Hourglass Review

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(More customer reviews)Hourglass is the latest offering from James Taylor, although he is rumored to have a new CD entitled "October Roads" due out soon. This is by far one the best of his albums in recent memory, with a number of classic new songs. This is an especially terrific album given the fact that he has been around so long, and such an endless resume of previous accomplishments. Yet Taylor continues to amaze and amuse us with his personal growth and his incredible gifts for observation and songwriting. After all these thirty some years, he still is a master of his craft.
The first song up is a wryly amusing yet poignant song called "Line `Em Up", with references, among other things, to Dick Nixon and his arrogant presentations to the common folk and to the self-absorbed way he exited the White House stage. Next is a lovely albeit sad song called "Enough To Be On Your Way" intended to be a tribute to his brother Alex, dead too soon from an self-abusive and ultimately self-destructive lifestyle. This song is a very thoughtful and searching exploration into the realms of love and loss, and is also a loving portrait of a person (Taylor turned his brother into a female character for dramatic purpose in the song) whose path was always drawn like a moth to the flame.
It also includes his very popular "Little More Time With You", and a number of other interesting and stylistically diverse songs. His interest in the whole earth mother realm in "Gaia" is especially well written, as is "Another Day". This is an album you will play and replay, and it wears well with time. Of course, my favorite here is "Enough To Be On Your Way", which, with some of the songs from his last several albums, is sure to be included on the "James Taylor Great Hits, Volume Three" we can hope will be on the horizon in a year or so.Meanwhile, though, enjoy this one.

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Product Description:
Titles are: Line 'Em Up * Enough to Be On Your Way * Little More Time with you * Gaia * Ananas * Jump Up Behind Me * Another Day * Up Er Mei * Up from Your Life * Yellow and Rose * Boatman * Walking My Baby Back Home, plus the arrangement of the album's hidden track.

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Garcia: Collector's Edition (Piano/Vocal/Chords) Review

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(More customer reviews)Wow! Someone finally reissued this excellent book.First published by Straight Arrow Publishers, I bought my copy new back in '72 and read it often. It is a great interview with Garcia at a time when the Dead were just taking off. Garcia reveals he "has just made the commitment" to see where the music takes him, and as we all know, the band really went places. Hopefully, the current publishers have reissued it in its original form.
The second part of the book, "A Stoned Sunday Rap," is a great piece that really gets to the heart and soul of the Dead experience, beyond the music. I've always admired the philosophy behind the music for its zen-like approach to life and living; Garcia and Reich tease out the details.
A must-read for anyone who enjoys the Dead.Much better than any of the tell-alls that have been published recently.

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Product Description:
Deal
* Bird Song
* Sugaree
* Loser
* To Lay Me Down
* The Wheel
* Late for Supper.

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Bob Dylan: 1975-1981: Rolling Thunder & The Gospel Years Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm one so I did...

This thing is four hours long and some of it is pretty hard to take.

We see Dylan impersonator Joel Gilbert traipsing about the country apparently also attempting to impersonate a journalist. Unfortunately, it doesn't work.

The use of primitive and amateurish graphic effects during the interviews is unbelievably annoying. A yellow rubber ducky swims across the screen quacking to illuminate Reuben Carter's comment that he took to boxing "like a duck takes to water". When he mentions that boxing was a profession for which he was paid, hundred dollar bills flash before our eyes. As Gilbert asks Carter the deep question "what percentage of boxing is psychology?" the image of Sigmund Freud appears and disappears.

Enough already! And at this point we are only a few minutes into this four hour marathon.

Those true diehards who are able to keep on keeping on are eventually rewarded with some interesting perspectives. Claudia Levy describes theatrical aspects and the staging of the Rolling Thunder concerts. Scarlet Rivera shares in her own words the oft repeated story of Dylan discovering her as she was walking down a Manhattan street with nothing to distinguish her but her violin case and her exotic appearance. Rob Stoner talks about his role maintaining order in the recording studio and on tour...

But it is the interviews from the period of Dylan's conversion to Christianity and its aftermath that are most interesting. Vineyard Christian Fellowship pastor Bill Dwyer describes Dylan as a student in his Bible study class. San Francisco Chronicle writer Joel Selvin characterizes the betrayal felt by many fans blindsided by the Christian content of the 1979 tour. Legendary producer Jerry Wexler speaks to the musical excellence of Slow Train Coming. And back up singer Regina McCrary resonates as she gives glory to the presence of the Holy Spirit in the middle of it all.

Too bad that at the end we must put up with the blather of self proclaimed Dylanologist AJ Weberman. The inclusion of the opinions of Weberman, who made it his business to sift through Dylan's garbage in the Village in the early 70's, adds nothing of value and certainly underscores that this is, in fact, a "totally unauthorized documentary".

