Pete Townshend: A Minstrel's Dilemma (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "I begin our study of this contemporary minstrel's dilemma by visiting popular music history..." (more)
Key Phrases: characterological ambiguity, metaphorical mischief, legal matter baby, Pete Townshend, Iron Man, White City (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In this critical biography of Pete Townshend, Smith (Purdue Univ.) explores a struggle between the artist and the commercial public he refers to as the "minstrel's dilemma." Early in his career as songwriter and leader of The Who, Townshend was forced by his management and the media to choose between his creative instincts and selling millions of records to the music consumers of the mid-1960s. Using anecdotes from Townshend's life, interviews with his subject and others, as well as extensive analysis of Townshend's song lyrics, short stories, and autobiography, Smith meticulously traces Townshend's career, personal development, and the effect of the minstrel's dilemma on him. Smith divides the book into three sections, covering Townshend's professional problems, his early days with The Who as a songwriter and then as a creator of the rock opera, and his solo work as a recording artist, musical theater composer, and short story writer. Recommended for fans and for academic libraries with popular culture and music collections.ALisa N. Johnston, Sweet Briar Coll. Lib., VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

“Recommended for fans and for academic libraries with popular culture and music collections.”–Library Journal

“Larry David Smith's new book recognizes Pete Townshend as a 'rock auteur.' It is an excellent and extensive academic study of Mr. Townshend's personal artist's dilemma....The book...leaves us with a warm and healthy understanding of Pete Townshend, his work and career, and an honest desire to follow the artist's future projects in multimedia musical theater.”–Text and Performance Quarterly

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Publishers (March 30, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275964728
• ISBN-13: 978-0275964726
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #500,681 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At last - a compelling arguement for the genius of Townshend, December 7, 1999

By	Art Turner "desirous" (Rockford, IL USA) - See all my reviews

It's great to finally see such a balanced view of Pete Townshend's career as a songwriter. This book certainly isn't for everyone, but for anyone interested in post-war popular music, and definitely for Who/Townshend fans, it's worth taking a look at. Smith's academic presentation may be a bit cumbersome at times, but generally his adherance to a narrative structure and even-handed presentation of Pete's oeuvre wins the day. "No other artist in history of popular music has achieved the artistic scope of Pete Townshend's career," Mr. Smith concludes. Amen to that.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Newest Townshend, November 20, 1999

By A Customer

A brilliant exploration of Townshend's ideas and longings. This book is entirely refreshing--neither a pop bio nor an academic treatise, but something better. Gives us real insights into a serious songwriter's vision. A balanced view of the business and the art behind one man's maneuverings. Required reading for those who take rock seriously.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pete Townshend - A GENIUS!, July 1, 1999

By A Customer

What a thoroughly enlightening enticing read! Id never realized the utter dept, magnitude and complexity of the foremost songwriter/poet of our times. THIS IS A MUST READ for any fans of rock music as well as any fans of the infamous WHO. THANK YOU PETE TOWNSHEND FOR YOUR GUITAR AND YOUR PEN!!!!!