The Philosophy of Modern Song by Bob Dylan is a very unique, cool collection of essays on various songs. He waxes poetically and creatively on sixty six songs from the 1920s to now. It's like a master class on songwriting - Stephen Foster to Elvis Costello, Hank Williams to Nina Simone. The photos that accompany his words add to the project. It is absolutely fascinating.
What was extra fun - I had my phone handy and brought up the songs on i-Tunes. I played the song and then read the essay. It added a lot of depth to songs I might take for granted.
Here's a quick example - Tutti Frutti by Little Richard 1955
Little Richard was speaking in tongues across the airwaves long before anybody knew what was happening. He is the master of the double entendre. Little Richard was anything but little. He's saying that something is happening. The world's gonna fall apart. He's a preacher. "Tutti Frutti" is sounding the alarm.
Each little essay is a treat (even on artists/songs I didn't know) - I chuckled, I nodded, and this book had me dig out some old CDs I hadn't listened to in awhile.
Thanks Bob!
