Standing in the Shadows of Motown: The Life and Music of Legendary Bassist James Jamerson
by Allan Slutsky
from Hal Leonard Corporation
Bassist James Jamerson was the embodiment of the Motown spirit and groove - the invisible entity whose playing inspired thousands. His tumultuous life and musical brilliance are explored in depth through hundreds of interviews, 49 transcribed musical scores, two hours of recorded all-star performances, and more than 50 rarely seen photos in this stellar tribute to behind-the-scenes Motown. Features a 120-minute CD! Allan Slutsky's 2002 documentary of the same name is the winner of the New York Film Critics "Best Documentary of the Year" award!
Deep Blues: A Musical and Cultural History of the Mississippi Delta
by Robert Palmer
from Penguin (Non-Classics)
The Lost Supreme: The Life of Dreamgirl Florence Ballard
by Peter Benjaminson
from Lawrence Hill Books
The Supremes were the most successful female vocal group in history. Of the three original members--Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard—two told their life stories in bestselling books. Only Florence Ballard, the spunky teenager who founded the group, remained silent. But, in the months before her 1976 death, Flo actually did tell her own side of the Supremes story—and the story of her entire life—to Peter Benjaminson, who recorded her words on tape.
In this book, for the first time, is Flo Ballard’s entire heartbreaking tale, revealing:
the suprising identity of the man who raped her before she entered the music business; the details of her love-hate relationship with Motown Records czar Berry Gordy—and an account of their first and only date; her serious drinking problem and ignored pleas for treatment; her never-ending desire to sing lead and how she was prevented from doing so; her attempts to get her life back on track after being brutally expelled from the Supremes; and much more.
Flo Ballard traveled around the world in luxury, chatting with royalty and heads of state, applauded by millions. But when she died at the age of 32, she was a lonely mother of three just barely recovered from years of poverty and despair. Though we may mourn the extended silence of such a profound talent, at least now we can begin to understand how and why it happened.
Sight-Read Any Rhythm Instantly
from Cherry Lane Music
Learn how to sight-read any rhythm instantly! Wouldn't you like to look at a complicated rhythmic figure and instantly know how it sounds? If so, then this book is for you. You'll discover: how to memorize the sound of each commonly occurring, one-beat note combination * the difference between duple and triple time, simple and compound time, and 6/4 time and 3/2 time * the true meaning of "cut" time * how to instantly play odd groupings (triplets, quintuplets, etc.) * and much more.
The Confessions of Rick James: Memoirs of a Super Freak
by Rick James
from Amber Communications Group, Inc.
Rhythm Guitar: The Complete Guide
from Musicians Institute Press
A comprehensive source for learning rhythm guitar in a variety of musical styles. It covers: open chords, barre chords, and other movable shapes; strumming, fingerstyle, flatpicking and arpeggiation; common progressions and basic chord theory; triads, sixth, seventh, ninth, and many other chords; and much more.
That's the Joint!: The Hip-Hop Studies Reader
by Mark Anth Neal
from Routledge
That's the Joint brings together the best-known and most influential writings on rap and hip-hop from its beginnings to today. Spanning nearly 25 years of scholarship, criticism, and journalism, this unprecedented anthology showcases the evolution and continuing influence of one of the most creative and contested elements of global popular culture since its advent in the late 1970s. Think of it as "Hip-Hop 101."
Assembled with great care by Mark Anthony Neal, hailed as "one of the most brilliant cultural critics of his generation" (Chicago Sun Times)] and fellow hip-hop scholar Murray Forman, That's the Joint is the first to attempt to present the most important hip-hop scholarship in one comprehensive volume.
The articles presented here display a diverse array of concerns, illuminating hip-hop in its broadest conception as both a musical and cultural practice. You will find critiques of groundbreaking recordings like Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's "The Message" and Public Enemy's "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back," some of the earliest commentary on B-Boys break dancing and DJs sampling, and serious responses to key moments and controversies from the 2 Live Crew obscenity trial to gangsta rap to the movement of hip-hop into commercial and academic spheres.
RandB Fake Book: 375 Rhythm and Blues Songs (Fake Books)
from Hal Leonard Corporation
A comprehensive collection of over 250 rhythm and blues classics including: ABC After the Love Has Gone Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing Baby Love Ball of Confusion Ben Boogie Fever The Boy from New York City Come See About Me Cool Jerk Cruisin' Dancing in the Street Dedicated to the One I Love Do You Know Where You're Going To? Easy Fire For Once In My Life Heatwave Hero I Heard it Through the Grapevine I Say a Little Prayer I Will Survive I'll Be There Kansas City Man in the Mirror Mercy, Mercy (The Ecology) Midnight Train to Georgia My Guy On Broadway Papa's Got a Brand New Bag Reunited Save the Best for Last Stand By Me Still Stop! In the Name of Love The Tracks of My Tears The Twist War What's Going On You Keep Me Hangin' On You Sexy Thing and more. H240107
The Funkmasters-the Great James Brown Rhythm Sections
by Allan "Dr Licks" Slutsky
from Warner Bros Pubns
In this unique rhythm section workbook, 23 James Brown classics have been transcribed, broken down into individual lessons, and meticulously recreated on two one-hour CDs.
Little Blues Book
by Brian Robertson
from Algonquin Books
Almost small enough to fit into a hip pocket, this is a kind of guidebook to the blues, featuring quotations from blues songs, mini-biographies of bluesmen and blueswomen, and illustrations by R. Crumb. The quotes (on topics ranging from "Getting the Blues" to "The Thrill is Gone") are little gems, pithy aphorisms like this one from Rabbit Brown: "I done seen better days, but I'm putting up with these." Author Brian Robertson, himself a musician, includes a bibliography and a list of Internet resources in this great little introduction to the blues and the men and women who made the music.
Illustrations by R. Crumb. A collection of lyrics and lore that captures the very heart and soul of the blues. From Blind Lemon Jefferson to Alberta Hunter, dozens of blues masters offer words of wisdom on subjects including luck (both good and bad), love, loss, and the raw material of life.
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