BEST LOVED SONGS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

by Denes Agay ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 4, 1975

Whenever that old gang of mine gets together to celebrate -- George's birthday or Chuck's bachelor party or Judy's divorce, or the high school reunion of the Class of '44 -- this is the stuff they'll start to sing, along about the third drink. Nothing original in this collection but then original could hardly be best loved. So it's Greensleeves and Home Sweet Home or My Wild Irish Rose, or for the slightly younger and slightly more hip, Night and Day or Tea for Two. Agay's selections are representative of the sentimentality/bathos/schmaltz which is the hallmark of American popular music -- or was, until the coming of bad, black rock 'n' roll. She spans the decades from the American Revolution to the present and includes any number of musical styles -- the authentic folk song, music hall and minstrel show melodies, ragtime, spirituals, jigs and square dance tunes, and even some of the best from Tin Pan Alley. So if you're the one in the crowd who starts out strong but forgets the words in the middle of the second verse. . .just sing along with Agay.

Pub Date: April 4, 1975

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1975

Categories: NONFICTION