Other books that might interest you

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  The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds

  Jim Fusilli

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  Pet Sounds is, rightly, one of the most celebrated pop albums ever released. It has also been written about, pored over, and analyzed more than most other albums put together. In this disarming book, Jim Fusilli focuses primarily on the emotional core of the album, on Brian Wilson’s pitch-perfect cry of despair. In doing so, he brings to life the search for equilibrium and acceptance that still gives Pet Sounds its heart almost four decades after its release.For all the ups and downs, the scandals and, finally, the good times that are associated with Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys, nothing can diminish the beauty of Pet Sounds – its sense of adventure, its insight into the boundless mysteries of young love and how all its elements seem to coalesce to lay bare an insecure teen confronted by the uncertainties of adulthood, a man who wishes life were as simple as he believed it once was. More than a wonderful work that has easily withstood the test of time, Pet Sounds raises pop to the level of art through its musical sophistication and the precision of its statement which, taken together, celebrate the fulfillment of Brian Wilson’s ambition.

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  Wagadu - The Ghana Empire of...

  Rolf Hedger

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  The origins of Wagadu, known as the Ghana Empire, are deeply rooted in oral traditions, mythology, and historical developments that shaped one of West Africa’s first great civilizations. The Soninke people, the founders of Wagadu, established the empire in a region rich in natural resources, particularly gold. Over centuries, the empire grew into a powerful trading state, controlling key trans-Saharan trade routes and influencing the political and economic landscape of West Africa. 
  According to the oral traditions of the Soninke people, the empire’s foundation is linked to the legend of Dinga Cisse, a mythical leader who is said to have guided his people to the lands of Wagadu. Stories passed down through griots, the custodians of history, describe how Dinga Cisse and his descendants established a ruling dynasty that oversaw the rise of Ghana. These traditions, while not verifiable by modern historical methods, offer insights into the cultural identity and historical memory of the Soninke people. 
  Geographically, the Ghana Empire emerged in what is now southeastern Mauritania and western Mali, an area characterized by vast savannas, river systems, and gold-bearing regions. The Senegal and Niger rivers played a crucial role in sustaining agriculture and facilitating trade. The region's climate, while challenging due to periods of drought, also provided fertile lands that supported farming, livestock, and settlement growth. The natural wealth of Wagadu, particularly its gold mines in Bambuk and Bure, laid the foundation for the empire’s economic dominance.

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  Yankee Doodle Dandy - George M...

  Elizabeth Titrington Craft

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  Playwright, composer, actor, director, and producer George M. Cohan looms large in musical theater legend. Remembered today for classic tunes like "You're a Grand Old Flag" and "Give My Regards to Broadway," he has been called "the father of musical comedy," and his statue stands in the heart of the New York theater district. Cohan's early twentieth-century shows and songs captured the spirit of an era when staggering social change gave new urgency to efforts to define Americanism. He was an Irish American who had the audacity to represent himself as the Yankee Doodle emblem of the nation, a vaudevillian who had the nerve to unapologetically climb the ranks and package his lower-brow style as Broadway. 
   
   
   
  In Yankee Doodle Dandy, the first book on Cohan in fifty years, author Elizabeth T. Craft situates Cohan as a central figure of his day. Examining his multifaceted contributions and the various sociocultural identities he came to embody, Craft shows how Cohan and his works indelibly shaped the American cultural landscape. Informative and engaging, this book offers rich listening for Broadway musical aficionados as well as scholars of musical theater and American cultural history.

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  Sting and The Police - Walking...

  Aaron J West

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  “An excellent look at how the Police accomplished success . . . West is especially good at examining how the band used the nascent MTV to define themselves.” ―Publishers Weekly   During the 1980s, The Police were one of the biggest bands in the world. Yet after only five albums—and at the peak of their popularity—they disbanded, and Sting began a solo career that made him a global pop star. Today, artists from Puff Daddy to Gwen Stefani credit The Police and Sting as major influences on their own work.   In this book, Aaron J. West explores the cultural and musical impact of Stewart Copeland, Andy Summers, and Sting. West details the distinctive hybrid character of The Police’s musical output, which would also characterize Sting’s post-Police career. Sting’s long-lived solo career embodies the power of the artful appropriation of musical styles, while capitalizing on the modern realities of pop music consumption. The Police—and Sting in particular—were pioneers in music video, modern label marketing, global activism, and the internationalization of pop music.  Sting and The Police: Walking in Their Footsteps is a feast for fans—and by placing the band within its various musical, cultural, commercial, and historic contexts, it’s also fascinating reading for anyone interested in global popular music culture.

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  Hollywood Stage - The Dark...

  Various Authors

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  Hollywood is indelibly printed in our minds as the ‘go-to place for entertainment and has been for decades. When there really did seem to be more stars in Hollywood than in Heaven Hollywood Stage had them performing films as radio plays – on the sponsors dime of course.  The Hollywood director William Keighly unveils the treasure and the stars for you right here…..

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  100 20th-Century Shops

  Society Twentieth Century

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  A showcase of Britain's most architecturally significant shops throughout the twentieth century and beyond.
  100 20th-Century Shops is a fascinating insight into the heritage of Britain's changing high street and the diverse architectural styles of the 20th century. Entries in this book showcase 100 often instantly recognisable shops from across the country, from throughout the 20th century and stretching into the 21st, capturing the changing architectural styles of our beloved and rapidly disappearing retail environment.
  As the UK's retail landscape faces an existential crisis, now is an appropriate time to review and celebrate the architecture of our high streets. From Tudor-revival department stores and futuristic supermarkets to Art Deco shop fronts and post-war Festival style markets, the 100 shops featured here evoke a variety of design styles and traces the history and evolution of our cherished high street. 
  The book also contains essays by respected writers Elain Harwood, Lynn Pearson, Matthew Whitfield, Kathryn A. Morrison and Bronwen Edwards on the design, development and decline of the high street over the last 100 years within a social and political context. This compelling book provides a glimpse into the wonderful shops that Britain has to offer and is a must-have for all fans of design history, architecture and retail.

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