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Music

Music speaks directly to your feelings and comes in many forms. For that reason Tales have selected some of the finest music books just for you. You can for example find a biography of your favorite music idol, but you can also find music theory books that will help you become your own musician. Whether you like rock, pop, musicals or classical music we have the books for you. Find your inner melody with a music book from Tales.
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  • Save 20%
    by Philip Norman
    £11.99

    The final word on music's greatest legend, in which Philip Norman reveals a John Lennon the world has never seen. With ground-breaking insight into the pain, beauty and frustration that shaped the genius of modern music, John Lennon: The Definitive Biography redefines a legend.John Lennon - the iconic songwriter, composer and one quarter of The Beatles - was a giant of the twentieth century. As the founding member of the world's most successful group ever, he changed lives. The popularity and significance of The Beatles is beyond comparison in our age - in the UK alone, they released more than 40 number one singles and albums.But their impact extended well beyond their music. Their clothes, hairstyles, statements, and even their choice of instruments made them trend-setters from the 1960s to this day, while their growing social awareness - reflected in the development of their music - saw their influence extend into the social and cultural revolutions of the 1960s.Following the painful collapse of The Beatles, John came out a wiser but angrier person. Together with his wife Yoko Ono, he attempted to transform the world through non-musical means. Their bed-in in Amsterdam and Montreal, their black bag appearances on stage, their innocent flirting with political activists and radicals, all received massive media attention. These events were in search of world peace.John Lennon was shot dead by a mentally disturbed fan outside his New York apartment building on December 8, 1980.Featuring previously unseen photographs, this truly is the definitive John Lennon.

  • Save 20%
    - Instrumental Hip Hop & Electronic Music at the Turn of the Century
    by Laurent Fintoni
    £11.99

    In Bedroom Beats and B-sides, Laurent Fintoni details the rise of bedroom producers at the turn of the century through the stories of the instrumental hip-hop and electronic music scenes that made this rise possible. From trip-hop, illbient, and IDM to leftfield hip-hop, glitch, and beats, the book explores how these scenes acted as incubators for new ideas about composition and performance that are now taken for granted. Combining social, cultural, and musical history with extensive research and over 100 interviews, the book tells the B-side stories of hip-hop and electronic music from the 1990s to the 2010s, exploring the evolution of a modern beat culture.

  • by Ernie Villalobos
    £13.99

    A collection of New York Rave Flyers from 1991 to 1995. Courtesy of Ernie Villalobos.

  • by EDITED BY MARK BERRY
    £24.99 - 72.49

    An essential Companion for those both familiar and unfamiliar with Der Ring des Nibelungen. It provides a concise introduction to both the composer and the work. Subsequent chapters focus on musical topics such as 'leitmotif' and 'structure', as well as popular culture, Nazism, notable stage productions and critical analysis of the work.

  • Save 30%
    by Alistair Wood
    £15.49

    The fast and easy way to learn how to play the ukulele With the help of Ukulele For Dummies, learning to play this popular string instrument at a basic level has never been easier. Now in a fully updated second edition, this hands-on, friendly guide provides everything you need to know to pick up a uke and get playing fast.

  • Save 21%
    - Flyers, invitations and membership cards
    by Chelsea Louise Berlin
    £13.49

    A collection of flyers, invitations and rare memberships to legendary clubs and events from the Rave scene, giving an insight into a socio-cultural phenomenon that changed music, the law, drug culture, dance, fashion and design. Revised and expanded.

  • Save 14%
    by Sean Smith
    £9.49

    Intimate and revealing, Spice Girls is the definitive story of the world's most iconic girl group! Through compelling new research and interviews, Sunday Times best-selling biographer Sean Smith reveals what life was really like for five fiercely independent and ambitious young women who were propelled to international fame in the 90s with unstoppable momentum. Quickly establishing themselves as the biggest success in British pop music since The Beatles, they were adored and admired in equal measure: the Spice Girls made a connection with millions of young women across the globe who were inspired by their enthusiasm for life and their famous Girl Power philosophy. The fab five became one of the most successful music acts in history, with more than 85 million record sales world-wide and nine UK number one singles. Throughout the years, their lives have garnered unprecedented levels of media interest and fans have keenly followed their ups and downs - the personal conflicts, celebrity break-ups, controversies and parenthood. One thing's for sure: they are never boring. In 2019, the prospect of their reunion tour has led to an outpouring of adoration and excitement, proving that the Spice Girls truly are an enduring cultural phenomenon.

