This book presents a look back at episodes in Randy Bachman’s Sirius Satellite radio Vinyl Tap. They’re not transcripts; Bachman uses no formal script when he does his shows. So in the book, he simply revisits the themes of various past shows, retelling the stories and providing a set list of accompanying songs for each chapter.

The book makes it clear what a real music fan Bachman is. Here’s a guy who instantly calls all his friends after being offered a slot on one of Ringo Starr’s All-Starr tours, exclaiming, “You won’t believe who I just talked to!” Given the extent of his career, Bachman has plenty of interesting stories to tell about musicians he’s met over the years, from the Who to the Bee Gees to Little Richard to Gene Vincent to Lawrence Welk (he was impressed by the four-hole golf course Welk had set up on his balcony).

Musicians will especially enjoy reading the stories of the songs he’s written; interestingly, both “American Woman” (recorded when Bachman was with the Guess Who) and “Takin’ Care of Business” (recorded with Bachman-Turner Overdrive) came out of jams. Guitar geeks will flip right to the “Randy’s Guitar Shoppe” chapter, where he details the various guitars he’s owned and talks about the differences between Fenders, Gibsons, Gretchs, and Rickenbackers.

The book concludes with lists of “Randy’s Favourites” (he is Canadian, you know), lists with a twist: “Favourite Cowbell Songs” for example (“(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” is number one) and “Songs Played at Your Funeral” (from the Irish Rovers’ “Wasn’t That a Party” to Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust”).

A fun book from a guy who’s obviously got no shortage of stories to share — certainly more than enough for volume two.

Publisher: Pintail; Reprint edition (to order click here)