Pop Music In The Twentieth Century: The Early Decades; Pop Music In The Twentieth Century: Into The '80s

These two companion volumes cover the history of pop music. Beginning with the legends of ragtime, swing, and early rock and roll, the first volume concludes with Presley and the Beatles. The second volume begins with the folk music of Dylan; Peter, Paul, and Mary; and Joan Baez, followed the by soul music of James Brown, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, and the Supremes. The disco craze is examined in detail, and there is a passing glance at the punk scene which emerged in the late '70's in such renowned bands as The Sex Pistols and The Clash. Of course, as with any overview, there are omissions: Joplin and Hendrix are represented--but Jim Morrison of the Doors is notably absent. Too, the connections made between music and society are strictly on an introductory level: i.e., the folk music of the late '60's prefigured and heralded the civil rights movement. Still, there is a lot more to be learned here than in watching a week's worth of MTV. Recommended. (Available from: Educational Audio Visual Inc., Pleasantville, NY 10570).