Books: "A Whole Lotta History" By Jason Lipshutz

 

A Whole Lotta History: One Direction and the Sound That Shaped a Generation

By Jason Lipshutz

Atria Books; hardcover, 304 pages; $29.00; available today, November 3rd 

Jason Lipshutz is the co-chief content officer at Billboard, where he has written about music for over a decade and done cover stories on Taylor Swift, U2, Olivia Rodrigo, Blink-182, Lorde, Bob Iver, and Louis Tomlinson. His first book was It Starts with One: The Legend and Legacy of Linkin Park. He has made appearances on Access Hollywood, Good Morning America, and Entertainment Tonight.

In Lipshutz's new, highly entertaining book, A Whole Lotta History: One Direction and the Sound That Shaped a Generation, he looks into the phenomenon from Britain that sold over 70 million records and sold out multiple tours that played to millions of fans. He draws on his extensive coverage of One Direction's rise and its breakout success for Billboard over the past decade.

The first British act to enter the Billboard 200 at number one was One Direction, and they were the first band in history to have their first four albums debut at the top of the charts. Not even the Beatles can claim to have done that.

It was fifteen years ago that Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson starred on the X Factor stage in the UK, and they have not burned out like other boy band flames. They have over 58 million monthly Spotify listeners and its former members cover 1D songs on their sold-out tours as solo acts, such as Styles' recent extended run at Madison Square Garden.

"There are myriad ways one could tell the full-length story of One Direction's cultural impact and importance, because each of their millions of fans experienced their whirlwind in a singular fashion," Lipshutz writes. "But for me, their music has always been the foundation of the phenomenon, arriving like a Big Bang in the mainstream pop universe, then spiraling out into a constellation of hitmaking stars.

"Over One Direction's years of activity and in the decade-plus since, I have continuously circled back to their songs and albums, falling in love with countless major hooks and subtle song tics. I vividly remember a nine-hour road trip with two high school buddies in the spring of 2012 in which I played them 'What Makes You Beautiful' for the first time, setting it up as a 'perfect pop song' before pressing play on my iPod. Thus began a lifetime of championing One Direction's catalog and evangelizing its musical richness that inspired this book and will continue after its release."

While they certainly are a cultural force, Lipshutz feels their music has not been given its proper due. He couples newly-revealed anecdotes with exclusive new interviews with their key collaborators to deliver a detailed appreciation of 1D's discography, and the deeply personal connection they have with their fans.

AUTHOR APPEARANCES: Jason Lipshutz will be appearing at Powerhouse Arena in Brooklyn on Tuesday, November 3rd at 7:00 p.m. It is located at 28 Adams Street (corner of Adams and Water Street), 718-666-3049, powerhousearena.com.

On Thursday, November 5 at 8:00 p.m., Blue Willow Bookshop will be hosting a virtual event in which Jason Lipshutz will be in conversation with 1D Historian, and the conversation will be moderated by Cathy Berner. Please click here for more details.