I have just finished reading this book (got it on Friday) yes it is very expensive - got it through the publishers direct slightly cheaper than on amazon at £49 Ashgate publishing. But well worht the money no it don't do his usual life story stuff that we have read so many times before. Its a book of reference that I think it will become just as sought after as important as the Vault. It probably more aimed at the musician in us (a language I don't really understand). But enough to make you think and enjoy and refer to . I found the section on the o2 really emotional as I like many were there. Get it - forget it at your peril

Prince: The Making of a Pop Music Phenomenon

• Imprint: Ashgate
• Illustrations: Includes 11 musical examples
• Published: November 2011
• Format: 234 x 156 mm
• Extent: 208 pages
• Binding: Hardback
• ISBN: 978-0-7546-6876-3
• Price : $99.95 » Website price: $89.96
• BL Reference: 782.4'2166'092-dc22
• LoC Control No: 2011014193
• Stan Hawkins, University of Oslo, Norway and Sarah Niblock, Brunel University, London, UK

purplethunder3121 said:

Prince: The Making of a Pop Music Phenomenon

• Imprint: Ashgate
• Illustrations: Includes 11 musical examples
• Published: November 2011
• Format: 234 x 156 mm
• Extent: 208 pages
• Binding: Hardback
• ISBN: 978-0-7546-6876-3
• Price : $99.95 » Website price: $89.96
• BL Reference: 782.4'2166'092-dc22
• LoC Control No: 2011014193
• Stan Hawkins, University of Oslo, Norway and Sarah Niblock, Brunel University, London, UK

• Series : Ashgate Popular and Folk Music Series

• The career of the prolific pop artist Prince has become inextricably intertwined with the history of popular music since the late 1970s. This multi-instrumental icon, who remains one of the highest-grossing live performers in America, has been called a genius for his musicianship, composition and incredible performances. But Prince holds iconic status for more than his music. Best known for his racial blurring and extravagant sexual persona, Prince's music and visual iconography has always chimed with the ambiguity of subjectivity at any given moment. 'Prince' the sign offers a space for fans to evaluate and reconfigure their attitudes towards their own identities, and towards their position as subjects within the socio-cultural sphere. This much-needed interdisciplinary analysis is the first of its kind to examine critically Prince's popular music, performances, sounds, lyrics and the plethora of accompanying visual material such as album covers, posters, fashions, promotional videos and feature films. Specifically, the book explores how and why he has played such a profoundly meaningful and significant role in his fans' lives.

• Contents: Preface; Introduction; The making of the authentic pop icon; Inscription of otherness: dandyism, style and queer sensibility; A god of earthly pleasures; Voicing the erotic and the sublime; 'Take me with u, Prince': female identifications with a male pop icon; The Princian sonic universe: matters of compositional and performative proficiency; The live experience: performance and performativity at the O2 Arena; Selected discography/filmography; Bibliography; Index.

• About the Author: Professor, Stan Hawkins, Department of Musicology, University of Oslo, Norway and Professor Sarah Niblock, Head of Journalism, Brunel University, UK.

• Reviews: 'It's about time! Prince, pop's SEXY MF, has long been a subject of fan praise and speculation. While acknowledging these deep veins of adulation and conjecture, Hawkins and Niblock critically rewrite them through refined interdisciplinary inquiry. The result is a rich account of the intertwined complexities of Prince's profound musicianship, performance verve, and positioned subjectivity.'
  Steven Feld, University of New Mexico, USA
  
  'In Prince: The Making of a Pop Music Phenomenon, Stan Hawkins and Sarah Niblock have written a thorough, scholarly and insightful study of the cultural impact, iconic status, and the work of Prince. They have explored the psychology behind Prince's writing and behind the perception of his work by the public and by critics in a way that is engaging, convincing, and exceptionally well researched. This is a book that every serious student of popular culture (and especially of Prince) should read.'
  James E. Perone, Author of The Words and Music of Prince
  