  • Save 10%
    by Chris Frantz
    £8.99

    Remain in Love tells the story of two bands and a love story (and marriage) that survived them both

  • Save 14%
    - Punk Rock, Revolution and the Fall of the Berlin Wall
    by Tim Mohr
    £9.49 - 14.99

    An extraordinary history of the punk movement in East Germany, perfectly timed for the thirtieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on 3 October 2019.

  • Save 14%
    - The Autobiography
    by Christy Dignam
    £9.49

    The remarkable autobiography of Christy Dignam, lead singer of Aslan and one of Ireland's legendary rock stars

  • Save 14%
    by Sara Quin & Tegan Quin
    £9.49

    From iconic musicians Tegan and Sara comes a nostalgic memoir about high school, detailing their first loves and first songs in a compelling look back at their origin story.

  • Save 15%
    - What the Music Industry Can Teach Us About Economics (and Our Future)
    by Alan Krueger
    £10.99

    'A cheerful and illuminating read, full of delicious anecdotes and valuable nuggets. It does what Krueger did best - brings economics to life, and life to economics.' The TimesHow the music industry explains the workings of our economy, changes in markets and prepares us the future - from one of the modern era's foremost economists

  • Save 10%
    - An Inside Story of British Rock and Roll
    by Bernie Marsden
    £8.99

    A fascinating insight into the golden-age of 1970s and 80s rock and roll told through the eyes of music legend Bernie Marsden and, most notably, his role in establishing one of the world's most famous rock bands of all time - Whitesnake.

  • Save 30%
    by Editors of American Vogue
    £38.49

  • Save 14%
    - The Life
    by Robert Hilburn
    £9.49

    This is an intimate, candid, and definitive biography written with Simon's participation and encouragement by acclaimed biographer and music writer Robert Hilburn.

  • - Craft and Art
    by Alan Belkin
    £19.49

    An invaluable introduction to the art and craft of musical composition from a distinguished teacher and composer

  • by Gorm Henrik Rasmussen
    £14.49 - 21.49

    Pink Moon is a personal, original, and moving retelling of the life, death, and posthumous rise of Nick Drake from Danish poet Gorm Henrik Rasmussen. This is the only account of Nick's life to include extensive interviews with Nick's parents as well as others of his close friends. It is now available in English for the first time. -- .

  • - Soul of Brazilian Music
    by Eric A. Galm
    £36.49 - 108.99

    The Brazilian berimbau, a musical bow, is most commonly associated with the energetic martial art/dance/game of capoeira. This study explores the berimbau's stature from the 1950s to the present in diverse musical genres including bossa nova, samba-reggae, MPB, electronic dance music, Brazilian art music, and more.

  • Save 10%
    - A Memory of George Michael
    by Sean Smith
    £8.99

    George is the story of two extraordinary lives - the private man and the public legend.

  • Save 15%
    - Practical Tips on Building a Loyal Following and Making a Living as a Musician
    by Ari Herstand
    £25.49

    This definitive handbook redefines what it means to "make it" in the brave new world of professional music.

  • Save 14%
    - My Life With Prince
    by Mayte Garcia
    £9.49

    At the one-year anniversary of his death, legendary musician Prince's first wife shares a uniquely intimate, candid, and revelatory look inside the personal and professional life of one of the world's most beloved icons.

  • - Technical Ear Training
    by Jason Corey
    £61.49 - 146.49

  • Save 20%
    by Moby
    £11.99

    In the late eighties and early nineties, Moby, then an underground DJ and musician, was scraping out a living in New York City. In a scene popular chiefly among working-class African-Americans and Latinos, Moby - a poor, skinny, white Christian, vegan and teetotaller - looked like he would never make it.

  • Save 19%
    by Daniel K. Longman
    £12.99

    This fascinating collection of photographs and stories traces the ways in which The Beatles' home town has changed over the past 50 years.

