Popular music Books

Book SynopsisDeep Purple In Rock is, as its iconic cover suggests, a landmark in rock music. From its opening moments of mayhem to its final crash into incoherent noise, it is a fuzzbox fuelled masterpiece with not a single wasted moment. Its release was also a watershed moment for the band, a defiant and irrevocable statement that they were going in a different direction from that followed on their first three albums. It would be wrong, however, to suggest that the album came from nowhere. Not only was it one side in a musical debate that had been raging within the band, but its antecedents can be traced through both Deep Purple's earlier releases and those of some of the source bands from which the principal players were drawn. Sculpting In Rock takes up that challenge, exploring the roots of the album, placing it into its proper context to consider how it was produced as well as why it was produced. Part history, part essay, part memoir, the book is essential reading for any fan of Deep Purple, In Rock or the exciting, uncompromising, genre of which it is arguably the masterpiece.

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Book SynopsisJon Lord will forever be immortalised as a musical pioneer. His attitude towards his art form - "It's all music" ensured that he embraced his joint passions for rock 'n' roll and orchestral music, along with other genres, throughout his career. Having initially found his feet in sixties r'n'b group The Artwoods, the formation of Deep Purple with co-conspirator Ritchie Blackmore escalated Jon to huge success with one of the biggest bands of the seventies, and again in the mid-eighties when the band reformed. In between, several years spent in Whitesnake added to his portfolio. Outside of his commitment in both these rock bands, Lord produced many albums under his own name, fusing his various musical interests, producing some sublime work in the process. Eventually deciding that his desire as a composer required more time and commitment than his day job with Deep Purple would afford, he eventually left the band he had helped to create, in 2002. For the next decade, Jon engrossed himself in his composing - producing monumental works such as Durham Concerto that became a firm favourite on Classic FM radio - and Boom Of The Tingling Strings, a four movement piano concerto. All aspects of Jon's long and illustrious career are plotted throughout this book, accompanied by numerous photos, many previously unpublished that help to emphasise the incredibly colourful career of this extraordinarily talented musician.

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Book SynopsisPink Floyd author Glenn Povey delves deep into Floyd’s history within the biggest music market in the world. This book not only charts the concerts they played and records that Floyd released in the USA and Canada from 1967 through to 1983 but it also looks in great detail at the band’s relationship with their American record company; the promotional aspects (or lack off!) that propelled Floyd to stadium status, and extensive details of TV and radio appearances, along with band interviews and much more. With loads of new information unearthed, Pink Floyd In North America shines new light on these crazy diamonds from their days playing small clubs right through to superstar status as one of the world’s biggest bands.

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Book SynopsisThe Damned are forever in the history books as the first UK punk band to get an album out. Damned Damned Damned was a flamethrower of a record, led by the incendiary violence of “New Rose” (first UK punk single as well) and “Neat Neat Neat,” two shocking punk anthems that defined the golden era of the new wave more purely pogo-mad than anything outta The Clash or the Sex Pistols. And the mayhem never let up, with the band already breaking up and reforming (another first!) by 1979 for one of the greatest punk albums of all time, Machine Gun Etiquette (by the way, The Damned were also the first UK punk band to tour America). More punch-ups and gratuitous vandalism ensued as the band expanded its palette through the years. Popoff has wanted to write Lively Arts: The Damned Deconstructed for decades, and now that it’s finished, he’s been all over video and radio calling it his favourite and best book he’s ever done. For in it, Popoff got to analyse monastically — headphones and repeat button at the ready — every damned Damned song across all the albums and every EP and single. This herculean task represented a joy of an exercise from a penmanship point of view, but it was most satisfying in a proselytizing sense — Martin wants everybody joining him in poring over The Damned catalogue in minute detail. Let this long-suffering band of scrapping, scratching cats in a sack know how important and beloved they are before they’re all dead!

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Book SynopsisThe astonishing run of albums unleashed upon an unsuspecting public within the span of five years created the legend of Alice Cooper that lives on to this day. But we’re talking about the original Alice Cooper group here, a band called that with a lead singer also going by that name. In other words, the legend was built by Vincent “Alice Cooper” Furnier, Michael Bruce, Glen Buxton, Dennis Dunaway and “platinum god” Neal Smith. It is all of them working together — along with producer Bob Ezrin — that created the mystique of songs like “I’m Eighteen,” “Is It My Body,” “Desperado,” “Under My Wheels,” “Be My Lover,” “Elected” and “No More Mr. Nice Guy.” And it is all of them working together — along with crack management in Shep Gordon and Joe Greenberg—that created the shock rock buzz that kept the newspapers full of indignation about this band set out to destroy human civilization. Easy Action: The Original Alice Cooper Group tells the story in meticulous chronological detail, from the band’s early days in Phoenix as The Spiders, through being broke on the Sunset Strip, followed by a career-reviving relocation to a notorious party house on the outskirts of Pontiac, Michigan. Corroborating the improbable sequence of events is a plethora of stories from the band themselves, who explain how the original Alice Cooper group went from politely ignored pariahs in Los Angeles to international Public Enemies No. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Listen to the guys and their good-natured explanations behind the mayhem, and it soon becomes apparent that the ghoulish makeup around the singer’s eyes and the boa constrictor around his neck — not to mention the head-choppings, the hangings and the hard rock — were all served up in good fun. Now it’s time for you, dear reader, to join in the fun and see why Alice Cooper was, for a golden moment in time fully 50 years ago now, the most feared and revered act in all of rock ‘n’ roll.

