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Compilations
Music Guide Count: 25
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1997 Billboard Music Yearbook by Joel Whitburn (1998)
Released in mid-1998, this monster 244-page book recaps all the hit albums and singles of 1997. There is a section in this book that talks about the "Hanson Phenomenon" (and MMMBop's #1 success, I'm sure), but I don't know how many pages it takes up, or where it is in the book. This book is pretty expensive, it retails for $35. |
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Key Terms in Popular Music and Culture by Bruce Horner (1999) 272 Pages Hanson mention on p. 109 Synopsis: Key Terms in Popular Music and Culture presents eighteen original essays by leading scholars in the field of popular music studies. Each essay...maps the competing perspectives on one of the key terms in ongoing debates on the meaning of popular music and culture, discusses the history of continuities and conflicts in its meaning, and presents the writer's own views on its meaning and how he or she has come to adopt such a position. Excerpt: (From a section titled Youth) - Acts were developed for the sub-youth market, such as the kiddie-rock of New Kids on the Block and, more recently, the Spice Girls, Hanson, and Backstreet Boys. |
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Six Steps to Songwriting Success by Jason Blume (1999) 282 Pages Hanson mention on pgs. 24 First published in 1999, author Jason Blume discusses how to write & market hit songs in six easy steps. MMMBop is mentioned in Step II: Writing Effective Lyrics. Excerpt: Occasionally, a series of nonsense syllables or a new word that the writer creates, like "Mmm-Bop" [sic] or "No Diggity," can provide a hit as well." |
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A Change Is Gonna Come by Craig Werner (1999) 432 Pages Hanson mention on p. 325 Synopsis: A Change Is Gonna Come is the story of more than four decades of enormously influential black music, from the hopeful, angry refrains of the Freedom movement, to the slick pop of Motown; from the disco inferno to the Million Man March; from Woodstock's "Summer of Love" to the war in Vietnam and the race riots that inspired Marvin Gaye to write "What's Going On." Excerpt: "Wannabe" played right alongside Hanson's "MMMbop," which was kind of a Springsteen lite, an affirmation of rock energy as the best way to deal with a world where the people who tell you they have the answers are lying. Made by three brothers from Tulsa...the cut sounds a little bit like every rock and roll classic you can remember and absolutely like itself. |
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Set Your Voice Free by Roger Love (1999) 225 Pages Hanson mention on pgs. 4-5 Taylor Hanson had a problem: his voice broke during the middle of recording Middle of Nowhere in 1996. Voice coach Roger Love spent some time with Taylor and helped him sing the notes no one thought he could sing again. Excerpt: That night I met Taylor Hanson, listened to his attempts to sing, and gave him specific exercises to put him back in control of his vocal chords and reestablish his connection to the high notes he thought he could never sing again. ...we successfully managed to tape nearly all the high parts of the song that had been so impossible for him before we met. The song, MMMBop, went on to ... |
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Vibe History of Hip Hop by Vibe Magazine, Alan Light (Editor) (1999) 432 Pages Hanson mention on p. 71 Synopsis: VIBE, the voice of the hip hop generation, presents the essence of hip hop. Music, fashion, dance, graffiti, movies, videos, and business: it's all in this tale of a cultural revolution that spans race and gender, language and nationality. Excerpt: But while the visibility of DJs has seemingly reached its apex (witness their presence either amid the band or as the band on television talk shows and within nouveau beat-friendly bands such as...Jamiroquai, or even as the scratches on Hanson's teen-dream smash "Mmmbop"), the struggle against marginalization has been unwavering. |
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All Music Guide: The Definitive Guide to Popular Music (2001) 1491 Pages Hanson mention on p. 18 Hanson is mentioned towards the beginning of this 1,000+ page work in an entry about the Backstreet Boys. Excerpt: In that year, light dance-pop such as the Spice Girls and Hanson returned to the top of the American charts, paving the way for the frothy pleasures of Backstreet Boys. |
