Description: Anatomy of a Song by Marc Myers Based on the popular Wall Street Journal column, Anatomy of a Song captures the stories behind 45 influential rock, R&B, and pop hits through oral-history interviews with the artists who wrote and recorded them--including Keith Richards on "Street Fighting Man," Rod Stewart on "Maggie May," and more FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description Based on the popular Wall Street Journal column, Anatomy of a Song captures the stories behind 45 influential rock, R&B, and pop hits through oral-history interviews with the artists who wrote and recorded them--including Keith Richards on "Street Fighting Man," Rod Stewart on "Maggie May," and more Writer and music historian Marc Myers brings to life five decades of music in Anatomy of a Song, based on the popular ongoing Wall Street Journal column, through oral histories of forty-five transformative songs woven from interviews with the artists who created them. Taking readers inside the making of a hit, Anatomy of a Song includes Led Zeppelins "Whole Lotta Love," Janis Joplins "Mercedes Benz," Rod Stewarts "Maggie May," and Cyndi Laupers "Time After Time." Joni Mitchell remembers living in a cave on Crete with the "mean old daddy" who inspired her 1971 hit "Carey," while Elvis Costello talks about writing "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" on a train to Liverpool. Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Jimmy Page, Smokey Robinson, Grace Slick, Mavis Staples, Steven Tyler, the Clash, Merle Haggard, Bonnie Raitt, Debbie Harry, and many other leading artists reveal the inspirations, struggles, and techniques behind their influential works. Covering the history of rock, R&B, country, disco, soul, reggae and pop, Anatomy of a Song is a love letter to the songs that have defined several generations of listeners. Author Biography Marc Myers is a regular contributor to The Wall Street Journal, where he writes about rock, soul, and jazz, as well as the arts. He is the author of the critically acclaimed book Why Jazz Happened and posts daily at JazzWax.com, a two-time winner of the Jazz Journalists Associations award for Blog of the Year. Review Praise for Anatomy of a Song: An Amazon Best Book of the Month in Nonfiction A finalist for The Association for Recorded Sound Collections Awards for Excellence "In these pieces . . . songwriters and performers speak in their own voices, edited from interviews with Myers, about one of their signature songs. Because of Myerss skill as an interviewer, their pride and enthusiasm come blasting through. Each story is a pleasure to read and will deepen your listening experience . . . Myers bears down hard on these songs and the artists rise to the standards he sets."--Anthony DeCurtis, New York Times Book Review "A first-rate playlist . . . A rich history of both the music industry and the baby boomer era."--Los Angeles Times Book Review "Marc Myerss Anatomy of a Song [is] a winning look at the stories behind 45 pop, punk, folk, soul and country classics . . . A smart, gracious book. His interviews yield some fascinating details."--Washington Post "Candid conversations with stars like Stevie Wonder, Keith Richards and Rod Stewart are collected in a new book called Anatomy of a Song . . . In the pre-digital age of analog recording, Myers discovered some remarkable examples of mechanical ingenuity. Two of my favorites: Kinks guitarist Dave Davies had just learned how to shave when he bought a new amp and decided to use a razor blade to slash the amps speaker cone. And when the Doors were told to shorten the seven-minute version of Light My Fire for a single that would get more radio play, their producer Paul Rothchild wrapped Scotch tape around the spindle holding the pickup reel, so the tape would turn a fraction faster . . . Myers is particularly good on the competition within bands and between them to produce the best possible songs . . . [A] splendid volume."--Charles Kaiser, Guardian (UK) "A music lovers dream book."--Cleveland Plain Dealer "Anatomy of a Song . . . reads like a dream karaoke playlist. Not a dud in sight."--Huffington Post "Anatomy Of A Song . . . gets the lowdown on about forty years of hits straight from the artists mouths . . . Its always cool to hear how the musical sausage gets made, especially when its made by geniuses in the field. But Myers also does an outstanding job of unearthing the moments of humor and heartbreak that accompanied the creation of these songs."--American Songwriter "Who wouldve ever guessed the inspiration behind Gladys Knights soul-stirring Midnight Train to Georgia was 70s pinup queen Farrah Fawcett? Thats just one of the fascinating song histories revealed in the new book Anatomy of a Song."--New York Post "Myers . . . uncovers the fascinating backstories behind many legendary songs that changed the trajectory of music . . . Culling together anecdotal revelations about happy accidents, deliberately vague lyrical choices and unexpected lapses of confidence, the book manages to both demystify and humanize so many of its iconic subjects. . . . Filled with surprises for music fans and aspiring songwriters alike."--BMI Music "Who doesnt like to listen to musicians tell their stories about the genesis of a song? Or to hear them laugh at the deep meaning that listeners often invest in it when for them it was, well, just a song about a breakup? Myers book has something for everyone."