Holy Rock 'n' Rollers
The Kings of Leon came from America's Deep South in 2003 and made an impact on the British music scene that was more immediate and long-lasting than any other new band in years. They embarked on a sex, drug and booze-fuelled rampage through the London music and fashion scene, never afraid to reveal all to the press and somehow surviving to tell the tale. An updated edition covers the release of the Kings' 2010 album Come Around Sundown, the extensive dates which followed the release and the band's documentary Talihina Sky. Theirs is a unique tale, from their youth as touring musicians in their preacher father's church to their discovery by the American music industry and beyond.
HIP-HOP History (Book 1 of 3)
I consider myself lucky to be born on the 29th of December in the year of 1970. On the other side of my Mother's womb awaited Afro's, bell bottoms, black power and soul music. However amidst the black love lay a dark cloud mixed with despair, poverty, racism, violent protest and civil unjust. Soul music was the one constant that seem to make it all go away if only for a few minutes. I can remember my parents spinning the 12 inch vinyl's and 45's of Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Teddy Pendergrass, Lou Rawls, James Brown and so many more in our living room. There was a dark blue couch that looked like it was made of fur with two white leather straps across the arms. Crystal vases held fresh Crown and black musk incents filled the air. Often my Aunts, Uncles and their friends would gather at our place on the weekends to dance, play spades, drink and party. That feeling of family, joy and togetherness still warms my heart every time I hear one of the soul classics from back then.It wasn't until I started elementary school that I realized how messed up the world really was. I wasn't in my little box anymore, protected by my parents, the music and family love. Racism was evident and still strong in the public schools back during the early 70's. I fought in school every day because of racial remarks toward me from white kids and sometimes even my own kind. As African American's we were so confused in school that we even hated ourselves. All we had really was the lyrics of Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Michael and the like. Soul music thrived on making people feel good; it took our minds away from the negativity of the world. But it always knew when it had to focus on the bad just as well. As the decade moved along, the bad economy, racism, dirty politics and poverty had begun to take its toll and the soul music couldn't mask our feelings anymore.A new generation had found a way to speak out through music but this time it would change the world and destroy anything or anyone in its path. Its content would be raw, bold and transcending. One might compare the wrath of Hip-Hop to a tsunami because nothing was going to stop this freight train. Fueled by desperation, police corruption, poverty, self-expression, crime, violence and soul, this new genre of music would stand on the shoulders of giants while trailblazing its way to unthinkable heights. This is the history of Hip-Hop; circa 1970-2010 in a three-book series; it is through this time travel that you will see how it became a multi-billion-dollar corporation and innovative industry. It is said to actually see something for what it is, you need to step away from it and look at it from a distance to see all the moving parts.
Scrapbook of an Unfound Songstress
Stop, Look, Listen with your heart?Written by singer songwriter Vicky Nolan, Scrapbook of an Unfound Songstress is a unique true story about female empowerment, musical talent and self-discovery. This book will be great for fans of Anna Todd, Taylor Swift and the new generation of YA.You will love Vicky and her remarkable story: Imagine, you're a 15-year-old dreaming of becoming a pop star, and then one day you get your lucky break - you get a record deal with Polydor records - they send you to Copenhagen to make pop music - to make you a pop star. Your future is looking brighter than ever, or you thought so - until the High Court writ hits your door mat! - you split with your management and they have decided to sue you, break you, destroy you. No, this isn't the promised dream, this is a nightmare, this wasn't suppose to happen! and all while still at school at the sweet age of sixteen.An intriguing JourneyThe scrapbook of stories takes you on a whirlwind of personal experiences. Read about Hollywood, London town, the glamour and the music, the drama of the court and trial, and everything in between. Everything is at stake. How does the trial end?We always talk about 'making it' and fulfilling your dreams. The question is, what if you don't? What happens next? Ultimately this book speaks about life and family; it's hopes and disappointments, It's ups and downs. Scrapbook of an Unfound Songstress is in some way a story that speaks to us all, because in the end, the best stories are always true.Your Reviews: "Young females who are working on their dream, read this book now!! You won't regret it. Shows you how you shouldn't allow anything to get In your way of your future and passion" - Jayde"Positive. Filled with hope and dreams" - Sakshi Saxena"The authors voice is strong and clear, she demands to be heard, in a funny & emotional way. The writing style is fun, almost personal, as if you are reading a good friends diary. It is sweet, innocent and relatable" - Jodie Southgate "Such a inspiring book for me" - Drashti PanchalYou must be curiouser and curiouser? Scroll to the top and buy now!
Iron Maiden
Celebrate the pioneering band that redefined heavy metal: Iron Maiden. "We've always been bombastic and done what we've wanted to do." --Steve Harris Go straight to the heart and soul of the Mighty Maiden, the group that was at the forefront of the New Wave of British heavy metal in the '80s . . . and is still going strong. Here is their full story in glorious detail, complete with photographs of posters, flyers, and backstage passes, and rare images of the band's most high-profile gigs and iconic moments. In addition to an album-by-album account of all their studio recordings, it includes biographies of the most notable members and a decade-by-decade history of the band. Written by a leading music journalist who has interviewed the band many times, Iron Maiden is a fantastic tribute to the iconic band and a fan must-have.
