CMUSIC BOOKS

This is the first book that attempts to document the musical career of Bobby Fuller and Mustang Records. After 40 years, the facts are finally presented in a cohesive form, based primarily on many firsthand recollections from those involved. Archival and fresh interviews have been used to piece together the story of the musical career of Bobby Fuller and also that of Mustang Records, together with its various offshoots such as Bronco, Selma and Scarlet.

The story begins in El Paso, Texas and ends tragically in Hollywood, California with Bobby Fuller’s murder by person or persons unknown.

Together with an exhaustive look at Fuller’s recording career, in particular the Bobby Fuller Four, the events surrounding his murder are dissected and the various theories pertaining to why he was murdered and who was responsible are also investigated.

The book comprises seven chapters, five appendices, a thorough index of 13 pages, 29 pages of B&W photos and graphics, and 12 full colour photo pages. The appendices include a complete Bobby Fuller discography and a Mustang Records discography, as well as 21 pages of notes.

It is hoped that this book will provoke a more thorough investigation into the death of Bobby Fuller. It is long overdue.

(A4 size – 258 pages including 24 pages of full colour.
Also includes a full colour cover soft cover and index.)

This book presents the real stories behind some of surf and hot-rod music’s more interesting record albums. In all, over 40 surf and hot-rod music albums are discussed in detail, detail that includes a look at the group/individual responsible, the music recorded, the artwork and any other interesting side stories that are relevant in some form or another to the record album discussed.

Groups featured in this book run the gamut from instrumental surf bands (such as the Tornadoes, Surfaris, Challengers, Pyramids, Sandals, etc.) to vocal ensembles (such as the Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, Super Stocks, Hondells, Risers, Fantastic Baggys, Roadrunners, etc.) to even Annette Funicello and Candy Johnson!

THE CALIFORNIA SOUND
                     AN INSIDER'S STORY
            THE MUSICAL BIOGRAPHY OF
    GARY LEE USHER
                               1938-1990

THE DELUXE COLLECTOR'S EDITION

30cm x 22cm (8.75" x 11.75")
LIBRARY STYLED HARDCOVER
DARK BURGUNDY COLOUR WITH GOLD LETTERING
AND INLAID COLOUR PHOTO
725 PAGES

WITH BONUS EXTRAS
14 minute DVD
50 minute CD

Finally in the format in which it was originally conceived, here is the full musical biography of Gary Usher, covering his early forays in the music business, his collaborations with Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys; his enormous surf and hot-rod music catalogue, plus his work as a producer/executive at Decca, Columbia, Together, RCA and Elektra record companies circa 1964-1973, as well as all his recording, songwriting and production endeavours from 1974 until his death in May 1990. The who, when, where and whys are all covered, supported by a complete discography of released and unreleased (with exhaustive notes) material. If you are interested in music from California from the ‘60s to the ‘80s, then this is the book for you, told in the words of those who were there.

Previously available in five separate volumes, this DELUXE COLLECTOR’S EDITION gathers together all five volumes in one book, together with some additional colour plates and updated CD information.

This 725 page book includes 34 glossy photo pages and 4 full-colour plates, together with an additional APPENDIX EIGHT which includes the sections:

“ADDITIONS AND FEEDBACK”

“UNRELEASED RECORDINGS NOW AVAILABLE ON COMPACT DISC”; and

“GARY USHER IN THE STUDIO – DIALOGUE NOW AVAILABLE ON CD”

Also included FREE with this DELUXE COLLECTOR’S EDITION are two bonus extras; a 14 minute DVD and a 50 minute CD. These items WILL NOT be available separately.

DVD – From 1981, this 14 minute grass roots presentation centres on the reunion of Gary Usher and his “Troops” held at the Woodland Hills home of Usher’s right-hand man Dick Burns. Includes a live performance of Younger Girl and a jam session. There is also some footage of the Usher family and the El Rancho De Paz homestead, now sadly demolished.

