sonicbond publishing gb (736 risultati)

Paperback. Condizione: New. 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.

Paperback. Condizione: New. It has been more than 50 years since the extraordinary British rock band Van der Graaf Generator released their legendary fourth studio album, Pawn Hearts. It remains a mind-splitting masterpiece that fascinated an entire generation of music lovers. Written by well-known progressive rock author Paolo Carnelli, this is the most extensive treatise of its kind on this seminal 1971 record. Starting with the birth of the Pawn Hearts concept from live band experience, the song rehearsals and eventually the recording of the album material, what follows is a detailed track-by-track musical and lyrical analysis. Specific chapters are dedicated to the making and the meaning of the artwork and to the band's collaboration with King Crimson's Robert Fripp. The last part of the book deals with the press reaction to the album and the unexpected release of the 'Theme One' single in 1972. The final chapter contrasts an initial performance of 'A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers' in March 1972 with the band's 2013 tour, which presented this rarely performed epic once again, and ends with a detailed Pawn Hearts discography. The book is enhanced by a preface by Gary Lucas and some fresh comments from David Jackson, Hugh Banton, Guy Evans, Peter Hammill, Stephen W. Tayler and Paul Whitehead.

Paperback. Condizione: New. Arguably the greatest album by the best rock band ever, The Beatles - also known as The White Album - proved to be a watershed recording. Coming as it did, after manager Brian Epstein's death; after the disillusionment with the Maharishi; in the middle of the break-up of long-term relationships, and following on from the psychedelic masterpiece Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, it heralded changes of style and the marked the start of the falling apart of the previously tight-knit group.The album's diversity and creation are analysed and its background and dynamics revealed. This extraordinary double album reflects a remarkable time and period. As the sixties came to an end, so too did the band. They mirrored the times they lived in. The album also followed on from their first highly criticised TV flop Magical Mystery Tour, the success of the first global satellite triumph of 'All You Need Is Love', and the highly ambitious Apple business venture. George Martin ducked out and ructions broke out between band members. But, among all the pressures and stress they found time to write and record an incredible array of songs; songs that synergised into a spectacularly successful album with a fascinating story. This is the tale of every track and every facet of this remarkable record.

Paperback. Condizione: New. You couldconsider Kate Bush's The Dreaming to be her finest moment, depending on whetheryou value the rejection of compromise and see that as a sign of authenticity.Or, you may see her Hounds of Love - equal-parts artful and accessible - as thebenchmark for artistic integrity meeting commercial success: a slippery andcompletely unpredictable schizoid beast at the best of times.     As much as The Dreaming seems to be viewedas Bush's most difficult record to consume, it's easy to forget that it was atop 20 album in multiple countries. In reality, it has a beautiful simplicity,if only for its intention to exist for its own sake - as they say, 'It is whatit is', and the rest is up to the listener. And what it is, is perhaps one ofrock's most pure examples of a musician doing their thing, simultaneously (andconveniently) operating at the top of their game, and not sweating the resultingviews of others. That recipe transcends genre, and even field itself.     Ultimately, The Dreaming is just art -music, yes, but I suggest it crosses the line into sculpture. You can walkaround it, try to decipher it, and still be stumped. Isn't that how art issupposed to be.

Paperback. Condizione: New. 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.Up to that point, the band had released two albums which searched for a direction almost as much as Supertramp themselves searched for a stable line-up. So few copies were sold as to leave the band almost entirely unknown by the time 1973 came along, when everything changed. Like some serendipitous alchemy, the perfect five-piece line-up coalesced around the creative hub of Roger Hodgson and Rick Davies, and there was a tangible belief and confidence which had simply not been present before. They took time away from playing live and meticulously crafted the Crime Of The Century album, which immediately put them into theatres and into the charts. This book examines the making of the album, and looks into the music and lyrical content with some depth. It also looks at the wider story of the band as it revolves around this crucial point in 1974, and the lasting legacy of the masterpiece which was Crime Of The Century.

