Patrick Humphries' 6 favorite books about rock 'n' roll

The music journalist digs stories about industry legends, including The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and the Rolling Stones

Patrick Humphries recently co-edited a new edition of Robert Shelton's Bob Dylan biography, "No Direction Home."

The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions by Mark Lewisohn (out of print). A new book on the Beatles seems to be published every fortnight — but this 1988 work is still the best. Lewisohn deals with facts, chronicling every take of every song the Fab Four cut during that incredible arc from "Love Me Do" to Sgt. Pepper and beyond.

Down the Highway: The Life of Bob Dylan by Howard Sounes (Grove, $17). Sounes, who has also written about Paul McCartney, delivers one of the most readable biographies of this enigmatic and talented man. He tracks down Dylan's relatives, roadies, and fellow musicians to help round out a thorough portrait.

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