Music: styles and genres Books

Book Synopsis''Brilliant biography of an undersung late-blooming treasure . . . subtly profound as well as wickedly entertaining, this biography does its subject scintillating justice'' MojoCruel to Be Kind is the definitive account of Nick Lowe''s uncompromising life as a songwriter and entertainer, from his days at Stiff Records, to becoming the driving force behind Rockpile, to the 1979 smash hit ''Cruel To Be Kind''.Nick''s original compositions have been recorded by the best in the business, from enfant terrible of the New-Wave, Elvis Costello, to ''The Godfather of Rhythm and Soul'', Solomon Burke; from household names, including Engelbert Humperdink, Diana Ross, and Johnny Cash, to legendary vocalists such as Curtis Stigers, Tom Petty, and Rod Stewart.His reputation as one of the most influential musicians to emerge from that most formative period for pop and rock music is cast in stone. He will forever be the man they call the ''JesuTrade ReviewEven the Jesus of Cool needs a St. Paul to spread his gospel and Will Birch is more than up to the task in Cruel to Be Kind. In this intimate, engrossing, and eye-opening biography of Nick Lowe, Birch reveals deep insights into the man and his work. It's a book as elegant as one of Lowe's songs: filled with just the right combination of pathos, humor, and wit, told with an economy of style, and nary a wasted word or sentence. Absolutely brilliant * Bob Mehr, author of the New York Times bestseller Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements *Brilliant biography of an undersung late-blooming treasure . . . subtly profound as well as wickedly entertaining, this biography does its subject scintillating justice * Mojo *Birch also knows a good Spinal-Tappish anecdote when he hears one and, drawing on Lowe's formidable skill as a raconteur, this book is stuffed with them * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisPacked with more than 185 facts, stats, quotes, quips, trivia and historic dates, this Little Guide is a fan's one-stop shop for all things K-POP!

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Book SynopsisRemain in Love tells the story of two bands and a love story (and marriage) that survived them bothTrade ReviewFrom the first time I saw Talking Heads live (CBGB, 1976), I've had a huge thing for Tina Weymouth. And since then I've been biding my time, waiting for the right moment to make my move. But after reading Remain in Love: Talking Heads: Tom Tom Club: Tina by Chris Frantz, it's become pretty clear to me that she's already in a relationship (see pages 1, 3-7, 9, etc.), and what's more, it looks to be serious (pages 18, 20-26, and especially 114). But you know something? That's OK. I'm happy for Tina, and for Chris, a great drummer who has written a great book, though I wish he'd done it a few years earlier -- Bill Murray[Remain in Love] has great storytelling and amazing detail about adventures that Chris and I have shared in our parallel universes. As the Brits say: I'm gobsmacked. I devoured this book and all the memories and all the love Chris has for Tina . . . One of the most potent examples of living the dream -- Debbie Harry, musician and author of 'Face It'Crackling with verve, comedy, calamity, crisp detail, forward motion, and abiding affection, speckled with an all-star cast of punk legends and pop idols, Chris Frantz's Remain in Love is a rock music memoir like none other--a candy kiss with a kick to it. From the grime and tumult of CBGB to the Valhalla gloriosky of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Remain in Love gives the reader a magic carpet ride on the Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club express. It is also a valentine to Frantz's wife, creative partner, and bass guitarist in excelsis, Tina Weymouth, before whom we all gladly curtsey -- James Wolcott, author of the memoir 'Lucking Out'This swift-paced, well written book has the upbeat tone of dreams coming true. Frantz conveys the excitement of his adventures from boyhood to art school to international rock-stardom with honesty and enthusiasm. He didn't miss much in these cherished years. That he managed to keep his joyous spirit alive (and "remain in love") as his various bands accelerate across the globe is a testament to his intelligence and decency. I dare any drummer to write a better book! -- Duncan Hannah, author of '20th Century Boy'Heads and drums and funk and roll: herewith Chris Frantz outs himself as a Writing Head and Raconteur First Class, bringing it on an engaging narrative which combines an enchanting love story with an eye-opening disquisition on the upsides and downsides of being in bands with unsual people -- Charles Shaar Murray, author of 'Crosstown Traffic: Jimi Hendrix and Post-War Pop'I commend Remain in Love to discerning rock fans everywhere * Observer *Frantz has done an effective job of rebalancing the Talking Heads story, offering an angle on the band that fans will relish * Sunday Times *A revealing inside account of the highs and lows of a band who looked and sounded like nobody else -- Olivia Laing * Guardian *a memoir as sharp and sometimes caustic as the music they made * Daily Express *Amidst the bad blood, Frantz offers charming detail of the band's early years * Uncut *A book by a man who is giving the best impression of someone having all the fun * The Herald *The drummer with Talking Heads, one of rock's trailblazing bands, has written a memoir as sharp and sometimes caustic as their music. It's a love letter to both Talking Heads and his wife, the band's bassist Tina Weymouth . . . The book captures 1970s New York, with cameos from Andy Warhol, Brian Eno and James Brown, and makes being in a band sound the most exciting job ever * Daily Mirror *

