Composers and songwriters Books
Kahn & Averill American Minimal Music
Book SynopsisThis is the first book which deals with the school of American repetitive music, also know as minimal music. The early work of La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich and Philip Glass is discussed in the context of traditional Western music. Minimal music thus emerges as the latest stage in a development leading from Schoenberg, Webern, Stockhausen and Cage. In considering the philosophical thinking of Deleuze and Lyotard, the representatives of the so-called French ' libidinal philosophy', and of Adorno, the author examines the degree to which the 'ecstatic dimension' is present in this music or is even consciously introduced to it.Trade Review'...Merten's book ...is both analytical and polemical, distant and personal, limited to the music itself and yet posiitoning that music in a wider aesthetic/ideological context than is customary' - Michael NymanTable of ContentsPreface by Michael Nyman, Part One: American Minimal Music: 1.1 La Monte Young, 1.2 Terry Riley, 1.3 Steve Reich, 1.4 Philip Glass, 1.5 Basic Concepts of Minimal Music, Part Two: The Historical Developments of Basic Concepts: 2.1 Arnold Schoenberg, 2.2 Webern and Post-serialism, 2.3 Stockhausen, 2.4 John Cage, Part Three: Ideology: 3.1 T W Adorno, 3.2 Libidinal Philosophy, Bibliography, Acknowledgements
£14.95
Headline Publishing Group The Little Book of the Rolling Stones: Wisdom and
Book Synopsis"There's the sun, there's the moon, there's the air we breathe, and there's the Rolling Stones."KEITH RICHARDSSince their formation in 1962, the Rolling Stones have captivated audiences worldwide with their electrifying performances, iconic songs and rebellious spirit. Their longevity and ability to evolve with the times have cemented their status as cultural icons, garnering legions of devoted fans across generations.Known as one of the most iconic rock bands in history, the Rolling Stones have sold over 250 million albums worldwide, making them on of the best-selling music artists of all time. From their ground-breaking albums, such as "Sticky Fingers" and "Exile on Main St." to their legendary live shows, they continue to resonate with audiences, ensuring their enduring popularity in the records of music history.The Little Book of the Rolling Stones is the perfect companion for Stones fans everywhere, with a collection of bite-sized quips that capture exactly what has made the band so legendary. From insightful quotes by fellow artists, collaborators and friends, to words of wit and wisdom from Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and the rest of the band, this little book is the perfect way to keep rockin' on.Table of ContentsIntroduction. Stray Cats. Street Fighting Men. It's Only Rock 'n' Roll. Prodigal Sons. Can't Get No. The Glimmer Twins.
£7.44
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Passionate Spirit
Book Synopsis__________________________''Fascinating ... Haste paints a portrait of a woman who was born to triumph, not surrender'' - Harper's Bazaar''Written in elegant, lucid prose ... a treasure trove of European cultural riches and scandalous intrigue Compelling'' - Economist''Lively, well illustrated and enjoyably juicy'' - Miranda Seymour, Financial Times__________________________The life of an extraordinary artist and intellect: the composer, author and socialite Alma Mahler, whose life spanned one of the most captivating and dramatic periods in historyAlma Mahler was once at the epicentre of Vienna's artistic and intellectual life. A talented composer in her own right, she was open, generous, remarkably creative, curious, challenging and zealous in her pursuit of love. Artists, architects, musicians and writers jostled to join her coterie. Gustav Klimt was her first kiss; Gustav MTrade ReviewFascinating ... Haste paints a portrait of a woman who was born to triumph, not surrender * Harper’s Bazaar *Cate Haste’s seductively accessible biography offers a sympathetic interpretation of Alma’s life. Written in elegant, lucid prose, her book is a treasure trove of European cultural riches and scandalous intrigue … [Alma] emerges as a tough, lively, cultured and wilful woman … Compelling * Economist *Lively, well illustrated and enjoyably juicy -- Miranda Seymour * Financial Times *A welcome and engaging narrative of a life that, surely, has not yet been fully explored -- Gillian Moore * Literary Review *[An] absorbing biography ... Through reference to diaries, letters and interviews with Mahler’s granddaughter, Haste draws a portrait of a complex, highly accomplished woman … Mahler is depicted as a woman who not only facilitated the creative pursuits of her husbands, but was an intellectual force in her own right -- Hannah Beckerman * Observer *
£12.34
Yale University Press Women and the Piano A History in 50 Lives
Book Synopsis
£11.39
Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group Inc Broken Music
Book Synopsis
£12.59
HarperCollins Publishers Say Everything
Book SynopsisUnfiltered and uncensored, actress Ione Skye's memoir is a wild ride of Hollywood thrills, confessions, and desire, as well as a deeply meditative and lyrical reflections of a messy, sexy, unapologetically unconventional life.In 1987, sixteen-year-old Ione Skye landed the breakout role of Diane Court, the dream girl who inspires John Cusack's iconic boombox serenade in the hit Cameron Crowe film, Say Anything. While Skye seemed perfectly typecast as an aloof valedictorian, her reality was much messier.The love child of a magnetic '60s It Girl and the folk-singing legend Donovan, Skye chased her absent father's approval throughout her life. Wounded by his rejection, she sought warmth through infatuations and affairs with the brightest lights in her pathKeanu Reeves, River Phoenix, Matthew Perry, John Cusack, and Robert Downey, Jr., as well as '90s bad girls like Jenny Shimizu, Ingrid Casares, and Alice Temple. On the heels of a toxic teen relationship with the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Ant
£18.70
University of Illinois Press Bird The Life and Music of Charlie Parker
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Impressive detail, a notable addition to the extensive Music in American Life Series."--Booklist"A well-researched and rapidly consumed book."--AllAboutJazz.com"As comprehensive and appreciative as any of the past Parker literature."--The Santa Fe New Mexican"This is a wonderful, loving, yet unsparing look at Bird's life. Haddix's research is stunning."--Kim Parker"I couldn't put this book down! This is a must read! A very important book. Congratulations to Chuck Haddix for bringing more clarity to the life of Charlie Parker."--Bobby Watson, Director of Jazz Studies, UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance"Finally, a biography that includes a detailed account of Bird's formative years. One feels that Haddix's research may open new discussions about this flawed genius, and the wonderfully detailed aspects of Parker's early life present a hitherto unknown aspect of a tragically short but immensely influential existence. Almost sixty years since Parker's death, this book is surprisingly the first comprehensive account of the life of one of the last century's foremost and yet enigmatic musicians. Essential reading for any jazz musician."--Llew Walker, creator of www.birdlives.co.uk"Balancing historical research and anecdotal information, Haddix artfully crafts a rich context for understanding the musical genius—-and enigma—that was Bird. . . . the book's pacing, numerous quotes from other musicians, and references to legal practices of the time make it hard to put down. Highly recommended."--Choice"A detailed and well-proportioned linear narrative. Assiduous about assigning dates, where possible, to previously vague areas of chronology."--Jazzwise "Clearly the most complete account of the saxophonist's early life and career. What emerges from Bird is a much more human tale that we have not heard before."--Popmatters.com "Bird makes extensive use of primary-source material, much of it hitherto unknown. . . . It sets forth the known facts of Parker's brief life in a way that is unusually thorough for so concise a book."--Commentary "A straightforward, no-frills chronicle of the alto saxophonist. Thanks to diligent research, it pieces together the disparate fragments of Parker's turbulent private life into a persuasive, coherent and convincing narrative."--Record Collector Magazine "A studiously researched overview of the man, it underscores how Parker's life was as concise as his influence was infinite."--Los Angeles Magazine
£13.29
Outline Press Ltd Monkees, Head, and the 60s
Book SynopsisHow has a group conceived as a short-lived commodity outlived many more 'real' bands by nearly fifty years? Why are The Monkees still important, and what does this tell us about their music, their TV show, and our understanding of popular culture today? Despite being built in Hollywood, and not necessarily to last, that is precisely what their music, TV, and cinematic output has done. They in many ways unique-as the first 'made for TV' band, their success introduced methods of marketing pop that have since become standard industry practice; their 'big screen' use of film and images in live performance is likewise now a firmly established principle of concert staging; and in the way they changed the rules of the game, taking control over their own affairs at the height of the success, risking magnificent failure by doing so. The Monkees invented a new kind of TV, gave a new model to the music industry, and left behind one of the most enigmatic movies of the modern era, Head. This book is about all that and more. Beginning by exploring the origins and personalities of the four Monkees before looking in depth at their work together on screen, on stage, and on record, this is the first serious study of the band and the first to fully acknowledge their importance to the development of pop as we now know it.