Perfect Circle
Formed in Athens, Georgia in 1980, R.E.M. released their first single, Radio Free Europe, in 1981. By the time the band broke up they had recorded fifteen studio albums, 63 singles, sold more than 85 million records, signed the biggest recording contract in music history, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. Tony Fletcher's biography of the enigmatic quartet from Athens, Georgia, benefits not only from Tony's long association with the band but also by the co-operation of the band itself. Discussing fame, fortune and sexuality with the same keen eye he casts on the group's astonishing musical catalogue, Perfect Circle is neither blind fan worship nor jaundiced critical cynicism, but a balanced and thorough telling of one of the most compelling rock stories of our time. Drawing on dozens of interviews with friends, associates and the band members themselves, this is not just the story of one group's rise through cult status, but the story of American rock. This is edition is fully updated.
Live Wires
We live in an electronic world, saturated with electronic sounds. Yet, electronic sounds aren't a new phenomenon; they have long permeated our sonic landscape. What began as the otherworldly sounds of the film score for the 1956 film Forbidden Planet and the rarefied, new timbres of Stockhausen's Kontakte a few years later, is now a common soundscape in technology, media, and an array of musical genres and subgenres. More people than ever before can produce and listen to electronic music, from isolated experimenters, classical and jazz musicians, to rock musicians, sound recordists, and the newer generations of electronic musicians making hip-hop, house, techno, and ambient music. Increasingly we are listening to electronic sounds, finding new meanings in them, experimenting with them, and rehearing them as listeners and makers. Live Wires explores how five key electronic technologies--the tape recorder, circuit, computer, microphone, and turntable--revolutionized musical thought. Featuring the work of major figures in electronic music--including everyone from Schaeffer, Var癡se, Xenakis, Babbitt, and Oliveros to Eno, Keith Emerson, Grandmaster Flash, Juan Atkins, and Holly Herndon--Live Wires is an arresting discussion of the powerful musical ideas that are being recycled, rethought, and remixed by the most interesting electronic composers and musicians today.
1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die
Whether you're a classical music lover or looking for a way to enter the space, 1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die is an exquisite collection of reviews of a wide breadth of music. Arranged chronologically, 1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die includes reviews of 1001 classical recordings, from the earliest hymns, to the modern avant-garde. Written by an international panel of distinguished music journalists, each entry highlights an outstanding recording, ranging from little-known solo pieces and chamber music, to the greatest concertos, symphonies, operas, and choral works. The very best recorded performance of each piece is recounted accompanied by a list of recommended alternatives, quotations, and biographical information about the composers, conductors, and principal musicians. This guide is key to understanding and appreciating classical music as a whole; it highlights everything from medieval madrigals to key living composers such as Steve Reich and Philip Glass. Beguiling sonatas, moving arias and operas, uplifting choral works, and dramatic symphonies, they're all are described in reviews which identify why particular recordings stand out. Browse the 1001 selections and discover new types of music, new composers, and works to explore.
Pink Floyd All the Songs
A comprehensive look at the unique recording history of Pink Floyd, one of the world's most commercially successful and influential rock bands. Pink Floyd All the Songs tells the full story of every recording session, album, and single that the band has released. Since 1965, Pink Floyd been recording sonically experimental and philosophical music, selling more than 250 million records worldwide, including two of the best-selling albums of all time Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall. In Pink Floyd All the Songs, authors Margotin and Guesdon describe the origins of the band's nearly 200 released songs, including details from the recording studio, what instruments were used, and behind-the-scenes stories of the tensions that helped drive the band. Organized chronologically by album, this massive, 544-page hardcover begins with the band's 1967 debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn--the only one recorded under founding member Syd Barrett's leadership--and runs all the way through their 2014 farewell album, The Endless River, which was downloaded 12 million times on Spotify during its first week of release. Packed with more than 500 photos, Pink Floyd All the Songs is also filled with stories that fans will treasure, such as Waters working with engineer Alan Parsons to implement revolutionary recording techniques on The Dark Side of the Moon during sessions at Abbey Road Studios in 1972, and producer Bob Ezrin's contributions that helped refine Waters' original sprawling vision for The Wall.
