'The Beatles' and 'Dream Boogie' top list of musical biographies

By JEFF GUINN
Knight Ridder Newspapers
Most biographies of music icons fall into one of two categories: worshipful, extended puff pieces or pompous "investigative" tomes that rely on sensationalism rather than thoughtful insight. Peter Guralnick bucked this trend in 1994 with "Last Train to Memphis" and again in 1999 with "Careless Love," groundbreaking biographies of Elvis Presley that were as much sociology as musicology. They emphasized that upbringing and opportunity are almost as critical to artistic genius as innate talent.
These intensely researched, intelligently presented books set a new, higher standard. Now, two more "musician" biographies deliver equally scintillating quality: Guralnick's "Dream Boogie" makes an impressive case for Sam Cooke as the catalyst of modern American pop music. And Bob Spitz's "The Beatles" finally provides coherent context for John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr as flawed but gifted human beings instead of one-dimensional, lovable moptops.
Any serious student of modern culture will want to read both, for they're as much about the cultures that molded these artists as they are about the individuals themselves.