£13.46
Simon & Schuster Ltd 100 Songs
Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE 2016 NOBEL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE‘100 Songs is a good start, for anybody lucky enough to be starting out with such a genius’ The London Evening StandardA new collection of Bob Dylan’s most essential lyrics – one hundred songs that represent the Nobel Laureate’s incredible musical range through the entirety of his career so far. ‘The Nobel acknowledges what we’ve long sensed to be true; that Mr. Dylan is among the most authentic voices America has produced, a maker of images as audacious and resonant as anything in Walt Whitman or Emily Dickinson.’ Dwight Garner, New York Times 'The Nobel committee got this right – Dylan’s ongoing achievement in American song is a literary feat to celebrate in his gaudiest of ways.’ Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone Bob Dylan is one of the most important songwrit
£13.49
Little, Brown Book Group High School A Memoir
Book SynopsisFrom iconic musicians Tegan and Sara comes a nostalgic memoir about high school, detailing their first loves and first songs in a compelling look back at their origin story. ''Genius'' Augusten Burroughs, author of Running with Scissors''A gift'' Elliot Page, actor''Utterly charming'' Carmen Maria Machado, author of Her Body and Other PartiesBefore they became international musicians and LGBTQ+ icons, twin sisters Sara and Tegan Quin came of age in 90s Canada. They argued relentlessly, skipped school, dropped acid and fell in and out of love - sometimes with their best friends. One day they found their stepdad''s guitar and their lives changed course forever.High School is a revelatory joint memoir. It captures two sisters wrestling with their sexual and artistic identities and those breathtaking years when the future seems wondrously possible.Trade ReviewThis account of the pains and pleasures of dirtbag queer-girl adolescence is everything you could want from a memoir: honest and hilarious, dishy and sweet, smart and self-aware and utterly charming. What a gift to get this view of Tegan and Sara as sisters, as friends, and as artistic collaborators, as they were becoming musical icons, and-more importantly-themselvesElegant and evocative . . . High School tells their story from 15 to 18 when they first took drugs, got girlfriends and picked up guitars -- Rebecca Nicholson * Guardian *What a gift to read the coming of age story of the brilliant Tegan and Sara. High School gives us a glimpse into the struggles and triumphs of both sisters as individuals and an evolving band. Their vulnerability, honesty and compassion, bursts through, and I know will make countless people feel less alone. It is so important for the LGBTQ+ community to have memoirs like this to be able to recognize themselves and be inspired to follow their truth. Oh what I would have done to have this book in high school. I am endlessly grateful to Tegan and Sara for giving so much to this worldTo navigate the experiential landscape of high school is always an emotional minefield. To have Tegan and Sara unabashedly share the perspective of young lesbians is a rare and invaluable gift. The kind of empathetic education our society is starved forIt should come as no surprise to anyone who has ever listened to a song by Tegan and Sara, that while not only are they able to convey the raw and complex emotions of the high school experience, the aimlessness of suburban life and the exhilaration of finding your way out, they also speak universal truths about intimacy between families and sisters, friends and lovers. They've captured a time and a place so perfectly, I can't exactly be sure that I wasn't thereIntense, vulnerable and life-affirming. Tegan and Sara take us back through their whirlwind journey, densely packed with the intricate complications and the envious, unspoken connection of growing up an identical twinA genius memoir. Tegan and Sara are massively gifted songwriters, so it shouldn't have shocked me like it did. There's simply nothing like it. It's a completely original, utterly gripping, gorgeously written and captivating memoir that must be read. Tegan and Sara are bold, brilliant storytellers. High School is the freshest, most beautiful and fearlessly powerful coming-of-age memoirWith their music, Tegan and Sara offer listeners a glimpse at a specific time and place. In High School, they throw the door open and allow readers the opportunity to become fully immersed in their world. Tegan and Sara's stories of first loves, self discovery, and the insights into their relationship with each other are deeply moving and relatable. They never hold back from the absolute authenticity they are known for. I never wanted it to endHigh school is a drag, but it's also a revelation, a space to craft your identity and, for Tegan and Sara Quin, a destiny-defining place. Tegan and Sara have consolidated first experiences, acid trips, queer loves, and losses in their blistering new memoir High School . . . A glorious, warts-and-all coming-of-age story . . . For music fans and young queer people to hold closeCandid, tender, courageously honest, and heartbreakingly familiar; I could see myself and my own experience reflected in these stories, more so than in anything else I've ever read. Reading this book moved me deeplyHigh School highlights the indisputable fact that Tegan and Sara were never just musicians-they are master storytellers. In reflecting on that torturous span of time spent agonizing over one's body, friendships, parents, and desires, this book highlights how high school is less of a place or memory but a metaphor for uncertainty, and underlines the salvation that can only be found in music. High School foreshadows the beginning of a rich and riveting literary careerThis book is one of the most interesting and brave coming-of-age stories I have read in many years. Tegan and Sara reveal the confusion, the unraveling of personal truths, the fear, the excitement, the shame and the seclusion that many of us endure as we make our way through the world. This is also a book about how music saves people, how music gives us a voice and a reason to keep goingThis book is the LSD-fueled, wallet-chained, Kurt Cobain-inspired handbook of how to become young, queer rock stars, written by chapter-swapping twins who I wish I had read when I was in high school. This book would have changed everything. I recommend reading it under the covers with a flashlight, and hiding it from your motherHigh School embodies the singular gift of words leaping off of the page and becoming feelings, rattling around in the hearts and minds of a reader. The truth of nostalgia is that it must have multiple lenses to operate in its most flourishing form. Much like in their music, in this book, the voices of Tegan and Sara are two distinct bodies of water flowing into the same harmonious river, spilling through the echoing hallways of old high schools, through the bedrooms of first heartbreaks, through the old haunts that remind you of your own. This book is a triumph of memory, affection, and engaging writingWritten with passion and clarity in chapters that alternate between sisters, it's at once testimony to the way life seldom turns out as expected - and the strength of an emotional bond unbroken since birth * Q Magazine *A transcendent coming of age story for our times * Q Magazine *
£10.44
Yale University Press Schubert
Book SynopsisAn insightful biography of the great composer, revealing Schubert’s complex and fascinating private life alongside his musical geniusTrade Review“A fascinating and invaluable addition to this burgeoning literature. . . . No one alive is better equipped to slay the various Schubert myths—and her biography is undoubtedly the most scrupulous and best-informed so far.”—Ivan Hewett, The Telegraph“[A] remarkably informative book, revealing musical and historical insights that have long been hidden.”—Laura Tunbridge, Times Literary Supplement“This is fascinating material. . . . Illuminating observations, which are numerous, are embedded in thornier material.”—Henrietta Bredin, Country Life“Such insights, such close reading and empathetic understanding of the motives of the figures involved make this an invaluable addition to Schubert biography.”—David Threasher, Gramophone“With her unique combination of archival zeal, literary brilliance, meticulous knowledge of scholarly sources, and incisive musical acumen, Lorraine Byrne Bodley has produced a masterpiece: a fascinating and nuanced biography that does full justice to this complex, towering figure.”—Michael Beckerman, Carroll and Milton Petrie Professor of Music, New York University“This is a biography for the ages. Its scholarship is oceanic, and its profoundly empathetic engagement with Schubert as man and musician is steeped in the felt life and thought of early nineteenth-century Vienna. A heroic, serenely-considered and compelling achievement.”—Harry White, professor of music, University College Dublin“Lorraine Byrne Bodley is a gifted storyteller who guides the reader through Schubert’s life with deep psychological insight. This illuminating book connects the biography and the musical works of the troubled wayfarer, creating an intriguing link between the author’s life and the protagonist of his famous Winterreise.”—Andrea Lindmayr-Brandl, director of the Schubert Research Centre, Austrian Academy of Sciences, professor of music, University of Salzburg“This book is an event: Lorraine Byrne Bodley slays any number of calcified myths, delves into European sources never explored before in this depth, and loops back and forth between works and biography in a way that illumines both. All Schubert-lovers will gain much from this revelatory magnum opus.”—Susan Youens, Emeritus Professor of Music, University of Notre Dame“This biography, written with empathy palpable on every page, draws a multifaceted portrait of both the man and the composer Schubert—a fascinating picture in which life and works are related to each other in many ways.”—Thomas Seedorf, president, International Schubert Society, NSA
£28.50
