1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die - Robert Dimery
EPUB | 960 pages | 12.74 MB
1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die is an absorbing introduction to some of the greatest songs ever recorded, by an enormous range of artists from Bessie Smith to Gnarls Barkley and from Metallica to Missy Elliott. Find out what made their songs so great--then get back to the music.
The rich history of popular music is built on a foundation of classic songs. From Tin Pan Alley to the Brill Building, Bob Dylan to Kurt Cobain, and Joni Mitchell to Amy Winehouse, gifted songwriters have crafted a cherished body of music that has become part of our lives. Imagine the Fifties without the magical clamor of "Tutti Frutti" and "Hound Dog," the Seventies without the anthemic "Le Freak" and"Anarchy in the U.K.," or the Noughties without the leftfield pop of "Toxic" or "Crazy." This music mirrors the times, both reflecting society at large ("A Changeis Gonna Come," "The Message") and mapping our own personal highs ("God Only Knows") or lows ("Hurt"). And from "Saturday Night Fish Fry" to Saturday Night Fever, it has helped us simply forget our problems and dance till dawn.1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die picks through nearly a century of music to bring you an inspiring selection of some of the greatest recordings ever made. Each entry in this wonderfully browsable book tells the story of a great song. Find out what inspired the songwriter, what makes the track so enduring, which songs it influenced in turn, and which cover version to listen out for. You'll also pick up a wealth of fascinating trivia along the way. What links Lead Belly, Lonnie Donegan, and Black Betty? Whose gravestone inspired Phil Spector's first hit? And when did Christina Aguilera join forces with The Moon People? Read on and find out.
Biographical Notes
Robert Dimery is a freelance writer and editor who has worked on Tony Wilson's 24 Hour Party People, Pump Up the Volume: A History of House, and 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, plus countless other popular music publications. He has also contributed to books on classic albums and classic singles, and has worked for a variety of magazines, including Time Out London and Vogue. He lives in London.