Good text on American Pop Music

I find this textbook to be very good, especially compared to those in its field.

Starting with a brief introduction, the textbook covers the basics of musical sound (beat, timbre, dynamics) and then touches on the elements and sources of popular music. The book then begins historically with minstrel songs ("Oh Susanna" and the like), Ragtime, the Blues, Jazz, Broadway, Tin Pan Alley, Latin Music, and finally Rock and Jazz Fusion (with a little bit of disco and punk).

What's great about this textbook is that even it is accessible for undergraduate college students and even high schoolers, the material is presented in a scholarly fashion. I've not always found that to be the case when it comes to writings about rock music. You can find a lot of fluff out there.

The textbook also has a companion 5-CD set purchased separately. I feel it is extremely helpful, and the book refers to the recordings ALL THE TIME. It's really necessary. There are some songs referred to where Campbell was unable to get the copyright permission, but he has a Discography list at the back of the book for those interested.

This book gets four stars mainly because it's so light on rock after the sixties. The eighties has very little material, and there is only one hip-hop example (Public Enemy). The book really needs a new edition.

Don't use this book for a course on rock alone, but it works great as a text on popular music.

I've met Dr. Campbell

and took his class. I'm pretty sure he even knows me by name. I bought the book, but never read it. I've yet to return the book, so someday in the future, i may read it. But if that book is one tenth as good as his lectures and computer notes were, then i give it my full endoresement.

Fun, entertaining, and informative.

I am a college instructor and have decided to use this book in my History of Popular Music class. I found this book to be very thorough and concise and stays focused on relevant material. I also appreciate the use of historical context when describing a period of music. This book is fun, entertaining, and very informative as it relays the development of our pop music. A must read for music lovers--even if you are not in school!