The Complete Lyrics Of Ira Gershwin (Paperback)

by Robert Kimball (Author) "Years later. Ira Gershwin noted: "In the first lyric of mine ever printed, the words came first-they had to come first as it was never..." (more)
Key Phrases: lonesome babe, unofficial wizard, lyrics first published, Ira Gershwin, New York, George Gershwin (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Kimball's scholarship of the musical theater lends considerable authority to this grandiose undertaking, begun after Ira Gershwin's death in 1983. Kimball exhumed 700 lyrics (sans scores)--400 of which were unpublished--from archives, manuscripts, private collections, and more. His introduction offers biographical bits, a creative overview, and a chronology of personal and professional facts regarding Gershwin, along with an explanation of the editor's research methodology. The vast body of text includes show titles, lyrics, and existent production and publication details. Narrative by Gershwin, taken from Lyrics on Several Occasions (Knopf, 1959), punctuates many entries. Companion volumes include Kimball's The Gershwins ( LJ 12/1/73) and Edward Jablonski's Gershwin: A Biography (Doubleday, 1987). An invaluable compendium for scholar, singer, and generalist; recommended for most collections. (Photos not seen.)-- Cynthia Cordes, OCPL, Syracuse, N. Y.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist
Presuming your library serves a community in which anybody sings or gets together to put on a musical, do you need to be told you probably gotta have this book? Ira Gershwin was the lyricist for his brother, George, without whom it sometimes seems there would be no songs in America, as well as, after George's death, for Weill, Copland, Kern, and similar luminaries. Although it's not apparent at this writing that the index herein will be the most useful kind--namely, one of titles, first lines, and first lines of refrains (because they, aka the choruses, are the most familiar parts of songs to the most people)--at least all the titles appear under the appropriate years or shows in the table of contents. The lyrics proper come in three-column display; each song has a headnote relaying its place in a show (or shows), who first sang it, its alternate titles, etc., and sometimes including Ira's comments from his own selection from his work, Lyrics on Several Occasions (1959). Hey, even if the index turns out less than ideal, still--'s wonderful! 's marvelous! Ray Olson --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (August 21, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306808560
• ISBN-13: 978-0306808562
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 10.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #934,470 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars a real treasure, October 18, 2008

By	Anthony Sconyers "ground11" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Complete Lyrics Of Ira Gershwin (Hardcover)

priceless to be able to get all the Ira Gershwin lyrics, many with his own comments

4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for all Gershwin fans, July 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Complete Lyrics Of Ira Gershwin (Hardcover)

All I can say about this book is: 'Swonderful, 'smarvelous that such a book exists.

Every Gershwin fan in the world should have this book.

0 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This collection rocks!, February 11, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Complete Lyrics Of Ira Gershwin (Hardcover)

This collection kicks some butt! Robert Kimball does it again!