CD – This 23 track CD comprises demos, dubs and out-takes circa 1959-1986, many of which are available for the first time. Hear Gary Usher’s earliest solo efforts from 1960 and 1961, together with recordings by The Hondells and demos by Chuck Girard and Dick Burns.

SURF MUSIC U.S.A.
ALL THE SURF, HOT-ROD, MOTORCYCLE AND SKATEBOARD HITS 1960-65

SOLD OUT!!!

A4 size (8 1/2 x 11),
310 pages, including 28 full colour plates, 20 pages of B&W photos,
full colour glossy soft cover, 3 appendices, bibliography, extensive notes section,
AFM contracts, posters, etc and a thorough index.

The premise of this book is to try and explain the "birth" and development of surf music circa 1960-1965 in America, based primarily on the impact that the musical genre had on the record charts of the time, namely the two national charts of Billboard and Cash Box and those maintained by Los Angeles radio stations KFWB and KRLA.

These "HITS" are all included within these pages, as are the stories behind them, in most cases told by the actual participants.

Although the summer of 1961 is acknowledged more or less as the period in which what was to become known as SURF music first took form, the genesis had been brewing for some time. Therefore, to incorporate some of these seminal influences, the time frame has been extended back a year, although it should be stressed that 1961 was the pivotal "moment in time," so to speak.

From that watershed sprang forth a musical genre that over the next four years underwent a transformation - or transformations - that also saw the "birth" of additional sub genres such as HOT-ROD music, MOTORCYCLE music and SIDEWALK SURFIN' music, all of which produced chart hits, both locally and nationally ... and for that matter, like surf music, internationally.

This book covers them all.

Therefore, for all those musical aficionados who have searched for a book on SURF music that answers all the questions, this is it.

SOLD OUT!!!

BIKINIS, BLACK DENIM AND BITCHEN SOUNDS
“A Musical Appreciation Of Female Surf, Hot-Rod And Related Recordings 1961-1967”

BBDBS

A4 SIZE (8.5” x 11.5”)
280 pages, including 53 pages of black and white photos,
7 pages of full colour, 7 pages of graphics, full index,
perfect bound with a full colour glossy cover.

Whereas one single girl, Kathy Kohner, aka “Gidget”, established the concept of the girl surfer in the minds of hundreds of thousands of individuals around the world via the printed media and the film medium, thanks to Frederick Kohner’s best selling 1957 book GIDGET: THE LITTLE GIRL WITH BIG IDEAS and Columbia Pictures’ 1959 box-office success GIDGET, the concept of the girl (or woman for that matter) singing about surfing (and its related offshoot of hot-rod music) has never been fully explored, until now.

Unlike surfer girls, females singing the praises of surfing was largely a ‘60s phenomenon and this book attempts to chronicle this brief yet interesting flowering.

Likewise, girls singing about hot-rods, drag racing and motorcycles have been included as well as actresses from “The Beach Party” genre of films who have recorded material.

Similarly, this book also documents the recorded exploits of female performers who have fallen under the creative wing of individuals more well-known for their own involvement in the surfing and hot-rod music genre. Such product by record producers, music arrangers and songwriters of the calibre of BRIAN WILSON, GARY USHER, BRUCE JOHNSTON, TERRY MELCHER, JOE SARACENO, PHIL SLOAN & STEVE BARRI and GARY ZEKLEY is therefore discussed and documented, not all of which falls into the category of surfing or hot-rod music, but is often couched in similar musical terms.

And lastly, for those interested in “The Girl Group” musical genre, this book taps into an area (and covers individuals) largely ignored elsewhere and so should provide an additional bountiful supply of information and trivia.

SOLD OUT!!!