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Rolling Stones Sixty Years
Book SynopsisA new, updated edition of Christopher Sandford's classic biography of the band, The Rolling Stones is a gripping account of the band's remarkable 60 years at the top of the rock industry. In 1962 Mick Jagger was a bright, well-scrubbed boy (planning a career in the civil service), while Keith Richards was learning how to smoke and to swivel a six-shooter. Add the mercurial Brian Jones (who'd been effectively run out of Cheltenham for theft, multiple impregnations and playing blues guitar), the wryly opinionated Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts, and the potential was obvious.During the 1960s and 70s the Rolling Stones were the polarising figures in Britain, admired in some quarters for their flamboyance, creativity and salacious lifestyles, and reviled elsewhere for the same reasons. Confidently expected never to reach 30, the band is now celebrating 60 years together with a European touTrade Review'Sandford gamely makes his way through the binges and the arrears, the marital break-ups and the internecine feuds, and finds an uproarious comedy in the luxuriant squalor and knockabout chaos of it all.' * Observer *'A highly professional reference biography that, if you pardon the expression, leaves no Stone unturned and is by no means bereft of memorable anecdotes.' -- Charles Shaar Murray * Literary Review *'Sex and the Stones laid bare in candid new book.' * Sun *'[Sandford] does a good job of giving us the full story in humorous tones. Tales of friendships, flings, rivalries (especially the central one between Jagger and Richards) are all told with welcome irreverence.' * Independent *'A new book on the Rolling Stones reveals Mick Jagger once arrived on court for a tennis match against Keith Richards togged out in Wimbledon-style whites. Keef rolled up in cut-off jeans, with a fag in his mouth and thrashed Mick 6-1. What s not to love about the guy?' * People *
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers Ticket to the World
Book SynopsisTicket to the World is a joyous, nostalgic celebration of 80s culture from one man at the centre of it all. New Year's Eve, 1979. My family and I stand arm in arm around our Formica kitchen table, counting down to the new decade with each televised chime of Big Ben. We have no idea what is about to hit us, no idea of the seismic waves of change approaching.The 80s transformed life as we knew it. Music, style and culture exploded in a haze of dayglo colour. There were hardships, but there were opportunities too. And I lived through and helped to shape Britain's last real youth movement.Ticket to the World is my time-warp trip down memory lane, reliving that truly unforgettable decade. Join me as I recall what it was like to lead the New Romantics, stay up all night at the Blitz with Sade and Boy George, travel the world with Spandau Ballet and contribute to the era-defining Live Aid.So, grab that glass of Babycham and let's toast the very best of the 80s: the creativity and the culture, the fashion and the FUN!Trade Review‘A brilliant storyteller’ – James O’Brien ‘Celebrates the 80s as the decade that made him’ – Guardian
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Chopins Piano
Book Synopsis''Beguiling ... Limpidly written, effortlessly learned'' William Boyd, TLS, Books of the YearIn November 1838 Frédéric Chopin, George Sand and her two children sailed to Majorca to escape the Parisian winter. They settled in an abandoned monastery at Valldemossa in the mountains above Palma, where Chopin finished what would eventually be recognised as one of the great and revolutionary works of musical Romanticism - his 24 Preludes. There was scarcely a decent piano on the island (these were still early days in the evolution of the modern instrument), so Chopin worked on a small pianino made by a local craftsman, which remained in their monastic cell for seventy years after he and Sand had left.This brilliant and unclassifiable book traces the history of Chopin''s 24 Preludes through the instruments on which they were played, the pianists who interpreted them and the traditions they came to represent. Yet it begins and ends with the Majorcan pianino, which during the Second World War assumed an astonishing cultural potency as it became, for the Nazis, a symbol of the man and music they were determined to appropriate as their own.The unexpected hero of the second part of the book is the great keyboard player and musical thinker Wanda Landowska, who rescued the pianino from Valldemossa in 1913, and who would later become one of the most influential musical figures of the twentieth century. Kildea shows how her story - a compelling account based for the first time on her private papers - resonates with Chopin''s, while simultaneously distilling part of the cultural and political history of Europe and the United States in the central decades of the century. Kildea''s beautifully interwoven narratives, part cultural history and part detective story, take us on an unexpected journey through musical Romanticism and allow us to reflect freshly on the changing meaning of music over time.Trade ReviewA wonderful book about music, musicians, cultural similarities and differences, the blood and gore of revolutionary times and the compensations of high art. Kildea writes with elegance and wit, and displays the kind of scholarship that does not come from simply mugging up on a few books. ... A book that will, amongst other things, send the reader back with fresh ears to the delightful, tormented Pole, and hear the music he composed on a borrowed piano in a monastery cell in Mallorca one terrible winter -- Michael Henderson * The Times *Chopin's Piano takes the motif of this piano - "Out of date before it was completed"; its maker Juan Bauza unknown and possibly an amateur - and uses it to tie together various narrative strands in an original, constantly interesting format. As it does it tells the story of Chopin's work, the development of piano making, and how music became inextricably linked to atrocities in the 20th century. -- Jonathan McAloon * Financial Times *An episodic, picaresque tale, woven confidently - at times even pacily - by Kildea. He writes knowledgeably and approachably about music and sympathetically about his cast of characters. It is the story of an obsession, but it manages not to feel obsessional. ... I enjoyed it very much. -- Alan Rusbridger * Spectator *
£999.99
Penguin Books Ltd Berlioz Servitude and Greatness 18321869
Book SynopsisBerlioz was one of the towering figures of Romanticism: not only was he a great and revolutionary composer, but also the finest composer of his day and an outstanding critic and writer. Yet throughout his life he struggled for money and his music was persistently reviled in his native France. With exceptional insight and sympathy, David Cairns draws together the major strands of Berlioz''s life: his tempestuous marriage to the actress Harriet Smithson; the genesis of his famous works, including the Requiem, Romeo and Juliet and his crowning masterpiece The Trojans; his friendships with Mendelssohn, Liszt, Princess Wittgenstein and Wagner; and, finally, his last years haunted once again by personal tragedy. Here, as never before, is Berlioz the artist - and the man.
£18.99
The University of Chicago Press Beethoven
Book SynopsisTrade Review"With a keen ear attuned to both musical and historical salience, Kinderman reveals the animating presence of the political in almost every aspect of Beethoven's life, his work, and his legacy. In doing so, he illuminates the crucial context from which to assess Beethoven's astonishing achievement of a moral ideal that has resounded from the Age of Revolution to our own times."--Scott Burnham, City University of New York "Kinderman has written a fresh and fascinating book packed with intriguing thoughts and unexpected alignments about how Beethoven's politics translated themselves into Beethoven's music. This is a book that awakens the reader not only with its content, but with the love and enthusiasm of its author."--Patrick Summers, artistic and music director, Houston Grand Opera "This book is a timely contribution to the current trend towards interpreting art primarily in political terms. Placing his aesthetic commentary in a well-grounded biographical and historical context, Kinderman illuminates the political aspects of Beethoven's life and outlook. He goes on to discuss the ways in which a number of Beethoven's important works reflect the composer's lifelong belief in freedom and progress as both personal and universal values."--Lewis Lockwood, author of 'Beethoven: The Music and the Life'Table of ContentsPreface I. A Tale of Two Cities: Bonn to Vienna II. The Sublime and Inverted Sublime III. Beethoven in Heiligenstadt IV. Path to the Eroica V. Leonore as “Angel of Freedom” VI. From Grätz to Wagram and Leipzig VII. A Double Chill: Beethoven in Metternich’s Vienna VIII. Then and Now: The Ninth Symphony Acknowledgments List of Illustrations and Examples Note about Abbreviations Sources and Documents Index
£29.45
Yale University Press Playing with Fire
