Entertainment Books

Book SynopsisExperience the valiant spirit of Rohan's warriors defending their homeland against the forces of darkness as you colour these breathtaking scenes featuring all the characters, creatures and landscapes from the new Lord of the Rings movie.

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Book Synopsis'Fabulously readable' STEPHEN FRY'Brilliantly told, the fascinating life of one of Britain's greatest songwriters' MATT LUCAS'A brilliant, funny, emotional book' DAVID QUANTICKDescribed variously as a 'polymath', a 'renaissance man' and 'one of the most colourful characters in the music business', Mike Batt has led an extraordinarily vibrant and challenging life that has been full of both glorious victories and bitter failures.For better or for worse, he is a man who has always lived life on his own terms. Idiosyncratic but mainstream, complicated but compassionate, steadfastly maverick in spirit but avowedly commercial in outlook. He is a man of great contradictions, but even greater talent.After starting out in the music business as a teenager, Batt shot to fame in the early 1970s for his part in the creation of the Wombles pop group. But this success proved to be just

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Book SynopsisFew bands can claim anything like the longevity, sincerity, and sheer creative breadth of The Cure. From their beginnings as literate punks through their early bleak masterpieces that ended with Pornography (1982), to the pop years that followed and their worldwide success with the mercurial Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987) and the monolithic Disintegration (1989), they have built a reputation as idealistic iconoclasts and sustained a dearly devoted audience that hangs on Robert Smith?s every impassioned word. Their epic live sets regularly include deep cuts from every era and run the gamut from unabashed romanticism to harrowing sorrow, from dance to dirge and back again. As prolific in the studio as they are on stage, their history is littered with remarkable B-sides, rare tracks, live records, remixes, and more. This book examines the entirety of The Cure?s quixotic catalogue, from the surly departures of Three Imaginary Boys (1979) to the triumphant return of Songs Of S Lost World (2024) and all days in between. For every mood, there?s a Cure song to match, and you?ll find it here.