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Book SynopsisFrom 1975, through the eighties, re-activated in the nineties and a slight return in 2016-18, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow took its fans on numerous journeys from the grandiose beginnings with Ronnie James Dio to the chart busting times with Graham Bonnet and Joe Lynn Turner. And again in the nineties with Doogie White as lead vocalist, and finally stepping out for the last time in the twenty-first century for a handful of shows allowing a new generation of fans to have the opportunity of hearing Rainbow live on stage. In this hefty tome Jerry Bloom charts Rainbow’s full career with great detail and information, along with a huge raft of superb imagery that covers the entire career. Aside from band photos, the visual element is enhanced with rare memorabilia and artifacts.

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Book SynopsisWhen Punk Rock took on the establishment in the late 1970s it was about more than just the music. Fashion, culture, attitude, all went hand in hand with what the likes of The Sex Pistols, The Damned and The Clash gave the youth of the day. This visual biography charts all of that with fabulous photography of the bands, the fans and the day-to-day happenings. Re-live your youth or if you weren’t around at the time, immerse yourself in the youth culture of the late seventies and early eighties.

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Book SynopsisThere's no denying that throughout the 1970s, Jethro Tull were at the top of their game. With iconic albums such as Aqualung (1971), Thick As A Brick (1972), Songs From The Wood (1977) and Heavy Horses (1978) to their credit, the band had majestically earned their place as vital pioneers and contributors within the spectrum of progressive rock music. By the 1980s, the popularity of progressive rock had declined amongst the record-buying public. Any band wishing to continue the success they had enjoyed throughout the previous decade couldn't afford to rest on their laurels. And so arises an essential question: How did Jethro Tull fare in the 1980s? Laura Shenton MA LLCM DipRSL provides a detailed exploration into each of Jethro Tull's albums from the eighties, offering a critical analysis of the band's achievements, challenges, and sound.

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Book SynopsisBy the end of 1973, Deep Purple Mk2 was no more. Ian Gillan had been replaced by David Coverdale on vocals whilst Roger Glover had been replaced by Glenn Hughes on bass and vocals. It left the nucleus of Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord and Ian Paice to take Deep Purple in a new direction, which eventually came to a halt with the Mk4 line-up in 1976. With Deep Purple In Rock (1970), Fireball (1971), Machine Head (1972) and Who Do We Think We Are (1973) to Mk2’s credit, many fans lived in hope that one day, the band would get back together — with the music press occasionally courting the odd rumour that it would happen! Finally, in April 1984, the reunion of Deep Purple Mk2 was announced. Fans had got their wish. Or had they? With the landscape of rock and pop music having changed since the band’s success in the seventies, and with each member of Deep Purple Mk2 having nurtured very different careers as individuals by that point, a reunion was never going to be plain sailing! In this this book, Laura Shenton MA LLCM DipRSL examines the merits and challenges of what it was for Deep Purple Mk2 to get back together in the eighties. Included is a critical analysis of Mk2’s second round of albums: Perfect Strangers (1984), The House Of Blue Light (1987) and The Battle Rages On… (1993).

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Book SynopsisCompiled by Blackmore biographer Jerry Bloom this is the perfect companion to his 2006 biography Black Knight, as it portrays Blackmore's career visually with photos and memorabilia from 1958 to the present day. Not only does it feature a large selection of photos, many of which have never been seen before but following years of research by Bloom, it also includes the most comprehensive gig list ever published, for Blackmore's pre-Deep Purple career between 1958-67 with over 400 gigs detailed from his days with The Outlaws - backing Gene Vincent and Jerry Lee Lewis; with Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages; Neil Christian & The Crusaders; and even going back to his earliest bands such as The Vampires and The Condors. Augmented with memorabilia from the time, the book also plots Blackmore's career in photos, through Deep Purple, Rainbow and Blackmore's Night along with narrative by Bloom that puts the visual elements in context.

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Book SynopsisAuthor Martin Popoff assembles a panel of experts to roll through the records one by one, no stone unturned, no songs left unaddressed. There's been little written about Plant's journey from solo icon of the '80s through to his repeated deep-dives into Americana, world music, tributes to other writers, and the singular symphony of sounds that results when he mixes these parts. This book deconstructs each of Plant's 11 thought-provoking albums. It's hoped that the reader emerges with a new and nuanced appreciation for what Robert's been trying to achieve over the decades.

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Book SynopsisWild Mood Swings: Disintegrating The Cure Album by Album, Martin Popoff’s innovative new project on iconic post-punk pioneers The Cure, celebrates 50 years now since key actor of the band Robert Smith got hold of his first guitar. And the form this celebration takes is a critical analysis of the band’s 13 studio albums, utilising a panel of thoughtful and engaging music critics culled from the author’s and Marco D’Auria’s video channel, The Contrarians. Presented in easy-to-read Q&A format, Martin gathers these wise music swamis into small teams with an aim toward deconstructing and reassembling each album, hopefully generating myriad new ways for the reader and Cure fan to appreciate the band’s seminal records, beginning with Three Imaginary Boys in 1979 and ending with 4:13 Dream in 2008. As bonus to the discussion, Popoff has created a detailed timeline linked to each album, echoing the format used for his many celebrated visual biographies issued through Wymer Publishing in recent years. The end result presents a fresh methodology with which to consider a band’s catalogue, with the hope being that the mix of hard chronological reference material and freewheeling opinion, review and analysis makes for a lively celebration of—and subsequent richer appreciation for—everything Robert Smith has done for millions of Cure fans around the world, much of it therapeutic, redemptive and in so many inspiring instances, urgently life-saving.

