Two new books on great musicians.

1- Levon Helm: From Down In The Delta To The Birth Of The Band And Beyond, by Sandra Tooze. Levon's autobiography was good, but didn't read like he spoke (it was co-written with Stephen Davis). As I have already recounted here, Ringo Starr showed up at Levon's 1993 book release signing event at Book Soup on Sunset Blvd. to have his copy signed. He took cuts in line ;-) .

2- Time Between: My Life As A Byrd, Burrito Brother, And Beyond, by Chris Hillman. Though Roger McGuinn is given credit for The Byrds, and Gram Parsons for The Flying Burrito Brothers, Chris was very instrumental (damn puns ;-) in both groups. McGuinn (along with fellow Byrds David Crosby and Gene Clark) and Parsons came to Rock 'n' Roll from Folk, not Country, music backgrounds. Chris came from Bluegrass, and returned to it (his solo albums on Sugar Hill are fantastic).

Funny how both book titles end with the same expression.