Last Minute Gift Ideas...

I was scoping out the website of legendary independent label Bomp! Records, yesterday and was thrilled to see an annoucement for the publication of BOMP : Saving The World One Record At A Time.

Those plugged into the powerpop scene know that the Bomp! label issued singles by such archetypal bands as Shoes, 20/20, and the Flamin' Groovies, as well as many of the more interesting LA punk bands of the day. It was also an influential rock mag/fanzine that covered the burgeoning powerpop and punk scene of the late 70s, as well as reviving and popularizing obscure and cool 60s musical artifacts. Esteemed rock writers Lester Bangs, Greil Marcus, Ken Barnes, Gene Sculatti and label owner Greg Shaw all graced the pages of Bomp! at one time or another, and I personally treasure each and every issue that I own.

So, a new retrospective compilation pulling together much of that great rock and roll writing is a dream come true for those of us who have been trying to track down missing issues over the years. According to the website, it features full color repros of the Bomp's predecessor, Mojo Navigator (1966 to 1967) as well as its successors, including repros of the Bomp! fanzine and magazine from 1974 to 1979. In the words of Co-Editor Suzy Shaw:

The idea for this book came in the early '80s right after BOMP magazine first folded. It seemed a tragedy that the earliest works of so many great writers and artists would be lost to the ages, and we knew that somehow we needed to reproduce as much of the historic material as we could in book form. But assembling the material was an enormous task that would involve years of work, a team of artists and writers, and certainly a lot of money. And although Greg and I never gave up on the idea, we couldn't manage to find the time and make the connections to do it right. When Greg died I knew it was the most important job I had, as this book is not just the story of BOMP and Greg Shaw, but a unique document of a time, place, and perspective in the history of rock and roll. This is a work beyond anything Greg and I could have dreamed of, thanks to the hard work and dedication of many talented people, and of course thanks to all of you, my customers, for making it all possible.

This is a must-purchase for record collectors and fans of 60s influenced rock and roll. Get it now in a deal that includes a cool Bomp! T-shirt here!