Music: styles and genres Books

Book SynopsisAvailable for the first time in 25 years, this book of songs and sheet music, a collaboration between J. R. R. Tolkien and the composer Donald Swann, will delight Tolkien fans everywhere as the book to stand beside their copies of Lord of The Rings, the essays, poems and calendars. Includes a bonus CD containing performances of all the songs.In this song book the composer Donald Swann gives Tolkien characters Bilbo, Treebeard, Sam Gamgee and Tom Bombadil tunes for their ballads of the road.Professor Tolkien approved of this and added a tune of his own, decorated the book in his own hand and added a glossary of Elvish terms and lore that appears nowhere else.

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Book SynopsisThe world''s biggest star squeezed down to a miniature pocket-size.Harry Styles is the hero we all deserve right now. And judging by the deafening noise he received on his sell-out world tour to support his acclaimed record, Harry''s House, he is the defining icon of our age, no doubt.With more than 80 million record sales (combined with One Direction), Harry is one of the very few modern superstars worthy of all the fuss. According to many, he is set to become the next Bowie. This tiny tome celebrates the star in the only way we know how in his own words, and more than 185 bitesize quotes. From his earliest pre-fame interviews right through to his most recent world tour, there''s no part of his life left unturned.As he turns 30 in 2024, and with a career-defining album and world tour about to be put to bed, whatever Harry does next will have the eyes of the world on him. While you wait for his return, The Little Guide to Harry Styles will keep

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Book SynopsisMaria Trapp recalls the events that brought her talented family from Austria to the hills of New England.

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Book SynopsisFrom a Los Angeles hospital bed, equipped with little more than a laptop and a stack of records, James “J Dilla” Yancey crafted a set of tracks that would forever change the way beatmakers viewed their artform. The songs on Donuts are not hip hop music as “hip hop music” is typically defined; they careen and crash into each other, in one moment noisy and abrasive, gorgeous and heartbreaking the next. The samples and melodies tell the story of a man coming to terms with his declining health, a final love letter to the family and friends he was leaving behind. As a prolific producer with a voracious appetite for the history and mechanics of the music he loved, J Dilla knew the records that went into constructing Donuts inside and out. He could have taken them all and made a much different, more accessible album. If the widely accepted view is that his final work is a record about dying, the question becomes why did he make this record about dying? Drawing from philosophy, critical theory and musicology, as well as Dilla’s own musical catalogue, Jordan Ferguson shows that the contradictory, irascible and confrontational music found on Donuts is as much a result of an artist’s declining health as it is an example of what scholars call “late style,” placing the album in a musical tradition that stretches back centuries.Trade ReviewThis intelligent book uses the records and insights of Dilla's contemporaries to examine his approach to production, his relationships within the genre, love of records and how Donuts can be seen as a piece of music attuned to its creator's failing health. An insightful and emotive read. -- James Griffin * Bonafide Magazine *Jordan Ferguson’s book on Donuts provides a trove of information about what was clearly one of the albums of the last decade of any genre […]Ferguson offers a cogent reading of the album. Others have speculated that Jay Dee buried “secret messages” within the tracks. I don’t know how secret they are but it is clear that there were major preoccupations, life-death-relationships and, of course, music. What he produced was a brilliant, multi-layered, sonically exhilarating work and Ferguson has done the album justice with this slim volume. -- Robert Iannapollo * ARSC Journal *Excerpted * Stones Throw *That such a lively collection of beats and samples—as cerebral as they are physical—was created by a dying man ensures that Jordan Ferguson’s book will be poignant, but his clear storytelling and direct prose allows producer James Yancey to emerge as a complicated, contradictory character. The first half is the most extensive biography we have of the man, from his childhood in Detroit to his death in Los Angeles, just three days after the release of Donuts. The second half grapples with the album as a meditation on mortality, which only shows what an immense talent the world lost. -- Stephen M. Deusner * Pitchfork *Table of Contents1. Welcome to the Show 2. The Diff’rence 3. Hi. 4. Waves 5. Stop! 6. The Twister (Huh, What) 7. Workinonit 8. Two Can Win 9. Geek Down 10. The New 11. Bye.

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Book SynopsisTHE #1 NEW YORK TIMES, GRAMMY-NOMINATED BESTSELLERA SUNDAY TIMES, GUARDIAN, OBSERVER, ROLLING STONE, AND ROUGH TRADE BOOK OF THE YEAR A panoramic experience that tells the story of Beastie Boys, a book as unique as the band itselfby band members AD-ROCK and Mike D, with contributions from Amy Poehler, Colson Whitehead, Spike Jonze, Wes Anderson, Luc Sante, and more.THE INSPIRATION FOR THE 5-TIME EMMY NOMINATED, SPIKE JONZE-DIRECTED BEASTIE BOYS STORYOne of the greatest music books ever published.'MAX PORTERFormed as a New York City hardcore band in 1981, Beastie Boys struck an unlikely path to global hip hop superstardom. Here is their story, told for the first time in the words of the band. Adam AD-ROCK Horovitz and Michael Mike D Diamond offer revealing and very funny accounts of their transition from teenage punks t

