Popular music Books
Oxford University Press Groove Music The Art and Culture of the HipHop D.J.
Trade Reviewreadable and engaging. * Thomas Kelly, Sunday Business Post *This excellent book draws on 10 years of interviews with some of the key figures in hip hop's emergence and development ... a gripping study. * James Wilsdon, Times Higher Education Supplement *[Katz's] book manages to be both lively and academic - some achievement. * Susan Elkin, The Stage *DJs, researchers working in various areas (popular musicology, cultural studies, American studies, etc.) and the casual reader with an interest in hiphop will all find much to engage them in this book. Katzs fanatical enthusiasm permeates the works scholarly tone, producing an informed narrative which remains vigorous at all times and leads the reader through almost 40 years of musical evolution with great momentum yet careful control. In his introduction to the book, Katz says that DJ Cash Moneys response on being told of the project was that we [the hip-hop DJ community] need you to get this right (12). It seems that in writing Groove Music he has done just that. * Rowan Oliver, Journal of Music, Technology & Education *Groove Music is a well-researched historical account of the legacy and cultural influence of hip-hop DJs that will prove useful to any scholar or student of popular music. Not only is Katzs book a compelling contribution to hip-hop scholarship, it is witty and accessible enough to serve as freeiration for future turntablists and current practitioners discovering their own roots. * Michael Lee Austin, College Music Symposium *Groove Music: The Art and Culture of the Hip Hop DJ should be considered a foundational reading for anyone wanting to understand the context for the hip-hop DJs historical emergence, evolution and contemporary position in American musical culture ... Groove Music is to be lauded for supporting the legitimacy of hip-hop DJ culture--something that hip-hop DJs have struggled to educate music listeners about since hip-hop's beginnings. * Stephen Bischoff, Journal of Popular Culture *A thoroughly researched, comprehensive, and well-written narrative history of [hip-hop's] practices ... Katz's book is an important contribution towards our understanding of the many facets of hip-hop culture ... Groove Music's insightful and intelligent consideration of the world of the hip-hop DJ will be a landmark for years to come. * John Paul Meyers, Notes *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. The Breaks and The Bronx, 1973-1975 ; 2. Mix and Scratch: The Turntable Becomes a Musical Instrument 1975-1978 ; 3. Out of the Bronx and into the Shadows 1978-1983 ; 4. Expansions 1983-1989 ; 5. Turntablism 1989-1996 ; 6. The Art of War: The DJ Battle 1991-1996 ; 7. Legitimacy 1996-2002 ; 8. Falling Barriers 2002-2010 ; Conclusion ; Bibliography
£34.19
The University of Chicago Press More Important than the Music A History of Jazz
Book SynopsisToday, jazz is considered high art, America's national music, and the catalog of its recordings - its discography - is often taken for granted. This book examines recorded jazz from its careless handling as a novelty in the 1920s, through the deluge of 12-inch vinyl in the twentieth century, to the use of computers by today's discographers.Trade Review"On the surface, More Important Than the Music is an esoteric book, but Bruce D. Epperson has successfully managed to breathe life into the subject, weaving a story that opens up the field to a broader base of interest. He deals in fine detail with the origins and development of jazz discography, providing fascinating personal background on the major figures as well as addressing foundational issues such as plagiarism. A major contribution to jazz studies." (Eric Charry, Wesleyan University)"
£999.99
Outline Press Ltd Earthbound: David Bowie and The Man Who Fell To
Book Synopsis'Before there was Star Wars before there was Close Encounters there was The Man Who Fell To Earth. advertising tag line for 1981 reissue of the film. Earthbound is the first book-length exploration of a true classic of twentieth-century science-fiction cinema, shot under the heavy, ethereal skies of New Mexico by the legendary British director Nicolas Roeg and starring David Bowie in a role he seemed born for as an extra-terrestrial named Thomas Newton who comes to Earth in search of water. Based on a novel by the highly regarded American writer Walter Tevis, this dreamy, distressing, and visionary film resonates even more strongly in the twenty-first century than it did on its original release during the year of the US Bicentennial. Drawing on extensive research and exclusive first-hand interviews with members of the cast and crew, Earthbound begins with a look at Tevis s 1963 novel before moving into a detailed analysis of a film described by its director as 'a sci-fi film without a lot of sci-fi tools and starring a group of actors Bowie, Buck Henry, Candy Clark, Rip Torn later described by one of them (Henry) as 'not a cast but a dinner party. It also seeks to uncover the mysteries surrounding Bowie s rejected soundtrack to the film (elements of which later ended up his ground-breaking 1977 album Low) and closes with a look at his return to the themes and characters of The Man Who Fell To Earth in one of his final works, the acclaimed musical production Lazarus.
£13.46
Red Planet Publishing Ltd '77 Sulphate Strip
Book SynopsisAn updated reissue of what, along with England's Dreaming, has become the acknowledged seminal work on punk. Cain was at every major gig and interviewed all of the acts at the time. He was viewed as an 'insider' and his access was unrivalled. This book is a vibrant and fast-paced trip through an extraordinary year. Includes major new interviews with Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten, Strangler Hugh Cornwell and Rat Scabies of The Damned.
£12.34
Collector's Guide Publishing Urban Legends of Rock & Roll: You Never Can Tell
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£12.34
Taylor & Francis Bad Music
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£39.99
St Martin's Press Bear The Life and Times of Augustus Owsley
Book SynopsisThe creator of the dancing bear logo and designer of the Wall of Sound for the Grateful Dead, Augustus Owsley Stanley III, better known by his nickname, Bear, was one of the most iconic figures in the cultural revolution that changed both America and the world during the 1960s.Owsley''s high octane rocket fuel enabled Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters to put on the Acid Tests. It also powered much of what happened on stage at Monterey Pop. Owsley turned on Pete Townshend of The Who and Jimi Hendrix. The shipment of LSD that Owsley sent John Lennon resulted in The Beatles'' Magical Mystery Tour album and film. Convinced that the Grateful Dead were destined to become the world''s greatest rock ''n'' roll band, Owsley provided the money that kept them going during their early days. As their longtime soundman, he then faithfully recorded many of the Dead''s greatest live performances and designed the massive space age system that came to be known as the Wall of Sound.
