Music

1939-1964 -- 1965-1973 -- 1973-1977 (Chile, Nigeria, Jamaica) -- 1977-1987 -- 1989-2008.

Comprehensive, encyclopedia-style guide to 250 rock bands, including line-up history, labels, genre listings, album sales, and more.

Rock and Roll Will Save Your Life" traces Almond's passion for "rawk" from his earliest (and most wretched) rock criticism to his eventual discovery of a music-crazed soul mate and their subsequent production of two little superfans. Along the way, Almond reflects on the delusional power of songs, the awkward mating habits of drooling fanatics, and why Depression Songs actually make us feel so much better. Includes a special free mix designed by the author, available online at www.stevenalmond.com .

The ideal handbook on classical music. Both a CD guide and who's who, it covers a thousand years of music--from Gregorian chant via Mozart and Schubert to contemporaries such as John Adams and Judith Weir.

In this second volume of a two-volume collector's edition, The Library of America presents eight enduring masterpieces showcasing the genre's glorious mid-century flowering and and its response to the turbulent 1960s. Based on new research, the complete libretto of each musical is presented in its Broadway opening night version, making these beloved cultural treasures available as never before. The texts are supplemented with additional song lyrics, biographical sketches of the musicals' creators, original cast lists, detailed accounts of each show's sources and production history, textual and explanatory notes, and full-color portfolios of illustrations featuring posters and photographs from each musical's original Broadway run. This volume showcases eight enduring works from the genre's Golden Age: Guys and Dolls (1950) by Frank Loesser, Jo Swerling, and Abe Burrows brings Damon Runyon's gamblers and chorus girls to vivid life; The Pajama Game (1954) by George Abbott, Richard Bissell, Richard Adler, and Jerry Ross offers a lighthearted take on the relations between capital and labor; My Fair Lady (1956), Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's glittering adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, a box-office sensation that elevated the tone of the American musical; Gypsy (1959) by Arthur Laurents, Jule Styne, and Stephen Sondheim embraces the relentless ambitions of the ultimate stage mother to frame a poignant look at the vanishing traditions of vaudeville; A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1962) by Burt Shevelove, Larry Gelbart, and Stephen Sondheim, a joyously farcical romp set in ancient Rome; the heartbreaking Fiddler on the Roof (1964) by Joseph Stein, Jerry Bock, and Sheldon Harnick, based on Sholem Aleichem's haunting tales of life and changing times in a Russian shtetl; Cabaret (1966) by Joe Masteroff, John Kander, and Fred Ebb, which views a political crisis through the prism of a Weimar nightclub; and the playfully irreverent 1776 (1969) by Peter Stone and Sherman Edwards, a brilliantly drawn character study of the Founding Fathers on the eve of Independence.

In this first volume of a lavishly produced two-volume collector's edition, The Library of America presents eight enduring masterpieces charting the evolution of the musical from the groundbreaking Show Boat through the genre's glorious mid-century. Based on new research, the complete libretto of each musical is presented in its Broadway opening night version, making these beloved cultural treasures available as never before. The texts are supplemented with additional song lyrics, biographical sketches of the musicals' creators, original cast lists, detailed accounts of each show's sources and production history, textual and explanatory notes, and full-color portfolios of illustrations featuring posters and photographs from each musical's original Broadway run. This volume gathers eight landmark musicals written by an astonishing roster of talents: Show Boat (1927) by Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern, an epic work that revolutionized the musical form; As Thousands Cheer (1933) by Irving Berlin and Moss Hart--published here for the first time--a peerless example of the Broadway revue and a time capsule of the early Depression era; Pal Joey (1940) by John O'Hara, Richard Rodgers, and Lorenz Hart--in a newly restored text--with its sophisticated take on sex and ambition in a Chicago nightclub; Rodgers and Hammerstein's triumphant Oklahoma! (1943), a celebration of the American heartland that signaled a major leap forward in the development of the book musical; On the Town (1944) by Betty Comden, Adolph Green, and Leonard Bernstein, the spirited tale of three sailors enjoying an unforgettable twenty-four-hour shore leave in "New York, New York"; Finian's Rainbow (1947) by Fred Saidy, E. Y. "Yip" Harburg, and Burton Lane, an improbable fusion of Irish mythology, Jim Crow politics, and the economics of the atomic age; Kiss Me, Kate (1948) by Samuel and Bella Spewack and Cole Porter, which brushed up Shakespeare to an irreverent Broadway sheen, and won the first Tony Award for Best Musical; and South Pacific (1949) by Rodgers, Hammerstein, and Joshua Logan, a Pulitzer Prize-winning success that tapped into still-vivid emotions about the experience of World War II .