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Book SynopsisDubious, unlikely, improbable, The story of the finest rock n' roll band that ever was; the near mythical Max Webster. Consume these pages, and you will learn the secrets; often in the impenetrable code of the band's top-shelf wordsmith Pye Dubois; of the wily Canuck wizards who made the above boast sing with unassailable truth.

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Book SynopsisThe book takes 45 chart toppers and writes their story. The music, the lyrics, the artists, producers and writers are all discussed, as well as any side or back stories to do with the single.

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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 Synopsis''My life has been written about over and over again, and that''s mostly okay with me. Other people can talk about my life. Sometimes they''ll get it right and sometimes they''ll get it wrong. For me, when I think back across my own life, there are so many things that are painful. Sometimes I don''t like discussing them. Sometimes I don''t even like remembering them. But as I get older, the shape of that pain has changed. Sometimes memories come back to me when I least expect them. Maybe that''s the only way it works when you''ve lived the life I''ve lived: starting a band with my brothers that was managed by my father, watching my father become difficult and then impossible, watching myself become difficult and then impossible, watching women I loved come and go, watching children come into the world, watching my brothers get older, watching them pass out of the world. Some of those things shaped me. Others scarred me. Sometimes it was hard to tell the difference. When I watched myTrade ReviewAll of it in Wilson's idiosyncratic voice...what a story! * Esquire *Surprisingly revealing and insightful memoir from the Beach Boys mastermind...Nearly every page opens up new windows into the mind of Brian Wilson. 4* * Mojo *Wilson and The Beach Boys' story has been told many times before and is one we may think we know, but it has never before been voiced with the clarity, honesty and insight on offer here. Surf's up. * Loud and Quiet Magazine *Beach Boy Brian Wilson's unflinching new autobiography ... it's quite a ride. * Daily Record *An accurate insight into the way his mind works * London Evening Standard *I Am Brian Wilson is a strange kind of surfing through the Beach Boy's interior life. Wilson dwells on the damage his violent dad did to his childhood without revealing the psychological consequence, except in the voice of a book that, though ghosted, sounds like his own. His genius, like all genius, he suggests is accidental. He was hit around the head by a lead pipe as a kid in a playground fight, and lost his hearing in one ear. After that, he always felt he had to tune in to experience as if trying to find a radio frequency. The Beach Boys' otherworldly sound, and the faltering attempts to locate its source in the deceptively simple sentences of this memoir, appear to be results of that distancing. * The Observer *An unflinchingly honest account * Choice Magazine *

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Book SynopsisWest Germany, 1968. Like everywhere else in the Western world, the young generation is pushing for radical change, still suffering the after-effects of the Second World War. Many stream out of the lecture halls and onto the streets. Some into the underground. And some into the practice basements, in search of the soundtrack of the movement.The unique and adventurous sounds that German bands like Can, Neu!, Amon Düül, Popul Vuh, Tangerine Dream, Faust, Cluster or Kraftwerk produced back then, now known as Krautrock, are considered a blueprint for modern rock music. And the stream of their creative admirers and continuators has been constantly widening since the first fans like David Bowie and Iggy Pop: whether Blur, Aphex Twin, Sonic Youth, Radiohead or the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.In Neu Klang, Christoph Dallach interviewed its pioneers, including Irmin Schmidt, Jaki Liebezeit and Holger Czukay of CAN; Neu!''s Michael Rother; Dieter Moebius of Cluster; Klaus Sch