£12.99
Feral House,U.S. I've got something to say
Book SynopsisDanko Jones collects ten years of onstage and backstage stories in this eye-poppingly funny rock-n-roll collection.
£18.89
Faber & Faber Good Vibrations
Book SynopsisMike Love is a founding member of the Beach Boys and the lead singer and lyricist of their biggest hits. With their lush vocals and endlessly inventive arrangements, the band forged art from songs about cars, surfing and first love. But beneath the Beach Boys' wholesome appearance lurked darker truths: drugs and dissent, deceit and betrayal, illness and infidelity, line-up changes and litigation. In Good Vibrations, Mike Love tells the unvarnished story of his five-decade tenure as frontman of the quintessential American band, whose music continues to reverberate today.
£7.49
Faber Music Ltd The Shadows
Book SynopsisContains some of the greatest and influential hits from "The Shadows" in guitar tab along with commentary on the music and current affairs at the time of composition.Table of ContentsApache; Atlantis; F.B.I; Foot Tapper; Geronimo; Guitar Tango; Kon Tiki; Wonderful Land
£15.19
University of Minnesota Press Stomping the Blues
Book SynopsisIn this classic work of American music writing, renowned critic Albert Murray argues beautifully and authoritatively that “the blues as such are synonymous with low spirits. Not only is its express purpose to make people feel good, which is to say in high spirits, but in the process of doing so it is actually expected to generate a disposition that is both elegantly playful and heroic in its nonchalance.” In Stomping the Blues Murray explores its history, influences, development, and meaning as only he can. More than two hundred vintage photographs capture the ambiance Murray evokes in lyrical prose. Only the sounds are missing from this lyrical, sensual tribute to the blues.
£999.99
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Break on Through
Book SynopsisThirty-five years after his death in Paris at age twenty-seven, Jim Morrison''s iconic legend remains as powerful as ever, swathed in the mists of mystery. There have been numerous biographies about the self-proclaimed Lizard King''s life and career. But none have examined his roots and childhood, the intellectual foundations of his music, his wild days with the Doors, and his enigmatic early death as completely and insightfully as Break On Through.More than simply a fascinating look at a rock legend whose cult following never stops growing, here is the definitive Morrison biography: his angry relationship with his father; the early tragedies and terrible events responsible for the darkness of his artistic vision; his private life and legal trials, including his infamous Miami obscenity bust; and the truth about his final hours. Based on extensive research and featuring dozens of rarely published photographs, this is the authoritative portrait of the poet, the grim v
£17.99
Grove Press / Atlantic Monthly Press Please Kill Me The Uncensored Oral History of
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£14.99
Hal Leonard Corporation Weezer Guitar Recorded Versions
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£18.99
Ian Randle Publishers,Jamaica Reggae Routes: The Story of Jamaican Music
Book SynopsisFrom Kumina to Mento, Ska to Rocksteady, Reggae to Dancehall, Roots to Ragga – this is the authentic story of Jamaican popular music, told for the first time by Jamaicans. In Jamaica, Reggae is more than music – it is the nation’s main collective emotional outlet and its chief cultural contribution to the world. Reggae Routes examines the ways in which this uniquely popular music expresses the dreams, desires and realities of the Jamaican people, capturing the `glad to be alive’ spirit which makes Jamaican music so popular worldwide. Jamaican music can be roughly divided into four eras, each with a distinctive beat – ska, rocksteady, reggae and dancehall. Ska dates from about 1960 to mid-1966, rocksteady from 1966 to 1968, while from 1969 to 1983 reggae was the popular beat. The reggae era had two phases, `early reggae’ up to 1974 and `roots reggae’ up to 1983. Since 1983, dancehall has been the prevalent sound. The authors describe each stage in the development of the music, identifying the most popular songs and artists, highlighting the significant social, political and economic issues as they affected the musical scene. While they write from a Jamaican perspective, the intended audience is `any person, local or foreign, interested in a intelligent discussion of reggae music and Jamaica.’ A unique feature of this book is the inclusion of historical radio charts from 1960 to 1966 and a provocative reggae all-time top 100 chart. Copiously illustrated with period photos, record jackets and a variety of music memorabilia, this is the best book ever written on reggae.
£18.08
Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation The Harmony of Bill Evans
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£18.39
Hachette Book Group USA Tunesmith
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£999.99
Hachette Books Fare Thee Well
Book SynopsisA tell-all biography of the epic in-fighting of the Grateful Dead in the years following band leader Jerry Garcia''s death in 1995The Grateful Dead rose to greatness under the inspired leadership of guitarist Jerry Garcia, but the band very nearly died along with him. When Garcia passed away suddenly in August of 1995, the remaining band members experienced full crises of confidence and identity. So long defined by Garcia''s vision for the group, the surviving Core Four, as they came to be called, were reduced to conflicting agendas, strained relationships, and catastrophic business decisions that would leave the iconic band in shambles. Wrestling with how best to define their living legacy, the band made many attempts at restructuring, but it would take twenty years before relationships were mended enough for the Grateful Dead as fans remembered them to once again take the stage.Acclaimed music journalist and New York Timesbestselling author Joel Selvi
£19.80
Orion Export Editions When Giants Walked the Earth
Book SynopsisThe final word on the world's greatest rock band, Led Zeppelin, from esteemed rock journalist and author Mick Wall, bestselling author of the seminal WHEN GIANTS WALKED THE EARTH
£11.24
University of Texas Press Houston Rap Tapes
