Through his pioneering work in the legendary country-punk band, Uncle Tupelo, to his enduring legacy as the creative force behind the unclassifiable sound of Wilco, Jeff Tweedy has weaved his way between the underground and the mainstream - and back again.
There are few creative acts more mysterious and magical than writing a song. Tweedy believes that the difference between one song and many songs isn't a cute semantic trick-- it's an important distinction that can simplify a notoriously confusing art form. The idea of becoming a songwriter can seem daunting, but approached as a focused, self-contained event, the mystery and fear subsides, and songwriting becomes an exciting pursuit. Here he brings readers into the intimate process of writing one song: lyrics, music, and putting it all together. Doing so allows you to access the deep sense of wonder that remains at the heart of this fulfilling, artistic act. -- adapted from jacket
"An all-star lineup of rock-n-rollers--from Jane's Addiction's Perry Farrell to Suzi Quatro and Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire--relay the uproariously wild, sentimental, and unexpected pre-stardom stories behind their favorite records. Rock Stars on the Record is a collection of first-hand tales by artists of all ages, backgrounds, and musical influences, remembering the meaning behind the records that mattered most to them. From Laura Jane Grace to Ian MacKaye, Don McLean to Cherie Currie, Alice Bag to Mac DeMarco, and many more, bestselling author Eric Spitznagel talks to rock stars across the sonic spectrum about the albums that changed them in ways only music can change someone. Everyone's most cherished childhood record--be it a battered piece of vinyl, torn cassette tape, or scratched CD--has a story, and those stories can be more revealing about their owners than you might expect. Read about how "Weird Al" Yankovic refined his accordion skills by playing along to Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, or how Fishbone's Angelo Moore saved his life with a boombox and a Bad Brains album. Or about how Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman of Prince's longtime band, The Generation, fell in love while trading mixtapes. Each profile is more emotional, fascinating, and hilarious than the last. So place that needle in the groove, and prepare to hear something revelatory from your favorite rockers past and present."-- Provided by publisher
Old Records Never Die is a memoir of one man's search for his lost record collection. Journalist Eric Spitznagel sets out to scour every flea market and dusty attic in the country, every cluttered used record store, every hoarder's basement and eBay seller's home, and every radio station that employs a friend of a friend until he is reunited with the precious vinyl artifacts from his past. As he embarks on his hero's journey, he reminisces about the actual records, the music, and the people he listened to it with old girlfriends, his high school pals, and, most poignantly, his father, who died the year his son was born. He explores the magic of music and memory as he interweaves his adventures in record- culture with questions about our connection to our past, whether we can ever recapture it, and whether we would want to if we could
The "top porn star of all time" ("Adult Video News") dishes the dirt on 20 years of Hollywood scandal, the inner workings of the porn industry, and a life filled with celebrities, gossip, and international fame.
~New York Times Bestseller~ An exciting and heartening mix of memories, music, and inspiration from Wilco front man and New York Times bestselling author Jeff Tweedy, sharing fifty songs that changed his life, the real-life experiences behind each one, as well as what he’s learned about how music and life intertwine and enhance each other. What makes us fall in love with a song? What makes us want to write our own songs? Do songs help? Do songs help us live better lives? And do the lives we live help us write better songs? After two New York Times bestsellers that cemented and expanded his legacy as one of America’s best-loved performers and songwriters, Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back) and How to Write One Song, Jeff Tweedy is back with another disarming, beautiful, and inspirational book about why we listen to music, why we love songs, and how music can connect us to each other and to ourselves. Featuring fifty songs that have both changed Jeff’s life and influenced his music—including songs by the Replacements, Mavis Staples, the Velvet Underground, Joni Mitchell, Otis Redding, Dolly Parton, and Billie Eilish—as well as Jeff’s “Rememories,” dream-like short pieces that related key moments from Jeff’s life, this book is a mix of the musical, the emotional, and the inspirational in the best possible way.