Popular music Books

Book SynopsisFrom the young Black teenager who built a bass guitar in woodshop to the musician building a solo career with Motown Records—Prince’s bassist BrownMark on growing up in Minneapolis, joining Prince and The Revolution, and his life in the purple kingdom In the summer of 1981, Mark Brown was a teenager working at a 7-11 store when he wasn’t rehearsing with his high school band, Phantasy. Come fall, Brown, now called BrownMark, was onstage with Prince at the Los Angeles Coliseum, opening for the Rolling Stones in front of 90,000 people. My Life in the Purple Kingdom is BrownMark’s memoir of coming of age in the musical orbit of one of the most visionary artists of his generation. Raw, wry, real, this book takes us from his musical awakening as a boy in Minneapolis to the cold call from Prince at nineteen, from touring the world with The Revolution and performing in Purple Rain to inking his own contract with Motown.BrownMark’s story is that of a hometown kid, living for sunny days when his transistor would pick up KUXL, a solar-powered, shut-down-at-sundown station that was the only one that played R&B music in Minneapolis in 1968. But once he took up the bass guitar—and never looked back—he entered a whole new realm, and, literally at the right hand of Twin Cities musical royalty, he joined the funk revolution that integrated the Minneapolis music scene and catapulted him onto the international stage. BrownMark describes how his funky stylings earned him a reputation (leading to Prince’s call) and how he and Prince first played together at that night’s sudden audition—and never really stopped. He takes us behind the scenes as few can, into the confusing emotional and professional life among the denizens of Paisley Park, and offers a rare, intimate look into music at the heady heights that his childhood self could never have imagined.An inspiring memoir of making it against stacked odds, experiencing extreme highs and lows of success and pain, and breaking racial barriers, My Life in the Purple Kingdom is also the story of a young man learning his craft and honing his skill like any musician, but in a world like no other and in a way that only BrownMark could tell it.Trade Review"A story of low notes and high stakes, of Revolution and of evolution, of bands and fans and best-laid plans, of pills and thrills and daffodils. Hang tough, children, and read it."—Questlove, from the Foreword"This is not a tell-all book. It is simply a candid, honest, heartfelt story about a young kid who goes on to achieve his dream of making it in the music industry, and the price that he pays along the way. It’s an uplifting tale about working with Prince, and it is an enjoyable read that serves as another piece of the puzzle that is Prince."—The Great Song Traveler"This page-turning memoir... will appeal to BrownMark’s fans and general music enthusiasts."—Library Journal"Those looking for a memoir awash in sex, drugs, and the seamier sides of Prince’s private life will instead discover hard work and rigid discipline under a stern taskmaster, an artist who became what he was through minute attention to detail as well as genius. A memoir of vivid detail and understandable ambivalence."—Kirkus Reviews"If you want to get to know Mark Brown, the human, I would say this book is a good way to go."—Insight News"The profound life lessons BrownMark learned while playing in the Revolution, as well as his experiences touring the world with Prince, forever changed his life. And BrownMark proudly carries those memories with him as he continues to blaze new trails while keeping Prince’s legacy alive."—City Pages"Simultaneously poignant and inspiring."—The Arts Fuse"By turns a reflective examination of his own place in the Paisley world over those years and a straight-shooting account of the less beautiful side of Prince’s modus operandi at his commercial zenith."—SoulTracks"An arresting piece of social history, often interesting and original."—Moving the River"Enlightening."—Chicago Review of Books"This memoir could be a real inspiration to someone with dreams."—The Bookworm Sez"My Life in the Purple Kingdom makes it clear anyone who thinks BrownMark was handed phenomenal success at a young age on a platter can think again."—Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder "Seemingly overnight, BrownMark was thrown into an entirely different reality, sharing the stage with The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Sting and more. With Prince & The Revolution, he’d tour the world in one of the most iconic bands in history, perform some the greatest hits in popular music and experience an overwhelming level of fame."—Forbes Magazine Table of ContentsContentsForewordQuestlovePrologueRadio DaysDiscovery YearsChain ReactionsThe Skin I’m InNew Look, New SoundOff to See the WizardPrimping for PrnControversy, SexualityThreshold of a NightmareControversy TourMojo1999The ShadowLet’s Go CrazyThe Carrot and the Hat TrickThe Bitter TasteMoving OnEpilogue

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Book SynopsisThe story of the Minneapolis musicians who were unexpectedly summoned to re-record half of the songs on Bob Dylan's most acclaimed album When Bob Dylan recorded Blood on the Tracks in New York in September 1974, it was a great album. But it was not the album now ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the ten best of all time. “When something’s not right, it’s wrong,” as Dylan puts it in “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go”—and something about that original recording led him to a studio in his native Minnesota to re-record five songs, including “Idiot Wind” and “Tangled Up in Blue.” Six Minnesota musicians participated in that two-night recording session at Sound 80, bringing their unique sound to some of Dylan’s best-known songs—only to have their names left off the album and their contribution unacknowledged for more than forty years. This book tells the story of those two nights in Minneapolis, introduces the musicians who gave the album so much of its ultimate form and sound, and describes their decades-long fight for recognition. Blood in the Tracks takes readers behind the scenes with these “mystery” Minnesota musicians: twenty-one-year-old mandolin virtuoso Peter Ostroushko; drummer Bill Berg and bass player Billy Peterson, the house rhythm section at Sound 80; progressive rock keyboardist Gregg Inhofer; guitarist Chris Weber, who owned The Podium guitar shop in Dinkytown; and Kevin Odegard, whose own career as a singer-songwriter had paralleled Dylan’s until he had to take a job as a railroad brakeman to make ends meet. Through in-depth interviews and assiduous research, Paul Metsa and Rick Shefchik trace the twists of fate that brought these musicians together and then set them on different paths in its wake: their musical experiences leading up to the December 1974 recording session, the divergent careers that followed, and the painstaking work required to finally obtain the official credit that they were due. A rare look at the making—or remaking—of an all-time great album, and a long overdue recognition of the musicians who made it happen, Blood in the Tracks brings to life a transformative moment in the history of rock and roll, for the first time in its true context and with its complete cast of players. Trade Review "Beyond the richly detailed account of the Sound 80 sessions, Rick Shefchik and Paul Metsa have crafted a gripping pre-Internet tale of what it took (and still takes) to be a struggling musician. Dylan looms over every page, but for anyone who’s ever given themselves up to a life in music—or loved someone who did—the stories told by the Minnesota Six about gigging, practicing, recording, family life, and all the heartaches and triumphs that come along with the chase are equal parts poignant, romantic, sad, funny, and inspiring. An essential slice of Minnesota music history."—Jim Walsh, songwriter, journalist, and author of Gold Experience: Following Prince in the ’90s "Paul Metsa and Rick Shefchik's biography of a record is like none I've ever read before. The intimate chronicling of the crafting and recording of Blood on the Tracks, from the songs' beginnings in Dylan's spiral notebooks to their shaping in New York and Minnesota, is indeed the life of Bob Dylan's masterpiece. Long may the names of the Minneapolis musicians and Sound 80 staff, some of them garnering a first official credit for their work on the record, be remembered now."—Anne Margaret Daniel, The New School