WALTZING THE PLANK
THE ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AUSTRALIAN SURF MUSIC
1963-2003

(A4 size - 500 pages including 78 pages of photos and 24 full colour pages of LP, EP, CD, Video, DVD and record labels. Also includes a full colour soft cover and index)

Here in one cohesive form is a detailed look at the phenomenon of Australian Surf Music, an all-encompassing musical genre that reflects the Australian fascination with and love of the beach and its associated lifestyle. Divided into two parts - "The First Wave" and "The Second Wave" - detailing the respective eras of 1963-1965 and 1966-2003 respectively, WALTZING THE PLANK presents all the facts and trivia in a variety of separate sections that not only cover LP, 45rpm, CD, video and DVD releases, but a detailed look at the musical genre itself and the recording artists (and associated

personnel) responsible for producing and promulgating the concept of Australian Surf Music. Also included is a comprehensive documentation of the "Stomp" dance craze; surfing films and their home grown soundtracks; the 100% Mambo Battle Of The Surf Bands and glossaries of the surfing vernacular, including specific indigenous terms.

Contents include:
Surfin' Sounds Downunder/Stomp, Stomp, Stompin' Australia Way/Surfin' South Of The Border/Surfin' Wax 1/The A-Z Of Australian Surf Music 1/Detailed Biographies & Discographies 1/Surfaspeak 1/Americana Vinylrama/Surfing Celluloid/100% MAMBO Battle Of The Surf Bands 1986-1989/Surfin' Wax 2/The A-Z Of Australian Surf Music 2/Detailed Biographies & Discographies 2/Surfaspeak 2/Reissued Material/Photo captions/Index, etc.

Steve McParland’s
BEACH STREET AND STRIP
THE ALBUMS & CDs

At last, the long awaited reprint of Stephen J McParland’s out-of-print 1983 publication BEACH STREET AND STRIP – THE ALBUMS is available once again … but WAIT! This new publication now includes CD releases as well!!

Here in an easily accessible form is an alphabetical listing of all the surf and hot-rod music groups who have issued an album or a CD, complete with full track listings and a cataloguing of any singles (45rpms) issued by the respective groups.

Also included is a VARIOUS ARTISTS section and a SURFING FILM SOUNDTRACK section that likewise chronicles album and CD releases.

CYCLE CINEMA & SICKLE SOUNDS

228 pages with full color glossy cover

Drop your baggies and pull on your glory stompers … If you want to see where some of the Beach Party film gang ended up …here’s your chance.

Led by American International Pictures (who launched the Beach Party film genre with their archetypal BEACH PARTY), the BIKER film genre burst onto the big screen – namely the big DRIVE-IN screen – in 1966 via THE WILD ANGELS. Success led to a follow-up in the form of DEVIL’S ANGELS, then came BORN LOSERS, THE GLORY STOMPERS, THE SAVAGE SEVEN, etc, etc - all American International releases.

Just like the Beach Party film genre, a plethora of other film companies quickly jumped on the bandwagon and began issuing their own BIKER productions, as usual modeled on the originators. However, a development soon began to take place with each film attempting to outdo its predecessor in plot, violence, gratuitous sex and eccentricity. By the end of the first rush of films, there were Lesbian Bikers, Transvestite Bikers, Zombie Bikers and Werewolf Bikers, with a whole lot of nasty Bikers thrown into the mix.

In addition to a newly formed film genre documented here in Part One under the title CYCLE CINEMA, there is the BIKER music genre, also launched by American International Pictures and spearheaded via their use of guitarist Davie Allan and his band The Arrows whose Blues’ Theme became the BIKER theme song until Steppenwolf released their Born To Be Wild (featured in EASY RIDER) in 1968. However, it was Allan who established the “Fuzz” guitar sound so synonymous with the BIKER film. His contributions alone can be found in at least nine BIKER films!

Both the BIKER music genre and songs about motorcycles in general are covered in this book, the former in Part One and latter in Part Two under the title SICKLE SOUNDS.

Forewords by Davie “King Of Fuzz” Allan and Jim “Wild Wheels” Pewter, DJ and musicologist, are included, as well as plenty of graphics and photos.

