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.

Being well read in the classics, and for awhile now, award-winning science fiction, I first approached this book with a good bit of charity towards expected writing quality. I’m a weekend warrior in a classic rock cover band, now 61, who’s been enthralled with music since I learned to play guitar at age seven; getting in deep, dropping the needle over and over to learn every nuance if possible. I have very eclectic tastes and generally prefer to let the music do the talking. From the very first sentence, this book jumps off the page telling an absolutely mesmerizing and wonderful true story. It flows like the best page-turner fiction. My friends call me a walking music encyclopedia, but this masterpiece just added a whole new Britannica set in the most enjoyable way. It’s just flat-out superb writing and should garner an award or two. It’s spectacular from start to finish.

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.

Good book