Discs of Distinction: Essays on Remarkable Recordings by Exceptional Artists

Most record reviews consist of a single paragraph. These brief commentaries usually highlight the artist's recent releases, the style of music being performed, personal reactions to two or three tunes on the CD, and a critical judgment of the 12-song audio endeavor. This study offers much more. The remarkable recordings and exceptional artists presented below warrant more thorough, thoughtful reviews. These performers are placed within historical context and assessed for both particular CDs as well as their lifetime recording outputs. Featured songs are discussed as sociological subsets that help to define American popular culture.