“Opening with Tin Pan Alley and counting through years of rock and roll, disco, hip hop, rap, and many other genres and sub-genres, [Rachlin] explores the often symbiotic relationship between music and its purveyors. Throughout he cites more song titles than a Casey Kasem year-end countdown... Song and System is sure to be a hit with readers interested in music or popular culture.”
—Booklist
“[Song and System] expertly lays out the history of pop music . . . Rachlin’s informative and highly detailed narrative will resonate with music geeks and industry folks alike.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Harvey Rachlin never ceases to amaze me. Even after recording my first hit song, I’m still learning from this author. Thank you for writing this one. It’s amazing!”
—Tony Orlando
“Harvey Rachlin explains how it all happened and the evolution in the music industry as we know it today. This is a must-read for music lovers!”
—Bobby Rydell
“Bravo! What an achievement! So insightful, educational, and informative of the history of our crazy, wonderful business—a must read for any and all music lovers.”
—Sandy Linzer, co-writer of "Working My Way Back to You," "A Lover's Concerto," "Dawn (Go Away)," "Let's Hang On!" "Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'Bout Me)," "Keep the Ball Rollin'," "Native New Yorker," and many other hit songs
“I always knew Harvey was a terrific editor; I had no idea he was such a brilliant researcher as well!”
—Janis Ian
“An amazing book covering all the history of popular music from beginning to end. Perfect for any music lover, history buff, or musician who wants to know the background of what they’re listening to or playing.”
—Dutch Robinson, lead singer of the Ohio Players
“Anyone can now listen to any song at any time via streaming. How this came to be is the subject of Song and System. The prolific Rachlin (Manhattanville College) traces the history of popular song in the US and the behind-the-scenes development of the music industry . . . Popular music is an important part of American life, and aficionados will learn from this book.”
—CHOICE
