The doors, with the charismatic but tormented lead singer jim morrison, were instrumental in the swift transformation of rock n roll from brash. For more columns by greil marcus, visit his column archive. After an insightful examination of the historical ferment that fed the energies of the decade into fitzgeralds book, marcus goes to the. Dec 02, 2015 marcuss willingness to be fooled is something like his critical super power. I dont remember myself as greil gerstley, but greil was an unescapable namei always had to explain it, but i really had nothing to tell. I decided to read this book after seeing it top rolling stones list of the best music books of 2014. He is notable for producing scholarly and literary essays that place rock music in a broader framework of culture and politics. The book is a makingof account that often rescues material from interviews that can be muffled in. A couple of years ago, an editor at yale university press got in touch with an old friend and author of his, the cultural historian and journalist greil marcus, and asked him to write a history of rock n roll.
His 2014 book, the history of rock n roll in ten songs, opens with a fivepage run. Greil marcus, author of mystery train, widely acclaimed as the best book ever written about america as seen through its music, began work on this new book out of a. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Discussion in music corner started by ashulman, apr 21, 2010. Be advised that wordpress may filter out questions submitted with a fake email address. Jul 02, 2010 listening to van morrison by greil marcus. Greil marcus, author of the history of rock n roll in ten songs what makes an essential rock song. Greil marcus may be the best known rock critic goinghes famous for his insights but not for concision. Marcus talks like a book, as folk in england used to say about eloquent persons.
Greil marcuss most popular book is psychotic reactions and carburetor dung. Sep 12, 2014 critic greil marcuss musical history of the genre in originals and covers of 10 songs will likely provoke debate. Marcus was born greil gerstley, in san francisco, the only son of greil gerstley and eleanor gerstley, nee hyman. These books like his columns are full of interesting insight into all sorts of topics, not just music. A new literary history of america by greil marcus book 23. Real life rock by greil marcus goodreads share book. Greil marcuss history of rock n roll in ten songs the. Instead of an ordinary plot summary, marcus draws on andy kauffmans quirky gatsby reading on saturday night live in 1978 and an extended discussion of gatz, the sixhour public theatrical reading. Critic greil marcus s musical history of the genre in originals and covers of 10 songs will likely provoke debate.
His books this is his 10th have become cornerstones for the analysis of popular culture. One last tour of america, and they split for good in 1966. Jan 18, 2017 the secret of jack whites success greil marcus on the musical odes of scifi films passengers and arrival, christian marclays slippery sonic sculptures, sleaterkinneys live album, and. With werner sollors he is the editor of a new literary history of america. Punk in pop music, 197792 by marcus, greil and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The leading us critic greil marcus is a man of passions, one of which is the music of van morrison. A secret history of the 20th century, greil marcus explained punk to the world and created a bible for that musics true believers.
In recent years he has taught at berkeley, princeton, minnesota, nyu, and the new school in new york. Out of a house called big pink came music that remains as seductive and baffling today as it was over thirty years ago. Greil marcus has 70 books on goodreads with 63828 ratings. Finished reading the history of rock n roll in ten songs by greil marcus. Greil marcus leads us on a playful, idiosyncratic journey down the wormholes and back alleys of rock, pop and soul, writes kitty empire published. There were no pictures of my father greil gerstley in my house. Sep 10, 2014 the history of rock n roll in ten songs, by greil marcus. Discover book depositorys huge selection of greil marcus books online.
Sounds like a flimsy excuse for pulping a lot of trees. If youre lucky, at the right time you come across music that is not only great, or interesting, or incredible, or fun, but actually sustaining. Greil marcus books list of books by author greil marcus. Aug 11, 2016 it was a continuation of greil marcus and his subject the doors. Greil marcus has been one of the most distinctive voices in american music criticism for over forty years. As it does so, it exposes all youve held back, and then makes sense of.
Music journalist greil marcus argues that its not the stature of the performer. Images of america in rock n roll music is a nonfiction book written in 1975 by greil marcus. What it comes down to for meas a velvets fan, a lover of. So i got to read a chapter excerpt and to hear greil marcuss thoughts about this eternal band i love so much. Rock critic and scholar greil marcus has just released a book with yale press called the history of rock n roll in ten songs, and it appears to be an unusual take on a very hackneyed subject, as marcus admits in the video trailer above. The rude mechs theatrical adaptation of greil marcus book lipstick traces will play jan. Greil marcus is the author of lipstick traces, the dustbin of history both from harvard, and the shape of things to come, the old, weird america, mystery train, and other books. Greil marcus on his book the shape of things to come. Writings 19682010 was recently released, just in time for the holidays. Marcus uses each of the songs as a jumping off point to write about an era, a time, place or emotion, and thats the least of it. Earlier this year i visited greil marcus, widely considered the greatest living rock writer, at his home on the border between berkeley and.
