An intimate history of the crooner in popular music from the 1950s to the present.
In this book, Alex Coles explores the history of the crooner—someone who sings close to the mic in a soft style—in popular music from the 1950s to the present. Each chapter focuses on how one song by one artist contributes to the image of the crooner in the popular imagination. The book describes the rich diversity of crooners throughout music history, including artists in disco, rock, hip-hop, and more such as Frank Sinatra, Scott Walker, Barry White, David Bowie, Bryan Ferry, Tom Waits, Grace Jones, Ian McCulloch, Nick Cave, and Nas. Ultimately, Coles shows how the crooner continues to connect listeners with their hidden feelings.
In this book, Alex Coles explores the history of the crooner—someone who sings close to the mic in a soft style—in popular music from the 1950s to the present. Each chapter focuses on how one song by one artist contributes to the image of the crooner in the popular imagination. The book describes the rich diversity of crooners throughout music history, including artists in disco, rock, hip-hop, and more such as Frank Sinatra, Scott Walker, Barry White, David Bowie, Bryan Ferry, Tom Waits, Grace Jones, Ian McCulloch, Nick Cave, and Nas. Ultimately, Coles shows how the crooner continues to connect listeners with their hidden feelings.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1 Frank Sinatra: ‘What’s New?’ (1968)
2 Scott Walker: ‘It’s Raining Today’ (1969)
3 Barry White: ‘Bring Back My Yesterday’ (1973)
4 David Bowie: ‘Word on a Wing’ (1976)
5 Bryan Ferry: ‘When She Walks (in the Room)’ (1978)
6 Tom Waits: ‘Ruby’s Arms’ (1980)
7 Grace Jones: ‘Unlimited Capacity for Love’ (1982)
8 Ian McCulloch: ‘Ocean Rain’ (1984)
9 Nick Cave: ‘Far from Me’ (1997)
10 Nas: ‘Bye Baby’ (2012)
Conclusion
References
Select Bibliography
Select Discography
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index
1 Frank Sinatra: ‘What’s New?’ (1968)
2 Scott Walker: ‘It’s Raining Today’ (1969)
3 Barry White: ‘Bring Back My Yesterday’ (1973)
4 David Bowie: ‘Word on a Wing’ (1976)
5 Bryan Ferry: ‘When She Walks (in the Room)’ (1978)
6 Tom Waits: ‘Ruby’s Arms’ (1980)
7 Grace Jones: ‘Unlimited Capacity for Love’ (1982)
8 Ian McCulloch: ‘Ocean Rain’ (1984)
9 Nick Cave: ‘Far from Me’ (1997)
10 Nas: ‘Bye Baby’ (2012)
Conclusion
References
Select Bibliography
Select Discography
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index