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Book SynopsisExtravagantly opaque, willfully vaporous — Aphex Twin’s Selected Ambient Works Volume II, released by the estimable British label Warp Records in 1994, rejuvenated ambient music for the Internet Age that was just dawning. In the United States, it was Richard D. James's first full length on Sire Records (home to Madonna and Depeche Mode) under the moniker Aphex Twin; Sire helped usher him in as a major force in music, electronic or otherwise. Faithful to Brian Eno’s definition of ambient music, Selected Ambient Works Volume II was intentionally functional: it furnished chill out rooms, the sanctuaries amid intense raves. Choreographers and film directors began to employ it to their own ends, and in the intervening decades this background music came to the fore, adapted by classical composers who reverse-engineered its fragile textures for performance on acoustic instruments. Simultaneously, “ambient” has moved from esoteric sound art to central tenet of online culture. This book contends that despite a reputation for being beatless, the album exudes percussive curiosity, providing a sonic metaphor for our technologically mediated era of countless synchronized nanosecond metronomes.Trade ReviewMarc Weidenbaum packs a lot into these 130 pages: a mini-biography of a ground-breaking artist, a capsule history of ambient music, and an example of how digital technology determines how we hear and interpret music. -- Stephen M. Deusner * Pitchfork *Weidenbaum ... is a lucid listener. His book offers deep insights into what makes the individual tracks so startling. * The Wire *Weidenbaum avoids an obvious track-by-track breakdown, instead focussing on creating a narrative of the album’s history and reception through the book’s seven chapters. Nevertheless there are several highly compelling accounts of tracks from the album, providing the attentive and imaginative readings that form the book’s backbone. ... Weidenbaum is at his best when he writes about the non-musical issues of the album ... [His] journalistic tone leads the reader effortlessly through his carefully constructed narratives, always respectful of Aphex’s artistry without ever falling into uncritical hagiography. ... One of the biggest appeals of SAW II lies in the invitation to find meaning in it and Weidenbaum’s account is the perfect vehicle to do this, helping the listener to connect up the disentangled sonic fragments and re-assemble them in a personal way. * Dancecult: Journal of Electronic Dance Music Culture *It's not easy writing about ambient music. It is hard to describe how it sounds, and it is also hard to describe how it makes you feel. Weidenbaum avoids these problems by writing about the track listing, the names of the songs, the circumstances of the creation of the album, the reception of the album, and how it was used in movies...Some of Weidenbaum's approaches to discussing the album are illuminating. He explains how SAW Vol II was developed for chill out rooms at raves when people were coming down from long hours of dancing and drugs, and they needed something both restful and energizing. -- Christian Perring * Metapsychology Online Reviews *Mentioned on LineOut. * The Stranger.com *If you're already a fan of Aphex Twin, you'll revel in Weidenbaum's deep dive into one of the artist's signature works. If not, you'll be surprised to learn that you've likely already heard his music in one form or another. -- S.T. Vanairsdale * The City (SacTownMag.com) *the ‘extravagantly opaque, willfully vaporous’ chillout room masterpieces of electronic composer Richard D. James, aka Aphex Twin -- basically what everyone in the 1990s listened to as they swept up/came down after the rave -- get the business from incisive SF writer and archivist Marc Weidenbaum. And really, the pairing couldn't be any more delicious. -- Marke B. * San Francisco Bay Guardian *Like all good critical studies, Aphex Twin’s Selected Ambient Works Volume II doesn’t provide the illusion of closure; rather, it expands minds, fostering the creation of textual meaning. I can offer no higher praise. -- Caught in the Carousel * Paul Gleason *Table of ContentsThere Is No Volume I Background Beats A Chill-out Room of One's Own Synesthetic Codex Transcribing Vapor Embedding Vapor Selected Ambient Works Volume III Thanks and Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisFeaturing dozens of photographs-as well as guest contributions from family members and friends such as Bonnie Bramlett, Mick Fleetwood, and Graham Nash-one of rock's true heroes finally shares his colourful, unique, and ultimately triumphant journey through a life in music.

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Book SynopsisIn this intimate and open account nothing like any rock-and-roll memoir you've ever read Alex Van Halen shares his personal story of family, friendship, music and brotherly love in a remarkable tribute to his beloved brother and band mate. A remarkable memoir' Classic RockA highly emotional read' GuardianIn his rough yet sweet voice, Alex recounts the brothers' childhood, first in the Netherlands and then in working class Pasadena, California, with an itinerant musician father and a very proper Indonesian-born mother the kind of mum who admonished her boys to always wear a suit no matter how famous they became a woman who was both proud and practical, nonchalant about taking a doggie bag from a star-studded dinner. He also shares tales of musical politics, infighting, and plenty of bad-boy behaviour. But mostly his is a story of brotherhood, music, and enduring love.I was with him from day one, Alex writes. We shared the experience of coming to America and figuring out how to fit in. We shared a record player, an 800 square foot house, a mom and dad, and a work ethic. Later, we shared the back of a tour bus, alcoholism, the experience of becoming famous, of becoming fathers and uncles, and of spending more hours in the studio than I've spent doing anything else in this life. We shared a depth of understanding that most people can only hope to achieve in a lifetime.There has never been an accurate account of them or the band, and Alex wants to set the record straight on Edward's life and death.

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Book SynopsisDespite just a three-year tenure with the band, co-founder Syd Barrett’s influence on Pink Floyd was profound and long-lasting. If his guitar gave the early Pink Floyd a distinctive hallucinatory sound, his often obscure and surreal lyrics were perhaps even more intoxicating. The complete lyrics of Syd Barrett – 52 songs written for Pink Floyd and during his subsequent solo career – are presented together for the first time, along with rare photos and artwork, to form this beautifully illustrated book. Compiled in collaboration with the Syd Barrett estate, and featuring a foreword from former Pink Floyd manager Peter Jenner and a comprehensive introduction by biographer Rob Chapman, The Lyrics of Syd Barrett delves deep into one of rock’n’roll’s most imaginative and searing minds.

