The Aesthetics of Rock

This infamous book has enjoyed a lively underground reputation since its first publication in 1970. Richard Meltzer (a.k.a. R. Meltzer) took his training as a young philosopher and applied it with una

About the author

Richard Meltzer is the author of over a dozen books, including A Whore Just Like the Rest-winner of the ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award-and innumerable articles. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

Summary

This infamous book has enjoyed a lively underground reputation since its first publication in 1970. Richard Meltzer (a.k.a. R. Meltzer) took his training as a young philosopher and applied it with unalloyed enthusiasm to the lyrics, sound, and culture of rock and roll. Never before had anyone noticed the relationship between the philosophy of Heidegger and a tune by Little Anthony and the Imperials, heard the cries of agony in the Shangri Las' “Remember (Walkin' in the Sand)”, or transcribed every "papa-ooma-mow-mow" in the Trashmen's “Surfin' Bird.”From Dionne Warwick to Plato, Jim Morrison to Bert Brecht, Conway Twitty to Miguel de Unamuno, Meltzer subverts high and low culture in his search for meaning, emotion, and codes in popular music. At once an earnest investigation and a crypto put-on, the book can be read for its nuggets of information and insights or for its humor. Here with Greil Marcus's new introduction, yet another generation of readers can be outraged and inspired.

Product details

• Authors: Richard Meltzer, Meltzer Richard
• Assisted by: Griel Marcus (Illustration), Greil Marcus (Editor)
• Publisher: Perseus Books Uk
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback
• Released: 22.03.1987
• EAN: 9780306802874
• ISBN: 978-0-306-80287-4
• No. of pages: 384
• Dimensions: 130 mm x 205 mm x 22 mm
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Music > Music history; Rock, MUSIC / History & Criticism, MUSIC / Genres & Styles / Rock, MUSIC / Genres & Styles / Pop Vocal, Pop Music, Popular Music