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Book SynopsisThe first and only estate-authorized biography of the legendary artist, Tupac Shakur, a moving exploration of his life and powerful legacy, fully illustrated with photos, mementos, handwritten poetry, musings, and moreArtist, poet, actor, revolutionary, legendTupac Shakur is one of the greatest and most controversial artists of all time. More than a quarter of a century after his tragic death in 1996 at the age of just twenty-five, he continues to be one of the most misunderstood, complicated, and influential figures in modern history. Drawing on exclusive access to Tupac’s private notebooks, letters, and uncensored conversations with those who loved and knew him best, this estate-authorized biography paints the fullest and most intimate picture to date of the young man who became a legend for generations to come.In Tupac Shakur, author and screenwriter Staci Robinson—who knew Tupac from their shared circle of high school friends in Marin City, California, and who was entrusted by his mother, Afeni Shakur, to share his story—unravels the myths and unpacks the complexities that have shadowed Tupac’s existence. Decades in the making, this book pulls back the curtain to reveal a powerful story of a life defined by politics and art—a man driven by equal parts brilliance and impulsiveness, steeped in the rich intellectual tradition of Black empowerment, and unafraid to utter raw truths about race in America.It is a story of a mother and son bound together by a love for each other and for their people, and the relationship that endured through their darkest times. It is a political story that begins in the whirlwind of the 1960s civil rights movement and unfolds through a young artist’s awakening to rage and purpose in the ’90s era of Rodney King. It is a story of dizzying success and its devastating consequences. And, of course, it is the story of Tupac’s music, his timeless, undying message as it continues to touch and inspire us today.

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER ‘Delicious’ Nigella Lawson ‘Clever and beguiling’ Guardian ‘Sublime and immersive’ Jojo Moyes Erica is eighteen and ready for freedom. It’s the summer of 1960 when she lands on the sun-baked Greek island of Hydra where she is swept up in a circle of bohemian poets, painters, musicians, writers and artists, living tangled lives. Life on their island paradise is heady, dream-like, a string of seemingly endless summer days. But nothing can last forever. ‘A surefire summer hit ... At once a blissful piece of escapism and a powerful meditation on art and sexuality’ Observer ‘Heady armchair escapism ... An impressionistic, intoxicating rush of sensory experience’ Sunday Times ‘If summer was suddenly like a novel, it would be like this one. Immaculate’ Andrew O’HaganTrade ReviewSamson is an intensely sensual writer, conjuring up blue skies, the tang of wild herbs, the vivid splash of bougainvillea ... As good as a Greek holiday, and may be the closest we get this year * Financial Times *As dreamily nostalgic as Cohen’s song Famous Blue Raincoat -- Alex Preston * Observer, New Year Highlights *Sleazy, evocative, beautiful and entertaining -- Stuart Turton * Guardian Summer Reading Picks *A thoroughly enjoyable drama of hedonism, enchantment and emotional beastliness * Times Literary Supplement *A coming of age story set among a group of artists and poets, including Leonard Cohen, on the Greek island of Hydra in 1960. She is so good at mentally indelible imagery -- Jojo Moyes * Guardian *This well-crafted novel beautifully captures the texture of a halcyon age in which anything seems possible * Mail on Sunday *Spellbinding … An immersive read, steeped in nostalgia. Samson’s poetic prose is so evocative that, by the end, you find yourself googling those entrancing images of Hydra, 1960, just to wallow further in the poignancy of it all * Vanity Fair *The novel has a lightly worn heft to it, as it probes freedom and creativity … By the end of this enjoyable novel, which makes vivid an interesting moment and place, you discover people have paid a price – a heavy one – for that freedom in the sun * The Times *Samson recreates one heady summer there with impeccably ripening prose …This is a slow, deliberately languorous novel that mixes real-life figures with fictional counterparts. It is sunbaked, stewed in alcohol, and wonderfully gossipy * i paper *Intoxicating ... Highly accomplished ... A testament to Samson’s transportive prose * Spectator *A surefire summer hit ... Feels at once like a gift and an escape route ... At once a blissful piece of escapism and a powerful meditation on art and sexuality – just the book to bring light into these dark days * Observer *Heady armchair escapism ... An impressionistic, intoxicating rush of sensory experience * Sunday Times *By the end the reader may be unable to decide whether Hydra enchanted or cursed those attracted by its primitive beauty, cheap rents and easy access to sex, drugs and performance poetry … A novel about the treatment of women by artistic men * The Times *Beautiful ... Perfect if you want to escape the drudgery of another lentil dinner and dream of 1960s Hydra with Leonard Cohen -- Dolly AldertonIt is a grand read and the prose falls translucently like the air ... Superb work and a delightful novel -- Thomas KeneallySuch a lyrical, elegant and beautifully told story -- Joanna CannonSo vivid that you can see the sun-washed white houses and blue seas * Good Housekeeping, Book of the Month *I cannot tell you how much I needed this beautiful book to transport me back to 1960s Greece! Lyrical, sexy, tender and sad in places. Highly recommended -- Erin KellyThis radiant novel will transport you straight to Greece - a blessing at a time when most of us are stuck in our homes * Cosmopolitan *Delicious -- Nigella LawsonThis well-crafted novel beautifully captures the texture of a halcyon age in which anything seems possible * Daily Mail *A coming of age story set among a group of artists and poets, including Leonard Cohen, on the Greek island of Hydra in 1960. She is so good at mentally indelible imagery -- Jojo Moyes * Guardian *Dreamily nostalgic * Observer, Fiction to look out for in 2020 *About real people living in Hydra in 1960. Steeped in nostalgia that's both sad and beautiful. It's fascinating, immersive and so MOVING -- Marian KeyesHands down the best book I've read all year. Luminous, immersive, gorgeous, profound -- Joanne HarrisHer best work yet, so evocative and alive with the scents and colours of a Greek summer ... Among the best prose writers of her generation. The writing is just delicious -- Cressida ConnollyI was utterly entranced. It feels entirely true and effortless and compelling – in the way that all great novels do -- Justine PicardieIf summer was suddenly like a novel, it would be like this one. Immaculate -- Andrew O'HaganA seductive story, suffused with nostalgia * Sunday Mirror *This is a sheer delight - I’ve never been to Hydra but this book transports you and miraculously, you are there in 1960 -- Jenny EclairA glorious novel -- Kate MosseA beautifully written, evocative, inspiring novel. I devoured it -- Kathy LettePolly Samson has created such a dazzling evocation of an era and its mindset. Here, the island of Hydra is a geographical place but a psychological one too, populated by beautiful and damaged characters who pull you down into its pages for another café gossip, another moonlit swim, another drink. This book is a bohemian idyll meticulously drawn, and unsparingly exposed. It is like going away to paradise, then coming back rather wiser. You don’t read this book – you live it -- Marina HydeA luscious seduction of a book -- Sofka ZinovieffSamson's story sizzles with the Greek sun and seduction * The i *Praise for The Kindness: ‘An addictive, cleverly structured and intriguing relationship story of lies and flawed communication * SUNDAY TIMES Book of the Week *Annoyingly close to perfection -- INDIA KNIGHT * SUNDAY TIMES *A story that entices you to revel in its languid, beautifully written prose while demanding that you turn the page to discover the secrets it holds * OBSERVER Paperback of the week *Beautifully written, with twists engineered like a thriller -- STEPHANIE MERRITT * OBSERVER Books of the Year *A book to cherish, to recommend, to return to * FINANCIAL TIMES *Brilliant, tender and beautiful -- ANDREW O'HAGANBeautifully written and plotted with serpentine cunning, Samson’s novel is what might be called a love story for adults: unsentimental, at times harsh, but ultimately uplifting * MAIL ON SUNDAY *Gorgeously chilling … Samson seems to write in colours * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *Shining, poetic and sumptuous … Polly Samson is a writer of great insight and sensitivity -- JOANNE HARRISA richly sensory writer … A sumptuous, serious story * DAILY MAIL *Lush, lyrical prose … The Kindness is to be read more than once, not merely to enjoy again the beauty of the writing and the considerable insights into human experience, but to test the earlier narrative with the knowledge of what is to come * INDEPENDENT *Compelling … Atmospheric and vividly told, the book is a poignant examination of love, guilt, betrayal and the deception that can lie at the heart of every relationship * TATLER *Family proves far from idyllic in this poetic, sensual story of betrayal and lies. Writer and lyricist Samson’s prose is dazzlingly evocative, as she explores how relationships are rarely what they seem * GLAMOUR *Secrets and misunderstandings fuel Polly Samson’s involving, melancholy and cleverly constructed second novel … This is a mature and haunting novel about love and loss that asks if we all, in the end, see what we want to see * METRO *This is elegant, witty writing, informed throughout by generosity and wise perceptiveness. Dealing with many kinds of love, and with misunderstanding, betrayal, grief and forgiveness, the novel dares to posit, ultimately, the possibility of redemption. It is a book to cherish, to recommend, to return to * FT WEEKEND *Intensely evocative … Samson treats this difficult subject with candour and compassion … The novel’s effortlessness, its readability, sweeps everything in its wake … This is a book to relax into * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Polly Samson’s mastery of the English language is powerful and impressive * DAILY EXPRESS *Fills the back of your eyes with light like an Aegean sky, and has that rare and lovely quality of making you nostalgic for something you never had ... It perfectly takes the reader into a different world. Which we could all do with -- Louisa Young

