Popular music Books

Book SynopsisThe life's work of two of British music's most unique and timeless artists, with an introduction by Jarvis Cocker.Whenever an aspiring musician asks me about songwriting I point them towards Robert and Alfie. Their work is so unusual, so perceptive, so playful and so grown-up. I don't think there''s anyone to compare. If you want songs that touch your mind as well as your heart, these are the best. Wide distribution of this book could improve the state of music dramatically. - Brian Eno***Selected and arranged by the authors themselves, and featuring an introduction by Jarvis Cocker, Side by Side presents the lyrics, poems, writings and drawings of innovative musician Robert Wyatt and his creative partner, English painter and songwriter Alfie Benge.As a founding member of influential English rock bands Soft Machine and Matching Mole, and with a solo career which has lasted for over forty years and seen him collaborate with a diver

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE PENDERYN MUSIC PRIZEA GUARDIAN MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEAR, 2015FEATURING A NEW FOREWORD BY DAVID MITCHELLAward-winning, Sunday Times bestselling author Jon Savage's monument to the year that shaped the future of global pop cultural history.''One of Britain''s most trusted cultural historians.''THE FACEIn America, in London, in Amsterdam, in Paris, revolutionary ideas fomenting since the late 1950s reached boiling point, culminating in a year in which the transient pop moment burst forth. Exploring the canonical figures, from The Beatles and Boty to Warhol and Reagan, 1966 delves deep into the social and cultural heart of the decade through masterfully compiled archival primary sources.''A marvel of hisotrical reconstruction and pop insight.''OBSERVER''Absorbing . . . this is not only fine pop writing, but social history of a high order.''GUARDIAN

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Book SynopsisPrince unravels the mysteries behind the life of a true musical genius. Through years of research and interviews with ex-Revolution members such as Wendy and Lisa, this is an account of a pop maverick whose experiments with rock, funk, techno and jazz revolutionised pop. With reference to 35 years of released and unreleased recordings, Prince remains the go-to book on the great man.

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsBah-Ba-Doo Bah; Anticipation; Early Bird; Left Hand Drive; End Notes; In Sequence; High Five; All White On The Night; Rest Easy; Serious Syncopation; So What!; Step Time; Window Shopping; Ice Cool; Open Spaces; Valse Semplice; Three’s A Crowd; Southern Belle; Romance; Feeling Good; Small Talk; Night Life

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Book SynopsisNina Simone recorded extensively in soul, jazz, and pop and was also comfortable with blues, gospel, and Broadway. This songbook features songs that are transcribed for piano, voice and guitar.Table of ContentsAngel Of The Morning; Baltimore; Black Is The Colour Of My True Love's Hair; Break Down And Let It All Out; I Get Along Without You Very Well;I Shall Be Released; I'm Gonna Leave You; Lilac Wine; My Man's Gone Now; New World Coming; The Pusher; Seems I'm Never Tired Lovin' You; Strange Fruit; Turn Me On; Wild Is The Wind

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Book SynopsisThe Contemporary Banjo Player is a unique new tutor from world-renowned banjo player John Dowling. It covers not only the basics of Bluegrass banjo, but also teaches you how to expand and develop your playing and diversify into other musical styles.Trade Review"John Dowling is one of my favorite banjo players and now he's written a wonderful new book, The Contemporary Banjo Player. It has something for everyone. If you're just starting out, he tells you how to position your hands and shows you basic rolls (finger patterns) so you can be playing music almost immediately. For the intermediate players, he gives tips on improvising, as well as lessons in melodic and single string playing. The advanced picker can graze on fingerpicking guitar style, bass line with melody and Banjo Percussion....plus much more. These pages are a treasure trove of techniques tunes and tips, all delivered to you by one of the most creative banjoists to ever put picks to a string. No home should be without this tremendous tome!" Tony Trischka (world-renowned banjo player known as the father of modern bluegrass

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Book SynopsisTable of Contents7 Years (Lukas Graham); Air On The G String (J.S. Bach); All I Ask (Adele); All Through The Night (Trad.); Ave Maria (Schubert); Bella’s Lullaby (from Twilight); Can’t Help Falling In Love (Elvis Presley); Chasing Cars (Snow Patrol); The Christmas Song (Nat King Cole); City Of Stars (from La La Land); Cradle Song (Schumann); Cry Me A River (Michael Bublé); Dance Monkey (Tones & I); Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Mozart); Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye (Cole Porter); Feeling Good (Nina Simone); Greensleeves (Trad.); Hedwig’s Theme (from Harry Potter); The House Of The Rising Sun (Trad.); I Vow To Thee, My Country (Holst); I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston); Imagine (John Lennon); Is That Alright (from A Star Is Born); La Caroline (C.P.E. Bach); Largo (Dvorák); The Lord Is My Shepherd/Psalm 23 (from The Vicar Of Dibley); Love Me Like You Do (Ellie Goulding); May It Be (Enya); Memory (from Cats!); Moonlight Sonata (Beethoven); No Surprises (Radiohead); Not About Angels (Birdy); On The Street Where You Live (from My Fair Lady); Over The Rainbow (from The Wizard Of Oz); Pavane, Op. 50 (Fauré); Prelude in A major (Chopin); Ride (21 Pilots); The Rose (Westlife); Sandcastles (Beyoncé); Scales and Arpeggios (from The Aristocats); Scarborough Fair (Trad.); Skye Boat Song (Trad.); Space Oddity (David Bowie); Star Wars Theme (John Williams); They Can’t Take That Away From Me (Gershwin); Thinking Out Loud (Ed Sheeran); Tomorrow (from Annie); Walk Me Home (Pink); When I Fall In Love (Nat King Cole); Winter Wonderland (Etta James); Your Song (Elton John)