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All Music Guide to Electronica by Vladimir Bogdanov (2001) 688 Pages Hanson mention on p. 157 Synopsis: This comprehensive guide profiles the careers of hundreds of major artists such as Aphex Twin and the Prodigy, and reviews thousands of the best electronica recordings. Excerpt: Branching even further, in 1997 they [the Dust Brothers] produced Hanson's chart-topping "MMMBop," as well as ... |
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The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll (2001) 1136 Pages Hanson mention on pgs. 407-408, 1092 Synopsis: This is the definitive Rock encyclopedia. From one-hit wonders to 20-year mega-stars, each entry includes biography, discography, group personnel, awards, and more. Hanson is reviewed based on their accomplishments from 1997 to 2000. They are also mentioned briefly in "Weird Al" Yankovic's review (Weird Al directed Hanson's music video for "River.") Excerpt: Critics were kind to [Middle of Nowhere], recognizing the boys' sharp melodic sensibilities and often comparing precocious lead singer Taylor to the young Michael Jackson, "Little" Stevie Wonder, and the teenage Stevie Winwood of the Spencer Davis Group. |
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Cambridge Companion to Pop and Rock edited by Simon Frith, Will Straw, and John Street (2001) 322 Pages Hanson mention on p. ix This book discusses the views of pop and rock through the years and analyzes 15 of the biggest pop/rock stars, including Elvis Presley and Nirvana. Hanson has a brief mention in the book's introduction. Excerpt: In such a history, what place is there even for a few sad deaths ... let alone Garry and the Pacemakers' 'How do You Do It?' or Hanson's 'MMMBop'? And yet, of course, those deaths and those songs do matter. They are part of an industry that in 1999 had a worldwide turnover of $38 billion ... |
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Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth: The Dark History of Prepubescent Pop, from the Banana Splits to Britney Spears by Kim Cooper (2001) 334 Pages Hanson mention on pgs. 186, 217, 222-223, 235-236 Synopsis: From the Archies to Britney Spears, bubblegum music has excited every generation of music lovers. Featuring interviews with many of the genre’s major creators, this ambitious anthology dismantles the worst myths about how bubblegum is produced and identifies the gum tendencies of artists as various as the Sex Pistols, Abba, the Monkees, and the Ramones. The book reveals the light and dark sides of the music, telling bitter tales of litigious backstabbing, pistol-wielding producers, and the perversities behind the jingles. Excerpt: Most of this CD is just shout-out-loud, drivin', rockin' pop music at its best. It is also the only CD in this survey that really IS "rock", with real guitars and drums on it-most of which are played by the band itself. Go Hanson! ...No matter what happens to them down the road, this CD will remain a rock'n'roll classic forever. Buy it and give it a listen if you don't believe me. |
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All Music Guide to Rock: The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul (3rd Edition) (2002) 1300 Pages Hanson mention on pgs. 51, 502 Synopsis: Easy to use and fun to explore, this 1,400-page tome is the most complete guide ever published on the artists and recordings that really rock. My Take: This book includes a short bio & reviews of Middle of Nowhere, 3 Car Garage, and This Time Around. Excerpt: ...with its carefully considered craft and warmly ingratiating pop songs, This Time Around is winning entertainment. |
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When Surface was Depth by Michael Bracewall (2002) 272 Pages Hanson mention on pgs. 154, 178-190, 200 This book reflects on 1990s music and culture. The author mentions Hanson several times throughout the book, and even has a subsection called "Hanson, Children, and Pop", in which he interviews Hanson and talks about their music and their success. |
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All Music Guide to Hip-Hop: The Definitive Guide to Rap and Hip-Hop by Vladimir Bogdanov (2003) 1300 Pages Hanson mention on p. 145 Synopsis: This comprehensive guide is a must-have for the multitude of fans of today's best-selling popular music. The latest in the definitive series, the All Music Guide to Hip-Hop offers entertaining and informative reviews that lead readers to the best recordings by their favorite artists and help them find new music to explore. Excerpt: Branching out even further, in 1997 they [The Dust Brothers] produced Hanson's chart-topping "MMMBop" ... |
