Frank Broughton & Bill Brewster - Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - Book

Last Night A DJ Saved My Life:  The History of the Disc Jockey (New Centenary Edition)

Synopsis
The self-styled "definitive" history of the humble art of spinning plates of vinyl, Last Night A DJ Saved My Life steps up to the turntables with worthy pretensions. The work of journalists Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton, who, between them, have worked on The Face, i-D, Rolling Stone, and Musik, they certainly know their deep house from their speed garage. As a result Last Night A DJ . . . is an impressively knowledgeable compilation of information, beginning with Brewster and Broughton thundering into a well-reasoned, impassioned debate about the DJ being a modern-day shaman.  Chapters that follow include the history of the invention of the record deck. Northern Soul, reggae, hip-hop, disco, Acid House and techno.

Reviews
The Express: 'the best 'club culture' book ever to emerge'

Customer review...
Although this book has been re-written to celebrate the centenary of the DJ, the story really begins with the rise of the Northern Soul clubs of Wigan and Blackpool and the early 1970s. What follows is a comprehensive account of dance music of the last 35 years and it is at its best when charting the explosive rise and fall of disco, the origins of hip-hop and the social revolution that followed in the wake of house music.

Brewster & Broughton clearly know what they are writing about: the development of the techniques of mixing, back beats etc are well explained although I remain unenlightened as to the finer points of what is garage as opposed to house, trance etc (if that matters?). They make a convincing case as to the creativity of the DJ and are withering in their dismissal of clubs like Manumission and its "rather tawdry sex show".

This is a book both for the dedicated clubber in search of some context and also the general reader. It also a record of personal tragedy as so many of the DJ greats have succumbed to AIDS, drug overdoses and suicide. A number of unexpected heroes emerge: Richard Burton's first wife Sybil, Malcolm McLaren, Kraftwerk; and the late greats are honoured, principally DJ Francis, Larry Levan and Ron Hardy. RIP.