FEATURE:
Pressed to Play
PHOTO CREDIT: Bloomsbury
Looking Inside the 33 1/3 Series
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I saw someone post a tweet this week…
IMAGE COMPOSITE: Slate
that pertained to the 33 1⁄3 series. Each book in the series is written about a single album. The series title refers to the rotation speed of a vinyl L.P., 33 1⁄3 R.P.M. It is a novel and fascinating way to bond with an album and discover more. I have written before how we do not really have classic album series where we get to dive deep into an album like we used to. It is hard to learn about an album and its backstory. I think that books where we can get a real understanding of how an album came together and its specifications helps us to bond more with that work. The 33 1⁄3 collection has grown and expanded through the years:
“Originally published by Continuum, the series was founded by editor David Barker in 2003. At the time, Continuum published books on philosophers; series editor Ally-Jane Grossan mentioned that Barker was "an obsessive music fan who thought, 'This is a really cool idea, why don't we apply this to albums'." PopMatters wrote that the range consists of "obscure classics to more usual suspects by the Beach Boys, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones".
In 2010, Continuum was bought out by Bloomsbury Publishing, which continues to publish the series. Following a leave, Barker was replaced by Grossan in January 2013. In 2016, Daphne Brooks, Kevin Dettmar, Amanda Petrusich, and Gayle Wald assumed co-editorial duties.
PHOTO CREDIT: Bloomsbury
Several independent books have been spun off of the series. The first, Carl Wilson's 2007 entry on Celine Dion's Let's Talk About Love, was expanded for a 2014 Bloomsbury reissue with material not specifically pertaining to the Dion album and retitled Let's Talk About Love: Why Other People Have Such Bad Taste. Joe Bonomo, at the invitation of Barker, expanded his 33 1⁄3 proposal on Jerry Lee Lewis's Live at the Star Club, Hamburg album into a full-length book about Lewis, the album, and his career titled Jerry Lee Lewis: Lost and Found, published by Continuum in 2009. A rejected proposal from writer Brett Milano for an entry on Game Theory's 1987 album Lolita Nation was instead expanded by Milano into a biography on the band's leader Scott Miller; that project, titled Don't All Thank Me at Once: The Lost Genius of Scott Miller was released by 125 Books in 2015.
In August 2017, Bloomsbury announced the launch of 33 1⁄3 Global, an extension of the 33 1⁄3 series to popular music from around the world. The first two sub-series launched were 33 1⁄3 Brazil, edited by Jason Stanyek, and 33 1⁄3 Japan, edited by Noriko Manabe. The first book for 33 1⁄3 Brazil was Caetano Veloso's A Foreign Sound by Barbara Browning. The first books for 33 1⁄3 Japan were Supercell ft. Hatsune Miku by Keisuke Yamada and Yoko Kanno's Cowboy Bebop Soundtrack by Rose Bridges”.
You can have a look to see the books already released in the series and which ones are upcoming. Rather than write a biography about an artist, one can concentrate on an album. The books differ in length, though most are at least 130 pages-long and explore the selected album in real depth. I would advise people to check out the series, as I know there are books that discuss albums that you really love. I am excited because it is the time of the year where one can submit an idea for consideration:
“Be sure to follow the submission guidelines below, and only submit if you are able to complete your manuscript within 6-12 months from acceptance. We’ll work out individual timelines for books, and some may have longer deadlines, but we’ll need an initial commitment to a fairly quick turnaround.
If you would like to submit a proposal for a 33 1/3 volume, please submit all of the following to 333submissions@gmail.com.
The deadline is May 17th, 2021 at 11:59 PM EST.
Submit the content below in one single document as either .doc, .docx or .pdf. No .rtf files will be accepted.
Important: Please use this exact format for both the subject line of your e-mail and the name of your document: Artist name, album name, your initials.
Once the submission window closes, it will take us a couple of months to sift through proposals. We will alert the authors of successful proposals through e-mail, as well as post the final list to the blog.
For a full list of albums already covered in the series, please see our published and forthcoming pages.
PHOTO CREDIT: Marcos Paulo Prado/Unsplash
Proposal requirements:
1. 2–3 pages that describe the book.
2. A concise description of the book (up to 200 words).
3. A 5-page sample from anywhere in the book.
4. *New to this submission round*: A one-line description of the book summing up its scope and content.
5. 3 short points that emphasize the unique aspects of your proposed book.
6. A 1-page table of contents for the book with chapter titles and light annotation if desired.
7. Your professional CV/resume, including full contact details and 200 word bio.
8. A 1-page marketing plan (with comparable titles and suggestions for finding an audience).
9. The amount of time it will take you to complete your manuscript.
FAQ
Q: Do you have examples of successful pitches to share?
A: Yes, in our textbook How To Write About Music there is a chapter titled “How To Pitch a 33 1/3″ that is worth reading.
Q: I would really like some advice on which album to write on, or constructive criticism on my proposal. Can I write to you about this?
A: We’re very sorry but we just don’t have the time or resources to do that.
Q: There is already a book in the series by the same artist as the one I’m proposing, will you consider two albums by the same artist?
A: Yes. There are two albums by Radiohead, two by the Beach Boys, two by David Bowie, and two by The Rolling Stones in the series already.
Q: I submitted a proposal previously that didn’t make it. Can I re-submit?
A: This time around we’re asking that you do not re-submit proposals. However, feel free to submit one on a different album.
Q: Can I submit multiple proposals?
A: Just one proposal per person per open call, please!
Can’t wait to see what you’ve got!”.
Although it sounds like one needs to be an author and have experience of writing books in order to pitch, it is something that interests me. Some of the series is even available as audiobooks, so it is a growing product. I would be interested in doing a book about a Kate Bush album, as I am not aware of any of her albums being covered already. If I had to choose, I would write about either Never for Ever, The Dreaming or Hounds of Love. My favourite album is The Kick Inside, though a new book has not long come out about that. I am surprised that nobody has covered her albums. There is a lot to discuss regarding the albums I have mentioned - though I am not sure whether I am qualified or have the discipline to pitch in the new round of submissions. I think that everyone should check out the 33 1/3 books, as they offer a fascinating windows into great albums. At a time when most music books tend to be about artists or general subjects, focusing in on an album in such detail and passion is much-needed. I am interested to see how the series progresses and…
PHOTO CREDIT: Bloomsbury
WHICH albums are covered next.