Explores the history of blues music, from its origins in the African American communities of the deep South in the late nineteenth century to its most notable singers and songwriters.

The Harlem Renaissance represented an explosion of African American literature, drama, music, and visual art in 1920s America, with such notable figures as Langston Hughes, W.E.B. Du Bois, Zora Neale Hurston, Countee Cullen, Claude McKay, and many more leading the charge. This compilation of essays takes a closer look at this pivotal point in African American history, as well as its origins, identity, portrayal of women, and rediscovered authors. Each essay is 2,500 to 5,000 words in length, and all essays conclude with a list of "Works Cited," along with endnotes. Finally, the volume's appendixes offer a section of useful reference resources.

The first full examination of popular American Christmas music and its deeper connections to American culture.

Can a song change a nation? In 1964, Marvin Gaye, record producer William "Mickey" Stevenson, and Motown songwriter Ivy Jo Hunter wrote "Dancing in the Street." The song was recorded at Motown's Hitsville USA Studio by Martha and the Vandellas. Released on July 31, the song was supposed to be an upbeat dance recording--a precursor to disco, a song about the joyousness of dance, the song of a summer. But events overtook it, and the song became one of the anthems of American pop culture. The Beatles had landed in the U.S. in early 1964. By that summer, the '60s were in full swing. 1964 was the Mississippi Freedom Summer, the Berkeley Free Speech Movement, the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Act, and the lead-up to a dramatic election that completely changed American politics. As the country grew more radicalized in those few months, "Dancing in the Street" gained currency as an activist anthem. The song took on new meanings, multiple meanings, for many different groups that were all altered as the country changed. Told by the writer who is legendary for finding the big story in unlikely places, Ready for a Brand New Beat chronicles that extraordinary summer of 1964 and showcases the momentous role that a simple song about dancing played in our nation's history.

Looks at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival performance, in which Bob Dylan created an uproar by playing with an electric band, examining the cultural context of the event and its lasting repercussions.

Offers a behind-the-scenes view of Hamilton the musical, detailing the many dramatic episodes in Alexander Hamilton's life.

An introduction to Stephen Schwartz -- Godspell -- Leonard Bernstein's Mass -- Pippin -- The magic show -- The baker's wife -- Working -- Rags -- Children of Eden -- Animated features for Disney and Dreamworks -- Geppetto becomes my son Pinocchio : Geppetto's musical tale -- Wicked -- Séance on a wet afternoon -- Stephen Schwartz's works outside of Broadway and Hollywood.

Never before told stories of the Beatles seven-year rise from teenage dreamers to icons, both the heartbreaks and lucky breaks. From their humble beginnings in Liverpool to the cellars of Hamburg, this includes an eyewitness account of that first meeting between Lennon and McCartney, the inside story of how Ringo replaced Pete Best, a chapter devoted to the brilliant but troubled soul of manager Brian Epstein, the real scoop on their unlucky first visit to Hamburg and the death of Stu Sutcliffe.

From their gigs in tiny church halls to multimillion-selling albums—The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, and the rock opera The Wall—and elaborate stadium shows, this tome celebrates legendary rock band Pink Floyd. Lavishly illustrated with previously unpublished photographs and rare graphic memorabilia, including posters, advertisements, handbills, and tickets from every era of the band’s remarkable history, this survey provides a comprehensive overview of the group, its members, and the times. In addition to a biographical account of the band’s collective and individual careers—from their pre-Floyd times in the early 1960s to the present day and their music’s evolution from psychedelic and space rock to progressive rock genres—this definitive reference presents a meticulously researched chronological listing of every Pink Floyd and solo concert with set lists, radio and television appearances, and a UK and U.S. discography.

The Ninth Symphony, a symbol of freedom and joy, was Beethoven’s mightiest attempt to help humanity find its way from darkness to light, from chaos to peace. Yet the work was born in a repressive era, with terrified Bourbons, Hapsburgs, and Romanovs using every means at their disposal to squelch populist rumblings in the wake of the French Revolution and Napoleon’s wars. Ironically, the premiere of this hymn to universal brotherhood took place in Vienna, the capital of a nation that Metternich was turning into the first modern police state.

