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Performing Arts
Offering a critical evaluation of the most important and groundbreaking TV programs ever created, this book tracks television's evolution through decades of social, cultural, and stylistic change. Included are shows that broke new ground, influenced the future, and left a lasting mark, ranging from the wholesomeness of Leave It to Beaver or The Andy Griffith Show through the mod cool of Laugh-In and The Avengers to the present day. Every important genre and era is represented, from award-winning sitcoms such as All in the Family and Seinfeld to the recent wave of high-quality cable series, including The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Breaking Bad, and Mad Men.
This volume is the perfect guide to what next to binge watch--every program is available via DVD or streaming on Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu.
Formed in 1973, AC/DC became one of the most popular and bestselling bands in rock history with their no-frills approach to loud, heavy, and sweat-drenched blues-based rock music. This new book from prolific rock journalist Martin Popoff pays tribute to the band's discography by moderating in-depth and entertaining conversations about all 16 of AC/DC's studio albums, every page illustrated with thoughtfully curated performance and offstage photography and rare memorabilia.
Popoff gathers 17 rock journalists and authors who offer insights, opinions, and anecdotes about every release. Together, the conversations comprise a unique history of the band, covering everything from early lineups; the role played by the Youngs' older brother, George; the songwriting and legendary antics of original vocalist Bon Scott; the mega tours undertaken in support of the LPs; the debut of singer Brian Johnson on the band's mega breakthrough, Back in Black; the band's fallow 1980s and 1990s resurgence; and later difficulties, such as Malcolm's onset of dementia and the legal problems of drummer Phil Rudd.
In his memoir Anyone Who Had a Heart, Burt Bacharach, one of the greatest songwriters of all time, offers a frank and riveting account of his unparalleled life.
From his tumultuous marriages and the tragic suicide of his daughter, to his collaborations with Hal David, Carole Bayer Sager, Neil Diamond, Elvis Costello, and others, Bacharach details his long-lasting success as well as the never-before-told stories behind the hits.
Candid and emotional, and with 16 pages of color photographs, Anyone Who Had a Heart: My Life and Music is Burt Bacharach in his own words--a powerful and personal look at the award-winning songwriter and composer.
Anything Goes stages a grand revue of the musical from the 1700s through to the present day, narrated in Mordden's famously witty, scholarly, and conversational style. He places us in a bare rehearsal room as the cast of Oklahoma! changes history by psychoanalyzing the plot in the greatest of the musical's many Dream Ballets. And he gives us tickets for orchestra seats on opening night-raising the curtain on the pleasures of Victor Herbert's The Red Mill and the thrill of Porgy and Bess. Mordden examines the music, of course, but also more neglected elements. Dance was once considered as crucial as song; he follows it from the nineteenth century's zany hoofing to tap "combinations" of the 1920s, from the injection of ballet and modern dance in the 1930s and '40s to the innovations of Bob Fosse. He also explores the changing structure of musical comedy and operetta, and the evolution of the role of the star. Fred Stone, the avuncular Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz, seldom varied his acting from part to part; but the versatile Ethel Merman turned the headlining role inside out in Gypsy, playing a character who was selfish, fierce, and destructive.
From "ballad opera" to burlesque, from Fiddler on the Roof to Rent, the history and lore of the musical unfolds here in a performance worthy of a standing ovation.
In this innovative graphic biography, Beyoncé's genius is explored and celebrated like never before, with fun infographics looking at the highlights and successes of her career - from costume changes to record sales, her impressive vocal range to her work off-stage. Beyoncé's astonishing accomplishments are showcased against fellow legends of the industry in addition to celebrating her achievements in her own right.
Drawing on her 26-year career, Chris Roberts tells the story of how a young singer from Texas transformed herself into a globally revered performer who came to dominate the charts, our screens and even wardrobes. Who has come to represent so much more than the pop industry, through philanthropy, politics and campaigning, Beyoncé has broken the mould of what it means to be a superstar and that star continues to rise.