Paperback. Condizione: New. Against the odds, 90125, released towards the end of 1983, was Yes' best-selling album. Yet it was never intended to be a recording by one of the 1970s rock dinosaurs, but a combination of commercial expediency and luck saw an album by a new band called Cinema - featuring Yes stalwarts Chris Squire, Alan White and Tony Kaye alongside talented multi-instrumentalist Trevor Rabin - become Yes following the last-minute recruitment of vocalist Jon Anderson. A US number one hit single, 'Owner Of A Lonely Heart,' led to a triple platinum record and a massive world tour, giving this band a new lease of life in the 1980s. Featuring new interviews with several of the main protagonists, including Jon Anderson and Trevor Rabin, this book traces the story of the album from its rudimentary demos in 1981, right up to the end of the world tour in early 1985. 90125 is reviewed in full, and the book also includes a detailed look at the somewhat complex and contrived process that created it, followed by an examination of the album's legacy and remarkable afterlife. The 90125 story is possibly the most astonishing in this legendary group's nearly six-decade history. This is how it happened.

Paperback. Condizione: New. Released in 1969, Let it Bleed was The Rolling Stones' eighth studio album (tenth in the USA). The second in a sequence of four consecutive records that comprised their creative peak, it is considered by many to be their best. After a period of turmoil culminating in drug busts, the enforced departure and sudden death of founding member Brian Jones, they delivered a powerful set of nine tracks that encompassed hard rock, blues, country, folk, gospel and even funk. From the eerie 'Gimme Shelter' to the epic 'You Can't Always Get What You Want', with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the band plus an array of guests including Al Kooper, Ry Cooder and The London Bach Choir, it was a set that captured the uncertain prevailing mood at the end of the 1960s and the era that produced the Woodstock and Altamont festivals. Number one in Britain and number two in America, it still sounds just as fresh, urgent and challenging more than half a century later. This account examines in detail the background, inspiration and recording of the songs, the reception of the work as a whole, and its legacy and influence on subsequent generations of bands and performers to this day.

Paperback. Condizione: New. In a year containing groundbreaking releases from the likes of Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Metallica, and Van Halen, 1984 also saw Prince return bigger and bolder than ever. Not content with solely focusing on the lead acting role in his semi-autobiographical movie, Prince worked overtime on a set of songs for the accompanying soundtrack album, and the results were there for all to see upon the unveiling of the masterpiece that was Purple Rain. Arriving at a time of significant world change, and with his eccentric and talented backing band - The Revolution - in tow, Prince's rise to superstardom was cemented with a set of delicious dancefloor hymns. These included the power ballad of all power ballads, a lead single void of customary songwriting traditions; and a track so controversial that it brought about the establishment of the PMRC, and the creation of the 'Parental Advisory' label. 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, this book also pays tribute to Prince - the inimitable mastermind behind the entire Purple Rain project.

Paperback. Condizione: New. Arguably the greatest album by the best rock band ever, The Beatles - also known as The White Album - proved to be a watershed recording. Coming as it did, after manager Brian Epstein's death; after the disillusionment with the Maharishi; in the middle of the break-up of long-term relationships, and following on from the psychedelic masterpiece Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, it heralded changes of style and the marked the start of the falling apart of the previously tight-knit group.The album's diversity and creation are analysed and its background and dynamics revealed. This extraordinary double album reflects a remarkable time and period. As the sixties came to an end, so too did the band. They mirrored the times they lived in. The album also followed on from their first highly criticised TV flop Magical Mystery Tour, the success of the first global satellite triumph of 'All You Need Is Love', and the highly ambitious Apple business venture. George Martin ducked out and ructions broke out between band members. But, among all the pressures and stress they found time to write and record an incredible array of songs; songs that synergised into a spectacularly successful album with a fascinating story. This is the tale of every track and every facet of this remarkable record.