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction by Galen Ayers; Foreword by John Payne; A Note on Kevin Ayers by Robert Wyatt; Joy of a Toy; Shooting at the Moon; Whatevershebringswesing; Bananamour; The Confessions of Dr. Dream and other Stories; Sweet Deceiver; Yes We Have No Mañanas (So Get Your Mañanas Today); Takeaway; That’s What You Get Babe; Diamond Jack and The Queen of Pain; Dejà… Vu; As Close As You Think; Falling Up; Still Life with Guitar; The Unfairground; Index of First Lines; Index of Songs; Credits; Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsBest Day Of My Life; Sad Anymore; Sunrise__ ; Just Another Thing We Don’t Talk About; The Blood We Bleed; Giving A Fuck; Librium; Flying :)) ; Enemy; Monday; __Sunset; Smiling All The Way Back Home

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Book SynopsisA 4-way biography of Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, her sister Mimi and Richard Farina and how these beatniks made folk the new rock.Trade ReviewDraws you so far into the story that you read it as a novel; as if you were present, meeting the characters on the stairway, peering at them in smoky coffee houses while they tune their guitars' IRISH TIMES

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Book SynopsisIn this stunning memoir, Rob Sheffield, a veteran rock and pop culture critic and staff writer for Rolling Stone magazine, tells the story of his musical coming of age, and how rock music, the first love of his life, led him to his second, a girl named Renee. Rob and Renee''s life together - they wed after graduate school, both became music journalists, and were married only five years when Renee died suddenly on Mother''s Day, 1997 - is shared through the window of the mix tapes they obsessively compiled. There are mixes to court each other, mixes for road trips, mixes for doing the dishes, mixes for sleeping - and, eventually, mixes to mourn Rob''s greatest loss. The tunes were among the great musical output of the early 1990s - Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Pavement, Yo La Tengo, REM, Weezer - as well as classics by The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Aretha Franklin and more. Mixing the skilful, tragic punch of Dave Eggers and the romantic honesty of Nick Hornby, LOVE IS A MIX TAPE iTrade ReviewPacks a surprising, epic, life-affirming punch * THE SUNDAY TIMES *Sheffield's self-depreciating memoir of his late wife Renee is remarkable . . . You'll leave feeling uplifted * Q magazine *A memoir that manages, no small feat, to be funny and beautifully forlorn at the same time * NEW YOUR TIMES BOOK REVIEW *As well as being a poignant account of youthful love, LOVE IS A MIX TAPE offers a witty and affectionate portrait of liberal, alternative small-town American life in the decade of grunge * TLS *

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Book SynopsisThe Eagles have enjoyed colossal success spanning three decades. They are a remarkable mesh of lyrical and musical talent, twinned with an explosive blend of personalities. They are a group of individually diverse and vivid characters - something which played a crucial part in propelling them to global success but has also led to bitter personality clashes, paranoia and tension, leaving them at bitter odds with one another, burned out and depressed at the start of the 1980s. The Eagles have one of the most fascinating sex, drugs and rock and roll stories that there is. At their decadent height they enjoyed an insatiable appetite for drugs and groupies, and threw some of the wildest parties in the business. Laura Jackson follows their fascinating story from the early ''70s when they established an immediately identifiable sound that was unique to them, through their career and personal highs and lows, to their break up in 1982 and their eventual reform in 1994. The Eagles: Flying High p

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Book SynopsisFor the last quarter of a century Michael Stipe has been the lead singer of R.E.M, who from their humble beginnings toured and built a steadily growing legion of fans before breaking into the mainstream during the early 1990s. Today Stipe is one of the most instantly recognisable faces in rock and R.E.M. are held in a respect that only 25 years of excellent song writing and hard work can justify. But Stipe is much more than just the singer. Michael Stipe: The Biography will explore his nomadic early years as the child in a military family, his early love of punk and photography, his relationship with his two sisters and the drive behind one of the hardest working men in music. When not working with R.E.M. Stipe has a keen interest in film making, from pop videos and independent shorts to producing big budget full-length movies; he is keenly interested in politics, he led high profile endorsements of the Democratic party in recent elections and for many years has been a champion of env

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Book SynopsisIt was the strange and mystical "Another Green World" (1975) that was the cosmic bridge between Old Eno and New Eno, between Rock and Ambient, between the guitar and the synthesizer, between the old world and electronic music as we know it. This book excavates the album's past, and untangles how it was a link to the future of electronic music.Trade ReviewThe book itself is a masterpiece; it’s not just a book about the making of a record, it’s a book about how to make art and how to think about how to make art. -- Amanda PalmerEno’s use of collaboration, chance, and cybernetics to force creativity makes for a fascinating story....Eno himself apparently loved the book, buying copies for friends. This isn’t surprising– an interest in process has been a constant of his work for four decades. * Pitchfork *The prose is elegant, the sheer scope of the work impressive, and the meditation on the source of creativity is both well done and light-handed. * Flavorpill *As a study of Another Green World it’s impressively holistic, hungry to catalogue every possible point of departure for thinking about the record … the best short introduction to Eno’s work and ethos going. * The Wire *It’s as much a philosophy book as a “Behind the Music” breakdown, and an invitation to think creatively about creativity. * The Millions *Dayal’s unique and fresh take, which also delves into Discreet Music, is a must read for Eno fans and makes a great primer for the uninitiated. * Flagpole *Dayal's lucid, elegant deconstruction of Brian Eno's most beguiling album is also an inspiring, delightful inquiry into the nature of creativity and constraint. Anyone interested in art making needs to read this. * Ed Park, author of Personal Days *...the best short introduction to Eno's work and ethos going. * The Wire, February 2010 *Selected by Flavorwire as one of "10 Great Books about Music by Female Writers" * http://flavorwire.com/features/staff-lists/7967-words-and-music-our-60-favorite-music-books/3/ *Geeta Dayal opens her book on Another Green World by admitting that she had trouble writing it … Finally, she decided to let Brian Eno’s set of Oblique Strategies cards direct and inspire her work. It’s an apt move, as Eno often foregrounds the creative process himself, and it results in a probing and thoughtful book that never falls into formula. Instead, Dayal portrays her subject as a deft artist embracing studio technology and balancing his past accomplishments with all the endless possibilities of the future. -- Stephen M. Deusner * Pitchfork *Table of ContentsIntroduction Preface "Always first steps" "Trust in the you of now" "Turn it upside down" "Courage!" "Abandon normal instruments" "Discover the recipes you are using and abandon them" "Ask people to work against their better judgment" "Define an area as 'safe' and use it as an anchor" / "Don't be frightened of clichés" "Honor thy error as a hidden intention" "Remember those quiet evenings" / "The tape is now the music" / "Gardening, not architecture" "Remove specifics and convert to ambiguities" "Is it finished?" Acknowledgements Bibliography