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Book SynopsisRock And Roll Survivor charts all the ups and downs of Del Bromham - guitarist, singer and songwriter for the rock band Stray. Del's story takes you back on his 'Time Machine' to share recollections of his life. Born, and growing up in the 1950s. Becoming a teenager in London during the 'swinging 60s'. Forming his first band and learning his musical apprenticeship playing the clubs at the age of fourteen years in his brothers group. Constantly on tour with Stray he recalls tales of Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy Kilmister and touring with Kiss and Rush to name but a few. Meeting the Mafia Boss Joe Pagano. His associations with Wilf Pine and Charles Kray (elder brother of the infamous Kray twins) at the offices of the equally infamous Don Arden, along with Arden's daughter Sharon (who became Osbourne). Charting the ups and many downs of being a musician over fifty years in the music business. With forewords by life-long Stray fans, The Damned's Captain Sensible and Iron Maiden's Steve Harris, this is a true rollercoaster ride.

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Book SynopsisBy nearly any metric, Genesis is one of the most successful, influential, and enduring rock bands of all time. Naturally, the band’s fifty plus year career has also given rise to all kinds of related literature: some critical, some biographical, and some purely informational. That’s all well and good, but what if these didn’t have to be separate ideas? What if one book could somehow do it all? Play Me My Song is a blurring of the traditional boundaries of musical literature, approaching the music and history of Genesis from a multitude of angles in order to become something that is at once both truly unique and deeply comprehensive. Whatever kind of book you want to read about Genesis, this one is it. Comprised of extensive essays in varying styles about every single song and album in the entire Genesis catalogue, Play Me My Song blends song histories, musical analysis, critical reviews, autobiographical tales, the fun of countdowns, and a dash of pure silliness to create something extraordinary. It is, in essence, a book that sounds like Genesis. And the biggest book ever published on Genesis. Featuring: • All the songs: Coverage of all 197 songs and 15 studio albums Genesis ever produced, plus more! • In the band’s own words: A treasure trove of exhaustively researched quotes from the band members, conveniently aggregated into one place! • Counted down: Presented in worst-to-first order, you never know which song will pop up next!

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Book SynopsisThe first Eurovision Song Contest was held in 1956, only seven countries participated. In 2022 forty-one countries took part making it the biggest song competition in the world today. Over 161 million people tuned into watch the 2022 competition. This book isn't about the song contest as a whole, it solely concentrates on the United Kingdom entries from the first artist, Patricia Bredin in 1957, up to the last, Sam Ryder, who represented the United Kingdom in 2022. The statistics of each year, referencing the artists, compositions, venues and final placings, from the highs of winning to the lows of last place and even zero points make interesting reading. This book is a must for any die-hard Eurovision fan to add to their collection.

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Book SynopsisIn Dominance and Submission: The Blue Oyster Cult Canon, three-time BOC book author Martin Popoff turns the microphone away from himself to moderate a gathered and esteemed panel of Cult experts for deep-dive discussions on every Blue Oyster Cult studio album. No stone is left unturned, as we look at the personalities in the band, every song, every album cover, the band's highly regarded lyrics as poetry, their music as ground-breaking and genre-defying. Dominance and Submission is set-up in Q&A format, allowing for pure and piercing prose that is also conversational and easy-access. In the end, the author is confident that the wise words from this cabal of music authorities-with Popoff not pulling any punches either, joining in the fun when the door is opened-will have you playing the band's "canon" with a renewed appreciation as to the complexity laced throughout such albums as Tyranny and Mutation, Agents of Fortune-with its career defining hit "(Don't Fear) The Reaper"-Spectres, Fire of Unknown Origin and the daunting Imaginos. But have no fear, Martin and his team have taken us right up to the band's effusively received comeback album, The Symbol Remains, bringing band and fan full circle-umlauts included, of course. Finally, augmenting the learning (and listening) experience, Dominance and Submission provides a plethora of images that make these essays on the band's fifteen albums that much more visceral. Bottom line: if you thought Martin had covered everything you need to know in his definitive Agents of Fortune: The Blue Oyster Cult Story, think again-the analysis proffered by his panel even sent Popoff back to the sacred texts for a rock 'n' roll re-imagining. If he's been made smarter by what these guys have to say, you will be too.

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Book SynopsisFrom The Inside is a thorough revised and expanded re-working of Hayward's previous books, Tin Pan Alley: The Rise of Elton John and From Tin Pan Alley to the Yellow Brick Road. From The Inside is not just an ordinary biography. It is effectively an oral history using interviews conducted over a fifteen-year period with just about every musician, producer, sound engineer, manager and key figure that worked with Reg Dwight, before and when he was Elton John, both in Britain and America, up to 1979. It is their story, From the Inside; how they contributed to the success of Sir Elton during that time, and how they played an unwitting part in his rise to fame. It is a collection of stories from the music makers, managers, executives and musicians that makes this book possible. They are the people who were there, observing what was going on and, in some cases, in close proximity to Sir Elton. It really is the story of those who still see him as an acquaintance or as a friend. It is the first time some of them have spoken out about their years working and sharing Sir Elton's life. Sadly, some of those contributors have passed now but their words and contributions live on in this book.

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Book SynopsisNEC Arena Birmingham, November 9th 1993. Deep Purple were in crisis. No longer able to tolerate the presence of singer Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, the ace guitarist, made his displeasure known in a way that would have consequences none present could possibly have predicted. Blackmore's departure soon followed, and a merciful end seemed to have come for a band that had been riven with tensions for years. But then, after a brief dalliance with Joe Satriani, acknowledged six string maestro Steve Morse stepped in and a whole new age began. This book takes a critical look at the so-called 'Morse Era', charting the highs, the lows, the triumphs and the tragedies. It is a compelling story of albums, tours, musicians coming and musicians going, a story of a band that moved forward like few bands ever have, but who, nevertheless, could never completely escape from the shadow of that disastrous night at the NEC...

