Rock ’n’ roll goes Hollywood, Mexican music crosses borders, Paul stays in the picture, Judas Priest get graphic, and we take deep dives into the lives and albums of The Beatles, Bowie, Britney, Billy Joel, Jimi, Tay-Tay, Cher, Laura Nyro and more. Read all about ’em:
Rock on Film: The Movies That Rocked the Big Screen
By Fred Goodman
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “When the use of Bill Haley’s Rock Around the Clock turned 1955’s Blackboard Jungle into a teen sensation and a box-office smash, it proved the opening shot in a cinematic and cultural revolution. Starting with Elvis Presley and the teensploitation films of the ’50s and ’60s, in Rock on Film award-winning author and former Rolling Stone editor Fred Goodman takes readers on a wide-ranging journey through film and pop history. Along the way, he measures the transformative impact of the mid-’60s landmarks A Hard Day’s Night and Don’t Look Back and how they seeded an almost unbelievably broad genre of films made by increasingly ambitious musicians and filmmakers across the past seven decades. From the carefree to the complex, the mindless to the mind-bending, rock films have staked out their own turf by simultaneously celebrating innocence and challenging artistic and social conventions. With an insightful round-up of 50 must-see rock films spanning crowd-pleasers, art-house favorites, underground gems, and undisputed classics, Rock on Film surveys the nearly seventy-year canon of a genre like no other. A series of original interviews with Cameron Crowe, Jim Jarmusch, Penelope Spheeris, Taylor Hackford and John Waters illuminates how rock has influenced the work of some of the most divergent and thoughtful directors in movie history. Illustrated throughout by more than 150 full-color and black-and-white images, Rock on Film brings the history of music in the movies to vivid life.”
Mario Barradas and Son Jarocho: The Journey of a Mexican Regional Music
By Yolanda Broyles-González, Francisco González, Rafael Figueroa Hernández
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Son Jarocho was born as the regional sound of Veracruz but over time became a Mexican national genre, even transnational, genre — a touchstone of Chicano identity in the United States. Mario Barradas and Son Jarocho traces a musical journey from the Gulf Coast to interior Mexico and across the border, describing the transformations of Son Jarocho along the way. This comprehensive cultural study pairs ethnographic and musicological insights with an oral history of the late Mario Barradas, one of Son Jarocho‘s preeminent modern musicians. Chicano musician Francisco González offers an insider’s account of Barradas’s influence and Son Jarocho’s musical qualities, while Rafael Figueroa Hernández delves into Barradas’s recordings and film compositions. Yolanda Broyles-González examines the interplay between Son Jarocho’s indigenous roots and contemporary role in Mexican and U.S. society. The result is a nuanced portrait of a vital and evolving musical tradition.”
Paul
By Harry Benson
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Harry Benson began photographing Paul McCartney in 1964, when The Beatles took America by storm, toured the world, and made their movie debut with A Hard Day’s Night. The legendary photojournalist was on hand to document it all. When the Fab Four came to an end, it was Benson who had intimate access to Paul and his wife Linda, as Paul forged a new path, creatively and personally. Featuring more than 100 color and black-and-white images, this collection is a window into the life of one of the world’s best-known recording artists, one who has remained enigmatic despite a lifetime in the limelight. Through Benson’s lens, Paul traces the evolution of its namesake from performer to icon, father and husband. We see the young musician at the height of his fame with the Beatles, in the recording studio with Linda and their band Wings, with the family, behind the scenes and on stage during the 1975–76 Wings Over America tour, partying with the stars, and at the couple’s quiet farm in the UK in the early 1990s. On the occasion of Sir Paul’s 80th birthday, Paul gives an all-access look at a life spent making the world’s most popular music. A must for any music fan.”
The Beatles: A Life in Music
By Hugh Fielder
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “For the Internet generation, a quick introduction to the first global music phenomenon. Meet John, Paul, George and Ringo. The Beatles were — are — probably the most famous and successful band in the world, and despite breaking up over 40 years ago, their popularity remains rock solid, with fans ever-thirsty for new celebrations of their work. Organized by year, this brilliant book covers all the major events in their relatively short career.”