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Book SynopsisLiverpool's The Cavern Club is the most famous club in the world giving rise to The Beatles and Merseybeat.

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Book SynopsisPublished to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Elvis' death. With exclusive interviews with fellow musicians, promoters and those who knew them, and with much unique material, this is one of the most comprehensive accounts of Elvis Presley and his career.

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Book SynopsisThe book looks at each Elvis song in a different light. Maybe readers will play the lesser heard songs and appreciate them in a different way after reading the story behind the track. If it builds on the fans’ knowledge about Elvis and brings a bigger appreciation of Presley’s music then the book will have achieved its purpose.

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Book SynopsisGet ready to dive into the life and legacy of one of the biggest stars on the planet. The Little Guide to Drake takes you behind the curtain and into the mind of Champagne Papi himself, with a collection of iconic quotes, powerful insights and jaw-dropping facts about the man who transformed the music industry.From breaking more Billboard records than The Beatles to racking up over 10 billion streams on Spotify, Drake''s achievements speak for themselves. This book explores the hustle that took him from his humble beginnings on Degrassi to becoming a global superstar, with 12 No. 1 albums and a fan base that spans the globe.Packed with the wisdom, mindset, and moments that made Drake one of the most influential figures in music, this little book follows Drake''s journey: a masterclass in persistence, evolution and the power of believing in yourself. Sit back and learn from the greatest because when it comes to success, Drake''s already written the blueprint.

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Book SynopsisA memoir by the Oscar-winning, platinum-selling rapper and producer for fans of Rick Ross'sHurricanes and The Autobiography of Gucci ManeThe hustle still continues for hip-hop OG Juicy J as he shares his invaluable story as an unwavering force in the music industry. Jordan Houston's rise to stardom was never easy. He began his journey on the streets of Memphis in the '80s, always inspired by music and with big dreams of becoming a superstar rapper. Jordan stuck to his plan with determination, on a never-ending grind to greatness. From a young, poor, ambitious kid to an Academy Awardwinning and Grammy-nominated recording artist and entrepreneur, the Juice Man offers his wisdom as one of the most influential tastemakers in the game. A raw, intentional portrait of artistry and a never-before-seen look into the making of a respected musical veteran,Chronicles of the Juice Manis an essential read for creatives everywhere.

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Book SynopsisSimon Reynolds''s first book in eight years is a celebration of music that feels like a taste of tomorrow. Sounds that prefigure pop music''s future - the vanguard genres and heroic innovators whose discoveries eventually get accepted by the wider mass audience. But it''s also about the way music can stir anticipation for a thrillingly transformed world just around the corner: a future that might be utopian or dystopian, but at least will be radically changed and exhilaratingly other. Starting with an extraordinary chapter on Giorgio Moroder and Donna Summer, taking in illuminating profiles of Ryuichi Sakamoto, Boards of Canada, Burial, and Daft Punk, and arguing for Auto-Tune as the defining sound of 21st century pop, Futuromania shapes over two-dozen essays and interviews into a chronological narrative of machine-music from the 1970s to now. Reynolds explores the interface between pop music and science fiction''s utopian dreams and nightmare visions, always emphasising the quirky human individuals abusing the technology as much as the era-defining advances in electronic hardware and digital software. A tapestry of the scenes and subcultures that have proliferated in that febrile, sexy and contested space where man meets machine, Futuromania is an enthused listening guide that will propel readers towards adventures in sound. There is a lifetime of electronic listening here.

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Book SynopsisHead behind the curtain in the refreshingly honest and intimate story of Gary Barlow''s life''Warm, wise . . . A never-before-seen insight into one of Britain''s greatest songwriters'' Woman''s Own''I just wanted to share my personal journey through the last five decades - the highs and lows, the ups and downs. So in A Different Stage, this is me opening the curtains and sharing moments nobody has heard or seen before . . .''__________In this warm, intimate and humorous book, rich with nostalgia and unexpected intimate detail, Gary Barlow unpacks the people, music, places, things and cultural phenomena that have made him the man that he is.From the working men''s club where it all began through to the sold out stadium tours, this is the story of Gary''s life told through music. Filled with a mixture of brand new photography from Gary''s current one-man show and incredibly personal unseen photos and notebooks,Trade ReviewWarm, wise . . . A never-before-seen insight into one of Britain's greatest songwriters * Woman's Own *Think you know everything there is to know about the Take That megastar? Think again . . . Gary is as refreshingly honest about his career 'failures' as he is about his successes, which reveals a different side to the showman many of his fans know and love * Woman & Home *