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Bubblegum: The History of Plastic Pop by Nick Brownlee (2003) 224 Pages Hanson mention on p. 139 Synopsis: Has the global phenomenon that is Pop Idol ruined pop music, or is it just the natural evolution of a genre of music that has always been manufactured? From Tin Pan Alley to The Monkees, Bay City Rollers, Spice Girls, and boy bands, Bubblegum showcases the rise of Pop Idol and its many predecessors, in the process creating a witty, thorough history of what is arguably the most popular musical genre ever. This colorfully illustrated look at pop's manufactured mega-brands includes original interviews with the movers and shakers of the pop world. Excerpt: Thus, in 1997, the Hanson family sprang forth from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and for a few blissful months filled in the gap between the years of gangsta rap and those of Britney Spears. |
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The Rough Guide to Cult Pop (2003) 356 Pages Hanson mention on p. 38 Synopsis: This new Rough Guide is devoted to pop music, the tacky, catchy yet enduring music we grew up listening to when we should have been listening to something more profound. We celebrate the hits, the singers, the impresarios and the songs which have made up the soundtrack to our lives. Excerpt: Mmmbop [sic] was the first debut single to reach No. 1 in the US and the UK at the same time -- they could still have a comeback, once they've got the hang of shaving. |
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Sing Like The Stars by Roger Love (2003) 160 Pages Hanson mention on pgs. 3-5 Roger Love mentions his work with Taylor & his vocal triumph in a different book called Sing Like The Stars. Excerpt: He [Taylor] went to sleep one night sounding like Minnie Mouse, and woke up the next morning sounding like Barry White. They'd been to just about every voice coach from Oklahoma to New York City, and no one could fix the problem. Before he gave up on the song altogether, he decided to take one more chance. He asked me to come to the studio that night and see if I could turn back the hands of time. |
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Songbook by Nick Hornby (2003) 207 Pages Hanson mention on pgs. 42-43, 158 Synopsis: What interests Nick Hornby? Songs, songwriters, everything, compulsively, passionately. Here is his ultimate list of 31 all-time favorite songs. And here are his smart, funny, and very personal essays about them, written with all the love and care of a perfectly mastered mixed tape... My Take: No, "MMMBop" is not one of Hornby's 31 songs, but he does mention the song and Hanson a few times in his book. I'm trying to decide whether it is a dig against "MMMBop" or whether he actually likes the song: Excerpt: In my book, you're either in or you're out, and if you're in, then get in properly, and find as big a place in your heart for the stupid stuff--"MMMBop" and "Judy Is a Punk"--as for the stuff that you can pass off as poetry. Obviously I wouldn't ask you to find as big a place in your head for "MMMBop" but then, that's partly the trouble: the best music connects to the soul, not to the brain... |
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U2 Live: A Concert Documentary by Pimm Jal De La Parra (2003) 272 Pages Hanson mention on p. 214 Hanson is mentioned briefly in this U2 book about their MTV Europe Music Award win for Best Song. U2 won an award for Best Live Act. |
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The Phish Companion: A Guide to the Band and their Music (2004) 898 Pages Hanson mention on pgs. 187, 310, 312, 446, 590 Synopsis: This is the most comprehensive, accurate, and thought-provoking reference ever published on Phish - the quirky rock group that rose from the college scene to become the single most popular touring band in the U.S. today. |
