Listen to New Releases Audiobooks in Arts & Entertainment, Music

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Title: The Byrds' 'The Notorious Byrd Brothers' (33 1/3 Series)

Author: Ric Menck

Narrator: Christopher Hurt

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 57 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-26-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

By the time Roger McGuinn, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, and Michael Clarke entered the studio to begin work on this album, they were basically falling apart at the seams. "Ladyfriend", a song written by Crosby, had just failed miserably as a chart single despite the fact that he lobbied hard to get it released. This - coupled with the fact that he made what the rest of the band considered an embarrassing political speech onstage during their set at the Monterey Pop Festival, and then sat in with rivals the Buffalo Springfield the following day - pushed McGuinn and Hillman in particular to the limits of their patience.

Then, for the Notorious sessions, Crosby presented a song called "Triad", written about a threesome, and although McGuinn and Hillman reluctantly agreed to record it, they later decided to place a less controversial Goffin and King pop number called "Goin' Back" on the album instead. Crosby declared the song banal and refused to sing on it. A few too many studio flare-ups later, McGuinn and Hillman finally screeched up into the Hollywood Hills in their Jaguars and fired Crosby on the spot.

Also brooding during this period was drummer Michael Clarke, who had always borne the brunt of the other band members' rage while recording. He was by far the least accomplished member of the band musically, and when they suggested bringing in a studio drummer to embellish some tracks (Jim Gordon, later of Derek & the Dominos fame), he finally declared he'd had enough and moved to Hawaii to get away from the music scene altogether.

So, McGuinn and Hillman were left to cobble together an album with the help of producer Gary Usher (known for his work with Brian Wilson, the Millenium, Sagittarius and many others). The fact that it turned out to be one of the defining albums of the 60s psychedelic pop experience was either a sheer stroke of luck, or a testament to McGuinn and Hillman's determination to prove that they didn't need Crosby's help to construct their masterpiece.

Editorial Reviews:

Ric Menck's ode to The Byrds' The Notorious Byrd Brothers is multi-faceted, and listening to Christopher Hurt's lively narration is sort of like going to a wonderful, surprising lecture - except you can stay at home. Like any good story, Menck's account of The Byrds' life has interesting plot and great characters, but these three hours also hold a plethora of details about The Byrds as a group. Menck discusses the band's search for cohesion, and their personal and professional dramas at the time of the release of the album.

The Byrds' music reaches across genres to beat poetry, blues, jazz, and gospel, and this audiobook will add another critical dimension to the album's historic place in the cannon of American art making.

Members Reviews:

One of the best

I find myself buying more and more of these damn books. The albums chosen to cover are impeccable and most of the books are at least worthwhile.

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Title: The Stone Roses' 'The Stone Roses' (33 1/3 Series)

Author: Alex Green

Narrator: Fred Berman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-26-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

The Stone Roses shows a band sizzling with skill, consumed with drive and aspiration and possessing an almost preternatural mastery of the pop paradigm. This book explores the political and cultural zeitgeist of England in 1989, and attempts to apprehend the magic ingredients that made The Stone Roses such a special album.

Editorial Reviews:

Award-winning narrator Fred Berman's bracing, precisely-drawn performance will have listeners reaching for their copies of The Stone Roses once more in order to relive the album's pleasures. Writer Alex Green's nuanced look at the album includes not only his own personal associations with the Stone Roses, but also provides a comprehensive picture of the political and cultural context surrounding it. Berman's voice is full of wry charm, and he instinctively brings out the emotional resonance within Green's analysis of the themes in each song.

Members Reviews:

no foul. Unfortunately

As a massive Stone Roses fan I think I may have set my sights too far above the horizon with this book. In a never-ending quest to hush the voice in side my head that begs for more info regarding the Stone Roses, and this album in particular, I was looking for those little nuggets of information that would add to the lore of this band. What this is, instead, is a song-by-song look at the record put into its contemporary context and the author's personal affiliation with it. If I were to write a book on the record I would approach it the same way so no harm, no foul. Unfortunately, I have my own relationship with this record which is fed by experiences and information I have collected over the years on it so now I am reading this through someone else's experience.

Overall, I like this entry in the 33.3 series and I would say is a nice companion for any SR fan. I cannot not fault it for being a personal journey through the record nor can I fault it for the paucity of new info surrounding it. I will take anything I can get and I definitely made me put it on the turntable.