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Book SynopsisWant to become the coolest possible version of yourself? Time to jump into learning the blues guitar. Even if you don't read music, Blues Guitar For Dummies lets you pick up the fundamentals and start jamming like your favorite blues artists. Blues Guitar for Dummiescovers the key aspects of blues guitar, showing you how to play scales, chords, progressions, riffs, solos, and more. This hands-on guide is packed with musical examples, chords charts, and photos that let you explore the genre and play the songs of all the great blues musicians. This accessible how-to book will give you the skills you need to: Choose the right guitar, equipment, and stringsHold, tune, and get situated with your guitarPlay barre chords and strum to the rhythmRecognize the structure of a blues songTackle musical riffsMaster melodies and solosMake your guitar sing, cry, and wailJam to any type of blues Additionally, the book comes with a website that shares audio samples of all the examples covered in the Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 1 Conventions Used in This Book 2 What You’re Not to Read 3 Foolish Assumptions 3 How This Book is Organized 4 Part 1: You Got a Right to Play the Blues 4 Part 2: Setting Up to Play the Blues 4 Part 3: Beyond the Basics: Playing Like a Pro 4 Part 4: Sounding Like the Masters: Blues Styles through the Ages 4 Part 5: Gearing Up: Outfitting Your Arsenal 5 Part 6: The Part of Tens 5 Part 7: Appendixes 5 Icons Used in This Book 5 Where to Go from Here 6 Part 1: You Got a Right to Play the Blues 7 Chapter 1: Every Day I Have the Blues Hallelujah! 9 Capturing the Blues Train from Its Departure Then to Its Arrival Now 10 The pieces of blues that made the genre 10 The place of the blues’ conception 11 Rejoicing over 100 years of blues: The shifting shape of the genre 11 The qualities that made blues cats hit the big-time 12 It’s Not All Pain and Suffering — The Lighter Side of Blues 13 Surveying the Means to Make the Music: The Guitar in All Its Glory 14 The low-fi acoustic guitar 14 The semi-hollowbody electric guitar 15 Solidbody electric guitars 15 The Collision of Two Worlds: Acoustic versus Electric 16 Getting a Grip on How Guitars Work 17 You’ve gotta use your hands — both of them 17 Producing the tones: String vibration and pitch 18 Electric guitars only: Pickups and amplification 18 Performing and Looking Like a Blues Player 19 Expanding and filling your brain with know-how 19 Looking the part 20 Blues Trivia For Dummies 21 The questions 21 The answers 22 Chapter 2: Blues Meets Guitar: A Match Made in Musical Heaven 23 Beyond the Delta: Defining the Blues Guitar Sound 24 The method to the music: Chord progressions 25 The guitarist’s language of melody 25 The expression that invokes your senses 26 The groove that sets the pace 27 Dissecting an Acoustic and an Electric 27 Getting Down with the Blues: A Quick How-To 31 The foundation for all guitar playing: Acoustic guitars 31 Shifting acoustic to overdrive: Electric guitars 32 What You Need to Get Your Groove On 35 Chapter 3: Grab Hold, Tune Up, Play On! 39 Holding Your Axe (That Is, Your Guitar) 39 Grabbing your guitar’s neck 40 Pushing down on the strings 41 Getting sound to come out 42 Holding the Pick, Attacking the Problem 44 Getting Situated 45 Sitting down 46 or standing up 46 Tuning Up 47 Helping your guitar get in tune with itself 48 Holding your guitar to an electronic standard 49 Playing a Chord 50 Music Notation: Not Just for Geeks 51 Guidance for your aimless fingers: A chord diagram 52 Mapping out your short-term path: Rhythm notation 53 Guiding you all the way through a song: Tablature 54 Part 2: Setting Up to Play the Blues 55 Chapter 4: Getting a Grip on Left-Hand Chords 57 Starting Out Simple: Blues Chords Even Your Mom Could Play 58 Going to the Next Level: Barre Chords 59 Forming a barre chord 61 Naming barre chords 62 Playing E-based barre chords 63 Playing A-form barre chords 65 Combining forms 67 Taking Advantage of Versatile Power Chords 68 Chapter 5: Positioning the Right Hand for Rhythm and Lead 71 Strumming Along 71 Stroking down 72 And stroking up 72 Combining down and up 73 Striking to a beat 73 Eighth-note striking, twice per beat 74 Mixing Single Notes and Strumming 75 Separating bass and treble: The pick-strum 75 Playing common pick-strum patterns 76 Shuffling the Beats with Syncopated Strumming 78 A bit of notation: Dots that extend and ties that bind 79 Syncopation: Playing with dots and ties 80 Stopping the String Ringing (Just for a Sec) 81 Muting the sound between two chords (left hand) 81 Simulating syncopation with left-hand muting 81 Muting the sound of a note (right hand) 82 Copying the Classics: Plucking Fingerstyle Blues 83 The Right Hand’s Bliss: Different Rhythm Styles to Play 84 The shuffle groove 85 The driving straight-four 87 The slow 12/8, with groups of three 89 The two-beat feel 91 The slow and funky 16 feel 92 Chapter 6: Blues Progressions, Song Forms, and Moves 95 Blues by the Numbers 95 Recognizing the Big Dogs: Primary Key Families and Their Chords 96 The Structure of a Blues Song, Baby 97 Playing the 12-bar blues 98 Slow blues 101 The 8-bar blues 104 Straight-four (or rock blues) 104 Applying Structures to Keys 106 A move with many chords: The Jimmy Reed move 106 The sound of sadness: Minor blues 109 Accessorizing the 12-Bar Blues: Intros, Turnarounds, and Endings 112 Intros 112 Turnarounds 113 Endings 114 High Moves 115 Chapter 7: Musical Riffs: Bedrock of the Blues 119 Basic Single-Note Riffs 120 For the low-down bass notes: Quarter-note riffs 120 The big daddy of riffs: Eighth-note riffs 121 Adding a little funk: 16th-note riffs 122 Throwing rhythm for a loop: Syncopated eighth-note riffs 123 Double the Strings, Double the Fun: Two-Note Riffs (or Double-Stops) 123 Straight feel 124 Shuffle, or swing, eighths 125 High-Note Riffs, the Bridge to Lead Guitar 126 Keith Richards’s borrowed trademark: Quick-four riffs 127 Intro, turnaround, and ending riffs 127 Mastering the Rhythm Figure 133 Part 3: Beyond the Basics: Playing Like a Pro 135 Chapter 8: Playing Lead: Soaring Melodies and Searing Solos 137 Mastering Your Picking Technique 138 Becoming smooth with your simple downs and ups 138 Tackling tricky alternate-picking situations 140 The Universal Lead Language: The Pentatonic Scale 141 Why the pentatonic is the perfect scale 142 The two sides of the pentatonic scale 142 A common scale for practice: E minor pentatonic 144 Pentatonic Plus One: The Six-Note Blues Scale 147 Adding Some Extra Flava to the Blues Scale 148 Clashing bitterly 149 A dash of sweetness 149 Chapter 9: Playing Up the Neck 153 For Inquiring Minds: Why Up the Neck You Should Go 153 Positioning Your Digits for an Easy Key Change 154 The pros of closed positions 155 The details of closed, numbered positions 155 Easing Into Position: Moving the Pentatonic Up and Down 157 Changing Your Position 159 A natural first: Moving from fifth position to eighth 159 The eighth-position blues bonus 160 How low can you go? Moving from fifth position to third 160 The Technical Side of Moving 161 Like taking candy from a baby: The subtle shift 161 Seeking a bit of attention: The noticeable slide 162 When you don’t want to move, just reach or jump 163 Five Positions You Should Know: Meanderings of the Pentatonic Scale 163 Relating the positions to each other 164 Connecting the positions: Licks that take you up and down 166 Understanding the Logic behind the Corresponding Shift of Position and Key 166 Recognizing common keys and their comfortable positions 167 Mapping keys to positions 167 Chapter 10: Express Yourself: Making the Guitar Sing, Cry, and Wail 171 Appreciating the Art of Articulation 172 Going In for the Attack 172 A little bit louder now a little bit softer now: Dynamics 173 Hitting hard and backing off 174 Breaking Down the Music: Phrasing 176 Connecting notes the slippery way: Slides 176 It’s hammer time — get ready to strike a string! 179 Exposing a note by lifting a digit: Pull-offs 181 Giving Your Sound a Bit of Flair 182 Shake that string: Adding vibrato 182 The rubber-band blues: Bends that stretch a string 183 Playing a Song with Various Articulations 187 Part 4: Sounding Like the Masters: Blues Styles through the Ages 191 Chapter 11: Acoustic Roots: Delta Blues and Its Country Cousins 193 Delta Blues: Where It All Began 194 Understanding the Delta technique 194 Ladies and gentlemen, king of the Delta blues: Robert Johnson 194 Country Ragtime: The Piedmont Blues 201 Everything In-Between: Country and Folk Blues 203 A quick profile of country and folk blues 203 Giving these “in-between blues” a listen 204 Closing with a lick and some style: Ragtime tags 204 Country and Folk Blues Had a Baby; Its Name was Rockabilly 206 Quintessential Blues: Slide Guitar 208 The tools that let you slide 208 Sliding technique 208 Tuning your guitar for slide, a technique all its own 209 Chapter 12: The Birth and Growth of Classic Electric Blues 213 The Rise of the Electric Guitar in Blues 214 Giving Props to the Earliest Electric Pioneer 215 Sweet Home Chicago, Seat of the Electric Blues 218 Muddy Waters, leader of the pack 218 Elmore James, slide guitarist extraordinaire 219 Otis Rush: Soulful player with a flair for vibrato 220 Buddy Guy, the father of blues rock 221 Modern-Day Blues Styles: The Sounds of Texas 222 Four Blues Giants: Three Kings and a Collins 224 Albert King, the upside-down string bender 224 B.B King, the blues’ king of kings 225 Freddie King, a two-pick man 227 Albert Collins, master of the Telecaster 228 Children of the Post-War Blues Revival 229 Son Seals, Chicago’s favorite son 230 Robert Cray, smooth persuader 230 Bonnie Raitt, stellar lyrical slides artiste 231 Chapter 13: Blues Rock: The Infusion of Ol’ Rock ’n’ Roll 233 The Blues Had a Baby, and They Called It Rock ’n’ Roll 234 Chuck Berry, blues rock’s first superstar 234 Bo Diddley, king of the jungle beat 236 The Brits Invade the Blues 236 Clapton and Green, early blues icons 236 Jeff Beck, blues-rock’s mad scientist 237 Trippin’ the Blues 238 Eric Clapton, the original guitar god 238 Jimi Hendrix takes the blues psychedelic 240 Heavy “Blooze”: The Infusion of Hard Rock 241 Jimmy Page, frontrunner of the metal blues 241 Leslie West, big man with a big sound 241 Blackmore and beyond, where blues gets scary 242 Southern Comfort 243 The Allmans, especially brother Duane 243 Lynyrd Skynyrd 243 Hot Barbecue Blues, Texas Style 244 Johnny Winter, Texas blues-rock titan 245 Billy Gibbons and ZZ Top, giving rock some soul 246 Stevie Ray Vaughan, the greatest modern bluesman of them all 246 Blues on Steroids 249 Eddie Van Halen takes the blues to ’80s metal 249 Euro-Metal brings virtuosity and precision to the blues 249 21st-Century Soul 250 John Mayer, new kid on the blues block 250 Allmans Redux: Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks, keepers of the flame 250 Part 5: Gearing Up: Outfitting Your Arsenal 253 Chapter 14: Shop Till You Drop: Buying the Right Guitar for You 255 Before You Begin Shopping 256 Deciding On a Make and Model 257 Evaluating a Guitar 257 Construction 258 Materials 259 Workmanship 262 Appointments (aesthetic options) 263 Welcome to the Jungle: Shopping 263 Bringing a friend 264 Money matters: Deal or no deal 264 Protecting Your Guitar 266 Hard cases 266 Soft cases 267 Gig bags 267 Chapter 15: Choosing Your Amp and Effects 269 Getting Started with a Practice Amp 270 Shopping for a practice amp 270 Playing with a practice amp 272 Powering Up to a Larger Amp 273 Choosing among different amp formats 274 Feeling the power 276 Dissecting the Amplifier 277 Input jack 277 Preamp 278 Tone 278 Effects 279 Power amp 280 Speakers 280 The flexibility of having separate channels 280 What’s That Sound? Checking Out Your Amp Choices 281 Tube amps 281 Solid-state amps 283 Hybrid amps 283 Digital-modeling amps 284 Remembering the Good Old Days 284 Vintage amps 285 Reissue amps 285 Dialing in an Amp Sound 285 Chronicling Classic Amps for Blues 287 Fender Bassman 287 Fender Deluxe Reverb 287 Fender Twin Reverb 288 Marshall JTM 45 288 Marshall Plexi Super Lead 100 289 Vox AC30 289 Mesa/Boogie Mark IIc+ 290 Messing Around with Your Sound: Effects 291 Juicing Up Your Sound 292 When your sound is too hot to handle: Distortion 292 Toying with Tone Quality 293 EQ: The great tonal equalizer 294 Wah-wah, the effect that is as it sounds 294 Modulation Effects, from Swooshy to Swirly 294 Stacking sounds for a fuller effect: Chorus 294 Swooshing, like a jet plane: Flangers and phase shifters 295 Like a visit to the opera house: Vibrato and tremolo 295 Pretending (and Sounding Like) You’re Somewhere You’re Not 296 Delaying sound in a cave-like way 297 Adding reverb to make your sound slicker 297 Choosing an Effects Format 298 A string of effects: Pedals on parade 298 A box to house them all at your feet 299 A box to house them all at hand level 299 Chapter 16: Changing Strings 303 Change is Good, But When? 303 Choosing the Right Strings 304 Acoustic strings 305 Electric strings 305 Outfitting Your String-Changing Toolkit 307 Removing Old Strings 308 Stringing a Steel-String Acoustic 309 Stringing an Electric Guitar 313 Part 6: The Part of Tens 319 Chapter 17: Ten Blues Guitar Giants 321 Robert Johnson (1911–38) 321 Elmore James (1918–63) 322 T-Bone Walker (1910–75) 322 Muddy Waters (1915–83) 322 Albert King (1923–92) 323 B.B King (b 1925) 323 Albert Collins (1932–93) 323 Otis Rush (b 1934) 324 Eric Clapton (b 1945) 324 Stevie Ray Vaughan (1954–90) 324 Chapter 18: Ten Great Blues Guitars 325 Gibson L-1 Flattop 325 Gibson ES-175 Archtop 326 National Steel 326 Gibson J-200 326 Fender Telecaster 327 Gibson Les Paul 327 Fender Stratocaster 327 Gibson ES-335 328 Gibson ES-355 328 Gibson SG 328 Chapter 19: Ten (Plus One) Must-Have Blues Guitar Albums 329 Robert Johnson: The Complete Recordings 329 Blues Masters: The Very Best of Lightnin’ Hopkins 330 T-Bone Walker: Complete Capitol Black & White Recordings 330 T-Bone Walker: Complete Imperial Recordings 330 The Best of Muddy Waters 331 B.B King: Live at the Regal 331 The Very Best of Buddy Guy 331 Robert Cray: Bad Influence 331 Masters of the Delta Blues: Friends of Charlie Patton 332 Mean Old World: The Blues from 1940 to 1994 332 Chicago: The Blues Today 332 Part 7: Appendixes 333 Appendix A: How to Read Music 335 The Elements of Music Notation 336 Reading pitch 337 Reading duration 338 Expression, articulation, and miscellaneous terms and symbols 340 Appendix B: How to Use the Website 343 Relating the Text to the Website 343 Count-offs 344 Stereo separation 344 System Requirements 344 What You’ll Find on the Website 345 Audio tracks 345 Troubleshooting 350 Index 351

