This is a study of the way in which popular words and music relate to American life. The question of what popular song was, and why it came into existence, as well as how each song fit within the context of the larger 20th Century society are considered and explained clearly and fruitfully. Songs of the Jazz Age and Swing Era are considered primarily in terms of song-types and their relation to the times. Post World War II songs are shown to have splintered into a multitude of different styles and variations within each style. Many 20th Century songs came to be closely identified with particular singers and performance groups, shifting the attention to the styles identified with particular performers and the audiences they reached. Tawa avoids overly-technical vocabulary, making this examination of hundreds of popular songs accessible to a wide variety of readers seeking to better their understanding of the often perplexing musical landscape of the time.

"In this accessibly written volume, Tawa traces the rise of the popular song in twentieth-century America. Songs of the Jazz Age and Swing Era are considered primarily in terms of their relationship to the times, while coverage of the post-WWII era focuses on the diversity of styles that emerged. The public's idolization of particular singers such as Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra is also discussed." - Reference and Research Book News

"...provides diverse and interesting context for many American songs and song styles, and he explains the many exchanges between popular music and society in respect to politics and historical events....This book will be useful for American studies and history courses that embrace popular music and society as well as for music curricula. Recommended." - CHOICE

"There is a lot of good information found within this book....a useful study of popular music in America." - Notes: Quarterly Journal of the Music Library Association, June 2006