--No Depression "The short, sharp chapters breeze by like a particularly well-curated jukebox . . . Fast, fun and informative."--Houston Press "The critical ability of Marc Myers shows in his selection of topics and his persistence in hunting down the right people to talk about their songs. But his talent as a writer shows in his willingness to get out of the way and let them talk about their songs . . . Myers pushes his subjects to recollect what had really happened that day in the studio, that moment when the song first came to mind, that instant when the radio began to play it."-- Washington Free Beacon "Countless fun facts dot Anatomy of a Song."--Billboard "Myers book succeeds as a collection because he reveals the paradox of popular music: the magical change that transpires once the personal becomes public . . . Perhaps the greatest gift of Anatomy of a Song is its range . . . This is a book that encourages you to go back into your record collection, to the hits you think you remember well."--Las Vegas Weekly "Myers . . . work is archival. It is important. It is illuminating."--Under the Radar "A detailed look at 45 iconic popular songs . . . This will entice general readers and music lovers alike. In his introduction, Myers calls the book an oral history jukebox, and popular-music fans everywhere will want to be ready with a pocketful of dimes."--Booklist "A compelling compendium of behind-the-scenes shop talk that will excite even the most casual music geek."--Bookreporter "A cultural history of the elusive hit single, focused on artists recollections and studio alchemy . . . The books 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 "Music fans will enjoy the behind-the-songs stories."--Publishers Weekly Review Quote Praise for Anatomy of a Song : An Amazon Best Book of the Month in Nonfiction In these pieces . . . songwriters and performers speak in their own voices, edited from interviews with Myers, about one of their signature songs. Because of Myerss skill as an interviewer, their pride and enthusiasm come blasting through. Each story is a pleasure to read and will deepen your listening experience . . . Myers bears down hard on these songs and the artists rise to the standards he sets." - Anthony DeCurtis, New York Times Book Review "A first-rate playlist . . . A rich history of both the music industry and the baby boomer era." - Los Angeles Times Book Review Marc Myerss Anatomy of a Song [is] a winning look at the stories behind 45 pop, punk, folk, soul and country classics . . . A smart, gracious book. His interviews yield some fascinating details. - Washington Post "Candid conversations with stars like Stevie Wonder, Keith Richards and Rod Stewart are collected in a new book called Anatomy of a Song . . . In the pre-digital age of analog recording, Myers discovered some remarkable examples of mechanical ingenuity. Two of my favorites: Kinks guitarist Dave Davies had just learned how to shave when he bought a new amp and decided to use a razor blade to slash the amps speaker cone. And when the Doors were told to shorten the seven-minute version of Light My Fire for a single that would get more radio play, their producer Paul Rothchild wrapped Scotch tape around the spindle holding thepickup reel, so the tape would turn a fraction faster . . . Myers is particularly good on the competition within bands and between them to produce the best possible songs . . . [A] splendid volume." - Charles Kaiser, Guardian (UK) "A music lovers dream book." - Cleveland Plain Dealer " Anatomy of a Song . . . reads like a dream karaoke playlist. Not a dud in sight." - Huffington Post " Anatomy Of A Song . . . gets the lowdown on about forty years of hits straight from the artists mouths . . . Its always cool to hear how the musical sausage gets made, especially when its made by geniuses in the field. But Myers also does an outstanding job of unearthing the moments of humor and heartbreak that accompanied the creation of these songs." - American Songwriter "Who wouldve ever guessed the inspiration behind Gladys Knights soul-stirring Midnight Train to Georgia was 70s pinup queen Farrah Fawcett? Thats just one of the fascinating song histories revealed in the new book Anatomy of a Song ." - New York Post "Myers . . . uncovers the fascinating backstories behind many legendary songs that changed the trajectory of music . . . Culling together anecdotal revelations about happy accidents, deliberately vague lyrical choices and unexpected lapses of confidence, the book manages to both demystify and humanize so many of its iconic subjects. . . . Filled with surprises for music fans and aspiring songwriters alike." - BMI Music Who doesnt like to listen to musicians tell their stories about the genesis of a song? Or to hear them laugh at the deep meaning that listeners often invest in it when for them it was, well, just a song about a breakup? Myers book has something for everyone. - No Depression "The short, sharp chapters breeze by like a particularly well-curated jukebox . . . Fast, fun and informative." - Houston Press "The critical ability of Marc Myers shows in his selection of topics and his persistence in hunting down the right people to talk about their songs. But his talent as a writer shows in his willingness to get out of the way and let them talk about their songs . . . Myers pushes his subjects to recollect what had really happened that day in the studio, that moment when the song first came to mind, that instant when the radio began to play it." - Washington Free Beacon "Countless fun