Unusual Sounds

The Hidden History of Library Music

Unusual Sounds
George Romero, David Hollander
RRP:
NZ$ 100.00
Our Price:
NZ$ 80.00
Paperback
h254 x 203mm - 332pg
19 Mar 2018 US
International import eta 7-19 days
9781944860127
Out Of Stock
Currently no stock in-store, stock is sourced to your order
In the heyday of low-budget television and scrappy genre filmmaking, producers who needed a soundtrack for their commercial entertainments could reach for a selection of library music: royalty-free LPs of stock recordings whose contents fit any mood required. Though at the time, the use of such records was mostly a cost-cutting maneuver for productions that couldn't afford to hire their own composer, the industry soon took on its own life: library publishers became major financial successes, and much of the work they released was truly extraordinary. In fact, many of these anonymous or pseudonymous scores-on-demand were crafted by the some of the greatest musical minds of the late 20th century-expert musicians and innovative composers who reveled in the freedoms offered, paradoxically, by this most corporate of fields.Unusual Sounds is a deep dive into a musical universe that has, until now, been accessible only to producers and record collectors; a celebration of this strange industry and an examination of its unique place at the nexus of art and commerce. Featuring original art by Robert Beatty and an introduction by George A. Romero-whose use of library music in Night of the Living Dead changed film history-Unusual Sounds is mandatory reading for anyone interested in this enigmatic field and its hidden but pervasive cultural influence.
The cult of library music is a fascinating one; anonymous musicians from the '50s through the '70s recording like an assembly line were, eventually, found to have done more than just jazzy widget assembly to fill space for film and television. The archivist David Hollander has devoted a lot of his life to this corner of music history, releasing some of its most notable tunes through his Cinemaphonic series, and writing about it in Unusual Sounds: The Hidden History of Library Music. -Andrew Flanagan, NPR
Unusual Sounds is more than just a look at a kind of music, but a way of making music which has essentially gone away. . . .a fantastic read. -Nick Spacek, Starburst Magazine
These LPs, the height of which appeared across the 1960's and 70's, but stretch from the earliest days of radio to this very day, carry descriptions which often give little clue to what they contain. In a nutshell, it is among the hardest arenas of music to crack, which is David Hollander's Unusual Sounds: The Hidden History of Library Music, is about as valuable as books about records come. It brilliant piece of work, and an open door to a widely unrecognized and misunderstood world. - Soundohm
Featuring original art by Robert Beatty and an introduction by George A. Romero--whose use of library music in Night of the Living Dead changed film history-- Unusual Sounds is mandatory reading for anyone interested in this enigmatic field and its hidden but pervasive cultural influence. - Vinyl Radar
"A comprehensive must-read for those who relish and celebrate the expansive, often subrosa, world of Library Music, the work takes a deep dive into its varied history. With stunning original art by Robert Beatty, Unusual Sounds features histories and interviews, along with visuals from the field's most celebrated creators." - Aquarium Drunkard
"Unusual Sounds, provides an exhaustive history of library music told through interviews with the composers, producers and players responsible for making the records." - Vinyl Factory
"As a historical overview of this world, it would be simply impossible to top David Hollander's Unusual Sounds: The Hidden History of Library Music..." - The Wire
"...a rigorous, in depth, but accessible piece of work, unwinding decades deep shadows and mysteries, returning humanity and the notion of art to a territory which has so often been denied those designations." - Soundohm
David Hollander is an artist, filmmaker and collector of artist-made films and library music. He is a co-founder of CineMarfa, a film festival dedicated to showcasing rare and unseen films in Marfa, Texas. He lives in San Antonio. George Andrew Romero was an American-Canadian filmmaker, writer and editor, best known for his series of gruesome and satirical horror films about an imagined zombie apocalypse, beginning with Night of the Living Dead.
Status: No local stock, title imported to order
ISBN-13: 9781944860127
Published: 19 Mar 2018
Published In: United States
Imprint: Anthology Editions
Publisher: Anthology Editions
Format: Paperback
Height: 254mm
Width: 203mm
Spine: 25mm
Pages: 332

In stock - for items in stock we aim to dispatch the next business day. For delivery in NZ allow 2-5 business days, with rural taking a wee bit longer.

Locally sourced in NZ - stock comes from a NZ supplier with an approximate delivery of 7-15 business days.

International Imports - stock is imported into NZ, depending on air or sea shipping option from the international supplier stock can take 10-30 working days to arrive into NZ. 

Pre-order Titles - delivery will vary depending on where the title is published, if local stock is available in NZ then 5-7 business days, for international imports it can be 10-30 business days. In all cases we will access the quickest supply option.

Delivery Packaging - we ship all items in cardboard sleeves or by box with either packing paper or corn starch chips. (We avoid using plastics bubble bags)

Tracking - Orders are delivered by track and trace courier and are fully insured, tracking information will be sent by email once dispatched.

View our full Order & Delivery information