Eyes of the World
Eyes of the World: Grateful Dead Photography 1965 - 1995 is a fine art, hardcover coffee table photography book that brings together, for the first time, a comprehensive collection of photographs from a wide range of photographers whose work has captured the Grateful Dead at different times throughout their career. Features 220 images across 272 pages in a 12" x 12" book that weighs a hefty six pounds! Shocking as it may seem -- particularly given the unparalleled job the band's shepherds have done in documenting its history -- until now there has been no definitive visual reference encompassing the 30 year career of the Grateful Dead. Photographers featured in Eyes of the World include such legendary names as Annie Leibovitz, Jim Marshall, David Gahr, Mark Seliger, Herb Greene, William Coupon, Michael O'Neill, Adrian Boot, Michael Putland, Peter Simon, Baron Wolman and co-editor Jay Blakesberg, whose Fare Three Well: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Grateful Dead is another must-have for fans. Included in Eyes of the World are iconic images, lesser known photos, and never-seen before seen images - each of them a singular perspective of a poignant moment that together help tell the Grateful Dead's epic tale through large, bold imagery. Each of the images included on the pages of Eyes of the World were originally shot on film. Many of them have been reproduced for the first time via high-resolution scan, allowing them to be viewed anew. Unfettered in presentation, each photograph holds relevance and weight, many of them taking up a full page or more. As renowned musician and photographer Graham Nash writes in the book's Foreword, "It's obvious that the authors of these photographs were great fans and also that they had a unique perspective. They were 'trusted.' Trusted so much that it's certain that the band were completely comfortable in revealing the many faces of themselves." Graham continues, "It's moments like these that photographers live for: the ability to be invisible so that no one knows you're there. That's when the good shots happen and that's when I realize how lucky the band was to have such talented witnesses to their journey." As Phil Lesh notes, "These photos really capture the spirit of the Grateful Dead's 30-year adventure. Looking at this book, I was reminded of some amazing moments I'd forgotten." Concurs Mickey Hart: "It's a startling reminder of how good things can get with a touch of grace, some laughter and a lot of good luck. You can almost hear the joy in these images that only music can bring." Whether a Grateful Dead veteran who caught them in the heady days of the late-'60s in San Francisco, or a millennial who made it to Chicago for Fare The Well in 2015, Eyes of the World: Grateful Dead Photography 1965 - 1995 provides fans of all ages and stages the opportunity to see this band in a way they never have before.
Dear Evan Hansen
Winner of the 2017 Tony Award for Best Musical "Dear Evan Hansen lodges in your head long after you've seen it or heard it or read it. It feels like a pure expression from young writers at a crossroad of coming to terms with who they are and what they want to say about the world. Its honesty and truths haunt and ultimately open us up to ask the same question, no matter what our age or crossroad: What are the lies we tell ourselves?" -James Lapine (from the Foreword) A letter that was never meant to be seen, a lie that was never meant to be told, a life he never dreamed could be his. Evan Hansen is about to get the one thing he's always wanted: a chance to belong. Deeply personal and profoundly universal, Dear Evan Hansen is a groundbreaking American musical about truth, fiction, and the price we're willing to pay for the possibility to connect. *This publication includes the book and lyrics to the musical, as well as a foreword by James Lapine. Please note that it does not include the musical score.* Steven Levenson is the book writer for Dear Evan Hansen. His plays include If I Forget, The Unavoidable Disappearance of Tom Durnin, Core Values, The Language of Trees, and Seven Minutes in Heaven. A graduate of Brown University, he served for three seasons as a writer and producer on Showtime's Master of Sex. Benj Pasek & Justin Paul are the song-writing team behind Dear Evan Hansen. Previous musicals include A Christmas Story: The Musical, Dogfight, James and the Giant Peach, and Edges. Their film projects include La La Land (for which they won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "City of Stars," with composer Justin Hurwitz), Trolls, Snow White, and The Greatest Showman. Their television credits include The Flash, Smash, and Johnny and the Sprites. Both are graduates of the University of Michigan Musical Theatre Program and members of the Dramatists Guild of America, Inc.
Chuck D Presents This Day in Rap and Hip-hop History
A one-of-a kind survey of rap and hip hop history from 1973 to today by Chuck D, arguably the most influential rapper in the world. In the more than 40 years since the days of DJ Kool Herc and "Rapper's Delight," hip hop and rap have become a billion-dollar worldwide phenomenon. Yet there is no definitive history of the genre-until now. Based on Chuck's long-running show on Rapstation.com, this massive compendium details the most iconic moments and influential songs in the genre's recorded history, from Kurtis Blow's "Christmas Rappin'" to The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill to Kendrick Lamar's ground-breaking verse on "Control." Also included are key events in hip hop history, from Grandmaster Flash's first scratch through Tupac's holographic appearance at Coachella. Throughout, Chuck offers his insider's perspective on the chart toppers and show stoppers as he lived it. Illustrating the pages are more than 100 portraits from the talented artists specializing in hip hop.
