Weekly Recommended Listens: May 2017: Week 1: Sixties Rock: The First British Invasion

Hi everyone, this week we’re kicking off a month long look, at the first British Invasion, the musical era that ran roughly from February of 1964, with The Beatles first appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show, through the end of May 1967.

The release of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band on June 1, 1967, ushered in the second, late sixties, British Invasion which can be said to have roughly ended when The Beatles disbanded in 1970. We’ll offer listener’s advisory suggestions of the music of the second British Invasion in July. In June, we’ll cover the American music that was influenced by, and came just after, that first British Invasion.

And in an attempt to streamline these weekly music postings, henceforth, the first section will include links to artists/group biographies found on the AllMusic site and not typed up brief bios.

And I love that word, henceforth, what a great word!

But I digress; I’ll get off my love of language soap-box now and back to our music posting of the week!

Now each weekly recommended music posting will 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 Recommendations Of The Week

IV. Videos Of The Artists/Groups Of The Week

VI. Wild Card Print Book Recommendation Of The Week

VI. References

And this week we’ll check out the music of three of the first British Invasion groups to hold sway over the American music scene of the early sixties: The Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers and The Searchers.

I. Links to AllMusic Biographies of the Artists/Groups of the Week:

The Beatles AllMusic Biography, written by Richie Unterberger:

https://goo.gl/Oaprx2

The Gerry and The Pacemakers AllMusic Biography, also written by Richie Unterberger:

https://goo.gl/W5Oh9e

The Searchers AllMusic Biography, written by Bruce Eder:

https://goo.gl/abBT4o

II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week (streaming music):

The Beatles:

August 65’ Press Conference from the album Rock N’ Roll Of The ’60s:

I suspect I don’t need to say anything more about The Beatles, then that the band consisted of John, Paul, George and Ringo, so that is all I’m going to say!

If you don’t know much about The Beatles and would like to know more – drop by the library — we’ve got books on the band! And as far as their music goes, as The Beatles are one of the most critically acclaimed, most popular and bestselling bands of all time – you really can’t go wrong listening to any of their studio albums.

Unfortunately, the Freegal Music Catalog doesn’t contain any studio albums by The Beatles – so I’ll offer links to request all/any of the Beatles albums in the CD Recommendations Section:

And even though The Freegal Music Catalog doesn’t contain any Beatles studio albums, it does contain several audio interviews with the band. And I selected one of their press conferences from 1965 to recommend as it is easier to hear what the band members are saying in this recording than it is in others that feature the sounds of screaming fans in the background.

One little note, about the album this press conference comes from — it is titled Rock N’ Roll Of The ’60s and I recommend you listen to the fourteen minute Beatles press conference and ignore the rest of the album! Truly, because all the songs featured on the LP are re-recordings by the original artists and, to say the least, those re-recorded tunes cannot hold a candle to the original songs.

Having said that, here’s a link to the August 65′ Beatles press conference:
https://goo.gl/MN8K3k

Gerry & The Pacemakers:

Super Hits Live!

Gerry & The Pacemakers, like The Beatles, hailed from Liverpool, England. The original group featured lead singer-songwriter and guitarist Gerry Marsden, Gerry’s brother, Freddie Marsden on drums, John Chadwick on bass and Leslie Maguire on piano.

The Freegal Music Catalog does not contain any of the original sixties recordings by Gerry & The Pacemakers.

However, the catalog does contain a solidly listenable album by the band titled Super Hits Live! This LP features Gerry Marsden singing and playing with a later group of Pacemakers. The album offers a glimpse into the classic sound of the band. And despite the title, the three big hits it contains: Ferry Cross The Mersey, How Do You Do It? and I’m The One were actually recorded in the studio. The other songs were indeed, recorded live. And these newer recordings all feature a slightly older Marsden singing with a smoother, more mature sounding voice, that rather reminds me of the difference between the two versions of Breaking Up Is Hard To Do that Neil Sedaka recorded — the earlier version has the upbeat energy you’d expect of a young singer new to recording to have, and the second version is a ballad that is sung with a smoother depth, as if the singer has been around the block a few more times before he re-recorded the song.

And as with The Beatles, if you’d like to hear the original recordings of the band I recommend you skip down to the CD Recommendations section and place a request for the CD The Very Best of Gerry & The Pacemakers.

And here’s the link to stream Super Hits Live!:
https://goo.gl/rehlmU

The Searchers:

Needles and Pins:
The Searchers, like The Beatles & Gerry & The Pacemakers were from Liverpool, England and were a part of the Merseybeat scene that evolved there in the early sixties. The band featured John McNally and Mike Pender on guitars and vocals, Chris Curtis on drums and Tony Jackson on bass. The Searchers were another of the first wave of British Invasion groups that became popular in the U. S. in the early sixties and their hits included: Needles and Pins, Don’t Throw Your Love Away, When You Walk In The Room and the smash hit Love Potion No. 9.

This collection features 30 of the songs they recorded for Pye Records between 1963 and 1969 – and contains almost all of their hits, sans their cool version of Sugar And Spice. And the original un-re-recorded version of Sugar And Spice doesn’t appear to be available in the Freegal Music Catalog; however, it is available on the Searchers Greatest Hits album listed in the CD Recommendations section.

Here’s a link to stream the excellent Searchers Needles and Pins collection:

https://goo.gl/STBjja

III. CD Music Recommendations Of The Week

You can request all the Beatles albums through StarCat.

Following is a list of the original British releases.

The Early Albums:

Please Please Me (1963):


https://goo.gl/HH7r1V

With The Beatles (1963):


https://goo.gl/UjTIMW

A Hard Day’s Night (1964):


https://goo.gl/GThs9R

And we also have the movie A Hard Day’s Night on DVD:


https://goo.gl/hm1Q2K

Beatles For Sale (1964):


In doing the research for this posting, I discovered our copy of this album is assumed lost, which means it was checked out more than three months ago and has not been returned, a replacement copy has been ordered and it will appear in the StarCat soon.

The Middle Years Albums:

Help! (1965)


https://goo.gl/oGKg4G

The movie Help! is available too:


https://goo.gl/oGKg4G

Rubber Soul (1965)


https://goo.gl/EffAi1

Revolver (1966)


https://goo.gl/Y6u8VI

The Later Albums:

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)


https://goo.gl/3uCJu0

Magical Mystery Tour (1967)


https://goo.gl/XtPaKc

The Beatles (The White Album) (1968)


https://goo.gl/7EewpV

Yellow Submarine (1969):


https://goo.gl/7KoDmo

Also found in our collection is the movie Yellow Submarine:


https://goo.gl/vKLv1G

Abbey Road (1969):


https://goo.gl/g4P7Fe

Let It Be (1970):


https://goo.gl/gAafg7

And the documentary/movie Let It Be is available too:


https://goo.gl/8jgFrk

Bonus Beatles Songbook Recommendations!

Also of note, the library owns several Beatles song books and I’m listing  a few of them them here in case you’d like to play along with the songs on some of their albums!

The Beatles: The First Four Albums: (Please Please Me, With The Beatles, A Hard Day’s Night & Beatles For Sale)


https://goo.gl/kh1Cn9

The Beatles: The Next Three Albums (Help! Rubber Soul & Revolver):


https://goo.gl/5awaoA

Magical Mystery Tour, Abbey Road & Let It Be:


https://goo.gl/vbT9ep

And now, without further ado, back to the suggested CDs of the week!

Gerry & The Pacemakers:

Very Best of Gerry & The Pacemakers:

A CD version of the Very Best of Gerry & The Pacemakers CD is about to be added to our collection!

This CD brings together all the ‘A’ sides from Gerry’s EMI singles from 1963 to 1966plus a selection of other recordings from the mid-Sixties and seven titles that showcase Gerry Marsden’s talents as a songwriter. It’s an infectious, good-humoured sound, a fitting reminder of one of Liverpool’s finest talents and greatest bands. The set includes 27 songs and all of the band’s most popular songs including: Ferry Cross The Mersey, You’ll Never Walk Alone, How Do You Do It? I Like It, Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying and I’m The One. — Description from the record label.

I’ll update this posting to include the request link for the album as soon as it is listed in StarCat.

And in the meantime if you’d like to request the CD, when it becomes available – you can send an email request to me at: reimerl@stls.org

British Invasion: Gerry & The Pacemakers –

It’s Gonna Be All Right, 1963-1965:


With the exception of the Beatles themselves, no other group dominated the early years of the British Invasion like Gerry & The Pacemakers. They were the first artists to have their first three singles top the British charts, and many of their songs are now beloved classics. Gerry & The Pacemakers: It’s Gonna Be All Right 1963-1965 features 17 complete songs filmed between 1963 and 1965 and is the group’s first official DVD release. Included are the classic ‘How Do You Do It’, ‘I Like It’ and ‘I’m The One’, timeless masterpieces ‘Ferry Cross The Mersey’ and ‘Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying’ In between the performances Gerry Marsden talks about the songs and tells the band s history in a new interview filmed at the Cavern Club in Liverpool exclusively for the DVD. Also telling the story is Bill Harry, the founder of the original Mersey Beat newspaper in Liverpool that reported the birth of British rock as it was happening. The DVD bonus section includes a new solo rendition of ‘Ferry Cross The Mersey’ filmed at the Cavern Club as well as a history of Liverpool’s Mersey Beat scene as told by Bill Harry. Description from the publisher.

Here’s a link to request the British Invasion: Gerry & The Pacemakers DVD:
https://goo.gl/eLyzYI

The Searchers:

Greatest Hits:

The Searcher’s Greatest Hits is an older, but excellent, collection put out by the great oldies label Rhino Records. This 18 song set features all the Searchers hits and most of their best songs including: Sweets for My Sweet, Love Potion No. 9, Sugar and Spice, Needles and Pins, Don’t Throw Your Love Away and When You Walk in the Room.

Here’s a link to request Searchers Greatest Hits CD:
https://goo.gl/tlYI07

IV. Videos Of The Artists/Groups Of The Week:

The Beatles:

The Early Years:

I Wanna Hold Your Hand: The Beatles as they appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, February 9, 1964:

Twist & Shout: From their second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, February 23, 1964:

And one last video from their early years – the opening scene and a bit more from the film A Hard Day’s Night which gives those of us who came of age after the sixties a little taste of what Beatlemania was like:

The Middle Years:

Help! Recorded for British TV in 1965:

Rock N’ Roll Music, Baby’s In Black, I Feel Fine, Yesterday, Nowhere Man and I’m Down recorded before a studio audience in Germany in 1966:

The Later Years:

Revolution

Hey Jude

Get Back from the famous Rooftop Gig the band played in 1969:

Gerry & The Pacemakers:

Ferry Cross The Mersey – from the TV show Top of The Pops:

How Do You Do It?

The Searchers:

Needles & Pins from The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964:

Love Potion No, 9

Bonus First British Invasion Videos:

And by the way, YouTube has hundreds if not thousands of videos by British Invasions artists/groups – you could spend all day watching them!

Here are just a few of the video gems I found while doing research for this posting:

A Summer Song by Chad & Jeremy as introduced by Dick Clark

Just One Look by The Hollies

Bits & Pieces by The Dave Clark Five

Here Comes My Baby by the Tremeloes

V. Wild Card Music Book Recommendation Of The Week


Love in Vain: Robert Johnson 1911-1938, the Graphic Novel by Jim Dickinson:

This is indeed a graphic novel style biography of the legendary Blues guitarist who, the myth says, sold his soul to the devil to be able to play incredible blues. This is a cool read!

From ‘Crossroads Blues’ to ‘Sweet Home Chicago’, ‘Hellhound on My Trail’ to ‘Come On In My Kitchen’, Robert Johnson wrote some of the most enduring and formative songs of the original blues era, songs that would go on to help shape the birth of rock ‘n’ roll in the 1960s. Beloved of Clapton, Dylan and the Stones, Robert Johnson remains one of the most iconic and mythologized figures in popular music (and the first of many to die at the age of 27). Born in the in the South in Mississippi, Johnson made his way to the urban North as a traveling musician, but it was only when he returned to the South that he recorded the twenty-nine songs, in two sessions, which would create his legacy.

Exploring the stories and legends that surround his life and death — his childhood, his womanizing, his pact with the devil at the crossroads — Mezzo and DuPont have produced a fittingly creative and beautiful depiction of this most extraordinary life. — from the publisher

Here’s a link to request the book:

https://goo.gl/Iz0phN

VI. 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:

The Beatles (official website)
http://www.thebeatles.com/

The Beatles AllMusic Discography, written by Richie Unterberger
https://goo.gl/0sfb5m

George Harrison, ‘Quiet Beatle’ And Lead Guitarist, Dies at 58, written by Allan Koxinn published in The New York Times December 1, 2001.
https://goo.gl/bsPeLs

Gerry & the Pacemakers AllMusic Discography, written by Richie Unterberger
https://goo.gl/IWGr6P

John Lennon Bio – Rolling Stone
https://goo.gl/5RCp5b

Needles and Pins Album Review & Searchers Biography – iTunes
https://goo.gl/FP9UWd

The Searchers AllMusic Discography, written by Bruce Eder
https://goo.gl/6kn8e2

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.

Weekly Recommended Listens: April 2017: Week 3: Sixties Rock: Soul Music Continued

Hi everyone, this week we’re continuing our month-long look at Early Sixties Soul music this week focusing on the music of Gary U. S. Bonds, The Impressions & Jerry Butler.

Just as a reminder, each weekly recommended music posting features the following sections:

I. Brief Artist Bios

II. Freegal Music Recommendations

III. CD Music Recommendations Of The Week

IV. Videos Of This Weeks’ Artists/Groups

V. Wild Recommendations of the Week

VI. References

And on to our Soul artists of the week!

I. Brief Artist Bios:

Gary U.S. Bonds: Gary U.S. Bonds was born Gary Anderson in Jacksonville, Florida in 1939 and grew up in Norfolk, Virginia. Gary sang Gospel as a child, started singing professionally in his teens and was signed to Legrand Records by Producer Frank Guida when he was only nineteen. And Guida is the one who suggested to the young Gary Anderson that he use the professional name Gary U. S. Bonds, figuring that radio DJs would mistake Bond’s music for public service announcements and play more of his songs on the radio. The strategy worked and Bond’s career caught fire! His first hit was the classic song New Orleans. Bond’s music has that upbeat youthful vibe to it which reminds you of fun summer vacations during high school – no matter what year you graduated! And his music, which features the early classic rock instruments of guitar, bass, drums and horns, can be thought of as both early Classic Rock and Soul and is perfect for parties – especially in the summer when you can get out on the patio, with your Bluetooth speaker, and dance! Bond hits include the previously mentioned New Orleans, Quarter To Three, School Is Out, Dear Lady Twist and Twist, Twist Senior.

Today Gary U.S. Bonds lives on Long Island continue to perform and record.

The Impressions: The Impressions were the premier soul group of the early sixties. The band launched the career of three great soul artists who all became even better known in the seventies as solo artists: singer-songwriter Jerry Butler, singer-songwriter/guitarist Curtis Mayfield and singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer Leroy Hutson. The Impressions formed in 1958, had the peak of their success in the late fifties and early sixties and disbanded in 1975. The group had seventeen singles hit the top ten on the R&B charts during their career. And their sound really epitomizes the sound of Soul Music as it was forming and evolving – the sound of their singing was light and airy and featured something that was unusual in popular music at that time – three singers trading lead vocals within the same song. The band was also known as being very socially conscious – something that Curtis Mayfield became even better known for in the nineteen seventies.

The Impressions hits include: It’s All Right, Amen, Keep On Pushing, Talking About My Baby, We’re A Winner, People Get Ready, I’m So Proud, Gypsy Woman, Fool For You, and Woman’s Got Soul.

The Impressions After The Impressions:

Curtis Mayfield left The Impressions in 1970. And in his post-Impressions career Mayfield music was a bit rougher and veneered off onto the path of seventies Funk Music. His solo hits of the period include: the classic Superfly, (Don’t Worry) If There’s A Hell Bellow We’re All Gonna Go, Billy Jack and Freddie’s Dead.

Mayfield continued to perform and record until 1990 when he was injured in a freak accident which ended his career, when a lighting rig fell on him at a concert in Brooklyn, New York. The accident left Mayfield paralyzed from the neck down and he never recovered from his paralysis. Mayfield died in 1999.

Leroy Hutson took over singing the main lead vocals for The Impressions when Mayfield left the group in 1970 and continued to do so until he left the band himself in 1973. During the seventies Hutson released a number of popular solo albums and worked behind the scene at Curtom Records writings songs and producing albums for other artists. His seventies solo albums include: Love Oh, Love, The Man!, Hutson, Feel The Spirit and Hutson II.

Although Hutson no longer records, he continues to perform and is scheduled to appear at the annual Blackpool Soul Festival, being held in Blackpool, England, U.K. June 16-18, 2017.

And as Jerry Butler was both a member of The Impressions, and is featured as our third Soul artist/group for this week, here’s a single posting on the great artist Jerry Butler.

Jerry Butler first met Curtis Mayfield when both youths were singing in the same church choir. Butler was an original member of The Impressions and wrote their first hit Your Precious Love; Butler was also the first member of the group to leave and launch a solo career which he did in 1958. Butler recorded numerous hit singles in the sixties and seventies including: Lost, He Will Break Your Heart, Find Another Girl, I’m a Telling You, Never Give You Up, and Hey, Western Union Man.

In the nineties, Butler launched a new career when he ran for and won a seat on the Chicago City Council – a position he still holds today.

II. Freegal Music Recommendations:

Gary U.S. Bonds:

Dance ‘Til Quarter to Three + Twist up Calypso:

This collection features Bond’s two sixties albums and offers a great collection of early sixties rocking soul songs! Songs in the collection include: Quarter To Three, A Trip To The Moon, That’s All Right, New Orleans and School Is Out.

Here’s a link to stream the Dance ‘Til Quarter to Three album:
https://goo.gl/XmXRiA

The Impressions:

The Impressions Debut Album (feat. Curtis Mayfield):

This album, from 1963, features six of their highest charting hits: It’s All Right, Gypsy Woman, Little Young Lover, Minstrel And Queen, Grow Closer Together and I’m The One Who Loves You and other great, fun songs including the Doo-Wop-centric Never Let Me Go and the swinging Twist & Limbo. This album is a sixties soul classic!

Here’s a link to stream The Impressions Debut Album:
https://goo.gl/fK2xdG

Jerry Butler:

He Will Break Your Heart + Jerry Butler, Esq.:  This classic collection contains Butler’s first two albums: Jerry Butler, Esq. and He Will Break Your Heart. The two album set contains more than 25 songs including: The Gift of Love, Sweet Was The Wine, Have A Good Time and Come Back My Love.

