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The Record Store of the Mind
In your hands "the Keys To The Kingdom" … a ceaseless whirligig of histories, opinion and romance … of characters and circumstance minor and major contributors to our great wonderland … music beloved music … I reveled within and learned much … a unique work-- Robert Plant"Josh Rosenthal is a record man’s record man. He is also a musician's record man. He is in the line of Samuel Charters and Harry Smith. In this age where we have access to everything and know the value of nothing, musicians need people like Josh to hear them when no one else can.” T Bone BurnettGrammy-nominated producer and Tompkins Square label founder Josh Rosenthal presents his first book, The Record Store of the Mind. Part memoir, part "music criticism", the author ruminates over unsung musical heroes, reflects on thirty years of toil and fandom in the music business, and shamelessly lists some of the LPs in his record collection. Crackling with insightful untold stories, The Record Store of the Mind will surely delight and inspire passionate music lovers ... especially those who have spent way too many hours in record stores.Celebrating ten years in 2015, Rosenthal's San Francisco-based independent record label Tompkins Square has received seven Grammy nominations and wide acclaim for its diverse catalog of new and archival recordings.
- GenresMusicNonfiction
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 27, 2015
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117 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 27, 2016
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I stumbled upon this book a few weeks ago on NetGalley, and after reading the description I found myself really wanting to read this book. I was lucky enough to be approved for a copy, and the book didn't disappoint. Here's the catch - I love music and various mediums of art, and although I may not know much about certain things within the topic, I still enjoy reading them and learning more. I knew right off the bat that I wouldn't know 90% of the artists mentioned in the book cause 70's country/folk/rock is not really the type of music I listen to. But that didn't really make the book any less enjoyable. What really brings this book to life is Rosenthal's passion for the industry, the artists, and his complete love of vinyl.
"Everything in life seems the result of randomness, chance encounters, and the unexpected. It's The Quest that makes collectors crazy in the head, whether it's stamps, LP's or LPS's. You go to the flea market because you never know what might be there, and the possibilities are infinite."
There are a few pictures scattered throughout the book, and they're really interesting. Most of them are very personal pictures taken in the moment, not staged photos.
Each chapter of this book is titled with it's own theme or artist. While I tended to favor the chapters that weren't focused on a specific artist because of the broader subject matter, the ones that focused on the artist were still interesting. Musicians are a crazy bunch and the things they go through to get where they are is incredible. Reading their stories and the things they've overcome is certainly entertaining, and I found myself wishing I'd known them beforehand so I had more to compare to.
"There was still a living, breathing subculture: the parking lot scene, the ever-hopeful ticket seekers outside with one finger up - 'I need a miracle!'"
The other chapters were my favorites though because they were filled more poetically rather than the facts thrown at you in the artist chapters. Rosenthal certainly has his own voice, and it's worth reading!
I stumbled upon this book a few weeks ago on NetGalley, and after reading the description I found myself really wanting to read this book. I was lucky enough to be approved for a copy, and the book didn't disappoint. Here's the catch - I love music and various mediums of art, and although I may not know much about certain things within the topic, I still enjoy reading them and learning more. I knew right off the bat that I wouldn't know 90% of the artists mentioned in the book cause 70's country/folk/rock is not really the type of music I listen to. But that didn't really make the book any less enjoyable. What really brings this book to life is Rosenthal's passion for the industry, the artists, and his complete love of vinyl.
"Everything in life seems the result of randomness, chance encounters, and the unexpected. It's The Quest that makes collectors crazy in the head, whether it's stamps, LP's or LPS's. You go to the flea market because you never know what might be there, and the possibilities are infinite."
There are a few pictures scattered throughout the book, and they're really interesting. Most of them are very personal pictures taken in the moment, not staged photos.
Each chapter of this book is titled with it's own theme or artist. While I tended to favor the chapters that weren't focused on a specific artist because of the broader subject matter, the ones that focused on the artist were still interesting. Musicians are a crazy bunch and the things they go through to get where they are is incredible. Reading their stories and the things they've overcome is certainly entertaining, and I found myself wishing I'd known them beforehand so I had more to compare to.
