Books with author Charles L. Granata

When he first started working on Pet Sounds, Brian Wilson said that he was going to write "the greatest rock album ever made." That album, released in 1966, fifty years ago, changed the face of popular music.From conception and composition to arrangement and production, Pet Sounds was the work of one extraordinary man. Turning his back on the protest songs and folk rock of his contemporaries and even on the bright surf sound of his own creation, Brian Wilson reached deep within himself to make music that struck an emotional chord and touched people's souls. Embracing the rapidly advancing recording technology of the time, he expertly created an original studio sound that would inspire generations of listeners and musicians.Featuring a detailed track-by-track analysis of the songs and extensive interviews with key personalities, Wouldn't It Be Nice reveals the influences--musical, personal, and professional--that together created this groundbreaking album. Now revised to include new information and recent developments, this is the definitive book on one of the greatest albums ever made.

Sinatra. Streisand. Dylan. Pavarotti. McCartney. Sting. Madonna. What do these musicians have in common besides their super-stardom? They have all worked with legendary music producer Phil Ramone. For almost five decades, Phil Ramone has been a force in the music industry. He has produced records and collaborated with almost every major talent in the business. There is a craft to making records, and Phil has spent his life mastering it. For the first time ever, he shares the secrets of his trade. Making Records is a fascinating look "behind the glass" of a recording studio. From Phil's exhilarating early days recording jazz and commercial jingles at A&R, to his first studio, and eventual legendary producer status, Phil allows you to sit in on the sessions that created some of the most memorable music of the 20th century--including Frank Sinatra's Duets album, Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks, Ray Charles's Genius Loves Company and Paul Simon's Still Crazy After All These Years. In addition to being a ringside seat for contemporary popular music history, Making Records is an unprecedented tutorial on the magic behind what music producers and engineers do. In these pages, Phil offers a rare peek inside the way music is made . . . illuminating the creative thought processes behind some of the most influential sessions in music history. This is a book about the art that is making records--the way it began, the way it is now, and everything in between.

When he first started working on Pet Sounds, Brian Wilson said that he was going to write "the greatest rock album ever made." That album, released in 1966, fifty years ago, changed the face of popular music.From conception and composition to arrangement and production, Pet Sounds was the work of one extraordinary man. Turning his back on the protest songs and folk rock of his contemporaries and even on the bright surf sound of his own creation, Brian Wilson reached deep within himself to make music that struck an emotional chord and touched people's souls. Embracing the rapidly advancing recording technology of the time, he expertly created an original studio sound that would inspire generations of listeners and musicians.Featuring a detailed track-by-track analysis of the songs and extensive interviews with key personalities, this unique book reveals the influences--musical, personal, and professional--that together created this groundbreaking album. Now revised to include new information and recent developments, this is the definitive book on one of the greatest albums ever made.

Submerged beneath a mansion on the edge of town, evil boils in a fiery pit. In a heinous plot masterminded by a man in a golden mask, someone must die so that another person might live—forever.When seventeen-year-old Cliff Abbott tries to unravel a mysterious arson case, his life is threatened. Will Cliff manage to save himself and his friends, as he reveals the shocking mystery of the fire mask?

When Gideon Sunday is handed a ball, he takes it and runs...Unfortunately, the game this unemployed football player has found himself in will probably get him killed.The minute he stepped through his pantry door into the magical land of Chey, Gideon Sunday knew that the last thing he ever wanted to be was a hero. He has been trying to go home ever since. But the events that landed him in this most bewildering land now conspire to strand him forever, and Gideon is desperate. He has one way out, but it is a dangerous one. To find the Bridge that can bring him safely home, Gideon will have to brave monsters and wizards, combat demons and dragons, not to mention placate an amorous giantess that would just love him (probably to death) and confront two of the meanest witches this side of a nightmare. All Gideon has on his side is one oversize ram-horse called Red.And one very used magical baseball bat.Who said the off-season wasn't rough?

BEWARE OF MIDNIGHT PLACEAt first it seems like an ordinary street in an ordinary neighborhood. But kids sense there’s something different about Midnight Place. It’s nothing tangible—just an eerie sensation that won’t go away. Walk down the street, a street like Midnight Place, and all too soon the terror is real.Fifteen-year-old Tara Fraiser is scared. Lately it seems that everyone she is close to has been the victim of a mugging. The victims never see their attacker, but strangely enough they all remember the eerie tune he whistles. What scares Tara even more is that she recognizes the tune—her dad had mesmerized her as a child with tales of an evil, whistling monster named Old Beithir. Tara is afraid that she’s next. How can she protect herself from this evil creature?

At first it seems like an ordinary street in an ordinary neighborhood. But kids sense there’s something different about Midnight Place. It's nothing tangible—just an eerie sensation that won’t go away. Walk down the street, a street like Midnight Place, and all too soon the terror is real.What’s happening to the teenagers in Ashford? Suddenly crimes are being committed by the nicest kids. Honor-roll students have become juvenile delinquents and petty criminals.Sophomore Jo Latera is shocked by her friends’ actions. In her opinion the kids seem hypnotized—almost brainwashed. She is convinced that someone else is behind their bizarre, hostile behavior. But who could be responsible? Who could have such power?Jo thinks she’ll find the answer on eerie Midnight Place. Will Jo be able to save her friends—or will she become a zombie, too?

At first it seems like an ordinary street in an ordinary neighborhood. But kids sense there’s something different about Midnight Place. It’s nothing tangible — just an eerie sensation that won’t go away. Walk down the street, a street like Midnight Place, and all too soon the terror is real.Wherever they go, Roz Jordan and her friends are followed by a mysterious motorcycle that seems to appear out of thin air. At first they are intrigued, but when a classmate is hit and killed by this wild rider, everyone is frightened. For Roz there is something eerily familiar about this phantom rider. She keeps thinking of someone — someone who used to live on Midnight Place.Will this ghostly rider destroy Roz and her friends?

"This illuminating book offers unique insight into the making of the seminal album Pet Sounds, revealing the intimate processes that went into its creation and featuring brand-new interviews with key players. From conception and composition to arrangement and production, the ways in which Pet Sounds changed the face of American popular music are chronicled. While Pet Sounds carries the tag of being a Beach Boys record, this lively exposé reveals just how little input the rest of the band had in its recording. Illustrating Brian Wilson's prodigious talent, the book chronicles his ability to turn his back on the protest songs and folk-rock of his contemporaries, and even on the bright surf sound of his own creation, in order to reach deep within himself to make music that struck an emotional chord and touched people’s souls. Wilson’s ability to embrace the rapidly advancing recording technology of the 1960s and to expertly blend rock 'n' roll, rhythm and blues, and jazz sounds with velvety harmonies and sensitive melodies to create a brand-new studio sound are discussed. An intimate portrait of Wilson’s family, breakdown, and drug use is included."