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Music Is Power

Music Is Power

Popular Songs, Social Justice, and the Will to Change

by Brad Schreiber

Published by: Rutgers University Press

Imprint: Rutgers University Press

256 Pages, 132.00 × 203.00 × 25.00 mm, 18 b-w

Paperback
9781978839021
Published: October 2023

£20.99

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Hardcover
9781978808126
Published: November 2019

£28.99

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Description
Contents
Authors
Praise

Honorable Mention, 2019 Foreword INDIES Awards - Performing Arts & Music
Honorable Mention, Graphis 2021 Design Annual Competition

Popular music has long been a powerful force for social change. Protest songs have served as anthems regarding war, racism, sexism, ecological destruction, and so many other crucial issues.

Music Is Power takes us on a guided tour through the past one hundred years of politically conscious music, from Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie to Green Day and NWA. Covering a wide variety of genres, including reggae, country, metal, psychedelia, rap, punk, folk, and soul, Brad Schreiber demonstrates how musicians can take a variety of approaches- angry rallying cries, mournful elegies to the victims of injustice, or even humorous mockeries of authority-to fight for a fairer world. While shining a spotlight on Phil Ochs, Gil Scott-Heron, the Dead Kennedys and other seminal, politicized artists, he also gives readers a new appreciation of classic acts such as Lesley Gore, James Brown, and Black Sabbath, who overcame limitations in their industry to create politically potent music

Music Is Power tells fascinating stories about the origins and the impact of dozens of world-changing songs, while revealing political context and the personal challenges of legendary artists from Bob Dylan to Bob Marley.

Supplemental material (Artist and Title List): https://d3tto5i5w9ogdd.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/24001955/Music_Is_Power_Supplementary_Artist_Title_List.doc

Introduction

Chapter 1: Musical Workers of the World Unite: Joe Hill, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger

Chapter 2: There For More Than Fortune: Phil Ochs, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan

Chapter 3: Caged Artists: Lesley Gore, Janis Ian, P.F. Sloan

Chapter 4: Parody and Poetry: Tom Lehrer, Peter, Paul and Mary, The Smothers Brothers

Chapter 5: Psychedelicate Situation: Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd

Chapter 6: Reason and Blues: Marvin Gaye and The Temptations

Chapter 7: Say It Loud, We’re Blocked but Proud: James Brown and Curtis Mayfield

Chapter 8: Hard Rock Turns Metallic: The Who and Black Sabbath

Chapter 9: More Than a Working Class Hero: John Lennon

Chapter 10: Out of Place and In Your Face: The Dead Kennedys and The Sex Pistols

Chapter 11: Word: Gil Scott Heron and Grandmaster Flash

Chapter 12: Global Music Consciousness: Bob Marley and Peter Gabriel

Chapter 13: Weird, Funny, Angry: Frank Zappa vs. Everybody

Chapter 14: Rap, Not Hip Hop: N.W.A. and Public Enemy

Chapter 15: Weapons of Mass Deconstruction: Dixie Chicks and Green Day

Epilogue

Bibliography

BRAD SCHREIBER is an award-winning author, journalist, and screenwriter. His previous books include Death in Paradise, Becoming Jimi Hendrix, and Revolution’s End. He has received fellowships and awards from the National Press Foundation, Edward Albee Foundation, International Book Awards, Independent Publisher Book Awards, and Los Angeles Press Club.

“Brad Schreiber understands both music and politics, as well as the jagged lines where they overlap and intersect. His clarity, intelligence, and insight provide lasting rewards.”

- Anthony DeCurtis (Grammy Award–winning journalist, for Rolling Stone, author of Lou Reed: A Life)
“An inspiring tour through the history of making change with music and an important call for retrieving music’s intrinsic ability to challenge power.”

- Douglas Rushkoff (documentarian, professor of Media Theory and Digital Economics at CUNY/Queens, author of Team Human)
“A stirring survey of the sometimes sad, sometimes joyful, sometimes angry but ever hopeful music that is the soundtrack for America’s struggle to become a more fair and just society.”

