Explores the fascinating and surprising stories behind the most mysterious and inscrutable lyrics in rock & roll history. In Billy Joel's famous tune Piano Man, he sings: "Now Paul is a real-estate novelist, who never had time for a wife". This strange lyric cries out for an explanation. What in the world is "a real estate novelist"? Blinded By The Lyrics has the unusual answer.
With the release of his 2007 album, Magic, Bruce Springsteen again proved his status as one of the greatest songwriters in American history. For over three decades, Springsteens musicwith his trademark poetic lyrics and his ability to find glory in the struggles of everyday lifehas attracted fans and critics from across the globe. In this book, author Jeffrey Symynkywicz shows that a large part of Springsteens enduring popularity is the deep sense in which his music connects to something essential to human experience. Springsteens music, Symynkywicz suggests, helps make sense of the many threads of our livesincluding our experiences of sin and redemption and of faith and hope. With a clear and inviting style, Symynkywicz treats each of Springsteens albums as a chapter, exploring the history and context of Springsteens music and the ways in which his songs express these spiritual themes.
The inspiration for the smash Sundance hit, soon to be a major motion picture, "Blinded by the Light": The acclaimed memoir about the power of Bruce Springsteen's music on a young Pakistani boy growing up in Britain in the 1970s. Sarfraz Manzoor was two years old when, in 1974, he emigrated from Pakistan to Britain with his mother, brother, and sister. Sarfraz spent his teenage years in a constant battle, trying to reconcile being both British and Muslim, trying to fit in at school and at home. But it was when his best friend introduced him to the music of Bruce Springsteen that his life changed completely. From the age of sixteen on, after the moment he heard the harmonica and opening lines to “The River,” Springsteen became his personal muse, a lens through which he was able to view the rest of his life. Both a tribute to Springsteen and a story of personal discovery, Greetings from Bury Park is a warm, irreverent, and exceptionally perceptive memoir about how music transcends religion and race.
Bruce Springsteen's career has been covered many times over, yet many of the complexities and apparent contradictions of his music remain unresolved. Rob Kirkpatrick provides a comprehensive and coherent look at the work of this thoroughly complex and persistently captivating artist. After a brief biographical treatment, Kirkpatrick considers all of Springsteen's significant albums in chronological order. These include Born to Run, which was voted the most popular album of all time in a recently published Zagat survey; Born in the U.S.A., which sold more than 20 million copies; and The Rising, regarded by many as the most poignant artistic reaction to 9/11. In addition to a probing musical analysis, the book offers a guide to Springsteen's lyrical themes and motifs, allowing readers insight into the complicated nature of the artist's underlying concerns, influences, and ideas. Rounding out the volume is a consideration of The Boss's legacy as a songwriter and musician, as well as appendices including a bibliography and a complete discography. The Words and Music of Bruce Springsteen provides a comprehensive and coherent look at the work of a thoroughly complex and persistently captivating artist. Springsteen enjoys a popularity that has transcended generations. His 1975 album Born to Run was voted the most popular album of all time in a recently published Zagat survey; his 1984 album Born in the U.S.A. spawned seven Top Ten singles while selling more than 20 million copies; and his 2002 album The Rising was regarded by many critics as the most poignant artistic reaction to 9/11. Springsteen, now in his 50s, has evolved from an over-hyped version of the next Bob Dylan, to the future of rock and roll in the mid-1970s, to a pop culture icon in Reagan America, to a 21st-century populist voice. His career has been covered many times over, yet many of the complexities and apparent contradictions of his music remain unresolved. These include his hard-rock influenced musical background; his movement from themes of rebellion and isolation in his early work to those of a more populist complexion later on; and his contribution in the 1980s to a conservative patriotism—despite his albums' close association with the music and ideas of Woody Guthrie. After a brief biographical treatment, Kirkpatrick considers all of Springsteen's significant albums in chronological order. In addition to this probing musical analysis, he offers a guide to Springsteen's lyrical themes and motifs, allowing readers a coherent insight into the complicated nature of the artist's underlying concerns, influences, and ideas. Rounding out the volume is a consideration of The Boss's legacy as a songwriter and musician, as well as appendices including a bibliography and a complete discography. In sum, The Words and Music of Bruce Springsteen provides a comprehensive and coherent look, previously unavailable in a single volume, at the work of a thoroughly complex and persistently captivating artist.
Please note: this edition is text only and does not contain images. The most in-depth exploration of Springsteen's songs ever written. Spanning nearly 50 years of albums, EPs, B-sides, and more, this is the full story behind every single song that The Boss has ever released. Moving chronologically through Springsteen's long career, expert authors Margotin and Guesdon explore everything there is to know about every single song. No stone is left unturned across 670 pages, from the inspiration behind the lyrics and melody to the recording process and even the musicians and producers who worked on each track. Uncover the stories behind the music in this truly definitive book - a must-have for every Springsteen fan.
Meant as a companion piece for those already familiar with Johnson's music and myth - journey through Texas with Shane Ford as he leads the way to honor the legend, Blind Willie Johnson. Included is new research and pictures, never-before-seen.
Alias Blind Larry is a convict story, an adventure story, a colonial story, a Jewish story, a theatrical story. A story of cruelty, resilience, cheek and humour, and it is (mostly) true. Born in London in 1793, the son of a poor diamond cutter, young James Laurence travelled to Jamaica, the USA and Canada, clerking, acting, impersonating, singing, forging and defrauding before he was transported to NSW in 1814 for jewel theft. He served time in every penal settlement in NSW, singing and thieving when he was free. He wrote his memoir on Norfolk Island in 1842, just before his release. Then even more adventures followed. A fascinating piece of history, untold until now. Through the narrative of Laurence’s life, Alias Blind Larry re-creates a whole period of history.
Often, life throws us some unexpected curveballs. For some people, the challenges and obstacles we face are so intense that they can make or break us. This book is a journey that takes the reader face-to-face with the challenges of being bullied in more ways than you may expect. Life can really beat us up by throwing us punches and jabs that are near-unrecoverable. It is when we are knocked down to the ground that we learn the most about ourselves. If you feel like life is bullying you from all directions, and you are running out of answers or places to turn, then this book is for you. If you’ve ever felt hopeless with no place to hide, then this book is for you too. The author is about to take you upon two parallel journeys into the abyss and back. Lessons are learned as the unimaginable becomes reality. The author’s survival of the two traumatic experiences is enlightening and inspirational. Fasten your seatbelt as you take a rollercoaster ride that will have you self-reflecting on every page. It’s time to be inspired as you’ve never been inspired before.
This is the long-awaited story of Alan Wilson, musical genius and co-founder of Canned Heat. Biographer Rebecca Davis Winters journeys through his artistic innovations, tormented personal life, obsessive love of nature, and mysterious death. A key figure in the 1960s "blues revival", Wilson participated in the rediscovery of Delta blues legend Son House and wrote scholarly analyses of House and Robert Pete Williams. He went on to co-found pioneering blues-rock band Canned Heat, becoming an unlikely rock star. Known as "Blind Owl", he was responsible for the hit songs "Going Up the Country" and "On the Road Again".
