(Paperback)

(Paperback)

The Merciless Book of Metal Lists is the sometimes serious, sometimes satiric exploration into all that is glorious, as well as ludicrous in the world of Heavy Metal.

(Paperback)

"Highlights more than 100 women who have shaped the power, scope, and reach of rap music, including pioneers like Roxanne Shante, game changers like Lauryn Hill and Missy Elliott, and current reigning queens like Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, and Lizzo--as well as everyone who came before, after, and in between."--Publisher's description.

(Paperback)

The Pixies have had a career unlike any other in alternative rock. "Doolittle" is their knotty masterpiece, the embodiment of the Pixies' abrasive, exuberant, enigmatic pop. Informed by interviews with the band, this book looks at the making of the album and its place in rock history, and studies its influence in light of the Pixies reunion.

(Paperback)

An informative, illustrated guide to the 35 of the most important rap songs ever released

(Paperback)

33 1/3 is a new series of short books about critically acclaimed and much-loved albums of the last 40 years. Each focuses on one album rather than an artist's entire output. Velvet Underground's first album - with the Andy Warhol banana cover - introduced, along with 'Sgt. Pepper', a new form of rock music: the artsy concept album.

(Hardback)

The most intriguing stories of creative endeavour, volatile relationships, excessive lifestyles and bizarre events from the world of rock, as told by Hipgnosis co-founder, creative designer, photographer and filmmaker Aubrey Powell in twenty thematic chapters.

(Hardback)

(Hardback)

Ultimate Heavy Metal Guitars profiles 80+ heavy metal guitarists from the 1970s to today, featuring performance photography and an authoritative text detailing the careers and gear of each.

(Hardback)

The timely, passionate, and humanely political work of America's greatest folk singer and songwriter is presented through his own words and art curated by Woody's daughter in this essential self-portrait, including never-before published lyrics and personal writing, and testimony from contemporary writers and musicians on his powerful relevance today.

(Hardback)

End all those pub arguments about music with The Xfm Top 1000 Songs Of All Time, the definitive guide to the best tunes ever recorded. Collated from sources such as the 'X-list' it covers all our best loved tracks, short explanations with all the entries and full-colour band photography. Featuring artists such as Paul Weller, Blur, and Oasis.

(Paperback)

(Paperback)

An illustrated celebration of the Best Beatles songs, ranked from 1 to 100. Each selected song is explained with an expert commentary, historical context, interview material and fascinating facts and trivia. Like all "best of" lists, the book's opinionated stance generates animated discussion.

(Paperback)

From La Traviata to Aida, from Carmen to Don Giovanni, here are the plots of the world's best-loved operas, recounted in an engaging, picturesque, and readable manner. In addition to highlighting the most important aspects of each opera, the author discusses main characters, famous plot twists, and the most significant arias.

(Hardback, Digital original)

(Paperback)

In 1963, in a south London hotel, Andrew Loog Oldham discovered an unknown rhythm and blues band called the Rolling Stones and became their manager and producer; 2Stoned is the remarkable record of these years, when Oldham's radical strategies transformed them into the Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band That Ever Drew Breath.

(Paperback)

Featuring Nick Hornby, this book includes about 31 songs written by that either have some great significance in his life - or are just songs that he loves. He discusses, among other things, guitar solos and losing your virginity to a Rod Stewart song and singers whose teeth whistle and the sort of music you hear in Body Shop.

(Paperback, Main)

An astounding history of protest music, told through 33 momentous songs.

(Paperback, Main)

A Change is Gonna Come chronicles more than forty years of black music: from the hopeful, angry refrains of the Freedom movement to the slick pop of Motown;

(Paperback)

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Hepworths knowledge and understanding of rock history is prodigious [a] hugely entertaining study of the LPs golden age The Times
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The era of the LP began in 1967, with Sgt Pepper;

(Hardback)

From prolific metal guitarist and songwriter for Exodus (and formerly Slayer) Gary Holt comes an entertaining and deeply personal memoir of Holt's "destruction-laden" life, along with a firsthand account of the genesis of the Thrash Metal scene, from its origins in the Bay Area to its world domination

(Hardback)

(Paperback)

The untold story of the making of Johnny Cash's most controversial album, Bitter Tears

(Paperback)

Why has opera transfixed and fascinated audiences for centuries The authors answer this question in their scrupulous and provocative retelling of the history of opera, examining its development, the means by which it communicates, and its societal role.