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Book SynopsisFor fifty years as DJ, producer and remixer, Arthur Baker has been at the pioneering forefront of hip-hop, rock, and electronic music. His unique and genre-defying sound can be heard on tracks by legendary artists like New Order, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, the Rolling Stones, Al Green, Pet Shop Boys, Quincy Jones, New Edition, Hall & Oates, Neneh Cherry, Mogwai and Fleetwood Mac. Starting as a club DJ and disco producer at the start of the seventies in his native Boston, Baker moved to New York City in 1981. Through his early disco and hip-hop productions, he came to the attention of the most influential names in a music industry at the height of its powers. This would begin a career that would take him from the sweaty dancefloors of NYC to late-night studio sessions with Bob Dylan and to his celebrated anti-apartheid album Sun City, created with Little Steven Van Zandt. From the underground to the mainstream, Looking for the Perfect Beat is the unique story of an artist with a n

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Book SynopsisA Times Summer Read 2023A Guardian 50 Best Holiday Reads 2023'This really is a wonderful book for pop kids everywhere' - RICHARD OSMANUsing the arrival of the Spice Girls as a jumping-off point, this fascinating new narrative will explore, celebrate and contextualise the thus-far-uncharted period of British pop that flourished between 1996 and 2006. A double-denim-loving time before the glare of social media and the accession of streaming. The bastions of '00s pop - armed with buoyant, immaculately crafted, carefree anthems - provided entertainment, escapism and fun for millions. It was a heady, chorus-heavy decade - populated by the likes of Steps, S Club 7, Blue, 5ive, Mis-Teeq, Hear'Say, Busted, Girls Aloud, McFly, Craig David and Atomic Kitten, among countless others - yet the music was often dismissed as inauthentic, juvenile, not 'worthy' enough: ultimately, a 'guilty pleasure'. Now, music writer Michael Cragg aims to redress that balance. Using the oral-history format, Cragg goes beneath the surface of the bubblegum exterior, speaking to hundred's of the key players about the reality of their experiences. Compiled from interviews with popstars, songwriters, producers, choreographers, magazine editors, record-company executives, TV moguls and more, this is a complete behind-the-scenes history of the last great movement in British pop - a technicolour turning-point ripe for re-evaluation, documented here in astonishing, honest and eye-opening detail.Trade Review'If you're interested in pop history, I recommend this new book which explores in fascinating detail the dizzy, competitive and lost world of 'manufactured' nineties and noughties pop.' -- Neil Tennant, Pet Shop Boys'So close to the reality... A fantastic book.' -- Nicola Robers, Girls Aloud'A must-read for any pop fan. 5/5.' -- Classic Pop'A hoot. You don't so much read it as inhale it.' -- The Observer'So funny and detailed and, most importantly, with such a clear love and understanding of the people in it. (Michael) strikes such an entertaining balance of fan worship and camp detached wit.' -- The Times'A funny, bright, often poignant read.' -- Sunday Times'Book of the millennium.' -- Popjustice'Cragg's knowledge and affection for the music shines through every paragraph.' -- BBC'An outstanding catalogue of oral testimonies from major and minor players in UK pop in the decade before the financial crash.' -- New Statesman'The definitive account of turn-of-the-millennium pop.' -- Buzz'Joyful and eye opening...an enormously entertaining read. 4/5.' -- Record Collector'Prepare to be left open mouthed...some of the finest secrets from the pop-music landscape of those heady times.' -- Heat'A brilliant, celebratory, gossipy history of 90s pop. Great stories and interviews. If that's your era, you'll love it.' -- Richard Osman'Never before has there been a text so close to the reality. It's the first time I've really felt a true reflection and been transported back. (A) fantastic book!' -- Nicola Roberts, Girls Aloud'Fantastic' -- Xenomania Records'It was such a rollercoaster ride back then. It was totally the golden era and we loved every single second of it. It was the best time to be a pop star, and it's great to be able to relive it all again in the amazing Reach For The Stars' -- Duncan James, Blue'We know everything about our current crop of pop stars because they begrudgingly have to make TikToks every morning. In Reach for the Stars, Michael delves into the pre-internet pop era, speaks to the people that (just about) survived it and makes some extraordinary discoveries. I can't think why anyone wouldn't love this book.' -- Greg James, radio and TV presenter'Arguably the best possible combination of writer and subject since Jesus wrote the Bible.' -- Stuart Heritage, Guardian writer'A truly hilarious pop culture nostalgia fest!' -- Jack Rooke, comedian, author and creator of Channel 4's Big Boys'Nobody buys books. No one's going to read this. No one's going to read these sorts of things. They just don't.' -- Louis Walsh'An outstanding music book. England's Dreaming for people with a working knowledge of 5ive.' -- Fergal Kinney'A book that does justice to an extraordinarily fertile period for British pop - Michael Cragg's assessment of new millennium bubblegum is top rate storytelling.' -- Bob Stanley'You won't find a more comprehensive and entertaining pop book than this.' -- Jordan Paramor, journalist and author'A gloriously funny, often shocking and occasionally poignant trip down memory lane, Reach For The Stars will send you excitedly rooting in the loft for your cargo pants and plucking your eyebrows to within an inch of their lives! It's a must read for any discerning pop fan.' -- Lucie Cave, editor, presenter and podcast host

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Book SynopsisCommissioned for the millennium by Britain''s Royal Armouries and dedicated to the victims of the Kosovo crisis, this work is a contemporary example of a mass based on the 15th-century French song L''homme armé (The Armed Man). Set within the framework of the Christian mass, The Armed Man is a major choral work which uses both sacred and secular texts.Instrumentation:solo female voice, solo cello, mixed choir (SATB) and orchestra

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Book SynopsisTwenty-five years since acid house and Ecstasy revolutionized pop culture, Simon Reynolds''s landmark rave history Energy Flash has been expanded and updated to cover twenty-first-century developments like dubstep and EDM''s recent takeover of America.Author of the acclaimed postpunk history Rip It Up and Start Again, Reynolds became a rave convert in the early nineties. He experienced first-hand the scene''s drug-fuelled rollercoaster of euphoria and darkness. He danced at Castlemorton, the illegal 1992 mega-rave that sent spasms of anxiety through the Establishment and resulted in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill. Mixing personal reminiscence with interviews and ultra-vivid description of the underground''s ever-changing sounds as they mutated under the influence of MDMA and other drugs, Energy Flash is the definitive chronicle of electronic dance culture.From rave''s origins in Chicago house and Detroit techno, through Ibiza, Madchester and the anarchic free-party scene, to the pirate-radio underworld of jungle and UK garage, and then onto 2000s-shaping genres such as grime and electro, Reynolds documents with authority, insight and infectious enthusiasm the tracks, DJs, producers and promoters that soundtracked a generation. A substantial final section, added for this new Faber edition, brings the book right up to date, covering dubstep''s explosive rise to mass popularity and America''s recent but ardent embrace of rave. Packed with interviews with participants and charismatic innovators like Derrick May, Goldie and Aphex Twin, Energy Flash is an infinitely entertaining and essential history of dance music.

