Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This delightful and informative book caught my eye when I noticed that the much-esteemed songwriter,Ray Evans, wrote a blurb on the back. The book is arranged chronologically, and gives fascinating glimpses into what lead to the creation of many fantastic songs, and also explains what makes these great songs great. To me, the star of the book is Irving Berlin, who really had an incredible genius for songwriting. The clever crafting of Berlin's lyrics hadn't been adequately appreciated by me, until that exciting book showed me the craft and the art which Berlin applied to his songs. Not that other greats are glossed over, Furia and Lasser really give a wonderfully expansive collection of (mostly) fellas, who made American music what is was, and influenced what it is. Highly recommended for those who love, theatre and music.
Click Here to see more reviews about: America's Songs: The Stories Behind the Songs of Broadway, Hollywood, and Tin Pan Alley
"America's Songs" tells the "stories behind" the most beloved popular songs of the last century. We all have songs that have a special meaning in our lives; hearing them evokes a special time or place. Little wonder that these special songs have become enduring classics. Nothing brings the roarin '20s to life like "Tea for Two" or "I'm just Wild About Harry"; the Great Depression is evoked in all of its pain and misery in songs like "Brother Can You Spare a Dime?"; "God Bless America" revives the powerful hope that American democracy promised to the world during the dark days of World War II; "Young at Heart" evokes the postwar optimism of the '50s. And then, there are the countless songs of love, new romance, and heartbreak: "As Time Goes By", "Always", "Am I Blue"...the list is endless. Along with telling the stories behind these songs, "America's Songs" suggests, simply and succinctly, what makes a song great. The book illuminates the way each great song melds words and music - sentiment and melody - into a seamless whole."America's Songs" also traces the fascinating but mysterious process of collaboration, the give-and-take between two craftsmen, a composer and a lyricist, as they combined their talents to create a song. "America's Songs" is fascinating reading for anyone interested in the history of the songs that America loves.
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