The Beatles - Complete Scores

Product Description

A fitting tribute to possibly the greatest pop band ever The Beatles! This outstanding hard-cover edition features over 1100 pages with full scores and lyrics to all 213 titles recorded by The Beatles. Guitar and bass parts are in both standard notation and tablature. Also includes a full discography. The book is packaged in its own protective box. A must-own for any serious Beatles fan or collector!

Customer Reviews:

Tremendous score.......2007-09-06

This is GREAT! So happy this was finally released. My husband and I are both musicians. Can't tell you how marvelous it is to watch this score while listening to the Beatles' performances.

Complete Beatles Song Library.......2007-09-01

If you love the Beatles and love music - this is a must have. It is beautiful looking in hard cover and slides into a nice protective sleeve. The print is small and so tough to read. A way around this would be to provide a CD or download capabiltiy with a password so a purchaser could print out a particular song. I would have rated this a 5 with this included. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to own this -- plus I think its a pretty good value, but I would pay $10 more to be able to download the music or have a companion CD/DVD.

Amazing. Binding easy to fix........2007-08-23

As previous reviewers have said, the transcriptions aren't perfect, but the errors are minor enough that anyone with enough of an ear to notice them can fix them. For the amount that this collection is an absolutely awe-inspiring piece of work, I don't think that a few minor errors should count against it.

Many reviewers have had issues with the binding being too thick and the book too big and cumbersome to balance on a music stand. I fixed this problem by simply taking the book to a copy shop and having them rebind it for me into three volumes. It only cost me ten dollars and it has made my life infinitely easier.

Small type no problem.......2007-07-30

An excellent resource for musicians. The small type mentioned in numerous reviews is not that small and anyone with access to a copier can enlarge the image of any song you happen to be working on. I was impressed that even "Revolution #9" was scored. A very good companion volume to "The Compleat Beatles" that I purchased back in 1982.

Beginners to Cover Bands.......2007-07-18

I've been trying to teach myself guitar for over two years now. Being in my forties, I don't have the time (or talent)to sit with a CD/MP3 player and try to figure a song out. I've purchased other song books, chordbooks, easy play books, etc... Each one falls short in providing not only accurate information, but enough information for a relative beginner to play. This book provides, in my opinion, all the necessary information for a beginner, expert, or cover band to play. Notation, tab, chords, chord fingering and strumming patterns. To date, this is the only book I would recommend.

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die

Average customer rating:

Something for Everyone, but Sometihng Missing For Everyone
Interesting
No Cher. No Musicals. No Good
BIG FUN - COULD BE EVEN BETTER !
Eh...

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die

Manufacturer: Universe
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0789313715
Release Date: 2006-02-07

Product Description

Ten years after Abraham Lincoln's death, the president's widow is incarcerated in an insane asylum by her only surviving son. It is from this little-known episode that Hambly spins her intimate, insightful tapestry of this difficult, too-intelligent woman's life.

Customer Reviews:

Something for Everyone, but Sometihng Missing For Everyone.......2007-08-02

A good overall resource. There is an obvious bias towards rock music, which is understandable, as that's what's been most popular in the years coinciding with the advent of the record album. A few warnings: If your looking for jazz titles since the 50's or classical, you won't find much here. Most of the popular favorites are here (Sgt.Peppers,Thriller,etc.), but there are glaring omissions in each genre:Kenny Rogers' "The Gambler", Black Sabbath's " Master of Reality",and Earth,Wind & Fire's
"Spirit" are examples. Also, where's Foreigner and Journey at? Still, you'll find a lot of hidden treasures here. Maybe you'll enjoy discovering something you otherwise would not have heard.

Interesting.......2007-06-15

While it's not a perfect list, it's an interesting book with some good albums listed. One of the good things about it is that it doesn't stick to one genre or only to a few bands. It has rap albums, techno albums, rock albums, pop albums, many kinds. Though it isn't a really perfect list, I can think of many albums that would fit in the list perfectly, and it's a mystery why Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake are in it. But all in all it's an interesting book and has made me delve deeper into my parent's CD and Vinyl collection to find some gems.

No Cher. No Musicals. No Good.......2007-06-03

I have 3 books of series (books, movies , and this one), this one by FAR is the worst! I mean the selections they have there are totally unreasonable. I mean, you CAN'T die listening to some CD by "Korn" but you can perfectly die without listening to Cher's "Believe". I am a big "Cher" fan and there were none of her CDs in here. They should also have some musicals in there like "Evita", "Phantom Of The Opera", "Chicago" ,and "Wicked". But seriously no Cher!?!?!?!?

BIG FUN - COULD BE EVEN BETTER !.......2007-05-06

I bought my first album "My Generation" in 1965 and have been a dedicated follower of rock ever since. Last time around, I awarded the latest Rolling Stone Guide one star - but this one is a completely different matter. The well informed authors have brilliantly succeeded in writing a book that will be of great pleasure to both the rock nerd and the common man. I have a few comments, though.

1) You should stick to rock. I suspect that you are trying to guide open-minded rock fans into the wonderful world of jazz, but the topic is way too big and the selections will be very haphazard.

2) I question the decision to give each decade the same amount of space. Surely the 60s and 70s are much more worthwhile than later decades?

