'A winner... This wonderful book tells the tale of recorded sound from the very beginning... Louis Barfe tells this tale with wit, accuracy... and an acute awareness of how the machinations of the record world were affected by contemporary social and political events.' Tim Rice, Literary Review 'An amazingly comprehensive history... Barfe writes cleanly and concisely enough to lead the reader through the maze that is the history of the record industry... A real eye-opener.' Doug Johnstone, Scotland on Sunday 'Barfe's comprehensive research is peppered with entertaining anecdotes, while his approach combines a weighty respect for his subject with a healthy dose of cynicism. There will always be music; who owns it is another question.' Metro 'A scholarly yet entertaining tome... ****' Paul Stokes, Q Magazine 'A fascinating expose of the recording industry... An exhilarating read that conjures up the world of those who make recordings, and the commercial realities and pitfalls facing those who produce them... Riveting.' Classic FM Magazine Best Buy

Louis Barfe was born in 1973 in Epsom, Surrey. He studied at Lancaster University and, perhaps more fruitfully, 'Ear 'Ere Records, the local independent record shop. He has written for Private Eye, The Oldie, Publishing News, New Statesman and Crescendo and Jazz Music.