Editorial Review

Stephen Sondheim has won seven Tonys, an Academy Award, seven Grammys, a Pulitzer Prize and the Kennedy Center Honors. His career has spanned more than half a century, his lyrics have become synonymous with musical theater and popular culture, and in Finishing the Hat—titled after perhaps his most autobiographical song, from Sunday in the Park with George—Sondheim has not only collected his lyrics for the first time, he is giving readers a rare personal look into his life as well as his remarkable productions.

Along with the lyrics for all of his musicals from 1954 to 1981—including West Side Story, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music and Sweeney Todd—Sondheim treats us to never-before-published songs from each show, songs that were cut or discarded before seeing the light of day. He discusses his relationship with his mentor, Oscar Hammerstein II, and his collaborations with extraordinary talents such as Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents, Ethel Merman, Richard Rodgers, Angela Lansbury, Harold Prince and a panoply of others. The anecdotes—filled with history, pointed observations and intimate details—transport us back to a time when theater was a major pillar of American culture. Best of all, Sondheim appraises his work and dissects his lyrics, as well as those of others, offering unparalleled insights into songwriting that will be studied by fans and aspiring songwriters for years to come.

Accompanying Sondheim’s sparkling writing are behind-the-scenes photographs from each production, along with handwritten music and lyrics from the songwriter’s personal collection.

Penetrating and surprising, poignant, funny and sometimes provocative, Finishing the Hat is not only an informative look at the art and craft of lyric writing, it is a history of the theater that belongs on the same literary shelf as Moss Hart’s Act One and Arthur Miller’s Timebends. It is also a book that will leave you humming the final bars of Merrily We Roll Along, while eagerly anticipating the next volume, which begins with the opening lines of Sunday in the Park with George. ... Read more

Reviews

Culture vultures, prepare to feast!
If you are lucky, you will discover artists whose work speaks to you in a very profound way. For me, it's the paintings of Henri Matisse, the novels of John Irving, the musicals of Stephen Sondheim. I'm an unabashed fan.

Mr. Sondheim's new coffee table book, Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics (1954-1981) with Attendant Comments, Principles, Heresies, Grudges, Whines, and Anecdotes, is a gift to us all. Before you even start reading the text, flip through it and you'll see that this is a gorgeous book. It is chock full of photographs--more than 200--many of them full page blowups. There are pictures and artwork from the productions, candid photos from Mr. Sondheim's personal collection, and images of his hand-written notes, lyrics, and sheet music. This book is richly and beautifully illustrated. The only small disappointment is that all images are black and white, but it is truly a minor complaint.

Once you've feasted your eyes, dive into the text. Almost immediately, you'll see that Mr. Sondheim has written his book with the care and precision with which he writes his songs. There's a slight formality to the tone (with the laying down of copious rules along the way), but at the same time, it's a very candid look at his work, his collaborators, his predecessors, and his life. For musicians or composers, there is much substantive information on his process. And for theater buffs like me, this book is a treasure! Mr. Sondheim's contributions are the apotheosis of musical theater. The shows recounted are theatrical history. Sadly, I'm too young to have seen the original productions of any of these 13 shows, but now I've heard about the drama behind the scenes of Merrily We Roll Along straight from the horse's mouth. I know his two regrets from West Side Story, what he really thinks of theater critics, how he wanted to plot A Little Night Music, and the influence of Hammerstein's Allegro on his career. The truth is, there is just so much packed into this book, it is simply impossible to even begin to summarize the contents.

This book is specifically dedicated to Mr. Sondheim's lyrics, and what a joy it was to sing, er... I mean, read my way through them. To give you an idea of how comprehensive Finishing the Hat is, every lyric of every song from the original production of Follies is included. Nine songs cut from the show are included, along with the reasons behind the changes. A revised lyric for a later London production is included. And altered versions of "I'm Still Here" (for Barbara Streisand and for the film Postcards from the Edge) are included. And always Mr. Sondheim's thoughts, observations, and occasional criticisms are shared, often through the use of extensive footnotes.

The book ends at Merrily, 423 pages in, with a provocative statement and the word INTERMISSION. This is indeed the intermission between the volumes of Mr. Sondheim's collected lyrics/memoir, the second of which will encompass the remainder of his storied career. I can only hope the second book is well into its production. As excited as I was to get my hands on this book, it is truly more than I could have hoped for. In the end, it's a fitting testament to an immense talent.

Invaluable
I have sat, transfixed, for the previous 2 1/2 days reading this book from cover to cover. Every line is a gem, a brilliant insight to be savored and reflected upon. If you have ever wanted direct access to the mind of one of art's greatest creators, this is it.

A "Must-Have" Book
This is an incredible book to add to your theater collection. Mr. Sondheim really makes you think about the process and understand (just a little in my case) how much work, thought, genius, etc. it takes to produce his shows. It is like taking a master class in your comfy chair.

Sondheim Rocks
A must-have for the Sondheim fan. However, the print is small and faint, and it is not a physically easy read.

Great Gift/Great Personal Purchase
I must confess to being a life-long Sondheim fan - but this is truly an enjoyable and informative book about someone that I deeply admire. Bought it for a gift - want one for myself now.

A Bow for Mr. Sondheim
Stephen Sondheim Will probably forever be regarded as the finest lyricist the musical stage has known - with apologies to librettist W. S. Gilbert or Gilbert and Sullivan fame. He has always taken on stories that encourage - no, force - the audience to relate to his ideas, whether that be in the early stages of his career with the magnum opus West Side Story or with the subsequent Gypsy!, Pacific Overtures, Follies, Sundays in the Park with George, Company, Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music, etc. But while most everyone knows the lyrics to his large number of hits, few of us know the secrets or gossip or the lyricists real feelings about each of his ventures - until now.

This book is a very well written compendium of the lyrics (in every phase of their being), notes, ideas, misjudgments, and personal responses to the shows and the people involved with them. Sondheim is brilliant, not only at what he has done for a living, but also as a thinker and philosopher and pundit. Reading this book, as opposed to scanning this book, opens windows of insight into the career and the personality of one of America's treasures. There is so much to enjoy about this book that it will take several readings to absorb it all. It is a welcome addition to the libraries of all those who care about the stage musicals that are one of the few 'unique offerings' of this country to the world of music. Grady Harp, December 10

Provocative, insightful, instructive, humorous.
He is the master of lyric writing, and he conducts a Master Class in the art for all of us who are interested and enchanted by this craft. He analyzes and overanalyzes himself, and combines it with critiques of other great lyricists. You may agree or disagree with his opinions, but his instructive and self assured manner gives you great insight into this most difficult art.

Just a small aside to add to the other reviews
How could I add anything to the previous reviews? It is all true: the book is brilliant, funny, witty, (funny and witty are not the same things, of course) controversial (if you're a fan of musicals from before 1950), insightful, delightfully opinionated, original...all the things the others have been saying. Listen to them (us)and you will be rewarded handsomely with a magnificent read. And if you already love Sondheim (as I do and millions of others do) you will probably read it more than once, first to just absorb as much as you can as you devour it in a few sittings, then again to discover God in the details. And I agree, the type could probably have been better. So, just as a small suggestion, if you're having trouble reading it, stop complaining, go out and spend a dollar and buy a magnifying glass. A small price to pay for the enjoyment you'll receive. Just a suggestion, mind you.

The Rigor of Sondheim
Stephen Sondheim brings the same sense of rigor in his evaluation of his own work and that of his peers as he does to his musical creations. His passion reveals itself through his meticulou craftsmanship. His care in writing Finishing The Hat leaves the reader feeling as energized and refreshed as one feels after hearing his music and lyrics. It will be a wonderful text to refer to and reflect upon during repeated readings. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A series for the early beginner combining rote and note approach. The melodies are written with careful thought and are kept as simple as possible, yet they are refreshingly delightful. All the music lies within the grasp of the child's small hands. ... Read more

Reviews

My kids love it! Cute pictures, and it progresses very gradually, September 1, 2005
One of my sons just loves playing these songs as a supplement to his Suzuki instruction. They are catchy and progress very gradually--much more gradually than the Suzuki repetoire. Then, his twin brother, whom I've tried for years to interest in music, thought the songs from this book were so cool that he has started playing them and now wants music lessons, too! I'm so thrilled. I think he has always found the Suzuki progression to be too intimidating and fast. This one takes it slower and has much cuter pictures.

NOT for the earliest beginners, October 11, 2007
Despite what the title says, "A Book For The Earliest Beginner", I feel that it's not for the kids younger than 6 or 7. Requiring to read the music notes on the lines right from the beginning is too much for the kids who barely know alphabets. This book could be fine for older kids or for supplementing other courses. Try Alfred's books which I found much easier and gradual on very young children. If they are under 5, you could try Alfred's Prep Course.

Great book!, January 28, 2006
My 6 yo daughter loves this book. We bought three beginner books from here and this is her favorite and she "plays' all the time. I like that it is easier to use than some of the others. It is very easy to teach from, but she can figure alot of it out herself. It is written towards a childs prespective.

Musical yes, earliest no., November 23, 2008
My 4 yr. old daughter is enrolled in a Yamaha music school class for 4-5 yr. olds. I bought this book to give us some supplementary songs to practice. The songs in this book are extremely musical and enjoyable; I would have given the book 5 stars except for the use of the superlative "earliest" in the title, as the pace and level of the book is much faster and higher than what she gets from the music school (which I believe is generally what Yamaha has discovered over many years is readily doable for the youngest beginners). This book is actually nice for an adult beginner.

Does not teach kids to read notes..., October 8, 2009
I began teaching beginner piano students in January of this year. Wanting to give unfamiliar methods a try, I chose this book for one of my 6 year old beginners. She seemed to really enjoy the songs...and it wasn't until about 2/3 of the way through it that I realized she was not learning to read the notes. I finally noticed why - EVERY note for every song in the entire book has a finger number under it, and my student was just reading the finger numbers rather than memorizing what the notes looked like. I was wondering why my supplemental note-training was not sticking! I do not recommend this method at all if you want your students to learn to read music, and I am disappointed for the temporary set-back in my student's training. I have switched to Alfred, and it has been perfect for all my young beginners.

wonderful 1st book, March 9, 2007
i just started teaching piano and found this book. i love it and so does the student. the songs are in just the right order of difficulty and each has something new to learn. the duets are a lot of fun!!! i'm going to order the next book in this series very soon. i wish i had started with this book as a child. it is sooo cool. best wishes, Liz

Solidly organized and effective, February 15, 2008
Beyond the simple enjoyment of playing a song, learning to play music is a catalyst for discovery and learning in life. Rudiments such as fractions are learned by understanding the key signature. Motor skills are developed in both hands. Processing of symbols into piano keys and then piano keys into musical tones that, when played together, create a song. We often forget this as adults, or never learned it. The key with teaching these things effectively to kids is to make it fun, keep the lessons to a reasonable length and to get involved as a parent or teacher.

Teaching Little Fingers To Play is perfect for introducing children to the joy of playing a piano. It provides short, fun songs that kids can sing along to as they develop their skills playing. My daughter finds so much enjoyment in practicing and can't wait to "figure out" the next song. The skills and knowledge are added little by little in such a way that they build on what is already developed, rather than overwhelming the child. The notes to the teacher are also helpful, particularly when the teacher is simply a parent who isn't a piano virtuoso.

The price is VERY affordable and the book simply works well, particularly for my child. I'd recommend this book for any child under the age of 10. I don't think you'll be disappointed if you buy this book. I certainly wasn't.

Good although fast moving, October 28, 2007
Good first book for learning piano, but our teacher requested we get another book to accompany this, since this one moves a little too fast for our kindergartener.

Wishing for more..., March 16, 2010
I bought this book a few months ago based on the Amazon reviews, so I felt compelled to review it myself. This book, while full of wonderful pictures, isn't the best book for a child younger than six or seven. It doesn't teach how to read music, and instead creates its own alternative method for reading music, which has not held my younger students' attention. Unfurtunately, it doesn't provide enough instruction geared towards that age group. I will keep this book on the shelf and try again with older beginning students.

John Thompson's piano course, April 5, 2007
Just as I remember from years ago in modern version. Very user friendly and perfect for any age to learn to play piano. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This great collection features all 194 songs written and sung by The Beatles, specially transcribed here for strumming guitarists, from the actual recordings, in the original keys. Each song includes chord symbols, guitar chord boxes and complete lyrics. Also features a helpful playing guide and a full discography. ... Read more

Reviews

This one gets it right., June 10, 2002
If you're used to getting Beatles chords from the internet, save yourself a lot of time, effort, and printing and get this book. Its format is excellent, and the fact that the original keys are used makes the song sound right from first chord. There are almost no errors in placement of chord symbols, and the chord diagrams before each song means you're going to be playing the right form of each chord listed.
All that could be added to make it absolutely perfect would be the signature licks or intros, but often you can work these out from the intro chords given.
I have worn this book out, figuratively. It's the best value for the buck I've ever come across. It even helps you appreciate more the creativity the Beatles showed in their songwriting.
There is no way to be disappointed as long as you understand that this one if for chords and singing the lyrics; it only does that but it does it perfectly.