I Still Want To Be Adored

For the uninitiated, the 33 1/3 series by Continuum are little books that deal with classic albums of the past. They range from huge sellers (U2, Bruce Springsteen), cult classic (Neutral Milk Hotel, Love, GBV) and out right classics (Pet Sounds, Low, Unknown Pleasures). Each book the writer is allowed to write anything they deem fits the mood of the album, so you may get a short novella dealing with an album instead of a historical review of the piece. My rating is based on it being from the 33 1/3 series of books and how I rate it compared to others in the collection.

THE STONE ROSES: this was a very fun and personal book by Alex Green. I thought the way he jumped from the "baggy" scene to little instances of his life in which this masterpiece was the backdrop to many events of his life (which the Stone Roses as the soundtrack) was well done. That is exactly what music seems to be, certain songs will bring to my mind events in my past.

Each chapter was a breakdown of each song on the album. There is enough info there to satisfy certain people who want a little bit more about what each song meant.

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Title: Richard and Linda Thompson's 'Shoot Out the Lights' (33 1/3 Series)

Author: Hayden Childs

Narrator: Tom Stechschulte

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-26-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

In the fall of 1980 Richard and Linda Thompson (of Fairport Convention fame) had recently been dumped from their record label and were on the verge of divorce. Somehow they overcame these miserable circumstances and managed to make an album considered by many to be a masterpiece. Shoot Out The Lights puts the album - from the personal history driving the songs, to the recording difficulties they encountered and the subsequent fall-out - in context. This is a brilliant, emotional book about a brilliant, emotional album.

Editorial Reviews:

Tom Stechschulte brings a gruff warmth and intimacy to his performance of Hayden Childs highly personal, idiosyncratic look at Richard and Linda Thompson's folk-rock classic Shoot Out the Lights.

Unable to interview his subjects, Childs chooses to enrich his song-by-song analysis of the 1982 album with a fictional narrative of a musical duo named Bonny and Virgil, whose topsy-turvy career and tormented relationship mirrors not only the Thompsons, who split up during the production of this work, but also echoes Dantes Inferno.

Stechschulte performs this freewheeling work of criticism briskly, channeling the masculine bravado of a 70s-era rock critic.

Members Reviews:

One of the Best 33 and a Third Books

33 and a Third books are quite hit or miss. Because the series is so loosely defined in terms of what exactly you're getting, there's a big potential for disappointment and the book falling flat.

This one strikes a great balance between analysis of the music, history of the music makers and the author's story of why this album matters to him. All three elements are very interesting and engaging, and nothing feels superfluous. If you love this record, you'll love this book too.

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Title: Wire's 'Pink Flag' (33 1/3 Series)

Author: Wilson Neate

Narrator: Julian Elfer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-26-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

In contrast with many of their punk peers, Wire were enigmatic and cerebral, always keeping a distance from the crowd. Although Pink Flag appeared before the end of 1977, it was already a meta-commentary on the punk scene and was far more revolutionary musically than the rest of the competition. Few punk bands moved beyond pared-down rock 'n' roll and garage rock, football-terrace sing-alongs or shambolic pub rock and, if we're honest, only a handful of punk records hold up today as anything other than increasingly quaint period pieces. While the majority of their peers flogged one idea to death and paid only lip service to punk's Year Zero credo, Wire took a genuinely radical approach, deconstructing song conventions, exploring new possibilities and consistently reinventing their sound. "THIS IS A CHORD. THIS IS ANOTHER. THIS IS A THIRD. NOW FORM A BAND", proclaimed the caption to the famous diagram in a UK fanzine in 1976 and countless punk acts embodied that do-it-yourself spirit. Wire, however, showed more interesting ways of doing it once you'd formed that band and they found more compelling uses for those three mythical chords.

Editorial Reviews:

As part of the 33 1/3 series, Wilson Neate offers both a critical appreciation and analysis of a classic British punk album.

Given an urbane, conversational performance by Julian Elfer, Wire's 'Pink Flag' mixes the authors own memories of Britains punk era with interviews with the band members on their formation and the creation of their 1977 album, and Neates own critical insights into an album that effectively melded punk-rock angst with art-school style.

Highlighted by Elfers ear-pleasing British accent, this audiobook is a must-listen for any fans of Wire or British punk music.

