"A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers" by Will Friedwald (2010)

If there is ever a literary Mount Rushmore, with writers who covered popular music of the 20th century, Will Friedwald is there right next to Garry Giddins, Peter Guralnick and few others. While the rest of the gentlemen might be better storytellers, Friedwald will always be my favourite, as his writing voice makes him by far the ultimate music geek, someone who lives for discussion about old records and is ready to fight if you dare to disagree that this arrangements of "Stardust" is better than the other. Recognising the kindred spirit somewhere out there on the other side of the world, I embrace Friedwald as my brother in spirit and love his writing - in fact, I poured over his "Jazz Singing: America's Great Voices From Bessie Smith To Bebop And Beyond" more than anything else I have read in my entire life.

"A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers"  is actually two books in one: the majority of the book is a music encyclopaedia that more or less covers the same artists previously discussed in "Jazz Singing" with addition of several names that Friedwald dismissed the first time around. Not sure is he mellowing with the age or what, but now he actually finds something positive to say about the very same people who he killed back in the first book. Divided between "individual artists" (part one) and "multiple artists" (part two) the book actually picks up in the second part - just like in Jazz Singing" , Friedwald's strength seems to be in discussing and comparing multiple artists, rather than going on forever about one person and his complete discography. Personally, I was kind of bored in the first part but delighted with second part of the book, where author catches the old fire again and is humorous, witty, funny and delightful as before. Where else will you find all these mad anecdotes (Andy Williams dubbing for Lauren Bacall?) and the author clearly loves his work, when Friedwald is on fire, its contagious.

Yeah, he can be predictable - but if you read him before, you know what to expect: he loves everything recorded before Rock music came along and VERY grudgingly will tolerate any "outsiders" or "intruders" who dare to touch American Songbook. Commercial success be damned, Friedwald is a music critic and way above these pedestrian concerns - astutely, he understands that "hits" are not necessarily artist's best work and discusses this contrast. I also found out that in the very beginning of recording business, music stars were unwilling to record because radio was mainly "live" medium and artists were supposed to perform live (today we find recordings absolutely necessary to promote music). The book is absolutely a treasure trove of fascinating insights, discussions and Friedwald's observations that sometimes charmingly stray from the subject. This time I didn't find it as essential as "Jazz Singing" but for the sheer volume, ambition and greatness, its very close to it.