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Product Description:
Director & Producer Joel Gilbert weaves the story of this monumental period of Dylan's life and music through revealing insider portraits, exclusive photos, live concert video clips and TV footage from 1975-1981, and with visits to the Vineyard Church, th

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Neil Young: Greatest Hits--Authentic Guitar-Tab Review

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(More customer reviews)Was So loking forward to this book to learn Neil's songs.
Unfortunaley for me, and for anyone who buys this, Alfred publishing does not transcribe every song note for note the way the great Hal Leonard company does with their tba books.
Have already run into 2 spots where solos I wanted to learn are represented by chord names, and a note to "ad lib" the solo! I coulda done that without paying for this book!
Hal Leonard is the ONLY company you should trust for true tab. What a shame Alfred gets the Neil Young books!

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Product Description:
Arranged For Guitar Tablature & Standard Notation With Lyrics.Matching songbook to the million selling CD. Contains: Down By The River, Cowgirl In The Sand, Cinnamon Girl, Helpless, After The Goldrush, Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Southern Man, Ohio, The Needle & The Damage Done, Old Man, Heart Of Gold, Like A Hurricane, Comes A Time, Hey Hey My My (Into The Black), Rockin In The Free World, Harvest Moon. 4 Pages of color art.

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Best of Creedence Clearwater Revival (Piano / Vocal / Chords) Review

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(More customer reviews)I love this book!I have been a fan of CCR for a long time, and trying to play Fogerty's guitar parts just from internet tabs and/or by ear, is extremely difficult.The Guitar Recorded Versions tab book is easy to read, has the all of the lyrics and multiple guitar parts all together. There are chord diagrams at the beginning of every song as well.I have been playing for maybe a year now, and this is my favorite tab book because of the readability, quality of print, layout of the information...and of course, it's Creedence.

For the money, it's hard to beat any of the Guitar Recorded Versions tab books from Hal Leonard, and the Best of CCR is no different.Highly recommended!

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Product Description:
Arranged for Piano/Guitar/Chords with Lyrics. 18 classic CCR songs.

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Across the Great Divide: The Band and America (Book) Review

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(More customer reviews)First written some years ago, this book has long been out of print. Now Hal Leonard has finally issued a new revised and expanded edition. It contains all the information from the original book plus updating the information on the members of the band. This includes an obituary of Rick Danko and a brand-new interview with Robbie Robertson.

With the years that Mr. Hoskyns has put into this book, it is likely to remain the definitive book on 'The Band' and on the early years of rock. The Band pioneered not only music, but many other things. Here were a group of young men that were suddenly thrust into the spotlight. Here was a band that put out two of the most significant albums of our time, and then fell apart.

This book chronicles the interplay between the members of the band that led to their breaking up, it talks about the suicide of Richard Manuel, and of course the life that Rick Danko lived with drugs and pain killers until his fatal heart attack.

This is one of those books that is literally a labor of love by a professional writer of course, but also by a devoted fan.

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Greendale Review

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(More customer reviews)This book purports to be a companion/expansion to Neil Young's album, but all it really is is a reprinting of the lyrics next to a neat boxed cartoon.On the left page is a small block or two of lyrics and the opposite page contains the accompanying cartoon.The album liner notes are reprinted here as well.There is a small section depicting the characters and giving brief information on their background.The last thirty-six pages or so are paintings by James Mazzeo... for some reason.He's the artist who did lots of material for the stage show, but none of the paintings reproduced for the book have anything to do with Greendale whatsoever...

Altogether, it's a very nice companion to the album, but it is not necessary because it does not really add anything to the music.If you can spare the money for it, it will make a nice addition to your library, but otherwise, skip it.

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Greendale, a concept album focusing on a small town family's troubles has received much attention. The common theme throughout provides a flow and a unique song unity. The sound and fresh approach to this album has made it a great comeback for Young. Titles are: Bandit
* Be the Rain
* Bringin' Down Dinner
* Carmichael
* Devil's Sidewalk
* Double E
* Falling from Above
* Grandpa's Interview
* Leave the Driving
* Sun Green.

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Jim Croce Best of (Piano/Vocal/Guitar Artist Songbook) Review

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(More customer reviews)This book has EXTREMELY poor tabs of all the songs, not the actual versions. Unless you are a total beginner, this is NOT the book you want. Dig around and find the old guitar mags instead otherwise you'll be disappointed like I was.

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Neil Young: Greatest Hits (Piano/Vocal/Chords) Review

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(More customer reviews)Some of the best Neil Young tunes here-in .....well-made with decent notation to fiddle around with my meager keyboard skills which equals hours of enjoyment.