Glory to God - Hymns and Songs for Advent and Christmas
Enjoy the music of the season with Glory to God--Hymns and Songs for Advent and Christmas! Ideal for carolers, choir directors, and congregations that have visitors in the sanctuary during Advent and Christmas, this seasonal resource features 75 hymns and songs from the Advent and Birth sections of the Glory to God hymnal. Featured hymns and songs include: - Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus - Creator of the Stars of Night - Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah - The People Who Walked in Darkness - Comfort, Comfort Now My People - O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - People, Look East - Angels We Have Heard on High - Away in a Manger - The Snow Lay on the Ground - While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - It Came Upon the Midnight Clear - Still, Still, Still - Good Christian Friends, Rejoice - O Come, All Ye Faithful - Joy to the World - In the Bleak Midwinter - What Child Is This - And more!
The Art of Rozz Williams
New revised Hardcover book in a Limited Edition of 1000 copies only. Fine binding with 8 extra pages includes updated discography, new art images and new foreword by Rikk Agnew. The book features the work of the multi talented artist ROZZ WILLIAMS including his musical career, outsider-art, and poetry. Lyrics, discographies, performance history and photos of his bands CHRISTIAN DEATH, SHADOW PROJECT, PREMATURE EJACULATION, ROZZ WILLIAMS solo work (featuring GITANE DEMONE among others), and the film PIG.
The Raincoats’ the Raincoats
In 1979, from the basement of a London squat, the Raincoats reinvented what punk could be. They had a violin player. They came from Portugal, Spain, and England. Their anarchy was poetic. Working with the iconic Rough Trade Records at its radical beginnings, they were the first group of punk women to actively call themselves feminists. In this short book - the first on the Raincoats - author Jenn Pelly tells the story of the group's audacious debut album, which Kurt Cobain once called "wonderfully classic scripture." Pelly builds on rare archival materials and extensive interviews with members of the Raincoats, Sleater-Kinney, Bikini Kill, Hole, Scritti Politti, Gang of Four, and more. She draws formal inspiration from the collage-like The Raincoats itself to explore this album's magic, vulnerability, and strength.
The Beatles
An extraordinary collection of mostly unseen photographs of the Beatles during the making of Help!. Published to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the release of the Beatles' second motion picture, Help!, this almost entirely unpublished collection of photographs marks a pivotal turning point in the band's history, as they evolved from much-loved musicians into the most important group of all time. The Beatles' first movie filmed in color, Help! is a madcap adventure featuring cinematography and film sequences widely considered to be hugely influential to the modern performance-style music videos of today. Specialist set photographer Emilio Lari was invited by director Richard Lester to shoot stills of the production at Twickenham Studios and document behind-the-scenes larking about as the band relaxed in their hotel between takes. With an introduction by Lester and intimate, never-before-seen images, The Beatles: Help! provides new and fascinating insights into the band that changed the history of music and the world.
Men of Wealth and Taste
When The Rolling Stones released Beggars Banquet in 1968, it was hailed as a masterpiece and the band's finest effort. The album's inner sleeve, photographed by Michael Joseph, pictured the band in full regalia in an immense castle. This book presents the entire collection of Joseph's photographs, collected here in an oversize, beautifully printed volume.The book features an epigraph by Keith Richards and an original 10,000-word essay by Robert Greenfield, which describes the genesis of the record, producer Jimmy Miller, the legendary Olympic Studios where the album was recorded, and the mysterious mansion Sarum Chase, where the stunning interior photographs were taken.
How to Listen to Jazz
A "radiantly accomplished" music scholar presents an accessible introduction to the art of listening to jazz (Wall Street Journal) In How to Listen to Jazz, award-winning music scholar Ted Gioia presents a lively introduction to one of America's premier art forms. He tells us what to listen for in a performance and includes a guide to today's leading jazz musicians. From Louis Armstrong's innovative sounds to the jazz-rock fusion of Miles Davis, Gioia covers the music's history and reveals the building blocks of improvisation. A true love letter to jazz by a foremost expert, How to Listen to Jazz is a must-read for anyone who's ever wanted to understand and better appreciate America's greatest contribution to music. "Mr. Gioia could not have done a better job. Through him, jazz might even find new devotees." -- Economist
HIP-HOP History (Book 1 of 3)
I consider myself lucky to be born on the 29th of December in the year of 1970. On the other side of my Mother's womb awaited Afro's, bell bottoms, black power and soul music. However amidst the black love lay a dark cloud mixed with despair, poverty, racism, violent protest and civil unjust. Soul music was the one constant that seem to make it all go away if only for a few minutes. I can remember my parents spinning the 12 inch vinyl's and 45's of Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Teddy Pendergrass, Lou Rawls, James Brown and so many more in our living room. There was a dark blue couch that looked like it was made of fur with two white leather straps across the arms. Crystal vases held fresh Crown and black musk incents filled the air. Often my Aunts, Uncles and their friends would gather at our place on the weekends to dance, play spades, drink and party. That feeling of family, joy and togetherness still warms my heart every time I hear one of the soul classics from back then.It wasn't until I started elementary school that I realized how messed up the world really was. I wasn't in my little box anymore, protected by my parents, the music and family love. Racism was evident and still strong in the public schools back during the early 70's. I fought in school every day because of racial remarks toward me from white kids and sometimes even my own kind. As African American's we were so confused in school that we even hated ourselves. All we had really was the lyrics of Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Michael and the like. Soul music thrived on making people feel good; it took our minds away from the negativity of the world. But it always knew when it had to focus on the bad just as well. As the decade moved along, the bad economy, racism, dirty politics and poverty had begun to take its toll and the soul music couldn't mask our feelings anymore.A new generation had found a way to speak out through music but this time it would change the world and destroy anything or anyone in its path. Its content would be raw, bold and transcending. One might compare the wrath of Hip-Hop to a tsunami because nothing was going to stop this freight train. Fueled by desperation, police corruption, poverty, self-expression, crime, violence and soul, this new genre of music would stand on the shoulders of giants while trailblazing its way to unthinkable heights. This is the history of Hip-Hop; circa 1970-2010 in a three-book series; it is through this time travel that you will see how it became a multi-billion-dollar corporation and innovative industry. It is said to actually see something for what it is, you need to step away from it and look at it from a distance to see all the moving parts.
