Inspector Christy Kennedy novels
Inspector Starrett novels
Music books
Anthologies
Music Books
First Of The True Believers
The autobiography of Theodore Hennessy—a novel concerning the Beatles.
The Beatles formed in 1959, and by March 1964, every one of the top five singles in the American Billboard chart was theirs. They had become a worldwide pop sensation and their hometown of Liverpool was the centre of the thriving British music industry. Among other less celebrated Merseybeat groups of the time were The Nighttime Passengers, led by Theo Hennessy who—according to his own testimony, at least—very nearly replaced Pete Best as the drummer of the 'Fab Four'.
First Of The True Believers tells of a decade in the life of Theodore Hennessey. It begins in the late 1950s with his first meeting with the beautiful and elusive Marianne Burgess, and follows their subsequent on-off love affair and his rise to prominence as a musician and a music agent. Undaunted by his near miss, Theo remains an enthusiastic Beatles fan and he follows their progress with interest.
First Of The True Believers charts the rise of the Beatles through the eyes and ears of a fan, from their early days in Hamburg, through the years of pop stardom to the bitter break-up that signalled the end of the 'Decade of Love'.
The Beatles provided the definitive soundtrack to the Sixties, and in First Of The True Believers, novelist and musicologist Paul Charles combines their phenomenal story with a tender-hearted tale of sex, love and rock 'n' roll in the sixties Liverpool.
Factual Music Books
The Complete Guide to Playing Live
An invaluable "how to" book for anyone planning to get started playing live on the gigging circuit. Covering everything from putting a band together to finding agents, managers, lawyers, accountants, promoters, and road crews, this is the ultimate manual for survival on the road.
Using sample expense sheets, Playing Live, shows where the money comes from... and, where it goes! Everything from concerts, radio and television, to merchandising, sponsorship and how to assemble your road crews.
Reviews
"For all those who dream of being the next Beatles, Paul Charles' latest book is an absolute de riguer purchase. A step-by-step guide to making a career in rock music whilst avoiding being shafted at every turn. Playing Live is essential reading. Enlivened and enriched by Charles' down-to-earth style, dry wit and superbly delivered anecdotal insights, this comprehensive guide leaves no stone unturned in its attempt to guide bands through the pitfalls and pratfalls of 'making it'... What makes this guide essential however is that Charles really does know the business inside out. His work with Tom Waits, Van Morrison, Jackson Browne and The Undertones (among many others) has set a benchmark for quality within the industry. Playing Live is as important to a new band setting out on their career as is remembering to pack the guitar leads before heading off on their first gig."
—(5 stars), Colin Hall, What's On In London
"The best stuff is about how to make money from playing your music and how to avoid being ripped off at every stage. If your serious about your music career this book is a wise investment."
—Guitarist
"Most entertaining of all are the anecdotes, and it's possible to read this book without possessing an ounce of musical ambition and still enjoy it."
—Time Out
HOW TO SUCCEED IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS (Pocket Essentials)
How to succeed in the music business...
The best review quote:
"If you sit at home thinking: 'The music business. That's a glamorous business. Loads of girls/boys, drugs, booze and loads of dosh: I'll have a bit of that' ... then if I were you I'd think again."
—The Evening Standard
THE BEATLES (Pocket Essentials)
Almost everything you need to know in one essential guide.
The Beatles are the most successful entity in the history of the entertainment business ever! Fact! And it didn't all happen by accident.
Four working-class lads met up in and around Liverpool towards the end of the 1950s. They spent several years playing around Liverpool and Hamburg, fine-tuning their performance and song writing before meeting up with Brian Epstein and releasing their first album, Please Please Me, over forty-five years ago.
During the following ten years they broke every performance and sales record in the book, most notably in May 1964 when every one of the top five singles in the American Billboard chart was theirs. On top of this they recorded, arguably, three of the best contemporary albums ever recorded.
The Beatles were the sound track to the sixties explosion. This pocket Essential discusses how they met and, using their songs and records as signposts, takes you on a journey through their colourful, historic and celebrated career.
Available from audible.com as audio download book.
