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Books > Music > Contemporary popular music
Following his 2016 smash hit Anatomy of a Song, acclaimed music
journalist Marc Myers collects fifty-five new oral histories of
iconic songs from his popular Wall Street Journal column Songs that
sell the most copies become hits, but some of those hits become
something more--iconic recordings that not only inspire a
generation but also change the direction of music. In Anatomy of 55
More Songs, based on his column for the Wall Street Journal, music
journalist and historian Marc Myers tells the story behind
fifty-five rock, pop, R&B, country, and soul-gospel hits
through intimate interviews with the artists who wrote and recorded
them. Part oral history, part musical analysis, Anatomy of 55 More
Songs ranges from Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising"
to Dionne Warwick's "Walk On By," The Beach Boys' "Good
Vibrations," and Black Sabbath's "Paranoid." Bernie Taupin recalls
how he wrote the lyrics to Elton John's "Rocket Man;" Joan Jett
remembers channeling her rage against how she had been unfairly
labeled and treated as a female rocker into "Bad Reputation;" and
Ozzy Osbourne, Elvis Costello, Bob Weir, Sheryl Crow, Alice Cooper,
Roberta Flack, John Mellencamp, Keith Richards, Carly Simon, and
many others reveal the emotions and technique behind their major
works. Through an absorbing chronological, song-by-song analysis of
the most memorable post-war hits, Anatomy of 55 More Songs provides
a sweeping look at the evolution of pop music between 1964 and
today. This book will change how you listen to music and evaluate
the artists who create it.
The definitive biography of Chuck Berry, legendary performer and
inventor of rock and roll. Best known as the groundbreaking artist
behind classics like "Johnny B. Goode," "Maybellene," "You Never
Can Tell" and "Roll Over Beethoven," Chuck Berry was a man of wild
contradictions, whose motives and motivations were often shrouded
in mystery. After all, how did a teenage delinquent come to write
so many songs that transformed American culture? And, once he
achieved fame and recognition, why did he put his career in danger
with a lifetime's worth of reckless personal behaviour? Throughout
his life, Berry refused to shed light on either the mastery or the
missteps, leaving the complexity that encapsulated his life and
underscored his music largely unexplored--until now. In Chuck
Berry, biographer RJ Smith crafts a comprehensive portrait of one
of the great American entertainers, guitarists, and lyricists of
the 20th century, bringing Chuck Berry to life in vivid detail.
Based on interviews, archival research, legal documents, and a deep
understanding of Berry's St. Louis (his birthplace, and the place
where he died in March 2017), Smith sheds new light on a man few
have ever really understood. By placing his life within the context
of the American culture he made and eventually withdrew from, we
understand how Berry became such a groundbreaking figure in music,
erasing racial boundaries, crafting subtle political commentary,
and paying a great price for his success. While celebrating his
accomplishments, the book also does not shy away from troubling
aspects of his public and private life, asking profound questions
about how and why we separate the art from the artist. Berry
declined to call himself an artist, shrugging that he was good at
what he did. But the man's achievement was the rarest kind, the
kind that had social and political resonance, the kind that made
America want to get up and dance. At long last, Chuck Berry brings
the man and the music together.
Designed for use with the Guitar Cards Chord Starter Pack, this
pack of 55 cards gives you over 50 moveable chord shapes. Small
enough to fit into your back pocket or guitar case, they are an
easy way to learn new chords - suitable for beginners, songwriters
and teachers.
"Book of the Year." -- MOJO Magazine"Outstanding Book of the Year."