Includes 14 pages Of glossy photos, 4 color plates, filmographies, dscographies, 6 appendices and an index.

HODADS, GREMMIES NOTES AND QUOTES

SOLD OUT!!!

140 pages with glossy colored cover

A grab bag of surf and hot-rod music artists and their stories (and discographies), culled from liner notes and interviews by Stephen J. McParland.

Artists include JERRY COLE, THE RISERS, THE HORNETS, THE SANDALS, THE ELIMINATORS, THE ZIP-CODES, BRUCE & TERRY, THE MARKETTS, THE T-BONES, THE SUNRAYS, THE HONEYS, THE HONDELLS, JAN & DEAN, THE RIP CHORDS, DICK DALE, SUPER STOCKS, FOUR SPEEDS, together with a look at ATM Records RARE SURF CDs Volume 5 and Volume 6, a complete sessiongraphy of the Surfaris 1962-1967, etc., etc., etc. There is even an interview with Doo Wop Artist Val Poliuto who was present at the BEACH BOYS first sessions for Candix Records.

Also included - a 1962 colored photo of the Beach Boys on the cover, 8 pages of glossy B&W photos and a thorough index.

ALL AMERICAN BOYS:
The Walker Bros. Genesis

SOLD OUT!!!

200 pages, glossy coloured cover

ALL AMERICAN BOYS is just that … a story of a group of American individuals, three of whom emerged in England during 1965 as the hit recording group known as “The Walker Bros.”

However, this is not a story of “The Walker Bros.” per se, but rather the story of them as separate entities, of their various friends, acquaintances and fellow musical associates and the product they jointly produced circa 1957-1965.

Many of these releases involved Scott Engel as a performer, songwriter, musician, arranger and producer. Of the three individuals who became “The Walker Bros.”, Engel was by far the most prolific musical creator, starting out as a 13 year old solo singer before teaming up with high school buddies such as Kevin Bruce, John Stewart and Jonathan Young to record a variety of vocal and instrumental singles that covered a number of different musical styles from rock ‘n’ roll to novelty to surf!

Besides well over a dozen previously undocumented Scott Engel related releases, ALL AMERICAN BOYS also uncovers the facts behind how The Walker Brothers Trio became “The Walker Bros.”.

Also included is a full discography of Scott Engel – John Maus - Gary Leeds - “The Walker Bros.” and associated American released material circa 1957-1967, two colour plates, over 20 pages of “Notes And References”, 12 pages of glossy photos and a thorough index.

This is a must for all aficionados of ‘60s music and, of course, all fans of “The Walker Bros.”.

SOUND WAVES AND TRACTION
Surf And Hot-Rod Studio Groups Of The ‘60s
VOLUME 1

SWAT1

This 250 page glossy covered book contains seven chapters, each devoted to particular individuals and the studio groups they were involved with. In this volume you will find complete/relevant biographies and discographies on RICHIE PODOLOR/RICHIE ALLEN, PETE ANDERS & VINI PONCIA, CAROL CONNORS, THE FROGMEN, THE HONDELLS, THE HONEYS and TERRY MELCHER & BRUCE JOHNSTON.

Also included are six pages of glossy photos and an exhaustive index.

SOUND WAVES AND TRACTION
Surf And Hot-Rod Studio Groups Of The ‘60s
VOLUME 2

SWAT2

This 250 page glossy covered book contains five chapters, each devoted to particular individuals and the studio groups they were involved with. In this volume you will find complete/relevant biographies and discographies on GARY PAXTON-BUZZ CASON-THE ELIGIBLES, JOE SARACENO, THE SURVIVORS, MIKE CURB-NICK VENET-DAVIE ALLAN and JOHN “BUCK” WILKIN/RONNY DAYTON.

Also included are eight of glossy photos and an exhaustive index.

ALSO AVAILABLE!

