Hi everyone, here are our suggested daily recommended titles in print or media and digital formats.
Our digital suggestion for today is the e-book:
Man on the Run by Carl Weber:
New York Times bestselling author Carl Weber delivers a riveting, action-packed drama full of the twists and turns for which he’s become known.
It was the night before his wedding, fifteen years ago, that the nightmare began for Jay Crawford—locked up for a crime he never committed. Now, he’s escaped prison and wants nothing more than to clear his name and protect his family. To get justice, he’ll need the help of the three best friends who have always had his back—Wil, Kyle and Allan. But a man on the run requires absolute trust…and Jay may just be setting himself up for the ultimate betrayal.
Here’s a link to the checkout page in the Digital Catalog:
Murder between the Lines (Kitty Weeks Mystery) by Radha Vatsal:
Intrepid journalist Kitty Weeks returns in the second book in this acclaimed WW1-era historical mystery series to investigate the death of a boarding school student.
When Kitty’s latest assignment for the New York Sentinel Ladies’ Page takes her to Westfield Hall, she expects to find an orderly establishment teaching French and dancing-but there’s more going on at the school than initially meets the eye.
Tragedy strikes when a student named Elspeth is found frozen to death in Central Park. The doctor’s proclaim that the girl’s sleepwalking was the cause, but Kitty isn’t so sure.
Determined to uncover the truth, Kitty must investigate a more chilling scenario-a murder that may involve Elspeth’s scientist father and a new invention by a man named Thomas Edison.
For fans of Jacqueline Winspear and Rhys Bowen, Murder Between the Lines combines true historical events with a thrilling mystery.
Here’s a link to the StarCat request page for the book:
You can also requests books simply by calling the library at: 607-936-3713 x 502.
Have a great day!
Linda, SSCL
Online Catalog Links:
StarCat: The catalog of physical materials, i.e. print books, DVDs, audiobooks on CD etc. http://starcat.stls.org/
The Digital Catalog: The catalog of e-books, downloadable audiobooks and a handful of streaming videos: https://stls.overdrive.com/
Freegal Music Service: This music service is free to library card holders and offers the option to download, and keep, three free songs per week and to stream three hours of commercial free music each day: http://stlsny.freegalmusic.com/
Zinio: Digital magazines on demand and for free! Back issues are available and you can even choose to be notified by email when the new issue of your favorite magazine is available: https://www.rbdigital.com/stlschemungcony
About Library Apps:
You can access digital library content on PCs, Macs and mobile devices. For mobile devices simply download the OverDrive, Freegal or Zinio app from your app store to get started. If you have questions call the library at: 607-936-3713 and one of our Digital Literacy Specialists will be happy to assist you.
Speaking of music…There are all sorts of books in the library’s collection! Books on cats, books on architecture, books on how to do many things including cooking, writing a book, gardening, how to repair a bike and evening…insert drum roll here for dramatic effect, how to make a guitar from scratch!
So if you’re a tinkerer and have some spare time on your hands this summer you might just check out this book and try your hand a making your own guitar! Come to think of it, a homemade guitar might just make an excellent holiday gift too!
Click here to request the book Build Your Own Electric Guitar:
And if you like guitars you might just want to browse through the books in that section! The Dewey Decimal System number for the book Build Your Own Guitar is: 787.8719 BAL and you’ll find books of similar scope in that section.
And once you’ve built your very own guitar, you might just want to find a cool vintage amplifier to play it through. And we’ve got a book that subject too! A blue book for guitar amps!
The Blue Book of Guitar Amplifiers, Dewey number: 787.8719 BLU, is currently checked out but you can place a request for it via StarCat:
Hi everyone, this is week 2 of our month long look at the music of the second British Invasion of the Sixties, which encompasses music of British bands released between June 1967 and the end of the Sixties.
This week we’ll be taking a look at the music of Jeff Beck, Pink Floyd & Traffic.
I. Links to AllMusic Biographies of the Artists/Groups of the Week:
II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week (streaming music):
Jeff Beck: Jeff Beck, is one of the guitarists of the Sixties that you can truly describe as a guitarist’s guitarist in the same way you might say a writer is a writer’s writer – meaning of course, that he has great skill in the way he plays the guitar. Like many of his contemporaries Beck went to art school before launching a music career. He replaced Eric Clapton in the Yardbirds before forming the Jeff Beck Group in 1967 with future Faces and solo artist Rod Stewart on vocals, future Faces and Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood on bass and Mickey Waller on drums. This line-up released two albums which to my ears hold up well. Beck has always been a great guitarist and he seems to care much more for playing his guitar than making commercial records, as is illustrated by his releasing a number of all instrumental albums over the years, so in many ways these first two albums he made with the classic Jeff Beck Group line-up, and including a great vocalist, are the most accessible to rock fans.
So here are links to stream those first two LPs and a greatest hits collection titled Beckology:
Pink Floyd: Pink Floyd formed in London in 1965 and the original line-up of the band included Syd Barrett on guitar and lead vocals, Roger Waters on bass and vocals, Nick Mason on drums and Richard Wright on keyboards. Barrett was the main songwriter for the band’s first two LPs, Piper at the Gates of Dawn and Saucerful of Secrets. Longtime Pink Floyd member David Gilmore join the band on guitar after the recording of their first LP. After Barrett’s departure in 1968, Waters took over as the group’s main songwriter. And of course, the band went on to release one of the most successful albums of all time with their 1973 masterpiece Dark Side of the Moon.
And notably, streaming-wise, the Freegal Music Catalog is full of Pink Floyd albums!
Traffic: Traffic formed in 1967 and featured the then 19-year-old singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Steve Winwood, Dave Mason on guitar and vocals, Chris Wood on flute and other reed instruments and Jim Capaldi on drums and vocals.
Traffic released four albums in the sixties: Mr. Fantasy (1967), Heaven Is in Your Mind (1967), Traffic (1968) & Last Exit (1969).
Unfortunately, The Freegal Music Catalog doesn’t feature any albums by Traffic. However, they do offer a version of The Blind Faith classic Can’t Find My Way Home by the songwriter himself – Steve Window – recorded live in concert and from from the forthcoming album Winwood’s Greatest Hits Live which is being released September 1.
