djhistory.com/
Pilar Maure
17.08.2012
Originally Posted by SirReal
I'll second Last Night a DJ Saved my Life. Written by a guy I met in Mexico in 2000 at a week long retreat of DJ's put together by dubtribe sound system. Really nice book, although a bit dated now.
Ill third that. given it as a present at Christmas. it is a little dated, It was updated in 2006. Still believe it's extremely relevant though from the perspective of how exhaustive it is on the history of DJ'ing.
Who'd have thought that the late Jimmy Saville would be so relevant in the history of DJ'ing.
Antonetta Wikel
17.08.2012
I'll second Last Night a DJ Saved my Life. Written by a guy I met in Mexico in 2000 at a week long retreat of DJ's put together by dubtribe sound system. Really nice book, although a bit dated now.
Ossie Pooley
17.08.2012
I can honestly recommend any books on music theory. You'll use it more than you know in DJing, not just producing.
Danae Dumler
17.08.2012
Dan Sicko, Techno Rebels is good: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Techno-Rebel.../dp/0814334385

Last Night a DJ Saved my Life: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Night-D.../dp/0755313984

The Record Players: DJ Revolutionaries is great: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Record-P.../dp/0956189636

And check out the special issue of DanceCult devoted to DJ Culture: http://dj.dancecult.net/index.php/journal/issue/view/4 ... full disclosure; I'm one of the co-editors. Speaking of which, stay tuned for news from Continuum Press (which publishes a lot of books on music culture generally); I'm coediting a book that will likely be forthcoming from them in 2013.
Debby Ramshur
17.08.2012
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Raving-89-Ga.../dp/095618961X

Saw this at a friend's place and just quickly skimmed through it, but it seemed quite good. More pictures than stuff to read, but interesting nonetheless for someone who is way to young to have witnessed it first hand.

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