  

its slightly cheaper to get direct from the publishers no delivery costs - it is a short book at 208 pages and I wish it were longer but I can;t recommend this enough

'It's about time! Prince, pop's SEXY MF, has long been a subject of fan praise and speculation. While acknowledging these deep veins of adulation and conjecture, Hawkins and Niblock critically rewrite them through refined interdisciplinary inquiry. The result is a rich account of the intertwined complexities of Prince's profound musicianship, performance verve, and positioned subjectivity.'
Steven Feld, University of New Mexico, USA

As you can see its very highly reviewed

perhaps the times or LA times never received their copy

NinaB said:

Why is it so expensive? Only 208 pages!

not really sure I can explain why, maybe cos its written by a professor of music or just he knows his stuff (and a music reported/sort of person) just really well written (lots of bigs words I hardly understood) just really really good read and I can't recommend it enough - probably slightly more for the musician but good for anyone intersted in human physcology.

purplethunder3121 said:

Prince: The Making of a Pop Music Phenomenon

• Imprint: Ashgate
• Illustrations: Includes 11 musical examples
• Published: November 2011
• Format: 234 x 156 mm
• Extent: 208 pages
• Binding: Hardback
• ISBN: 978-0-7546-6876-3
• Price : $99.95 » Website price: $89.96
• BL Reference: 782.4'2166'092-dc22
• LoC Control No: 2011014193
• Stan Hawkins, University of Oslo, Norway and Sarah Niblock, Brunel University, London, UK

• Series : Ashgate Popular and Folk Music Series

• The career of the prolific pop artist Prince has become inextricably intertwined with the history of popular music since the late 1970s. This multi-instrumental icon, who remains one of the highest-grossing live performers in America, has been called a genius for his musicianship, composition and incredible performances. But Prince holds iconic status for more than his music. Best known for his racial blurring and extravagant sexual persona, Prince's music and visual iconography has always chimed with the ambiguity of subjectivity at any given moment. 'Prince' the sign offers a space for fans to evaluate and reconfigure their attitudes towards their own identities, and towards their position as subjects within the socio-cultural sphere. This much-needed interdisciplinary analysis is the first of its kind to examine critically Prince's popular music, performances, sounds, lyrics and the plethora of accompanying visual material such as album covers, posters, fashions, promotional videos and feature films. Specifically, the book explores how and why he has played such a profoundly meaningful and significant role in his fans' lives.

• Contents: Preface; Introduction; The making of the authentic pop icon; Inscription of otherness: dandyism, style and queer sensibility; A god of earthly pleasures; Voicing the erotic and the sublime; 'Take me with u, Prince': female identifications with a male pop icon; The Princian sonic universe: matters of compositional and performative proficiency; The live experience: performance and performativity at the O2 Arena; Selected discography/filmography; Bibliography; Index.

• About the Author: Professor, Stan Hawkins, Department of Musicology, University of Oslo, Norway and Professor Sarah Niblock, Head of Journalism, Brunel University, UK.

• Reviews: 'It's about time! Prince, pop's SEXY MF, has long been a subject of fan praise and speculation. While acknowledging these deep veins of adulation and conjecture, Hawkins and Niblock critically rewrite them through refined interdisciplinary inquiry. The result is a rich account of the intertwined complexities of Prince's profound musicianship, performance verve, and positioned subjectivity.'
  Steven Feld, University of New Mexico, USA
  
  'In Prince: The Making of a Pop Music Phenomenon, Stan Hawkins and Sarah Niblock have written a thorough, scholarly and insightful study of the cultural impact, iconic status, and the work of Prince. They have explored the psychology behind Prince's writing and behind the perception of his work by the public and by critics in a way that is engaging, convincing, and exceptionally well researched. This is a book that every serious student of popular culture (and especially of Prince) should read.'
  James E. Perone, Author of The Words and Music of Prince
  
  

now THAT'S what I'm talking about!...

nearly a hundred fucking quid?! I wouldn't pay that for the Bible written in God's own blood!