3) More than once I thought : "Gee, I thought I was the only person in the world aware of this forgotten gem!" But there is also some ugly omissions - have you ever heard about a group called LITTLE FEAT?? And these ones you should definitely hear before you die : Jack Bruce/Songs for a tailor, Family/Music in a Doll's House, 801 LIVE, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Procol Harum/A Salty Dog, Captain Beefheart/Clear Spot & Shiny Beast, Spirit-Spirit of 76, King Crimson/Red, Fripp/Exposure,Walker Bros/Nite Flights, Scott Walker/Climate of Hunter,Meters/Rejuvenation, the Searchers' late 70s albums for Sire, Richard & Linda Thompson/Shoot out the Lights, Jefferson Airplane/Crown of Creation, Ry Cooder/Paradise & Lunch, Yazoo/Upstairs at Eric's, Thunderclap Newman/Hollywood Dream, Graham Parker/Squeezing out Sparks, Bill Bruford/Feels Good to Me, Don Ellis at Fillmore, Bobbie Gentry/Delta Sweete & Local Gentry, Joe South/Introspect, Bill Withers/Still Bill, Colin Blunstone/One Year - and these are only the results of a quick brainstorming! And I also found a few artists very over-represented : Black Sabbath, Queen, Bee Gees, Morrissey, ELP, Metallica, and loads of (c)rap and out-dated techno.

But all in all : A very good job!

Eh..........2007-03-27

Wilco's A Ghost Is Born didn't make the cut, but the score to the Virgin Suicides did? W.T.F.? Radiohead's Amnesiac? I think I'd rather just die than have to listen to that crap again. Seriously, why does the world have to jerk them off every time they come out with an album? Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots makes it, but the Moon and Antarctica doesn't? Where is anything Will Oldham recorded? The Shins? I'll settle for anything after 2000 that wasn't beaten over my head that I had to like, but found myself doing anyway.

The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs and DVDs 2005/06 Edition: The Key Classical Recordings on CD, DVD and SACD, 30th Anniversary Edition (Penguin Guide to Compact Discs and Dvds)

Average customer rating:

The Penguin Guide is a fun read, but not much more
With Some Reservations
Not for the unwashed...
Handy guide for aficionados, but bear in mind its limitations
It's not perfect, but then again, what is?

The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs and DVDs 2005/06 Edition: The Key Classical Recordings on CD, DVD and SACD, 30th Anniversary Edition (Penguin Guide to Compact Discs and Dvds)
Ivan March , Edward Greenfield , and Robert Layton
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0141022620

Book Description

The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs and DVDs is the largest and most comprehensive survey of classical music on digital audio and video discs ever published. It covers thousands of recordings and films, offering candid evaluation of their relative artistic and technical merits, highlighting notable performances, and pinpointing the best buys. This guide takes into account the many hundreds of new and reissued CDs and DVDs that have appeared in recent years while also including all the major recordings from each work—from remastered vintage recordings to the latest releases. This essential reference work is designed to help select the very best video and music discs available today.

Customer Reviews:

The Penguin Guide is a fun read, but not much more.......2007-08-14

I've loved reading through the Penguin Guide over the years, and I recently picked up this version at a used book store. I still enjoy reading them, but like others have said, it's not quite the same. Also, you can't always believe their recomendations are a sure winner. For example, I love collecting Boyce's Eight Symphonies, and I recently bought Naxos' (2005) version with the Aradia Ensemble, and it was a wonderful recording and far more enjoyable than Trevor Pinnock's version. But, the Penguin Guide (2006/07) gave the Naxos recording just one star, but Pinnock's got three stars. I couldn't agree less!!!

So, it is a fun read and you can find some great recordings through the Penguin Guide, but other times they'll recommend turds. If you are looking for music references, the best thing to do is use many different music guides (Amazon, Gramophone, Third Ear, etc.) and not just the Penguin Guide.

With Some Reservations.......2007-07-15

Well, I finally get down to reviewing this great old tome, and I now find that I do not feel the same about it as I did, say 10 years ago. I somehow find this rather sad.

.....Perhaps some comments

I would like to be able to heartily recommend this (or some other) guide to the beginner for help in building a really good, solid collection.

Somehow, over the years, this very good, concise directory to great recordings, has become this massive over-grown, edgy, "way-to-much-information-for-the-novice-collector" book. I think that people starting out are wasting their money, sadly, on this guide...it has become something more valuable for experienced, and Even More experienced collectors. This is my viewpoint on this book at this point.

Good for the Experienced, NOT Good for the Great Unwashed! This book is simply too much money for the beginner to spend for the information that they will actually use out of it....what??, the 100 list in the front two pages???

I do not know, actually, where to send these beginners for help...perhaps the NPR Guide? Or the Rough Guide to Classical Music???

Sorry I cannot be more positive about this book for the general overall public. ~operabruin

Not for the unwashed..........2007-06-30

The guide is pricey, especially for a young beginner on a budget. One alternative would be to go to a fancy store with a separate classical room (like Tower or a Barnes & Noble with a Starbucks in it) and pick out the one CD with the fanciest, prettiest package---and you'll be 2 or 3 times as likely to enjoy it as any Penguin Rosette CD. Try it. It works!

Handy guide for aficionados, but bear in mind its limitations.......2007-05-24

I'd like to clear up some misconceptions here. The Penguin Guide covers classical music CDs released in Britain since the last edition of the Guide. It's a British publication intended to assist British buyers to sort through what is currently available *in Britain*, so it's silly to complain about "bias". And if every CD of every work ever released was included, the Guide would be unfeasibly large, so limiting it to current releases is a sensible compromise. Yes, some of the verdicts seem wrong, but that's a matter of personal taste (there are some conductors deified by the cogniscenti whom I absolutely *loathe* - but I won't name them here!). Any alleged "inconsistency" is due to the fact that several different reviewers are involved - it would be impossible for one person to write the whole thing.

