American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900-1950

"'Wonderful'" - *The New York Times*
"'Provocative, opinionated, and never dull'" - *Down Beat*
"'A singular book.'" - Studs Terkel

When it was first published, Alec Wilder's *American Popular Song* swiftly became a classic and today it remains essential reading for countless musicians, enthusiasts of American Song, and admirers of Alec Wilder. Now, in this 50th-anniversary edition, popular music scholar Robert Rawlins brings the book fully up-to-date for the 21st century.

While previous editions featured only piano scores, the format has been revised to lead sheet notation with lyrics, making it accessible to a broader readership. Rawlins has also incorporated more than sixty additional music examples to further enrich the chapter on Irving Berlin.

One of the most compelling aspects of the original edition was Wilder's inventive and distinctive use of language, often revealing his strong and sometimes irreverent opinions. Wilder's prose remains largely unchanged, but helpful footnotes have been added to clarify, elucidate, and even offer corrections where necessary. Furthermore, a new chapter has been included, discussing fifty-three songs by a range of composers that Wilder might well have included originally but was unable to. Songs by artists such as Ann Ronnell, Fats Waller, and Jule Styne are featured, culminating in an examination of ten of Wilder's own compositions. This updated edition promises to be an invaluable resource for both longtime fans and new readers alike.