Studio 54
There has never been--and will never be--another nightclub to rival the sheer glamour, energy, and wild creativity that was Studio 54. Now, in the first official book on the legendary club, co-owner Ian Schrager presents a spectacular volume brimming with star-studded photographs and personal stories from the greatest party of all time. From the moment it opened in 1977, Studio 54 celebrated spectacle and promised a never-ending parade of anything goes. Although it existed for only three years, it served as a catalyst that brought together some of the most famous and creative people in the world. It quickly became known for its celebrity guest list and uniquely chic clientele. From the cutting-edge lighting displays to its elaborate sets, it was the beginning of nightclub as performance art. Now, Studio 54 explores this cultural zeitgeist and gives us Schrager's personal firsthand account of what it was like to create and run the most famous nightclub of our age. With hundreds of photographs, many of which have never been seen before, of the celebrities and beautiful people and engaging stories and quotes from such cultural luminaries as Liza Minelli, David Geffen, Brooke Shields, Pat Cleveland, and Diane von Furstenberg, this exciting volume depicts the wild energy and glittering creativity of the era. One of the most important cultural landmarks of the twentieth century, Studio 54 continues to inspire with its legendary glamour. This exhilarating volume is a must-have for style and fashion aficionados today.
Elvis
Authorized by the Graceland(R) Archives, this remarkable illustrated biography marks the 40th anniversary of Elvis's death--and tells his story as never before. Take a journey through the Graceland archives and get an inside, close-up look at the King of Rock and Roll. Featuring insightful text from a respected music journalist who has written extensively on Presley, this authorized book recounts every aspect of his history: Elvis's closest relationships, his hit albums, his successful movie career, and his lasting legacy. More than 150 color and black-and-white photographs capture Elvis with friends and family, and show personal items, including his jewelry, guitars, clothing, vehicles, letters, and publicity material.
The Cambridge History of World Music
Scholars have long known that world music was not merely the globalized product of modern media, but rather that it connected religions, cultures, languages and nations throughout world history. The chapters in this History take readers to foundational historical moments - in Europe, Oceania, China, India, the Muslim world, North and South America - in search of the connections provided by a truly world music. Historically, world music emerged from ritual and religion, labor and life-cycles, which occupy chapters on Native American musicians, religious practices in India and Indonesia, and nationalism in Argentina and Portugal. The contributors critically examine music in cultural encounter and conflict, and as the critical core of scientific theories from the Arabic Middle Ages through the Enlightenment to postmodernism. Overall, the book contains the histories of the music of diverse cultures, which increasingly become the folk, popular and classical music of our own era.
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains celebrates 50 years of one of the greatest bands of all time. Lavishly illustrated throughout with material from the band's archive, including never-before-seen photographs, ephemera, and more, this book examines what makes Pink Floyd unique, from the mythology underpinning their output to their musicianship, epic staging, and performance impact. With a photographic section devoted to the band's 15 albums, the book explores the lasting Pink Floyd phenomenon. Five essays address what has made Pink Floyd unique, and contextualize their continued impact: 1. "Lift Off" Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd and the London undergroundJoe Boyd examines the character and musical legacy of Syd Barrett, as the mythologized founder of Pink Floyd and icon of late 1960s British counterculture, drawing on the author's personal acquaintance with Syd Barrett.2. "What Have We Done to England?" Pink Floyd and the lure of the pastoralRob Young places Pink Floyd in a wider visual tradition, exploring their "British" appeal.3. A Long Term Prospect Jon Savage on how Pink Floyd negotiated a transition from single releases to concept albums between 1967 and 1970.4. "Painters, pipers, prisoners" the musical legacy of Pink FloydHoward Goodall explains how Pink Floyd escaped the musical constraints of the three-minute single and exploited the potential of longer-form pieces in the mid-1970s, developing their signature sound and style in Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here and continuing to hone this over subsequent albums. 5. Great Gigs in the Sky: Pink Floyd on stageVictoria Broackes and Anna Landreth-Strong chart the band's live acts, from the psychedelic light shows in 60s London to huge stadium concerts, with particular reference to their successful collaboration with architect and set designer Mark Fisher (1947-2013).Their Mortal Remains: The Studio Albums: A chronological, album-by-album history of the band, each album is introduced by Mark Blake and accompanied by insights from Aubrey "Po" Powell.
