'In the beginning,' Billy Joel entertained Long Island locals, with The Hassles and Attila, prior to forging a solo career in 1971. One year later, the singer-songwriter-pianist captivated college students when 'Captain Jack' dominated the Philadelphia airwaves. 'And so, it goes...' Cold Spring Harbor was rife with barrelhouse piano and tear-stained balladry but with Turnstiles Joel realised his dream of forming a stellar band. The success of The Stranger led to sold-out arenas and 52nd Street honoured the heyday of American jazz, while The Nylon Curtain highlighted socio-economic inequities and wartime brotherhood. 1993's River of Dreams fused reggae and world music. Then, in the early 2000's, his celebration of classical works ushered in a sea change. Unquestionably, Billy's catalogue has thrived, despite constantly changing trends in the music industry. Over a fifty-plus year span, many of his relatable songs have become standards, covered by countless artists. The third best-selling solo artist in the U.S. has continued to attract multi-generational audiences across the planet, so if you're 'all in the mood for a melody,' read on. Billy Joel On Track contains behind-the-scenes stories and an analysis of Joel's extensive studio recordings, many of which became top 40 hits in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. ...

In 1992, Singer, pianist and composer Tori Amos achieved fame with the intensely personal solid gold record, Little Earthquakes, the first of fifteen studio albums. Each new recording cut new ground both musically and thematically. Since then, Amos has performed world-wide, both as a soloist and also accompanied, by a rhythm section, an octet or an orchestra. Her projects have ranged from the musical, A Light Princess to the classically-inspired Night of Hunters. Grammy nominations include: Best Alt. Album for Under The Pink, Boys for Pele and From The Choirgirl Hotel and Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for 'Strange Little Girls.' Amos was the first female artist to chart in the Billboard Top ten in Classical, Alternative and Rock genres simultaneously for Night of Hunters. She has been strongly involved in Native American issues and was the first spokesperson for RAINN, the largest, anti-sexual violence organization in the U.S. This book provides a track-by-track analysis of those essential recorded works, starting from Tori Amos' late 1980s synth-pop beginnings through 2017's illuminating Native Invader

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. Vega began her career as an ambitious 'second wave' folk singer in Greenwich Village. Since the inception of that forty-year career, however, she has explore, not only neo-folk music, but electronica, blues, new wave, musical theater, pop and Latin-flavored ballads, such as 'Caramel.' The original songs of her extensive discography highlight heartfelt and humorous narratives drawn from urban glitz and glitter, Greek mythology, and 20th-century literary and cinematic celebrity, but 'the mother of the mp3' also observes people navigating the slings and arrows of everyday life. Much of her catalogue, including the a cappella hit, 'Tom's Diner' and socially-conscious 'Luka, ' have been covered by contemporary artists, but guided by multiple influencers, Vega, herself, has covered songs by Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed and Laura Nyro. With excerpts from the author's own interviews with Ms. Vega, plus insights from renowned producers, American singer-songwriters, label executives, filmmakers, composers and session musicians, On Track: Suzanne Vega brings this profound artist's vivid discography to life.