Product Description

An unparalleled reference source in its field, this book offers a consumer guide to movie soundtracks, plus a rich history of composed film scores, movie musicals, and song-compilation scores created for motion pictures over five decades.

In addition to the engrossing historical text are biographical sketches of the many composers who have written film music, followed by a discussion of the best work of each and its availability on long-playing records or compact discs.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #569281 in Books
• Published on: 2000-05-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

From Library Journal
A serviceable reference work to the most notable motion picture soundtrack composers, this guide is divided into three parts: a history of movie soundtracks, an overview of major composers, and a list of important scores currently available, including reissues. Journalist Burlingame (Variety, the Hollywood Reporter, and the Washington Post) has written an informative history, particularly for the novice fan. The composer entries, comprising the bulk of the book, are alphabetically listed and include pertinent biographical information and capsulated synopses of their soundtrack credits. Thanks to the thorough composer/songwriter and film indexes and the substantial bibliography, this is a functional introduction to soundtrack history and its key players. However, libraries needing one comprehensive reference on the topic are directed to MusicHound Soundtracks: The Essential Album Guide to Film, Television, and Stage Music (LJ 4/15/00).DDavid M. Turkalo, Suffolk Univ. Law Sch. Lib., Boston
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author
Jon Burlingame, whose writings include previous books and many articles for Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, The Washington Post, and other publications, teaches film music history at the University of Southern California, and participates in international conferences on the subject. He lives in Los Angeles.

Customer Reviews

An indispensable, seminal, very highly recommended reference
In Sound And Vision: 60 Years Of Motion Picture Soundtracks, Jon Burlingame has created an indispensable, seminal, very highly recommended reference guide featuring a detailed history of Hollywood film music on record and compact disc. Also included are up-to-date biographical sketches of soundtrack composers from the inception of the movies down to the present day. Annotated listings of the best-selling, award-winning, or otherwise memorable soundtracks of the past and present (original film scores as well as movie musicals and song-compilation scores) further enhance this marvelous compendium. Of special note is the "user friendly" and comprehensive index so that the reader can quickly reference whether a particular piece of movie music is commercially available.

Bravo!
Comprehensive and fastidiously researched, "Sound and Vision" towers over the competition. Written by Jon Burlingame, perhaps the most widely read and internationally respected writer in the field today, this book should be in the library of every film music buff. Unlike other books which contain reviews cobbled together from various non-professionals, this book was entirely written with a single knowledgeable voice. The comprehensive index of commerically available titles alone is worth the price of the book. When combined with rare photographs and a well written and perceptive history of music in films, this book becomes indispensible to both the casual and veteran fan of music in film.

Essential for any film music devotee
Finally bought a copy of Jon Burlingame's excellent reference work SOUND AND VISION, 60 years of Motion Picture soundtracks. This is a must have. I have been collecting film music since the early sixties and to have all this information between two covers is marvelous. The detail, the wealth of information and more importantly, the accuracy is astonishing. (I missed some real gems in my buying history!) This book is certainly authoritative, and at 244 pages crammed full of detail, it is a bargain. Highly recommended.... John