Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

  • Apple
  • Android
  • Windows Phone
  • Android

To get the free app, enter your email address or mobile phone number.

Qty:1
  • List Price: $18.00
  • Save: $4.09 (23%)
FREE Shipping on orders with at least $25 of books.
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Last Night a DJ Saved My ... has been added to your Cart
Want it tomorrow, July 12? Order within and choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details

Ship to:
To see addresses, please
or
Please enter a valid US zip code.
or
FREE Shipping on orders over $25.
Condition: Used: Good

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.
Have one to sell? Sell on Amazon
Flip to back Flip to front
Listen Playing... Paused   You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more
See all 3 images

Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey Paperback – May 20, 2014

4.8 out of 5 stars 58 customer reviews

See all 6 formats and editions Hide other formats and editions
Price
New from Used from
Paperback
"Please retry"
$13.91
$9.80 $7.75

Best Books of the Year So Far
Looking for something great to read? Browse our editors' picks for the Best Books of the Year So Far in fiction, nonfiction, mysteries, children's books, and much more.
$13.91 FREE Shipping on orders with at least $25 of books. In Stock. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
click to open popover

Frequently Bought Together

  • Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey
  • +
  • How to DJ Right: The Art and Science of Playing Records
  • +
  • DJing For Dummies
Total price: $42.87
Buy the selected items together

Customers Viewing This Page May Be Interested In These Sponsored Links

  (What's this?)

NO_CONTENT_IN_FEATURE
New York Times best sellers
Browse the New York Times best sellers in popular categories like Fiction, Nonfiction, Picture Books and more. See more

Product Details

  • Paperback: 448 pages
  • Publisher: Grove Press; Rev Upd edition (May 20, 2014)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0802146104
  • ISBN-13: 978-0802146106
  • Product Dimensions: 1.8 x 6 x 9.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,878 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customers Viewing This Page May Be Interested In These Sponsored Links

  (What's this?)

Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

By P. Gunderson on March 31, 2002
Format: Paperback
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.
Comment 19 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
Format: Paperback
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.
Comment 15 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
Format: Paperback
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.
Comment 15 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
A must read for all aspiring and current DJ's alike. This well reasearched book covers it all: from the beginning of single-turntable jocks to US and European Big Band spinners; it treks thru the Motown/Stax DJs, with a quick nod to the Jamacian "Sound System" approach before taking you thru Northern Soul and the NY Gay Disco trend-setting dual-turntable "mixing" innovators. With many "choice" classic cuts pointed out along the way, there's a myriad of names you will undoubtedly recognize from their many remixes in the dance/house/diva-pop genre. On a personal note it was thrilling to see both Robbie Leslise (Studio 54, The Saint) and Shep Pettibone (Mastermix remix/Productions too many to list, and co-author of Vogue & many other Madonna hits,) mentioned in the book. Not only do I have the utmost honor of being a resident DJ in Shep's amazing "Paradise" niteclub, but I also just had the privilege to spin alongside Robbie on a recent RSVP Caribbean Cruise. Living Legends both, and sweetheart gents to boot! (by dj Mick Hale, 2013)
Comment 3 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
By AlexSP on September 30, 2013
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Being a DJ myself since the mid-80's, it was an immense pleasure to remember a lot from scene that I lived my youth in, partied and played and followed since then. But it was even better to LEARN a HUGE lot about the history and development of this art before I fell in love with dance music and DJing.

The book shows an enormous amount of research and data, names, tracks, labels, clubs and everything. And it's cleverly written, in such a way you feel like following a novel. It goes well into advancing through the time, showing all the different, multiple and sometimes parallel scenes that took place in sometimes far away places, connecting the dots and highlighting influences, as they happened in fact.

Today, with internet and iTunes and online music stores one can read the book and go search for the artists, DJs and the music playlisted in the book while reading it, making up for an amazing "timeline" soundtrack that encompasses a great part of modern life. I did exactly that of course, and had such a good time discovering new stuff as well as "crate digging" my collection of records, most listed on the book, But even if you don't I certainly recomend you look around and hear every track as you read the book, it's a lesson and I'm sure you'll have lots of fun while learning a lot too.

DJing is no longer a "career" for me, though I still play clubs, gigs and radio shows frequently. I guess you love music and that's it, you can't leave it or get left by it if you really love playing. This book shows why, the people who love finding new music, people who are daring, creative, passionate about discovering new sounds and showing to people to make them dance, that's such an amazing craft.
Read more ›
Comment Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse

Most Recent Customer Reviews

Set up an Amazon Giveaway

Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey
Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers. Learn more about Amazon Giveaway
This item: Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey