Popular music Books

Book SynopsisA close look at how Taiwanese musicians are using rap music as a creative way to explore and reconcile Taiwanese identity and history. Like many states emerging from oppressive political rule, Taiwan saw a cultural explosion in the late 1980s, when nearly four decades of martial law under the Chinese Nationalist Party ended. As members of a multicultural, multilingual society with a complex history of migration and colonization, Taiwanese people entered this moment of political transformation eager to tell their stories and grapple with their identities. In Renegade Rhymes, ethnomusicologist Meredith Schweig shows how rap music has become a powerful tool in the post-authoritarian period for both exploring and producing new knowledge about the ethnic, cultural, and political history of Taiwan. ? Schweig draws on extensive ethnographic fieldwork, taking readers to concert venues, music video sets, scenes of protest, and more to show how early MCs from marginalized ethnic groups infused rap with important aspects of their own local languages, music, and narrative traditions. Aiming their critiques at the educational system and a neoliberal economy, new generations of rappers have used the art form to nurture associational bonds and rehearse rituals of democratic citizenship, making a new kind of sense out of their complicated present.Trade Review“Renegade Rhymes theorizes rap’s role in post–martial law Taiwan. By focusing on the production and consumption of local rap music, Meredith Schweig’s finely written book illuminates how rap music offers ways to navigate, reconfigure, and reimagine the complex Taiwanese sociopolitical reality in the face of realpolitik and geopolitics. Schweig’s rich ethnography and insightful analysis are as powerful as the rap lyrics she discusses. This book is well researched, robustly conceptualized, and shines a new path in exploring the intersectionality of music, agency, power, and local knowledge.” -- Frederick Lau, Chinese University of Hong Kong“Renegade Rhymes draws the reader into the complex worlds of rap communities in Taiwan. Schweig demonstrates her commitments to the people and places she describes by providing finely researched accounts of the context while allowing the artists to speak for themselves. This persuasive, engaging, and well-written book gives readers a clear sense of what’s at stake and why rap music matters.” -- Nomi Dave, University of Virginia, author of The Revolution’s Echoes"Renegade Rhymes is a great book that fills in a knowledge gap for a lot of readers in the U.S. and beyond who are unaware of the hip hop scene in Taiwan. It covers the music and culture in great depth, but Schweig also manages to make the book pretty accessible to those who wish to learn this unique part of hip hop culture." * Scratched Vinyl *“Another excellent book published by the University of Chicago Press, written by Meredith Schweig on Taiwan rap culture. The author has spent a lot of time researching the Taiwan hip-hop community in the early 2010s. Schweig mostly analyzes overtly political artists as Dwagie, but the story is fascinating from beginning to end. A must-read for anyone interested in Taiwan and hip-hop!” -- Nathanel Amar"Meredith Schweig’s monograph, Renegade Rhymes, is the first detailed English-language account of rap music in Taiwan. Using interviews with Taiwan hip-hop key actors, observations, song lyrics and a plurality of archival materials, Schweig brilliantly fills a gap in the literature about popular music in Taiwan and in the Sinophone world in general." * The China Quarterly *"Deconstructing verses from some of Taiwan’s foremost wordsmiths, [Schweig] demonstrates how the properties of Mandarin and Hoklo (also known as Taiwanese) are used to accentuate what the late, trailblazing scholar of hip-hop Adam Krims calls a 'percussion-effusive flow.' . . . What follows is a fascinating exposition of how this achieved." * Taipei Times *"In Taiwanese hip-hop culture, as Meredith Schweig reveals in this captivating and original work, socio-political considerations continue to play a key role." -- James Baron * Global Asia *"Through Renegade Rhymes, Meredith Schweig offers a vivid and lucid ethnographic and historical account of coalescing hip-hop communities in Taiwan, which she bolsters with a detailed, relevant exploration of the island’s social, political, and military histories." -- Tom Peterson * Fontes Artis Musicae *Table of ContentsAbbreviations Notes on Romanization and Translation List of Figures and Musical Examples Prologue: First, the Rain Introduction: Tales of Taiwan Part One Polyphonic Histories Chapter One It Depends on How You Define “Rap” . . . Chapter Two . . . Because Others Might Define It Differently Part Two Narratives and Knowledge Chapter Three Masculinity Politics and Rap’s Fraternal Order Chapter Four Performing Musical Knowledge Work Chapter Five “We Are So Strong, We Are Writing History” Epilogue: Then, the Sunflowers Acknowledgments Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisA groundbreaking study of the trailblazing music of Chicago's AACM, a leader in the world of jazz and experimental music. Founded on Chicago's South Side in 1965 and still thriving today, the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) is the most influential collective organization in jazz and experimental music. In Sound Experiments, Paul Steinbeck offers an in-depth historical and musical investigation of the collective, analyzing individual performances and formal innovations in captivating detail. He pays particular attention to compositions by Muhal Richard Abrams and Roscoe Mitchell, the Association's leading figures, as well as Anthony Braxton, George Lewis (and his famous computer-music experiment, Voyager), Wadada Leo Smith, and Henry Threadgill, along with younger AACM members such as Mike Reed, Tomeka Reid, and Nicole Mitchell. Sound Experiments represents a sonic history, spanning six decades, that affords insight not only into the individuals who cTrade ReviewPaul Steinbeck’s magisterial Sound Experiments [is] a look at the AACM through “a set of ten compositions, improvisations, and recordings.” Sound Experiments contains many transcriptions and technical descriptions, but Steinbeck is a fluid writer and there are stories to tell. -- Sasha Frere-Jones * Bookforum *"In this erudite but lively account, Steinbeck presents the first in-depth study of the AACM’s musicians and music as he traces the evolution of the group's innovative work over many decades. . . . An important addition to the jazz bookshelf." * Booklist *"[Steinbeck] gives a good account of the cultural, social, political, and economic contexts from which the music emerged, and is keenly aware of the racialised gatekeeping which has all too often kept AACM composers from getting their due. . . . Ultimately, the reader comes away with a greater appreciation of the AACM's achievements: Great Black Music, from Ancient to the Future." * The Wire *"Musical analysis dominates the text, but Steinbeck’s thoughtful writing makes the descriptions work on several levels: for a student, or anyone interested in learning about how the music works; for a non-musician who may breeze past the score excerpts but dig into the plain-speak breakdowns; or the attentive fan who can relate the structures discussed to stage dynamics they have witnessed." * New York City Jazz Record *"The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians has achieved worldwide recognition for its approaches to notated composition, improvisation, technology, and intermedia. Steinbeck’s extensive historical and methodological analysis of a wide range of AACM musical practices makes this book indispensable to an understanding of the leading role of Afrodiasporic experimentalism in the past, present, and future of new music." -- George Lewis"I really appreciate Paul Steinbeck’s scholarship in putting together Sound Experiments. I have always found him to be an engaging writer. I enjoy how he wrote about my compositions on my album Sound, as well as the different iterations of my composition Nonaah. He really dug deep!" -- Roscoe Mitchell"Steinbeck has written an excellent analysis of the works of composers-performers from the AACM. A clear and concise investigative text, it looks into many aspects involved in creating a work of musical art. His writing is creative and has an expressive use of language. I recommend his book to everyone." -- Wadada Leo Smith"One of the most significant avant-garde collectives of the twentieth century, the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) remains a powerful force in the early 21st century. In Paul Steinbeck, the AACM has found a chronicler and scholar of passion, erudition, and discipline, the very qualities that have made it such an enduring institution." -- Adam Shatz"Rather than a tour through AACM history, Sound Experiments serves as a deep dive into six of the organization’s seminal albums across the decades, which makes listening to the music while reading a whole new kind of experience. Be it Abrams’s ambitious Levels and Degrees of Light from 1968 or Mitchell’s 1977 solo-concert album Nonaah… Steinbeck makes an authoritative guide." * The Slowdown *"Before analyzing each work, Steinbeck traces its genesis in a detailed monograph, illustrating the context in which it was born and the biography of the protagonists. (...) The result is a seminal work on the AACM, the first of its kind." -- Angelo Leonardi * AllAboutJazz.com *"Steinbeck provides some musical notations and deeper analysis of the sounds from his perspective as a musicologist – very illuminating to us, as we tend to have much more of a visceral response to these records." * Dusty Groove *"Paul Steinbeck, Sound Experiments: The Music of the AACM (Chicago) — Musician and Washington University, St. Louis music professor Steinbeck provides a stimulating history of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) founded on Chicago’s South Side in 1965. He offers in-depth explorations of innovative performances by members of the organization, from Anthony Braxton’s Composition 76 to Wadada Leo Smith’s The Freedom Summers and Nicole Mitchell’s Mandorla Awakening II: Emerging Worlds. He demonstrates the ways these pieces contributed singular approaches to notation, instrumentation, and musical form, creating fresh sounds to contemporary music." -- Henry Carrigan * The Journal of Roots Music No Depression *“A Seminary Coop Notable Book of the Year” * / *“A Seminary Coop Notable Book of the Year” * / *"Paul Steinbeck, Sound Experiments: The Music of the AACM (Chicago) — Musician and Washington University, St. Louis music professor Steinbeck provides a stimulating history of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) founded on Chicago’s South Side in 1965. He offers in-depth explorations of innovative performances by members of the organization, from Anthony Braxton’s Composition 76 to Wadada Leo Smith’s The Freedom Summers and Nicole Mitchell’s Mandorla Awakening II: Emerging Worlds. He demonstrates the ways these pieces contributed singular approaches to notation, instrumentation, and musical form, creating fresh sounds to contemporary music." -- Henry Carrigan * The Journal of Roots Music No Depression *“Essential reading for anyone interested in jazz and creative music. Steinbeck continues the ongoing task of situating the work of the AACM within the history of experimental music and composition, while always making clear the myriad ways that this music sets itself apart.” * Musicworks *"The music of the AACM is certainly some of the most artistically challenging music ever recorded. Sound Experiments is therefore an invaluable companion for those looking to dip their toes into this fascinating discography, as well as a rich source of information for those looking to dive more deeply into the depths of musical analysis." -- Tom Spargo * All About Jazz *"Not only does this book provide a wonderful addition to jazz scholarship, but Steinbeck has demonstrated that these artists should be talked about right along with other leading figures of the avant-garde music scenes in the 1960s and beyond. This book could prove useful to many researchers outside of the jazz realm, such as composers, performers of experimental music, musicologists, and general fans of experimental music." * Music Reference Services Quarterly *"Not only does this book provide a wonderful addition to jazz scholarship, but Steinbeck has demonstrated that these artists should be talked about right along with other leading figures of the avant-garde music scenes in the 1960s and beyond. This book could prove useful to many researchers outside of the jazz realm, such as composers, performers of experimental music, musicologists, and general fans of experimental music." * Music Reference Services Quarterly *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction 1 Roscoe Mitchell, Sound :: Muhal Richard Abrams, Levels and Degrees of Light 2 Roscoe Mitchell, Nonaah 3 Anthony Braxton, Composition 76 4 Air, Air Time 5 George Lewis, Voyager 6 Fred Anderson, Volume Two 7 AACM Great Black Music Ensemble, At Umbria Jazz 2009 8 Wadada Leo Smith, Ten Freedom Summers 9 Nicole Mitchell, Mandorla Awakening II: Emerging Worlds Conclusion Notes Recordings References Index

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Book SynopsisEach of the 11 of Elvis' intimates interviewed here has a good story to tell. Each is accompanied by period photographs of Elvis and the friend, movie posters, concert memorabilia, and unusual memories that every fan or Elvis will want to read. Packed with remarkable photographs, it is a memorable fans' resource and enjoyable reading for anyone.

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Book Synopsis''A masterpiece, as fresh and shocking as if it were written yesterday'' Craig BrownI''ve been told that no one sings the word ''hunger'' like I do. Or the word ''love''.Lady Sings the Blues is the inimitable autobiography of one of the greatest icons of the twentieth century. Born to a single mother in 1915 Baltimore, Billie Holiday had her first run-in with the law at aged 13. But Billie Holiday is no victim. Her memoir tells the story of her life spent in jazz, smoky Harlem clubs and packed-out concert halls, her love affairs, her wildly creative friends, her struggles with addiction and her adventures in love. Billie Holiday is a wise and aphoristic guide to the story of her unforgettable life.Trade ReviewIts value is in its witness to the grinding humiliation of the racism that tainted every moment of her louche life -- John Lahr * London Review of Books *A wrenchingly authentic account of Holiday's turbulent trajectory from abused child to jazz genius -- Jane Shilling * Daily Mail *Her troubles are long behind her now. Her genius however, shows no sign of dimming any time soon. -- Nick Hornby * Sunday Times *A searing account of her life as a brilliant artist, a heroin addict, simultaneously worshipped as a siren of sorrow and persecuted by a legal system structured by systemic racism. Booze runs like a glimmering ribbon through these pages - she even makes moonshine from potato peelings while incarcerated - but Holiday emerges as a figure far more nuanced and human than her mythic image. -- Guardian * Leslie Jamison *

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Book SynopsisWhat would Taylor do?Songwriting genius, poised performer, warm-hearted friend-we''d all love to be a bit more like Taylor Swift. This brilliant guide will show you how.Whether it is standing up for yourself and your friends, opening your heart to love, or refusing to let others write your reputation, these life lessons will help you shake off your troubles and become folklore for Swifties everywhere.Containing advice on love, friendship, overcoming fears, being yourself, and finding creative inspiration, Be More Taylor Swift is the perfect gift for Taylor Swift fans.

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Book SynopsisTake control of your narrative and become the best version of yourself with 50 Hip-Hop inspired lessons that will motivate a new generation.Grant Brydon has interviewed some of the biggest names in hip-hop. Here he shares the creative directions and tips derived from one-on-one conversations with Pharrell Williams, J Cole, Big Sean, Nipsey Hussle, and many more. With chapters covering motivation, creativity, authenticity, mental wellbeing, resilience, and more, the advice gleaned from these important artists'' life experiences will help you to face up to your own challenges and inspire you to make simple changes that have major positive consequences. Lessons include:- Award-winning rapper, singer, songwriter and producer J Cole on how to Define Success- Grammy award-winning hip-hop- legend Nas on Maintaining Focus on What''s Important - A lesson in Committing to Inspiration from Flo Milli, viral TikTok sensation and Best New Artist nominTrade Review"Grant Brydon compiles many of the major keys from some of the most prolific voices in hip-hop and draws a through-line to the hearts of their success stories... An entertaining and informative read." * Kathy Iandoli, author of God Save The Queens: The Essential History of Women in Hip-Hop *"A thoughtful collection of essays on hard work and creativity that taps into generous anecdotal wisdom about music and life from an array of personalities in the industry, past and present." * Lance Scott Walker, author of DJ Screw: A Life In Slow Revolution *"A brilliant tapestry of story and artistry by a seasoned journalist whose love for hip-hop flourishes here." * Ciesay, co-founder of PLACES+FACES *

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Book SynopsisWild Tales by Graham Nash - a classic rock memoir of the legendary Hollies front man and member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & YoungIn this candid and riveting autobiography Graham Nash tells it all: the love, the sex, the jealousy, the drugs, and the magical music-making.This is one of the great rock and roll stories: growing up in poverty in postwar Manchester, where Nash founded the Hollies with schoolfriend Allan Clarke and the incredible success that followed, friendships with all the great British bands of the 60s including the Beatles, the Stones and the Kinks, decamping to America and becoming the lover of Joni Mitchell (for whom he wrote ''Our House'') and achieving superstardom with David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Neil Young.This book will be adored by Graham Nash fans and takes its rightful place in the pantheon of classic music memoirs alongside Book Dylan''s Chronicles, Keith Richards'' Life and Neil Young''s Waging Heavy Peace.Graham Nash was born in Blackpool in 1942 and brought up in Salford. He was cofounder with his schoolfriend Allan Clarke of the Hollies - one of the most successful British pop groups of the 1960s for whom he was lead-singer and one of the principal songwriters. In 1968 he left the UK to live in California, where he became part of the supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash (later, after Neil Young joined, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young). Unusually he has been inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, for the Hollies and for CSNY, and in 2010 he received the OBE. He is noted for his political and charity work (he played Occupy Wall Street in 2011), is a serious photographer, and has homes in California and Hawaii.Trade ReviewA fascinating memoir tells of life on the other side of the ampersand... optimistic, charming and terribly British * Mojo *

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Book SynopsisFROM THE MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF ABOUT A BOY 31 Songs is best-selling author Nicky Hornby''s ultimate desert island disksThrough thirty-one songs that he either loves or has loved, Nick Hornby tells us what music means to his life. These personal and passionate pieces - refreshingly free of pretension - are a celebration of the joy that certain songs have given him. Together with additional writings on music from his column in the new Yorker - seen in the UK for the first time - 31 Songs is for Hornby what many of us have always wanted: a soundtrack to accompany life.Winner of The National Book Critics Circle award, this funny and touchingly personal book is a must for music fans everywhere.''Original, well written and wholly lacking in pretension...as good a book about pop music as I have read in many years and the most accomplished of Hornby''s books so far'' Spectator''Funny

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Book SynopsisA biography of the influential jazz pianist, Bill Evans. Peter Pettinger, himself a concert pianist, describes Evans's life, his personal tragedies and commercial successes, his music making, his technique and compositional methods, his approach to ensemble playing, and his legacy.Trade Review"Pettinger understands what sets the pianist apart, and explains with a minimum of technical language and just enough musical transcriptions to get his key points across. . . This is an ideal companion for those who want to 'understand' Evans in the most important way, through listening."—Bob Blumenthal, Boston Globe"Peter Pettinger writes frankly in his fine new biography of what was no secret to Evans's appalled colleagues: The most influential jazz pianist of the past half-century was addicted to drugs—first heroin, then cocaine—for much of his adult life."—Terry Teachout, New York Times Book Review"[A] fine new biography . . . packed with . . . shrewd critical commentary."—Terry Teachout, New York Times Book Review"Peter Pettinger sets out to catalog and explain Evans’ wide-ranging genius. . . . The making of every important Evans recording is discussed, and as he follows the extreme ups and downs of a career vexed by heroin addiction and other problems, Pettinger shows how the personal helped shape the artistic sensibility of this jazz innovator."—Tom Moon, Philadelphia Inquirer"Pettinger . . . has thoroughly researched Evans’s life, reading the available literature and tracking down the pianist’s associates for commentary, and he has listened assiduously to the Evans catalog, which is no small feat given its enormousness."—Adam Bresnick, Wall Street Journal"Pettinger provides a portrait of Evans that will serve as a foundation for further investigation of this quiet jazz giant. Recommended for jazz fans and music buffs."—Library Journal"Pettinger is eminently qualified to assay Evan’s evolution as a pianist, and students of Evan’s music will no doubt enjoy the author’s references to Evan’s scores and academic excursions."—Publishers Weekly"A fine new biography. . . . Pettinger, a concert pianist, is brilliant in describing, with a technical precision which is nonetheless accessible to the non-musician, what Evans was up to. Its a good read."—S.D. Feeney, Face Magazine"Pettinger's book is a reliable guide, but its chief asset is the late author's insight and enthusiasm for a unique performer."—Brian Priestly, Piano"One of the great perfectionists of jazz has been given a biography worthy of gifts."—Michael Kerrigan, The ScotsmanSelected as a 1998 Notable Book of the Year by the New York Times Book ReviewWinner of the 1999 ASCAP–Deems Taylor Award in the Pop Books Category"Peter Pettinger’s book on pianist Bill Evans is one of the best jazz biographies I have ever read. It is beautifully and lovingly written, meticulously researched, and filled with deep insight into Evans’s personality and musicmaking."—Barry Kernfeld, author of What to Listen for in Jazz"This book is likely to become a classic. There is nothing quite like it in the history of jazz. A concert pianist looks at the work of a jazz pianist whom many authorities consider one of the greatest musicians of the twentieth century. Pettinger hears all sorts of subtleties as only a fellow pianist can. He is also a felicitous and interesting writer. This is a brilliant piece of extended analysis."—Gene Lees

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Book SynopsisRaw, authoritative, and unflinching ... An elaborately detailed, darkly surprising, definitive history of the LA gangsta rap era. -- Kirkus, starred reviewA monumental, revealing narrative history about the legendary group of artists at the forefront of West Coast hip-hop: Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, and Tupac Shakur. Amid rising gang violence, the crack epidemic, and police brutality, a group of unlikely voices cut through the chaos of late 1980s Los Angeles: N.W.A. Led by a drug dealer, a glammed-up producer, and a high school kid, N.W.A gave voice to disenfranchised African Americans across the country. And they quickly redefined pop culture across the world. Their names remain as popular as ever -- Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, and Ice Cube. Dre soon joined forces with Suge Knight to create the combustible Death Row Records, which in turn transformed Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur into superstars. Ben Westhoff explores how this group of artists shifted the balance of hip-hop from New York to Los Angeles. He shows how N.W.A.''s shocking success lead to rivalries between members, record labels, and eventually a war between East Coast and West Coast factions. In the process, hip-hop burst into mainstream America at a time of immense social change, and became the most dominant musical movement of the last thirty years. At gangsta rap''s peak, two of its biggest names -- Tupac and Biggie Smalls -- were murdered, leaving the surviving artists to forge peace before the genre annihilated itself. Featuring extensive investigative reporting, interviews with the principal players, and dozens of never-before-told stories, Original Gangstas is a groundbreaking addition to the history of popular music.Trade ReviewScrupulously researched with many incisive revelations, this may be the best book ever written about the hip hop world. * S. Leigh Savidge, Academy Award nominee and co-writer of Straight Outta Compton *[Adds] fresh detail to the oft-told stories ...[A] history that won't settle for easy heroes or villains. * Rolling Stone *[A] captivating chronicle... Central to Westhoff's research are original interviews with key figures balanced with the author's efforts to frame the music as a piece with the surrounding social and political upheaval... He doesn't flinch in providing a rounded picture of the history of the genre, in which the danger wasn't confined to the music * Library Journal *

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Book SynopsisThe definitive chronicle of underground music in the 1980s tells the stories of Black Flag, Sonic Youth, The Replacements, and other seminal bands whose DIY revolution changed American music forever. Our Band Could Be Your Life is the never-before-told story of the musical revolution that happened right under the nose of the Reagan Eighties -- when a small but sprawling network of bands, labels, fanzines, radio stations, and other subversives re-energized American rock with punk''s do-it-yourself credo and created music that was deeply personal, often brilliant, always challenging, and immensely influential. This sweeping chronicle of music, politics, drugs, fear, loathing, and faith is an indie rock classic in its own right.The bands profiled include:- Sonic Youth- Black Flag- The Replacements- Minutemen- Husker Du- Minor Threat- Mission of Burma- Butthole Surfers- Big Black- Fugazi- Mudhoney- Beat Happening- Dinosaur Jr.Trade ReviewAzerrad has done so much interviewing that the material will be fresh even for those whose lives these bands were. - Village Voice * A timely reminder that Cobain and company were merely a key regiment in the motley al-rock army…. OUR BAND COULD BE YOUR LIFE narrates, down to the homemade posters and tour van repairs, how these bands gradually built up an audience large enough to make *

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Book SynopsisBono is one of the most influential musicians at work today. Over the past twenty-five years his band, U2, have sold a staggering 130 million albums and collected 14 Grammys. Their success has made Bono one of the most recognisable faces in the world.Here, in a series of conversations with his friend, the music journalist, Michka Assayas, Bono reflects on his transformation from extrovert singer of a small, Irish, post-punk band into an international rock star. Along the way he speaks candidly about his childhood, about his mother''s death, about his Christian faith and about his difficult relationship with his father, who died recently. Bono also speaks passionately about how he has used his fame as a platform to campaign fervently on a range of global issues, and why these issues - which include the IRA ceasefire, Third World debt and, most recently, the growing AIDS crisis in Africa - are so important to each of us.Intimate, humorous, and fiercelyTrade ReviewWitty and entertaining ... [Bono's] heart is warm, his mind is sharp, and his conversation a rich, unstoppable noise. * The Sunday Times *'Surprisingly candid ... BONO ON BONO is not only for die-hard U2 fans; it's also an uplifting and entertaining exploration of belief and the ability to question' * Sunday Times (South Africa) *

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Book SynopsisThe honest and revealing story of John Lennon's childhood by his sister Julia. Trade Review'A tragic story . . . also a tenderly evoked memoir of a Liverpool childhood' * The Independent *'Honest and poignant, this enjoyable read offers fans a new perspective on their idol' * The Sun *'A moving account of the Beatle's childhood by his half-sister . . . fascinating' * Observer Music Monthly *'Philip Larkin's much-quoted lines about sex being invented in 1963 "between the end of the Chatterley ban/ And the Beatles first LP" stand corrected here. Perhaps life was dull in Hull and Coventry, but on this account there was plenty of passion in Liverpool' * The Irish Times *'A poignant powerful tale that throws new light on the Lennon legend' * The Scottish Sunday Post *'An unusual treat' * Aberdeen Evening Express *'His sister's important new account chronicles the pivotal childhood years that provided the source of both Lennon's rich creativity and personal vulnerability' * Good Books Guide *

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Book SynopsisThe international bestselling memoir of the most idolised Beatle, John Lennon - by his first wife Cynthia.Trade Review'fascinating...all Beatles fans will be interested in the book, the best in recent years'. * The Sunday Times *'an engaging memoir... along the way, it offers a fascinating glimpse into an altogether more innocent age, before star-makers and svengalis began colluding with marketing men and TV execs ...' * Independent *'vivid and engaging... refreshingly free of bitterness.' * Mail on Sunday *'A fascinating first-hand account of one of the most bizarre phenomena of the 20th century.' * Sunday Telegraph *'Fascinating stuff' * Evening Standard *'loving but candid... vividly captures the time and place and the characters.' * Washington Post *'A fascinating read that offers an insight into a brilliant and complex man.' * The Sun *

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Book SynopsisIn her bestselling autobiography Bedsit Disco Queen, Tracey Thorn recalled the highs and lows of a thirty-year career in pop music. But with the touring, recording and extraordinary anecdotes, there wasn''t time for an in-depth look at what she actually did for all those years: sing. She sang with warmth and emotional honesty, sometimes while battling acute stage-fright.Part memoir, part wide-ranging exploration of the art, mechanics and spellbinding power of singing, NAKED AT THE ALBERT HALL takes in Dusty Springfield, Dennis Potter and George Eliot; Auto-tune, the microphone and stage presence; The Streets and The X Factor. Including interviews with fellow artists such as Alison Moyet, Romy Madley-Croft and Green Gartside of Scritti Politti, and portraits of singers in fiction as well as Tracey''s real-life experiences, it offers a unique, witty and sharply observed insider''s perspective on the exhilarating joy and occasional heartache of singing.Trade ReviewSmart, chatty . . . [Thorn is] a sufficiently deft writer to negotiate the populist and the high-brow . . . a thought-provoking and enjoyable read * Mail on Sunday *Honest and compassionate * Sunday Telegraph *If you care at all about pop music you should read both [Naked at the Albert Hall and Bedsit Disco Queen] * Sunday Herald *Revelatory, always entertaining . . . a genuine insider's perspective . . . Thirty years of consideration went into this quietly impressive volume, and it shows * Independent *A writer in fine voice . . . [a] cracker of a book * Scotsman *Thorn is the perfect analyst of our reverence for and terror of singing . . .Thorn's practical, warm tone gives her a Miss Marple-like ability to appear kindly while holding mistruths up to account . . . She is best, though, as a sympathetic guide to the singers she loves * Daily Telegraph *Tracey's characterful phrasing is as persuasive on page as it is on record * Grazia *Gem-like confessions that make it feel like a proper discussion. I loved it -- Nina Stibbe * Telegraph *A thoughtful and sensitive study of singing and her very English struggle with the embarrassment * Telegraph *A subtle, suggestive book about performance -- Keith Miller * Times Literary Supplement *Thorn eloquently strikes upon some profound truths about human communication as she tests the powers and limits of the human voice * Observer *As distinctive and lovely as its author's singing voice . . . a wry and wise memoir of a unique careerThe Alan Bennett of pop memoirists. I loved her book so much I wanted to form a band tooAn intensely readable account of thirty years of being in love with music. Warm, assertive, sweetly funny and most of all honest * Daily Telegraph, praise for Bedsit Disco Queen *As a witty and wise chronicle of a life spent dipping in and out of the limelight, this is second to none * Independent on Sunday, praise for Bedsit Disco Queen *She can pick at the scab of a subject and release some of the unsavoury contents which have been festering under the surface. * Dubbo Weekender *

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Book Synopsis''Fascinating and illuminating'' STYLIST''Perceptive and candid'' IRISH TIMES''Wide-ranging, deep-dive, soul-baring interviews, full of candid, intimate, spiky meditations on inspiration, artistry, sexuality, race, love, self-doubt, abuse, defiance and everything in between'' OBSERVER''Variously optimistic, troubling, joyful, illuminating, fierce and thoughtful'' GUARDIANINTERVIEWS WITH WOMEN ON THE FRONTLINE OF MUSICWriter and critic Amy Raphael has interviewed some of the world''s most iconic musicians, including Courtney Love, Patti Smith, Björk, Kurt Cobain and Elton John. In 1995 she wrote the critically-acclaimed Never Mind the Bollocks: Women Rewrite Rock, which included a foreword by Debbie Harry. More than two decades on, the music business has changed, but the way women are regarded has not. In this new book, A Seat at the Table, Raphael interviews eighteen women who worTrade ReviewIn 1995, the journalist published Never Mind The Bollocks: Women Rewrite Rock, a series of interviews with artists including Courtney Love, Bjork, and Justine Frischmann. This kind-of-sequel updates what's changed - and what hasn't - for female musicians, with Christine And The Queens, Mitski and Kate Tempest among those participating. The most urgent interview is with Chvrches' Lauren Mayberry, who offers a powerful account of the negative drag caused by online trolls and the effects of speaking out. Reasons to be cheerful - and angry * Q Magazine *Kate Tempest, Clara Amfo, Ibeyi, Georgia, Tracey Thorn . . . Journalist Amy Raphael talks to 18 incredible women about their experiences as musicians and the music industry with fascinating and illuminating results * Stylist *A perceptive and candid collection of new interviews with 18 women that discuss everything from #MeToo and queer politics to the impact of social media on their lives and the subtleties of routine misogyny * Irish Times *Raphael has collated a stunning collection of interviews, then removed herself entirely, presenting each as a narrative as if the subject is talking straight to you, the reader. It breaks an added barrier in really being invited in to understand each interviewee, unfiltered. It's a fascinating, brilliant book, full of joy, rage, a love of music, and a battle to show that it can be done even when culture might push back. A celebration of some of the best and most exciting faces in music today, and a must read * The Skinny *A series of wide-ranging, deep-dive, soul-baring interviews, full of candid, intimate, spiky meditations on inspiration, artistry, sexuality, race, love, self-doubt, abuse, defiance, and everything in between . . . Raphael had carved a vital space for female artists to 'womanspread', as it were, and speak freely -- Barbara Ellen * Observer *Variously optimistic, troubling, joyful, illuminating, fierce and thoughtful. It is often all these things at once -- Fiona Sturges * Guardian *Many women interviewed for this collection - including the eloquent Kate Tempest, gender activist Chris (AKA Heloise Letissier from Christine and the Queens), a feisty Alison Moyet and wise woman Natalie Merchant - argue that it's not just about whether you 'get your tits out', but whether you get respect and recognition for your work. 'I've been in this industry for 35 years . . . I've never felt the need to conform to one shape. No one has ever really claimed me,' says Moyet. 'I've never been cosseted, nor have I been someone's muse. And [that] really saved me.' Moving words indeed -- Lucy O'Brien * Mojo *

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

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Book Synopsis''Man, there''s nothing like being told you''re dying to make you feel alive.'' In 2013, Dr Feelgood founder, Blockheads member and musical legend Wilko Johnson was diagnosed with terminal cancer. With ten months to live, he decided to accept his imminent death and went on the road. His calm, philosophical response made him even more beloved and admired. And then the strangest thing happened: he didn''t die. Don''t You Leave Me Here is the story of his life in music, his life with cancer, and his life now - in the future he never thought he would see.Trade ReviewRiotous . . . [those seeking wisdom and insight] will be gripped, astonished and profoundly moved * Sunday Times *A thoughtful, funny and humane book * Spectator *If you are a music fan, and even if you are not, it would be hard to recommend this book too highly . . . The book, happily, reflects the man - and there can be no higher compliment than that -- Marcus Berkmann * Daily Mail *Johnson writes like the Mythical Bloke in the Pub speaks. Offering up a cracker of a tale, before going off on a tangent, he adds enough "anyways" and "sos" to make the more dramatic revelations relatable . . . his humour also bubbles through, which is often wonderful * Observer *A touchingly revealing, funny, poetic and erudite voice . . . Blunt honesty is just one of the many endearing qualities ensuring sweet justice is delivered to this man's extraordinary tale * Classic Rock Magazine *This snappy life and times reveals Wilko to be as sharp a writer as he is a guitarist * Mail on Sunday *Gloriously eccentric, mordantly funny and fiercely observant, this autobiography is that rare thing, a memoir by a brilliant musician who writes as well as he plays. -- Jane Shilling * Daily Mail *Gloriously eccentric, mordantly funny and fiercely observant, this autobiography is that rare thing, a memoir by a brilliant musician who writes as well as he plays * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisAn extraordinary history of the punk movement in East GermanyTrade ReviewWildly entertaining . . . A thrilling tale . . . A joy in the way it brings back punk's fury and high stakes * Vogue *Original and inspiring . . . Mohr has written an important work of Cold War cultural history * Wall Street Journal *A thrilling and essential social history that details the rebellious youth movement that helped change the world * Rolling Stone *[A] riveting and inspiring history of punk's hard-fought struggle in East Germany. The book chronicles, with cinematic detail, the commitment and defiance required of East German punks as they were forced to navigate constant police harassment and repression * New York Times Book Review *Gripping * Billboard *Burning Down the Haus fastidiously traces the self-discovery of punks in the socialist dictatorship of East Germany, and the violence and repression they endured on the way to freedom * NPR *Mohr digs into the subject of East German punk like nobody before * Rolling Stone (Germany) *Spellbinding . . . Part cultural history, part political thriller, and entirely true -- Peter Ames Carlin, author of Homeward Bound: The Life of Paul SimonBurning Down the Haus is a riveting cultural history that also serves as a rallying call against authoritarianism everywhere -- Ruth Franklin, author of the NBCC Award-winning Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted LifeBurning Down the Haus is not just an immersion into the punk rock scene of East Berlin, it's the story of the cultural and political battles that have shaped the world we live in today. Tim Mohr delivers the soundtrack for the revolution that we've all been waiting for -- DW Gibson, author of The Edge Becomes the Centre: An Oral History of Gentrification in the Twenty-First CenturyIn East Germany, where non-conformity meant jail time, punks' ripped clothes and spiked hair were a show of courage and defiance. Squatting in derelict apartments and burning their lyrics before the secret police could get hold of them, these teenagers wrote the soundtrack for a rebellion that helped bring down the Berlin Wall. Tim Mohr tells the story of their DIY revolution with the thoroughness of a historian and the panache of a cultural insider. Burning Down the Haus is a riveting cultural history that also serves as a rallying call against authoritarianism everywhere * Ruth Franklin, author of the NBCC Award-winning Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life *Lively . . . Compelling . . . A front-row seat to the events of the '80s. This take on punk evolution is engaging, enlightening and well worth checking out * Publishers Weekly *A wonderful book * Berliner Zeitung *Offers a captivating punk's-eye view of everyday life as the DDR unravelled in its final years . . . Both a moving story of indefatigable defiance in the face of oppression and a complex portrait of everyday life in the DDR in the 1980s, Burning Down the Haus honours the punk spirit with its history from below * Times Literary Supplement *Political regimes can't stop soundwaves. They just travel. This is revealed powerfully in Tim Mohr's Burning Down the Haus, an exploration of how punk changed Berlin, and still defines it today, 30 years after the Wall fell * New Statesman *