Paperback. Condizione: New. Against the odds, 90125, released towards the end of 1983, was Yes' best-selling album. Yet it was never intended to be a recording by one of the 1970s rock dinosaurs, but a combination of commercial expediency and luck saw an album by a new band called Cinema - featuring Yes stalwarts Chris Squire, Alan White and Tony Kaye alongside talented multi-instrumentalist Trevor Rabin - become Yes following the last-minute recruitment of vocalist Jon Anderson. A US number one hit single, 'Owner Of A Lonely Heart,' led to a triple platinum record and a massive world tour, giving this band a new lease of life in the 1980s. Featuring new interviews with several of the main protagonists, including Jon Anderson and Trevor Rabin, this book traces the story of the album from its rudimentary demos in 1981, right up to the end of the world tour in early 1985. 90125 is reviewed in full, and the book also includes a detailed look at the somewhat complex and contrived process that created it, followed by an examination of the album's legacy and remarkable afterlife. The 90125 story is possibly the most astonishing in this legendary group's nearly six-decade history. This is how it happened.

Paperback. Condizione: New. 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.Up to that point, the band had released two albums which searched for a direction almost as much as Supertramp themselves searched for a stable line-up. So few copies were sold as to leave the band almost entirely unknown by the time 1973 came along, when everything changed. Like some serendipitous alchemy, the perfect five-piece line-up coalesced around the creative hub of Roger Hodgson and Rick Davies, and there was a tangible belief and confidence which had simply not been present before. They took time away from playing live and meticulously crafted the Crime Of The Century album, which immediately put them into theatres and into the charts. This book examines the making of the album, and looks into the music and lyrical content with some depth. It also looks at the wider story of the band as it revolves around this crucial point in 1974, and the lasting legacy of the masterpiece which was Crime Of The Century.

Paperback. Condizione: New. Released in 1969, Let it Bleed was The Rolling Stones' eighth studio album (tenth in the USA). The second in a sequence of four consecutive records that comprised their creative peak, it is considered by many to be their best. After a period of turmoil culminating in drug busts, the enforced departure and sudden death of founding member Brian Jones, they delivered a powerful set of nine tracks that encompassed hard rock, blues, country, folk, gospel and even funk. From the eerie 'Gimme Shelter' to the epic 'You Can't Always Get What You Want', with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the band plus an array of guests including Al Kooper, Ry Cooder and The London Bach Choir, it was a set that captured the uncertain prevailing mood at the end of the 1960s and the era that produced the Woodstock and Altamont festivals. Number one in Britain and number two in America, it still sounds just as fresh, urgent and challenging more than half a century later. This account examines in detail the background, inspiration and recording of the songs, the reception of the work as a whole, and its legacy and influence on subsequent generations of bands and performers to this day.

Paperback. Condizione: New. In a year containing groundbreaking releases from the likes of Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Metallica, and Van Halen, 1984 also saw Prince return bigger and bolder than ever. Not content with solely focusing on the lead acting role in his semi-autobiographical movie, Prince worked overtime on a set of songs for the accompanying soundtrack album, and the results were there for all to see upon the unveiling of the masterpiece that was Purple Rain. Arriving at a time of significant world change, and with his eccentric and talented backing band - The Revolution - in tow, Prince's rise to superstardom was cemented with a set of delicious dancefloor hymns. These included the power ballad of all power ballads, a lead single void of customary songwriting traditions; and a track so controversial that it brought about the establishment of the PMRC, and the creation of the 'Parental Advisory' label. 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, this book also pays tribute to Prince - the inimitable mastermind behind the entire Purple Rain project.

Paperback. Condizione: New. Beat Instrumental summed it up in 1971: 'In a few short months Curved Air have emerged from the unknown depths to become one of the most talked-about bands around. By a combination of record company promotion (ranging from ads to that pretty patterned album) and a word-of-mouth reputation gained from their gigs, the group became a name before they had really done that much. Such a situation can be worrying for a band but Curved Air have the confidence to carry on unaffected.' Propelled into stardom at an exhilarating speed due to clever marketing and virtuosity in their musicianship, particularly violinist Darryl Way, the story of Curved Air in the 1970s is of a band that burned brightly before collapsing well ahead of their time. Fronted by the exotic Sonja Kristina, they supported Jethro Tull, Deep Purple, Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter and B.B. King in huge stadiums, and several famous names passed through their ranks. These included Stewart Copeland who went on to form the Police with Sting. Every line up of Curved Air presented a stellar range of talent across a musically fascinating contribution throughout the decade. This book documents it all - from the groundbreaking albums like Air Conditioning and Phantasmagoria to the line up changes and traumas which caused the band to disband for the first time in 1976.