Book SynopsisPortraying a vibrant, but often overlooked, music scene, this amplified edition of Houston Rap Tapes includes new interviews of Scarface, Slim Thug, Lez Moné, B L A C K I E, Lil’ Keke, and Sire Jukebox of the original Ghetto Boys, as well as many additionTrade ReviewHouston Rap Tapes is a book that any self-respecting hip-hop head should read. Through copious amounts of research, care, and empathy, Walker allows the city of Houston to tell its story the way it deems fit. * Los Angeles Review of Books *One of the best specific explorations of hip-hop you'll ever find. * San Antonio Current *Houston...is changing. Books like Houston Rap Tapes help put on record the history and creativity that have long bubbled in the city's core neighborhoods. * D Magazine *Lance Scott Walker…is a historian with a capital H. What I enjoyed most about this book is that great lengths were taken to include participants at all levels of exposure, from mainstream to underground. * Day and a Dream *The oral histories, drawing on interviews conducted from 2005 to 2017, highlight the connections between the artists and the community they built. * Publishers Weekly *I want this Houston hip-hop oral history book…because it details an essential rap locale via interviews with H-Town titans including Scarface and Slim Thug. * Pitchfork Holiday Wish List *[Walker's] documentation may be more crucial now than ever. * Houston Chronicle *For Houston, this book is iconic because local voices break down the models that they embedded in early 'Hustletown' culture that are still alive to this day as underground Texas rappers attempt to adapt to the streaming era. * Passion of the Weiss *An authoritative history of one of America's most innovative and radical music scenes…[Lance Scott Walker] offers a dream realized for fans of Houston's explosive rap scene. * Texas Books in Review *[Houston Rap Tapes] is a guide on how to appropriately archive and document regional rap over a generational timeline. It’s gold. -- Taylor Crumpton * Music Journalism Insider *Table of Contents Foreword by Willie D Preface by Lance Scott Walker Foundation MC Wickett Crickett (2010) DJ Steve Fournier (2016) Darryl Scott (2007) Captain Jack (2011) Pam Collins (2012) Jazzie Redd (2016) Rhinestone DJ Ready Red (2008) Willie D (2007) Ricky Royal (2012) Romeo Poet (2012) Elite Al-B (2012) Raheem (2008) Lil’ Troy (2010) Scarface (2017) Def Jam Blaster (2016) Sire Jukebox (2016) Southside K-Rino (2006) DJ Domo (2007) Rob Quest (2017) N.O. Joe (2017) DJ Styles (2014) Matt Sonzala (2012) Big Mike (2011) Lez Moné (2017) The ARE (2007) K-Otix (2008) Craig (BBC) Long (2007) Murder One (2008) Point Blank (2011) Dope E. (2010) Top Dog (2007) Snapp of The Niyat (2017) B-1 (2010) Cl’Che (2010) Justice Allah (2011) Z-Ro (2011) 380 Dat Lady (2014) KB Da Kidnappa (2011) Icey Hott (2012) DJ Gold (2011) Klondike Kat (2012) Russell Washington (2011) DJ Chill (2007) Shorty Mac (2008) Lil’ Keke (2006) Big DeMo (2011) Wood (2008) LOS (2011) Southside Playaz (2006) DJ DMD (2011) Bun B (2006) Northside G-Dash (2006) Mike Moe (2010) Salih Williams (2007) Paul Wall (2011) Slim Thug (2013) Meshah Hawkins (2011) Kay of The Foundation (2017) Future Big Gerb (2014) Cal Wayne (2017) Dr. Robert S. Muhammad (2011) OMB Bloodbath (2017) B L A C K I E (2017) Acknowledgments
£26.59
Hal Leonard Corporation A Perfect Union of Contrary Things
Book SynopsisActor performer musician entrepreneur winemaker athlete writer curious adventurer ä Maynard James Keenan is the embodiment of the archetypal artist. Best known as the vocalist in award-winning groups Tool A Perfect Circle and Puscifer he has trusted the path he's followed and heeded his inner voice ever open to synchronicities and unexpected turnings along the way.ÞUntil now fans of Maynard James Keenan ä or MJK as he is often called ä have had access to only an abridged version of his story. In ÊA Perfect Union of Contrary ThingsÊ Keenan partners with his friend of 30 years Sarah Jensen to present a full account of his life and career. From his Midwest childhood to his years in the army to his time in art school ä and from his stint at a Boston pet shop to his place in the international spotlight and his influence on contemporary music and regional winemaking ä the book chronicles the events that led MJK to take one step after the next to change direction to explore sometimes surprising opportunities.ÞIncluded are sidebars in his own words often humorous anecdotes that illuminate the narrative as well as commentary by his family members friends instructors and industry colleagues. It also features a foreword by Alex Grey an American visionary artist and longtime friend of Keenan along with a bounty photos of Keenan from childhood to the present.ÞA comprehensive portrayal of a versatile and dedicated artist ÊA Perfect Union of Contrary ThingsÊ pays homage to the people and places that shaped the man and his art. A ÊNew York TimesÊ Bestseller in hardcover it is presented here for the first time in paperback.
£14.24
North Point Press Laurel Canyon The Inside Story of RockAndRolls
Book SynopsisMichael Walker's Laurel Canyon presents the inside story of the once hottest rock and roll neighborhood in LA.In the late sixties and early seventies, an impromptu collection of musicians colonized a eucalyptus-scented canyon deep in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles and melded folk, rock, and savvy American pop into a sound that conquered the world as thoroughly as the songs of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones had before them. Thirty years later, the music made in Laurel Canyon continues to pour from radios, iPods, and concert stages around the world. During the canyon''s golden era, the musicians who lived and worked there scored dozens of landmark hits, from California Dreamin'' to Suite: Judy Blue Eyes to It''s Too Late, selling tens of millions of records and resetting the thermostat of pop culture.In Laurel Canyon, veteran journalist Michael Walker tells the inside story of this unprecedented gathering of some of the baby boomer''s leading musical lightsincluding Joni Mitchell; Jim Morrison; Crosby, Stills, and Nash; John Mayall; the Mamas and the Papas; Carole King; the Eagles; and Frank Zappa, to name just a fewwho turned Los Angeles into the music capital of the world and forever changed the way popular music is recorded, marketed, and consumed.
