The Rolling Stones All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track

Since Mick Jagger and his band mates have been icons for more than five decades, they make fitting subjects for music biographer Philippe Margotin and musician Jean-Michel Guesdon. The meticulously researched Rolling Stones All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track covers the band's discography chronologically, from debut album to the collection released in 2012 celebrating the Stones' 50th anniversary.

Some stories are well known, such as Keith Richards's anecdote about having no memory of composing "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" in his sleep but luckily a tape recorder on his nightstand captured it--plus 40 minutes of snoring. Other revelations are more obscure, such as how "Beast of Burden" started as a song Richards wrote about himself being a burden on the band due to his drug habit.

Because they didn't interview the band members, Margotin and Guesdon use previously published information and often resort to speculation about the inspiration for each song. But the authors' thoroughness, along with more than 500 photographs, make this a handsome gift for Stone addicts. --Elyse Dinh-McCrillis, blogger at Pop Culture Nerd