Search results for ""Sonicbond Publishing""

The British singer, songwriter and musician Peter Hammill is one of the key figures in the history of progressive rock. As the leader and main creative force of Van der Graaf Generator, he was behind some of the most powerful and compelling rock music of the 1970s, and since VdGG reformed in 2005 has continued to lead the group down a unique musical path. But Van der Graaf Generator are only part of the Peter Hammill story. Beginning with 1971's Fool's Mate and continuing all the way to 2021's In Translation, Hammill has carved out a lengthy solo career consisting of some 35 albums, plus a number of live albums and collaborations. The range of styles in evidence on these albums is remarkable, from baroque progressive rock to snotty proto-punk, angular new wave, delicate ballads, electronic experiments and even a full-length opera. This is the first book to offer an in-depth exploration of Peter Hammill's solo discography, revealing the sonic intensity and emotional turmoil that lie at the heart of his work. The book is an invaluable companion to Dan Coffey's Van der Graaf Generator: every album, every song, already published by Sonicbond Publishing.

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Phil Ochs was the 'The Prince of Protest' in the sixties. The only real rival to Bob Dylan, he was the archetypal Greenwich Village topical songwriter. Whether protesting the Vietnam War or campaigning for civil rights, workers' rights and social justice, Phil was always there.

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When Crowded House arrived with their debut album and hit single 'Don't Dream It's Over' in 1986, the seed of a unique musical journey was planted into our collective musical consciousness. The Aussie/Kiwi trio created a sound as playful as Split Enz with an adventurous spirit inspired by The Beatles, and crafted genuinely enduring melodies.

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Prince's Purple Rain celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2024, and this book digs deeper into the writing and recording process of the diamond-certified album. Also discussing the stories behind the songs, and the host of B-sides to have followed over the years.

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Some albums are simply undeniable watersheds in an artist's career. Artistic or commercial triumphs (or sometimes both), but most importantly seen by both the fanbase and, to a greater or lesser degree the wider world, as a defining statement in their catalogue. Such was undoubtedly the case when Supertramp released Crime Of The Century in 1974.

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This is the first book on the history and music of Magnum. It covers each of the band's twenty-two studio albums, as well as live recordings, compilations and the late 1990s Hard Rain project.

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This book examines the work of the first decade-and-a-half of Lou Reed as a solo artist. It would be easy to paint these years with a broad brush; with the ghost of The Velvet Underground in its aftermath slowly yet gradually gaining cultural influence, this slow-burning legacy would both tether and liberate its key participant. Between the years of 1972 and 1986, Lou Reed would seek, achieve, reject, lament, and once again pine for professional success while the excesses and extremities of a life lived in public wielded their own unruly impact. While this book seeks to maintain its focus on the music first and foremost, with an artist like Lou Reed, it seems impossible for the personal to stay divorced from the product. We will see a tentative, crestfallen Lou begin to emerge from his parental Long Island, NY cocoon to test the waters for a solo career. There is worldwide stardom and success, then banishment, followed by the embracement and rejection of various commercial enterprises, to midlife revision and rejuvenation. Multiple partners of influence, both professional and personal, would be accumulated and jettisoned, all leaving lasting traces. Lou did a lot in fourteen years, and it’s only half of the story.

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When Yes ran into problems recording their tenth album in Paris at the end of 1979, it was almost the end. Yet in the 80s, the band rallied, firstly as part of an unlikely collaboration with new wave duo The Buggles, then with 90125, the most successful album of their career, which spawned a number one hit in the USA with 'Owner Of A Lonely Heart'. The band failed to capitalise on this success, however, lingering too long over its successor Big Generator and by the end of the decade, Yes had effectively split into two versions of the same group. With most authors concentrating on the group's 1970s career, Yes in the 1980s looks in forensic detail at this relatively underexamined era of the band's history, featuring rarely seen photos researched by author David Watkinson. The book follows the careers of all nine significant members of the group during a turbulent decade which saw huge highs but also many lows. Not only does it consider the three albums the band itself made across the decade, but also the solo careers and other groups - including Asia, XYZ, The Buggles, Jon and Vangelis and GTR - formed by those musicians as the decade wound towards a reunion of sorts in the early 1990s

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Few artists have had as great an impact with their debut single as Procol Harum. Mesmerising and perplexing in equal measure, 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' remains the perfect distillation of the possibilities of psychedelia in that brief period when British pop seemed to promise a summer of love that would last forever.

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Small Faces. Big Sound. Therewere but four Small Faces.First, they were the modfourpiece of the All Or Nothing' Decca years. When TheSmall Faces split, Steve Marriott formed Humble Pie with Peter Frampton, andthe rest of the band became The Faces with the addition of future Rolling StoneRon Wood & vocalist Rod Stewart.

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Dive into the musical universe of solo Ian Hunter songs like never before with Ian Hunter On Track. We unlock the secrets behind every lyric, riff, and melody in this one-of-a-kind musical journey. From the soul-stirring anthems that defined an era to the hidden gems that eluded the spotlight, this book leaves no chord unheard.