A Great Format for the Guitarist - A Tremendous Value, September 18, 2000
Apparently the publisher has realized that the format used on the internet for posting lyrics and guitar chords is one that customers will buy if published in a book. Each song is arranged with chord diagrams at the top of the page and chord designations are placed appropriately above the lyrics. Since there is no "piano music," most songs are completed in one or two pages, so you don't have to turn pages in the middle of a song. The downside is 1) there are no leads or riffs included; 2) some of the early songs that were not written by the Beatles (Slow Down, Honey Don't - by Carl Perkins) are not included; and 3) some songs appear unnecessarily to be transcribed for the use of a capo, so those who hate the capo (like I do) must transpose. This book is a tremendous value for a relatively small price - 400 pages in a small paperback format. Buy it - you'll be glad you did!! Hopefully, the publisher will produce similarly formatted books for other artists.

And Your Bird Can Sing Along With the Beatles!, June 14, 2005
This is the book Beatle musicians have long prayed for. This is the best resource and a far better tool than looking up chords online. The book provides the original keys and makes each song recognizable when you start to play it. The book has done a real service in providing the correct form for the chords in each song.

This book will undoubtedly delight Beatle fans and will certainly draw in people who are just becoming familiar with their works. You will learn the chords and will soon be happily singing along as you play Beatle songs!

So-so format, December 17, 2007
Do not buy this book unless you just want to read the lyrics. This has all the songs, mostly in order, and mostly more or less what you hear on the records, so that's good. However, the book itself is too small, does not open flat or want to stay on a music stand. No problem if you don't mind breaking the binding. It needs a spiral binder to really make it useful. Not a bad book, just not as good as it could have been. Are the publishers paying attention to this?

Excellent book, August 13, 2006
I have had the "Beatles Complete" songbook for 10 or so years and was happy with it, but I have thrown it out now !
The two things I like most about this book are they appear to be in the correct key... and the passing chords are fantastic !
Songs like
"Cry Baby Cry" Em Em(maj7) Em7 Em6 C7 G
"Benifit Of Mr Kite" Dm Dm(maj7) Dm7 Dm6 A A
"Norwegian Wood" D Cadd9 G/B D
"Here Comes The Sun" Bmadd11 Asus4 G6 Asus4 A7 D AI could go on and on the songs are endless.

Happy ?

You BET !!

great book... bad bindings, November 29, 2004
Just like some of the other comments. This is a great Beatles book, the only problem is that the small page format along with the almost 400 pg. makes it near impossiable to open the book to a page and have it stay open. I liked the book and way the songs were done so well that I found a solution for the binding problem. I went to a local office supply store and bought a smaller sized 2" 3 ring binder. Then took the book to a speedy print shop were I had them drill 3 holes in the book for the binder and then cut the binding off of the book. Total cost 9 bucks, but now I can open it to any song I want and it stays there. Still this is one of the better books I have bought.

"Complete", March 8, 2006
What I like most about this book are the accurate chords and use of the capo on various tunes to achieve that special sound. I have had a great time singing and playing the Beatle's tunes with this book. You will too.

Excellent content, terrible binding, April 5, 2005
The chords in this book are very accurate. However, for all you perfectionists, I have noticed one mistake - the F in the verses of "I'll Follow the Sun" should definitely be an F7. I agree with other reviewers that the binding is extremely impractical; I always end up holding the book open with my knee as I'm playing. I think I'm going to follow another reviewer's suggestion of getting it rebound with a spiral binding. If it were not for the binding, I would have given the book five stars.

The publisher really should put out a 2nd edition of this book with the following changes:

1) a heavy-duty spiral binding
2) fixing the order of the several songs that are out of alphabetical order
3) including "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love"

Outstanding !, May 30, 2005
Great book for a guitarist. Chords seem pretty accurate. The binding is problematic. I borrowed our acrylic cook book holder from the kitchen and it works great to hold the book open to the song you want. Binding problem solved! You can get the cook book holder here on Amazon for about $8.

Save reams of paper and downloading efforts - great deal!, December 2, 2002
Thanks to the two previous reviewers, I bought 2 copies of this book for my husband and brother-in-law. They had bought 3 ring binders and wanted to download music from the internet. I found this book here and they are both THRILLED with how many songs are in it and the format. Great price too![...] Thanks. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This deluxe collection features arrangements of all ten Vince Guaraldi arrangements from this annually anticipated holiday classic: Christmas Is Coming * The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) * Christmas Time Is Here * Fur Elise * Hark, The Herald Angels Sing * Linus and Lucy * My Little Drum * O Tannenbaum * Skating * What Child Is This. It also includes a stunning color section featuring Peanuts(TM) illustrations! ... Read more

Reviews

Wonder for any piano music lover, July 24, 2006
There are several reasons I love this book. For one, the songs are very familiar and are pleasing to play. These are instumental works so you get to play it the way it is performed, instead or incorporating the melody into the right-hand piano parts. The chord progressions are very interesting (flat 9th chords, flat 5th, etc.) especially the way they are voiced. You can see an example at the sheet music plus web site. There is another version of this book with parts that are easier to play. I have only seen one sample page from that book (Linus and Lucy) and in the other book it is played in C major and doesn't have the left-hand rhythmic anticipations (first note begins an eight note early) while this book has the song in E-flat, which is a little harder to play but sounds richer. I have a QRS player piano roll of Linus and Lucy and I noticed that it matches the Christas CD better. The song on the CD goes through the main part of the song three times with two swinging (hard to play) refrains. The two refrains are a little different, with the second one being more dissonant than the first. The book documents only the second. The bass line for the refrains are simple walking quarter notes while the piano roll has a rag-time style alternating eight note bass notes and chords. This is fine by me because this is plenty hard to play as it is (triplets over quarter notes, etc.).

At any rate, check out the sample at Sheet Music Plus to see if the difficulty matches you ability. If so, this is a great purchase.

A faithful transcription, January 16, 2007
I got this book as a present one year and was absolutely amazed. I've always loved the Charlie Brown Christmas Special and came to appreciate the music more and more as I grew up. Reading through the book, I discovered that the authors had done a painstaking job of transcribing Vince Garauldi's performance nearly note-for-note. When you first start playing "The Christmas Song" for example, you hear those flat-9 chords Vince loved to play and think to yourself, "Yeah, that's the real deal." Even the improvised solos are transcribed wonderfully.

This is NOT a book for the faint of heart. If you are unfamiliar with playing jazz piano, you may quickly get overwhelmed. However, what better way to learn some advanced chord voicings than to play it exactly the way the arranger did? The songs are beautiful and incredibly fun to play, but without at least an intermediate piano skill level, you may get frustrated.

First-Rate!, February 1, 2007
If you are looking for a Piano Solo book with arrangments by Vince Guaraldi for Charlie Brown Christmas music, This Is It! All of the songs from the CD "A Charlie Brown Christmas" appear in this book. Do Not be fooled by the word "arrangment", if you happen to be looking for the original music. All of this music sounds almost exactly like the CD (and movie for that matter) even to the point of being written in the same key (F Major, G Major, Ab Major sometimes). Excellent Buy!
Level Rate:Late Intermediate-Early Advanced

Not for beginners, May 12, 2009
I was excited to order this as I absolutely love "A Charlie Brown Christmas." I was eager to play some of my favorite Christmas songs from this book but quickly found that it was a lot more advanced playing than what I was used to. I have played piano for a few years and could not attempt some of the songs in there. Definately a good book if you are willing to try to learn to play them. Probably not the best if you aren't very advanced in your piano playing though.

Re: Linus and Lucy, December 23, 2008
I can't speak for the other songs in this book, but if your goal is to play 'Linus and Lucy' note-for-note, the sheet music in this book omits the first jazz solo. The full song with both solos is in this book: The Vince Guaraldi Collection: Piano (Artist Transcriptions).

Other than that, the transcription on the song is accurate and the formatting is easy to read.

This is the one you want, December 8, 2007
Just received my copy of this song book last week, and like the other reviewers said this is simply great. No watered down arranged version for beginners. If you want the orginal music the way it was played then this is the one you want. Yes, it's a little demanding, but that's what practice is for. Playing it for the first time really put me in the holiday spirit. This is simply wonderful.

The original music, January 7, 2008
The music in this book is a true rendition of what you hear on the soundtrack. Expect Jazz Piano, tough for a beginner, but well worth it.

Not "Easy" but not difficult either, March 22, 2010
I bought this for my 8 year old who has been taking piano for almost two years and is at the end of the Level 2 book for his course. He wanted to play Linus and Lucy. We were disappointed when we received it and found out it was not "Easy". The notes themselves were rather simple but the synchronization of the hands was not simple. I spoke with his piano teacher and she said that this was just beyond his current capabilities and the easiest of books are called usually "Big Notes". So if you are looking for an easy piece to play, this is probably not it. However, it is a great representation of the song Linus and Lucy and our disappointment in the level of difficulty does not detract from the actual product. I give it 5 stars for being a great music book. But if you are looking for something for your beginning piano player this is probably not it.

A welcome change from ho-ho music, November 27, 2010
Most of these are pretty hard (I'd say advanced intermediate), but having something like "O Tanenbaum", with walking bass and sophisticated chords, in your repertoire is a way to make points with people tired of snowflake songs. "Christmas Time is Here" is kind of a sleeper hit, and "Chestnuts Roasting" is a huge improvement on most of the arrangements available elsewhere. God bless Mr. Guaraldi wherever he is.

My life long dream!, April 14, 2010
This book was what I expected and more! I'm thirteen and I'm IN LOVE with everything peanuts. I've always wanted to learn how to play Linus and Lucy, Christmas is Coming, and Christmas time is here. Thy were all in this book. Playing Linus and Lucy's main theme is easier than I thought but the solo section is a little more difficult. Over all I'm extremely glad with my purchase 8] ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Read this!, November 1, 2010
From the first chapter of his second book, LISTEN TO THIS, in which he recounts how Beethoven's "Eroica" symphony inspired a lifelong love of music in him - to the last in which he details the pathos lingering throughout the work of Johannes Brahms - Alex Ross cements his reputation as perhaps the most dynamic writer on music today. His first outing, THE REST IS NOISE, has become an international bestseller and established itself as THE premiere survey on twentieth century classical music - an obtuse subject effortlessly broken down and made accessible by Ross's seamless prose and clear narrative structure.

LISTEN TO THIS proves to be far more episodic than THE REST IS NOISE. In contrast to that book's linear chronology, LISTEN TO THIS is simply a collection of essays on various musical subjects, most of which have already been published in Ross's primary meal ticket, THE NEW YORKER magazine. But LISTEN TO THIS is no less riveting, as Ross's engaging writing is by turns emotional (the sentimental chapter on Lorraine Hunt Lieberson), intelligent (he chronicles the entire musical history of a particular walking bass line in chapter two) and funny (the many on-campus scenes he depicts involving Marlboro College in "The Music Mountain"). Also, since it includes chapters on a wide variety of musicians, from Mozart to Dylan to Bjork to contemporary Chinese classical composers, LISTEN TO THIS truly does have "something for everyone," and reading through all of the essays is a great way to expose yourself to new music in which you may not have had any prior interest. Personally, I was less than enthused about reading the chapters on Schubert and Brahms, for example, but after making my way through them - which I ultimately considered more of a joy than a chore - I found myself researching more historical facts and seeking out samples of their music. It is a testament to Ross's skills as a writer that he has long been inspiring this effect in many of his readers. Don't be surprised if you pick up a Marian Anderson record or develop a sudden peculiar liking for obscure Chinese composer Qigang Chen after reading this book! Ross even makes it easy on us by providing a "suggested listening" section on each chapter, in which he recommends a slew of recordings.

Ross isn't without his flaws, however: he is far more comfortable when covering classical subjects than pop or rock, as evinced by the rather bland chapter on Radiohead (though he fares better with Bjork, weaving comparisons of her music to the Icelandic classical tradition throughout that chapter). Also, the chapter "Edges of Pop" is without any real thesis - only offering brief glimpses at a small smorgasbord of oddball musical artists.

Regardless, anyone with even a remote interest in classical or rock music would be hard pressed not to find inspiration and insight in LISTEN TO THIS. Alex Ross's devout love of music bleeds off of every page, without fail, directly into the heart of the reader.

More that about music..., October 9, 2010
He had me at "national bombast, materialistic excess, and cultural bizarrerie"- with thoughts as well-formulated as that it will be a book I will look forward to reading; his thoughts transcend music- I just saw a 'thought-provoking' section at Barnes and Nobel, and this book should be placed front and center...

He does lament the state of classical music in his preface- which may be a bit dated, or he hasn't been facing East considering what has been uploaded on Youtube recently (quite a direct social barometer)- it is plain to see (literally) that the Classical Baton has been passed from West to East- it has been taken up wholeheartedly and with a youthful, energetic, innocent enthusiasm never realized in the West- it is treated more like pop culture there (sans the gratuitous themes of decadence and death plaguing the West).

I'm sure one of his purposes must be to bring relevance to classical music again, and to do that he had to explore the music that is currently relevant. He has a monumental task, for higher art in the West seems to be mired in glossy photos, receptions, and r�sum�s, losing touch with the basic forces of (and fundamental reasons for) art, being more about the artist turning his back on the audience, and the audience is supposed to like it? Just what is going through the narcissistic minds of Western performers/composers these days? I'd say it verges on artistic cluelessness, and I am saying that angrily. He says today's composers hail from China, Estonia, Argentina, and Queens- as far as artistic relevance is concerned I would take that to a much further extreme...

Like I said, thought-provoking, and I'll add stirring...


... Read more

Editorial Review

As seen on public television stations nationwide, a revolutionary new approach to playing non-classical music on the piano.

Have you ever wished you could play the piano? Well, now you can! Scott"The Piano Guy" Houston teaches you to play the way the pros play, in a style enormously simpler than traditional classical piano and with an absolute minimum of note-reading. By focusing on playing the melody with the right hand (one note at a time) and simple chords with the left hand, Houston gives you the tools you need for a lifetime of musical enjoyment. Best of all, your tour guide to this adventure forces you to have fun along the way! ... Read more

Reviews

If You Put In a Little Work, This Book Delivers, December 5, 2003
I'm 43 years old and have never played piano before. That is, not until now. I got Scott's book about 2 months ago after seeing his special on PBS. The reduction from 2 staffs to a single staff with chord symbols made sense to me, so I took a chance. And boy, I'm glad that I did. As others have said, the book is very entertaining and helps build your confidence that "Hey, I can really do this." Page 36 is especially helpful in showing you how determine finger placement for all major, minor, seventh, etc. chords.

So, armed with this new-found knowledge and confidence, I made another wise decision. I ordered several "fake books" by Hal Leonard Publishing (all can be ordered through Amazon) containing the lead sheet music with chord symbols that Scott suggests. I now have "Your First Fake Book," "The Best Fake Book Ever," "The Ultimate Fake Book," "Gospel's Greatest," and "The Ultimate Christmas Fake Book."

Now, here's where I get to brag. I have learned 14 new songs in just over a month! These are the songs that I have learned in the order I learned them:

Alexander's Ragtime Band
Do-Re-Mi
When The Saints Go Marching In
Seventy-six Trombones
Blue Suede Shoes
Maria
Beauty and the Beast
Can You Feel the Love Tonight
Angels we Have Heard on High
Auld Lang Syne
Away in a Manger
Frosty the Snowman
Deck the Hall
Do You Hear What I Hear

And the best part is that I have learned them all by heart now. That will leave my books free for those who want to sing along because all of the books I have mentioned come complete with the lyrics. As you can see, I'm quickly trying to learn some Christmas songs to impress my family and friends this year.

Now, here is the best part for you. I know you can do it too. I spend just one hour per night practicing. It usually takes me 2 nights (i.e., 2 hours) to completely learn a song and to start to play it reasonably well. Almost every night I spend the first part of practice playing my entire repertoire before going on to the next song. This system seems to work very well for me.

I know you can do it too. Scott is right. The best way to learn chords is by playing them in songs. Bless you, Scott, for unlocking the dream. I love the piano!

P.S. My 6-year-old son has been taking traditional lessons for 2 years now. He is currently learning a little 2-liner called "Grumpy old Troll." But I can see a little envy in his eyes when I sit down and whip out a nice version of "Beauty and the Beast." We may start to have a problem if he sees his father getting too good too soon.

WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS?, February 26, 2004
Ask yourself two questions:

Question One: Do you want to play classical piano on a world stage?

Question Two: Do you want to play piano in your own home for your own entertainment?

If your answer to the first question is "yes," then this book is not for you. And Mr. Houston says as much on several occasions in both the book and the video.

It seems that those reviews that express a strong negative opinion of this work, start with the assumption that one should only answer "yes" to the first question and one should never approach music in the spirit of the second.

People considering this work should ask themselves specifically what their goal is.

If your answer to the second question is "yes," then this work will spend half of its energy overcoming any reservation you might have about your ability to play the piano for personal enjoyment.

In this work, Mr. Houston has to battle in two directions.

One, he has to overcome the "piano anxiety" that people accrue as the result of years of taking lessons in a style of teaching that prepares the student to answer "yes" to question one.

Two, once he has cleared away assumptions learned from "classical" piano lessons, he demonstrates an approach to piano playing that is easier to implement then it is to explain. I don't think one should fault Mr. Houston simply because his method is easy to implement, once you understand it.

It is true that Mr. Houston does not outline a complicated and intricate regimen that explains the many aspects of music. That is not his goal. Rather he wishes to put the individual at a keyboard with music that can be learned as rapidly as possible. And if you diligently follow his advice you will soon find yourself making music at a keyboard that most people enjoy and find fulfilling.

However, it will take effort on your part, a fact which Mr. Houston underscores several times.

I found I was very satisfied with this program. In addition to the book, I purchased the VHS version of the video (and now wish I had purchased the DVD as I would be able to read the music better and digitally zoom in on Mr. Houstons fingers at the key board).

I also purchased the "Snarling Dogs" chord finder and found it to be very helpful in figuring out such arcane symbols as "D7dim" etc.

I purchased a fake book, "Your First Fake Book" and found that I needed to work at a piece about an hour per day for two weeks before I became proficient. But I would add that I did not know any of the chords. I've also found that the chords from the first song show up with a good deal of regularity in most of the others.

Mr. Houston asks a pertinent question, "would you rather learn hundreds of chords in the abstract or would you rather learn five or six chords and play your favorite song?"

I know that this system has worked for me, given my goals and I know which way I would prefer to learn chords.

I also have a high-speed Internet connection and did not purchase the CD (which has exapmles of blues styles and other examples), but rather I downloaded the Mp3 files that Mr. Houston provides at his web site, free of charge.

If one expects to work on a daily basis for one's own entertainment, this particular package will do very nicely.

Play the piano in weeks instead of years, June 9, 2002
"Play the Piano in a Flash!" teaches how to play the piano using chords and melody lines instead of the "classical" technique. Why would you want to learn this method? Actually that is easy to answer, other than classical piano pieces, most piano players use this method and it is the easiest method to learn.
Scott Houston teaches you to play in this style and has you playing your favorite pieces in just hours of practice instead of weeks and weeks of learning to read notes and painstaking lessons. You will not learn classical concert piano techniques, but you will learn to play your favorite pieces with confidence.
If you just want to learn to play piano for the purpose of having fun or entertaining at a party or playing for a pop, rock, or similar group then this is a wonderful guide. If you want to learn classical piano then it is not what you need. Absolutely the easiest method and a lot of fun, I enjoyed the book greatly.... and can actually play a few tunes after about four hours of practice.

Why didn't my piano teacher give me this book 20 years ago?, January 21, 2002
This is a great tool for those who don't want to be a classical pianist but just want to have fun! The author gets to the point quickly with no "fluff" and tells you exactly what you need to do to sound good immediately. Although I had taken a few piano lessons as a child many years ago, I couldn't play a thing. Now I am able to play songs that I want to play, not songs my teacher wanted me to play... Will it take some effort? Yes, but now I am looking forward to playing what is fun instead of "Chopsticks"! It is also a lot cheaper than lessons...

If you have struggled to play the piano, get this book., January 1, 2004
I took piano lessons for 9 years from a classical pianist, as an adult. I had advanced to a fairly high level and could play some hard stuff - pretty well I think. But I never could sit down and just play the piano like I wanted to. It became too much like work, and I quit taking lessons about 12 years ago. But I never lost my love of music, or the desire to play. I have been searching for the perfect sheet music for years and playing off and on without any great success.

I watched his show on PBS a month ago. At first I thought "this is stupid - you are not telling me anything". But I started to think about it more and the next day I bought a fake book to give it a whirl. It has been almost a revelation for me. I was hung up on reading music and not playing it. Now I am having more fun playing piano than ever. The benefits of having played for years, or trying to play for years, are paying off. And suddenly, the "music theory" side of it is much more interesting and have started restudying some old theory books that I had from before (but were not interesting before). Maybe people who never played the piano before would benefit from taking some lessons at the same time. This might lead me to try to find a teacher who teaches using a similar approach.

The book really reflects more of a philosophy or approach to playing the piano, which is the secret. I regret that I did not see this about 25 years ago.

Okay ideas but content is thin and disappointing, April 21, 2003
Bought this book after seeing Scott on PBS fund raiser. Had recently taken Patrick Hardman's 1-day class "Play Instant Piano" and was exploring other books on the topic. Scott's book and video are okay as introductions to the approach, but his content (songs and techniques) is a big disappointment: more pep talk than content, more encouragement than here's-how-you-do-it. The Dummies piano book by Blake Neely proved far more useful to me, as has also Neely's book on How to Play Piano from a Fake Book. Measured against Neely and Hardman, Scott's marketing skills are superior but unfortunately he does not deliver what these other people do: Really help you play easily and smoothly.

Simple to a point....., September 22, 2003
I saw the piano guy on pbs and since I had been dinking around with a casio keyboard, I thought maybe I should try his book and cd. I can read music since I had played trumpet in h.s. 45 yrs ago. I already knew that piano would not be easy. The best thing about Scott's book and talk is that it motivated me to try to play. Although he continually tries to simplify by pointing out lead sheets and learning a favorite song, you still have to learn those chords. So, you can only simplify to a point. I got a chord finder as suggested in his book and it's a big help. I also got 2 fake books and Hal Leonard's EKM Complete Instruction Course (It also has chord charts). Yeah, you can pick any song to try and learn, but I found it was much easier to pick one with 5 or fewer chords to start. That's a disadvantage of not learning to read the bass clef--You have to remember the chords to play at tempo. However, the piano guy does try to get you motivated and without that, you'll never even try.

Wish I'd had this 2 years ago, April 4, 2003
I got this book the other day, read through it, and then reread it. Then I sat down with a song I had always wanted to play, practiced the chords, and played it. Good grief! I took lessons, bought theory books, practiced, practiced, practiced. And yet I never played "Bewitched" in entirety. I did last night. I must say to my ear, I sounded pretty darn good. If you want to play for your own enjoyment and don't plan on a gig at Carnegie Hall, buy this wonderful book.

Never played piano but want to, buy this book, October 12, 2003
I took some lessons in grade school in the 50's in violin. In two years of lessons I don't remember ever playing a song that sounded right. I bought this book and skimmed through the high lights and learned to play a song that sounded like a real song the same day. Unbelieveable, I still can't believe I am playing piano. I have learned about 5 songs now. It takes me two or three sessions of 15 to 20 minutes each to learn the melody of a new song and then a few minutes to learn the chords for the song and I am off to the races. It takes quite a few run throughs to get the timing down but when I do I can play the song and have fun doing it.

If you don't have a clue how to play piano but would like to for your own enjoyment. You have to buy this book.

Great Value And Great Fun!, August 9, 2004
I had always wanted to play piano but didn't have the opportunity as a child. As an adult I heard horror stories about how difficult it was for an adult to learn to play the piano.

When I saw Scott's PBS special I felt this was something I could understand. I purchased this book about 18 months ago and have been enjoying piano playing ever since.

It does take some practice but far less than what my kids were putting in to learn how to play nothing when they were taking traditional lessons.

If you always wanted to be able to just play a song you like this is well woth the cost. The book is less than half the cost of one 45 minute traditional lesson I was shelling out for on a weekly basis for my kids. The book and DVD together cost less than 2 lessons. Your only other costs would be for music (which you would be buying no matter what method you were using) and possibly for some type of chord finder book. (minimal cost)

There is more to learn after you master the material in the book but if you never bought any further materials to get you more advanced you would still always be able to play the music of your favorite non-classical tunes.

This is a great way to see if playing the piano is for you. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Over 50 Disney delights, including: The Ballad of Davy Crockett * The Bare Necessities * Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo * Candle on the Water * Chim Chim Cher-ee * A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes * Heigh-Ho (The Dwarfs' Marching Song) * It's a Small World * Kiss the Girl * The Siamese Cat Song * Someday My Prince Will Come * Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious * Under the Sea * When You Wish Upon a Star * Winnie the Pooh * Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah * and more. ... Read more

Reviews

A good sampling of favorite Disney songs, July 11, 2000
This music book contains 54 Disney songs arranged for piano, vocal, and guitar. The songs come from Disney movies, TV shows, and short cartoons from the beginning up to the present. Most of the favorites are here: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Lady and the Tramp, The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins and the 101 Dalmatians, among others. Davy Crockett fans will be particularly pleased that 20 verses of The "Ballad of Davy Crockett" are included.

This collection is not exhaustive. The book is not particularly pretty--there are no pictures aside from the cover. The music itself is not too easy or too hard--if you're looking for a musical challenge, you won't find it here--but if you're looking for music that will provide a variety of pleasant playing and listening for Disney music fans, you've found it.

Fantastic Arrangements Of Disney, August 25, 2004
I am a piano teacher, and have used this book for many students. It tends to become a favorite book. The arranger did an excellent job of communicating the essence and mood of the pieces using simple looking, yet in reality complex chord structures. Very fun book.

Love this book, July 16, 2006
This is chockful of easy to play (not very beginner) songs with lyrics that make it fun to sing along. Had all the classic (before the 90's) Disney movie songs I could think of plus "Zorro" "Tiki Room Theme" and some other Disney related stuff I wasn't expecting. Fun book for kids and adults. One warning this is "classic" stuff and I think "The Little Mermaid" is the most recent movie that has songs included.

Great Disney Songs Old-1992., September 16, 2005
Although they are "old" song, these songs will last for a long time. It is a great book to look back and recapture the memories we have. Great for beginner/intermediate pianists and/or singers.

Well done!, June 30, 2006
For those who are less skilled on the piano, and enjoy the Disney music, this seems to suit very well. The tunes are easily recognized and learned. My [...] enjoys learning tunes she sees on her favorite DVD's! Good choice for the beginner!

Nice arrangements!, June 24, 2009
I have been studying piano for like 8 months now and I've been searching for different music books since I want to try something challenging and interesting at the same time. This book has it all: most songs are simplified but still challenging enough for beginners and come on, those are DISNEY songs. If you love to play songs from Disney movie, you should totally consider this book!

Great for adults who want to stay young at heart, July 14, 2006
I have looked all over the theme parks and I have not found this edition. I love it! It is nice to be an intermediate piano player who can have fun playing disney tunes as well as have the ability to improvise left hand material!

I've used this with all my younger students, April 5, 2010
This is a great Disney Collection of classic Disney songs. It stops at Little Mermaid, so keep that in mind. But all the pieces are great Disney songs from past films. I've actually gone through a couple of them I have used them so much. Voice Lessons To Go's -Vocalize!- I always warm up with that first though!

My Review, December 5, 2006
GRREEEAATT!!! If you love disney songs like I do, you should definitely get this book. All the songs have vocal and piano parts. I for one only use the voice. This book is definitely the best disney classics book.

No Fried Wolf!!!, October 18, 2001
This is a nice collection, though it lacks pictures and the arrangements are somewhat simple. My only beef with it is that "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf," doesn't include the second verse, in which the wolf gets fried and the song, "ha-ha-ha's." The song is much more fun to sing, when you get to sing about fried wolf. The new "Illustrated Treasury of Disney," includes fried wolf in the song (which is more to my taste). ... Read more

Editorial Review

What makes a musical note different from any other sound? How can you tell if you have perfect pitch? Why do 10 violins sound only twice as loud as one? Do your Bob Dylan albums sound better on CD or vinyl? John Powell, a scientist and musician, answers these questions and many more in HOW MUSIC WORKS, an intriguing and original guide to acoustics. In a clear, accessible, and engaging voice, Powell fascinates the reader with his delightful descriptions of the science and psychology lurking beneath the surface of music. With lively discussions of the secrets behind harmony, timbre, keys, chords, loudness, musical composition, and more, HOW MUSIC WORKS will be treasured by music lovers everywhere. The book also includes a CD of examples and exercises from the book.
... Read more

Reviews

An excellent book for musicians and scientists alike, October 27, 2010
As a scientist and educationalist ( and amateur guitarist) I found this book both useful for background information and also satisfying simply as a good entertaining read.
I like the writing style which leads me gently through the musical and scientific concepts and deposits me at the end of each chapter better informed and eager to put my new found insights into practice.
The videos which accompany this book are also fun and informative.

This is a must read book for anyone who loves music, October 29, 2010
I have always had an aptitude for and interest in science. I am a medical student and am interested in the human brain and how we as humans see the world and interact with our environment.

One thing that I love perhaps as much as science is music. I find it possibly the single best cure for emotional disturbance, especially stress of any kind and have often wondered why this is?

I have noticed that music can have a profound affect on mood and state of mind. Sometimes it brings about nostalgia attached to a memory that I doubt I would remember without the auditory cue. Sometimes it makes me so happy that I walk down the street with my headphones in my ears grinning at passers by, and sometimes it simply brings tears to my eyes. It is certainly a very emotive tool and science in its own right.

When I discovered the book `How Music Works' by John Powell I thought to myself `this might be worth a read!' I certainly was not wrong.

This book does what it says on the tin really. The author uses a scientific approach to explain exactly how music works, without isolating the lay person. He uses examples and analogies we can all relate to, to explain concepts in a logical and understandable manner without compromising on detail and depth of explanation, which in my humble opinion is quite a skill.

The style of writing is witty and light hearted so this book makes for an entertaining as well as interesting and informative read. Several times I found myself subject to a few funny looks on the tube as I laughed out loud whilst reading the book on my daily commute. I also found my self thinking `ok so now I get it!' and listening to music between chapters to put my new found knowledge to the test and matching the newly found concepts in the book to the notes, chords, scales and harmonies I was listening to!

The book covers all aspects of music and the way that it works, including explanations about different instruments and how they create the sound that they do, harmony, scales, the difference between notes and noise, and yes there is physics behind why these differ, why music evokes different emotional responses, rhythm, perfect pitch... and so on! Basically everything you could possibly want to know about the in's and out's of this thing we call music.

Chapter 2 explains what perfect pitch is and also provides the reader with a quick and easy way of assessing whether they themselves have perfect pitch. It's great! You never know, you could have what it takes to be the next Madonna or Michael Jackson.

Chapter 6, how loud is loud is interesting. It explains the system that we have come up with over the years for measuring loudness which is more complicated than you may first think. It also explains why ten instruments sounds only twice as loud as one and why one hundred instruments only sounds four times as loud as one. Yes that's right, it's true. We don't like that though do we? It doesn't make sense. Well as the author correctly points out, six smelly socks aren't six times as smelly as one, and ten salted peanuts in your mouth aren't five times as salty as two (even though you have five times as much salt on your tongue.) After reading this chapter you will see why simply adding more instruments to existing instruments does not add loudness proportionately. The explanation for this involves both the way that sound waves join together as well as why our brains don't add up sounds properly. This, interestingly, relates to survival the avoidance of danger. Our brain will choose what it pays attention to based on how threatening it assesses the noise to be.

This book is well written, well illustrated, entertaining and informative. I whole heartedly recommend it as an excellent read for anyone - whether you're a musician or scientist or both or even if you're neither and just love a good tune! Enjoy.

Highly recommended, November 13, 2010
As a music-lover with no background in science, I found this book extremely well-written and easy to read... and, of course, very enjoyable. Highly recommended.

BookHounds [...], November 7, 2010
This book is so appealing on so many different levels. A lot of times, any book that deals with technical subjects become dry and boring. How Music Works is easy to read and very enjoyable. There is so much wonderful snarky, English humor that you don't even realize you are learning something. Even if you are a casual fan of music, you will find some eye opening facts in here, such as why you hear those discordant sounds at the beginning of an orchestral concert. They are tuning all of the instruments to the same key!

I have spent most of my life around musicians and I don't think even they could explain some of the things in this book. There are wonderful illustration as well as a lot of interesting facts. I mean, how else could you learn the true meaning of decibels or how loud is too loud? This would make an excellent gift for anyone who love music or thrives on trivia.

Enlightening, November 1, 2010
A very interesting book well worth the read weather a budding musician or just a music lover, there is something for everyone in this book.

Bridget's Review, December 22, 2010
I have been obsessed with music for as long as I can remember. I've always wondered how music works and John's books really opened my eyes to the complexity of music. I learned so much and because of that, I have an even greater appreciation for the music making process. How Music Works would make the perfect holiday gift for the music lover in your life.

Fascinating, funny, and chock-full of information about music, November 30, 2010
This book is wonderful. It is enjoyable to read and you'll learn something whether you know nothing about music or have a degree in music. It reads fast, like a friend talking to you, and is full of Dave-Barry-style humor, from cover to cover. If you enjoy learning how things work, or why things are they way they are, or why certain music has certain effects on people, this book is for you.

I heard about this book when the author, John Powell, was intereviewed on NPR. I was hooked after that interview, and was not disappointed when the book arrived.

... Read more

Editorial Review

Your students will love playing these early elementary level supplements with fantastic optional teacher accompaniments arranged by Glenda Austin. They complement and enhance the original Teaching Little Fingers to Play method, offering important guides and reminders to reinforce musical concepts. Our Teaching Little Fingers series successfully encourages advancement and also provides delightful recital material! 10 songs, including: The Bare Necessities * Can You Feel the Love Tonight * Kiss the Girl * Mickey Mouse March * Winnie the Pooh * and more. ... Read more

Reviews

How Fun!, July 30, 2008
This isn't really for beginners, but it is a fun addition to our piana library.

Fantastic learning tool!, December 2, 2009
I purchased this piano book for my 8 year old grandson who is just learning to play. He was doing well, but when he got this book everything seemed to click for him. The method that is used is just great and he caught on to concepts that he was struggling with when using the other piano book. I would highly recommend this for anyone that age who is learning to play the piano.

my kids love it, May 22, 2009
This is a great book for beginning pianists. My kids have loved playing songs they are familiar with.

easy for beginners, December 21, 2009
I like this book because it is easy for beginners but also has songs that my daughter can recognize. This book is a great motivator because she is playing music she likes.

Forget it!!, November 27, 2009
This book is not worth the paper it is written on. Nothing to it. More for the teacher to play than the student and very disorganized. Quite a confusing book and my poor kids!!!!!! I have many other Disney books that are much better. The price was attractive but not worth it!! EASY--NO! CONFUSING--YES! Glad I only ordered one!

Totally disappointing, December 3, 2010
I give this book one star because zero is not allowed. Don't waste your money on this. The songs are totally ill chosen. None of the more familiar tunes we all love are included and the arrangements are just awful. I bought it for my 7 year old daughter who's learning with the Suzuki method and she was very disappointed. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Easy arrangements of 120 Beatles hits. A truly remarkable collection including: All My Loving * And I Love Her * Come Together * Eleanor Rigby * Get Back * Help! * Hey Jude * I Want to Hold Your Hand * Let It Be * Michelle * many, many more. ... Read more

Reviews

My favorite piano book... by FAR!!, October 20, 2006
I've been using this book for the past year or so, and I still love it. This book has helped me develop my music reading skills far more than any other book I have. I have purchased a number of easy piano books, but not one of them even comes close to this one. I feel that the arrangements have been done with sensitivity and a good feel for the 'heart' of the songs. The music is printed in a large and spread-out format, making it easy to read. If you love the Beatles, this book with over 120 songs will keep your interest for a long time. Some of the arrangements are quite easy, and I have found that I keep 'flagging' more and more of the songs as my skills advance. A number of the pieces are still out of my reach, but I look forward to adding them to my play list. This is a great book!

"Easy Piano" is accurate., December 11, 2007
I'm not much of a piano player; I play keys in a cover band, and mess around with a keyboard and synth when I'm bored. This book makes the songs really easy to play. Anyone who is good at chords can take this book and play even more complicated music using it. Or if you barely know how to play, the songs are written so anyone with even a very basic understanding of piano sheet music can play it.

easy and fanny, September 23, 2007
For those home pianists who want to play an easy and very enjoyable review of Beatles music. Those who have basic practice of reading scores it is almost first view playing. The collection makes an overview of all nice periods of the group.

Definitely a Beginner's book, August 24, 2009
The song selections are great but the arrangements are very very simplistic, at best. So, if you are a TRUE beginner who is just starting to learn to sight read, this is great. But if you are relying on the right finger positions, forget about it! I'm not sure who arranged these but the "fingering" is way off and it will drive you nuts as it did me (if you rely on that kind of thing). I LOVE The Beatles but would recommend something else if you are transitioning into an intermediate player. "Easy" may be great and all but in the end, you will "long" for more. In summary, save your money on this version and go one step up to more complex pieces.

Great collection of 'easy' to play songs, August 27, 2007
My daughter, who has been playing piano for 6 yrs., loves this book. With very little practice she is playing many songs from it.....and she's only 12. It's a great book for any Beatles fan.

Best Beatles Easy Piano book, December 6, 2008
I've had this book for about 10 years and am still learning and adding Beatles songs to my play list. The sound is very near original Beatles for an easy piano book. Good fingerings help you with how to play it. Not every song the Beatles produced is in here, but just about any one you'd want to play. The nicest thing about playing Beatles songs on the piano is you already know the distinctive melody and how it's supposed to sound.

Love, This Book Do, August 9, 2009
The easy piano book THE BEATLES BEST is great. There are one hundred and twenty full length songs with complete lyrics. All the famous Beatles hits are here and as you can imagine with one hundred and twenty selections some more obscure songs are included as well. The arrangements really are easy piano for the most part with many written in the keys of C and F though some pieces are more challenging than others. Just reading the complete lyrics of some of these songs is entertaining. Piano playing Beatles' fan shouldn't miss this.

Piano teachers dream, January 12, 2009
I bought this book for a beginning student and I ended up wanting one for myself. This book makes the Beatles songs playable by almost anyone willing to put in the effort. Lots of songs most are written correctly. To sum up in one word accessible!

The Beatles Best - great easy to early intermediate piano music, July 1, 2008
I bought this book for my daughter who is a 12 year old intermediate pianist. We are using it over the summer to practice her sight reading skills. Not only did her teacher like the book, my daughter loves it too.

The Music Is Great, Playing Is Greater, November 12, 2007
Although I didn't live during their prime, I grew to love and admire the Beatles for their song writing and musical skills. So being able to play along with them gave me greater joy. This book is really easy for those who took piano lessons but disliked the classical things they were taught. This books gives you the rock and roll aspect of piano playing. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Play along with your favorite tunes from the Beatles, Elvis, Johnny Cash, Woody Guthrie, Simon and Garfunkel, and more! The songs are presented in the order of difficulty, beginning with simple rhythms and melodies and ending with chords and notes up the neck. You can also strum and sing along using the provided lyrics and ukulele chord diagrams. Songs include: I Walk the Line * Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da * Tom Dooley * We Shall Overcome * Your Cheatin' Heart * and more. ... Read more

Reviews

Wonderful Selection of Songs, July 10, 2010
This is an excellent music book with a tremendous collection of songs. Musically it is written so simple piano, guitar and uke can join in as well as containing lyrics for vocals. The new trend of enclosing CDs for help with timing and tuning is brilliant. This can help train your eye and ear, be sensitive to strums and overall make this a quick, fun way to bring more music into our lives. Highly recommended.

easy and interesting songs, February 20, 2009
I like this book. It's a good compliment to the excellent Hal Leonard Ukulele Method books and I liked the songs choices. I got exactly what I ordered with this book.

if you play uke and read tab this is a buy, June 20, 2010
I use this book every time I pick up my uke. I love the song selection, I wish there were more books like this for ukulele. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Beginning pianists will love playing these beloved favorites in musically attractive, easy arrangements: "Jingle Bells," "Deck the Halls," "Joy to the World," "Silent Night," "Away in a Manger," "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," 12 more. Illustrations.
... Read more

Reviews

Not bad for the price, November 16, 2004
Here are the 20 songs in the book:
Angels We Have Heard on High; Jingle Bells; Away in a Manger; Joy to the World; Silent Night; Deck the Halls; O, Come All Ye Faithful; Song of the Birds; The Coventry Carol; O Come, O Come, Emmanuel; We Three Kings of Orient Are; The First Nowell; O Little Town of Bethlehem; What Child is This?; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; O Christmas Tree; We Wish You a Merry Christmas; God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; Pat-a-pan; Shepherds, O Shepherds.
There are illustrations throughout the book for children to color, and all-in-all it's not bad for the price. I do wish, however, that all the verses of the songs could have been included (only the first verse is given) so that you wouldn't have to buy a Christmas songbook separately or hunt down verses on the Internet.

A couple of sour notes, but overall...good., January 10, 2005
Having purchased this for my kids to use and practice in time for Christmas 2005, I pretested all the music and found it to be a nice starter set of Christmas music for the piano student in their first or second year of training. The arrangements tend to be minimalistic. Caveat: there are at least two obviously wrong notes in The First Nowell and Jingle Bells, so you'd be well advised to correct them once you find them; hopefully they'll fix them by the time a second edition rolls out. Nice features: Each song can be played without turning pages. A charming black-and-white illustration accompanies each song. There's also a list of the songs in order of difficulty for those who want to learn the songs that way.

Lovely Beginners Christmas Carol Book, July 13, 2001
Great for children. Each song is illustrated with pictures to color. Wide representation of songs and styles. The arrangements are simple, but musical.

Note: Although this book is for beginners, it is at the Primary Level. If you're looking for a simple five-finger Christmas book. This isn't it. Great for Level II Primary however!

It's also a fun book to improvise from. There's something about seeing the Carols broken out of their standard hymn settings that sparks the imagination for creating spontaneous innovative arrangements when working from Bergerac's setting as a base.

A great Value!

Nice book, but not a primer level Christmas piano book, January 11, 2008
This is a great book from Dover Publishing. The layout and illustrations are nice, but there is one infamous typo, and frankly, this is a book for more advanced elementary piano students. As a teacher, I've got quite a collection of Christmas music books, and this is definitely not a "first book." If you're looking for more simpler music that's much better geared for younger children, look for the Bastien collection.

Perfect Beginner's Christmas Book, November 25, 2002
This is a great book for a first year piano student. It's fun and a real confidence booster for kids to be able to sit down and play a familiar Christmas tune for grandma and grandpa or other guests and this book gives simple arrangements that sound nice. Plus there are pictures to color too so for under five dollars I can't think of a better deal!

All the Best for Christmas and beyond, September 6, 2005
I have never played the piano before this past year and at 56 years of age, it isn't the easiest thing to pick up! However, this book not only let's you play 'like a pro' right off the bat, but the stylings are simple, understandable, and with the number of the finger of each hand attached to each note, one can play with confidence immediately! Lovely and very satisfying. E.

A good entree into Christmas for musical prodigies, July 22, 2004
Many kids get this book before the age of 10, and even 5 is not too early to start them learning their Christmas songs. On any given day you will see the children streaming from music school or music camp, clutching this durable Dover book to their chests while the music in their heads strums through their fingers, and conjures up a jolly Christmas to come. The sadder aspects of Christmas are not forgotten either, and the minor keys in which some holiday gems are written (e.g., O Little Town of Bethlehem which, even if not in a minor key borrows some mournful tones from Russian and Jewish music) will provide an adult counterpoint to the brainless holiday rock music that's a staple to US top 40 radio around this time of year.

Give your kids (or nephews and nieces) this book of Christmas songs. Bergerac is one of the best arrangers around, and knows the mind of a child every bit as extensively as the late Dr. Seuss. Indeed, one hopes that Bergerac goes to work next on a book of Seuss-inspired tunes, that would be awesome.

Love it, December 11, 2001
We love Christmas and this has been a fun book for our piano player to learn Christmas songs from. Simple but the melody is there.

I CAN play the piano!, January 7, 2008
Anyone can truly teach themselves how to play the piano with this children's collection of familiar Christmas songs. My husband bought me a keyboard as a graduation gift when I got my Master's degree. He said it was to fill all my free time now that I won't be studying, reading, or writing. Well, this Christmas I played three songs for my family on Christmas Eve. It was so heart-warming. It was a memorable experience for my husband and son as well. This book presents songs that are playable by the novice adult piano player. Thanks for giving us a new Christmas tradition.

Interesting arrangements, December 6, 2010
Kind of minimalist harmony, but each piece represents a small challenge for the beginning player. For example, most of the pieces require that both hands move around a bit rather than stay in one position. A couple of the arrangements are quite nice, a couple are just OK, the rest are good. (They're beginners' pieces, so none of them are really going to knock your socks off.) ... Read more

Editorial Review

Taylor Swift was the top-selling artist of 2008, and the first in the history of Nielsen SoundScan to have two different titles in the Top 10 on the year-end album chart. Our matching folio to this smash CD features easy piano arrangements of the crossover hit single "Love Story" and a dozen more: The Best Day * Breathe * Change * Fearless * Fifteen * Forever and Always * Hey Stephen * Tell Me Why * The Way I Loved You * White Horse * You Belong with Me * and You're Not Sorry, plus a special full-color photo section. ... Read more

Reviews

Taylor Swift - Fearless easy piano book, October 14, 2009
the music is simple for anyone with about 2-3 years of piano. The songs are in simple keys with around 1-2 sharps or flats. The right hand melody is easy and very close to the actual songs. Left hand has 1-2 notes chords. Overall, the book is easy as said and comparable for beginners pianists.

Taylor Swift Easy Piano, January 7, 2010
This is truly an easy piano book, which is perfect for my daughter! Great product for anyone who adores Taylor Swift music!

Not quite easy piano, June 25, 2009
This is great for a person wanting to play current tunes, but not really for the easy player.
... Read more

Editorial Review

What an event! What a show! It's catchy and quirky. Tuneful and toe-tapping. Exuberant, unexpected, and utterly endearing. It's what happens when you take America's beloved illustrator and children's author and combine her buoyant genius with some of the most talented people on the stage—presenting Philadelphia Chickens!

Created by Sandra Boynton, Philadelphia Chickens is a family musical in a book, bringing together a full-color songbook of 17 1/2 illustrated story-poems with a full-length, fully orchestrated CD of original songs performed by the likes of Patti LuPone, Kevin Kline, Meryl Streep, The Bacon Brothers, and Laura Linney, who pleads "Please, Can I Keep It?"—it followed me home. / What exactly it is/ I don't know. Also joining in are Eric Stoltz, Natasha Richardson, Scott Bakula, and two Boyntons, including daughter Caitlin McEwan, who performs a piece that every little listener will relate to—a love song to the chocolate chip cookies that are just out of reach. With the collaboration of composer Michael Ford (known to Boynton fans from Rhinoceros Tap), Philadelphia Chickens is that rarest of kids' musical discs—one whose inimitable lyrics and music make it as sing-along, dance-along, cluck-along for parents as it is for their children. ... Read more

Reviews

Very cute!, October 22, 2002
I think our children and grandchildren will regard Sandra Boynton as we and our parents regard Dr. Seuss. As usual, her stories are adorable. I saw highlights on the today show this morning and had to go buy it today. My daughter's a little young for it (7 months) but her 2 year old friends loved the music. It's a children's CD I like and do not find annoying (such as those by that purple creature).

The book is well done. There is a page for each of the songs with an illustration. There is also sheet music and lyrics for each song in the back of the book.

I'm sure we'll cherish this one for years to come!

Cheers for the Chickens!!, November 26, 2002
Before I could listen to the rest of the CD that comes with the song book, imaginatively illustrated and presented, a friend of mine practically snatched out of my hands to hear what I'd been raving about. My introduction to "The Philadelphia Chickens" was on the TODAY SHOW (pre-Christmas 2002). I never heard a word about it after the interview so I surmised that the "Chickens" was tossed on a stack with the myriad of books released for the big holiday rush. Being a musician and a collector of Broadway musical scores, I found this to be a "kiddie" musical. The lyrics are clever and sung with integrity. The sound is big and expansive. All the songs are slightly nutty, but have very plausible messages, like the girl who is too short to reach the chocolate chip cookies, and the ardvaark who think's he should be in the "dancing cow line". So far I've bought three copies. And parents! This won't drive you crazy either. In fact, I bet after the tree comes down and the kids return to school, dad will have that CD in his car for a nice chuckle on the way to work. The piano music and lyrics are part of the boook, "Philadelphia Chickens", with fanciful stories and illustrations. It's intelligent, too!! It will make such a welcome, refreshing gift or just an enduring book and CD designed to bring smiles to all. (Or, except as the author says on the cover, "to everyone except those who are 43!")
And, speaking from a childhood experience, if your little one is home sick in bed, these songs and stories will make a loving get-well tonic.

A Marvelous Manic Romp....., November 21, 2002
It's a dazzling, illustrated book. It's a rollicking musical. It's Sandra Boynton at her very best as she and collaborator, Michael Ford, bring their "imaginary musical revue," Philadelphia Chickens, to life on your stage. Open the book as the curtain goes up, and follow along as you listen to an all-star cast on the accompanying CD. Or meet at the piano to sing and play along, using the words and music in part two of the book. Ms Boynton's clever lyrics are rich in humor and wit, and complemented by her endearing bold, bright and busy, signature animal illustrations. Philadephia Chickens is an exuberant, fun-filled, manic romp that engages and captivates, and "youngsters" from 3 to 93 will revel in all the fun.

A musical for all ages!, October 30, 2002
Yeah! This is a fantastic book/CD for my whole family. Though we are all above the recommended ages. (Our youngest is 9) We have had a great time with this musical. On road trips it has replaced our normal sing along songs. The laughed so hard the first time I heard it I was in tears. The kids love it as much as I do. This is a delight for all ages. High praise by the whole family, including my dog named Bob.

Philadelphia Chickens is for everyone!, November 1, 2002
This music is enjoyed by us all. I dare you to keep your feet still while listening to this great music! Once again Boyton and Ford created a masterpiece!

Clever and Witty, October 16, 2003
This is a great CD for family fun in the car or at home. My children and I enjoy dancing around to the happy beat. The lyrics are clever and witty, and easy for children to memorize. (My 2 1/2 yr old daughter is always singing these songs.) This is a great and interesting alternative to other kids music. The book is another great Boynton book with colorful and charming illustrations.

Not just for children, August 25, 2004
Based upon the text and drawings alone, I (age 55) bought two copies of Philadelphia Chickens, one for me and one for the birthdays of my sister and brother-in-law (ages 51). My sister told me that she and her husband were memorizing nonsense poetry to keep their minds sharp and, certainly, there's plenty of nonsense to be had here. This book, which includes a CD of the darling music to accompany the poetry, is not just for children. Is it OK for me to sing "Busy Busy Busy" as I walk to work from the parking lot? I think so. Mommies and daddies must purchase this book for their children's entertainment and, if they have no children, they must buy it for their inner child.

A present for toddlers AND their parents, August 19, 2007
This CD/book set was an impulse purchase for my granddaughters when they were six months and two-and-a-half. What an incredible find! You just have to laugh out loud at the funky lyrics, set to music that will have the whole family dancing. Seriously! Oh, you don't think you'll really dance? Well try it and see!

The older sister claimed at least six of the songs as her favorites ("Nanna, I like THIS ONE the best!") and the baby would drop everything and listen as soon as "Belly Button" started playing.

"Philadelphia Chickens" won't wear out its welcome -- many thanks to the brilliant Sandra Boynton and her cast of amazing performers. I've bought two copies of the CD for myself and wound up giving them away -- well, I meant to lend them but couldn't seem to get them back. DO give a toddler this wonderful gift, but you'd better get your own as well. It's a real ray of sunshine!

A book & CD for children of all ages!, November 29, 2002
I have bought a lot of children's books and music. This is the most delightful, funfilled book with music I have ever
seen or heard. It's quality from beginning to end. I am buying this for children I don't normally give a gift to....it's something both the parents and kids will find absolutely wonderful!!

Terrific CD!, July 4, 2006
I bought this when my daughter was 4 months old. Yes, I know, a little early, but we spend a lot of time listening to music, and I wanted something that was oriented to kids.
She seems to enjoy it, and I definitely do. The songs will certainly ear-worm you (esp. Snuggle Puppy), but they are really quite amusing, and a lot of fun. I think that as she gets to the point where she wants to listen to the same thing over and over again, I won't find these songs nearly as annoying as some of the Elmo & Barney stuff out there (I hope, I hope!).

I like it for babies, because the songs are easy to learn for parents to sing along to. Toddlers love it -- my 4 year old niece knows the words and gets the jokes in the songs. This CD is most definitely worth the money, as it will get much use through the years.

We also have a large collection of Sandra Boynton's board books, which we love. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Sixty-seven of the best songs of the rock era, all chosen from Rolling Stone® magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time issue. The songbook covers 67 classic songs spanning the classic rock era to the modern rock era all arranged to include all important guitar parts and yet remain easily playable. Songs Include: Alison * Another Brick in the Wall Part 2 * Back in Black * Bad Moon Rising * Beat It * Billie Jean * Bitter Sweet Symphony * Bizarre Love Triangle * Black Dog * Blitzkrieg Bop * Born in the U.S.A. * Born to Run * The Boys of Summer * Brown Sugar * Come Together * Comfortably Numb * Fake Plastic Trees * Family Affair * Fast Car * Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine * Gimme Shelter * Go Your Own Way * God Save the Queen * Good Times * Graceland * Heartbreaker * Highway to Hell * Hotel California * I Wanna Be Sedated * Into the Mystic * Iron Man * Kashmir * Knocking on Heaven's Door * Layla * Like a Prayer * Lola * London Calling * Losing My Religion * Lust for Life * Maggie May * Moondance * No Woman, No Cry * Paradise City * Paranoid * Paranoid Android * (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love and Understanding? * Personality Crisis * Radio Free Europe * (Don t Fear) the Reaper * Respect * Sheena Is a Punk Rocker * Should I Stay or Should I Go * Spirit in the Sky * Stairway to Heaven * Stayin Alive * Sweet Child O' Mine * Tangled Up in Blue * Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) * Thunder Road * Walk on the Wild Side * Welcome to the Jungle * What s Going On * Whipping Post * Whole Lotta Love * Wild Horses * Wish You Were Here * You Can't Always Get What You Want. ... Read more

Reviews

great gift!, February 10, 2010
I ordered this as a gift for my boyfriend. He has learned half the book already, even with his very limited music reading skills. There are chords, tabs, and sheet music for every song. Really really great book!

Rolling Stone Guitar Book, November 7, 2010
Well done overall. I and my guitar students have enjoyed the tunes in this book. Unlike a lot of books, these songs are in the original key so that you can play along with the original recordings without changing keys. I have found the charts to be most accurate.

Read the description, June 4, 2010
I did not and ordered this for a friend thinking I was getting him 500 songs. It is in fact a only 67. Yes I feel a little silly. I do feel however that I still got a good deal and hope the friend likes the book.

Rolling Stone Classic Rock Tunes, July 4, 2009
The book was ordered as a gift for my nephews and he loves it. It got there on time and everything. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A beginning course for adults who prefer a chord approach. It teaches chords for both hands so that the student can play more than single note melodies. It contains outstanding songs such as "The Entertainer," "Scarborough Fair," "Greensleeves" and "Amazing Grace." ... Read more

Reviews

Excellent intro, September 27, 2003
Having studied piano minimally as a child (six months?), I decided at the age of 49, while at my daughter's recital, that I'd like to learn, but perhaps without the cost (at least at first) of lessons. So after looking through several books at the local music store, I bought this one, with CD (very important, but seems not to be the version sold on Amazon). It was just the ticket.

In four months I have completed the book, and now can play moderately complex beginning pieces (for variety, I've supplemented it with a few pieces from getsheetmusic.com, and can play level 3 and occasional level 4 pieces from there). Each page teaches just the a little bit more, and gives you the practice pieces to master it before going on. A very steady, satisfying rate of progress. You also learn notation, musical terms, intervals, and a smattering of music theory, such as keys, although this is not real strong. I found it useful near the end of the book to go back and review just the theory pages in one sitting; they then came together much better for me than when I ran across them one by one through the course.

The musical selections are uneven, but most are fine. They are all public domain, in a wide range of styles from jazz to folk to spiritual, and some are quite beautiful (a haunting arrangement of "Scarborough Fair," the rousing gospel "Standing in the Need of Prayer" -- and I'm Jewish I think it's very important to get the book with CD. The CD contains all the practice pieces, and helps you realize if you have the notes or rhythm wrong (like a teacher stopping you and saying, "no, like this.")

Alfred is a major musical instruction publisher, and they offer many companion books at all levels, from theory to technique ("Finger Aerobics") to music in all styles (and for all instruments).

A few nits:
(1) the CD is midi; it would be nicer if it were a real piano
(2) they teach three methods of chord notation -- full notation on the staff, names (i.e., G, D7), and primary chords (I, IV, and V7), but are uneven in providing the name and primary chords for the pieces throughout, so you can't always practice that

But those are minor nits. My playing continues to steadily improve, and what I'm learning makes me a much more educated listener, too.

It's time to move on to book two.

If you want to learn classical piano, this is the series for you!, November 29, 2006
Like so many other reviewers of piano books on Amazon, I have purchased enough books to replenish the rain forest, but unfortunately, very few were helpful -- except for the Alfred series -- My goal was to read sheet music/musical scores; not necessarily just play "Raindrops keep..". The "popular" books teach you chords and shortcuts, but if you want the foundation, these are the books. They are well-written; the exercises are very well designed (I hate 'Jingle Bells', but its the first song using both the left and right hands, and I feel good!). I'm also taking one lesson a month to review what I'm doing in the book(s) and get some pointers from a pro. For me, this is the best way to learn, and I think the Alfred series for adults are the best books to help me along my pianistic journey.

Alfred is Awesome!, March 24, 2005
After taking piano lessons for three years, spending a considerable sum for the teachers time/expertise while utilizing the "lastest teaching method" which I did not care for I almost gave up playing the piano completely. However one day I was looking through a homeschooling catalog when I noticed the "Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course". I liked the review I read of the product and decided to order it. What did I have to loose? I sat down at the piano the very next week with my lesson book, after playing through several of the lessons I was hooked! Alfred's course takes you back to the fundamental basics of music and piano. After all if you don't learn the basics you are lost. The lesson book I ordered came with a CD which has been very helpful in doing the lessons. Alfred produces other books to round out the series: finger aerobics, theory, sacred, christmas and greatest hits music. This program is great for those who love independant study or are limited in the amount of time/money they can spend on piano lessons. Alfred also produces a series for children in a kid friendly format,Music for Little Mozart's, Alfred's Prep Course, and Alfred's Basic Piano Course. Alfred makes music fun for everyone!

Not as good as Alfred's Basic (Non-Adult) Course, April 20, 2008
I have used Alfred's Basic (non-adult) Piano Course for years with my students with great success. When I began to teach an older beginner, I thought I'd try the adult course. I am not as pleased with it. The adult course focuses mostly on chords in the left hand, so one does not learn to read the independent notes as readily in the left hand. The left hand does not get the strength and independence that the right hand does because of this emphasis on chords. Therefor I will be switching back to the regular Alfred Basic (non-Adult) course.

Just what I needed!, March 21, 2007
I am a thirty-something person learning the piano with no musical experience at all. This book has definitely taught me to play, and no other book I picked up came close. The Alfred book starts at the very beginning with pictures of numbered fingers and numbered keys. And within a few pages you're reading music and playing with two hands! The pace is appropriate for an adult, progressing quickly, but with full explanation of each new skill.

I would still recommend getting additional beginner books if you're serious about learning the piano, because it's useful to have a variety of resources, but this book is the one that taught me to play.

Good luck!

not recommended, March 28, 1999
This book tries to teach piano the way rock and folk guitar is often learned: it tells you to form chords by putting your hands in certain positions, giving short shrift to the principles of chord construction and voicing and virtually ignoring the principles of voice-leading. The inevitable result is a confused and unmusical pianist. For adults and older children I use John Thompson's MODERN COURSE FOR PIANO. I often supplement this with John Clough's SCALES, INTERVALS, KEYS, TRIADS, AND METER. I advise those of my students interested in jazz and rock music to use Jeff Burns's PENTATONIC SCALES FOR THE JAZZ-ROCK KEYBOARDIST.

PERFECT...for a late beginner!, March 7, 2003
This book was recommended to me at the Leiphold Music Store in LaCrosse, WI. I had some knowledge to playing, but was limited to the upper hand...and single notes. It's only been a couple of weeks and I'm now playing chords, and reading upper and lower music, as well as playing it! I found this book easy to follow, and recommend highly to those who are looking for a good course. There are quite a few books in this series, and I have also purchased the LEVEL ONE ...Sacred Music. I look forward to obtaining the rest of this series as I pass from one level to another. What's great is that no matter where you are...there are pages that let you know what books you can begin playing in. I LOVE IT! From pluncker to really playing!

An excellent piano teaching book!, December 28, 2006
The last time I played piano was when I was 9 years old... I recently got a keyboard, and needed some help starting all over from level zero. Being that I knew nothing about music theory what-so-ever, this book really helped me get started. The book is a nice big size and there is a page or two devoted to each lesson, with room throughout each page that makes you feel uncrunched and at ease as you learn. The explanations are wonderfully simple and after a few lessons, I actually started reading and playing new music pieces that I saw for the first time! I think this is an excellent self-teaching tool for the first-time piano student. The only minus about this book is that it does not have spiral binding, so you have to devise a way to keep the pages open while you play (I paperclipped the edges of mine). I was also slightly dissapointed that the version did not come with a CD, which I can do without, but which would have been helpful to hear the melodies and know if you're on the right track. Also, as I figued out a little ways into the book, it constantly refers to another book with sheet music, saying "you are now ready for Christmas Classics", and I was dissapointed that it was one extra thing to buy and there was no way to know that before I bought the book. The additional sheet music book is not absolutely necessary, but it would have been nice to be able to learn some new melodies appropriate for the level you're on, rather than just go through the one-or-two examples for the lesson in the book over and over.

Perfect for adult beginner, January 2, 2003
I am 52 and have spent the last 9 months learning to play the piano. This book was recommended by my piano teacher.
I have found this to be the almost perfect learning aid. Each page adds a little something new, and I am now playing more and more complex pieces with little difficulty.
For a 'later' starter this book should be ideal. Also, it's a must to get the CD that accompanies the book.

Songs available online, January 22, 2008
For those who didn't find the CD with the book, I found the songs online at http://www.sonicx.com/Alfred/ ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

"Gaga" by Johnny Morgan, December 15, 2010
New for the holidays comes an account of the career to date of one Stefani Germanotta (aka: Lady Gaga). "Gaga" by Johnny Morgan is the best and most appropriate chronicle to date of the comet-like singer, performer who has captivated the world's attention with her outrageous music, couture and persona. Her early days, her ascendancy and the full extent of her head-spinning appearances are all documented here in a fashion that respects fashion in it's edgy, artful approach. Her intersections on art, music and fashion - influenced by everyone from Freddie Mercury to Grace Jones - show Gaga to be both a hybrid and her own lightning rod all at the same time and this large format book is exemplary in its juxtaposition of art, text, layout and photographs covering the short but explosive career of the artist. With thorough sourcing of interviews and stills, Gaga's message, both verbal and fashion-based, is in full effect with a book that is (finally) in sync with the style and performance of the singer herself.

Nice coffetable book, December 1, 2010
I bought this as a gift since I am not into Lady Gaga myself. That being said, this is a good quality book with lots of pictures.

Excellent Source, November 24, 2010
I recently had the opportunity to review this book, and it is truly a tome of information. Much has been said and discussed about Lady GaGa but this book takes it one step farther. With many never-before-seen photographs, stories, and juicy gossip, this book is a must-have for all "little monsters"! ... Read more

Editorial Review

A comprehensive step-by-step course specifically designed to suit the needs of all children beginning the piano. Includes: characters and illustrations * writing exercises * sight reading drills * review work * accompaniments * and more. Contains worksheets, reading-aloud exercises and accompaniments for teacher or parent. ... Read more

Reviews

Great Beginner's Piano Book, June 29, 2006
This book is wonderful to begin teaching young children the rudiments of piano playing. The children are most excited when they have to play their parts while I play the accompaniment. These 'duet' sessions have generated much joy, laughter and fun, which is what music should be to children.

If your child requires more challenging work, I would suggest using this book in tandem with another book like from Michael Aaron's series or John Thompson's "Teaching Little Fingers to Play".

Good for a young learner, August 8, 2007
I've been teaching my 5-year-old to play and she has progressed quickly using this book. I've been playing since I was 4 myself, but I haven't taught music to anyone. This has been easy to use and I like that it comes with accompaniments to each piece that I can play with her. It references a CD, but mine didn't come with one.

Great for young beginners, February 27, 2007
I love it. Students learn the notes one-by-one in songs with duet accompaniment. There are work pages to do along with songs to play. The book is colorful and fun to look at. The progression moves along slowly so that each concept is learned; while at the same time students are playing songs each week and feeling much success. I like it a lot better then the old Thompson series.

Easy to teach from, April 20, 2009
I just started my 6 year old (first time teaching for me) in this book. I think it's easy to teach from for someone who has never taught piano lessons before. I couldn't decide between this and another John Thompson book (Teaching little fingers to play), so I ordered both. This one is definitely slower moving for younger kids ("easiest"). I chose to use this one. (My adult brother is using the other book to learn.) :)

Guests can pick up this book from your piano and start learning to play!, February 29, 2008
I keep this book and its sequel on my piano. Recently a friend came over with her 4 year-old daughter and started playing the lessons in the book. The two of them were able to make significant progress in about 30 minutes.

I am using the activities to jump start my toddler's music exposure. She enjoys the cover, and the notes are simple enough to engage her. She is learning timing and correspondence between tone and piano key, and I am using the time to fine-tune my own understanding of piano playing.

Overall, this book is a very good companion for your piano if you want to give guests and children the opportunity to play your piano and learn even with no previous lessons.

learn to play piano, May 11, 2009
These are the best learn to play piano books and this grandmother learned from them also. My grandchildren are ready to start and I am sure they will do well, even if they learn only for their own enjoyment.

As a teacher..., January 24, 2009
I use this book with my youngest beginners. I also like Chester's Easiest Piano Course but I that doesn't seem as popular in the US. I learned with this method myself and find the students really enjoy the book. It is possible, as noted in a few of the other reviews, for kids to just pick this up and use it and that goes a long way to explaining its endurance and popularity. The 'middle C method' with its simple introduction to notes and rhythm creates happy young musicians and that should be the main focus where children and music are concerned.

I learned alot from this book, July 30, 2010
I've been taking Piano lessons since the beginning of this year. This was the the book my Piano Teacher started me on. I'm an adult who knew nothing and I mean ABSOLUTELY nothing about the Piano.

I knew nothing about where the Middle C is on the Piano or how many notes there are on the Piano. This book taught me how to read the all the notes and how to play them and very quickly too!!!

Did I feel silly learning from this book??? No way... I wanted to learn how to play the Piano and this book got me started.

It's been 7 months and I'm playing pretty good.

Granted I'm no Liberace... but hey I don't mind. I'm having a BLAST!!! :[]

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn how to play the piano for the very first time.

Great starter book for children, February 17, 2010
I'm not a piano player so am writing this review based on the feedback I've received from my daughter's piano teacher. She loves the book and feels it's one of the best she's seen. My daughter enjoys it too, and since I want her to enjoy her lessons, that's perfect!

Excellent Start for Piano, December 31, 2009
This book is a great way to start young people on the piano. It teaches the essentials of reading music, while allowing kids to progress quickly enough that they gain confidence in their ability to play. I think you could probably muddle your way through teaching this to your kids even without any music background (of course it would be harder to play the accompaniments).

I like to use this book with Teaching Little Fingers to Play for some variety in songs. Together, they offer lots of choices in how kids can learn and progress. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A fitting tribute to possibly the greatest pop band ever - The Beatles. This outstanding hard-cover edition features over 1100 pages with full scores and lyrics to all 210 titles recorded by The Beatles. Guitar and bass parts are in both standard notation and tablature. Also includes a full discography. Songs include: All You Need Is Love ¥ And I Love Her ¥ Baby YouÕre a Rich Man ¥ Back in the U.S.S.R. ¥ The Ballad of John and Yoko ¥ Blackbird ¥ CanÕt Buy Me Love ¥ Come Together ¥ Drive My Car ¥ Eleanor Rigby ¥ From Me to You ¥ Glass Onion ¥ A Hard DayÕs Night ¥ Help! ¥ Hey Jude ¥ I Saw Her Standing There ¥ I Want to Hold Your Hand ¥ Michelle ¥ Penny Lane ¥ She Loves You ¥ Twist and Shout ¥ Yesterday ¥ and many more! Book is packaged in its own protective box. A must-own for any serious Beatles fan or collector! 7-2/8Õ x 10-7/8Õ. ... Read more

Reviews

Fantastic collection, meticulously transcribed, May 24, 2000
This is an amazingly complete and accurate collection... musicians attempting to learn and to replicate the Beatles sound will not be disappointed. Included are all instrument parts, all vocal parts, and chord names above the staff, with tablature for the bass and guitar parts. What a bargain!

At times, the authors were able to capture some subtlties in the music which had gone unnoticed by me... but a careful re-listening to the song revealed the score to be surprisingly correct.

Regarding some of the complaints in other Amazon reviews, which made me a bit hesitant to buy:

1) Size of the print: it really is not that small, and it is quite legible.

2) Supposed inaccuracy of chord names: it appears that there is a general chord name above the staff, but more detailed guitar-part scoring in the staff... they were not trying to name the exact chord every time... in some cases not every string is being played.

3) Complaints about the inclusion of 'tab' for 'musical illiterates': tab actually includes, concisely, information which standard notation cannot show easily... like exactly which string/fret to use, out of several options on the guitar. And, by the way, Paul McCartney STILL does not read or write standard notation himself.

NOTE: I also compared this book to Hal Leonard's "The Beatles" (21 songs, in their "Transcribed Scores" series), and was amazed how much better The Beatles Complete Scores is.

The best book there is, May 9, 2000
I have owned at one time or another the 4 Lennon McCartney song books.

The major flaw with those books was that they replicated the melody line and attached a chord, but in most cases they came nowhere near the actual arrangements. This is particularly true on piano based hits such as Hey Jude, Let it Be, Yesterday, Lady Madonna, Back in the USSR etc.

This book gets the original arrangements as played by the Beatles which are generally much better and actually easier to play a lot of times. You can discern McCartney's piano style which is not technically difficult. After all you are accompanying a voice and not playing a melody.

So when you play Let it Be it sounds so much better, and with Hey Jude you think that's all he did to make that sound. Lady Madonna enables you to sound ridiculously accomplished playing something that is technically quite easy. Obviously I am approaching this from a piano player's viewpoint.

As far as guitar is concerned, it has very authentic transcriptions, certainly on the fingerpicking songs such as Blackbird and Julia, which are not that difficult to reproduce.

I have found this book to be unbelievably helpful. You are getting some of the Beatles trade secrets here. You finally get to see the outside the box thinking that separated the Beatles from the rest. I rate this book the best sheet music investment I have ever made, and a must for any aspiring musician. The genius is in the details.

I hopethis review was helpful.

Excellent book.....very well done job!, November 16, 1999
If you read the reviews below, most people will sufficiently let you know about the minor inaccuracies in the orchestrations, vocals, etc. From what I've seen, however, 99% of the songs are dead-on accurate for the guitars and bass.

If you want to learn how to play guitar, here is a way to learn from the best! Same with bass....and even piano (though anything other than "Let It Be" will be challenging for a newcomer to the instrument). If your band wants to be the next "1964", here is their owner's manual! The only thing that this book is lacking is the type of guitar and amp you should be using when playing the song in question!

Only two things that make my teeth grind: 1) They will show a C# barred at the 4th fret, go to another chord, then come back to the C#, but now its barred at the 2nd or 3rd fret (even though the handwritten chord letter is correect). This is probably not the author's fault, but rather some lackey forced to write this stuff down. 2)While the transcriptions are accurate, some are shown as played with a maximum amount of difficulty. Prime example is "Blackbird"...there is a much simpler way to play the same notes EXACTLY, without having to make comparatively difficult fingerings.

I would definitely recommend spending some bucks to get this book...if even to see the transcription to "You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)"!

The Best Book of Its Kind - But Mis-Titled As "Complete", November 13, 2000
This book is as good as it gets - period. All titles from The Beatles catalog of British & American releases (during the group's career together) are represented. That's the first major plus of the book - you get The Beatles' arrangements of all their covers from Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, etc. They are great fun to play and many Beatles' versions are better-known than the originals. I know of no other source for these arrangements.

As mentioned by many other reviewers, you get a pretty heroic stab at scoring all the instruments heard on every song. This admirable attempt gets you on the right track (in the right key signature, etc.), but falls short on detail of all but the simplest (usually from the early years) songs. Clearly The Beatles had extensive use of multiple 4 track machines and eventually 8 tracks as they matured. This book "scores" usually only 5 parts. It would be impossible to score ALL the over-dubs and extremely lengthy to include all instrumentation, notes and George Martin's orchestral arrangements. So, I pick a bone with the authors using the title, "The Complete Scores". To me, that term means something very specific which is not appropriate for these types of recordings. The Beatles, George Martin and his engineers were awsome craftsmen. The layers of sounds we hear on the finished records are a one-time snapshot of their creative process - often with somewhat muddy results. For example, "I Am The Walrus" does have a guitar part - pretty lost in the mix and not represented in the book. I just don't think it's possible to get the "Complete" details on these recordings.

To save space, the authors often have you incorrectly play a single part for each verse repeat. I know this is getting picky, but the building bass line is the counter-melody in "Something" and the dualing guitar fills in "The Ballad of John & Yoko" change as the song builds. Both are important to each song's development and resolution...

In fact, if you really really try, you can find little errors in many songs; mis-titled chords here, incorrect licks there. The non-standard guitar tuning referenced in "Rain" I believe is wrong...BUT, pop in a CD and open the book - you'll get an extremely good idea of what to play. By scoring all the main parts, the authors make this book good as gold for aspiring cover bands.

It may not really be "The Complete Scores", but this book is surely a treasure map to some of the finest and most creative recordings in pop music. I love it!

An Outstanding Value, June 29, 2000
The front cover of this book proudly proclaims, "Full transcriptions from the original recordings. Every song written & recorded by the Beatles." Think about it: the complete scores for every Beatles song--and all for such a affordable price. Wow! What an incredible deal!

Although I have managed to find a few mistakes, I believe that the overall quality of the transcriptions is very high. The copyright page reveals that they were completed by Tetsuya Fujita, Yuji Hagino, Hajime Kubo and Goro Sato. These gentlemen are to be congratulated for completing such an immense work of over 1100 pages! I believe it when it states that "a great deal of effort has been put into presenting these performances in musical notation that is as faithful as possible to the original recordings." (p. 11) Some have suggested that there may be some other individual transcriptions that are more faithful to the original for a few songs, particularly those involving orchestral instruments. Perhaps. I ask, what will it cost you to amass the entire collection of Beatles scores individually, and how much effort will it take to locate them all? For all of the people who have criticized this book, not one single reviewer to date has provided an alternative recommendation that includes the complete scores to all Beatles songs. That's because one does not exist.

I've got a number of guitar transcription books to The Who, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Creedence Clearwater Revival, etc. These books all fall short in one way. What are you going to do for the bass guitar and the drums? You have to go out and try to find a book for those parts--if they even exist, which they probably don't. Does anyone know of the complete scores to other major artists like Elvis, Frank Sinatra, or the Rolling Stones? I don't think they exist either, and if they do, they probably cost a lot more than that what this book does.

Friends, I cannot think of a better music book for a rock musician to have than this book. According to "The Billboard Book of Top 40 Albums" (Revised & Enlarged 3rd Edition) by Joel Whitburn, the Beatles are the number one artist of the rock era (according to Billboard's ranking system). The Beatles achievements include most weeks at number one, and most number one albums. This book is not to be underestimated in its importance. Growing up, I was never a really big fan of the Beatles, and there were a lot of other groups that I liked better. But when I started taking up the guitar, I decided to pick up "The Beatles Complete Scores" simply for educational purposes. After studying these scores, my appreciation of their talents has grown immensely, and these scores have provided me with many hours of enjoyment. I recommend this book highly.

sketches, not "scores"; still useful; still recommended, May 5, 1999
This is filled with inaccuracies and sketchy. I don't doubt the transcriber labored much, but a work such as this requires a team of transcribers comparing versions, some basic research, and--most important--careful editing. It is the responsibility of the publisher to make sure its books are what it claims they are. This is a collection of sketches, not of scores.

Compare this transcription of "Eleanor Rigby" with George Martin's score printed (in part) in his "All You Need is Ears". George Martin probably keeps a library of his Beatle arrangements. Why didn't the publisher contact him? The frequent and often nonsensical mangling of lyrics is inexcusable. Compare the clarinet rhythms on the recording of "When I'm 64" to what is mis-notated here. Listen to "Blackbird": that's not a bass drum; that's McCartney tapping his foot. I could go on.

Also recommended: PENTATONIC SCALES FOR THE JAZZ-ROCK KEYBOARDIST by Jeff Burns.

Anti-ology, February 28, 2002
WORTH THE PRICE? YES! PERFECT? NO.

- But still a very commendable attempt to score the Beatle's music. Considering that this book was written in 1989, you would have to assume that most of the work was accomplished using only the sharpest of musical ears and an old 33-1/3 vinyl record-player. The sheer volume of the book (1100 pages) suggests that years of work and preparation were involved.

The bad news is that there are mistakes here, so even though the scores appear to be hand-written, there are what we call "typos". For example: The ending of "Cry Baby Cry" is missing (Can you take me back weary people...). Also, if a song is written in "repeat" mode, you only get the guitar/bass notes for the first time around. Finally, the transcribers took the liberty to just "guess" what the notes were (such as the orchestral crescendo in "A Day in the Life", but that was an impossible task anyway).

The good news is this book contains the most exhausting note-by-note transcription I have ever seen of any Beatles book. Infinitely many more notches above the "fake-books" (which only offer lyrics, a simple piano accompaniment and guitar chords, all in the wrong key). The guitar solos are there, the horns are there; it even includes the sitars and tablas in the George Harrisons compositions... Hell, they even score Ringo's drums!

The great news is that the book is so close to perfect, it has achieved "nik-pick" status. In other words, the only ones that complain are the perfectionists (like myself); even though we know way deep down inside that there is no way to score the backward sound-effects in "Tomorrow Never Knows".

The format is a little strange. Staves are almost always reserved for vocals, guitars, bass and drums (which works for most songs), even though they are not used sometimes (leaving pages and pages of "whole rest notes" for the contempory songs). Each page yields an average of 12 measures of music composed on 9 parallel staves.

The main reason I bought this book was because I was curious how anyone could ever decipher Revolution 9. It was an expensive gamble, but I won! If the book was perfect, I would have awarded it the highest score possible. If only they would only re-edited it...

A job well done by those 4 guys (not John, Paul George & Ringo but instead to the authors; Tetsuya, Yuji, Hajime and Goro)!

CMcF

Monumental, May 10, 2004
I have to marvel at the reactions of many Amazon reviewers to this book. Here we have an attempt to transcribe nearly every sound put on to record by The Beatles offered at a very fair price and people are giving it one star ratings. Meanwhile another Hal Leonard offering, The Beatles Complete - Volumes 1 & 2, which is an arrangement for piano, guitar, and vocals bearing little resemblance to the original recordings receives nothing but positive reviews. I understand that these transcriptions are not wholly accurate and the use of repeats often glosses over subtle variations in the actual recordings, but this is still a work of monumental proportions. One must not lose sight of the fact that there were no original scores kept with the desired level of accuracy. Any scores needed to come from transcriptions of the original recordings. The fact that four musicians were able to sit down and reverse engineer complex studio tracks to this level of detail is impressive. While these transcriptions are not perfect, they are quite good. It would be easy to get the impression from reading these reviews that this book was so inaccurate as to be useless. This is simply not the case. I have owned this book for over 10 years and still find it remarkably useful. I have learned a great deal about the construction of pop songs from this book. I have been able to create my own arrangements using these transcriptions as a starting point. I have even been able to create reasonable facsimiles of some of the original recordings using these transcriptions in a home studio environment. I understand 3 and 4 star ratings for this book but anything less than that really seems like an overreaction to me.

An excellent book - though with some annoying flaws, July 13, 2001
I agonized before buying this book of scores, especially given the strong criticism of some the other reviewers and the rather steep price. I took the plunge and don't regret it at all.

The arrangements are virtually perfect and accurate. Yes, there are a few errors, but they're rare and obvious (and it's not like you're obligated to play the incorrect notes!). For a guitarist, having the music, tabs, and chords allows you to invest as much or little effort as you want in learning different parts of each song - the transcriptions compliment each other.

Criticisms -- most notably the format is WAY too small given the detailed information. Even though I have perfect vision, I find that a magnifying glass comes in very handy.

There is a lot of annoying little stuff which wouldn't have cost the publisher any extra to avoid. There are no running titles (the title is listed only on the first page of the song), so you can't easily thumb thru the book to find a particular song. And even though the songs are arranged in proper alphabetical order, the table of contents lists all titles starting with "The" under "T". Which is really weird.

All in all, a wonderful investment. Get it as a gift.

My Bible, February 14, 2004
I have read some of the negative feedback for this book, and I am pretty disgusted. This is the best book I have EVER SEEN.

It has identified 95% of the instruments on every Beatle song. People say that they have seen better stuff off the internet. They must be CRAZY!!! I have been getting crap off the internet for years. Most songs are incomplete. They say they will "tab the rest later". Yeah right! and some are even in the wrong key.

Yes, I will admit that there are typos, but you like the Beatles enough to buy this book, then you will know if its a G minor instead of a G major and that type of stuff.

People also complain about the typos in the lyrics. If you know the Beatles enough to purchase this book, then you know the lyrics anyway!!

People also complain how "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love" isn't in there. Well Hello!!!! This book wasn't even published until 1993, while the two songs mentioned came out in '95/'96.

Bottom line, this is the best you'll ever get. Yeah, the type is small, but it's not invisible. I have a blast dusting off any album and playing along, because it's all there. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This latest addition to the best-selling 1001 series offers more than ever— the world’s biggest and best playlist, referencing over 10,000 must-download songs. This book offers more than any previous book in the series. While each main entry profiles and illustrates 1,001 primary songs, it places that song into a contextual web of music history with references to other songs that are musically related. Thus, each entry points to alternate versions, covers, riffs, and influences effectively expanding the total number to 10,000. From the Beatles to Beyoncé, from Elvis to Elvis Costello, from Frank Sinatra to Rufus Wainwright, the full spectrum is covered chronologically and includes additional ancillary lists of "must-hear" songs grouped by subgenre and other special categories. Each song is analyzed by an international team of critics who explain why you must hear it. Included are key details such as lyricist, composer, producer, and label, making this a music treasure trove perfect for anyone into music, addicted to downloading, or those just getting started. ... Read more

Reviews

Response to "Epic failure" review, December 1, 2010
Hi Oxwood. Thank you for taking the time to comment on the book. As one of its co-editors, I'll try to address your points.

- Instrumentals were omitted to narrow the millions of choices. It's not a decision I necessarily support, but there was a rationale behind it.

- The index - while unconventional - is perfectly comprehensible, and the arranging of artists by first initials will be instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with iTunes.

- While I wouldn't dispute the worth of The Allman Brothers, they weren't a big deal in Britain (where the book was produced), so I'm afraid they didn't make the shortlist. (However, our US publishers didn't suggest them either.)

- The ten artists that you've highlighted are all represented in the book; some with, in our view, more interesting choices from the same album (e.g. "War Pigs," from Paranoid, "When the Levee Breaks," from Led Zeppelin IV, and "Bring the Noise" from It Takes A Nation of Millions...).

- I take full responsibility for including "Amazing" and not campaigning for "Dream On." As a long-time Aerosmith fan, I think "Amazing" is a much better song!

- Inevitably, given the millions of available choices, we were never going to satisfy every reader. However, as the book ranges from commercial smashes to cult hits, and from Mississippi to Mali, there's plenty to discover. I would urge you to listen to Elvis Presley's "Tomorrow is a Long Time" and Oumou Sangare's "Diaraby Nene" - both featured in the book, and both songs that I'm very happy to have heard before I die!

As I said, thank you for taking the time to comment, and I hope you find something of value in the book.

best wishes,
Bruno MacDonald

Epic Failure, November 17, 2010
This is easily the most incompetent book of it's kind I have ever seen. For example, all instrumentals have been left out. In the index, solo artists are organized by FIRST name. The Allman Brothers and the Allman Brothers Band are listed separately in the index. The authors wisely expanded the list of 1001 to 10,001, supposedly to make sure they don't miss any important songs, and since a shorter list is so much a matter of taste. (For example, the Allman Brothers have NO songs in the top 1001.) So I checked some songs at random to see if they were in the book, and the following songs are completely missing, not even in the expanded list of 10,001 (So it appears about half the songs I would expect to be in the guide aren't.):

Aerosmith - Dream On
Al Green - Let's Stay Together
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Eric Burdon... - Sky Pilot & Spill the Wine
Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall Part 2 & Comfortably Numb
Prince - When Doves Cry
Public Enemy - Don't Believe the Hype
Ramones - I Wanna Be Sedated

It would be one thing if the authors were purposely leaving out well known songs like these, assuming that the reader is already well-versed in music history, to choose gems that aren't as well known. But then why did they so often include songs like Amazing by Aerosmith, for example, in place of Dream On? The authors may simply have terrible musical taste.

This guide won't serve as an introduction to someone who knows little about music before the last ten years, like my daughters, because of hundreds of omissions like those listed above.

It also fails as a guide to someone who already knows all those songs, because the majority of the choices are well known, but often not the best songs by the artist. If you are a big music fan, it may be worth looking at to laugh at the authors. Post the most glaring omissions and the silliest inclusions in a review.

Browse > Home November 4, 2010 Photography Roundup here. Filed Under All � Leave a Comment Google Announces e-Book Store, December 7, 2010
All the Young Dudes," "Rock Lobster," "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and about 998 more. It's been five years since Robert Dimery compiled the collection "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" and now with the music world returning to its roots as a singles based medium, it's a perfect time for this series to surface the best songs of all time.

This completely subjective report (as Dimery gladly admits) is a veritable jukebox in book form. Spanning the decades from the pre-50's to the 00's, Dimery and his contributors have compiled a list ranging from the obvious (R.E.S.P.E.C.T.) to the obscure (Captain Beefheart's "Big Eyed Beans from Venus") to hundreds of musical slices in between.

Each of the selections are accompanied by a story of the history, the behind the scenes and/or the influence the song had on others. In addition to full credits, there are boxes on certain entries that indicate cover versions and which songs influenced which others. In all cases, the original releases provide the template, with later credits (samples, etc) added where appropriate. There is also an intro by famed Bowie producer, Tony Visconti.

The book concludes with a list of 10,000 songs (listings only) that you must download before you die. Though the book has a bit of an international lean in places (many songs from the UK, France, Africa, etc. are simply unknown in the states) it serves as both a treasure trove of great songs you may have forgotten from the past, as well as a jumping off point for a wide berth of new musical territory to explore for quite a while. Pure fun. ... Read more