"There was still a living, breathing subculture: the parking lot scene, the ever-hopeful ticket seekers outside with one finger up - 'I need a miracle!'"
The other chapters were my favorites though because they were filled more poetically rather than the facts thrown at you in the artist chapters. Rosenthal certainly has his own voice, and it's worth reading!
October 20, 2018
The thing is... I am a huge record nerd. And I enjoy discussions about arcane topics about records, recording artists, etc etc... And yet I just could not get into this book. And if someone like me doesn't love this, then who will?
October 26, 2023
Really nice collection of music appreciation stories more than essays basically aimed at turning people onto some hidden gems of music and musicians from someone with a long inside history in the music world. Definitely learned quite a bit and plan to check out a lot of the recommendations over time.
January 6, 2020
Everything a music nute wants in a book, first hand accounts of live obscure shows, inner workings of the business, lists of obscure records that even you dont want to hear...but mostly passion for music in all its forms. Could not have liked it better.
December 28, 2024
Decent read if you’re into the behind-the-scenes side of music. Pretty limited to just folk and classic rock. Informative even though it seems at times the author can’t stop stroking his ego with all the artist name drops.
August 15, 2025
This is a fantastic read. Josh shares his life and music in a beautiful way. His writing is compact, inviting and his stories fabulous. Made me reach for Spotify constantly to listen to the music he writes about. World to discover. Wow!
June 26, 2020
Idiosyncratic, unpredictable, engaging, and useful for obscure music threads
August 22, 2016
I’m a child of the 80s so I grew up listening to my mum’s records but by the time I was old enough to buy music of my own vinyl was rapidly disappearing to be replaced by cassette tapes, and actually not long after that CDs began to appear in the shops. I still have such nostalgia for my mum’s records though. So when my husband started talking about getting a new sound system, it was a no brainer that we’d look for a turntable. Now we’re slowly building up quite a collection of records, and everywhere we go we keep an eye out for record stores. I love reading about record stores too so when I spotted The Record Store of the Mind on Net Galley recently, I simply had to request it!
In the introduction, Rosenthal immediately evokes the feeling of being in a record store and the feeling you get when you inspire someone else to look through the crates of records. It’s a joy to read about how he took his children around record stores and flea markets looking for a gem.
It’s also a wonderful thing to read about how many record stores are still going strong in America. There is a revival happening in the UK and it’s a great thing to see; new independent record stores are beginning to appear on the high streets once more and even the chain retailers are putting in vinyl sections once again. It makes your heart sing and one can only hope that vinyl sales continue to grow!
Rosenthal then takes the reader, chapter by chapter, through his journey in music. He shares stories of musicians he’s met and worked with, and records he’s bought and loved. He brings to our attention a mix of well-known musicians and some you many not know so much about. I’ll be honest and admit that I hadn’t heard of many of the musicians in this book but I very much enjoyed discovering them and will be seeking out some of their music next time I’m in a record store. The sheer joy and passion that Rosenthal has for music and for the musicians he has known just radiates from the page, which makes this book such an engaging read.
In amongst the chapters devoted to musicians themselves there are chapters that have a wider subject matters such as one about gigs, one devoted to the period between 1989-1997. These chapters were perhaps a little more of interest as I felt my own knowledge and reference points helped my understanding and enjoyment. Nevertheless, the book as a whole is a joy to read and has definitely widened my interest in music even further.
This book is a reflection of thirty years of work in the music industry. This year Rosenthal celebrated the tenth anniversary of his own label Tompkins Square. His book is partly a memoir and partly a critical look over the music industry. It’s also part love letter to his own treasured collection of records, as throughout the book he often refers back to his own private collection. It was heartbreaking to read of how he lost part of his record collection and music memorabilia in hurricane Sandy.