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Prior to new editions of legendary Man musician Deke Leonard's previous books Rhinos, Winos & Lunatics and Maybe I Should've Stayed in Bed? planned for 2020, we are happy to bring back his 3rd and 4th books in their original editions. This volume picks up his epic journey in 1977. Prog-rock giants Man have imploded and Deke is fighting to resurrect his solo career. Follow his titanic struggle as he stalks the mean streets of LA, searching for the seedy underbelly of the American Dream. Thrill to his ruthless gang warfare with London's criminal underworld and rejoices he makes Smokey Robinson laugh and Phil Lynott cringe before painting the town red with Tina Turner. The inevitable reunion with Man sees the Welsh rock outfit criss-crossing Europe as hey battle to reclaim their status as one of the world's leading acid rock bands. While on tour, Deke gives guitar lessons to Alvin Lee, crosses swords with Wishbone Ash and lectures Eric Burdon on stagecraft - tales told in Deke's inimitable style with his customary dry wit.

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Prior to new editions of legendary Man musician Deke Leonard's previous books Rhinos, Winos & Lunatics and Maybe I Should've Stayed in Bed? planned for 2020, we are happy to bring back his 3rd and 4th books in their original editions. The Twang Dynasty is a book for people who love guitars and the glorious noise they make, written by a musician who has lived and loved the music for 50 years. Deke Leonard reflects on the genre from within in a highly amusing and informative style that makes this an essential read. He shines a light on how and why some musicians changed the landscape forever, tracing the development of modern popular music from its fragmented roots in delta blues, country and early rock 'n' roll to today's guitar based rock. He mixes personal encounters with Hendrix and Clapton with analysis of well-known but equally important players, ending with a chapter on Welsh rock guitarists that have been particularly dear to his heart. The Twang Dynasty is compelling reading, making the reader want to revisit the music and embark on their own personal guitar odyssey.

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From the band’s first single, ‘In The City’ in April 1977, to their last, ‘Beat Surrender’ in November 1982, The Jam went from new wave wannabees to arguably the biggest band in the UK. The Jam on track covers every song released by the group during their five-and-a-half-year career on the Polydor label and includes the pick of demos and little-known recordings from various compilation albums after the band’s demise. Each song is looked at from a musical and lyrical viewpoint, and includes contemporary comments from Paul Weller, Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler, music critics and those working closely with the band. Album and single sleeves, videos (or promo films as they were more widely known at the time) and TV appearances are part of the mix as author Stan Jeffries looks at what made The Jam one of Britain’s most respected acts and how their legacy continues to this day. For both the dedicated and the curious, this book guides you through the career of one of the country’s musical giants.

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1972 was the year Progressive Rock came of age, when bands and artists still revered today produced some of their most ground-breaking, inventive, and enduring musical creations. In this fascinating and absorbing book, Kevan Furbank looks at some of the artists and albums that made 1972 such a watershed in musical achievement. He follows their development from the first tentative notes and chords to the full-blown recordings that, more than 50 years later, are still seen as the masterpieces of the genre, and the gold standard by which all Progressive Rock is judged. Travel Close To The Edge with Yes, dance a Foxtrot with Genesis, tussle with Gentle Giant’s Octopus and discover you don’t have to be Thick As A Brick to enjoy Jethro Tull’s 40-minute opus. There’s a Trilogy by Emerson, Lake & Palmer, some Demons And Wizards from Uriah Heep, and a Grave New World courtesy of The Strawbs. The author also Focuses on manic yodelling, the End Of The World, an island Obscured By Clouds and a cult album that could be hobbit-forming. Written with passion and wit, the book is a must-have book for every music-lover with an open mind and open ears.

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In 1974, with Apple winding down, George Harrison still aspired to help new artists, so rather than trying to salvage Apple, he set up his own label Dark Horse Records, on a much smaller scale. His plan was to release records from new artists as well as some of his old friends, with an eye to eventually releasing his own music. While Dark Horse had an encouraging beginning with a hit single from Splinter, the label Suffered increasing problems, failing to establish itself in the way Harrison hoped. However, some incredible and varied music was created from 1974 to 1977, including some of Harrison’s best solo material. Towards the end of its initial life, Dark Horse dropped most of its artists and released mainly Harrison’s solo work. Thankfully, since 2020, Dhani Harrison has taken the reins and has made Dark Horse viable once again, signing Cat Stevens and Billy Idol and releasing music from Joe Strummer and Leon Russell. Finally, in 2023, it was announced that Harrison’s entire solo catalogue was going to be re-released on Dark Horse. This book tells the story of the label from the beginning, through its struggles and on to its exciting renaissance in the new millennium.