Members Reviews:

This guy nails it - best 33 1/3 book I've read

I've read several books in the 33 1/3 series and this one is probably the best. In reading these I really want to find an appreciation and analysis of the albums being treated. In some cases there's more focus on biography than I'd like (Unknown Pleasures), analysis that seems off base or out of left field (Led Zeppelin IV), or just outright weirdness (Master of Reality, though that one's actually pretty good if you're open to something experimental). Wilson Neate's book on Pink Flag has just the right mix of ingredients.

The first portion of the book deals primarily with what might be considered biographical information about the players involved, but the focus is kept on those details that relate to the musical development or creative ambitions of the band members. Much of this detail comes straight from the band and quotes are used extensively.

The book also covers the recording of Pink Flag. The recording process gets a treatment, the role of the producer is discussed, and the author goes into a lot of detail about decisions made in the studio, changes in songs from earlier demo versions, and so on. If you have any interest in Wire, I think you'll find all of this very interesting.

A song-by-song analysis and appreciation is included in the later part of the book. The author covers each song and, unlike many other books of this type, the focus isn't just on the lyrics. While lyrics are covered, song structures, instrumentation, and decisions about musical direction also receive treatment.

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Title: Jethro Tull's 'Aqualung' (33 1/3 Series)

Author: Allan Moore

Narrator: Graeme Malcom

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 56 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-26-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 14 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

Formed in 1968, Jethro Tull are one of rocks most enduring bands. Their 1971 album Aqualung, with its provocative lyrical content and continuous music shifts, is Tulls most successful and most misunderstood record. Here, music professor and fan Allan Moore tackles the album on a track-by-track basis, looking at Ian Andersons lyrics and studying the complex structures and arrangements of these classic songs.

Editorial Reviews:

Music professor Allan Moore offers a critical overview of a seminal classic prog-rock album in Jethro Tull's 'Aqualung'.

Performed in a sonorous British accent by Graeme Malcom, this installment of the 33 1/3 series breaks down Jethro Tulls 1971 album with a granular attention to detail. Moore not only dissects each track musically, but offers his critical insights into the lyrics of the bands vocalist and flautist, Ian Anderson. In Moores interpretation, Anderson channels "Jethro Tull" (an 18th-century farmer) in some of these songs.

Given a magisterial performance by Malcom, Moores audio book will shed new light for diehard Jethro Tull fans on their best-known album.

Members Reviews:

A balanced but dull take on Tull's gem.

This is a pretty decent stab at a conventional academic analytical deconstruction of this old favourite. As such it's a clear, rational, track-by-track dissection and a pretty balanced descriptive assessment --although the closing argument for these songs transcending their period seems somewhat forced to me. Doubtless such an exercise has value in itself but it's a bit like experiencing a lecture at Rock School. Consequently I found it became ponderous to listen to in a single sitting.

Fans hoping to find a rich wealth of period colour and insights into of the band's experience recording the album will be disappointed. Details of the sessions are largely absent as are band stories etc. No meaningful attempt is made to evoke the stylistic character of the rock of the period or to place the band's central and innovative contribution to Prog at the time. Some historical context is sketched-in but only to specifically illuminate the author's interpretation of theme and content.

There is nothing to convey the sense of what struck most fans as so fresh and exciting about Tull's style and what made them feel so pertinent, original and timely. Any young rock fan hoping to catch something of the vibe of that period and what it felt like to be their age back then listening to Tull, will find precious little insight in this somewhat dry essay.

Although the fair-minded assessment is informative in purely musicological terms, it gets a bit plodding in places and fails to adequately convey the rich, atmospheric flavour of the album and how that reflected it's historical context. This for me was a major disappointment.

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Title: Guided by Voices' 'Bee Thousand' (33 1/3 Series)

Author: Marc Woodworth

Narrator: Victor Bevine

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-26-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

Marc Woodworth's audiobook covers the album's long and unorthodox period of writing, recording, sequencing, and editing. It includes interviews with members of the band, manager Pete Jamison, webmaster and GBV historian Rich Turiel, and Robert Griffin of Scat Records. At least 65 songs were recorded and considered for the album and five distinct concepts were rejected before the band hit upon the record's final form. One late version, very nearly released, contained only a few of Bee Thousand's definitive songs. The rest were left out and nearly ended up in the boxes of cassette out-takes cluttering up Robert Pollard's basement.