facts dot Anatomy of a Song ." - Billboard "Myers book succeeds as a collection because he reveals the paradox of popular music: the magical change that transpires once the personal becomes public . . . Perhaps the greatest gift of Anatomy of a Song is its range . . . This is a book that encourages you to go back into your record collection, to the hits you think you remember well." - Las Vegas Weekly "Myers . . . work is archival. It is important. It is illuminating." - Under the Radar A detailed look at 45 iconic popular songs . . . This will entice general readers and music lovers alike. In his introduction, Myers calls the book an oral history jukebox, and popular-music fans everywhere will want to be ready with a pocketful of dimes. - Booklist "A compelling compendium of behind-the-scenes shop talk that will excite even the most casual music geek." - Bookreporter A cultural history of the elusive hit single, focused on artists recollections and studio alchemy . . . The books 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 Music fans will enjoy the behind-the-songs stories. - Publishers Weekly " Excerpt from Book Keith Richards on "Street Fighting Man" "Early on, when I had played the tape of my melody for Mick, his lyrics were about brutal adults. We recorded them and called the song, Did Everyone Pay Their Dues? But we werent that crazy about the results, and the lyrics underwent several rewrites once we saw what was going on in the streets in London and Paris in 1968. While we were in the studio, Mick had been at a huge demonstration against the Vietnam War in Londons Grosvenor Square in March. And we were both in Paris in May during the violent protests by students demanding reforms. The French cops were pretty nasty about it. As we traveled around, Mick and I would look at each other and realize something big was happening in two major capitals of the world and that our generation was bursting at the seams. Mick knew that Dues needed a lyric overhaul that better matched what was going on. I came up with the line What can a poor boy do and threw it out to Mick. He completed the thought with Cept to sing for a rock n roll band. He wrote the rest of the new lyrics in the studio. Thats often how we worked. One of us would have a piece of a lyric that sounded interesting, then hand it off to the other to get things going." Joni Mitchell on "Carey" "I had my dulcimer with me from the States. I used it to write "Carey" over a period of weeks in different locations in and around Matala as a birthday present for Cary. My lyric, "Oh Carey get out your cane" referred to a cane Cary carried with him all the time. He was a bit of a scene-stealer, and the cane was a theatrical prop for him." Stevie Wonder on "Loves in Need of Love Today" "Its about creating a marriage of all the instruments and vocals, bringing them together to make a statement . . . Whether its the Beatles, Sly Stone, Prince or Ed Sheeran, you start with an idea or vision and bring what you hear in your mind to reality. When Im doing this, I become all the different musicians and approach the song from each musicians understanding." Description for Sales People Anatomy of a Song began as a Wall Street Journal column in 2011 and continues to be one of the papers most popular features, with more than ten columns reaching the #1 position online. Anatomy of a Song was featured on NBCs Today show, was named an Amazon best book of the month in nonfiction, and has been widely and positively reviewed in major newspapers, blogs, and music industry outlets, including Billboard , American Songwriter , BMI Music , and No Depression . Includes intimate interviews with Keith Richards on "Street Fighting Man," Grace Slick on "White Rabbit," Jimmy Page on "Whole Lotta Love," and many more. Each piece not only captures the moment of a songs creation, but also lets the reader into the studio with the artists and gives a fascinating look inside the music industry/pop culture in general. This book has wide appeal among the Baby Boomer audience. From "My Girl" to "Midnight Train to Georgia" to "Another Brick in the Wall," these songs form the soundtrack of Boomer youth. For fans of big rock n roll autobiographies like Keith Richards Life and classic texts of music journalism, like Greil Marcus Stranded: Rock and Roll for a Desert Island . In 2007, Myers founded the blog JazzWax.com, which has more than 8,000 daily viewers/subscribers and which won the 2015 Jazz Journalists Association award for blog of the year. JazzWax is again a finalist for the 2016 JJA award for blog of the year, and Myers is also a finalist for the 2016 JJA Helen Dance-Robert Palmer Award for Writing. In 2013, Myers published Why Jazz Happened (University of California Press), a critically acclaimed social history of jazz from WWII to Watergate. Details ISBN0802127185 Author Marc Myers Short Title ANATOMY OF A SONG Pages 336 Language English ISBN-10 0802127185 ISBN-13 9780802127181 Format Paperback Year 2017 Publication Date 2017-11-21 Subtitle The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop Place of Publication New York Country of Publication United States AU Release Date 2017-11-21 NZ Release Date 2017-11-21 US Release Date 2017-11-21 UK Release Date 2017-11-21 Publisher Black Cat Imprint Black Cat DEWEY 782.4216409 Audience General Illustrations Illustrations We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:124994448;
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Book Title: Anatomy of a Song