Cowboys and Indies is nothing less than the first definitive history of the recording industry on both sides of the Atlantic. From the invention of the earliest known sound-recording device in 1850s Paris to the CD crash and digital boom today, author and industry insider Gareth Murphy takes readers on an immensely entertaining and encyclopedic ride through the many cataclysmic musical, cultural, and technological changes that shaped a century and...

"The roster of Warner Brothers Records and its subsidiary labels reads like the roster of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Jimi Hendrix, the Grateful Dead, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, James Taylor, Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, Prince, Van Halen, Madonna, Tom Petty, R.E.M., Red Hot Chili Peppers, and dozens of others. But the most compelling figures in the Warner Bros. story are the sagacious Mo Ostin and the unlikely crew of hippies, eccentrics, and enlightened...

"If there's a cultural artefact capable of withstanding the vagaries and fickleness of the digital age as well as the printed book, it's the vinyl record . . . In 'Listening to the Wind', Ian Preece sets out on an international road trip to capture the essence of life for independent record labels operating in the twenty-first century. Despite it all - from algorithms and streaming to the death of the high street and the gutting of the music press...

"The cassette tape, as we know it, was originally released in 1968, it was the perfect combination of versatility, high quality & small size. A whole new generation of portable pocket-sized audio & video gadgets had cropped up to take its place, such as CD players, mp3 players and blue tooth devices. The sales of pre-recorded cassette tapes dropped off significantly in the early 1990s, but surprisingly as of recently, cassette tapes sales have been...

"Visual portraits of the iconic spaces where your favorite records were recorded. Mark Howard has worked with Neil Young, R.E.M., Willie Nelson, U2, the Neville Brothers, Tom Waits, Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, Marianne Faithfull, and the Tragically Hip. Producer Mark Howard has always made unique records. For Howard, it's not just about the recording process. Making great music is also about creating unique, comfortable environments designed...

From Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday to Janice Joplin and Michael Jackson, Columbia Records has discovered and nurtured a mind-boggling spectrum of talents and temperaments over the past 100-plus years. Now, with unprecedented access to the company's archives, this book tells the stories behind the groundbreaking music. More often than not, the music was not just created by the artists themselves but forged out of conflict with the men and women...

A collection of short essays discussing various elements of the sound recording industry, and how to navigate the world of record collecting, this book also includes multiple discographies of the most valuable recordings in various genres and collecting areas.

From the makers of the acclaimed Last Shop Standing, this new film charts the amazing revival of vinyl over the past several years. The film explores the whys and hows with industry pundits, artists, record shop owners, vinyl fans and many more. Directed and produced by Pip Piper, hear from passionate new record shop owners as well the established die-hards still going and thriving. The film discusses the importance of the record shop and vinyl as...