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Book SynopsisThe more I thought about it, the more I realised my career has been unusual. How did I manage to do everything wrong but still end up on the front cover of magazines, headlining world tours and achieving Top 5 albums? How did I attract such obsessive and fanatical fans, many of whom take everything I do or say very personally, which is simultaneously flattering but can also be tremendously frustrating? Even this I somehow cultivated without somehow meaning to. My accidental career.Limited Edition of One is unlike any other music book you will ever have read. Part the long-awaited memoir of Steven Wilson: whose celebrated band Porcupine Tree began as teenage fiction before unintentionally evolving into a reality that encompassed Grammy-nominated records and sold-out shows around the world, before he set out for an even more successful solo career. Part the story of a twenty-first century artist who achieved chart-topping mainstream success withouTrade ReviewNot only is Limited Edition of One a consistently fascinating overview of [Steven's] life and career to date, but it's also tackled in the same way as he approaches his music: keen to avoid the predictable or generic without ego-tripping; always thoughtful without ever being dull; and ultimately keeping hold of the fact that he does what he does for the enjoyment and self-expression as much as proving his genius to the world . . . as unique as its title suggests . . . * Prog *

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Book Synopsis______________________THE #MERKY STORY SO FAR Edited and co-written by Jude YawsonContributions by Team #MerkyImages by Kaylum Dennis‘It’s been a long time coming, I swear...’ In four years Stormzy has risen from one of the most promising musicians of his generation to a spokesperson for a generation. Rise Up is the story of how he got there. It’s a story about faith and the ideas worth fighting for. It’s about knowing where you’re from, and where you’re going. It’s about following your dreams without compromising who you are.Featuring never-before-seen photographs, annotated lyrics and contributions from those closest to him, Rise Up is the #Merky story, and the record of a journey unlike any other.______________________'A very important book. The voices we hear from - young, gifted and largely black - are all too rarely heard. These are people who typically have to listen to a daily diet of media negativity about their communities without the opportunities to respond. ... It is truly inspiring to read about the accomplishments of Team Stormzy, realised largely without money or expertise, but with bucketloads of intelligence and hard work.' BBC (WILL GOMPERTZ)Trade ReviewPart inspirational self-help manual, part business guide, part exploration of how its author - aided by the team around him, given equal voice in the oral history format - transformed himself into the scene's biggest star. -- Alexis Petridis * Guardian, 'Books of the Year' *Charts the ascent of the grime MC... through a panoply of voices. Stormzy is adored. -- Kitty Empire * Observer, 'Books of the Year' *In first-person interviews, the MC's friends and colleagues give their insight on an extraordinary journey so far... In doing so, it shines a light on voices that are often overlooked, in keeping with Stormzy's ethos for his #Merky publishing imprint. -- Rhian Daly * NME, 'Books of the Year' *A very important book... It is truly inspiring to read about the accomplishments of Team Stormzy, realised largely without money or expertise, but with bucketloads of intelligence and hard work. -- Will Gompertz * BBC *An inspirational must-read... Throughout he demonstrates an ambition beyond telling his life story. The book is part of a wider plan to elevate black British culture to where he believes it should be. It's a manual demonstrating how big plans can become realities... Like Stormzy himself, it's a different kind of success. -- David Smyth * Evening Standard *

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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 SynopsisRonnie James Dio was a heavy metal icon and frontman of three of the best-selling, most influential and famous rock bands in history: Rainbow, Black Sabbath and his own multi-million selling band, Dio. Rainbow in the Dark is a rollercoaster ride through the extraordinary highs and lows of Dio''s life, and takes us from his early days as a street gang leader and Doo-wop singer in ''60s Vegas through to his breakout success with Rainbow and Black Sabbath in the ''70s and the stadiums of US metal in the ''80s - ending in Dio''s dressing room at Madison Square Garden, in June 1986, at the peak of his worldwide fame with Dio.Tragically Dio passed away from cancer in 2010, but had already begun writing a memoir before his death. Edited by the world-renowned music biographer Mick Wall, with the involvement of Dio''s wife of over 35 years and personal manager Wendy Dio, Rainbow in the Dark will honour and feature Dio''s never-before-seen original manuscript, whTrade ReviewRemarkable life story . . . this magical metal memoir is a must have for fans of the legend * Hot Press *Solid read * Record Collector *Immensely readable * Classic Rock *