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Book SynopsisThe Art of Pink Floyd The Wall is a sumptuously illustrated book, collecting Gerald Scarfe''s iconic work for Pink Floyd. First The Wall was an album, then it was a stage show, a film - now there will be the definitive book, which will be a work of art in its own right.This large, landscape-format book, presented in a stunning slipcase designed by Scarfe, is packed with photos, drawings and designs which will incorporate the iconic imagery of The Wall alongside new and previously unseen material.Forty years on, The Wall has lost none of its impact, and its themes are more relevant than ever. Presenting the phenomenal artwork as it has never been seen before, The Art of Pink Floyd The Wall is a must-have for any Pink Floyd fan.

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Book SynopsisA revised and updated version of the artist's collected lyricsAn American original, Patti Smith is a multi-disciplined artist and performer. Her work is rooted in poetry, which infused her 1975 landmark album, Horses. A declaration of existence, Horses was described as three chords merged with the power of the word'; it was graced with the now iconic portrait by Robert Mapplethorpe, the subject of her award-winning memoir Just Kids. Initially published in 1998, Patti Smith's Complete Lyrics was a testimony to her uncompromising poetic power. Now, on the fortieth anniversary of the release of Smith's groundbreaking album, Collected Lyrics has been revised and expanded with more than thirty-five additional songs, including her first, ''Work Song'', written for Janis Joplin in 1970, and her most current, ''Writer's Song'', to be recorded in 2015. The collection is liberally illustrated with original manuscripts of lyrics from Smith's extensTrade ReviewThis book is so honest and pure as to count as a true rapture Joan Didion Patti Smith has graced us with a poetic masterpiece, a rare and privileged invitation to unlatch a treasure chest never before breached Johnny Depp A tender, harrowing, often hilarious portrait of young lovers forging their paths in an eccentric milieu of Beat poets, Warhol socialites, and transvestites, rock stars and artists Vogue The most beautiful, incredible autobiography - it will make you ache for a time and a place that you probably never knew, New York in the 1970s Nick Hornby She was once our savage Rimbaud, but suffering has turned her into our St John of the Cross, a mystic full of compassion Edmund White

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Book Synopsis''A flaming juggernaut of heavy-metal biog'' GUARDIAN''This is the definitive account of heavy metal''s biggest band of all'' CLASSIC ROCK ''Truly enlightening'' ROCK SOUND''ENTER NIGHT, Mick Wall''s biography of Metallica confirms this grizzled veteran to be as engaged and waspishly authoritative a chronicler of metal''s most hirsute behemoths as Barry Miles has been for the Beats'' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAYMick Wall moves on from Led Zeppelin to produce a definitive doorstop on Metallica.Alongside contemporaries Slayer, Megadeath and Anthrax, Metallica came to prominence in the eighties as one of the ''big four'' of thrash metal. Metallica were to thrash, though, what the Sex Pistols were to punk. Nearly thirty years on, their tale is one of alcohol, rule breaking and tragically early death. But allied to that are colossal sales figures for their records -- they are the fifth-highest selling recording artists oTrade ReviewENTER NIGHT, Mick Wall's biography of Metallica confirms this grizzled veteran to be as engaged and waspishly authoritative a chronicler of metal's most hirsute behemoths as Barry Miles has been for the Beats * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *[A] flaming juggernaut of heavy-metal biog... the author writes a deceptively casual-looking, sincere but half-amused prose * GUARDIAN *It takes a writer of Mick Walls' pedigree and calibre... to present the whole wild, wonderful and emotionally draining tale all over again and make it as consistently fascinating and momentous as ENTER NIGHT... Until they return, this is the definitive account of heavy metal's biggest band of all * CLASSIC ROCK *well written, slickly paced * METRO *A must-have book for anyone interested in Metallica and anything heavy metal * LIVERPOOL ECHO *Wall has used his 30 year association with the band to write a well-researched, detailed book, combining personal experiences with interviews from family, friends and fellow musicians 4* * YORKSHIRE EVENING POST *Millions of words have been written on Metallica, but few journalists have been present at so many of the band's milestones... His [Wall's] eye for detail through the early years makes the book truly enlightening in the way it captures the character of the major players. * ROCK SOUND *A fine book, about a good band, by a brilliant writer. * LEICESTER MERCURY *Until the band themselves spill their guts, this is the definitive telling of their sometimes torrid tale; meticulously researched and garishly illuminated by the author's hilarious, harrowing first-hand experience. * METAL HAMMER *

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Book SynopsisMick Wall penetrates the closed world of Aussie rock legends AC/DC. 'We're a rock group - we're noisy, rowdy, sensational and weird' Angus Young

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Book Synopsis''A passionate, pacey tome you should do anything for a copy of'' - Kerrang! I never wanted to be a big star. I just wanted to be the biggest at what I do! Powerful, unstoppable, heavy - when that word still meant something good! - Meat Loaf, as told to Mick Wall Everything in the story of Meat Loaf is big. From the place he was born (Texas); to the family he was born into (his father weighed 22 stone, his uncle weighed over 40 stone, while Meat Loaf himself weighed 17 stone before he was even in his teens); to the sound he made (a colossal collision between Richard Wagner, Phil Spector and Bruce Springsteen); and of course the records he sold - nearly 50 million in Britain and America alone.From a tumultuous childhood with an alcoholic father to the relentless abusive bullying he endured, nobody could have predicted Meat Loaf''s meteoric rise to fame. But when the messianic rock opera Bat Out of Hell was released Trade ReviewA passionate, pacey tome you should do anything for a copy of. * KERRANG! *

