Sonic Boom: The Impossible Rise of Warner Bros. Records, from Hendrix to Fleetwood Mac to Madonna to Prince

I really enjoyed reading this story of Warner Bros Records and Mo Austin. It was recommended to me in my Music Business class by the Professor, and I decided to pick it up because I had an upcoming job interview at Warner (sadly didn't get the job!).The author brilliantly writes this tale of one of the most admired record labels of the 60s/70s/80s. Mo Austin is an unsung hero in the business. I didn't know about him before I read this. Warner just had the ultimate formula for combining art+commerce in the record business and giving artists time and space to make the music how they wanted. The book makes me wish I worked there during that time.My only complaint is that the book wrapped up a little too quickly in the last chapter and felt a bit rushed at the end. Perhaps there wasn't too much to tell during the last 20+ years but that's just how it felt to me.I'd recommend this to any music fan, and certainly anyone in the music business.

Fantastic book detailing the history of Warners/Reprise and WEA records. Told as a rip-roaring tale, the narrative movesat a blistering pace and is full of fascinating and hilarious anecdotes. Not cheap due to it's American origin but worth it for the quality and zip of the writing.

As someone whose musical tastes were primarily influenced by the Warner/Reprise series of Loss Leader promotional LPs of the 1970s, this book was educational nirvana. It clearly demonstrates how an innovative management style at the Warner/Reprise labels ("stop tying to make hits") led to the most successful record label of the last third of the 20th century. A fun and fascinating read. My highest recommendation.

Dropping 30 bucks for a 250 page book - would hope the publisher would give back a few pennies in profit margin to the reader and make for a less flimsy page-turning experience. Read the book in an afternoon - wish there was more. Incredibly enjoyable book otherwise - thank you Peter Ames Carlin.

A compact book that chronicles the rise of Warner Bros. as rock and roll transitioned from singles to the album format. Through hard work, flexibility and empathy, Warner became the label of choice for many ground-breaking bands.