360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story

by Sean Wilentz

For 125 years, Columbia Records has remained one of the most vibrant and storied names in prerecorded sound, nurturing the careers of legends such as Bessie Smith, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé, and many more. Written by distinguished historian Sean Wilentz, 360 Sound tells the story of the label's rich history as it interweaves threads of technical and social change with the creation of some of the greatest albums ever made. Featuring over 300 rare and revealing images from the Columbia archives, this lavishly illustrated celebration is a must-have for any serious music fan.

Genres: Music, History, Nonfiction

336 pages, Hardcover

First published November 14, 2012

About the author

Sean Wilentz is the George Henry Davis 1886 Professor of American History at Princeton University. His many books include The Politicians and the Egalitarians: The Hidden History of American Politics (2016); Bob Dylan in America (2010); and The Age of Reagan: A History, 1974–2008 (2008). The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln (2005) was awarded the Bancroft Prize, and he has received two Grammy nominations for his writings on music.

Reviews

[William Barlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's definitely worth the time to read, but Wilentz gets lost in the weeds sometimes.

[dejah_thoris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I am reviewing the FREE version of this enhanced ebook. I assume from the additions mentioned in this version the FULL version would earn a 5 star review.

I really thought I would never finish this enhanced ebook. It's gloriously long and AMAZING, which is why I stuck with it. I especially enjoyed the early recordings (pre-1930s) and it definitely works as a promotional vehicle to buy more Columbia boxed sets. Each track in the free version is only 90 seconds long, which bothered my spouse more than myself. (He'd often go search Youtube for the full version.) And the audio players "evolve" as you go through each era though the later eras are much less fun because you no longer get to drag the arm of a record player onto the track to start it but merely push a button. Each track has its original metadata and one for the current CD set Columbia has available, which is useful for music historians. And Columbia's collection is VERY diverse. Unfortunately, it's difficult to sort by artist or genre, so expect to be flipping through the book if you don't like certain styles of music. But if you're game for anything, working through this incredibly long book is worth it.

The only major downside to this enhanced ebook is that you can't read the text for each track when the player is running. You're pretty much stuck for 90 seconds watching the turntable (or whatever) run until it's finishing playing and then you have to manually close the audio player. Ideally, you'd be able to launch the audio while reading the text but I think Columbia was more invested in the neat turntable skins than accessibility.

Overall, definitely worth downloading. From the promotional text, the full version might be more user-friendly (plus you can re-use the tracks via iTunes) but the free version is certainly worth attempting if you're low on cash.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I downloaded the companion to this book from the iBookstore and its amazing! The enhanced book is full of all the images in just the book but also includes audio and video (live performances) of some of the greatest musicians. Some whose songs I've heard but by different artists. Hearing and seeing the originals performances was very impressive. You clearly hear the progression of music over the many years showcased.

[Regina Mascia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great history of the music artists who were a part of Columbia records. A must read for all music fans!!

[Kentsoul · Rating 4 out of 5]

A handsome, authoritative overview of the history of one of the greatest record labels. I'm considering buying a copy of this one.

[Cody · Rating 1 out of 5]

Barely scratches the surface.

[Baikinange · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really could not understand why this book was so freakishly large and heavy--the text was shallow and dull, the photos really did not need to be published as large as they were. Waste of time.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice coffee table book about the history of Columbia Records. Missing a lot of details, however; especially of the earliest period of the company.