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Book SynopsisA ROLLING STONE, MOJO, and PITCHFORK BOOK OF THE YEARA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The story, in his own words, of one of the century''s most feted singer songwriters: Jeff Tweedy, the man behind music by Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, and Tweedy. Through his pioneering work in the legendary country-punk band Uncle Tupelo, to his enduring legacy as the creative force behind the unclassifiable sound of Wilco, Jeff Tweedy has weaved his way between the underground and the mainstream. While his songs have been endlessly discussed and analysed, rarely has Tweedy talked directly about himself in any detail until now. Funny, disarming and deeply honest, his memoir casts light on his unique creative process and the moments that have shaped his life and career.There's a big-heartedness to the way he writes: humorous, fearless, unflinching.' GUARDIANFrank, engaging, and often very funny

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Book SynopsisFrom the legendary singer-songwriter of Bad Religion comes a historical memoir and cultural criticism of punk rock’s evolution. Greg Graffin is the lead vocalist and songwriter of Bad Religion, recently described as “America's most significant punk band.” Since its inception in Los Angeles in 1980, Bad Religion has produced 18 studio albums, become a long-running global touring powerhouse, and has established a durable legacy as one of the most influential punk rock bands of all time.  Punk Paradox is Graffin's life narrative before and during L.A. punk's early years, detailing his observations on the genre's explosive growth and his band's steady rise in importance. The book begins by exploring Graffin’s Midwestern roots and his life-changing move to Southern California in the mid-’70s. Swept up into the burgeoning punk scene in the exhilarating and often-violent streets of Los Angeles, Graffin and his friends formed Bad Religion, built a fanbase, and became a touring institution. All these activities took place in parallel with Graffin's never ceasing quest for intellectual enlightenment. Despite the demands of global tours, recording sessions, and dedication to songwriting, the author also balanced a budding academic career. In so doing, he managed to reconcile an improbable double-life as an iconic punk rock front man and University Lecturer in evolution.   Graffin’s unique experiences mirror the paradoxical elements that define the punk genre—the pop influence, the quest for society’s betterment, music’s unifying power—all of which are prime ingredients in its surprising endurance. Fittingly, this book argues against the traditional narrative of the popular perception of punk. As Bad Religion changed from year to year, the spirit of punk—and its sonic significance—lived on while Graffin was ever willing to challenge convention, debunk mythology, and liberate listeners from the chains of indoctrination.     As insightful as it is exciting, this thought-provoking memoir provides both a fly on the wall history of the punk scene and astute commentary on its endurance and evolution.

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Book SynopsisJohn Mayall’s story is like no other in the annals of rock and blues. Born in the UK in 1933, he laid the foundations of British blues, nurtured a generation of future superstars and then took the music back to the land of its birth. This extraordinary autobiography offers a vivid glimpse of Britain well before the rock revolution of the sixties, at a time when young men like John found themselves conscripted for national service that, in his case, included eighteen months in Korea. What followed when he returned was an odyssey of musical trail-blazing. From Manchester to Laurel Canyon and many points in between, John’s account of his long life is both affectionate and compelling – a guided tour through more than sixty years of the music business and its stars, brought to vivid life by one of its undisputed pioneers.

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Book SynopsisFor most people in Britain in the 1970s and 1980s, Radio 1 provided the soundtrack to their lives. Commanding up to 24 million listeners a week, it was the most popular radio station in the world. An iconic institution and one of the UK's most famous brands, its history and socio-cultural impact is explored in full here for the first time. Robert Sellers draws on archive material and first-hand interviews with DJs and key personnel to capture the extraordinary story of Radio 1, from its beginnings in 1967 through to its controversial reorganisation in the early nineties.

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Book SynopsisA riveting oral biography of the proto-punk Detroit rockers MC5, based on original interviews with the band and key members of their inner circle

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Book SynopsisBob Dylan: All the Songs focuses on Dylan''s creative process and his organic, unencumbered style of recording. It is the only book to tell the stories, many unfamiliar even to his most fervent fans, behind the more than 500 songs he has released over the span of his career. Organized chronologically by album, and updated to include all of his most recent work including the 2020 release of his 39th album, Rough and Rowdy Ways, Margotin and Guesdon detail the origins of his melodies and lyrics, his process in the recording studio, the instruments he used, and the contribution of a myriad of musicians and producers to his canon.

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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 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 SynopsisThe unique and adventurous sounds that German bands like Can, Neu! or Kraftwerk produced in post-war 60s Germany, now known as Krautrock, are considered a blueprint for modern rock music. And the stream of their creative admirers and continuators has been constantly widening since the first fans like David Bowie and Iggy Pop. In Neu Klang, Christoph Dallach interviewed its pioneers and their answers combine to form an oral history that points far beyond the individual band histories.