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Book SynopsisAn updated version of Loud 'n' Proud: Fifty Years of Nazareth, drawing on copious images and items of memorabilia, this large format 240-page book is a treasure trove for Nazareth devotees — crammed full of live and off stage shots that portray the band’s journey through the decades. It also includes loads of super cool memorabilia including backstage passes, gig posters, media adverts and much more, all reproduced on high quality art paper. From the early days of the seventies through to the current day, nestling alongside the wonderful imagery, the band’s whole career is documented by esteemed rock writer Martin Popoff who was assisted through the whole narrative by Nazareth’s founder and only remaining original member Pete Agnew. Popoff also interviewed Agnew for the book in addition to previous interviews the author has conducted, not only with the bass player extraordinaire but with many other band members past and present, all neatly laid out in a timeline, making this the essential go to Nazareth book.

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Book SynopsisAfter their last studio album in 1991 and the tour that followed it, fans have eagerly awaited a Dire Straits reunion ever since. Whilst the likelihood of that remains incredibly slim, this book is a celebration of the band and their amazing musical accomplishments — with 'Sultans Of Swing', 'Private Investigations' and 'Money For Nothing' being just the tip of the iceberg! From the early days of playing at London's Hope & Anchor in 1977, to the dizzying heights of the 1985-86 Brothers In Arms tour and beyond, this book documents it all. With vintage interviews and reviews aplenty, the story of Dire Straits is one that needs to be told and this mammoth book is the most comprehensive biography of the band yet published. Not only is the band’s story covered in detail through the narrative — this lavish coffee table book is also visually stunning — printed on high quality art paper and illustrated throughout with numerous photos and items of memorabilia making this a highly desirable Dire Straits collectible.

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Book SynopsisEndearingly, the differences between Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson were key ingredients in what would become the musical and writing chemistry of Supertramp - a band that made a fascinating and diverse contribution to music. From their first commercial breakthrough in 1974 with Crime Of The Century, they exceeded their own expectations with the colossal success of Breakfast In America in 1979. But it was never a smooth journey. With ups and downs financially, commercially and in terms of their working relationship, Supertramp lived the highs and lows of the music business. From local gigs to many highly demanding tours, this book documents it all. As Roger Hodgson once said, "The music always came pretty easily. Both the music and the lyrics come from the same place. For me, composing is literally losing myself in the music. I let the inspiration just come naturally. It is a very magical process. When I start hearing melodies, then I just start singing and the words start coming. The words will have something to do with what I am going through in my life, or what's in my heart at the time. I will have an idea of what the song's about and then work with the melody."

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Book SynopsisThe Stranglers exploded onto the music scene in 1977 with their iconic debut album Rattus Norvegicus. Lazily classed as a punk band because of their notorious behaviour and outrageous lyrics, the truth was somewhat different. Many books have been written about the behaviour of the band but this book focuses in-depth on the music and lyrics of every song during the years of the original line-up and destroys the myth of mindless musical provocateurs to reveal their brilliance and dark beauty by shining a forensic light on these musical visionaries. For fans of the band, whether musically experienced or not, it is a must-read. And for fans in general of rock music in the 70s and 80s, it will highlight what makes their music stand out as special and result in them dusting down their vinyl copies of the band's records to re-acquaint themselves with their music in a new light.

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Book SynopsisIn The Shadow Of The Wizard is a full colour, hardback, large format coffee table style book that comprehensively documents Rainbow's formative period. The recording of the first album, whilst Blackmore was still a member of Deep Purple; the first North American tour; the making of the seminal Rainbow Rising and the lengthy world tour that followed. The reader is taken on a journey gig by gig by what is regarded as the classic Rainbow line-up of Blackmore, Dio, Powell, Bain and Carey. Accompanied by photos, many previously unpublished; along with memorabilia and archive press cuttings. There is also an in-depth track by track look at the albums, and even a section detailing the short-lived Oyster Records, set up purely at Blackmore's insistence. The book also chronicles all the known recordings from the time, including full details of the many hours of rehearsal recordings made at Pirate Sound in California and a comprehensive guide to all the officially recorded live material, initially prepared for the On Stage album.

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Book SynopsisAll supremely talented musicians in their own right, together as The Police, Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland had a string of reggae-infused hits in the late seventies: 'Roxanne', 'Can't Stand Losing You', 'Message In A Bottle' and 'Walking On The Moon'. By the eighties, with the commercial and critical success of 'Don't Stand So Close To Me' and 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic', The Police were considered to be one of the biggest bands in the world, pushing new musical boundaries where their punk and new wave contemporaries hadn't dared to go. With the hit single 'Every Breath You Take' elevating them to greater heights of stardom, there was everything to play for. In celebration of the band's full tenure and complemented with a narrative by Laura Shenton MA LLCM Dip(RSL), this visual biography is crammed full with photos and memorabilia, all reproduced on high quality art paper.