That said, there are a couple of annoying editorial mistakes here: Pesek's Dvorak cycle is listed but the review is missing. Elsewhere I found a review that hadn't been listed. These things happen, I suppose. Hopefully the next edition will have improved in this respect.

For new-comers to classical music, I would recommend *against* buying this guide. It's a fairly large investment that won't really pay off unless you already know something of the field, and are able to balance the Guide's opinions against your own. Better to occasionally refer to it at the library or in a specialist shop, and take it with a grain of salt.

For collectors, however, this is a great aid (particularly if you can find it cheap), bearing in mind its inherent limitations of nationality, time period and occasional editorial glitch. I often peruse the entries even when not considering a purchase, simply because it's helpful to have other opinions besides my own at hand.

It's not perfect, but then again, what is?.......2007-04-29

I have read both poor reviews and great reviews for this guide, but the fact remains no guide book is perfect. They all make some bad choices. For example, I used to subscribe to Fanfare. Some of the reviewers were usually right on the mark; some were not.
So what do you do? You buy one which covers a lot of ground, like the Penguin Guide does, and supplement what you read in the Penguin Guide with reviews on Amazon, Tower (not too much to work with there) and Arkiv and any other sources you may come across, like [...]. I have three recordings of Tosca, the famous mono one of Callas on EMI, the recent one of Georghiu and Alagna, and Maazel's with Nilsson, Corelli and Fischer-Dieskau. The Maazel was not even listed in my '96 edition of the Penguin Guide, although that recording has been around for many years.
How and why did I find it? The Callas is an awesome recording, but it is still in mono. The Georghiu-Alagna has an immediacy suggestive of a deep love, but I have long wanted a performance that was very dramatic and a recording, any, that included both Nilsson and Correlli at their best. I had seen them together at the old Met in Turandot, an experience I have never forgotten. I also wanted to hear Fischer-Dieskau singing a very emotional Italian opera. On Amazon I found a recording that covered all three elements I had been looking for. It was the Maazel recording of Tosca. It also happens to be one of the best things Maazel has ever done.
Does the Penguin Guide help? It directed me to some of the best performances, like Keilberth's Der Freischutz and Giulini's Marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni, plus many more.
More importantly, the Guide also made me aware of how many good pieces of music there are which I had been unaware of. There are many excellent ways to learn what else is out there, and this is one of them.

Making Music Make Money: An Insider's Guide to Becoming Your Own Music Publisher (Berklee Press)

Average customer rating:

Well Worth Reading!
Amazon should look into the suspicious previous review!!
almost stands up to the standards of ty cohen but not quite!
Average
Great book

Making Music Make Money: An Insider's Guide to Becoming Your Own Music Publisher (Berklee Press)
Eric Beall
Manufacturer: Berklee Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0876390076

Book Description

Making Music Make Money will educate songwriters, as well as aspiring music business entrepreneurs in the basics of becoming an effective independent music publisher. Topics include a discussion of the various roles a publisher plays in the music business: collection, administration, protection, exploitation and evaluation. A major emphasis is placed on the exploitation process, and the importance of creating a sound business model for a new publishing venture. Eric Beall is a Creative Director for Zomba Music Publishing, as well as a former songwriter and record producer. In his role at Zomba, Eric has signed and developed top writers including Steve Diamond, KNS Productions, and Riprock and Alex G. and has coordinated and directed Zomba writers in the development of material for Jive Records pop superstars like Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Britney Spears and Aaron Carter. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music.

Customer Reviews:

Well Worth Reading!.......2006-10-19

This book is a must read for anyone that's serious about starting their own music publishing business. It's full of good advice on how to become a music publisher and the roles that a music publisher fills. Eric makes you really think about the course you want your business to take.

I highly recommend it!

Amazon should look into the suspicious previous review!!.......2006-08-13

It's not cool to promote your book at another authors expense.
You be the judge. Check out the "interesting" reviews of the Ty Cohen book the previous reviewer is promoting.
But to be promoting that book here is inapropriate at best.

almost stands up to the standards of ty cohen but not quite!.......2006-05-27

if you wrere to pick this book ioff the shelf and ty cohens "Ty Cohen's Secrets to Making Money in the Music Industry (3-Piece Mega Audio CD Set)" you would drop the first instantly and rush home with it in your child like arms. why? because it is the best damn book known to man kind! and ty can show you this with his excellent pen manship!

Average.......2006-05-19

Everyone wants at some point in life to be independent and the master of his own destiny and if your destiny is the music industry then you're in for a big surprise. The music industry is a secluded and closed world, hard to get in and even harder to keep from getting thrown out. Many small record companies have tried and failed at hitting it of with quality products just because they didn't know many things about this world. The book in question here is a very good Bible for those who don't know all about the music industry and want to refine their tactics or learn some new ones.

Great book.......2006-03-04

Very good and clear book the title states it all. Its a perfect guide for anyone who is trying to become a music publisher

The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (Billboard Book of Top Forty Hits) 8th Edition

Average customer rating:

Billboards song repository
Floodgates of fantasy
great quick reference
Great reference for chart geeks
Top 40 Hits

The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (Billboard Book of Top Forty Hits) 8th Edition
Joel Whitburn
Manufacturer: Billboard Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0823074994

Book Description

This Updated and Expanded 8th Edition of The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits offers complete and authoritative chart information on the most popular songs and artists to reach the top 40 positions on Billboard's Hot 100 chart from 1955 - present.

