A Whig History of Pop Music - The American Interest

Reviews

A Whig History of Pop Music J. Arthur Bloom

Rock journalist and musician Bob Stanley attempts a full-throated defense of “poptimism” and an encyclopedic account of the American music industry’s rise and fall. Both miss the mark.

Published on: August 18, 2014

J. Arthur Bloom is opinion editor of the Daily Caller, and editor of The Mitrailleuse.

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ljgude

I lived through all that right back to Sinatra and you know who stands out for me -Little Richard. Pure Kundalini. No one ever topped him at that.
- Corlyss
  
  For me, no one ever topped Jo Stafford as a song stylist. Early Sinatra was wonderful, but mid and late Sinatra was painful to hear. I go back to the late 40s, and I remember wondering when rock came along how could anyone trade the beautifully composed songs like Stardust and Deep Purple and I’ll Be Seeing You and Moonlight Becomes You and Who Knows Where or When and The Way You Look Tonight for tripe like Blue Suede Shoes and Jailhouse Rock. I remain mystified and listen to a lot of 40s music on XM.
Corlyss

Pop music criticism strikes me as either an oxymoron or a subject for a Benny Hill skit.