Paperback. Condizione: New. In 1998, thefuture of the Red Hot Chili Peppers seemed extremely uncertain. Once consideredalternative rock's hottest act on the back of their triumphant 1991 album,Blood Sugar Sex Magik, the LA quartet would spend the next few years somewhatlanguishing in the doldrums, with drug addiction and in-house tensionthreatening to undo all those previous years of hard work. To say thatCalifornication saved the Red Hot Chili Peppers is an understatement. ForAnthony Kiedis, Flea, Chad Smith, and the returning John Frusciante - longconsidered the band's classic line-up by many - the 1999 album cemented the Chili's as not only the poster boys foralternative rock but as one of rock's greatest-ever artists.    Musically, Californication still featured alethal dose of the band's powerhouse funk, but the album was also more melodic,minimalistic, and structured. Combined with Kiedis' often brutally honest andintrospective lyricism, songs such as the delicate and sombre 'Scar Tissue',the epiphanic 'Otherside', and the scathing title track, would usher in a newera of the band, where the promise they had previously shown was about to befully realised. In great detail,this book discusses album's writing and recording processes, the stories behindevery song- including the B-sides and unreleased material, the ensuing worldtour, and the legacy the record has left behind.

Paperback. Condizione: New. It started off so well. As Jon Lord enthused in the October 1975 issue of Melody Maker: 'Tommy can't be so bad for us with so many good ideas. All I can say is when you hear the album (Come Taste The Band) you'll change your mind. Whether you like the music or not, you'll have to realise that Deep Purple now have an excitement in their playing that they haven't had in a long time.'Despite calls of 'we want Blackmore' when Deep Purple Mark four played live, there was so much more to American guitarist Tommy Bolin than being Ritchie Blackmore's replacement. As a result, the purpose of this long-overdue biography is to readdress the existing narrative of Tommy Bolin's legacy. As well as discussing objectively Tommy's time with Deep Purple, Laura Shenton offers an insight into his musical achievements in his own right outside of the band, which include two cult rock albums in Teaser and Private Eyes. He also had a stint in The James Gang and made numerous guest appearances, where his versatile and virtuosic skills as a guitarist were utilised, before his untimely death in 1976 at the shockingly young age of 25.

Paperback. Condizione: New. During a decade that defined progressive rock, 1973 was a pivotal year. Influential bands like Yes, Genesis, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Jethro Tull, The Electric Light Orchestra and King Crimson released some of their best-selling albums and there was a plethora of releases from less well known but equally worthy acts. This book is a journey through this creative period; stopping off on route to explore symphonic rock, the Canterbury scene, Krautrock, fusion, progressive folk, art rock, space rock, album artwork and much more. As well as the big names from the year when progressive rock was arguably at its commercial and artistic peak, the book also looks in depth at albums by Mahavishnu Orchestra, Greenslade, Rick Wakeman, Gong, Le Orme, Can, Kayak, Gentle Giant, Premiata Forneria Marconi, Renaissance, Caravan, Nektar, Manfred Mann's Earth Band and Magma. But this book is much more than a nostalgic trip down memory lane. It's a comprehensive and knowledgeable guide to an era when music incorporated multiple sections, rich textures, intricate time signatures, inspired arrangements and diverse influences performed by skilled musicians. It was possible to take a dip in topographic oceans, encounter pot head pixies from a distant planet and still be home in time for larks' tongues in aspic.