Written by Joel Whitburn, whose company Record Research is the most authoritative source of information on the Billboard charts, this thoroughly revised perennial bestseller is an indispensable resource for pop music fans, record collectors, and trivia enthusiasts, as well as for radio, cable, and music industry professionals.

As in previous editions, each entry begins with brief biographical information, followed by the date the single reached the Top 40, the single's highest position on the chart, the number of weeks it remained there, and the single's original record label and catalog number. Following the alphabetical listing by artist of all singles to make the Top 40 is an additional alphabetical listing by song title for easy reference as well as an extensive "Record Holders" section detailing "Top 100 Singles 1955-2003," "Top 1,000 Artists 1955-2003," "Top Artists by Decade," "Top Artist Achievements," "Top Singles by Decade," and "#1 Singles Listed Chronologically 1955-2003."

Also included are 300 artist photos with expansive captions providing biographical information and a wealth of fascinating facts and entertaining trivia.

Customer Reviews:

Billboards song repository.......2007-07-06

This edition was bought as a gift. however, I assume that it is quite similar to volume 7. The following is referencing volume 7;
The definitive source for checking year and group info for hit songs.
We have worn ours out. Due to the fact that billboard changed their rating system ( several charts hip-hop - country - adult contemp. ), anything after 1999 gets a little confusing.

Floodgates of fantasy.......2007-07-04

When the Telecom Act of 1996 was passed, the floodgates opened for Corporations to begin buying radio stations with no limit. Prior to 1996, limitations had been in place since the Telecom Act of 1934 that only allowed 40 stations to be owned nationally by a single ownership. On came Clear Channel, Citadel, Cumulus, Entercomm radio and others. Clear Channel Communications at it's peak owned 1230 commercial radio stations. With these new 'national' chains of radio, the aspect of national playlists instead of 'local' playlists became the norm. No longer could individual record companies call on radio stations to promote their product. Hit songs became a thing of the past. By hit songs we're talking a universal definition of amazing lyric sung to an amazing melody over an engaging rhythm track. Unfortunately, the Radio and Records charts and the Billboard Charts came to represent specifically which record company spent the most money promoting their records to radio and buying spins. With exclusive deals set-up with independent record promoters, Corporate radio ownerships were able to turn every minute of every day into what the industry deems 'NTR' or 'non-traditional revenue'. The songs became paid advertisements as well as the commercials aired. The indie promoters and corporate owners of radio negotiated these deals to get paid annual fees to add records to the playlists of the radio stations. Getting airplay was as simple as paying and if you didn't pay, you didn't get airplay. Illegal overnight spin schemes and host of other 'payola' type of exchanges became the norm. No longer were DJs, or music directors or program directors the targets of such 'payola' nonsense, but now corporate radio took the money directly. Across the boards, with national playlists, accruing a certain number of spins for a record became easy and predictable. Manipulation of the charts simple.

My point is this, whereas Joel Whitburn's book used to be a useful reference, with the current situation- who cares? The past 11 years of information in this publication is complete fantasy. Don't waste your money or time with this.

great quick reference.......2007-05-12

This is a perfect way to settle musical arguments. I think Ive broken the record for being wrong. I owned a previous printing of this, lent it to a friend, and...well, had to buy a new copy. As Stan Lee would say "Nuff Said".

Great reference for chart geeks.......2007-04-03

This is a must-have for any chart geek. All artists that charted on the Top 40 of the Hot 100 singles list are listed alphabetically, with info on most artists, accompanied by a chronological list of singles released, with release date, peak chart position, number of weeks on chart, gold/platinum status if applicable, the number of weeks at #1 or #2, and even the record label and number. If the song was a crossover hit (if it hit #1 on any other Billboard chart), there is a notation under the song.

After the artists is a list of songs in alphabetical order. This is helpful if you know the name of the song but not the performer(s).

The final section is the chart geeks dream. It lists top record holders: Top 100 Hits of the Rock Era, Top 25 #1 hits by decade, Top 100 Artists, Top 25 Artists by Decade, and many more.

Top 40 Hits.......2007-03-11

Wow...so many memories. What was most shocking was the number of "classics" that failed to even crack the top 20. Its hard to believe that CCR never had a number one hit. This was great fun...took me back to the days of American Top 40 with Casey Kasum.

Average customer rating:

Song Writing for Dummies
A Book Written by Dummies
Nice book.
Very useful book
Smart Book for the Songwriting 'Dummie'

Songwriting for Dummies
Jim Peterik , Dave Austin , and Mary Ellen Bickford
Manufacturer: Wiley Publishing, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0764554042

Book Description

Want to know how to make it as a songwriter? Songwriting For Dummies gives you a chance to learn from the best. Performer, songwriter Jim Peterik is a 35-year veteran in the business and author of dozens of top-40 hits, including “Hold On Loosely,” “Caught Up In You” “Rocking Into the Night,” “High On You,” “I Can’t Hold Back,” “Is This Love,” “Burning Heart,” and “The Search is Over.” Dave Austin is CEO of Transcension Music Group. He’s produced and promoted some of the greatest talent in the industry, including Carlos Santana, Eddie Money, REO Speedwagon, and Queen. And Mary Ellen Bickford has been involved in music and film production for more than two decades.