Book SynopsisTrade Review“Playing with Fire is a ground-breaking work—a phenomenal biography of a towering human spirit of everlasting relevance.”—Norman Lebrecht, Wall Street Journal“Wilson, a Moscow-trained cellist and biographer of Shostakovich, has found details of, it seems, every concerto, every appearance, every job Yudina did.”—John Lloyd, Financial Times“As this fascinating book shows, the real story of Yudina is more moving and extraordinary than any of the myths.”—Ivan Hewett, Daily Telegraph“The author of biographies of Shostakovich and Rostropovich turns her attention to the great Soviet pianist Maria Yudina (1899–1970), famous for eccentricity and moral courage. Wilson emphasizes Yudina’s passionate intellectual life; a disciple of Bakhtin, . . . she was as interested in philosophy as she was in music.”—New Yorker“Wilson illuminates the life of one of twentieth-century Russia’s most brilliant pianists and uncompromising individuals. . . . Through her meticulous research, Wilson disabuses us of the many legends that surround Yudina’s peculiar character.”—Nadia Beard, Times Literary Supplement“Wilson, a musician and writer who authored a fine book on Dmitri Shostakovich, has now produced the first English-language biography of Maria Yudina, one of Russia’s greatest twentieth-century pianists. Her study gains strength from its vivid reconstruction of the classical music scene under Soviet rule.”—Tony Barber, Financial Times, “Best Summer Books of 2022: History”“The author is extremely well placed to narrate Yudina’s life and provide some insight into her art. . . . Reading a biography of her as thorough and informed as Playing with Fire, one grows ever more incredulous that she survived so long and went on performing until very near the end of her life.”—Michael Tanner, Spectator“An insight into the agony of intellectual life under [Stalin’s] rule”—Sophie Roell, Five Books, “Notable Nonfiction of Early 2022”“An adroit and revealing narrative of [Maria] Yudina’s life”—Michael Prodger, New Statesman“Wilson follows Yudina carefully from her birth in what is now Belarus to her death in Moscow in 1970. The threads of her life interweave to illustrate not only an astonishing career, but also aspects of Russian life and culture before and during the Soviet era. . . . Clearly, this book is filled with dramatic experiences and detail, but Wilson’s craft as a storyteller ensures that it is a captivating read.”—Vin Arthey, The Scotsman“This book is filled with dramatic experiences and detail, but Wilson's craft as a storyteller ensures that it is a captivating read.”—Vin Arthey, Yorkshire Post“Clearly and unpretentiously written, with sensitive but never blindly hagiographic appreciations of Yudina’s recordings. Where they were dissenting voices about the quality of Yudina’s playing or teaching, she does not hesitate to report them. The text is also studded with fascinating asides.”—David Fanning, Gramophone“This most satisfying biography and appreciation of one of the twentieth-century’s greatest pianists brims over with facts, anecdotes and observations. It’s both an invaluable document and an absorbing and stimulating read. . . . It is surely definitive.”—Stephen Greenbank, MusicWeb International“A brilliant pianist closely connected with the leading lights of 20th-century Russian music, literature and philosophy, Maria Yudina was a seminal figure whose devout religious beliefs brought her into direct collision with the Soviet state. Elizabeth Wilson's great achievement is to have brought Yudina's extraordinary life out of the shadows. With this revelatory biography she takes us deep into the heart of Russian artistic genius at its most passionate and uncompromising.”—Rosamund Bartlett, author of Chekhov Scenes from a Life and Tolstoy: A Russian Life “Maria Yudina, one of the great pianists of the 20th century, reached cult status in the USSR, but is still little known abroad. This fascinating biography by Elizabeth Wilson, combining scholarly erudition and captivating storytelling, not only fills this gap but reads like a powerful Russian novel!”—Mikhail Rudy, award-winning concert pianist “So much more than a great and deeply unusual pianist, Maria Yudina was at once mystic and visionary, a pioneer of modernism and a tremendous friend to those who loved her. Few writers and musicians in the English-speaking world are better placed than Elizabeth Wilson to tell the story of this mysterious and far too little-known 20th century musician. And the story is a revelation.”—Gerard McBurney, composer and writer “An engaging read that tells the story of Russia’s preeminent pianist of the 20th century in lucid and approachable language, this long-needed book illuminates Maria Yudina’s work and life through recollections of her contemporaries and considerable archival research.”—Elena Dubinets, Artistic Director of the London Philharmonic Orchestra “Presents an absorbing picture of a tragic period of Russian history. At its center is the towering figure of Maria Yudina, a remarkable pianist and one of the most influential personalities of Soviet cultural life. A riveting read.”—Boris Berman, Head of Piano, Yale University School of Music
£23.75
Hachette Books Do What You Want
Book Synopsis"The all-access autobiography of Bad Religion, a Southern Californian institution and one of the most influential and long-standing punk rock bands of all time In 1980, punk was declared dead in New York, done-for in London, banned in Hollywood. And yet just under the radar, the punk rock virus had continued to spread, slowly inching its way through the breezy beach towns of Southern California and into the edgier interior of East LA. Embraced by the skaters and surfers, and hated by just about everyone else, the LA punk scene ebbed and flowed in the early '80s, each wave ushering in an increasingly aggressive cycle of reformers. It was within this hotbed of deliberate dissonance, lyrical intensity, and untapped teen angst that Bad Religion was born. In Do What You Want, the legendary band tells us the story of their success in their own words, from jamming out in a 'hell hole-ish' garage in the 1980s to headlining sold-out festivals like Coachella, Lollapalooza, Riot Fest, and more. O
£14.24
WW Norton & Co So Much Things to Say
Book SynopsisThe world’s leading reggae scholar spent forty years interviewing Bob Marley and his closest confidants. This is the definitive telling of Bob Marley’s life.Trade Review"If Bob Marley is Jesus in these times, Roger Steffens is Peter." -- Carlos Santana"... absorbing oral history... So Much Things to Say is a major work that helps us better understand Marley's tragic yet inspirational tale." -- Mojo"... absorbing "oral history"... So Much Things to Say is a fitting tribute to the tumultuous life and complex character of the country’s favourite son." -- The Observer"So Much Things to Say, an 'oral' account of Marley's life and times, amounts to an absorbing alternative biography." -- The Spectator"Steffens identifies many more pieces of the man than have ever before been put together in one book." -- The Guardian"[So Much Things to Say] narrates the life of Marley from cradle to grave... Steffens has been on the Marley case for decades, and he’s a crucial voice in this epic chorus... Illuminating." -- Touré - The New York Times Book Review"There have been dozens of Bob Marley books, but this 2017 oral history, decades in the making, is definitive." -- Rolling Stone"For decades Steffens has been a leading authority on Bob Marley. Here he identifies many more pieces of the man than have ever before been put together in one book... Steffens marshals his sources with skill, and we’re left with a complex representation." -- The Guardian
£17.09
Faber & Faber Indian Sun The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar
Book SynopsisA Times, Spectator, TLS and BBC Music Magazine Book of the YearFascinating.' GuardianSuperlative.' The TimesDefinitive.' ObserverAs an icon of India, Ravi Shankar ranks not far below Gandhi or the Taj Mahal. He was one of the twentieth century's most important musicians, the breadth of his impact reflected in those he influenced: George Harrison, John Coltrane, Philip Glass and Yehudi Menuhin, to name a few. In this first biography of Ravi Shankar, Oliver Craske presents a full portrait of the man and the artist, painting a vivid picture of the public and private faces of a captivating, restless workaholic who lived an intense and extraordinary life across ninety-two years. A masterly chronicle of a life teeming with all-too-human incident but heavenly inspiration.' The Times
£11.69
Faber & Faber Excavate
Book SynopsisTHE LOUDER THAN WAR #1 BOOK OF THE YEARA ROUGH TRADE, THE TIMES, MOJO, UNCUT BOOK OF THE YEARThoroughly engrossing, insightful and immersive.' Record CollectorOver a prolific forty-year career, the Fall created a world that was influential, idiosyncratic and fiercely original; it was an education. Who wouldn't want to be armed with a working knowledge of M. R. James, contemporary dance and Manchester City.Bringing together previously unseen artwork, rare ephemera and handwritten material, alongside essays by a slate of fans, Excavate! is a vivid, definitive record an illumination of the dark corners of the Fall's wonderful and frightening world.As jagged and as curveball-hurling as peak-period Fall, Excavate! is a box of tricks, lovingly curated . . . tantalising' The i''To 50,000 Fall Fans: please buy this inspired & inspiring, profound & provocative, beautiful & bonkers Book of Revelations.'' David PeaceGorgeous' The Washington Post
£17.00
Orion Publishing Co Everything Is Connected
Book SynopsisA memoir by the master pianist, conductor and internationalist Daniel Barenboim - ''the closest thing that classical music can offer to Nelson Mandela'' [THE TIMES]''The power of music lies in is its ability to speak to all aspects of the human being-the animal, the emotional, the intellectual, and the spiritual. Music teaches us, in short, that everything is connected''Daniel Barenboim''s new book vividly describes his lifelong pursuit of knowledge and understanding, not only of music and of life, but of one through the other.Trade ReviewBarenboim's book is at its best when he explains the unique status of music. He describes brilliantly how it works and the way in which its intricacies and logic justify his faith that everything is connected...It establishes him as the most pure-hearted and, therefore, anguished advocate of the lasting importance of art. * SUNDAY TIMES *Politically and emtionally charged, this is a forceful volume. -- James Urquhart * FINANCIAL TIMES *'He is as elegant at the word processor as he is on the podium.' -- Nicholas Bagnall * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *
£9.99
McNidder & Grace Elvis Presley Caught in a Trap
Book SynopsisPublished to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Elvis' death. With exclusive interviews with fellow musicians, promoters and those who knew them, and with much unique material, this is one of the most comprehensive accounts of Elvis Presley and his career.
