Bridge and Tunnel Boys: Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, and the Metropolitan Sound of the American Century
| AUTHOR | Cullen, Jim |
| PUBLISHER | Rutgers University Press (10/13/2023) |
| PRODUCT TYPE | Hardcover (Hardcover) |
Description
Born four months apart, Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel both released their debut albums in the early 1970s, quickly becoming two of the most successful rock stars of their generation. While their critical receptions have been very different, surprising parallels emerge when we look at the arcs of their careers and the musical influences that have inspired them. Bridge and Tunnel Boys compares the life and work of Long Islander Joel and Asbury Park, New Jersey, native Springsteen, considering how each man forged a distinctive sound that derived from his unique position on the periphery of the Big Apple. Locating their music within a longer tradition of the New York metropolitan sound, dating back to the early 1900s, cultural historian Jim Cullen explores how each man drew from the city's diverse racial and ethnic influences. His study explains how, despite frequently releasing songs that questioned the American dream, Springsteen and Joel were able to appeal to wide audiences during both the national uncertainty of the 1970s and the triumphalism of the Reagan era. By placing these two New York-area icons in a new context, Bridge and Tunnel Boys allows us to hear their most beloved songs with new appreciation.
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Product Format
Product Details
ISBN-13:
9781978835221
ISBN-10:
1978835221
Binding:
Hardback or Cased Book (Sewn)
Content Language:
English
More Product Details
Page Count:
290
Carton Quantity:
28
Product Dimensions:
6.37 x 0.57 x 9.07 inches
Weight:
1.15 pound(s)
Feature Codes:
Bibliography,
Index,
Price on Product
Country of Origin:
US
Subject Information
BISAC Categories
Music | Genres & Styles - Rock
Music | Music
Music | Popular Culture
Dewey Decimal:
781.640
Library of Congress Control Number:
2023007691
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
publisher marketing
Born four months apart, Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel both released their debut albums in the early 1970s, quickly becoming two of the most successful rock stars of their generation. While their critical receptions have been very different, surprising parallels emerge when we look at the arcs of their careers and the musical influences that have inspired them. Bridge and Tunnel Boys compares the life and work of Long Islander Joel and Asbury Park, New Jersey, native Springsteen, considering how each man forged a distinctive sound that derived from his unique position on the periphery of the Big Apple. Locating their music within a longer tradition of the New York metropolitan sound, dating back to the early 1900s, cultural historian Jim Cullen explores how each man drew from the city's diverse racial and ethnic influences. His study explains how, despite frequently releasing songs that questioned the American dream, Springsteen and Joel were able to appeal to wide audiences during both the national uncertainty of the 1970s and the triumphalism of the Reagan era. By placing these two New York-area icons in a new context, Bridge and Tunnel Boys allows us to hear their most beloved songs with new appreciation.
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List Price $31.95
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