Whether you’re a first-time songwriter or songwriting vet looking for a fast-track into the recording industry, this friendly, easy-to-follow guide is the source for you. Using well-known tunes as examples, the authors walk you through everything you need to know to:

Choose a musical style
Develop a song idea
Compose high-impact lyrics
Create melodies that are memorable
Use rhyme and rhythm
Understand song from, from blues to jingles
Create a demo and shop it around
Find an agent and publisher
Find and work with collaborators

From assessing your strengths and weaknesses as a songwriter to signing contracts, Songwriting For Dummies covers all the bases. Among other key topics, you’ll explore:

Various song forms, including the AABA form and various ABAB forms
Snagging your listeners with a lyrical, melodic, musical, rhythmic, or sound-effect hook, or a combination of hooks
Concept-driven, story-telling, parody, love and other types of lyrics
Using rhythm, melody, and chords in writing songs
Rock, pop, R&B, hip-hop, and many other song styles
Writing songs for stage, screen and TV
The business end—from putting together a business team to getting a lawyer and an accountant to finding a publisher

Whether you want to know how to compose a love song for that special someone, or you’re looking break into the industry, big-time, Songwriting For Dummies is a gold mine of inspiration and how-to information.

Customer Reviews:

Song Writing for Dummies.......2006-11-10

It's okay for lyric writing, but it is not really what I had hoped for. It's okay, but not the best reference for music students.

A Book Written by Dummies.......2006-11-03

This book should have been entitled how to sell your song writing professionally. This book has little to do with creating or writing music. The title is very misleading and I feel like I just flushed a wad of hard earned money down the toilet. About the only thing useful in this book is some of the information on how to get your music noticed and circulated, which doesn't interest me since I have no ambition to become a professional musician.

Nice book........2006-08-10

If you write any type of music, get this, sit down with pen & pad, and enjoy yourself. There are helpful tips and lessons to keep you absorbed and hungry for more.

Very useful book.......2005-09-26

Interesting, useful, well done. If you are iterested in songwriting this is an indispensable tool; doesn't matter if you know nothing about music theory. Don't miss it.

Smart Book for the Songwriting 'Dummie'.......2004-12-10

I bought this book when a musician friend recommended it to me. As someone who writes lyrics and who doesn't have even the most basic knowledge of musical terminology, I was looking for something that wasn't too technical and something that wouldn't completely confuse me when I tried to read it. This book definitely fit the bill.

Songwriting for Dummies isn't perfect. It could have done without all the self-promotion of Survivor and 38 Special and it could have done with more late '60s, early '70s music. I was disappointed to find that Stevie Nicks was mentioned in connection with "Bootylicious." Plus, the more technical explanations of writing music caused me to skim over a couple of the chapters. But the overall package gave me what I was looking for.

Despite going through a long period when I would start reading a book, put it down and then forget about it, I concentrated on reading this book and finished it in a matter of days. I enjoyed picking it up and reading it and going back over certain chapters again when necessary.

If you want to find a book that covers chord progressions in great detail, this book isn't for you, but if you want something that touches on the basics of lyrics and melodies, plus gives you an example of the kind of artist rights issues many songwriters face, this is a good reference.

Electric Guitar Construction: A Guide for the First-Time Builder

Average customer rating:

A good book but expensive.

Electric Guitar Construction: A Guide for the First-Time Builder
Tom Hirst
Manufacturer: Centerstream Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1574241257

Book Description

Q.: What on earth would make someone want to build an electric guitar from scratch? Can't you just buy one cheaper? A.: Well sure, but with this definitive book on the subject as your guide, you can create your own axe masterpiece, with the precise finish, the exact pickups, and the custom hardware you've always wanted. Plus, you'll have the indescribable satisfaction of knowing you created something cool out of nothing. And that sure beats buying off the rack! Organized logically from start to finish, this helpful guide will assist you every step of the way; from the design and planning stage to the final setup, each step in the process is written about in abundant detail, with hundreds of photographs, and special full-color sections on wood selection and finishing. Also includes a glossary of terms, an index of materials suppliers, and much more!

Customer Reviews:

A good book but expensive........2003-05-10

This book is a glossy well illustrated guide to building an electric guitar.
It has lots of wonderful tips and great pictures of guitar making.The book has terrific information on tone woods,Pickups,and guitar wiring.
The one critism I have of this book is that it reads in parts like a commercial for STEWMAC I agree that they are great suppliers of guitar parts and and and all the tools anyone would ever need to build a guitar.Does the author really have to appear wearing one of their branded aprons.
Do your self a favour buy the Melvyn Hiscock book it is a little more comprehensive and is written with a bit of humour and style.

Average customer rating:

Need a jumpstart?
Lyric writing
gets the job done
Excellent work.
Had to buy this book!

Writing Better Lyrics
Pat Pattison
Manufacturer: Writer's Digest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1582970645

Book Description

Pattison presents a unique, in-depth approach to the process of lyric writing. Apprentice songwriters will examine 17 extraordinary songs and learn the distinct elements that make them so effective. Pattison then presents more than 30 lyric-writing exercises designed to help them achieve the same results. From generating lyric ideas and managing repetition to developing verses, it's all here. Songwriters will:

* find warm-up exercises that revolutionize songwriting imagery
* use a rhyming dictionary and a thesaurus to generate ideas and find snappy rhymes
* create meaningful metaphors and similes while avoiding clichés
* develop verses by using or by breaking conventional rules
* experiment with point of view in every lyric to make a song stand out

Customer Reviews:

Need a jumpstart?.......2007-08-15

If you do, her exercises will help you jump right in with an idea. I agree with someone else who recommended Jimmy Webb's Tunesmith (the best songwriting book I've read) but this is my second favorite- very practical, very creative.

Lyric writing.......2007-06-10

Mr Patterson gives a great exercise for developing lyrics. No one should attempt to write lyrics without first knowing the proper procedures and Mr Patterson defines these procedures in such a manner that anyone can use it to improve their lyrics and poetry.