Britney: A Life in Music
By Nadia Cohen
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “It’s the smile, it’s the struggle, Britney Spears is a teen sensation. Over 20 years in the bright lights of fame, the harsh glare of public adoration and the ever-present danger of sliding into the mocking pens of jealous critics but still she carries on. Somehow she has survived the Michael Jackson effect of early success and now commands the respect of a new generation of teens. Since 2004, she has released numerous fragrances, adding up to over $1.5 billion (yes, billion) in perfume sales and the director’s cut version of her Womanizer video is her most-watched video on YouTube, with 330 million views and counting. From Glee to X-Factor, Britney is a fabulous, popular and enduring star with everyday qualities that make her fans love her and her music more and more as the years go by.”
Taylor Swift: A Life in Music
By Alice Hudson
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Former country music sensation Taylor Swift is one of the most accomplished singer-songwriters to storm the charts. Talented and gorgeous, Swift is no stranger to winning awards, from Academy of Country Music Awards to Grammys, her enormous popularity amongst the country music scene has allowed her to cross over into popular music with hits such as We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, I Knew You Were Trouble, Shake it Off, Look What You Made Me Do and her latest album Evermore, not to mention her re-recordings of her masters, the latest being Red (Taylor’s Version). Fascinating text tells the remarkable story of this inspirational and phenomenal performer.”
David Bowie: A Life in Music
By Sean Egan
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “David Bowie needs no introduction. An immense star whose music and writing transcended generations he was one of the most articulate influencers of modern music. Over 50 years, his singles and albums slid up and down the bestseller charts, adapting to the changing times, exploring new musical themes, always pushing at boundaries in a desperate desire to seek out the new and the different. This fantastic new, unofficial biography covers his life, music, art and movies.”
The Little Book of Cher
By Orange Hippo!
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “A mix of street smart, intelligence, talent and beauty, she’s the celebrities’ favourite celebrity and if you’re not a Dolly Parton person, there’s no doubt you align with Cher. With six decades of No.1 hits, from Sonny & Cher days to her latest album (number 26), the Gold Dancing Queen in 2018, she’s reinvented herself again and again. Turning her hand to serious acting in Silkwood, Mask, Moonstruck, The Witches of Eastwick and more, the multitalented star had new career, but yet again emerged as the “Goddess of Pop” with dance-oriented pop-rock — and gaining a dedicated tribe of gay followers as a result. From LGBTQ rights to politics, from saving elephants to kitchen discos on TikTok, she’s as engaged and relevant as she ever was — and she has a LOT to say for herself. Here is a collection of the funniest, sharpest, most deadpan quotes you’d expect from this authentic one-of-a-kind star who Time magazine named as “Twitter’s most outspoken (and beloved) commentator.”
331/3 | The Church’s Starfish
By Chris Gibson
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “After a string of commercial disappointments, in 1986 Australian rock band The Church were simultaneously dropped by Warner Brothers in the U.S. and EMI in Australasia. The future looked bleak. Seemingly from nowhere, their next record Starfish became an unlikely global hit. Its alluring and pensive lead single, Under the Milky Way stood in stark contrast to the synth pop and hair metal dominating the 1980s. A high watermark of intelligent rock, Starfish musically anticipated alternative revolutions to come. Yet in making Starfish, The Church struggled with their internal contradictions. Seeking both commercial and artistic success, they were seduced by fame and drugs but cynical towards the music industry. Domiciled in Australia but with a European literary worldview, they relocated to Los Angeles to record under strained circumstances in the heart of the West Coast hit machine. This book traces the story of Starfish, its background, composition, production and reception. To the task, Chris Gibson brings an unusual perspective as both a musician and a geographer. Drawing upon four decades of media coverage as well as fresh interviews between the author and band members, this book delves into the mysteries of this mercurial classic, tracing both its slippery cultural geography and its sumptuous songcraft. Situating Starfish in time and space, Gibson transports the reader to a key album and moment in popular music history when the structure and politics of the record industry was set to forever change.”
