This groundbreaking biography of a brilliant but disturbed performer explores the paradox of the man and the artist. Based on more than 100 interviews, this intelligent profile explores Morrison's roots; the hard times he went through in London, New York, and Boston; the making of his seminal albums such as Moondance and Astral Weeks; and the disastrous business arrangements that left Morrison hungry and penniless while his songs were topping the charts. Detailed are the breakdown of Morrison's marriage, the creative drought that followed, and his triumphant reemergence. In addition, this biography attempts to explain the forbidding aspects of Morrison's persona, such as paranoia, hard drinking, misanthropy, as well as why, in the words of his onetime singing partner Linda Gail Lewis, Morrison's music “brings happiness to other people, not him.” Also included is a Van Morrision sessionography that spans 1964 to 2001.
Surgeon's Call
Explains terms and slang relating to American popular music, discusses its various musical styles, and surveys the careers of important figures in popular music
The lives of the hard-rocking musicians influenced by Detroit's R&B heritage are spotlighted in the story of some of the great garage-inspired, blue-collar rock 'n' roll bands that exemplified the Detroit rock sound.
Marc Bolan was the very first superstar of the 1970s. As the seductive focus of T. Rex he revelled in fame and fortune, released a string of classic records before...
"John Lennon (1940-80) was the founder of the most successful pop/rock group of all time, the Beatles. Convinced of his genius from an early age, he explored his own complex,...
We All Want to Change the World provides a cogent and fascinating evaluation of post-World War II American commercial music and its complex, multi-faceted impact on the world of politics....
From his Beatles sponsored debut in 1968 to his Grammy-winning Hourglass album of 1997, James Taylor has been universally acclaimed as a songwriter of exceptional eloquence and emotional power. In...
This long-anticipated sixth edition of the Price Guide for the Beatles American Records by Perry Cox and Frank Daniels contains thousands of listings and value for all Beatles and solo...
This extensive biography offers detailed analysis of Madonna's music, complete with revealing interviews with musicians and producers. It focuses on her cultural impact and the way she uses cinema, photography,...
Soft Machine were one of the greatest British pioneering bands, they played a pivotal role in shaping psychedelic rock, progressive rock and jazz-rock fusion. Out-Bloody-Rageous is the definitive biography of...