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In 1985, Suzanne Vega released her debut, garnering platinum status in the U.K and this New York-based singer-songwriter's self-titled album claimed the number 80 spot on Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Best Albums of the Eighties. AUTHOR: Lisa Torem, a rock journalist and musician with an M.A. in Linguistics, has interviewed, among others, members of: Alice Cooper, The Animals, Aerosmith, Cream, The Kinks, The Faces, Dave Brubeck, Jethro Tull, Thin Lizzy, The Zombies, 10cc, Judy Collins, Donovan, Darlene Love, Sarah McLachlan, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Jimmy Webb and Dweezil Zappa. Interviews, features, live/CD reviews have appeared in American Blues Scene, The Chicago Reader, Grateful Web, Newcity, pennyblackmusic.co.uk., Popmatters and The Big Takeover. Lisa co-wrote Through the Eye of the Tiger and All That Glitters and wrote On Track: Tori Amos and On Track.

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From humble beginnings, as they emerged pimple-popped and sweaty out of a global New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene infiltrating California in the early 80s, through to almost complete world domination, sell out tours and Billboard chart success, Metallica's story is like few others. With an insatiable hunger andhell-for-leatherr attitude, they helped to forge a new direction for metal music across the world, combining progressive anger with, at times, sweeping ballads. In the space of just a few album,s they transformed from thrashing wannabes (Kill 'Em All) into real heavy rock contenders (...And Justice for All) - before unleashing a new blend of chart-topping heavy metal on the masses (Black Album). A band of dogged workers, with twists and turns, heartbreak and line-up changes peppering their more than 40-year career, if they aren't on the road, it seems they're in the recording studio, with an incessant hunt for the next loudest, ground-breaking sound, spurring them on. They rode a wave, then started a tsunami, so prepare to be blown away. Metallica give you 'heavy baby!'

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Traversing power metal, acoustic introspect and finally settling on their breakthrough cinematic sound, Finnish heavyweights Nightwish are the leading name in the sumptuous world of symphonic metal. Having tackled numerous high-profile line-up changes, each threatening to derail the grand vehicle of spirit curated by founder Tuomas Holopainen, their every turn has been documented across nine studio records. Whilst the surface presents the Nightwish discography as a feast of metaphor and imagination, it's in the undercurrent that the vulnerability of the compositions are revealed; the fury of 'Master Passion Greed' detailing the acrimonious split with vocalist Tarja Turunen, the melancholia permeating Century Child and the awe-inspiring ode to evolution of Endless Forms Most Beautiful. This book analyses every song released by the group, from their Angels Fall First debut to 2020's Human. :||: Nature., discussing inimitable singles 'Nemo' and the begrudgingly composed 'Sleeping Sun' as well as patriotic sport soundtracks, impromptu live outings and curious cover versions. Nightwish On Track also discusses the abundant live releases and compilations from their career to date and gathers together an exhaustive list of the band's B-sides and rarities.

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When Freddie Bulsara arrived in England in 1964, fleeing with his family from a bloody revolution on the streets of his homeland Zanzibar, he already knew that he wanted to be a rock'n'roll star. But before that dream could become a reality, there were three specific people he needed to meet. Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon were the other three components in what became Queen, a band whose name is now writ large in rock legend, but whose members spent their early career mired in legal troubles, critical hostility and financial hardship. In the early 1970s, with their preening singer and arch conceptualiser now renamed Freddie Mercury, the group projected an image that was at once regal, mystical and exotic. Yet behind the black eyeliner and billows of dry ice, Queen were four sharply contrasting individuals whose dogged struggle to win success was every bit as dramatic as the ogre battles and fairy king fantasias that populated their music. Queen in the Seventies is an up-close examination of the band's now critically adored first ten years, the decade when they forged their unique vision, beat off the critics and became, after many epic tantrums and much violent throwing of crockery, champions of the world.

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The 1980s saw Alice Cooper release arguably his most diverse collection of albums, ranging from new wave to metal to full-on radio-friendly rock. They weren't all commercially successful, but all are worth listening to and some are excellent. This book (which follows on from the author's acclaimed Alice Cooper In The '70s) features all new interview material by the author with 45 musicians and performers who worked with Alice over the decade. Many have never been interviewed before and they offer fascinating insight into working with Alice and each other. Key interviewees include Mike Pinera, Jan Uvena, John Nitzinger, Graham Shaw, Ken Mary, Kip Winger, Kane Roberts, John McCurry and Al Pitrelli. Consequently, the book includes a lot of new facts and information that should please fans. The author adds commentary and opinions on all of the songs from the era, Alice's film work and the five live tours. There is also an appendix on the album that could have been but never was. Alice 'contributes' from the contemporary press of the time are referenced, which became more loquacious as the decade goes on. Alice in the '80s, what a thrill ride that was!

