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Stardust Melodies: A Biography of 12 of America's Most Popular Songs
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Stardust Melodies: A Biography of 12 of America's Most Popular Songs Paperback - 2004

by Will Friedwald

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Summary

In Stardust Melodies, Will Friedwald takes each of these legendary songs apart and puts it together again, with a staggering wealth of detail and unprecedented understanding.Each chapter gives us an extended history of one song--the circumstances under which it was written and first performed--and then explores its musical and lyric content. Drawing on his vast knowledge of records and the careers of performing artists, Friedwald tells us who was responsible for making these songs famous and discusses in depth the performers who have left their unique marks on them. He writes about variations in performance style, about both classic and obscure versions of the songs, about brilliantly original interpretations and ghastly travesties. And then there's the completely unexpected, LIKE Stan Freberg's politically correct "Elderly Man River."This is a book for all lovers of American song to explore, argue with, and savor.From the Hardcover edition.

Reader reviews for Stardust Melodies: A Biography of 12 of America's Most Popular Songs

From the publisher

This pop culture history takes 12 legendary songs and, with a staggering wealth of detail and unprecedented understanding, provides an extended history of each. The circumstances under which each was written and first performed are explained and their musical and lyric content are explored. Those who were responsible for making these songs famous and performers who have left their unique marks on them are also identified. Variations in style, classic and obscure versions, brilliantly original interpretations, and ghastly travesties in the performance lifetime of each song are discussed. Also included are revelations of facts, such as Herman Hupfeld, who wrote "As Time Goes By," had a much bigger hit with "When Yuba Plays the Rhumba on the Tuba"; Billy Strayhorn wrote about "a week in Paris" in "Lush Life" when he was a teenager and had never been to any city larger than Pittsburgh; and the first-ever public performance of "I Got Rhythm," sung by Ethel Merman, featured Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Jimmy Dorsey, and Glenn Miller.

First line

LUCY IS HOLDING A SAXOPHONE.

Details

  • Title Stardust Melodies: A Biography of 12 of America's Most Popular Songs
  • Author Will Friedwald
  • Binding Paperback
  • Pages 416
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Chicago Review Press
  • Publication date September 1, 2004
  • ISBN 9781556525575 / 1556525575
  • Weight 1.22 lbs (0.55 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.44 x 5.92 x 0.94 in (21.44 x 15.04 x 2.39 cm)
  • Category Music/Songbooks
  • Dewey Decimal Code 782.421

About the author

Will Friedwald is the author of Jazz Singing, Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies, Sinatra! The Song Is You, and The Warner Bros. Cartoons. He coauthored The Good Life with Tony Bennett and was a contributor to The Future of Jazz. He is one of the leading contemporary writers of liner notes.

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Stardust Melodies: A Biography of 12 of America's Most Popular Songs
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Stardust Melodies : A Biography of 12 of America's Most Popular Songs
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Stardust Melodies : A Biography of 12 of America's Most Popular Songs

by Friedwald, Will

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Stardust Melodies : A Biography of 12 of America's Most Popular Songs
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Stardust Melodies : A Biography of 12 of America's Most Popular Songs

by Friedwald, Will

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781556525575 / 1556525575
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Chicago Review Press, Incorporated. Used - Good. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
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Stardust Melodies: A Biography of 12 of America's Most Popular Songs
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Stardust Melodies: A Biography of 12 of America's Most Popular Songs

by Friedwald, Will

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9781556525575 / 1556525575
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by Will Friedwald

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Chicago Review Press, 2004. Paperback. New. New softcover in glossy printed wraps. Text is clean and free of marks or underlining. 416 pp. Fast shipping in a secure book box mailer with tracking. This pop culture history takes 12 legendary songs and, with a staggering wealth of detail and unprecedented understanding, provides an extended history of each. The circumstances under which each was written and first performed are explained and their musical and lyric content are explored. Those who were responsible for making these songs famous and performers who have left their unique marks on them are also identified. Variations in style, classic and obscure versions, brilliantly original interpretations, and ghastly travesties in the performance lifetime of each song are discussed. Also included are revelations of facts, such as Herman Hupfeld, who wrote "As Time Goes By," had a much bigger hit with "When Yuba Plays the Rhumba on the Tuba"; Billy Strayhorn wrote about "a week in Paris" in "Lush Life"… Read more
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Stardust Melodies: A Biography of 12 of America's Most Popular Songs
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Stardust Melodies: A Biography of 12 of America's Most Popular Songs

by Friedwald, Will

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Stardust Melodies: The Biography Of 12 Of America's Most Popular Songs
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Stardust Melodies: The Biography Of 12 Of America's Most Popular Songs

by Will Friedwald

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Stardust Melodies: A Biography of 12 of America's Most Popular Songs
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Stardust Melodies: A Biography of 12 of America's Most Popular Songs

by Friedwald, Will

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