Here is a link to stream the Butler double album:
https://goo.gl/f3aX5z

III. CD Music Recommendations Of The Week

The Impressions:

The Impressions Debut Album:
This is the exact same classic sixties soul album I recommended you stream through The Freegal Music catalog – this time in CD format!

Here’s a link to request the The Impressions Debut Album on CD:
https://goo.gl/G9WHnt

Gary U. S. Bonds:

The Very Best Of Gary U.S. Bonds by Gary U. S. Bonds:
This album features Bond’s best songs, recorded between 1960 – 1966. The Songs include: New Orleans, School is Out, Quarter To Three, Dear Lady Twist, Seven Day Weekend and more.

Here’s a link to request the Bond’s album on CD:
https://goo.gl/tgQw4w

Jerry Butler:

He Will Break Your Heart: 

This album is actually a greatest hits collection and not the second album released by Butler in 1960. The album features his greatest songs including: Aware of Love, Find Another Girl, He Will Break Your Heart, For Your Precious Love, Where Do I Turn, Let It Be Me and A Lonely Soldier.

Here’s a link to request the Butler CD through StarCat:
https://goo.gl/R0xPQL

IV. Videos Of This Weeks’ Artists/Groups:

Gary U. S. Bonds:

Quarter to Three 

https://goo.gl/iYn0LN

This Little Girl
And here is a second Gary U. S. Bonds video I couldn’t resist sharing, even though it falls outside our sixties time-frame. It features Bond and Bruce Springing singing, This Little Girl, a song Springsteen wrote for Bond’s 1981 album Dedication. The video recorded at the MetLife Stadium in 2012.

Here’s the link to the video This Little Girl:

https://goo.gl/PrqT3j

The Impressions:

It’s All Right recorded from a 1965 television broadcast

of Hollywood A Go-Go:

https://goo.gl/EzUi22

Curtis Mayfield:

Superfly

https://goo.gl/pVs5ea

Jerry Butler:

Hey, Western Union Man

https://goo.gl/hKxV3T

V. Wild Card Recommendations of the Week:

This section includes three suggestions of music items found in the library’s collection that you might enjoy – that fall outside our monthly musical category.

Freegal Streaming Recommendation:

Joshua Bell – The Best of Joshua Bell:

Violinist Joshua Bell is from Bloomington, Indiana and plays classical and easy listening music.

Here’s a link to stream Bell’s Best of album via Freegal:
https://goo.gl/wdDGE7

DVD Recommendation:

Pete Seeger: The Power Of Song:

This documentary was released in 2007 and chronicles the life and music of the great American folk singer/songwriter and human rights activist Pete Seeger (1919-2014). Some of Seeger’s best known songs include: If I Had A Hammer, Where Have All The Flowers Gone and Turn, Turn, Turn. Guest musicians who discuss Seeger’s impact on their music include: Bob Dylan, Brice Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie and Peter, Paul & Mary.

Here’s a link to request The Power of Song DVD:
https://goo.gl/XnBvrE

And speaking of music and concert DVDs – did you know…

The library has a whole bunch of music DVDs?

Including concerts, documentaries and instructional videos for those wanting to learn how to play an instrument?

We do!

The music DVDs are actually shelved by that sneaky culprit of confusion, The Dewey Decimal System!

Most books that focus on music are found in the library under Dewey numbers in the 780s. And so are most of the library’s music DVDs…

In other words, if you’re just browsing through the library’s collection of movies and TV shows, which are arraigned alphabetically by title, you’re missing seeing our non-fiction DVDs including all our cool music related DVDs!

So the next time you’re in the library looking for DVDs – ask the staff to show you where the music DVDs are!

Print Book Recommendation:

Change of Seasons: A Memoir by John Oates: 

This is indeed the John Oates of the popular seventies and eights duo Hall and Oates. Change of Seasons is his brand new memoir!

You can request Change of Seasons click on the following link:
https://goo.gl/mtkuLo

VI. General References & Artist Specific References:

General References:

All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide To R&B And Soul. (Backbeat Books. Fresno. 2003.)

12 Best Springsteen Albums (Not Made by Bruce)
https://goo.gl/S7DZzc

The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits by Joel Whitburn (Billboard Books. New York. 2009.)

The Blackpool Soul Festival
http://www.blackpoolsoulfestival.co.uk/

Sixties Rock: A Listener’s Guide by Robert Santelli (Contemporary Books. Chicago. 1985.)

Recommended Artists Specific References:

Curtis Mayfield Biography by Richie Unterberger
https://goo.gl/po8EtR

Curtis Mayfield, Conscience-Driven Soul Singer, Dies at 57 By NEIL STRAUSS. DEC. 27, 1999. Accessed April 15, 2017.
https://goo.gl/4li5BX

DANCING ALL OVER THE ROOM: GARY U.S. BONDS AT SEVENTY-FIVE By Sarah Larson. June 11, 2014. Accessed April 17, 2017.
https://goo.gl/M0NRGc

Gary US Bonds (Official Website)
http://www.garyusbonds.com/

Gary “U.S.” Bonds Biography by Cub Koda
https://goo.gl/E59wa3

The Impressions Biography by Steve Huey
https://goo.gl/MeOMbQ

The Impressions – Chart History
https://goo.gl/SXwo3Y

Jerry Butler Biography by Craig Lytle
https://goo.gl/D2ApUz
Jerry Butler
County Board Commissioner, 3rd District
https://www.cookcountyil.gov/person/jerry-butler

Leroy Hutson Biography by Rob Theakston
https://goo.gl/rzb3DG

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.

Weekly Recommended Listens: April 2017: Week 2: Sixties Rock: Early Sixties Soul Music Continued

Hi everyone, this week we’re continuing our month-long look at Early Sixties Soul music.

Our artists for this week are Jackie Wilson, Solomon Burke & Little Willie John.

And our weekly recommended music posting features the following sections:

I. Brief Artist Bios

II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week (streaming music*)

III. CD Music Recommendations Of The Week

IV. Videos Of This Weeks’ Artists/Groups

V. Wild Card Print Book Recommendation Of The Week

VI. References (for those who’d like to know a bit more about the artists of the week).

I. Brief Artist Bios:

Jackie Wilson: Wilson was born in Detroit in 1934. And like all the other musicians who helped create the new musical genre of Soul, he started out singing Gospel, then incorporated traditional Rhythm & Blues and Pop influences into his music to produce a classic early sixties Soul sound.

Wilson initially sang as a solo artist before joining Billy Ward’s band, the Dominos in 1953. He took over the singing duties from the great Clyde McPatter who left Ward’s band to form The Drifters. During Wilson’s tenure with The Dominos they had one hit Reet Petite (The Finest Girl You Ever Want To Meet) in which you can clearly hear the styles of Rhythm and Blues, Pop and Swing being woven together.

In 1957, Wilson left Ward’s band and launched his second solo career. He scored numerous hits in the next ten years starting with 1958’s To Be Loved. Other Wilson hits of the era include: Lonely Teardrops, I’ll Be Satisfied, Doggin’ Around, A Woman, A Lover, A Friend, Alone At Last, My Empty Arms, Baby Workout, (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher, and I Get The Sweetest Feeling. Wilson’s was a very energetic singer and a great performer. He was also a consistent hitmaker during the 1960s. However, it is notable that when Wilson recorded albums he focused on creating hits and so sometimes the depth and energy of his singing wasn’t captured in his studio recordings.

All in all though, Wilson richly deserves his place in music history as one of the founder of Soul Music – few singers of the era sang more energetically, and his rich tones when complimented by the right songs/song arraignments are wonderful to hear.

Wilson continued to perform into the nineteen seventies but, unfortunately, suffered a stroke while performing in Cherry Hill, New Jersey in 1975, at the very young age of 41, and was never able to perform again. Wilson died in 1984.

Solomon Burke: Burke was born on March 21, 1940 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Both his mother and his grandmother were preachers so he grew up with the sounds of Gospel woven into his life. And as a young man, Burke worked as a preacher and mortician before turning his launching a singing career.

Burke never had a pop hit, although he had many R&B hits, but he had a huge impact on the genres of Pop and Rock Music and was another founding pillar of the genre of Soul Music. Burke started out singing Gospel in his family’s church and went on to sing music that mixed Rhythm and Blues and Country Music with Pop overtones, polishing and transitioning that music into Soul Music as he went.

In the mid-sixties a radio show host referred to Burke as “The King Of Rock and Soul” and Burke loved the description and went with it, creating a stage persona that showed him larger than life, decked out like a king and sitting on a throne while he sang.

Burke recorded for Atlantic Records during its sixties heyday. And with his smooth vocals, flamboyant style and knack for storytelling, influenced a whole host of subsequent artists and groups including the Rolling Stones who covered two of his songs in their early years– Everybody Needs Somebody To Love (Rolling Stones No. 2), and Cry To Me (Out Of Our Heads). Burke’s R&B hits of the sixties included: Cry To Me, Just Out of Reach, Tonight’s The Night, Got To Get You Off My Mind, If You Need Me and Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye).

Post sixties, Burke continued to record and perform and actually died in an airport in Amsterdam while on tour in 2010. He was seventy years old, and according to his New York Times obituary, he was survived by 21 children, 90 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

Little Willie John: John was born in Cullendale, Arkansas on November 15, 1937. He grew up in Detroit and his first hit was 1955’s All Around the World.

John’s vocals had great emotional depth and his voice was youthful in tone giving his music a very vibrant feeling.

John recorded for King Records, a lesser known label that the great sixties R&B/Soul labels Atlantic and Stax, and, was cited as a musical inspiration by many other performers including B.B. King, Al Green, Clyde McPhatter, James Brown, Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke.

John was a passionate individual and hot tempered when it came to slights – particularly those based on his lack of height – he was five feet, four inches tall. And in 1964 he stabbed a man and as a result, was sent to The Washington State Penitentiary. He died there under suspicious circumstances in 1968. Some sources say John died of a heart attack, others that he died of pneumonia and several contemporaries interviewed for his 2011 biography, Fever: Little Willie John A Fast Life, Mysterious Death and The Birth of Soul by Susan Whitall, claim that he was murdered. Whatever the cause of his John’s death, he died at the very young age of 30 leaving behind some great music. His hits include: Are You Ever Coming Back, Fever, Heartbreak, Home At Last, I Need Your Love So Bad, I’m Shakin’ and Let’s Rock While The Rockin’s Good.

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:

Jackie Wilson:Archive ’57-’61:

This album contains a number of Wilson’s best songs including: Reet Petite, To Be Loved, Lonely Teardrops, I’ll Be Satisfied, Doggin’ Around, Night and more!

Here’s a link to stream the album Archive ’57 – ’61:
https://goo.gl/nTDFPN

Solomon Burke: Proud Mary with Bonus Tracks

 The songs on this collection include: These Arms Of Mine, I’ll Be Doggone, Please Send Me Someone To Love, The Generation Of Revelations, In The Ghetto and more.

Here’s link to stream the Proud Mary album:
https://goo.gl/YHQPkO

Little Willie John:

All Around The World by Little Willie John from the Various Artists collection All Star Rock & Roll Revue:

In addition to Little Willie John, this album  features a swinging version of Oh Babe by Lucky Millinder, a bouncy Voo-Vee-Ah-Bee by The Platters and Sixty Minute Man by Billy Ward & His Dominoes featuring Clyde McPhatter on vocals.

Here’s a link to stream the All Star Rock & Roll Revue album:
https://goo.gl/iqT7rV

Fever by Little Willie John from the Various Artists collection 20 Soul Rarities:


Other musicians features on the album include: Big Joe Turner, Dinah Washington, Ruth Brown, Eugene Church and more.

Here’s a link to stream the album 20 Soul Rarities:
https://goo.gl/Hw3rII

Freegal Wild Card Streaming Pick Of The Week:

The Complete Sessions with Bobby Hackett by Jackie Gleason:


If you’re only familiar with Jackie Gleason as portraying the everyday common man Ralph Kramden on the classic TV show the Honeymooners, than you are in for a treat! Jackie Gleason also had a musical career! In the fifties, he said that he thought there was a need to create smooth, romantic, easy listening instrumental music like the kind he saw, during romantic scenes in the movies, while he was growing up – and boy did he! Jackie Gleason’s albums feature rich, horn based instrumentals that are perfect to play as back ground music while reading, relaxing, unwinding while working out or even just de-stressing, wine glass in hand, after a hectic day.

If you go to the Freegal checkout page to stream the set you’ll notice Freegal has the musical category listed as Jazz. However, Jackie Gleason’s music really isn’t Jazz – it is the soft background music that later became known as lounge music and it is perfect music to play when you just want to shut your eyes and relax!

Freegal has several different Jackie Gleason albums in its catalog, including this set of Gleason’s featuring albums released between 1953 and 1960 which feature trumpeter Bobby Hackett. This collection features more than 100 songs – so stream away!

Here’s a link to stream the Jackie Gleason Sessions:
https://goo.gl/7JYQ19

III. Compact Discs Recommendations:

Jackie Wilson:

Jackie Wilson 7 Classic Albums Plus Bonus Singles And Live Tracks:


This multi disc collection includes seven albums originally released between 1958 and 1961 including his first three albums: He’s So Fine, So Much & Lonely Teardrops. Also included are the albums Jackie Sings the Blues and A Woman, A Lover, A Friend both released in 1960 and 1961’s You Ain’t Heard Nothin Yet and By Special Request. Since that is seven albums worth of material to listen to and not everyone has that much free time, I’ll note that the AllMusic site gives the highest ratings to the albums Lonely Teardrops and Jackie Sings The Blues.

Here’s a link to request the Jackie Wilson 7 Classic Albums set  via StarCat: https://goo.gl/kQwm8r

Solomon Burke

The Very Best of Solomon Burke:

This album, unlike the mega Jackie Wilson set, features one single-album of music; sixteen of Solomon’s best songs including: Just Out Of My Reach, Cry To Me, Everybody Needs Somebody To Love and Tonight’s The Night.

Here’s a link to request the Very Best of Solomon Burke CD via StarCat: https://goo.gl/X0MA3U

Little Willie John:

Little Willie John: All 15 Of His chart Hits From 1953 To 1962:

This album is a solid greatest hits collection featuring, as the title says, all of Little Willie John’s hits from the fifties and early sixties. The album includes the songs: All Around The World, Need your Love So Bad, Cottage For Sale, Fever and more.

Here’s a link to request the Little Willie John CD via StarCat: https://goo.gl/pCKUk9

Wild Card CD & DVD Picks Of The Week:


Lost and Found: American Treasures from the New Zealand Film Archive (Silent):

This collection of silent American films is a great find! The set includes early movies, previously unavailable on video, by John Ford, Alfred Hitchcock and other early American cinematic favorites. The films and were found in a New Zealand archive where they had been carefully stored for over a century – and they are a great find because they are the only known versions of these videos.

The 3-1/4 hour DVD set contains the following short films and film shorts:

John Ford’s Upstream (1927) and a preview for his lost feature Strong Boy (1929)

The White Shadow (1924), 3 reels from the first surviving feature credited to Alfred Hitchcock, the assistant director, art director, writer, and editor

Won in a Cupboard (1914), the first surviving film directed by and starring Mabel Normand

Lyman H. Howe’s Famous Ride on a Runaway Train (1921), reunited with its sound-effects disc for the first time in decades

Stetson’s Birth of a Hat (ca. 1920)

The Love Charm (1928), a South Seas romance filmed in two-color Technicolor by Ray Rennahan and written by Duncan Renaldo (the “Cisco Kid”)

Andy’s Stump Speech (1924), directed by Norman Taurog, following funny-paper favorite Andy Gump (played by Joe Murphy) on the campaign trail

The cartoon Happy-Go-Luckies (1923), 5 newsreel stories, and an episode from Dolly of the Dailies (1914) in which the unstoppable newspaperwoman saves the day and gets the scoop.

Here’s a link to request the Lost and Found DVD set via StarCat:
https://goo.gl/wD2iFZ

IV: Videos Of This Weeks’ Artists/Groups:

Jackie Wilson:

That’s Why (I Love You So) – from The Ed Sullivan Show

https://goo.gl/B3RGNR

Lonely Teardrops – from an unnamed TV show:

https://goo.gl/8oIcfc

Solomon Burke:

Cry To Me – studio recording with a montage of photos of Burke from the era and, at the end of the clip, much later in his career

https://goo.gl/T2XM9v

A Picture of You – another studio recording with featuring only a single, vintage, lonely photo of Solomon Burke – but it is great song!

https://goo.gl/fpmjRz

Little Willie John:
Two studio recordings featuring vintage photos of John:

Need Your Love So Bad

https://goo.gl/tfqsKx

I’m Shakin’

https://goo.gl/aGg5cS

V. Wild Card Print Book Recommendation Of The Week:

Fever: Little Willie John, A Fast Life, Mysterious Death and the Birth of Soul by Susan Whitall with a forward by Stevie Wonder

This week I’m not going to divert from the Soul Music category and go off on a different music path, instead, I’m going to recommend Little Willie John’s biography titled:

Here’s a solid description of the book provided by the Publisher – Titan Books:

Little Willie John lived for a fleeting 30 years, but his dynamic and daring sound left an indelible mark on the history of music. His deep blues, rollicking rock ‘n’ roll and swinging ballads inspired a generation of musicians, forming the basis for what we now know as soul music.

Born in Arkansas in 1937, William Edward John found his voice in the church halls, rec centers and nightclubs of Detroit, a fertile proving ground that produced the likes of Levi Stubbs and the Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Smokey Robinson and Hank Ballard and the Midnighters. One voice rose above the rest in those formative years of the 1950s, and Little Willie John went on to have 15 hit singles in the American rhythm & blues chart, with considerable cross-over success in pop. Some of his songs might be best known by their cover versions (“Fever” by Peggy Lee, “Need Your Love So Bad” by Fleetwood Mac and “Leave My Kitten Alone” by The Beatles) but Little Willie John’s original recording of these and other songs are widely considered to be definitive, and it is this sound that is credited with ushering in a new age in American music as the 1950s turned into the 60s and rock ‘n’ roll took its place in popular culture.

The soaring heights of Little Willie John’s career are matched only by the tragic events of his death, cutting short a life so full of promise. Charged with a violent crime in the late 1960s, an abbreviated trial saw Willie convicted and incarcerated in Walla Walla Washington, where he died under mysterious circumstances in 1968.

In this, the first official biography of one of the most important figures in rhythm & blues history, author Susan Whitall, with the help of Little Willie John’s eldest son Kevin John, has interviewed some of the biggest names in the music industry and delved into the personal archive of the John family to produce an unprecedented account of the man who invented soul music.

And here’s a link to request Little Willie John bio via StarCat:

https://goo.gl/5uX2JY

VI. General References & Artist Specific References:

General References:
All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide To R&B And Soul. (Backbeat Books. Fresno. 2003.)

