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Book SynopsisIn the 1970s in the backroom of a record store, Harold Bronson and Richard Foos were making history-and so, Rhino Records was born. Harold Bronson's The Rhino Records Story tells the tale of how a little record shop became a multimillion dollar corporation.Trade ReviewBronson's romp is more than just a story of the good ol' days, he offers plenty of interesting lessons on how to stand out in the cut-throat music industry. -- Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisFrom the man who wrote the songs that outsold the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in 1967-1968, comes the story of the first decades of his life in Hollywood and New York. Immerse yourself in Grammy, Golden Globe, and Academy Award nominated songwriter Bobby Hart's world as he shares the story behind his success; from humble beginnings comes a musical goliath.Psychedelic Bubble Gum is an exclusive glimpse into Hart's personal journey as he moves on the fast track to fame. This vivid narrative follows Hart's gradual rise in the music industry as half of the duo Boyce and Hart, as he and his friend and partner Tommy Boyce wrote the songs that launched the Monkees to stardom, and eventually reaching over a hundred million in sales. Along the way is all the heartbreak and drama that accompanies fame and fortune—an uprooted life, conflicted morals, and the sacrifice of his wholesome high school sweetheart Becky.With unbending sincerity, Hart details a life of extravagance, betrayal, loss, disillusionment, and an unstoppable personal struggle to find spiritual balance, peace, and love. Psychedelic Bubble Gum is a rollercoaster ride through the 1960s and 1970s during America's whirlwind era of free speech, mysticism, and psychedelic pop culture, and, of course, rock 'n' roll. Packed with intimate behind-the-scenes encounters with pop star royalty, Psychedelic Bubble Gum is tempered by humor, honesty, and a singular understanding of the industry, Trade Review"Hart, in his debut, tells of how his jagged path through the music industry led to heartbreakbut also to happiness. This snappy yet reflective memoir opens with an episode that's emblematic of its narrator. While struggling to make it in Hollywood, Hart listened to the radio and detected an unsatisfying insincerity in the DJ's voice. Hart's desire for authenticity, and his connections in entertainment, would go on to propel him on a remarkable journey through the music world. He left his hometown of Phoenix to start six months of active duty in the U.S. Army Reserve in Monterey, California, and soon found himself entangled in the glamour and grit of Hollywoodthat 'circus of extremes for the senses with its bright lights and colorful characters'while working for a company that manufactured labels for vinyl records. His own recording career, though, began one fateful Saturday, when he booked studio time for himself and became amazed at the possibilities that emerged when he combined his musical background with skillful sound engineering. What followed were years of risk and uncertainty and powerful collaborations with other musiciansas well as love, loss, and friendship. Hart candidly depicts his hyperactive, out-and-about lifestyle as a musician and songwriter who struggled to balance the work that gave his life meaning with his commitment to his family. Sometimes the strain proved too much, and his relationship with his first wife deteriorated as a result. Along the way, countless projects with his songwriting partner, Tommy Boyce, rolled by, as did the tumultuous cultural and historical events of the 1960s. Before long, the duo was writing songs for The Monkees, including '(Theme from) The Monkees ,' 'Last Train to Clarksville,' and 'Valleri.' In the memoir's most captivating pages, Hart recounts the stratospheric rise of that artificially engineered musical group. Particularly engaging are Hart's anecdotes about his own songwriting process; he recounts, for instance, that the song fragment that eventually became 'Last Train to Clarksville' was inspired by a mishearing of the Beatles' 1966 single 'Paperback Writer.' A highly detailed autobiography by a unique figure in American cultural history that will interest historians and pop-culture aficionados alike." Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisGreat music has the power to transform. Understanding and appreciating classical music can enlighten, uplift, and educate not only the intellect but the soul. In The Secret Magic of Music, classical music devotee and psychiatrist Ida Lichter uncovers a more accessible side of music. By providing the performers’ insights, Lichter provides a special look into how great music can bring happiness and spiritual meaning to its listeners.The Secret Magic of Music is a collection of thought pieces based on interviews with the foremost conductors and performers of chamber music. It is organized by performing artist and is intended to provide each musician’s perception of classical music’s value and social function. As the journey from the score to the listener takes place, Lichter reveals how each performer’s passion, dedication, and outstanding talent affects their lives, their performances, and their listeners. Lichter explores why classical music is often considered unpalatable to the casual listener, how it can have the power to heal, its function in therapy, among other loaded questions. Not only does The Secret Magic of Music enrich the experience of music lovers, it introduces new listeners to classical music’s pleasures, mysteries, and transformational potential. Music has the ability to cross cultural borders and span personal difference, to unite people on common ground they might otherwise never find. The importance of passing on the appreciation of our musical heritage to the next generation is real. To lose it would be inexcusable.Trade Review"Where would Western civilization be without music? A response to this question is presented in this title by psychiatrist Lichter ( Muslim Women Reformers: Inspiring Voices Against Oppression ). Focusing on classical musicians, Lichter interviewed 35 professionalsconductors, instrumentalists, vocalists, collaborative artists, and administratorsmany Australian, starting in 2009, and presents these interviews in her own words... Verdict: This book is for the music lover who is interested in Lichter's interpretation of these musicians' thoughts on classical music's emotional and humanistic qualities." Elizabeth Berndt-Morris , Boston P.L. - Library Journal