And coming soon the band’s excellent third album the self-titled Traffic which has a record in StarCat but isn’t quite ready to circulate yet — here’s the link to use once the CD’s status changes to available:
I’ve included this DVD set as the 1981 Amnesty International benefit ball, The Secret Policemen’s Other Ball, features some wonderful guitar playing by both Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton. And I recall being in the old Record Town down at the Arnot Mall in Big Flats, NY, in the early eighties, and hearing the album and asking where they had copies to purchase — only to be told the album they were playing, with that great guitar music, belonged to a staff member and they didn’t have any copies in the store to sell!
The Secret Policeman shows featured both comedy acts and music – here’s a review from Amazon that offers more information on the set: Imagine Saturday Night Live, in its heyday, but as a live series of hot-ticket events, with the best stand-up comics, sketch actors, and rockers of the time, held to benefit a good cause–all with a decidedly British accent. That comes close to describing the magic mayhem of The Secret Policeman’s Ball performances held as fund-raisers for Amnesty International from the late ’70s through the late ‘80s. This boxed set is a pop culture fan’s dream; included are all the members of Monty Python, Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Laurie (pre-House and pre-Black Adder), Dudley Moore, Peter Cook, Jennifer Saunders, and the Beyond the Fringe troupe–and that’s just the comics. Musicians include Sting, Pete Townshend, Phil Collins, Lou Reed, Joan Armatrading, and duets between Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, and Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins. And a very baby-faced Bob Geldof, who admits in an interview that these Balls spawned the idea for Live Aid and other events for charity. The best gem of all–and the best place to start to appreciate the depth and breadth of the series–is a 2004 documentary featuring interviews with some of the original shows’ principals, looking back on their younger selves and the current of the times. John Cleese, the true ringmaster of the events, recalls making the original phone calls and arranging for a West End theater to be available after its regular production ended. The programs became so popular that they made stars of the youngsters (Laurie, Stephen Fry, Atkinson), and brought worldwide attention for the first time to Amnesty International. Some bits are beloved and done here again–including the Pythons’ “Lumberjack Song” and “The Dead Parrot.” Cleese recalls, and the filmmakers oblige by including, a speech Margaret Thatcher later gave in the ‘80s where she repeated the “Dead Parrot” bit line for line about a piece of legislation–and bringing the audience to its knees. A young Barry Humphreys (Dame Edna, as a brunette) and a bushy-haired Billy Connolly are also delightful. The music acts are delicious, including Townshend’s acoustic duet with the American classical guitarist John Williams, and Phil Collins appearing onstage at a piano solo for the first time ever. Equal parts silly and inspiring, this boxed set will be in heavy rotation for the comedy and music fan. –A.T. Hurley, Amazon.com
Additionally, the shows feature historic unplugged performances by Pete Townshend, Sting, Phil Collins, Bob Geldof, Peter Gabriel, Donovan, Jackson Browne, Lou Reed, Kate Bush and Joan Armatrading. Also featured are rare duets from guitar legends Eric Clapton & Jeff Beck and Mark Knopfler & Chet Atkins.
The Balls:
Pleasure At Her Majesty’s (1976)
The Secret Policeman’s Ball (1979)
The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball (1981)
The Secret Policeman’s Third Ball (1987)
The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball (1989)
And here’s a link to request the entire Secret Policeman’s collection via StarCat:
Dear Mr. Fantasy recorded live in Santa Monica, California in 1972
Bonus Videos:
Jeff Beck & Eric Clapton playing Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers from The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball — the intro by the concert organizer is interesting but if you want to skip that and just listen to the music — fast forward to about 2 minuets into the clip.
Eric Clapton & Jeff Beck playing Shake Your Money Maker from the 2010 Crossroads Concert:
V. Print References:
The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits by Joel Whitburn (Billboard Books. New York. 2009.)
Sixties Rock: A Listener’s Guide by Robert Santelli (Contemporary Books. Chicago. 1985.)
Online References:
Jeff Beck’s AllMusic Discography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine https://goo.gl/F8yrsU
A Guitar Hero Won’t Play the Game by Larry Rohter published in The New York Times – February 12, 2010: https://goo.gl/GbtD
Jeff Beck Talks Seeing Jimi Hendrix, Topical New LP https://goo.gl/G0gnqh
Pink Floyd’s All Music Discography by Richie Unterberger by Richie Unterberger https://goo.gl/cWDcyM
P.S. If you have any questions about how to download or stream free music through the Freegal Music service to a desktop or laptop computer or how to download and use the Freegal Music app let us know! Drop by the library or give us a call at: 607-936-3713.
*You must have a library card at a Southern Tier Library System member library to enjoy the Freegal Music Service. Your card can be from any library in the system, and the system includes all public libraries in Steuben, Chemung, Yates, Schuyler and Allegheny Counties and including our own Southeast Steuben Count Library in Corning, New York. Library cards are free and at our library you can obtain one by visiting the Circulation Desk and presenting staff with a form of ID that features both your name and your current address.
Hi everyone, this week we’re kicking off a month long look at what author Robert Santelli, Sixties Rock: A Listener’s Guide, deems The Second British Invasion – this is the music British artists and bands put out between June 1967 and the end of the sixties.
You can think of the rock music of the sixties as having a musical call and response pattern. British musicians and bands who became popular in the early sixties were influenced by traditional American Rock and R&B artists of the fifties — artists including Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Little Richard. And and you can hear that influence in their music – in the sounds of British Invasion bands like the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Dave Clark Five and The Hollies. Those bands in turn, influenced the playing of American bands including The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Young Rascals etc.
Then in the aftermath of the release of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in June 1967, you get that sort of call and response pattern again – although it starts to spread out like pebbles thrown in water as Sgt. Pepper’s was a colossally influential album, and is arguably, the greatest rock album ever released. The music on Sgt. Pepper’s influenced all rock musicians and bands on both sides of the pond for the rest of the sixties, into the seventies and beyond. Certainly, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band sounded more experimental than any rock album released before it; and its release heralded a new more progressive and experimental era in Rock history.