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Book SynopsisJoni Mitchell has only visited the U.S. Top 40 singles chart four times in her long recording career - and the Top 20 just once. So much for stoking the starmaker machinery behind the popular song, as she sang in her 1974 song ''Free Man in Paris''.What Joni has done, on the other hand, is record a handful of masterful albums - Blue, Court And Spark, The Hissing Of Summer Lawns for starters - that prove she is right up there with the big boys: with Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson and Stevie Wonder. Few women can hold a candle to her oeuvre: maybe Aretha Franklin, maybe Kate Bush, Bjork, Joanna Newsom. Airs and graces she may have, but airs and graces backed up by ''Woodstock'', ''The Arrangement'', ''A Case Of You'', ''Help Me'', ''Dog Eat Dog'' and ''The Magdalene Laundries'' are forgivable. Some of Mitchell''s songs are great art. Almost all are emotionally complex and musically gripping.Reckless Daughter collects some of the most incisiv

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Book SynopsisFor fans of music books from David Hepworth, Pete Paphides, Bob Stanley and Craig Brown, as well as thought-provoking human interest stories like Moondust by Andrew Smith, and books by Jon Ronson, Louis Theroux and Stuart Maconie. Nick Duerden has spent many years interviewing the most famous musicians on the planet. Without exception, they are at their most interesting when they've  peaked, and when they are on their way down. In many ways, this is when  these former idols are at their most heroic, too, because they reveal  themselves not only to be humane and sensitive, but also still driven to  create, to fulfill their lingering dreams, to refuse to live quietly. Some sustain themselves on the nostalgia  circuit. Others continue to beaver away in the studio, no longer Abbey  Road so much as the garden shed. The desire for adulation is a light that never goes out. We live  in a culture obsessed by the notion of faTrade ReviewIncredibly moving * Guardian *Told with warmth and compassion . . . engrossing. * The Independent *Fascinating layers of humanity, pathos and wisdom. * Frank Turner *Entertaining. * The Telegraph *Brilliant. * David Quantick *The pop-star's bittersweet lot is represented with flair and empathy. * Pete Paphides *A poignant exploration of the aftermath of adulation. * Mojo *Today's stars might do well to read Exit Stage Left and plan for the second acts of their careers. * The Economist *

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Book SynopsisJoe Strummer was one of the twentieth century’s iconic rock’n’roll rebels. As frontperson, spokesperson and chief lyricist for The Clash, he played a major role in politicising a generation through some of the most powerful protest songs of the era, songs like ‘White Riot’, ‘English Civil War’ and ‘London Calling’. At the heart of this protest was the struggle for social justice and equality.The punk rock politics of Joe Strummer examines Strummer’s beliefs on a range of issues – including socialism, alienation, exploitation, multiculturalism and humanism - analysing their credibility, influence and impact, and asking where they came from and how they developed over time. Drawing on Strummer’s lyrics, various interviews and bootleg recordings, as well as interviews with those he inspired, The punk rock politics of Joe Strummer takes the reader on a journey through the political influences and motivations that defined one of the UK’s greatest punk icons.Trade Review'Ever wondered why UK punk rock was political and US punk rock wasn't? Two words: Joe Strummer. Gregor Gall takes a deep dive into the convictions and contradictions of the legendary Clash front man who tried to walk it like he talked it.'Billy Bragg, musician, writer and campaigner'With this book, Gregor Gall has written what must be the last word on Joe Strummer, the icon of rock politics. Examined from multiple perspectives, and drawing on the words of Strummer himself and of the many who followed and commented on him, The Punk Rock Politics of Joe Strummer is a fine and fitting testimony to the complexity and contradictions of the man’s life, his music and his politics.'Professor John Street, University of East Anglia and author of Music and Politics'An absolute ”must read” for all those who believe ”it’s more important than just music".'Richard Chorley, Louder Than War 'Bringing together an impressive amount of research, Gall examines in meticulous detail many aspects of the political psyche and personality of the Clash frontman, charting his political development from his Clash heydays and then beyond. The Punk Rock Politics of Joe Strummer is not just for hardcore Strummer fans (although, if you are, then this book is a must), but anyone interested in the political impact of music will find The Punk Rock Politics of Joe Strummer insightful and comprehensive.'Molly Tie, Punktuation magazine 'This unique examination of Joe Strummer’s political outlook is exactly the kind of material that’s been missing from books on The Clash and its frontman.'Simon Whittle, Scottish Socialist Voice'A sober analysis of Strummer’s shifting political outlook and the influence he’s exercised on fans’ views and activism.'George Binette, Camden New Journal 'The punk rock politics of Joe Strummer proves to be an indispensable text for the student as well as the general reader interested in the politics of one of the great rock ‘n’ roll songwriters of the 20th century.'Richard Parfitt, Red Pepper 'A forensic examination of Strummer’s political trajectory.'Pat Carmody, Socialist Worker'When the subject is Joe Strummer you hope the music and message will shine through, and this book is a welcome and novel addition to the many words on the enigmatic and inspiring Clash frontman that was taken too soon.' Mik Sabiers, The Morning Star 'It’s a thoughtful, and highly readable, account – and not a hagiography – of the man, the band, and the politics of this country which sheds light on where we were and where we are today.'Keith Richmond, ASLEF Journal'Readers seeking another Strummer hagiography will be disappointed; those seeking an insightful, thought-provoking and inspiring analysis of popular music’s intersections with politics, and a critical dissection of the musician’s role in promoting political ideals, will be delighted.'James Peacock, Capital & Class -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction1 Studying Strummer: issues and approach 2 Perceptions of Strummer’s politics3 Strummer’s politics and philosophical perspectives4 Rebel rock and its ramifications5 Rocking against the rich6 Advocate not activist7 Straying from socialism8 Strummer’s influence: secondary sources 9 Follower testimony ConclusionIndex

