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A Fabulous Creation
- How the LP Saved Our Lives
- Narrated by: David Hepworth
- Length: 12 hrs and 51 mins
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A Fabulous Creation
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Summary
Random House presents the audiobook edition of A Fabulous Creation, written and read by David Hepworth.
The era of the LP began in 1967, with ‘Sgt Pepper’; The Beatles didn’t just collect together a bunch of songs, they Made An Album. Henceforth, everybody else wanted to Make An Album.
The end came only fifteen years later, coinciding with the release of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’. By then the Walkman had taken music out of the home and into the streets and the record business had begun trying to reverse-engineer the creative process in order to make big money. Nobody would play music or listen to it in quite the same way ever again.
It was a short but transformative time. Musicians became ‘artists’ and we, the people, patrons of the arts. The LP itself had been a mark of sophistication, a measure of wealth, an instrument of education, a poster saying things you dare not say yourself, a means of attracting the opposite sex, and, for many, the single most desirable object in their lives.
This is the story of that time; it takes us from recording studios where musicians were doing things that had never been done before to the sparsely furnished apartments where their efforts would be received like visitations from a higher power. This is the story of how LPs saved our lives.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Neil
- 30-03-19
Enthralling
This is yet another compelling book by David Hepworth. I believe I've heard them all. Whilst it overlaps in some areas with previous work at no time did I feel cheated or that it was a repackaging effort. I click with David I suppose because I'm of a similar age and with a common interest in music of the same style and era. So if you too grew up spending much of your disposable cash on LP records and still retain an interest in them then this is a highly recommended listen.
Its much more than just a presentation of facts and figures as it also provides social commentary on the culture underpinning music listening which is such an important part of many peoples lives.
I consumed this book in 2 sittings whist driving the length of Britain and back and it passed the time in a most entertaining and thought provoking way.
Excellent!
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- STIX MTIZWA
- 18-11-20
Great for music history and historians
apart from obvious and vast knowledge on the subject the author has the most wonderful laconic and and tongue-in-cheek way of delivering his performance which really makes this book fantastic
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Steve
- 19-04-19
A fabulous book.
As always David Hepworths passion for his subject
makes this book a fascinating trip into modern musical history.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Robert Vaughan
- 24-08-20
Fabulous!
I am younger than Hepworth, but old enough to get the references. I am a 70s and 80s kid. My serious record buying started in around 1980. This book is fascinating. David Hepworth reads it well. If you are into music, you will love this too.
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- Marc S.
- 13-04-19
Vinyl revival.. get your LPs out
Having fond memories of buying vinyl records as a child and then into adulthood.. I was so thrilled to read and get excited about vinyl.
The fascinating facts David H delivers here are really wonderful nuggets that any nerdy muso will relish!
Listened to it twice - back to back - and bought hard copies for 5 friends as gift - all who were astonished delighted to be reminded of the joy of 12"
Now I'm listening to his other deliveries ..
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- M. C. Eldon
- 23-03-21
A wonderful Book
I loved this book. I recognised so much of myself in this - hanging around West End record shops; Dobells and Collets; Virgin records (above the shoe shop) and HMV. Peering through the window of the sound equipment shops in Tottenham Court Road until I could afford to buy my ‘separates’ system which included the Pioneer deck and Wharfdale speakers identified in the book. Then, of course, there was the pioneering albums, Al Stewart’s Love Chronicles, Tubular Bells, Sergeant Peppers, Joni Mitchell’s Court and Spark etc all of which were treated with the reverence of an ancient artifice. This book brought back so many memories and thanks to the specific details, put me back in touch with the feelings I had back in the 1970s. This is a Wonderful Book.
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- Edward Martin
- 17-09-24
Pretty near perfect
If, like me, you stumbled upon David Hepworth via his brief musings on classic albums on Instagram, then you’ll love this love this thoughtful and contextual deep dive into vinyl from 1967 to 1982. It may have all ended with Michael Jackson’s Thriller, but I’d still like to hear him finish off the 1980s. Expanded second edition anyone?
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- MR TiGGer
- 24-01-20
Compelling read 5/5
I’ve loved music since I was a tiny tot because of my musically literate mother, and treasured the Long Playing record to an almost obsessive level, turns out it was very normal to spend so much time and care on these treasures and the equipment I’ve spend thousands on. (They are on my wall in the back room now since the kids left home)
Genuinely remarkable history and insight of my personal obsession, and understanding of the music industry. And I’ve added some excellent albums to my favourites list that I’d not considered previously considered!
Highly recommend
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- Graeme Alderson
- 10-06-19
Brilliant from start to finish
Packed with insite not only on the business of popular music but also on what it means and feels like to be a music lover.
I've loved all DH,s work but this is the masterpiece
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2 people found this helpful
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- Fatfish
- 27-08-19
Review of the vinyl album's golden years.
A thoroughly enjoyable romp through the best years of the vinyl album 1967-1982. The author is extremely knowledgeable and his insight into many of the albums bring memories flooding back to me and has made me revisit several of the long dormant classics in my collection.
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1 person found this helpful