Customer Reviews

Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Frankly, I bought this book because I was interested in learning more about techno/trance DJs, and was initially disappointed by the relative dearth of discussion of current trends (a discussion of these comes only in the last quarter of this book). However, my disappointment turned into appreciation as I realized this book truly is a history of the DJ, from way back in the early 1900s to today. This history offers a vast amount of information about who the first DJ pioneers were, and it is divided up into sections on the first radio DJs, northern soul DJs, reggae, disco, rap, and--finally--techno.

The authors point out that they're not doing any academic, high-fallutin' theoretical study of the DJ, but I think they took this anti-academicism too far. The DJ is a fascinating figure because s/he challenges so many of Western culture's ideas about what constitutes "music" and what constitutes "artistry." This book could have been much enriched by delving into the ways the DJ changes how we think about music.

As it is, the history in this study is admirably exhaustive; but because it doesn't connect this history to a larger history of music and aesthetics, it sometimes becomes just exhausting.

Coming across this book has been one of the most enlightening finds of my music loving life. I picked it up and read it in it's entirety in 2 days. It is a thorough history of the DJ and the music forms that DJ's have spawned since the advent of vinyl as a medium of auditory stimulation and satisfaction. Just the discography alone, a listing of the top fifty or hundred songs and artist on the playlists of fundamental dance floors (like The Roxy, Paradise Garage, Warehouse, and The Loft to name a few) makes this book worth its weight in gold. The history that this book attempts to recount isn't end all to be all, but it covers enough ground to satisfy even the most discriminating old club lover like myself. And even the most well versed club historian and afficionado will find something entertianing and educational within this books covers. I've bought three copies of this book, just to put some of my friends forever in my debt.

I've only gone through the sections on Chicago house music and am astonished by the detail collected on this low-profile era of dj history. Though I was only a young bystander. the authors managed to unearth the mythical names, long desolate locations, and key events of the day. WBMX Jams on Saturday and Sunday mornings going down to Maxwell street, where last night's pressings were available on too thin, recycled vinyl (sometimes with pieces of gym shoe in them). If they could discover this, I suspect the rest is as solid. Well written.

Last Night A DJ Saved My Life lives up it's billing as the definitive history of the disc jockey, as well as that of club culture. Brewster and Broughton presented an extensively researched and well connected history through a number of key genres, from sock hops, Jamaican sound systems, soul, disco, hip hop, and into house and techno. Through interviews with survivors of these scenes, the reader is given a good deal of first hand information, and gets a real feeling for most of the music presented, regardless of how familiar you are. In fact, one of the greatests aspects of this book is that it centers on the underground cultures: hip-hop before it became rap, disco before it became mainstream, etc.

However, the book is not without it's faults. Very early on, the authors slam academia, claiming that such an approach is incapable of providing a passionate or meaningful account. Certainly, this is both true and false, and it is unfair to make such a claim. My other main complaint with the book is that once it moves into the more modern genres of house and techno, the writers seem to lose their steam. One gets the feeling that these chapters were included in an effort to be definitive, not a level of deep-rooted passion for the music by the authors. Consequently, these chapters are not very interesting reads.

Still, this is the definitive book on the subject. Despite the aforementioned flaws, it is extremely informative, and overall, very well researched. A must for anyone interested in deejaying, club culture, or general music history.

The book is quite successful in recounting the development of the modern DJ and bridging together the history and influences of different genres and cultures. The writers obviously did their research and whether I agree with things or not I was entertained and most importantly learning. The first tweleve chapters alone make this read worthwhile. It formalizes a lot of the history we all hear about and read on the Internet. I found it fascinating to learn about things I was unfamiliar with such as Northern Soul. However in the end, I was looking for something more from the book in regards to what happens now and into the future. The later chapters tend to focus on the DJ persona rather than the experience which the DJ continues to create for us. In the end it is all about the music!

I'm a disc jockey who's new to the game. This book seriously changed what kind of DJ I want to be and how I view today's dance music scene.

It's so good that I bought two more copies for friends. Great research and great writing! Truly a fun and informative read.

The book has an extensive history of the life of the DJ. Anybody interested in the profession or what it takes to be a DJ, should at least read it. You'll be surprised at what you find.

It is pretty well know that this book is a must read for DJ's, Makers, and Fans of all forms of electronic and dance music.

Excelent histories of Dub, Hip Hop, Disco, House etc. While many of the adherents of these sub-cultures don't necessarily appreciate the others, the histories outlined in this book show how they are all inherently connected.

My only issue with this book is that the West Coast is totally ignored up until the turntablist revolution of the late 90's which the authors regard as mostly mastabatory as the writers' bias is toward DJs as providers of a dance environment.

No matter ...
There are vital histories here.

READ THIS BOOK!

I enjoyed the book but I felt there was too much material about the UK dance music scene. Having been born/raised in North America my interest in pop culture lies mainly on this side of the Atlantic (note on the back cover it mentions that both authors live in London...no wonder there's so much material on UK dance music).

Like I said, I did enjoy the book and will be seeking out some of the records mentioned in order to hear them for myself. The book is at its most effective/interesting when it's discussing the mid-to-late-70's disco scene; it becomes much less interesting when it delves into the later periods of hip-hop, house, and techno. That stuff is just inherently not as interesting as 70's disco (at least to me, anyway).

This is a fascinating book. It is meticulously researched and very well written (though sometimes the authors are too clever for their own good). It is THE definitive book on the DJ and its history. The sections on hip hop, reggae, and disco are mountains of knowledge. Even the sections on the types of music I dislike (house, techno, etc.) had me turning pages furiously. My quips: There is no mention of Acid-Jazz (not that this is an innovative or defining genre). The authors praise the drug ecstasy to no end. True, it was definitely an intrinsic force in the shaping of the UK rave scene, but they conveniently ignore the fact that it is a dangerous drug with nasty side effects and the potential to kill. Finally, the authors seem to celebrate the fact that as the result of the rise of the DJ in recent years, the live musician has been "made redundant". Whether this is true or not is open to debate, but I don't think it's such a great thing either way. Even though I am a DJ myself, I view the decline of actual live muscians and live music venues as very depressing. Maybe I'm just old fashioned. Other than that, though, this book is superb. If there is a better book out there chronicling the history of the DJ I have yet to know of it.