Peter Kearns – författare

Hailing from Manchester, England, sophisticated pop purveyors 10cc hit the ground running with their 1972 debut single, 'Donna'. This book examines every released recording by both Godley & Creme and 10cc, including the band's debut album under their early name, Hotlegs.

In her long career, Canadian songstress Joni Mitchell has been hailed as everything from 1960s folk icon to 20th century cultural figure, artistic iconoclast to musical heroine, extreme romantic confessor to outspoken commentator and lyrical painter. While some criticised what they viewed as her seeming dismissal of commercial considerations, she simply viewed her trajectory as that of any artist serious about the integrity of their work. But whatever musical position she took, she was always one step ahead of the game, making eclectic and innovative music Albums like The Ladies Of The Canyon, Blue , Hejira and Mingus helped define each era of the 1970s, as she moved from exquisitely pitched singer songwriter material towards jazz. Her past influence was obvious in the 1980s when hoards of assuming successors (some highly respectable) gathered her exotic breadcrumbs with a view to distilling their illusive compounds, while Joni simultaneously forged ahead. This book revisits her studio albums in detail from 1968's Song to a Seagull to 2007's Shine, providing anecdote and insight into the recording sessions, an in depth analysis along with a complimentary level of lyrical and instrumental examination.

You couldconsider Kate Bush's The Dreaming to be her finest moment, depending on whetheryou value the rejection of compromise and see that as a sign of authenticity.Or, you may see her Hounds of Love - equal-parts artful and accessible - as thebenchmark for artistic integrity meeting commercial success: a slippery andcompletely unpredictable schizoid beast at the best of times.  As much as The Dreaming seems to be viewedas Bush's most difficult record to consume, it's easy to forget that it was atop 20 album in multiple countries. In reality, it has a beautiful simplicity,if only for its intention to exist for its own sake - as they say, 'It is whatit is', and the rest is up to the listener. And what it is, is perhaps one ofrock's most pure examples of a musician doing their thing, simultaneously (andconveniently) operating at the top of their game, and not sweating the resultingviews of others. That recipe transcends genre, and even field itself.  Ultimately, The Dreaming is just art -music, yes, but I suggest it crosses the line into sculpture. You can walkaround it, try to decipher it, and still be stumped. Isn't that how art issupposed to be.