£13.50
Vintage Publishing The Captain's Apprentice: Ralph Vaughan Williams
Book Synopsis***WINNER OF THE NEW ANGLE PRIZE FOR LITERATURE******WINNER OF THE HWA NON-FICTION AWARD***A beautifully written exploration of the world of Edwardian folk music, and its influence on the composer Ralph Vaughan WilliamsIn January 1905 the young Vaughan Williams, not yet one of England's most famous composers, visited Norfolk to find folk songs 'from the mouths of the singers'. An old fisherman, James 'Duggie' Carter, performed 'The Captain's Apprentice', a brutal tale of torture sung to the most beautiful tune the young composer had ever heard.With this transformational moment at its heart, the book traces the contrasting lives of the well-to-do composer and a forgotten cabin boy who died at sea, and brings fresh perspectives on folk-song collectors, the singers and their songs.***AS READ ON BBC RADIO 4***'A quirky, fascinating read. Davison excels in evoking English landscapes' Sunday Times 'Animated, entertaining... Presenting a richly complex picture of a subject that can all too easily be shrouded in a sentimental haze' Daily TelegraphTrade ReviewThe book makes for a quirky, fascinating read. Davison excels in evoking English landscapes, especially in Vaughan Williams's beloved fen country -- Christopher Hart * The Sunday Times *The Captain's Apprentice explores a more profound and complex seam of folk discovery, and concentrates on a single life-changing episode in Vaughan Williams' life... [it is] well written and researched -- Ian Thomson * Financial Times *Animated, entertaining . . . quietly sensitive to ironies and ambiguities without being pretentious, presenting a richly complex picture of a subject that can all too easily be shrouded in a sentimental haze * Daily Telegraph *Davison's evocative, far from linear approach does great service to the composer * Literary Review *A sadistic murder and the staggering words of a song drive Davison's obsession to unravel this vivid story of lives, landscapes and musical inspiration. No stone is left unturned in the meticulous gathering. Her gift is a work of love and infinite care -- Keggie Carew, Costa Award-winning author of DADLAND
£10.44
Hal Leonard Corporation Liberty: Life, Billy and the Pursuit of Happiness
Book Synopsis
£18.00
Boydell & Brewer Ltd A Performer’s Guide to the Piano Music of Samuel
Book SynopsisThis comprehensive study of the piano music of award-winning American composer Samuel Adler will interest pianists, teachers, and anyone interested in the musical art of our day. American composer Samuel Adler has composed a huge and multi-faceted body of works ranging from symphonies, concertos, and oratorios to solos for every standard Western instrument, to a rich trove of vocal and choral music, to pieces for students. Among them, encompassing his compositional life of some seventy years, is an array of works for the piano: three concertos; fifteen solo pieces and sets of pieces; a sonata for two pianos; and four volumes of music for beginning and intermediate players. Bradford Gowen writes about each of these works with the knowledge of one who has studied, performed, and recorded Adler's piano music and has previously written about it. He begins with an overview of stylistic and pianistic traits found throughout these pieces and then examines each work chronologically according to genre, in a two-part format. The first part is an essay on the work's style, emotional content, and unique features, which at the same time places the work in the context of other music by Adler and by additional composers from the present and past eras. The second part, informal and practical, is directed to a pianist interested in getting to know this music. As a "lesson" on the piece, it offers specific suggestions for practicing and interpretation and many solutions to technical challenges. Rounding out the book are an in-depth interview with the composer plus six invaluable appendices.Trade ReviewA practical and useful book for all levels of pianists, from students to seasoned performers. Gowen's engaging prose and clear enthusiasm for Adler's music make reading about the works enjoyable as well as instructive. This book will be especially useful to institutions with strong piano and music education programs. -- Carol Lubkowski * MUSIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION NOTES *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments A Note to the User of This Book Samuel Adler: A Biographical Sketch Interview with Samuel Adler Introduction 1. Pedagogical Volumes Gradus Books I and II (1971) Gradus Book III (1981) The Sense of Touch (1982) 2. Solo Works through 2000 Capriccio (1954) Sonata Breve (1963) Canto VIII (1973) Sonatina (1979) "Thy Song Expands My Spirit" (1980) The Road to Terpsichore: A Suite of Dances (1989) Three Piano Preludes (1999-2000) 3. Solo Works since 2001 Four Composer Portraits (2001) Festschrift (2007) Fantasy for Piano (2013) Four Choreographies (2017) Five Short Occasional Pieces (2018) "Bagatelle for Jürgen" (2020) Variation on "America the Beautiful" (2020) Music for the Young and the Young at Heart (2021) 4. For Two Pianos Duo Sonata for Two Pianos (1983) 5. For Piano and Orchestra Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (no. 1) (1983) Second Piano Concerto (1996) Piano Concerto no. 3 for Piano and String Orchestra (2003) Appendix 1: Piano Music Graded Approximately according to Technical Difficulty Appendix 2: Chamber Works with Piano Appendix 3: Partial List of Works for Voice and Piano, Selected by the Composer Appendix 4: Works for Other Keyboard Instruments Appendix 5: Chronological Representative Selection of Adler Works for Other Instruments and Ensembles Selected Bibliography Index About the Author
£36.00
Colourpoint Creative Ltd What You See is What You Get: Stiff Little
Book SynopsisFan, musician and writer Roland Link has compiled a wealth of images of the legendary Belfast band through the 1970s and 80s. It includes many previously unseen photographs of the members on the road, on stage, in candid moments and in promotional out-takes. These are supported by a myriad of contemporary memorabilia (tour posters, tickets, passes and badges) and accompanied by comments from band members and a number of the photographers. The book also contains a Rare Vinyl Guide covering the band's original singles and albums. "When people ask me about Stiff Little Fingers I'm going to point them towards two books; Kicking Up A Racket and What You See Is What You Get ...job done." Jim Reilly
£9.99
Fonthill Media Ltd Led Zeppelin Song by Song
Book SynopsisThroughout most of the twelve years between their formation and disbanding after the death of drummer John Bonham, Led Zeppelin were regarded as arguably the most influential group in popular music since The Beatles. While seen as pioneers of British heavy rock, their sound also embraced blues, psychedelia and folk music. Earlier in his career Jimmy Page had been one of the most highly sought-after session guitarists, while John Paul Jones was a versatile multi-instrumentalist and experienced arranger, and Robert Plant was one of the most individual vocalists of the era. A deal signed with Atlantic Records allowed them total musical control, and a deliberate policy of not allowing any tracks to be released as singles in Britain helped to ensure maximum demand for their albums as well as huge ticket sales every time they toured. Initially unpopular with critics, they were much loved by fans on both sides of the Atlantic and indeed throughout much of the world. This book provides a thorough examination of each track on all the group's studio albums, additional songs on official live releases and compilations of BBC sessions material.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Acknowledgements; 1 Led Zeppelin; 2 Led Zeppelin II; 3 Led Zeppelin III; 4 [Led Zeppelin IV]; 5 Houses of the Holy; 6 Presence; 7 In Through the Out Door; 8 Coda; 9 Led Zeppelin Boxed Set; 10 Led Zeppelin Boxed Set 2; 11 The Complete Studio Recordings; 12 The Song Remains the Same; 13 How the West Was Won; 14 Celebration Day; 15 BBC Sessions; 16 The Complete BBC Sessions; Endnotes.