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Book SynopsisIn these fifty-two interviews, the greatest songwriters of our time go straight to the source of the magic of songwriting by offering their thoughts, feelings, and opinions on their art. Representing almost every genre of popular music, from folk to Tin Pan Alley to jazz, from blues to pop rock, these are the figures who have shaped American music as we know it. Here they share their secrets and personal methods for converting inspiration into song: Robbie Robertson of the Band an Tom Petty talk about working with Bob Dylan; Dylan himself, in his only in-depth interview in more than ten years, says that the world doesn''t need any new songs; R.E.M. name their favorite R.E.M. songs; Madonna describes collaborating with Prince; Sammy Cahn talks about writing standards for Sinatra; Pete Seeger recounts hitting the road with Woody Guthrie; Frank Zappa admits to loving Louie Louie; Todd Rundgren explains how he dreams his songs; and, in the book''s most extensive interview, Paul Simon delves into his opus from The Sound of Silence to Graceland. And almost all of them express delight at being able to talk about the mechanics of music itself, something that they have rarely been asked to discuss. Here expanded with new interviews with Burt Bacharach, Laura Nyro, Yoko Ono, Leonard Cohen, Graham Nash, Jackson Browne, Richard Thompson, and many others, Songwriters on Songwriting is a rare volume: one of the best books on the craft of musicmaking, an informative source for musicians and songwriters, and an invaluable historical record of the popular music of this century.Trade ReviewBrain Pickings, 5/26/14 "[An] excellent and extensive treasure trove...[The] insights on songwriting extend to the broader realm of creative work in a multitude of disciplines...A magnificent read in its hefty totality." Brain Pickings, 7/20/14 "[An] impressive interview compendium."

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Book Synopsis'You will love this book.' - RICHARD OSMAN Shortlisted for the Penderyn Music Book PrizeA Rough Trade Book of the YearA Resident Book of the YearA Monorail Book of the YearA Virgin Radio Book of the YearIn 1986, the NME released a cassette that would shape music for years to come. A collection of twenty-two independently signed guitar-based bands, C86 was the sound and ethos that defined a generation. It was also arguably the point at which 'indie' was born.But what happened next to all those musical dreamers?Some of the bands, like Primal Scream, went on to achieve global stardom; others, such as Half Man Half Biscuit and The Wedding Present, cultivated lifelong fanbases that still sustain their careers today. Then there were the rest - the ones who endured general indifference from the record-buying public and ultimately returned to civvy street.Now, thirty-five years on, journalist Nige Tassell tracks down the class of C86, unearthing members of all twenty-two bands and sharing the stories, both tragic and uplifting, of these long-lost musicians.Told with warmth, compassion and humour, this is a very human account of ambition, hope, varying degrees of talent and what happens after you give up on music - or, more accurately, after music gives up on you. It's a world populated by bike-shop owners, dance-music producers, record-store proprietors, ornithologists, driving instructors, solicitors, caricaturists and possibly even an Olympic sailor. And let's not forget the musician-turned-actor gainfully employed as Jeremy Irons' body double...More than simply the tale of the tape, Whatever Happened to the C86 Kids? is an exploration of C86's wide-reaching and often surprising legacy.Trade Review'You will love this book.' -- Richard Osman'Twenty-two tales of youthful anger, innocence and indolence, filtered through almost forty years of regret, melancholy and, occasionally, dogged resistance. Nige Tassell succinctly and sweetly conjures up an era when groups could form in Glossop, Hebden Bridge or Whitstable and - for a few months, at least - become national heroes via the patronage of John Peel and the weekly music press. He spins gold from their grab-bag of agendas, musical politics and effects pedals and creates something that is frequently more impressive, entertaining and enjoyable than the music itself.' -- Bob Stanley'This is a funny, sad, gorgeous and beautifully researched book about the most influential loser tribe in the history of British music.' -- David Quantick'A valuable slice of pop history.' -- Mark Ellen'Nige's writing is to be treasured - a warm, welcoming and wonderful book.' -- Jude Rogers'Who, of a certain vintage and a certain propensity for hoarding things in lofts, including cassette-tape compilations sold via a weekly music publication, wouldn't want THIS BOOK?' -- Andrew Collins'Incredibly beautiful.' -- John Niven'Excellent.' -- Gideon Coe'About music, but also about youthful dreams and mature reality. A lovely read.' -- Danny Kelly'Absolutely fantastic.' -- Sian Pattenden, Culture Bunker'Often funny, sometimes poignant ... [a] candid, evocative snapshot of a scene that is fondly but scarcely celebrated. 4/5' -- Classic Pop'A valuable preservation of faded networks and forgotten ways to belong.' -- The Wire'Cheery. 8/10' -- Uncut'Rather brilliant ... in the stories of many of these C86 kids are reminders of the power of optimism. If we can, we should guard against losing our belief in possibility.' -- The Scotsman