Paperback. Condizione: New. Renaissance, a much beloved but highly underrated English progressive rock band, began life in 1969 as an offshoot of The Yardbirds. Keith Relf and Jim McCarty, who had recently left that iconic blues-rock group, decided to put together a new band that would differ from its predecessor by being more influenced by classical and folk music. After releasing two albums in 1969 and 1971, The band then quickly underwent a 100 percent turnover in personnel, resulting in an entirely new RenaissanceThe new band was distinguished by the astonishingly beautiful five-octave-range vocals of their lead singer, Annie Haslam, their lengthy, multi-movement, classically inspired compositions, and their unusual instrumentation. Renaissance released six classic studio albums, and one live double album, between 1972 and 1978, even scoring a UK hit with 'Northern Lights'. The late 1970s and early 1980s saw the band commercialise with limited success, before folding.The 21st century, with Haslam continuing as the band's distinctive voice, Renaissance has returned to its orchestral/symphonic rock roots with two studio albums of new material and multiple live releases featuring contemporary treatments of its 1970s classics. This volume, the first ever published on Renaissance, assesses their entire career, covering every song on every album. It is the essential guide to the recorded works of a group that deserves to be ranked among the greatest in the progressive rock genre.

Paperback. Condizione: New. Free were formed in 1968 towards the end of the British blues boom. After two critically acclaimed albums, the release of 'All Right Now' and the album Fire and Water in 1970 brought them major success. Musical and personal differences took their toll and they split after the comparative failure of their next album and single. After starting new bands that never took off they reformed, but following further dissension and guitarist Paul Kossoff's drug problems they disbanded for good in 1973. Vocalist Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke then formed Bad Company, who became one of the hottest bands on both sides of the Atlantic, maintaining a stable line-up with ex-Mott The Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs and ex-King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell for the rest of the decade. Each member later pursued outside ventures, although they regrouped at intervals, recruiting new members after Ralphs' retirement and Burrell's death. This book examines both bands' work and career from 1968 to 1980, plus the Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu, Rabbit album, Kossoff's solo work and Back Street Crawler, with a chapter on their later history, notably Rodgers' three years with Queen.

Paperback. Condizione: New. A 'cult' band with a mass following, the band's last five albums have made the top 30 in the UK. Still active, recording and touring. Completely unique - no other band mixes progressive rock, metal and jazz in the same way.There has never been - and never will be - another band like Opeth. Formed in Stockholm, Sweden circa 1989, their roughly thirty-year career showcases a melding of diverse influences; a prevailing commitment to songwriting and instrumental excellence; and unwaveringly chameleonic vision - no matter the cost - that's unmatched by any of their stylistic peers. Be it their most unashamedly brutal early LPs, their multifaceted and near-faultless mid-period opuses, or their somewhat polarizing recent glimpses into macabre 1970s-esque prog/jazz rock eccentricity, mastermind Mikael Akerfeldt and company continuously create records that push themselves, their audience, and progressive music as a whole, forward. The result is easily among the most extraordinary, dependable, and laudable legacies in modern metal. Using a meticulously crafted mixture of original analysis and behind-the-scenes research, this book digs into all facets of Opeth's output to discover how they innovated and evolved with practically every release. After all, each 'observation' - from their 1990s black metal classics (Morningrise and My Arms, Your Hearse) and 2000s progressive death metal masterpieces (Blackwater Park and Ghost Reveries) to their stunning progressive rock/jazz fusion excursions of the 2010s (Pale Communion and In Cauda Venenum) - found Opeth ceaselessly harvesting a one-of-a-kind catalogue that's still remarkably influential and impressive.

Paperback. Condizione: New. Little Feat may not be a household name, but they are well-known to a good number of musicians who are: Keith Richards rounded up the Rolling Stones to see them perform in Amsterdam in 1975, Robert Plant publicly lamented their lack of success (as Led Zeppelin's soared into the stratosphere), and Bob Dylan and Elton John saw them in concert whenever possible. Legends like Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, and Bob Seger helped out on their many record albums, and they backed up Robert Palmer, John Cale, and Chico Hamilton. Yet they never had a hit single, and the closest they came to success was with their 1978 live album, Waiting for Columbus (later performed live in its entirety by jam band Phish) - but not even the death of their leader, Lowell George, could stop the Feats' shoes from sailin': the band reformed in 1988 and has continued since, with Craig Fuller and Shaun Murphy helping out along the way. Little Feat on track dives into the ups and downs of their 50-year career and discusses every album and song, from their idiosyncratic 1971 debut to the post-pandemic optimism of 2021's When All Boats Rise.

