Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings


Book Description

Volumes 3 and 4 of the The Encyclopedia of More Great Popular Song Recordings provides the stories behind approximately 1,700 more of the greatest song recordings in the history of the music industry, from 1890 to today. In this masterful survey, all genres of popular music are covered, from pop, rock, soul, and country to jazz, blues, classic vocals, hip-hop, folk, gospel, and ethnic/world music. Collectors will find detailed discographical data—recording dates, record numbers, Billboard chart data, and personnel—while music lovers will appreciate the detailed commentaries and deep research on the songs, their recording, and the artists. Readers who revel in pop cultural history will savor each chapter as it plunges deeply into key events—in music, society, and the world—from each era of the past 125 years. Following in the wake of the first two volumes of his original Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings, this follow-up work covers not only more beloved classic performances in pop music history, but many lesser -known but exceptional recordings that—in the modern digital world of “long tail” listening, re-mastered recordings, and “lost but found” possibilities—Sullivan mines from modern recording history. The Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings, Volumes 3 and 4 lets the readers discover, and, through their playlist services, from such as iTunes toand Spotify, build a truly deepcomprehensive catalog of classic performances that deserve to be a part of every passionate music lover’s life. Sullivan organizes songs in chronological order, starting in 1890 and continuing all the way throughto the present to include modern gems from June 2016. In each chapter, Sullivanhe immerses readers, era by era, in the popular music recordings of the time, noting key events that occurred at the time to painting a comprehensive picture in music history of each periodfor each song. Moreover, Sullivan includes for context bulleted lists noting key events that occurred during the song’s recording




The Great Song Cycle


Book Description

An adventurer at heart, in August 2016 Joanna embarked on a solo concert tour of the West Coast of the USA...by bicycle. Over the course of 1,154 miles (1,860 km) she performed 16 solo shows between Portland and Los Angeles carrying her musical instruments, camping gear, and everything else she needed upon her bike. This book follows Joanna’s journey from the moment the idea was sparked in Brooklyn to the triumphant completion at Santa Monica Pier, and everything in between. Throw in some sex, drugs, cooperative accomodation services, sleazy men and, of course, more than a little music, and Joanna will take you on the ride of her life.




The Perfect Song


Book Description

The Perfect Song Mendel is a frustrated song writer obsessed with his art. Poul is intent on becoming rich and will do almost anything to attain his dream, including taking the writer's works. Publisher J.W. Beasely turns the writings into music that becomes popular beyond his wildest dreams. Unbeknownst to him, Mendel's music changes society. He becomes an icon, an object of worship and a target for assassination. The three men's lives turn into a continental game of cat-and-mouse amidst love, murder, deadly riots and history's biggest manhunt. But in the end no one can stop Mendel in his quest for the perfect song-no one except himself. When Poul realizes the truth, it's too late. Or is it? Was the quest for a few decades or is it forever?




One-Hit Wonders


Book Description

The one-hit wonder has a long and storied history in popular music, exhorting listeners to dance, to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony, to ponder mortality, to get a job, to bask in the sunshine, or just to get up and dance again. Catchy, memorable, irritating, or simply ubiquitous, one-hit wonders capture something of the mood of a time. This collection provides a series of short, sharp chapters focusing on one-hit wonders from the 1950s to the present day, with a view toward understanding both the mechanics of success and the socio-musical contexts within which such songs became hits. Some artists included here might have aspired to success but only managed one hit, while others enjoyed lengthy, if unremarkable, careers after their initial chart success. Put together, these chapters provide not only a capsule history of popular music tastes, but also ruminations on the changing nature of the music industry and the mechanics of fame.




Policies of American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers


Book Description

Considers alleged improper influence of large publishing houses in the operation of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, a music publishing association. Hearing includes "Articles of Association of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers" (June 1, 1954. 459-514 p.).