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Book SynopsisThe Jan and Dean Story is a personal story of the iconic musician and entrepreneur Dean Torrence. As a memoir The Jan and Dean Story has elements of humor, tragedy and redemption. It tells their story from the early high school friendship struck up between Jan Berry and Dean Torrence and their ascent to the dizzying heights of stardom riding the crest of the “surf” craze. The Jan and Dean Story is as much about the culture of the 1960s as it is about music. Dean has lived an incredible life and continues to promote a lifestyle and surf culture that is now universally admired and followed throughout the world.The story also recounts Jan’s tragic car accident and his ability to recover enough to continue to perform will be inspiring to many readers even those not familiar with surf music. For pop culture addicts and music buffs alike this book is indispensable. As early teen icons, Jan and Dean left an indelible mark on the music of the 60’s and the American psyche.Dean Torrence is still touring and creating music and often appears with the Beach Boys and other groups from the heyday of surf music.Trade Review"Over the years, we have had so much fun, fun, fun and so many memorable interactions. Whether it was onstage in Hawaii at the KPOI Million Dollar Party in July 1964, or on the T.A.M.I. Show in October 1964 that Jan & Dean hosted, we [The Beach Boys] enjoyed a healthy rivalry as well as friendship...I'm certain you, the reader, will have a great time reading this story that Dean shares with us of his life experience, his Surf City Saga."--From the foreword by Mike Love, The Beach Boys "Some of the happiest times of my life have been in the company of Dean Torrence, and if there was one thing better than being onstage with him all those summer nights, it was getting to hear him tell his wonderful stories in the dressing rooms, all-night diners and back-road taverns after the shows. Now you're lucky enough to hear those stories, in a beautiful voice you've loved for years."--Bob Greene, author of When We Get to Surf City: A Journey Through America in Pursuit of Rock and Roll, Friendship, and Dreams "Dean Torrence was there for the birth of Surf Music and played a massive role in both performing and defining it. If there was such a thing as Surf Music royalty, then Dean Torrence is it. And, of course, whenever I have the opportunity to play that cool music with Dean, I always keep some extra reverb on hand just for him...!"--Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Doobie Brothers "...and we had a good time doing it...didn't we..."--Lou Adler, Ode Records

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Book SynopsisWhat would it be like to be a part of country music history? Singer/songwriter and manager Merle Kilgore could have told you. He awed his fans with tales of his life in the music business, always with a supporting cast of impossibly famous friends. At age fourteen Merle carried the guitar for Hank Williams Sr. Four years later he wrote his first song, and Webb Pierce turned it into a million-seller. He double-dated with Elvis Presley, wrecked hotel rooms with Johnny Cash, held seances with Johnny Horton, and convinced Audrey Williams to put Hank Jr. on the road at fourteen-years-old. Merle became a prolific songwriter, entering the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. He co-wrote his signature accomplishment, Ring of Fire with June Carter Cash. This work is listed by CMT as one of the top four all-time country music songs. These are just a few of the amazing stories of Merle's life, showcased in These Are My People, written by his grandson Mark Rickert.

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Book SynopsisFleetwood Mac was a triumph from the beginning—their first album was the UK’s bestselling album of 1968. After some low points—when founder Peter Green left, some fans felt that the band continuing was sacrilege—Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined, and their 1977 album, Rumours, became one of history’s immortals, a true classic that remained on the charts for years and in the public's affection forever.In the press, the ethereal Californian Stevie Nicks, the tormented rocker Lindsey Buckingham, the dignified English rose Christine McVie, the blunt-speaking John McVie, and the loquacious Mick Fleetwood have all regularly been astoundingly candid. This collection of interviews across the entirety of Fleetwood Mac’s career features articles from such celebrated publications as Crawdaddy, New Musical Express, Circus, Creem, Mojo, Goldmine, Classic Rock, Blender, and Elle, as well as interviews that have never previously appeared in print. Here is the only place you can learn the Fleetwood Mac story from the band members’ own mouths.