While true Neil Young fans know his treasure-rich songwriting career encompasses many many fine tunes not in this collection, it's difficult to find much fault in these sixteen beauties. (I am lucky to have purchased both "On the Beach" and "Zuma" songbooks for piano/guitar when available in the 70's)

Greatist Hits starts with "Down by the River"; easy to hear the plaintive cry of lost love. But I also wonder if Neil's choices of chords/melody were a direct or otherwise influence when Pink Floyd's group effort "Breathe" came out a few years later? Inneresting, but as Neil says onstage, "It's all the same song!"

Well, if you like the music of Neil Young, buy this and mess around with the music (whether you can read notes on the music staff or not isn't critcal)to see which chords are played in first position, and which aren't. Listen carefully enough from the "way it sounds" vs.the recordings; then you can consider the songbook purchase a substitute for a few piano lessons and learn to pick out some great tunes.

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Product Description:
Arranged for Piano/Guitar With Lyrics. Matching songbook to the million selling CD. Contains: Down By The River, Cowgirl In The Sand, Cinnamon Girl, Helpless, After The Goldrush, Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Southern Man, Ohio, The Needle & The Damage Done, Old Man, Heart Of Gold, Like A Hurricane, Comes A Time, Hey Hey My My (Into The Black), Rockin In The Free World, Harvest Moon. 4 Pages of color art.

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Major Impacts 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)As you've probably read by now, guitarist extraordinaire Steve Morse's gimmick with this disc was to write all-new songs with elements of the artists that influenced him.. so rather than a batch of tweaked covers, these instrumentals put a new spin on both Steve and the musicians he's giving a nod to. But despite all that, as with every other Morse offering, the real beauty of Major Impacts 2 is the man's exquisite composition skills. He can take any of these modes and make it his own; he effortlessly spins easy listenable melodies that never seem to get predictable; his guitar virtuosity is always solid but never needlessly flashy. What's remarkable to me is the way Steve's music always radiates sunshine and upbeat happiness without ever seeming to get stale from one album to the next. Every offering is continually new and interesting, and every one's a joy.

MI2's range is even wider than its predecessor's. A few straight-ahead rockers are present as always, from the classic-rock stylings of "Motor City Spirit" and "Leonard's Best" to the madly addicting down-and-dirty boogie of "Zig Zags".. but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Keyboards are utilized more than ever before in his homages to the Who, ELP and Genesis. "Cool Wind, Green Hills" masterfully crafts a gorgeous Celtic ballad. The rustic country/western hoedown "Tri-County Barn Dance" could almost be the long-lost twin of "Ghost Riders in the Sky." Some old guy named Bach even pops up in the form of a classical partita, the notes resolving themselves out of a seemingly random stream to create something beautiful once the whole structure comes together.

I can't really describe in more words what a joy this album is to experience. This is the kind of music just about anyone can find something to like about, whether they're looking for impressive musicianship, stellar melodic sensibility, excellent composition or just something energetic and happy to crank up in the car. If you like the sound of any of that.. if you'd like to hear some incredible guitar skill serving the songs, and not vice versa.. Major Impacts 2 is MOST highly recommended. Best enjoyed as loud as possible.

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Product Description:
This year has been a busy one for rock guitar virtuoso Steve Morse. In addition to his heavy touring schedule with Deep Purple and his own Steve Morse Band, he found time to record "Major Impacts 2", a successor to his stellar Magna Carta debut, 2000's "Major Impacts".
Widely hailed as an innovative alternative to the more standard tribute album, Morse's "Major Impacts 2" concept sees him paying tribute to his influences -- not with direct covers but with original tracks that recall the style of his heroes, filtered through his own interpretive sheen. Not only does it showcase his incredible versatility and inventiveness as a guitar player, composer and interpreter, it also provides a window into how he became the guitar player he is today.
"When Magna Carta came to me with the idea, I liked it immediately because it was such a challenge," Morse recalls.So many people do tribute albums where they simply cover the songs, but this was so totally different:I didn't want to fall into the trap of being derivative, so I tried to come up with a few things that would identify a style and what that artist or composer has meant to me."
In deciding whom to pay homage to on the record he deliberately avoided targeted research, choosing instead to rely purely on his long-term musical memory. As such, we hear flavors of bluegrass and Cajun music Morse heard as a teenager in Georgia (he even plays his grandfather's fiddle on one track, "Ghost of the Bayou"); the swinging '60s sound of The Yardbirds and The Hollies ("12 Strings on Carnaby St."); Bach counterpoint ("Air on a 6 String"); guitar interpretations of Keith Emerson's organ playing ("Organically Grown") and Steven Tyler's distinctive vocal style ("Errol Smith").
Like its predecessor, "Major Impacts 2" features the guitarist's regular collaborators and Steve Morse Band members: bassist Dave LaRue and drummer/percussionist Van Romaine. Morse, who also played all keyboard parts and violin, produced the album, his third on Magna Carta.
Founding member of the fusion rock band, Dixie Dregs, and a member of Deep Purple since 1996, Morse adheres to the notion that his approach to playing and writing hasn't changed over the years, despite the many hats he wears and style bases he covers. Indeed, it's his chameleon-like musicianship that is captured so perfectly on the multi-faceted "Major Impacts 2".