£15.29
Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Ltd Concert Collection for Flute
Book SynopsisTake the stage with the Christopher NortonStunning music for solo flute and piano for intermediate to advanced-level players, from the creator of Microjazz15 entertaining and inventive pieces based on well-known American folk tunes, Christmas carols and nursery rhymesSpectacular performance and accompaniment tracks available onlineInstrumentation:Flute and piano
£14.24
Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Ltd Klezmer Fiddler: Traditional Fiddle Music from
Book SynopsisThe full range of traditional fiddle repertoire is now at your fingertips! Using these generous collections, you can create your own ceilidh, barn dance, jazz club or Sarajevo street-café. Some of this music is familiar, some more exotic, but all of it is absolutely authentic, faithfully arranged and, above all, hugely enjoyable.Each title in the series is available in two formats: the Violin Edition (with an optional easy violin part and guitar chords); or the Complete Edition, which also includes both keyboard and violin accompaniments. Either format is hugely flexible, which means the music can be played as solos, duets or trios as well as with larger ensembles.Edward Huws Jones has travelled extensively researching fiddle-playing traditions. In each book he explains the background of the particular musical style, giving his own suggestions for a lively performance.Instrumentation:violin (2 violins) and piano, guitar ad libitum
£17.99
Oneworld Publications Sounds and Sweet Airs: The Forgotten Women of
Book SynopsisThe hidden history of the women who dared to write music in a man’s world. ‘Lucid, engaging and exuberant... [Sounds and Sweet Airs] is terrifically enjoyable and accessible, and leaves one hankering for a second volume.’ The Sunday Times Francesca Caccini. Barbara Strozzi. Élisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre. Marianna Martines. Fanny Hensel. Clara Schumann. Lili Boulanger. Elizabeth Maconchy. Since the birth of classical music, women who dared compose have faced a bitter struggle to be heard. In spite of this, female composers continued to create, inspire and challenge. Yet even today so much of their work languishes unheard. Anna Beer reveals the highs and lows experienced by eight composers across the centuries, from Renaissance Florence to twentieth-century London, restoring to their rightful place exceptional women whom history has forgotten.Trade Review‘Beer’s writing is lucid, engaging and exuberant, strongly evoking the cultures and atmospheres that surrounded her subjects…the book in general is terrifically enjoyable and accessible, and leaves one hankering for a second volume.’ * Sunday Times *‘A meticulously researched, engrossing read, vividly bringing its eight subjects to life. It should appeal not only to music connoisseurs but to anyone interested in social and cultural history – and women’s place in it.’ * Financial Times *‘Such traits, as Beer laments, are still with us…All the more important, then, for excellent books like this one to remind us of what we are all missing’. * Catholic Herald *'Offers vivid, colourful context on a situation that is echoed back through the centuries…Readable and wide-ranging, Beer's deft sketches are an elegant introduction to their subjects'. * Spectator *'Never less than highly readable'. * Classical Music *‘Rewarding…insightful…Beer conveys the sexism and lifelong frustrations some immensely gifted creative artists encountered.’ * New York Times *'Beer's meticulously researched book is a vital step in the battle to overturn that ultimate injustice'. * Observer *'Beer has an eye for detail, and gives us a vivid sense of the stratagems these gifted, determined women had to employ'. * Sunday Telegraph *'In this riveting book Anna Beer wades through centuries of prejudice from the fear of women composing at all…to the persistent unwillingness to perform, discuss or distribute their music'. * BBC Music Magazine *''[A] stimulating and engaging book, written with passionate enthusiasm and a light touch'. * Literary Review *‘I am constantly in search of books that explore the lives of women who have been dismissed or overlooked by history, and this is what makes Anna Beer's latest book a total godsend. Sounds and Sweet Airs is an intoxicating historical examination of the way gender has shaped what we consider to be canonical... Beer’s impassioned overview delves into the hopes, motivations, and struggles each woman faced as she attempted to pursue her vocation while coping with the “boys club” mentality of their respective music communities.’ Lenny Letter’s Lit Thursday * Lenny Letter’s Lit Thursday *‘Books could be written about composers denied a place in the classical canon because of ethnicity or class or religion, but that doesn’t negate the truth and importance of Sounds and Sweet Airs’. * Gramophone *‘Beer’s snapshot lives of women composers are savvy, sympathetic... [an] essential and insightful study of a woman’s unsung place in the closed world of classical music.’ * Wall Street Journal *‘An engaging read and…contains a powerful and timely message’. * History Today *‘This is a truly inspiring and fascinating book... Female composers today no longer need to feel there is anything to stop them creating music and forging a career as a composer – if there is still any doubt, then just read Sounds and Sweet Airs.’ -- Debbie Wiseman MBE – Classic FM’s Composer in Residence‘A rich, revealing study of the lives of eight outstanding female composers...Long overdue, this book includes a list of recommended listening for each composer, a glossary of musical terms, and suggestions for further reading.This important work furthers cultural understanding of the history of female composers.’ * CHOICE magazine *‘A fascinating and refreshing rescue of a few well-chosen exemplars from the worthy but dull hands of musicologists... Thrilling.’ -- Natalie Wheen, former presenter on BBC Radio and Classic FM‘Both feminist analyst and fluent biographer, Beer makes engrossing and cogent cases for her subjects. She concludes that the proof of their art lies in the hearing and recommends recent recordings.’ * Booklist *‘This book is a delight. Eight striking composers are reinstated in musical history, thanks to Anna Beer’s energetic research and lively writing.’ -- Nicola LeFanu, composer and Professor Emeritus, University of York‘A fascinating glimpse into the world of the women whose music we should know and be hearing in the canon.’ -- Charlotte Bray, winner of the Lili Boulanger Memorial Prize 2014 and composer of At the Speed of Stillness‘Elegantly written, Sounds and Sweet Airs offers compelling evidence of the prejudices against women composers’ aspirations across the centuries.’ -- Rhian Samuel, Composer and Professor Emeritus, City University London‘An important book... groundbreaking and entertaining... This book should be required reading not just for those interested in cultural history, but for anyone wishing to understand the perception of women in the modern era.’ -- Professor Steven Parissien – Director, Compton Verney‘Anna Beer’s eloquent and passionately argued narrative builds on the most up-to-date scholarship and makes an irresistible case for listening again to the work of women who were among the most admired musicians of their age. Much more than simply an attempt to balance the historical record, Sounds and Sweet Airs is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand music’s power and the politics of gender and sexuality that promoted, shaped and silenced women’s compositional careers from the Renaissance to the twentieth century.’ -- Professor Daniel Grimley, Merton College, Oxford‘Absorbing ... [Beer] writes with rich detail and sympathetic insight about [these women's] ambitious, adventurous battles to overcome barriers to creativity.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘Serious students of music and women's history will want to add this title to their required reading lists.’ * Library Journal *
£12.34
Headline Publishing Group The Little Book of the Beatles: Quips and Quotes
Book SynopsisThe Little Book of the Beatles is a superb book of quotations by, and about, the band that revolutionised popular music the world over. A perfect companion for Beatles fans everywhere, this collection of bite-sized quips helps capture exactly what made the Fab Four so special. From insightful quotes by fellow artists, collaborators and friends, to words of wit and wisdom from John, Paul, George and Ringo themselves, you'll find more than 170 amusing and inspiring soundbites inside. 'I'd like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves, and I hope we passed the audition.' John Lennon, 1970. Table of ContentsIntroduction. Hello Goodbye. Beatlemania. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. John, Paul, George and Ringo. Twist and Shout. And in the End.
£6.99
Sonicbond Publishing Bob Dylan in the 1980s
No period of Bob Dylan's six-decade career confounds fans more than the 1980s. The singer began the decade with Saved, the second in a trio of explicitly religious records, and a tour in which he declined to play his older songs because of concern they were anti-god. Dylan's ambivalence about the songs that made him an icon was mirrored by fans, many of whom found his post-conversion messages strident and judgmental. This made Saved his worst selling album in years and set a pattern for the next several years. Despite being a prolific time, in which the singer released seven studio albums, the decade was defined by inconsistency. Throughout the 1980s, some of his most profound work alternated with lackluster compositions and indifferent performances - sometimes on the same album. However, even as Dylan struggled artistically, all of his albums contained reminders of why he continued to be celebrated. By the end of the decade, his perseverance - both on stage and in the studio - and a spontaneous collaboration with some of his peers coalesced into his best received releases since the 1970s. Rather than closing a book, the combination of Oh Mercy and the first Traveling Wilburys record pointed to new chapters. The 1990s began a remarkable run of success that few popular artists have managed at any stage of their careers.
£13.49
Sonicbond Publishing Misty: The Music of Johnny Mathis
Book SynopsisFew singers have been able to change with the times like Johnny Mathis. Although his fame rests on his massive popularity in the 50s and 60s when he competed with Elvis and Frank Sinatra and outsold almost anyone, Mathis has remained relevant through the decades and no other crooner is as technically skilled or able to cover multiple genres so convincingly. Jazz, soul, disco, country, classic and contemporary pop, Mathis has adapted his impressive vocal range to all kinds of music and transgressed the stereotype of what a male voice is supposed to sound like. The longest-running artist on Columbia, he has been recognized by the record industry with The Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award and three recordings in the Grammy Hall of Fame, but so far, there hasn't been an exhaustive examination of his complete recordings in book form. Authorized by Mathis and including fresh insights from himself as well as his producers and arrangers, Misty: The Music of Johnny Mathis, rights that wrong. With detailed discussions of the records and a discography, the book traces Mathis's musical journey from the past to the present and includes a wealth of photos and album scans from his own archive. It's the ideal companion for fans and new listeners interested in exploring one of the most prominent voices in American music.