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Book SynopsisA TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 'Brilliant. The unwritten Bowie book that needed writing' CAITLIN MORAN 'Splendid. Provides plenty of evidence of Bowie's restless, rummaging intelligence, and his pleasure in the fact that books allow readers to slip into someone else's skin and try it on for size' THE TIMES 'A witty and enlightening analysis of Bowie's 100 essential books . . . A handy, amusing, light-touch precis' OBSERVER 'What is your idea of perfect happiness?' 'Reading.' 'What is the quality you most like in a man?' 'The ability to return books.' Three years before he died, David Bowie made a list of the one hundred books that had transformed his life – a list that formed something akin to an autobiography. From Madame Bovary to A Clockwork Orange, the Iliad to the Beano, these were the publications that had fuelled his creativity and shaped who he was. In Bowie’s Books, John O’Connell explores this list in the form of one hundred short essays, each offering a perspective on the man, performer and creator that is Bowie, his work as an artist and the era that he lived in. Brilliantly illustrated throughout and the perfect gift for Bowie fans and book lovers, Bowie's Books is much more than a list of books you should read in your lifetime: it is a unique insight into one of the greatest minds of our times, and an indispensable part of the legacy that Bowie left behind.Trade ReviewYou can only truly know a pop star through his bookshelf. John O'Connell's brilliant, gossipy book gives you a whole new secret David Bowie: the reader. This is the unwritten Bowie book that needed writing -- Caitlin Moran

