Part one of a massive two volume set that looks at the growth and change in African American sacred music from the Civil War onwards – shifts that occurred for years before the music became to be known as gospel, but with an ear towards all those elements that would really come to the forefront in the postwar years! Writer Robert Darden has roots both in the field of gospel journalism, and academia – and he blends both together in ways that follow a well-researched body of evidence, but also presents things in a very down to earth way at points. The book his hugely annotated, with some black and white images throughout – and is a fascinating look at this often-undocumented years of music. Hardcover edition is 210 pages. Book

BB King is a blues musician with a much richer story than most – one that's captured here in very vivid detail by the author, as he mixes together a wealth of historical research with quotations from interviews and other materials too – all of which really makes the long journey of BB King come alive, as he shifts from roots in the south to the Memphis scene, then California, then superstardom that made him one of the biggest blues figures of the 20th Century! There's a great flow to the book – down to earth details that really make you feel like you're following King on his rise to fame – yet the big section at notes also indicates that the author wasn't just throwing stories out there without any support, and did plenty to weave the whole thing together with an eye for the facts. Softcover edition is 481 pages, with some black and white images. Book

A really strange side of an equally strange author – the legendary Haruku Murakami, the Japanese writer whose work has helped redefine the world of fiction in the past few decades! Murakami's known for being an enthusiast whose love for certain things shows up in his work – most notably jazz and other styles of music – but here, he gives the world a look at his love of specific t-shirts in his closet – presented with full color images, and some great Murakami prose alongside the photographs. Given the extensive writing in the book, the volume is maybe a bit like some of Haruki's other non-fiction books and essays – although this one is maybe a bit more personal and down to earth, as it also touches on his every day life and choices. The book is hardcover, 178 pages, with full color images throughout. Book

A really no-holds-barred look at contemporary hip hop – one that focuses on the way the music continually deals with topics of death, and in a way that's very different than more mainstream concepts that would be found in white America. The author uses Afropessimism and black moralism to focus his concepts – but also brings them down to earth through an examination of the music of Jay Z, Kendrick Lamar, and other artists – showing the way that in contemporary hip hop, the line between death and life often becomes blurred. The book is highly theoretical, but in a way that really opens up the music – and is definitely not your typical book on hip hop! Softcover edition is 229 pages. Book

A tremendous achievement from music writer Aaron Cohen – a book that finally gets at the deeper, richer story of Chicago soul – the spirit of empowerment and pride that have always made us so honored to be part of the Windy City legacy! Cohen picks up where other soul writers have left off on Chicago – really looking at the shifts into the 70s, which included greater ties to the means of production, and an increased role in the social agenda as well – all part of an evolution in songwriting styles, production techniques, and the growing power of the full length album over the 7" single! Cohen looks at many key figures of the time – Earth Wind & Fire, Chaka Khan & Rufus, Curtis Mayfield, Phil Cohran & The Artistic Heritage Ensemble – and the very well-researched book is a delight to read throughout – easily the deepest work that Cohen's ever given us. 234 pages, softcover, with some black and white images – and a selected discography too. Book