An all-star lineup of rock-n-rollers—from Jane’s Addiction’s Perry Farrell to Suzi Quatro and Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire—relay the uproariously wild, sentimental, and unexpected pre-stardom stories behind their favorite records.

Rock Stars on the Record is a collection of first-hand tales by artists of all ages, backgrounds, and musical influences, remembering the meaning behind the records that mattered most to them. From Laura Jane Grace to Ian MacKaye, Don McLean to Cherie Currie, Alice Bag to Mac DeMarco, and many more, bestselling author Eric Spitznagel talks to rock stars across the sonic spectrum about the albums that changed them in ways only music can change someone.

Everyone’s most cherished childhood record—be it a battered piece of vinyl, torn cassette tape, or scratched CD—has a story, and those stories can be more revealing about their owners than you might expect. Read about how “Weird Al” Yankovic refined his accordion skills by playing along to Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, or how Fishbone’s Angelo Moore saved his life with a boombox and a Bad Brains album. Or about how Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman of Prince’s longtime band, The Revolution, fell in love while trading mixtapes.

Each profile is more emotional, fascinating, and hilarious than the last. So place that needle in the groove, and prepare to hear something revelatory from your favorite rockers past and present.

Eric Spitznagel is the author and editor of ten books, including Old Records Never Die: One Man’s Quest for His Vinyl and His Past, a Hudson Booksellers Best Nonfiction Book of the Year. He’s been a frequent contributor to magazines like Playboy, Esquire, Vanity Fair, Men’s Health, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and the New York Times, among others. He lives in Chicago with his wife and a piano prodigy son, who creates songs from scratch that suggest a possible contract with the devil at the crossroads.