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Book Synopsis'A brilliant, very funny, very revealing autobiography-through-music. Maybe the best book ever written about being a rockstar' CAITLIN MORAN_______________________________________________________________Bono - artist, activist and the lead singer of Irish rock band U2 - has written his autobiography: honest and irreverent, intimate and profound, Surrender is the story of the remarkable life he's lived, the challenges he's faced and the friends and family who have shaped and sustained him.'When I started to write this book I was hoping to draw in detail what I'd previously only sketched in songs. The people, places, and possibilities in my life. Surrender is a word freighted with meaning for me. Growing up in Ireland in the seventies with my fists up (musically speaking), it was not a natural concept. A word I only circled until I gathered my thoughts for the book. I am still grappling with this most humbling of commands. In the band, in my marriage, in my faith, in my life as an activist. Surrender is the story of one pilgrim's lack of progress ... With a fair amount of fun along the way.' - BonoAs one of the music world's most iconic artists and the cofounder of organizations ONE and (RED), Bono's career has been written about extensively. But in Surrender, Bono's autobiography, he picks up the pen, writing for the first time about his remarkable life and those he has shared it with. In his unique voice, Bono takes us from his early days growing up in Dublin, including the sudden loss of his mother when he was 14, to U2's unlikely journey to become one of the world's most influential rock bands, to his more than 20 years of activism dedicated to the fight against AIDS and extreme poverty. Writing with candour, self-reflection, and humour, Bono opens the aperture on his life - and the family, friends and faith that have sustained, challenged and shaped him.Surrender's subtitle, "40 Songs, One Story," is a nod to the book's 40 chapters, which are each named after a U2 song. Bono has also created 40 original drawings for Surrender which will appear throughout the book.Trade ReviewThis is Bono at his best: thoughtful, reflective, revealing a wisdom that his rock-star persona covers up ... At the root of it all you don't doubt his decency or integrity -- Will Hodgkinson * The Times *A rattling good yarn ... characteristically expansive, but it whizzes by ... Bono has storytelling verve and a genuine desire for self-examination and is enthusiastic about praising others, often at his own expense. ... [a] generous, energetic book -- Dorian Lynskey * Guardian *Bono's memoir bares his soul ... Has any rock superstar written a more revealing biography? He deftly balances the comical and profound and packs anecdotes with cameos by the rich and famous, from Frank Sinatra to Pope John Paul II -- Neil McCormick * Telegraph *Beautifully evoked, a mixture of Joycean exuberance and Chandleresque irony ... most revealing are the intimate personal experiences that shaped him and his chaotic creative process. Punctuating it all is the music. Each chapter uses a U2 song to pull us down memory lane -- Mariella Frostrup * Sunday Times *A rewarding read about a loss-fuelled life lived to the full ... What makes much of this book so exciting and interesting, is that the sadness is overwhelmed by a desperate, frenzied desire to use life more richly since it has proved to be so fragile. Sadness is replaced here by an extraordinary and breathless zeal for friendship but also for love ... Surrender is, in its own generous way, a book written by an Irishman to tell his mother how much he misses her, to tell his mates how much he rates them, and to let his wife and children know how much he loves them -- Colm Toibin * Irish Times *Bono's honesty will win over his harshest critics ... the U2 frontman's memoir is a trumph ... Honest, witty, informative and beautifully written. Surrender will surely join the ranks of the great rock memoirs * Irish Independent *Bono's prose is electrifyingly good. Not confected memories, but the messy, sometimes bathetic minutiae of lived experience, emotions remembered but only truly understood with hindsight and vocabulary that comes much later -- Pete Paphides, author of 'Broken Greek'Will engage and entertain you, full of extraordinary anecdotes and people from Sinatra and Johnny Cash to Pope Benedict and presidents. -- Catherine Meyer, author and founder of WEPBono's book is absolutely brilliant -- Simon SchamaA brilliant, very funny, very revealing, autobiography-through-music. Maybe the best book ever written about being a rockstar -- Caitlin Moran

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Book SynopsisStephen Colbert calls András Simonyi "the only ambassador I know who can shred a mean guitar!" In fact, Simonyi, the former Hungarian ambassador to the U.S., may be the only diplomat to also front a rock band. And as both, he has witnessed two of the most powerful forces in modern life: democracy and rock and roll. In ROCKING TOWARD A FREE WORLD, Simonyi reflects on the profound effect of those two forces in his life. He details the struggle of growing up behind the Iron Curtain in 1960s Hungary, and how under a communist regime music was powerful but furtive: records were black-market bootlegs; concerts were held in secret; protests were hidden in lyrics. To get caught meant punishment, even prison. But Simonyi was determined and knew how music could feed the culturally impoverished. Inspired by the protest music coming out of the US and the UK, he formed a band, befriended musicians, and became part of the burgeoning rock scene. There were setbacks, the oppression of the regime, and the collapse of his own dreams of stardom. But Simonyi came of age in step with his struggling homeland. By 1989, when a watershed Amnesty International concert in Budapest helped signal lasting change in Hungary, it was Simonyi, now a bureaucrat, who helped make the concert a reality. That same year, the Berlin Wall fell, and communism began its collapse. Inspiring and moving, ROCKING TOWARD A FREE WORLD shows the soft power of rock and roll as a driver of change, and how it inspired one boy to make a difference in his country and the world.

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times called it "a superb new musical with great art and humor." New York magazines lauded it as a "musical gem with the kind of surprising songs only found in the best musical theater." The Washington Post called it "musical storytelling of the highest caliber, a work whose captivatingly generous spirit is matched by its exemplary intelligence and fearless embrace of deep feeling." But Dear Evan Hansen isn't just a darling of the critics. The emotional masterpiece is resonating across generations, where at the heart of the show is a universal message about our desire to connect more deeply in a world dominated by impersonal digital interactions. The Dear Evan Hansen musical follows the story of Evan Hansen, an anxiety-ridden teenager who gets caught up in a line that he never meant to tell and, as a result, finally begins to feel like he fits in. The show deals with universal themes of family, alienation, bullying, mental health, addiction and belonging, while also starting a much-needed conversation about what it means to be growing up in America in the digital age. The book-produced by Melcher Media, the team behind Hamilton, Wicked, Rent, and many more-will tell you the story of the musical from its conception nearly a decade ago to the Broadway stage. From developing the idea to writing the show, composing, casting, and rehearsals, DEAR EVAN HANSEN will appeal to fans far and wide will offer them the opportunity to continuously revisit the show, and for those who haven't seen the musical, reading the book will make them feel like they have. Filled with interviews with the cast and crew, original behind-the-scenes photography, a deeper look into Evan's fictional world and the visual world of the show, unreleased lyrics, and of course the libretto, as well as reflections on the creators own formative memories from their adolescence as it relates to the show's themes, and important examinations of how we present ourselves online and mental health, DEAR EVAN HANSEN will be a beautifully produced, thoughtful, and uplifting book.

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Book SynopsisWhat happened between Bowie's 70's heyday as a controversial glam-rock rebel and his current iconic status in the daddies-of-rock gang? Renowned author and Bowie aficionado Dave Thompson looks at the middle and later years of a star who may or may not have come back down to earth.

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Book SynopsisExclusive, behind-the-scenes revelations in this study of Heart's hit-making process. Includes exclusive interviews and is a must-have for any Heart fan.

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Book SynopsisWeaves together the definitive story of the Seattle music scene through a series of over 130 interviews with the people who were there.

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Book SynopsisA collection of pop culture activity fun for both adults and children, focusing on country music, this book is sure to cheer up anyone.

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Book SynopsisFeatures almost 300 photos documenting the early days of Toronto's punk scene.