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Book SynopsisThis illustrated biography celebrates Taylor Swift''s many hits and achievements Taylor Swift''s discography spans multiple genres, and her narrative songwriting, which is often inspired by her personal life, has received widespread media coverage and critical praise. She has scored eight Billboard Hot 100 number-one songs, and won 11 Grammy Awards (including three Album of the Year wins), an Emmy Award, 34 American Music Awards. She featured on Rolling Stone?s 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time (2015) and Billboard?s Greatest of All Time Artists list (2019). Having sold over 200 million records around the world she is one of the best selling music artists of all time. Named the Woman of the 2010s Decade by Billboard and the Artist of the 2010s Decade by the American Music Awards, Swift has been recognized for her influential career as well as advocacy of artists? rights and women?s empowerment in the music industry. This is her story.

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Book SynopsisAfter the breakup of the Beatles in 1971, Paul McCartney formed Wings with his wife Linda on keyboards, ex-Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine, and American session drummer Denny Seiwell. For ten dramatic and turbulent years, the band weathered the critics, endured drug busts, survived a harrowing recording session in Nigeria, changed drummers constantly, and produced a great deal of remarkable music. One of the most successful bands of the seventies?this post-Beatles years book tells the stories behind the #1 hits "Listen To What the Man Said," "My Love," "Band on the Run," "Jet," "With a Little Luck," and "Coming Up." Pete Chrisp reveals the band''s inner dynamics and Paul''s determination to pursue a new sound, the criticisms Linda initially got from fans and bandmates, and the character conflicts that kept the lineup changing. With a feature on Wings guitarist Henry McCullough, the book features a complete discography, a list of singles and albums also includes a treasure chest of Wings promotional material?album covers, posters, ads, and photos of the band on tour.

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Book SynopsisFrom their early days as budding artists to winning Eurovision, storming the global charts this is the history of arguably the most iconic pop act the world has ever seen. With in-depth analysis of all nine studio albums, accounts from their tours and a look at how the band managed to keep turning out the smash hits.

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive illustrated biography of Harry Styles''s amazing story to date Harry Styles is an English singer, songwriter, and actor. His musical career began in 2010 as a solo contestant on the British music competition series The X Factor. Following his elimination early on, he was brought back to join the boy band One Direction, which went on to become one of the best-selling boy bands of all time. Styles released his self-titled debut solo album through Columbia Records in 2017. It debuted at number one in the UK and the US, and became one of the world?s top-ten best-selling albums of the year. Its lead single, ?Sign of the Times?, topped the UK Singles Chart. Styles? second album, Fine Line (2019), debuted a top the US Billboard 200 with the biggest first-week sales by an English male artist in history, and was listed among Rolling Stone?s ?500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Harry?s new Album Harry?s House was released in 2022 and achieved No 1 on The Billboard 200 breaking records along the way. He is the first UK male artist to debut at No 1 on the Billboard Chart with his first 3 albums.

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Book SynopsisIf any one musical act of the rock and roll era can be said to have transcended the simple categorization of “band,” the Grateful Dead is it: by the time they stopped performing in 1995, the Dead had become an international institution with a vast backing organization, a massive and devoted fanbase, and archival recordings both official and bootlegged. The cultural significance of these bootlegs - live concert cassettes which solidified the Dead’s legendary status even as they occupied a legal gray area for decades - is utterly unique in the annals of music, and the story of their creation, trading, and endless proliferation is a people’s history unto itself. Featuring dozens of interviews with tape enthusiasts and members of the Grateful Dead organization as well as the show stopping visuals from hundreds of archival cassette covers, After All Is Said and Done is artist Mark A. Rodriguez’s exploration of that history, a saga of homegrown psychedelia, anarchic graphic styles, and black market fandom as written in magnetic tape.

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Book SynopsisThe Beatles and the Beatlesque address a paradox emanating from The Beatles’ music through a cross-disciplinary hybrid of reflections, drawing from both, musical practice itself and academic research. Indeed, despite their extreme stylistic variety, The Beatles’ songs seem to always bear a distinctive identity that emerges even more in similar works by other artists, whether they are merely inspired, derivative or explicitly paying homage. The authors, a musicologist and music producer, emphasize the importance of record production in The Beatles' music in a way that does justice not only to the final artifacts (the released songs) but also to the creative process itself (i.e., the songs "in the making").Through an investigation into the work of George Martin and his team, as well as The Beatles themselves, this text sheds light on the role of the studio in shaping the group's eclectic but unique sound. The chapters address what makes a song “Beatlesque”, to what extent production choices are responsible for developing a style, production being understood not as a mere set of technicalities, but also in a more conceptual way, as well as the aesthetics, semiotics and philosophy that animated studio activity. The outcome is a book that will appeal to both students and researchers, as well as, of course, musicophiles of all kinds.Table of ContentsPreface1. Introduction: a short history of The Beatles in the studio1.1 Recording strategies, tricks and effects1.2 Instrumentation and recurrent techniques1.3 The centrality of the studio2. Style and sound2.1 Sound and musical competence2.2 The roots of The Beatles sound2.3 Later influences3. On (the difficulty of) defining The Beatles style3.1. Vocals3.2. Harmonic solutions3.3. Melodic solutions3.4. Rhythmic solutions3.5. Instruments3.6. Dynamics3.7. Sound3.8. Endings3.9. Lyrics4. Crossdisciplinary reflections: production seen from the perspective of multimodality studies, narratology and film studies.4.1. Visual and literary components in Lennon-McCartney 4.1.1. Lennon or McCartney 4.1.2. Lennon and McCartney4.2. Production as multimodality4.3. Production and diegesis4.3.1. Diegesis, non-diegesis, formality, non-formality4.3.2. Hybrid forms and metadiegesis4.4. Case-study: feedbacks, false starts and blisters4.4.1. Redefining the spatial/temporal dimension of a song4.5. Production as montage4.5.1. Martin vs. Spector (and Lynne)4.5.2. Types of production as types of montage4.6. Case-study: The Fool on the Hill4.6.1. Creation and production4.6.2. What kind of fool was the fool on the hill?4.6.3. The authorial context4.6.4. Themes, structure and imagery4.6.5. Musical strategies4.7. Foreshadowing strategies5. Birth and fortune of the “Beatlesesque”: Transmission of creativity and legacy5.1 A little survey5.2 Stylistic features in a nutshell5.3 Another little survey5.4 Intrinsically-Beatlesesque features5.4.1 Different approaches5.4.2 Most referenced production elements5.5 ConclusionsReferencesIndex of namesIndex of songs/albums