The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits by Joel Whitburn (Billboard Books. New York. 2009.)
Clyde McPhatter Biography by Bruce Eder
https://goo.gl/B3Cm7A

Sixties Rock: A Listener’s Guide by Robert Santelli (Contemporary Books. Chicago. 1985.)

Recommended Artists Specific References:

Jackie Wilson Biography by Richie Unterberger
https://goo.gl/XjFlFS

JACKIE WILSON, ROCK SINGER; RECORDS INCLUDED ‘TEARDROPS’ Published: January 23, 1984. New York Times.
https://goo.gl/G6ZR6t

Little Willie John Biography by John Floyd
https://goo.gl/3jkj8Z

Solomon Burke Biography by Richie Unterberger
https://goo.gl/6hZyRX

Solomon Burke, Influential Soul Singer, Dies at 70 By BEN SISARIO. OCT. 11, 2010. New York Times.
https://goo.gl/MMf1Rr

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.

Weekly Recommended Listens: April 2017: Week 1: Sixties Rock: Soul Music

Hi everyone, this week we’re kicking off a month long look at sixties Soul Music.

And just to refresh our memories, each weekly recommended music posting features the following sections:

I. Brief Artist Bios
II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week (streaming music)
III. CD Music Recommendations Of The Week
IV. Videos Of This Weeks’ Artists/Groups
V. Wild Card Print Book Recommendation Of The Week
VI. References (for those who’d like to know a bit more about the artists of the week).

Our spotlighted artists for this week are Sam Cooke, Ray Charles & James Brown.

I. Brief Artist Bios:

Sam Cooke: Cooke was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi on January 22, 1931. He was one of eight children born to a Baptist minister and his wife and grew up in Chicago. Cooke showed exceptional singing talent as a boy and began his singing career by singing in the choir at his father’s church. As a youth Cooke sang with the Gospel group The Soul Stirrers before kicking off a solo career in the late nineteen fifties.

Cooke had a very smooth voice, a smart pop songwriting style and blended traditional Rhythm and Blues and the power of Gospel with Pop Music to help create a new sound, which has since become known as “Soul Music.” Those us of who came of age after the nineteen sixties don’t remember an era without Soul Music. However, in the early sixties this was a new style of music lighter than traditional Rhythm & Blues and yet, a bit heavier and more substantial than most of the pop music of the day.

Cooke’s first solo hit was You Send Me released in 1957. The record sold more than two million copies which was a huge number for the time. By the dawn of the sixties, Cooke was just hitting his musical stride! He released a number of great soul songs in the early sixties including: Everybody Likes To Cha Cha Cha, Only Sixteen, Chain Gang, Twistin’ the Night Away, Having A Party, Another Saturday Night and the posthumously released A Change Is Gonna Come.

And no doubt, Cooke would have become an even more prominent figure of sixties Soul Music if not for his untimely death. Cooke was shot to death in a suspicious incident at the Hacienda Motel in Los Angeles in 1964. He was only 33 years old.

Ray Charles: Charles was born in Georgia in 1930 and grew up in Florida. He was born with sight but lost his sight as a child. Charles was musical from an early age. He studied piano at The St. Augustine School for the Deaf and the Blind, moved to Seattle in 1948 and formed his first band in 1954. Like Cook, Charles blended traditional Rhythm & Blues, mixing it with Gospel and Pop to become another founder of the new music genre – Soul.

Charles started his recording career in the nineteen fifties and began to cement his role as a founding pillar of soul when his 1959 hit What I’d Say broke through to the mainstream American audience hitting number 1 on the R&B Chart. Charles’s sixties hits include: Georgia On My Mind, One Mint Julep, Hit The Road Jack, Unchain My Heart, I Can’t Stop Loving You, You Don’t Know Me, Busted, Crying Time and In The Heat of the Night.

By the end of the sixties this new genre of music – Soul – was a bona fide genre in its own right, thanks in no small part to Ray Charles. Charles continued to record and perform until his death in 2004 and was the subject of a biographic movie released that same year and simply titled Ray.

James Brown: Brown was born in South Carolina in 1933. Brown, like Sam Cooke and Ray Charles, started out singing Gospel music. And Brown, again, like Cooke and Charles, became a founding pillar of the new musical genre of Soul Music by blending traditional Rhythm and Blues music with Pop and Gospel. However, Brown, with his flamboyant style and passionate singing, took it a step further and also set down a couple of foundation stones for a musical genre that came of age in the nineteen seventies – Funk. And as the musical style of Funk falls outside our discussion of sixties Soul Music I’ll just provide a link to an AllMusic overview of Funk music – you can access the overview by clicking on the following link: https://goo.gl/mwEJaF

Getting back to James Brown, his sixties hits include: Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag (Part 1), I Got You (I Feel Good), Cold Sweat, I Got The Feeling and Say It Loud – I’m Black And I’m Proud (Part 1).

The sixties were Brown’s most prolific era as far as mainstream popularity goes. Brown continued to tour and record during the seventies and eighties, during which time he had a series of minor hits and one last big hit, the top ten hit Living In America, which was released in 1986. He died in 2004

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:

1. Sam Cooke The Best of Sam Cooke:

This greatest hits collection contains Cooke’s best known songs including: You Send Me, Only Sixteen, (What A) Wonderful World, Chain Gang, Twistin’ The Night Away, Having A Party and Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha.

Here’s a link to stream The Best Of Sam Cooke album:
https://goo.gl/E6KtWr

Also by Sam Cooke – Night Beat:

For those who want to dig a bit deeper into the music of Sam Cooke, whose music is, unfortunately, less well known to those of us who came of age after the sixties than the music of Ray Charles and James Brown, this is a great album to check out! Night Beat was released in 1963 and has Cooke being backed by a small band that sets down a great foundation to show off his stunning vocals. The album includes the songs: Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen,  Mean Old World, Please Don’t Drive Me Away, Get Yourself Another Fool, You Gotta Move and a super cool version of the classic blues song Little Red Rooster which features a neat organ compliment to Cooke’s vocals.

Here’s a link to stream the Night Beat album: https://goo.gl/zTA6MA

Ray Charles, Jazz Masters Deluxe Collection:

None of Ray Charles’s sixties studio albums are available in the Freegal Music Catalog. However, there are several greatest hits/best of collections that give you a good idea of what Charles’s music sounds like.

And despite the fact that we’re talking about Soul Music in this posting, and that the title of the album I’m about to recommend has the word “Jazz” in it – it is notable, that Ray Charles played and recorded all kinds of music including R&B, Pop, Country and Jazz – basically, he was a great musician who could play any style of music. And this album, despite the title, really features more of Charles playing and singing a mixture of the foundation styles of Soul Music: Rhythm and Blues, with Big Band and Pop Music influences mixed in for good measure.

The album includes several of his best known songs including: I Got A Woman, Hit The Road Jack, Georgia on My Mind, Ruby, Mess Around and a neat version of the song Blues Is My Middle Name that lets you hear what a big fan Charles was of the great Nat King Cole!

Here’s a link to stream the album Ray Charles, Jazz Masters Deluxe Collection:
https://goo.gl/KZyj9d

James Brown – 16 Original Hits:

This album is a great place to start to hear Brown’s sixties releases. The album includes the songs: Give It Up Or Turn It Loose, It’s Too Funky In Here, Doing It To Death, Try Me, Get Up Offa That Thing, Hot Pants, I Got The Feelin’, Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag, Please, Please, Please, I Got You (I Feel Good) and more! Check it out!

Here’s a link to stream the album 16 Original Hits:
https://goo.gl/mvgkMI

Bonus Freegal Suggestion:

Ain’t No Sunshine: Classic Soul and R&B, Vol. 1 by various artists:

I stumbled across this album while researching Soul albums in the Freegal Music Catalog. This is a festive collection of vintage R&B and Soul songs by Al Jarreau, Carla and Rufus Thomas, The Drifters, Ray Charles, Little Joe Curtis, Sam & Dave, Cissy Houston and more. Check it out!

Here’s a link to stream the album Ain’t No Sunshine:
https://goo.gl/1Melct

Freegal Wild Card Streaming Pick Of The Week:

Funk Nights by various artists


This various artist collection features a slice of seventies Funk Music! Included in this collection are the songs Ladies Night by Kool & the Gang, Dance Your Pants Off by Sly Stone & The Mojo Men, Crazy About You by Edwin Starr, Do the Funky Chicken by Rufus Thomas, Brick House by Clarence Carter and more!

Here’s a link to stream the album Funk Nights: https://goo.gl/gKVTyy

III. Compact Discs Recommendations:

Sam Cooke – Sam Cooke Forever:


This European import set features 72 of Cooke’s best songs including the popular Soul hits You Send Me, Twistin’ the Night Away, Wonderful World, Cupid and Chain Gang. Additionally included are a number of the Gospel songs he recorded with The Soul Stirrers including: Peace in the Valley, Nearer To Thee, Were You There and Come And Go To That Land – this is a great collection check it out!

Here’s a link to request the CD set Sam Cooke Forever via StarCat: https://goo.gl/CfYTri

Ray Charles – Ray Original Soundtrack:


This album offers a great overview of Charles’s work and is a good place to start listening to Charles’s music if you’re not familiar with it. And if you are familiar with Charles’s work – this is still a great album to listen to!

The soundtrack includes the original recordings of  17  of Charles’s early hits including: Mess Around, I Got a Woman, Hallelujah I Love Her So, Drown in My Own Tears, (Night Time Is) The Right Time, Hard Times, What’d I Say, Georgia on My Mind, Hit the Road Jack, Unchain My Heart, I Can’t Stop Loving You, Bye Bye Love and more!

Here’s a link to request the Ray soundtrack on CD via StarCat: https://goo.gl/gErSSr

Live At The Apollo by James Brown


And I can’t say it better than Rob Bowman did in his AllMusic review – so here is his review of the James Brown album Live At The Apollo: “An astonishing record of James and the Flames tearing the roof off the sucker at the mecca of R&B theatres, New York’s Apollo. When King Records owner Syd Nathan refused to fund the recording, thinking it commercial folly, Brown single-mindedly proceeded anyway, paying for it out of his own pocket. He had been out on the road night after night for a while, and he knew that the magic that was part and parcel of a James Brown show was something no record had ever caught. Hit follows hit without a pause — “I’ll Go Crazy,” “Try Me,” “Think,” “Please Please Please,” “I Don’t Mind,” “Night Train,” and more. The affirmative screams and cries of the audience are something you’ve never experienced unless you’ve seen the Brown Revue in a Black theater. If you have, I need not say more; if you haven’t, suffice to say that this should be one of the very first records you ever own.”

Just a little StarCat note: The StarCat record for this album lists the title as “The Apollo Theater presents, in person, the James Brown show.” However, the album is usually referred to by music fans as simply Live At The Apollo.

Here’s a link to request CD Live At The Apollo via StarCat:
https://goo.gl/jOH6hJ

Wild Card CD & DVD Picks Of The Week:

Ella Fitzgerald – Best of the Songbooks


This CD collection by Ella Fitzgerald, an extraordinary Jazz vocalist with the nick name The First Lady of Song. contains three albums: The Best of the Songs Books, The Best of the Song Books: The Ballads and Love Songs and The Best of the Verve Song Books.

Songs in this collection include: Something’s Gotta Give, Love Is Here To Stay, Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered, Oh, Lady Be Good!, It Was Written In The Stars, I’m Beginning To See The Light, The Man I Love, Prelude To A Kiss and more!

Here’s a link to request the Best of Songs Books CD set:
https://goo.gl/rbDGJi

IV: Videos Of This Weeks’ Artists/Groups:

Sam Cooke

Sam Cooke Live Twistin’ the Night Away 1963

Sam Cooke – A Change Is Gonna Come (1964) HD

Ray Charles:

Ray Charles – Hit The Road Jack

Ray Charles – What’d I Say LIVE

James Brown:

James Brown – Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag – I Feel Good

James Brown – I Got The Feelin’

Bonus YouTube Video Clip Suggestion: Cream Members Hanging In 1993
This video clip has nothing whatsoever to do with Soul Music – just the fact that I didn’t clear out my browsing history since the last time I went to YouTube! And that was last week, when I went to look for video clips for the final Blues Rock posting in our 2017 series! So today, I went to YouTube and was treated to a bunch of suggested videos that all relate to Blues or Blues Rock. And one of those videos is a fun 8 minute clip of the members of Cream rehearing a bit and just hanging out prior to the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 1993 – when they were inducted in to the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame – here’s a link to that clip which is titled Cream reunites at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame rehearsal – 1993:

V. Wild Card Print Book Recommendation Of The Week:


Hard Hitting Songs For Hard-Hit People Compiled by Alan Lomax, Notes On The Songs by Woody Guthrie, Music Transcribed & Edited & With An Afterward By Pete Seeger.

And wow, what a long title for a great book! As you might expect this book is a folk fan’s favorite! It features many historical protest songs from the early twentieth century, with an emphasis on songs of the nineteen thirties, including several written by Guthrie himself. And the songs chronicle the hard times of the working class experienced during that era. The book was put together by the great musicologist Alan Lomax. The book even has a preface written by Woody’s daughter Nora so if you like folk music and folk songs this is a great book to peruse as it offers a bit of history interspersed with dozens of classic folks songs that Lomax helpfully put into categories. The categories include: Hard Luck On the Farm, You’re Dead Broke, So You’ve Got To Hit The Road, And You Land In Jail, Old Time Songs From All Over and more! Selected songs from the collection include: The Boll Weevil, The Farmer Is The Man, Seven Cent Cotton And Forty Cent Meat, Collector Man Blues, No Job Blues, Starvation Blues, The Old Chain Gang and 66 Highway Blues.

Here’s a link to request the Hard Hitting book:

https://goo.gl/8GEY28

VI. General References & Artist Specific References:

General References:
Ella Fitzgerald Artist Biography by Scott Yanow
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ella-fitzgerald-mn0000184502/biography

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.)

Recommended Artists Specific References:

James Brown & His Famous Flames / James Brown
https://goo.gl/d3RH7l

James Brown Artist Biography by Richie Unterberger
https://goo.gl/v5Yg80

James Brown, the ‘Godfather of Soul,’ Dies at 73 By JON PARELES. DEC. 26, 2006. Accessed April 4, 2017.
https://goo.gl/oaGsk6

Ray (Original Soundtrack) AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
https://goo.gl/zdqyP7

Ray Charles Biography by Richie Unterberger
https://goo.gl/WPbl1E

Ray Charles, Bluesy Essence of Soul, Is Dead at 73 By JON PARELES and BERNARD WEINRAUB. JUNE 11, 2004. Accessed April 4, 2017.
https://goo.gl/xAiFQ1

Sam Cooke Biography by Bruce Eder
https://goo.gl/VpM3fJ

Sam Cooke’s Family Approves Biopic Focusing on Singer’s Murder
https://goo.gl/rh10kp

Sam Cooke Biography Songwriter, Singer (1931–1964)
https://goo.gl/Q6rwO

Music: 1964: Sam Cooke dies under suspicious circumstances in LA
https://goo.gl/v4dgCr

SAM COOKE SLAIN IN COAST MOTEL New York Times – December 12, 1964. Accessed April 4, 2017.
https://goo.gl/gvnBpJ

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.

Weekly Recommended Listens: March 2017, Week 4: Sixties Rock: Blues Rock Concluded

Hi everyone, we’re concluding our cliff notes look at Blues Rock music of the 1960s with this posting.

Next week we’ll kick off a month long look at another category of 1960s Rock – Early Sixties Soul.

And we’ll jump into our last Sixties Blues Rock posting by noting each week’s posting features the following sections:

I. Brief Artist Bios

II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week (streaming music)

III. CD Music Recommendations Of The Week

IV. Videos Of This Weeks’ Artists/Groups

V. Wild Card Print Book Recommendation Of The Week (a print book that focuses on a musician, musicians, songwriters or other musical genres, styles etc. from any musical era)

VI. References (for those who’d like to know a bit more about the artists of the week).

For our final week of listening to Sixties Blues Rock, we’re going to take a closer look at two British Blues artists and a group that were better known in the U.K. than the U.S. but that nevertheless played some great music! The two artists and one group are: Alexis Korner, Cyril Davis & The Graham Bond Organization.

Beginning Terminology Note:

To those of us who grew up after the 1960s it is helpful to note that 1960s Jazz was more closely related to Big Band music and to Rhythm and Blues music than jazz music of the seventies, eights or nineties.

Also of note, and again just for those of us who came of age after the sixties, you may have an impression of the term “R&B” as describing music with soft soulful vocals; however, in the early sixties Rhythm & Blues, R&B for short, was a term used to describe music that had strong blues roots, music that might be described as traditional rhythm and blues – today most of us would simply refer to this style of music as Blues. And I thought I should point that out, as the music of Alexis Korner, Cyril Davies, Blues Incorporated and The Graham Bond Organisation is on a different musical path than R&B music made since the 1970s. Their music really is blues with a mixture of jazz and traditional rock influences thrown to add musical color.

I. Brief Artist Bios:

Alexis Korner: Alexis Korner was born in Paris in 1928, and moved with his family to the U. K. in 1940. As a teenager he became a huge fan of American R&B. Korner learned to play piano and guitar and began playing professionally in the 1940s. It was in the mid-fifties that he ran into a guitarist and harmonica player named Cyril Davis and found that they shared a love of American Blues music.

In 1962, Korner and Davies formed the renowned Blues Incorporated band which really was the first British Blues band to break their music to a large audience. Korner and Davies not only played the blues, they encouraged others to play the blues too and, also, brought in American Blues players to play for British audiences. And thus the duo and the group they founded – Blues Incorporated, had a huge impact on British rock and blues players of the era.

Some of the musicians that played in the ever revolving line-up of Blues Incorporated included future Rolling Stones Brian Jones, Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger & Keith Richards, early Rolling Stone member and the man subsequently known as the “Sixth Stone” Ian Stewart, future Graham Bond Orgaisation members and Cream co-founders Ginger Baker & Jack Bruce, Long John Baldry who went on to sing with Cyril Davies’s All Stars, Dick Heckstall-Smith who later played with The Graham Bond Organization & John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Paul Jones later lead singer of Manfred Mann (he sang lead vocals on their biggest U.S. hit Do Wah Diddy Diddy), Steve Marriott who went on to play with Humble Pie & The Small Faces and many others.

The great British Bluesman John Mayall has even noted of Korner, Davis and their band Blues Incorporated, that their success influenced him to form his renowned Bluesbreakers band.

If you want to know more about Alexis Korner YouTube offers a BBC documentary which you can access here:

https://goo.gl/1dmu7B

Here’s a list of Korner’s sixties albums: R&B from the Marquee, Red Hot from Alex, At the Cavern, Sky High, I Wonder Who, A New Generation of Blues & Blues Inc./Alex Korner All Stars.

Korner continued to play and record through the 1970s and into the 1980s. Unfortunately, Korner died of lung cancer in 1984 at the relatively young age of 56.

