Songwriters: A Biographical Dictionary with Discographies [Library Binding]

Nigel Harrison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1998 | ISBN-10: 0786405422 | ISBN-13: 978-0786405428

Eubie Blake, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Cole Porter.... This is a comprehensive guide to 1,054 composers and lyricists (in English) from all the popular genres, including Tin Pan Alley, rhythm & blues, country & western, jazz, rap, and film and show tunes. Each artist's entry includes birth name (if different), date and place of birth, principal musical genre, main instruments played (if any), a short biography, a list of compositions, a list of long playing albums or CDs (with year of release, record label and peak chart position) and any noteworthy compilation albums. Artists are cross-referenced with musical group and co-writers, when applicable, and the final section of most entries is an alphabetical list of every known chart version of any song written by that particular artist since 1890 (when Billboard first compiled a pop chart).

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This large volume claims to be "the first comprehensive guide to English-language composers and lyricists" of popular songs of the 19th and 20th centuries. Harrison, a former reporter for Billboard, compiles over 1000 entries with biographical information, discographies, and peak chart positions (both British and American). While covering a wide range of popular song (excluding instrumental music), including folk, country, R&B, gospel, blues, and jazz, he is strongest in the rock and popular music fields. The biographical information tends to be quite brief, with most entries consisting primarily of discographical information. Although there is some overlap with the second edition of the Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (LJ 12/95), as would be expected, there are many entries here for songwriters not found in that set. Consequently, this would be a welcome addition to most music reference collections.?Michael Colby, Univ. of California, Davis
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Harrison pays tribute here to the people without whom there would be no songs to sing --1,054 composers and lyricists of popular nineteenth-and twentieth-century song in the U.S. and United Kingdom. Inclusion criteria are commercial or critical success, or influence on other songwriters or performers. Performance artists who write little of their own work are not listed.

Alphabetically arranged by name, entries note dates and places of birth and death (if applicable), birth name (if it was later changed), and primary profession (e.g., rock producer, pop vocalist, C&W guitarist). Career summaries that range from a sentence or two to a lengthy paragraph give the essentials in an engaging manner. Composers from all genres of music are represented, including Tin Pan Alley, country, rhythm and blues, rap, rock, blues, jazz, and stage, among others. The longest part of each entry lists chart compositions by song title, date, and peak rank on U.S. and U.K. charts; albums by title, date, and rank; compilations; and hit versions of the subject's works by other performers. For some composers, such as Irving Berlin or Burt Bacharach, entries can run more than two pages.

The real strength of this work is these chart listings; no other reference work provides such detailed information gathered under the original songwriter's name. For longer biographies of songwriters, patrons may be referred to David Ewen's American Songwriters (H. W. Wilson, 1987), or more general works, such as The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music [RBB Ap 15 96]. An excellent index to songs, albums, people, and groups mentioned within entries allows one to find who wrote Bird in a Gilded Cage, or to determine the front man for the group Simply Red. For all music reference collections.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Library Binding: 643 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (September 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786405422
• ISBN-13: 978-0786405428
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.2 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,575,448 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Songwriters : A Biographical Dictionary - N. Harrison, March 31, 2002

By 

Jim Lonsdale (Phoenix, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Songwriters: A Biographical Dictionary with Discographies (Library Binding)

An indispensable musical reference tome. Mr. Harrison has
gathered discographies on many of the major songwriters of
our time, combining it with information on the recording
artists who made the songs famous. I have found no other
book which provides so much useful information in this
manner. The biographical sketches are concise, and each
entry also lists co-writers and collaborators. A must have!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exhaustive research turns up the gems of the genre, January 4, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Orange County, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Songwriters: A Biographical Dictionary with Discographies (Library Binding)

Nigel Harrison's SONGWRITER'S is the definitive work for anyone interested in the craft and history of songwriting. Who wrote the greatest songs of all time? The answers are all there, in one fantastic volume.

More than a reference book for songwrtiting geeks or trivia pursuants, SONGWRITERS gives you the history of the people, as well as an indepth list of their work.

The writing style of Mr. Harrison is beyong compare. He evades the encyclopedic writing that is so prevelant in this genre with his witty and insightful comments throughout.

Every music lover should have a copy on their shelf, just as you'd have Norton's HISTORY OF WESTERN MUSIC. It is the next natural step in the musical evolutionary process. Reading SONGWRITERS will only enhance your enjoyment of the songs you know and love by knowing something about the people who wrote them. And the work is not without its mysteries. You'd be surprised to learn who has written some of your favorite songs.

1.0 out of 5 stars Singer/Writer Index, December 5, 2008

By 

LongTime (Nashville) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Songwriters: A Biographical Dictionary with Discographies (Library Binding)

This isn't a true Songwriters guide, it's focused more on famous SINGER Songwriters. It includes only a small handful of only the most famous Songwriters that became recording artists. I can't imagine paying 175 for this. If someone hasn't done an encyclopedia of songwriting, they need to, and probably at least one Volume for each genre. Very disappointing.