As a young man from Meridian, Mississippi, Steve Forbert managed to carve out a niche in New York City's vibrant club scene, playing now-iconic venues like Gerde's Folk City and CBGB's during a time when rootsy rock was fading out and the Ramones, Talking Heads, and other New Wave and punk acts were moving in. That heady period was captured on his first album, Alive on Arrival.
"Now or then," writes Rolling Stone contributing editor David Wild, "you would be hard-pressed to find a debut effort that was simultaneously as fresh and accomplished as Alive on Arrival . . . it was like a great first novel by a young author who somehow managed to split the difference between Mark Twain and J.D. Salinger."
Forbert's next LP, Jackrabbit Slim, introduced the hit song "Romeo's Tune" to the world. Since then he's produced studio albums (19 and counting) full of perceptive, critically acclaimed songs in his eclectic pop-rock-folk Americana style. Keith Urban, Rosanne Cash, and Marty Stuart, among others, have recorded his songs. Forbert's 2003 tribute to Jimmie Rodgers, Any Old Time, was nominated for a Grammy and he even made a cameo appearance in Cyndi Lauper's music video for "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun."
Big City Cat: My Life in Folk-Rock focuses on Forbert's early NYC days but also covers his career up to the present day. Interspersed with his narrative are interviews with notables such as Danny Fields, Garry Tallent, and John Simon. This insightful and humorous memoir is not simply the tale of a talented survivor, but also a glimpse into a musician's life and the challenges faced--as well as the lessons learned--in a changing industry during the last forty years.
They are the band that created metal music . . . and they have defined it for more than four decades. Black Sabbath's career spans eleven different line-ups and nineteen studio albums in addition to the twenty-eight solo albums of the original four members.
The band began in 1968 as a blues rock band on the cover circuit of Birmingham, England. Clawing their way up from the postwar bombed-out suburbs of Birmingham, the four members - guitarist and main songwriter Tony Iommi, bassist and main lyricist Geezer Butler, singer Ozzy Osbourne, and drummer Bill Ward - would define a new genre of music and make themselves world famous.
Joel McIver explores the complete history of Sabbath, from the precursor bands to the release of the holy trinity of heavy metal - "Black Sabbath" (the song) on Black Sabbath (the album) by Black Sabbath (the band) - to the present. With over 150 photos, a gatefold family tree tracing the development of the band, a complete discography, and a foreword by Machine Head frontman Robb Flynn, this is the must-have book for any Sabbath fan.
Though this book may not help you to understand Dylan's lyrics, it provides a brilliant photographic background to his life and music. After a contextualizing introduction, Bob Dylan breaks his life into five chapters that cover the story decade by decade from the 1960s. Each chapter has a detailed timeline and a wealth of information.
Robert Allen Zimmerman (as Bob Dylan was born) has had more impact on the music world than could normally be expected of one man. The quicksilver folk hero of the early 1960s has redefined himself regularly over the decades and remains as controversial and brilliant as ever. The voice of the 1960s protest movement, he has not stagnated--over the years, his music has incorporated many styles, including pop music, folk music, gospel, rock, and even jazz. The one continuous thread is that his music is intelligent and literary; he is a poet first and a songwriter--albeit a great songwriter--second. It is Dylan's words that have ensured his continued importance and not his aging voice.
His peers rate him highly: Neil Young, himself no slouch in the music world, said of him in 2005: "He's the master. If I'd like to be anyone, it's him. And he's a great writer, true to his music and done what he feels is the right thing to do for years and years and years." Joe Strummer praised Dylan as having "laid down the template for lyric, tune, seriousness, spirituality, depth of rock music."
And if you judge a musician by his awards, Dylan has done pretty well from a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammies in 1990 to induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; from France's highest cultural award, the "Commandeur dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres" to the Polar Music Prize from the Royal Swedish Academy of Music; from an honorary doctorate awarded by Princeton University (US) to an honorary degree at the University of St. Andrews (Scotland)--not to mention albums of the year, six entries in the Grammy Hall of Fame, a 2000 Academy Award, a 2001 Golden Globe and a 2008 Pulitzer Prize Special Citation.