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Few singers have been able to change with the times like Johnny Mathis. Although his fame rests on his massive popularity in the 50s and 60s when he competed with Elvis and Frank Sinatra and outsold almost anyone, Mathis has remained relevant through the decades and no other crooner is as technically skilled or able to cover multiple genres so convincingly. Jazz, soul, disco, country, classic and contemporary pop, Mathis has adapted his impressive vocal range to all kinds of music and transgressed the stereotype of what a male voice is supposed to sound like. The longest-running artist on Columbia, he has been recognized by the record industry with The Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award and three recordings in the Grammy Hall of Fame, but so far, there hasn't been an exhaustive examination of his complete recordings in book form. Authorized by Mathis and including fresh insights from himself as well as his producers and arrangers, Misty: The Music of Johnny Mathis, rights that wrong. With detailed discussions of the records and a discography, the book traces Mathis's musical journey from the past to the present and includes a wealth of photos and album scans from his own archive. It's the ideal companion for fans and new listeners interested in exploring one of the most prominent voices in American music.

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There were a lot of very different bands peddling their wares in the progressive rock 'golden age' of the 1970s - some tending toward symphonic grandeur, other towards jazz fusion, and others still ploughing the more immediate end of the spectrum. There were the left-field eccentrics and the tricky 'difficult' bands. Apart from it all, however, there were Van Der Graaf Generator. In a decade stuffed with a wild array of influences, styles and instrumental line-ups, there can be few tending quite so near to the definition 'unique' as the four musicians who made up the 'classic' line-up of Van Der Graaf. For a start, there was the astonishing songwriting and vocals of generally accepted 'leader' Peter Hammill, but there was much more behind that to set these men apart. Their unparalleled instrumental make-up saw little or no guitar and no bass guitar, while organist Hugh Banton handled the bass parts on pedals, David Jackson pioneered an astonishing saxophone style, playing two instruments at once, electric rather than miked up, and using a full effects pedalboard. Drummer Guy Evans filled in - well, everything else. It was and remains a sound quite like no other. This book documents their incredibly influential first decade as prog's ultimate 'outsiders'. It's quite a ride.

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They pulled on their platform boots and slapped on the makeup when everybody else was discarding theirs. Their albums were subject to poor production, scathing reviews, and commercial indifference. Other bands refused to have them as their opening act. Their record company was up against the wall. By all reasoning, they should have become one of the 'lost' bands of the 1970s, like the Harlots of 42nd Street or the Hollywood Stars. Yet in 1975 Kiss unexpectedly came Alive! and by the following year, they were the biggest rock and roll band - and brand - in America. This is a journey through Kiss's first and most storied decade. It is the story of the four men behind the masks, and the music they made, the studio albums, the legendary live albums, and of one of the greatest rock follies in music history, the four simultaneously released solo album. Along the way, it tells of the costumes and the concerts, the merchandise and the Marvel comic books, the television appearances and the disastrous 1978 movie, Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park. And having bestrode the 1970s like an unstoppable colossus, it ends with Kiss under siege, beset by changing public taste without, and combustible personalities within.

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After the singularity of Astral Weeks in 1968, the 1970s were the formative years for the solo career of one of the acknowledged giants of modern music. Van Morrison was one of the music legends who defined the decade, with every album bringing out different aspects to Morrison's vast musical spectrum. His story in the 1970s is a chronicle of a Belfast artist coming to terms with the voice, the call, the dream of America. The decade saw Morrison work through the promise of the land of the blues and jazz, westerns and railroads, big cities and backwoods. It also saw his own spiritual quest and the reimagining of a nordic North European heritage and Caledonian Irish roots alongside the realisation of emigration and exile. Morrison forged a rich and complex artistic catalogue that continues down the years to the present day. Beginning with smash hit Moondance in 1970, his output in the decade continued through Tupelo Honey via Hard Nose the Highway to 1979's Into the Music. By the end of the 1970s, he was again using Europe to recast his music and imagination for another half century in the business, but throughout most of the decade his songs centred on America as he created the foundation of an unparalleled legacy

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Creedence Clearwater Revival were a San Francisco band of the 1960s that had nothing to do with Human Be Ins, Timothy Leary, or the Summer of Love. They were, for a time, the most popular band in the US but never scored a number one hit. They were headliners at Woodstock but didn’t appear in the film or on the soundtrack LP. They shared a radical ‘back to basics’ sensibility with The Band but were not embraced by the emerging rock press with anywhere near the same enthusiasm. When the punks were hunting dinosaur bands to extinction in 1977, Richard Hell covered one of their songs on his debut album. In the 1980s, as their songs became staples of ‘classic rock’ radio, they were revered by underground bands like The Gun Club, The Minutemen and The Scientists. As Butch said to Sundance, ‘Who are those guys?’ In this book, a track-by-track analysis of all the band’s recorded output, Tony Thompson rolls up the sleeves on his plaid shirt and prepares to answer the big questions. Who’s Jody? What is ‘chooglin’? Where is Green River? Why can’t the singer leave Lodi? Who was the fortunate son? Is the bathroom on the right?

