Talent Is An Asset: The Story Of Sparks

Talent Is An Asset: The Story Of Sparks PDF Author: Daryl Easlea
Publisher: Omnibus Press
ISBN: 0857122371
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 398

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Book Description
When LA musicians Russell and Ron Mael moved to Britain in 1973, they hit the pop world as Sparks and looked like oddballs, even in the context of the glam rock movement that made them welcome. Soon defined by their weird and wonderful 1974 single This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us from the Kimono My House album, Sparks have now released 22 albums over four decades, each record inhabiting a bizarre world of its own. Their songs were peppered with puns and pop culture nods, as well as nostalgia and jokey images, all mixed up in a kaleidoscope of musical references ranging from rock to opera to disco. They remain one of pop music's truly original and uncompromising acts. The Sparks story is now celebrated in this unauthorised book, Daryl Easlea's exploration of their extraordinary drawing on hours of new interviews and research. Talent Is An Asset comes as close as possible to pinning down the quicksilver nature of two gifted musicians who have gone out of their way to remain unpredictable and elusive, forever entrenched behind a dazzling gallery of jokes, impersonations and musical eccentricities.

Talent Is An Asset: The Story Of Sparks

Talent Is An Asset: The Story Of Sparks PDF Author: Daryl Easlea
Publisher: Omnibus Press
ISBN: 0857122371
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 398

Get Book Here

Book Description
When LA musicians Russell and Ron Mael moved to Britain in 1973, they hit the pop world as Sparks and looked like oddballs, even in the context of the glam rock movement that made them welcome. Soon defined by their weird and wonderful 1974 single This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us from the Kimono My House album, Sparks have now released 22 albums over four decades, each record inhabiting a bizarre world of its own. Their songs were peppered with puns and pop culture nods, as well as nostalgia and jokey images, all mixed up in a kaleidoscope of musical references ranging from rock to opera to disco. They remain one of pop music's truly original and uncompromising acts. The Sparks story is now celebrated in this unauthorised book, Daryl Easlea's exploration of their extraordinary drawing on hours of new interviews and research. Talent Is An Asset comes as close as possible to pinning down the quicksilver nature of two gifted musicians who have gone out of their way to remain unpredictable and elusive, forever entrenched behind a dazzling gallery of jokes, impersonations and musical eccentricities.

Glam Rock

Glam Rock PDF Author: Simon Philo
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1442271485
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 237

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Book Description
Until recently, glam rock has been a mere footnote in popular music history: a style-over-substance lark in an otherwise serious industry. Glam Rock: Music in Sound and Vision reveals the true story of how glam carved out a place as a diverse musical style and how it related to the artistic, political, economic, emotional, sexual, and commercial scenes of the late twentieth century. Committed to spectacle but also to musical ingenuity, glam delivered an exhilarating burst of color that offered a joyful reboot for pop culture—“a total blam blam!” Glam swept through Britain to North America in the early 1970s with the foundational stardom of T Rex and David Bowie, offering an alternative to the established rock and pop styles that had started to bore a segment of young listeners. As Alice Cooper and KISS filled concert arenas, British acts as diverse as the Rolling Stones, Elton John, and Queen consciously adopted glam’s flair for drama. Refreshing and reinvigorating, glam influenced later musical movements and moments from glitterfunk to punk, from new wave to new romanticism, and from hair metal to the synth-pop of self-conscious changelings like Marilyn Manson and Lady Gaga. In Simon Philo’s engaging history, glam finally gets the spotlight it deserves. As an essential force in the history of popular music, glam offers a prism through which to explore ’70s pop culture in all its glitter and charm.

Sparks 1969 to 1979

Sparks 1969 to 1979 PDF Author: Chris Sutton
Publisher: Sonicbond Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 1789521238
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 295

