Get Best Sellers Audiobooks in Arts & Entertainment, Music

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Title: The Pied Pipers of Rock 'n' Roll: Radio Deejays of the '50s and '60s

Author: Wes Smith

Narrator: Gary Theroux

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-12-13

Publisher: Iconoclassic Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

The war was won. Ike was in the White House. The world was as sensible as Pat Nixon's cloth coat. It was the '50s, and every teen was a Wally Cleaver or a Betty Anderson. Then something happened. Those submissive students of Miss Brooks and Mr. Peepers became rowdy rebels. Ed Sullivan had to dump the opera stars and Chinese acrobats and give them Elvis.

What caused the change? Rock-'n'-roll and the men who brought it over the airwaves into homes and cars. In The Pied Pipers of Rock 'n' Roll, Wes Smith examines the phenomenon of the AM deejays who captivated a generation and helped define the counterculture that has forever changed the landscape of American youth.

Broadcasting on signals that often reached across half the continent, these men - Alan Freed, Dick Biondi, Hunter Hancock, Zenas Sears, Jocko Henderson, John R. Richbourg, Gene Nobles, Hoss Allen, and Wolfman Jack - developed followings as devoted as those of the stars whose records they played. Their loyal listeners would lie in darkened bedrooms for hours each night, transported from rural isolation, urban frustration, adolescent awkwardness to a place spun from the heady power of music and mesmerizing deejay lingo.

Wally greased his hair, Betty started smoking, and Woodstock was only a decade away. Smith takes a close look at nine of the men who made this happen and explores the reasons for their influence and its lasting effects on the generation whose lives still unfold to the soundtrack laid down by these platter-spinners of their youth.

Members Reviews:

The Guys Who Made Radio Fun and Created Hits Doing it!!

Well researched, accurate and fun to read, especially if you were in the industry in the Fifties or just grew up listening to the great R & R and R 'n B music of the period. This takes you back to when radio was fun and there were real "personalities" on the air. It's a behind-the-scenes look at radio's golden age and the people who were 'bigger-than life' to many of us!

Great book I like the way the author wrote it ...

Great book I like the way the author wrote it and a lot of interesting facts I did not previously know!

Highest recommendation

A nicely detailed history of early purveyors of rhythm & blues and rock & roll, chuck full of colorful anecdotes and a dusting of photos that bring memories of that 1950s era radio back to life, this book is a definite must-read for old fans of John R, Gene Nobles, Dick Biondi, Alan Freed, Wolfman Jack and the other great DJs that built the industry.

"The Voice on the Radio"

If you grew up listening to rock n' roll and/or rhythm & blues during the 1950's or 1960's then you had to have [at least] one favorite disc jockey (DJ). This book takes you back and gives you a "behind-the-scenes" look at many of the most well known and outrageous people who sat behind a microphone and transfixed us daily or nightly. If you want to return to those great times when innocent love, great dances and "our own"music was signaling a seismic cultural shift in America- try this book out.

Pied Pipers "ROCKS"

Great book. I am glad to have found it. I bought 3 so I could give 2 to friends.

Thank you. Greg Burch

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Title: The iDjay Manual

Author: Kareem Wyatt

Narrator: Nick Vennekotter

Format: Unabridged

Length: 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-12-13

Publisher: Kareem Wyatt

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

A jam-packed introduction to the iDjay application for iPad. Whether you are just beginning or thoroughly experienced, this helpful guide touches on the prominent features to brush up on your techniques!

Members Reviews:

Sparse

It is much shorter than I thought and I will have to go over it another time. Not sure if it helps as much as I hoped.

Good Manual

Great book...Learned alot from this Manual... easy to read steps...and simple directions to follow when adding music to your playlist

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Title: Managing Artists in Pop Music, Second Edition

Subtitle: What Every Artist and Manager Must Know to Succeed

Author: Mitch Weiss, Perri Gaffney

Narrator: Maxwell Glick

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-04-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 33 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

Music managers and artists will learn the secrets of successful management with scenarios from a managers work life, along with the legal and business skills to master them. Through stories of real-life, famous artist-manager teams, the authors analyze, criticize, and detail what a manager ought to learn to be an effective advisor and representative.