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Book Synopsis**WINNER OF THE NME BEST BOOK AWARD**''This book is going to try and get as close as possible to the full story of what informed the noise of The Streets. Obviously that''s something I should be fairly well-qualified to know about, and I''m going to be as honest as the publisher''s lawyers will allow.''With the 2001 release of The Streets'' debut single ''Has It Come To This?'' the landscape of British popular music changed forever. No longer did homegrown rappers have to anxiously defer to transatlantic influences. Mike Skinner''s witty, self-deprecating sagas of late-night kebab shops and skunk-fuelled Playstation sessions showed how much you could achieve simply by speaking in your own voice.In this thoroughly modern memoir, the man the Guardian once dubbed ''half Dostoevsky . . . half Samuel Pepys'' tells a freewheeling, funny and fearlessly honest tale of Birmingham and London, ecstasy and epilepsy, Twitter-fear and Spectrum joysticks,Trade ReviewCleverer, funnier, more illuminating and beautifully written than anything I have read in the longest time -- Decca Aitkenhead * Guardian *Skinner is still only thirty-three and, with his talent and eclectic tastes, it is easy to imagine him becoming one of Britain's national music treasures * Times Literary Supplement *A playful description of what pop stardom allows you to get away with, it's a gem * Independent on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisMeet Phil Collen. You may know him as the lead guitarist in Def Leppard, whose signature song Pour Some Sugar on Me is still as widely enjoyed as when it debuted in 1988. Maybe you've heard of him as the rock star who gave up alcohol and meat more than 25 years ago. Most likely you've seen him shirtless - in photos or in real life - flaunting his impeccably toned body to appreciative female fans.But it wasn't always like this. Collen worked his way up from nothing, teaching himself guitar from scratch as a teenager by imitating his heroes. He slogged it out in London-based pub bands for years, long before Def Leppard formed and transformed from unknowns to icons (all thanks to a little album called Pyromania), from playing openers in near-empty arenas to headlining in those same stadiums and selling them out every night. But as Collen discovered, true overnight success is a myth. Like the other band members, he had to struggle and fight his way to the top; in tTrade ReviewWild...packed with juicy tales about everyone's favourite nine-armed pop-metal superband * Rolling Stone *Raw and captivating… Collen proves that he is one man who was able to go beyond the ordinary and redefine the rock and roll genre of music… Fans get to know Collen on a more intimate basis, thanks to this authentic memoir. This book garners 5 out of 5 stars * Digital Journal *

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Book SynopsisFrom being transported by the sound of ''True Love'' by Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly on the radio, as a small child living in condemned housing in ungentrified West London in the late 1950s, to going out to work as a postman humming ''Watching the Detectives'' by Elvis Costello in 1977, Alan Johnson''s life has always had a musical soundtrack. In fact music hasn''t just accompanied his life, it''s been an integral part of it.In the bestselling and award-winning tradition of This Boy, In My Life vividly transports us to a world that is no longer with us - a world of Dansettes and jukeboxes, of heartfelt love songs and heart-broken ballads, of smoky coffee shops and dingy dance halls. From Bob Dylan to David Bowie, from Lonnie Donnegan to Bruce Springsteen, all of Alan''s favourites are here. As are, of course, his beloved Beatles, whom he has worshipped with undying admiration since 1963.But this isn''t just a book about music. In My Life adds a fourth dimension to the story of Alan Johnson the man.Trade ReviewWhat a lovely writer he is: funny. modest, unsentimental and utterly without self-pity . . . warmth, wit and honesty make this such a satisfying read. -- Marcus Berkmann * DAILY MAIL *Radiates the author's easygoing charm . . . at the peak of his youthful fame he auditioned for a band called the Jaywalkers . . . alas he was unsuccessful. Who knows what might have been? But what the pop world lost, the world of politics gained. -- Chris Mullin * SPECTATOR *His charming memoir details the ways in which records by his heroes . . . have formed the soundtrack to his life. * MAIL ON SUNDAY 'Books of the Year' *This memoir will give you that warm glow of finding a friend who shares your passions . . . In this loving slice of social history, he beautifully mixes that passion with the story of a young man growing up and succeeding in post-war Britain. * DAILY EXPRESS *In prose and in person, Johnson has always had an everyman likeability . . . his take on the "good old days" is sparely unsentimental . . . very readable. -- Stuart Maconie * NEW STATESMAN *

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Book SynopsisWith a foreword by MARK KNOPFLER''An uplifting journey through the sheer hard work, pitfalls and thrills of navigating a great rock band to the pinnacle of success. I so enjoyed the ride!'' ROGER TAYLOR__________Dire Straits filled giant stadiums around the world and sold hundreds of millions of records. Throughout the eighties they were one of the biggest bands on the planet. Their classic songs - ''Sultans of Swing'', ''Romeo and Juliet'', ''Money for Nothing'', ''Brothers In Arms'' - formed the soundtrack of a generation and live on today: still racking up sales, still being played on the radio on every continent. In My Life in Dire Straits, John Illsley - founding member, bassist and mainstay - evokes the spirit of the times and tells the story of one of the great live acts of rock history.Starting with his own unlikely beginnings in Middle England, he recounts the band''s rise from humble origins in London''s spit-and-sawdust pubs to the best-known venues in the world, the working man''s clubs to Madison Square Garden, gigging with wild punk bands to the Live Aid stage at Wembley. Until, ultimately, the shattering demands of touring on a global scale and living life in the spotlight took their inevitable toll.John''s story is also a tribute to his great friend Mark Knopfler, the band''s lead singer, songwriter and gifted guitarist - the only band members to stay the fifteen-year distance. Told with searching honesty, soulful reflection and wry humour, this is the first and only account of that incredible story.Trade ReviewAn uplifting journey through the sheer hard work, pitfalls and thrills of navigating a great rock band to the pinnacle of success. I so enjoyed the ride! * Roger Taylor *Captures the early days of the "English bands" and their story. The ups and downs, relationships, craziness and fun... This really happened! * Mike Rutherford *A wry and witty account of life in one of the world's biggest and unlikeliest supergroups and the music industry in its heyday... John Illsley is a charming, amusing and observant companion. * Mariella Frostrup *Frank, funny and tender. If you loved their music, you'll adore this book. * Nicholas Evans *Fans will be mesmerized. * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisWhat does it mean to be English? What does it mean to be British? Is the cross of St George a proud symbol of a great tradition, or the badge of a neo-Nazi? In a world where British citizens can lay bombs to kill their countrymen, where religious fundamentalism is on the increase and where the BNP are somehow part of the democratic process, what does patriotism actually mean?Our identity can change depending on what company we are in. For example, someone could describe themselves British to one person, Scottish to another and, say, a Londoner to another, and be right every time. But problems arise when someone tries to tell you what you are, based on your skin tone, religion, accent, surname, or whatever. This book is Billy Bragg''s urgent, eloquent and passionate response to the events of 7 July 2005, when four bombs tore through a busy morning in London, killing 52 innocent people and injuring many more. A firm believer in toleration and diversity, he felt himTrade ReviewAn intriguing and timely book, which opens a new angle on the debate of what it means to be British and a patriot * Daily Express *Charming and engaging... The Progressive Patriot flows with integrity and commitment * The Independent *Whatever your views, there is much to be inspired by here, and much you will want to rant right back at. * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisJoshua M Greene is the author of two acclaimed biographies and the producer of numerous award-winning films. His articles have appeared in print media internationally and his books on the Holocaust were adapted for TV in the US. He lives in Long Island.Trade ReviewMany well-known artists have touched people's hearts with their music, but few have ever succeeded in touching people's souls. That was George's gift, and his story is described here with affection and taste. A wonderful book * Mia Farrow *I love this book for many reasons, most of all for its fair and sensitive portrayal of my brother's open-minded approach to spirituality. He saw Spirit as belonging to everyone, and that wonderful quality in him comes through here with dignity and insight * Louise Harrison *I have fond memories of times George and I spent together and Here Comes the Sun really captures him - not just as a Beatle, but as an artist and a human being * Peter Frampton *Here Comes the Sun captures the music and the dazzling spiritual quests of the tumultuous 1960s through the story of George Harrison, the Beatle who as much as anyone embodied the era and its strange pilgrimage * Robert Ellwood, Professor Emeritus of Religion, University of Southern California *Wonderful! A detailed and comprehensive supplement to the memory of a gentle, driving force * Mike Pinder, founder of The Moody Blues *

