America on Record: A History of Recorded Sound

By Andre Millard

Book Overview

In 1877 Thomas Edison dreamed that one day there would be a talking machine in every home, but even his legendary vision could not have foreseen the way that recorded sound would pervade modern life. From the first thin sheet of tinfoil that was manipulated into retaining sound to the home recordings of rappers in the 1980s and the high-tech studios of the 1990s, this book examines the important technical developments of acoustic, electric, and digital sound reproduction while outlining the cultural impact of recorded music and movies. This second edition highlights the digital revolution of sound recording. First Edition Hb (1995) 0-521-47544-9 First Edition Pb (1995) 0-521-47556-2

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B007YZVZZS
• ISBN13: 9780521542814
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 474 Pages
• Weight: 2.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

The best I've found of its type.

Mr. Millard has done an extraordinary job of documenting the recording industry from Edison's invention of the phonograph to the present day. He integrates the social, technical and business issues into an easy-to-read, almost "unputdownable" form. Parallels in broadcasting and motion pictures are given the necessary coverage as well. To a student of recorded sound, the references and bibliography are invaluable.