Anatomy of 55 Hit Songs: The Top Singles That Changed Rock, R&B and Soul

(Paperback, Main)

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Description

Songs that sell the most copies become hits, but some of those hits become something more - iconic recordings that not only inspire a generation but also alter the direction of music. In this follow-up to his classic Anatomy of a Song, writer and music historian Marc Myers tells the stories behind fifty-five more rock, pop, R Joan Jett remembers channeling her rage against how she had been unfairly labeled and treated into 'Bad Reputation' and Ozzy Osbourne, Elvis Costello, Bob Weir, Sheryl Crow, Alice Cooper, Roberta Flack, John Mellencamp, Keith Richards, Carly Simon and many others reveal the emotions and technique behind their major works.

Reviews

Myers has a knack for capturing the artistry of songwriting and easily shows why these tracks are "iconic but not tired." This melodic collection will strike a chord with music fans. * Publishers Weekly *
Myers adds important context by interviewing and extensively quoting the principal artists, composers, and producers. Especially recommended for collections where the first book found favor. * Booklist *
Insightful...Pop-music fans of a certain age will enjoy this collection and might even use it as a playlist. * Library Journal *
Myers does a fine job of getting behind the hits...With snippets of business, creativity, techno-wizardry, and raw emotion, a pleasure for music fans. * Kirkus Reviews *
A treasure trove of music trivia between hard covers... [A] splendid volume. * Guardian on ANATOMY OF A SONG *
[T]he anecdotes give flesh to the meaning of the lyrics. Musical influences that get passed from artist to artist are equally fascinating - and often surprising... Myers' book is big-fun forensic musicology. * Mojo on ANATOMY OF A SONG *
A winning look at the stories behind 45 pop, punk, folk, soul and country classics. * Washington Post on ANATOMY OF A SONG *
A cultural history of the elusive hit single, focused on artists' recollections and studio alchemy . . . The book's strength lies in thoughtful, wry reflections from artists including Elvis Costello, Jimmy Cliff, Stevie Wonder, Booker T. Jones, Dr. John, and Debbie Harry. An entertaining record of the soundtrack of the baby boomer era. * Kirkus Reviews on ANATOMY OF A SONG *

Author Bio

Marc Myers is a frequent contributor to the Wall Street Journal, where he writes about jazz, rock and soul, as well as the arts. He is the author of Rock Concert, Anatomy of a Song and Why Jazz Happened.