When The Music Stopped

I just finished reading this incredible book called “When The Music Stopped” by Bernie Woods. The book is basically his memoirs of the big band era during his stint as the music editor of Variety. Although the book was written in the early 1990’s, you can practically feel yourself sitting in the front row of the Hotel Astoria listening to Tommy Dorsey’s Orchestra playing the 1940’s sound.

Anyway, another one of Woods’ chief motives in writing the book is to espouse his disgust at the deterioration of musical talent, chiefly blaming rock and roll.

At the start of the book, you get that “why don’t you shut up and stop whining old-timer” feeling. But his point hits home for me because I think some of this is true. I think it lends credence to the argument that recorded music product quality is falling while other forms of entertainment are improving.

Anyway, the book was great because it looked at an era of music from almost 70 years ago, a time when every facet of the production and performance was broken up amongst varied outstanding professionals.

Still trying to find a similar book about Opera somewhere…