£16.19
Continental Sales Ultravox On Track
Book SynopsisUltravox made an indelible mark on the popular music of the 1980s despite never reaching number one at any point: famously, 'Vienna' stalled at number two, while their only other top five single was the zeitgeist-capturing 'Dancing With Tears in My Eyes', reaching number three in May 1984.
£15.29
Headline Publishing Group The Little Guide to Bob Dylan: How Does it Feel?
Book Synopsis'All I can do is be me, whoever that is.' The many ides of Bob Dylan are revealed in this collection of the artist's words and lyrics.Having celebrated his 80th birthday in May 2021, with plaudits given around the globe, this influential and enigmatic troubadour-poet has been a-changing with the times since the 1960s, when he was the 'voice of a generation'. Nobel and Pulitzer prize-winner, musician, artist, author and actor, the living legend's words have inspired, enthralled, provoked and puzzled generations of fans, literary buffs, musicians and songwriters – and have been mulled over by academics and artists alike. This collection of quotes – humorous, grave, desperate, passionate, fearless, surreal – includes a rich tapestry of confessions, admonitions, laments, prophecies and existential meanderings.Interspersed with fascinating facts, The Little Guide to Bob Dylan sheds light on the deep inner workings of this taciturn man and his music.SAMPLE FACT: Many of Dylan's songs were hits for other artists, including the No.1s 'Mr Tambourine Man' for the Byrds, 'All Along the Watchtower' for Jimi Hendrix and 'Blowin' in the Wind' for Peter Paul & Mary.Table of ContentsFolk Beginnings: Exploring his early days, his words chart the influences on his road from being Robert Zimmerman to being Bob Dylan • Protest & Freedom: Music as a form of protest has long been one of Dylan's leitmotifs; here are his music and musings on civil rights, social injustice, politics and personal freedom • Love & Women: He covers love from every angle - also here are his thoughts on muses Suze Rotolo, Joan Baez and Sara Lownds • A-Changing: Taking responsibility for one's actions, or not, existential free will and personal identity are all themes in this chapter. Does anyone really know exactly Bob Dylan who is? • The Music & the Meaning: His views on his art and its meaning, as well as the purpose of life and the existence of god, success and failure, stage fright and life on the road • Death, Loss & Longing: Nostalgia, loss, death and the slipperiness of time are the key Dylan themes explored here.
£7.44
Headline Publishing Group Aladdin Sane 50: The definitive celebration of
Book SynopsisOn the fiftieth anniversary of David Bowie's magical album, Aladdin Sane 50 is the ultimate celebration of a musical masterpiece – and the most famous photograph in pop history.This landmark book contains hundreds of photographs, including dozens of David from the Aladdin Sane session that have never been seen until now, fifty years since they were taken.Aladdin Sane 50 also features essays by renowned experts and authors Paul Morley, Charles Shaar Murray, Nicholas Pegg, Kevin Cann, Jérôme Soligny and Geoffrey Marsh on Bowie's remarkable album and the story behind the famous cover.In a breathtaking package designed by long-time Bowie collaborators Barnbrook creative studio, Aladdin Sane 50 pays tribute to a seminal album and an iconic image, one that will live forever more in rock 'n' roll history.
£32.00
The Lilliput Press Ltd The Road to Riverdance PB
Book SynopsisRiverdance exploded across the stage at Dublin’s Point Theatre one spring evening in 1994 during a seven-minute interval of the Eurovision Song Contest hosted by Ireland. It was a watershed moment in the cultural history of a country embracing the future, a confident leap into world music grounded in the footfall of the choreographed kick-line. It was a moment forty-five years in the making for its composer. In this tenderly unfurled memoir Bill Whelan rehearses a lifetime of unconscious preparation as step by step he revisits his past, from with his Barrington Street home in 1950s Limerick, to the forcing ground of University College Dublin and the Law Library during the 1960s, to his attic studio in Ranelagh. Along the way the reader is introduced to people and places in the immersive world of fellow musicians, artists and producers, friends and collaborators, embracing the spectrum of Irish music as it broke boundaries, entering the global slipstream of the 1980s and 1990s. As art and commerce fused, dramas and contending personalities come to view behind the arras of stage, screen and recording desk. Whelan pays tribute to a parade of those who formed his world. He describes the warmth and sustenance of his Limerick childhood, his parents and Denise Quinn, won through assiduous courtship; the McCourts and Jesuit fathers of his early days, the breakthrough with a tempestuous Richard Harris who summoned him to London; Danny Doyle, Shay Healy, Dickie Rock, Planxty, The Dubliners and Stockton’s Wing, Noel Pearson, Seán Ó Riada; working with Jimmy Webb, Leon Uris, The Corrs, Paul McGuinness, Moya Doherty, John McColgan, Jean Butler and Michael Flatley. Written with wry, inimitable Irish humour and insight, Bill Whelan’s self deprecation allows us to to see the players in all their glory, vulnerability and idiosyncracy. This fascinating work reveals the nuts, bolts, sheer effort and serendipities that formed the road to Riverdance in his reinvention of the Irish tradition for a modern age. As the show went on to perform to millions worldwide, Whelan was honoured with a 1997 Grammy Award when Riverdance was named the ‘Best Musical Show Album.’ Richly detailed and illustrated, The Road to Riverdance forms an enduring repository of memory for all concerned with the performing arts.Trade ReviewHOT PRESS BOOK OF THE YEARIRISH TIMES BEST BOOK OF 2023‘Bill Whelan’s memoir is an entertaining account of the seismic changes in Irish society during the second half of the 20th century and a colourful testament to an extraordinary life that helped shape and soundtrack it.’ Éamon Sweeney, Irish Times‘Tells the story of a life in music and the path that led to one of Ireland’s most significant cultural exports.’ Irish Independent‘Makes for marvellous, revealing and very powerful reading. A brilliant edition to the canon, it offers a remarkable picture of a musical life lived to the full. Hats off to its maker’ Niall Stokes, Hot Press‘What an incredible talent he is’ Marty Whelan‘Filled with Limerick humour’ Limerick Leader‘Bill Whelan dances down memory lane with new memoir’ Galway Advertiser‘Paints an unforgettable picture of how one man navigated the rapids of music in Ireland – and came up trumps in the long run … an essential read for anyone who loves Irish music.’ Hot Press‘From [Whelan's] central position involved in taking traditional Irish dance into a modern orbit of choreographed bliss, the book charts the artistic and business marriage that built the Riverdance machine - the nuts, bolts and good fortune that together conspired to fashion an extravaganza that would go on play to millions around the globe … After twenty-seven years of live performances to over 22 million people, it remains an Irish export up there with the best.’ Irish ExaminerIRISH EXAMINER BEST BOOK‘[Whelan's] humour is dry, winking, and pivots between sharp and deadpan, developed in the early days of “pre-ghettoisation” Limerick, somewhere between Frank McCourt and the Rolling Stones … As one might expect, Whelan’s writing is rhythmic and punchy, never shying away from difficult topics … His anecdotes are rich and giving.’ Sunday Business Post
£19.80
Aureus Publishing The Searchers and Me: A History of the
Book Synopsis
£999.99
Outline Press Ltd Big Star
Book SynopsisAlthough Big Star were together for less than four years and had little commercial success, the influence of their three original albums - #1 Record, Radio City, and Third - continues to grow. Big Star bucked all the musical trends of the '70s. In an era of glam and prog rock they wrote catchy, radio-friendly power-pop tunes that remain influential today. Artists as diverse as Primal Scream, R.E.M., The Bangles, The Posies, Teenage Fanclub, Jeff Buckley, and Wilco have spoken about the Big Star legacy. In the decade since the original version of this book was published, Big Star have made a belated fourth album, In Space, and released an acclaimed four-disc retrospective, Keep An Eye On The Sky. The band have also lost two original members, an influential producer, and the photographer of their iconic logo. But interest in the group is as high as ever in the 21st century, with new bands such as Yo La Tengo and Hot Chip -
£13.46
Outline Press Ltd Long Promised Road: Carl Wilson, Soul of the
Book SynopsisNo life in popular music touched on as many major musical milestones as that of The Beach Boys' Carl Wilson. While he is often unjustly overlooked as a mere adjunct to his more famous brothers Brian and Dennis, Carl was a major international rock star from his early teens. The proud owner of one of the greatest voices in popular music-one that graced some of the most important records of the pop era, including 'God Only Knows' and 'Good Vibrations'-Wilson was also one of the first musicians to bring the electric guitar to the forefront of rock'n'roll. His musical skills provided The Beach Boys' entree into the music business, from which he then stewarded their onstage journey through the ups and downs of the 60s to their comeback in the 70s and into the role of 'America's band' in the 80s. Along the way, Carl quietly endured his own battles with obesity, divorce, substance abuse, and ultimately terminal cancer, all the while working to protect his family's business and legacy. This major new biography reveals the true story of modern rock'n'roll, lived from the centre of the most important decades of popular music.
