PERFORMING ARTS

Say It with a Beautiful Song: The Art and Craft of the Great American Songbook

by Michael Lasser & Harmon Greenblatt
Rowman & Littlefield. Jul. 2024. 230p. ISBN 9781538192887. $38. MUSIC
COPY ISBN
Lasser (City Songs and American Life, 1900– 1950) and Greenblatt (editor, Understanding the Music Business) easily break down the history and talent displayed in the Great American Songbook. From well-known songs to hidden gems, they break down what made the songwriters of Tin Pan Alley, Broadway, and more so timeless. This is a well-rounded account of popular music from the late 1800s to the 1950s, and it doesn’t get too bogged down with a lot of biographical information on the songwriters. Lasser and Greenblatt know when to home in on specifics or pull back to look at the big picture, which is much appreciated in a book covering such a large timeline. Excellent photographs of songwriters, performers, and historic landmarks help immerse readers into the period and bring the stories to life.
VERDICT A valuable addition for collections or courses on popular culture or music history. Fans of old musicals, movies, and music will appreciate learning more about the names and tunes they love.
Reviewed by Emily Kubincanek , Jul 01, 2024
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

MEDIA

Hip-Hop Is History
by Questlove
NONFICTION

Mahler’s Symphonic World: Music for the Age of Uncertainty
by Berger, Karol
NONFICTION

Dancing on the Fault Lines of History: Selected Essays
by Manning, Susan
NONFICTION

Doc Watson: A Life in Music
by Huffman, Eddie
NONFICTION

Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist
by Pelly, Liz
NONFICTION

I Dream of Joni: A Portrait of Joni Mitchell in 53 Snapshots
by Alford, Henry
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?