Dixon's youth : the cultural basis for the new interpretation of Dixon's compositions -- Dixon's early musical experiences -- Willie Dixon's early groups -- Willie Dixon and Chess Records -- Willie Dixon's compositions in the first Chess Records period (1953-1956) -- Cobra Records period -- The second Chess Records period.

More than half a century after the birth of rock, the musical genre that began as a rebellious underground phenomenon is now acknowledged as America's-and the world's-most popular and influential musical medium, as well as the soundtrack to several generations' worth of history. From Ray Charles to Joni Mitchell to Nirvana, rock music has been an undeniable force in both reflecting and shaping our cultural landscape. Icons of Rock offers a vivid overview of rock's pervasive role in contemporary society by profiling the lives and work of the music's most legendary artists.

This book explores the creative, social, and communal roles of thousands of "opera houses" that appeared in towns in the late 1800s and flourished with an astounding array of cultural performances and public activities until the advent of movies. Now, these entertainment halls are now coming back to life as theaters and art centers, as people become increasingly aware of their potential for historic preservation and cultural activities.

Unfolds the ongoing history and evolution of the piano and all its myriad wonders: how its very sound provides the basis for emotional expression and individual style, and why it has so powerfully entertained generation upon generation of listeners.

Part I. Historiography. Narratives and values / Mitchell Morris ; Texts and authors / Jim Lovensheimer ; Musical styles and song conventions / Paul R. Laird ; Evolution of dance in the golden age of the American "book musical" / Liza Gennaro -- Part II. Transformations. Minstrelsy and theatrical miscegenation / Thomas L. Riis ; Tin Pan Alley songs on stage and screen before World War II / Raymond Knapp and Mitchell Morris ; Integration / Geoffrey Block ; After the "golden age" / Jessica Sternfeld and Elizabeth L. Wollman -- Part III. Media. Theater / Tamsen Wolff ; The filmed musical / Raymond Knapp and Mitchell Morris ; The television musical / Robynn J. Stilwell ; The animated film musical / Susan Smith ; The evolution of the original cast album / George Reddick -- Part IV. Identities. Race, ethnicity, performance / Todd Decker ; Gender and sexuality / Stacy Wolf ; The politics of region and nation in American musicals / Chase A. Bringardner ; Class and culture / David Savran -- Part V. Performance. The institutional structure of the American musical theater / David Sanjek ; Orchestration and arrangement : creating the Broadway sound / Dominic Symonds ; Musical theater directors / Barbara Wallace Grossman ; Sets, costumes, lights, and spectacle / Virginia Anderson ; Acting / John M. Clum ; Singing / Mitchell Morris and Raymond Knapp ; Dance and choreography / Zachary A. Dorsey -- Part VI. Audiences. Box office / Steven Adler ; Audiences and critics / Michelle Dvoskin ; Stars and fans / Holley Replogle-Wong ; Knowing your audience / Jennifer Chapman ; Performance, authenticity, and the reflexive idealism of the American musical / Raymond Knapp.

For almost a century, Americans have been losing their hearts and losing their minds in an insatiable love affair with the American musical. It often begins in childhood in a darkened theater, grows into something more serious for high school actors, and reaches its passionate zenith when it comes time for love, marriage, and children, who will start the cycle all over again. Americans love musicals. Americans invented musicals. Americans perfected musicals. But what, exactly, is a musical?

Intimate, anecdotal, and spell-binding, Singing Out offers a fascinating oral history of the North American folk music revivals and folk music. Culled from more than 150 interviews recorded from 1976 to 2006, this captivating story spans seven decades and cuts across a wide swath of generations and perspectives, shedding light on the musical, political, and social aspects of this movement. The narrators highlight many of the major folk revival figures, including Pete Seeger, Bernice Reagon, Phil Ochs, Mary Travers, Don McLean, Judy Collins, Arlo Guthrie, Ry Cooder, and Holly Near. Together they tell the stories of such musical groups as the Composers' Collective, the Almanac Singers, People's Songs, the Weavers, the New Lost City Ramblers, and the Freedom Singers. Folklorists, musicians, musicologists, writers, activists, and aficionados reveal not only what happened during the folk revivals, but what it meant to those personally and passionately involved. For everyone who ever picked up a guitar, fiddle, or banjo, this will be a book to give and cherish. Extensive notes, bibliography, and discography, plus a photo section.