The story of Guided By Voices transformation from an occasional and revolving group of complete unknowns to indie-rock heroes is very much part of the story behind the making of Bee Thousand. In addition to providing a central account of how the record was made, Woodworth devotes a substantial chapter to the album's lyrics. Robert Pollard's lyrics are described by critics, when they're described at all, as a brand of tossed-off surrealism, as if his verbal sensibility is somehow incidental to the songs themselves. Nothing could be further from the truth. Woodworth offers a sustained discussion of Pollard's work as a writer of often sublime, beautiful, and very human lyrics.

The third key section of the book covers aesthetics. Woodworth considers the great appeal of the do-it-yourself nature of Bee Thousand and reflects on the larger importance of the strain of alternative rock for which this record is a touchstone.

Editorial Reviews:

Narrator Victor Bevine has a regular, guy-next-door voice that is wonderfully suited to the shambling, lo-fi aesthetic of indie-rock heroes Guided by Voices. Fans will enjoy his accessible performance as he narrates Marc Woodworth's chronicles of Bee Thousand's lengthy and unusual creative process. Woodworth interviews many of the individuals involved, and their reminiscences are often charming and insightful. Bevine highlights Woodworth's pleasure in teasing out the symbolism and meaning behind the lyrics of the album's songs, and fans will come away with an even greater appreciation for the band.

Members Reviews:

Some great insight sandwiched around too much pretentious crap

As others have noted, this book contains three separate elements- recollections of the band members and other participants who helped make "Bee Thousand", short pieces by fans detailing the way the album resonated in their lives, and ponderous, pseudo-intellectual blathering by individuals completely unconnected to GBV, "Bee Thousand", or music in general.

The first (especially those from Bob Pollard) make the book worthwhile. The second are easily enough skimmed, but the third are infuriating- they don't offer any insight to "Bee Thousand" that actually listening to the album once or twice wouldn't provide.

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Title: James Brown's 'Live at the Apollo' (33 1/3 Series)

Author: Douglas Wolk

Narrator: Bill Quinn

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 57 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-26-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

In this remarkable book, Douglas Wolk brings to life an October evening in 1962, at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem - an evening at the height of Cold War tensions. In great detail, Wolk pieces together what took place (and what was recorded) that night, and illustrates beautifully the enduring power of one of James Browns - and popular musics - defining moments: Live at the Apollo.

Editorial Reviews:

In this installment from the 33 1/3 series, Douglas Wolk looks at the monumental impact of James Browns groundbreaking album Live at the Apollo.

Recorded live in a temple of African-American culture, Browns album showed the "Hardest Working Man in Show Business" on the brink of stardom and at the height of his performing power. Wolk carefully lays out the historical context that surrounds this album: the heightening tensions of Cold War and race-relations in the United States and then carefully analyzes every song and lyric in this album.

Bill Quinn performs this audiobook with the smooth and steady tone of a nightly news anchor. Fans of this album looking for insight will cherish the depth of Wolks analysis.

Members Reviews:

Great read

I learned more about 1962, as well as what happened before and during James Brown's performance at the Apollo. Love it.

An "on the good foot" storytelling of a classic live recording

A simple but effective running of the history, with comments on the individual recordings, of the songs that appear on James Browns first major album hit, "Live at the Apollo" recorded in October 1962 alongside the then occurring critical world event of the Cuban Missile Crisis, makes for an effective time capsule telling by Douglas Wolk of the making of this classic recording.

While the author veers towards the over stated at times (did the 1,500 in the audience based on the limited public news released really behave as they did based on the belief they could die in a week!) he does a much better job of nailing the history of James Brown. These include how he got to make this recording against his record company's indifference; his on balance limited hit record success to date offset by his constant touring of an all action performance, but most of all that what was on show here was one man's personal and stylistic interpretations of a suite of songs that covered black music across the 20s to the early 60s. Some songs had undergone numerous adaptations and recordings by others plus JB before the versions done here (the ripping of of other peoples songs seems almost to have been a lifelong JB hallmark).

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Title: Ballet

Author: Robin Rinaldi

Narrator: Naomi Jacobson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 20 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-21-11

Publisher: University Press Audiobooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

One of the most formal and demanding genres of dance, ballet has enthralled audiences with its grace, precision, and remarkable feats of dexterity. Its early roots can be traced back to the 16th century, when court dances were performed for Italian and French royalty. After spreading throughout Europe, ballet flourished in 19th-century Russia, the home of some of the world's greatest dancers and choreographers. Once these dancers traveled to America in the 20th century, ballet began to evolve as the style came in contact with the burgeoning modern dance movement. This is a brief, well written history and introduction to ballet. The book is published by Chelsea House Publishers, a leading publisher of educational material.