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Book SynopsisThe next expert special effects makeup guide to all things gory, bloody, disgusting, and fantastic. Uncover the secrets of horror makeup in the third volume of the acclaimed special effects makeup series. Learn how to apply gory, realistic, and captivating scar and wound makeup from leading Japanese special effects makeup artists. Discover the hidden tricks behind special effects makeup, mask-making, and more.

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Book SynopsisThe title of this collection of essays refers to a tailor's mannequin that Alfred Brendel spotted in a shop window in Arezzo, a small Tuscan town. And so, in his delightful new collection, great masters of nonsense meet great masters of music.

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Book SynopsisA SUNDAY TIMES POP BOOK OF THE YEARA DAILY TELEGRAPH MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEARA DAILY MAIL MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEARA TIMES MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEAR (''Of the many Led Zeppelin biographies marking the band''s 50th anniversary, this is the most illuminating'')OBSERVER BEST BOOKS OF 2018''An enthralling and rigorously researched book'' Sunday Times ''Blake has talked to everyone, and the stories are both lurid and melancholy'' Mail on Sunday ''A juicy saga of excess all areas, Mark Blake''s biography of Led Zeppelin''s notoriously combative manager, Peter Grant, reads at times like an all-you-can-eat buffet of guilty pleasures . . . a riotous roller coaster'' The Times ''A tale as expansive and complex as the man himself'' Mojo''To say Bring It On Home is a rambunctious page-turnerTrade ReviewIt's tempting to dismiss Grant as a supremely unappetising figure, so it is a credit to this enthralling and rigorously researched book that we get a sufficiently three-dimensional portrait to be able to understand what drove him * Sunday Times *A juicy saga of excess all areas, Mark Blake's biography of Led Zeppelin's notoriously combative manager, Peter Grant, reads at times like an all-you-can-eat buffet of guilty pleasures . . . a riotous rollercoaster ride full of larger-than-life characters . . . the first authorised in-depth portrait . . . an entertaining journey into a lost epoch of unchecked superstar excess * The Times *Exhaustive and detailed resume . . . the detail is priceless . . . Blake has talked to everyone, and the stories are both lurid and melancholy * Mail on Sunday *Meticulous always entertaining . . . never shies away from its subject's belligerent reputation . . . Naturally, this is a book about Zeppelin as well as Grant, but their story, as told through a Peter Grant-shaped lens, is magnified and augmented . . . A tale as expansive and complex as the man himself -- James McNair * Mojo *The incredible inside story of Led Zeppelin's fabled hardman manager . . . forensically-researched . . . the volume of other new stories unearthed here is impressive . . . To say Bring It On Home is a rambunctious page-turner is an understatement; but despite all the violence and weirdness, you can't help liking the 'real' Peter Grant who emerges here * Planet Rock *Grimly entertaining . . . richly anecdotal . . . insight into a thankfully lost world * Q magazine *Glimpses of this former wrestler and doorman's life have made him a legend, but this is the first time it has been revealed in depth. With a wealth of unseen pics and detail, Bring It On Home is like Grant himself - awesome * Weekend Sport *In this entertaining, sympathetic biography, music journalist Mark Blake . . . provides a fresh perspective on the Zeppelin story * Observer *Of the many Led Zeppelin biographies marking the band's 50th anniversary, this is the most illuminating -- Will Hodgkinson * The Times *[Grant] is captured vividly by Mark Blake, who paints a compelling, warts-and-all portrait of a figure who was as much a gangster as a Svengali, equal parts visionary and monster -- Dan Cairns * Sunday Times *Well-researched . . . at once amusing, candid, guarded, vague, clever and occasionally contradictory . . . Blake has written a pleasantly humane portrayal of a much-mythologised man -- John Perry * Record Collector *Shed[s] new light on how excess and tragedy tore this amazing band apart * The Sun *

