"From one of the preeminent cultural critics of her generation, a radiant weave of memoir, criticism, and biography that tells the story of black women in music--from the Dixie Cups to Gladys Knight to Janet, Whitney, and Mariah-- as the foundational story of American pop"--

Analyzes every song and album of Jackson's solo career, from 1979's groundbreaking "Off the Wall" to his yet-to-be released material, placing the music in its social, historical, and cultural context.

"In this sweeping history of popular music in the United States, NPR's acclaimed music critic examines how popular music shapes fundamental American ideas and beliefs, allowing us to communicate difficult emotions and truths about our most fraught social issues, most notably sex and race."--Provided by publisher.

"Over the past six decades, Burt Bacharach's songwriting has touched millions of listeners all over the world. Here, Bacharach steps out from behind the music to give an honest, engaging look at his life--from his work with Hal David, Dionne Warwick, Elvis Costello and many others, to his tumultuous marriages and the devastating fate of his beloved daughter. Growing up in Forest Hills, NY, during the 1930s and 1940s, Bacharach fell in love with music...

"Everybody knows and loves the American songbook. But it's a bit less widely understood that in about 1950, this stream of great songs more or less dried up. What happened, and why? Acclaimed cultural historian Ben Yagoda answers those questions in a fascinating piece of detective work." --

"An illuminating deep dive into the making of Bruce Springsteen's most surprising album, Nebraska, revealing its pivotal role in Springsteen's career--from the New York Times bestselling author of Petty: The Biography. Without Nebraska, Bruce Springsteenmight not be who he is today. The natural follow-up to Springsteen's hugely successful The River should have been the hit-packed album Born in the U.S.A, but instead, in 1982, he came out with Nebraska,...

A collection of 100 songs by the seminal folk musician. Songs include melodies, chord symbols, chord boxes, and lyrics. With a note from the publisher, Larry Richmond.