The book teaches future music managers and artists how to acquire clients, negotiate contracts, develop image, administer taxes and finances, and deal with promoters, media, attorneys, and unions. A special chapter addresses artists, advising them on what to look for in a manager, how to sign fair management contracts, and how to avoid career manipulation.

Packed with industry guidelines and sure-fire career tips from industry icons, this book is a professional springboard for music managers, recording artists, singers, and rock bands alike.

Editorial Reviews:

Experienced television actor Maxwell Glick's charismatic performance brings Mitch Weiss and Terri Gaffney's Managing Artists in Pop Music vividly to life.While it does offer a plethora of practical advice, this is not a generic how-to book, but rather a colorful, no-nonsense look through the perspectives of both managers and artists at how to succeed in a hyper-competitive industry.

Glick's upbeat, dynamic delivery captivates the listener from the start, and adroitly captures the book's informative, revealing, and sometimes cautionary tone.

Members Reviews:

Good insight into the pop music business

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The story is great, the layout is well done, and the information is valuable. Great book overall.This book is written from an artist management / development agency stand point. It is a great insight into what it takes to manage an artist and how this business works. The author gives his personal take on the pop music industry, drawing from personal experience, what kind of challenges are involved, and how to approach them (and how not to approach them).The book gives very good examples of what artists should be thinking about before they do anything at all. Think ahead, plan, consult, and educate yourself on the various aspects of the business.

I would like to mention though that this is revolving around the pop music where artist are either members of bands or stage performers (such as a country guitar lead singer). It has nothing on the EDM scene if that is what you are looking for but the ideas and principles are probably the same.

What other book might you compare Managing Artists in Pop Music, Second Edition to and why?

All You Need to Know About the Music Business by Donald S. Passman

Which character as performed by Maxwell Glick was your favorite?

The manager

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

great info!

Lots of helpful info and example stories to go along with it. easy to understand

Great Book

This was a good book. The author gave some great information...some of which I had never heard before.

Interesting

It was interesting to hear about the world of music business and about how things work.

This was a good starter point.

For Artists and Managers

I read this from an artists' point of view who needs to find a manager.

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Title: The Power of Music

Subtitle: Pioneering Discoveries in the New Science of Song

Author: Elena Mannes

Narrator: Amy Rubinate

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-01-13

Publisher: Audible Studios for Bloomsbury

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 10 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

The award-winning creator of the acclaimed documentary The Music Instinct: Science & Song, explores the power of music and its connection to the body, the brain, and the world of nature. Only recently has science sought in earnest to understand and explain this impact. One remarkable recent study, analyzing the cries of newborns, shows that infants' cries contain common musical intervals, and children tease each other in specific, singsong ways no matter where in the world they live. Physics experiments show that sound waves can physically change the structure of a material; musician and world-famous conductor Daniel Barenboim believes musical sound vibrations physically penetrate our bodies, shifting molecules as they do. The Power of Music follows visionary researchers and accomplished musicians to the crossroads of science and culture, to discover: how much of our musicality is learned and how much is innate? Can examining the biological foundations of music help scientists unravel the intricate web of human cognition and brain function? Why is music virtually universal across cultures and time-does it provide some evolutionary advantage? Can music make people healthier? Might music contain organizing principles of harmonic vibration that underlie the cosmos itself?

Members Reviews:

Only the Performance is being rated here

I have listened so far only for an hour. The contents of the book promise to be hard won and very interesting. However, the reader is unfortunately chosen because her (rather beautifully toned) voice has succombed to one of those fashions which repeat the same pitched pattern over and over again (in this case the minor 3rd, middle C# to E) - whatever the content - questions, responses, facts,..whatever Such affectations deny any depth of meaning. This is especially sad when the text is actually discussing a wide range of physical, mental and emotional connotations which must affect pitch. I'll try to carry on, but I guess it may be hard.

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Title: Ticket Masters

Subtitle: The Rise of the Concert Industry and How the Public Got Scalped

Author: Josh Baron, Dean Budnick

Narrator: Mike Chamberlain

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 25 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-25-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 12 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

Your favorite band has just announced their nationwide tour. Should you pay to join their fan club and get in on the pre-sale? No, you decide to wait. But the on-sale date arrives, and the site is jammed. You cant get on - and the concert is sold out in six minutes. What happened? What now?