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Book Synopsis Being the child of a global superstar is never easy. Being the daughter of the Godfather of Soul—that’s a category unto itself.Like every little girl, Yamma Brown wanted her father’s attention, but fame, drugs, jail, and the complicated women in James Brown’s life set the stage for an uncommon childhood. Cold Sweat is about how Yamma rose to meet every challenge. Though packed with celebrity appearances ranging from Michael Jackson to Al Sharpton, Cold Sweat is not just a celebrity book. It focuses on an everyday issue faced by millions of women—domestic violence—and in this book Yamma faces it in an honest and powerfully moving way. Dealing with a complex and famous father eventually took a backseat to coping with her own abusive and deceitful marriage. Cold Sweat is about how Yamma got caught in the same trap as her mother, doing things in her adult life that, as a child, she’d promised herself she’d never do. But at the same time, Yamma learned valuable lessons about life from her father. The struggles she went through, both as a child and as an adult, make for a gripping read and, in the end, a profound examination of the nature of celebrity, violence, and survival.Trade Review"Cold Sweat brought tears to my eyes as I read the powerful story of Yamma's journey. James Brown carried the gift of music that comes from God but also the burden of a life lived on the mountaintop. This book makes the price he paid all too clear." MC Hammer"This is a provocative, painful, and open book by Yamma Brown, whom I have known all her life as the daughter of a truly historic and incomparably influential figure. The world knew James Brown as a Godfather. Yamma knew him as a father. The good and the bad that she shared does not dim at the brightness of the greatness of James Brown." Rev. Al Sharpton"Yamma's riveting book sent chills down my spine, as I understand the experience of having to share a parent with the world. Her relationship with her father reveals insights into the depths of his spirit, and her profound perspective is a viewpoint unlike anyone else's." Maryum "May May" Ali, daughter of Muhammad Ali"A heartwarming and authentic account of growing up the daughter of a true music legend. So well written and engaging that it should be required reading in all schools of music." Cathy Hughes, founder, Radio One"A raw and honest depiction of life behind the shadow of Yamma Brown's iconic father. This is a must read. I am truly honored to know Yamma and so proud of the bravery she's shown by sharing her story." Heather Hayes, daughter of Isaac Hayes

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Book SynopsisMaceo Parker’s signature style became the lynchpin of James Brown's band when he and his brother Melvin joined the Hardest Working Man in Show Business in 1964. That style helped define Brown’s brand of funk, and the phrase “Maceo, I want you to blow!” became part of the lexicon of black music. He took time off from James Brown to play with George Clinton’s P-funk collective and with Bootsy’s Rubber Band; he also formed his own band, Maceo and All the King’s Men, whose records are cult favorites among funk aficionados. Here Maceo tells his own warm and astonishing story, from his Southern upbringing to his career touring the world and playing to adoring fans. Maceo has long called his approach to the saxophone “2% jazz, 98% funky stuff.” Now, on the eve of Maceo’s 70th birthday, in prose as lively and funky as his saxophone playing, here is the definitive story of one of the funkiest musicians alive.Trade Review"An important addition to any library of black music biographies." -- DownBeat"A breezy, anecdotal memoir by the funky saxophonist who reveals himself to be an uncommonly decent man." -- Kirkus Reviews"A remarkably unassuming, even-tempered account from a true funk icon." --EntertainmentWeekly.com"Hipper than most 20-year-olds, [Parker] has more soul in his little finger than a roomful of Boyz II Men." Oakland Tribune"Parker talks with his sax, chatters away without a seeming care. It's a musical antidepressant, an antidote to dark days." San Diego Reader"Those familiar with Parker's work as a world-class saxophonist will enjoy getting to know him a little better. If you're not a fan, this will give you plenty of new music to dig into." Music Tomes

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Book SynopsisDancing Barefoot is the full and true story of Patti Smith, widely acknowledged as one of the most significant American artists of the rock ’n’ roll era, a performer whose audience and appeal reach far beyond the parameters of rock. An acclaimed poet, a respected artist, and a figurehead for many liberal political causes, Patti Smith soared from an ugly-duckling childhood in postwar New Jersey to become queen of the New York arts scene in the 1970s. This book traces the brilliant trajectory of her career, including the fifteen reclusive years she spent in Detroit in the 1980s and ’90s, as well as her triumphant return to New York. But it is primarily the story of a performer growing up in New York City in the early and mid-1970s.Dancing Barefoot is a measured, accurate, and enthusiastic account of Smith’s career. Guided by interviews with those who have known her—including Ivan Kral, Tom Verlaine, Richard Lloyd, John Cale, and Jim Carroll—it relies most of all on Patti’s own words. This is Patti’s story, told as she might have seen it, had she been on the outside looking in.Trade Review"Dave Thompson knows how to tell a gripping, carefully researched story. This one is about a young woman from the swamps of New Jersey who became an artist's muse, then a rock star, then a wife and mother, then an award-winning author, and--most importantly--one of the major American poetic champions of her generation." -- Stephen Davis , author of Hammer of the Gods and Walk This Way"A commendable, enlightening portrait of a notoriously private person, a book that dovetails nicely with Smith's 2010 memoir Just Kids." Detroit Metro Times"Dancing Barefoot captures the energy of a time before punk rock hardened into a definition." Shepherd Express

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Book SynopsisThe Who were a mass of contradictions. They brought intellect to rock but were the darlings of punks. They were the quintessential studio act yet were also the greatest live attraction in the world. They perfectly meshed on stage and displayed a complete lack of personal chemistry offstage.Along with great live shows and supreme audio experiences, the Who provided great copy. During the 1960s and ’70s, Pete Townshend, messianic about contemporary popular music and its central importance in the lives of young people, gave sprawling interviews in which he alternately celebrated and deplored what he saw in the “scene.” Several of these interviews have come to be considered classic documents of the age. Roger Daltrey, Keith Moon, and John Entwistle joined in. Even when the Who were non-operational or past their peak, their interviews continued to be compelling: changes in allegiances and social mores left the band members freer to talk about sex, drug-taking, business, and in-fighting.By collecting interviews with Who members from across fi ve decades, conducted by the greatest rock writers of their generation—Barry Miles, Jonathan Cott, Charles Shaar Murray, John Swenson, and Greil Marcus among them—The Who on The Who provides the full, fractious story of a fascinating band.

