From Library Journal
With over 35,000 songs classified in almost 1800 logical categories, this is an important reference tool for songwriters, disc jockeys, production companies, researchers, and trivia buffs. Since the fourth edition (1995), more than 14,000 songs and 905 categories and subcategories have been added, as has an effective subject index with cross references. Green, executive editor of the trade publication Radio & Records, comes about as close as possible to being exhaustive, offering both well-known and relatively obscure songs that range from jazz and popular standards to rap and television jingles. He also supplies discographical information about currently available recordings of songs. Although the omission of Chicago's mid-1970s hits "Old Days" and "Harry Truman" from the categories of "Remember" and "Presidents," respectively, shows that the book is not entirely comprehensive, it is still an impressive feat. Green began developing the book in 1977, so this edition marks its 25th anniversary. While most useful to disc jockeys and those in advertising, this unique work will most certainly find users in public and academic libraries. Highly recommended. James E. Perone, Mount Union Coll., Alliance, OH
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
" You know that song. The one about . . . It goes like . . ." Questions like this frustrate library patrons and staff. One solution is The Green Book, which indexes 21,000 twentieth-century songs by assigning one or more of 800 subject headings, based on keywords in the title or the subject of the song. Most songs are from the 1950s on. Johnny Cash's "Boy Named Sue" is found, for example, under Fight and Men's Names. The subjects vary widely from UFOs to Colors, Drugs, Marriage, Police, and States. Songs under the subject Door, for example, include "Crazy Little Mamma," "Let My Love Open the Door," "My Baby Done Changed the Lock," and "One Less Bell to Answer," among 81 songs. Love is not a subject, but there are pages of songs under Sex. See references lead from one subject heading to another. Song titles are listed alphabetically under a subject. For each song, performer, album, and label are given to help track recordings. Most are albums and are in print; a few 45s are included. The book closes with a list translating the abbreviations used for record labels and an index to subjects used.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