I loved the Of Musical Interest chapter, and the Listen Up list and the Tompkins Square Discography at the end of this book, I’m definitely going to be looking out for some of the records referred to in this book. I’m always interested to try new music and find new singers and bands to listen to. This is a book that can be used as a wonderful reference after you’ve read it, I know it’s one that I will come back to again and again.
This is a book for anyone who loves, or has ever loved, listening to music on vinyl.
I received this book from Tompkins Square Books via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
The Record Store of the Mind is out today and available from Amazon!
In the introduction, Rosenthal immediately evokes the feeling of being in a record store and the feeling you get when you inspire someone else to look through the crates of records. It’s a joy to read about how he took his children around record stores and flea markets looking for a gem.
It’s also a wonderful thing to read about how many record stores are still going strong in America. There is a revival happening in the UK and it’s a great thing to see; new independent record stores are beginning to appear on the high streets once more and even the chain retailers are putting in vinyl sections once again. It makes your heart sing and one can only hope that vinyl sales continue to grow!
Rosenthal then takes the reader, chapter by chapter, through his journey in music. He shares stories of musicians he’s met and worked with, and records he’s bought and loved. He brings to our attention a mix of well-known musicians and some you many not know so much about. I’ll be honest and admit that I hadn’t heard of many of the musicians in this book but I very much enjoyed discovering them and will be seeking out some of their music next time I’m in a record store. The sheer joy and passion that Rosenthal has for music and for the musicians he has known just radiates from the page, which makes this book such an engaging read.
In amongst the chapters devoted to musicians themselves there are chapters that have a wider subject matters such as one about gigs, one devoted to the period between 1989-1997. These chapters were perhaps a little more of interest as I felt my own knowledge and reference points helped my understanding and enjoyment. Nevertheless, the book as a whole is a joy to read and has definitely widened my interest in music even further.
This book is a reflection of thirty years of work in the music industry. This year Rosenthal celebrated the tenth anniversary of his own label Tompkins Square. His book is partly a memoir and partly a critical look over the music industry. It’s also part love letter to his own treasured collection of records, as throughout the book he often refers back to his own private collection. It was heartbreaking to read of how he lost part of his record collection and music memorabilia in hurricane Sandy.
I loved the Of Musical Interest chapter, and the Listen Up list and the Tompkins Square Discography at the end of this book, I’m definitely going to be looking out for some of the records referred to in this book. I’m always interested to try new music and find new singers and bands to listen to. This is a book that can be used as a wonderful reference after you’ve read it, I know it’s one that I will come back to again and again.
This is a book for anyone who loves, or has ever loved, listening to music on vinyl.
I received this book from Tompkins Square Books via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
The Record Store of the Mind is out today and available from Amazon!
November 14, 2015
The owner of an independent record label reminisces about some of his favorite musicians, mostly those he’s worked with and reissued on his label. There’s some intriguing stories about how he meets them or is introduced to them, and if you follow on his website he’s got a playlist of the songs he mentions.
After the first chapter I have to say this author’s musical tastes are way different than mine. He talks about modern singer-songwriters lacking “authenticity,” whatever that means, but so far I find his selections lacking spirit. He calls his choices “simple” like it’s a good thing. Our tastes in vocals also differ. It’s different when he’s talking about more famous people, the first—getting his own chapter—being Eric Clapton. He makes Syosset, Long Island with Billy Joel and Lou Reed sound like Jersey must’ve been with Springsteen. There’s also a piece on his friendship with Judd Apatow.
Throughout the book I had to keep reminding myself that I wasn’t going to review his music picks; just because his taste is different than mine, especially in vocalists, didn’t mean this isn’t a great book full of reminiscences about real musicians, those who make music rather than a spectacle on stage. Still, I had been hoping to make some discoveries, but since I didn’t, I forced myself to concentrate on thinking of this as a biography. For instance, there’s a hilarious note about the author with a musician visiting a dilapidated venue where he’d played over 50 years ago. When they see an old bathroom they muse “Elvis likely pissed in there.”