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Book SynopsisMore than seven years after his death, Michael Jackson continues to fascinate the world. Shana Mangatal was one of Jackson’s constant and true rocks of stability for nearly two decades. Their relationship was quiet and sweet and real—a closely guarded secret known only to a few trusted employees and friends. Shana is now coming forward to tell their love story. Sometimes strange, sometimes surprising, always fascinating, this is the story that Jackson fans have been waiting for.During her seven years working for Michael’s personal manager during the prolific period of the 1990s, Shana witnessed the scandals and the lawsuits, the release of groundbreaking albums and the subsequent world tours, the making of big-budget short films, and the addictions. It was through this business relationship that their trust and love for each other grew. Shana kept a meticulous diary throughout it all. Her story is rich with every little detail. Michael and Me entertains and inspires, but above all, Shana continues to treat Michael (and his legacy) with respect. This is not an exploitative tell-all but rather a book that shows the side of Michael people never knew. In it, Shana paints a more intimate picture of this beloved yet very misunderstood man.

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Book SynopsisLou Reed made it his mission to rub people the wrong way, whether it was with the noise rock he produced with the Velvet Underground in the late 1960s or his polarizing work with Metallica that would prove to be his swan song. On a personal level, too, he seemed to take pleasure in insulting everyone who crossed his path. How did this Jewish boy from Long Island, an adolescent doo-wop singer, rise to the status of Godfather of Punk? And how did he maintain that status for decades?Dirty Blvd.—the first new biography of Reed since his death in 2013—digs deep to answer those questions. And along the way it shows us the tender side of his prickly personality.Born in Brooklyn, Reed was the son of an accountant and a former beauty queen, but he took the road less traveled, trading literary promise for an entry-level job as a budget-label songwriter and founding the Velvet Underground under the aegis of Andy Warhol. The cult of personality surrounding his transformation from downtown agent provocateur to Phantom of Rock and finally to patron saint of the avant-garde was legendary, but there was more to his artistic evolution than his abrasive public persona. The lives of many American rock stars have had no second act, but Reed’s did.Dirty Blvd. not only covers the highlights of Reed’s career but also explores lesser-known facets of his work, such as his first recordings with doo-wop group the Jades, his key literary influences and the impact of Judaism upon his work, and his engagement with the LGBT movement. Drawing from new interviews with many of his artistic collaborators, friends, and romantic partners, as well as from archival material, concert footage, and unreleased bootlegs of live performances, author Aidan Levy paints an intimate portrait of the notoriously uncompromising rock poet who wrote “Heroin,” “Sweet Jane,” “Walk on the Wild Side,” and “Street Hassle”—songs that transcended their genre and established Lou Reed as one of the most influential and enigmatic American artists of the past half-century.Trade Review"Reading Aidan Levy's Dirty Blvd. is like rolling down lower Broadway after a tickertape parade, a nocturne for Lou Reed piled high with twinkling treasures, dark skeins of insight, and drifts of American excess. It's a night of a thousand eyes, a book of deep focus, peering with the rapt intent of a biography and the empathy of a memoir. Born of Jewish parents who hoped to assimilate, Lou was a man who could not. From shock treatment he lunged into shock-rock, singing and living like a rat poet caught in a trap. Levy finds it all on this boulevard, searching for Lou's art with his own heart where it clearly still lives and breathes. And if, as Lou's life-mate said with his parting, we die a final death the last time someone utters our name, then Levy has done his part to keep that name forever on our lips. A startling, beautiful and defiant literary debut. Rock this book!" Stephen Molton, screenwriter, producer, professor and author, Brave Talk and Brothers in Arms: The Kennedys, the Castros, and the Politics of Murder , co-written with Gus Russo"Lou Reed was much more than 'Walk on the Wild Side' and glam rock. He was the voice of the disaffected and the disenchanted, the scourge of comfort and convention, the enfant terrible of literary rock, and, very often, one of the great tender-hearted poets of New York City. Aidan Levy shines a light into unexamined corners of this singular life and enlarges our sense of his subject's spiky unforgettable character." Peter Blauner, bestselling author, Slipping into Darkness and Slow Motion Riot"A valuable study of Reed, further cementing his totemic influence as the high priest of art rock." Kirkus Reviews"This skillfully written and respectful biography takes us through Reed's life and career . . . . Levy has produced an informative and insightful look at a rock star and songwriter whose work always cut a little deeper than that of his peers." Booklist"Levy does a splendid job debunking the myths surrounding the musician . . . . this study is about as close to a must-read book on Reed as one can get." Library Journal"In the first major biography of Reed since his 2013 death and subsequent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Levy throws a literary lasso on the many facets of his career." Houston Press