Music journalists Dean Budnick and Josh Baron chronicle the behind-the-scenes history of the modern concert industry. Filled with entertaining rock-and-roll anecdotes about The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead, Pearl Jam, and more - and charting the emergence of players like Ticketmaster, StubHub, Live Nation, and Outbox - Ticket Masters will transfix every concertgoer who wonders just where the price of admission really goes. This edition has an updated epilogue that covers recent industry developments.

Members Reviews:

A great history turned to stodge

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

This story is rather interesting (especially if you're wanting to find out WHY Ticketmaster charges so much) but the story goes over and OVER itself from all different angles. Also, while I'm sure the first narrator is a good actor, listening to him read for more than five minutes makes you favour scraping a cheese grater against your forehead... or at the very least, your ears.

Would you ever listen to anything by Josh Baron and Dean Budnick again?

No way

Which scene was your favorite?

The poem written for the old guys retirement.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Only if it was stripped of the stodge. It's like listening to someone wade through porridge (oatmeal).

Any additional comments?

Please tell the narrator to find a different job.

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Title: The New Blue Music: Changes in Rhythm & Blues, 1950-1999

Subtitle: American Made Music Series

Author: Richard J. Ripani

Narrator: Kenneth Lee

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-11-12

Publisher: University Press Audiobooks

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

Rhythm & blues emerged from the African American community in the late 1940s to become the driving force in American popular music over the next half-century. Although sometimes called "doo-wop", "soul", "funk", "urban contemporary", or "hip-hop", R&B is actually an umbrella category that includes all of these styles and genres. It is in fact a modern-day incarnation of a musical tradition that stretches back to 19th-century America, and even further to African beginnings.

The New Blue Music: Changes in Rhythm & Blues, 1950-1999 traces the development of R&B from 1950 to 1999 by closely analyzing the top 25 songs of each decade. The music of artists as wide-ranging as Louis Jordan; John Lee Hooker; Ray Charles; James Brown; Earth, Wind & Fire; Michael Jackson; Public Enemy; Mariah Carey; and Usher takes center stage as the author illustrates how R&B has not only retained its traditional core style, but has also experienced a "re-Africanization" over time.

By investigating musical elements of form, style, and content in R&B - and offering numerous musical examples - the book shows the connection between R&B and other forms of American popular and religious music, such as spirituals, ragtime, blues, jazz, country, gospel, and rock 'n' roll. With this evidence in hand, the author hypothesizes the existence of an even larger musical "super-genre" which he labels "The New Blue Music".

Richard J. Ripani is a faculty member at Hume-Fogg Academic High School in Nashville, Tennessee. He is also a professional musician and songwriter in Nashville, performing with artists such as Ronnie Milsap, Ronnie McDowell, the Kentucky Headhunters, and Lee Greenwood. He has worked on numerous national television programs and earned gold and platinum records.

Members Reviews:

Very technical, dry and repetitive

What would have made The New Blue Music: Changes in Rhythm & Blues, 1950-1999 better?

This work is very much like an academic paper and the average listener will probably not enjoy listening, especially if you are not familiar with notes, chords, tempo and other music theory concepts. If you're looking for a technical and statistical analysis of the topic, then this might be useful to you. If you're looking for a narrative that examines the historical, social and cultural influences on development of R&B, you will be disappointed and bored.

What didnt you like about Kenneth Lees performance?

The dry and repetitive narration is likely due in large part to the material, but it is dry and repetitive nonetheless. The narrator mispronounces the names of several of the more contemporary music groups.

Soul Analysis

Most books about Rhythm and Blues, Soul, and black popular music seem to follow a similar narrative, and are written under the guise of a socio-cultural analysis, with reference to politics, historical events, etc.

This book's key selling point is that it follows an almost entirely musicological analysis, taking apart different songs to discover changing trends in rhythm, melody, tempo, harmony, etc. Almost scientific in it's depth.

I have to knock off a star for 2 reasons.

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Title: Making Money with Your Music

Author: Danny Draper

Narrator: Danny Draper

Format: Unabridged

Length: 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-04-12

Publisher: RazorSharp Music Production

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 26 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

RazorSharp audiobooks are written for the recording artist and music producer. The information contained in our books will help you to navigate some of the challenges you face as a music industry professional. Our books are short and to the point, containing only the necessary and most important information recording artists and music producers need to know. Making Money with Your Music covers what you need to know, to start making money with your music today.

