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Crooner
Singing from the Heart from Sinatra to Nas
Series: Reverb
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Crooner
$3299
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
An exploration of the crooner in popular music from the 1950s to the present.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
Crooners sing close to the mic in a soft, intimate style. In this book, Alex Coles explores the crooner in popular music from the 1950s to the present.
Each chapter focuses on one song and one singer—Frank Sinatra, Scott Walker, Barry White, David Bowie, Bryan Ferry, Tom Waits, Grace Jones, Ian McCulloch, Nick Cave, and Nas—and examines in detail how each contributes to the crooner image.
The book describes how crooners traverse era, gender, geography, and genre—where Barry White developed out of disco, Nick Cave sprung from alternative rock; where Grace Jones was born from reggae and funk, Nas originated from hip-hop.
Ultimately, Coles shows how the crooner continues to be a figure that enables listeners to reflect on and communicate their emotions.
Series: Reverb
View all-
Crooner
Crooners sing close to the mic in a soft, intimate style. In this book, Alex Coles explores the crooner in popular music from the 1950s to the present. Each chapter focuses on one song and one singer—Frank Sinatra, Scott Walker, Barry White, David Bowie, Bryan Ferry, Tom Waits, Grace Jones, Ian McCulloch, Nick Cave, and Nas—and examines in detail how...Paperback$3299Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
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The Monkees represent a vital problem for rock and pop, and perhaps the major question: is it the music that matters or the personality and image of the performers? This book explores the system behind the Monkees, the controversial made-for-tv band that scored some of the biggest hit records of the 1960s. The Monkees represent the cumulative result of a...Paperback$2999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
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Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel is one of contemporary music's great experimenters. From his work in the progressive group Genesis, through his pioneering solo albums, to his enthusiastic embrace of world music and new technologies, Gabriel has remained steadfastly consistent in his redefinition of music's boundaries and influence: geographical, virtual and thematic. At the heart of Paul Hegarty's astute analysis is the idea...Paperback$2999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Song Noir
Song Noir examines the formative first decade of Tom Waits' career, when he lived, wrote, and recorded nine albums in Los Angeles; from his soft, folk-inflected debut, Closing Time (1973), to the abrasive, surreal Swordfishtrombones (1983). Starting his songwriting career in the '70s, Waits absorbed LA's wealth of cultural influences. Combining the spoken idioms of writers like Kerouac and Bukowski...Paperback$2999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
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Sting: From Northern Skies to Fields of Gold is the first book to examine the relationship between Sting's working-class background in Newcastle and the creativity and inspiration behind his music. Born in a mainly working-class area of North Tyneside in 1951, Gordon Sumner would become one of the world's best-selling music artists. Known professionally as Sting, he was the lead...Paperback$2999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Reviews of Crooner by Alex Coles praise its imaginative approach and thorough exploration of the crooner persona within broader historical and cultural contexts. The book is noted for striking a balance between passion for the subject and insightful narrative, offering both casual music fans and academics a rich exploration of this music style. Coles's focus on less-known tracks for analysis adds depth and showcases the multifaceted nature of crooning, contributing significantly to the literature on popular music.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781789147667
Publisher: Reaktion Books
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 01 August 2023
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Reaktion Books
Illustration: 40 illustrations
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 148.0mm
Height: 210.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 208
Collections
About the Author
Alex Coles is professor of arts and humanities at the University of Huddersfield. He is the author of several books, including Tainted Love: Twisted Romantic Ballads (2023).
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