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Book SynopsisMusician, political critic, and hedonist, international superstar Fela Anikulapo-Kuti created a sensation throughout his career. In his own country of Nigeria he was simultaneously adulated and loathed, often by the same people at the same time. His outspoken political views and advocacy of marijuana smoking and sexual promiscuity offended many, even as his musical brilliance enthralled them. In his creation of afrobeat, he melded African traditions with African American and Afro-Caribbean influences to revolutionize world music. Although harassed, beaten, and jailed by Nigerian authorities, he continued his outspoken and derisive criticism of political corruption at home and economic exploitation from abroad. A volatile mixture of personal characteristics -- charisma, musical talent, maverick lifestyle, populist ideology, and persistence in the face of persecution -- made him a legend throughout Africa and the world. Celebrated during the 1970s as a musical innovator and spokesman for the continent's oppressed masses, he enjoyed worldwide celebrity during the 1980s and was recognized in the 1990s as a major pioneer and elder statesman of African music. By the time of his death in 1997 from AIDS-related complications, Fela had become something of a Nigerian institution. In Africa, the idea of transnational alliance, once thought to be outmoded, has gained new currency. In African America, during a period of increasing social conservatism and ethnic polarization, Africa has re-emerged as a symbol of cultural affirmation. At such an historical moment, Fela's music offers a perspective on race, class, and nation on both sides of the Atlantic. As Professor Veal demonstrates, over three decades Fela synthesized a unique musical language while also clearing -- if only temporarily -- a space for popular political dissent and a type of counter-cultural expression rarely seen in West Africa. In the midst of political turmoil in Africa, as well as renewal of pro-African cultural nationalism throughout the diaspora, Fela's political music functions as a post-colonial art form that uses cross-cultural exchange to voice a unique and powerful African essentialism.Trade Review"Fela: The Life and Times of an African Musical Icon is both timely and bold... [It] has the potential of becoming a classic of African biography. It is written in an accessible style, rich in local color and musically informed... Veal's study is not the first book written of Fela. But it is by far the best." -Veit Erlman, Chair of Music History in the School of Music, University of Texas, Austin "I saw Fela perform in Nigeria nearly 30 years ago, and it remains my most powerful musical experience to this day. Michael Veal has written a fully comprehensive book on the life, music, and times of Nigeria's outstanding pop star, one which brings this complicated and controversial man back to life. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in Fela." -Dr. John Collins, Professor of Music at University of Ghana, Legon, and author of Musicmakers of West Africa and West African Pop Roots "[Veal] has demonstrated a tremendous command of the literature, not merely on Fela and the Nigerian music scene, but the Nigerian context in which Fela grew and matured, the Afro-Diasporic musical context, and the kind of global/world music framework that has yet to appreciate Fela's contribution. This is more than a biography of one of Nigeria's most famous sons, it is a biography of an era, from the kind of pre-independence political and aesthetic culture of an anti-colonial elite through the trials and tribulations of the dictatorships of the late '80s and all of the '90s. Veal's command of the material is impressive, his knowledge of the music and music scene irreplaceable, and his contextualization of Fela's life essential to understanding the role that his music played." -William Eric Perkins, editor of Droppin' Science and Senior Research Scholar with the African American Literacy and Culture Project "This is a well-written, well-researched, and highly entertaining biography." -MultiCultural Review "...a fascinating and thorough contextual biography...in his compelling book, Veal has produced a distinctive and thoroughly engaging analysis of afrobeat and its historical, ideological and material underpinnings. He is to be congratulated." -Popular Music "This exhaustive and objective profile, written by a Yale ethnomusicology professor, examines the Nigerian superstar's life and work from 1938 to his death in 1997...Veal has taken on the staggering task of portraying a musician/politician/rebel, and he executes it well." -Publishers Weekly "...the most in-depth portrait so far." -The Utne Reader "Michael Veal's book presents a vibrant multifaceted portrait of, as the subtitle explains, 'an African musical icon'... With its exhaustive discography, archival photos, and vivid descriptions of Fela's life in performance-both on stage and off-this book provides a fantastic primer on one of the more intriguing musical personalities of the twentieth century." -EthnomusicologyTable of ContentsCONTENTS Acknowledgments 1. Introduction: "Abami Eda" 2. Abeokuta (1938-1957) 3. "Gentlemen" (1958-1970) 4. "African Message" (1970-1974) 5. "The Black President" (1974-1979) 6. "A Serious Cultural Episode" (1979-1992) 7. "Fear Not for Man" (1985-1997) 8. Conclusion: "Look and Laugh" Appendix: Koola Lobitos, Nigeria 70, Afrika 70, and Egypt 80 Personnel Notes Bibliography Discography Index Photographs follow pages 75 and 220