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Pearl Jam are the last men standing from great alternative rock explosion of the Nineties. They introduced themselves with one of the biggest-selling and most iconic albums of the decade, and their follow-up albums broke sales records worldwide. To date they have sold over 30 million albums worldwide, as many as iconic such artists as The Doors, Tom Petty, and Rush. Just as those artists did, Pearl Jam built an intense cult following who feel personally connected to the band. They tour constantly and are renowned for the quality of their live shows. While maintaining a huge network of fans, they have also collaborated with rock legends and helped boost the profiles of new artists. They fight for social justice causes even when that costs them in other areas. And through it all they keep releasing amazing music. Yet for many they remain an artefact of the Nineties, the epitome of the angsty Gen X stereotype. By going through their entire discography track-by-track, covering their origins in the Seattle scene, their musical development, and how the pop culture context has changed around them, this book will argue that Pearl Jam are not only one the greatest bands of their generation, but one of the greatest bands of all time.

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Formed as shambolic art-punk four-piece Seymour whilst attending London's Goldsmiths University, the rechristened Blur released their debut album Leisure in 1991, marking them as promising indie upstarts in thrall to the voguish sub-genres of baggy and shoegaze. Following a radical stylistic shift on sophomore LP Modern Life Is Rubbish, Blur became a UK household name in 1994 upon the advent of their era-defining Britpop masterpiece Parklife. A year later, the infamous chart battle with arch-rivals Oasis marred number one single 'Country House', but they changed direction again on fifth album Blur - a grungier affair that yielded the transatlantic smash hit 'Song 2'. Though guitarist Graham Coxon departed during sessions for seventh album Think Tank, the original foursome reunited in 2009 for a series of triumphant comeback shows, culminating in the unexpected release of 2015's Hong Kong recorded The Magic Whip. A restlessly inventive group to file alongside other eclectic British artists such as The Beatles, David Bowie and Queen, this book explores every Blur album in detail, including all singles, B-sides and selected rarities - a comprehensive guide to one of the 1990's most successful and iconic rock bands

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Of all of the 'classic' British rockers who came to prominence in the 1960s, only a very few have achieved significant, sustained success through to the present day. A list that comprises Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones should also include Eric Clapton. His critical and commercial accomplishments with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith and his first solo album between 1965 and 1970 was followed the inexplicable failure of the Layla album, released under the semi-pseudonym of Derek & The Dominos. Clapton withdrew into heroin addiction for several years. In 1974, his 'comeback' album, 461 Ocean Boulevard, returned him to the top three in both the UK and America. Always a strong concert draw, Clapton has released another sixteen top twenty albums since. Even 'Layla' returned to the charts in 1982. Eric Clapton Solo reviews and analyses all of Clapton's studio albums since 1974, as well as successful collaborations with BB King and JJ Cale. It's been a long, varied journey: the laid-back rocker of the 1970s; the commercial sheen of the 1980s; the polished, acoustic yuppie music and hard blues of the 1990s; the slick R & B stylings of the 2000s and the roots homages of the 2010s. All of this was underpinned by the skill and talent of Britain's greatest blues guitarist and a hugely underrated vocalist

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A progressive rock supergroup? In the 1980s? Who would want such a thing critics asked, as they immediately went on the attack. But music fans disagreed. John Wetton, Geoff Downes, Steve Howe and Carl Palmer had played with the likes of King Crimson, Roxy Music, Yes and ELP to name just a few and they lived up to the supergroup tag. Asia's self-titled debut album went to number one for nine weeks on the US charts, went top twenty in the UK and sold over ten million copies worldwide. Asia was all over MTV, had a sold-out world tour, several hit singles and a Grammy nomination. After 1983's Alpha album, Wetton left to be replaced, bizarrely by Greg Lake was in, then Wetton was back and Howe was gone, replaced by Mandy Meyer for Astra in 1985. Fans needed a scorecard to keep track of it all, then the group split. Geoff Downes would struggle to keep the flame alive with John Payne from 1991-2005 until the original line up reunited in 2006 with newfound respect accorded them by both the media and fans until Wetton's sad passing in 2017. This book covers every studio album as well as key live albums, compilations and solo projects in detail, making it a comprehensive guide to the music of this enigmatic and ever-changing band.

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For a few short years in the 1970s, the unique music of Focus entertained the world. Build around the prodigious instrumental talents of Dutch masters Jan Akkerman (guitar) and Thijs Van Leer (keyboards and flute), the band produced three classic hit albums in quick succession, and scored two worldwide hits with 'Sylvia' and 'Hocus Pocus'. The latter piece is as ubiquitous as tunes from the 70s get, distinctive for Akkerman's famous riff and Van Leer's once-heard-never forgotten yodeling. Musical and personal tensions between the two lead to a split in 1976, the band limping on until 1978. However, the 1970s also saw seven solo albums each from these two hugely talented musicians, with Akkerman moving into jazzier territory while Van Leer had huge success with his Introspection series of light, classical flute-based albums. Stephen Lambe's enlightening book guides the reader through the band's early history year by year, dealing with all eight Focus albums song by song, while also giving the same treatment to Akkerman and Van Leer's lesser know solo work between 1970 and 1979. It makes for both an important potted history of the band and an insight into the tensions which lead to such a creative - if short lived - peak, but also acts as an essential guide to the astonishing music the two men made while at the peak of their powers.