Fantastic guide if you have the slightest desire to write lyrics. Get "unstuck" and proceed with that worldclass song you are writing.

gets the job done.......2006-07-12

this seems to be more of a compilation of pat's other "essential songwriting guides" i have this book and the "songwriting: essential guide to rhyming, i am planning on getting the one for form and structure. as for this book in question, it tends to be difficult to comprehend,
the author is supposed to be a professor at berkley, and what i am getting at is when reading and trying to do the exercises i feel like i need to go enroll in a songwriting class and have an instructor go over the exercises with me.

Excellent work........2006-03-20

This book has advanced concepts that can be used by professional songwriters or those aspiring to become one. Excellent information.
I wish the book was available in hardcover. My pages have begun to fall out.

Had to buy this book!.......2006-01-15

I checked this book out from my public library and after reading
it, I needed to buy it for further use. I suggest that people who get this book, read it as if a fiction book the first time through...just to get a total overview of the direction Pattison is taking with his teaching. Then, read it a second time, doing the exercises, and studying and practicing the material. The book develops upon development until it summarizes the whole lyric writing process in the final pages of the book. Pattison, a professional writer, lets the reader "watch" how he himself creates a real lyric from start to finish in the final chapter of this book. But in order to understand what he is doing, a reader must have read all the prior chapters.
The only criticism that I have is that I felt as if I was being
programmed into only one style of lyric writing--a country western ballad-type, the kind that would tell a short story just so that the repeated refrain could be looked at with new eyes and not be boring. I think though that is because I'm new at proper lyric writing and haven't studied much before this book. A person who buys this book will probably need to read other material and authors as well, so as not to get into a same-old, same-old rut. But what the heck...a person has to start learning somewhere...and this is a great book to start with.

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Proceed with caution!
I may disagree heavily, however...
great
Typical Rolling Stone
Total fluff - some voters' favorites but not the greatest albums

500 Greatest Albums of All Times, The
Editors of Rolling Stone , and Joe Levy
Manufacturer: Wenner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1932958010

Book Description

In the continuing tradition of Rolling Stones in-depth coverage of the legends of musicfrom the seminal songs to the greatest guitaristscomes Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Compiled by the editors of Rolling Stone, the widely-recognized bible of popular music, and a star-studded panel of rock n roll experts, the Rolling Stone 500 is the definitive collection of the greatest albums ever made and a need-to-own for the true music fan. This collectors volume contains the best from the Rolling Stone archivesinside stories and never-before-seen photographs taken at the great recording sessions.

Customer Reviews:

Proceed with caution!.......2007-07-22

Okay, before I go on, I would like to say that this is not a subjective review. I am not trying to beat the fact that the Eagles and Led Zeppelin (though, in the latter band's case, good) are gruesomely overrated while Herbie Hancock and The Allman Brothers Band are gruesomely underrated into anyone's heads. I am stating my opinion, which I know quite well differs greatly from fact, because opinion by nature cannot be fact.
Rolling Stone pompously declares the 500 albums in this list to be the 500 best ever. In this case, there'd be a lot more jazz on this list, right? Well, according to the good folks at Rolling Stone, "jazz" consists of Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman - don't get me wrong, some of jazz's greatest artists. But doesn't Charles Mingus deserve some credit, if only for widely influential works like Mingus Ah Um or The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady? Similarly, Thelonious Monk's Underground, widely considered one of the genre's greatest albums, is totally neglected. How about Herbie Hancock's tremendously influential Head Hunters, Empyrean Isles and Maiden Voyage? They're gone too. And if they wanted a rock spin on jazz, shouldn't the Mahavishnu Orchestra's Inner Mounting Flame been included? Alas, no, that is rejected too. To say nothing of the works of Duke Ellington or Louie Armstrong. You can bet they don't give that a second look. Stupid, it is. Oh, and there are six jazz albums out of these 500: three by Miles (Kind of Blue; B*tches Brew; Sketches of Spain), two by Coltrane (A Love Supreme; Giant Steps), one by Ornette (Shape of Jazz to Come). By contrast, Eminem (a lightweight, obnoxious shock-rapper whose material isn't even that shocking at all) is fawned over - three of his albums are included on this list, which I believe was his complete discography at that point. Similarly, two albums by the Eagles? Ha. And Green Day's Dookie? Again, ha. Also MIA are some more influential and just plain good albums: Jeff Beck's Truth (the original metal album - you'll note how much praise they place on Led Zeppelin's head, who, while a good band, were essentially imitating Jeff Beck) and Wired; Traffic's John Barleycorn and self-titled; Alice in Chain's Dirt. And no matter what this list would want you to believe, there is far more to Joni Mitchell than Blue and Court & Spark.
Wh
ich leads directly into my next point: no dark horses I can think of. A seasoned music fan could probably smell the contents of this list from a mile away. All they offer us is the usual cascade of albums that have been met with floods and floods of praise. I, for one, would rather see them stick up for a relatively unknown album like Joni Mitchell's Hissing of Summer Lawns or the Rolling Stones' Goats Head Soup (or the Allman Brothers' Eat a Peach and Idlewild South!!!) than see yet another list with Hotel California or Led Zeppelin IV on it.
I give this album 2 stars because I do agree with several choices this book makes, though I would argue their positioning (I, for one, would put Abbey Road at #1). However, there are too many fundamental flaws, and the scope of this list is too limited, to make it truly definitive.
Oh, and anybody looking to contest my claim about Led Zeppelin IV, Dookie Hotel California, or any other albums I claim do not belong on this list (e.g. Pet Sounds - god, what a boring album)... if you say what you wish to in a polite, civilized manner, I will listen to your claim and debate it in similar polite, civilized terms. On the other hand, if you wish to confine your comments to pointless immature sniping, I believe you know where I will instruct you to stick it, because I've heard it all before. So to all flamers, don't bother, as your flame will be ignored.