In the aftermath of the release of Sgt. Pepper’s you hear albums that are more innovative and that start seriously taking Rock Music past its youth focused beginnings; albums like The Rolling Stone’s Beggar’s Banquet, The Who’s The Who Sell Out, Traffic’s Dear Mr. Fantasy, Days of Future Passed by the Moody Blues, Piper At The Gates of Dawn by Syd Barret era Pink Floyd and the classic Small Face’s LP Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake.
But enough musical pondering, on to the bands of the week!
So to kick this month long look at the British Invasion music of the late sixties, we’ll start off listening to the music of the three biggest bands of the era: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones & The Who and the albums they released between 1967 and 1969.
And as a reminder, our weekly music postings feature the following sections:
I. Links to AllMusic Biographies of the Artists/Groups of the Week
II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week (streaming music)
III. CD Music Recommendations Of The Week
IV. Videos Of This Weeks’ Artists/Groups
V. References (for those who’d like to know a bit more about the artists of the week).
I. Links to AllMusic Biographies of the Artists/Groups of the Week:
The Beatles AllMusic Biography by Richie Unterberger:
II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week (streaming music):
Unfortunately, The Freegal Music Catalog doesn’t contain any studio albums by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones or The Who. So for the artists specific LP recommendations skip down to the next section – CD Music Recommendations Of The Week.
And for the Freegal streaming suggestions of the week – here are some albums perfect for your summer listening pleasure!
Gorgoni, Martin & Taylor (1972) by Gorgoni, Martin & Taylor
This band’s music contains a great mix of acoustic guitars, traditional rock vibes and a few country threads thrown in for good measure. I’d never heard of this album or band before I stumbled across it in the Freegal Catalog. I don’t know who the Gorgoni and Martin of the group are/were but I was able to discover that the Taylor of the title is the classic rock songwriter Chip Taylor, who interestingly was born John Wesley Voigt and is the brother of the actor Jon Voigt. Chip Taylor is best known as a songwriter although he has also put out his own albums which range from 1971’s Gasoline to 2017’s A Song I Can Live With. Some of his songs that have been made popular by other artists include: I Can’t Let Go recorded by The Hollies, Make Me Belong To You recorded by Barbara Lewis, I Can Make It With You recorded by Jackie DeShannon, Step Out Of Your Mind recorded by The American Bread, Angel of the Morning originally recorded by Merrilee Rush and later by Juice Newton, and the classic rock anthem Wild Thing recorded by The Troggs and many other bands over the years. Getting back to the Gorgoni, Martin & Taylor album, the songs on the LP include: Fuzzy, Choo Choo Sharoo, You Crazy Girl and the Beatlesque Something About The Sunshine.
Here’s a link to stream the Gorgoni, Martin & Taylor LP: https://goo.gl/jrBcZo
Angel of the Morning by Marilee Rush:
Speaking of Marilee Rush, the singer who originally recorded the Taylor song Angel of the Morning, The Freegal Music Catalog features her Angel of The Morning album – which has a light, breezy 1970s country-folk feel to it. The album includes the title track, Taylor’s It’s All Worth It, Sandcastles, San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair), What The World Needs Now and a version of Hush which is quite interesting as it is much lighter in style than the better known Deep Purple version.
And at this point I’ll admit, I got a bit carried away with gathering listening suggestions for this week! The Freegal Music Catalog has some really fantastic musical gems to listen to; if you just have the time to hunt a little bit! And if you don’t have that time – you can just check out our weekly music postings! For the sake of trying to keep this posting semi-short, which admittedly is hard for me, for the rest of this week’s Freegal suggested listens I’m going to list the genres, albums/artists, a list of a few of the songs on each LP and the links to stream them – check them out!
Pop/Rock/Surf Music:
Classic Rock/Pop/Folk & Country: Jukebox Oldies Rockin’ Summer Vol. 1 – Great Rock, Surf, And Soul Songs of the 50s, 60s, And 70s with the Beach Boys, Link Wray, Sam & Dave, The Byrds, Little Richard, And More!
This 16 song set, with the massively long title, contains the following songs: Soul Man by Sam & Dave, Poison Ivy by The Coasters, Rumble by Link Wray, Mack the Knife by Bobby Darin, Mr. Tambourine Man by The Byrds, Surfin’ Safari by The Beach Boys, Pipeline by The Chantays an Surf City by Jan and Dean.
Guitar Legend: The Very Best Of Dick by Dick Dale:
This 15 song greatest hits collection by the the legendary Surf guitarist, contains the following songs: Miserlou, Let’s Go Trippin’, Hava Nagila, Riders In The Sky, Night Rider and Surf Buggy.
This is the 1965 debut album by the Lovin’ Spoonful. The album features twelve songs including: Do You Believe In Magic, Blues In The Bottle, Did You Every Have To Make Up Your Mind?, The Otherside Of This Life, Alley Oop & On The Road Again.
Here’s the link to the Do You Believe In Magicalbum:
And since no summer would be complete without hearing the Lovin’ Spoonful’s Summer In The City at least once, here’s a link to the album Hums of the Lovin’ Spoonful which contains that song and 16 other classic pop/rock tunes:
The Complete Recordings (1964-1968) by Ronnie & The Daytonas:
More fun Surf music! Songs include: G.T.O., Hot Rod Baby, California Bound, The Little Stingray That I Could, Surfin’ In The Summertime, When The Stars Shine Bright and more – 48 songs in all.
Here’s the link to stream the Ronnie & The Daytonas collection:
Skeeter Davis is sometimes classified as a country artist; to my ears though, her music sounds like classic pop music. This neat album features the songs: Under The Boardwalk, That Warm Summer Night, Remember (Walkin’ in the Sand), Sunglasses, That Summer Sunset and a vocal version of the classic Theme to a Summer Place.
Here’s a link to stream the Singin’ In the SummerLP:
This album really is just a great folk album and it is a stretch to classify it a “summer album,” because it only contains one summer themed song – Summer Days Alone. Even so it is a fun record that includes the songs: Frogg No. 2, The Tavern Song, Lady Greensleeves, Ole Smokey &Tarrytown.