Get an intimate view of this legendary singer-songwriter, artist, and writer through this amazing photographic account of his life.
In Bootleg: The Secret History of the Other Recording Industry, Clinton Heylin examines the entire modern history of this underground culture: from what defines a bootleg and its complex and protean legal status, to a full history of bootlegs' production and distribution, to what's contained on some of the most notorious bootlegs and how to find them. Along with many illustrations of the creative packages, this is the whole story of the $250 million industry that sustains itself on the great figures of rock music and their biggest admirers.
David Bowie released an incredible 27 studio albums, beginning with his eponymous 1967 debut and ending with Blackstar, released just two days before his untimely death in January 2016. Widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians and performers of the previous five decades, Bowie demolished what were thought to be the limitations of stagecraft in rock music, as well as proving it possible for an artist to constantly--and successfully--redefine himself. As a result, Bowie has been credited with inspiring genres as disparate as glam and punk rock.
This sharply written and gorgeously designed retrospective follows Bowie's career from the folkie baroque rock of his debut, to his breakthrough single "Space Oddity," and on to his flamboyant glam rock alter ego, Ziggy Stardust. Author Pat Gilbert continues through Bowie's soul phase, his electronic Berlin trilogy, his massive pop success in the 1980s, and his turn to electronica in the 1990s, as well as subsequent tours, notable performances, collaborations, and accolades.
Nearly every page is illustrated with stunning concert and candid offstage photography, including gig posters, 7-inch picture sleeves, concert ticket stubs, and more. The result is a fitting tribute to one of the most influential and admired stars in rock history.
Through story, images, and removable memorabilia, Bruce Springsteen: An Illustrated Biography chronicles the life of The Boss--one of America's favorite rock stars and one of the biggest-selling artists in history. Springsteen's monolithic music career spans a full half-century, from 1968 to present, and has included dozens of tours, awards, and 20 Grammys. Incredibly, Springsteen's stage presence, star power, and musicianship is as strong as ever--he continues to consistently sell out live musical performances. This book showcases Springsteen's life, both on and off the stage.
With a new chapter covering Springsteen on Broadway, a new cover, and a redesign of an envelope to deliver the interactive memorabilia--such as Springsteen's draft card that saved him from being shipped off to Vietnam, a concert poster for Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom, a Rolling Stone magazine cover, a promotional sticker, and more--this reissue offers fans an intimate look into the life of this beloved artist.
-Part II: The Gunslinger and the Man in Black profiles the two characters as two opposing forces.
-Part III: Mid-World is a journey through the bizarre wasteland of interdimensional detritus that is Mid-World.
-Part IV: Keystone Earth might be our Earth, but the Keystone Earth of the Dark Tower universe is also rocked by quakes and stretched thin by interdimensional stress.
-Part V: The Dark Tower is the wrap-up section collecting insights from the film's major players, sharing their favorite memories and looking back on the journey that led them to this point. Over three decades ago Stephen King introduced readers to Roland Deschain, the last Gunslinger. In 2003 King wrote the last of seven novels in the Dark Tower series. Now fans of the book and of the movie will welcome this big, beautiful, full-color book that they'll need for their collections.
Praise for Decoded "Compelling . . . provocative, evocative . . . Part autobiography, part lavishly illustrated commentary on the author's own work, Decoded gives the reader a harrowing portrait of the rough worlds Jay-Z navigated in his youth, while at the same time deconstructing his lyrics."--Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times "One of a handful of books that just about any hip hop fan should own."--The New Yorker "Elegantly designed, incisively written . . . an impressive leap by a man who has never been known for small steps."--Los Angeles Times
"A riveting exploration of Jay-Z's journey . . . So thoroughly engrossing, it reads like a good piece of cultural journalism."--The Boston Globe "Shawn Carter's most honest airing of the experiences he drew on to create the mythic figure of Jay-Z . . . The scenes he recounts along the way are fascinating."--Entertainment Weekly
"Hip-hop's renaissance man drops a classic. . . . Heartfelt, passionate and slick."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times bestselling novel Divergent is now a major motion picture starring Shailene Woodley, Theo James, and Kate Winslet!
