Lisa Torem – författare

In 1992, Singer, pianist and composer Tori Amos achieved fame with the intensely personal solid gold record, Little Earthquakes, the first of fifteen studio albums. Each new recording cut new ground both musically and thematically. Since then, Amos has performed world-wide, both as a soloist and also accompanied, by a rhythm section, an octet or an orchestra. Her projects have ranged from the musical, A Light Princess to the classically-inspired Night of Hunters. Grammy nominations include: Best Alt. Album for Under The Pink, Boys for Pele and From The Choirgirl Hotel and Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for 'Strange Little Girls.' Amos was the first female artist to chart in the Billboard Top ten in Classical, Alternative and Rock genres simultaneously for Night of Hunters. She has been strongly involved in Native American issues and was the first spokesperson for RAINN, the largest, anti-sexual violence organization in the U.S.This book provides a track-by-track analysis of those essential recorded works, starting from Tori Amos' late 1980s synth-pop beginnings through 2017's illuminating Native Invader

'In the beginning,' Billy Joel entertained Long Island locals, with The Hassles and Attila, prior to forging a solo career in 1971. One year later, the singer-songwriter-pianist captivated college students when 'Captain Jack' dominated the Philadelphia airwaves. 'And so, it goes...' Cold Spring Harbor was rife with barrelhouse piano and tear-stained balladry but with Turnstiles Joel realised his dream of forming a stellar band. The success of The Stranger led to sold-out arenas and 52nd Street honoured the heyday of American jazz, while The Nylon Curtain highlighted socio-economic inequities and wartime brotherhood. 1993's River of Dreams fused reggae and world music. Then, in the early 2000's, his celebration of classical works ushered in a sea change. Unquestionably, Billy's catalogue has thrived, despite constantly changing trends in the music industry. Over a fifty-plus year span, many of his relatable songs have become standards, covered by countless artists. The third best-selling solo artist in the U.S. has continued to attract multi-generational audiences across the planet, so if you're 'all in the mood for a melody,' read on. Billy Joel On Track contains behind-the-scenes stories and an analysis of Joel's extensive studio recordings, many of which became top 40 hits in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. ...

In 1985, Suzanne Vega released her debut, garnering platinum status in the U.K and this New York-based singer-songwriter's self-titled album claimed the number 80 spot on Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Best Albums of the Eighties. AUTHOR: Lisa Torem, a rock journalist and musician with an M.A. in Linguistics, has interviewed, among others, members of: Alice Cooper, The Animals, Aerosmith, Cream, The Kinks, The Faces, Dave Brubeck, Jethro Tull, Thin Lizzy, The Zombies, 10cc, Judy Collins, Donovan, Darlene Love, Sarah McLachlan, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Jimmy Webb and Dweezil Zappa. Interviews, features, live/CD reviews have appeared in American Blues Scene, The Chicago Reader, Grateful Web, Newcity, pennyblackmusic.co.uk., Popmatters and The Big Takeover. Lisa co-wrote Through the Eye of the Tiger and All That Glitters and wrote On Track: Tori Amos and On Track.

In the 1960s, brothers Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, their cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine created the California Sound through contagious riffs and songs about hot rods, surfers and blossoming romance. Then, in the mid-1960s, a youthful Brian Wilson changed the face of the industry, not only as co-songwriter and arranger, but as an autonomous studio producer. The band has sold over 100 million records internationally. They surfaced prior to the British Invasion, spearheaded by The Beatles, but became as commercially and culturally influential as the Fab Four during their prime. Intrigued by advances in technology, Wilson featured the groundbreaking Electro-Theremin in 'Good Vibrations,' thus helping pave the way for experimentation by future musicians in all genres. In The Beach Boys 1965-1979 On Track, the author chronicles the words and music that galvanized generations and includes essential insights from film directors, songwriters, drummers, synth experts, horn players and arrangers, managers, engineers and musical directors who witnessed the band's phenomenal success first-hand. From The Beach Boys Today! To L.A. (Light Album), mellifluous, multi-part harmonies and a hybrid of distinctive styles emerged.