Try Your Hand at This


Book Description

American Sign Language is more than just an assortment of gestures. It is a full-fledged unique language, with all the characteristics of such. This helpful and user-friendly guide for librarians and other library personnel involved in library programming demonstrates everything from how to set up programming involving sign language for all ages to dealing with and paying interpreters. The book also discusses how to publicize programs to the public and within the deaf community and how to evaluate and improve the library's sign language collection. Kathy MacMillan's impressive understanding and knowledge of the deaf community and the importance of sign language_as well as her exceptional handling of the numerous erroneous myths about deafness and sign language that are, unfortunately, still often current_make this handbook an indispensable tool for all library personnel looking to reach out to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.




The Long and Winding Road


Book Description

There must have been a time when you just could not get a certain song out of your head. Perhaps it was the last sound played at the disco or perhaps theres a certain riff in a song that haunts you? Perhaps its one of those songs which have a special meaning for you or a special person in your life? Whatever the reason we all have had musical influences throughout our life and some we have deliberately chosen whilst others have crept in because we watch television and listen to the radio. We also have been subjected to other musical influences from shops, restaurants, churches, dance halls and anyone whistling or singing near us. Why was it almost impossible to remember Shakespeares quotations when I tried to learn them for school yet I can remember words to songs without even trying to memorise them? As someone who has made a living from playing music for others to listen to it has interested me greatly to find out whether any of the records which have made the popular music charts has had a greater influence on me than I have realized. I will also try to remember the words to the songs I heard in my younger years without using either reference books or a safety net! I will also attempt to put the music in some kind of time frame looking at what else was happening aside from the music. I will also identify how my own appreciation of music has evolved and that charts become less important with age. This will be the basis of a large part of my book. I will also try to show that I have had to show a good amount of true grit and determination in order to eventually find the job I had always wanted from my childhood days of listening to Radio Luxembourg and Radio Caroline. Moreover, it takes a lifetime to really see your priorities. Join me now in my musical voyage of discovery.




If You've Got a Dream, I've Got a Plan


Book Description

You may be the next Hank Williams, Mozart, and Bob Dylan all rolled up into one. But if you don't get the right people to hear the songs you've written, then the best you can hope for is to be an undiscovered genius. If You've Got a Dream, I've Got a Plan is written by one of Country Music's most successful songwriters. In this informative guide, aspiring songwriters will learn: What is a demo? And do I need a demo? What is a single song contract? How do royalty rates work? What is ASCAP? BMI? How much money can I make if my song hits number one on the charts? How do I get the right people to hear my songs? If You've Got a Dream, I've Got a Plan will not guarantee that you will become a successful songwriter. But it does arm aspiring songwriters with the information they need to enter a highly competitive world, one that is potentially rewarding both financially and artistically sense. It tells what to do, and maybe more importantly, what not to do. Kelley Lovelace is an award-winning songwriter who lives in Nashville, Tennessee. He is the co-author with Brad Paisley of the book and the song He Didn't Have to Be. He is also the songwriter of the hits "Wrapped Around", "Two People Fell in Love", "The Impossible", and "I Just Wanna Be Mad".




All Area Access


Book Description

"'All area access' is your map for the road to musical success. It tells you what you need to know at each step along the way. Looking for tips on booking gigs? Curious about selling band merchandise? Shopping for a record label? It even tells you how to know when to move up to a professional manager." - back cover.




Classic American Popular Song


Book Description

Classic American Popular Song: The Second Half-Century, 1950-2000 addresses the question: What happened to American popular song after 1950? There are numerous books available on the so-called Golden Age of popular song, but none that follow the development of popular song styles in the second half of the 20th century. While 1950 is seen as the end of an era, the tap of popular song creation hardly ran dry after that date. Many of the classic songwriters continued to work through the following decades: Porter was active until 1958; Rodgers until the later 1970s; Arlen until 1976. Some of the greatest lyricists of the classic era continued to do outstanding and successful work: Johnny Mercer and Dorothy Fields, for example, continued to produce lyrics through the early '70s. These works could be explained as simply the Golden Age's last stand, a refusal of major figures to give in to a new reality. But then, how can we explain the outstanding careers of Frank Loesser, Cy Coleman, Jerry Herman, Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, Fred Kander and John Ebb, Jule Styne, Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, and several other major figures? Where did Stephen Sondheim come from? For anyone interested in the development of American popular song -- and its survival -- this book will make fascinating reading.