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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 24%
    by Thierry Lamy & Nicolas Finet
    £18.99

  • by Carl Flesch
    £15.49 - 21.49

  • Save 18%
    by Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation
    £18.49

    For voice and piano, with chord symbols and guitar chord diagrams.

  • by Annie Zaleski
    £14.99

    This limited printing, hardcover 40th anniversary edition includes: -an exclusive new interview with lead singer Simon Le Bon -a Rio timeline-a newly designed book cover by Rio album sleeve designer, Malcolm Garrette-vintage Duran Duran photos and ads -and much more... In the '80s, the Birmingham, England, band Duran Duran became closely associated with new wave, an idiosyncratic genre that dominated the decade's music and culture. No album represented this rip-it-up-and-start-again movement better than the act's breakthrough 1982 LP, Rio. A cohesive album with a retro-futuristic sound-influences include danceable disco, tangy funk, swaggering glam, and Roxy Music's art-rock-the full-length sold millions and spawned smashes such as "Hungry Like the Wolf" and the title track. However, Rio wasn't a success everywhere at first; in fact, the LP had to be buffed-up with remixes and reissued before it found an audience in America. The album was further buoyed by colorful music videos and a cutting-edge visual aesthetic, both of which established the 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees as leaders of an MTV-driven second British Invasion. Via extensive new and exclusive interviews with band members and other figures who helped Rio succeed, this book explores how and why Rio became a landmark pop-rock album, and examines how the LP was both a musical inspiration-and a reflection of a musical, cultural, and technology zeitgeist.

  • Save 15%
    by John Higgs
    £10.99 - 18.99

  • by Alex Pappademas
    £27.49

    A literary and visual exploration of the songs of Steely Dan.

  • by D. Henry Wickham
    £21.49

    This informative book will guide you through the step by step process of building a professional quality ukulele. Each step is fully demonstrated and is illustrated with over 200 detailed photographs and drawings. Twelve time-saving construction jigs are illustrated and fully explained. Included is a section on sources of materials, a precise material list and other pertinent information.This 145-page book is a condensation of 35 years of woodworking experience and a substantial knowledge of guitar and ukulele construction. It has been written with the first time builder in mind, but it includes some more advanced topics and procedures. Basic concepts are the core of this book and in great detail. Little is published on the subject of ukulele construction and this book will be a welcomed addition.The construction demonstrated is based on a Tenor Ukulele and this book will serve as a substantial reference resource for any of the four sizes of the ukuleles. Both the Spanish and Box Style construction are illustrated and discussed in every step of the construction process. Concise photographic detail and drawings help to show you what to do and what not to do.Included is a chapter on finishing and a detailed section on setting up and tuning your ukulele.

  • by Mike Senior
    £42.99 - 128.49

  • Save 10%
    by Bez
    £8.99 - 15.49

  • by Eduardo Reck Miranda
    £254.49

  • Save 16%
    by Hal Leonard Corp
    £15.99

  • Save 20%
    by Clemency Burton-Hill
    £11.99

  • Save 15%
    by Martyn Ware
    £10.99 - 15.49

  • Save 11%
    by Robert Gordon
    £12.49

    Vienna in the 1880s. Paris in the 1920s. Memphis in the 1950s. These are the paradigm shifts of modern culture. Memphis then was like Seattle with grunge or Brooklyn with hip-hop-except the change was more than musical: Underground Memphis embraced African American culture when dominant society abhorred it. The effect rocked the world. We're all familiar with the stars' stories, but It Came From Memphis runs with the the kids in that first rock and roll audience, where they befriended the older blues artists, the travails of blazing a rock and roll career path where one had not existed (nor did society welcome it), and the adventures-sometimes drug-fueled, often accidental, always pushing the envelope-that epitomize the rock and roll experience. Stars pass through-Elvis, Aretha, Jerry Lee-but the emphasis is on the singular achievements of Alex Chilton, Jim Dickinson, Furry Lewis and wrestler Sputnik Monroe. This is a book about the weirdos, winos and midget wrestlers who forged the rock and roll spirit, unwittingly changing the fabric of America. Music liberated that Memphis audience, and the world followed.