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Book SynopsisIn his first and only official autobiography, music icon Elton John reveals the truth about his extraordinary life. Me is the joyously funny, honest and moving story of the most enduringly successful singer/songwriter of all time.The Sunday Times bestseller with a new chapter bringing the story up to date. 'The rock memoir of the decade' – Daily Mail'The rock star's gloriously entertaining and candid memoir is a gift to the reader' – Sunday Times______________Christened Reginald Dwight was a shy boy with Buddy Holly glasses who grew up in the London suburb of Pinner and dreamed of becoming a pop star. By the age of twenty-three, he was performing his first gig in America, facing an astonished audience in his bright yellow dungarees, a star-spangled T-shirt and boots with wings. Elton John had arrived and the music world would never be the same again.His life has been full of drama, from the early rejection of his work with songwriting partner Bernie Taupin to spinning out of control as a chart-topping superstar; from half-heartedly trying to drown himself in his LA swimming pool to disco-dancing with the Queen; from friendships with John Lennon, Freddie Mercury and George Michael to setting up his AIDS Foundation. All the while, Elton was hiding a drug addiction that would grip him for over a decade.In Me Elton also writes powerfully about getting clean and changing his life, about finding love with David Furnish and becoming a father. In a voice that is warm, humble and open, this is Elton on his music and his relationships, his passions and his mistakes. This is a story that will stay with you, by a living legend.______________'Self-deprecating, funny . . . You cannot help but enjoy his company throughout, temper tantrums and all' – The Times'Racy, pacy and crammed with scurrilous anecdotes - what more could you ask from the rocket man' – Guardian (Book of the Week)'Chatty, gossipy, amusing and at times brutally candid' – TelegraphTrade ReviewBlazingly honest . . . From sex and drugs and dancing with the Queen to sobriety and finally fatherhood, the rock star's gloriously entertaining and candid memoir is a gift to the reader * Sunday Times *The rock memoir of the decade * Daily Mail *Self-deprecating, funny . . . You cannot help but enjoy his company throughout, temper tantrums and all * The Times *All the sex, drugs and showbiz gossip you could want . . . A chatty, gossipy, amusing and at times brutally candid account * Telegraph *Outrageously enjoyable . . . racy, pacy and crammed with scurrilous anecdotes – what more could you ask from the rocket man? * Guardian *Bracingly open and spectacularly funny . . . practically everyone who is anyone in rock jumps briefly but revealingly into view * New Statesman *Full of warmth and candour . . . John's enthusiasm for music continues to shine through, as does the rebellious streak that made him the groundbreaking artist he continues to be today * Independent *A fitting testament to Elton’s life . . . unrelentingly enjoyable * GQ *Me is a riveting, laugh-til-you-cry, heartfelt page-turner . . . it is the earnest, sweet, damaged “music mad” kid at the heart of Me that will stick with you. * EW *The perfect pop memoir . . . the world's most successful singer-songwriter is thin-skinned, opinionated, mischievous a, prone to excess - and funny * The I *

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Book SynopsisThis is the incredible story of Olivia Rodrigo who first rose to prominence starring in the Disney television program High School Musical. Rodrigo released her debut single, Drivers License , which broke various records and became one of the best-selling songs of 2021, helping her achieve mainstream fame. She followed it up with the singles Deja Vu and Good 4 U , and released her debut studio album, Sour, in 2021. The album earned her critical and commercial success, winning various accolades, including three Grammy Awards. A Disney+ documentary, Olivia Rodrigo: Driving Home 2 U, followed in 2022, chronicling her creative process with Sour. In 2023, Rodrigo released her second studio album, Guts, supported by the singles Vampire , Bad Idea Right? , and Get Him Back! Overall, Rodrigo has achieved three Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles, two Billboard 200 number-one albums, and five multi- platinum certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America. This illustrated biography tells the engaging details of the artist that Billboard named Woman of the Year in 2022. This is Olivia Rodrigo''s incredible story through her music...

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Book SynopsisHistorical Pattern Archive: Women's Clothing 18371969 is the first book of its kind to capture such a wide range of women's period patterns in one book, featuring 83 patterns spanning over a century of clothing.The book offers an accurate pattern of each garment on a 1/8 graph that can be used to scale the pattern up to its original size, drawings of each piece from multiple angles, and instructions about how the original garment was constructed and what materials were used. Capturing research and information about garments that would have otherwise stayed hidden or disappeared permanently due to age, wear, or poor storage conditions, this volume is designed to be a tool to preserve history through documenting vintage clothing.Written for historians, reenactors, costumer makers, and costume designers, Historical Pattern Archive will enable readers to study the history behind each piece, implement their original techniques, and recTable of Contents1. Pre-1850 Patterns 2. 1850 Patterns 3. 1860 Patterns 4. 1870 Patterns 5. 1880 Patterns 6. 1890 Patterns 7. 1900 Patterns 8. 1910 Patterns 9. 1920 Patterns 10. 1930 Patterns 11. 1940 Patterns 12. 1950 Patterns 13. 1960 Patterns

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Book SynopsisLife advice from a screen legend Arguably one of the most recognisable actresses of all time, this unauthorised collection of inspirational quotes demonstrates the spirit of a true style icon, and reflects on fashion, elegance, success, beauty and beyond. ---'All little girls should be told they are pretty, even if they aren't.''Who said nights were for sleep?''I don't mind making jokes, but I don't want to look like one.''I am not interested in money. I just want to be wonderful.'

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Book SynopsisA must have book for fans of Mick Ronson and David Bowie - the Spider from Hull who lit up the fabulous Ziggy Stardust shows with his dazzling guitar playing and powerful stage presence. This is Mick Ronson's story. And it begins in his home-town of Hull.Trade Review'Carefully crafted, it collects anecdotes and insights from family, friends and fellow musicians into his genius - and genial - character... Rupert and Garry charts Ronson's life, from the moment his mother realised the gift he had, through his early struggles to achieve his ambition, the Bowie years, and onwards to the many collaborations with top musicians as producer and arranger.' Yorkshire PostTable of ContentsFOREWARD PREFACE INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1- Childhood and Early Years 1946-1963 CHAPTER 2 - First Bands 1963-1966 CHAPTER 3- The Rats Part One 1966- 1968 CHAPTER 4- The Rats Part Two 1968-1970 CHAPTER 5- Bowie, Hype and the Man Who Sold the World 1970 CHAPTER 6 - From Ronno to Ziggy 1970-1971 CHAPTER 7 - Ziggy Played Guitar 1972 CHAPTER 8 - Ziggy's Rise and Fall 1973 CHAPTER 9 - From Sideman to Frontman 1973-1974 CHAPTER 10 - Musician & Producer for Hire 1974-1977 CHAPTER 11- The Long Road Home 1977- 1993 CHAPTER 12 - The Legacy APPENDICES: Who's Who Mick Ronson Timeline Bands & Artists that Mick worked with as a Musician and/or Producer Mick Ronson Map of Hull Acknowledgements Bibliography Photo Credits Index

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Book SynopsisThe first inside story of one of TV''s most popular and beloved dramas, Grey''s Anatomy.''I''m a Black woman casting my own show. I wanted their world to look like the world that I live in. I don''t think about it in those terms [diversity], and I militantly think I don''t have to.'' Shonda Rhimes''Multiple generations have discovered Derek through Netflix. They are passionate around the world. It''s humbling.'' Patrick DempseyMore than 15 years after its premiere, Grey''s Anatomy remains one of the most beloved dramas on television in the US and the UK. It continues to win its time slot and has ranked in the Top 20 most watched shows in primetime for most of its 17-season run. It currently averages more than 9 million viewers each week. Now it''s time to hear from the people who made the show happen.A cultural touchstone, it introduced the unique voice and vision of Shonda Rhimes, it made Ellen Po

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Book Synopsis1987. Armed with a Filofax, a brick of a mobile phone and steely determination, 20-year-old Nicki Chapman is walking through the seedy streets of Soho towards her first job in the music biz.But how did Nicki go from being a looked-over assistant running promo packages over to BBC Radio 1 to a judge on Pop Idol with 15 million viewers tuning in for the nail-biting moment Will Young triumphed over Gareth Gates?Everyone knows there were the kingmakers in the heady days of 90s British pop music, but this is a queen''s side of the story; a down-to-earth, no-nonsense team player who fought to make it in an industry that was very much a man''s world.Empowering, entertaining and sprinkled with stardust, Nicki''s inspirational behind-the-scenes story takes in the rocketing highs and heart-breaking lows of promoting, managing and touring with the Spice Girls, Amy Winehouse, David Bowie, Take That, Billie Piper, Phil Collins and S Club 7, all whilst confro