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Guitarist Steve Hackett first came to many fan's attention when he joined Genesis in 1971. Following seven excellent albums with the band, he went his own way in 1977. He had already kick started his solo career with the critically acclaimed Voyage of the Acolyte in 1975 but 24 studio albums followed, making him the most prolific member of the classic Genesis line-up. In the 1980s, he also formed GTR with Yes guitarist Steve Howe and they enjoyed commercial success with a hit album and single. Steve's solo work has embraced rock, prog, classical, blues, pop, jazz and world music, all performed with style and panache and his most recent album At the Edge of Light released in 2019 is perhaps his best since the classic Spectral Mornings in 1979. On stage, he has kept the Genesis flame burning brightly, performing the band's classic material from the 1970s alongside his own work. He remains one of the most innovative and influential musicians in rock. This book examines, in detail, each one of Steve's studio albums and traces his long and varied history. Collaborations, live albums and compilations are also discussed, making this the most comprehensive guide to the music of Steve Hackett yet published. Whether the reader is a diehard fan or someone wishing to catch-up on his post Genesis work, Steve Hackett on track is essential reading

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David Cronenberg’s films stand collectively as one of the great achievements in cinema. Fearless, imaginative and provocative, as well as intelligent and refreshingly disturbing, his work expresses a unique personal vision. More than simply ‘the baron of blood’ or the ‘king of venereal horror’, Cronenberg has long transcended these early attempts to label him. Through five decades of parasites, plastic realities, creative destruction and the rise of the new flesh – here is a filmmaker uniquely suited to dissect our mutating relationship with sex, death and technology. David Cronenberg On Screen presents a new survey of his extraordinary career, from early, experimental shorts and body-horror explorations, to commercial success with The Fly and Dead Ringers, and on to his celebrated and sometimes controversial literary adaptations. This volume also considers his excursions as an actor; key collaborators; television and advertising; and his new phase as a novelist. Cronenberg’s recurring themes are explored along the way: psychological transformation revealed in physical mutation, disease as an agent of change, violence, alternative sexualities, and the viral nature of desire. In our hyper-connected world of pandemic fear and mutable identities, the films of David Cronenberg are as relevant as ever

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The Stranglers, or Meninblack, were once considered the bad boys of punk despite never really being a punk band. This book examines every album and single recorded by the band, as well as rarities and their many videos throughout their history.

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The Clash were an extraordinary band. Bursting out of the Punk explosion in 1977, they recorded their self-titled first album over three weekends. It is now regarded as the quintessential Punk record. Over the next five years they recorded another fourteen sides of long-playing vinyl including the platinum double-LP London Calling, which was voted the best album of the 1980s and the 8th best album of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. Through the triple-LP Sandinista! to their double-platinum Combat Rock plus a whole bunch of 'stand alone' singles and EP's, The Clash mixed both street and global politics with music spanning several genres including Rock, Reggae, Jazz, Rap, Calypso and Rockabilly. This book provides a concise narrative of the rise and fall of The Clash, putting each song of their prolific musical output into context, including a selection of bootlegs and rarities. There is also advice about how to buy The Clash's music without falling into the record company trap of repeatedly buying the same material through different compilations, making this the most essential guide to the music of this iconic band yet written.

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One of the great cult bands of the progressive era, Barclay James harvest shook of the mantle of being a ‘poor man’s Moody Blues’ to chart their own course. Feted in Germany and at times in other parts of Continental Europe, but largely unknown at home in the U.K. except to a fiercely loyal cognoscenti, Barclay James Harvest are long overdue for greater recognition. Formed in the Saddleworth area of north-west England in 1967, the band released a series of outstanding albums showcasing their pastoral, classically-influenced brand of rock, before hitting the heights of their success, culminating in a massive open air concert in Berlin in front of an estimated quarter of a million people. With only one line-up change, the departure of keyboard maestro and founder member Woolly Wolstenholme in 1979, they continued to record until 1998, when the band finally split into two separate groups, led by original members John Lees and Les Holroyd respectively. The core of this book covers Barclay James Harvest’s output from 1968 to 1997, with analysis and background information for every studio album and every song released from that period, but there is also room for an overview of their live albums and of the members’ activities after the break-up of the original group. The book is required reading for anyone with more than a passing interest in one of the rock world’s most underrated bands.

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The J. Geils Band were the original Bad Boys from Boston, getting down to it and blowing your face out every night. With classic albums like Full House, Bloodshot, Love Stinks, and the massively successful Freeze-Frame, Geils have been nominated for the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame no fewer than five times since 2005.