--The Herald (Glasgow) A Best Book of the Year by NPR, Pitchfork,
The Telegraph, and UncutA tender and intimate memoir by one of the
most remarkable, trailblazing, and tenacious women in music, the
two-time Grammy Award-winning "premiere song-stylist and songwriter
of her generation" (Hilton Als), Rickie Lee Jones This troubadour
life is only for the fiercest hearts, only for those vessels that
can be broken to smithereens and still keep beating out the rhythm
for a new song. Last Chance Texaco is the first-ever
no-holds-barred account of the life of two-time Grammy Award-winner
Rickie Lee Jones in her own words. It is a tale of desperate
chances and impossible triumphs, an adventure story of a girl who
beat the odds and grew up to become one of the most legendary
artists of her time, turning adversity and hopelessness into
timeless music. With candor and lyricism, the "Duchess of
Coolsville" (Time) takes us on a singular journey through her
nomadic childhood, to her years as a teenage runaway, through her
legendary love affair with Tom Waits and ultimately her longevity
as the hardest working woman in rock and roll. Rickie Lee's stories
are rich with the infamous characters of her early songs -
"Chuck-E's in Love," "Weasel and the White Boys Cool," "Danny's
All-Star Joint," and "Easy Money"-- but long before her notoriety
in show business, there was a vaudevillian cast of hitchhikers,
bank robbers, jail breaks, drug mules, a pimp with a heart of gold
and tales of her fabled ancestors. In this tender and intimate
memoir by one of the most remarkable, trailblazing, and tenacious
women in music are never-before-told stories of the girl in the
raspberry beret, a singer-songwriter whose music defied
categorization and inspired American pop culture for decades.
Dié boek is rock ’n roll in die binnewêreld van die legendariese liedjieboer, Anton Goosen. Hanlie Retief vertel Goosen se buitengewone lewensverhaal – van sy grootwordjare in die Vrystaat, die Musiek-en-Liriek-era, sensuur, hoogtepunte en teleurstellings . . . tot waar die vader van Afrikaanse Rock 'n terugblik gee op sy merkwaardige lewe.
When the Beatles launched into fame in 1963, they inspired a
generation to pick up an instrument and start a band. Rock and roll
took the world by storm, but one small town in particular seemed to
pump out prominent musicians and popular bands at factory pace.
Many American college towns have their own story to tell when it
comes to their rock and roll roots, but Gainesville's story is
unique: dozens of resident musicians launched into national
prominence, eight inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and
a steady stream of major acts rolling through on a regular basis.
Marty Jourard-himself a member of the chart-topping Motels-looks at
Gainesville through the mid-1960s and 1970s, delving into
individual stories of the musicians, businesses, and promoters that
helped foster innovative, professional music in a small north
Florida town. From Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers to Stephen
Stills and the Eagles' Don Felder and Bernie Leadon, Gainesville
cultivated some of the most celebrated musicians and songwriters of
the time. Music Everywhere brings to light a key chapter in the
history of American rock and roll-a time when music was a way of
life and bands popped up by the dozen, some falling by the wayside,
but others indelibly changing the face of rock and roll. Here is
the story of the people, the town, and a culture that nurtured a
wellspring of talent.
Get into the music with David Leander Williams as he charts the
rise and fall of Indiana Avenue, the Majestic Entertainment
Boulevard of Indianapolis, which produced some of the nation's most
influential jazz artists. The performance venues that once lined
the vibrant thoroughfare were an important stop on the Chitlin'
Circuit and provided platforms for greats like Freddie Hubbard and
Jimmy Coe. Through this biography of the bustling street, meet
scores of the other musicians who came to prominence in the
avenue's heyday, including trombonist J.J. Johnson and guitarist
Wes Montgomery, as well as songwriters like Noble Sissle and Leroy
Carr.
In time for the band's twentieth anniversary, the inside story of
the Dave Matthews Band-from the early days playing small gigs in
Charlottesville to their current sold-out annual summer concert
tours...and more than thirty-five million records sold. Dave
Matthews Band has one of the largest and most loyal followings of
any band today-after twenty years of constant touring and several
acclaimed, multiplatinum albums, the members enjoy a connection
with their fans that few other acts can match. Ask DMB devotees and
they'll happily tell you tales of amazing sold-out summer shows,
the stunning venues they've seen the band play all around the
world, classic live show recordings...and memories of good times
with great friends, old and new. For hundreds of thousands of
people, affection for DMB goes far beyond simple fan adulation-it's
a way of life. Journalist (and fan) Nikki Van Noy bridges the gap
between the band and their followers, looking at the DMB phenomenon
from all perspectives-including interviews with the band,
Charlottesville insiders who knew them in the early days, and, of
course, the DMB fans who witnessed it all. This lively, insider
book offers insights into: -The beginnings of the band in
Charlottesville, VA-which gave rise to the culture of taping and
trading live shows, and the early online networking that laid the
groundwork for their later explosive success. -The heady success of
their first several albums-when the small "club" of DMB fans
suddenly became a lot less exclusive. -Their creative misfires in
the early 2000s-including the leaked Lillywhite Sessions. -The
crushing sudden loss of saxophonist LeRoi Moore-and how the band
emerged stronger than ever. A chronicle of the live Dave Matthews
Band experience and what it means to be a part of it, So Much to
Say is a comprehensive biography of this incredible group and the
fans who helped them achieve such enduring success.
