The Monkees - (Reverb) by Tom Kemper (Paperback)
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About this item
Highlights
- A Variety Best Music Book of 2023 The behind-the-scenes story of the controversial 1960s made-for-tv rock band.
- About the Author: Tom Kemper teaches at the School of Cinematic Arts, University of Southern California, and the Crossroads School of Arts and Sciences, Santa Monica.
- 248 Pages
- Music, History & Criticism
- Series Name: Reverb
Description
About the Book
"The Monkees represent a vital problem for rock and pop, and perhaps the major question: is it the music that matters or the personality and image of the performers? This book explores the system behind the Monkees, the controversial made-for-TV band that scored some of the biggest hit records of the 1960s. The new rock criticism bewailed the fake band, while fans and audiences made it a major commerical success. More than any other group in the 1960s. the Monkees illustrate the genius of the system and its role in popular music"--Back cover.Book Synopsis
A Variety Best Music Book of 2023The behind-the-scenes story of the controversial 1960s made-for-tv rock band. The Monkees represent a vital problem for rock and pop: is it the music that matters or the personality and image of the performers? This book explores the system behind the Monkees, the controversial made-for-TV band that scored some of the biggest hits in the 1960s. The Monkees represent the cumulative result of a complex coordination of talented individuals, from songwriters to studio musicians to producers--in short, the 1960s Hollywood music industry. At the time, the new rock criticism bewailed the "fake" band while fans and audiences pushed the Monkees to the top of the charts. Through the Monkees' unlikely success, this book illustrates the commercial genius of the Hollywood system and its legacy in popular music today.
Review Quotes
"The Monkees: Made in Hollywood is an entertaining title on one of the greatest pop swindles in history and the L.A. music scene of the 1960s. It comes with lots of lore on how several of their songs were produced, renamed or recycled or which inspiration or song by another band created what riff in a Monkees recording and so forth. The book is compiled with the thoroughness of an insider who could connect all the separate determinations and unique characteristics of that Californian scene and the network of producers, managers, songwriters and record publishing companies behind it."-- "PopCultureShelf.com"
"What a difference a half-century can make: The Monkees were one of the most successful pop acts of the 1960s but were viciously maligned as a prefabricated Beatles knockoff created purely to populate a weekly sitcom -- all of which was true. But in the process the group made some of the most memorable pop songs of a vibrant era . . . Now, in an era where such qualities are an unequivocal benefit if not a virtue, it's hard to imagine the extent of puritanism the group faced, but Kemper places it all in refreshingly contemporary and judgment-free context, viewing the group's history through a clear-eyed artistic angle as well as a business one."-- "Variety Best Music Books of the Year"
"Kemper, in this absorbing new book, offers an intelligent, insightful look at the many factors that melded to create The Monkees phenomenon and the band's lasting impact."-- "Pop Culture Classics"
"Belittled at the time of their creation in the mid-Sixties, as made-for-TV Help-era Beatles clones, The Monkees' music has stood the test of time, and then some. Tom Kemper suggests, in his excellent book, that the initial snobbery surrounding the group, at least in elevated critical circles, came about because of the rise of a new rock culture based on authenticity, individual expression and idealism."-- "Choice Magazine (UK)"
"Kemper helps us understand what it is that continues to make the Monkees phenomenon 'compelling, fascinating and divisive' . . . Kemper distinguishes himself in demonstrating how the group represented the spirit both of their time and place."-- "Spectator (UK)"
"The book is full of interesting insights . . . [and] Kemper is impressive in unpacking particular songs . . . a fresh and engaging take on an oft-told story."-- "Shindig!"
"Kemper's book clarifies so much that is misunderstood in the Monkees story."--Susanna Hoffs, The Bangles
"The Monkees gets into the vast machinery that goes on behind the scenes of producing perfect pop - still relevant today even if the names and corporations have changed - and does it with a lot of fun."--Chris Shiflett, Foo Fighters
"A knowledgeable and incisive portrait of the popular music industry."--Paul Hirsch, Northwestern University
"I spent the entire summer of 1987 on the road opening up for The Monkees, and I didn't learn 1% as much about them as I learned from this thorough and remarkable book by Tom Kemper."--"Weird Al" Yankovic
About the Author
Tom Kemper teaches at the School of Cinematic Arts, University of Southern California, and the Crossroads School of Arts and Sciences, Santa Monica. His books include Hidden Talent: The Emergence of Hollywood Agents.Dimensions (Overall): 8.21 Inches (H) x 6.07 Inches (W) x .64 Inches (D)
Weight: .69 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 248
Genre: Music
Sub-Genre: History & Criticism
Series Title: Reverb
Publisher: Reaktion Books
Format: Paperback
Author: Tom Kemper
Language: English
Street Date: August 31, 2023
TCIN: 1006099458
UPC: 9781789147070
Item Number (DPCI): 247-47-8683
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 0.64 inches length x 6.07 inches width x 8.21 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.69 pounds
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