Description
The first history of the concept album's initial half-century, spanning musical styles from rock, soul, funk, electronic music, indie/alternative, and hip-hop.
About the Author
Eric Wolfson is the author of the critically acclaimed 33 1/3 book From Elvis in Memphis. He runs the accompanying website, www.fromelvisinmemphis.com, and is active on Twitter (@EricWolfson) and Instagram (@EricWolfson). He lives in Washington, D.C., and works in the Performing Arts Division of the U.S. Copyright Office.
Reviews
Fifty Years of the Concept Album in Popular Music is a rich, valuable piece of modern music education, a deep dive into the might and worth of the album versus the single, and a chance for music fans unfamiliar with certain genres to gain a new level of open-mindedness, as this work provides an opportunity to explore what may be outside one's comfort zones. Wolfson levels the playing field - it's all music. * PopMatters *
Eric Wolfson is a musician's musician, a writer's writer, and a historian's historian. The first two qualities are more common than the third among music writers, but the triple threat is what sets Wolfson apart. His ear for sound, way with words, and talent as a storyteller make this book not only an insightful meditation on the concept album but also a gripping history of the times. From the Sixties to the Millennium, Fifty Years of the Concept Album will change how you hear and understand the long and winding road from that America to this one. * Scott A. Sandage, cultural historian *
The concept album has long been a neglected part of popular music history. Eric Wolfson has corrected that oversight in this authoritative study. Foregrounding diversity, he interrogates the concept album as being unbound by genre and era. You might be familiar with these records and artists, but Wolfson's sharp, illuminative prose will have you revisiting and reconsidering them with a more nuanced understanding of intent and narrative. Fifty Years of the Concept Album is an important and necessary contribution to popular music studies. * John Dougan, Professor Emeritus of Popular Music Studies, Dept. of Recording Industry, Middle Tennessee State University, USA *
[Fifty Years of the Concept Album in Popular Music] will get readers excited to hunt down copies of the albums ... that they don't already own. ... [B]e sure to gift a copy of these to your teenaged nephews or nieces during their birthdays, as they need to know about this book and what it represents. * Zachary Houle *
Book Information
ISBN 9781501391804
Author Eric Wolfson
Format Paperback
Page Count 264
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic USA
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing Plc