Who is the Bill Bailey whose exploits were chronicled in song? How
many popular songs have titles containing the words "moon,"
"heart," or "baby"? Where is the road to Mandalay? How many female
names can you think of that have been mentioned in song titles?
Discover this fascinating information and more about some of
America's most known and loved popular songs in this delightful
sampler. The Popular Song Reader contains over 200 short essays on
the backgrounds of a wide variety of twentieth-century American
popular songs. The witty and knowledgeable essays touch upon
several hundred traditional-style pop songs as well as early rock
compositions. The essays are filled with anecdotes, humor, irony,
and even poetry that reflect the author's offbeat and somewhat
irreverent manner, while also presenting a broad spectrum of
American popular songs in their historical and cultural contexts.
In addition to information about each song and its composer, the
author also discusses how the song reflected society at the time
and also how the song itself has influenced popular culture. Pop
music fans will find this a highly entertaining and readable guide
to the best American popular music of the twentieth century.
Divided into five sections, the book covers popular songs from the
Tin Pan Alley era (By the Light of the Silvery Moon, California,
Here I Come, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, She'll Be Comin'Round the
Mountain, and When Irish Eyes are Smiling), the swing/big band era
(Don't Get Around Much Anymore, Heart and Soul, In the Mood,
Stardust, and Stormy Weather), and the rock era (Chances Are, Good
Vibrations, Love Me Tender, Misty, Rock Around the Clock, Stop In
the Name of Love, and The Twist). The Popular Song Reader provides
new insights on all-time favorites from Broadway musicals, movies,
and television including Ain't Misbehavin', Give My Regards to
Broadway, My Funny Valentine, Aquarius, Cabaret, Luck Be a Lady,
Mack the Knife, Don't Fence Me In, Over the Rainbow, Singin'in the
Rain, and the theme songs from Star Wars, All in the Family,
Cheers, and M*A*S*H.
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