New book celebrates Liverpool's pet sounds
Added: (Tue Apr 05 2005)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
What do you think about when you think of Liverpool music? The Beatles, no doubt. Gerry and the Pacemakers, Echo and the Bunnymen, the Lightning Seeds and Atomic Kitten? This year’s Mercury Music Prize nominated Zutons? Forty years ago four lads from Liverpool were shaking the world, and Liverpool musicians have been at it ever since... Sound! celebrates the exceptional success of bands, singers and musicians from Liverpool.
But there’s much more to Liverpool than you might think... what about Elvis Costello, Carol Decker and Guy Chambers? All were born or brought up in Liverpool. Or Marc Almond, the Farm, the Real Thing, the La’s, Cast and the Coral... Dr and the Medics’ Clive Jackson?
Containing more than 500 questions on Liverpool’s pop heritage, Sound! covers over 50 years of singles, hits and No. 1s. Written by local music journalist Spencer Leigh, it includes every Liverpool artist’s No. 1s, and all Liverpool bands’ biggest hits. Spencer has broadcast his show, On the beat on BBC Radio Merseyside for over 20 years. He writes for a range of publications, including the Independent, Record Collector and the Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music, and is also the author of nearly 20 books.
Liverpool has always had a place on the world stage. This year is has been awarded World Heritage status, and in 2008 it will be European Capital of Culture. Liverpool’s Lita Roza had the first ever No. 1 in 1953 with How much is that doggy in the window?, and the city has been at the forefront of music around the world ever since. The Beatles, the Bunnymen, Ferry ‘cross the Mersey and Frankie goes to Hollywood are just a few of the names that have made Liverpool the Guinness Book of Hit Singles’ official Capital of Pop.
The city plays host a range of music festivals every year, reflecting the diverse influences of Liverpool music, from the Mathew Street Festival to Creamfields and the Beatles Convention, Liverpool Now, Africa Oye and urban music festival Hub..
Sound! is designed for players of all ages, with specialist pages on country, folk and classical music. Pages are divided into different themes, including Name the Band, Beatles covers, No.1s, Guess the Year, songs with Liverpool in the title, and some cracking quotes from the Beatles for you to match up. It’s fun, it’s informative, and it’s just in time for Christmas.
Sound! is on sale now for £5, and is available from bookshops across Liverpool and Merseyside, and by mail order on 0151 666 1500, or by emailing sound@capsica.net.
For more information, to interview Spencer Leigh, or get your hands on copies of Sound! to give away, please contact publisher Fiona Shaw at Capsica on 079 000 61543.
Ref: Cap3:12/04