£15.30
Rizzoli New Order
Book SynopsisA definitive collection of photographs of the legendary and influential band New Order. New Order remains one of the most popular bands of the last half century. Founded in the dying years of punk and disco, and combining elements of post-punk, new wave, and electronic dance music, New Order was responsible for some of the biggest hits of the era and is one of few bands to have achieved mainstream success while retaining cult status. Having been the most trusted photographer of Joy Division in the 1970s, Kevin Cummins was uniquely placed to document the rise and fall of New Order, from their formation in 1980 to their split in 1993. From underground beginnings as the flagship group of Factory Records in Manchester to grandstand tours around Europe and America, Cummins captured the band in every light, from the intimacy of the studio to the frenetic energy of live performance. Collected here for the first time are more than a hundred photographs reflecting over a decade of New Order. PTrade Review"The rapport between the photographer and the band is apparent, and the exchanges delving into the band’s history provide real insight. That rapport is even more evident in the meat of the book, with Cummins’ work showing an intimacy with his subject matter, regardless of whether the band is at leisure or onstage. . . Bad haircuts and fashion choices aside, this book captures the group as we'd like to remember them: a great band at the top of its game."-THE AGIT READER
£999.99
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Curepedia
Book SynopsisAcompleteand truly unique biography of Robert Smith and company, The Cure, chronicling their 40+ year history with hundreds of entries in A to Z fashion.Definitive and deeply researched,Curepedia will surprise and inform fans everywhere as they await The Cure''s highly anticipatednextalbum release.The Cure remain, 40 plus years into their career, one of the biggest rock bands in the world. With 12 studio albums, tours that pack stadiums all over the world?including their recent sold out series across North America in Spring/Summer 2023?they were the first alternative band to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 2019 by Trent Reznor. Their influence is heard in bands as wide ranging as Twilight Sad to Interpol to My Chemical Romance.Amidst the record-settingShows of a Lost World Tourwinding down, acclaimed music journalist Simon Price has crafted a first of its kind history of this band that will satisfy legion of fans eagerly awaiting The Cure?s new album.Curepediais a career-spanning and in-depth biography of Robert Smith and company, chronicling their 40 plus year history with hundreds of entries organized in an A-to-Z fashion.Presented in a two-color format, with four-color endpapers designed by long-time Cure collaborator Andy Vella,Curepediais a full-scale look at the long list of members, current and past, unknown facts, tours, descriptions of every album, song, films, as well as entries on the image of the band, their influence, their style, and their enduring legacy. This beautifully packaged book, celebrating one of the most enduring and beloved rock bands,Curepediawill be the perfect introduction for new fans, and a must-have for the obsessive as well.
£999.99
Sonicbond Publishing Opeth On Track: Every Album, Every Song
Book SynopsisA 'cult' band with a mass following, the band's last five albums have made the top 30 in the UK. Still active, recording and touring. Completely unique - no other band mixes progressive rock, metal and jazz in the same way. There has never been - and never will be - another band like Opeth. Formed in Stockholm, Sweden circa 1989, their roughly thirty-year career showcases a melding of diverse influences; a prevailing commitment to songwriting and instrumental excellence; and unwaveringly chameleonic vision - no matter the cost - that's unmatched by any of their stylistic peers. Be it their most unashamedly brutal early LPs, their multifaceted and near-faultless mid-period opuses, or their somewhat polarizing recent glimpses into macabre 1970s-esque prog/jazz rock eccentricity, mastermind Mikael Akerfeldt and company continuously create records that push themselves, their audience, and progressive music as a whole, forward. The result is easily among the most extraordinary, dependable, and laudable legacies in modern metal. Using a meticulously crafted mixture of original analysis and behind-the-scenes research, this book digs into all facets of Opeth's output to discover how they innovated and evolved with practically every release. After all, each 'observation' - from their 1990s black metal classics (Morningrise and My Arms, Your Hearse) and 2000s progressive death metal masterpieces (Blackwater Park and Ghost Reveries) to their stunning progressive rock/jazz fusion excursions of the 2010s (Pale Communion and In Cauda Venenum) - found Opeth ceaselessly harvesting a one-of-a-kind catalogue that's still remarkably influential and impressive
£18.67
Hal Leonard Corporation Top of the Mountain
Book SynopsisIn August 1965, during a sweltering heatwave, 56,000 people traveled by plane, car, bus, ferry, and subway train to pack New York''s Shea Stadium on a Sunday eveningnot for a baseball game, but for a rock and roll concert. This idea was the crazy dream of concert promoter Sid Bernstein. No rock band had ever played a baseball stadium, and no one believed he could pull it off. But on that glorious night, The Beatles sold out Shea Stadium, shattering all existing box office and attendance records in show business history. Oh, and they also changed the world. Against the backdrop of a remarkably volatile year in our nation''s history, Top of the Mountain: The Beatles at Shea Stadium, 1965 delivers all the detail and excitement of Shea and the spirited, curious new generation who would soon claim the decade for its own. Told through first-person interviews and quotes, a unique cast of characters tells the story: celebrities then and celebrities now, writers, agents, producers, ph
£27.00
University of Texas Press Why Bushwick Bill Matters
Book Synopsis In 1989 the Geto Boys released a blistering track, “Size Ain’t Shit,” that paid tribute to the group’s member Bushwick Bill. Born with dwarfism, Bill was one of the few visibly disabled musicians to achieve widespread fame and one of the even fewer to address disability in a direct, sustained manner. Initially hired as a dancer, Bill became central to the Geto Boys as the Houston crew became one of hip-hop’s most important groups. Why Bushwick Bill Matters chronicles this crucial artist and explores what he reveals about the relationships among race, sex, and disability in pop music. Charles L. Hughes examines Bill''s recordings and videos (both with the Geto Boys and solo), from the horror-comic persona of “Chuckie” to vulnerable verses in songs such as “Mind Playing Tricks On Me,” to discuss his portrayals of dwarfism, addiction, and mental illness. Hughes also explores Bill’s importance to his era and to the longer history of disability in music. A complex figure, Bill exposed the truths of a racist and ableist society even as his violent and provocative lyrics put him in the middle of debates over censorship and misogyny. Confrontational and controversial, Bushwick Bill left a massive legacy as he rhymed and swaggered through an often-inaccessible world. Trade ReviewThe Bushwick Bill story is complex, more complex than a batch of controversial lyrics and a record cover would suggest...Why Bushwick Bill Matters does that complexity justice, and gives a Houston hip-hop legend his due. * Houstonia *[Hughes is] expert at interweaving music criticism, cultural history, disability studies, and a touch of personal reflection [in Why Bushwick Bill Matters]. Hughes is well-studied and acutely informed on race and music. * Rain Taxi *Why Bushwick Bill Matters is invaluable for its examination of how race, gender, and disability shaped Bushwick Bill’s contributions to hip-hop culture and to the music industry...Hughes proves that Scarface was not the only member of the Geto Boys to have a lasting impact on hip-hop music. Bushwick Bill deserves that distinction, too. * Journal of Popular Music Studies *This small, well-considered, deeply felt, and often very funny volume is invaluable in the continued discourse of difficult people making difficult work, which seems necessary for the continued, spiky, and difficult possibility of disabled selfhood and expression. * Canadian Journal of Disability Studies *Table of ContentsA Note on Terminology Introduction How Little Billy Became Bushwick Bill Bum-Rush the Freak Show “Size Ain’t Shit” Can’t Be Stopped “He Ain’t What You Expect” Child’s Play “Brand New Preacher, Rap Game Teacher” Greatest Showmen Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography
£14.24
University of Illinois Press Americanaland Where Country Western Met Rock n
Book SynopsisTrade Review"A fascinating, detailed history of Americana music. " --Choice"Milward has channeled the fascinating Americana story into 320 flowing and informative pages. Not content to simply recapitulate names, dates and deeds, he frequently provides valuable context and perspectives to the saga." --Bluegrass Unlimited"John Milward has crafted a masterpiece." --Americana Rhythm Music Magazine"Endlessly fascinating." --Americana Highways"With fresh insight and a great sprinkling of anecdotal details, this is a fabulous addition to the canon, enhanced by portraits of the musicians from illustrator Greve. It would be impossible for Milward to pack any more information into this well-researched and comprehensive book. Recommended to anyone and everyone interested in the history of American music. " --Library Journal"Concise, lively, and informative, with many colorful anecdotes adding intriguing detail. Milward's deep knowledge of music history and expertise on roots-music genres make Americanaland an essential addition to the music book canon."--Holly George-Warren, author of Janis: Her Life and Music"There’s a common thread that runs through the great patchwork quilt that's come to be known as Americana Music. John Milward has artfully followed every stitch of that thread and revealed the story behind every patch. In doing so he’s made huge strides in giving this rich genre the legitimacy it deserves."--Larry Campbell"John Milward’s Americanaland is a book with a sense of place and rhythm. Both are impeccable. The joy of this veteran music writer’s survey of the music that’s come to be called Americana is that he ranges far, digs deep, and dismisses no sound." --Chapter 16 "Americanaland provides a history, clearly showing a dedicated path through musical eras as it points a path to the future." --Alternate Root "Encyclopedic. Kaleidoscopic. John Millward [offers an] account of a century of American music culminating in what we now call Americana. Countless stories of those who have brought this music that bubbles up from a bottomless well sunk deep in American soil."--Jim Rooney "You won’t read a better book on the origins of Americana music this year and I’d be willing to bet it will be quite some time before there’s anything comparable to it. Americanaland is the book that many of us have been waiting for and Milward has timed his publishing perfectly to tap into the zeitgeist as this great music continues to make inroads around the world." --Americana UK
£22.79
Thomas Dunne Book for St. Martin's Griffin Alice in Chains
Book SynopsisThe first comprehensive biography of Alice In Chains from its genre-forging years on the hard edge of grunge to the tragic death of lead singer Layne Staley and the band''s comeback.Alice in Chains were among the loudest voices out of Seattle. They were iconic pioneers who mixed grunge and metal in ways that continue to influence today''s artists, and theirs is a story of hard work, self-destruction, rising from the ashes, and carrying on a lasting legacy. Four years after their first meeting at a warehouse under Seattle''s Ballard Bridge, Alice in Chains became the first of grunge''s big four - ahead of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden - to get a gold record and achieve national recognition. With the charismatic Layne Staley behind the microphone, they became one of the most influential and successful bands to come out of the Seattle music scene. But as the band got bigger, so did their problems. Acclaimed journalist David de Sola delves beneath t
£16.99
Contra Fuego Eterno: La Historia de Jerry Lee Lewis
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£20.23
Equinox Publishing Ltd Trad Dads Dirty Boppers and Free Fusioneers
Book SynopsisThe 1960’s was a decade of major transformation in British jazz and in British popular music in general. The British jazz scene had been, arguably, the first outside America to assert its independence. At first slowly but with gathering speed, it began to define an identity that drew increasingly on sources from within its own culture, as well as those from African-American jazz, and from its shared European cultural heritage. This process would in itself prove highly influential, as French, Italian, German and Scandinavian scenes began to follow suit. The nature of jazz, its scope and potential were re-examined and reformulated in this period with important implications for its musicians and its audience.The external forces acting upon the British jazz scene were both global and local in origin. Jazz was not immune from the economic, social and cultural changes that occurred following the Second World War and which continued apace in the 1960’s. Its development w
£33.25
Nick Hern Books Follies
Book SynopsisSondheim's landmark musical about a reunion of showgirls, with a book by James Goldman. New York, 1971. There’s a party on the stage of the Weismann Theatre. Tomorrow the iconic building will be demolished. Thirty years after their final performance, the Follies girls gather to have a few drinks, sing a few songs, and lie about themselves. Including such classic songs as ‘Broadway Baby’, ‘I’m Still Here’ and ‘Losing My Mind’, James Goldman and Stephen Sondheim’s legendary musical was originally staged in New York in 1971, and received its British premiere in 1987. This edition was published alongside the major revival at the National Theatre, London, in 2017, directed by Dominic Cooke and starring Tracie Bennett, Janie Dee, Philip Quast and Imelda Staunton.Trade Review'A stunning musical... a pastiche so brilliant as to be breathtaking' * New York Daily News *'A landmark musical... a work of art' * New York Times *'A grand and lilting pastiche of legendary musical styles... the songs are cunning, melodic motifs laced with provocative lyrics that dutifully define each character with clarity and purpose... merges past and present with resonating counterpoint' * Variety *'Uniquely powerful and evanescent' * Los Angeles Times *
£10.44
Sonicbond Publishing The Twang Dynasty - From Memphis to Merthyr:
Book SynopsisPrior to new editions of legendary Man musician Deke Leonard's previous books Rhinos, Winos & Lunatics and Maybe I Should've Stayed in Bed? planned for 2020, we are happy to bring back his 3rd and 4th books in their original editions. The Twang Dynasty is a book for people who love guitars and the glorious noise they make, written by a musician who has lived and loved the music for 50 years. Deke Leonard reflects on the genre from within in a highly amusing and informative style that makes this an essential read. He shines a light on how and why some musicians changed the landscape forever, tracing the development of modern popular music from its fragmented roots in delta blues, country and early rock 'n' roll to today's guitar based rock. He mixes personal encounters with Hendrix and Clapton with analysis of well-known but equally important players, ending with a chapter on Welsh rock guitarists that have been particularly dear to his heart. The Twang Dynasty is compelling reading, making the reader want to revisit the music and embark on their own personal guitar odyssey.