With never-before-seen photos; personal interviews with the directors, actors, and writers; and exclusive extras, this lush, oversize volume is a true behind-the-scenes look at the filming of Divergent.
And don't miss The Fates Divide, Veronica Roth's powerful sequel to the bestselling Carve the Mark!
Test your knowledge about the down-home, good time, uniquely American music:
--From early bluegrass to the newest country-fusion videos
--Favorite crooners and pickers, from deepest love to pure honky-tonk fun
--The greatest moments, biggest surprises and dreams come true
...and much, much more!
100 questions about the idols and legends, outlaws and inlaws, words and songs that will live forever
Do you remember the first time you saw the TARDIS?
For more than half a century, Doctor Who has entertained and enthralled fans with the time-traveling adventures of the Doctor. From the first glimpse of a police telephone box in a Totter's Lane junkyard to the fall of the Time Lords' home planet, Gallifrey, Doctor Who has provided a near-inexhaustible list of indelible memories.
Doctor Who: 365 Days of Memorable Moments and Impossible Things is a unique and captivating chronicle of those moments--flashes of drama or humor, terror or joy, for each and every day of the year. Revisiting classic battles, thrilling escapes, iconic characters, game-changing plot twists and more, Justin Richards creates a fascinating portrait of the world's longest running science fiction series, and an essential addition to any Doctor Who fan's collection.
A unique, in-depth look into the hidden lives and mysteries of the monsters from the hit BBC series Doctor Who--a fully illustrated color compendium that reveals proof of the existence of alien life out there and among us, packaged with removable artwork commissioned exclusively for the book.
For years, world governments and multinational organizations like the secretive UNIT have suppressed the truth. In this book, leading alientologist Justin Richards finally blows the lid off the biggest conspiracy to radically alter our world since The Scarlioni Incident.
Not only is there proof that alien life exists. The aliens are already here. Based on exclusive access to classified UNIT and Torchwood files--shocking information that has been suppressed for centuries--The Secret Lives of Monsters reveals the terrifying truth behind the rumors and legends.
Packed with iconic photographs, eyewitness accounts, diagrams and illustrations, and sixteen removable color prints, The Secret Lives of Monsters offers background details on a diverse range of alien species--including planetary and genetic origins, habits, social organization, and first human contact. If you want to know why the Sontaran's probic vent is his weak point or what it is used for; how Daleks reproduce; or how to determine whether your best friend is a Zygon, the answers--as well as everything you need to know to survive future invasions--are here in The Secret Lives of Monsters.
A unique collection of more than 100 never-before-seen letters, notes, and jottings both by and to the Doctor--correspondence by turns entertaining and inspiring, funny and flippant, brilliant and incredible drawn from all fifty-two years of the show.
No one could travel through history--past present and future--as much as the Doctor does without leaving an impression. Much of what we know about this mysterious figure comes from what he does-- the planets he saves and the monsters he defeats. But until now we've had little knowledge of his writings.
These rich and diverse documents paint an extraordinarily detailed picture of the Doctor and include his plea to the Time Lords to help end the War Games, an extract from the written defense he submitted at his subsequent trial, his application for the post of Caretaker at Coal Hill School, his apology to the Queen for missing dinner, even telepathic messages to the High Council on Gallifrey and his famous letter to Santa Claus. Like the Doctor himself, the mood can change in an instant.
The Time Lord Letters captures the best and most dramatic moments of an impossible life. You'll never see the Doctor in quite the same way again.
- Explores personal stories, candid insights, and myriad memories behind the songs Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics reveals the stories and memories that have made Dolly a beloved icon across generations, genders, and social and international boundaries. Containing rare photos and memorabilia from Parton's archives, this book is a show-stopping must-have for every Dolly Parton fan. - Learn the history behind classic Parton songs like "Jolene," "9 to 5," "I Will Always Love You," and more.