For the first time in one easily accessible tome are all the facts and details that together form the phenomenon of "GIDGET", compiled with the help of those actually involved. Hear the real Gidget tell her story, and the real KAHUNA tell his!
Born at Malibu, California during the summers of 1956-57, the character of Gidget was to go on to win the hearts of teenagers everywhere, even those in landlocked areas! She not only helped establish the image of surfing and the surfer, via her first person anecdotes and the subsequent Hollywoodisation of the character, but became a teenage spokesperson for "women's lib" ... or should that be GIRL POWER! A total of eight books followed her teenage life from surfing accolyte to married woman, a journey also captured cinematically in a number of films, beginning with GIDGET in 1959.
COWABUNGA! GIDGET GOES ENCYCLOPEDIC captures all these developments and methodically documents ALL the films, ALL the TV series - there were two! - ALL the people involved - real and imaginary - and ALL the music. As well as ALL the facts, this 8" x 11" (A4 size), 248 page "encyclopedia" also includes nine chapters, five appendices and numerous side-bars of facts, together with a full colour glossy cover and 28 pages of glossy photos of rare and interesting photos from the world of "GIDGET".

With this HARD COVER version of COWABUNGA!, you receive the Columbia Pictures DVD* “THE COMPLETE GIDGET COLLECTION” that contains the three films GIDGET, GIDGET GOES HAWAIIAN and GIDGET GOES TO ROME.

Now you can not only read about the surfing femme fatale, but watch her exploits on the screen.

A 106 page 8x10 glossy coloured covered book detailing many aspects of the recording career of BRIAN WILSON and THE BEACH BOYS, including such articles as a thorough investigation of their surf and hot-rod music recordings, 24 pages detailing various Beach Boys' songs recorded by other artists, and overviews of the PET SOUNDS and SMiLE album projects, etc.. This book is a definite must for all fans of BRIAN WILSON and THE BEACH BOYS, and comes complete with an index for quick reference.

THE CALIFORNIA SOUND SOLD OUT !
"An Insider's Story"
THE MUSICAL BIOGRAPHY OF GARY USHER
VOLUME ONE

This 168 page 8x10 glossy coloured covered book is the first volume of a FIVE volume set detailing every aspect of the recording career of GARY USHER. The period covered in this volume is 1939-1964. Also included in this volume are
6 pages of photos, plus a variety of other pages devoted to recording contracts, handwritten lyrics, etc. A full chapter synopsis
for subsequent volumes is also featured, as is a thorough index.

THE CALIFORNIA SOUND SOLD OUT !
"An Insider's Story"
THE MUSICAL BIOGRAPHY OF GARY USHER
VOLUME TWO

This 184 page 8x10 glossy coloured covered book is the second volume of a FIVE volume set detailing every aspect of the recording career of GARY USHER. The period covered in this volume is 1964-1966. Also included in this volume are 6 pages of photos, plus a variety of other pages devoted to recording contracts, handwritten lyrics, etc. A full chapter synopsis
for subsequent volumes is also featured, as is a thorough index.

THE CALIFORNIA SOUND SOLD OUT !
"An Insider's Story"
THE MUSICAL BIOGRAPHY OF GARY USHER
VOLUME THREE

This 134 page 8x10 glossy coloured covered book is the third volume of a FIVE volume set detailing every aspect of the recording career of GARY USHER. The period covered in this volume is 1966-1970. Also included in this volume are 6 pages of photos, plus a variety of other pages devoted to recording contracts, handwritten lyrics, etc. A full chapter synopsis
for subsequent volumes is also featured, as is a thorough index.

This 142 page 8x10 glossy coloured covered book is the fourth of a FIVE volume set detailing every aspect of the recording career of GARY USHER. The period covered in this volume is 1970-1990. Also included in this volume are six full pages of photos, plus a variety of other pages devoted to recording contracts, handwritten lyrics, etc. A full chapter synopsis for subsequent volumes is also featured, as is a thorough index.