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Book SynopsisIn 1996 Tupac Shakur, one of the most talented artists of his time, was murdered by an unknown gunman. Fred L. Johnson and Tayannah Lee McQuillar examine the theories surrounding his death and the story of Tupac's lost legacy in this definitive biography. For millions, Shakur gave voice to their stories, but there was also another side to him, revealed as his life spun out of control, as the whispered warnings from friends went unheeded and the denunciations of critics grew louder. Disturbingly, he sang and wrote about his impending death. When it came, it brought the music industry to its knees and ended an era when American rappers were leaders in using their art to speak the truth to corporate, government, and judicial power.Trade ReviewBooklist, 2/15/2010 "The Shakur who emerges here is no illiterate gangster-turned-gangsta but, rather, a bright, artistic, driven man whose life and career continue to inspire many people." Library Journal, 1/29/10 "Original...As much a biography of Shakur as a history of racial struggle in America...Those looking for a compelling, no-holds-barred biography and an education regarding significant historical events should seek out this book." Buffalo News, 1/31/10 "Fine writing and deft analysis." PublishersWeekly.com, 2/22/10 "Exhaustively researched and contextualized...Insightful, enjoyable and expansive...This undeniably solid biography will deepen anyone's appreciation of the hip-hop legend." The Source, March 2010 "An in-depth and chilling analysis of the rap icon."

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Book SynopsisSaxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter has not only left his footprints on our musical terrain, he has created a body of work that is a monument to artistic imagination. Throughout Shorter''s extraordinary fifty-year career, his compositions have helped define the sounds of each distinct era in the history of jazz. Filled with musical analysis by Mercer, enlivened by Shorter''s vivid recollections and enriched by more than seventy-five original interviews with his friends and associates, this book is at once an invaluable history of music from bebop to pop, an intimate and moving biography and a story of a man''s struggle toward the full realization of his gifts and of himself.Hardly anyone will dispute Shorters''s overall importance as one of jazz''s leading figures over a long span of time. Though indebted to a great extent to John Coltrane, with whom he practiced in the mid-''50s while still an undergraduate, Shorter eventually developed his own more succinct manner on tenor sax, retaining the tough tone quality and intensity and, in later years, adding an element of funk. Shorter has played with the greats of jazz during his career including Horace Silver, Maynard Ferguson, Art Blakey, Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis, becoming the bands most prolific composer. In 1970, Shorter, along with his old cohorts, formed the band Weather Report and went on to tour with the likes of Santana and has also featured on albums from the Rolling Stones. In 2006, Blue Note released the long awaited ''Blue Note''s Great Sessions: Wayne Shorter.''

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Book SynopsisOn a lazy Sunday in 1954, twelve-year-old Jerry Schilling wandered into a Memphis touch football game, only to discover that his team was quarterbacked by a nineteen-year-old Elvis Presley, the local teenager whose first record, "That’s All Right," had just debuted on Memphis radio. The two became fast friends, even as Elvis turned into the world’s biggest star. In 1964, Elvis invited Jerry to work for him as part of his "Memphis Mafia," and Jerry soon found himself living with Elvis full-time in a Bel Air mansion and, later, in his own room at Graceland. Over the next thirteen years Jerry would work for Elvis in various capacities — from bodyguard to photo double to co-executive producer on a karate film. But more than anything else he was Elvis’s close friend and confidant: Elvis trusted Jerry with protecting his life when he received death threats, he asked Jerry to drive him and Priscilla to the hospital the day Lisa Marie was born and to accompany him during the famous "lost weekend" when he traveled to meet President Nixon at the White House. Me and a Guy Named Elvis looks at Presley from a friend’s perspective, offering readers the man rather than the icon — including insights into the creative frustrations that lead to Elvis’s abuse of prescription medicine and his tragic death. Jerry offers never-before-told stories about life inside Elvis’s inner circle and an emotional recounting of the great times, hard times, and unique times he and Elvis shared. These vivid memories will be priceless to Elvis’s millions of fans, and the compelling story will fascinate an even wider audience.