  • Save 14%
    - Tales from a Sex Pistol
    by Steve Jones
    £9.49

    .

  • Save 15%
    - My Life, My Music
    by John Fogerty
    £14.49 - 43.99

    The long-awaited memoir from John Fogerty, the legendary singer-songwriter and creative force behind Creedence Clearwater Revival and Grammy-winning solo artist.

  • Save 14%
    - Rock's Golden Year
    by David Hepworth
    £9.49

    The Sixties ended a year late - on New Year's Eve 1970, when Paul McCartney initiated proceedings to wind up The Beatles.

  • Save 14%
    - A Beginner's Guide
    by Stuart Nicholson
    £9.49

  • Save 23%
    by Winslow Yerxa
    £16.99

    Master the harmonica fast with this fun, easy guide Everybody loves the sound of a harmonica, and the thought of learning to play one is even more appealing.

  • Save 26%
    - A Prize Every Time
    by Neil Peart
    £19.99

Music
Music has that special connection with our feelings. It can both make us happy and sad, help through a crisis and through all the difficult feelings we need to acknowledge. Life is not just about being happy, and music can take you on a journey through all those different feelings. In that way music can function as a form of therapy. Music can comfort you and the lyrics can make you feel embraced and recognized. Some of the songs we love most are those, which have that universal feeling and message in them. Those songs that cover all the different and conflicting feelings of life in a verse. You can learn the secrets behind some of the biggest hits or most beautiful ballads in our selection of music books. 
You could also get to know your biggest idol in our icon books. Some of the music icons have lived an inspiring and sometimes hard life, and you can learn a lot from there stories. We have biographic music books with musicians from different genres, all with their own fascinating story. We have multiple music books about the extremely talented singer Freddie Mercury - the frontman, pianist and songwriter in the legendary band Queen. Freddie Mercury had an amazing career and a magnificent voice, and he was at the same time a huge inspiration for homosexuals and generally everyone, who felt different. The singer must tragically lost his life to AIDS and the world lost one of its biggest stars to date, but you can revisit Freddie Mercury’s amazing talent and read his story in the music books Bohemian Rhapsody - The Definitive Biography of Freddie Mercury, Freddie Mercury - the Biography, Somebody to Love - The Life, Death and Legacy of Freddie Mercury, and many more.

Music books for students
If you are studying the wonderful world of music or just wants to improve your performance you should look at our music theory books. They will help you with all the different techniques no matter the instrument. At Tales you find music books for piano, music books for keyboard and music books for guitar. They will all help you in your musicology study or on your journey to becoming an amazing musician yourself. 
We also have music history books that will take you on a journey with all the greatest from Beethoven and Mozart to Tjajkovskij and Stravinskij. When you travel through the history of music you will also visit different music periods and get a better understanding of why the music sounds so differently throughout history. The music is formed by its time and the historical events of that time. If you are interested in the history of music we will recommend the music history book by Cecil Gray called History of Music. The music book moves in the crossfield between the elementary, educational and tries to give answers to some of the things we do not yet understand. It starts with the Gregorian Chant and moves through investigations of both French, Italian, English, and Russian music. 

Musical
If you like to visit the theatre for a musical you can take some of that magic with you home by finding the books, scripts and lyrics of all the biggest hit shows on Broadway and West End. Experiencing a live performance is something unique, but it is over too fast. That is why we recommend you to dive deeper into your favorite musicals with the music books on Tales. You find the lyrics and story behind the world’s nr. 1 hit musical Hamilton that changed the world. The show won The Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2016 and tells the story of one of America’s Founding Fathers Alexander Hamilton. The musical contains an amazing Grammy award winning soundtrack with the most brilliant lyrics telling the story of the American civil war. The man behind it all is the extremely talented Lin Manuel Miranda, who tells the story of American then, but with the sounds and faces of modern times. You can dive into the fascinating story of Alexander Hamilton and the musical in the book Hamilton: The Revolution or you can learn how to perform the amazing songs yourself with the music books Hamilton - Vocal Selections & Piano or Hamilton - Easy Piano Selections

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