Also available by The Brothers Four is a more in-depth collection titled Greenfields and Other Folk Music Greats – First Five Albums which contains, just what it says it does — their first five albums recorded in 1960 & 1961:
This is an entertaining orchestral pop album and contains the following songs: Mr. Lucky (Goes Latin), Rain Drops In Rio, The Dancing Cat, Cow Bells and Coffee Beans & Tango Americano.
Theme From A Summer Place And Other Great Themes by Billy Vaughn And His Orchestra:
This is another cool orchestral album prefect for listening to while relaxing by the pool or reading near the air conditioner. The album includes the songs Theme From A Summer Place, Tammy, Fascination, Some Enchanted Evening & All The Way.
This various artists collection contains 32 songs including: Papa Loves Mambo by Perry Como, Put On A Happy Face by Tony Bennett, You Are The Sunshine Of My Life by Liza Minnelli, A Steel Guitar And A Glass of Wine by Paul Anka, Green, Green Grass of Home by Elvis Presley, Wonderful! Wonderful! by Johnny Mathis, Day-O by Harry Belafonte, Italian Mambo by Rosemary Clooney and many others – this is a great classic easy listening collection.
Summer Solstice 2 by Various Artists (A Windham Hill Collection):
This LP contains what used to be called New Age Music – and is what Windham Hill fans will expect – generally light, smooth and atmospheric songs including: Birds In Flight by George Winston, Cruisin’ Negril by W. G. “Snuffy” Walden, No Na Mamo by Taj Mahal and A Child’s Song by Will Ackerman.
Jazz:THE MUSIC OF AMERICA: Inventing Jazz – Dave Brubeck by Dave Brubeck
Songs in the set include: The Duke, Ode To A Cowboy, Dialogues for Jazz Combo and Orchestra (with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra), The Golden Horn, Kathy’s Waltz & Non-Sectarian Blues.
This album, by Singer Jackie Cain and Singer-Pianist Roy Kral, includes the songs: Day By Day, Lazy Afternoon, Summer Song/Summertime, We Could Be Flying and more.
A fun collection for kids, this singalong set includes the songs: Barefootin’, Catch A Wave, In The Gold Old Summertime, Yes!We Have No Bananas, Bicycle Built For Two, On Top of Spaghetti &The Hokey Pokey.
Here’s the link to stream the 50 Best Summer Songs LP:
This musical is based upon the composer Antonin Dvorak’s visit to Iowa. And I was surprised to stumble across a classic musical whilst browsing through the Freegal Music Catalog! Songs include: Just Around The Corner,Once A Year Is Not Long Enough, Murphy’s Pig & Sing Me A Song.
All the albums released by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones & The Who between 1967 and 1970 are worthy of a listen; so I’m going to start out by listing the albums each group released during that pivotal three year period and then suggest several albums that are in the library’s collection.
The Beatles Albums Released Between 1967 – 1970:
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
Magical Mystery Tour Soundtrack (1968)
The Beatles (aka The White Album) (1968)
Yellow Submarine (1969)
Abbey Road (1969)
Let It Be (1970)
The Rolling Stone’s Albums Released Between 1967 – 1970:
Between the Buttons (1967)
Flowers (1967)
Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967) (And yes, they really did title an album “Their Satanic Majesties Request” – they were playing their bad-boy-anti-Beatles alternative band persona to the hilt)
Beggars Banquet (1968)
Let It Bleed (1969)
Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out (1970)
The Who’s Albums Released Between 1967 – 1971:
And I know that is really a baker’s dozen three years! However, I just couldn’t leave out the classic album Who’s Next which was released in 1971.
The Who Sell Out (1967)
Tommy (1969)
Live At Leeds (1970)
Who’s Next (1971)
The Beatles:
If you’re new to listening to Beatles albums, and I’m sure there are few people out there that have heard their songs on the radio but never listen to their albums, I’d recommend you start with their masterpiece Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band as it is recognized by most music fans and critics to be their best album. If you’re game to listen to a second full-length album by the band I’d recommend the one that is my personal favorite – Abbey Road. All The Beatles albums are available for request through StarCat.
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Song List:
1. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
2. With a Little Help from My Friends
3. Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
4. Getting Better
5. Fixing a Hole
6. She’s Leaving Home
7. Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
8. Within You Without You
9. When I’m Sixty-Four
10. Lovely Rita
11. Good Morning Good Morning
12. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
13. A Day in the Life
Here’s a link to request the CD version of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band:
Between The Buttons, Flowers & Beggars Banquet will be available for request in StarCat soon.
In the meantime, the greatest hits collection Hot Rocks 1964-71is available for request. This two disc set contains 21 songs including: Time Is On My Side, Play With Fire, Satisfaction, Ruby Tuesday, Street Fighting Man and Jumpin’ Jack Flash.
P.S. If you have any questions about how to download or stream free music through the Freegal Music service to a desktop or laptop computer or how to download and use the Freegal Music app let us know! Drop by the library or give us a call at: 607-936-3713*You must have a library card at a Southern Tier Library System member library to enjoy the Freegal Music Service. Your card can be from any library in the system, and the system includes all public libraries in Steuben, Chemung, Yates, Schuyler and Allegheny Counties and including our own Southeast Steuben Count Library in Corning, New York. Library cards are free and at our library you can obtain one by visiting the Circulation Desk and presenting staff with a form of ID that features both your name and your current address.
Hi everyone, here are our recommended titles for today.
Our digital suggestion for today is the downloadable audio book:
The Rose Rent by Ellis Peters:
A late spring in 1142 brings dismay to the Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, for there may be no roses by June the twenty-second. On that day the young widow Perle must receive one white rose as rent for the house she has given to benefit the abbey or the contract is void. When nature finally complies, a pious monk is sent to pay the rent, but discovers that the rose bush has been destroyed and he is then found murdered inside it. The abbey’s wise herbalist, Brother Cadfael, follows the trail of bloodied petals. He knows the lovely widow’s dowry is far greater with her house included, and she will likely wed again. But before Cadfael can ponder if a greedy suitor has done this dreadful deed, another crime is committed. Now the good monk must thread his way through a tangle more torturous than the widow’s thorns.
