Read more
This book historically examines musical and cultural relationships through popular music recordings, exploring the transatlantic journeys via academic, critical and commercial reception of the music. It will interest all those who study popular music, cultural studies, and music production, as well as popular music listeners.
List of contents
Acknowledgements List of Figures
PrefaceIntroductionChapter 1: Remixing Black Popular Music History: The Black and the BritishThe Cultural Sound Stage
Black British Outsiders
The Voice and the Instrumental Text
The Weight of History
Dread Out There: The Plight of Black British Reggae
Relocating Heatwave
Chapter 2: Crossing Over, Genre Politics and Music ProductionThe Mainstream and the Charts
Cultural Dislocation
Genre and Crossover: Charting a Discourse
Record Labels and Genre Labelling
Music Production
Chapter 3: Breaking Into America: The 1960s and 1970sThe Artistic Soundscape
The Beatles and Early Black British Pop
The Foundations: American Arrival
The Equals: The "Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys"
Cymande: Sending the Transatlantic Cultural Message
Joan Armatrading: Beyond Stereotypes
Chapter 4: The Margin and the Mainstream: The 1970sHot Chocolate: "Brother Louie" and Breaking America
Beyond "Brother Louie"
Blue-Eyed British R&B: The Average White Band and Kokomo
Chapter 5: Transitions, Technologies, and Tensions: The Late 1970s and 1980sThe Britfunk Era and Echoes of the 1970s
Ska's Second Wave and American Indifference
Technology Topography
Imagination's New Dimensions
Chapter 6: The New Black British Invasion Continues: The 1980sTotal Contrast: Sync or Swim
Eddy Grant: Electric Propulsion
Billy Ocean: The Breakthrough Journey
Loose Ends: The Art of "Hangin' On"
Chapter 7: Commercial Consolidation: The 1980s and 1990sFive Star: Broken by America
Des'ree: "Listen as Your Day Unfolds"
Soul II Soul: American Conquest
Visual Grooves: Soul II Soul Music Videos
Caron Wheeler and
UK Blak Roachford: A Single Instance
Sade: Platinum Life
Chapter 8: Selling Seal to the StatesThe Beginning
The "Crazy" Music Video
The Second Self-Titled Album
The
Human Being Reset
Record Company Calamities
Black British Songstress Status
Chapter 9: The Ephraim Lewis Case Study: 1992-1994Unveiling
SkinDiscovery and Signing
The Music Video for "It Can't Be Forever"
The Textures of
Skin The Unreleased Second Album
Chapter 10: Remastering the Mix: 1990s Snapshots and Black British EchoesEqualizing the Past
Maxi Priest: Reggae Roots, Pop Success
Massive Attack: Remixing Stardom
Mark Morrison: The Mack Hits Back
Atlantic Coda
Bibliography
Discography
Filmography
Index
About the author
Mike Alleyne is Professor Emeritus with the Department of Recording Industry, Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). His publications include co-editing the award-winning collection
Analyzing Recorded Music (2023),
The Essential Hendrix (2020), and
The Encyclopedia of Reggae (2012), and co-editing
Prince and Popular Music (2020). His work has been published in
Popular Music & Society,
Rock Music Studies,
Popular Music History, Ethnomusicology Forum, and
American Music Perspectives.
Summary
This book historically examines musical and cultural relationships through popular music recordings, exploring the transatlantic journeys via academic, critical and commercial reception of the music. It will interest all those who study popular music, cultural studies, and music production, as well as popular music listeners.