RazorSharp Books are the shortest books you'll ever hear, with all the information you'll ever need.

Members Reviews:

informative but rather robotic

A very informative finesse, but the reader was rather reading it like a robot. Nevertheless, the information is precise and the author clearly knows what he is talking about. Good for those looking for pre-legal advice in the music business.

Basic key points but great overall

Great for hitting certain key points and researching them. Basic but great overall for anybody needing an understanding where to go next after you bounce your recording out.

Good info but could of had better narration

The information is great, it was hard to follow the narrator however and that means you have to really focus and pay attention. I like to listen while doing other things and I had a hard time absorbing the information. The topic and info are good however so I would still recommend to anyone who's interested.

A pleasant surprise!

All to often, in my experience, books of this nature are scant on usable content. The old music business model is long burried, but that's not to say that there aren't people out there making a living from making music. This book gives practical advice and tips. It doesn't overstep the mark, by giving advice beyond its scope, it is a good starting place with insiders pointers.

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Title: The Life and Works of Frédéric Chopin

Author: Jeremy Siepmann

Narrator: Jeremy Siepmann, Anton Lesser, Neville Jason, Elaine Claxton, Karen Archer

Format: Original Recording

Length: 4 hrs and 57 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-01-12

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 33 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

Frédéric Chopin is the pianist-composer par excellence. Regarded as one of the most mesmerizing performers of his day, he lives on in his music his waltzes, mazurkas, études, preludes, nocturnes, three piano sonatas, two piano concertos, and much more. Here, his life, from his birth in Poland, his famous affair with the French writer George Sand, to his death at the age of 39 in Paris, is told with his music featuring prominently. We think of Chopin as a "frail, sheltered genius" but this forthright portrait demonstrates he was far more boisterous than that.

Cheerful as a youth, it was only later that the glare of publicity, the change from local to national celebrity, made Chopin guard his privacy more carefully. This is clearly presented in Jeremy Siepmanns sympathetic account of the life of one of the key figures in Romantic music, and emphasized in the very personal portrayal by the English classical actor Anton Lesser. The accompanying booklet is packed with extra information about Chopins life and background.

Members Reviews:

Frederic Chopin

Beautifully crafted Portrait of Chopin and his major works. Amazingly informative given the relatively brief volume. A major strength is that the author skillfully allows the music to inform the reader. Works are beautifully and skillfully performed.

A major weakness is lack of an accompanying list of performed works as well as information about the pianist.

Highly recommend this audiobook for both pianists and non musicians alike.

Very good. Im left wanting more

Great review of Chopins mazurkas, polonaises, and a little on his waltzs. I would have really liked to learn more about his Nocturnes and more on his Waltzs since they are some of his most known work and accomplishments. Also, Chopin was always very driven by the female voice in operas. This was mentioned only once. Overall- I loved it. It takes an angle on Chopin that you wouldnt otherwise have heard and the music is played very well throughout the audiobook.

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Title: How Music Works

Author: David Byrne

Narrator: Andrew Garman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 11 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-25-12

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 518 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

Best known as a founding member and principal songwriter of the iconic band Talking Heads, David Byrne has received Grammy, Oscar, and Golden Globe awards and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In the insightful How Music Works, Byrne offers his unique perspective on music - including how music is shaped by time, how recording technologies transform the listening experience, the evolution of the industry, and much more.

Critic Reviews:

"Anyone at all interested in music will learn a lot from this book." (

Kirkus Reviews)

Members Reviews:

"David Byrne is a Human" by a Talking Heads fan

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Byrne writes like a Malcom Gladwell in the music world. To me, that was interesting enough to keep me hooked because I didn't realize David Byrne was so smart and normal. I would recommend this book if you are trying to "figure out" music. Not that he claims to understand music completely. He tries to keep a balanced view and show the realm of possibilities of "how music works." Sometimes he goes on long tangents, talking about his projects after Talking Heads (which was sometimes interesting).

It was a great book to have in the car on the way to and from work.

What was one of the most memorable moments of How Music Works?