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Cat Stevens - Greatest Hits Review

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(More customer reviews)This book gives you chord diagrams, strumming patterns, and good guitar tablature. it is great for beginners, or anyone who prefers reading guitar tabs instead of music notes. all the lyrics are also included. i am just beginning to learn guitar and i can already play half of father and son. its awesome. this book has helped me a lot. i recommend it.

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A selection of this artist's best loved songs arranged for piano/vocal with guitar chords. Includes: Wild World, Oh Very Young, Can't Keep It In, Hard Headed Woman, Moonshadow, Peace Train, Ready, Father & Son, Sitting, Morning Has Broken, and Another Staurday Night.

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American Troubadours: Groundbreaking Singer-Songwriters of the 60s Review

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(More customer reviews)this book has chapters on some of the best songwriters of the era, ranging from the, more or less anyway, fairly well known ( like tim buckley and phil ochs)to the undeservedly obscure, like david ackles. these artists do vary in quality, but the stories are always at least interesting, and often fascinating. there are lots of fine pictures of the performers in the book as well,if anything the work is a little short. people who enjoy the writings of richie unterberger and vernon joynson probably will like this as well

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This book shows how nine talented artists - David Ackles, David Blue, Tim Buckley, Tim Hardin, Fred Neil, Phil Ochs, Tom Rapp, Tim Rose and Tom Rush - each expanded the standard pop blueprint of the day and made a significant contribution to rockÕs coming of age, with songs like "If I Were a Carpenter," "EverybodyÕs TalkinÕ" and "Hey Joe." Features photos throughout, discographies, and a great 32-page color section.

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James Taylor: Best of Guitar Tab (The Best of... for Guitar Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)What is this book?

Song Lyrics
Vocal melody line with chords symbols above
Tab line that duplicates the melody.
There is the occassional (very occassional) introduction or interlude in tab, but the tab is very siimplistic.

There is NO piano accompaniment line.
There is NO other tab.

This book is ONLY for a rank beginner.

I'm sorry I bought this.

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Product Description:
Includes super hits like Sweet Baby James * You've Got a Friend * Handy Man * Mockingbird and many others.

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Indigo Girls - Nomads Indians Saints (Piano/Vocal/Guitar Artist Songbook) Review

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(More customer reviews)Hard to find Indigo Girls sheet music - perfect for the musician who loves the Indigo Girls.

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11 songs: Hand Me Downs ¥ Keeper of My Heart ¥ Southland in the Springtime ¥ Welcome Me ¥ You and Me of the 10,000 Wars.

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Robbie Robertson Guitar Anthology Series: Includes TheGreatest Hits of the Band Review

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(More customer reviews)I found the book to be very useful for learning the songs.

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Robbie Robertson is the heart and soul of the legendary folk-rock icon The Band. This folio contains the classic hits from both the Band and from his solo work. Titles include: The Night They Drove Old Dixie DownUp on Cripple CreekRag Mama RagAmerican RouletteLife Is a Carnivaland many others.

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The Levon Helm Midnight Ramble (Book) Review

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(More customer reviews)Great gift for a fan who is into the Woodstock culture and follows the Band! Levon Helm is a masterful entertainer and this book details his journey from early roots to current Midnight Rambles. Was a big hit for my father in law and the pictures and stories are terrific!

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The official record of the incredible down-home jam sessions held by Levon Helm, the charismatic drummer, singer, and sometimes mandolin player for The Band. Accompanying the spectacular photos are testimonials and remembrances from the notable blues entertainers and musicians who have joined the Ramble.

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Fingerpicking Dylan (Bob Dylan) Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this book after having learnt 'Don't Think Twice' from a magazine and was very disappointed with the transcriptions.'Don't think twice' was a very poor representation; even a averageguitarist would be able to see it was quite far off the recorded version.Another problem was the lack of good songs - Fantasic fingerpicking pieces were missed out:'Spanish Boots', 'Girl from north country', 'One too many mornings', etc did not feature.Also no words were included.

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Includes 13 of his greatest hits, specially arranged for fingerstyle guitarists at all levels. Titles include Buckets Of Rain, Just Like A Woman, Simple Twist of Fate.

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