  • Save 20%
    by Bruce Ossman
    £11.99

    Making A Beautiful Violin is Easier Than You ThinkYou don't have to be a professional luthier to build a handsome hand-crafted violin. All you need are just a few common tools, wood, and the simplified violin-making process found inside the newly revised and updated Violin Making. The early version of this book helped many first-time instrument makers build their own stunning violins-and their beautiful work is displayed inside in a new color photo gallery. Author and lifelong teacher Bruce Ossman uses his simple techniques and clear instruction to guide you through every single step of making a violin. With the full-size patterns and detailed illustrations include, you will be on your way to crafting an instrument fit for an orchestra.

  • Save 27%
    by Ann Harrison
    £25.49

    This essential and highly acclaimed guide, now updated and revised in its eighth edition, explains the business of the British music industry.Drawing on her extensive experience as a media lawyer, Ann Harrison offers a unique, expert opinion on the deals, the contracts and the business as a whole. She examines in detail the changing face of the music industry and provides absorbing and up-to-date case studies.Whether you're a recording artist, songwriter, music business manager, industry executive, publisher, journalist, media student, accountant or lawyer, this practical and comprehensive guide is indispensable reading.Fully revised and updated. Includes: The current types of record and publishing deals, and what you can expect to see in the contracts A guide to making a record, manufacture, distribution, branding, marketing, merchandising, sponsorship, band arrangements and touring Information on music streaming, digital downloads and piracy The most up-to-date insights on how the COVID-19 crisis has affected marketing An in-depth look at copyright law and related rights Case studies illustrating key developments and legal jargon explained.

  • Save 27%
    by Ian Shirley
    £25.49

    The Rare Record Price Guide 2024 is a captivating read by Ian Shirley. Published in 2022 by the renowned Diamond Publishing Group Ltd, this book is a must-have for any dedicated record collector. This guide is an authoritative and comprehensive compendium of rare record prices, making it an essential resource for collectors, dealers, and enthusiasts alike. The book is meticulously researched and updated to reflect the current market trends and prices. The author, Ian Shirley, is a revered figure in the genre, known for his in-depth knowledge and passion for rare records. His expertise shines through in his writing, making this guide not just informative, but also engaging. The Rare Record Price Guide 2024 is more than just a price guide; it's a journey into the fascinating world of rare records, guided by one of the most knowledgeable experts in the field. Published by Diamond Publishing Group Ltd, the book is a testament to their commitment to delivering high-quality and valuable content to their readers. This book is written in English.

  • by Martin Clancy
    £39.99

    Artificial Intelligence and Music Ecosystem highlights the opportunities and rewards associated with the application of AI in the creative arts.

  • by Michael Frizell & Jayfri Hashim
    £7.99 - 21.99

  • Save 15%
    by Kid Congo Powers
    £10.99 - 15.49

  • Save 24%
    by Rick Buckler
    £18.99

  • Save 18%
    by Dennis McDougal
    £16.49

  • Save 31%
    by Sun Ra
    £51.99

    Drawn from private collections around the world, this is the first comprehensive collection of the Saturn label's printed record covers, along with hundreds of the best hand-designed, one-of-a-kind sleeves and disc labels decorated by Sun Ra and members of his Arkestra.

  • Save 21%
    by Chuck D
    £27.49

    "In Livin' Loud, Public Enemy founder, hip-hop pioneer and revolutionary activist, Chuck D, presents a body of art, each piece reflective of the man behind the music, alongside a biographical commentary tracing his musical and artistic trajectory. From his early roots and the central figures that critically shaped him and his voice, to the formation of Public Enemy, from his Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame induction through to his time with Prophets of Rage and current day world affairs. Chuck D has been creating musical and cultural observations that challenge public opinion since 1985 and his visual compositions continue to interpret and question the world around us. Chuck D pays homage to his musical influences and peers from James Brown and Woody Guthrie to Def Jam labelmates Run-DMC and Beastie Boys; a host of the most influential hip-hop artists from Ice Cube to Run the Jewels; his twin passions of baseball and basketball; creating a collection of landscapes on tour with Prophets of Rage, and a range of sociopolitical pieces that explore the issues continuing to shape our culture. With a foreword by Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello and featuring over 250 of Chuck D's paintings, sketches and drawings, Livin' Loud includes a commentary of over 13,000 words in which he offers unprecedented insight into his life and work."--Back cover.