Here’s a link to the checkout/request page in the Digital Catalog:
Perfect for fans of J. Courtney Sullivan’s The Engagement or Graeme Simpson’s The Rosie Project, The Reminders follows what happens when a girl who can’t forget befriends a man who’s desperate to remember.
Grief-stricken over his partner Sydney’s death, Gavin sets fire to every reminder in the couple’s home before fleeing Los Angeles for New Jersey, where he hopes to find peace with the family of an old friend. Instead, he finds Joan.
Joan, the family’s ten-year-old daughter, was born Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory, or HSAM: the rare ability to recall every day of her life in cinematic detail. Joan has never met Gavin until now, but she did know his partner, and waiting inside her uncanny mind are startlingly vivid memories to prove it.
Gavin strikes a deal with Joan: in return for sharing her memories of Sydney, Gavin will help her win a songwriting contest she’s convinced will make her unforgettable. The unlikely duo set off on their quest until Joan reveals unexpected details about Sydney’s final months, forcing Gavin to question not only the purity of his past with Sydney but the course of his own immediate future.
Told in the alternating voices of these two irresistible characters, The Reminders is a hilarious and tender exploration of loss, memory, friendship, and renewal.
P.S. The library is closed today in observance of the July 4th holiday. We’ll be open our regular hours on Wednesday – 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Online Catalog Links:
StarCat: The catalog of physical materials, i.e. print books, DVDs, audiobooks on CD etc. http://starcat.stls.org/
The Digital Catalog: The catalog of e-books, downloadable audiobooks and a handful of streaming videos: https://stls.overdrive.com/
Freegal Music Service: This music service is free to library card holders and offers the option to download, and keep, three free songs per week and to stream three hours of commercial free music each day: http://stlsny.freegalmusic.com/
Zinio: Digital magazines on demand and for free! Back issues are available and you can even choose to be notified by email when the new issue of your favorite magazine is available: https://www.rbdigital.com/stlschemungcony
About Library Apps:
You can access digital library content on PCs, Macs and mobile devices. For mobile devices simply download the OverDrive, Freegal or Zinio app from your app store to get started. If you have questions call the library at: 607-936-3713 and one of our Digital Literacy Specialists will be happy to assist you.
This week I’m going to recommend the following three Non-Fiction DVDs for your weekend viewing pleasure: Chasing UFOs, Apollo 11: A Night To Remember & The 1930s.
1. Chasing UFOs (Nat Geo)
This two disc set takes a look at UFO sightings and, unlike many UFO related “documentaries,” this one is put out by National Geographic!
The Dewey number for this DVD is 001.942 CHA
And in Library Land the books on the paranormal can be found in the zeros! So if you’d like to browse through the books on UFOs, haunted places, Big Foot and the supernatural in general — this is your section!
Here’s a link to the StarCat request page for National Geographic’sChasing UFOs:
Our second non-fiction DVD for this week is put out by the BBC and titled Apollo 11: A Night To Remember and contains rare news footage chronicling the journey of the Apollo 11 crew from the moment their ship left the planet, through the first lunar landing and on to their triumphant return to Earth in July of 1969.
The call number for this set is 629.454 APO
And on a Dewey note, if you’re looking for books on space flights check out the Dewey Decimal Section 629.454!
This five disc PBS documentary offers a glimpse into the lost world of the 1930s. This set offers a look at how regular Americans lived in the 1930s and what the big concerns and topics of interest were. Episodes include: Surviving The Dust Bowl, Sea Biscuit, The Crash of 1929, The Civilian Conservation Corps and Hoover Dam.
The call number for this set is: 973.917 NIN.
And if you’re looking for books on American history, you should check out the Dewey Decimal section 973 — as there is where you will find them!
Here’s are links to request the two cases in the set (which contain 5 DVDs between them):
P.S. The library is open on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. so while you’re out and about on Saturday — drop in and check out some books and DVDs to enjoy over the weekend!
P.S.S. The library is also open, our regular hours of 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., on Monday, July 3. So if you’ve got the day off drop in and pick out some books & DVDs!
Hi everyone, this week we’re concluding our cliff notes look and listen at the music of the American rock bands that came to prominence just after the Beatles appearances on the Ed Sullivan Shown in 1964 .
This week our three groups are: The Bobby Fuller Four, Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels and Tommy James & The Shondells.
And just as reminder, each weekly recommended music posting features the following sections:
I. Links To AllMusic Biographies Of The Weekly Artists/Groups
II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week (streaming music)
III. Compact Discs Of The Artists/Groups Of The Week
IV. Videos Of The Artists/Groups Of The Week
V. Books Related To The Artists/Groups of The Week
VI. References (for those who’d like to know a bit more about the artists of the week).
I. Links To AllMusic Biographies Of The Weekly Artists/Groups:
The Freegal Music Catalog homepage will display — it looks like this:
The Freegal Music app can be found in your app store and it looks like this:
II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week (streaming music):
The Bobby Fuller Four: Bobby Fuller was born on October 22, 1942 in Baytown, Texas. Fuller was a huge fan of both Buddy Holly and British Invasion rock and you can hear those influences in the The Fuller Four’s playing – they played enthusiastically up-tempo classic rock. In addition to singer-songwriter and guitarist Bobby Fuller, the Fuller Four band included Bobby’s brother Randy Fuller on bass, Jim Reese on guitar and DeWayne Quirico on drums.
The group recorded two albums in the mid-sixties, KRLA King of the Wheels & I Fought the Law and had a huge hit with the title track from their second main stream album, I Fought The Law. But sadly, their success was short lived; as Bobby Fuller was mysteriously found dead in his car in Hollywood, California on July 18, 1966.
The band’s most notable songs include: I Fought The Law, California Sun, Another Sad and Lonely Night, Never To Be Forgotten and The Magic Touch.
You’ll have noted that I said, two paragraphs above, the I Fought The Law album was the second “main stream” album released by the Bobby Fuller Four…I used that terminology because the group recorded dozens of songs during the period 1960-1964 while still living in their home state of Texas, and before they moved to Los Angeles and broke into the big time with their first major label release the LP KRLA Kings of the Wheels.