£13.46
Old Street Publishing The Wagner Experience
Book Synopsis
£28.00
Wymer Publishing The Beach Boys: All The Songs
Book SynopsisThe Beach Boys: All The Songs is a detailed look at the recorded output of this most unique and influential popular music group. From the 1962 debut Surfin' Safari through to 2012's That's Why God Made the Radio - the first record Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys had made together in sixteen years. This book covers all the material released by the major labels. To qualify, a song must have been issued commercially and released under the name "Beach Boys." Some of the truly obscure are included, such as `Howdy from Maui', a collaboration with Jeff Foxworthy from 1996. As well as covering the highest UK and US chart placings, each album is dissected with explanations on each song including songwriting credits and also includes background information to the making of each album. Documented in chronological order, each album release is given its own chapter and "orphaned" tracks such as B-sides and outtakes are also included within the appropriate time line. Author Rick Swan also provides bios for the key band members as well as the supporting musicians and the book is capped off with a full song title index for easy reference. Whether you are just starting out on your discovery of The Beach Boys or a longstanding fan, this detailed tome provides great insight into this most enduring band.
£21.24
Headline Publishing Group The Little Guide to Dolly Parton: It's Hard to be
Book SynopsisThe ultimate pick-me-up to save you from the nine-to-five heartbreak blues. The Little Guide to Dolly Parton is your bible of devastating Dolly-isms. Yes, that's right, the most iconic and acclaimed female country singer in the history of music is so inventive and brilliant with her clever wisecracks and sage advice that popular culture has crowned her with an -ism after her name. No one else is as worthy. For more than five decades, Dolly has been laying down her own brand of whip-smart wit and wisdom to the world, with many quotes and quips becoming as famous as her lyrical genius, for which she has won too many song writing awards and honours to mention. Stacked to the rafters with more than 150 bite-size bon-mots, one-liners and ripostes – as well profound and sincere observations – The Little Guide to Dolly Parton is your new favourite life companion. 'I never think of myself as a star because, as somebody once said, "A star is nothing but a big ball of gas" – and I don't want to be that.' Reflecting on stardom during an interview with Billboard, 2014. 'I'm proud of my hillbilly, white trash background. To me that keeps you humble; that keeps you good. And it doesn't matter how hard you try to outrun it – if that's who you are, that's who you are. It'll show up once in a while.' Discussing her background, during an interview with Southern Living, 2014. Table of ContentsHello Dolly! • Jolly Dollyisms • Rags to Riches • Hillbilly Heartbreaker • Queen of Country • Living Doll.
£6.99
Watkins Media Limited Ashes to Ashes: The Songs of David Bowie,
Book SynopsisIn 2015 Chris O'Leary published the first folume of his two-volume exporation, Rebel Rebel, of every song David Jones / David Bowie ever wrote, in chronological order. This is the second volume. Ashes to Ashes covers every single Bowie song, whether it was sung, written, or produced by him, from 1976, when he first recorded with Iggy Pop on "The Idiot," to his last masterpiece "Blackstar," released just days before his death in 2016. Each song is annotated in depth and explored in essays that touch upon the song's creation, production, influences and impact. It hits everything from "Heroes" to the Labyrinth soundtrack, from his 1985 camp duet with Mick Jagger on "Dancing In the Street" to "Where Are We Now," his comeback single in 2013. Along the way we encounter a vast cast of characters, weaving in and out of Bowie's life and his music: Brian Eno, John Cale, Nile Rodgers, Lou Reed, Freddie Mercury, Scott Walker, Marc Bolan, Arcade Fire, John Lennon, Mickey Rourke, Gary Oldman, Iman, Hanif Kureishi, Julien Temple, Giorgio Moroder, Neil Young and many others. And we range across the globe from Bowie's years in divided Berlin to his "exile" years in Switzerland through his final years as a New Yorker, recording within walking distance of his home.
£21.25
Wymer Publishing Deep Purple - Nasty Piece Of Work
Book SynopsisWhen the classic Deep Purple MKII line-up reformed in 1984 after an eleven year absence, it proved once again that this was the definitive Deep Purple and their reunion tour was a box office bonanza. Sadly by 1989 the friction between Blackmore and Gillan that had led to the spilt first time around did so again and Gillan was fired. With all eyes on the 25th anniversary of the band's 1968 inception, there was huge pressure, both from within and outside the band for Gillan to return to the fold so that the occasion could be celebrated in style. The critics said it wouldn't work — it did. And they said it wouldn't last... well they were certainly right about that! Upon Gillan's return in late 1992 they produced The Battle Rages On... album and then planned to embark on a world tour. However, the American shows were all cancelled, which left just Europe and Japan. Whilst the tensions within the band were greater than ever, Jon Lord went on to say, “the shows were done at an energy level and ability level I’ve rarely seen attained before. I think we played as well as we’ve ever played.” Indeed, for those fortunate to witness the tour most fans shared Lord's opinion. Yet, the divisions between Blackmore and Gillan grew as the tour progressed with Blackmore calling a halt to proceedings before the Japanese leg could begin. In all there would be just thirty-seven shows — the last hurrah of the ultimate Deep Purple line-up. Author Jerry Bloom caught ten of the shows and was privy to some of the shenanigans that went on, making him the ideal person to document the last MKII tour in detail. Along with the comprehensive narrative, this beautifully designed book is crammed full of never before seen photos from the tour. It includes many shots of the band both on stage as well as back stage, in hotels, on aeroplanes and relaxing as the tour wound its way across Europe culminating in Blackmore's last show with the band in Finland on 17th November 1993.
£21.24
Wymer Publishing Full Cream
Book SynopsisThis lavish coffee table style book will delight all Cream fans. Drawing on archive photos from the 60s as well as the 2005 reunion this book is further enhanced with rare memorabilia along with words by Nettie Baker, Ginger’s eldest daughter and co-author of his autobiography Hellraiser. This photographic chronology also captures rarely seen images of Jack, Ginger & Eric before the formation of Cream, where they developed their craft alongside the Graham Bond Organisation, The Yardbirds and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers before moving on to Cream with loads of on and off stage shots from their formation in 1966 through to the farewell concert in November 1968. Astonishingly in such a short time, Cream became superstars, particularly in the States where they toured relentlessly but also managed to produce four albums, along with countless hit singles. Full Cream also captures a snapshot of life after Cream, not forgetting the brief 1993 reunion for the Rock `n’ Roll Hall of Fame induction, and of course the full reunion in 2005 with shows in London at the Royal Albert Hall in May, and in October at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Sadly with the loss of Jack Bruce in 2014 any chance that the trio would ever get together again was extinguished. But Full Cream will at least be one great momento that fans can keep forever as a reminder of Britain’s first and arguably best supergroup. In a custom-made, block foil presentation case with a set of 4 prints. One of the band and one each of Baker, Clapton and Bruce.
£999.99
Omnibus Press Life's a Gamble: Penetration, The Invisible Girls
Book SynopsisLife's a Gamble is the autobiography of iconic singer-songwriter Pauline Murray. It recounts her journey from a small mining village in northeast England, through to gaining national recognition as the frontwoman of her band, Penetration, and how she became a key member of the punk movement. Emerging onto the punk scene at just 18 years old, inspired by an early encounter with the Sex Pistols, Pauline details how she played alongside the leading bands of the era, navigated the demands of the music industry, conquered the post-punk landscape with the Invisible Girls, opened her own music studios and reformed Penetration in 2001. Highly illustrated with unseen photographs and drawing upon Pauline's teenage diaries, interviews and archive material from her personal collection, this book chronicles the life and work of an authentic creative artist and punk rock legend.Trade Review'A beautifully written down to earth account of growing up in the north of England, discovering punk, and making a career from music. Pauline writes from the heart with no airs or graces. It is a joy to read her long awaited life story and unique perspective of those legendary times and beyond, with plentiful accompanying images. Essential reading!' Gaye Black, The Adverts 'This is a clear-eyed account of Pauline’s creative journey. She never loses her punk vision, and serves as an example to up-and-coming musicians of the resilience and tenacity you need to survive and thrive. You’re with her all the way- I couldn't put it down.' Helen McCallum
£21.25