Cyril Davies: Here’s the AllMusic biography of Cyril Davies: “The Cyril Davies R&B All-Stars were, after the Rolling Stones, the best British blues band of the early ’60s — and if they’d gotten to stay together a little longer under Davies, they might even have given Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, and company a real run for their money. This regrettably short-lived blues band was assembled by harpist/singer Cyril Davies (1932-1964) in 1963, following his exit from Blues Incorporated. The group’s original lineup, featuring Davies on harp and vocals, had Bernie Watson on guitar, Nicky Hopkins on piano, Ricky Brown playing bass, and Carlo Little on the drums — all four had been recruited from the ranks of Screaming Lord Sutch’s Savages. This quintet recorded an initial single, “Country Line Special,” driven by Davies’ wailing harp and vocals, that was sufficiently authentic to get it placed alongside the British releases of songs by Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and the rest of the Chess Record luminaries in England’s Pye Records catalog,” and “The Cyril Davies R&B All-Stars remain an impressive footnote in the history of British blues, however, for their handful of recordings, including “Country Line Special,” “Preachin’ the Blues,” and a hard-rocking rendition of Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away.” They never recorded an album, but their songs appear on numerous anthologies including: A Shot of Rhythm and Blues (Sequel Records), Stroll On (Sony Music), and Dealing With the Devil (Sony Music).”

And I think that review nicely sums up Davies’s importance in the history of British Blues!

Cyril Davies, who had been diagnosed with Endocarditis, died suddenly after collapsing during a concert in 1964. Had he lived longer Davies might be better known today, as it is he left behind a handful of great songs and influenced numerous other British Blues musicians.

The Graham Bond Organisation: And yes indeed, the spelling is correct! They were called The Graham Bond Organisation with an “s” instead of a “z” – it is the British spelling and as they were a British band – we’ll go with the British spelling! Even though you will sometimes see the band referred to in print as The Graham Bond Organization.

Graham Bond is not well known in the U.S. However, he was an important figure in the British Blues movement of the early 1960s. R&B fan Bond played the saxophone and keyboards and was a member of Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated.

And it was while he was playing with Blues Incorporated that Bond met future Cream members Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker and saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith. In 1963 Bond, Bruce, Baker & Heckstall-Smith exited Korner’s band to form The Graham Bond Organisation.

The GBO played a mixture of blues based rock with strong R&B and jazz influences mixed in. Bond, who had a gruff voice, played keyboards and sang lead vocals on most songs, while Bruce played bass, wrote a few songs for the group and occasionally sang lead vocals with a smoother voice, Baker played drums and ran the band and Heckstall-Smith played the sax. This classic line-up of the band recorded three albums together: Live at Klooks Kleek (1964), The Sound of ’65 (1965) and There’s a Bond Between Us (1965).

After their third album was recorded, Bond moved to American where he continued to perform and record, Baker and Bruce who had, to say the least an acrimonious relationship, found themselves forming Cream with Eric Clapton and Dick Heckstall-Smith continued playing R&B and jazz music with John Mayall and many other musicians over the years – he even published two biographies which offer a solid look at the British Blues scene of the early sixties: The Safest Place in the World: Personal History of British Rhythm and Blues and Blowing the Blues: Fifty Years Playing the British Blues. Bond died in 1974, Heckstall-Smith in 2004 and Bruce in 2014.

Ginger Baker continues to record and even has his own website found at:

http://www.gingerbaker.com/

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:

1. Alexis Korner – Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated…Plus

This album features mellow saxophone, jolly piano playing and rave-upish guitar playing! Songs on the album include: Taboo Man, Rainy Tuesday, Preachin’ the Blues, A Little Bit Groovy and more – check it out!

Here’s a link to stream the album Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated…Plus

https://goo.gl/X9K3U4

2. Cyril Davies – The Blues Anthology CD2 by various artists

This album, really is digital despite the CD2 in the title! And it and features the songs Someday Baby and Not Fade Away by Cyril Davies and the Rhythm and Blues All Stars. This set also includes songs by a number of other British Blues artists of the sixties including: Albert Lee, Jo-Ann Kelley, Earl Vince, Rod Stewart, Nicky Hopkins, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and more.

This is a fun collection!

Here’s a link to stream The Blues Anthology album:

https://goo.gl/0YoZP7

3. The Graham Bond Organisation – Live At Klooks Kleek:

This album is the first GBO album and was recorded live in London in 1964. It features the songs: Wade in The Water, Early in The Morning, Person to Person Blues, What I’d Say, Spanish Blues, First Time I Met The Blues, Stormy Monday and Train Time. And despite the sound quality, which by modern standard is rough, this album give you an excellent idea of how well the band played together – the music really does swing!

Here’s a link to stream the album Live At Klooks Kleek:

https://goo.gl/x0IQ8X

Freegal Wild Card Streaming Pick Of The Week:

The Aaron Copland Collection: Orchestral Music And Music For Solo Piano:

This week’s Freegal Wild Card Pick is a long ways away from the Blues! It is a cool Aaron Copland album!

And If you’re not really into classical music you might not be aware of how important Aaron Copland’s music is in the history of American music…

Before Copland came along if someone said “Classical Music” they were apt to be referring to music composed by a European composer. The cliff notes version of the story is that when Copland first came to the public’s attention in the 1940s – he changed all that – here was an American composer who could create fantastic, majestic music! And for that reason alone, if you aren’t a classical music fan you should check him out – at least listen to Fanfare for the Common Man.

And for anyone else who is game, give a listen to the entire album The Aaron Copland Collection: Orchestral Music And Music For Solo Piano album. The album features the songs Fanfare for the Common Man, An Outdoor Adventures, Our Town, John Henry, songs from Rodeo, Billy The Kid, Appalachian Spring, Lincoln Portrait and much more!

Here’s a link to stream the Copland album:

https://goo.gl/7zNzJX

III. Compact Discs Recommendations:

This week I’m only going to recommend two CDs as Cyril Davies didn’t record any full-length albums and the two songs of his I recommended from the Freegal Catalog give you a good idea of what his music sounded like. (If we get a request for a CD that features Cyril Davies’s music – we’ll get one!)

Alexis Korner – R&B from the Marquee:

Despite the title the album was not recorded live in concert, although it was recorded live in the studio during one long session. This album features the multi-instrumentalist Alexis Korner on vocals, Cyril Davies on harmonica and vocals, Dick Heckstall-Smith on sax, Keith Scott on piano, Graham Burbridge on drums, Spike Heatley on bass and Long John Baldry singing on a few songs. This is a great collection of music. Standout songs in the collection include: Spooky But Nice, Gotta Move, Got My Mojo Working, I Though You Heard That Train Whistle blow, I Want’ To Put A Tiger In Your Tank, and, honestly, the whole album is swinging fun!

Here’s a link to request the R&B from the Marquee album via StarCat:

https://goo.gl/HHio72

The Graham Bond Organisation – The Sound of ’65 and There’s A Bond Between Us

The AllMusic site has a great review of this double album set, written by Bruce Eder, and here it is:“This two-LPs-on-one-CD package is essential listening for anyone who is seriously interested in either British blues, the Rolling Stones’ early sound, or the history of popular music, in England or America, during the late ’50s and early ’60s. In England during the years 1957-1962, jazz and blues used to intermix freely, especially among younger blues enthusiasts and more open-minded jazzmen — by 1963, most of the former had gone off to form bands like the Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds, the Pretty Things, etc., with guitars a the forefront of their sound, while the latter (most notably British blues godfather Alexis Korner) kept some jazz elements in their work. The Graham Bond Organization (along with Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band and other, similar outfits) represented the jazzier side of the British blues boom, less charismatic and sexually provocative than blues-rock bands like the Stones or the Yardbirds, but no less potent a product of the same inspiration, sax and organ being much more prominent in their sound. Indeed, Bond’s playing on the organ as represented on this CD is the distant antecedent to Keith Emerson’s more ambitious keyboard excursions of 3-4 years later, without the incessant copping of classical riffs. The playing and singing (by Graham Bond and a young Jack Bruce) are curiously soulful, and when Ginger Baker takes a solo on “Oh Baby,” it’s a beautiful, powerful, even lyrical experience (as drum solos go), and one of those bold, transcendant, virtuoso moments, akin to Brian Jones’ harmonica solo on the Stones’ version of “Hi Heel Sneakers.” The band was more exciting on stage, as the evidence of their one surviving early live performance indicates, but they were worth hearing on record as well.”

Here’s a link to request the CD set The Sound of ’65 and There’s A Bond Between Us through StarCat:

https://goo.gl/JYs8kl

Wild Card DVD Pick Of The Week:

Our Wild Card DVD recommendation of the week is a new addition to the library’s collection put out by  from The Criterion Collection:

 In a Lonely Place (1950)

Here’s a description of this classic film: When a gifted but washed-up screenwriter with a hair-trigger temper Humphrey Bogart (Casablanca), in a revelatory, vulnerable performance becomes the prime suspect in a brutal Tinseltown murder, the only person who can supply an alibi for him is a seductive neighbor (The Big Heat s Gloria Grahame) with her own troubled past. The emotionally charged In a Lonely Place, freely adapted from a Dorothy B. Hughes thriller, is a brilliant, turbulent mix of suspenseful noir and devastating melodrama, fueled by powerhouse performances. An uncompromising tale of two people desperate to love yet struggling with their demons and each other, this is one of the greatest films of the 1950s, and a benchmark in the career of the classic Hollywood auteur Nicholas Ray (Rebel Without a Cause).

Here’s a link to StarCat to request In A Lonely Place:

https://goo.gl/w2tIiw

IV: Videos Of This Weeks’ Artists/Groups:

Alexis Korner – Angel Band 1978

https://goo.gl/qu2TOF

Alexis Korner – Spoonful

https://goo.gl/SvC2kU

Cyril Davies All Stars featuring Long John Baldry from 1963 – I’ve Got My Mojo Working –  Davies covers vocals and Long John is the one with the tambourine:

https://goo.gl/r3zOI7

The Graham Bond Organization – Hoochie Coochie Man: 

I suspect this video was recorded from the TV and it is fuzzy but it does open a window into the 1960s and lets us watch The Graham Bond Organization play live — and wow, how young Jack Bruce looks!

Here’s the link to the video:

https://goo.gl/3yLzuA

The Graham Bond Organization – Green Onions – 1964: This video isn’t a concert clip but it does feature a neat & clear photo of the band. The GBO band members are, from left to right, Graham Bond, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Jack Bruce & Ginger Baker.

Here’s a link to the clip Green Onions:

https://goo.gl/j8oTyX

V. Wild Card Print Book Recommendation Of The Week:

25 Folksong Solos for Children: with Recorded Accompaniments
(Vocal Collection). Folksongs especially arranged for a child’s solo voice (including a unchanged boy’s treble voice), with a limited range, designed to encourage lyric singing, and easy piano accompaniments. Contents: All the Pretty Little Horses * Animal Fair * Annabel Lee * The Ash Grove * Bill Grogan’s Goat * Cradle Song * Every Night When the Sun Goes In *Father’s Whiskers * The Generous Fiddler * How Can I Keep from Singing * Hush, Little Baby * The Lark in the Morn * Little Brown Dog * The Mermaid * My White Horse * On Mondays I Never Go to Work * Poor Lonesome Cowboy * The Red River Valley * Scarborough Fair * Shenandoah * Simple Gifts * The Streets of Laredo * Sweet the Evening Air of May * Tell Me Why * The Water Is Wide.

Here’s a link to StarCat to request the book 25 Folksong Solos for Children:

https://goo.gl/OYCV86

VI. General References & Artist Specific References:

General References:

The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits by Joel Whitburn (Billboard Books. New York. 2009.)

Blues: The British Connection by Bob Brunning, London: Blandford Press. 1986

Sixties Rock: A Listener’s Guide by Robert Santelli (Contemporary Books. Chicago. 1985.)

Winwood’s life after Traffic By MIKE ZWERIN and INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNEFEB. 25, 2004. https://goo.gl/q3xthS

Artist Specific References:

Alexis Korner Biography
https://goo.gl/V8c3yE

Alexis Korner, Father of Us All: The man who has influenced a universe of British musicians and movements

https://goo.gl/YNVeqD

Alexis Korner The Biography – Amazon Review:

https://goo.gl/1DYHRl

Cyril Davies AllMusic Biography by Bruce Eder

https://goo.gl/uqlbKV

Graham Bond Biography by Richie Unterberger

https://goo.gl/kzhM2O

Graham Bond Live at Klooks Kleek – AllMusic Review by Bruce Eder

https://goo.gl/zZ60ab

Graham Bond Organisation: The Sound of 65 AllMusic Review by Richie Unterberger

https://goo.gl/I3anKT

Graham Bond Organisation: There’s a Bond Between Us AllMusic Review by Richie Unterberger

https://goo.gl/XTiQAv

Alexis Korner AllMusic Discography

https://goo.gl/vL1aVo

Graham Bond Organization AllMusic Discography

https://goo.gl/EgFW45

R&B: From The Roundhouse, To The Ealing Club, To The Marquee – Amazon Description

https://goo.gl/fRjK6A

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.

Weekly Recommended Listens: March 2017, Week 3: Sixties Rock: Blues Rock Continued!

Hi everyone, we’re moving right along with our look at Blues Rock music of the 1960s!

Our bands for the third week of March are: Canned Heat, The Blues Project & Savoy Brown.

And before we dig into our music of the week we should all take our hats off to the late, great Rock N’ Roll pioneer Chuck Berry who died this past weekend week at age 90.

Here’s a link to Berry’s New York Times obituary:
https://goo.gl/rA7yTj

And his Bio page on the AllMusic site which also features a discography, should you wish to peruse it:
https://goo.gl/I5mjjI

And on to our music posting on Blues Rock!

This week, as usual, we’ll be offering suggestions of music you can listen to both by streaming it through the library’s digital Freegal Music Service* and by checking out albums available in the library’s compact disc collection.

Our weekly music postings have the following sections:

I. Brief Artist Bios

II. Freegal Music Recommendations Of The Week (streaming music)

III. CD Music Recommendations Of The Week

IV. Videos Of This Weeks’ Artists/Groups

V. Wild Card Print Book Recommendation Of The Week (a print book that focuses on a musician, musicians, songwriters or other musical genres, styles etc. from any musical era)

VI. References (for those who’d like to know a bit more about the artists of the week).

I. Brief Artist Bios:

Canned Heat: Canned Heat was formed, in the California in the mid-sixties, by two huge blues fans Bob “The Bear” Hite and Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson. Hite sang and played harmonica and Wilson sang and played harmonica and guitar. Hite and Wilson were joined in the band’s original line-up by Henry Vestine on guitar, Larry Taylor on bass and Fred Cook on drums.

The band played great boogie blues rock and even played at two of the largest and most influential rock festivals of the 1960s – The Monterey Pop Festival and Woodstock. Despite playing some great music and getting huge exposure at the Monterey and Woodstock Festivals, the group never did break through to the main stream American audience, although they remain popular with classic rock and blues rock fans and are worthy of a listen!

Canned Heat’s best known songs are: On The Road Again, Going Up Country and Let’s Work Together. Canned Heat released the following albums in the sixties: Canned Heat, Boogie with Canned Heat, Living The Blues and Hallelujah.

Unfortunately, both Wilson and Hite died at young; Wilson in 1970 at age 27 and Hite in 1981 at age 37.

The Blues Project: The Blues Project was formed in Greenwich Village, New York in the mid-sixties, and its premier line up of that era included: Steve Katz and Danny Kalb on guitars, Andy Kulberg on bass and flute, Roy Blumenfeld on drums and singer songwriter Al Kooper on vocals and keyboards.

The Blues Project played blues based rock which sounds sort of like a cross between the blues and popular British Invasion music of the era.

After their tenure with The Blues Project, its two best known players, Kooper and Katz, went on to co-found the band Blood, Sweat and Tears. Although Kooper didn’t stay with BS&T long and was succeeded by David Clayton Thomas on vocals. After hanging out with BS&T for couple of years, Katz moved behind the musical scenes working first at A&R records and later becoming the managing director of the folk label Green Linnet Records – he has since retired and lives in New York City. The multi-talented singer/songwriter Kooper continues to record and perform.

Savoy Brown: The band Savoy Brown was one of the great British Blues bands of the 1960s. The group was formed by guitarist Kim Simmonds and really was his baby. The original band consisted of Simmonds on guitar, Bryce Portius on vocals, Martin Stone on guitar, Ray Chappell on bass, Bob Hall on keyboards and Leo Manning on drums. Simmonds was known for being both the leader and the dominant personality in the band and this lead to a great overturning of band members through the years. However, Simmonds plays great blues guitar music and has continued to record and preform concerts with Savoy Brown from its inception in the late sixties to the present day.

Savoy Brown’s sixties albums are: Shakedown, Getting to the Point, Blue Matter and A Step Further. Savoy Brown features what I would describe as heavier blues than either Canned Heat or The Blues Project – to my ears their music leans more towards 1970s blues than 1960s blues as is the case with the other two groups.

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:

Canned Heat – Vintage:
This album features studio recordings that were done by the group just prior to recording their first album. The Vintage album was produced by the great musician and record producer Johnny Otis and includes the songs Rollin’ And Tumblin’ (Part 1), Big Road Blues, Spoonful, Got My Mojo Working, Pretty Thing, Louise, Dimples and more.

Here’s a link to stream the Vintage album:
https://goo.gl/tUVBRO

The Blues Project – Al Kooper’s Soul of a Man:

The Freegal Music Catalog doesn’t feature any of the albums by the Blues Project. However, they do offer a great collection by singer/songwriter and musician Al Kooper. The album is a live one titled Soul of a Man and features Kooper backed by a solid band that included members from both Blood, Sweat & Tears & The Blues Project.

Here’s a description of the album from the record company, which gives you an even better idea of what a great, but under-sung, player Al Kooper is: “If Al Kooper isn’t a living American musical legend, no one is. Who else has performed with Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Jimmy Hendrix and countless others? And not just performed but been an important component of legendary songs (how about the Hammond organ on both Dylans’ Like a Rolling Stone and The Stones’ You Can’t Always Get What You Want)? As a solo artist he is best known for his work as a founding member of both the Blues Project and Blood Sweat and Tears. Many more famous recordings have followed and lead us to this great selection – a CD that is, in my opinion, a classic: a two-CD Al-fest. Recorded live at NYC’s Bottom Line, Al performs his great tunes from the Blues Project and Blood Sweat and Tears, as well as his solo recordings such as I Stand Alone. The excitement from the packed audience is only rivaled by the intensity Al and the band bring to such classics as I Can’t Quit Her, Somethin’ Goin’ On and New York City (You’re a Woman). It’s Blues, Jazz, Rock and Roll and a great time, as only Al Kooper can bring.”

This is a wonderful collection of music that flows smoothly on and on through all 19 songs – check it out!