I may disagree heavily, however..........2007-07-05

It is because of this book that I got into two of my favorite artists, Neil Young and the Velvet Underground. I guess thank you for that.

But of course there are flaws. Sgt. Peppers shouldn't have been number 1. I don't think I'm alone in saying that that isn't the Beatles best work.
Also, how could No Doubt's "Rock Steady" do better than the Smashing Pumpkins' "Siamese Dream" and "Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness"? It doesn't add up.
What I think happened is that the first 150 or 200 albums were very honestly thought out. After that, it was any halfway decent album they could think of.
I did find this to be a enjoyable read, but I diagree. To each their own; you be the judge.

great.......2007-02-18

It gives you all you need for the perfect glossary of music. You have pictures of the albums, numbers of how good the record is, and a decription of the album and why it was good. And about every 5 paes they is artifects of old lyrics and decriptions where they made them. I think that any music lover or fanatic should have it. The only downside is that you might not agree with some of their decisions on where to place the albums. I say it's a must have.

Typical Rolling Stone .......2007-01-29

If you're looking for a decent read that summarizes some great albums, this book does a decent job. But please don't pay much attention to the album rankings. The Beatles are the greatest band ever, but are not worthy of top ten dominance. Some selections are just plain questionable. Also, you can tell that in their attempt to put some contemporary music in the book, they didn't know what to do, particularly with their grunge and hiphop selections. The book is worth the purchase. Just don't run out and buy the 500 albums according to RS's opinion.

Total fluff - some voters' favorites but not the greatest albums.......2007-01-18

This is at best an amusing coffee table book, so why does it call itself "The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time?" Surely such a title alludes to the musical contributions of the albums - not necessarily if they are pet favorites of some, even famous, rock critics. The problem was the method. Ask a hundred rock critics to compile a list of the greatest albums and they will list either what they feel they should list to stay hip with readers or what they personally loved the most. Recipe for disaster. Bias multiplied by a hundred. In short, you get a massive hodge-podge of personal bests, not necessarily an historical evaluation of which records were the most important. Thus, a dumbing down occurs, rather than a serious analysis of the best music from the past half century.

That is exactly what happened with the 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time. It works fine as a glamorous exposition of albums that sold well in their time and are favorites of their fans (the contributing critics), but not as a serious list of what really constitutes on a musical level (that is, minus the hype) the greatest albums. Which is a great shame, since compiling a list of the "500 Greatest Albums Of All Time" ordinarily invites such a selectiveness.

Isn't the whole fun and point in creating a list like this to be able to argue: "surely we have to put Dylan before the Beatles as Lennon's more interesting lyrics were influenced by him, and also because the Beatles wrote meaningless ditties compared to Dylan's poetic commentaries?" "Sure, but then if we consider Sgt. Pepper important for its use of the studio, then we must place Pet Sounds before it since its experimental use of the studio inspired McCartney to produce this Beatles album with Geroge Martin's innovative recording techniques?" And so on and so forth. Thus, the criteria in creating such a list must be to what extent the album was ahead of its time, influencing others, or daring to do something with music that had not yet been dared, trying very hard to stay on that level and not stoop to the temptation of including albums merely for their sales or fame (and let's be honest, these critics are partly responsible along with the label's marketing staff and budget, for an album's hype anyway).

I am not about to use some examples merely to whine and complain about personal favorites, but rather to support and illustrate my hypothesis. Highly innovative musicians whose styles were extremely original and who influenced modern rock are glaringly missing.

For example, no Nico. It is true that the average rock listener may not even know who Nico was, but her dazzling originality on an album such as Desert Shore has influenced thousands of modern Alternative artists. I can't even think of another artist from the era of Desert Shore or Marble Index that produced a sound as unique as hers.

Another extremely glaring ommission - no Robert Wyatt. Hard to imagine a greater musical genius in rock loved more by other artists and music lovers - both in Soft Machine (a band that along with early Pink Floyd were extremely experimental and innovative in the English scene) and in his solo career with an album such as Rock Bottom that is probably one of the most accomplished rock albums of all time. Such an album is certainly "greater" than this book's #1 album, Sgt. Pepper, since that Beatles album was inspired by an already thriving psychedelic scene that that band did not create nor was even part of, even though, yes, that album may have been the scene's best seller and its most famous. This is where sales and hype constitute two variables that tend to take first place to musical importance in this book.

Another extraordinarily original artist in rock music was Tim Buckley whose Lorca and Starsailor are among the most original albums of popular music ever created, both missing in this book's list.

The Krautrock bands like Faust, Can, Neu!, Popol Vuh, or Amon Duul were each extraordinarily original for their time, and influenced almost every pop genre that followed them (from punk to progressive to modern alternative) - but they are not even listed once, despite their huge contribution!

You see the problem? By listing almost every Beatles album, for example, when only about 2 were truly original works (Sgt. Pepper and Abbey Road, for their use of sounds, medleys, mixes, instruments and the studio itself) places are wasted for other important selections. It is incredible to see no Pere Ubu among early punk influences - the Modern Dance for instance. If you don't believe me, this is what Wikipedia says about Pere Ubu: "they have been hugely influential on several generations of forward-thinking musicians and are among the most critically acclaimed American musical groups." You will find a similar determination of greatness if you do research on Wikipedia or in rock history books on any of the other artists I mentioned, and there are dozens more I did not list.