The Freegal Music Catalog doesn’t feature either the KRLA LP nor the I Fought The Law LP; however, what it does features is cooler still — a collection of early recordings made by the band before the moved to L.A. including original versions of songs that later became hits for them including their top ten smash I Fought The Law. The collection is titled El Paso Rock: Early Recordings Volume 3, and features 26 songs including the previously mentioned I Fought The Law, You Made Me Cry, Summertime Blues, She’s My Girl and California Sun.
Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels: Mitch Ryder, the driving force behind the group, pun intended, was born William Levise Jr. on February 26, 1945 in Hamtramk, Michigan. Ryder was a huge Rhythm & Blues fan and you can hear that influence in the gritty sound of his music. In the sixties he put together a backing band, The Detroit Wheels, that consisted of Jim McCarty and Joe Cubert on guitars, Early Elliott on bass and John Badanjek on drums. The group recorded for only a year and half before Ryder split from his back-up band and went solo but in that time they recorded four classic albums: Take A Ride (1964), Breakout…!!! (1966), What Now My Love (1967) and Sock It To Me (1967) and had several hits including: Jenny Takes A Ride!, Little Latin Lupe Lu, Devil With A Blue Dress On & Good Golly Miss Molly (medley), Sock It To Me-Baby and What Now My Love.
The Freegal Music Catalog doesn’t feature any of the original albums by Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels; however, it does contain a Best of Mitch Ryder album that features an older Ryder singing his classic hits in a more mature, deeply felt style. The Best of LP features all the previously mentioned hits by Mitch and the Detroit Wheels sans the song What Now My Love.
Tommy James & The Shondells: Singer-songwriter and guitarist Tommy James was born Thomas Jackson on April 29, 1947 in Dayton, Ohio. His sixties back-up band, the Shondells, featured Eddie Grey on guitar, Ronnie Rosman on organ, Mike Vale on bass and Pete Lucia on drums. The group released eight albums between 1966 and 1969 and then James went solo.
The band’s hits include: Hanky Panky, Say I Am, I Think We’re Alone Now, Mirage, I Like The Way, Mony Mony, Crimson And Clover, Sweet Cherry Wine and Crystal Blue Persuasion.
The Freegal Music Catalog features a great live LP of Tommy James singing all his hits – the aptly titled Tommy James Greatest Hits Live:
III. Compact Discs Of The Artists/Groups Of The Week:
The Bobby Fuller Four:
KRLA King of the Wheels & I Fought The Law Double LP Set:
This 24 song set features the two break out albums recorded by The Bobby Fuller Four in Los Angeles. The LPs contain all their hits, some re-recorded in L.A. Songs in the set include: Fool of Love, Never to Be Forgotten, Another Sad and Lonely Night, Let Her Dance, I Fought The Law, Julie and Thunder Reef.
Here’s a link to request the double Bobby Fuller Four CD in StarCat: https://goo.gl/65dNo5
Mitch Ryder:
Rev Up: The Best of Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels by Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels:
This greatest hits collection, released by the great Rhino Records, features all of the best known songs released by Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels including: Jenny Takes A Ride,You Get Your Kicks, Snake A Tail Feather, Devil With The Blue Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly & Sock It To Me, Baby!
The Original Album Collection by Tommy James & The Shondells:
This set contains five of the first six classic LPs released by Tommy James & The Shonells: Hanky Panky, I Think We’re Alone Now, Mony Mony, Crimson & Clover and Cellophone Symphony. And those albums feature great classic rock songs including: Hanky Panky, Don’t Throw Our Love Away, I Think We’re Alone Now, California Sun, Gone Gone Gone and Mony Mony.
Here’s a link to StarCat to request the Original Album Collection: https://goo.gl/q4yqE5
IV. Videos Of The Artists/Groups Of The Week:
Bobby Fuller Four:
Let Her Dance & Another Sad & Lonely Night from the Shivaree! TV Show
I Fought The Law
Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels:
C.C. Rider
Devil With A Blue Dress On
Tommy James & The Shondells:
Mony Mony
Crimson And Clover
V. Books Related To The Artists/Groups of The Week:
Me, the Mob, and the Music: One Helluva Ride with Tommy James & The Shondells by Tommy James and Martin Fitzpatrick https://goo.gl/ZN9wWY
VI. References
Artists Specific References:
Bobby Fuller References:
Bobby Fuller AllMusic Biography by Richie Unterberger https://goo.gl/EcziVg
Tommy James & the Shondells AllMusic Discography by Bruce Eder https://goo.gl/xGTi8Q
General References:
The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits by Joel Whitburn (Billboard Books. New York. 2009.)
Sixties Rock: A Listener’s Guide by Robert Santelli (Contemporary Books. Chicago. 1985.)
Have a great day!
Linda, SSCL
P.S. If you have any questions about how to download or stream free music through the Freegal Music service to a desktop or laptop computer or how to download and use the Freegal Music app let us know! Drop by the library or give us a call at: 607-936-3713.
*You must have a library card at a Southern Tier Library System member library to enjoy the Freegal Music Service. Your card can be from any library in the system, and the system includes all public libraries in Steuben, Chemung, Yates, Schuyler and Allegheny Counties and including our own Southeast Steuben Count Library in Corning, New York. Library cards are free and at our library you can obtain one by visiting the Circulation Desk and presenting staff with a form of ID that features both your name and your current address.
Hi everyone, this week we’re continuing our look at the sounds of American rock bands that came to musical prominence in the era just after the launch of the British Invasion.
And this week our three groups are: Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Association & The Young Rascals who later dropped the “Young” from their name and simply became The Rascals.
