101 Albums That Changed Popular Music

Chris Smith tells the fascinating stories behind the most groundbreaking, influential, and often controversial albums ever recorded.

Whether on vinyl or MP3, the album has become an integral part of our cultural history. This book tells the stories behind the most groundbreaking, influential, and often controversial albums ever recorded. Among the featured: Pet Sounds (The Beach Boys), What's Going On (Marvin Gay), London Calling (The Clash), No Fences (Garth Brooks), and The Chronic (Dr. Dre). Narrative chapters in this chronologically organized volume describe how the albums reflected the political, social, and economic culture of the era. Individual entries discuss the albums' histories, the inspiration behind their creation, and why they continue to stand the test of time.

For many people, popular music provides a soundtrack to their lives by entwining emotion with experience. It is little wonder, then, that eventful periods in American history are often defined by the pop music of the time. For example, big band jazz evokes memories of World War II for those who lived through that era, while songs from the 1960s often remind baby boomers of the drug-fueled hippie revolution. Author Stuart Kallen traces the history of popular music in America from the sounds of Tin Pan Alley to Chicago jazz clubs, to southern rock n' roll and country, to the British Invasion, to psychedelic rock and Woodstock, to garage band heroes and music video rock stars, to hip-hop tycoons and young American idols.

Rock and roll. Those three words are understood by people in almost every nation on Earth. They describe a type of music and an attitude that made history and continues to change the musical landscape. Readers will learn that the music style started out in the United States as a new type of dance music for teenage baby boomers during the mid-1950s. By the 1960s, the music transformed the cultural and political landscape of much of the world. Never before in history has a style of music come along that so quickly and so completely changed the world. Author Stuart Kallen traces the history of rock and roll from its early 1950s beginnings through its most significant developments to date.

What do boy bands from the 1990s have in common with the Beatles? Why are some pop artists, such as Justin Timberlake, considered controversial? Readers will discover these answers and the stories behind beloved artists from the Beach Boys to Lady Gaga through fun and fact-filled text about the roots of pop music and how it has spread around the world. Readers will gain a deeper appreciation for their favorite artists and the pop stars who came before them as they explore a discography of important albums, full-color photographs, annotated quotes from artists and journalists, and fascinating sidebars.

Great music is about so much more than just the end product. Very often the stories behind the songs and their creators can be as scintillating as the music itself. This book is about more than just 101 slabs of music you are being advised to listen to. It's about the also-rans and stars that burned out too fast. As a music journalist for many years, the author managed to meet many of his idols - and they provided interesting insights as well as moments of humour. In the first of two volumes, we look at the timeless stories the musicians were telling, and just why they deserve to live forever.

The story behind rockmusics most famous record covers as told by some of music business' most profilic rockstars.