£17.09
Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers Inc Pink Floyd All The Songs
Book SynopsisThe newest addition to the best-selling All the Songs series details the unique recording history of Pink Floyd, one of the world''s most commercially successful and influential rock bands.Since 1965, Pink Floyd been recording sonically experimental and philosophical music, selling more than 250 million records worldwide, including two of the best-selling albums of all time Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall. While much is known about this iconic group, few books provide a comprehensive history of their time in the studio. In Pink Floyd All the Songs, authors Margotin and Guesdon describe the origin of their nearly 200 released songs, details from the recording studio, what instruments were used, and behind-the-scenes stories of the tensions that helped drive the band.Organized chronologically by album, this massive, 544-page hardcover begins with their 1967 debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, the only one recorded under founding member Syd Barrett''s leadership; through the loss of Barrett and the addition of David Gilmour; to Richard Wright leaving the band in 1979 but returning; to Roger Waters leaving in 1985 and the albums recorded since his departure, including their 2014 farewell album, The Endless River, which was downloaded 12 million times on Spotify the week it was released. Packed with more than 500 photos, All the Songs is also filled with stories fans treasure, such as Waters working with engineer Alan Parsons to employ revolutionary recording techniques for The Dark Side of the Moon at Abbey Road Studios in 1972 or producer Bob''s Ezrin''s contribution in refining Water''s original sprawling vision for The Wall.
£40.50
Post Hill Press Finding Joseph I: An Oral History of H.R. from
Book Synopsis
£13.60
University Press of Mississippi Blues Mandolin Man: The Life and Music of Yank Rachell
Book SynopsisYank Rachell and his mandolin playing style moved every musician lucky enough to hear him perform in the early sixties. When he died in April 1997, he left behind a stack of unanswered requests to tour Europe and to play blues festivals in the United States. In Blues Mandolin Man: The Life and Music of Yank Rachell, Richard Congress delivers the first biography of a family man whose playing inspired and energized the likes of David Honeyboy Edwards, Sleepy John Estes, and Henry Townsend. No other biography discusses the mandolin's influence and role in the blues. Guitar great Ry Cooder said, ""Yank's style fascinated me because it had a lot of power and it's very raw-and what a great thing to do, just attack this little instrument like that."" Charlie Musselwhite, the noted harp player, worked with Rachell and club hopped in Chicago with the elder bluesman. ""He just had a great spirit about him,"" Musselwhite said of Rachell's playing and singing, ""really just shouting it out. If the world was made up of people like Yank Rachell it would be a wonderful place to live."" Blues Mandolin Man chronicles the life, times, and music of a man who was born into a family of sharecroppers in 1910 in rural western Tennessee. An active musician for 75 years, Rachell mastered several musical instruments and first recorded for Victor in Memphis in 1929. Through the blues, Rachell's world expanded to include Chicago, New York, recording studios and, after the sixties, radio, TV, and national and European tours. Yank's recollections reveal new information about personalities and events that will delight blues history buffs. Rich appendixes detail Yank's mandolin and guitar style and his place in the blues tradition. For this book Richard Congress, who reissued two of Rachell's old LPs in CD format, worked closely with him to record memories spanning decades of blues playing. Congress tells a compelling and engaging story about a colorful and thoughtful character who as a child picked cotton and plowed a field behind a mule, who grew to manhood coping with the southern Jim Crow system, and who participated in the creation and perpetuation of the blues. Richard Congress is the owner of Random Chance Records, a record company based in New York City.
£999.99
Hal Leonard Corporation Queen: The Complete Illustrated Lyrics
Book SynopsisIn 2011 the world celebrated the 40th anniversary of Queen ä one of the most innovative glamorous and influential bands in history. Over the course of the band's career they have grossed 170 million album sales worldwide have written 18 number one hits and performed 700 concerts. While some acts enjoy a forte of incredible showmanship a virtuoso instrumentalist a strong charismatic leader or a prolific sole songwriter Queen beholds all of these strengths. Although Freddie Mercury and Brian May are recognized as the prime songwriters each of the members have penned number one hits including classics such as Bohemian Rhapsody (Freddie Mercury) Another One Bites the Dust (John Deacon) A Kind of Magic (Roger Taylor) and We Will Rock You (Brian May). The fates brought the four creative and cerebral youths together in London in 1971 (Mercury was by then an established fine and graphic artist May was enveloped in the study of astrophysics Roger Taylor enrolled in dental school and John studying electronics). Since then they have made history with their sophisticated fusion of operatic expression theatrical performance symphonic melody and raw rock-and-roll.ÞBeginning with their debut ÊQueenÊ in 1973 (EMI/Electra Records) the band took the UK by storm then conquered the United States along with rest of the world serving as pioneers of stadium rock and enjoying commercial success and momentum well into the 1980s (marked by the famous Live Aid appearance in 1985) through the early 1990s. The whirlwind took a startling pause when singer Freddie Mercury passed away from AIDS on November 24 1991. The living members have forged ahead and remain great music makers.ÞÊThe Complete Illustrated LyricsÊ is the first book of its kind. Never before has there been a complete Queen lyric book. The hundreds of images that accompany the songs range from handwritten lyrics to rare photographs from the stage to the studio. Also included is a complete discography pairing each song to the album on which it was originally released. Designed by the band's longtime creative director Richard Gray the book is as true to the band as can be carrying with it the flamboyance expression and depth that Queen embodies as writers and performers. If there is one book for a fan of the band to possess this is the one.
£35.70
Hal Leonard Corporation Kickstart My Heart: A Motley Crew Day-by-Day
Book SynopsisÊKickstart My Heart: A Mêtley Crðe Day-by-DayÊ is an exciting chronology that celebrates in innovative form ä through the use of day-by-day entries and supporting band quotes mostly collected firsthand by the author as well as memorabilia shots and photography ä the crazy lives lived by Vince Mick Nikki and Tommy at the booze-drenched apex of the rock-'n'-roll food chain. Augmented with entries that help place the band in a wider rock context Popoff presents a swift-moving action-packed symphony of text and visuals that reprises his collaboration with Backbeat on similarly structured titles about Iron Maiden and Ozzy Osbourne. With very few Mêtley Crðe-related books on the market ÊKickstart My HeartÊ will likely serve for years to come as the most complete ä and completely party-hardy ä celebration of this band now 35 years on and in the midst of completing its final tour ever.