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Book SynopsisTHE TIMES'' BEST BOOKS OF THE YEARThis book charts the personal and professional journey of Greg Doran, Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company from 2012 until 2022 and one of the great Shakespearians of his generation (Sunday Times). During his illustrious career, Doran has directed or produced all of the plays within Shakespeare''s First Folio -- a milestone reached in the same year that the world celebrates the 400th anniversary of its original publication. Each chapter looks at a different play, considering the choices made and weaving in both autobiographical detail and background on the RSC, as well as giving insights into key collaborations, including those with actors such as Judi Dench, David Tennant, Harriet Walter, Patrick Stewart, Simon Russell Beale, Paterson Joseph and Doran''s husband, the late Antony Sher, as well as seminal practitioners such as Cicely Berry, John Barton and Terry Hands. The book also includes 16 stri

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Book Synopsis"We were a band before we could play", Bono tells us, and from the beginning U2 have been distinguished by their shared passion. What began in 1976 with Larry Mullen posting a "Musicians Wanted" ad on his school bulletin board led to an epic journey from Dublin clubs to stadiums around the world. This expressive coffee table book traces the great career of U2, who sold more than 130 million albums, revolutionised live performance, led political campaigns, and made music that defined our age. Discover insights in many personal accounts, photographs and recordings.Table of ContentsContents INTRODUCTION SEPTEMBER 25, 1976 . . . page 8 CHAPTER ONE SAVING ROCK page 10 CHAPTER TWO THE ERA OF CHANGE page 48 CHAPTER THREE REINVENTION AND THE CONQUEST OF CREATIVE FREEDOM page 88 CHAPTER FOUR THE NEW MILLENNIUM AND YET ANOTHER REBIRTH page 116

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Book Synopsis'Only what is open and searching is active and alive. You, the actor, must learn to find security in insecurity, certainty in uncertainty, to trust that this will lead to discovery and growth.' In What Actors Do, revered theatre director Mike Alfreds explores the wellspring of the actor's craft, tracing a pathway to creative freedom through the thickets of competing methodologies and confusing paradoxes that you will face throughout your training and career. How do you give life to a character that both is and isn't yourself? How can you be childlike and open in your work without becoming childish? How, when you know what's coming next, can you still be spontaneous? Frank, uncompromising and full of sharply focused insights, this book will help you strip away the inhibitions and habitual thinking that can shackle our imaginations. It will show you how to generate truthful performances by trusting your inner creativity and remaining radically open, responsive and present in every moment. Mike Alfreds has been directing plays for more than seventy years. In the 1970s he founded Shared Experience, and has since worked for the National Theatre, Shakespeare's Globe, the Royal Shakespeare Company and also extensively abroad. He is hugely respected within the profession, and is the author of two previous books, Different Every Night and Then What Happens? 'If I was allowed to train again to be an actor, but I was only allowed one teacher, it would have to be Mike Alfreds. To me he is a genius when it comes to acting and storytelling' Mark Rylance

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Book SynopsisClint Eastwood is Hollywood’s elder statesman and its conscience. He is the standard by which other films and filmmakers are judged. He represents both classical Hollywood and an entirely modern, uncompromising and unfussy directorial presence. There are those who adore him as a cowboy, a superstar, the rugged, unyielding yet introspective face of American machismo. There are those who read him as a great American auteur fashioning uncompromising, fascinating, intellectual films about his country, about life, about whatever the hell takes his fancy.   No single figure in all of Hollywood, operates so freely outside of the strictures of commercial pressure. And yet, or perhaps that is because, he makes hit after hit.   Separation of actor and director is almost impossible. They are intimately related, cross pollinating, but he has become in the latter half of his career to be view as one of the great American artists. While drawing conTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION THE MAGNIFICENT STRANGER The early years (1930–1971) THE DIRECTOR EMERGES Play Misty for Me (1971), Dirty Harry (scene) (1971), High Plains Drifter (1973), Breezy (1973), The Eiger Sanction (1975) WAY OUT WESTERN The strange tale of The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) MAXIMUM MINIMALISM Ten great Clint Eastwood performances AMERICAN STORYTELLER The Gauntlet (1977), Bronco Billy (1980), Firefox (1982), Honkytonk Man (1982), Sudden Impact (1983) THE MAYOR Tightrope (uncredited) (1984), Pale Rider (1985), Heartbreak Ridge (1986), Bird (1988), White Hunter Black Heart (1990), The Rookie (1990) MAYOR OF CARMEL The tale of Clint Eastwood’s brief foray into politics THE LAST RIDE The greatness of Unforgiven (1992) THE INTREPID ICON A Perfect World (1993), The Bridges of Madison County (1995), Absolute Power (1997), Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997), True Crime (1999), Space Cowboys (2000), Blood Work (2002), Mystic River (2003) AMERICAN SOUL The emotional triumph of Million Dollar Baby (2004) COMPLETING CLINT Rounding out a fifty-year career as filmmaker HOLLYWOOD NOBILITY Flags of Our Fathers (2006), Letters from Iwo Jima (2006), Changeling (2008), Gran Torino (2008), Invictus (2009), Hereafter (2010) THE UNQUENCHABLE FLAME J. Edgar (2011), Jersey Boys (2014), American Sniper (2014), Sully (2016), The 15:17 to Paris (2018), The Mule (2018), Richard Jewell (2019), Cry Macho (2021) SOURCES

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Book SynopsisUnofficial and unauthorised.'When people ask me if I went to film school I tell them, 'No, I went to films''. From the set of 1993’s Pulp Fiction, to a bar room meeting with Robert Rodriguez and an inspirational lunch with Leonardo di Caprio, this unique graphic novel takes us across a series of Hollywood-inspired vignettes covering the movie-obsessed life and career of one of modern cinema’s greatest filmmakers – Quentin Tarantino. Join the conversation as Tarantino talks John Travolta into starring in Pulp Fiction, find out about the inspiration for his earliest screenplays and learn about Tarantino’s obsessive childhood growing up in California. For those who already know what they call a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris – as well as those looking for an insight into Tarantino’s influences, inspirations and the development of his signature

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Book SynopsisA unique Companion to J S Bach''s iconic Cello Suites from internationally-renowned cellist Steven Isserlis.The very model of how to write about music.' Philip PullmanAn essential companion.' Jeremy Denk, New York TimesIlluminating, accessible and detailed.' ObserverBach's six cello suites for solo cello are among the most cherished works in musical literature. Little-known for some two hundred years after their composition, they have acquired an aura that enthrals audiences worldwide.Internationally renowned cellist Steven Isserlis goes deep into the history and the emotional journey of the suites, bringing to bear all his experience of performance to offer a rewarding companion for everyone, from the casual listener to the performing musician.Trade Review'In his writing, as in his playing, Steven makes hard work seem effort-less. He's the master of the material, yet always able to make it accessible. In The Bach Cello Suites he explains often difficult technical detail with great joy and humour. For someone like me, who doesn't know their gavotte from their elbow, it is an absolute treat to be led to this sublime music by such an enthusiastic expert.'- Michael Palin'The book I've always wanted: an accessible, eloquent guide to the world's greatest - and maybe most elusive - pieces of music. And written by the man I'd want to tell me about it. This is such a delight.'- Derren Brown

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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

