Customer Reviews

Songwriters: A Biographical Dictionary with Discographies

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

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!

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.

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.