On Conducting (Ueber Das Dirigiren) A Treatise On Style In The Execution Of Classical Music
The Lost Charts - Original, complete and rediscovered - the up-to-the-minute UK weekly hit lists 1958-69
Stop Press Hits - How the UK Pop Charts Became Front Page News 1956-69
This Year
Collected and annotated lyrics from one of music's most visionary bards, John Darnielle. A work of rapturous beauty, This Year: 365 Songs Annotated celebrates the creative life and the musical genius of John Darnielle through his most meaningful songs. From his early days recording on a boom box, through the evolution of the Mountain Goats from a solo project to a full band, to his continued influence on indie music, This Year pairs the definitive texts of 365 John Darnielle songs with first-person commentaries on his life and music. These commentaries reveal how the songs came to be and the people who inspired them: his family and friends; his wife, Lalitree Darnielle; his longtime collaborator, Peter Hughes; and even his literary heroes, among many others. Here are the origins of "This Year," "No Children," "The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton," and "Up the Wolves," as well as Darnielle's literary influences, including Flannery O'Connor, Jorge Luis Borges, and Stephen King. This Year, spanning decades, becomes the definitive literary record of one of the greatest songwriters and musical creative forces of all time.
The 100 Greatest Songs of All Time
More than a collection, this book is a celebration of musical genius, cultural milestones, and the timeless artistry that has shaped the soundtrack of our lives. From pop to rock, folk, funk and soul, ballads to bangers, these songs represent the best of music since 1950s early rock and roll. Each entry tells the story behind the song, including the creative process, cultural impact, and legacy. You'll learn about the heartbreak that inspired poignant ballads, the social movements behind anthems of change, and the moments that led to chart-topping hits. We honor the artists who pushed boundaries, the producers who crafted masterpieces, the songwriters whose lyrics became iconic, and the performers whose voices made history. While providing a comprehensive assessment of the very best in musical achievement, the selection of tracks is inherently subjective. Everyone has their own favorites and feelings about what makes a song truly great. This list is meant to spark conversation and debate, encouraging readers to reflect on their own musical journeys and the songs that have defined their lives.
The Musical Lives of Charles Manson
Nicholas Tochka analyzes the role of rock music in the life of Charles Manson, the Family, and the August 1969 Tate-LaBianca killings, which also gives larger insight into Sixties counterculture. Failed singer-songwriter. Devious cult leader. A rock Pied Piper. The product of a sick society. Just another dime-a-dozen singing hippy mystic. Did the guitar-playing guru personify the violence that the rock counterculture inflicted on America? Or did his music diagnose the dehumanizing effects of that society's broken institutions? For over five decades, commentators have debated the meaning of Charles Manson and the Tate-LaBianca killings. Rock music links their narratives: from the aciddrenched singalongs at the Spahn Movie Ranch, to a bizarre theology centered on Beatles songs, to his commune's alleged links with Hollywood's elite, to an album, LIE: The Love and Terror Cult (1970). In this first comprehensive examination of the Manson Family's music, Nicholas Tochka writes with, against, and alongside the many authors-true-crime hacks, gonzo journalists, conspiracy theorists, and rock critics alike-who have told and retold the story of "the Manson murders." Playing the truth games that these postwar Americans helped invent, The Musical Lives of Charles Manson presents a new take on the story of the commune-and on rock's role in fracturing the possibility of writing trustworthy histories after the Sixties. "They are afraid of it, because it tells the truth," Manson once claimed, describing his music. Just what truths did the Manson Family's music-making tell?
A Century of Music Under the Stars
Everyone has a memorable story about attending a performance at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts or the Robin Hood Dell--"the Mann" and "the Dell" to their many patrons. Lavishly illustrated with more than 200 images, meticulously researched, and engagingly written by historian Jack McCarthy, A Century of Music Under the Stars reveals the fascinating inside story of Philadelphia's premier outdoor concert venues on the eve of the Mann's 50th Anniversary. The Dell, which opened in 1930, and the Mann, which opened in 1976, were initially built as summer homes for The Philadelphia Orchestra. As McCarthy deftly recounts, the Mann Center evolved to host the world's top artists across many musical genres. Contemporary audiences have gathered on the Great Lawn for concerts by performers including James Taylor, The Roots, Phish, Diana Ross, John Legend, and others. The venues, however, are more than just the music; they are about the beautiful natural setting, communal atmosphere, and spectacular view of the Philadelphia skyline. A Century of Music Under the Stars is a revealing and celebratory look back at beloved Philadelphia cultural icons. This informative and illuminating history will provide happy memories for generations of music lovers.