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Book Synopsis THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'A handsome six footer with a warm and engaging personality, Davie Jones has all it takes to get to the show business heights including . . . talent.' David Bowie at 17 in May, 1964 writing his own press biography. Respected arts commentator Paul Morley, one of the team who curated the highly successful retrospective exhibition for the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, David Bowie Is . . . constructs the definitive story of Bowie that explores how he worked, played, aged, structured his ideas, invented the future and entered history as someone who could and would never be forgotten. Morley will capture the greatest moments of Bowie’s career; from the recording studio with the likes of Brian Eno and Tony Visconti; to iconic live performances from the 1970s, 80s and 90s, as well as the various encounters and artistic relationships he developed with rock luminaries John Lennon, Lou Reed and Iggy Pop. AndTrade Review‘A thrilling hymn to a brilliant and beloved “song and dance man”. David Bowie did make a world of difference, and Paul Morley explains why.’ -- Barney Hoskyns * The Observer *‘Morley has a deep understanding of Bowie’s music . . . this is great fun.’ * The Times *‘A huge sprawl of Bowieania that takes us from skiffle to social media’ * The Herald *‘A discursive, free-associating ride across the life and work of the Starman Who Changed the World […] The Age of Bowie does feel like an outpouring of the sincerest love for its subject, the fruit of an obsessive emersion of everything Bowie meant to him and us. Eschewing the conventionally dry biographical voice, Morley’s expansive present-tense prose flows […] I hold him to be one of the great pop writers. You might even call him the Bowie of rock journalism.’ * The Guardian *‘Morley has not only plenty of insights into Bowie’s life and work but also the kind of details that only a diligent biographer unearths’ * The Times *‘Ultimately it is Bowie that makes this an enjoyable read, his life and art speak so loudly and profoundly that if you capture just a piece, as Morley has, you have something worth reading.’ * Fortitude Magazine *

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Book SynopsisDiscover the secrets of Christopher Nolan's Tenet with this exclusive behind-the-scenes look at 2020's most anticipated film. In 2020, director Christopher Nolan returns with Tenet, an action epic evolving from the world of international espionage. This deluxe book takes fans through the full creative journey that brought Tenet to the screen, from the genesis of Nolan's uniquely imaginative script through to the cutting edge techniques used to realise the film's innovative action sequences. Featuring exclusive interviews with the director and his crew, including producer Emma Thomas and production designer Nathan Crowley, The Making of Tenet is a can't-miss companion to Nolan's thrilling new masterpiece.

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Book SynopsisFeast your way through the world of Marvel Comics with celebrity chef Justin Warner in Marvel Eat the Universe: The Official Cookbook. Prepare to eat like a Marvel superhero with Marvel Eat the Universe: The Official Cookbook. Chef Justin Warner invites you to pull up a chair and explore the Marvel Universe through these creative dishes inspired by its heroes. Based on Marvel's hit web series hosted by Warner, this ultimate compendium of recipes will feature dishes that span a variety of skill levels, including: - Phoenix Hot Chicken and Egg Bowl - Storm's Tournedos - Dazzler's Glittering Pizza Bagels - Hulk Smashed Potatoes - Green Goblin Pumpkin Bombs With recipes inspired by Marvel Comics' rich history, Marvel Eat the Universe: The Official Cookbook offers something delicious for fans from every corner of the multiverse.

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Book SynopsisPersonally compiled and curated by Yoko Ono, Imagine John Yoko is the definitive inside story told in revelatory detail of the making of the legendary album and all that surrounded it: the locations, the creative team, the artworks and the films, in the words of John & Yoko and the people who were there. Features 80% exclusive, hitherto-unpublished archive photos and footage sequences of all the key players in situ, together with lyric sheets, Yoko's art installations, and exclusive new insights and personal testimonies from Yoko and over forty of the musicians, engineers, staff, celebrities, artists and photographers who were there including Julian Lennon, Klaus Voormann, Alan White, Jim Keltner, David Bailey, Dick Cavett and Sir Michael Parkinson. A lot has been written about the creation of the song, the album and the film of Imagine, mainly by people who weren't there, so I'm very pleased and grateful that now, for the first time, so many of the participants have kindly Trade Review'A luxurious scrapbook … Beatles geeks will salivate over it' - Observer'Gorgeous' - i newspaper'Wonderful' - Choice'Tells their love story like never before' - Rolling Stone'Deeply desirable … especially for [those] who covet the rare and beautiful … to see how this avant-garde duo lived and created art is powerfully inspiring' - Harper's Bazaar Australia'A Lennon fan could hardly ask for more' - Washington Post'Fans will be particularly enchanted' - USA Today'This book is near perfect' - Spill'Here, in a new book of interviews past and present, we see how their love affair, the making of the album and their pacifism intertwined' - Financial TimesTable of ContentsPreface • 1. Tittenhurst • 2. Recording Imagine • 3. Album Artwork • 4. Filming Imagine • 5. This Is Not Here • 6. Legacy

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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.

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Book SynopsisPacked with witty career advice for budding entrepreneurs, this Star Wars self-help book is full of brilliant business advice and funny quotes from Lando Calrissian and other Star Wars characters.As the galaxy''s resident wheeler-dealer, Lando has lots of useful advice for the business novice. If you''re setting up a start-up and want to know how to win over investors, when to back away from a deal, or how to gamble away the fastest starship in the galaxy, this is the book for you! With additional tips from other galactic scoundrels, including Han Solo, Jabba the Hutt, Watto, Qi''ra and even some sound business advice from Yoda, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, you''ll be well and truly equipped to grow your amazing new venture and win at life! The perfect gift for colleagues and friends alike, Star Wars: Be More Lando is a tongue-in-cheek guide to winning over heroes and influencing droids. It features favourite moments from the Star Wars

