God Bless America: Tin Pan Alley Goes to War (Hardcover)

by Kathleen E.R. Smith (Author) "World War II had an enormous impact on all aspects of American society: political, economic, and social..." (more)
Key Phrases: wartime music, little things that count, popularity charts, World War, Tin Pan Alley, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Of the utmost significance because it develops a conflict of opposing interests between official Washington and the American people." -- Ray Browne

Review

"A rich overview of popular songs during the early 1940s.-- Choice" -- Choice

"Complete with a marvelous discography and rare sheet music photographs, God Bless America captures the temperament of a people that faithfully believed Les Brown when he tapped his baton, smiled at the audience, and promised that their dreams were betting better all the time.-- Film & History" -- Film & History

"Smith has written an interesting and useful book, one that raises a number of important issues and illuminates many of them.-- International History Review" -- International History Review

"Smith endeavors to explain why no memorable song came forth in the 1940s.-- Journal of American History" -- Journal of American History

"Smith discusses the role music played in American society following Pearl Harbor and examines the similarities between that time and the tragedies the nation has most recently faced.-- McCormick (SC) Messenger" -- McCormick (SC) Messenger

"Explores the structure and influence of Tin Pan Alley on American popular music as well as the intersection of government and culture.-- Register of the Kentucky Historical Society" -- Register of the Kentucky Historical Society

"A well written book with absolutely none of the glossy enthusiasms that nearly always burden books about jazz, Swing, musicians, and the followers of popular music….This is an interestingly written book, pulling no punches in order to soft peddle the rather gritty history of the war years.-- Frank F. Mathias" -- Frank F. Mathias

"Of the utmost significance because it develops a conflict of opposing interests between official Washington and the American people. The author knows her subject matter, its authorities, and the significance of all. It is a must for libraries, as a reference tool, and for aficionados….well written, clear, clever, informative and interesting.-- Ray Browne" -- Ray Browne

"This fascinating history looks at how radio and the music business geared up for total war, and how the government unnecessarily invented a committee to solve a problem that didn't exist.-- WTBF Radio" -- WTBF Radio

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: University Press of Kentucky (March 28, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813122562
• ISBN-13: 978-0813122564
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,605,753 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Tin Pan Alley Goes to War, March 28, 2007

By	William H. Young "W. H. Young" (Lynchburg, VA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

One of the best general discussions about popular music during World War II currently available. Her presentation of the tensions between those who wanted a "war song" and those who supported a more evenhanded approach to records and sheet music is thought-provoking and unusual. Highly recommended.

3.0 out of 5 stars Putting a Boot in Hitler's Ass, September 12, 2004

By	Kevin Killian (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Despite the efforts of several government agencies, and the willingness of many topflight songwriters, including Frank Loesser and Irving Berlin, no single song emerged from Tin Pan Alley during World War II that took the war as its subject directly. Berling's own "God Bless America," which became one of the great hits of the wartime era, was actually written at a time slightly preceding the entrance of the US into World War II. Kathleen Smith, the author of this study, whose name oddly enough suggests that of Kate Smith, the moon-faced and wildly popular radio star who made "God Bless America" a monster sensation, suggests that the reason for this is that, enraptured by swing music, the teenagers who controlled the chart did not want to buy martial tunes. They wanted love songs and they wanted music they could dance to. In this way the era seems oddly close to our own. The book's accompanying promotion materials suggest that a similar situation has transpired today, after 9/11 American musicians wanted to create a hit that would show the Al-Qaeda that we were unbowed, but despite the best efforts of everyone from Paul McCartney to Bruce Springsteen and back around again, from all shadings of the right and left, the song that is most mentioned as a result of the terrorist destruction of the World Trade Center was that country number by Toby Keith about the red, white and blue, with the pugnacious lyric, "You'll be sorry that you messed with the U.S. of A./ 'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass/ It's the American way." Some of the WWII would be hit songs expressed similar sentiments against the "Nips" and "Krauts" of Axis fame.

Smith is an okay writer but her book is somewhat padded, and Kentucky should hire a proofreader, it is trying indeed that Melvyn Douglas and Ralph Bunche both have their names misspelled.