Book of Rhymes
If asked to list the greatest innovators of modern American poetry, few of us would think to include Jay-Z or Eminem in their number. And yet hip hop is the source of some of the most exciting developments in verse today. The media uproar in response to its controversial lyrical content has obscured hip hop's revolution of poetic craft and experience: Only in rap music can the beat of a song render poetic meter audible, allowing an MC's wordplay to move a club-full of eager listeners. Examining rap history's most memorable lyricists and their inimitable techniques, literary scholar Adam Bradley argues that we must understand rap as poetry or miss the vanguard of poetry today. Book of Rhymes explores America's least understood poets, unpacking their surprisingly complex craft, and according rap poetry the respect it deserves.
Pinery Boys
His name is inextricably linked with a single work, A Sand County Almanac, a classic of natural history literature and the conservationist's bible. This book brings together the best of Leopold's essays.
Psychedelic Popular Music
Recognized for its distinctive musical features and its connection to periods of social innovation and ferment, the genre of psychedelia has exerted long-term influence in many areas of cultural production, including music, visual art, graphic design, film, and literature. William Echard explores the historical development of psychedelic music and its various stylistic incarnations as a genre unique for its fusion of rock, soul, funk, folk, and electronic music. Through the theory of musical topics--highly conventional musical figures that signify broad cultural concepts--and musical meaning, Echard traces the stylistic evolution of psychedelia from its inception in the early 1960s, with the Beatles' Rubber Soul and Revolver and the Kinks and Pink Floyd, to the German experimental bands and psychedelic funk of the 1970s, with a special emphasis on Parliament/Funkadelic. He concludes with a look at the 1980s and early 1990s, touching on the free festival scene, rave culture, and neo-jam bands. Set against the cultural backdrop of these decades, Echard's study of psychedelia lays the groundwork and offers lessons for analyzing the topic of popular music in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
Original Gangstas
"Raw, authoritative, and unflinching ... An elaborately detailed, darkly surprising, definitive history of the LA gangsta rap era." -- Kirkus, starred review A monumental, revealing narrative history about the legendary group of artists at the forefront of West Coast hip-hop: Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, and Tupac Shakur. Amid rising gang violence, the crack epidemic, and police brutality, a group of unlikely voices cut through the chaos of late 1980s Los Angeles: N.W.A. Led by a drug dealer, a glammed-up producer, and a high school kid, N.W.A gave voice to disenfranchised African Americans across the country. And they quickly redefined pop culture across the world. Their names remain as popular as ever -- Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, and Ice Cube. Dre soon joined forces with Suge Knight to create the combustible Death Row Records, which in turn transformed Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur into superstars. Ben Westhoff explores how this group of artists shifted the balance of hip-hop from New York to Los Angeles. He shows how N.W.A.'s shocking success lead to rivalries between members, record labels, and eventually a war between East Coast and West Coast factions. In the process, hip-hop burst into mainstream America at a time of immense social change, and became the most dominant musical movement of the last thirty years. At gangsta rap's peak, two of its biggest names -- Tupac and Biggie Smalls -- were murdered, leaving the surviving artists to forge peace before the genre annihilated itself. Featuring extensive investigative reporting, interviews with the principal players, and dozens of never-before-told stories, Original Gangstas is a groundbreaking addition to the history of popular music.
Rush
Rush: Album by Album pays genuine tribute to this iconic rock band's discography by moderating frank, entertaining conversations about all 20 of Rush's studio albums. Formed in Toronto in 1968, the rock trio Rush has gone on to multiplatinum success behind the distinctive high register and virtuosic bass-playing of frontman Geddy Lee, the legendary drumming and lyric-writing of Neil Peart, and the guitar heroics of Alex Lifeson. Despite having just four chart-topping singles since the release of their debut LP in 1974, Rush has nonetheless sold more than 25 million albums in the U.S. and more than 40 million worldwide. The Canadian trio may be the definition of an "album band," and this new book from prolific rock journalist and acknowledged Rush authority Martin Popoff pays tribute to the band's discography by moderating in-depth, frank, and entertaining conversations about all 20 of Rush's studio albums. Inside, the author gathers 20 rock journalists and authors who offer insights, opinions, and anecdotes about every release. Together, the conversations comprise a unique historical overview of the band, as well as a handsome discography. Popoff also includes loads of sidebars that provide complete track listings, details on album personnel, information on where and when the albums were recorded, and sidebar facts about the albums, their songs, and the band.
