A Resource Guide to Themes in Contemporary American Song Lyrics, 1950-1985

(Hardback)

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B. Lee Cooper offers a kaleidoscopic portrait of contemporary American society as it has been captured and transmitted in the lyrics of more than 3,000 popular recordings. By tracing the permutations of American popular music from the end of the Big Band/Swing Era through the Age of Rock, the author presents a thematically structured analysis of popular music lyrics from 1950 through 1985. Cooper divides his lucid commentaries and lists of songs into fifteen sections, each dealing with a particular social, political, or personal theme. In the brief essays that precede the lengthy discographic sections, the author explores the ways in which popular music has dealt with such issues as religion, death, education, youth culture, transportation, mass media, protest, military activity, women's liberation, and drug use and abuse. An illustrative discography of 45 r.p.m. records follows each section of commentary. An extensive bibliography of books, articles, and special reports appears at the end of the volume, along with a selected discography of album-length recordings which supplements the extensive 45 r.p.m. listings.

Reviews

Cooper's Resource Guide appears at first glance to be a topical guide to more than 3,000 popular songs on recordings issued over thirty-five years of the recent past. But its intent is 'not to create a comprehensive 1950-1985 song compilation.' Rather, it is a sociologocal study, 'designed to stimulate further thought and to provide factual material for future examination of lyrics as pieces of oral history.' It assumes that the lyrics of American popular music 'accurately reflect the conflicting social, political, and personal concerns of individuals and groups within that society.' . . . Cooper provides each section with an intelligent introduction, following which he lists songs in various categories. . . . This provocative book will have an appeal beyond that of music collections.-Cum Notis Varcorum
"Cooper's Resource Guide appears at first glance to be a topical guide to more than 3,000 popular songs on recordings issued over thirty-five years of the recent past. But its intent is 'not to create a comprehensive 1950-1985 song compilation.' Rather, it is a sociologocal study, 'designed to stimulate further thought and to provide factual material for future examination of lyrics as pieces of oral history.' It assumes that the lyrics of American popular music 'accurately reflect the conflicting social, political, and personal concerns of individuals and groups within that society.' . . . Cooper provides each section with an intelligent introduction, following which he lists songs in various categories. . . . This provocative book will have an appeal beyond that of music collections."-Cum Notis Varcorum

Author Bio

oper /f B. /i Lee