Now Accepting
EXCLUSIVELY FROM CMusic BOOKS
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.
PRICE US$119 PLUS POSTAGE
Write first for accurate postage information
For MULTIPLE ORDERS, write/email first.
NO RESPONSIBILITY TAKEN FRO UNINSURED ITEMS.
Prices
quoted are in AMERICAN ($US) DOLLARS. Payment by
PAYPAL or $US cash (or Euros to the $US equivalent) in a REGISTERED
letter. NO
cheques/checks, USPS or Western Union money orders accepted.
10% discount on prices of book for cash payment.
Stephen
J McParland
P.O. BOX 3106, NORTH STRATHFIELD, NSW, 2137, AUSTRALIA
cmusic@hotkey.net.au
SURF MUSIC U.S.A.
ALL THE
SURF, HOT-ROD, MOTORCYCLE AND SKATEBOARD HITS 1960-65
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.
PRICE $US51.00 PLUS POSTAGE
BIKINIS, BLACK DENIM AND BITCHEN SOUNDS
“A Musical Appreciation Of Female Surf, Hot-Rod And Related Recordings
1961-1967”
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.
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.
Price per book is $US70 PLUS POSTAGE
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.
PRICE PER BOOK is $US33 PLUS POSTAGE
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.
Price per copy $US45.00 PLUS postage.
HODADS, GREMMIES NOTES AND QUOTES
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.
Price per copy $US28.00 PLUS postage.
ALL AMERICAN BOYS:
The Walker Bros. Genesis
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.”.
BOOK PRICE $US32.00 PLUS POSTAGE
OR
SOUND WAVES & TRACTION
"Surf & Hot-Rod Studio Groups Of The '60s"
Hardcover Deluxe Edition
Volume 1 and Volume 2 together. The complete story in one book.
470 pages including 14 glossy photo pages.
Library Edition - Black Leather styled cover with Gold Lettering.
Price $US80 plus postage
COWABUNGA! GIDGET GOES ENCYCLOPEDIC
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".
PRICE PER COPY IS $US43 PLUS POSTAGE
HARD COVER DELUXE EDITION with DVD (and additional colour plates featuring the original front and back covers of the soft cover edition) - $US73 PLUS POSTAGE
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.
*DVD IS NTSC ZONE 1, PLAYABLE ON ALL US AND MULTI ZONE DVD PLAYERS
SMiLE, SUN, SAND & PET SOUNDS
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.
PRICE PER BOOK IS $US31 PLUS POSTAGE
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.
PRICE PER BOOK IS $US35 PLUS POSTAGE
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.
PRICE PER BOOK IS $US35 PLUS POSTAGE
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.
PRICE PER BOOK IS $US35 PLUS POSTAGE
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.
PRICE PER COPY IS $US35 PLUS POSTAGE
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).
PRICE PER COPY IS $US35 PLUS POSTAGE
TORRENCE OF BERRY'D TREASURES
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.
PRICE PER BOOK IS $US26 PLUS POSTAGE
TORRENCE OF BERRY'D TREASURES, Vol. Two SOLD OUT !
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.
PRICE PER BOOK IS $US 31 PLUS POSTAGE
IT'S PARTY TIME
A MUSICAL APPRECIATION OF THE BEACH PARTY FILM GENRE
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.
PRICE PER BOOK IS $US31 PLUS POSTAGE
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.
PRICE PER BOOK IS $US37PLUS POSTAGE
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'.
PRICE PER BOOK IS $US33 PLUS POSTAGE
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.
PRICE PER BOOK IS $US33 PLUS POSTAGE
PURCHASE VOLUMES 1 & 2 FOR $US58 PLUS POSTAGE
OR
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.
Price $US85 plus postage
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.
PRICE PER BOOK IS $US25 PLUS POSTAGE
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.
PRICE PER BOOK IS $US47 PLUS POSTAGE
SURF BEAT - "THE DICK DALE STORY"
"From Deltone To Hightone And Beyond"
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.
PRICE PER COPY IS $US33 PLUS POSTAGE
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.
PRICE PER BOOK $US43 PLUS POSTAGE
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.
PRICE PER COPY IS $US31 PLUS POSTAGE
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.
PRICE PER COPY IS $27 PLUS POSTAGE
PAYMENT INFORMATION
CMusic accepts:
If you do not use PayPal, all OVERSEAS orders, payment MUST BE made in $US (AMERICAN DOLLARS), or in your country's currency to the equivalent of the AMERICAN ($US) amount. Payment by CASH in a REGISTERED letter is preferred. Payment by cheque (check) or a bank draft is acceptable, but MUST BE accompanied by an ADDITIONAL $US20 to cover bank clearance charges. NO overseas postal money orders will be accepted. However, you can pay by INTERNATIONAL MONEY ORDER (I.M.O.), but again payment MUST BE made in $US (AMERICAN dollars), or your country's currency equivalent, which your post office will convert to Australian dollars.
All payments must be sent to:
STEPHEN J McPARLAND
P.O. BOX 3106
NORTH STRATHFIELD 2137
N.S.W., AUSTRALIA