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Title: God Rest You Merry: The Story of Christmas in Words and Music (Vintage Beeb)

Author: Chris Emmett

Narrator: Andrew Cruickshank, St Martin Singers

Format: Original Recording

Length: 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-05-11

Publisher: BBC Worldwide Limited

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

The Story of Christmas in words and music, with Andrew Cruickshank and The Saint Martin Singers.

God rest you merry, a daily programme of readings and music for Christmas week, was first broadcast in the BBC Home Service in 1961 and has been repeated in various forms over the years since then. Now, with this recording, listeners can hear again the series of programmes as a whole, including some of their favourite poems and carols.

The Saint Martin Singers date back to 1942, and owe their origin to a small band of fire-watchers at the church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. Among the things which the Singers enjoy most, and have pioneered, are their programmes of music interwoven with poetry and prose to illustrate a theme, of which those you can hear on this record are examples in miniature.

Christmas is always the most popular theme of all because the story of the Nativity has inspired the best in writers and musicians ever since St. Luke wrote the first narrative poem.

Members Reviews:

Timeless classic

This remains a powerful portrayal of the events surrounding the first Christmas - combining genttle carols and the timeless beauty of Andrew Cruickshank's voice.

Thought this was lost for all time - thank you for making it available once more!

For those who were not even born in the sixties this has to be listened to - there is quality that is sadly missing in many much more modern productions.

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Title: Farewell to the East End

Author: Jennifer Worth

Narrator: Saskia Butler

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-22-11

Publisher: Oakhill Publishing Ltd

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 22 votes

Genres: Arts & Entertainment, Music

Publisher's Summary:

Written by Jennifer Worth, Farewell to the East Endis one of the trilogy of memoirs upon which the popular BBC series Call the Midwifeis based.

London's East End in the 1950s was a vibrant place-a close-knit community of families where children made playgrounds on bombsites and a lively social scene emerged. It was into this world that Jennifer Worth entered as a young midwife. Post-war life could be a struggle, but there was also warmth and humour. Farewell to the East End chronicles the lives, culture and stores of a bygone era.

Critic Reviews:

"A sad farewell but a memorable and satisfying send-off." (Daily Express)

Members Reviews:

A Brilliant Book

This is the third book in the trilogy by Jennifer Worth on her life as a midwife in the East End of London in the 1950's. After being hooked on the BBC adaptation of her first book, Call the Midwife, I have devoured what I can find of her writings, and she does not disappoint.

But I must emphasise that it is not a book for the faint-hearted! Most of the stories are sad, but she writes the accounts in such a way with humour sprinkled liberally throughout the book, that somehow you don't mind the sadness, and the characters you meet are filled to the brim with life, with all with the sweetness, brutality, stoicism, fortitude and love that comes with the desperately poor conditions Jennifer was working among. It is the stuff of real life.

Her writings on this period in history is an education as well in a time of English history that is not so glittering, and Worth deals with many of the social issues that are not so widely talked about such as back-street abortions, suicide, infanticide and prostitution - so it is not a 'light' read, but I enjoyed it because of the richness of characters and the interesting lives and stories weaved around those lives, and found myself many times with tears on my face, or laughing out loud.

I loved the ending because she gives a brief summary of the lives of the nurses she worked with and what happened to them. Chummy, Cynthia, Trixie, the Nuns and herself. There are no loose ends at the finish, and I find that very satisfying when you have come to love the main characters.

You will run the gamut of emotions in this brilliant book.

interesting but disjointed compared to first two

still found this very interesting however it felt much more disjointed than the previous books. nothing really related to anything else. still lots of interesting things just less of a story more of a random history book.

Brilliant !

I have given this book a rating of five stars, it was my first Jennifer Worth and I simply can not wait to hear / read more after finishing Farewell To The East End. Very funny, emotional and completely captivating, brilliantly written, I was gripped throughout. This one is nice and easy to follow so good to listen to whilst doing other things like knitting or following a pattern, the characters are nicely portrayed so it was easy to connect with them and get a real sense of each persons story within this book. Really love the way each chapter develops, a good read, definitely recommended.