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“It’s gossipy and funny and sometimes wistful and sad, but it’s page-turning. . . . For a film lover like me, Alright, Alright, Alright is an endless feast of facts and revelations. I’m gonna guess that for the casual filmgoer (and even someone who’s never seen Dazed and Confused) it will be fascinating just for the thrill of reading older people looking back with joy, bewilderment and sometimes anger at a time when they were not only young, but when their youth blazed.” — Patton Oswalt, New York Times Book Review “The story of Dazed and Confused has been told before, but never with the depth, breadth, or remarkable reproduction of the film’s conversational rhythms found in Melissa Maerz’s new oral history. . . . Like Linklater’s depiction of the last day of school circa 1976, Maerz’s book envelops readers in time and place. But while the movie’s more of a snapshot, Alright, Alright, Alright is a panorama, enriched by deep background…. It’s a class reunion that doesn’t suck, attended by almost all of the living principals.” — AV Club “[Maerz] does a lot more than just weave the oral history behind a famous movie. She makes it feel like the story of a generation….. This book does for the Nineties what the movie did for the Seventies: a lovingly detailed portrait of an era, celebratory but inevitably elegiac, full of tiny comic moments that seem to sum up the decade’s craziest hopes and dreams…. Like the movie, the book is pure pleasure because makes you feel like you’re hanging out with these friends—it’s a joy to jump and join them on a slow ride.” — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone “A charming oral history of everyone’s favorite stoner film. . . . Essential for fans of the film but also for anyone with ambitions to work in film on either side of the camera.” — Kirkus, starred review “Fun reading, enhanced by veteran entertainment journalist Maerz’s expert chapter introductions and many, well-organized conversations with everyone from Linklater to the stars to the film crew. But Alright, Alright, Alright is also an interesting peek into the many relationships that must be navigated in the making of a film, and a surprising foray into the nature of memory and nostalgia. A must for fans of the movie and readers interested in the moviemaking experience.” — Booklist, starred review “Thorough, funny, and bittersweet.” — Texas Monthly “Touches on the volatility of young artists, the hormones of youthful performers, the conflicts between corporate and artistic stakeholders, the ways our entertainment is presented to us and how we consume it. The book, like the film, is a story about time. ... One of the joys in Alright, Alright, Alright is the perspective Maerz attains with the time that has passed since the making of “Dazed,” as well as its release, its lukewarm reception and its long-tail embrace. Her book becomes less specifically tied to the film and more about how time affects all of us after adolescence.” — Houston Chronicle “An at times humorous chronicle of how a small film became a touchstone of 1990s cinema, with introspective analysis of directing techniques, casting, and performance. . . . Linklater devotees, those who love Dazed and Confused, and anyone interested in 1990s indie film will appreciate Maerz’s detailed tribute.” — Library Journal “An intricate oral history… any cinephile would be happy to check out.” — Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisIn the late 1970s, aggressive, young bands are forming across Britain. Independent labels are springing up to release their music. But this isn''t the story of punk. Forget punk. Punk was a flash in the pan compared to this. This is the story of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, a musical movement that changed the world. From this movement - given the unwieldy acronym NWOBHM - sprang streams that would flow through metal''s subsequent development. Without NWOBHM there is no thrash metal, no death metal, no black metal. Without the rise of Iron Maiden, NWOBHM''s standard bearers, leading the charge to South America and to South Asia, metal''s global spread is slower. Without the NWOBHM bands - who included Def Leppard, Motorhead, Judas Priest, Diamond Head and many others - the international uniform of heavy metal - the ''battle jacket'' of a denim jacket with sleeves ripped off, and covered with patches (usually sewn on by the wearer''s mum), worn over a leather biker jacTrade Review[Denim and Leather] captures a moment in time and a genre of music that had a brief moment in the sun . . . The book is an honest portrayal, directly from the horse's mouth . . . The interesting thing is that it was people trying to discover their own identities . . . The book sums it up by the people who experienced it * Phil Collen, Def Leppard *There is a real tenderness to Michael Hann's perception of music, a perception that has balance of forthright investigation and humane intrigue, neither meek nor ruthless as interviewer and writer, he serves the outsider with empathy and grounded wonder. Hann's perspective on the New Wave of British Heavy Metal leads Denim and Leather to be what I want as a music fan: a revelation of the overlooked and a celebration of the underdog. Which is what the genre was all about in the first place! Magic * Joe Talbot, Idles *The influence of British metal extends far beyond the amount of newsprint miles expended on it. Denim and Leather acts both as the oral history its fans deserve and a deeply evocative primer for those of us who weren't paying attention at the time. With Denim and Leather, Michael Hann has masterfully interwoven dozens of disparate narratives to create a deeply evocative oral history of a hugely misunderstood chapter in British music history. Denim and Leather voyages beyond music history and into the realm of sociology to honour the importance of the misunderstood movement whose history it exists to tell - in the process creating a deeply evocative primer for both fans and the merely curious * Pete Paphides, author of Broken Greek *Finally, a book about one of the most overlooked and unfairly derided movements in music history. There is so much in here, metal music that shaped everything that came afterwards, joy, pathos, humour and darkness. I learned so much; now excuse me while I go brush up on Witchfynde * Frank Turner *Denim and Leather is enthralling and entertaining for both hardcore fans and novice listeners of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. I previously did not know much beyond the biggest bands in the genre, but I found this book captivating and consistently amusing. Michael Hann talks to all the major players in the NWOBHM, who are often contradictory, sometimes delusional, and usually very charming. The book opened my eyes and ears to a lot of music I didn't previously know, and helped me contextualize exactly what was so unique about this music and the scene around it * Craig Finn, The Hold Steady *Part of the book's charm is Hann's rendering of local accents, even as his interviewees hold forth on their lurid flirtations with the dark side... [an] entertaining and poignant oral history * Financial Times *A number of lively vignettes... fascinating and entertaining * Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Dazzling. … Will delight any reader. … Fans of The Office will enjoy Welcome to Dunder Mifflin.” — New York Times Book Review, "Best Books to Give This Season" “This definitive oral history…is as sharp and well crafted as the comedy that inspired it. … A true insider’s guide filled with sweet surprises for fans and the brainy charm to make new ones.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Fascinating. … The ultimate behind-the-scenes account.” — Washington Post “A must for fans of The Office. With a foreword by Greg Daniels and interviews with cast members, behind-the-scenes photos and more, it’ll put you right back in Scranton, Pennsylvania.” — CNN.com “The definitive history of The Office. … Spills all of the tea on NBC's iconic sitcom. … The perfect gift for your cousin who is currently on their fifth rewatch.” — E! Online, Top Books to Read This Month "Any Office stan worth their salt needs a copy." — Bon Appétit “The definitive history of the landmark TV show, based on hundreds of hours of interviews with the cast and creators who share their favorite stories and untold secrets, complete with behind-the-scenes photographs.” — USA Today “Provides a behind-the-scenes look at the history of the beloved show.” — People "A pretty package, large and wide, full of production art; it’s solace that a sitcom about a paper company generated a warm printed artifact on nice paper. Like the show itself, there are also recollections here so tender, I felt myself tearing up, and rejected plots so ridiculous, I convulsed with belly laughs. Of these TV oral histories, it’s also the smartest on how actual creative choices play out." — Chicago Tribune

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Book SynopsisThe Minutemen have enjoyed something of a revival, due to a chapter in Michael Azerrad's book Our Band Could Be Your Life, and a documentary film, We Jam Econo, showcasing the band's legacy. This book sheds light on the band's remarkable music and on an album. It includes interviews with Mike Watt, the band's bass player, and with others.Trade ReviewHow do you showcase the Minutemen's Double Nickels On The Dime, a sprawling opus of a punk record, spanning more than 40 songs over four LP sides? It's a formidable task that could easily get out of hand, but Michael T. Fournier takes a simple, no-nonsense approach in this installment of the Continuum 33 1/3 series, and this sensibility takes us into the heart and soul of the band and their crowning achievement. Fournier dives right into the band's history, giving us a short overview of the basics; how they formed, the band members' various personalities, and how they got to the point of releasing Double Nickels. The band was notorious for using inside jokes and obscure references, which played itself out in the theme of the record. Fournier breaks down their overall approach, including an interesting bit on how the album name and cover photo played off of Sammy Hagar's I Can't Drive 55, of all things. He also explains the structure of the album and how each separate side came into being, with each band member getting a side, and leftovers ending up on the last side, nicknamed Chaff. From there, Fournier goes into each song on the album, providing back stories and anecdotes, including interviews with bassist Mike Watt himself. The book does a great job of pulling back the layers of quirkiness that the band painted themselves in, shining light on some of the mysteries of one of the 80s greatest indie punk records. * Mish Mash Music Reviews *Table of ContentsChapter 1: History Lesson Chapter 2: History Lesson (Part II) Chapter 3: Arena Rock Is The New Wave: Side D. Chapter 4: Punk Rock Is The New Nostalgia: Side Watt Chapter 5: Dance Rock Is The New Pasture: Side George Chapter 6: Chump Rock Is The New Cool: Side Chaff

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Book SynopsisThe band to introduce the blues to the British mainstream and who continue to sell millions of records 40 years on. This bleak album is now regarded as their finest hour. Includes Rocks Off.Trade Review"'A brilliant idea' The Times; 'Neat' Nick Hornby; 'Pocket-size books about favourite albums is a nice idea, akin to TV's Classic Albums and with an equal amount of care and attention.' The Guardian (Friday Review)"