- Seth Rosenfeld (journalist, winner of the George Polk Award, author of Subversives: The FBI's War on Student Radical)
Interview on "Deep Dish Radio with Tim Powers" with Brad Schreiber
https://play.acast.com/s/deepdishradio/7424927b-bdc3-4183-a884-a84f4ba85c5f
(Deep Dish Radio with Tim Powers)
Law and Disorder Radio interview with Brad Schreiber
https://lawanddisorder.org/2019/11/law-and-disorder-november-25-2019/
(Law and Disorder)
Interview with Brad Schreiber on The Stuph File Program
(The Stuph File)
"Music is Power: Author Brad Schreiber digs into he history and power of protest music" interview with Brad Schreiber
https://wgnradio.com/2019/12/10/music-is-power-author-brad-schreiber-digs-into-he-history-and-power-of-protest-music/
(Nick Digilio Show - WGN)
Music Is Power mention in Planet Proctor, December 2019 issue
(Planet Proctor)
MWN Episode 136 – Popular Songs , Social Justice, and the Will to Change with Brad Schreiber
(Midnight Writer News)
"A fun read. It provides the old timer with a quick sail down the streams of memory and the younger reader with a useful and concise look at the music of the West that helped form the culture of today."
(CounterPunch)
Louisiana Radio Network "Talk Louisiana" interview with Jim Engster and Brad Schreiber
https://www.wrkf.org/post/monday-january-20th-faye-williams-daryl-glasper-brad-schreiber
(Louisiana Radio Network)
"Music Is Power covers the socio-political history of important music, from Bob Dylan to hip-hop, including genres like punk, comedy, folk, psychedelia, RB/soul and major musicals, and encourages listeners to respond to this powerful music with real world activism. It’s a timeless New Year’s gift!"
(Planet Proctor)
Unstructured Podcast interview with Brad Schreiber
https://unstructuredpod.com/psychotically-eclectic-author-brad-schreiber/
(Unstructured Podcast)
"Brad Schreiber talks about this topic perfectly...You did a lot of research."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gaim6C8E3wfeature=youtu.be
(The Allan Handelman Show interview with Brad Schreiber: Music Is Power")
Brad Schreiber's Playlist for His Book "Music is Power: Popular Songs, Social Justice, and the Will to Change"
(Largehearted Boy)
"Brad Schreiber Visits Madame Perry's Salon" podcast interview
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brad-schreiber-visits-madame-perrys-salon/id1063919048?i=1000465223311
(Madame Perry's Salon)
"In-Depth Interview: Author Brad Schreiber Talks..." interview on the Peter B. Collins Show
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/peter-b-collins-newscomment/e/66984975
(The Peter B. Collins Show)
"A fun and informative read from first page to last."
(Midwest Book Review)
"Brad Schreiber, 'Music Is Power: Popular Songs, Social Justice And The Will To Change'"
https://www.wortfm.org/brad-schreiber-music-is-power-popular-songs-social-justice-and-the-will-to-change/
(Madison Bookbeat)
Parallax Views with J.G. Michael interview with Brad Schreiber
https://parallaxviews.podbean.com/e/schreiber/
(Parallax Views)
"Passing Through" KAAD-LP 103.5 FM interview with Brad Schreiber
(Passing Through)
"An intensively researched yet rollicking tour of socially charged music...A compelling read on the intersection of popular music and social activism, from Pete Seeger to Zappa to Public Enemy and beyond."
(American Songwriter)
INTERVIEW WITH BRAD SCHREIBER ON ‘MUSIC IS POWER’: PART 1-DIXIE CHICKS, MARVIN GAY
https://shadowproof.com/2020/03/31/music-is-power-interview-schreiber-dixie-chicks-marvin-gaye/
(Shadowproof)