A classically trained countertenor who sang with his high school
choir, Dee remembers the day he decided he was "not gonna take it"
and stopped caring what people thought about him. Following in the
footsteps of his idols Alice Cooper and Black Sabbath, Dee jumped
from band to band until he met Jay Jay French and Twisted Sister.
But it wasn't until he met his costume-designing soul-mate Suzette
that they developed his unique style. Dee's hard work finally paid
off with an impressive resume that includes: a monster hit record;
smash MTV videos; a long-running radio show, "The House of Hair";
appearances in film (Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Howard Stern's
Private Parts, StrangeLand) and television (Growing Up Twisted,
Celebrity Apprentice); and a starring role in Broadway's Rock of
Ages. He even authored a teenage survival guide that was required
reading in Russia! Filled with entertaining anecdotes and candid
confessions, Shut Up and Give Me the Miketakes you through the good
times and bad with a heavy metal star who worked as hard as he
played, and who did it all for his wife, four kids, and millions of
"SMF " (Sick Mother F******) fans.
The first, and only, inside story of one of the greatest bands in
rock history--Dire Straits--as told by founding member and bassist
John Illsley One of the most successful music acts of all time,
Dire Straits filled stadiums around the world. Their albums sold
hundreds of millions of copies and their music--classics like
"Sultans of Swing," "Romeo and Juliet," "Money for Nothing," and
"Brothers in Arms"--is still played on every continent today. There
was, quite simply, no bigger band on the planet throughout the
eighties. In this powerful and entertaining memoir, founding member
John Illsley gives the inside track on the most successful rock
band of their time. From playing gigs in the spit-and-sawdust pubs
of south London, to hanging out with Bob Dylan in LA, Illsley tells
the story of the band with searching honesty, soulful reflection,
and wry humor. Starting with his own unlikely beginnings in Middle
England, he recounts the band's rise from humble origins to the
best-known venues in the world, the working man's clubs to Madison
Square Garden, sharing gigs with wild punk bands to rocking the
Live Aid stage at Wembley. And woven throughout is an intimate
portrait and tribute to his great friend Mark Knopfler, the band's
lead singer, songwriter, and remarkable guitarist. Tracing an idea
that created a phenomenal musical legacy, an extraordinary journey
of joy and pain, companionship and surprises, this is John
Illsley's life in Dire Straits.
The full story of Taylor Swift's stratospheric rise to fame; all
any dedicated Swifty needs to know about the pop superstar who's
taking over the world. A small-town girl with an incredible talent,
and the strength to realise her dream, Taylor has grown into an
award-winning, chart-topping artist and worldwide star, as well as
a strong and stylish woman. But how did she get there? And what
lies in store for her in the future? From childhood dreams of a
musical future in Pennsylvania, to determined and budding teen
musician with a trademark she's stayed faithful to ever since:
honest lyrics about real-life events; her fight to be taken
seriously in the music industry, through to the rewards of success
and the intense pressure of expectation, Taylor Swift: The Whole
Story is a full account of Taylor's incredible journey, with
everything you need to know about America's Sweetheart. This
compelling book is packed full of fascinating details revealing the
true Taylor - what drives, motivates and moves her, how she
overcame the challenges that loomed on the road to fame and looks
at how authentic her wholesome image is, plus the truth about her
relationships with Harry Styles, Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor Kennedy
and who she's really talking about on her tracks. The full portrait
of a girl who could so easily have faded into the background - but
who blossomed in the spotlight into a grounded, graceful and
inspiring young woman.