£27.00
Boydell & Brewer Ltd City Songs and American Life, 1900-1950
Book SynopsisAn insightful look at the urban sensibility that gives the Great American Songbook its pizzazz. Nothing defines the songs of the Great American Songbook more centrally than their urban sensibility. During the first half of the twentieth century, songwriters such as Harold Arlen, Irving Berlin, Dorothy Fields, George and IraGershwin, and Thomas "Fats" Waller flourished in New York City, the home of Tin Pan Alley, Broadway, and Harlem. Through their songs, these artists described America -- not its geography or politics, but its heart -- to Americansand to the world at large. In City Songs and American Life, 1900-1950, renowned author and broadcaster Michael Lasser offers an evocative and probing account of the popular songs -- including some written originally for the stage or screen -- that America heard, sang, and danced to during the turbulent first half of the twentieth century. Many songs portrayed the glamor of Broadway or the energy and Jazz Age culture of Harlem. But a city-bred spirit -- or even a specifically New York City way of feeling and talking -- also infused other widely known and loved songs, stretching from the early decades of the century to the Twenties (the age of the flapper, bathtub gin, and women's right to vote), the Great Depression, and, finally, World War II. Lasser's deftly written book demonstrates how the soul of city life -- as echoed in the nation's songs -- developed and changed in tandemwith economic, social, and political currents in America as a whole. Michael Lasser, a former teacher and theater critic, is host of the syndicated public-radio show Fascinatin' Rhythm (winner of the Peabody Award) and the author of two previous books. Support for this publication was provided by the Howard Hanson Institute for American Music at the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester.Trade ReviewLasser knows his stuff, and the most convincing passages of the book are the moments at which he focuses his attention on the analysis of individual songs. Of particular note is the issue of race. To his credit, Lasser is aware that race would necessarily play a central role in any book on this topic. He addresses the use of racial epithets in songs of the era [...] and he frequently acknowledges the divergent perspectives of Black and White songwriters. * MUSIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION NOTES *A great contribution to documenting the collective music and urban memory of America. The passion of the author for his subject matter is apparent on every page. The book gives a rich overview of the many societal changes in that period, such as changing views on sex, romance and marriage. Lasser's book is an essential work for anyone interested in how the changing America of the early twentieth century is recorded through music. * POPULAR MUSIC HISTORY *Lasser's book is both a love letter to an American institution and a thoroughly researched story of its heyday. . . . Required reading for lovers of American history and those who can't get enough of the catchy, infectious ditties that continue to capture the public. If you love both, then this book was written just for you. * FANFARE *The American broadcaster Michael Lasser documents how the United States changed songwriting and songs changed the United States. Dozens of songs have 'New York' or 'Manhattan' in the title, hundreds have it in the body of the song. Even individual streets are named, Broadway being only the most obvious...It wasn't only that the setting of these songs was urban. Urbanity was their trademark. * INSIDE STORY AUSTRALIA *City Songs and American Life, 1900-1950 draws on Michael Lasser's lifetime of close and thoughtful listening to some of the most sparkling and enduring works of American creativity. His insights throughout make this a fresh and valuable work, thoroughly researched and well-documented, yet entirely accessible to a wide swath of curious readers and listeners. Literate, authoritative, and engaging. Bravo! -- -- John Edward Hasse, Smithsonian InstitutionMichael Lasser's City Songs is the most engaging, comprehensive, and provocative examination of the Great American Songbook that I've encountered. No surprise to anyone familiar with his award-winning weekly radio series Fascinatin' Rhythm, Lasser writes with the 'dazzling economy' of the best lyrics and lyricists that he elucidates. His book convinced me that the songs of the first half of the twentieth century were indeed 'urban creatures' that 'sang the city electric' by merging sentiment and wit into a unique amalgam, mingling the 'jingle of jazz and the jangle of slang' with 'the clang and clamor' of the American metropolis, as Lasser so unforgettably characterizes it! -- -- Kim Kowalke, Eastman School of Music, University of RochesterReading Michael Lasser's City Songs and American Life, 1900-1950 is a surprisingly moving experience. Progressing through the twentieth century, as music and lyrics evolve to reflect our changing national life, Lasser locates the yearning heart in us and in those who came before us - in times of war, prosperity, giddy peace, or economic depression - in all who stir to the syncopated rhythms and conversational syntax, the fine sentiment and matchless wit, of the Great American Songbook. -- -- Jimmy Roberts, composer of the hit musical I Love You, You're Perfect, Now ChangeTable of ContentsIntroduction: Encountering the City The City's Clamor Broadway's Melody Harlem's Renaissance Recordings, Radio, and Talkies Starting the Century The Flapper and the Jazz Age The Great Depression World War II Afterword Notes Bibliography
£25.19
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Geto Boys' The Geto Boys
Book SynopsisAt the outset of summer in 1990, a Houston gangsta rap group called the Geto Boys was poised to debut its self-titled third album under the guidance of hip-hop guru Rick Rubin. What might have been a low-profile remix release from a little-known corner of the rap universe began to make headlines when the album's distributor refused to work with the group, citing its violent and depraved lyrics. When The Geto Boys was finally released, chain stores refused to stock it, concert promoters canceled the group's performances, and veteran rock critic Robert Christgau declared the group "sick motherfuckers." One quarter of a century later the album is considered a hardcore classic, having left an immutable influence on gangsta rap, horrorcore, and the rise of Southern hip-hop. Charting the rise of the Geto Boys from the earliest days of Houston's rap scene, Rolf Potts documents a moment in music history when hip-hop was beginning to replace rock as the transgressive sound of American youth. In creating an album that was both sonically innovative and unprecedentedly vulgar, the Geto Boys were accomplishing something that went beyond music. To paraphrase a sentiment from Don DeLillo, this group of young men from Houston's Fifth Ward ghetto had figured out the "language of being noticed" — which is, in the end, the only language America understands.Trade ReviewThe Geto Boys is a welcome addition to the 33 1/3 canon, as it brings some much-needed diversity on several levels…Potts delivers a strong history lesson that is well-researched and gives the Geto Boys their due as hip-hop pioneers. * Houston Press *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Fuck 'Em 2. Size Ain't Shit 3. Do It Like a G.O. 4. Scarface 5. Let a Ho Be a Ho 6. Life in the Fast Lane 7. Mind of a Lunatic 8. Gangster of Love 9. Trigga Happy Nigga 10. City Under Siege 11. Assassins 12. Talkin' Loud Ain't Saying Nothin' 13. Read These Nikes
£9.49
ECW Press,Canada Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock
Book SynopsisWeaves together the definitive story of the Seattle music scene through a series of over 130 interviews with the people who were there.