  • Save 18%
    by David Sinclair
    £20.49

    By Philippe Margotin with a foreword by David Sinclair. Pop Rock Icons takes us into the extraordinary world of London, England at the time of the greatest countercultural upheaval that the country has known.

  • Save 14%
    by Tony Marnoch
    £9.49

    As one of club culture's most notorious - and best loved - figures, Tony is a complete force of nature. Here he tells the most extraordinary stories of depravity and hedonism, of week-long benders and extreme self-destruction - and of recovery, redemption, friendship and the joy of a good tune.'If you want to change your life but can't.. I strongly advise you read this book' TRACEY EMIN'This is a story that should never have been told' KATE MOSS 'I love this man so much. He was, and always will be, my knight in shining Westwood.' DAVINA MCCALL'Anyone can get a party started, but no one keeps it going like Fat Tony, the energy never dips andwhat a life he's lived.. He's a tosser but we still love him.' ELTON JOHN & DAVID FURNISHDJ Fat Tony has been described as 'the closest thing that club culture has to a national treasure' and the 'unlikely cult hero of quarantine'. Few people have crammed so many lives into one: when your first line of cocaine is aged 16 with Freddie Mercury, where do you go from there?I Don't Take Requests is Fat Tony's breathtakingly candid and outrageous memoir of a life of extremes. From his childhood on an estate in Battersea where he honed his petty criminality, was abused by an older man and made friends with Boy George, to his teenage years spent parading the Kings Road in his latest (stolen) clobber, working as a receptionist for a prostitute, hanging out with Leigh Bowery and Sue Tilley and creating his drag persona, to his life as DJ to the stars and his spiral into serious drug addiction. Now, he is 16 years sober and, alongside working to help others overcome addiction, DJing for everyone from Elton John to Louis Vuitton and the Beckhams - and running one of lockdown's most popular Instagram accounts with its wickedly funny memes. It is all here in horrifying, glorious, heart-breaking detail.'Whenever we host a party, Tony is our first port of call. He'll have everyone dancing, guarantee great memories, and the stories he tells... Just don't f*****g ask for any requests!' DAVID & VICTORIA BECKHAM'There is nobody in London, let alone the world who has lived a more extraordinary life... his journey from villain to real life hero is one of the most beautiful examples of humanity I have ever witnessed. I wouldn't be without this c*nt.' KELLY OSBOURNE'Hearing Tony's story is brutal and shocking. He is nothing short of a miracle and his willingness to be of service to others seeking sobriety is testament to how far he has come from the days of pulling his own teeth out.' MARC JACOBS

  • Save 19%
    by Peter Gallagher
    £12.99

    They pulled on their platform boots and slapped on the makeup when everybody else was discarding theirs. Their albums were subject to poor production, scathing reviews, and commercial indifference. Other bands refused to have them as their opening act. Their record company was up against the wall. By all reasoning, they should have become one of the 'lost' bands of the 1970s, like the Harlots of 42nd Street or the Hollywood Stars. Yet in 1975 Kiss unexpectedly came Alive! and by the following year, they were the biggest rock and roll band - and brand - in America. This is a journey through Kiss's first and most storied decade. It is the story of the four men behind the masks, and the music they made, the studio albums, the legendary live albums, and of one of the greatest rock follies in music history, the four simultaneously released solo album. Along the way, it tells of the costumes and the concerts, the merchandise and the Marvel comic books, the television appearances and the disastrous 1978 movie, Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park. And having bestrode the 1970s like an unstoppable colossus, it ends with Kiss under siege, beset by changing public taste without, and combustible personalities within.

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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