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Book SynopsisNo artist offered a more incisive and accurate portrait of the troubled landscape of the 1970s than David Bowie. Cultural historian Peter Doggett explores the rich heritage of Bowie''s most productive and inspired decade, and traces the way in which his music reflected and influenced the world around him. From ''Space Oddity'', his dark vision of mankind''s voyage into the unknown terrain of space, to the Scary Monsters album, Doggett examines in detail Bowie''s audacious creation of an ''alien'' rock star, Ziggy Stardust, and his increasingly perilous explorations of the nature of identity and the meaning of fame.Mixing brilliant musical critique with biographical insight and acute cultural analysis, The Man Who Sold The World is a unique study of a major artist and his times.Trade ReviewThrilling...takes its place next to Revolution in the Head on the short shelf of necessary reading about pop. Praise doesn't come any higher * Observer *A meticulous and engaging insight into the golden years of one of pop's true innovators. For those who love Bowie - a must -- Mark RadcliffeAn astonishing and absorbing work that expertly unpicks this explosively creative time in Bowie's life... Ultimately, Doggett's insight and enthusiasm should send you back to the music. If you do so the book will ensure you experience something entirely new * Sunday Times *Compels you to listen to Bowie's best-known songs afresh and his less obvious songs anew * Time Out *This is a book, which can be dipped into as a fine song-by-song guide, but even more so, as an excellent cultural history * Mojo *

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Book SynopsisWhat was I fighting for? Even now I'm not sure. Something so old and so deep, it has no words, no shape, no logic.Viv Albertine has always been obsessed with the truth: the truth about family, power, and her identity as a rebel and outsider. But at what cost? In this brutally honest memoir she relentlessly exposes human dysfunctionality: the impossibility of intimacy, and the damage wrought upon us by secrets and revelations, siblings and parents. Written with Albertine's unique vulnerability and intelligence, To Throw Away Unopened is a startling self-portrait and a testament to rebuilding oneself and facing the world again.

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Book SynopsisA comprehensively illustrated reference to musical instruments and the history of the orchestra, and a guide to 100 classical composers from Bach to Xenakis, in a newly updated large-format edition.

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Book SynopsisFocus: Popular Music in Contemporary India examines India's musical soundscape beyond the classical and folk traditions of old to consider the culturally, socially, and politically rich contemporary music that is defining and energizing an Indian youth culture on the precipice of a major identity shift. From Bollywood film songs and Indo-jazz to bhangra hip-hop and Indian death metal, the book situates Indian popular music within critical and historical frameworks, highlighting the unprecedented changes the region's music has undergone in recent decades. This critical approach provides readers with a foundation for understanding an Indian musical culture that is as diverse and complex as the region itself.Included are case studies featuring song notations, first-person narratives, and interviews of well-known artists and emerging musicians alike. Illuminated are issues of great import in India todayas reflected through its musicaddressing questions of a nationTable of ContentsPart I: Understanding Indian Music / 1. India in Musical and Cultural Perspective / 2. Concept and Style in Indian Music / Part II: Popular Music in India / 3. East-West Cross-Cultures: Inspiration and Collaboration / 4. Indian Film Music: Aesthetics, Hybrids, and Representations / 5. India’s Independent Popular Music Scene / Part III: Focusing In: Youth and Music in India Today / 6. Youth Music Culture: Bollywood and Beyond / 7. Modern Music Gurus / Conclusion: Indian Popular Music into the Future

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Book SynopsisWhether in Yes, Asia, GTR, ABWH, Tomorrow or the Steve Howe Trio and – there's more – Steve Howe has continually proved himself to be one of the world's greatest guitarists. Here, for the first time, he looks back on his five-decade long career. From jamming onstage with Jimi Hendrix to sharing Abbey Road studios with The Beatles, Steve's stories are steeped in rock 'n' roll history. Including a number of unseen photographs and a full discography, All My Yesterdays is a must-read for fans of Yes, one of prog rock's most legendary bands.