THE CALIFORNIA SOUND
"An Insiders's Story"
THE MUSICAL BIOGRAPHY OF GARY USHER
VOLUME FIVE

This 176 page 8x10 glossy coloured covered book is the final volume of a FIVE volume set detailing every aspect of the recording career of GARY USHER. This volume includes a COMPLETE as possible DISCOGRAPHY of Usher
related recordings circa 1961-1990. Also included is a COMPLETE as possible discography of his UNRELEASED material and all the songs he wrote for the various music publishing companies he was signed to. Additional discographies (of released and unreleasaed material) of CURT BOETTCHER, DICK BURNS and CHUCK GIRARD are also included. A full chapter synopsis for all volumes is also featured, as is a thorough index for chapters 1-4, and 11 pages of glossy photos (including a colour plate).

A 92 page 8x10 glossy coloured covered book of JAN & DEAN related material, including 66 pages of original handwritten lyrics (with notes), many of which were never published or recorded, plus numerous clippings and original 'Jan & Dean Fan Club' newsletters. This is a once in a lifetime (well, actually a second chance - the first printing in 1983 was limited to only 100 numbered copies) opportunity to acquire something of historical and real value. Get a copy while they last because it could be another 16 years before a third reprint is considered.

This 100+ page glossy couloured covered book compiles various articles detailing the proposed Jan & Dean film, EASY COME - EASY GO, in particular the on-set accident that brought the production to a premature end, including: "Jan Berry Hurt As Freight Train Hits Crowded Flatcar"; "I Almost Died"; "Career Nipped in Bud"; "15 Of Film Company Hurt in Train Crash At Valley Location"; R&R Star injured in Rail Crash"; "Singer Tells Of Train Craish On Movie Location"; "Movieland location Comedy Stunt Sends Singing Star Jan Berry To Hospital Bed"; "Weird Film Crash", etc. Of significant interest is the inclusion of a copy of the ACTUAL FILM SCRIPT (dated May 28, 1965). For the first time, fans of Jan Berry and Dean Torrence will at last be privy to what the actual film, - or at least one version of it! - was all about. This is a rare collector's find and a MUST HAVE for any real fan of Jan & Dean. Also included are 12 pages of promotional photos of Jan & Dean shot on the acutal film set.

A 204 page 8x10 glossy coloured covered book detailing every aspect of the Beach Party film genre that flourished during the early to mid-'60s. Over 30 films are discussed and dissected. This encyclopedic tome comes complete with a film by film FILMOGRAPHY detailing full cast and technical crew, music performed and record releases. This is a must for all surf and hot-rod music enthusiasts. Tons of photos of the actors and actress, promotional material and record covers.

OUR FAVOURITE RECORDING SESSIONS
IN THE STUDIO WITH BRIAN WILSON & THE BEACH BOYS

This 184 page (8x10 size, glossy coloured covered) book details 94 BEACH BOYS related recording sessions circa 1961-70, based on official A.F.M. (American Federation of Musicians) recording contracts, all of which are reproduced within the tome. Also included is a specially added section titled THE SEA OF TUNES CDS - TRULY SURPASSED MASTERS detailing the various releases of this superb series of CDs. In addition, the book also dissects and reconstructs the events (based on interviews with those involved) circa Summer 1961-Summer 1962 that saw the birth of THE BEACH BOYS as a group.
"5TH EDITION" with corrections and additions - now including full listing of the Sea of Tunes CDs.

THE GRAND HIGH POTENTATES OF CALIFORNIA ROCK
JAN & DEAN
IN PERSPECTIVE" - 1958-1968 - VOLUME ONE

This 168 page (8x10 size, glossy coloured covered) book is VOLUME ONE of a two volume set that attempts to document once and for all, and place "in perspective", the recording antics of the California twosome, Jan Berry and Dean Torrence. Based on first person interviews with just about everyone who was involved in creating the "California Sound", each
volume contains over 40 pages of notes, reference material and 6 pages of photos and an index. Volume one covers the period from Jennie Lee to Sidewalk Surfin'.