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Book SynopsisDecades after the rise of rock music in the 1950s, the rock concert retains its allure and its power as a unifying experience - and as an influential multi-billion-dollar industry. In Rock Concert, acclaimed interviewer Marc Myers sets out to uncover the history of this compelling phenomenon, weaving together ground-breaking accounts from the people who were there.Myers combines the tales of icons like Joan Baez, Ian Anderson, Alice Cooper, Steve Miller, Roger Waters and Angus Young with figures such as the disc jockeys who first began playing rock on the radio; the audio engineers that developed new technologies to accommodate ever-growing rock audiences; music journalists, like Rolling Stone's Cameron Crowe; and the promoters who organized it all, like Michael Lang, co-founder of Woodstock, to create a rounded and vivid account of live rock's stratospheric rise.Rock Concert provides a fascinating, immediate look at the evolution of rock 'n' roll through the lens of live performances, spanning the rise of R&B in the 1950s, through the hippie gatherings of the '60s, to the growing arena tours of the '70s and '80s. Elvis Presley's gyrating hips, the British Invasion that brought the Beatles in the '60s, the Grateful Dead's free flowing jams and Pink Floyd's The Wall are just a few of the defining musical acts that drive this rich narrative. Featuring dozens of key players in the history of rock and filled with colourful anecdotes, Rock Concert will speak to anyone who has experienced the transcendence of live rock.Trade ReviewHighly informative...from club gigs in the early 1950s to The Beatles in the early-mid 1960s; from Woodstock in 1969 to Live Aid in 1985; from branding to amplification/lighting; from media coverage to ticketing, Myers and many industry commentators expertly tick them off, one by one * Irish Times *Engrossing...Starting with the emergence of R&B in the late 1940s and ending with 1985's Live Aid benefit, he vividly recreates what went on behind the scenes, onstage, and in the crowds with intimate accounts from the people who were there... Eminently entertaining, this is sure to delight rock fans of all persuasions. * Publishers Weekly *A honest, introspective book about a business badly in need of people of Myers's calibre to ensure that the history of the live music business is preserved in compelling works of history * Billboard *A revealing, absorbing book for those who keep their old ticket stubs close at hand. * Kirkus Reviews *Each story is a pleasure to read and will deepen your listening experience . . . Myers bears down hard on these songs and the artists rise to the standards he sets. * New York Times Book Review on ANATOMY OF A SONG *A rich history of both the music industry and the baby boomer era. * Los Angeles Times Book Review on ANATOMY OF A SONG *[A] splendid volume. * Guardian on ANATOMY OF A SONG *Reads like a dream karaoke playlist. Not a dud in sight. * Huffington Post on ANATOMY OF A SONG *Table of Contents1: Introduction Part 1: The 1950s 1: Los Angeles Auditoriums 2: Cleveland Theaters 3: Chicago Clubs 4: Memphis Fairs 5: Northeast Fests Part 2: The 1960s 6: Folk at the Mall 7: Pop's Endless Summer 8: Dylan Invents Rock 9: Ballrooms and Be-Ins 10: Festival Mania Part 3: The 1970s 11: Image, Media, and Branding 12: Arenas, Stadiums, and Tours 13: Sight and Sound 14: Concert Maximus 15: Rise of Exurbia Part 4: The 1980s 16: Not Just Another Brick 17: Killing the Radio Star 18: Computerized Ticketing 19: And in the End, Live Aid Epilogue: Epilogue Bonus: Fifty Best Live Albums, Concert Films, and Rock Docs Source List: Source List Acknowledgments: Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisReleased in 1970, Workingman’s Dead was the breakthrough album for the Grateful Dead, a cold-water-shock departure from the Acid Test madness of the late ‘60s. It was the band’s most commercially and critically successful release to date. More importantly, these songs established the blueprint for how the Dead would maintain and build upon a community held together by the core motivation of rejecting the status quo – the “straight life” – in order to live and work on their own terms. As a unified whole, the album’s eight songs serve as points of entry into a fully-rendered portrait of the Grateful Dead within the context of late twentieth-century American history. These songs speak to the attendant cultural and political anxieties that resulted from the idealism of the ‘60s giving way to the uncomfortable realities of the ‘70s, and the band’s evolving perspective on these changes. Based on research, interviews, and personal experience, this book probes the paradox at the heart of the band’s appeal: the Grateful Dead were about much more than music, though they were really just about the music.Trade ReviewIn 1969 the Grateful Dead executed an extraordinary pivot. While playing brilliant, deeply improvisational psychedelic music, they simultaneously began to create a series of traditionally-styled new American folk songs that would be collected in Workingman’s Dead. It is perhaps the key moment in their storied history, and Buzz Poole explores this evolution with insight and a profound understanding of how these songs fit into American cultural history. * Dennis McNally, author of A Long Strange Trip (2003) and On Highway 61 (2014) *Buzz Poole nails his take on Workingman's Dead, with the song-by-song conceit proving surprisingly agile for the Dead. Poole unpacks and links the mythos attached to the album's eight songs and their histories in the Dead's songbook. Like the Dead, Poole sweeps through the American territories, from the American folklore of 'Casey Jones' to the Manson murders. Good stuff, fun read. * Jesse Jarnow, author of Heads: A Biography of Psychedelic America (2016) *Poole provides a thoughtful, detailed, and passionate look at this seminal album that frames its achievement and demonstrates why it still rewards close listening. It's great to see the Dead represented in this series! -- Nicholas Meriwether, Grateful Dead ArchivistBuzz Poole brings us back to the time before capitalism consumed the counterculture; the musical and cultural moment when the Grateful Dead reluctantly accepted the mantle as the horse pulling the wagon full of hippies, freaks, outlaws and others through the darkness of the world of power, war, and greed…Poole does an excellent job in pulling together the diverse and multiple musical, folk and literary influences apparent in the songs on Workingman’s Dead (and most other Dead albums, too.) * Counterpunch *[A] little beauty ... [and] the only Dead book I know of devoted to a single album ... No matter how extensive your Dead library, you should make room for this wee addition. * Shindig! *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: Background, Historical and Personal Chapter 2: “Uncle John’s Band” Chapter 3: “High Time” Chapter 4: “Dire Wolf” Chapter 5: “New Speedway Boogie” Chapter 6: “Cumberland Blues” Chapter 7: “Black Peter” Chapter 8: “Easy Wind” Chapter 9: “Casey Jones” Notes

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Book SynopsisFrom former Talking Heads frontman and multimedia visionary David Byrne and revered bestselling author, illustrator, and artist Maira Kalmanan inspiring celebration in words and art of the connections between us all. A joyful collaboration between old friends David Byrne and Maira Kalman, American Utopia offers readers an antidote to cynicism, bursting with pathos, humanism, and hopefeaturing his words and lyrics brought to life with more than 150 of her colorful paintings.The text is drawn from David Byrne's American Utopia, which has become a hit Broadway showreturning to Broadway on September 18, 2020, and soon to be a documentary from Spike Lee. The four-color artwork, by Maira Kalman, which she created for the Broadway show's curtain, is composed of small moments, expressions, gestures, and interactions that together offer a portrait of daily life and coexistence.With their creative talents combined, American Utopia is a salvo for kindness and a call for jubilation, a reminder to sing, dance, and waste not a moment. Beautifully designed and edited by Alex Kalman, American Utopia is a balm for the soul from two of the world's most extraordinary artists.