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Book SynopsisSimon Goddard's electric ride through Bowie's greatest decade reaches the halfway mark with this fifth instalment. Wickedly funny and shockingly tragic, Bowie Odyssey 74 is the story of one man trying to find his soul in a world that's gone to the devil.

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Book SynopsisA down-and-dirty chronicle of the birth and evolution of the Seattle grunge scene-from amateur skate parks and underground hardcore clubs to worldwide phenomenon-as told by one of its founding fathers and lead guitarist of legendary alternative rock band, Mudhoney. In the late 80s and early 90s, Steve Turner and his friends-Seattle skate punks, hardcore kids, and assorted misfits-started forming bands in each other's basements and accidentally created a unique sound that spread far beyond their once-sleepy city. Mud Ride offers an inside look at the tight-knit grunge scene, the musical influences and experiments that shaped the grunge sound, and the story of Turner's bands, Green River and Mudhoney, which went from underground flophouse shows to selling out stadiums with Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Including stories about the key moments, musicians, and albums from grunge's beginnings to its come-down from the highs of global success and stardom, this is the first account of the musical phenomenon that took over the world from someone who was there for it all. Written by Steve Turner, lead guitarist of Mudhoney, a foundational grunge band that inspired musical icons from Kurt Cobain to Sonic Youth, Mud Ride features a foreword by Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard and never-before-seen photographs and grunge memorabilia throughout. Take a seat and ride through the messy and muddy grunge scene that grew from the basements of the Northwest and went on to circle the globe.Trade Review'Part memoir. Part blueprint. All heart. Mud Ride is a doozy.' Louder Than War 'Mud Ride is a roller coaster of a music memoir, at turns clear-eyed and madcap, quirky, surprising, and always propulsive. Turner offers us an insider's account of the genesis of the Seattle sound and ethos, full of humor, pathos, and the sort of historical nuggets music fans cherish.' Jonathan Evison, New York Times Bestselling author of Small World 'Turner's good-natured, wry sense of humour, his insider eye for detail, serves this book well. Plenty of minutiae and touring anecdotes, some fascinating gems about the pre-hype years. Good stuff.' Classic Rock

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Book SynopsisHe starts the decade a teenage pop idol. But the one-hit wonder who sang 'Space Oddity' is still very far from becoming the star who will one day define the 1970s. Not when he still has a band to find, a manager to sack, a mentally ill brother to save, a wife to marry and a rival called Marc Bolan to beat. Not when David Bowie still has no idea who or what David Bowie is. Starting at the beginning of Bowie's incredible ten-year odyssey changing the course of pop music, Simon Goddard's bold and expressionistic biography weaves time, space, rock'n'roll and social history to relive Bowie's 1970 - moment by vivid moment.

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times bestselling memoir from the legendary Gucci Mane spares no detail in this “cautionary tale that ends in triumph” (GQ). For the first time Gucci Mane tells his extraordinary story in his own words. It is “as wild, unpredictable, and fascinating as the man himself” (Complex). The platinum-selling recording artist began writing his remarkable autobiography in a federal maximum security prison. Released in 2016, he emerged radically transformed. He was sober, smiling, focused, and positive—a far cry from the Gucci Mane of years past. A critically acclaimed classic, The Autobiography of Gucci Mane “provides incredible insight into one of the most influential rappers of the last decade, detailing a volatile and fascinating life...By the end, every reader will have a greater understanding of Gucci Mane, the man and the musician” (Pitchfork).

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Book Synopsis'Honest and moving' Independent on Sunday Freddie Mercury was a rock superstar like no other. Recently the focus of the Academy Award-winning film Bohemian Rhapsody, he generated over £1 billion worth of sales in a career spanning two decades. But for all his riches, Mercury could not buy the thing he sought most: the love of one particular man. Jim Hutton was a modest gentleman’s barber when the two met in 1983. After many fiery false starts, they became lasting lovers. From the moment they lived together, wherever Mercury went, Hutton went too. And whoever Mercury met, Hutton met too – from Phil Collins to Elton John, David Bowie to the other members of Queen. They laughed together, fought together and, in Mercury’s final years, they often cried together. Freddie Mercury was forty-five when he died from AIDS in Hutton’s arms. No one can tell the story of the last few years of Mercury’s private life - the ecstasies and the agonies - more accurately or honestly than Jim Hutton.

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Book SynopsisThe Definitive Jazz & Blues Encyclopedia, now fully updated from the illustrated edition, is the ultimate guide to two musical styles that have fundamentally influenced popular music. Divided into chapters, each covering a different era, the book traces the evolution of jazz and blues from their nineteenth-century African-American origins right through to the present day. Each chapter starts with a Sounds & Sources section, looking at the key developments in the music during that period. This is followed by an A–Z of artists from that era, with more extensive entries on key artists that include recommended classic recordings. With further sections on Styles, covering everything from Ragtime to Bebop and Texas Blues to Rhythm & Blues, and more; and Instruments, all written by a team of experts, this invaluable encyclopedia is comprehensive, easy to use and highly informative.