For instance, how come no John Fahey, no Red Crayola, and why, among modern artists, no Lisa Germano, one of the most original from the 1990s?

You must all be acquainted with the influence of Asian instruments and sounds in the rock music of the 1960s, and the departure from the short ditties of the early 1960s (e.g., the Beatles' Love Me Do and Please Please Me) to the extended, raga-ish works of the middle to late '60s, as rock matured, gobbling up not only so-called World Music but also the improvisational quality of jazz? By that estimation, early musicians such as Robbie Basho and Sandy Bull were early geniuses showing rock the way with their accoustic instrumentalism. And, of course, you would not even know it from this book.

Do any of you know what geniuses a band such as the Vampire Rodents were? They combined metal, melodic rock, punk, jazz and even classical in their highly original albums. Their sound was so unique and creative at least one of their albums should rank among the greatest of all time? There are tons of artists like this from the 1980s to the present day that are completely missing from this book, yet deserve a mention when you have 500 titles to include. What about extremely hyped artists like Radiohead, Elvis Presley and U2? Should they be listed at all compared with the true trailblazers? Controversial, well that is what modern popular music is supposed to be. It is supposed to be about novelty, experimentation, risk, passion, inventiveness, no?

This book does not even scratch the surface of such a discussion, it does not even provide intelligent commentary from one album to the next, and so while it might provide entertainment, it simply does not live up to its name. This does not mean I think you should not be in possession of it - there is a place for fluffy coffee-table books, after all, the coffee table! It simply means it is not a real collection of the greatest albums of rock as the title implies, so don't be fooled if you are interested in discovering great modern music. On the other hand, you will only learn by developing a vast library like me, with some works more useful than others, until you can form your own opinions. I would say that every album in this book is worth listening to at least once, so the book is not completely useless. But if you do listen to some of these, don't let it be said I did not warn you!!

This book may have some sociological significance as a work reflecting the influence of sales and hype upon rock critics. But for a serious appreciation of the greatest albums, do not look into this tome or you will be greatly disappointed (although obviously many classics are included, inevitably). It is not surprising that this list was published by Rolling Stone, a journal that has not been cutting edge since the 1960s. It appears to be simply clueless. This rolling stone grew moss a long time ago.

Average customer rating:

A valuable guide to keep with you
record value
45 RPM Price Guide
As good as it gets
Just the think you need for a lifetime hobby.

Goldmine Price Guide To 45 RPM Records
Tim Neely
Manufacturer: Krause Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0873498402

Book Description

The undisputed champion of collectible vinyl is thoroughly covered in this updated and expanded edition of the most comprehensive reference on 45 records on the market. Collectors and music enthusiasts of all ages will find details about more than 75,000 American records, picture sleeves and extended play singles in Goldmine Price Guide to 45 RPM Records.

Collecting enthusiasts get easy-to-follow listings, organized alphabetically by artist and priced in three grades of condition, for 45s from 1949 to the present, plus a 16-page color photo section featuring hard-to-find records and picture sleeves. In addition, a checklist format offers collectors a ready-made system for determining value and maintaining inventory, this entertaining and informative resource.

-A spectacular 16-page color photo section uncovers rare 45s

-More than 75,000 listings for complete identification

-Up-to-date pricing for three condition grades

Customer Reviews:

A valuable guide to keep with you.......2007-04-04

Like Mr. Doyles other new Lionel train guide for post war trains, the Collector's Guide to Prewar Lionel Trains, 1900-1942 is prove to be an important resource for both the buyer and seller of antique Lionel train sets. Containing information on virtually every toy train made by Lionel between 1900 and 1942, the book will prove to be a gold mine of information. However I found two of the appendices at the end of the book to be of particular value. Appendix I, Awakening Sleeping Toys and Appendix II, Setting Up Your Train each contain information important to the collector. There is also a small chapter on Lionel Catalogs and Paper Products and another chapter devoted to Accessories, Toys and Novelties.

All in all this is one you'll want to keep close.

record value.......2007-03-20

Has just about every record ever made with its corresponding value. Only thing not listed are instrumentals.

45 RPM Price Guide.......2007-02-06

I have found this to be the most informitive book on 45's that I have ever read. Not only does it give you a guideline on the value of the records in your collection, but it also gives you information on the artists such as other groups the artist has been with and the groups that have changed their names over their careers

As good as it gets.......2005-07-28

With records becoming more and more plentiful, it does lose a little of the obscure stuff it used to carry. However, it is a MUST for any collector!

Just the think you need for a lifetime hobby........2004-07-17

Ever wondered how much one of those 45s you have is worth? Here's the place to look. Not every artist is listed but with every new edition, more are added. I have a first edition which contains over 30,000 or so entries. The reason why I asked what I did above is beacuse if your collection contains older records or records that look just like the day they were first sold, you could probably have a collection worth thousands of dollars. Some songs are available on different labels, ones that are easy to find rather than ones that are rare on other labels. I saw that a near mint copy of "For Your Precious Love" by Jerry Butler and the Impressions on the Vee-Jay label is worth $10,000. A very good codition of that record is over $1,000. If someone has something rare like that or colored vinyl, they are lucky!! If this is your hobby whether you've started or it's been with you all your life, you shouldn't be without this book. RECOMMENDED!

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