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Book SynopsisSince his untimely death in 1974 at the age of twenty six, Nick Drake has not only gained a huge international audience, which eluded him during his lifetime, but has also come to represent the epitome of English romanticism. Drake's small but much-loved body of work has evoked comparisons with Blake, Keats, Vaughan Williams and Delius, placing him within a long line of English mystical romanticism. Yet upon closer inspection Drake's work betrays a myriad of international, cosmopolitan influences and approaches that seem to confound his status as archetypal English troubadour. Nathan Wiseman-Trowse unravels the myths surrounding Nick Drake's music to show how audiences have come to think of his work as representing the very idea of Englishness itself. The music itself provides clues, hinting at a specific English landscape that Drake would have wandered through during his lifetime. Yet Drake's interest in blues, jazz, and eastern mysticism hint at a broader conception of English national identity in the late 1960s, far removed from mere parochial nostalgia. Similarly, the framing of Drake's music after his death has done much to situate him as a particular kind of English artist, integrating American counterculture, the English class system and a nostalgic re-imagining of the hippy era for contemporary audiences. Nick Drake: Dreaming England explores how ideas of Englishness have come to be so intimately associated with the cult singer songwriter. Essential reading for any fan of Nick Drake, the book will also appeal to those interested in folk music or English national identity.Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION 1 DREAMING ENGLAND 2 LISTENING TO THE LAND 3 THE COUNTRY AND THE CITY 4 MELANCHOLIA AND LOSS 5 DRAKE'S LEGACY Chronology References Select Bibliography Discography Acknowledgements Photo Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisFan, musician and writer Roland Link has compiled a wealth of images of the legendary Belfast band through the 1970s and 80s. It includes many previously unseen photographs of the members on the road, on stage, in candid moments and in promotional out-takes. These are supported by a myriad of contemporary memorabilia (tour posters, tickets, passes and badges) and accompanied by comments from band members and a number of the photographers. The book also contains a Rare Vinyl Guide covering the band's original singles and albums. "When people ask me about Stiff Little Fingers I'm going to point them towards two books; Kicking Up A Racket and What You See Is What You Get ...job done." Jim Reilly

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Book SynopsisThis definitive guide includes a unique chapter-by-chapter playlist for the reader. Jazz: A Beginner’s Guide is a lively and highly accessible introduction to a global musical phenomenon. Award-winning music journalist and author Stuart Nicholson takes the reader on an entertaining journey from jazz's early stirrings in America’s south through to the present day, when almost every country in the world has its own vibrant jazz scene. En route we meet a host of jazz heroes past and present, from Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and Miles Davis, to Keith Jarrett and Kamasi Washington. Each chapter is accompanied by a playlist designed to provide a stimulating and enjoyable entry point to what has been described as the most exciting art form of all. Trade Review"An important contribution to jazz history by one of our leading writers, whose scholarly and artful evolutional guide navigates the listener boldly through the world of jazz. It is marked by formidable research and a passionate commitment to distilling the styles and major moments in this century of jazz, that open the door and your ears to a truly beautiful journey." -- Professor Tommy Smith - Artistic Director of Jazz, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Scottish National Jazz Orchestra"Stuart Nicholson leads the reader on a step-by-step journey to unlock the mysteries of jazz. Though geared towards neophytes, the most seasoned jazz fan will learn much in these pages." -- Randy Sandke - American jazz trumpeter and guitarist"Far more than a beginner's guide, this book is Stuart Nicholson's enlightened and enlightening view of jazz – enough so to make even experienced jazz fans listen with fresh ears." -- Bill Kirchner – Musician, producer and educator

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Book SynopsisThroughout most of the twelve years between their formation and disbanding after the death of drummer John Bonham, Led Zeppelin were regarded as arguably the most influential group in popular music since The Beatles. While seen as pioneers of British heavy rock, their sound also embraced blues, psychedelia and folk music. Earlier in his career Jimmy Page had been one of the most highly sought-after session guitarists, while John Paul Jones was a versatile multi-instrumentalist and experienced arranger, and Robert Plant was one of the most individual vocalists of the era. A deal signed with Atlantic Records allowed them total musical control, and a deliberate policy of not allowing any tracks to be released as singles in Britain helped to ensure maximum demand for their albums as well as huge ticket sales every time they toured. Initially unpopular with critics, they were much loved by fans on both sides of the Atlantic and indeed throughout much of the world. This book provides a thorough examination of each track on all the group's studio albums, additional songs on official live releases and compilations of BBC sessions material.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Acknowledgements; 1 Led Zeppelin; 2 Led Zeppelin II; 3 Led Zeppelin III; 4 [Led Zeppelin IV]; 5 Houses of the Holy; 6 Presence; 7 In Through the Out Door; 8 Coda; 9 Led Zeppelin Boxed Set; 10 Led Zeppelin Boxed Set 2; 11 The Complete Studio Recordings; 12 The Song Remains the Same; 13 How the West Was Won; 14 Celebration Day; 15 BBC Sessions; 16 The Complete BBC Sessions; Endnotes.

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