His section on music writing collaboration. For me, as someone in a band, I really took away some great communication techniques.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The narrator was OK. I felt he seemed to miss Byrne's connotation sometimes. He also doesn't know how to pronounce "timbre." I feel like Byrne definitely didn't listen to this audiobook and OK everything.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Nothing too extreme. There were parts that were very exciting, like when he related to exactly what my band is going through right now.

Any additional comments?

I would say that if you are still enchanted with The Talking Heads sound, don't read this book. I haven't listened to them since reading it, but I suspect some of the magic may be gone when I do. This is ok for me, because one day I hope to reach levels that David Byrne reached. Or if you are a music fan, and want to see behind the scenes, it will be a fun read. You may want to skip through some parts, but overall it's worth it.

It's very unfortunate that the only other review on here was from some conservative person. Yes, Byrne goes on a few little rants in favor of liberalism, but i wouldn't say that's his main objective.

Very Good

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. I am a music fan first and although I really enjoy Talking Heads and David Byrne I would not consider myself a huge fan. With that said this is a very good book for anyone who likes music and want to understand it more. It comes off as thoughtful and well researched, with a point of view. I recommend it highly with those caveats and parameters.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Well David Byrne is essentially the character here ....his viewpoint is fascinating. I like the fact that he is explaining why his artistic taste and choices are what they are.

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Title: In the Pleasure Groove

Subtitle: Love, Death, and Duran Duran

Author: John Taylor

Narrator: John Taylor

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 55 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-16-12

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 268 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

John Taylor, Duran Duran's co-founder, takes the listener on a wild ride through his life. From the 80s through today, from Rio to All You Need is Now, John writes about the music, the parties, and the MTV videos that made millions swoon.

With Duran Duran, John Taylor has created some of the greatest music of our time. From the disco dazzle of debut single "Planet Earth" right up to their latest number one album, All You Need is Now, Duran Duran has always had the power to sweep the world onto its feet.

It's been a ride - and for John in particular, the ride has been wild, thrilling...and dangerous. Now, for the first time, he tells his incredible story. A tale of dreams fulfilled, lessons learned and demons conquered.

A shy only child, Nigel John Taylor wasn't an obvious candidate for pop stardom and frenzied girl panic. But when he ditched his first name and picked up a bass guitar, everything changed. John Formed Duran Duran with his friend Nick Rhodes in the summer of 1978, and they were soon joined by Roger Taylor, then Andy Taylor and finally Simon Le Bon. Together they were an immediate, massive global success story, their pictures on millions of walls, every single a worldwide hit.

In his frank, compelling autobiography, John recounts the highs - hanging out with icons like Bowie, Warhol and even James Bond; dating Vogue models and driving fast cars - all the while playing hard with the band he loved. But there were tough battles ahead - troubles that brought him to the brink of self-destruction - before turning his life around.

Told with humor, honesty and hard-won wisdom, and packed with exclusive pictures, In the Pleasure Groove is a fascinating, irresistible portrait of a man who danced into the fire... and came through the other side.

Members Reviews:

A must for any DD fan!

Would you consider the audio edition of In the Pleasure Groove to be better than the print version?

Hearing the story from JT directly really brought the stories to life. His honesty and emotion really set the tone for the stories.

What was one of the most memorable moments of In the Pleasure Groove?

Finally having a glimpse into what their lives were really like at the height of their popularity was fun to hear.

What about John Taylors performance did you like?

Loved it. He is engaged and passionate. Great performance.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I enjoyed every minute of it.

Any additional comments?

His honesty really struck me. Any fan of the band will enjoy reliving the heydays!

Unflinching look at drug use and stardom

As a fan of Duran Duran when I was a teenager, I enjoyed this look at what life was like for members of the band. In particular, I thought John's look at his early life, his flaws, drug use, and recovery was both brave and honest. The central question, perhaps, is how do people retain their humanity when beset with the excesses of superstardom? John Taylor recovered his humanity, and I felt happy for him when he did.

Great story telling even if you aren't a Durannie!

What did you love best about In the Pleasure Groove?

It's John Taylor's voice narrating his own story, what's not to love? Yes, yes, I am a Durannie who has loved JT since 1983 when I was 13, but when I first read that he would be narrating his own story I was hesitant to buy it.