Music : History & Criticism

Nelson George and Alan Leeds have assembled the fi rst. comprehensive collection of writings about the late, great. Godfather of Soul, creating a fascinating mosaic of the man. and the musician. Known as the hardest-working man in. show business, James Brown embodied rhythm and blues,. funk and soul, and sensuality. His musical innovations in. such indelible grooves as “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex. Machine,” “I Got You (I Feel Good),” and “Papa’s Got a. Brand New Bag,” transformed American music. To appreciate Brown’s immeasurable infl uence, to chronicle. his professional and personal triumphs and struggles, and. to capture his essence, writers from four decades weigh. in on the legendary Soul Brother Number One. What. emerges is a tribute to a trailblazer—one that no dedicated. fan or music history buff will want to be without. more...

Price: $17.00

Amid the recent increase in scholarly attention to rock music, Understanding Rock stands out as one of the first books that subjects diverse aspects of the music itself to close and sophisticated analytical scrutiny. Written by some of the best young scholars in musicology and music theory, the essays in this volume use harmonic, melodic, rhythmic, formal, and textual approaches in order to show how and why rock music works as music. Topics of discussion include the adaptation of blues and other styles to rock; the craft of songwriting; techniques and strategies of improvisation; the reinterpretation of older songs; and the use of the recording studio as a compositional tool. A broad range of styles and groups is covered, including Yes, the Beach Boys, Cream, k.d. lang, Paul Simon, Jimi Hendrix, and the Grateful Dead.  more...

Price: $27.50

Presenting a guided tour of topically arranged popular songs, the author of this text views the mores and values of 19th-century Americans as seen therein. He points out important landmarks and lesser sights providing colour and context. more...

Price: $45.00