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

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Book SynopsisA new and wide-ranging view of the confluence, since the 1990s, of the fields of contemporary literature and popular music in Germany. In Germany the decade beginning in the mid-1990s brought an unprecedented "confusion of the spheres" of literature and popular music. Popular musicians "crossed over" into the literary field, editors and writers called for contemporary German literature to become more like popular music, writers attempted to borrow structural aspects from music or paid new attention to popular music at the thematic level. Others sought to raise their profiles by means of performance models taken from the popular music field. This book sets out to make sense of this situation. It argues for more inclusive and detailed attention to what it calls "musico-centric fiction," for which it discerns intellectual precursors going back to the 1960s and also identifies examples written since the turn of the millennium, after the would-be death of "pop literature." In doing so, it focuses on fiction and paratextual interventions by authors including Peter Handke, Rolf Dieter Brinkmann, Rainald Goetz, Andreas Neumeister, Thomas Meinecke, Matthias Politycki, Frank Goosen, Benjamin von Stuckrad-Barre, Thomas Brussig, Karen Duve, and Kerstin Grether. Andrew Wright Hurley is Senior Lecturer in German and Cultural Studies at the University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.Trade ReviewHurley displays the most thorough knowledge of his subject in all its complexities and equally of the large corpus of secondary literature. Furthermore, he combines his exemplary scholarship with a readable style. [.] Hurley is to be congratulated on a volume, which is suitable for all those interested in the subject. Even those already knowledgeable are likely to discover something new and worthwhile. -- Stuart Parkes * JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY EUROPEAN STUDIES *[O]ffers a lucid and compelling account of the symbiotic relation between written literature and popular music [..] a complex and wide-ranging study. This reader is already finding references to Hurley's study in the footnotes of scholars and research students working on this topic. As such it will and should be seen as an important contribution to an increasingly important field. * JOURNAL OF EUROPEAN STUDIES *[A] good introduction for English-speaking readers interested in the intersections between German literature and conceptualizations of 'pop.' . . . The book is well researched and successfully situates Popliteratur in the context of word-and-music studies. It is a serious study of a phenomenon that has not received enough attention, at least in English-language scholarship. Hurley firmly establishes fruitful connections between literary studies and popular music studies and provides a nuanced discussion of post-1960s and post-reunification national identity in Germany. * MONATSHEFTE *Andrew Wright Hurley's Into the Groove provides a substantial and comprehensive account of the intersecting spheres of popular music and contemporary German literature. . . . The most interesting chapter describes attempts of several writers to transfer formal principles of electronic music to literary writing by, for example, writing as if using a mixing desk, 'sampling' and manipulating textual material from the historical archive, or trying to render verbally minimal techno's repetitive, nonlinear, and non-teleological structure. . . . Hurley has compiled a wealth of primary and secondary literature on the subject, [yielding] a thorough, knowledgeable, detailed, well organized, and highly readable account of current German pop-musico-literary relations. -- Karoline Johanna Baumann * MODERN LANGUAGE REVIEW *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Preludes and Returns: Popular Music, the '68 Generation, and the Literarization of the Jukebox Enter the Double Agent: The German Popular Musician as Novelist Techno-Lit: Electronica and Its Impacts on Fiction Analogue is Better: Rock- and Pop-centric Literature After the GDR's "Musical Niche Society"? Popular Music in the Literature of Thomas Brussig The Gendering of Popular Music in the Novels of Karen Duve and Kerstin Grether Conclusion: Out of the Groove? Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe first systematic study to address the character and scope of American popular music in India during British rule. American Popular Music in Britain's Raj is the first systematic study of the character and scope of American popular music in India during British rule. Drawing on ethnographic and archival research, it examines blackface minstrel shows, ragtime, jazz, and representations of Hollywood film music in Bombay cabarets and Hindi film songs, identifying key musical moments in the development of these styles between the mid-nineteenth and mid-twentieth centuries. The book describes the entertainment idioms and frameworks that supported the growth of these imported styles; further, it surveys a variety of historical contexts under colonialism that influenced their meaning and commercial value. Focusing on Calcutta (modern Kolkata), Lucknow, and Bombay (modern Mumbai), Bradley Shope traces the movement of this music between the United States, England, and India, and addresses a variety of groups and communities, including the US military in Calcutta during World War II, Anglo-Indians in Lucknow in the 1930s and 1940s, and British residents across North India in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Bradley G. Shope is assistant professor of music at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.Table of ContentsList of Figures Acknowledgments Introduction Entertainment Globalization, 1850s to 1910s Technologies, Exoticism, and Entrepreneurs, 1920s and 1930s Calcutta in the War The Case of Lucknow Cabaret Sequences in Hindi Films Afterword Notes Bibliography Filmography and Discography Index

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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

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Book SynopsisA look at the extensive record collection of author Al Patterson - collected from when he was a school boy.

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Book SynopsisAn encyclopedia survey of Brazilian popular music--now updated and expandedTrade Review"Well informed, written in plain language and smartly illustrated, The Brazilian Sound quickly became a reference book after it was published in 1991. With the recent publication of a revised and expanded edition, the good just got better...The Brazilian Sound is an informative primer, clearly designed to be useful to the curious beginner, but also substantive enough to capture and hold the attention of the initiated. This new edition retains the easy-to-read quality of the original while adding not only new artists throughout but also historical and social context to the music.... For anyone interested in exploring the vast world of Brazilian music, The Brazilian Sound will serve nicely as a smart and practical road map." --Jazziz, February 2009"An excellent resource on some of the most popular music in Brazil.... Clearly written and offering information valuable for understanding Brazilian music in general.... Anyone interested in the evolution of Brazilian popular music and some of its most prolific artists of the past centuries will appreciate this title. Summing Up: Highly recommended." --Choice, June 2009“[T]his book has been revised and expanded again to be bigger and better than the previous highly praised incarnations. Ten years on, the music is still evolving, with many new artists and hybridizations, and McGowan and Pessanha are certainly keeping up with the changes. Their book features new coverage of funk, rap, and hip-hop and profiles new samba artists as well as artists on the rise in electronic dance music and other genres. Now that the Internet has made it easier to find and explore once-exotic musical genres, people looking for information about all the kinds of music in Brazil will love this book. Lavishly illustrated with 175 black-and-white photos, 12 maps, and 12 figures, it covers the remarkable breadth of Brazilian music in a highly readable, lively manner. Highly recommended for all public libraries and world music collections, even those owning an earlier edition." — Library JournalTable of ContentsPreface to the Revised andExpanded Edition Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Five Centuries of Music 2. Samba: The Heartbeat of Rio 3. Bossa Nova: The New Way 4. MPB: A Musical Rainbow 5. Minas Gerais: Musical Treasures 6. Bahia of All the Saints 7. North by Northeast 8. Brazilian Instrumental Music and Jazz 9. Tropical Rock 10. More Brazilian Sounds Notes Glossary Select Bibliography Select Discography and Resources Index

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Book SynopsisA unique exploration of the influence of hip-hop in Africa.

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Book SynopsisThe legacy of American Punk Rock pioneers Black Flag is examined through stories, interviews and photographs of diehard fans who wear their iconic logo, The Bars, tattooed on their skin.

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Book SynopsisBlack Flag were the pioneers of American Hardcore and this is their blood-spattered story.

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Book SynopsisConversations with leading figures of the punk underground.

