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The British singer, songwriter and musician Peter Hammill is one of the key figures in the history of progressive rock. As the leader and main creative force of Van der Graaf Generator, he was behind some of the most powerful and compelling rock music of the 1970s.

Joe Jackson is a singer, songwriter, composer, and performer who has twisted and turned his career through numerous genres, and continues to release excellent albums forty years after his initial breakthrough success.

Pink Floyd are one of the most innovative, enduringly successful bands in history. Their influence is incalculable. 1973's Dark Side of the Moon, though far from the first concept album, established a new model for quasi-symphonic, long-form investigations into the human condition: a record of thoughtfully poignant lyrics and some of the most elegant, powerful, genre-defining rock music ever made. Formed in 1967 Roger Waters, Rick Wright and Nick Mason, helmed by the tragically brilliant Syd Barrett, fused English pastoral whimsy with electrifying instrumental voyages through inner and outer space. Their gigs at underground clubs, such as UFO and Middle Earth, are the stuff of psychedelic legend. Between 1968 and 1971, Barrett replaced by David Gilmour, their sonic inquiries were never braver: some delivered instantly; others revealed their treasures slowly; all played crucially distinctive parts in rock's development. During the 1970s, the music matured as the messages darkened. While Floyd continued to prove that emotional weight and cathartic release can be forged from deceptively modest arrangements, the band's live spectaculars reached a pitch of technical complexity and extravagance none has matched. With insightful analysis, objectivity and ironic wit, Richard Butterworth appraises afresh Pink Floyd's official recorded canon, from 'Arnold Layne' to The Endless River. and beyond, to 2022 and the first all-new Floyd music for 28 years.

Hailing from Muswell Hill in London, The Kinks were one of the top British bands of the sixties, with over twenty hit singles including a trio of number ones (including the famous paean to their home city 'Waterloo Sunset'). They had over a dozen top ten's, thanks to the clever and sometimes sardonic songwriting of Ray Davies.

Bruce Springsteen called him 'one of the great, great American songwriters' and Stephen King once said that if he could write like him, he 'would be a happy guy'. So how is it that most people, if they have heard of Warren Zevon at all, know him only as 'that Werewolves' guy'?

Billy Joel On Track contains behind-the-scenes stories and an analysis of Joel's extensive studio recordings, many of which became top 40 hits in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

Laura Nyro (1947-1997) was one of the most significant figures to emerge from the singer-songwriter boom of the 1960s. With analysis of her teasing, poetic lyrics and unique vocal and harmonic style, this is the first-ever study to concentrate on Laura Nyro's music and how she created it.

Generally regarded as one of the most tragic tales in the history of rock music, the story of Badfinger does indeed make for an impressively sombre Hollywood-style film script.

Jimi Hendrix On Track explores each thrilling song and album, drawing out exactly what made Hendrix not only a great guitarist but also a vocalist, arranger, interpreter, producer and songwriter of genius.

Little Feat on track dives into the ups and downs of their 50-year career and discusses every album and song, from their idiosyncratic 1971 debut to the post-pandemic optimism of 2021's When All Boats Rise.

Hall & Oates on track, the first critical exploration of their work in book form for over thirty-five years, examines their entire output, from Whole Oats to Do It For Love, taking in bonus tracks, compilations, covers and live albums, to give the reader a proper overview of their fifty year career.

A 'cult' band with a mass following, the band's last five albums have made the top 30 in the UK. Still active, recording and touring. Completely unique - no other band mixes progressive rock, metal and jazz in the same way.

Jefferson Airplane's classic lineup - one ex-model, two ex-folkies, one ex-jazzer and two ex-D.C. guitarslingers - crafted music that was at once powerful, innovative and beautiful. A musical and social force of nature, Airplane mirrored the psychedelic dream, burning higher, fiercer and brighter than any of their contemporaries.

Formed as shambolic art-punk four-piece Seymour whilst attending London's Goldsmiths University, the rechristened Blur released their debut album Leisure in 1991. This book explores every Blur album in detail, including all singles, B-sides and selected rarities - a comprehensive guide to one of the 1990's most successful and iconic rock bands

UFO, the legendary band which have been gracing the world's stages for the last 50 years, have given us more than their fair share of superb quality hard rock songs including 'Doctor, Doctor', 'Rock Bottom', 'Shoot Shoot', 'Too Hot To Handle', and 'Only You Can Rock Me'. And that was just during the Seventies!

A retrospective of one of Britain's most successful bands. Spanning the period 1970 to 1984, the creative peaks and troughs of all the songs recorded by 'The Frantic Four' are examined in detail by a fan who can play guitar a bit, and also knows his Bach from his byte.

From 1978-1983 The Police released five brilliant albums that took in rock, reggae, world music and more. By 1983 they'd become the biggest band in the world, but egos and arguments took their toll and Sting left to become a massive solo success and the group split in 1986.

Radiohead are the most influential art-rock band of their generation. Revered by host of contemporary bands.Huge commercial success in the UK. The band have had six number one albums in the UK.Still active and touring.

In 1992, Singer, pianist and composer Tori Amos achieved fame with the intensely personal solid gold record, Little Earthquakes, the first of fifteen studio albums. Each new recording cut new ground both musically and thematically. Since then, Amos has performed world-wide, both as a soloist and also accompanied.

Eric Clapton Solo reviews and analyses all of Clapton's studio albums since 1974, as well as successful collaborations with BB King and JJ Cale. It's been a long, varied journey.

This installment of the On track series examines the vast The Smiths back catalogue in detail, from their debut single 'Hand In Glove' (1983) to Morrissey's vinyl single release of a live version of 'Cosmic Dancer' in 2021, recorded with David Bowie back in 1991 - and all the songs from all the albums and singles in-between.

One of the most respected figures in rock music, Gabriel's solo career has encompassed hit albums, hit singles and influential soundtrack albums. Hugely successful worldwide, his hit singles in the UK include 'Solsbury Hill', 'Sledgehammer' and 'Don't Give Up' with Kate Bush.

The Damned are arguably, the kings of UK Punk, they were the first band to release a single, with 'New Rose' in 1976. Crossed genres and so had far more longevity than most punk bands - becoming better known as a Goth and Indie band in the 1980s. Still active and touring today, their 2018 album Evil Spirits was a top 10 hit.

Roy Harper must be one of Britain's most undervalued rock musicians and songwriters. For over fifty years he has produced a series of innovative albums of consistently outstanding quality. He puts poetry and social commentary to music in a way that extends the boundaries of rock music.

The Incredible String Band evoke love and devotion to all those who fall under their spell. Their world is not ours, but a land of mythical creatures and fey beings. This book looks at all their recorded output from the first album through albums which still maintain a legendary reputation.

Elton John is the most respected singer-songwriter in music history. The first book to take an intimate, critical look at Elton's most famous output: from the 70s. Written by a respected musician and writer, with connections to Elton.

The ultimate cult progressive band - as revered as Yes or Genesis by those that have 'found' them. Poorly served by literature, very little long-form material has been written about the ba

Guitarist Steve Hackett first came to many fan's attention when he joined Genesis in 1971. Following seven excellent albums with the band, he went his own way in 1977. He had already kick started his solo career with the critically acclaimed Voyage of the Acolyte in 1975 but 24 studio albums followed.