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.
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