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Book SynopsisThe Clash thought they could change the world. They never did, but they created some of the greatest rock music of all time in the attempt.Clash interviews were mesmerizing. Infused with the messianic spirit of punk, the Clash engaged with the press like no rock group before or since, treating interviews almost as addresses to the nation. Their pronouncements were welcomed but were hardly uncritically reported. The Clash’s back pages are voluminous, crackle with controversy, and constitute a snapshot of a uniquely thoughtful and fractious period in modern history. Included in this compendium are the Clash’s encounters with the most brilliant music writers of their time, including Lester Bangs, Nick Kent, Mikal Gilmore, Chris Salewicz, Charles Shaar Murray, Mick Farren, Kris Needs, and Lenny Kaye.Whether it be their audience with the (mainly) simpatico likes of punk fanzine Sniffin’ Glue, their testy encounters with the correspondents of pious UK weeklies like New Musical Express, Melody Maker, and Sounds, or their friendlier but no less eyebrow-raising conversations with US periodicals like Creem and Rolling Stone, the Clash consistently created copy that lived up to their sobriquet “The Only Band That Matters.”Trade Review" The Clash on The Clash returns to the heady days of '77, and confirms that the only English band that mattered made music, politics, and commerce matter like few others. Sean Egan's excellent collection of interviews ranges from the early days to the aftermath, from the dubious recollections of original guitarist Keith Levene to expanded versions of Egan's own 21st century interviews with the band members. Lester Bangs's 16,000-word love letter to the Clash is a real gem. Guttersnipes rejoice!" Randal Doane, author of Stealing All Transmissions: A Secret History of The Clash"A bright garland of well-selected interviews strung out across the saw-toothed time-line of one of the most truthfulas well as one of the most self-deceptivebands of all time. . . . What you have assembled here is the true and authentic voice of Radio Clash." Mike Laye, Clash photographer"Throughout, Egan's excellent annotations provide context and structure to the interviews and articles. Fans of music from the original punk rock era will enjoy this title." Library Journal

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Book SynopsisIt has been said that the records of singer and actress Julie London were purchased for their provocative, full-color cover photographs as frequently as they were for the music contained in their grooves. During the 1950s and ’60s, her piercing blue eyes, strawberry blonde hair, and shapely figure were used to sell the world an image of cool sexuality.The contrast between image and reality, the public and the private, is at the heart of Julie London’s story. Through years of research; extensive interviews with family, friends, and musical associates; and access to rarely seen or heard archival material, author Michael Owen reveals the impact of her image on the direction of her career and how it influenced the choices she made, including the ultimate decision to walk away from performing.Go Slow follows Julie London’s life and career through its many stages: her transformation from 1940s movie starlet to coolly defiant singer of the classic torch ballad “Cry Me a River” of the ’50s, and her journey from Las Vegas hotel entertainer during the rock ’n’ roll revolution of the ’60s to the no-nonsense nurse of the ’70s hit television series Emergency!Trade Review"Beautifully crafted and stunningly researched, this entertaining biography of Julie London reminds us why she matters, now and for always. It is a great read!" Michael Feinstein, singer" Go Slow offers us a long-awaited, highly detailed look at a neglected jazz and pop singer who has always been worthy of greater recognition and attention. The author provides lots of new information and historical context, while, to his credit, resisting the temptation to make outrageous claims for his subject. I learned a lot that I didn't know and it made me want to hear more." Will Friedwald, author of Stardust Melodies and Sinatra! The Song Is You"Michael Owen tells the unique story of a singular talent and reluctant celebrity with dispassionate appreciation, weaving personal life and professional history into the tale of a woman who was steadfast in her personal passions and career path without the ego and ambition that drives so many other singers and actors. Neither sycophant nor assassin, Owen deftly chronicles Julie London's life with both empathy and objectivity." Michael Cuscuna, record producer, writer, and discographer" Go Slow is a sensitive, informative biography, inviting the reader to discover Julie London's unique and solitary contribution to the history of American music. With an ear for tone and an eye for story, Michael Owen leads us seamlessly through a life fashioned for style, revealing an instinctive range where just enough sound can occupy a space, exploiting every lyrical nuance along the way. As Go Slow discloses, through years of struggle and turmoil, an irony was born that would further distill some of Julie's finest work as an interpreter of popular song. Esteemed jazz vocalists and musicians loved and respected her. A generous spirit to her family and friends, Julie London was one grand dame and there will never be anyone like her. Thanks to Michael Owen, we begin to understand why." Kevin Tighe, actor, Emergency!"An affectionate and complex portrait of London that will help rekindle an interest in her life and work." Kirkus Reviews"The book offers an intimate look at her memorable public career and the sharp contrasts of her private life." Discover Hollywood"Michael Owen has written an interesting book that fans of London or people interested in the popular culture of the 1950s will want to read." All About Jazz"Owen's fascinating, clear-eyed portrait examines her work and looks at her decision to walk away from show business in the '70s, as well as her apparent indifference to her career." The Arizona Republic