Paperback. Condizione: New. 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.

Paperback. Condizione: New. Swedish quartetABBA released their third, self-titled album in 1975. It was a record that ledthe group to their international breakthrough and eventual domination of the1970s pop music world. ABBA also provided a blueprint for everything thatdefined the group, cementing once and for all the band's musicality andapproach. It presents a unique and timeless sound that still resonates fiftyyears on, remaining as fresh as the day this remarkable recording was released. This isthe story of the album, from its inception to its triumphant commercialbreakthrough and all in between, including ABBA's first live tour outside oftheir native Sweden. It is written from a perspective of not only a fan, butfrom that of a musician who has recorded with some of ABBA's inner circle, aswell as spending time in Stockholm. Along with in-depth analysis of the music,it also includes new and exclusive interviews with many of the original musicianswho were there in the studio, recording the album's now classic tracks. Theseinclude bassist Mike Watson, plus guitarists Janne Schaffer and Finn Sjoeberg,and the book features a foreword by author Carl Magnus Palm. It's a storyretold like never before.

Paperback. Condizione: New. It has been more than 50 years since the extraordinary British rock band Van der Graaf Generator released their legendary fourth studio album, Pawn Hearts. It remains a mind-splitting masterpiece that fascinated an entire generation of music lovers. Written by well-known progressive rock author Paolo Carnelli, this is the most extensive treatise of its kind on this seminal 1971 record. Starting with the birth of the Pawn Hearts concept from live band experience, the song rehearsals and eventually the recording of the album material, what follows is a detailed track-by-track musical and lyrical analysis. Specific chapters are dedicated to the making and the meaning of the artwork and to the band's collaboration with King Crimson's Robert Fripp. The last part of the book deals with the press reaction to the album and the unexpected release of the 'Theme One' single in 1972. The final chapter contrasts an initial performance of 'A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers' in March 1972 with the band's 2013 tour, which presented this rarely performed epic once again, and ends with a detailed Pawn Hearts discography. The book is enhanced by a preface by Gary Lucas and some fresh comments from David Jackson, Hugh Banton, Guy Evans, Peter Hammill, Stephen W. Tayler and Paul Whitehead.

Paperback. Condizione: New. The Damned are a great British rock n' roll institution. They have helped to plot the course of guitar music over the last 45 years, putting UK punk on record for the first time in 1976, and going on to lay the groundwork for the hardcore, Goth, post-punk, indie-pop and horror-punk movements that have thrived in their wake. Ever underestimated by critics, their string of classic albums has nevertheless been hugely influential, from the trailblazing punk of Damned Damned Damned, to the epic, eclectic sprawl of The Black Album, through the glossy dark-pop of Phantasmagoria, to the genre-spanning triumph of the recent Evil Spirits and beyond. In this book, Morgan Brown takes a fascinating deep dive into each of the band's groundbreaking records, unearthing the stories and inspirations behind them, picking apart their musical building blocks, and examining both the creative process and the creators themselves - visionary early leader Brian James, iconic frontman Dave Vanian, madcap genius Captain Sensible, volatile percussive dervish Rat Scabies and many more. Curious new listeners and long-time aficionados alike will find this book the perfect companion on a voyage of discovery into the strange, chaotic, wonderful world of the Damned.