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IIf Genesis, according to British comedian and fan Al Murray 'were the progressive rock band who progressed', then Peter Gabriel as a solo artist would be the member that progressed the most. Who would have thought that listening to early Genesis would eventually take the listener to Senegal, Armenia, South Africa and beyond, via the artistic endeavours of their former vocalist? This is a journey through Peter Gabriel's solo albums, his live recordings and soundtrack compositions. During his forty-year plus solo career, Gabriel has become a worldwide pop star via his early, self-titled albums and his seminal 1986 record So. He has had hit singles throughout his career, including the bucolic 'Solsbury Hill' in 1977 and the poignant 'Don't Give Up'. He also helped pioneer video creativity with the song 'Sledgehammer'. In doing so, he has reached beyond his progressive rock origins to achieve a level of popularity and respect that other musicians from that genre could only dream about. You may have heard many of these songs before, but there's always something new to be found by digging in the dirt. This is the perfect guide to his music for new listeners and long-term fans alike. What on earth is going on? In the words of the Burgermiester: 'I...will...find...out.'

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The second in a brand new series taking deep dives into rock classics. One of the most pivotal albums in the evolution of rock music, no other recording has had more impact than the 1965 classic Bob Dylan, Bringing It All Back Home.

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Laura Nyro (1947-1997) was one of the most significant figures to emerge from the singer-songwriter boom of the 1960s. She first came to attention when her songs were hits for Barbra Streisand, The Fifth Dimension, Peter, Paul and Mary, and others. But it was on her own recordings that she imprinted her vibrant personality. With albums like Eli and the Thirteenth Confession and New York Tendaberry she mixed the sounds of soul, pop, jazz and Broadway to fashion autobiographical songs that earned her a fanatical following and influenced a generation of music-makers. In later life her preoccupations shifted from the self to embrace public causes such as feminism, animal rights and ecology – the music grew mellower, but her genius was undimmed. This book examines her entire studio career from 1967’s More than a New Discovery to the posthumous Angel in the Dark release of 2001. Also surveyed are the many live albums that preserve her charismatic stage presence. With analysis of her teasing, poetic lyrics and unique vocal and harmonic style, this is the first-ever study to concentrate on Laura Nyro’s music and how she created it. Elton John idolised her; Joni Mitchell declared her ‘a true original’. Here’s why.

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Formed at their Oxfordshire secondary school in the mid-eighties, Radiohead have gone on arguably to be not only the most important rock group of the 1990s, but also the most significant post-rock group of the new century. Few would have predicted such greatness when their 1993 debut Pablo Honey appeared, revealing an infatuation with The Pixies and, in ‘Creep’ featuring a lead single deemed ‘too depressing to be playlisted on BBC Radio 1. They went on to deliver two of the era-defining albums of the ‘90s in The Bends and OK Computer, the latter in particular redefining what could be achieved in the realm of guitar- based rock. In the early 2000s they radically rewrote the rulebook both for themselves and for popular music, largely eschewing guitar rock for the experimental, electronic Kid A and Amnesiac. In 2016 they issued their ninth album A Moon Shaped Pool – the latest in a series of works that has seen the group restlessly finding new approaches to both composition and recording. This book examines each album (and each peripheral song, from singles, B-sides and EPs) with stories and analysis of every officially released track.

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When the final episode of Seinfeld aired on 14th May 1998, an amazing 76.3 million Americans tuned in, making it the most popular situation comedy is US television history. * The first show-by-show episode guide to be written about this iconic television series * Not just a hit in the USA, Seinfeld remains a cult show in the UK and Europe, now available on DVD and on Amazon Prime * Bang up to date, the book includes recent Seinfeld-related activity including the revival episode on 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' and Seinfeld's own 'Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee' Co-created by Larry David, this 'comedy about nothing' made celebrities of its four stars: stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld; comedian and actor Michael Richards who played eccentric neighbour Kramer; Julia Louis-Dreyfus who played Seinfeld's former girlfriend Elaine and Jason Alexander as Jerry's volatile best friend George. Completely unique in its outlook and execution, the success of the series lay in its early years, able to develop its own style below the radar as a minor network hit, before reaching a mass public with its fourth season in 1992. Much analyzed during its time on screen, the show has not been re-evaluated for many years. Now, 21 years since the series finished, Stephen Lambe's timely and superbly-crafted new book examines Seinfeld's first five seasons episode by episode, tracing the development of every character, catchphrase and quirk, from the series' embryonic pilot episode in 1989, to its status as an Emmy award-winning show by the time that season five wrapped in 1994. While the series was a huge success in the USA, it was also a cult hit across the globe and its legacy continues into the new millennium.