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Book SynopsisThe iconic life and career of the famed guitarist of the Rolling Stones is detailed in this compilation of interviews that spans the last 50 years. Featuring articles from GQ, Melody Maker, and Rolling Stone, as well as interviews that have never previously appeared in print, it charts Keith Richards’s journey from gauche, young pretender and swaggering epitome of the zeitgeist to beloved elder statesman of rock. Initially overshadowed by band mates Mick Jagger and Brian Jones, Richards gained popularity as half of the second-most important songwriting team of the 1960s, and in 1967 the drug bust at his house and his subsequent trial and imprisonment made him a household name. His interviews match his outlaw image: free of banality and euphemism, they revel in frank stories of drugs and debauchery. Yet they also reveal an unexpectedly warm, unpretentious, articulate, and honest man. This collection amply illustrates the magic and charm of Keith Richards.Trade ReviewAll of the infamous incidents are covered—Brian Jones’ drowning death, Richards’ 1967 drug bust and subsequent jail time, the violence at Altamont, and Richards’ public feuding with Mick Jagger, most notably after Mick's knighthood. But what also comes through is his still-burning admiration for the Chicago blues musicians who were his greatest influence and his wariness of fame. Great reading for Stones’ fans."—Booklist“[An] entertaining look at one of rock's most iconic figures.”—Publishers Weekly “Sean Egan has done a terrific job of bringing together some of the best ‘classic’ Keith Richards interviews with little-known, hard-to-find gems that reveal more about the ‘soul of the Stones.’ As an interviewee, Keith Richards has always been the most entertaining Rolling Stone to read—at once straightforward, informative, and eloquent—and this collection is a great way to revisit fifty years of Stoneage.” —Ian McPherson, timeisonourside.com

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Book SynopsisFew American superstar stories are richer, wilder, or more excessive than Rick James’s. He played in a band with Neil Young, spent years in jail, produced his first album (which was then picked up by Motown) with money from shadowy sources, crossed rock and funk to come up with one of the best-selling albums of the 1980s, became one of the biggest pop star of the era, turned a young white woman named Teena Marie into an R&B superstar, displayed an outrageously sex and drug-filled lifestyle, was tried and found guilty of assaulting and imprisoning a young woman, went on to record new music that was compared to the Beatles’ White Album, and ended his life as a punch line for Dave Chappelle. And along the way, he scored a large number of major hits, sold tens of millions of albums and became intimate with dozens of big-name celebrities. Rick James attempted to tell his own story—in two different books—but left out many incidents that showed what he was really like. Nobody has written the full truth about his life. Now, based on court records, newspaper archives, and extensive interviews with dozens of family members, band members, friends, and lovers, here is the definitive biography of Motown’s most controversial superstar. Trade Review"An unapologetic, no-holds-barred biography of a flamboyant and controversial artist." Booklist Online"Benjaminson acts as a gifted stenographer laying the facts out for readers to come to their own conclusions without trying to push one verdict or the other." Passions of the Weiss"Rick James was one of the biggest musical stars of the 1980s, and his life was a roller-coaster of moods, musical styles, triumph, and failure. He was definitely a Super Freak, and this book will tell you why." Library Journal

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Book SynopsisIf you ever needed proof that a magazine can have a love affair with a musician you're holding it in your hands. For ÊDownBeatÊ the preeminent publication of the jazz world Miles Dewey Davis was one of its most cherished subjects. Since it began covering the jazz scene in 1939 no other artist has been more diligently chronicled in its pages than Davis.ÞThe beauty of this collection is seeing the development of an artist over time. The reviews of his music go from quietly introducing a new talent to revering perhaps the greatest jazz artist of his generation. The feature articles begin with a very young very polite Davis lamenting I've worked so little. I could probably tell you where I was playing any night in the last three years. As he develops the interviews show Davis gaining confidence and stature showing swagger and becoming the over-the-top say-it-like-it-is showman that made every interview an event.ÞÊThe Miles Davis ReaderÊ compiles more than 200 news stories feature articles and reviews by some of the greatest writers in jazz into one volume. It delivers a patchwork of his words and music ä in the moment as they happened.ÞWith several lengthy features added along with a dozen new photographs this new edition is a beautiful series of snapshots a year-by-year ride through the many phases of Davis as an artist and as a man.

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Book SynopsisJoni Mitchell was a solidly middle-class bohemian; an anti-feminist who loved men but scorned free love; a female warrior taking on the male music establishment. She was both the party girl with torn stockings and the sensitive soul. Her earthy, poetic lyrics and the unusual melodic intervals traced by that lissome voice earned her the status of a pop legend. Joni on Joni is a chronologically arranged anthology of Mitchell’s most illuminating interviews, spanning the years 1966 to 2014. Included are revealing pieces from her early years in Canada and Detroit, along with influential articles such as Cameron Crowe’s Rolling Stone piece. Interspersed throughout are key quotes from dozens of additional Q&As. Together, this material paints a revealing picture of the artist—bragging and scornful, philosophical and deep, but also a beguiling flirt.

