Joe Boyd Announces Paperback Edition Of Acclaimed New Book And The Roots Of Rhythm Remain: A Journey Through Global Music (Ze Books / April 1) 

January 23, 2025 - Today, ZE Books and legendary producer, author, and raconteur Joe Boyd have announced the first paperback edition of Boyd’s acclaimed new book And The Roots Of Rhythm Remain: A Journey Through Global Music. Informed by decades of travel, research, interviews, listening, and many years spent producing groundbreaking music around the globe, And The Roots Of Rhythm Remain has been praised as a staggering literary achievement and a vivid celebration of the music that shaped how our world sounds. The paperback edition will be available April 1 following two sold-out hardcover printings since the book’s September release. 

Today, Boyd has also announced the official release of the audiobook of And The Roots Of Rhythm Remain (narrated by Boyd himself), which is available on Audible and soon on other platforms.

A sweeping history celebrating the impact of the world’s musical traditions on Western popular culture, And The Roots Of Rhythm Remain has been internationally acclaimed by readers and critics alike and featured on numerous ‘Best of 2024’ lists. MOJO Magazine praised it as “The War and Peace of World Music” in a 5/5 star review, while The Guardian found Boyd’s “epic account of global music’s cross-pollination … an inspiring tale of seduction, expression and freedom from oppression.” and PBS NewsHour aired a primetime interview on the book and Boyd’s long career. Boyd also shared a special excerpt from the book with Vanity Fair in advance of publication and has recently discussed the book on WTF w/ Marc Maron, NPR’s Here & Now, and PRX’s The World, with additional interviews in the Washington Post, Aquarium Drunkard, the Record Store Day podcast, and many more. 

Boyd is set to return to the US in March/April 2025, including a residency at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN. In addition to an on-stage Q&A with journalist and author Ann Powers, he will present a specially created audio-visual event celebrating the music and artists in his new book and will also introduce an exciting selection of films including his own productions (Aretha Franklin: Amazing Graceand Jimi Hendrix) and films linked to the book. Additional stops include Chicago’s Old Town School Of Folk Music on March 20th and The Local in Saugerties, NY on March 18th, with many more to be announced soon. This past fall, Boyd held book events across the U.S., including sold-out conversations with David Byrneand Joshua Jelly-Shapiro in NYC, Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads/Modern Lovers) in San Francisco, author Joe Nick Patoski in San Marcos, and Buddy Miller at Americanafest in Nashville. Boyd also celebrated the book’s UK release on stage with Brian Eno at Foyle’s in London. 

Known to many as the legendary producer behind notable recordings from Nick Drake, Pink Floyd, R.E.M., Maria Muldaur, Toots and the Maytals, Fairport Convention, and many more, as well as the founder of London’s iconic UFO Club, Joe Boyd’s acclaimed memoir White Bicycles: Making Music In The 1960s was praised by the New York Times as “an irresistible tale” and chosen by Elton Johnas his favorite book about music. 

More Praise For And The Roots Of Rhythm Remain:

A Financial Times, MOJO, Irish Times, PopMatters, UNCUT and

Songlines Book of the Year 2024

“What an amazing book! I doubt I’ll ever read a better account of the history and sociology of popular music than this one. It has me saying ‘Wow’ on every page.” 

- Brian Eno

“He helped to popularize ‘world music,’ and now he tells its vast story.” 

- Washington Post

“Sometimes it feels as if the whole world is squeezed into these 900-odd pages [. . .] Epic [. . .] His enthusiasm proves infectious; he is teacher, storyteller and, sometimes, provocateur.”  - The Times UK

“A marvelous adventure… A grand treat for musicophiles” - Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review 

“Love this book. Joe gives us the wider and deeper contexts that shaped music. And, in many cases, he was there. It's big, but it's a page turner!” - David Byrne

“A dazzling and magisterial history … I rank it amongst the three best books about music I have ever read.” - Nigel Williamson, Hi-Fi Choice

“Joe Boyd has an acute ear for music and an astute eye for talent. Here he reveals the searching intellect, the generous spirit, and the deep heart beneath his extraordinary life’s work.” - T Bone Burnett 

“A tour de force that will fascinate music lovers” - Library Journal, Starred Review

“One only hopes this can be taught in schools.” - Ry Cooder