Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #272866 in Books
• Published on: 2000-09-18
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 260 pages

Synopsis
This is a unique book covering 100 years of hit songwriting. The music historian, Spencer Leigh, selects the outstanding songs from each year of the 20th century and tells how they came to be written. This well-researched book is bursting with facts and opinions as Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, and George Gershwin rub shoulders with Elton John, Freddie Mercury and Madonna. There are essays on key songs including My Way, American Pie, Imagine, Candle in the Wind and of course, Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?. There is a full assessment as to whether John Lennon or Paul McCartney made the larger contribution to the most famous songwriting partnership of the 20th century. The book includes Spencer Leigh's interview with five leading songwriters -- Sammy Cahn, Elvis Costello, Gordon Lightfoot, Tim Rice and Jimmy Webb. In addition, there are features on tribute songs and answer songs, and there are plenty of lists. The book is a delight for trivia buffs as well as scholars. It can be read as a musical history of the 20th century or, with its full index, used as a reference work.

The book is illustrated with archive material and also contains original artwork by the Liverpool artist, Tony Brown.

Customer Reviews

Entertaining review of popular songs of the 20th century.
Not only written by Spencer but also published by him. He reviews each year of the 20th century picking the most popular songs of each year and saying a little about each.On top of this there are transcripts of interviews with songwriters e.g. Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Webb, Elvis Costello and also in depth articles on famous songs e.g. "My Way".A lot of research has gone into this entertaining read (I did find one mistake!).He also lists songs for the last 500 years that have 'turned up' as hits in the 20th c. (you'll be surprised!).He also relates some great stories - my favourite concerns Harry Woods from the early 30's who, despite having fingers on only one hand, not only wrote songs but also played piano in a rough bar in New York.He got into a fight one night and ended up bashing some blokes head against the bar.Two others were watching and one said "yeah that's right - that's the guy who wrote "Try A Little Tenderness" ! There are also a good selection of rare photos and illustrations. There's a large section on 'who wrote what' in the Lennon/McCartney partnership though probably too many lists of 'top' songs of the 20th c. This is an ideal companion to the current BBC2 TV series "Walk on By" (April/May 2001).

A sprawling, comprehensive and vastly enjoyable book .
Brother, Can You Spare A Rhyme
This sprawling, comprehensive and vastly enjoyable book deserves a wide readership and will be greatly valued by anyone with a passion for popular song. It is a book full of witty commentary and analysis, interspersed by interviews with prominent songwriters.- John Cornelius.