The American Song Reader

The background information for some 150 songs makes entertaining reading, but not much else. Too many entries carry intriguing facts that would lead only to a tedious chase for supplementary information. That could be irritating for those who consult the book, and it limits its use as a reference work.

The book is meant to be used in conjunction with earlier readers that cover specifics such as Christmas songs, rock and roll, and national and religious songs. The net is cast widely, but one could be forgiven for wondering how (for instance) “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” and “Fingal’s...