Rolling Stone Sheet Music Classics, Volume 2: 1970s-1990s: Piano/Vocal/Chords Book

Flipping through these pages is like traveling through a jukebox of cultural moments. One moment you're navigating the theatrical complexity of Queen, the next you're settling into the soulful groove of a Stevie Wonder classic or the raw energy of punk rock.

This book serves pianists and singers performing in contemporary jazz combos, piano bar settings, or recitals that embrace pop and rock repertoire. It's also valuable for music students expanding their sight-reading skills across unfamiliar styles and for accompanists building a reliable library of hits that span four decades.

• Study the chord voicings carefully; many of these songs rely on specific harmonic textures that define their sound, especially in arena rock and '80s pop tracks.
• Pay attention to dynamics and rhythmic feels that vary wildly across the book. A reggae-influenced piece like 'No Woman, No Cry' needs a completely different touch than the driving rhythm of 'Bohemian Rhapsody.'
• Use the vocal melody as your anchor when comping. With 60 different songs spanning multiple genres, locking onto what the vocalist needs keeps both parts grounded.
• Balance vocal prominence with harmonic interest in the piano part. These arrangements walk the line between accompaniment and duet; resist the urge to overshadow the lyric.

Build a contemporary song cycle by selecting five or six titles that speak to a particular theme or mood, then intersperse them among classical or jazz standards in a recital. This collection also works beautifully as a resource for educational concerts that trace the evolution of song craft from the '70s through the '90s.

• Sight-reading across multiple harmonic languages and genre conventions
• Navigating lead sheet symbols and chord voicings in popular music contexts
• Balancing vocal accompaniment with engaging comping
• Interpreting varied rhythmic feels and stylistic markers within a single book
• Transposing and adapting arrangements to suit vocalist range and skill level