I love music, this book is a Vinyl Aficionado's dream
932360
As I sit here writing this review, I listen to my turn table and hum along to Brahm's Symphony No. 1.
I love music, this book is a Vinyl Aficionado's dream. Reading The Music Shop I desired to follow along to the sound track of Frank's life. I went to my own collection to find the music listed in each chapter, if I didn't have it, I went to Youtube. I created a playlist for my reading enjoyment. Even lying down on the floor as suggested by Frank to get the complete experience. I wondered why there wasn't a playlist included, then I arrived at the last page of the book, ding, Ms. Joyce had sure enough included a link to her Spotify Playlist  She didn't let me down. My only complaint from the whole book is that I wished this playlist had been at the beginning so that I didn't have to spend so much time searching for the music. However, maybe my journey of searching and taking the time to find the music was just as valuable as Frank's mothers stories are to him and made the experience of reading this book even more special? I hope to think so.

Ms. Joyce take a delightful story and sets it into a run down street where the characters are lovable, friendly, community oriented and giving to each other.  The musical gift that Frank, the Music Shop's owner has is second to none. I'm not gonna blab on what that he does, you will just have to read the book to find out as it is special, super special, I tell ya.

When Ilse Brachmann faints outside Franks shop on Unity Street you know an adventure is afoot. Unity Street sits at the end of a small community nestled among the ravages of a 40 year old war in the middle of London. Each member of Frank's business and living community adds to the story with the richness of their varying personality quirks. I throughly enjoyed getting to know each and every one of Frank's friends and neighbors.

The Music Shop is a delightful tribute to decades of wonderful music and takes that music and makes it swell with Ms. Joyce's writing.

I love it as much as I loved Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. The Music Shop is definitely a keeper.

Like music, said Peg. Even when it was over, it kept living inside you.
 Rachel Joyce, The Music Shop

I received this book from Penguin's First to Read in lieu of my honest opinion.  Thrilled I got to read it.
344252
This cool book is recommended as a must have for anybody fascinated with the
world of Rock and Pop. The author,Paul Roland,is also a musician and his knowledge
 is certainly evident in this book.

The pages cover the history of the music,with all the tales and stories that have been
attributed to the artists that have passed into folklore. Each generation is given an
in-depth account and relates on how the sounds of yesterday influence the sounds of
tomorrow. What I particularly like is the way that the more obscure artists are given
room right along with the more celebrated ones. And then,at the end of each chapter,
classic albums are listed with reviews to accompany.

For me,the book really comes into its own when insights are given on how this music was/is
made. This is when having an author,who, is himself a musician,benefits the reader
way beyond any dime a dozen music reviewer. Many studio tricks,gadgets and
techniques are explained throughout the reviews,and for me,being a musician,this is
a mighy fine angle.

Paul Roland style of writing is engaging,informative and above all enjoyable. This is a
great read for anyone who is a fan of this music and a great resource for those of us
who try to play it.
3559566
I bought this as a gift  for my husband, who is a vinyl collector. He loves it. Lots of great stories and album covers. I can tell his collection will grow because of this book.
3129005
High quality vinyl is well suited to this incredible music that tells an awesome story.  Sounds beautiful on my tube amp.
1508972
For anyone wondering what the packaging is like for the VINYL edition of this most excellent set:

The only way to truly appreciate the visual work put into this project is to see it full-scale by way of the double LP set. Housed in a beautiful glossy black gatefold with flat black illustrations, and our beloved ACDC logo crystallized in blood red on the front.  The inside follows this design minus the logo but with red liner notes at the bottom of each side, and each side of the 2 inner sleeves are printed in full black & red. Leave these inside for safe keeping, but get yourself new sleeves that better protect the records (these kind of picture paper sleeves are notorious for causing light scuffing on the record surface, doesn't effect playback but seems unsightly in my opinion. Plus we all know how paper creates dust over time).

The 180gram discs are beauties for sure, labeled with gray/black centers- mine are perfectly flat and I'm detecting little surface noise on my 15yr old technics table, but as I break in my newly installed Shure cartridge I expect even less. The sound is crisp and the bass not too low, The mix is just excellent as you'd expect.

Every single cut is killer here- I won't do a track by track analysis, all the other great reviews are dead on. If I had to complain about something, I'd say some cuts could have been extended with longer solos & breakdowns.  Hardly a valid nag.  Producer Brendan O'Brien has pulled the best album possible out of an old fave. Pick the CD up for your car or office, but I suggest for home listening you dig out your old turntable if you haven't already, nab this beauty on vinyl and really experience it.
2643877
I remember riding my bike downtown on sunny Saterday  mornings to  the local record store. I would walk up and down the hardwood floors fingering through hundreds of vinyl lps. So much fun. I only wish now that I would have taken pictures of that little shop. It is where I purchased so many of my first albums, and the tickets to my first concerts. This book takes me right back to that time period. Just like so many wonderful things we take for granted these mom and pop shops are sadly disappearing. I am glad to hear that there is a bit of a comeback in the lp. We all have that desire to travel back in time, music has such a way of doing that. Where did so many of us get that music? At  our favorite record store. Great book to own or gift.
4372822
One of my favorite albums/box sets of all time finally got the vinyl treatment with extra liner notes etc. Love it.
1301638
This book is KILLER for flipping through and finding albums you had no idea existed that you love.  I personally found some classic Louis Prima, Gilberto/Getz, New Sounds In Rhythm And Blues Music by Ray Charles, a sitar album called Call of the Valley, and several others, and I'm only about 25% of the way through the book.

Great pickup if you are an audiophile looking for gems.
4635219
Nice!  I can listen to it over and over again and happy to see the vinyl format making a comeback!
526657
The vinyl pressing of this album is amazing
481831
I very rarely write reviews, but Riverman's Daughter has inspired me. As a fan of Alyssa Graham's previous recordings, I had high expectations for Riverman's Daughter.  My expectations were far exceeded.  Each song tells a story. It is a very well recorded album and really captures the emotions of the music.  Alyssa's vocals are spot on as always and Doug's harmonies are fantastic.  Several of the songs stay in my head all day long.  This album is what music is all about for me.  I find myself wanting to listen to it from beginning to end, again and again.

I liked the CD so much that I also purchased it on Vinyl.  It is even better of Vinyl.  They choose extremely high quality, heavy vinyl and it is among the quietest vinyl recordings in my collection.  I am truly impressed.  You just can't beat the warmth of vinyl and this recording is a MUST HAVE for vinyl lovers.

I was already a fan of Alyssa Graham and now I'm an even bigger fan of The Grahams!
4315280
For me, the music on this album is an easy 5 stars, a lot of people know this album and it is great. The way Willie sings these covers is just surreal. Regarding the vinyl: another 5 stars.  I own it in digital 88/24 download and it sounds excelent. But the vinyl version is head and shoulders above it. More natural, great dyniamics, just an excellent over all pressing.  A must for your vinyl collection.
3537844
I stumbled across this book in our university bookstore sometime last year. What the brief product info doesn't say - and it should - it that half the book covers albums and half the book covers singles. You flip it over to read about each.
If you like music and reading about some of the great records of the past 60 years - for whatever reason they are termed "great" - I highly recommend purchasing this.
A bonus is a number of side columns scattered throughout that cover the production of the first LPs and 45s, the transition to digital, record labels and producers who blazed new trails, etc.
I pick this book up at least once a week. Oh, there are scattered songs and artists covered that I never particularly cared for, but what I do like far outweighs the handful of entries I skip.
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****REVIEW OF THE VINYL EDITION*****

The packaging is about as good as could be expected, very sturdy materials and printing is bright and clear. The book included is a nice extra which is also very high quality. I would say the nicest gatefold packaging I've ever seen. Came packaged well, too.

The actual records are very high quality as well. They are both very heavy weight and weighed in at 178 grams each which is industry standard for "180 Gram" records.

The pressing into the vinyl is deep and more importantly is an even depth so there is no volume difference during each RPM which is something I CAN notice on cheaper vinyl. I am extremely picky when it comes to vinyl and can say I am impressed with the quality of the playing surface itself. Best I've seen on new vinyl prints, Columbia knows how to print vinyl!

The only negative thing I can say about the record is that there isn't much play time on each side of the record, it really could've fit onto 3 sides comfortably, I have never seen such short playing time on a side of a record which only means changing them more frequently, which really isn't a big deal (I'm just very peculiar like I mentioned before).

***THE MUSIC ITSELF***
I personally love this new album, and couldn't be more excited that the vocals have been cut for the majority of the album, if you're a proper fan of Pink Floyd this album will be a breath of fresh air and also a comforting, familiar sound, but that is ultimately up to one's opinion so I'm done with that.

LONG LIVE VINYL!!!
3131124
As a lifelong fan of music, the vinyl record has always been an obsession with me. Through the years I have done much research on the mechanics, and the outcome of recorded music. This book is an essential part of anyone's library for those who love music, and the history behind one of the world's biggest labels.
The beginnings of the label are fascinating, as it explains the early technology used in order to reproduce sound, and how to mass market. As of now, we take music for granted, as it evolves into more of a convenience than a chore. Now, we can download through a computer what we would like to hear. Years ago, we sometimes wanted to hear in the record store what we may like, or listened to the radio and when our favorite song came on, just increased the volume.
From the early days of creation to marketing, this book also touches on the famous groups and singers who made the label what it is, respectable.
Columbia also has been the label that took the longest to conquer the rock and soul market. Releasing middle-of-the-road and adult contemporary up into the mid 60's, the label finally began to evolve into a major force. With over 600 pages of information, you may become overwhelmed by it's majesty, but if you may have an interest in what made the label what it is now, you are in for a treat.
For what took awhile for me to finish, you can walk away with the knowledge that a record label is alot more than just releasing music.
I give this book 5 stars, mainly for the fact that alot of research that went into this project was easily digestible, and for the most part, fascinating.
581031
This is a great vinyl, especially for those who enjoy Imagine Dragons or collecting vinyls for their favorite bands! -
84327
All I can say is, wow. I've probably played this album like 10 times in the past week it's so good! The vinyls arrived here in perfect condition and on time. I couldn't be happier with this purchase!