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Book SynopsisThis textbook is a practical guide to achieving professional-level audio productions using digital audio workstations. It contains 27 chapters divided into three sections, with specially devised diagrams and audio examples throughout. Aimed at students of all levels of experience and written in an easy-to-understand way, this book simplifies complex jargon, widening its appeal to non-academic creatives and is designed to accelerate the learning of professional audio processes and tools (software and hardware).The reader can work through the book from beginning to end or dip into a relevant section whenever required, enabling it to serve as both a step by step guide and an ongoing reference manual. The book is also a useful aid for lecturers and teachers of audio production, recording, mixing and mastering engineering.Table of ContentsSection One: Record.- 1. An Introduction to How Sound Works.- 2. Speakers.- 3. Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).- 4. Digital.- 5. Hardware.- 6. Gain Staging.- 7. Microphones.- 8. Phase.- 9. Room Acoustics.- 10. Recording Tips.- Section Two: Mix.- 11. Equalisers (Eq).- 12. Dynamics.- 13. Effects.- 14. Subgroups.- 15. Monitoring in Mono.- 16. Mid-Side Processing.- 17. Transients.- 18. Panning.- 19. Plosives.- 20. Zero Crossing and Crossfades.- 21. Mixing Tips.- Section Three: Master.- 22. What is Mastering.- 23. Prepare Your Track for Mastering.- 24. Mastering Tools.- 25. Dither.- 26. Metering.- 27. Mastering Your Song – Things to Consider.

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Book SynopsisPop stars are close to us. In their songs, their pictures, their stories on Instagram. What we are looking for is an authentic impression. Real feelings on real faces. But what happens when they cover their face with a mask? Permanently, as a second face. The phenomenon can be found in the mainstream as well as in the underground. The mask does not break with the ideal of authenticity. Rather, depending on how it is staged, it refers to the most diverse discourses, can appear cool or grotesque, become a logo or create anonymity. The essay uses mainly two examples (Sido, Slipknot) to show how the mask constructs the persona of pop stars - and thus reveals structures of pop music.The translation was done with the help of artificial intelligence. A subsequent human revision was done primarily in terms of content.Table of ContentsFrom Face to Mask: Introduction.- The Double Persona: Pop Subject and Mask.- The Immobile Face: Coolness.- The Backside of the Mask: Anonymity.- The Mask as Logo: Style Community and Series.- Me and No Mask: Unmaskings.- The Immobile Face II: Mask and Death.- Femininity Instead of Masquerade: Countergendered Masks.- Conclusion: From Face to Mask to Avatar?

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Book SynopsisThis book teaches the techniques of all the main branches of country fiddle. It brings structure, clarity, and purpose to your learning, and allows you to fluidly play through a country song, differentiating between the intro, the backing, the fills on verse and chorus, the fiddle solo, and the outro, all in a style appropriate to the type of song. Old time, early string band music, western swing, bluegrass, honky tonk, Cajun and commercial country are all covered here. You will also learn about specific players from the history of country, so that you can absorb and master the techniques which they pioneered. The style of the book is practical and down-to earth, but also entertaining, spiced with anecdotes from the many colourful characters we meet along the way, be they heroes or villains!Instrumentation:Violin

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Book SynopsisBeginning Jazz Piano - An Introduction to Swing, Blues, Latin and FunkPart 1 - Everything You Need to Get StartedThis book is aimed at players with some piano experience who wish to develop a grasp of the basic tools required to play and improvise in a jazz style. It includes many unique features and resources to kick start your journey:19 pieces spanning a range of styles, taking you in easy steps from one chord only, to tunes with three chordsEach piece includes a simple BASS LINE for a friend or teacher, to help you keep the flow and play with a consistent grooveDownloadable AUDIO FILES of every piece, featuring examples of improvised solosBACKING tracks with bass and drums only, for when you''re by yourselfREPLAY' tracks for most pieces, featuring scrollable music and adjustable temposUnique SING & PLAY' tracks to help you develop your aural skills and improvise with pentatonic scalesInsight into basic jazz harmony and improvisation techniques, including scales, chords and left-hand shapesInvaluable SUGGESTED LISTENING sections in each chapter, focusing on tunes with one, two or three chords onlyThis is the ideal book to use with your piano teacher, but the backing and Replay' tracks make it equally accessible to those studying on their own.Video CourseTim Richards has also created video courses to compliment these books with our partners, MusicGurus.Beginning Jazz Piano Part 1 - Everything you need to get startedBeginning Jazz Piano Part 2 - Harmony, Improvisation, Accompanying & Reading from Lead SheetsAbout the authorTim Richards is an experienced teacher, and the author of the critically acclaimed Improvising Blues Piano and Exploring Jazz Piano textbooks.BEGINNING JAZZ PIANO 1 - Press ReviewsRichards' musical content here is as memorable and engaging as ever, and he superbly channels the playing styles of some of Jazz's greatest piano legends along the wayThis is the real deal...a full-on jazz education from scartch - Andrew Eales, Pianodao.comRichards expertly provides a whole range of pieces and exercises using blues scales, pentatonics, the Dorian mode, plus the eight-bar blues and minor key signatures. - Karen Marshall, MUSIC TEACHER MagazineThe books are nicely paced, not overloading you with too much too soon All this for the price of an hour's lesson represents excellent value. - Justin Randall, The Jazz RagInstrumentation:piano

