American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900-1950

by Alec Wilder

Book Overview

When Alec Wilder's American Popular Song first appeared, it was almost universally hailed--from The New York Times to The New Yorker to Down Beat--as the definitive account of the classic era of American popular music. It has since become the standard work of the great songwriters who dominated popular music in the United States for half a century. Now Wilder's classic is available again, with a new introduction by Gene Lees.
Uniquely analytical...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195014456
• ISBN13: 9780195014457
• Release Date: April 1990
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 576 Pages
• Weight: 2.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

All answers within...

Who could write a book like this? Burton Lane? Jule Styne? No! It's the most serious analysis the subject will ever receive. Thanks to Alec!

4 1/2* Excellent Ref. Book for the Musically Inclined

Yes, the man is opinionated, and one may argue with some of his more controversial and unsparing critiques. His analyses are grounded in a thorough understanding of music, and he does not retreat from criticizing the most popular. I think that the whole topic is perhaps more subjective than Wilder lets on, but at least he's forthright about his opinions, and provides hundreds of musical annotations to illustrate his views. I'll also agree with the reviewer who criticizes Wilder's view that post-50's popular music was written by "amateurs." Still, this is widely regarded as a must-have for the student of popular music, and it's an excellent, albeit somewhat technical critique of popular music's "golden age." Recommended!

FOR THOSE WHO LOVE AMERICAN POPULAR MUSIC

ALEC WILDER himself a composer has written what is generally considered the bible of AMERICAN POPULAR MUSIC.More than thirty years have gone by since the first édition of this book and it remains fresh.Like many i am proud to say that this book was really for me what i needed to start digging into the history of many songs before the rock era.From BERLIN and KERN to the often forgotten greats like DONALDSON and McHUGH they are all there and mister WILDER knows what he is talking about;he had talked to many writers and composers who were at the time of the first édition still with us.Personal opinions are of course a matter of taste;we are for example not obliged to believe everything he says.Most of the time mister WILDER is right:EXAMPLE:he believes that RICHARD RODGERS was perhaps the most gifted composer of his time.Few can really disagree with that.In fact,there is only one major problem with this book,if you don't read music it won't be too enjoyable for you,because there are many examples with sheet music to proves the points he wants to make.Everyone who has an interest in the history of AMERICAN popular music should buy that book.

Great material, presented by one of the top songwriters!

This book is an invaluable source of matrial for both the casual reader and the dedicated student of popular music. Alec Wilder is a very knowledgeable authority on this subject, having contributed a number of fine songs of his own to the music of Tin Pan Alley!

If you love great songs,then you must own this book!

Alec Wilder's brilliant book contains insightful commentary and musical examples of the songs of Kern,Gershwin,Rogers,Berlin,Porter,Arlen,and just about every other significant American songwriter and lyricist...except for Alec Wilder himself. This book is an excellent resource for all teachers,students and music lovers alike.