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Music Lust by Nic Harcourt (2005) 288 Pages Hanson mention on p. 195 Synopsis: As music director of KCRW in Santa Monica, CA, and DJ of the influential "Morning Becomes Eclectic" show, Harcourt uncovers the best in new and overlooked music for over half a million listeners every day. In Music Lust, Harcourt does what Nancy Pearl did for books in her national bestseller Book Lust. With more than 80 unique and unusual thematic lists, Harcourt offers a wide-ranging guide to the best in recorded music... My take: Harcourt has a nice Hanson mention/mini-bio in a section titled "Sonic Youth." Excerpt: As a result of clever, thoughtful marketing...Hanson became huge teenage stars. Although their follow-up material failed to deliver the same success, there's little doubt that they ushered in an era of young stars... Hanson have continued writing and recording, and the last page of their story is yet to be written. |
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From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th Century by David Mansour (2005) 560 Pages Hanson mention on p. 202 Synopsis: The author spent over 18 years gathering an extensive collection of late 20th century memorabilia to write this book. (Cool!) There are over 3,000 late 20th century pop culture references. The Hanson mention is funny to me because the author describes Hanson as "folksy." Folksy?! Hmm. Excerpt: Folksy teen idol group of three blond brothers...from Tulsa Oklahoma, who had one major hit, the catchy "MMMBop" (1997), before getting walloped by the thundering bubblegum pop of those flashy boybands Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync. |
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American Singing Groups: A History from 1940 to Today by Jay Warner (2006) 600 Pages Hanson mention on pgs. 555-556 Synopsis: This book details the history of American singing groups from the 1940s to the present day. Hanson is mentioned in the 1990s section. It is a nice recap of Hanson's history, but I really have to give the author credit because he mentions Hanson's post-TTA achievements, including 3CG, Underneath, and singles Penny & Me and Lost Without Each Other. His summary of the band is spot-on - eerily so! Here is an excerpt: Excerpt: With their clean-cut, good-natured image starting to wear thin, Hanson set up their own 3CG Records and issued their Underneath album in April 2004 to middling response. The mid-tempo bubble-gum-pop-meets-Springsteen recording "Penny & Me" should have gotten some chart attention, as should have "Lost Without Each Other," an up-tempo harmony-filled cut. Though now obviously past their teen-idol peak, Hanson's harmonies combined with their tender age and youthful charisma made them a viable phenomenon for the end of the 20th century. A fascinating thought about both the contemporary music scene and the Hansons is that they could be invisible to the public eye for another five years, reemerge as the 21st century Doobie Brothers...or even as an alternative rock band--and still be in their 20s! |
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Dirty Little Secrets of the Record Business: Why So Much Music You Hear Sucks by Hank Bordowitz (2007) 600 Pages Hanson mention on pgs. 555-556 Synopsis: Music journalist Bordowitz (Turning Points in Rock and Roll) delivers a concise summary of the current state of the record business, with fascinating details delivered in a no-frills style. Unless you are a Britney Spears fan, Bordowitz presents a fairly convincing argument that current music "sucks" by looking at "how the system that turned music into a commodity ultimately failed, trivializing its product and the user of that product." Excerpt: Many more artists are seeing the advantage of owning their own means of production. For example, the band Hanson had a massive, chart-topping hit with "MMMbop" in 1997...but by the time it came to make a third album... the group parted ways and formed its own independant label. The new album, "Underneath," peaked at #25 and sold a respectable 130,000 copies. The whole four-year adventure was captured in a film called "Strong Enough To Break." |
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The Rough Guide Book of Playlists: 500 Songs You Must Download by Mark Ellingham (2007) 464 Pages Hanson mention on p. 348 Synopsis: iPods and MP3 players have changed the way we listen to music: it’s all about songs rather than albums, and making your own compilations. This is the first music guide that gets it: a book of 500 playlists, each of them packed with great music to rip or download. Excerpt: Solos sans Guitars - 5. If Only (Hanson) from This Time Around. The great thing about Taylor Hanson's harmonica work is the way the harp swings from the dinkily upbeat opening riff to that absolutely sublime Toots Thielemans-ish post-middle eight solo, packed with yearning and throbbing emotion. |
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