There are some chapters at the end that might be better described as appendixes. When he’s talking about concerts he’d attended and reached the indie part, I was hopeful he might mention some I knew; didn’t happen. I did find some commonality on more famous acts we’ve both seen live, like Rush, The Police, Tom Petty, and U2. And I happen to be wearing an Alice in Chains shirt when he mentions working with them. . .
There’s a great chapter at the end on why you should—really shouldn’t—have your own label. He’s also a huge proponent of naps.
3.5 pushed up to 4/5
After the first chapter I have to say this author’s musical tastes are way different than mine. He talks about modern singer-songwriters lacking “authenticity,” whatever that means, but so far I find his selections lacking spirit. He calls his choices “simple” like it’s a good thing. Our tastes in vocals also differ. It’s different when he’s talking about more famous people, the first—getting his own chapter—being Eric Clapton. He makes Syosset, Long Island with Billy Joel and Lou Reed sound like Jersey must’ve been with Springsteen. There’s also a piece on his friendship with Judd Apatow.
Throughout the book I had to keep reminding myself that I wasn’t going to review his music picks; just because his taste is different than mine, especially in vocalists, didn’t mean this isn’t a great book full of reminiscences about real musicians, those who make music rather than a spectacle on stage. Still, I had been hoping to make some discoveries, but since I didn’t, I forced myself to concentrate on thinking of this as a biography. For instance, there’s a hilarious note about the author with a musician visiting a dilapidated venue where he’d played over 50 years ago. When they see an old bathroom they muse “Elvis likely pissed in there.”
There are some chapters at the end that might be better described as appendixes. When he’s talking about concerts he’d attended and reached the indie part, I was hopeful he might mention some I knew; didn’t happen. I did find some commonality on more famous acts we’ve both seen live, like Rush, The Police, Tom Petty, and U2. And I happen to be wearing an Alice in Chains shirt when he mentions working with them. . .
There’s a great chapter at the end on why you should—really shouldn’t—have your own label. He’s also a huge proponent of naps.
3.5 pushed up to 4/5
January 28, 2016
First off I love the cover art...it's home-made and rebellious in comparison to other books. It's very cult classic-ish and if you know what I mean about that then you'd totally understand. I love all things music...even music I don't typically listen to. I love to learn about it all when it pertains to music..this was one of those books that I took in..absorbed and got something out of it.
A quick read at 250 pages...along with pictures within...this book is not what I was expecting but was pleasantly pleased nonetheless. Loved the bits of music lyrics here and there...loved the intro of the book...I am certain I have almost never said I loved the intro of a book. Loved how each chapter was dedicated to some bizarre little type of tale in the music business.
I truly enjoyed my copy of The Record Store Of The Mind and express my thoughts further on this book in my blog @ http://dalaimommadrama.blogspot.com/2.... Check it out por favor but most importantly read this book. It's interesting..comes with pictures and song lyrics and name dropping...it's a great well worth it read.
Thanks to the peeps at The Reading Room and to Josh Rosenthal for making my request of this book possible..I received this book free in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly and voluntarily gave!!
A quick read at 250 pages...along with pictures within...this book is not what I was expecting but was pleasantly pleased nonetheless. Loved the bits of music lyrics here and there...loved the intro of the book...I am certain I have almost never said I loved the intro of a book. Loved how each chapter was dedicated to some bizarre little type of tale in the music business.
I truly enjoyed my copy of The Record Store Of The Mind and express my thoughts further on this book in my blog @ http://dalaimommadrama.blogspot.com/2.... Check it out por favor but most importantly read this book. It's interesting..comes with pictures and song lyrics and name dropping...it's a great well worth it read.
Thanks to the peeps at The Reading Room and to Josh Rosenthal for making my request of this book possible..I received this book free in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly and voluntarily gave!!
September 30, 2015
I absolutely loved this book, written with such passion about my favourite subject, MUSIC. Although I have an out & out favourite artist (not mentioned AT ALL in this book) my music library is very eclectic. In saying that, no where near as eclectic as the authors though. I will admit that I had never heard of around 70% of the artists in this book, but I guess in some ways, you are not supposed to have.
