Bøker av Mark Duffett

Bryan Adams is a one man rock'n'roll success story: he went from washing dishes for $2.50 per hour to becoming a multi-millionaire by making music that people liked. Adams' 'Reckless' album sold over 10 million units globally whilst his ballad 'Everything I Do (I Do It For You)' cleared an impressive 7 million copies. He remains one of the world's most popular rockers and a Canadian national hero.This detailed but accessible biography is a lightly updated edition of the version which appeared in 1994. Mark Duffett explores Adams' meteoric recording career, 'ordinary guy' persona, and unfolding political commitment. The supporting activities of his manager and record company are included to complete the picture. As a well-informed story of maximum rock'n'roll it constitutes essential reading material for true fans. More details can be found on the Bennion Kearny website.

Elvis Presley remains the single most important figure in twentieth century popular music. To many commentators, however, he has simply embodied the benefits and problems of uncritically embracing capitalism. By 2005 the ‘Memphis Flash’ sold over a billion records worldwide, yet his cultural significance cannot be measured by these extraordinary sales figures alone. He cannot quite be reduced to a placeholder for the contradictions of commerce. As the most prominent performer of the rock’n’roll era, then as a charismatic global superstar, Elvis fundamentally challenged the established relationship between White and Black culture, drew attention to the social needs of women and young people, and promoted the value of Southern creativity. He functioned as a bridge figure between folk roots and high modernity, and in the process became a controversial symbol of American unity.Elvis interprets the image and music of Elvis Presley to reveal how they have evolved to construct a particularly appealing and powerful myth. Following broad contours of Presley’s rollercoaster career, the book uses a range of analytical frames to challenge established perspectives on an icon. Its shows that the controversy around Elvis has effectively tested how far a concern for social equality could be articulated through the marketplace, and ultimately challenged how popular music itself should be assessed.

Counting Down Elvis: His 100 Finest Songs explores the full range of Presley recordings, from his earliest number to his end-of-career (and even posthumous) hits, combing through gold record hits and unpolished gems to distill the best Presley had to offer his generation, his successors, and listeners today.