Fish: Every Album, Every Song
By Graeme Scarfe
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Fish has the reputation of being a man with a gift for words — and a man who is not afraid to stand up for what he believes in. That has often got him into trouble. His split from rock band Marillion in 1988, just as they were poised to break America, was as unexpected as it was eventful, and while the band sought to carry on with a new singer, Fish was out on his own with a point to prove. From his first solo success with Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors, he soon clashed with the ‘suits’ at EMI and signed to Polydor. After only two albums with this new label, he struck out on his own as an independent and sought to take on the music industry on his own terms. What followed was a series of albums that were uncompromising in their creativity whilst being almost totally overlooked by radio stations. Fish: Every Album, Every Song charts the solo career of an artist who has never done what was expected of him, always followed his heart and always come out fighting. As his most recent album, Weltzmerchz is his farewell, this is a timely look at the man, the music and his lyrics.”
Laura Nyro: Every Album, Every Song
By Philip Ward
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Laura Nyro (1947-1997) was one of the most significant figures to emerge from the singer-songwriter boom of the 1960s. She first came to attention when her songs were hits for Barbra Streisand, The Fifth Dimension, Peter, Paul and Mary and others. But it was on her own recordings that she imprinted her vibrant personality. With albums like Eli And The Thirteenth Confession and New York Tendaberry she mixed the sounds of soul, pop, jazz and Broadway to fashion autobiographical songs that earned her a fanatical following and influenced a generation of music-makers. In later life her preoccupations shifted from the self to embrace public causes such as feminism, animal rights and ecology — the music grew mellower, but her genius was undimmed. This book examines her entire studio career from 1967’s More Than A New Discovery to the posthumous Angel In The Dark release of 2001. Also surveyed are the many live albums that preserve her charismatic stage presence. With analysis of her teasing, poetic lyrics and unique vocal and harmonic style, this is the first-ever study to concentrate on Laura Nyro’s music and how she created it. Elton John idolised her; Joni Mitchell declared her ‘a true original’. Here’s why.”
Billy Joel: Every Album, Every Song
By Lisa Torem
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “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. 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 50-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: Every Album, Every Song 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.”
Jimi Hendrix: Every Album, Every Song
By Emma Stott
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The legendary Jimi Hendrix has had all kinds of superlatives bestowed on him since his incendiary debut in 1966, but Lou Reed‘s pithy summation beats the lot: ‘He was such a bitching guitar player’. Jimi Hendrix: Every Album, Every Song explores each thrilling song and album, drawing out exactly what made Hendrix not only a great guitarist but also a vocalist, arranger, interpreter, producer and songwriter of genius. Hendrix’s revolutionary albums with The Experience and Band of Gypsys are discussed in detail, as are his posthumous releases from First Rays Of The Rising Sun to Both Sides Of The Sky. His early work as a session player for acts like The Isley Brothers, Little Richard and even Jayne Mansfield is considered, along with his later work as a guest star on albums by Stephen Stills, Robert Wyatt and McGear and McGough; and not forgetting his blistering work as a producer for Eire Apparent. From psychedelic odysseys to progressive blues to proto-metal to funk-rock, Hendrix mastered them all. Jimi Hendrix: Every Album, Every Song is an informative guide to some of the 20th century’s most extraordinary recordings.”
Judas Priest: Screaming for Vengeance
By Rantz Hoseley & Neil Kleid
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Teaming with writers Rantz Hoseley (Comic Book Tattoo, the Heroin Diaries) and Neil Kleid (Savor), and artist Christopher Mitten (Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.), the multi-platinum selling Metal Gods bestow upon their generations of fans their first-ever graphic novel! 500 years from now, a ring of cities orbit high above the surface of a dead world, controlled by a ruling elite that maintains power through manipulation and brutality. When a naïve engineer inadvertently threatens the status quo with his vital scientific discovery — a bloodstone — he is betrayed by those he trusted and cast out to the broken planet below. In the wreckage and desolation of a broken world where every day is a battle for survival, he must choose between accepting his new life in exile — or screaming for vengeance.”
