‘On the Records’ Book: 80 Musicians on Beloved and Overlooked Albums

A new book, On the Records: 80 Musicians on Beloved and Overlooked Albums, described as “an intimate collection of essays from 80 widely acclaimed and esteemed artists,” is being published this fall. The title, via Clarkson Potter/Random House, arrives on Nov. 17, 2026. The essays, ranging from such musicians as Brian Eno, Erykah Badu, Dolly Parton, Bon Iver, and Tina Weymouth, each reveal an album that has resonated deeply with them and inspired their work. The book is available to order here.

From the publisher’s announcement: Discover the music that shaped Parton’s earliest memories through her mother’s voice, the rare recording that Black Thought of The Roots discovered and continues to draw from, the album that changed the way Chris Stapleton heard and approached music, as well as selections from both Billie Eilish and Finneas.

On the Records gathers musical hidden gems and word-of-mouth albums. Each essay features an album, artist, or a set of songs that the artist feels should have been considered classics among the collective consciousness but have been underappreciated. Some reflect chapters in the work of widely recognized artists, while others are long out of print, self-released, or hard to find. Many of the essays were written by the artists themselves, while others grew out of exclusive new conversations, shaped into written stories that preserve the voice and spirit of those exchanges. Each artist’s reflection is paired with album art and imagery that bring these records to life.

Some of the selections featured in On the Records: 80 Musicians on Beloved and Overlooked Albums.

This is the book for music-lovers who want to be inspired by the discovery of songs and sounds that they’ve never heard before. For listeners who value discovery and the deeper connections people form with great recordings, On the Records opens a path to extraordinary music, shared by the artists whose work has shaped the way we listen.

The book is authored by Brian Beck and Piotr Orlov. Beck has held almost every role in artist relations within the music world. He worked for record labels, moved into artist management, and then was the global head of music and entertainment for Sonos. Orlov is a writer, editor, educator, and publisher of the newsletter Dada Strain. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and The Village Voice, among other publications.