Johnny’s Cash and Charley’s Pride
Peter Guralnick, dean of rock-and roll-storytellers, writes in the introduction to Johnny's Cash & Charley's Pride, "Peter Cooper has always been in the mix." Whether spending time with Johnny Cash or Kris Kristofferson, playing bass for Loretta Lynn, discussing songwriting with Taylor Swift, or introducing the Grateful Dead's Robert Hunter to Porter Wagoner, Peter Cooper has continually found himself in the presence of music royalty and the recipient of countless intimate conversations, asides, and confidences. In Johnny's Cash & Charley's Pride: Lasting Legends and Untold Adventures in Country Music, Cooper chronicles his many "in the mix" tales since arriving in Nashville in 2000 to cover the country music scene for the Tennessean. Filled with untold stories and newly revealed histories, it is an informal yet well-studied inside view of country music's greatest characters and pivotal moments. Now a senior director at the Country Music Hall of Fame, Cooper's stories are akin to a curated behind-the-scenes tour of country music. Spanning nineteen chapters, Cooper offers an original take on the formative days at WSM and engaging introductions to an ensemble cast of country music's icons, quirks, and golden-but-hidden personalities. With a gem on every page, Cooper has crafted a perceptive, smiling, and atypical immersion into the world of country music that will keep any music fan engaged with its wit, passion, and authenticity.
Complicated Fun
In the early 1970s, the Minneapolis music scene was no scene at all. Radio stations played Top 40 music; bars and clubs booked only rock cover bands and blues bands. Meanwhile, cities like New York, Detroit, and London were spawning fresh and innovative--and loud and raw--sounds by musicians creating a new punk and rock movement. A small but daring group of Twin Cities musicians, artists, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts wanted a piece of that action. To do it, they had to build it themselves.Complicated Fun brings together the recollections of the men and women who built Minnesota's vibrant and vital indie rock scene. Through interviews with dozens of musicians, producers, managers, journalists, fans, and other scenesters, Cyn Collins chronicles the emergence of seminal bands like the Suicide Commandos, the Hypstrz, Curtiss A, Flamingo, the Suburbs, H羹sker D羹, the Replacements, and more. The subjects reflect on the key role that Oar Folkjokeopus record store, Jay's Longhorn bar, and Twin/Tone Records played by providing outlets for hearing, performing, and recording these new sounds.Complicated Fun explores the influences, motivations, moments, and individuals that propelled Minneapolis to its status as a premier music scene and, in turn, inspired future generations of rockers.
Hip Hop at Europe’s Edge
Responding to the development of a lively hip hop culture in Central and Eastern European countries, this interdisciplinary study demonstrates how a universal model of hip hop serves as a contextually situated platform of cultural exchange and becomes locally inflected. After the Soviet Union fell, hip hop became popular in urban environments in the region, but it has often been stigmatized as inauthentic, due to an apparent lack of connection to African American historical roots and black identity. Originally strongly influenced by aesthetics from the US, hip hop in Central and Eastern Europe has gradually developed unique, local trajectories, a number of which are showcased in this volume. On the one hand, hip hop functions as a marker of Western cosmopolitanism and democratic ideology, but as the contributors show, it is also a malleable genre that has been infused with so much local identity that it has lost most of its previous associations with "the West" in the experiences of local musicians, audiences, and producers. Contextualizing hip hop through the prism of local experiences and regional musical expressions, these valuable case studies reveal the broad spectrum of its impact on popular culture and youth identity in the post-Soviet world.
A History of Rock Music
A History of Rock Music: The Rock & Roll Era is a celebration of the roots of rock & roll and its emergence as the soundtrack to teenage rebellion and a liberatingly raucous, joyous and rebellious music for one especially fortunate generation. The book is a lovingly detailed examination of the pre-Beatles 1950's era of classic rock & roll, with special attention devoted to the music's varied musical influences, most notably the Blues, Country & Western, Gospel Music, Boogie-Woogie and Rhythm & Blues. It is both a detailed history and a musical appreciation of America's greatest artistic gift to the world.
The Hell-Bound Train
Glenn Ohrlin (1926-2015) was a cowboy singer, working cowboy, rodeo rider, storyteller, and illustrator. In The Hell-Bound Train he has gathered dozens of his favorite songs, which chronicle the range and rodeo life he lived. Ohrlin was known for singing in an unornamented Western style, accompanying himself on the guitar and harmonica. Most of his repertoire comes from the period of 1875 to 1925. The book includes music and lyrics for songs such as "My Home's in Montana," "The Texas Rangers," and "Bull Riders in the Sky," along with Ohrlin's commentary on each work's provenance and meaning. This collection is a must-have for any fan of cowboy and folk music.