'Kendrick Lamar understands and employs blues, jazz, and soul in
his music, which makes it startling. His work is more than merely
brilliant; it is magic' Toni Morrison 'Lamar is a man living on a
real and metaphorical peak, with one eye trained on the heavens,
the other searching for stories in the valley below' Guardian
__________ Kendrick Lamar is at the top of his game. He has been
described as the poet Laureate of hip-hop, perceptive,
philosophical, unapologetic, fearless, and an innovative
storyteller whose body of work has been compared to James Joyce and
James Baldwin. He is a visionary who will go down as history as one
of the most important artists of all time. But what's so striking
about Kendrick Lamar, aside from his impressive accolades, is how
he's effectively established himself as a formidable opponent of
oppression, a force for change. Through his confessional poetics,
his politically charged anthems, and his radical performances,
Lamar has become a beacon of light for many people in America.
Written by veteran journalist and music critic Marcus J. Moore,
this is the first biography of Kendrick Lamar. It's the definitive
account of his coming-of-age as an artist, his resurrection of
jazz, his profound impact on a racially fraught America, and his
emergence as the bona fide King of Rap. The book traces not only
Lamar's powerful impact on music but also on our current society,
especially under the weight of police brutality, divisive politics,
and social injustice. With exclusive interviews with his family,
friends, and record producers, this book is the must-read for any
fan. The Butterfly Effect is the extraordinary, triumphant story of
a modern lyrical prophet and an American icon who has given hope to
those buckling under the weight of systemic oppression, reminding
everyone that through it all, "we gon' be alright". __________
'Essential reading' Rolling Stone 'By the end of listening to his
first full album, I felt like I knew everything about him. He
brings you into his world with his lyrics in a way that really
paints a clear picture' Eminem 'I love everything about his music.
I can literally listen to his music and become a kid growing up
with all the struggles in the inner city, but at the same time
[learn] all the lessons it taught that we use as men today.' Lebron
James 'For a gentle dude, he throws a righteous punch; I wouldn't
get in the way of it. No single artist will ever be the antidote to
a generation's malaise, but just identifying some of the problems
really helps' Bono 'Kendrick Lamar is a master of storytelling' New
York
One Man's Search for the Perfect Gig You know the way the bass
makes your plastic cup of watery beer throb? Who the hell (you
think, as you sit there in some huge hangar, peering into the
distance) are those ants on the stage? Ever bumped into a celeb and
said something that made you sound like a prat? Ever found yourself
stuck at a red light in a battered old car with ten of your mates,
chased by four angry skinheads? Over more than thirty years of
gig-going, Adam Broadway has been there, done that. The Jam,
Killing Joke, DeadMau5, Glastonbury, dodgy sanitation and stitches
a | The Prodigy, James, U2, Reading, ecstasy and embarrassment a |
Leftfield, The Rolling Stones, Prince, Ezio, Cambridge Junction and
Brixton Academy, everyday life and Goths - and much, much more.
Along the way Adam - yes, now follically challenged and with
tinnitus to boot - tells us something the shallow-callow
cool-school of rock journalism never could. He tells it like it is.
If you ever found music really said something to you about your
friends, your relationships, your dreams, your life - the sheer
passion and honesty of Down the Front is here to remind you. Join
Adam for the best view in the house. a Go on a | get down the
front.'
THE ILLUSTRATED STORY OF SUN RECORDS AND THE 70 RECORDINGS THAT
CHANGED THE WORLD Sun Records: the company that launched Elvis
Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, and Carl
Perkins. This is where Rock 'n Roll was born. Written by two of the
most acclaimed music writers of our time, The Birth of Rock n'
Roll: 70 Years of Sun Records looks at this history of this
legendary label through the lens of 70 of its most iconic
recordings. Accompanying the recordings is the label's origin story
and a look at the mission of the label today, as well as
fascinating dives into subjects such as the legendary Million
Dollar Quartet, and how the song "Harper Valley, PTA" funded the
purchase of the label. Featuring hundreds of rare images from the
Sun archives as well as a foreword by music legend Jerry Lee Lewis,
this is a one-of-a-kind book for anyone who wants to know where it
all started.