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Book SynopsisGeorge Harrison on George Harrison is an authoritative, chronologically arranged anthology of Harrison’s most revealing and illuminating interviews, personal correspondence, and writings, spanning the years 1962 to 2001. Though known as the “Quiet Beatle,” Harrison was arguably the most thoughtful and certainly the most outspoken of the famous four. This compendium of his words and ideas proves that point repeatedly, revealing his passion for music, his focus on spirituality, and his responsibility as a celebrity, as well as a sense of deep commitment and humor.Trade Review"Through the centuries, the word elegy has been applied to many genres, including public proclamations of grief, stately English poems, and writings about pain and loss. Let's add to this list Ashley Kahn's George Harrison on George Harrison. " -- Sibbie O'Sullivan, Washington Post"Nuggets and tidbits are manna to hardcore Beatles fans, and each interview is buoyed by not only editor Ashley Kahn's astute intros, but sometimes reflections by the interviewers themselves." -- Bob Ruggiero, Houston Press"The wealth of material in George Harrison on George Harrison makes it possible to track the life and career of this worthy subject, making the text a valuable addition to rock history." -- Jeff Fleischer, The Foreword

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Book SynopsisFrom the depths of the seventies rock 'n' roll excesses through unimaginable personal losses to an inspiring late-life transformation, Cidny Bullens’s story is an utterly compelling journey about living and singing with your authentic voice. An androgynous gender-bending musician from the get-go, Bullens toured extensively with Sir Elton John and performed with Bob Dylan, undergoing a complete immersion in the drug-fueled excesses of 1970s rock 'n' roll. Despite getting sober, climbing the charts with the Grammy-nominated Survivor, as well as a Grammy nomination for his lead vocals in the soundtrack for the movie Grease, Bullens was unable to break out as a solo star in a world that allowed its artists to cross the gender line, but had much more narrow expectations about how women could behave and perform. Retreating into the conventional lifestyle of a suburban mom, Bullens felt like she was living in an alternate universe. Then whatever world she had was shattered by the tragic death of her younger daughter from cancer. Out of the ashes of despair, Bullens brought forth an award-winning album, Somewhere Between Heaven and Earth, that relaunched the musician’s career. Finally, nine years ago, Cidny claimed his own healing and transitioned from female to male—finding unexpected love, becoming a new step-father, and a grandfather.What he found, too, was his true voice and true power as a performer. Table of ContentsForeword by Sir Elton John Prologue Part I 1. Walkin’ Through This World 2. Hollywood Hot 3. Finally Rockin’ 4. Powerless 5. Survivor 6. Mockingbird Hill 7. Rock ’n’ Roll Girl Part II 8. Send Me an Angel 9. Boxing with God 10. Somewhere Between Heaven and Earth 11. I Gotta Believe in Something Part III 12. Unbound 13. The Gender Line 14. Little Pieces 15. Purgatory Road 16. Call Me by My Name Epilogue: Lucky for Me (In Spite of Myself)

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Book SynopsisThe world knows Bon Scott as the wild rocker, the frontman for AC/DC who tragically died of alcohol poisoning on the eve of the band's rise to superstardom.That's the legend, now meet the man.Live Wire gives us the Bon Scott we never knew. In this deeply personal and revealing portrait we learn what it was like to be his friend, live and tour with him, and be part of the close-knit world from which one of biggest bands of all time emerged. With Bon there was always sex, drugs and rock'n'roll, but Live Wire also demonstrates the humour, intelligence and warmth of the man. From his early days with The Valentines, living in rundown apartments in inner Melbourne, to the legendary early years of AC/DC, this is the story of Bon, told by three of the people who knew him best.John D'Arcy was Bon's roadie and mate. Gabby D'Arcy, Darce's wife, was a close friend of Bon's. And Mary Renshaw was - as AC/DC's former bass player Mark Evans called her - Bon's soulmate and companion.As Bon said, it's a long way to the top. And Mary, Darce and Gabby were with him every step of the way. They lived with him, they loved him, and this is how they remember him.

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Book SynopsisThey don't make them like Ted anymore. He's the quintessential bush storyteller; he has rubbed shoulders with some of the best-known and least-known of his countrymen and women, and he can wring a heart-wrenching song out of a beer carton. In Outback Songman, Ted Egan recounts the story of his rich and extraordinary life. Born to a working-class family in Melbourne's Coburg, he has never had a music lesson. Nonetheless, he has composed some of the first original songs about Australian history and ethos, many of which are now classics.Through his stories of growing up during World War II, teaching in a bush school, working with Aboriginal people in the Gulf Country, and performing in Alice Springs and around the country, Ted Egan brings to life an Australia that has largely disappeared. His encounters offer insights into national politics and everyday life over the past eight decades. His generosity of spirit and his deep understanding of his country shine from every page.'Ted Egan is a national treasure.' - Russell Crowe, actor'Ted Egan is a gifted natural born storyteller and a wonderful writer.' - Geraldine Doyle, singer and comedianTrade Review'A heart-warming tale of a poor boy done good, a bush balladeer who went on to become a TV star, an inaugural life member of the Stockman's Hall of Fame and much more.' - People magazine