Paperback. Condizione: New. When Hereford group Silence teamed up with songwriter Ian Hunter in 1969 to form a group that aimed to be a cross between Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and Procol Harum, they rapidly became one of Britain's most popular live acts, but a major hit single and album initially proved elusive. In 1972, disillusioned and exhausted, they split before being encouraged to reform by David Bowie and finding immediate chart success with a song he gave them, 'All the Young Dudes'. After two years of hits and internal conflicts Ian left and enjoyed a chequered solo career that has lasted to this day, initially in partnership with guitarist Mick Ronson until his death in 1993. The rest of the group subsequently shortened their name to Mott and then British Lions, the latter a collaboration with former Medicine Head front man John Fiddler, although they failed to re-establish themselves despite several solid months of touring on both sides of the Atlantic. As Ian wrote, 'Rock'n'roll's a loser's game'. They won, they lost, but during the 1970s released some inspired, highly individual music, that went on to inspire and be championed by several other acts, notably Queen, the Clash and Def Leppard.

Paperback. Condizione: New. UFO, the legendary band which have been gracing the world's stages for the last 50 years, have given us more than their fair share of superb quality hard rock songs including 'Doctor, Doctor', 'Rock Bottom', 'Shoot Shoot', 'Too Hot To Handle', and 'Only You Can Rock Me'. And that was just during the Seventies!Albums such as 'Force It', 'Obsession', 'The Wild, The Willing, And The Innocent', 'Walk On Water' and 'You Are Here' are acknowledged as classics of the melodic hard rock genre, and their live masterpiece 'Strangers In The Night' regularly features at or near the top of rock music polls.UFO's history can be delineated by the guitarists who have passed through their ranks. From the early 'Space Rock' stumblings, their astonishing development with the brilliant, mercurial Michael Schenker, the consolidation and first downfall during Paul Chapman's tenure, subsequent re-launches and crash-landings, a troubled reformation of the Schenker line-up, and the final mostly settled version with Vinnie Moore, this book explores each of the band's 23 studio albums, and, of course, 'Strangers'. Every song is analysed in detail and opinions are numerous in this passionate critique of one of Britain's best loved and most influential rock institutions.

Paperback. Condizione: New. Status Quo? All their songs sound the same and they only know three chords' Really? This retrospective of one of Britain's most successful bands takes this lazy criticism and puts it to the sword. Spanning the period 1970 to 1984, the creative peaks and troughs of all the songs recorded by 'The Frantic Four' are examined in detail by a fan who can play guitar a bit, and also knows his Bach from his byte. Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster, and John Coghlan withstood the slings and arrows of unending criticism to become a national institution, even playing to Royalty along the way. After their early, psychedelic-influenced and fleeting pop success, Quo underwent a dramatic and natural re-invention, unleashing a series of innovative albums and hit singles, such as 'Down Down' and 'Rockin' All Over The World' that established their unique sound and style. Relentless touring, changes in musical direction, unwise choices of producer, substantial substance abuse, and personality clashes, all played their part in the collapse of the classic line-up before a brand re-launch in 1986 that enjoys continued success to the present day. Status Quo - The Frantic Four Years on track examines the band's groundbreaking first era with critical detail and honest opinions.

Paperback. Condizione: New. 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.

Paperback. Condizione: New. Music fans tend to divide into two camps at the mention of Fleetwood Mac. There are those who think of the multi-million-selling five-piece that formed in the mid-1970s and released Rumours, the biggest selling album of all time. But there are those who adopt a self-appointed 'cooler' stance, preferring the late-sixties blues band fronted by the virtuosic guitarist Peter Green. But that's not the whole story. Between May 1970, when Green left his own band to be replaced by the bass player's wife, to the beginning of 1975, when Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined Fleetwood Mac, there were five years of what can only be described as turmoil. One by one, talented musicians such as Jeremy Spencer, Danny Kirwan, Bob Weston and Bob Welch joined and left the band. While it's impossible to ignore the skill and longevity such classic songs as 'Rhiannon' and 'Don't Stop' and albums Fleetwood Mac, Rumours and Tusk, there are an equal number of half-forgotten classic songs from the first half of the 1970s and many deep album cuts that have been overlooked. Here is the story of Fleetwood Mac in the 1970s - the music, the people, the tours, the rumours, the failures and the successes.