The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll in Ten Songs

The history of rock n’ roll is the history of music in the twentieth century; rock n’ roll was the culmination of what came before and an undeniable influence on the music styles that followed. Greil Marcus has chosen ten songs to serve as touchstones for a much greater exploration of the genre, an incredibly ambitious look at music as history, as cultural force, and as universal language.

The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll in Ten Songs could never truly encapsulate rock n’ roll as a whole, but it does manage to cover many of the focal points, key artists, and earthshaking songs that resonated with millions of music fans across the decades, from Buddy Holly to Robert Johnson and back again.

Covering dozens and dozens of tunes under loose associations and free-form connections to each chapter’s anchoring songs, the book is really Greil Marcus’s take on what rock n’ roll has meant to the world, and even if you don’t agree with his choices, his passion for the form and his knowledge of the medium are beyond reproach.

For musical diehards and newcomers alike, The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll in Ten Songs is a great place to start discussions.