Praise for Listening for America: Inside the Great American Songbook from Gershwin to Sondheim

“Infectiously readable. . . . a carefully thought-out act of selection that gives you a starting point for your journey through the Great American Songbook. Who could ask for anything more?”

—Terry Teachout, Wall Street Journal

“[An] enlightening study. . . . Rob Kapilow may be contemporary America’s most passionate evangelist for the quaint discipline known as ‘music appreciation.’ . . . A winning combination of Leonard Bernstein and Bill Nye the Science Guy, an infectiously enthusiastic explainer of the inner mechanical workings of music. . . . A nifty companion website for the book includes helpful, easy-to-grasp audible demonstrations and vocals, as does the e-book version. For me at least, this digital crib-sheet was a vital tool for appreciating Kapilow’s arguments. . . . It is a testament to the depth and catholicity of Kapilow’s knowledge that he can effortlessly compare the sweet-sour takes on love in Rodgers and Hart’s “I Wish I Were in Love Again” with Stephen Sondheim’s “Being Alive.” He writes engagingly of Irving Berlin’s astonishing journey from a Russian village and Manhattan’s Lower East Side to the heights of fame, [and] astutely surveys the radical changes in popular taste in the 1960s and ’70s that dislodged the Broadway musical. . . . But it is the analysis of the songs that is the meat of the book―and something like its soul as well. . . . [Kapilow] rewards those patient enough to hold his hand as he walks them through just what makes these songs great.”

—Todd S. Purdum, New York Times Book Review

“Through the lens of musical theater, Rob Kapilow allows us to experience the unique sound and spirit of a changing America. I came away inspired and ready to write.”

—Lynn Ahrens, Tony Award-winning lyricist of Ragtime

“Focusing on the development of 16 songs and their composers—including George Gershwin’s ‘I Got Rhythm,’ Irving Berlin’s ‘Cheek to Cheek,’ and Harold Arlen’s ‘Over the Rainbow’—Kapilow chronicles the evolution of pop music from blues and jazz to Broadway musicals as well as the cultural forces that shaped the music. . . . Kapilow’s melodious writing hums with the vibrant music of American history and American popular culture.”

—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“A user-friendly guide to appreciating show tunes. … [a lively and highly informative look at what makes musical show tunes great. … Each chapter is a gem of explication and informed opinion. … A seamless blend of music, history, and biography.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“The Great American Songbook is a national treasure, and in this engaging and instructive guide, composer, conductor, and music commentator Kapilow unlocks its riches. … A treat for music fans and a great addition to any performing arts or popular culture collection.”

—Carolyn Mulac, Booklist

“Listening for America is an impressive achievement and one of the finest contributions to the annals of musical theater.”

—Robert Kimball, editor of The Complete Lyrics of Cole Porter