Here’s the link to stream Soul of a Man:
https://goo.gl/yWMCSz

Savoy Brown – Songs From The Road:

The Freegal Music Catalog features several Savoy Brown albums although none of their sixties albums. However, this live collection, from 2013, features a number of classic songs including: 24/7, Natural Man, Time Does Tell, Voodoo Moon, Hellbound Train, Little Red Rooster, Louisiana Blues and more.

And just as one can describe The Al Kooper album Soul of a Man as sounding like smooth whiskey – Kim Simmonds playing, if you’re not familiar with it, might be described a newly made raw whiskey as his style is a rougher one.

Here’s a link to stream the album Songs From The Road:
https://goo.gl/zOz8hU

Bonus Freegal Streaming Suggestion: Blues Anytime – Vol.1 An Anthology Of British Blues by various artists:

While I was researching which albums from our trio of bands this week are available in the Freegal Music Catalog, I came across a gem titled Blues Anytime – Vol.1 An Anthology Of British Blues. This album digs a little bit deeper into The British Blues artists of the 1960s then we have time for this month. Major league disclaimer – I am a huge fan of the blues in general and The British Blues in particular. So I recognized the collection at once for containing some great British Blues players that aren’t well known on this side of the Atlantic, as well as some that are! The artists on this collection include, T.S. Mcphee, Jo Anne Kelly (she has a great earthy type voice), Stone’s Masonry, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton and even a jam session featuring Clapton and Jimmy Page.

This is a fun album!

Here’s a link to stream the album Blues Anytime – Vol.1 An Anthology Of British Blues:
https://goo.gl/9XTLyO

One of These Days by Pink Floyd:

This song is one of several Pink Floyd tunes, available in the Freegal catalog, that was recorded at the B.B.C. and released under the banner of Pink Floyd: The Early Years. One of These Days was recorded in September of 1971. And the other songs in the series found in the Freegal Catalog are: Fat Old Sun, More Blues, Song 1 and Vegetable Man. Additionally, you’ll find many other Pink Floyd albums in the Freegal Catalog including Piper At The Gates of Dawn, Saucer Full of Secrets, Dark Side of the Moon etc.

Here’s the link to stream the song One of These Days:
https://goo.gl/TrKugf

III. Compact Discs Recommendations:

1. Canned Heat – Boogie With Canned Heat:
This is Canned Heat’s second album released in 1968. The AllMusic review of this album describes it by saying “ Canned Heat’s second long-player, Boogie with Canned Heat (1968), pretty well sums up the bona fide blend of amplified late-’60s electric rhythm and blues, with an expressed emphasis on loose and limber boogie-woogie.”

And I agree with that description! This album really is full of fun up-tempo boogie blues rock tunes including the band’s signature song On The Road Again. Other songs in this set that were included on the original album are: Evil Woman, My Crime, World In A Jug, Turpentine Moan (with Sunnyland Slim on piano), Whisky Headed Woman No. 2, Amphetamine Annie, An Owl Song, Marie Laveau, and Fried Hockey Boogie. Additionally, the album features six bonus tracks including an alternate version of On The Road Again.

Here’s a link to request the Boogie With Canned Heat CD:

https://goo.gl/wB0ZSk

2. The Blues Project – Projections:

This is considered by many to be the best album by The Blues Project. As with Canned Heat, this is their second album and it sounds to me like they needed to record their first album to get warmed up and when they went into the studio to record this one they were relaxed and ready and the songs just flowed out onto the vinyl. The songs on the album are: I Can’t Help From Crying, Steve’s Song, You Can’t Catch Me (written by the late, great Chuck Berry), Two Trains Running, Wake Me, Shake Me, Cherry’s Going Home, Flute Thing, Caress Me Baby and Fly Away.

Here’s a link to request the Projections CD:

https://goo.gl/8Bvg2n

3. Savoy Brown – Blue Matter:

I’m breaking with the pattern here and recommending you give Savoy Brown’s third album a listen! Blue Matter was released in 1969 and features the classic 1960s version of the band including Simmonds, Chris Youlden on vocals with “Lonesome” Dave Peverett, Roger Earl & Tony “Tone” Stevens. Songs on the album include: Train To Nowhere, Tolling Bells, She’s Got A Ring In His Nose And A Ring On Her Hand, Vicksburg Blues, Don’t Turn Me From Your Door, Grits Ain’t Groceries, May be Wrong, Louisianan Blues and It Hurts Me Too.

Here’s the link to request Blue Matter via StarCat:

https://goo.gl/3yyH3y

Wild Card CD or DVD Pick Of The Week:

Woodstock 40th Anniversary Concert DVD:

Inspired by the mention of The Blues Project playing at The Monterey International Pop Festival earlier in this posting, this week I’m going to stay in the 1960s and, as the Wild Card Pick of the Week, recommend the 40th Anniversary Edition of the Woodstock Concert – the official title of which is: Woodstock: Three Days of Peace & Music (Two-Disc 40th Anniversary Director’s Cut).

The concert features music by Jimmy Hendrix, Joan Baez, Joe Cocker, The Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Country Joe and the Fish, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Arlo Guthrie, Sly And The Family Stone, Richie Havens and more. The Director’s Cut edition features 40 extra minutes of footage not include in the original release.

Here’s a link to request the Woodstock 40th Anniversary Concert DVD:

https://goo.gl/HfMS7X

IV: Videos Of This Weeks’ Artists/Groups:

Canned Heat – On The Road Again

This video was recorded in front of a studio audience for the show BeatClub, which I believe was German TV show.

Here’s the link:

The Blues Project – Flute Thing 

This video was recorded at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival:

Savoy Brown – Kim Simmonds / Savoy Brown

Street Corner Talking

This song was recorded in 2014 at The Franke Center in Marshall Michigan and is the title track from Savoy Brown’s 1971 album of the same name:

https://goo.gl/qy4XDW

The 100 Greatest Bands of All Time: A Guide to the Legends Who Rocked the World [2 volumes]:

A Guide to the Legends Who Rocked the World edited by David Moskowitz. The is a great two book collection which is remincant of the Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll which was a great book but is dated now – the last edition having been published in 2001. This two volume set features biographies, discorpahies and references regarding, as the title says, The 100 Greatest Bands Of All Time – rock bands

This one-of-a-kind reference investigates the music and the musicians that set the popular trends of the last half century in America.
• Contains an alphabetical collection of entries that each profile a major group and band from the past 60 years
• Provides a selected discography and bibliography for further listening and reading for each entry
• Covers a wide variety of styles from classic rock to surf rock to hip hop
• Features sidebar entries which tie together larger popular music concepts such as the rise and influence of MTV and the phenomenon of girl bands

Here’s the link to request the book in StarCat:
https://goo.gl/zn2BWS

VI. General References & Artist Specific References:

General References:

Al Kooper Biography by Bruce Eder
https://goo.gl/FJkGAZ

The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits by Joel Whitburn (Billboard Books. New York. 2009.)

Kim Simmonds – Artist Biography by Charlotte Dillon
https://goo.gl/ggmGrS

Robert Hite – Obituaries – New York Times
https://goo.gl/bxpfK0

Sixties Rock: A Listener’s Guide by Robert Santelli (Contemporary Books. Chicago. 1985.)

Soul Of A Man AllMusic Review by Bruce Eder
https://goo.gl/I0coH7

Steve Katz Biography by Bruce Eder
https://goo.gl/fzYFJ5

Band Specific References:

The Blues Project Biography by Richie Unterberger
https://goo.gl/ugzpX1

The Blues Project – Projections – AllMusic Review by Dan Forte
https://goo.gl/jxQfHo

Canned Heat Biography by Bruce Eder
https://goo.gl/G4ZQeN

Canned Heat – Boogie with Canned Heat AllMusic Review by Lindsay Planer https://goo.gl/1S5q5g

Savoy Brown Biography by Steve Huey
https://goo.gl/VVVOZw

Savoy Brown – Blue Matter AllMusic Review by Peter Kurtz
https://goo.gl/srsFwm

Vintage – Canned Heathttps://goo.gl/7qfjTh

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.

New Digital Catalog Titles

Hi everyone, just in time for the weekend there are new e-books, downloadable audio books and streaming videos available in the STLS Digital Catalog.

Here’s a PDF list of the titles:

New OverDrive Titles June 2016

And here’s a pasted version of the same list:

Audiobooks:

Approval Junkie: Adventures in Caring Too Much by Faith Salie: “From comedian and journalist Faith Salie, of NPR’s Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! and CBS News Sunday Morning, a collection of daring, funny essays chronicling the author’s adventures during her lifelong quest for approval

Faith Salie has done it all in the name of validation. Whether it’s trying to impress her parents with a perfect GPA, undergoing an exorcism in the hopes of saving her toxic marriage, or maintaining the BMI of “a flapper with a touch of dysentery,” Salie is the ultimate approval seeker—an “approval junkie,” if you will.

In “Miss Aphrodite,” she recounts her strategy for winning the high school beauty pageant. (“Not to brag or anything, but no one stood a chance against my emaciated, spastic resolve.”) “What I Wore to My Divorce” describes Salie’s struggle to pick the perfect outfit to wear to the courthouse to divorce her “husband.” (“I envisioned a look that said, ‘Yo, THIS is what you’ll be missing…even though you’ve introduced your new girlfriend to our mutual friends, and she’s a decade younger than I am and is also a fit model.”) In “”Ovary Achiever,”” she shares tips on how to ace your egg retrieval. (“Thank your fertility doctor when she announces you have ‘amazing ovaries.’ Try to be humble about it [‘Oh,these old things?’].”) And in “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me About Batman’s Nipples” she reveals the secrets behind Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! (“I study for this show like Tracy Flick on Adderall”).

With thoughtful irreverence, Salie reflects on why she tries so hard to please others, and herself, highlighting a phenomenon that many people—especially women—experience at home and in the workplace. Equal parts laugh-out loud funny and poignant, Approval Junkie is one woman’s journey to realizing that seeking approval from others is more than just getting them to like you—it’s challenging yourself to achieve, and survive, more than you ever thought you could.”

Dark Horse: Walt Longmire Mystery Series, Book 5 by Craig Johnson:  From Publishers Weekly. Starred Review. In Johnson’s superb fifth contemporary mystery to feature Wyoming sheriff Walt Longmire (after 2008’s Another Man’s Moccasins), Walt has his doubts about Mary Barsad’s guilt when she confesses to shooting her husband, Wade, after Wade allegedly burned down their barn with all Mary’s horses inside. Even though the crime is out of his jurisdiction in a neighboring county, Walt can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to Mary’s story. Posing as an insurance agent, Walt starts poking around the tiny town of Absalom, whose main attraction are the fights at the local bar. He meets an illegal immigrant bartender with a knack for crime solving, the Barsads’ loyal cowhand and some ranchers who may have had their own reasons for wanting Wade dead. Walt digs deep into the dilapidated town’s history, unearthing secrets that might be better left buried. Series fans will delight in seeing Walt return to his cowboy roots as he mounts a horse and navigates the sparsely populated state. 8-city author tour. Narrated by George Guidell.

Everybody’s Fool: A Novel by Richard Russo: “Richard Russo, at the very top of his game, now returns to North Bath, in upstate New York, and the characters who made Nobody’s Fool (1993) a “confident, assured novel [that] sweeps the reader up,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle back then. “Simple as family love, yet nearly as complicated.” Or, as The Boston Globe put it, “a big, rambunctious novel with endless riffs and unstoppable human hopefulness.”

The irresistible Sully, who in the intervening years has come by some unexpected good fortune, is staring down a VA cardiologist’s estimate that he has only a year or two left, and it’s hard work trying to keep this news from the most important people in his life: Ruth, the married woman he carried on with for years . . . the ultra-hapless Rub Squeers, who worries that he and Sully aren’t still best friends . . . Sully’s son and grandson, for whom he was mostly an absentee figure (and now a regretful one). We also enjoy the company of Doug Raymer, the chief of police who’s obsessing primarily over the identity of the man his wife might’ve been about to run off with, before dying in a freak accident . . . Bath’s mayor, the former academic Gus Moynihan, whose wife problems are, if anything, even more pressing . . . and then there’s Carl Roebuck, whose lifelong run of failing upward might now come to ruin. And finally, there’s Charice Bond—a light at the end of the tunnel that is Chief Raymer’s office—as well as her brother, Jerome, who might well be the train barreling into the station.

Everybody’s Fool is filled with humor, heart, hard times and people you can’t help but love, possibly because their various faults make them so stridently human. This is classic Russo—and a crowning achievement from one of the greatest storytellers of our time. Read my Mark Bramhall.”

The Last Mile: Amos Decker Series, Book 2 by David Baldacci: “In his #1 New York Times bestseller Memory Man, David Baldacci introduced the extraordinary detective Amos Decker-the man who can forget nothing. Now, Decker returns in a spectacular new thriller . . .

THE LAST MILE

Convicted murderer Melvin Mars is counting down the last hours before his execution–for the violent killing of his parents twenty years earlier–when he’s granted an unexpected reprieve. Another man has confessed to the crime.

Amos Decker, newly hired on an FBI special task force, takes an interest in Mars’s case after discovering the striking similarities to his own life: Both men were talented football players with promising careers cut short by tragedy. Both men’s families were brutally murdered. And in both cases, another suspect came forward, years after the killing, to confess to the crime. A suspect who may or may not have been telling the truth.

The confession has the potential to make Melvin Mars–guilty or not–a free man. Who wants Mars out of prison? And why now?

But when a member of Decker’s team disappears, it becomes clear that something much larger–and more sinister–than just one convicted criminal’s life hangs in the balance. Decker will need all of his extraordinary brainpower to stop an innocent man from being executed. Narrated by Kyf Brewer.”

Leper of Saint Giles: Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, Book 5 by Ellis Peters: A marriage has been arranged between an ageing nobleman and a very young woman, ill-matched as January and May must be, coerced by greedy guardians. Both parties arrive in Shrewsbury, where the ceremony is to take place, with escorts suitable to their rank. Then there is a savage killing, something Brother Cadfael is called upon to investigate with his customary clear-sightedness and wisdom. Outside Shrewsbury’s walls stands the leper house of Saint Giles, a sanctuary for the sick, but also a possible refuge for the hunted man. Narrated by Stephen Thorne

Sworn: Fallen Kings Cycle Series, Book 1 by Gail Z. Martin: Summoner-King Martris Drayke must attempt to meet this great threat, gathering an army from a country ravaged by civil war. Tris seeks new allies from among the living – and the dead – as an untested generation of rulers face their first battle. Meanwhile, the legendary Dread are stirring in their burrows after millennia of silence and no one knows what hand wakes them and whom they will serve when they rise.

Now, Drayke turns to the Sworn, a nomadic clan of warriors bound to protect the Dread. But even the mighty Sworn do not know what will happen when the Dread awake. All are certain, though, that war is coming to the Winter Kingdoms.

THE SWORN is the beginning of a new adventure set in the world of The Chronicles of the Necromancer. Narrated by Kirby Heborne.

E-Books:

And After the Fire: A Novel by Lauren Belfer: “The New York Times-bestselling author of A Fierce Radiance and City of Light returns with a new powerful and passionate novel—inspired by historical events—about two women, one European and one American, and the mysterious choral masterpiece by Johann Sebastian Bach that changes both their lives.

In the ruins of Germany in 1945, at the end of World War II, American soldier Henry Sachs takes a souvenir, an old music manuscript, from a seemingly deserted mansion and mistakenly kills the girl who tries to stop him.

In America in 2010, Henry’s niece, Susanna Kessler, struggles to rebuild her life after she experiences a devastating act of violence on the streets of New York City. When Henry dies soon after, she uncovers the long-hidden music manuscript. She becomes determined to discover what it is and to return it to its rightful owner, a journey that will challenge her preconceptions about herself and her family’s history—and also offer her an opportunity to finally make peace with the past.

In Berlin, Germany, in 1783, amid the city’s glittering salons where aristocrats and commoners, Christians and Jews, mingle freely despite simmering anti-Semitism, Sara Itzig Levy, a renowned musician, conceals the manuscript of an anti-Jewish cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach, an unsettling gift to her from Bach’s son, her teacher. This work and its disturbing message will haunt Sara and her family for generations to come.

Interweaving the stories of Susanna and Sara, and their families, And After the Fire traverses over two hundred years of history, from the eighteenth century through the Holocaust and into today, seamlessly melding past and present, real and imagined. Lauren Belfer’s deeply researched, evocative, and compelling narrative resonates with emotion and immediacy.”

As Time Goes By by Mary Higgins Clark: In this exciting thriller from Mary Higgins Clark, the #1 New York Times bestselling “Queen of Suspense,” a news reporter tries to find her birth mother just as she is assigned to cover the high-profile trial of a woman accused of murdering her wealthy husband.

Television journalist Delaney Wright is on the brink of stardom after she begins covering a sensational murder trial for the six p.m. news. She should be thrilled, yet her growing desire to locate her birth mother consumes her thoughts. When Delaney’s friends Alvirah Meehan and her husband Willy offer to look into the mystery surrounding her birth, they uncover a shocking secret they do not want to reveal.

On trial for murder is Betsy Grant, widow of a wealthy doctor who has been an Alzheimer’s victim for eight years. When her once-upon-a-time celebrity lawyer urges her to accept a plea bargain, Betsy refuses: she will go to trial to prove her innocence.

Betsy’s stepson, Alan Grant, bides his time nervously as the trial begins. His substantial inheritance hangs in the balance—his only means of making good on payments he owes his ex-wife, his children, and increasingly angry creditors.

As the trial unfolds, and the damning evidence against Betsy piles up, Delaney is convinced that Betsy is not guilty and frantically tries to prove her innocence. A true classic from Mary Higgins Clark, As Time Goes By is a thrilling read by a master of the genre.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley: Aldous Huxley is rightly considered a prophetic genius and one of the most important literary and philosophical voices of the 20th Century, and Brave New World is his masterpiece. From the author of The Doors of Perception, Island, and countless other works of fiction, non-fiction, philosophy, and poetry, comes this powerful work of speculative fiction that has enthralled and terrified readers for generations. Brave New World remains absolutely relevant to this day as both a cautionary dystopian tale in the vein of the George Orwell classic 1984, and as thought-provoking, thoroughly satisfying entertainment.

Girl from the Savoy by Hazel Gaynor: “resenting a dazzling new historical novel … The Girl From The Savoy is as sparkling as champagne and as thrilling as the era itself.

‘Sometimes life gives you cotton stockings. Sometimes it gives you a Chanel gown …’

Dolly Lane is a dreamer; a downtrodden maid who longs to dance on the London stage, but her life has been fractured by the Great War. Memories of the soldier she loved, of secret shame and profound loss, by turns pull her back and spur her on to make a better life.