Spoke
"The pictures, which include some posed portraits but are mostly concert shots, are the chief attraction. They freeze moments of adolescent release, vein-bulging intensity and sweaty communion that fuses performer and audience . . . Vivid and evocative." --Washington Post"A forthright testament to a kaleidoscopic community. This is a rounded collection, with surprises on every page . . . It's a collection that rocks." --Shelf Awareness for ReadersThe Washington, DC punk music scene of the 1980s gave birth to influential bands like Bad Brains, Minor Threat, and Fugazi. Here that era is portrayed in its purest form: an oral history by the creators themselves, including nearly two hundred photographs capturing the power and spirit of this politically progressive corner of American underground music. This stunning and intimate collection features rare images from Jim Saah, Cynthia Connolly, Bert Queiroz, and many others who documented this vibrant community. Compiled by Scott Crawford--whose critically acclaimed film Salad Days provided an unprecedented exploration into the 1980s DC punk scene--Spoke delves deeper into one of the most dynamic movements in US music history.Featuring: BAD BRAINS, THE TEEN IDLES, BLACK MARKET BABY, SOA, MINOR THREAT, GOVERNMENT ISSUE, VOID, IRON CROSS, THE FAITH, SCREAM, MARGINAL MAN, GRAY MATTER, BEEFEATER, KING FACE, RITES OF SPRING, DAG NASTY, EMBRACE, SOULSIDE, FIRE PARTY, SHUDDER TO THINK, IGNITION, FUGAZI, SWIZ, THE NATION OF ULYSSES, and JAWBOX.
Believers Hymn Book
The ever popular Believers Hymn Book has for many years been widely used among assemblies of the Lord's people, and continues to make a helpful contribution to both collective and individual worship and praise.Our hearts have responded with these hymns and they will continue to bless the gatherings of saints all over the world.To ensure that this hymnbook, which has complemented christian service for over a century continues to fulfil this purpose, a new significantly improved edition is now available.Features include: Readability: Improved typeface and style - clearer and more easily read text - double column, user friendly.Useability: Easy-to-use alphabetical index - an enlarged index, providing both the first line of every hymn and a separate listing of the first line of each verse - 465 Hymns
Counting Down Bob Dylan
Counting Downis a unique series of titles designed to select the best songs or musical works from major performance artists and composers in an age of design-your-own playlists. For fifty years, Bob Dylan's music has been a source of wonder to his fans and endless fodder for analysis by music critics. In Counting Down Bob Dylan, rock journalist Jim Beviglia dares to rank these songs in descending order from Dylan's 100th best to his #1 song. Surveying the near six-decade career of this musical legend, Beviglia offers insightful analyses into the music and lyrics and dishes out important historical information and fascinating trivia to explain why these 100 rank among Dylan's best to date. At the same time, a portrait of the seemingly inscrutable Dylan emerges through the words of his finest songs, providing both the perfect introduction to his work and a comprehensive new take on this master of American songwriting. This work will appeal to the legions of Bob Dylan fans who have taken to analyzing his music. Unlike other Dylan books, which vary between the academic and the journalistic, Counting Down Bob Dylan uniquely renders Dylan's music approachable to new fans by highlighting the powerful emotional forces that fuel his dazzling lyrics.
Bob Dylan
With Bob Dylan's receipt of the Nobel Prize in Literature, his iconic status as an American musical, cultural, and poetic giant has never been more apparent.Bob Dylan: American Troubadour is the first book to look at Dylan's career, from his first album to his late masterpiece Tempest. Donald Brown provides insightful critical commentary on Dylan's prolific body of work, placing Dylan's career in the context of its time in order to assess the relationship of Dylan's music to contemporary American culture. Each chapter follows the shifting versions of Dylan, from his songs of conscientious social involvement to more personal exploratory songs; from his influential rock albums of the mid-1960s to his adaptations of country music; from his three very different tours in the 1970s to his "born again" period as a proselytizer for Christ and his frustrations as a recording and performing artist in the 1980s; from his retrospective importance in the 1990s to the refreshingly vital albums he has been producing in the twenty-first century. Bob Dylan: American Troubadour will engage not only Dylan fans and students of his work but also those interested in American popular music, history, and culture. Anyone who has been touched, challenged, or surprised by a Dylan song will enjoy this concise and informed critical exploration of Dylan's music and his place in the American musical landscape.
No Sleep
No Sleepis a visual history of the halcyon days of New York City club life as told through flyer art. Spanning the late 80s through the late 90s, when nightlife buzz travelled via flyers and word of mouth, No Sleepfeatures a collection of artwork from the personal archives of NYC DJs, promoters, club kids, nightlife impresarios, and the artists themselves. Club flyers, by design, were ephemeral objects distributed on street corners, outside of nightclubs and concert halls, in barbershops and retail shops, and were not intended to be preserved for posterity. Through the 90s, they became both increasingly prevalent and more sophisticated as printing technology evolved. Overnight, however, with the advent of the internet, theflyer essentially disappeared, despite it being common at one time for promoters to print thousands of flyers for any given event. Recently, these flyers have become sought-after collector's items.