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In her long career, Canadian songstress Joni Mitchell has been hailed as everything from 1960s folk icon to 20th century cultural figure, artistic iconoclast to musical heroine, extreme romantic confessor to outspoken commentator and lyrical painter. While some criticised what they viewed as her seeming dismissal of commercial considerations, she simply viewed her trajectory as that of any artist serious about the integrity of their work. But whatever musical position she took, she was always one step ahead of the game, making eclectic and innovative music Albums like The Ladies Of The Canyon, Blue , Hejira and Mingus helped define each era of the 1970s, as she moved from exquisitely pitched singer songwriter material towards jazz. Her past influence was obvious in the 1980s when hoards of assuming successors (some highly respectable) gathered her exotic breadcrumbs with a view to distilling their illusive compounds, while Joni simultaneously forged ahead. This book revisits her studio albums in detail from 1968’s Song to a Seagull to 2007’s Shine, providing anecdote and insight into the recording sessions, an in depth analysis along with a complimentary level of lyrical and instrumental examination.

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When David Tennant took over as the Tenth Doctor in 2005, the rejuvenated science fiction series was still in its infancy, having just completed its first series. Under the direction of showrunner Russell T. Davies, Doctor Who had burst back onto our screens after a lengthy absence and while it was more popular than ever, there was always a question of how audiences would react to one of the show's central concepts - the regeneration of the lead character itself. Fortunately, the casting of Tennant proved to be an inspired choice. Armed with nothing more than a pinstripe suit, a pair of plimsolls and a sonic screwdriver, he proved to be more than a match for the Cybermen, the Ood and the dreaded Daleks. And as companions entered and left the Tardis, Doctor Who became one of the BBC's biggest programmes all over the world. Now, more than 10 years after his final episode, The End of Time, this unofficial book aims to examine the enduring popularity of the Tenth Doctor, with comprehensive reviews for all of David Tennant's episodes, behind the scenes trivia and a guide to some of the locations that were used to create a television legend. Don't leave the constellation of Kasterborous without it!

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The first James Bond film, Dr. No, was a gamble. In 1962, the 'Swinging Sixties' were about to begin and the aspirational lifestyle depicted by the Bond films were very much part of the art, music and fashion revolution that defined that decade. But no-one could have predicted that the first Bond film would spawn twenty-four sequels so far, including the most recent entry - No Time To Die. The remarkable success of the James Bond franchise can be attributed to many factors - the strength and imagination of Ian Fleming's original novels; the consistency of the creative and production teams; the skill and wit of the screenplays. The basic formula of the Bond film remains, essentially, the same. But, crucially, the main character - whilst still the ultimate male fantasy - has evolved, adapted and been re-invented by the actor of the moment. Connery: lithe, virile, charismatic, cocksure. Lazenby: physical, charming, handsome. Moore: wry, smart, self-mocking. Dalton: saturnine, professional, dangerous. Brosnan: smooth, shrewd, efficient. Craig: taciturn, tough, driven, dark. This book revisits and analyses all twenty-five official James Bond films, as well as the two attempts to steal some of that lucrative Bond audience and examines their place both in their contemporary timeline and how they stand up today. Every generation remembers going to the cinema to see their first James Bond film, their first James Bond actor, and the first time they saw the iconic opening 'gun barrel' sequence. What was yours?

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Best known for his international hit, 'Streets of London', Ralph McTell has recorded over 300 songs in a career that spans more than 50 years. Due to his considerable melodic and lyrical gifts, a good many of McTell's compositions surpass 'Streets' in quality and have won him the admiration of fans and critics alike. This album-by-album, track-by-track review of his career explores the elements of his craft. Heavily influenced by Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, and dozens of American country-blues artists, McTell eventually found his own voice. In this examination of his works, distinct themes emerge. These include compassion, optimism, fathers and sons, and the struggles faced by musicians and other artists who portray not just what life is, but how it feels. If his soothing voice and delicate guitar skills make his songs enjoyable to so many, McTell tempers such grace with a definite edge. Many of his best works are protest songs. A portrait painter, McTell's canon is populated by dozens of memorable figures that spring both from his experiences and his imagination. Yet upon listening to his recordings, perhaps the most fascinating character that emerges is McTell himself. In this book, readers meet both the man and the musician

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The Byrds were just a little bit ahead of their time. By releasing six genre-defining albums in three years, their transformative powers took electric guitars to traditional folk music, brought jazz into psychedelic pop and helped introduce what we now know as Americana, by being the first major rock band to embrace the sound of Nashville. They were heralded as the pioneers of folk rock, acid rock and country rock, and that's not to mention space rock, abstract electronics and all the inter-genre crossover material that defines most of their albums. They influenced so many of the musical movements that followed as they kept moving in constant progression, hungry to push the boundaries of popular music. Combining a brief history of the band, and their legacy, this book examines each one of the band's 12 studio albums. It highlights the many high points, especially from their mercurial 1965 - 1968 era, and the less successful later years when the law of diminishing returns took over. Also discussed within the 'Connected Flights' part of each chapter are the band's contemporaneous non-album singles and B-sides. Previously unreleased tracks that were later released as part of their extensive reissue campaigns will also be covered, making this book one of the most extensive guides to The Byrds' music yet produced.

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