"What’s better than a book you didn’t know you needed? Music Is Power is a history of the nexus of music and protest, from Wobbly-turned-musician Joe Hill to Green Day, from folk to hip-hop."
(Razorcake)
"INTERVIEW WITH BRAD SCHREIBER ON ‘MUSIC IS POWER’: PART 2-JIMI HENDRIX, PINK FLOYD"
(Shadowproof, Part 2)
“Music Is Power - Part 3: Black Sabbath, Gil Scott-Heron, Public Enemy”
https://shadowproof.com/2020/04/28/music-is-power-schreiber-gil-scott-heron-black-sabbath/
(Shadowproof, Part 3)
"Much has been written about these artists elsewhere, but Schreiber’s focus sets this study apart. He goes beneath the surface to detail how their social consciousness evolved during the course of their careers, and how they came to understand their music’s power to address social ills. This carefully researched book is suitable for fans and scholars alike. Recommended."
(Choice)
"Madame Perry's Salon" interview with Brad Schreiber, part two
https://www.blogtalkradio.com/madameperryssalon/2020/05/14/writer-producer-brad-schreiber
(Madame Perry's Salon, part two)
Brad Schreiber interview on “Passing Through” on KAAD-LP 103.5 FM
(Passing Through, part 2)
"Coast to Coast AM" interview with Brad, Schreiber, part 1
(Coast to Coast AM, part 1)
"Coast to Coast AM" interview view Brad Schreiber, part 2
(Coast to Coast AM, part 2)
"Coast to Coast AM" interview with Brad Schreiber, part 3
(Coast to Coast AM, part 3)
"MWN Episode 144 – Music is Power (Part 2) with Brad Schreiber"
https://midnightwriternews.com/mwn-episode-144-music-is-power-part-2-with-brad-schreiber/
(Midnight Writer News)
"Chatting with Sherri," BlogTalkRadio interview with Brad Schreiber
https://www.blogtalkradio.com/rithebard/2020/06/25/chatting-with-sherri
(Chatting with Sherri - Blog Talk Radio)
Music's Connection to Societal Issues The Patty Hearst/SLA Case - interview with Brad Schreiber
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AHdxbXK6Ys
(Beyond Reality Radio)
"Talk with Ted" interview with Brad Schreiber
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-s3b37-e5cbf5
(Talk with Ted podcast)
"Brad Schreiber interview – Episode 288"
http://readingandwritingpodcast.com/brad-schreiber-interview/
(Reading and Writing podcast)
High Road to Humanity - Music Is Power! Popular Songs, Social Justice, with Guest Brad Schreiber
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55j15fa54NIfeature=youtu.be
(Nancy Yearout's High Road to Humanity)
"Episode 37: "Music Is Power: Popular Songs, Social Justice, and The Will to Change" with Brad Schreiber"
https://allmusicbooksdeepdive.podbean.com/e/episode-37-music-is-power-popular-songs-social-justice-and-the-will-to-change-with-brad-schreiber/
(Deep Dive podcast)
Beyond Reality Paranormal Podcast - Hidden History episode interview with Brad Schreiber
https://anchor.fm/brparanormal/episodes/Hidden-History---Brad-Schreiber---102020-elclvh
(Beyond Reality Paranormal podcast)
"Tuesday, December 8th: Andrea Gallo, Brad Schreiber"
("Talk Louisiana," WRKF)
The Stuph File Program interview with Brad Schreiber
(The Stuph File Program)
"How Tom Odell’s Another Love became an unlikely anthem for Ukraine," by James Hall
(The Telegraph)
*Special episode * Music is Power: Donna and Dr Adam in conversation with author Brad Schreiber
(Love's A Secret Weapon podcast)
"In Music Is Power, Brad Schreiber argues that socially or politically conscious music emerges from practically every genre of popular music, and he takes the reader on a journey through the various ways that musicians have addressed the issues of their day."
- Shalon Van Tine (Western Folklore journal)