The Oxford American Book of Great Music Writing - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1557288879 ISBN 13: 9781557288875

Publisher: University of Arkansas Press, 2008

Synopsis

Not only have a breathtaking array of musical giants come from the South - think Elvis Presley, Robert Johnson, Louis Armstrong, Jimmie Rodgers, to name just obvious examples - but so have a breathtaking array of American music genres. From blues to rock and roll to jazz to country to bluegrass - and areas in between - it all started in the American South. Since its debut in 1996, The Oxford American's more-or-less annual ""Southern Music Issue"" has become legendary for its passionate and wide-ranging approach to music and for working with some of America's greatest writers. These writers - from Peter Guralnick to Nick Tosches to Susan Straight to William Gay - probe the lives and legacies of Southern musicians you may or may not yet be familiar with, but whom you'll love being introduced, or reintroduced, to. In one creative, fresh way or another, these writers also uncover the essence of music - and why music has such power over us.To celebrate ten years of ""Southern Music Issues"", most of which are sold-out or very hard to find, the fifty-five essays collected in this dynamic, wide-ranging, and vast anthology appeal to both music fans and fans of great writing.In this title Tom Piazza hangs out with irrepressible country musician Jimmy Martin in Nashville;Elizabeth Wurtzel deconstructs the career of R. E.M.; R. Crumb hunts for old blues records; Steve Martin (yes, that Steve Martin) discusses his love affair with the banjo; Rosanne Cash remembers a harrowing roadside experience; Lucinda Williams talks about life, love, and music; and, all-time great producer Jerry Wexler recalls Dusty Springfield's Memphis sessions.

About this title

Review:

"Fresh, original writing. A pleasure to read." "A sort of Southern version of the New Yorker." "The single best music-related magazine of any given year." "One of the brightest periodicals to appear on the American literary scene." "The magazine's writers share a passion for music, a respect for ideas, and a flair for writing." "God Bless America and God bless The Oxford American Book of Great Music Writing." -- Dolly Parton "Elvis made a blip on our national radar. Many of the artists featured here did not. To read on is to discover America." "What the magazine does, that no other music publication bothers with, is examining music for what it can say about American history."

About the Author:

Marc Smirnoff is the editor and founder of The Oxford American. He has written for the New York Times Book Review, the San Francisco Chronicle Book Review, the Washington Post Book World, and others. Van Dyke Parks is an arranger, musician, producer, lyricist, and composer. Although he has worked with dozens of essential musicians, including U2, Randy Newman, and Bruce Springsteen, he is best known for collaborating (as lyricist) with Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys on the legendary Smile album. His own albums include Song Cycle and Discover America. He has done a number of film soundtracks, including Goin' South and The Two Jakes, and he is the author of three acclaimed children's books: Jump, Jump Again, and Jump on Over.

About this edition

• Publisher: University of Arkansas Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1557288879
• ISBN 13: 9781557288875
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 448
• Editor: Smirnoff Marc