Reference

The Lives in Music series meshes biography with discography. This debut title profiles the legendary King of Blues, B.B. King. An opening essay charts his life from childhood in the Mississippi Delta up to his first studio session. The author then takes an inside look at his distinguished career, album by album, offering a critical appraisal of each recording and a portrait of the making of each album. First-hand interviews with B.B. King, as well as producers, engineers, arrangers, and key musicians, bring these sessions to life and provide readers a context for understanding B.B. King's recordings in light of his career and life events that shaped them. This definitive book also incudes a complete history of every B.B. King session.

This volume collects many of the best articles from veteran Rolling Stone writer Ben Fong-Torres. While many will recognize Ben as he was portrayed in Cameron Crowe's hit film Almost Famous, his thoughtful and engaging stories have been providing a backstage view for over 30 years. This book features a slew of entertaining and informative music and pop-culture pieces, as well as personal essays about growing up Asian-American and about Ben's interest in radio broadcasting. Through insightful introductions to every article, Fong-Torres offers an inside view of the writing and editing process, from getting an assignment and developing an idea to an article's completion in printed form.

Behind the Glass, Volume II presents another prime collection of firsthand interviews with the world's top record producers and engineers, sharing their creative secrets and hit-making techniques - from the practical to the artistic. In these pages you'll find Daniel Lanois (U2, Bob Dylan) discussing the future of digital recording; T-Bone Burnett (Robert Plant and Alison Krauss) sharing his unique view of creating complex low end; and Hugh Padgham (Police, Genesis) analyzing the state of the business today. For real-world advice on everything from home recording to mixing to coaching a nervous singer, check out author Howard Massey's conversations with Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse), Tony Brown (Reba McEntire), Gus Dudgeon (Elton John), John Simon (The Band), Russ Titelman (Steve Winwood), Bruce Swedien (Michael Jackson), Rodney Jerkins (Mary J. Blige), Simon Climie (Eric Clapton), Matt Serletic (Matchbox Twenty), and more.

This handsome hardcover volume presents an astonishing array of images that capture the musical, cultural and personal magic of the Grateful Dead on and offstage. An irresistible 25-year visual journey, it showcases more than 900 rich color and black-and-white photos - hundreds never before seen - plus essays by Dead historians Blair Jackson, J.C. Juanis, and rock photographer Jon Sievert; a foreword by Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh; and photographer Jay Blakesberg's own reflections. From Blakesberg's travels following the Dead in the late 1970s, to his intimate studio and home portraits in the '80s and '90s, up through and including photos documenting band members' offshoot projects (Ratdog, Phil Lesh & Friends, the Jerry Garcia Band, Mickey Hart and Planet Drum), Between the Dark and Light is a compelling view of an unparalleled pop culture phenomenon whose ripples will resonate for years to come. Jay Blakesberg shoots 'em Dead on ... warts, halos, and flyin' hair. Keep on clickin'. - Wavy Gravy

This handsome hardcover volume presents an astonishing array of images that capture the musical, cultural and personal magic of the Grateful Dead on and offstage. An irresistible 25-year visual journey, it showcases more than 900 rich color and black-and-white photos - hundreds never before seen - plus essays by Dead historians Blair Jackson, J.C. Juanis, and rock photographer Jon Sievert; a foreword by Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh; and photographer Jay Blakesberg's own reflections. From Blakesberg's travels following the Dead in the late 1970s, to his intimate studio and home portraits in the '80s and '90s, up through and including photos documenting band members' offshoot projects (Ratdog, Phil Lesh & Friends, the Jerry Garcia Band, Mickey Hart and Planet Drum), Between the Dark and Light is a compelling view of an unparalleled pop culture phenomenon whose ripples will resonate for years to come. Packaged in a beautifully designed keepsake box, the collector's edition is limited to 1,000 signed and numbered copies. Includes an 8 inch. x 10 inch. photograph of Jerry Garcia (signed by Blakesberg) suitable for framing! Jay Blakesberg shoots 'em Dead on ... warts, halos, and flyin' hair. Keep on clickin'. - Wavy Gravy

Alcoholic. Epileptic. Technically challenged. Jimmy Reed nevertheless overcame these roadblocks to become perhaps the most successful R&B/pop cross-over artist of the '50s with songs like Big Boss Man and Bright Lights, Big City. Musicians, family members, and those whose lives Reed touched offer revealing and heart-wrenching insights into this now-revered bluesman. While Reed's alcoholism was no secret, its effect on his musicianship is less understood. This engaging book tells the real story that until now has not been told.

A Grammy winner and pioneer of multi-track jazz recording, Bill Evans was the pianist on Miles Davis' classic Kind of Blue album and a key figure in the development of modern jazz piano. This new Backbeat book details his wide-ranging and absorbing career, from freelance work in the 1950s, through his groundbreaking trios and solo releases, to his relationships with various record labels, to the intense final phase before his death in 1980. Printed on top-quality stock, the book includes fantastic full-page photos throughout, and a special color section.

Celebrating the personal and musical legacy of Tim Buckley, Blue Melody tells the untold story of an exceptionally gifted and charismatic singer-songwriter rebel of the 1960s. Written by Buckley's lead guitarist and close friend, this combination of fond memoir and incisive biography is a remembrance of concerts, tours, recording sessions, friends, family and fellow musicians - and the tumultuous times in which they lived. It is also an informed appraisal of Buckley's dramatic creative odyssey, offering in-depth insight into his complex and sometimes self-destructive personality. The vivid narrative depicts Buckley's panoramic evolution across folk, folk-rock, jazz, avant-garde, and funk-rock, highlighting his refusal to be defined by critical or commercial success. Revealing Buckley's poetic intelligence and captivating humor, Blue Melody recounts dozens of behind-the-scenes stories, plus new information on the circumstances surrounding his alcohol and heroin overdose in 1975 at age 28.

This book explores the secrets of nine players who have shaped the legacy of blues-rock guitar: Duane Allman, Roy Buchanan, Eric Clapton, Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Stevie Ray Vaughan. It offers biographical portraits highlighting each guitarist's position and influence in blues-rock history; details on gear including setup and tone; descriptive analysis of playing techniques; and several annotated music examples. Helping readers emulate the stylings of the masters, the accompanying CD contains examples from the book, played with each artist's preferred equipment.

The first Fender guitar hit the scene 50 years ago - and music hasn't been the same since! Featuring 200 color photos, this visual chronicle of the premier guitar maker charts every Fender model from 1950 to 2000, accompanied by a parallel timeline of musical highlights. The book celebrates 50 years of Telecasters, Stratocasters, Precision Basses, and other Fender instruments played by such artists as Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Kurt Cobain and many others.