Maps and Legends: The Story of R.E.M

by John Hunter

A comprehensive and thorough biography of R.E.M. that covers not just the careers of the band members but also delves into their early teenage years. Of note is band member Michael Stipe who went to school in Illinois at Collinsville, attended SIUE, and played his first show at Mississippi Nights in the cover band Bad Habits. Biographer John Hunter makes a point to tell the story of the St. Louis music scene and even spent time hunting down Stipe’s friends to get the whole story.

World Within a Song: Music that Changed my Life and Life that Changed my Music

by Jeff Tweedy

Jeff Tweedy, a Belleville native, writes about the songs that shaped his life, even ones that he was initially dismissive of, such as “Dancing Queen” by ABBA. He also explores his early life playing bars and frat parties in Edwardsville, Belleville, and Alton. Tweedy weaves inspirational moments of his life between listening to his favorite songs and impressions from his years of touring and traveling.

Mississippi Nights: A History of the Music Club in St. Louis

by Garrett and Stacy Enloe

Before it became the premier live music club in the Midwest, the building that would become Mississippi Nights was a beef and pork packing house, a fireworks warehouse, and the home of national bags. More than a century later the building at 914 North First Street would finally house one of the great live music clubs in the country. The story of Mississippi Nights, from its humble beginnings to hosting early shows from ACDC, Nirvana, The Police, and INXS to its demise and destruction is told through the stories of the people who worked, performed, and frequented the club.

St. Louis Sound: An Illustrated Timeline

by Steve Pick with Amanda E. Doyle

St. Louis Sound by local music scene fixture Steve Pick explores more than a century of St. Louis music history. Steve writes about the places (The Checkerdome, Mississippi Nights, Gaslight Square), the radio stations (KSHE, KWK, KDNA), and the stars (Chuck Berry, Ike and Tina Turner, The Bottle Rockets). Although St. Louis is the focus of the book, the east side gets its due with tales of Miles Davis in East St. Louis and Bob Heil from Marissa, IL playing the organ at the Fabulous Fox theater and working with the Grateful Dead and The Who.

I Was the Moon: Three Merry Widows (LP)

The long-awaited second album by St. Louis legends Three Merry Widows. “I Was the Moon” was released by local label Fine Print Small Press more than 20 years after their debut album “Which Dreamed It” was released in 1991. If you were lucky enough to catch them around town in the early 90s or want to hear what great St. Louis alternative sounded like when it ruled the clubs, you can pick this up in the record bin at EPL.

Anodyne: Uncle Tupelo (LP)

The final Uncle Tupelo LP, “Anodyne” was released in 1993 and is the band’s most successful album. In addition to great songs from both Jay Farrar “Chickamauga” and Jeff Tweedy “New Madrid”, the album also includes a cover of the Doug Sahm classic, “Give Back the Key to My Heart” with Sahm joining in on the vocals.