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Book SynopsisFeatured in Rolling Stone!The behind-the-scenes battle for the Rock Hall.For 25 years, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has defined Cleveland's image as the "Rock and Roll Capital of the World." But while the Rock Hall has become an iconic landmark for the city of Cleveland and for fans of rock and roll around the world, it was just one missed phone call away from never being built in Cleveland. If the prominent singer and actress Leslie Gore hadn't contacted radio personality Norm N. Nite in August 1983, the Hall of Fame would not be in Cleveland—period.Earlier that summer, Gore had learned that the newly formed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation was looking for a city to house their planned museum honoring the history of rock. Gore knew that a year earlier, Nite had pitched an idea for a similar museum, so she reached out to let him know that other figures in the music industry were working to turn his dream into a reality.Nite immediately joined the project's Rules and Nominating Committee and spearheaded the campaign to bring the museum to Cleveland. At the time, the search committee was considering several other cities, including Memphis, Detroit, and New York, but Nite argued that the city's deep historical connection to rock music through Alan Freed and the Moondog Coronation Ball made Cleveland the perfect location. He began lobbying local and state politicians, fundraising with music moguls and civic leaders, and promoting the museum to the broader Cleveland public. As fans got involved, especially with their overwhelming response to a USA Today phone poll, Nite's campaign to bring the Hall to Cleveland was ultimately successful.This book, told from Nite's insider perspective, draws on both first-person accounts and exclusive interviews with influential business leaders, government officials, and giants of the music industry. A detailed record of the Rock Hall's inception and creation, The House That Rock Built becomes a true tribute to the people who made it happen—through Herculean efforts—and to the music it celebrates.Trade ReviewNite has remained the unsung hero of the Rock and Roll Hall of fame for the last quarter-century, but his new book The House That Rock Built (which he wrote with Plain Dealer journalist Tom Feran) should change that. For the first time, it tells the complete story of how a fading Rust Belt city managed to outmanoeuvre heavyweight towns like Chicago, Nashville, and Los Angeles to land the Hall of Fame, which has been the top tourist attraction in the state ever since it opened. The House That Rock Built traces the saga through every twist and turn, packed with details that have never appeared anywhere else."- Rolling Stone;"Norm N. Nite was there at the very, very beginning of the Hall of Fame's courtship with Cleveland and the long saga of turning the dream into a reality. We are lucky to have his very special history of this unique institution."- Jann Wenner, Editor and Founder, Rolling Stone;"This informative and entertaining read will likely become the definitive volume on this important cultural center's formation."- Library Journal;"When histories are written, seldom are we fortunate enough to have them done by someone who was there for the duration. Not only was Norm N. Nite present, he was the catalyst who recognized the need for a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum long before it was birthed. He led the charge and was a one-man band for both the Museum and Cleveland. Few would disagree that there would be no Rock Hall in Cleveland without him. No one is more qualified for this task than the pop music authority/writer/DJ/artist known to us all as Mr. Music, Norm N. Nite."- Terry Stewart, former CEO (1999-2012), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum;"The history of rock and roll is a wild 'n' woolly tale--and no less action-packed is this deep-dive story of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's materialization from a dream to a reality in Cleveland. Colorful characters and backroom deals abound, and rock-and-roll authority, DJ, and author Norm N. Nite's firsthand account is filled with detail and personality."- Holly George-Warren, author of Janis: Her Life and Music;

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Book SynopsisFeaturing the iconic and never-before-published photography of Mark Weiss, The Decade That Rocked covers the biggest names from the ’80s hard rock scene—including Jon Bon Jovi, Ozzy Osbourne, Mötley Crüe, and more.“I have read pretty much every rock 'n' roll biography there is worth reading, and you never know what to expect when you pick up a new book. Well, let me tell you Mark Weiss has raised the bar for rock 'n' roll books with The Decade That Rocked. Mark has always been at the top of his field, and the level of detail and quality put into this book is the ultimate testament to his rock n' roll photographic legacy.” –  Sebastian Bach “Mark is the real deal. He may not play the guitar, but that camera is his guitar. He’s a rockstar.” – Gene Simmons 'Mark’s energy, his creativity, his drive, his positive attitude and his enthusiasm that make him one of the legends of rock photography. It’s why his work—both old and new—is still so in demand today. Mark Weiss inspires greatness in all he turns his camera lens on. But don’t take my word for it. Just look at the pictures in this book.' – Dee Snider “His pictures say as much as the music” – Rob Halford  “He was one of the guys. He wasn’t one of the 18 photographers you’d work with that day.” – Alice Cooper  “He had that instinct, to recognize our energy and use his technical talent to capture it.” – Joe Perry  “The Decade That Rocked breaches a level of intimacy that so many music photographers are lacking today.  Each and every photo exemplifies the trust and the synergy between photographer and subject.  You can feel the essence of the music in the live shots, just as vibrantly as you can feel the spirit and the essence of the musicians behind the scenes.” – Screamer Magazine  Mark “Weissguy” Weiss set an unmatched standard for rock photography. Starting out as a teenager by sneaking into concerts with a neighbor’s 35mm camera, he embarked on a legendary career that took him around the globe and onto some of the most memorable album and magazine covers in rock history– featuring the likes of Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, Aerosmith, and Mötley Crüe to Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Bon Jovi, and KISS, and so many more. With 700+ photos, brand new interviews, and stories from Mark himself, Decade that Rocked is a monument to the photography, friendships, and legacy of an artist that helped define one of rock’s most iconic eras.  This career-spanning collection features:    A unique lens on the golden age of rock: Never-before or rarely seen photos of legends like Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, Aerosmith, and Mötley Crüe to Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Bon Jovi, and KISS, as well as countless others whose sound and image defined the era.  Exclusive interviews: Ozzy Osbourne, Dee Snider, Nikki Sixx, Joe Perry, Rob Halford, and many more recall their memories of this era-defining decade.  Untold Stories: Relive Mark’s unbelievable journey through rock history, from getting arrested for selling photos outside of Kiss concert to touring with legends like Van Halen, to photographing Bon Jovi’s infamous “Slippery When Wet” shoot, shooting backstage at Live Aid with Black Sabbath, and so many more.  Definitive Lens: Creem magazine readers ranked Mark Weiss as rock’s top photographer of the 80s. His work has appeared on some of the most iconic album and magazine covers of all time.    Captured from the unique vantage point of a photographer who lived and breathed the ’80s in all its grit and glory, The Decade That Rocked brings to life the no-holds-barred sounds and sights that changed the world of hard rock and metal forever.        

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Book SynopsisHonored as a “historic rock and roll landmark” by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Austin City Limits is the longest-running popular music series in American television history. ACL began in 1974 by featuring original Texas music that ran the gamut from Western swing and Texas blues to Tejano, progressive country, and rock and roll. Now the show is celebrating its fortieth anniversary, and its coverage has expanded to encompass unique regional, national, and international performers in an eclectic range of genres. Additionally, the ACL brand includes the annual Austin City Limits Music Festival, a three-day extravaganza that spotlights some 150 bands and attracts more than 200,000 fans. This book spans ACL’s first 40 years, with special emphasis on legendary artists, such as Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Leonard Cohen, and Willie Nelson, and the most compelling contemporary performers and bands from the past two decades, including Coldplay, John Mayer, Elvis Costello, Pearl Jam, David Bryne, the Flaming Lips, Wilco, Lucinda Williams, and Norah Jones. The best of the best, Austin City Limits: Forty Years of Legendary Music showcases some of the most brilliant, mesmerizing, quirky, esoteric, and unforgettable performances on any stage in the past 40 years.