And just as a reminder, each weekly recommended music posting features the following sections:
I. Links To AllMusic Biographies Of The Weekly Artists/Groups
II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week (streaming music)
III. Recommended Compact Discs Of The Artists/Groups Of The Week
Freegal Notes:
To access Freegal Music from a desktop or laptop simply click on the following link: http://stlsny.freegalmusic.com/
The Freegal Music Catalog homepage will display — it looks like this:
The Freegal Music app can be found in your app store and it looks like this:
II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week:
Paul Revere & The Raiders:
Paul Revere & the Raiders were one of the most popular American bands of the mid-sixties. They sold more records between 1966 and 1969 than any other bands with the exception of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
The creator and driving force behind the group was Paul Revere Dick, who was better known simply as Paul Revere. Revere played keyboards, organized the band, managed the band, came up with the idea for their eighteenth century costumes and even worked hard after their sixties heyday to keep the band’s music alive on the oldies circuit. The band featured a number of musicians during their most popular years, 1966 – 1971,although only two were constant: Revere on keyboards and Mark Lindsay on vocals. The group frequently appeared on the weekday broadcast of the TV Show Where The Action Is which broadcast the band’s music to millions of Americans on a regular basis and no doubt this helped get their music out to the listening public at large!
The group’s hits include: Just Like Me, Kicks, Hungry, Good Thing, Him Or Me – What’s It Gonna Be? and Indian Reservation (The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian).
Here’s a link to stream their Greatest Hits album from Freegal: https://goo.gl/5PaKTa
The Association:
The Association was a very popular band whose singles charted repeatedly during the two year period 1966-1968. The band formed in Los Angeles and consisted of Jim Yester, Russ Giguere, Gary Alexander and Larry Ramos on guitars, Brian Cole on bass and Ted Bluechel on drums. All the band members sang and their lush, harmony-rich singles quickly became pop music staples. The bands hits include: Along Comes Mary, Cherish, Wendy, Everything That Touches You and Never My Love.
The Freegal Music Catalog features a number of songs The Association re-recorded after the sixties (think K Tel style). And as we all know, re-recorded versions of hits by the same group, in subsequent years, can’t usually hold a candle to the original versions.
So I’m going to recommend you actually skip streaming any Association music from Freegal. Instead, check out the videos listed below and the Original Album Series collection by the group as soon as it is available.
The Rascals:
The Rascals, who were originally known as The Young Rascals, formed in New York City and were one of the most popular “Blue-Eyed Soul” groups of the sixties. The band consisted of Felix Cavaliere on organ and vocals, Eddie Brigati on vocals and bass, Gene Cornish on guitar and vocals and Dino Danelli on drums. All members of the band, save Danelli, had previously been members of the early sixties group Joey Dee & The Starlighters – known for their hit ThePeppermint Twist.
The Rascal’s sixties his include: Good Lovin’, You Better Run, I’ve Been Lonely Too Long, Groovin’, A Beautiful Morning and How Can I Be Sure.
Unfortunately, the Freegal Music Catalog doesn’t contain any sixties studio albums by The Rascals. However, the catalog does contain a mellow and fun album from the band released in 1972 titled The Island of Real. The songs on this album sound very much like their sixties songs and include: Lucky, Saga of New York, Jungle Walk, Island of Real &Time Will Tell.
This studio album contains a great collection of classic rock songs including the tunes: Good Thing, All About Her, In My Community, Hungry, The Great Airplane Strike, Our Candidate &1001 Arabian Nights.
Here’s a link to request Spirit of ’67 (as soon as it is available): https://goo.gl/8nDwGe
The Association:
The Original Album Series:
This collection, which should be available in StarCat soon, makes up for the fact that you can’t stream any original studio albums by The Association through Freegal. And it does so as it contains all the music on their first five albums – so it includes all their bright, breezy, harmonizing hits and many more great songs!
The albums included in the collection are: And Then… Along Comes the Association (1966), Renaissance (1966), Insight Out (1967), Birthday (1968) & The Association (1969).
This is perfect music for summer!
Here’s a link to request The Original Album Collection (The Association) as soon as it is available:
The library has one album by The Rascals aready in circulation and an Original Album Set currently in process.
Ultimate Rascals
This LP, which you can request now, contains some really great songs including: I Aint’ Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore, Mustang Sally, Good Lovin‘ and People Got To Be Free.
The Original Album Series (The Rascals):
This set allows you to dig deeper into the classic rock sound of The Rascals as it contains, and you guessed it! all the music on their first five albums.
The AllMusic Review of this multi disc set by Steve Leggett sums it up nicely so here it is: “The Rascals’ blend of blue-eyed soul, British Invasion pop, and garage band R&B made them one of the more interesting American rock groups of the 1960s. This set, which includes the band’s first five original LPs, 1966’s The Young Rascals, 1967’s Collections and Groovin’, 1968’s Once Upon a Dream, and 1969’s Freedom Suite, shows the band’s rapid growth and expansion into psychedelic rock, urban soul, and other areas, even incorporating gospel, jazz, and Latin elements into the mix. It adds up to a complete portrait of a fine singles band with a whole lot of heart and soul.”
And perhaps needless to say this collection contains all their sixties hits.
The set will be available in StarCat & our New CD Section shortly and here’s the link to request it as soon as it is available:
Sixties Rock: A Listener’s Guide by Robert Santelli (Contemporary Books. Chicago. 1985.)
Have a great day!
Linda, SSCL
P.S. If you have any questions about how to download or stream free music through the Freegal Music service to a desktop or laptop computer or how to download and use the Freegal Music app let us know! Drop by the library or give us a call at: 607-936-3713
*You must have a library card at a Southern Tier Library System member library to enjoy the Freegal Music Service. Your card can be from any library in the system, and the system includes all public libraries in Steuben, Chemung, Yates, Schuyler and Allegheny Counties and including our own Southeast Steuben Count Library in Corning, New York. Library cards are free and at our library you can obtain one by visiting the Circulation Desk and presenting staff with a form of ID that features both your name and your current address.
Hi everyone, here are our suggested daily recommended titles in print or media and digital formats.
Our digital suggestion for today is the e-book:
City of Miracles, Divine Cities Series, Book 3 by Robert Jackson Bennett:
Revenge. It’s something Sigrud je Harkvaldsson is very, very good at. Maybe the only thing.
So when he learns that his oldest friend and ally, former Prime Minister Shara Komayd, has been assassinated, he knows exactly what to do—and that no mortal force can stop him from meting out the suffering Shara’s killers deserve.
