Albin J. Zak III's Books

The Poetics of Rock

Cutting Tracks, Making Records

By: Albin J. Zak III

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The Poetics of Rock

Cutting Tracks, Making Records

By: Albin J. Zak III

After a hundred years of recording, the process of making records is still mysterious to most people who listen to them. Records hold a fundamental place in the dynamics of modern musical life, but what do they represent? Are they documents? Snapshots? Artworks? Fetishes? Commodities? Conveniences? The Poetics of Rock is a fascinating exploration of recording consciousness and compositional process from the perspective of those who make records. In it, Albin Zak examines the crucial roles played by recording technologies in the construction of rock music and shows how songwriters, musicians, engineers, and producers contribute to the creative project, and how they all leave their mark on the finished work. Zak shapes an image of the compositional milieu by exploring its elements and discussing the issues and concerns faced by artists. Using their testimony to illuminate the nature of record making and of records themselves, he shows that the art of making rock records is a collaborative compositional process that includes many skills and sensibilities not traditionally associated with musical composition. Zak connects all the topics--whether technical, conceptual, aesthetic, or historical--with specific artists and recordings and illustrates them with citations from artists and with musical examples. In lively and engaging prose, The Poetics of Rock brilliantly illustrates how the musical energy from a moment of human expression translates into a musical work wrought in sound.

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Page Count

279

Publisher

Univ of California Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0520928156

ISBN 13

9780520928152

The Poetics of Rock

Cutting Tracks, Making Records

By: Albin Zak

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The Poetics of Rock

Cutting Tracks, Making Records

By: Albin Zak

This title provides a fascinating exploration of recording consciousness and compositional process from the perspective of those who make records.

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N/A

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Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

278

Publisher

Univ of California Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0520232240

ISBN 13

9780520232242

Rock on Record

By: Albin J. Zak

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Rock on Record

By: Albin J. Zak

An introductory textbook for Rock Music Appreciation and History courses, Rock on Record traces the story of rock from the late 1940s through the pre-rock styles of the 1950s to rock in its heyday in the 1960s and, then follows its continued growth in the 1970s and early 1980s. Rock on Record puts listening first, teaching students how to listen to key recordings in the rock repertoire. The book opens with general guidance on how to listen to a recording as well as an overview of the song structures commonly used by rock songwriters. Then, in twenty-two chronological sections, Albin J. Zak provides historical context for each new genre or style, discussing its key recordings and performers and its impact on the artists who followed. Zak analyzes seventy-three recordings using easy-to-follow listening guides, giving students the tools they will need to enhance their enjoyment and understanding while also highlighting a wide range of examples that illustrate the richness of the rock repertory. Rock on Record examines how rock changed American culture and encourages students to explore further on their own.

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