Hearing Rosenthal talk about the artists he has worked with, you get a real sense of admiration and respect, this is a man who loves his music and it really comes across in his writing. How he describes taking his daughter record shopping is something I can completely relate to, love of vinyl is something that never leaves you, reading how he lost records in Hurricane Sandy was heartbreaking.
I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys music, I know Twitter friends who I will be insisting buy this book. I have a very long train journey this weekend & this book will be responsible for the music I will be listening to.
On a personal note, I would like to thank the author for insisting I was allowed a chance to review an early copy after his publishers declined me, I hope I have repaid your faith
Hearing Rosenthal talk about the artists he has worked with, you get a real sense of admiration and respect, this is a man who loves his music and it really comes across in his writing. How he describes taking his daughter record shopping is something I can completely relate to, love of vinyl is something that never leaves you, reading how he lost records in Hurricane Sandy was heartbreaking.
I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys music, I know Twitter friends who I will be insisting buy this book. I have a very long train journey this weekend & this book will be responsible for the music I will be listening to.
On a personal note, I would like to thank the author for insisting I was allowed a chance to review an early copy after his publishers declined me, I hope I have repaid your faith
May 1, 2016
I found this book both entertaining and confusing. I felt like it needed a better outline and organizational structure, and a bit of editing. Most of the chapters are dedicated to particular musicians, all of whom I had never heard of (except for Eric Clapton.) Other chapters, about Rosenthal’s life and love of music, are randomly interspersed with the musician chapters. I enjoyed the chapters about his life more than those of the musicians, however at times it felt like Rosenthal was bragging about the famous people he met throughout his career. In the back of the book, he lists all the ticket stubs he has saved over the years, old time LP’s in his record collection, and the names of the artists he has signed. The list of ticket stubs was neither chronological nor alphabetical, but according to him, written in the order that he pulled the items out of a box.
As a casual music listener, this book was not that interesting, but it would probably be well-received by a serious music fan.
Read my whole review at http://livelovereadreview.blogspot.co...
As a casual music listener, this book was not that interesting, but it would probably be well-received by a serious music fan.
Read my whole review at http://livelovereadreview.blogspot.co...
May 10, 2016
OK, this is a bit of a collection of odds and ends, and lists. But for me, what makes a great music book is one that has me on the internet the next morning listening to the musicians the author has introduced me to (or, in some cases, reintroduced me to) the night before. Yeah, this is one for the music geek in your life. Very very little of the music discussed here would be called "popular".
In one of his last chapters he says, "My hope is that folks will pull this book of the shelf and treat it as a reference volume, leading to an exploration of some of my lists." Yep, exactly. Thanks for introducing me to so much new (old) music, Josh! Looking forward to future Tompkins Square music releases.
In one of his last chapters he says, "My hope is that folks will pull this book of the shelf and treat it as a reference volume, leading to an exploration of some of my lists." Yep, exactly. Thanks for introducing me to so much new (old) music, Josh! Looking forward to future Tompkins Square music releases.
February 6, 2017
Great stories of discovery from a man with a noble purpose: to republish lost vinyl from the 1960s and 70s. If you liked Searching for Sugarman, or if you were a college radio station DJ in 1969, this book is for you (and me).
June 22, 2016
If you love records and searching round old shops collecting them, and are intrigued to discover new music then this is the book for you. All delivered in a very warm and friendly manner while contemplating or procrastinating over some of the psychological aspects of the hobby!
December 10, 2016
The stories are too loosely connected to create a narrative, but it works as a series of short stories and as a guide to fire up your inner record hunter.
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March 19, 2018Structured mostly as a book of essays that swing between mini-biographies about Rosenthal's favorite "underground" acts and an autobiography. He has lots of industry experience so, I find his perspective interesting. But, if I wasn't interested in what he had to say, I'm not sure I'd have a frame of reference for most of what he writes, and as a result it's kind of unstructured. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone other than deep music fans.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews