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The Best Books of 2023: Music
A chorus of approval greeted the stellar selection of music books published in 2023, from candid memoirs of life in the pop spotlight to meticulously researched accounts of classic artists and bands. Our extensive selection below strikes exactly the right note for great gift inspiration.
Pop music icons don't get much bigger than Britney Spears, Dolly Parton and Barbra Streisand and all three produced memorable memoirs this year that are essential for any music fan's bookshelves. Elsewhere, Boy George delivered the life story we've all been waiting for for years, Michael Ball revealed his deep-rooted love for West End musical Aspects of Love and BTS offered a window into the K-pop whirlwind.
£25.00
£12.50
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
Global megastar Britney Spears reveals all in her candid and heartfelt memoir, covering her incredible, tumultuous career, her controversial conservatorship experience and more.
£22.00
£16.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
As candid, outrageous and wickedly funny as its author, Karma tells the fascinating story of Boy George and his iconic musical career from the heyday of Culture Club to his late-career renaissance.
£39.99
£34.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
As stylish as the icon it chronicles, Behind the Seams details the singular fashion triumphs of the inimitable Dolly Parton through vibrant photography and fascinating personal stories.
£35.00
£27.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
From the nightclubs of New York to fame on Broadway and in Hollywood, Barbra Streisand's eagerly anticipated memoir recounts the truly remarkable life and career of a showbusiness icon.
£30.00
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
Bringing together the tragic singer's journals, lyrics and family photographs for the first time, this beautifully presented and sensitively curated volume paints a vivid picture of a prodigiously gifted yet troubled individual.
£40.00
£30.00
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
Through interviews, images and behind-the-scenes information, Beyond the Story charts the meteoric rise and immense influence of Korean boyband BTS and is an absolute must-own for all fans of the K-pop megastars.
£30.00
£24.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
Packed with the kind of mind-blowing visuals that fans would expect from The Chemical Brothers, this stunning volume of reflection on the band's stellar career draws from wide-ranging contributions from friends and collaborators.
£25.00
£21.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
Recounted with Michael Ball's trademark bonhomie and generosity of spirit, Different Aspects explores the beloved entertainer's love affair with the West End musical Aspects of Love - the Andrew Lloyd Webber show that transformed Ball into a megastar.
£20.00
Hardback
Out of stock
From following in the footsteps of Elvis to larking around with Michael Ball, one of the nation's most beloved musical performers tells his life story with immense wit and charm.
£22.00
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
Charting Pinnock's whirlwind journey to fame and fortune as part of the internationally successful girl group Little Mix, Believe also confronts the darker side of the pop industry that left her feeling isolated and insecure.
£25.00
£19.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
From Elvis Presley to Aretha Franklin and Elton John to Cilla Black, this intimate and eye-opening compendium of the songs that shaped and inspired Cliff Richard's musical journey is filled with much-loved classics.
£20.00
£16.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
Reflecting on a life lived in the limelight, the S Club 7 star charts the highs and lows of pop success with candour and charm in this fascinating memoir.
£22.00
£19.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
From her childhood in a small Welsh mining village to international fame, this moving and endlessly entertaining memoir from the iconic singer is filled with fascinating stories and hilarious anecdotes from her many years in the spotlight.
£20.00
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
In this inspiring memoir, the hugely popular English singer-songwriter and one-time X-Factor star charts her music-filled story with candour and warmth.
£30.00
£24.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
Bursting with countless images capturing the Swedish purveyors of perfect pop throughout their careers, The Official ABBA Photo Book is the perfect gift for Agnetha, Frida, Benny and Bjorn's legions of fans.
£22.00
Hardback
5+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
Analysing the global pop music megastar through her expertly selected wardrobe and stage costumes, the fourth in Newman's stunning photographic series is an absolute must-own for any self-respecting Swiftie.
£35.00
£29.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
A monumental biography of one of the most recognisable pop stars on the planet, Gabriel's tour de force highlights not just the chameleon-like quality of Madonna's musical reinventions but also her political activism and courage.
£22.00
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
A fascinating exploration of a chart-topping phenomenon whose career spans the entire modern pop era, this entertaining and enlightening volume from the author of Yeah Yeah Yeah casts light on the enigma that is the Bee Gees.
£22.00
Hardback
In stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
Meticulously researched and compassionate, O'Brien's definitive biography of the legendary Karen Carpenter presents a rounded portrait of a hugely talented yet troubled pop star.
£25.00
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
The definitive biography of one of hip hop's essential voices, Robinson's multi-layered work presents a uniquely gifted and charismatic man whose music reflected the poverty and injustice experienced by Black people throughout the United States.
Any new book from legendary ex-Beatle (and former Waterstones Book of the Year winner) Paul McCartney is a major publishing event and 1964: Eyes of the Storm - his photographic chronicle of the peak of Beatlemania - was no exception. Macca was joined by famed Elton John lyricist Bernie Taupin, Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler and Sonic Youth frontman Thurston Moore in sharing music memories, whilst critiques of Nick Drake, George Harrison and Bob Dylan flew the flag for top quality rock writing.
£60.00
£50.00
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
Capturing the moment when the sixties truly began, this stunning volume of recently rediscovered photographs - boasting must-read commentary from Sir Paul McCartney - chronicles the whirlwind months from the end of 1963 to the beginning of 1964 when Beatlemania erupted, with an immediacy, vividness and authenticity unmatched by any previous works on the era.
£25.00
£20.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
The hugely successful lyricist and long-term Elton John collaborator lifts the lid on the rock n' roll industry from his point of view in this revealing music memoir.
£20.00
£17.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
One of the founding fathers of alternative rock reveals all about his music-obsessed life and career as frontman of the seminal Sonic Youth in this riveting memoir boasting walk-on parts from Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, Kurt Cobain and many more.
£25.00
£20.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
A true Heavy Metal legend, Black Sabbath bassist and lyricist Geezer Butler tells his rock n roll story from industrial Birmingham to global stardom with wit, passion and a surprising softness.
£22.00
£18.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
Following on from Will Sergeant's bestselling memoir Bunnyman, Echoes traces the band's meteoric rise to success, as well as reflecting the role of music as a counterforce in the 1980s social and political scene.
£30.00
£25.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
From his parents' traumatic experiences in World War II to bestriding the world's stadia as bassist for rock megastars Rush, My Effin' Life recounts Geddy Lee's remarkable life story.
£22.00
£18.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
The iconic bassist for The Sex Pistols traces the legendary punk band's story through thirty of their most formative songs in this fascinating memoir dripping with anecdotes and famous collaborators.
£22.00
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
From his early stardom in multiple bands including Big in Japan to his time as frontman of The Lightning Seeds and illustrious production work, the Liverpudlian singer-songwriter legend’s memoir makes for jaw-dropping reading.
£25.00
£21.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
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As multifaceted and beguiling as its subject, this capacious biography of George Harrison paints a vivid and revealing portrait of a superbly talented musician and fascinating individual.
£30.00
£26.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
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Featuring rare, previously unfeatured photographs and a foreword by the artist’s sister, this engrossing biography of Nick Drake draws from personal archives and interviews with his family, friends and musical collaborators to chart the tragically short life of the fiercely talented singer-songwriter.
£30.00
Hardback
10+ in stock
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As intimate as it is wide-ranging, this landmark volume from one of the leading authorities on David Bowie draws from a wealth of interviews with the key figures in Bowie's career to deliver a unique, kaleidoscopic portrait of the iconic musician and his work.
£80.00
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
A landmark publication that dives deep into the recently rediscovered Bob Dylan Archive in Tulsa, Mixing up the Medicine boasts unparalleled unseen images, draft lyrics, manuscripts and more from the world's greatest living songwriter.
£35.00
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
In this colourful, encyclopaedic band biography of The Cure, Price examines the unfading appeal of one of the world’s biggest and most enduring alternative rock groups.
Sublime studies of female musicianship, late Rachmaninov and two titans of eighteenth century music emerged as the finest classical music books of 2023, alongside an erudite and thoughtful meditation on performance and the tales behind musical masterworks.
£20.00
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
A dazzling group biography of four pioneering female musicians, Broad's engaging and meticulously researched volume rescues these celebrities of their times from the margins of classical music history.
£25.00
£21.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
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Moving and elegiac, Maddocks' exquisitely written biography of Rachmaninov's twilight years in America highlights the yearning the great composer felt for his Russian homeland as well as the mesmerising genius of his iconic final masterpiece.
£14.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
Inspired by the enforced isolation of the pandemic and based on the singer's acclaimed Berlin Family Lectures, Song and Self explores the fascinating backstories to many of the iconic works that Bostridge has performed.
£25.00
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
The celebrated conductor and author of Handel in London and Mozart's Women recounts the three visits the young Mozart made to Italy and demonstrates how crucial these periods were in the honing of his formidable genius.
£20.00
Hardback
10+ in stock
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Deconstructing the genius of one of classical music's towering figures, Why Beethoven? analyses one hundred recordings to build a riveting picture of a deeply flawed man with a truly staggering talent.
£25.00
£21.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
An extraordinary, capacious meditation on how music creates and preserves cultural memory, Time's Echo explores how the atrocities of the Second World War and the Holocaust shaped the work and philosophy of composers like Britten, Strauss, Schoenberg and Shostakovich.
From a whistlestop tour of the entirety of Western music to a characteristically provocative and stylish analysis of taste, psychology and our musical preconceptions from Michel Faber and a fascinating enquiry into the creative process from Rick Rubin, embrace your inner muso with our hand-picked selection of 2023's brilliant music writing.
£25.00
£20.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
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Famed for providing legendary artists with the space to rediscover their authentic selves, music producer Rick Rubin reflects on the creative process and its engagement with the wider world in this masterful, engrossing volume.
£15.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
From medieval chant to hip hop, Philip's wide-ranging and truly global history of music tracks the incredible changes to form, style and structure over the millennia.
£20.00
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
Drilling down into the process of how and why we listen to different types of music, the celebrated author of The Crimson Petal and the White interrogates notions of 'cool,' taste and commerce with piercing insight.
£25.00
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
The co-founder of The Cure delivers a fascinating insider’s view into Goth culture in this unmissable slice of social history that explores everything from Edgar Allan Poe to the 1980s iconic music scene and the goth presence in today's social media.
£22.00
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
Filled with passion, sex and the power of music, Season of the Witch is a superbly absorbing social history of the music, context and lasting legacy of goth, told with novelistic skill.
£16.99
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
An absolute must for all music fans, Lewis' addictive volume is packed to the gills with facts, trivia, notable events and pure pop nuggets.
£20.00
Hardback
10+ in stock
Usually dispatched within 2-3 working days
Tracing a path from 1970s acid-rock through the chemically-fuelled Second Summer of Love to today's multi-million pound industry, Gillett's definitive history of UK dance music highlights the genre's revolutionary potential and anti-establishment credentials.
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