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Book SynopsisThe Jesus and Mary Chain’s swooning debut Psychocandy seared through the underground and through the pop charts, shifting the role of noise within pop music forever. Post-punk and pro-confusion, Psychocandy became the sound of a generation poised on the brink of revolution, establishing Creation Records as a tastemaking entity in the process. The Scottish band’s notorious live performances were both punishingly loud and riot-spurring, inevitably acting as socio-political commentary on tensions emergent in mid-1980s Britain. Through caustic clangs and feedback channeling the rage of the working-class who’d had enough, Psychocandy gestures toward the perverse pleasure in having your eardrums exploded and loudness as a politics within itself. Yet Psychocandy’s blackened candy heart center – calling out to phantoms Candy and Honey with an unsettling charm – makes it a pop album to the core, and not unlike the sugarcoated sounds the Ronettes became famous for in the 1960s. The Jesus and Mary Chain expertly carved out a place where depravity and sweetness entwined, emerging from the isolating underground of suburban Scotland grasping the distinct sound of a generation, apathetic and uncertain. The irresistible Psychocandy emerged as a clairvoyant account of struggle and sweetness that still causes us to grapple with pop music’s relation to ourselves.Trade ReviewAn interesting and eminently readable study of one of the most significant albums of the 1980s ... The book is a welcome addition to a consistently excellent series. * The Kelvingrove Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Taste the Floor Chapter One: Never Understand Chapter Two: Just Like Honey Chapter Three: In a Hole Chapter Four: Sowing Seeds Chapter Five: Taste of Cindy Chapter Six: Some Candy Talking Chapter Seven: My Little Underground Chapter Eight: The Living End Chapter Nine: Cut Dead Chapter Ten: Inside Me Chapter Eleven: It's So Hard Chapter Twelve: Something's Wrong Chapter Thirteen: The Hardest Walk Chapter Fourteen: You Trip Me Up

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Book SynopsisA new edition of Adam Zamoyski's definitive biography of Chopin, first published in 1979 and unavailable in English for many years.Few composers elicit such strong emotions as Chopin. Few have been more revered and cherished. And few have had so much sentimental nonsense written about them.Published to coincide with the bicentenary of Chopin''s birth, Adam Zamoyski''s compelling new biography cuts through the mass of anecdote and myth that has sprung up around the composer''s life and the ebullient and striking personalities of Romantic Paris among whom he lived, including Liszt, Berlioz, Victor Hugo and George Sand, in search of the real Chopin.Zamoyski brings to the subject an unrivalled knowledge of the historical, social and cultural background of the composer''s native Poland as well as of the France in which he spent most of his creative life. He has scoured the archives of Warsaw, Krakow, Paris and London in his quest for the truth, and has based his account exclusively on primaTrade Review'A close, intimate and thoroughly absorbing portrait … Zamoyski has written a thoughtful, lively and moving account of an extraordinary and exceptional man.' Mail on Sunday 'Those seeking to revisit the genius of the man who Camille Saint-Saens described as "the sweet evening star that shone for only a moment" could do no better than to have this book at their side.' Daily Telegraph 'A fine study of the composer's life and career … Zamoyski's highly readable account brings non-technical insights into the music itself and he is superb at conveying what is known as Chopin's own playing.' Sunday Telegraph 'As ever, the historian writes with absolute assurance about the politics and culture of his ancestral homeland … Zamoyski recounts the private life, and public events, with ringing authority.' Independent 'Zamoyski is terrific at probing the subtle contradictions of Chopin.' Evening Standard

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Book SynopsisAward-winning music journalist Don McLeese offers the first musical biography of the electrifying artist who has most successfully bridged the disparate worlds of commercial country and alternative/Americana/roots music, Dwight Yoakam.Trade ReviewThis lovingly crafted and compulsively readable biography is essential for fans of Yoakam and lovers of good music writing. * Library Journal *Table of Contents Introduction: A Thousand Miles from Nowhere 1. How Far Is Heaven? 2. Readin', Rightin', Rt. 23 3. South of Cincinnati, West of Columbus 4. Corvette Cowboy 5. From Kentucky Bourbon to Babylonian Cowboys 6. Who You Callin' Cowpunk? 7. Honky-Tonk Man 8. "It's Jes' Ol' Hillbilly Stuff" 9. Hillbilly Deluxe 10. Streets of Bakersfield 11. Bonus Cut 12. "Well, I'm Back Again . . ." 13. Wild Ride 14. Gone, Real Gone 15. Act Naturally 16. The Same Fool 17. Playing Out the String 18. South of Heaven, West of Hell (and Off the Charts) 19. Splitsville 20. Produced by Dwight Yoakam 21. The Buck Stops Here 22. "I Wanna Love Again, Feel Young Again" Appendix. The Dwight Dozen: A Selected Discography Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisFrom the War on Hippies to the Great Rock ''n'' Roll Swindle, the story of Modern Lovers is a high octane tale of Brutalist architecture, rock ''n'' roll ambition and the struggle for identity in a changing world. One of punk rock's foundational documents, the archetype for indie obsession and all but disowned by its author, The Modern Lovers was an album doomed by its own coolness from day one. Powered by the two-chord wonder Roadrunner and its proclamation that I'm in love with rock ''n'' roll,The Modern Lovers is the essential document of American alienation, an escape route from the cultural wasteland of postwar suburbia. The Modern Lovers is the bridge connecting the Velvet Underground and the Sex Pistols; they were peers of the New York Dolls and friends with Gram Parsons and they would splinter into Talking Heads, The Cars, and The Real Kids. But The Modern Lovers was never meant to be an album. A collection of demos, recorded in fits anTrade Review[Maloney] gives us concise, incredibly perceptive examinations of each song in turn that fans will devour ... A sensitive portrayal of knowing outsiderdom that steers clear of cliché and enriches the album in question. * Record Collector *[33 1/3] has been flying the flag for quality, book-length music criticism and commentary for some time now ... This book is certainly one of the most memorable and rewarding additions to the 33 1/3 canon; it takes a much loved album that for many is a solitary love affair, so intimate are its songs, and does not dispel its magic but offers the reader a greater appreciation of its merits. * We Are Cult *Table of ContentsIX. Acknowledgments X. Introduction 1. Roadrunner (Once) 2. Astral Plane 3. Old World 4. Pablo Picasso 5. I'm Straight 6. She Cracked 7. Hospital 8. Someone I Care About 9. Girlfriend 10. Modern World 11. Dignified and Old 12. Government Center 13. Roadrunner (Twice) Bibliography Discography Filmography