THE GRAND HIGH POTENTATES OF CALIFORNIA ROCK
"JAN & DEAN 'IN PERSPECTIVE" - 1958-1968 - VOLUME TWO

This 182 page 8x10 glossy coloured, covered book is VOLUME 2 of a two volume set that attempts to document once and for all, and place "in perspective", the recording antics of the California twosome, Jan Berry and Dean Torrence. Based on first person interviews with just about everyone who was involved in creating the "California Sound", each volume contains over 40 pages of notes, reference material and 6 pages of photos. Volume two covers the period from "Here They Come From All
Over The World" to "Girl You're Blowing My Mind", and includes a complete 1958-1968 DISCOGRAPHY (with notes), as well as a thorough index that covers BOTH Volumes.

THE GRAND HIGH POTENTATES OF CALIFORNIA ROCK
"Jan & Dean In Perspective 1958-1968"
Hardcover Deluxe Edition
Volume 1 and Volume 2 together, plus TORRENCE OF BERRY'S TREASURES VOL.2
All in the one book!
462 pages including 26 glossy photo pages and 9 Full Colour pages.
Library Edition - Royal Blue Leather styled cover with gold lettering and
inlaid colour photo.

CALIFORNIA CONFIDENTIAL!
A SMALL TASTE OF CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' AND CALIFORNIA SCHEMIN'
IN CONVERSATION WITH KIM FOWLEY

"The Howard Hughes Of Rock And Roll" is one of many epithets used to describe Californian, Kim Fowley, whose involvement in American pop music history is legendary. This 96 page (8x10 size, glossy coloured covered) book, presented in conversational form, attempts to present some insight into Fowley's early '60s music career. In his "unbiased" and uninhibited style, Fowley not only waxes lyrical about these musical dabblings, but also offers a very original and self-satisfying view of
his own career and his motivations. Includes an index and discographical notes.

P.F. - TRAVELLING BAREFOOT ON A ROCKY ROAD
THE MUSICAL BIOGRAPHY OF P.F. SLOAN

Who is P.F. Sloan you may ask?
He is perhaps one of the most controversial, misunderstood and creative American tunesmith of the '60s! His "Eve Of Destruction" (for Barry McGuire), "Let Me Be" (for The Turtles), "Take Me For What I'm Worth" (for The Searchers), "Where Were You When I Needed You" (for The Grass Roots), "The Sins Of A Family" (solo hit as P.F. Sloan) were pop music masterpieces, as well as inditements on society, couched in the protest/folk-rock idiom of the day. Likewise, "You Baby" and "Can I Get To Know You Better" (for The Turtles), "Hold On" and "A Must To Avoid" (for Herman's Hermits), "Secret Agent Man" (for Johnny Rivers), "I Found A Girl" and "From All Over The World" (for Jan & Dean), "One-Piece Topless Bathing Suit" (for The Rip Chords", "Summer Means Fun" (for Bruce & Terry) and numerous Canadian hits for Terry Black, were equally well-received "pop" tunes of the day, culled from a musical portfolio too numerous to reveal here.
The purpose of this book is to once and for all document the contributions made by Phil Sloan to American Popular Music. Up until this tome, there has not been a definitive work on Sloan or his musical output, only a paragraph or two, or a modest entry, in various musical encyclopedias. But there is more, as "P.F. - TRAVELLING BAREFOOT ON A ROCKY ROAD" will attest. Here was a SINGER, SONGWRITER, ARRANGER, MUSICIAN and PRODUCER whose material provided a successful vehicle for numerous other groups and individuals, something many other more "famous" '60s individuals who are
still regarded as musical heavyweights, or as creative genii, can not lay claim to. Sloan never professed to be a musical genius or a spokesman of the times. He was simply someone so in love with his craft that it was, and still is, his life. Now after over 40 years of giving, here is his story, told not second-hand, but with the help of Sloan himself and numerous associates.
The major focus of this work is on Sloan's musical product, intertwined as it is with the psyche of Sloan the person. Hopefully, some light has been shed on the person, while his musical legacy is presented here in the most definitive form yet attempted.
This 300 pages plus book (with glossy coloured cover) features not only Sloan's story (told in 18 chapters), but a full discography and songography, 12 pages of photos, one colour plate and a thorough index.