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Book Synopsis***'Wise and playful...'BBC Music MagazineWith a foreword by James NaughtieWithin the pages of this book lie musical prescriptions that offer comfort, solace and strength in the face of dark times.Whether you suffer from loneliness or laziness, from bereavement or betrayal, a heartbreak or a mere hangover, here you'll find the perfect piece of classical music to heal the heart, soothe the soul and cure the maladies of the modern world.Musician and writer Oliver Condy takes the role of musical physician, using his years of experience to prescribe remedies for all manner of ailments in the form of classical music.A beautifully-packaged gift book with more than 100 recommendations, Symphonies for the Soul is filled with fascinating stories behind the pieces and composers selected, and how in their own unique ways they can nourish the spirit in times of need.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisDelve into the captivating tale of Jerry Garcia and Grateful Dead through the lens of Len Dell'Amico, the band's trusted videographer for over 15 years. Offering a unique perspective from within the inner circle, Dell'Amico unveils the band's remarkable journey during a period of unprecedented creative expansion and skyrocketing record sales in the 1980s. With his expertise as a multi-camera live video director, Dell'Amico collaborated with the band to craft mesmerizing concert films and music videos, capturing the essence of Jerry Garcia's brilliance, eccentricity, and profound connections. Friend of the Devil is a poignant tribute, shedding light on Garcia's enduring legacy and the profound impact of his music before his untimely passing at the age of 53. JERRY GARCIA AND THE DEAD UP CLOSE: Len Dell'Amico worked closely with the six members of Grateful Dead and has rare and untold stories about them. YOU-ARE-THERE CONCERT EXPERIENCES: Grateful Dead were extraordinary musicians and tireless performers. Being behind the camera to film them was a spiritual experience and a test of physical endurance. THE GENIUS OF JERRY GARCIA: his musicianship, song writing ability, and improvisational skills were peerless. CREATIVE MASTERCLASS: The collaborative spirit among Grateful Dead allowed creativity to effortlessly flow which, in turn, made Dell'Amico a better director and cameraman. HAPPY CHAOS: It was well established that the traveling circus that became the crew, along with The Dead, were all fun-loving types. They mixed business with pleasure every day and enjoyed both with equal measure.

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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 Synopsis''There is something quite moving about seeing the lyrics of these fifty-six songs collected and assembled this way. You can see the evolution of the minds and hearts at work behind the lyrics'' Brandon Taylor, from the IntroductionSince the release of their breakout debut in 2008, Fleet Foxes and their frontman, singer-songwriter Robin Pecknold, have enjoyed international critical and commercial acclaim. Drawing comparisons to Simon & Garfunkel; Crosby, Stills & Nash; and the music of Brian Wilson, Grammy-nominated Fleet Foxes have reshaped the American indie-folk sound, crafting songs that are acoustically and melodically driven, steeped in gospel-like harmonies, and propelled by resonant and timeless lyrics.Wading in Waist-High Water: The Lyrics of Fleet Foxes contains Robin Pecknold's complete lyrics from 56 songs, capturing the poetic and inventive storytelling that is a hallmark of the band's music. These richly layered lyrics explore the complexity, dar

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Book SynopsisGet ready for a deep-dive into the LIFE, LYRICS and LOOKS of Chappell Roan, our favorite Midwest princess and queer icon. Every now and then, an artist breaks out of the music industry and becomes a cultural Femininomenon. With her powerful vocals, emotive lyrics, and captivating stage presence, Chappell Roan has quickly become a global superstar admired by millions. In this beautifully designed and well-researched book, we explore Chappell's journey from small-town girl to international pop sensation, delving into her early life, the stories behind her lyrics, her musical influences, iconic fashion looks and the key moments that have shaped her glittering career. Author Nick Levine is a journalist who has interviewed Chappell twice for NME, and specializes in music, culture and LGBTQ issues. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in pop including Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga and many others. With behind-the-scenes stories and incredible photos of her most iconic moments, this is a celebration of Chappell's dazzling world of drag, dreams, fearless self-expression and inspirational activism. This book is a one-way ticket to The Pink Pony Club and an essential gift for any fan.

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