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Book SynopsisThe autobiography of a courageous singer-songwriter, activist, and American icon."Barbara Dane is someone who is willing to follow her conscience. She is, if the term must be used, a hero."—Bob DylanA renowned folk, blues, and jazz singer who performed with some of the twentieth century’s most celebrated musicians, from Louis Armstrong to Bob Dylan. A proud progressive who has tirelessly championed racial equality and economic justice in America, and who has traveled the world to sing out against war and tyranny. An organizer, a venue owner, a record label founder, and a woman who has charted her own creative and political path for more than ninety years. Barbara Dane has led an epic, trailblazing life in music and activism, and This Bell Still Rings tells her story in her own adventurous voice. Dane’s memoir charts her trajectory from singing in union halls and at factory gates in World War II–era Detroit, to her rise as a respected blues and jazz singer, to her prominence as a folk musician frequently performing at and participating in civil rights and peace demonstrations across the US and abroad—from post-revolutionary Cuba to wartime Vietnam. This Bell Still Rings illuminates “one of the true unsung heroes of American music” (Boston Globe), and it offers a wealth of inspiration for artists, activists, and anyone seeking a life defined by courage and integrity.Trade Review"Barbara is someone who is willing to follow her conscience. She is, if the term must be used, a hero."—Bob Dylan"I first met Barbara when I was seventeen. She taught me that 'Wild women don't worry, wild women don't get the blues.'"—Linda Ronstadt“What a life of service in the fight for civil rights and human dignity. Barbara Dane's music lifted us as it lifted me when we were together in Mississippi in 1964 to register African American voters. Thank you for keeping the faith all these years."—Judy Collins“Barbara Dane has always been a role model and a hero of mine, both musically and politically, and for her lifelong commitment to truth, justice, equality, and representation for all.”—Bonnie Raitt“An important read: the amazing story of Barbara Dane, a powerful radical citizen-artist whose magnificent voice, and uncompromising dedication to freedom, social justice, and global liberation continues to ring.”—Danny Glover“A true unsung hero of American music [with] a jazz musician's sense of rhythm, a blues singer's deep investment in the material, and a folk stylist's attention to authenticity."—James Reed, The Boston Globe“Barbara Dane is a long-haul kind of woman: committed, loyal, gifted, and steadfast in the struggle for deep social change. And here's something none of you know: She persuaded me to make the movie Klute."—Jane Fonda"This book is medicine for the soul in these dark times; not a book of songs but a book that sings. It tells the story of movements that have transformed American consciousness, told from the perspective of a life lived for giving."—Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, author of An Indigenous Peoples's History of the United States"Barbara Dane has led the way, showing us, through the choices she made throughout her life, how to use music as a tool for more than just entertainment. She knew it best, that when we sing about what matters, songs can change hearts, and changed hearts will change minds. This is how music changes the world: one changed heart at a time."—Mary Gauthier"Dane’s new memoir This Bell Still Rings offers a fascinating look at a time when Berkeley nurtured a bohemian culture that would come to shape the nation in the following decade."—BerkeleysideTable of ContentsContentsPart One: Let My Little Light Shine1. Memories Don’t Fade2. A Chronic Truant Sings3. The Atomic Age Begins4. Everything Changes5. Postwar Dreams6. From People’s Songs to the Home Front7. California, Here It Comes!8. The Party’s Over9. Digging Underground10. Byron Dances In11. Gateway Swings to Berkeley12. Yonder Come the Blues13. San Francisco Bay Blues14. Trouble in Mind Part Two: On My Way15. From the Alley to the Grove16. From Breakout to Blacklist17. Livin’ with the Blues18. Priorities19. Strange Bedfellows20. Riding High on Sugar Hill21. Buzz, Biz, Boom, Blam!22. On the Emes, This Is True23. Wake Up and Sing!24. Do You, Mister Jones?25. Which Side Are You On?26. The Times, They Are a-Changin’ Part Three: My American Dream27. Irwin Calls, Lightnin’ Strikes, Mississippi Beckons28. Go Tell It on the Mountain29. Navigating Obstacles Blanketed in Bliss30. You Don’t Know Me31. Hard Rains Are a-Fallin’32. Three-Mile Walk of Hope33. Good Morning Blues34. Cuba Sí, Yanqui No!35. Paul Becomes Pablo36. He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands37. Singers of the World, Unite!38. Levitate the Pentagon!39. United We Are Strong40. Unidentified Flying Object41. Play Your Guitars, American Friends42. La Voce dell’altra America43. Building a Big Wall of Music44. Free the Army!45. Solidarity Forever Crossing Borders46. Wild Women Don’t Get the Blues47. Give Peace a Chance Part Four: Nobody Gonna Turn Me ’Round48. Pack Up Your Sorrows49. A Musical Road Trip to Nowhere50. You Just Can’t Make It by Yourself51. Will the Circle Be Unbroken?52. Take It Slow and Easy53. Throw It Away Some Rules for the Road Ahead GratitudeBarbara Dane Discography, Key Links, and MoreIndexAbout the Author

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Book SynopsisA long-awaited, myth-busting, and deeply affecting memoir by the daughter of legendary rock star Mama Cass Elliot.

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Book SynopsisA celebration of Harry Styles we Adore You!Harry Styles is a global superstar and fashion icon who has broken records, won awards and was the first solo man to grace the cover of Vogue, but he is also grounded, humble and down to earth. He doesn't care what other people think, isn't afraid to be vulnerable and truly loves his fans. We could all do with being a bit more like Harry.With chapters on finding your style, building confidence and supporting charities, The Book of Harry explores Harry's incredible journey to stardom and the lessons we can take from his music, career and wider approach to life. Learning from his example, it will arm readers with tips, tricks and wisdom to empower them to be fearless, be themselves and above all, Treat People With Kindness.