This 100 page 8x10 glossy coloured covered book is the first and so far only biography of legendary Californian recording artist and surf music hero, Dick Dale. The period covered in this book encompasses Dale's entire career, from the early '50s and into the year 2000! Also included are 12 full pages of photos, plus a variety of other pages devoted to recording contracts and various memorabilia. A complete Dick Dale discography and a Del-Tone Records discography is included, together with a thorough index.

This 232 page book brings together the acclaimed 1993 book, THE WILSON PROJECT, telling the story of the struggle encountered by Gary Usher in his attempt to provide a creative musical atmosphere for his old friend, Brian Wilson, then encumbered by the shadow of Dr. Eugene E. Landy, and BRIAN WILSON TAPE #10, the briefly available and limited issue that brought the story to its end, complete with reproductions of various documents, court depositions, memorabilia and handwritten lyrics. Now as the one book, THE WILSON PROJECT TAPES 1-10 is an insightful look at the dealings that prevailed during the mid to late '80s that eventually led to the release of BRIAN WILSON, the Beach Boy leader's
first solo LP issued by Sire Records in July 1988. THE WILSON PROJECT TAPES 1-10 is based on a 10 audio cassette diary maintained by Gary Usher during the "ordeal" and captures the day by day interaction, the creative out-pourrings and the problems faced by Usher and Brian Wilson as they struggled to produce a foundation upon which Wilson could be re-introduced to contemporary music. THE WILSON PROJECT TAPES 1-10 exposes the total control exercised by
"the good doctor" over his patient. It also concerns the battles that ensued for Brian's well-being and musical soul. It is a story that proves beyond a shadow of doubt that FACT is STRANGER than fiction. THE WILSON PROJECT TAPES 1-10, besides the main story, includes full recording particulars and a total of five appendices to expose the full INSIDE story; a sad melancholy tale with humour, drama and all the machinations of a Shakespearean play.

This 8x10 160 page glossy coloured covered book compiles, for the first time, all the surf music scribblings of THE BIG KAHUNA, circa 1994-1998, that were featured in the now defunct Australian record collectors' magazine, "IT". These ramblings include surf music CD reviews, various surf music related articles, as well as biographies of such legendary surf bands
(and related individuals) as The Trashmen, The Sandals, Frank Zappa, The Centurions, The Sunrays, Davie Allan, The Chantays, Bobby Fuller Four, The Chantays, Nick Venet, etc. Also included as a BONUS is the first definitive look at the enigmatic surf music studio group known as both The Mar-Kets and The Marketts, together with a complete discography. This tome comes complete with a thorough index and various related graphics. INCLUDES bonus surf music CD.

Interviews With Those Who Helped Shape THE CALIFORNIA SOUND. This 8x10 128 page glossy coloured book compiles, for the first time, a variety of interviews with many seminal figures in the surf music and hot-rod music genre, as well as other peripheral identities whose contributions were equally beneficial to the emergence of what has become known as THE CALIFORNIA SOUND. Some of the 25 individuals featured in this book are Davie Allan, Kim Fowley, Rick Henn, The Honeys, David Marks, Terry Melcher, Jim Pewter, Richie Podolor, Russ Regan, Joe Saraceno, Nick Venet, Gary Zekley, etc. This tome comes complete with an exhaustive notes/discography section, a thorough index and various related graphics.

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