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Book Description
This long-overdue book charts the career of Sparks from 1969 to 1979. Every album and every song is examined, including some which are still officially unreleased, beginning with their early recordings as Halfnelson/Sparks and when they were a band of five. After that band split, Ron and Russell Mael retained the name and spent much of the seventies working with a succession of sidemen and collaborators, although this was not always evident to some! They ended the seventies on a high note with the collaboration with Gorgio Moroder for ‘No. 1 In Heaven’. Many who worked on their records have shared their thoughts in the book. The list includes Dean Detrick, Simon Draper, Harley Feinstein, Martin Gordon, Ian Hampton, Rupert Holmes, James Lowe, Sal Maida, James Mankey, John Mendelsohn, Adrian Munsey, Ralph Oswald, Peter Oxendale, Mike Piggott, Terry Rae, Thom Rotella, Suzi Ronson, Paul Rudolph, Richard Digby Smith, Karl Stoecker, David Swanson, Trevor White, Muff Winwood and Luke Zamperini. But this book adds much new information for fans as well as lively opinions on the records. It’s essential reading for anyone who wants to know more about how Sparks developed in the decade which saw them create much of their best work. Chris Sutton has been a Sparks fan since their legendary debut on Top Of The Pops in 1974. His favourite album by them is their second, A Woofer In Tweeter’s Clothing. He manages Smethwick Heritage Centre museum, for whom he has written several publications and he has also written several plays. This is his fifth book on music, following on from books on Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath and AC/DC. He also writes for Power Play magazine, and has contributed to a documentary on Alice Cooper.

Sparks-Tastic

Sparks-Tastic PDF Author: Tosh Berman
Publisher: Barnacle Book
ISBN: 9780983925583
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 219

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Book Description
Follows the author's experiences following the Sparks as they performed all twenty-one albums over twenty-one nights, with observations of the history and culture of London and Paris and album reviews.

Icy Sparks

Icy Sparks PDF Author: Gwyn Hyman Rubio
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1101200189
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 337

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Book Description
A New York Times Notable Book and the March 2001 selection of Oprah's Book Club® ! Icy Sparks is the sad, funny and transcendent tale of a young girl growing up in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky during the 1950’s. Gwyn Hyman Rubio’s beautifully written first novel revolves around Icy Sparks, an unforgettable heroine in the tradition of Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird or Will Treed in Cold Sassy Tree. At the age of ten, Icy, a bright, curious child orphaned as a baby but raised by adoring grandparents, begins to have strange experiences. Try as she might, her "secrets"—verbal croaks, groans, and physical spasms—keep afflicting her. As an adult, she will find out she has Tourette’s Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder, but for years her behavior is the source of mystery, confusion, and deep humiliation. Narrated by a grown up Icy, the book chronicles a difficult, but ultimately hilarious and heartwarming journey, from her first spasms to her self-acceptance as a young woman. Curious about life beyond the hills, talented, and energetic, Icy learns to cut through all barriers—physical, mental, and spiritual—in order to find community and acceptance. Along her journey, Icy faces the jeers of her classmates as well as the malevolence of her often-ignorant teachers—including Mrs. Stilton, one of the most evil fourth grade teachers ever created by a writer. Called willful by her teachers and "Frog Child" by her schoolmates, she is exiled from the schoolroom and sent to a children’s asylum where it is hoped that the roots of her mysterious behavior can be discovered. Here Icy learns about difference—her own and those who are even more scarred than she. Yet, it isn’t until Icy returns home that she really begins to flower, especially through her friendship with the eccentric and obese Miss Emily, who knows first-hand how it feels to be an outcast in this tightly knit Appalachian community. Under Miss Emily’s tutelage, Icy learns about life’s struggles and rewards, survives her first comical and heartbreaking misadventure with romance, discovers the healing power of her voice when she sings, and ultimately—takes her first steps back into the world. Gwyn Hyman Rubio’s Icy Sparks is a fresh, original, and completely redeeming novel about learning to overcome others’ ignorance and celebrate the differences that make each of us unique.

No. 1 Songs in Heaven

No. 1 Songs in Heaven PDF Author: Dave Thompson
Publisher: Cherry Red Books
ISBN: 9781901447460
Category : Rock musicians
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Since the moment they emerged into the mainstream in 1974, armed with the hit "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us," the band Sparksbrothers Ron and Russell Maelhas endeared themselves to successive generations of fans, not only with their wry humor and quirkiness, but also with a lyrical and musical inventiveness that sees them listed among the most influential acts ever. Exclusive interviews and insights trace the group from its earliest strivings in California up tothe present, while author Dave Thompson's unique eye for period detail and context reveals just how intelligently Sparks has predicted the course of popular music over the past quarter century. Afull worldwide discography, including albums, singles, and audio-visual material, make it a must for Sparks fans everywhere."