Merle Haggard was one of the most important country music musicians
who ever lived. His astonishing musical career stretched across the
second half of the 20th Century and into the first two decades of
the next, during which he released an extraordinary 63 albums, 38
that made it on to Billboard's Country Top Ten, 13 that went to #1,
and 37 #1 hit singles. With his ample songbook, unique singing
voice and brilliant phrasing that illuminated his uncompromising
commitment to individual freedom, cut with the monkey of personal
despair on his back and a chip the size of Monument Valley on his
shoulder, Merle's music and his extraordinary charisma helped
change the look, the sound, and the fury of American music. The Hag
tells, without compromise, the extraordinary life of Merle Haggard,
augmented by deep secondary research, sharp detail and ample
anecdotal material that biographer Marc Eliot is known for, and
enriched and deepened by over 100 new and far-ranging interviews.
It explores the uniquely American life of an angry rebellious boy
from the wrong side of the tracks bound for a life of crime and a
permanent home in a penitentiary, who found redemption through the
music of "the common man." Merle Haggard's story is a great
American saga of a man who lifted himself out of poverty,
oppression, loss and wanderlust, to catapult himself into the
pantheon of American artists admired around the world. Eliot has
interviewed more than 100 people who knew Haggard, worked with him,
were influenced by him, loved him or hated him. The book celebrates
the accomplishments and explore the singer's infamous dark side:
the self-created turmoil that expressed itself through drugs,
women, booze, and betrayal. The Hag offers a richly anecdotal
narrative that will elevate the life and work of Merle Haggard to
where both properly belong, in the pantheon of American music and
letters. The Hag is the definitive account of this unique American
original, and will speak to readers of country music and rock
biographies alike.
Winner of the 2010 Non-Fiction National Book Award Patti Smith's
definitive memoir: an evocative, honest and moving coming-of-age
story of her extraordinary relationship with the artist Robert
Mapplethorpe 'Sharp, elegiac and finely crafted' Sunday Times
'Terrifically evocative ... The most spellbinding and diverting
portrait of funky-but-chic New York in the late '60s and '70s that
any alumnus has committed to print' New York Times 'Render,
harrowing, often hilarious' Vogue In 1967, a chance meeting between
two young people led to a romance and a lifelong friendship that
would carry each to international success never dreamed of. The
backdrop is Brooklyn, Chelsea Hotel, Max's Kansas City, Scribner's
Bookstore, Coney Island, Warhol's Factory and the whole city
resplendent. Among their friends, literary lights, musicians and
artists such as Harry Smith, Bobby Neuwirth, Allen Ginsberg, Sandy
Daley, Sam Shepherd, William Burroughs, etc. It was a heightened
time politically and culturally; the art and music worlds exploding
and colliding. In the midst of all this two kids made a pact to
always care for one another. Scrappy, romantic, committed to making
art, they prodded and provided each other with faith and confidence
during the hungry years--the days of cous-cous and lettuce soup.
Just Kids begins as a love story and ends as an elegy. Beautifully
written, this is a profound portrait of two young artists, often
hungry, sated only by art and experience. And an unforgettable
portrait of New York, her rich and poor, hustlers and hellions,
those who made it and those whose memory lingers near.
Wolfgang Flur was a member of Kraftwerk from 1973 to 1987,
contributing to albums such as Autobahn (1974), Radioaktivitat
(1975), Trans-Europa Express (1977), Die Mensch-Maschine (1978),
Computerwelt (1981) and Electric Cafe (1986). He continues to
record music with his solo album Eloquence being released in 2015.
Dana Gillespie, the award-winning first lady of the Blues has
enjoyed an incredible life and career. Now, she has chronicled her
exploits, and as anyone who knows Dana would expect, it is
intelligent, insightful, outrageous, and funny. Detailing high
points, low points and everything in-between, the book covers,
amongst many other things, liaisons with David Bowie, Bob Dylan,
Keith Moon, and the cream of 1960's rock royalty; Recording with
Jimmy Page and Elton John; Performing as Mary Magdalene in the
original London production of Jesus Christ Superstar, and as the
Acid Queen in Tommy; Acting in films directed by Nicholas Roeg, Ken
Russell and Mai Zetterling; Performing Shakespeare with Sir John
Gielgud and Arthur Lowe; Topping the pop charts across Europe;
Performing to an audience of one million people in India; And... oh
yes... Being British junior waterski champion for 4 years!
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