About the Book

Through the lives, music and musings of the world’s leading left-handed guitar players, Uncommon Sound reveals vital facets of 20th century popular music’s many-colored history...

• the birth and splintering of rock,
• the roots and evolution of the blues,
• the advent and development of the guitar in jazz,
• country music’s formative years,
• the rise and demise of soul music,
• the impact and processes of engaged folk songwriters,
• how the guitar shaped or altered indigenous styles,
• and countless other defining moments and trends in guitar-driven music...

The experience is both intimate and universal, giving unparalleled insight into the musical landscape and day-to-day lives of musicians – the pains and triumphs of stardom, abuses, passion, and tenacity.

The "red" volume covers rock, pop, punk, metal, reggae, and related subgenres. Table of Contents - Red Volume

The "blue" volume is about blues, folk, jazz, country, R&B, and numerous varieties of ‘world’ music. Table of Contents - Blue Volume

Arranged chronologically within their genre, 150 left-handed guitar players are portrayed as the quintessential models of the uncommon musical artist, spanning the gamut from icons to pioneers, to sheer mavericks.

The guitar – popular music’s most iconic instrument since the 1920s – is gloriously represented here in an unprecedented, 150-page gallery of rare and historic lefty examples, alongside crucially informative texts.

All told in their own words, with additional comments by other artists and highly detailed texts by the author.
There’s Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Jimmy Cliff, Seal, Babyface, Jules Shear, Beeb Birtles (Little River Band), Elliot Easton (The Cars), Ali and Robin Campbell (UB40), John Flansburgh (They Might Be Giants), Ollie Halsall (Patto), Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals), Tim Armstrong (Rancid), Doyle Bramhall II, Jonathan Butler, Grant Green Jr., Al McKay (Earth, Wind & Fire), Sylvia Tyson, Dan Seals, and then ...

Among the 150 in-depth profiles, discover...

• Paul McCartney’s experimental, multi-arts approach...
• How DeFord Bailey fended off racism as the 1st African American in country...
• The spiritual side of Dick Dale, the super-loud King of Surf Guitar...
• Mark Knopfler’s behind-the-scenes working style and tastes...
• Why Los Lobos’ Cesar Rosas left rock for Mexican trad and then came back...
• Albert King’s gradual development of his signature sound and playing style...
• How Rooftop Singer Bill Svanoe developed "Walk Right In" and the 12-string sound...
• The dark side of Bob Geldof’s humanitarian dedication...
• Why Bill Jennings, one of the 1950s’ top jazz guitarists, sank into oblivion...
• The true confessions of soul legend Bobby Womack...
• How Dónal Lunny introduced the bouzouki, plus revolutionized Irish folk music...
• The irrepressible career moves of Slim Whitman, “country“’s smash-selling maverick...
• How Django Reinhardt prompted Tony Iommi to become the father of metal...
• The story behind Eric Bogle’s political anthem “The Band Played Waltzing Matilda“...
• How Lefty Bates, who played with Jimmy Reed a.o., was in fact TWO people...
• Seminal blues artist Otis Rush’s decades-long struggle with adversity...
• How the English Beat’s Dave Wakeling unwittingly created a tuning and a genre...
• The epic & poetic story of Atahualpa Yupanqui, Argentina’s foremost songwriter...
• How Matt Beck went from prodigy child pianist to upside-down guitarist...
• A detailed look at Elizabeth Cotten’s upside-down fingerpicking technique...
• How jazzman Dickie Thompson wrote the B-side of rock’n’roll’s first single...
• The near-death and drug-bent blows of born-again Rusty Burns...

And so much more... Visit our "Focus On A Few Artists" page.

A 20-track CD was compiled especially for the book, including the following:

Beeb Birtles – "Relentless" from his gorgeous debut solo outing, Driven By Dreams.
Elliot Easton – "Monte Carlo Nights" typically Easton: fun, refined and impeccably crafted.
Gruff Rhys – "Pwdin Wy 2" original in Welsh from Super Furry Animals´ expert tunesmith.
Kokomo Arnold – "Old Original Kokomo Blues" remarkable 1934 recording of the song that Robert Johnson adapted into "Sweet Home Chicago."
John Flansburgh – "Guitar Was the Case" a humorous guitar-manic track from TMBG co-founder.
Joseph Carter III – "Chasing Light Through Sound" trio jazz, soul, and a tinge of Jimi.
Dick Dale – "Haji" another exciting signature tune from the Godfather of Loud.
Patto – "Let It Rock" a rare live recording displaying some of Ollie Halsall´s off-the-charts guitar technique.
Djamel Laroussi – "Mazal" a lush, fun-loving blend of rai, Kabyl, and salsa!
Rusty Burns – "My Soul Cries Out" Point Blank’s former leader bares his soul on this highly emotional instrumental.
Pere Soto – "El Caliqueño Del Califa" an original in the pure tradition of Django Reinhardt.
Américo Jacomino (Canhoto) – "Abismo de Rosas" extraordinary 1928 solo recording from the Eternal King of Brazilian Guitar.

And 8 more tracks from Damon Bramblett, Don Jones, Machiavel, Pierre Pesnon, Ed Deane, Houston Jones, Ira Siegel, and Jerry De Villiers Jr.

John Engel started writing his first music columns for a monthly magazine when he was 16. But his main music-related occupation at the time was singing and playing guitar. After performing as a singer-songwriter until his mid-twenties, he devoted all his time to his other passion: movies.

As a co-producer, second-unit director, and/or production manager, John has worked in Hollywood with such esteemed filmmakers as Brian De Palma, Tim Burton, Martin Campbell, Neil Jordan, and Joel Schumacher. He has written a variety of film scripts, fictional projects, music reviews as well as essays, and continues to write music, and play guitar - left-handed, of course.

John´s probing texts in Uncommon Sound are informed by his eclectic taste and passion for detail, and his intimate familiarity with his subjects´ struggles and motivations.