Yet as Sigrud pursues his quarry with his customary terrifying efficiency, he begins to fear that this battle is an unwinnable one. Because discovering the truth behind Shara’s death will require him to take up arms in a secret, decades-long war, face down an angry young god, and unravel the last mysteries of Bulikov, the city of miracles itself. And—perhaps most daunting of all—finally face the truth about his own cursed existence.
Here’s a link to the checkout page in the Digital Catalog:
A young American woman arrives in Florence from Boston, knowing no one and speaking little Italian. But Hannah is isolated in a more profound way, estranged from her own identity after a bout with starvation that has left her life and body in ruins. She is determined to recover in Florence, a city saturated with beauty, vitality, and food―as well as a dangerous history of sainthood for women who starved themselves for God.
Hannah joins a local rowing club, where Francesca, a welcoming but predatory Milanese, and Luca, a seemingly steady Florentine with whom she becomes involved, draw her into Florence’s vibrant present: the complex social dynamics at the club, soccer mania, eating, drinking, sex, an insatiable insistence on life. But Hannah is also rapt by the city’s past―the countless representations of beauty, the entrenched conflicts of politics and faith, and the lore of the mystical saints, women whose self-imposed isolation and ecstatic searches for meaning through denial illuminate the seduction of her own struggles.
Both sides pull Hannah in: challenging her, defeating her, lifting her up. And when a figure from her past life in Boston reappears, threatening the delicate balance of her present, Hannah’s feverish personal excavation becomes caught up with the long history of women’s contention with body and spirit, desire and death.
A vivid, visceral debut echoing the novels of Jean Rhys, Elena Ferrante, and Catherine Lacey, Florence in Ecstasy gives us an arresting new vision of a woman’s attempt to find meaning―and find herself―in an unstable world.
Here’s a link to the StarCat request page for the book:
You can also requests books simply by calling the library at: 607-936-3713 x 502.
Have a great day!
Linda, SSCL
Online Catalog Links:
StarCat: The catalog of physical materials, i.e. print books, DVDs, audiobooks on CD etc. http://starcat.stls.org/
The Digital Catalog: The catalog of e-books, downloadable audiobooks and a handful of streaming videos: https://stls.overdrive.com/
Freegal Music Service: This music service is free to library card holders and offers the option to download, and keep, three free songs per week and to stream three hours of commercial free music each day: http://stlsny.freegalmusic.com/
Zinio: Digital magazines on demand and for free! Back issues are available and you can even choose to be notified by email when the new issue of your favorite magazine is available: https://www.rbdigital.com/stlschemungcony
About Library Apps:
You can access digital library content on PCs, Macs and mobile devices. For mobile devices simply download the OverDrive, Freegal or Zinio app from your app store to get started. If you have questions call the library at: 607-936-3713 and one of our Digital Literacy Specialists will be happy to assist you.
Hi everyone, here are our recommended titles for today.
Our digital suggestion for today is the e-book:
Woman No. 17: A Novel by Edan Lepucki:
New York Times bestselling author Edan Lepucki’s Woman No. 17 “reads like a Hollywood HIlls film noir.” — Seattle Times
High in the Hollywood Hills, writer Lady Daniels has decided to take a break from her husband. Left alone with her children, she’s going to need a hand taking care of her young son if she’s ever going to finish her memoir. In response to a Craigslist ad, S arrives, a magnetic young artist who will live in the secluded guest house out back, care for Lady’s toddler, Devin, and keep a watchful eye on her older, teenage son, Seth. S performs her day job beautifully, quickly drawing the entire family into her orbit, and becoming a confidante for Lady.
But in the heat of the summer, S’s connection to Lady’s older son takes a disturbing, and possibly destructive, turn. And as Lady and S move closer to one another, the glossy veneer of Lady’s privileged life begins to crack, threatening to expose old secrets that she has been keeping from her family. Meanwhile, S is protecting secrets of her own, about her real motivation for taking the job. S and Lady are both playing a careful game, and every move they make endangers the things they hold most dear.
Darkly comic, twisty and tense, this mesmerizing new novel defies expectation and proves Edan Lepucki to be one of the most talented and exciting voices of her generation.
Here’s a link to the check out/request page in the Digital Catalog:
Intrepid journalist Kitty Weeks returns in the second book in this acclaimed WW1-era historical mystery series to investigate the death of a boarding school student.
When Kitty’s latest assignment for the New York Sentinel Ladies’ Page takes her to Westfield Hall, she expects to find an orderly establishment teaching French and dancing-but there’s more going on at the school than initially meets the eye.
Tragedy strikes when a student named Elspeth is found frozen to death in Central Park. The doctor’s proclaim that the girl’s sleepwalking was the cause, but Kitty isn’t so sure.
Determined to uncover the truth, Kitty must investigate a more chilling scenario-a murder that may involve Elspeth’s scientist father and a new invention by a man named Thomas Edison.
For fans of Jacqueline Winspear and Rhys Bowen, Murder Between the Lines combines true historical events with a thrilling mystery.
You can always request books by calling the library at: 607-936-3713 x 502.
Have a great day!
Linda, SSCL
Online Catalog Links:
StarCat: The catalog of physical materials, i.e. print books, DVDs, audiobooks on CD etc. http://starcat.stls.org/
The Digital Catalog: The catalog of e-books, downloadable audiobooks and a handful of streaming videos: https://stls.overdrive.com/
Freegal Music Service: This music service is free to library card holders and offers the option to download, and keep, three free songs per week and to stream three hours of commercial free music each day: http://stlsny.freegalmusic.com/
Zinio: Digital magazines on demand and for free! Back issues are available and you can even choose to be notified by email when the new issue of your favorite magazine is available: https://www.rbdigital.com/stlschemungcony
About Library Apps:
You can access digital library content on PCs, Macs and mobile devices. For mobile devices simply download the OverDrive, Freegal or Zinio app from your app store to get started. If you have questions call the library at: 607-936-3713 and one of our Digital Literacy Specialists will be happy to assist you.
Tech & Book Talk at SSCL 