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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 SynopsisWhen Little Richard burst onto the scene in the early 1950s, he was utterly unique. Charles White chronicles a staggering career that spanned the very inception of rock'n'roll, the rise of The Beatles, tussles with God and the Devil, and an erratic series of comebacks.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"It would be fair to say that today Let It Be symbolizes the breaking-up of The Beatles. That's the mythology, the truth is somewhat different. The real story of Let It Be has been locked in the vaults of Apple Corps for the last 50 years." -Peter Jackson

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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 SynopsisA Scene In Between sets out to excavate the sartorial treasures of the UK’s 1980s guitar scenes. Using original archive photography from scenesters, band members and amateur photographers of the time, Sam Knee takes you on a fashion trip through the visual racket of pivotal indie bands including Primal Scream, Spacemen 3, The Smiths, My Bloody Valentine, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Tallulah Gosh, the Vaselines and countless others. Charity shop chic, anoraks, bowlcuts, leather trousers and stripy tees are all de-riguer in this evocative photographic historical capsule. Seven years on from the release of the first edition, Sam Knee has expanded his photographic contact base, and built a loyal Instagram following of over 60,000 (including many big names in fashion and music). This revised edition features a new cover and intro, and plenty of new photographic material that will delight both fans of his work and new music and fashion aficionados.

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Book SynopsisFrom his own adolescence, when his allegiance was to punk rock, to his work as one of the essential voices of our time on music and culture at the New York Times and the New Yorker, Kelefa Sanneh has made a deep study of how our popular music unites and divides us. Distilling a career's worth of knowledge, Sanneh explores the tribes music forms, and how its genres, shape-shifting across the years, give us a way to track larger forces and concerns.He debunks cherished myths, reappraises beloved heroes and upends familiar ideas of musical greatness, arguing that sometimes the best popular music isn't transcendent: it expresses our grudges as well as our hopes, and is motivated by greed as well as inspiration. Throughout, race is a powerful touchstone: just as there's always been a 'Black' audience and a 'white' audience (with some overlap) there is Black music and white music and a whole lot of expropriation.This is a book to shock and awe the deepest music nerd, and at the same time to work as a heady gateway drug for the uninitiated.Trade ReviewThe most elegant history of popular music ever written . . . Sanneh not only delivers a coolly dazzling overview of the battlefields of genre but also revels open-heartedly in the music itself, his taste unbound by dogma or prejudice. The operative word is keen: zealous in spirit, exact in execution, ferociously acute from the first sentence to the last -- ALEX ROSS * * author of The Rest is Noise * *Kelefa Sanneh has achieved the impossible. Major Labels somehow manages to unspool everything you need to know about 50 years of music, but more impressively, he makes you care about all of it. Even the stuff you don't care about. It's funny, it's personal, and as a piece of writing the book borders on poetry -- DAVID LETTERMANAn intellectually rigorous retelling of rock and pop history * * The Times, Best Books of the Year * *The most wide-ranging music book of the year . . . elegantly written * * Herald, Music Books of the Year * *Intriguing, controversial, personal . . . a unique and absorbing read * * Guardian * *The book is immensely readable, and full of rich detail * * Independent * *This is a long-haul read, yet charmingly conducted in that languid, laconic New Yorker style that makes such a mammoth undertaking even possible. Its kick is to sew into the stories some near hidden gems - and socking ones too -- ANNIE NIGHTINGALESanneh's hospitable prose makes understanding this labyrinthine history feel like an adventure * * Guardian * *Entertaining, diligent . . . His observations are always fresh and thought-provoking, and presented with clarity and wit * * MOJO * *Inside this big, ambitious hybrid book was a smaller, more personal and altogether more compelling exploration of belonging and identity through music * * Observer * *

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Book SynopsisFrom the very beginning, the blues has had a close connection with the LGBTQ community. There is a long and decorated history of so-called 'dirty blues' songs, stretching back beyond the earliest attempts to capture the blues on record. The 1920s and 30s saw the release of dozens of raunchy, bawdy blues recordings aimed at a knowing LGBTQ audience. Queer Blues tells the story of the pioneering LGBTQ composers and entertainers that wrote, performed and recorded these wonderfully outlandish, life-affirming songs and chronicles, including: Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Josephine Baker to Frankie 'Half-Pint' Jaxon and many more. This is the definitive account of the LGBTQ trailblazers of early blues and a fascinating consideration of the intersection between music and LGBTQ history, from the award-winning Darryl W. Bullock.Trade ReviewA Guardian Music Book of the Year 2023 A Resident Records Book of the Year 2023 'Darryl W. Bullock excavates and celebrates the fantabulous intersection of Blues and Queer Culture, highlighting racial struggles, explosive joy and creativity. I love this book!' Simon Doonan 'Meticulously researched and rich in detail, Queer Blues is fabulous in its debunking of myths and righting of wrongs' 4**** Mojo

