Bøger af Laura Shenton

For The Stranglers, 1977 was a vital year. Not quite punk and often at odds with audiences and the music press alike, their approach was such that nothing could stop them. With two commercially and musically strong albums, the story is comprehensively documented with immense detail through vintage interviews and reviews in abundance.

Arguably one of the most divisive albums in Deep Purple's history. But with four fifths of the classic MKII line-up at the helm and a desire to recapture the live feeling in the studio, that had been a hallmark of their seventies' albums, was it really the worst Deep Purple album as some fans claim?

The previous two albums had been met with a mixed critical reception. Minstrel In The Gallery is the product of a band who kept going and weren't afraid to explore - abundant in innovative musical ideas and insightful lyrics. This is an in-depth perspective on how it was received at the time and what it means in terms of Tull's legacy today.

Sandwiched between In Rock and Machine Head, it is hardly surprising that Deep Purple's 1971 album, Fireball, is so often overlooked in comparison. Yet, it is an essential album - both in terms of how it documents Deep Purple's progression as a band and in terms of what it offers overall musically.

When Kate Bush shot to fame in 1978, her public image was of a sweet young woman who sang about Cathy out on the windy moors. Charming, inoffensive and not challenging. With The Dreaming released in 1982, all of that changed. It is an album that some critics loved to hate - and that's why it matters.

In 1998, Follow The Leader saw Korn's success and notoriety accelerate exponentially. With constant demand for the singles, 'Got The Life' and 'Freak On A Leash' on MTV, Korn exceeded their own expectations. For both the band and their fans, this was the start of something exciting, albeit turbulent.

Released in 1978, This Year's Model was Elvis Costello's second album and his first with The Attractions. Abundant in clever songwriting that often-made bold observational statements (even about the music industry itself!), This Year's Model grabbed the attention of both UK and US audiences.

In many ways, Pictures At An Exhibition is ELP's underdog - so much so that there was uncertainty surrounding whether or not it was going to be released at all! And yet, despite the band's uncertainties, it is now vital - both in terms of ELP's history and in the wider sense of how it bridged a gap between rock and classical music.

Kate Bush's debut propelled her to fame & a phenomenal career. With the iconic 'Wuthering Heights', the young Kate captured people's imagination with her original songwriting style & of course, her unique voice. An in-depth perspective on how the album came to be, how it was presented & received & what it means in terms of Kate Bush's legacy today.

Stormbringer was a pivotal album. Blending a range of styles across heavy rock, funk and soul, it is a very unique Deep Purple album and there is a lot to be said about the story behind it. An in-depth perspective on how the album came to be, how it was presented & received & what it means in terms of Deep Purple's legacy today.

A single song LP, unusual even by so-called prog rock standards at the time. Even though Ian Anderson joked that it was intended as "a bit of a spoof", it's remembered as a masterpiece nearly 50 years on. An in-depth perspective on how the album came to be, how it was presented & received & what it means in terms of Jethro Tull's legacy today.

Hailing from Los Angeles, Sparks relocated to England in 1973. The following year saw the release of their two career-defining albums -Kimono My House and Propaganda. With detailed research this book takes us on a phenomenal journey through 1974 - the year that saw Sparks go from an obscure, underground album to chart stars.

Propelled into stardom at an exhilarating speed due to clever marketing and virtuosity in their musicianship, particularly violinist Darryl Way, the story of Curved Air in the 1970s is of a band that burned brightly before collapsing well ahead of their time.

This Visual Biography is a wonderful keep-sake souvenir portraying the band's rise to superstardom, right up to 2019's Simulation Theory tour. The largely, previously unpublished photos are complimented with a 15,000 word band history by music author Laura Shenton.