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Book SynopsisWhether you''re an absolute beginner or a Strictly Come Dancing wannabe, it''s time to get up and dance Craig Revel Horwood''s Ballroom Dancing gives you the confidence you need to take your first steps on the dancefloor. It even includes style tips from the style guru, Len Goodman, to give you that professional look. Discover the history, foot positions, turns, and more, to all your favourite Strictly dances: Waltz Social foxtrot Quickstep Tango Rumba Samba Cha cha cha JiveBallroom dancing is totally cool, funky, and fantastically rewarding. What better way to get fit than tangoing your tension away, and foxtrotting the fat off your thighs? Happy dancing.Trade Review"Excellent ... a really simple way to learn." * Lorraine Kelly *Table of Contents : Introduction : Warm-Up : International Latin American Dances : Mambo : Rumba : Cha Cha Cha : Paso Doble : Samba : Jive : International Standard Partner Dances : Slow Foxtrot : Waltz : Quickstep : Tango : Viennese Waltz

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Book SynopsisHow one man discovered B. B. King, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley, and how his tiny label, Sun Records of Memphis, revolutionised the world.Trade ReviewAuthor Peter Guralnick has no equals when it comes to researching the characters around Fifties andSixties rock music, and this biography has been many years in the writing. ...(a) valuable and fascinating book. -- Ray Connolly * DAILY MAIL - Book of the Week *In the hands of a storyteller as deft as Peter Guralnick it effortlessly engages the reader throughout. -- Lou Glandfield * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *Guralnick's book is exhaustive but exhilarating. Writing about music is notoriously difficult ... Guralnick manages to do so with ease, so that every description of a recording gets you scurrying to YouTube, to check if he's right. He invariably is. It's a big book about a huge personality whose influence on popular music has been enormous. -- JOHN CLARKE * THE INDEPENDENT *Guralnick brilliantly captures the period, its attitudes and its characters in a book that is essential reading for anyone interested in popular music. -- Edward Argyle * DAILY EXPRESS *Getting to know Sam, Mr. Guralnick explains, opened up "a world in which I had clearly not grown up but to which I so desperately sought admittance, as historian, as writer, as fan." So began the quest that has produced the gold-standard Presley bio and now a complete portrait of his inspiration.Mr. Guralnick has captured what was different, real and raw about a great artist. His Sam Phillips comes out perfectly imperfect. -- PRESTON LAUTERBACH * WALL STREET JOURNAL *

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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 *

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Book SynopsisDescribed, variously, as the perfect fusion of poetry and garage band rock and roll, Horses belongs as much to the world of literary and cultural criticism as it does to the realm of musicology. This book demonstrates how Horses transformed the possibilities of both poetry and rock music.Trade ReviewArmed with an amazing depth of knowledge and insight on Smith's life from childhood to the release of her debut masterpiece, Shaw contributes yet another stellar entry in this excellent series of books. -- Jer Fairall * Popmatters *

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Book SynopsisA singer once said His pitch was right on the nose: his word enunciation letter perfect: his understanding of a song thorough. He will be missed very much, not only by myself, but by his fans all over the world. The singer was the legendary Frank Sinatra, the man he spoke about: Matt Monro.  Matt Monro: The Singer''s Singer, is the highly-anticipated story of one of Britain''s most iconic singers, tracing Matt Monro''s life from his poverty stricken upbringing in post-war Britain to his day job as London bus driver to the steady rise to fame that saw the singer battling the highs and lows of the entertainment industry to become one of Britain''s best-loved entertainers. This is the man behind the image, the man who rubbed shoulders with some of the most famous names in the business, who recorded the very first James Bond theme song (From Russia with Love) and the international hits Softly as I Leave You, Born Free, Walk Away aTrade Review"If I had to choose three of the finest male vocalists in the singing business, Matt would be one of them." (Frank Sinatra)"

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Book SynopsisThe latest hot camera is pretty irrelevant if one can''t understand what''s happening on screen. The key to any narrative is in the dialogue and voice over, but if this is unintelligible or difficult to hear, viewers will soon lose interest. With real world applications and a narrative to keep the reader's interest, Production Sound Mixing is the indispensable guide for film and video audio recording. Written by veteran sound mixer John J. Murphy, the book offers a step by step collaborative journey through the basic physics of sound, concluding with a practical guide of the latest techniques and equipment available to all who are interested in the best audio for their projects. Structured to mimic a 14-week semester, each chapter begins with an audio problem to be solved and ends with a solution drawn from information gleaned from past chapters. Suggested movie scenes that demonstrate the relevant audio techniques will also be included. Equally applicable to studio and locationTrade ReviewAn excellent, comprehensive, and contemporary primer for those interested in becoming sound recordists or mixers. John J. Murphy’s Production Sound Mixing guides you through all you need to know to understand sound recording and technique. * Bill Linsman, Associate Professor of Film and Television, Boston University, USA, and Former Professional Sound Recordist and Mixer *Full of detailed, specific, practical knowledge as well as tips that only pros can teach, Production Sound Mixing is a valuable resource with a relaxed, readable style. With professional—but not overly technical—insights, John M. Murphy covers the physics of sound, equipment, work practice, and troubleshooting for faculty, students, and amateurs in sound production. * Peter Kiwitt, Assistant Professor, School of Film and Animation, Rochester Institute of Technology, USA, and Direcor Member of the Directors Guild of America *I've waited years for this book: it is far and away the most useful book on production audio for first-time students that I've encountered. * Piers Storey, University of Suffolk, UK *Comprehensive guide to the theory, technology and working practices involved in capturing location sound. With plenty of diagrams and an accessible style, this will be of huge value to Film sound students and aspiring professionals. * Simon Waite, Staffordshire University *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1: What is Sound? Chapter 2: Microphones: The Basic Types and How They Work Chapter 3: The DSLR Shoot: Making the Most of What’s at Hand Chapter 4: The Audio Mixer Chapter 5: Choosing a Location Chapter 6: Booming: The View from Above Chapter 7: Wireless Microphones: What They Are, How They Work, and How and Why We Use Them Chapter 8: Interviews! Chapter 9: On the Set Chapter 10: Prep Is Everything: Your Basic Kit Chapter 11: Synchronization Chapter 12: Post-Production: Where Does It GO From Here? Chapter 13: Opportunities for Sound Work in Film/Video Chapter 14: Stereo: When Two Become One Appendix Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewI discovered many things in this book's fascinating and entertaining pages of analysis on the show—chief among them is that Alan knows more about Breaking Bad than I do. -- Bryan CranstonThe five seasons of Breaking Bad constitute one of the most exhilirating rides in the history of American television, and there's no better companion on that journey than Alan Sepinwall. When it comes to Walt, Jesse, and their Albuquerque adventures, Sepinwall's writing is 99 percent pure. -- Maureen Ryan, television critic for VarietyNobody mapped the broad journey and the intricacies of this show like Alan Sepinwall. Both when I was working on the show and when I was just a fan, his weekly pieces were essential reading. What a treat to now have them in a binge-able 'box set.' -- Rian Johnson, writer and directorI appreciate Alan's ability to think like a filmmaker and a storyteller; understanding the motivation of the camera to the arc of a character, he acknowledges every aspect of the storytelling process. Alan's insightful critiques enhance the viewer's experience. -- Michelle MacLaren, director and producerFor those of us on the inside, making Breaking Bad was a wild, emotional ride. Through it all, from the cult-show beginnings to the finale, Alan Sepinwall's keen eye and attention to detail made him just about the most perceptive critic writing about the show. Now where's his book on Better Call Saul? -- Peter Gould, writer, director, and producer

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