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Book SynopsisThis practical guide is designed for aspiring amateur and professional musicians. The book covers every aspect of jazz, rock and pop arranging, from a basic lead sheet to scoring for full ensemble with voices. The book includes tips and hints, presented in an easy-to-use format.

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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 SynopsisOffers the author's take on songs such as Robbie Williams' "Angels", Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" and James Blunt's "You're beautiful" as well as her own composed pieces.Trade ReviewI have long been a fan of Pam Wedgwood's Up-Grade books, as they appeal to both teachers (pianistic writing) and pupils (popular genres). This is a new addition to the series and includes ten stylish and convincing arrangements by Wedgwood of pop songs ranging from Queen's Another One Bites the Dust to Cannonball, sung by Damien Rice, and the irritating but hugely popular You're Beautiful by James Blunt. There are also five of Wedgwood's own compositions written to her usual high standards in rock, pop and ballad styles. In compiling a volume of pop tune arrangements, there are two dangers: that they will quickly become outdated and that the harmonies will not sound anything like the originals. Wedgwood avoids this by including such classics as Angels (Robbie Williams) and Material Girl (Madonna), as well as Disney's Beauty and the Beast and ABBA's Thank you for the Music, and using true to the original harmonies for each one. This compilation will appeal to all ages but will be especially useful for teenage beginners who will appreciate the street cred these beautifully written and arranged pieces will give them. Music Teacher Magazine, October 2008Table of ContentsAngels (Robbie Williams); Another One Bites The Dust (Queen); Bad Day (Daniel Powter); Beauty And The Beast (Disney); Cannonball (Damien Rice); Castles In The Air (Pam Wedgwood); Catch 22 (Pam Wedgwood); Fill My Little World (The Feeling); I Feel Good (Pam Wedgwood); JCB Song (Nizlopi); Material Girl (Madonna); Thank You For The Music (ABBA); Together Forever (Pam Wedgwood); You And I (Pam Wedgwood); You're Beautiful (James Blunt)

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Book SynopsisShows you how to play eight classic Gary Moore guitar parts and jam along with a professional session band.Table of ContentsStill Got The Blues; Walking By Myself; The Loner; Oh Pretty Woman; Story of the Blues; Cold Day in Hell; Empty Rooms; Parisienne Walkways

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Book SynopsisContaining eight songs, this book includes a recorded soundalike CD, with full performance demonstrations and backing tracks for you to play and sing along to. It is transcribed from the original recordings for bass guitar, in standard notation and tablature with melody line and chord symbols.Table of ContentsAmerican Idiot; Basket Case; Boulevard Of Broken Dreams; Brain Stew; Longview; Minority; Wake Me Up When September Ends; When I Come Around

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsThe Man I Love; I’ll Build A Stairway To Paradise; Do It Again; Fascinating Rhythm; Oh, Lady Be Good; Somebody Loves Me; Sweet And Low Down; Clap Yo’ Hands; Do Do Do; My One And Only; ‘S Wonderful **ABRSM selected piece: Piano syllabus 2011-2012; Strike Up The Band; I Got Rhythm; Who Cares?; That Certain Feeling; Liza.

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Book SynopsisGuides the player through the different skills and techniques needed to play jazz, covering swing rhythm, syncopation, walking bass, blues and improvisation. This book includes pieces that are suitable for those who have learnt for approximately one year, or have completed the "It's Never Too Late To Play Piano" tutor.Table of ContentsBaby Bouncer; Anyone Home?; Hey! Mr Wong; A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square; King of the Swing; Shaken Not Stirred!; It Don’t Mean a Thing; Strictly Samba; Deep River Blues; Walking with the Bass Man; Jump Jive!; My Baby Just Cares for Me; Roll-over; Mitsy; Batchelor Blues; Taking the Plunge!; Gimme the Answer Blues!: Copy Cat; Let There Be Love; A Foggy Day; Love Walked In; Let's Do It; I Get a Kick Out of You; My Funny Valentine; As Time Goes By; Next Stop, Piccadilly!

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Book SynopsisA band who combine the famed histrionics and pomp of 70s prog rock with the angst of Seattle grunge and a love of epic piano scores. Muse's meteoric rise to rock's high table was underlined by the release of the acclaimed album "Absolution", in 2003.Table of ContentsTake A Bow; Starlight; Supermassive Black Hole; Map Of The Problematique; Soldier's Poem; Invincible; Assassin; Exo-Politics; City of Delusion; Hoodoo; Knights Of Cydonia

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Book SynopsisPart of the "Authentic Playalong Series", this title contains eight songs, everyone a rock classic, transcribed from the original recordings for bass, with a recorded soundalike CD with full demos and backing tracks.Table of ContentsDon’t Cry; Mr. Brownstone; Nightrain; Paradise City; Sweet Child O' Mine; Welcome To The Jungle; You Could Be Mine; You’re Crazy

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