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Book SynopsisPeter Gabriel is one of contemporary music's great experimenters. From his work in the progressive group Genesis, through his pioneering solo albums, to his enthusiastic embrace of world music and new technologies, Gabriel has remained steadfastly consistent in his redefinition of music's boundaries and influence: geographical, virtual and thematic. At the heart of Paul Hegarty's astute analysis is the idea of locatedness: what it means to be in a specific place at a given time, and to reflect on that time and the changes which inevitably occur. Gabriel's work, Hegarty argues, can be understood as a series of reflections on the `where' of being - and this includes politics, psychology, philosophy, psychogeography and inward reflection. Peter Gabriel offers a nuanced and trenchant insight into this enigmatic musician and his works, an artist whose constant travelling - through identities, influences and media - defines him as one of modern culture's truly global citizens.

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Book SynopsisElvis Aaron Presley is more popular today than ever, yet he died nearly forty years ago. His music is constantly remixed and re-released to a new generation of fans, and his image thrives in popular art and culture. Elvis’s Graceland home and Tupelo birthplace have become places of pilgrimage. His relics command astounding prices at auction. Around the world it is estimated that there are 200,000 Elvis impersonators paying tribute to their hero. Elvis is the subject of some truly astonishing rumours and legends, including the one that he never actually died. Ted Harrison asks what lies behind the remarkable resurrection in popular culture of the King of Rock ’n’ Roll. The Death and Resurrection of Elvis Presley, now available in paperback, tells the story of Elvis after Elvis. It shows how his estate, which was pillaged by his manager, was saved through the business acumen and financial vision of his ex-wife Priscilla Presley. It explores a spiritual dimension to the Elvis revival, where fans create a fantasy quasi-religion through which they blend and confuse Elvis and Jesus. In the growing myth of Elvis, Harrison identifies a vibrant synthesis between money and faith, unique to the modern age, but reminiscent of the early centuries of Christianity. Underpinning the whole story is Elvis’s extraordinary charisma, thousands of fans simply having a lot of fun and ultimately some great, enduring music. This is a must-read for the many millions of loyal followers, as well as those who are more critical of the King.Trade Review`Ted Harrison’s central thesis that Elvis has been much more heavily and successfully commercialised in death than in life is convincing . . . It is original. And its most compelling line is that the reason Elvis has been so brilliantly marketed after his death is because he was so badly handled in his lifetime.’ – The Spectator;`A thorough examination of Elvis’s cultural afterlife’ – Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisAC/DC have undergone several line-up changes since releasing their first album, High Voltage, in 1975. However, they have gone from strength to strength and are celebrating their 40th anniversary in 2013. As of 2008, AC/DC have sold more than 200 million albums worldwide, including 71 million albums in the United States. Back in Black has sold an estimated 49 million units worldwide, making it the highest-selling album by any band and the 2nd highest-selling album in history, behind Thriller by Michael Jackson. This insightful and detailed look at AC/DC in the studio includes the making of all AC/DC: Iron Man 2 track listings; plus exclusive interviews with the band's drummer from the 80s and their engineer of the past 20 years and 6 albums, Mike Fraser

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Book SynopsisThe full range of traditional fiddle repertoire is now at your fingertips! Using these generous collections, you can create your own ceilidh, barn dance, jazz club or Sarajevo street-café. Some of this music is familiar, some more exotic, but all of it is absolutely authentic, faithfully arranged and, above all, hugely enjoyable.Each title in the series is available in two formats: the Violin Edition (with an optional easy violin part and guitar chords); or the Complete Edition, which also includes both keyboard and violin accompaniments. Either format is hugely flexible, which means the music can be played as solos, duets or trios as well as with larger ensembles.Edward Huws Jones has travelled extensively researching fiddle-playing traditions. In each book he explains the background of the particular musical style, giving his own suggestions for a lively performance.Instrumentation:violin (2 violins), guitar ad libitum

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Book SynopsisThe full range of traditional fiddle repertoire is now at your fingertips! Using these generous collections, you can create your own ceilidh, barn dance, jazz club or Sarajevo street-café. Some of this music is familiar, some more exotic, but all of it is absolutely authentic, faithfully arranged and, above all, hugely enjoyable.Each title in the series is available in two formats: the Violin Edition (with an optional easy violin part and guitar chords); or the Complete Edition, which also includes both keyboard and violin accompaniments. Either format is hugely flexible, which means the music can be played as solos, duets or trios as well as with larger ensembles.Edward Huws Jones has travelled extensively researching fiddle-playing traditions. In each book he explains the background of the particular musical style, giving his own suggestions for a lively performance.Instrumentation:violin (2 violins), guitar ad libitum

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