Say It with a Beautiful Song

"An illumination for music lovers and an inspiration to songwriters." - Booklist Working within the limits of a popular song, the songwriters of the Great American Songbook wrote with a combination of familiarity and freshness - sentiment and wit. The songwriters were masters of craft who created a distinctively American popular music that still resonates strongly today. This book looks at the Great American Songbook's craft and its mastery. Michael Lasser and Harmon Greenblatt uncover the essential elements of these beloved songs and investigate the qualities that make the songbook a unique staple of American culture. Filled with interesting anecdotes, each chapter looks at a variety of songs thematically and dives into the lives of songwriters. Ultimately, Lasser and Greenblatt reveal the genius behind this body of music and show us why the Great American Songbook has stood the test of time.

Michael Lasser was the author of three previous books on the Great American Songbook. His nationally syndicated public radio show, Fascinatin' Rhythm on WXXI Radio, won a George Foster Peabody Award and was on the air for over forty years.

Introduction 1. Craft and Authenticity 2. Predictable and Unpredictable 3. Unpredictable and Predictable 4. Memory and Anticipation 5. A Matter of Time 6. Words and Music Acknowledgements Index