£17.99
Equinox Publishing Ltd Elvis: Roots, Image, Comeback, Phenomenon
Book SynopsisElvis Presley remains the single most important figure in twentieth century popular music. To many commentators, however, he has simply embodied the benefits and problems of uncritically embracing capitalism. By 2005 the 'Memphis Flash' sold over a billion records worldwide, yet his cultural significance cannot be measured by these extraordinary sales figures alone. He cannot quite be reduced to a placeholder for the contradictions of commerce. As the most prominent performer of the rock'n'roll era, then as a charismatic global superstar, Elvis fundamentally challenged the established relationship between White and Black culture, drew attention to the social needs of women and young people, and promoted the value of Southern creativity. He functioned as a bridge figure between folk roots and high modernity, and in the process became a controversial symbol of American unity. Elvis interprets the image and music of Elvis Presley to reveal how they have evolved to construct a particularly appealing and powerful myth. Following broad contours of Presley's rollercoaster career, the book uses a range of analytical frames to challenge established perspectives on an icon. Its shows that the controversy around Elvis has effectively tested how far a concern for social equality could be articulated through the marketplace, and ultimately challenged how popular music itself should be assessed.
£23.70
MP-NCA Uni of North Carolina I Dont Like the Blues Race Place and the
Book SynopsisIn this illuminating work, B. Brian Foster takes us where not many blues writers and scholars have gone: into the homes, memories, speculative visions, and lifeworlds of black folks in contemporary Mississippi to hear what they have to say about the blues and all that has come about since their forebears first sang them.Trade ReviewFoster's thoughtful and well-researched look at race and the blues via an exploration of a distressed and declining Southern rural town will be useful to music and sociology academics." —Library Journal
£23.76
Headpress I Was Elvis Presley's Bastard Love Child: and
Book Synopsis
£13.29
Red Planet Publishing Ltd Rock Atlas UK & Ireland: Second Edition
Book SynopsisA book of more than 700 great music locations throughout the UK and Ireland and the stories behind them. Featuring landmark album cover locations, gravestones, plaques, recording locations, statues, and sites of famous and infamous gigs. Rock Atlas features hundreds of stories, which deliver a fresh, new insight into the lives and times of our most famous rock and pop stars. Where were they born? Why does a particular movement inspire them? Rock Atlas has all the answers. This fact-filled look at rock and pop, from an entirely different perspective, throws up many new revelations about our favourite musicians. When you ve finished reading the stories, you can visit the places.
£23.75
Sonicbond Publishing Tommy Bolin - In and Out of Deep Purple
Book SynopsisIt started off so well. As Jon Lord enthused in the October 1975 issue of Melody Maker: 'Tommy can't be so bad for us with so many good ideas. All I can say is when you hear the album (Come Taste The Band) you'll change your mind. Whether you like the music or not, you'll have to realise that Deep Purple now have an excitement in their playing that they haven't had in a long time...' Despite calls of 'we want Blackmore' when Deep Purple Mark four played live, there was so much more to American guitarist Tommy Bolin than being Ritchie Blackmore's replacement. As a result, the purpose of this long-overdue biography is to readdress the existing narrative of Tommy Bolin's legacy. As well as discussing objectively Tommy's time with Deep Purple, Laura Shenton offers an insight into his musical achievements in his own right outside of the band, which include two cult rock albums in Teaser and Private Eyes. He also had a stint in The James Gang and made numerous guest appearances, where his versatile and virtuosic skills as a guitarist were utilised, before his untimely death in 1976 at the shockingly young age of 25
£12.34
Equinox Publishing Ltd Being Prez: The Life and Music of Lester Young
Book SynopsisLester Young (1909-1959) was one of the great jazz masters, whose tenor saxophone playing brought new levels of expressiveness and subtlety to the jazz language. Many of his recordings - with Billie Holiday, as a member of Count Basie's band, and under his own name - are numbered among the finest examples of the art. The book follows Lester Young through his life in a rapidly changing world, showing how the music of this exceptionally sensitive man was affected by his experiences. The author, a musician himself, examines many of Lester's classic recordings in illuminating but non-technical detail.Trade Review'What a glorious book! I expected from Dave Gelly informed and perceptive commentary on Lester Young's music. What came as a rich bonus was the warm light Dave has shone through the veil of obscurantism behind which the jazz genius chose to live his life.' Humphrey Lyttelton'This exemplary and concise study is illuminated by the author's straight-ahead prose. While fully aware of the musical and biographical details, Gelly wears his knowledge lightly in a way that will appeal to general readers as well as specialists.' Brian Priestley, author of Chasin' The Bird and co-author of The Rough Guide to Jazz'An outstanding book, covering the life and music of a truly unique musician, by one of the most perceptive and literate jazz writers. Eminently readable from the first page to the last, Being Prez is an essential addition to the jazz library.' Alun Morgan, Jazz Journal International'an exemplary new study' Martin Gayford, The Daily Telegraph'Tells the story of the saxophonist who spanned minstrelsy and Miles Davis. Enlivened by Young's camp humour, this labour of love will appeal to a wider readership.' The Observer Music Monthly best books for 2007Table of Contents1. 'I Just Loved that Music'2. The Territory3. 'Well, Okay. So Now we'll Find out what Happens'4. 'The Hippest Thing I ever Heard'5. Jumpin' at the Woodside6. Just Jivin' Around7. Jammin' the Blues8. DB Blues9. Jumpin' at Mesner's10. 'Von Hangman in Here'11. Prez Returns12. 'Let's Review the Books'13. 'Ivey-Divey!'
£19.00
Seltmann Publishers GmbH The Art of Metal Covers Vol. 2
Book Synopsis
£24.61