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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 Synopsis With this beautifully produced book, relive the extraordinary history of the of the hottest band in the land through 50 milestone events.Formed in New York City in 1973, Kiss became one of the most popular and best-selling bands in rock history with their inventive stage presence and heavy, hook-filled catalog, both ideally suited for packing hockey arenas and football stadiums. This richly illustrated book from prolific rock journalist Martin Popoff pays tribute to the band on the occasion of their 50th anniversary by curating and examining the 50 most significant milestones. This exquisite volume features:  Sturdy hardcover format Stunning concert and candid offstage photography, much of it never before published Images of memorabilia, including gig posters, 7-inch picture sleeves, ticket stubs, and more Gatefold Kiss timeline Popoff covers everything down through the decades:Trade Review"...gets into the nitty gritty detail that a card-carrying member of the KISS Army can appreciate...what makes Popoff’s writing a bit refreshingly different here is that he seems to give voice to many varied and common opinions of fans about both the high and low points of KISStory." * Houston Press *"All the important stand out moments are covered here, making this a welcoming engagement for KISS fans to see how one of their own, found in Martin Popoff, offers explanations, and gets critical in his case studies." * Spill Magazine *"I would be remiss not to discuss how gorgeous this book is....you wanted the best, you got the best. Popoff and Motorbooks combine forces for a fine tribute to the hottest band in the land." * Metal-Rules.com *Table of ContentsContents Introduction Part 1: Kiss Major “Rock and Roll All Nite”: Kiss form, in New York City. “Sweet Pain”: Kiss sign with Casablanca Records. “Kissin’ Time”: Kiss issue their self-titled debut album. “See You in Your Dreams”: Kiss appear on ABC’s In Concert. Recording Kiss “C’mon and Love Me”: Gene Simmons is interviewed on The Mike Douglas Show. “Two Timer”: Kiss issue Hotter Than Hell, their second album. “A Million to One”: Two fans unofficially form the Kiss Army. “Great Expectations”: Kiss issue Dressed to Kill, their third album. “Hotter Than Hell”: Kiss issue Alive!, a double live album. “Baby Driver”: Kiss take over Cadillac, Michigan. “Strutter”: Alive! goes gold, representing the band’s first RIAA certification. “Heaven’s on Fire”: Kiss issue Destroyer. “Creatures of the Night”: Kiss appear on The Paul Lynde Halloween Special. “Rockin’ in the USA”: Kiss issue Rock and Roll Over. “A World Without Heroes”: Kiss and Marvel Comics collaborate on a comic book. “Love’s a Deadly Weapon”: Kiss issue Love Gun. “Deuce”: Kiss issue Alive II. Part 2: Kiss Minor “Got to Choose”: Each member of Kiss issues a solo album. “Is That You?”: NBC airs a feature film called Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park. Ace for the Win “I Was Made for Lovin’ You”: Kiss issue Dynasty. “When Your Walls Come Down”: Kiss’s appearance on the Tomorrow show doesn’t go well. “Two Sides of the Coin”: Kiss issue Unmasked. “Fits Like a Glove”: Eric Carr plays his first show with Kiss. “Dark Light”: Kiss issue a concept album called Music from the Elder. “I Love It Loud”: Kiss issue Creatures of the Night. Part 3: MTV, Hair Metal, and Kiss “Naked City”: Kiss issue Lick It Up, featuring new guitarist Vinnie Vincent. “Turn on the Night”: Kiss issue Animalize, featuring new guitarist Mark St. John. From Kiss to Disco: Larry Harris on Casablanca “Trial by Fire”: Kiss issue Asylum, featuring new guitarist Bruce Kulick. “While the City Sleeps”: Kiss issue Crazy Nights. “Firehouse”: Kiss issue Hot in the Shade. “Comin’ Home”: Longtime Kiss drummer Eric Carr succumbs to cancer. “Bang Bang You”: Kiss issue Revenge, featuring new drummer Eric Singer. “Shout It Out Loud”: Kiss issue Alive III. Part 4: Reunion “Get All You Can Take”: Kiss execute their first Official Worldwide Kiss Convention. “Any Way You Want It”: Kiss perform on MTV Unplugged. “Unholy”: Kiss issue Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions. “I Still Love You”: The classic-era Kiss lineup issue a reunion album called Psycho Circus. Bill Aucoin: A Kiss Goodbye from Head Office “Outta This World”: Kiss perform at Super Bowl XXXIII. “Cadillac Dreams”: New Line Cinema issue a Kiss-themed feature film called Detroit Rock City. “You Wanted the Best”: Kiss issue The Box Set. “Raise Your Glasses”: Kiss issue Kiss Symphony: Alive IV. “Hooligan”: Peter Criss tours for the last time as part of Kiss. Part 5: Legacy “King of the Night Time World”: Kiss are honored at the first VH1 Rock Honors show, held in Las Vegas. “Black Diamond”: Gene Simmons Family Jewels premiers on A&E. “Rocket Ride”: Kiss issue Sonic Boom, featuring new guitarist Tommy Thayer. “Getaway”: Kiss launch their first Kiss Kruise. Paul Stanley: Reflections on the Kiss Kast “Almost Human”: Kiss issue Monster, their last album to date. “All the Way”: Kiss are inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. “When Lightning Strikes”: Kiss set the record for most gold records by any American band. “100,000 Years”: Kiss embark on their final tour, entitled the End of the Road World Tour. Discography About the Author

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Book Synopsis'For years now, I've been taking fugitive snaps of my band, Radiohead. I've tried to catch out my friends with my small black Yashica T4 Super. They are so lost in their own moment of performance that they don't see me with the camera.' Colin GreenwoodHow to Disappear is bassist Colin Greenwood's stunning portrait of Radiohead in his own photographs. Two decades in the making, he takes us on a journey into the heart of the 21st-century's most influential band, a maverick collective who have vastly broadened our musical landscape while they dominate and distort it. On stage, backstage, in the rehearsal room, behind the scenes, on tour, at work and at play, Colin's photographs, and the stories and memories they evoke for him in his accompanying text, form an intimate portrait of the musical and cultural iconoclasts as they travel through 'our middle years: all the joy and doubt and confidenc

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Book SynopsisGlobal iconSix-time Grammy winnerHeadline-makerThe most talented recording artist of her generationMuch has been said about Amy Winehouse since her tragic death aged just 27. But who was the real Amy?Amy Winehouse: In Her Words shines a spotlight on her incredible writing talent, her wit, her charm and lust for life. Bringing together Amy's own never-before-seen journals, handwritten lyrics and family photographs together for the first time, this intimate tribute traces her creative evolution from growing up in North London to global superstardom, and provides a rare insight into the girl who became a legend.*The Estate of Amy Winehouse will donate 100% of the advance and royalties it receives (net of agency fees charged) from the production and sale of this book to The Amy Winehouse Foundation (registered charity number 1143740). The minimum donation will be 70,000. These funds will assist the charity in continuing their vital work helping thousands of young people to feel supported in managing their emotional wellbeing and making informed life choices. Initiatives include Amy's Place, which provides addiction recovery housing for young women; resilience-building programmes in schools and music therapy programmes supporting children with special educational needs and life-limiting conditions. More information can be found at https://amywinehousefoundation.org.

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Book SynopsisThe chart-topping singer/songwriter's powerful story, told for the first time, in her own words.

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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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