cover image Tales from Beyond the Tap

Tales from Beyond the Tap

Randy Bachman. Penguin Canada/Viking Canada (Penguin Canada, Canadian dist.), $29.95 (336p) ISBN 978-0-670-06763-3

In this follow-up to Vinyl Tap Stories, Bachman of The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive highlights pivotal moments and interesting facts from his storied 50-year career in rock music. He and musicologist John Einarson selected 20 queries from fans of his CBC radio show to become chapters of this book including "The Recordings That Changed My Life" and "Burton and Me." Bachman, who developed a range of guitar techniques for a new generation of guitar players, writes about guitarists Lenny Breau and Scotty Moore as his main influences. Bachman studied guitar with Breau and was inspired by his rendition of "Oh By Jingo." Breau's elegant playing and Moore's solos on Elvis Presley's recordings strengthened his resolve to become a professional musician. When The Guess Who recorded Wheatfield Soul in A&R studios in 1968, Bachman was impressed by how the expertise of sound engineer Phil Ramone contributed to the quality of the recording. As a songwriter/producer Bachman has helped pique greater interest in Canadian music internationally. Though directed primarily at his fans, the book and its colorful and lively patter should have broad appeal for rock music enthusiasts. Agent: Gilles Paquin, Paquin Entertainment. (Apr.)