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Book SynopsisBeginning Jazz Piano - An Introduction to Swing, Blues, Latin and FunkPart 2 - Harmony, Improvisation, Accompanying & Reading from Lead SheetsThis book is aimed at players with some piano experience who wish to develop a grasp of the basic tools required to play and improvise in a jazz style.Chapter 1: Harmony & Improvisation Builds on the concepts covered in Part 1 to help you deal with typical situations such as 32-bar sequences, II V I, playing in 3/4, etc.Develop your improvisation skills using techniques such as pentatonic scales, modes, arpeggios, broken chords, horizontal and vertical improvisationOnline resources include downloadable AUDIO FILES of every piece, BACKING tracks, and interactive REPLAY' tracks featuring scrollable music and adjustable temposChapter 2: Accompanying An essential skill for anyone playing in a duo situation, or for vocalists wishing to accompany themselves at the piano.Build your own bass lines in a range of styles, including two-feel, walking bass, blues, funk, bossa novaAdd chords in the right hand and learn how to comp' in the style of tunes such as All of Me and One Note SambaChapter 3: Interpreting Lead Sheets Follow the Lead Sheet Protocol' to help you get away from reading sheet music and start creating your own arrangements like professional jazz pianists.Explore a variety of left-hand styles including shells, rootless chords, stride pianoLearn how to play melodies using two-handed voicings in four- and five-part harmonyBeginning Jazz Piano includes seven originals alongside traditional standards such St James Infirmary, When the Saints Go Marching In and Indiana. This is the ideal book to use with your piano teacher, but the backing and Replay' tracks make it equally accessible to those studying on their own.Video CourseTim Richards has also created video courses to compliment these books with our partners, MusicGurus.Beginning Jazz Piano Part 1 - Everything you need to get startedBeginning Jazz Piano Part 2 - Harmony, Improvisation, Accompanying & Reading from Lead SheetsAbout the authorTim Richards is an experienced teacher, and the author of the critically acclaimed Improvising Blues Piano and Exploring Jazz Piano textbooks.BEGINNING JAZZ PIANO 2 - Press ReviewsTim Richards has yet again outdone himself with these two amazing books. Anyone who is ready to commit themselves to this level of proper jazz instruction will undoubtedly find that his is absolutely the course to use...Brilliantly paced, carefully leaving no stone unturned, while systematically developing, consolidating and building on acquired skills - Andrew Eales, Pianodao.comThe books are nicely paced, not overloading you with too much too soon. Tim obviously has vast experience within teaching and writing I really enjoyed both books. Justin Randall, The Jazz Rag MagazineIf you are a teacher who loves jazz, has little knowledge of jazz piano, or just wants to build confidence teaching it, do give this a try. It is a superb publication Karen Marshall, MUSIC TEACHER MagazineInstrumentation:piano

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Book SynopsisA unique tribute from David Bowie’s official photographer and creative partner, Mick Rock, compiled in 2015, with Bowie’s blessing.In 1972, David Bowie released his groundbreaking album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. With it landed Bowie’s Stardust alter ego: a glitter-clad, mascara-eyed, sexually ambiguous persona who kicked down the boundaries between male and female, straight and gay, fact and fiction into one shifting and sparkling phenomenon of ’70s self-expression. Together, Ziggy the album and Ziggy the stage spectacular propelled the softly spoken Londoner into one of the world’s biggest stars.A key passenger on this glam trip into the stratosphere was fellow Londoner and photographer Mick Rock. Rock bonded with Bowie artistically and personally, immersed himself in the singer’s inner circle, and, between 1972 and 1973, worked as the singer’s photographer and videographer.This collection brings together spectacular stage shots, iconic photo shoots, as well as intimate backstage portraits. With a lenticular cover of different headshots, it celebrates Bowie’s fearless experimentation and reinvention, while offering privileged access to the many facets of his personality and fame. Through the aloof and approachable, the playful and serious, the candid and the contrived, the result is a passionate tribute to a brilliant and inspirational artist whose creative vision will never be forgotten.Trade Review“Mick Rock bore more intimate witness to Bowie the Man than perhaps any other living lensman.” * Vogue *

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Book SynopsisThis new method provides beginners and moderately advanced musicians with an introduction to the language of blues. In 10 solo studies which can be accompanied by professionally performed and recorded playbacks, the musician learns to master the essential basics step by step: Each piece comes with appropriate scale exercises, tips for studying and practicing, suggestions for own improvisations, as well as recommended listening.The accompanying audio tracks provide a unique band feeling with top-notch musicians:Jim Snidero (alto saxophone)Eric Alexander (tenor saxophone)Jeremy Pelt (trumpet)Steve Davis (trombone)Jamie Baum (flute)Mike LeDonne (piano/organ), Peter Washington (bass) and Joe Farnsworth (drums)Instrumentation:tenor saxophone

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Book SynopsisAn intimate story of a great front man and his band, who sparked waves in the music industry and changed the way people viewed rock music. A singer, songwriter, an inimitable performer: Freddie Mercury has left his mark on the popular culture of the last 50 years, and his music has influenced the imagination of different generations, defying the definition of musical genre itself. The biggest voice of its generation and probably of all music's history in a celebratory volume, 30 years after his passing (1991-2021). A must-have volume for every collection: an ever-selling title filled with photographs to outline the polyhedral character of Mercury through his life and his music. An intimate story of a great frontman and its band, who changed the way of doing music within the strict borders of musical genre.

