Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Wilk, Max

Found in

1. Interviews for the book "They're playing our song."

Description

1. 4 streaming audio files (approximately 3 hr. 37 min.) : digital, mono.

Summary

1. Edgar Yipsel "Yip" Harburg who worked with many well-known composers (Harold Arlen, Jay Gorney, Vernon Duke, Burton Lane) speaks about his childhood in the "slums" on the Lower East Side of New York City; excellent teachers who had compassion for impoverished children; good public schools; education that included extra studies in clubs (drama, history, composition, sports etc.); his interest in writing lyrics; his business venture (electric company) that was prompted by his work of lighting lamps on the streets of NY; his good friend Ira Gershwin with whom he wrote for a local paper and who introduced him to Jay Gorney after Harburg's business blew up during the Depression thus helping Harburg to start a new and very successful career as a lyricist; George Gershwin, Cole Porter and the composers he collaborated with; and shares his thoughts and ideas about the state of the arts (songs and musicals in particular) in the 70s in comparison to the past. He expresses harsh criticism of contemporary music blaming its "deterioration" on the influence of money, corrupt politics, media which is very profit-oriented, and condemns "the age of abundance versus the age of scarcity" as the culprit of such degradation. The interview ends with Harburg's strict instructions addressed to Max Wilk not to use in print any recorded material without first giving an unedited version to him (Harburg) for editing. He reminds Wilk that much of what he said is off the record.

Alternative title

1. They're playing our song.
2. Interviews for the book "They're playing our song."

Subject

1. Sound recordings
2. Interviews
3. Harburg, E. Y (Edgar Yipsel), 1896-1981 > Interviews
4. Lyricists > United States > Biography

Genre/Form

1. Interviews.
2. Sound recordings.

Call number

1. *LDC 53162

Note

1. Title supplied by cataloger from information on the original container.
2. Original interview conducted by unidentified woman for Max Wilk for his book "They're playing our song" published in 1973.

Access (note)

1. Access to original item restricted.

Additional formats (note)

1. Also available on CD (4 audio discs : digital, mono ; 4 3/4 in.) copied from archival originals in *LDC 53162.

Linking entry (note)

1. Forms part of: Interviews for the book "They're playing our song."

Author

1. Harburg, E. Y. (Edgar Yipsel), 1896-1981, interviewee.

Title

1. Interview with E. Y. Harburg, 1971-08.

Production

1. 1971.

Playing time

1. 005931 005804 005752 004105

Type of content

1. spoken word

Type of medium

1. audio
2. computer

Type of carrier

1. audio disc
2. online resource

Performer

1. E.Y. Harburg, interviewee ; unidentified woman, interviewer.

Event

1. Recorded in Martha's Vineyard 1971 August.

Access

1. Access to original item restricted.

Additional formats

1. Also available on CD (4 audio discs : digital, mono ; 4 3/4 in.) copied from archival originals in *LDC 53162.

Linking entry

1. Forms part of: Interviews for the book "They're playing our song."

Local note

1. Archival originals: (2 audiotape reels : analog, 7 1/2 ips., 1/2 track mono ; 10 in.) in *LT-10 2171-2172.

Connect to:

1. Request Access to Music Division Audio and Moving Image material
2. NYPL Digital Collections

Added author

1. Wilk, Max, associated name.

Added title

1. They're playing our song.
2. Interviews for the book "They're playing our song."

Found in:

1. Interviews for the book "They're playing our song."

Research call number

1. *LDC 53162
2. *LT-10 2171-2172