Michael Jackson: Rewind

Michael Jackson: Rewind PDF Author: Daryl Easlea
Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group USA
ISBN: 1631063677
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 245

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Book Description
Relive the incredible history of the King of Pop in reverse. Michael Jackson: Rewind charts the life to Michael from his tragic, unexpected passing to his childhood. By the time Michael Jackson passed away in 2009, he had sold an estimated 750 million records worldwide over his career. He had won 26 American Music Awards and 13 Grammy Awards as well as the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and was ranked number three, after The Beatles and Elvis Presley, of best-selling music artists. Five years after his death, the net worth of his estate is more than 600 million dollars. He is, without a doubt, one of the most popular - and controversial - artists of all time. Now, for the first time ever, author Daryl Easlea will explore the life and history of Michael Jackson... in reverse. Starting with his tragic death and rewinding to his early hits with the Jackson 5 and life in Gary, Indiana, this is a complete illustrated history of the King of Pop: his genius, his life, and his demons. Loaded with over 300 images, a timeline of his life, a complete discography, and more, this is the must-have book for any Michael Jackson fan.

Egonomics

Egonomics PDF Author: Dave Marcum
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1847375049
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 333

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Book Description
Backed by five years of research, David Marcum and Steven Smith's egonomicsinforms readers that the key to great leadership is understanding exactly what ego is - and what it should not be. With the aid of real-life examples and persuasive writing, egonomics argues that while most people believe ego is negative, it is actually a healthy, necessary element to management effectiveness and business leadership. Marcum and Smith illustrate that the distinction between a good and a great leader is how humility affects their ambition, and egonomics is full of ideas that help both upper and middle management keep their egos in balance. With a compelling combination of business and psychology expertise, these two specialists explain how (a) being too competitive can make you less competitive, (b) seeking respect and recognition dilutes effectiveness and (c) humility, curiosity and veracity are the essential components to outstanding leadership. Full of the best advice from the experts in the field, egonomics is poised to be the blockbuster business bestseller of the season.

The Power of Different

The Power of Different PDF Author: Gail Saltz, M.D.
Publisher: Flatiron Books
ISBN: 1250060036
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Book Description
A powerful and inspiring examination of the connection between the potential for great talent and conditions commonly thought to be disabilities, revealing how the source of our struggles can be the origin of our greatest strengths. In The Power of Different, psychiatrist and bestselling author Gail Saltz examines the latest scientific discoveries, profiles famous geniuses who have been diagnosed with all manner of brain “problems”—including learning disabilities, ADD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and autism. Saltz shows how the very conditions that cause people to experience difficulty at school, in social situations, at home, or at work, are inextricably bound to creative, disciplinary, artistic, empathetic, and cognitive abilities. Interweaving robust scientific research and captivating anecdotes from notable geniuses, you will see how brain differences have been instrumental in shaping some of the world's most creative minds. Discover how everyone can not only cope with these conditions, but thrive because of them. The Power of Different is a life-affirming read that illuminates the transformative power of cognitive diversity, representing a milestone in the intersecting frontiers of cognitive neuroscience, neuropsychology, and self-help psychology.

Talent Chooses You

Talent Chooses You PDF Author: James Ellis
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 328

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Book Description
If you want your business to grow, you need to be able to rely on your ability to hire talent reliably and consistently. No talent pipeline? No growth, and no business. But your recruiting team is drowning (I asked them). They need help. Now, if you ask recruiters, they will ask for headcount. Or more technology. But more bodies and more tools won't solve the issue (though it will eat up your budget). What you need a is a better strategy. And that strategy is called employer branding.Employer branding is about understanding, distilling and communicating what your company is all about in order to attract all the talent you need. That will differentiate your company as a place where people will want to work, rather than a place they land because they didn't know better.If you've heard about employer branding in business magazines, it might seem like something only "big companies" can do. Something that requires a dedicated team, expensive platforms, or a bunch of consultants. That isn't true. If you understand where your brand comes from, and how to apply it, any company (especially yours) can hire better with it.And this book will teach you how to do all of that, and then some.In this book, you'll learn what employer branding really is, how to make a compelling argument internally to leadership that creates commitment, how to work with other teams and be creative in finding solutions. As a special bonus, we are including a handbook on how to work with recruiting teams. This hands-on workbook is chock full of examples, checklists, step-by-step instructions and even emails you can copy and paste to make things happen immediately.