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Book SynopsisThe long-awaited memoir, generously illustrated with never-before-seen photos, from the iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Rush bassist, and New York Times bestselling author of Geddy Lee''s Big Beautiful Book of Bass.Geddy Lee is one of rock and roll''s most respected bassists. For nearly five decades, his playing and work as co-writer, vocalist and keyboardist has been an essential part of the success story of Canadian progressive rock trio Rush. Here for the first time is his account of life inside and outside the band.Long before Rush accumulated more consecutive gold and platinum records than any rock band after the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, before the seven Grammy nominations or the countless electrifying live performances across the globe, Geddy Lee was Gershon Eliezer Weinrib, after his grandfather was murdered in the Holocaust.As he recounts the transformation, Lee looks back on his family, in particular his loving parents and their horrific experiences as teenagers during World War II.He talks candidly about his childhood and the pursuit of music that led him to drop out of high school.He tracks the history of Rush which, after early struggles, exploded into one of the most beloved bands of all time.He shares intimate stories of his lifelong friendships with bandmates Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart?deeply mourning Peart?s recent passing?and reveals his obsessions in music and beyond.This rich brew of honesty, humor, and loss makes for a uniquely poignant memoir.Trade Review"As someone who has spent his life telling made-up stories that are obliged to sound somewhat plausible, I am deeply envious of Geddy Lee. And it’s not only the improbable, absurd, wondrous and at times heartbreaking true story that life has gifted him that I envy, but also the warmth, care, artfulness, hard-earned wisdom and—always—the gently skewed humor with which he tells it. He’s one of my musical heroes, for reasons that are there on record, but with this book everyone can see why for so long he has also been one of my heroes as a man." — Michael Chabon "An effin' good read." — Associated Press “There was never a band like Rush. Geddy Lee doesn’t want to forget it. It took a series of losses for the high-voiced rock star to confront his personal history. It all came out in his new memoir.” — The Washington Post “A page-turner . . . gives readers a fly-on-the-wall, tick-tock perspective . . . and also provides a backstage pass into Lee’s inner monologue as he balanced rising fame and enduring fears.” — Toronto Star “My Effin’ Life is joyously thoughtful and engaging.” — The Boston Globe “The main takeaway from Geddy Lee's new memoir, My Effin’ Life, is that anything can happen as long as you live your life with an honest conviction.” — Vulture “The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer—who played bass, keyboards, and sang on the progressive rock band's biggest hits—holds nothing back in his highly-anticipated memoir.” — Entertainment Weekly

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Book SynopsisOne of the seminal groups of the Eighties, The Smiths'' career was as brilliant as it was brief. Now, drawing on interviews with band members, producers, and colleagues, music journalist Simon Goddard presents a meticulous chronological survey of the group''s musical evolution, from their first demos in 1982 to their final fractured studio session five years later. Investigating the stories behind the songs, and detailing every British TV and radio session, he also offers a unique analysis of each track''s concert life. Granted unprecedented access to The Smiths'' studio archives and to the private collection of outtakes and rehearsals retained by drummer Mike Joyce, the author lifts the lid on unreleased material as well as the lost songs and alternate versions that have remained closely guarded secrets until now.

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Book SynopsisThis fascinating autobiography of the country music legend recounts the highs and lows, the struggles and hard-won triumphs of his remarkable life.The story takes us from Johnny Cash's childhood on an Arkansas cotton farm to his early years at Sun Records. We read of his life on the road and meetings with, and performances for, world leaders. There is also the darker side of his life: the years of addiction to amphetamines and pain killers, a suicide attempt and the spiritual awakening that pulled him through.He looks unsparingly at his turbulent past, but remains a man of honesty, humility and humour. His memoir reveals his friendships with Roy Orbison, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and Billy Graham.Trade Review‘I’ve never met a man who combined spiritual depth, musical ability and international fame with such grace, charm and humility as Johnny.’Dr Billy Graham

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Book SynopsisThe definitive biography of Joe Strummer, released with a new epilogue to mark the 60th anniversary of his birth.Chris Salewicz was an intimate friend of Strummer's for over 25 years. Drawing on more than 300 interviews with family, friends and associates, this is a comprehensive, compelling insight into the man behind The Clash.The Clash was the most influential band of its generation, producing punk anthems including London Calling', White Riot' and Tommy Gun'. For countless fans across the world, they are the ultimate iconic mainstays of their generation.With his talent, extreme good looks and laid-back attitude Joe Strummer was the driving force behind the band: he was the archetypal punk frontman. His untimely death in December 2002 shook the world to its core.Written with full approval and co-operation of relatives, companions and fellow musicians, this is the ultimate account of one of British rock & roll's most fascinating idols: his life, his work and his immeasurable impact oTrade Review‘Salewicz knew and loved his subject well, and that shows on every page… One of the most rivetingly detailed, revealing music biographies ever written.’ The Sunday Times 'A great read. Brutally frank and full of insights.' Mojo ‘A riveting read that will keep you gripped to the end.’ Daily Mirror 'The Clash front man gets the epic biography he deserves from rock journalist, Chris Salewicz.' Independent ‘Conjures up the excitement of the punk era.’ Sunday Telegraph Seven Magazine

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