When she finds employment as a chambermaid at London’s grandest hotel, The Savoy, Dolly takes a step closer to the glittering lives of the Bright Young Things who thrive on champagne, jazz and rebellion. Right now, she must exist on the fringes of power, wealth and glamor—she must remain invisible and unimportant.

But her fortunes take an unexpected turn when she responds to a struggling songwriter’s advertisement for a ‘muse’ and finds herself thrust into London’s exhilarating theatre scene and into the lives of celebrated actress, Loretta May, and her brother, Perry. Loretta and Perry may have the life Dolly aspires to, but they too are searching for something.

Now, at the precipice of the life she has and the one she longs for, the girl from The Savoy must make difficult choices: between two men; between two classes, between everything she knows and everything she dreams of. A brighter future is tantalizingly close—but can a girl like Dolly ever truly leave her past behind?”

A Companion to Wolves: Iskryne World Series, Book 1 by Elizabeth Bear, Sarah Monette: “A Companion to Wolves is the story of a young nobleman, Isolfr, who is chosen to become a wolfcarl — a warrior who is bonded to a fighting wolf. Isolfr is deeply drawn to the wolves, and though as his father’s heir he can refuse the call, he chooses to go.

The people of this wintry land depend on the wolfcarls to protect them from the threat of trolls and wyverns, though the supernatural creatures have not come in force for many years. Men are growing too confident. The wolfhealls are small, and the lords give them less respect than in former years. But the winter of Isolfr’s bonding, the trolls come down from the north in far greater numbers than before, and the holding’s complaisance gives way to terror in the dark.

Isolfr, now bonded to a queen wolf, Viradechtis, must learn where his honor lies, and discover the lengths to which he will to go when it, and love for his wolf, drive him.”

Cut Me In by Ed McBain: “When a Man’s Partner is Killed,He’s Supposed to Do Something About It.

Maybe no one liked Del Gilbert a whole lot, not the men he ruthlessly did business with, not the women who discovered his other lovers, not even his partner in the Gilbert and Blake literary agency – me. But when I found him shot to death on the floor of his office, I had no choice. I had to track down the person responsible. And not just to lay Del to rest, either. Next to his body, the office safe was wide open, and a contract worth millions was missing…”

Deadly Curiosities: Deadly Curiosities Series, Book 1 by Gail Z. Martin: “Jewel thief and newly-turned vampire Sorren sets out to steal a priceless brooch possessed by an ancient evil before it sets the Black Dragon loose in medieval Antwerp.

This series of adventures spans over 500 years, from the 1500s to modern day as a small cabal of vampires and their human helpers battle supernatural enemies to find and destroy dangerous magical items and keep the world safe from dark forces.”

Dominated by Maya Banks: “The desire that exploded in Mastered continues its conflagration in Dominated—from the New York Times bestselling author of the Surrender Trilogy.

To save her, he had to betray her…

In Drake’s shadowy world, his enemies would exploit any weakness he had in order to bring him to his knees, and so he’s never allowed himself to care about anyone…never exhibited any vulnerability, and it made him a force to be reckoned with. Until Evangeline—his angel. A woman who slipped past his defenses like no one had ever managed. She was his to protect and ultimately, to do that, he had to do the unthinkable and drive the only good thing in his world away.

But he will stop at nothing to get her back…

Devastated and destroyed, Evangeline doesn’t know what made Drake turn on her in such a shocking manner. She only knows she’ll never be the same. He once freed her from all her inhibitions, only now she is a prisoner to never-ending pain. But when Drake finds her again, she realizes there is more to his world than she ever imagined, and she must decide if she can once more trust—and submit—to the man who holds her wounded heart in his hands. And he must convince her of just how far he’ll go to regain her love and forgiveness.”

The Earl Takes All by Lorraine Heath: “One summer night, Edward Alcott gives in to temptation and kisses Lady Julia Kenney in a dark garden. However, the passion she stirs within him is best left in the shadows as she weds his twin, the Earl of Greyling. But when tragedy strikes, to honor the vow he makes to his dying brother, Edward must pretend to be Greyling until the countess delivers her babe.

After her husband returns from a two-month sojourn, Julia finds him changed. Bolder, more daring, and more wicked—even if he does limit their encounters to kisses. With each passing day, she falls more deeply in love.

For Edward the embers of desire sparked on that long-ago night are quickly rekindled. He yearns to be her husband in truth. But if she discovers his ruse, she will despise him—and English law prevents him from marrying his brother’s widow. Yet he must dare to risk everything and reveal his secrets if he is to truly take all.”

Elusive Salvation by Dayton Ward: “An all-new Star Trek adventure across time—the latest of the acclaimed Original Series novels!

The Arctic Circle, 1845: Escaping the tyranny under which their people have lived for generations, aliens from a distant planet crash land on Earth’s inhospitable frozen wastes. Surviving the harsh conditions will pose a challenge, but over time the aliens will migrate to more populated areas, with decades passing as they work to conceal their presence from their former oppressors, who continue to hunt them at any cost.

San Francisco, 2283: When a mysterious craft is detected entering the solar system, Admiral James Kirk is dispatched by Starfleet to confront the vessel. He meets with an emissary from the Iramahl, a previously unknown alien race who have come in search of their brothers and sisters thought to have gone missing in this area of space centuries earlier. Having recently thrown off the last chains of subjugation by another species, the Ptaen, they now believe their lost people hold the key to saving their entire race from eventual extinction.

New York, 1970: Roberta Lincoln, young protégé of the mysterious agent Gary Seven, is shocked when she receives the oddest request for help—from the future…

Everybody’s Fool: A Novel by Richard Russo: The irresistible Sully, who in the intervening years has come by some unexpected good fortune, is staring down a VA cardiologist’s estimate that he has only a year or two left, and it’s hard work trying to keep this news from the most important people in his life: Ruth, the married woman he carried on with for years . . . the ultra-hapless Rub Squeers, who worries that he and Sully aren’t still best friends . . . Sully’s son and grandson, for whom he was mostly an absentee figure (and now a regretful one). We also enjoy the company of Doug Raymer, the chief of police who’s obsessing primarily over the identity of the man his wife might’ve been about to run off with, before dying in a freak accident . . . Bath’s mayor, the former academic Gus Moynihan, whose wife problems are, if anything, even more pressing . . . and then there’s Carl Roebuck, whose lifelong run of failing upward might now come to ruin. And finally, there’s Charice Bond—a light at the end of the tunnel that is Chief Raymer’s office—as well as her brother, Jerome, who might well be the train barreling into the station.

Everybody’s Fool is filled with humor, heart, hard times and people you can’t help but love, possibly because their various faults make them so stridently human. This is classic Russo—and a crowning achievement from one of the greatest storytellers of our time.

Extreme Prey: Lucas Davenport Series, Book 26 by John Sandford: “The extraordinary new Lucas Davenport thriller from #1 New York Times–bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize winner John Sandford.

After the events in Gathering Prey, Lucas Davenport finds himself in a very unusual situation—no longer employed by the Minnesota BCA. His friend the governor is just cranking up a presidential campaign, though, and he invites Lucas to come along as part of his campaign staff. “Should be fun!” he says, and it kind of is—until they find they have a shadow: an armed man intent on killing the governor . . . and anyone who gets in the way.”

The Faith of Ashish: Blessings in India Series, Book 1 by Kay Marshall Strom: ““His name is Ashish. His name is Blessing. The boy is my blessing.”

Virat and Latha named their son Ashish, for he is the light and glory of their world. Yet a simple drink of water from the wrong cup changes them forever. Virat, Latha, and Ashish are Untouchables in 1905 India, members of a caste who must never contaminate the world of the other, higher, castes.

When Ashish is in desperate need of a doctor, Virat risks everything to save his son and ventures into the dangerous realm of the high caste. There, the strength of a father’s love, the power of a young British nurse, and the faith of a child change the lives around them.

“Kay Strom has penned a high-powered suspense novel using her extensive overseas research and her experiences in third world countries. A master in creating the unexpected.”” – DiAnn Mills, Christy Award winner and author of Pursuit of Justice, The Fire in Ember, and Under a Desert Sky

“Author Kay Marshall Strom, in her professional yet heart-rending style, has penned another story that will open the eyes and change the lives of her readers. This is an exquisitely written tale of hope and faith in the midst of difficulties born out of superstition and bondage. I am already anxiously awaiting the sequel!””-  Kathi Macias, award-winning author of more than 30 books, including the popular Extreme Devotion series

“”Do not miss this historical, inspirational novel by Kay Marshall Strom. It will touch your heart.”” – FreshFiction.com”

False Wall: Abbott Agency Series, Book 10 by Veronica Heley: “Bea Abbot discovers that at least one of her neighbours is hiding a shocking secret in the latest intriguing Abbot Agency mystery

When the party wall dividing the gardens of Bea Abbot and her fiancé Leon collapses, amongst the ensuing chaos a human skeleton is unearthed in Leon’s garden. Having only just purchased the property, Leon and Bea set out to discover more about the house’s previous owners. Before they can proceed in their investigation however, the pair fall victim to an elaborately-laid trap. With her home, livelihood and the agency under threat, Bea appears to be the subject of a meticulously-planned vendetta. But why? And why is Leon becoming strangely distant?”

Five Easy Theses: Commonsense Solutions to America’s Greatest Economic Challenges by James Stone: “New York Times Bestseller. A business leader and esteemed economic thinker outlines simple solutions to America’s five most pressing public policy issues, from healthcare to education to inequality.

America today confronts a host of urgent problems, many of them seemingly intractable, but some we are entirely capable of solving. In Five Easy Theses, James M. Stone presents specific, common-sense solutions to a handful of our most pressing challenges, showing how simple it would be to shore up Social Security, rein in an out-of-control financial sector, reduce inequality, and make healthcare and education better and more affordable. The means are right in front of us, Stone explains, in various policy options that — if implemented — could preserve or enhance government revenue while also channeling the national economy toward the greater good.

Accessible and thought provoking, Five Easy Theses reveals that a more democratic, prosperous America is well within our reach. ”

Five Presidents: My Travels with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford by Clint Hill, Lisa McCubbin: “A New York Times Bestseller. A rare and fascinating portrait of the American presidency from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Mrs. Kennedy and Me and Five Days in November.

Secret Service agent Clint Hill brings history intimately and vividly to life as he reflects on his seventeen years protecting the most powerful office in the nation. Hill walked alongside Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, and Gerald R. Ford, seeing them through a long, tumultuous era—the Cold War; the Cuban Missile Crisis; the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy; the Vietnam War; Watergate; and the resignations of Spiro Agnew and Richard M. Nixon.

Some of his stunning, never-before-revealed anecdotes include:

-Eisenhower’s reaction at Russian Prime Minister Khrushchev’s refusal to talk following the U-2 incident

-The torture of watching himself in the Zapruder film in a Secret Service training

-Johnson’s virtual imprisonment in the White House during violent anti-Vietnam protests

-His decision to place White House files under protection after a midnight phone call about Watergate

-The challenges of protecting Ford after he pardoned Nixon

With a unique insider’s perspective, Hill sheds new light on the character and personality of these five presidents, revealing their humanity in the face of grave decisions.”

Fly With Me: Wild Aces Series, Book 1 by Chanel Cleeton: “From the author of the Capital Confessions Novels comes the first in the steamy Wild Aces Romance series.

U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Noah Miller—call sign Burn—loves nothing more than flying hard and fast. When he meets a gorgeous and sassy woman while partying in Las Vegas, he immediately locks on to her.

Jordan Callahan owns a thriving clothing boutique, but her love life is far less successful. Her luck changes when six feet, two inches of sexy swagger asks her to dance and turns her world upside down.

One scorching weekend becomes an undeniable chemistry that they can’t leave in Vegas. But the long distance relationship and their different lives threaten to ground their romance. And when the dangers of Noah’s job become all too real, Jordan learns being with a fighter pilot means risking it all for a shot at love…”

The Forest Feast: Simple Vegetarian Recipes from My Cabin in the Woods by Erin Gleeson: “Erin Gleeson made her dream a reality when she left New York City and moved into a tiny cabin in a California forest in order to be closer to nature. The natural beauty of her surroundings and the abundance of local produce serve as the inspiration for The Forest Feast, based on her popular blog. Most of the book’s 100 wholly vegetarian recipes call for only three or four ingredients and require very few steps, resulting in dishes that are fresh, wholesome, delicious, and stunning. Among the delightful recipes are eggplant tacos with brie and cilantro, rosemary shortbread, and blackberry negroni. Vibrant photographs, complemented by Erin’s own fanciful watercolor illustrations and hand lettering, showcase the rustic simplicity of the dishes. Part cookbook, part art book, The Forest Feast will be as comfortable in the kitchen as on the coffee table.

Also available from Erin Gleeson: The Forest Feast Gatherings and The Forest Feast for Kids.”

Forgotten Lyrics: A Watersong Story by Amanda Hocking: “Don’t miss this imaginative new short story set in the magical world of Watersong—a realm of enchanting beauty…and terrifying secrets.

Aggie is a mythological creature on a secret mission. Lydia is a young woman from a magical family with no real powers of her own. And Daniel is a high school boy who’s made it his duty to protect his deeply troubled older brother. Then one fateful night, their lives collide in a terrifying accident that changes them all forever. And beneath the surface, the ripple effects of the accident will have more impact than anyone could ever guess…changing not only their future, but the fate of an entire town.”

Four Past Midnight by Stephen King: “Four Times Fear Equals Total Terror….

THE LANGOLIERS: You are strapped in an airplane seat on a flight beyond hell.

SECRET WINDOW, SECRET GARDEN: You are trapped in the demonic depths of a writer’s worst nightmare.

THE LIBRARY POLICEMAN: You are forced into a hunt for the most horrifying secret a small town ever hid.

THE SUN DOG: You are focusing in on a beast bent on shredding your sanity.

You are in the hands of Stephen King at his mind-blowing best, with an extraordinary quartet of full-length novellas.”

Grave Phantoms: Roaring Twenties Series, Book 3 by Jenn Bennett: “From the author of Grim Shadows and Bitter Spirits comes the new Roaring Twenties novel in the series hailed as “Boardwalk Empire meets Ghost Hunters, but so much better” (Molly Harper, national bestselling author of the Jane Jameson series).

Feisty flapper Astrid Magnusson is home from college and yearning for the one thing that’s always been off limits: Bo Yeung, her notorious bootlegging brother’s second-in-command. Unfortunately her dream of an easy reunion proves difficult after a violent storm sends a mysterious yacht crashing into the Magnussons’ docks. What’s worse, the boat disappeared a year ago, and the survivors are acting strangely…

Bo has worked with the Magnusson family for years, doing whatever is needed, including keeping his boss’s younger sister out of trouble—and his hands to himself. Of course, that isn’t so easy after Astrid has a haunting vision about the yacht’s disappearance, plunging them into an underground world of old money and dark magic. Danger will drive them closer together, but surviving their own forbidden feelings could be the bigger risk.”

The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam from the Extremists by Khaled M. Abou El Fadl: “Despite President George W. Bush’s assurances that Islam is a peaceful religion and that all good Muslims hunger for democracy, confusion persists and far too many Westerners remain convinced that Muslims and terrorists are synonymous. In the aftermath of the attacks of 9/11, the subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the recent bombings in London, an unprecedented amount of attention has been directed toward Islam and the Muslim world. Yet, even with this increased scrutiny, most of the public discourse regarding Islam revolves around the actions of extremist factions such as the Wahhabis and al-Qa’ida. But what of the Islam we don’t hear about?

As the second-largest and fastest-growing religion in the world, Islam is deemed by more than a billion Muslims to be a source of serenity and spiritual peace, and a touchstone for moral and ethical guidance. While extremists have an impact upon the religion that is wildly disproportionate to their numbers, moderates constitute the majority of Muslims worldwide. It is this rift between the quiet voice of the moderates and the deafening statements of the extremists that threatens the future of the faith.

In The Great Theft, Khaled Abou El Fadl, one of the world’s preeminent Islamic scholars, argues that Islam is currently passing through a transformative period no less dramatic than the movements that swept through Europe during the Reformation. At this critical juncture there are two completely opposed worldviews within Islam competing to define this great world religion. The stakes have never been higher, and the future of the Muslim world hangs in the balance.

Drawing on the rich tradition of Islamic history and law, The Great Theft is an impassioned defense of Islam against the encroaching power of the extremists. As an accomplished Islamic jurist, Abou El Fadl roots his arguments in long-standing historical legal debates and delineates point by point the beliefs and practices of moderate Muslims, distinguishing these tenets from the corrupting influences of the extremists. From the role of women in Islam to the nature of jihad, from democracy and human rights to terrorism and warfare, Abou El Fadl builds a vital vision for a moderate Islam. At long last, the great majority of Muslims who oppose extremism have a desperately needed voice to help reclaim Islam’s great moral tradition.”

Grim by Christine Johnson, Ellen Hopkins, Julie Kagawa, Amanda Hocking et al.: Johnson’s anthology of retold fairy tales, most based on Grimm, should be wildly popular as the 17 authors include such well-known names as Ellen Hopkins, Julie Kagawa, Amanda Hocking, and Malinda Lo. Many authors bring the tone and focus back to the original Grimm tales, and graphic gore abounds. Sometimes the violence feels gratuitous, but often it’s completely appropriate. Rachel Hawkins’ opening story sets Bluebeard in a trailer park, with truly creepy foreshadowing from the heroine’s alcoholic mother. Jon Skovron’s “Raven Princess” has delightful contemporary touches, such as a same-sex giant couple rearing an infant, and a Shrek-like ending. Readers are bound to like some stories more than others, but the diversity of tone and treatment should please most fans of the genre. For many of the authors, the retold fairy tale is something new to their body of work. Hopefully, readers drawn by Ellen Hopkins’ novels on contemporary issues will discover the appeal and relevance of “tales as old as time,” such as Sarah Rees Brennan’s charming treatment of Beauty and the Beast. Grades 8-12. –Debbie Carton, Booklist review.

The Highwayman: A Longmire Story by Craig Johnson: “Sheriff Walt Longmire and Henry Standing Bear embark on their latest adventure in this novella set in the world of Craig Johnson’s New York Times bestselling Longmire series—the basis for the hit drama Longmire, now on Netflix

When Wyoming highway patrolman Rosey Wayman is transferred to the beautiful and imposing landscape of the Wind River Canyon, an area the troopers refer to as no-man’s-land because of the lack of radio communication, she starts receiving “officer needs assistance” calls. The problem? They’re coming from Bobby Womack, a legendary Arapaho patrolman who met a fiery death in the canyon almost a half-century ago. With an investigation that spans this world and the next, Sheriff Walt Longmire and Henry Standing Bear take on a case that pits them against a legend: The Highwayman.”

How to Manage a Marquess by Sally MacKenzie: “In USA Today bestselling author Sally MacKenzie’s charming Spinster House series, love is always a welcome guest…

Two possible futures loom before Miss Anne Davenport. The first option: sharing an unhappy home with her father and soon-to-be stepmother. The second: a life of independence at the Spinster House–if only her friend, Cat, would vacate the premises and marry the Duke of Hart. A well-placed whisper about the pair’s secret tryst might speed the course of true love. But the duke’s stubborn cousin poses an obstacle. A ridiculously handsome, very persuasive obstacle…

Nate, Marquess of Haywood, has spent his life looking out for the duke, hoping to stave off a family curse. The only way to keep his cousin alive is to keep him single. That means convincing the intriguing Miss Davenport that her lovely lips could be put to far better use than gossiping. Kissing, for instance. In fact, Nate is beginning to hope that Miss Davenport’s destiny lies not in the Spinster House at all, but with him …”

Into the Fury by Kat Martin: “Sinners, whores, and sluts beware–your time is at hand: a faceless menace is threatening lingerie models on a cross country tour, and Ethan Brodie is there to defend and protect.

Ethan’s learned the hard way that beauty is no substitute for character. So even though Valentine Hart is one of the most breathtaking women he’s ever seen, he’s keeping his hands off and his eyes open. Or that’s what he tells himself.

Then one of the models is murdered, and the closer Ethan gets to the answers, the closer he finds himself to Valentine–and the hotter the pressure feels. There’s more to Val–more to the other girls–than he could have guessed. But one is keeping a secret that could kill them all.”

Crucible by Arthur Miller: Based on historical people and real events, Arthur Miller’s play uses the destructive power of socially sanctioned violence unleashed by the rumors of witchcraft as a powerful parable about McCarthyism.

The Longest Day: Seekers: Return to the Wild Series, Book 6 by Erin Hunter: “Erin Hunter’s New York Times bestselling Seekers series comes to an epic conclusion in the sixth and final book in the Return to the Wild story arc! With its gripping blend of action and suspense, this animal fantasy is perfect for fans of the #1 nationally bestselling Warriors series.

Lusa, Toklo, Kallik, and Yakone have returned to Great Bear Lake for the Longest Day Gathering. This means being reunited with the familiar faces of bears they have encountered throughout their travels—but it also means returning to life among their own kind, which may not be as easy as they thought.

Seekers: Return to the Wild #6: The Longest Day is the thrilling finale Seekers fans have been waiting for—and an adventure not to be missed.”

The MacGregors Collection, Volume 1 by Nora Roberts: “Playing the Odds

Serena MacGregor satisfies her thirst for freedom and adventure on the open seas, as a blackjack dealer on a cruise ship. There, no one knows about her wealthy upbringing, but the mysterious Justin Blade recognizes something different in the elegant blonde. And when he saunters up to her table, he decides to take the biggest gamble of his life—by playing for keeps…

Tempting Fate

Attorney Caine MacGregor has a reputation for winning—cases and women. But trying to coax the cool and calm Diana Blade into a partnership and into his bed may be his greatest challenge yet.

One Man’s Art

Cartoonist Grant Campbell has shunned the outside world, preferring to live and work alone—until a storm brings artist Genevieve Grandeau to the door of his lighthouse. Gruff and guarded, he offers her shelter for one night, never expecting how the glamorous beauty will affect the rest of his days…

All the Possibilities

Alan MacGregor knows what he wants—and it’s spirited shop owner Shelby Campbell. But Shelby has her reasons for keeping the dashing senator at arm’s length, including the centuries-old feud between their families…

For Now, Forever

Self-made millionaire Daniel MacGregor has a perfect life that’s only missing one thing: the perfect woman. And though he’s sure he’s found her in Anna Whitfield, the dedicated medical student is quite sure of her future plans…ones that don’t include an overbearing man like Daniel. But Daniel’s attempts to woo her will change her mind and heart, lead to a forty-year-old marriage—and launch a formidable dynasty…”

Manhattan Noir by Lawrence Block: “Brand-new stories by: Jeffery Deaver, Lawrence Block, Charles Ardai, Carol Lea Benjamin, Thomas H. Cook, Jim Fusilli, Robert Knightly, John Lutz, Liz Martínez, Maan Meyers, Martin Meyers, S.J. Rozan, Justin Scott, C.J. Sullivan, and Xu Xi.

Lawrence Block has won most of the major mystery awards, and has been called the quintessential New York writer, although he insists the city’s far too big to have a quintessential writer. His series characters—Matthew Scudder, Bernie Rhodenbarr, Evan Tanner, Chip Harrison, and Keller—all live in Manhattan; like their creator, they wouldn’t really be happy anywhere else.”

Menopause: Recognizing Menopause and Perimenopause: The Most Important Information You Need to Improve Your Health: “Looking for support during the transition of menopause? The Everything Healthy Living Series is here to help. These concise, thoughtful guides offer the expert advice and the latest medical information you need to manage your pain and lead a healthy life.

Inside you’ll find expert advice and helpful tips on identifying menopause and perimenopause symptoms, coping with physical and neurological changes, and the emotional and psychological challenges you may encounter. As you experience the hormone swings and changes that accompany menopause, the more you know about what’s coming, the better you will be able to take charge of your transition.”

Murder at Redwood Cove by Janet Finsilver: Bed, breakfast…and a body! If it weren’t for the fact that she’s replacing a dead man, Kelly Jackson would love her new job managing the Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast on the coast of Northern California. But Bob Phillips did plunge off the cliff to his death…and Kelly’s starting to think it may not have been an accident. Bob’s retired friends–The “Silver Sentinels”–are also on the case, especially when Kelly is attacked…and another body turns up. Kelly has her hands full with overseeing the B&B’s annual Taste of Chocolate and Wine Festival, but she’s also closing in on the killer…who’s ready to send Kelly on her own permanent vacation…

Murder on Wheels: Tourist Trap Mystery Series, Book 6 by Lynn Cahoon: “The food truck craze has reached the charming coastal town of South Cove, California, but before Jill Gardner–owner of Coffee, Books, and More–can sample the eats, she has to shift gears and put the brakes on a killer . . .

Now that Kacey Austin has got her new gluten-free dessert truck up and running, there’s no curbing her enthusiasm–not even when someone vandalizes the vehicle and steals her recipes. But when Kacey turns up dead on the beach and Jill’s best friend Sadie becomes the prime suspect, Jill needs to step on it to serve the real killer some just desserts.

Praise for The Tourist Trap Mysteries: “The food truck craze has reached the charming coastal town of South Cove, California, but before Jill Gardner–owner of Coffee, Books, and More–can sample the eats, she has to shift gears and put the brakes on a killer . . .

Now that Kacey Austin has got her new gluten-free dessert truck up and running, there’s no curbing her enthusiasm–not even when someone vandalizes the vehicle and steals her recipes. But when Kacey turns up dead on the beach and Jill’s best friend Sadie becomes the prime suspect, Jill needs to step on it to serve the real killer some just desserts.

murder@maggody.com: Arly Hanks Series, Book 12 by Joan Hess: “When the uproarious town of Maggody, Arkansas, plugs into the Internet, the digital age turns deadly.

Aside from the odd stolen dog or vandalized lawn ornament, there’s been no recent crime in Maggody, Arkansas, population 755, and that’s how Chief of Police Arly Hanks likes it. Things have been so quiet she’s taken to sitting in on school-board meetings, and she’s doing just this when the high school announces the new computer lab, which will be open to everybody in town. To Arly—who doesn’t trust her neighbors to handle a toaster, much less a computer—it seems like an invitation to disaster. Little does she know that when Maggody logs on, the results will be murderous.

As soon as the first modem is plugged in, Maggody’s computers are flooded with hackers, pornography, libel, and worse. And when a newcomer is brutally murdered, Arly must use low-tech resourcefulness to catch a digital killer—and save Maggody from the information age.

Fans of Ellen Byron’s Cajun Country mysteries will find themselves right at home in Maggody, where everyone knows everyone—and everyone is related. This is unquestionably one of the funniest mystery series of all time.

Murder@maggody.com is the 12th book in the Arly Hanks Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.”

Mystic Summer: A Novel by Hannah McKinnon: “When two roads diverge…take the one that leads to the beach! Hannah McKinnon delivers a charming gem of a novel in Mystic Summer. I adored this book.”” —Elin Hilderbrand, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Rumor

A chance run-in with a college boyfriend puts a young woman’s picture-perfect life in perspective in this warm-hearted and lyrical novel—from the author of The Lake Season.

Since finishing graduate school, Maggie Griffin has worked hard to build an enviable life in Boston. She’s an elementary school teacher in a tony Boston suburb, a devoted sister, and a loving aunt. With her childhood best friend’s wedding quickly approaching and her own relationship blossoming, this is the summer she has been waiting for.

But when Maggie’s career is suddenly in jeopardy, her life begins to unravel. Stricken, Maggie returns home to seaside Mystic, Connecticut, where she expects to find comfort in family and familiarity. Instead, she runs into Cameron Wilder, a young man from her past who has also returned home, and whose life has taken a turn that puts Maggie’s city struggles in harsh perspective. When tragedy strikes for Cameron, Maggie is faced with big decisions as she weighs what matters most and strives to stay true to the person she’s become.

Set against the gorgeous backdrop of a New England summer when past and present collide, Mystic Summer is a gorgeous novel about looking back, moving forward, and the beauty that blooms when fate intervenes.”

New York City Noir: The Five Borough Set (Brooklyn Noir, Manhattan Noir, Bronx Noir, Queens Noir, Staten Island Noir) by Lawrence Block, Tim McLoughlin, S.J. Rozan, Patricia Smith, Robert Knightly: New York City Noir: The Five Borough Set collects the five NYC borough installments in our award-winning Akashic Noir Series into a single e-book edition: Brooklyn Noir, edited by Tim McLoughlin, Manhattan Noir, edited by Lawrence Block, Bronx Noir, edited by S.J. Rozan, Queens Noir, edited by Robert Knightly, and Staten Island Noir, edited by Patricia Smith. Launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir, each book in the series is comprised of all-new stories, each one set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the city of the book. The volumes collected here have been published over an eight year span, culminating in 2012 with Staten Island Noir. New York City Noir—featuring 87 stories by a who’s who in contemporary crime fiction—presents a breathtaking glimpse at the nation’s noirest city from the writers who know it best. FROM THE INTRODUCTION by series cocreator Tim McLoughlin: “It has taken eight years, and the publication of nearly sixty titles in the series, to complete the five boroughs, to tell the tale of a town that contains Wall Street and the Upper East Side, the slums of the South Bronx and the beauty of its botanical garden, the dizzying changes of Brooklyn’s gentrification, the weekly ethnic shifts of neighborhoods in Queens, and the inexorable transformation of Staten Island from quasi-rural suburb to the new old-Brooklyn, a package complete with traffic jams and racial violence. Eighty-seven stories ranging from art theft to horse theft, from random serial killings to good old-fashioned crimes of passion.As editors, Lawrence Block, S.J. Rozan, Robert Knightly, and Patricia Smith have done a remarkable job, uniformly keeping the tone of each book authentic to its borough. And their work has been critically rewarded. A number of these stories are Edgar, Anthony, and Shamus award winners or nominees. Three have been included in annual Best American Mystery Stories collections, and two were adapted as short films. Lou Manfredo, Maggie Estep, and Robert Knightly expanded stories presented here into novels.”

Night Shift: Midnight, Texas Series, Book 3 by Charlaine Harris: At Midnight’s local pawnshop, weapons are flying off the shelves—only to be used in sudden and dramatic suicides right at the main crossroads in town.

Who better to figure out why blood is being spilled than the vampire Lemuel, who, while translating mysterious texts, discovers what makes Midnight the town it is. There’s a reason why witches and werewolves, killers and psychics, have been drawn to this place.

And now they must come together to stop the bloodshed in the heart of Midnight. For if all hell breaks loose—which just might happen—it will put the secretive town on the map, where no one wants it to be…”

Night Shift: Night Tales Series, Book 1 by Nora Roberts: “A consistently entertaining writer”” (USA Today), Nora Roberts spins a passionate tale about what can happen when the sun goes down.

AVAILABLE DIGITALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME

When Detective Boyd Fletcher is assigned to protect radio DJ Cilla O’Roarke, he is surprised by the intense attraction he feels for his charge. Cilla keeps her vulnerability hidden behind an impenetrable wall, but when the threatening phone calls she’s receiving force her to rely on Boyd, she finds herself letting him into her heart.

Includes an exclusive preview of Nora Roberts’s new book The Witness.”

One Night Stands and Lost Weekends by Lawrence Block: “In the era before he created moody private investigator Matthew Scudder, burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, sleepless spy Evan Tanner, and the amiable hit man Keller — and years before his first Edgar Award — a young writer named Lawrence Block submitted a story titled “”You Can’t Lose”” to Manhunt magazine. It was published, and the rest is history.

One Night Stands and Lost Weekends is a sterling collection of short crime fiction and suspense novelettes penned between 1958 and 1962 by a budding young master and soon-to-be Grand Master — an essential slice of genre history, and more fun than a high-speed police chase following a bank job gone bad.”

River’s Song: Inn at Shining Waters Series, Book 1 by Melody Carlson: Following her mother’s funeral, and on the verge of her own midlife crisis, widow Anna Larson returns to the home of her youth to sort out her parents’ belongings, as well as her own turbulent life.

For the first time since childhood, Anna embraces her native heritage, despite the disdain of her vicious mother-in-law.

By transforming her old family home on the banks of the Siuslaw River into The Inn at Shining Waters, Anna hopes to create a place of healing—a place where guests experience peace, grace, and new beginnings. Starting with her own family . . .

Robo-Sauce by Adam Rubin, Daniel Salmieri: “Fans of the best-selling Dragons Love Tacos will devour Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri’s newest story, a hilarious picture book about robots that magically transforms into a super shiny metal ROBO-BOOK.

FACT: Robots are awesome. They have lasers for eyes, rockets for feet, and supercomputers for brains! Plus, robots never have to eat steamed beans or take baths, or go to bed. If only there were some sort of magical “”Robo-Sauce”” that turned squishy little humans into giant awesome robots… Well, now there is.

Giggle at the irreverent humor, gasp at the ingenious fold-out surprise ending, and gather the whole family to enjoy a unique story about the power of imagination. It’s picture book technology the likes of which humanity has never seen!”

Scandal at the Midsummer Ball: The Officer’s Temptation, The Debutante’s Awakening by Marguerite Kaye & Bronwyn Scott: Two forbidden relationships…one house party to remember!

THE OFFICER’S TEMPTATION by Marguerite Kaye
Colonel Fergus Kennedy must make a suitable match at the Midsummer Ball. But when this officer encounters sultry acrobat Katerina Vengarov, he finds himself torn between duty…and heart-stopping, irresistible passion!

THE DEBUTANTE’S AWAKENING by Bronwyn Scott
Kael Gage is the last person at the Midsummer Ball Miss Zara Titus should speak to—and anything more is definitely off-limits! But the notorious rake seems determined to awaken this innocent debutante’s every desire…

Scuba-Cat by James Dean: “New York Times bestselling author and artist James Dean brings Pete the Cat’s world to life under the sea in this new I Can Read book.

Pete the Cat is going scuba diving! Before he hits the water, Captain Joe tells him about all the sea creatures he can encounter, and Pete is super excited to see a seahorse. But when he is suited up and swimming around, he has to search high and low to find the little guy. In this aquatic adventure, Pete makes a new friend and gets a big surprise!

Pete the Cat: Scuba-Cat is a My First I Can Read Book, which means it’s perfect for shared reading with a child. New readers will love the easy-to-read format and groovy illustrations in Pete the Cat’s first I Can Read underwater journey!”

Shards and Ashes by various authors*: “The world is gone, destroyed by human, ecological, or supernatural causes. Survivors dodge chemical warfare and cruel gods; they travel the reaches of space and inhabit underground caverns. Their enemies are disease, corrupt corporations, and one another; their resources are few and their courage is tested.

Powerful original dystopian tales from nine bestselling authors offer bleak insight, prophetic visions, and precious glimmers of light among the shards and ashes of a ruined world.

*Stories from:

Kelley Armstrong

Rachel Caine

Kami Garcia

Nancy Holder

Melissa Marr

Beth Revis

Veronica Roth

Carrie Ryan

Margaret Stohl”

Shout!: The Beatles in Their Generation by Philip Norman: “UPDATED TO INCLUDE PAUL McCARTNEY’S KNIGHTING AND THE DEATHS OF JOHN LENNON AND GEORGE HARRISON

Philip Norman’s biography of the Beatles is the definitive work on the world’s most influential band — a beautifully written account of their lives, their music, and their times. Now brought completely up to date, this epic tale charts the rise of four scruffy Liverpool lads from their wild, often comical early days to the astonishing heights of Beatlemania, from the chaos of Apple and the collapse of hippy idealism to the band’s acrimonious split. It also describes their struggle to escape the smothering Beatles’ legacy and the tragic deaths of John Lennon and George Harrison. Witty, insightful, and moving, Shout! is essential reading not just for Beatles fans but for anyone with an interest in pop music.”

Songs of Love and Death: All-Original Tales of Star-Crossed Love edited by George R. R. Martin, Gardner Dozois: “In this star-studded cross-genre anthology, seventeen of the greatest modern authors of fantasy, science fiction, and romance explore the borderlands of their genres with brand-new tales of ill-fated love. From zombie-infested woods in a postapocalyptic America to faery-haunted rural fields in eighteenth- century England, from the kingdoms of high fantasy to the alien world of a galaxy-spanning empire, these are stories of lovers who must struggle against the forces of magic and fate.

Award-winning, bestselling author Neil Gaiman demonstrates why he’s one of the hottest stars in literature today with “”The Thing About Cassandra,”” a subtle but chilling story of a man who meets an old girlfriend he had never expected to see.

International blockbuster bestselling author Diana Gabaldon sends a World War II RAF pilot through a stone circle to the time of her Outlander series in “”A Leaf on the Winds of All Hallows.”” Torn from all he knows, Jerry MacKenzie determinedly survives hardship and danger, intent on his goal of returning home to his wife and baby–no matter the cost.

New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher presents “”Love Hurts,”” in which Harry Dresden takes on one of his deadliest adversaries and in the process is forced to confront the secret desires of his own heart.

Just the smallest sampling promises unearthly delights, but look also for stories by New York Times bestselling romance authors Jo Beverley and Mary Jo Putney, and by such legends of the fantasy genre as Peter S. Beagle and Tanith Lee, as well as many other popular and beloved writers, including Marjorie M. Liu, Jacqueline Carey, Carrie Vaughn, and Robin Hobb. This exquisite anthology, crafted by the peerless editing team of George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, is sure to leave you under its spell.

Discover the many realms of the heart with this extraordinary cast of acclaimed authors:

PETER S. BEAGLE, JO BEVERLEY, JIM BUTCHER, JACQUELINE CAREY, DIANA GABALDON, NEIL GAIMAN, YASMINE GALENORN, M.L.N. HANOVER, ROBIN HOBB, CECELIA HOLLAND, TANITH LEE, MARJORIE M. LIU, MARY JO PUTNEY, LINNEA SINCLAIR, MELINDA SNODGRASS, LISA TUTTLE & CARRIE VAUGHN”

Splat the Cat and the Quick Chicks: I Can Read Level 1 by Rob Scotton: “Splat’s class project is taking care of chicken eggs in this I Can Read book from New York Times bestselling author-artist Rob Scotton. When Splat takes the chicks home overnight, they hatch and run loose around his house! They pop up in the bathroom, hide inside his socks, and fall asleep in the paint box! Will Splat be able to round them all up?

Beginning readers will practice words in the quick and chick word family in this easy-to-read addition to the Splat series. Splat the Cat and the Quick Chicks is a Level One I Can Read book, which means it’s perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences.”

Temptations of a Wallflower by Eva Leigh: “Eva Leigh’s deliciously sexy Wicked Quills of London series continues as a Lady’s secret career writing erotic fiction is jeopardized by real-life romance . . .

In society circles she’s known as the Watching Wallflower—shy, quiet, and certainly never scandalous. Yet beneath Lady Sarah Frampton’s demure façade hides the mind of The Lady of Dubious Quality, author of the most titillating erotic fiction the ton has ever seen. Sarah knows discoverywould lead to her ruin, but marriage—to a vicar, no less—could help protect her from slander. An especially tempting option when the clergyman in question is the handsome, intriguing Jeremy Cleland.

Tasked with unmasking London’s most scandalous author by his powerful family, Jeremy has no idea that his beautiful, innocent bride is the very woman he seeks to destroy. His mission must remain a secret, even from the new wife who stirs his deepest longings. Yet when the truth comes to light, Sarah and Jeremy’s newfound love will be tested. Will Sarah’s secret identity tear them apart or will the temptations of his wallflower wife prove too wicked to resist?”

To Kill a Kettle Witch: Mist-Torn Witches Series, Book 4 by Barb Hendee: “National bestselling author Barb Hendee returns to the world of the Mist-Torn witches, as two sisters who can see the secrets of the past and the mysteries of the future begin a quest to save the family they never knew existed….

Powerful prince Malcolm is facing ruin in the wake of a curse that has destroyed his harvest. He blames the band nomadic Móndyalítko who summer in the meadow below his castle—and he is determined to root out the people who caused the blight by any means necessary.

When Céline and Amelie Fawe, descended from the Móndyalítko, learn that their mother’s people are under suspicion of sabotage and treason, they set out to use their magical gifts to save their estranged relatives and learn about their own origins.

Now it’s up to the sisters—along with their motley escort, including a prince’s lieutenant, a shape-shifter, and an old woman with a murky past—to discover the source of the curse to restore life to the ravaged land and protect the innocent from unfair vengeance.”

Tumbledown Manor by Helen Brown: “From New York Times bestselling author Helen Brown comes a witty, uplifting novel about a woman who discovers that it’s never too late to build the home–and the life–you’ve always longed for…

The windows rattle. The roof leaks. Every surface cries out to be stripped, painted, or polished. But for writer Lisa Trumperton, the dilapidated manor house that once belonged to her great-grandfather is far more than the sum of its battered parts. It’s the chance for a new start on her own terms. The fact that it’s in the Melbourne countryside of her Australian homeland, far from the deceitful ex-husband she just left behind in New York…well, that’s a bonus.

Lisa sets to work refurbishing Trumperton Manor, assisted by her son, his friends, and a “”Gray Army”” of retired handymen. But it’s not just her ancestral home that’s being transformed. As she trades her chic Manhattan clothes for jeans and work boots, Lisa is changing and fortifying her relationships with her family and her sense of self. There are floods, fires, and catastrophes, but there are new allies too, including a one-eyed cat, a stubborn cockatoo, and a rugged landscaper with an irresistible grin. Piece by piece, the house is pushing Lisa beyond her old limits, daring her to embrace something bigger, braver, and more rewarding than she ever dreamed. ”

Unashamed by Lecrae Moore: If you live by people’s acceptance, you’ll die by their rejection. Two-time Grammy winning rap artist, Lecrae, learned this lesson through more than his share of adversity—childhood abuse, drugs and alcoholism, a stint in rehab, an abortion, and an unsuccessful suicide attempt. In his debut book, Unashamed the industry anomaly holds nothing back as he shares his challenging rise from a broken past to Billboard chart-topping success. The inspiring story of Lecrae’s journey to faith and freedom explains why he’s captivated so many.

The Weekenders: A Novel by Mary Kay Andrews: “Some people stay all summer long on the idyllic island of Belle Isle, North Carolina. Others come only for the weekends-and the mix between the regulars and “”the weekenders”” can sometimes make the sparks fly. Riley Griggs has a season of good times with friends and family ahead of her on Belle Isle when things take an unexpected turn. While waiting for her husband to arrive on the ferry one Friday afternoon, Riley is confronted by a process server who thrusts papers into her hand. And her husband is nowhere to be found.

So she turns to her island friends for help and support, but it turns out that each of them has their own secrets, and the clock is ticking as the mystery deepens…in a murderous way. Cocktail parties aside, Riley must find a way to investigate the secrets of Belle Island, the husband she might not really know, and the summer that could change everything.

Told with Mary Kay Andrews’ trademark blend of humor and warmth, and with characters and a setting that you can’t help but fall for, The Weekenders is the perfect summer escape.”

When We Meet Again by Kristin Harmel: “Emily thinks she’s lost everything…until a mysterious painting leads her to what she wants most in the world. The new novel from the author of international bestsellers The Sweetness of Forgetting and The Life Intended shows why her books are hailed as “engaging” (People), “absorbing” (Kirkus Reviews) and “enthralling” (Fresh Fiction).

Emily Emerson is used to being alone; her dad ran out on the family when she was a just a kid, her mom died when she was seventeen, and her beloved grandmother has just passed away as well. But when she’s laid off from her reporting job, she finds herself completely at sea…until the day she receives a beautiful, haunting painting of a young woman standing at the edge of a sugarcane field under a violet sky. That woman is recognizable as her grandmother—and the painting arrived with no identification other than a handwritten note saying, “He always loved her.”

Emily is hungry for roots and family, so she begins to dig. And as she does, she uncovers a fascinating era in American history. Her trail leads her to the POW internment camps of Florida, where German prisoners worked for American farmers…and sometimes fell in love with American women. But how does this all connect to the painting? The answer to that question will take Emily on a road that leads from the sweltering Everglades to Munich, Germany and back to the Atlanta art scene before she’s done.

Along the way, she finds herself tempted to tear down her carefully tended walls at last; she’s seeing another side of her father, and a new angle on her painful family history. But she still has secrets, ones she’s been keeping locked inside for years. Will this journey bring her the strength to confront them at last?”

When You’re Hot, You’re Hot: How I Laughed My Way Through Menopause by Jan King: Jan King has traveled under the bridge of menopause county and come out on the other side with a completely irreverent look at the changes women’s bodies inevitably go through. What’s so funny about hot flashes, you wonder? After reading When You’re Hot, You’re Hot, you’ll know the answer: nothing, really. But you will have had the pleasure of getting the real scoop on menopause from one of the funniest writers out there. Jan unleashes her ready wit on her experiences with menopause and breast cancer to show you how to laugh your way through trying times. Read this book, and, suddenly, the Change can turn into the unthinkable . . . a laughing matter.

Witches in Red: Mist-Torn Witches Series, Book 2 by Barb Hendee: “Céline and Amelie Fawe can see into anyone’s past and future simply by touching him. They have used their powers to secure sanctuary—and a fine apothecary’s shop—in the village around Castle Sèone. But their continued safety has a price….

Far to the north, the men of an isolated silver mining community are turning into vicious “”beasts”” that slaughter anyone in sight. The mines belong to the noble family of Prince Anton—ruler of Castle Sèone and Céline and Amelie’s patron—and Anton’s tyrannical father has ordered his son to solve the mystery as a test of his leadership. He has no choice but to send the witches into the perilous north to use their abilities to discover the cause of the transformations. Given how much they owe the prince, the sisters have no choice but to go.

Together with the overprotective Lieutenant Jaromir, Célene and Amelie enter the dark world of a far-off mining camp tainted by fear, mistrust, and enslavement—and haunted by men turning into massive mad wolves without warning. Now the two must draw upon strength and cunning they never thought they possessed not only to solve the mystery, but to survive….”

Wonder Woman, Volume 1: Blood by Brian Azzarello, Cliff Chiang, Tony Akins: The first six issues of the critically acclaimed new Wonder Woman series are collected here in WONDER WOMAN VOL. 1: BLOOD! Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, has kept a secret from her daughter all her life-and when Wonder Woman learns who her father is, her life will shatter like brittle clay. The only one more shocked than Diana by this revelation? Bloodthirsty Hera-so why is her sinister daughter, Strife, so eager for the truth to be told? Superstar writer Brian Azzarello creates a new direction for one of DC’s best-known heroes, with spectacular art by Cliff Chiang and Tony Akins!

 

Streaming Videos:

The Civil War, Episode 1: The Cause – 1861 (Ken Burns): Episode 1 of Ken Burns PBS series. Description: What caused the war? Beginning with an examination of slavery, this episode looks at the causes of the war and the burning questions of union and states’ rights.

The Civil War, Episode 2: A Very Bloody Affair – 1862 (Ken Burns): Episode 2 of Ken Burns PBS series. Description: 1862 saw the birth of modern warfare and the transformation of Lincoln’s war to preserve the Union into a war to emancipate the slaves.

Plastic Soul Review (David Bowie): This film examines Bowie’s Plastic Soul Era… An era just as creative, magnificent and popular as any other during his life so far, yet one rarely considered as a stand-alone and separate entity within his complete body of work. Here, the albums David Live, Young Americans and Station To Station and the performances that accompanied them, are re-examined and newly appraised more than 30 years after they first appeared. This film features obscure footage, rare interviews and seldom seen photographs. It also includes review, comment, criticism and insight from journalists and acquaintances, as well as live and studio performances of Bowie classics from the Plastic Soul era. A must for fans!

You can check out the Digital Catalog at: stls.overdrive.com

And download e-books, digital audiobooks and access streaming videos on your mobile device by downloading the OverDrive app from your app store.

Newly Added OverDrive Audio Books

Hi everyone, new downloadable audio books have just been added to OverDrive!

For your convenience here’s a like to a PDF list:

Newly Added OverDrive Audio Books March 28, 2016

And here is a pasted copy of the list:

Newly Added OverDrive Audio Books March 28, 2016:

1924: The Year That Made Hitler (unabridged) by Peter Ross Range, Paul Hodgson

The Cold Dish: Walt Longmire Mystery Series, Book 1 (unabridged) by Craig Johnson, George Guidall

Dark Fire: Shardlake Series, Book 2 (unabridged)   by C. J. Sansom, Steven Crossley

Death Without Company: Walt Longmire Mystery Series, Book 2 (unabridged) by Craig Johnson, George Guidall

Duke of My Heart: Season for Scandal Series, Book 1 (unabridged) by Kelly Bowen, Ashford McNab

Fevre Dream by George R. R. Martin, Ron Donachie

Fool Moon: The Dresden Files Series, Book 2 (unabridged) by Jim Butcher, James Marsters

The Forbidden Library: Forbidden Library Series, Book 1 (unabridged) by Django Wexler, Cassandra Morris

The Forgetting Time: A Novel (unabridged) by Sharon Guskin, Susan Bennett, David Pittu

The Gangster: Isaac Bell Series, Book 9 (unabridged) by Clive Cussler, Justin Scott, Scott Brick

A Girl’s Guide to Moving On: A Novel (unabridged) by Debbie Macomber, Nancy Linari, Allyson Ryan, Debbie Macomber

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison, Kyle McCarley

The Grownup: A Story by the Author of Gone Girl (unabridged) by Gillian Flynn, Julia Whelan

The High Mountains of Portugal: A Novel (unabridged) by Yann Martel, Mark Bramhall

Imbeciles: The Supreme Court, American Eugenics, and the Sterilization of Carrie Buck (unabridged) by Adam Cohen, Dan Woren

Jeremy Poldark: A Novel of Cornwall, 1783-1787 (unabridged) by Winston Graham, Oliver Hembrough

The Lightkeepers: A Novel (unabridged)    by Abby Geni, Xe Sands

Me Before You: Me Before You Series, Book 1 (unabridged) by Jojo Moyes, Susan Lyons, Andrew Wincott, et al.

On My Own by Diane Rehm

The Ruins of Gorlan: Ranger’s Apprentice Series, Book 1 (unabridged) by John A. Flanagan, John Keating,

Splinter the Silence: Tony Hill/Carol Jordan Series, Book 9 (unabridged) by Val McDermid, Gerard Doyle

St. Peter’s Fair: Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, Book 4 (unabridged) by Ellis Peters, Johanna Ward

The Steel Kiss: Lincoln Rhyme Series, Book 12 (unabridged) by Jeffery Deaver, Edoardo Ballerini

The Swans of Fifth Avenue: A Novel (unabridged) by Melanie Benjamin, Cassandra Campbell, Paul Boehmer

The Widow by Fiona Barton, Hannah Curtis, Nicholas Guy Smith

Have a great day!

Linda, SSCL

 

Newly Added Downloadable Audiobooks, E-Books & Streaming Videos 1 27 16

Hi, everyone there will be new downloadable audiobooks, e-books and streaming videos available in the STLS Digital Catalog today!

Here’s a link to a PDF list of the title:

Newly Added OverDrive Titles January 27, 2016

And here’s a pasted version of that same list:

Downloadable Audiobooks:

…And Cauldron Bubble (Twilight Zone Radio Show)

Black Leather Jackets (Twilight Zone Radio Show)

Career of Evil: Cormoran Strike Series, Book 3 (unabridged) by Robert Galbraith, Robert Glenister

The Choice by Nicholas Sparks, Holter Graham

The Crossing: Harry Bosch Series, Book 20 (unabridged) by Michael Connelly, Titus Welliver

A Darker Shade of Magic: Darker Shade of Magic Series, Book 1 (unabridged) by V. E. Schwab, Steven Crossley

Fates and Furies: A Novel (unabridged) by Lauren Groff, Will Damron, Julia Whelan

The Guest Room: A Novel (unabridged) by Chris Bohjalian, Mozhan Marno, Grace Experience

The Guilty: Will Robie Series, Book 4 (unabridged) by David Baldacci, Kyf Brewer, Orlagh Cassidy

My Name Is Lucy Barton: A Novel (unabridged) by Elizabeth Strout, Kimberly Farr

The Power of I Am: Two Words That Will Change Your Life Today (unabridged) by Joel Osteen, The Author

The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge (unabridged) by Michael Punke, Holter Graham

Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter (unabridged) by Kate Clifford Larson, Bernadette Dunne

E-Books:

Around the World in Seventy-Two Days and Other Writings by Nellie Bly, Jean Marie Lutes, Jean Marie Lutes, Jean Marie Lutes, Maureen Corrigan

Ashley Bell: A Novel by Dean Koontz

The Basic Writings of Sigmund Freud by Sigmund Freud, A.A. Brill

The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis

Brief Candle in the Dark: My Life in Science by Richard Dawkins

The Burning Land: The Warrior Chronicles, Book 5 by Bernard Cornwell

Clean Sweep: Innkeeper Chronicles, Book 1 by Ilona Andrews

Cold-Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas

Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again by Donald J. Trump

Dukes Prefer Blondes by Loretta Chase

The Essential Jung: Selected and introduced by Anthony Storr by C. G. Jung, Anthony Storr, John Beebe

Fates and Furies: A Novel by Lauren Groff

A Free Man of Color: Benjamin January Series, Book 1 by Barbara Hambly

Galileo’s Middle Finger: Heretics, Activists, and the Search for Justice in Science by Alice Dreger

The Guest Room: A Novel by Chris Bohjalian

Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl: A Memoir by Carrie Brownstein

The Impostor Queen by Sarah Fine

Killing Reagan: The Violent Assault That Changed a Presidency by Bill O’Reilly, Martin Dugard

The Last Kingdom: The Warrior Chronicles, Book 1 by Bernard Cornwell

Last Light (Novella) by Dean Koontz

Lights Out: A Cyberattack, a Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath by Ted Koppel

Llewellyn’s 2016 Magical Almanac: Practical Magic for Everyday Living

Lords of the North: The Warrior Chronicles, Book 3 by Bernard Cornwell

The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto: A Novel by Mitch Albom

The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem

My Name Is Lucy Barton: A Novel by Elizabeth Strout

Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She’s “Learned” by Lena Dunham

Of Dreams and Rust: Of Metal and Wishes Series, Book 2 by Sarah Fine

Of Metal and Wishes: Of Metal and Wishes Series, Book 1 by Sarah Fine

Of Shadows and Obsession: Of Metal and Wishes Series, Book 0.5 by Sarah Fine

One-Eyed Dukes Are Wild by Megan Frampton

Outsider in the White House by Bernie Sanders, John Nichols

The Pale Horseman: The Warrior Chronicles, Book 2 by Bernard Cornwell

Pool of Twilight by James M. Ward, Anne K. Brown

Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larson

Rumor Has It: Animal Magnetism Series, Book 4 by Jill Shalvis

Runes in Ten Minutes by Richard T. Kaser

The Secrets of Drearcliff Grange School by Kim Newman

Snowflake Bay: Brides of Blueberry Cove Series, Book 2 by Donna Kauffman

Spencer’s Mountain by Earl Hamner, Jr.

Succubus Blues: Georgina Kincaid Series, Book 1 by Richelle Mead

Sweet Ruin by Kresley Cole

The Sword of Straw by Amanda Hemingway

Sword Song: The Warrior Chronicles, Book 4 by Bernard Cornwell

Texas True: Tylers of Texas Series, Book 1 by Janet Dailey

Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates: The Forgotten War That Changed American

History by Brian Kilmeade, Don Yaeger

Tom Clancy Commander in Chief by Mark Greaney

Warriors of the Storm: A Novel by Bernard Cornwell

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

What to Do with a Duke: Spinster House Series, Book 1 by Sally MacKenzie

Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

Wicked Ride: Realm Enforcers Series, Book 1 by Rebecca Zanetti

Streaming Videos:

Space 1999, Season 1, Breakaway

Space 1999, Season 1, Collision Course

Space 1999, Season 1, Force Of Life

Space 1999, Season 1, War Games

Have a great day!

Linda, SSCL

New Digital Catalog (OverDrive) Digital Audiobooks, E-Books & Streaming Videos

Hi everyone, just in time for the weekend there are new titles that should be appear in the Digital Catalog by this evening.

And here’s a link to a PDF that lists all the titles!

OverDrive Titles October 2015

Happy Reading!

Linda, SSCL