In 1948 my mother remarried, to gerald marcus, and he adopted me, and my name was changed. The popmusic critic greil marcus wrote this in 1995, in the introduction to the essay collection the dustbin of history. But his new book on the belfast enigma doesnt shy away from his subjects failings, writes. Dec 07, 2014 greil marcus gets to the heart of these questions in the history of rock n roll in ten songs, which explores songs that have been interpreted multiple times by artists in different. Greil marcus s book isnt so much about bob dylans album the basement tapes as it is inspired by the basement tapes. For all the provocative sifting through individual songs, the vivid reconstructions of concerts and tours and the alertness to. Greil marcus is the author of lipstick traces, the dustbin of history both from harvard, and the shape of things to come, the old, weird america, mystery train, and other books werner sollors is henry b. His signature move is to find himself propelled, by a songs unexpected shift in tone, by the delivery of a. Greil marcus real life rock redeems the list pitchfork. Cultural critic greil marcus new book, the history of rock n roll in ten songs, goes beyond a simple list of tunes that define a genre. History of rock n roll in ten songs by greil marcus.
Greil marcus s achievement in the doors is to isolate and resurrect this bands best music and set it adrift in a swirling and literate cultural context. Greil marcus s most popular book is psychotic reactions and carburetor dung. With werner sollors he is the editor of a new literary history of america 2009. The history of rock n roll in ten songs by greil marcus. The shape of things to come prophecy and the american voice by greil marcus for many years now greil marcus has been readdressing what it means to be a cultural critic. I see the point, and to a degree agree with it, but i think there is a bit more meat to the book than that description encompasses. I like van morrisons work and respect greil marcus, but marcus dismisses a huge chunk of morrisons work outofhand and thus, doesnt even discuss it.
The situationists were bent on discovering the absolute ability to criticize anyone, anywhere without restraint, without the pull of. In his latest book, when that rough god goes riding. Marcus uses each of the songs as a jumping off point to write about an era, a time, place or emotion, and thats the least of. Oct 01, 2014 at the beginning of his new book, the history of rock n roll in ten songs, greil marcus rattles off a list of every rock n roll hall of fame inductee in the museums 28year history. New greil marcus book on van morrison page 2 steve. Ask greil 2016 ask greil currentsubmit a question archives. He didnt know the name of the scruffy singer who had a bit part in a joan baez.
The history of rock n roll in ten songs, by greil marcus. In the monumental, absorbing a new literary history of america, editors greil marcus and werner sollors have assembled a fascinating collection of writings on a range of subject matters. The book begins in berkeley in 1968, and ends with a. The sixties magical mystery tour box set 5 book collection shout beatles, invisible republic, jimi hendrix, dream a little dream of me and the stones by philip norman, greil marcus, et al. Creem and the village voice has another book out this month, bob dylan by greil.
So santa claus i am adding this book to my christmas list related articles. A lifetime of listening to five mean years, 2011, etc. It features critical essays centered around artists such as elvis presley, sly stone, robert johnson, and randy newman. Greil marcus is the author of bob dylan by greil marcus, when that rough god goes riding, the shape of things to come, mystery train, dead elvis, in the fascist bathroom, double trouble, like a rolling stone, and the old weird america. The book begins in berkeley in 1968, and ends with a piece on dylans show at the university of. I think i first came across greil marcus criticism on, where his column, real life rock, appeared from 19902003. Greil marcus once said to an interviewer, there is an infinite amount of meaning about anything, and i free associate. Everybody knows the history of rock n roll, he says, what if it was just about a few songs. Greil marcus born june 19, 1945 is an american author, music journalist and cultural critic. For more than four decades, marcus has explored the connections among figures, sounds, and events in culture, relating unrelated points of departure, mapping alternate histories and surprising correspondences. Follow greil marcus and explore their bibliography from s greil marcus author page. Greil marcus saw bob dylan for the first time in a new jersey field in 1963.
This led me to track down a couple of his books, the shape of things to come and the dustbin of history. Greil marcus is the author of mystery train 1975, lipstick traces 1989, the shape of things to come 2006, when that rough god goes riding and bob dylan by greil marcus both 2010, and other books. Another allusive, entertaining inquiry by veteran musicologist marcus the doors. One of the greatest pieces on the greil marcus siteand it always seems to be ranked high in page viewsis the obituary for former president george w. Listening to van morrison, greil marcus reflects on one of his favorite artists in a style quite different from recent work. My thoughts on this book can be best summarized by frank zappas view of rock critics in the song packard goose with and keeping peoples dumb is where youre coming from. Fascinating conversation with renowned music journalist, cultural critic and author greil marcus on his new book the shape of things to come. Cabot professor of english literature and professor of african and african american studies at harvard university.