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Book Synopsis** Now with three bonus songs**'Go Your Own Way' by Fleetwood Mac'Come on Eileen' by Dexys Midnight RunnersWhy Can't We Be Friends?' by WarSongs that sell the most copies become hits, but some of those hits become something more - iconic recordings that not only inspire a generation but also alter the direction of music. In this follow-up to his classic Anatomy of a Song, writer and music historian Marc Myers tells the stories behind fifty-five more rock, pop, R&B, country and reggae hits through intimate interviews with the artists who wrote and recorded them.Part oral history, part musical analysis, Anatomy of 55 Hit Songs ranges from Creedence Clearwater Revival's 'Bad Moon Rising' to Dionne Warwick's 'Walk On By', The Beach Boys' 'Good Vibrations' and Black Sabbath's 'Paranoid'. Bernie Taupin recalls how he wrote the lyrics to Elton John's 'Rocket Man'; Joan Jett remembers channeling her rage against how she had been unfairly labeled and treated into 'Bad Reputation' and Ozzy Osbourne, Elvis Costello, Bob Weir, Sheryl Crow, Alice Cooper, Roberta Flack, John Mellencamp, Keith Richards, Carly Simon and many others reveal the emotions and technique behind their major works.Trade ReviewMyers has a knack for capturing the artistry of songwriting and easily shows why these tracks are "iconic but not tired." This melodic collection will strike a chord with music fans. * Publishers Weekly *Myers adds important context by interviewing and extensively quoting the principal artists, composers, and producers. Especially recommended for collections where the first book found favor. * Booklist *Insightful...Pop-music fans of a certain age will enjoy this collection and might even use it as a playlist. * Library Journal *Myers does a fine job of getting behind the hits...With snippets of business, creativity, techno-wizardry, and raw emotion, a pleasure for music fans. * Kirkus Reviews *A treasure trove of music trivia between hard covers... [A] splendid volume. * Guardian on ANATOMY OF A SONG *[T]he anecdotes give flesh to the meaning of the lyrics. Musical influences that get passed from artist to artist are equally fascinating - and often surprising... Myers' book is big-fun forensic musicology. * Mojo on ANATOMY OF A SONG *A winning look at the stories behind 45 pop, punk, folk, soul and country classics. * Washington Post on ANATOMY OF A SONG *A cultural history of the elusive hit single, focused on artists' recollections and studio alchemy . . . The book's strength lies in thoughtful, wry reflections from artists including Elvis Costello, Jimmy Cliff, Stevie Wonder, Booker T. Jones, Dr. John, and Debbie Harry. An entertaining record of the soundtrack of the baby boomer era. * Kirkus Reviews on ANATOMY OF A SONG *Table of Contents1: Walk On By DIONNE WARWICK 2: Dancing in the Street MARTHA AND THE VANDELLAS 3: Sunshine Superman DONOVAN 4: Good Vibrations THE BEACH BOYS 5: Up, Up and Away THE 5TH DIMENSION 6: Get Together THE YOUNGBLOODS 7: The Weight THE BAND 8: Fire THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN 9: Bad Moon Rising CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL 10: Crystal Blue Persuasion TOMMY JAMES AND THE SHONDELLS 11: Ain't No Mountain High Enough DIANA ROSS 12: Paranoid BLACK SABBATH 13: Truckin' GRATEFUL DEAD 8 14: I'm Eighteen ALICE COOPER 15: Bang a Gong (Get It On) T. REX 16: Roundabout YES 17: Doctor My Eyes JACKSON BROWNE 18: Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress THE HOLLIES 19: Rocket Man ELTON JOHN 20: I'll Be Around THE SPINNERS 21: Papa Was a Rollin' Stone THE TEMPTATIONS 22: Killing Me Softly with His Song ROBERTA FLACK 23: Smoke on the Water DEEP PURPLE 24: Hello It's Me TODD RUNDGREN 1 25: She's Gone HALL & OATES 26: Come and Get Your Love REDBONE 27: Sundown GORDON LIGHTFOOT 28: Why Can't We Be Friends? WAR 29: I'm Not in Love 10CC 30: Love Is the Drug ROXY MUSIC 31: The Boys Are Back in Town THIN LIZZY 32: Fly Like an Eagle STEVE MILLER BAND 33: Year of the Cat AL STEWART 34: Go Your Own Way FLEETWOOD MAC 35: Barracuda HEART 36: Nobody Does It Better CARLY SIMON 37: Peg STEELY DAN 38: My Best Friend's Girl THE CARS 39: The Gambler KENNY ROGERS 40: September EARTH, WIND & FIRE 41: What a Fool Believes THE DOOBIE BROTHERS 42: Accidents Will Happen ELVIS COSTELLO 43: The Devil Went Down to Georgia THE CHARLIE DANIELS BAND 44: Good Times CHIC 45: Highway to Hell AC/DC 46: Cars GARY NUMAN 47: On the Radio DONNA SUMMER 48: Bad Reputation JOAN JETT 49: Rapture BLONDIE 50: Don't Stop Believin' JOURNEY 51: Come On Eileen DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS 52: Steppin' Out JOE JACKSON 53: Burning Down the House TALKING HEADS 54: The Power of Love HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS 55: Small Town JOHN MELLENCAMP 56: Take It So Hard KEITH RICHARDS 57: Being Boring PET SHOP BOYS 58: If It Makes You Happy SHERYL CROW

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

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Book SynopsisThis intimate story of Lynyrd Skynyrd tells of how a band of lost souls and self-destructive misfits with uncertain artistic objectives clawed their way to the top of the rock 'n’ roll world. Based on interviews with surviving band members, Whiskey Bottles and Brand-New Cars shares how lead singer and front man Ronnie Van Zant guided the band’s hugely successful five-year run and, in the process, created not only a new country rock idiom, but a new Confederacy in constant conflict with old Southern totems and prejudices. Placing the music and personae of Skynyrd into a broad cultural context, this book gives a new perspective to a history of stage fights, motel-room destructions, cunning business deals, and brilliant studio productions. It also offers a greater appreciation for a band whose legacy, in the aftermath of their last plane ride, has since descended into self-caricature.Trade Review"An excellent look at a band whose creative evolution was tragically cut short." Booklist

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