- The perfect gift for Dolly Parton fans (everyone loves Dolly!) as well as lovers of music history and country Add it to the shelf with books like Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton, The Beatles Anthology by The Beatles, and Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen.
John Wayne was more than just an on-screen personality beloved by millions the world over. His movie persona was justy that - a persona. The man behind the legend, whom friends and family called "Duke," "Everlovin'" and "Dad," was an even stronger example of old-school American masculinity than the characters he played on the screen. But until now, most only knew the man on the marquee.
With Duke: In His Own Words, the Wayne Family has opened their private archives to enable the creation of this amazing compendium of John Wayne's personal letters, telegrams, cards and memos. In these unaltered exchanges with people from every station of life and all corners of the globe, Duke's true identity jumps off the page. Whether he's writing to fans or family, platoons or presidents, he's always candid, colorfui and quick with a joke.
Inside you'll find:
- An introduction by Ethan Wayne, John Wayne's son
- Exclusive, personal letters Duke sent to family members, friends and fans - along with those to American troops and former Comanders in Chief
- Firsthand stories and anecdotes from Duke's nearest and dearest
- Never-before-seen photos straight from the Wayne Family archives
Duke: In His Own Words offers an honest portrait of the good-natured family man, the opinionated patriot, the humble superstar - all sides of the real John Wayne, and all presented by the man himself.
A remarkable number of Wisconsin towns and cities were home to an opera house in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Some were freestanding structures built by local benefactors, industrialists, and capitalists. Others were located within a city hall building and financed by local tax dollars with the support of government officials who believed in the value of the arts for their community
In "Encore! The Renaissance of Wisconsin Opera Houses," Brian Leahy Doyle chronicles the histories of ten Wisconsin opera houses and theaters, from their construction to their heydays as live performance spaces and through the periods when many of these stages went dark. But what makes these stories so compelling is that all but one of the featured theaters has been restored to its original splendor. Just as the beginnings of these theaters were often the result of the efforts of local citizens, Doyle discovers that their restoration is due to the commitment of dedicated and passionate people. More than one of these revived theaters has spurred the revitalization of its surrounding downtown business district as well.
"Encore!" is the second book in the Places along the Way series. Richly illustrated with historic and contemporary photos, the Places along the Way series links Wisconsin's past with its present, exploring the state's history through its architecture.
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A total departure from previous writing about television, this book is the first ever to advocate that the medium is not reformable. Its problems are inherent in the technology itself and are so dangerous -- to personal health and sanity, to the environment, and to democratic processes -- that TV ought to be eliminated forever.
Weaving personal experiences through meticulous research, the author ranges widely over aspects of television that have rarely been examined and never before joined together, allowing an entirely new, frightening image to emerge. The idea that all technologies are "neutral," benign instruments that can be used well or badly, is thrown open to profound doubt. Speaking of TV reform is, in the words of the author, "as absurd as speaking of the reform of a technology such as guns."
Lennon's file was compiled in 1972, when the war in Vietnam was at its peak, when Nixon was facing reelection, and when the "clever Beatle" was living in New York and joining up with the New Left and the anti-war movement. The Nixon administration's efforts to "neutralize" Lennon are the subject of Lennon's file. The documents are reproduced in facsimile so that readers can see all the classification stamps, marginal notes, blacked out passages and--in some cases--the initials of J. Edgar Hoover. The file includes lengthy reports by confidential informants detailing the daily lives of anti-war activists, memos to the White House, transcripts of TV shows on which Lennon appeared, and a proposal that Lennon be arrested by local police on drug charges.
Fascinating, engrossing, at points hilarious and absurd, Gimme Some Truth documents an era when rock music seemed to have real political force and when youth culture challenged the status quo in Washington. It also delineates the ways the Reagan, Bush, and Clinton administrations fought to preserve government secrecy, and highlights the legal strategies adopted by those who have challenged it.
