Anatomy of 55 more songs : the oral history of top hits that changed rock, pop and soul / Marc Myers.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Myers, Marc, 1956- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Popular music--History and criticism.

Popular music.

Musicians--Interviews.

Musicians.

Popular music--Writing and publishing.

Physical Description:

xiii, 368 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Other Title:

Anatomy of fifty-five more songs

Place of Publication:

New York : Grove Press, 2022.

Summary:

"Following his 2016 smash hit Anatomy of a Song, acclaimed music journalist Marc Myers collects fifty-five new oral histories of iconic songs from his popular Wall Street Journal column. 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 change the direction of music. In Anatomy of 55 More Songs, based on his column for the Wall Street Journal, music journalist and historian Marc Myers tells the story behind fifty-five rock, pop, R&B, country, and soul-gospel hits through intimate interviews with the artists who wrote and recorded them. Part oral history, part musical analysis, Anatomy of 55 More Songs ranges from Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising" to Dionne Warwick's "Walk On By," the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations," and Black Sabbath's "Paranoid." Bernie Taupin recalls how he wrote the lyrics to Elton John's "Rocket Man"; Joan Jett remembers channeling her rage against how she had been unfairly labeled and treated as a female rocker 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. Through an absorbing, chronological, song-by-song analysis of the most memorable post-war hits, Anatomy of 55 More Songs provides a sweeping look at the evolution of pop music between 1964 and today. This book will change how you listen to music and evaluate the artists who create it"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Walk On By / Dionne Warwick

Dancing in the Street / Martha and the Vandellas

Sunshine Superman / Donovan

Good Vibrations / The Beach Boys

Up, Up and Away / The 5th Dimension

Get Together / The Youngbloods

The Weight / The Band

Fire / The Crazy World of Arthur Brown

Bad Moon Rising / Creedence Clearwater Revival

Crystal Blue Persuasion / Tommy James and the Shondells

Ain't No Mountain High Enough / Diana Ross

Paranoid / Black Sabbath

Truckin' / Grateful Dead

I'm Eighteen / Alice Cooper

Bang a Gong (Get It On) / T. Rex

Roundabout / Yes

Doctor My Eyes / Jackson Browne

Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress / The Hollies

Rocket Man / Elton John

Papa Was a Rollin' Stone / The Temptations

I'll Be Around / The Spinners

Killing Me Softly with His Song / Roberta Flack

Smoke on the Water / Deep Purple

Hello It's Me / Todd Rundgren

She's Gone / Hall and Oates

Come and Get Your Love / Redbone

Sundown / Gordon Lightfoot

I'm Not in Love / 10CC

Love Is the Drug / Roxy Music

The Boys Are Back in Town / Thin Lizzy

Fly Like an Eagle / Steve Miller Band

Year of the Cat / Al Stewart

Barracuda / Heart

Nobody Does It Better / Carly Simon

Peg / Steely Dan

My Best Friend's Girl / The Cars

The Gambler / Kenny Rogers

September / Earth, Wind & Fire

What a Fool Believes / The Doobie Brothers

Accidents Will Happen / Elvis Costello

The Devil Went Down to Georgia / The Charlie Daniels Band

Good Times / Chic

Highway to Hell / AC/DC

Cars / Gary Numan

On the Radio / Donna Summer

Bad Reputation / Joan Jett

Rapture / Blondie

Don't Stop Believin' / Journey

Steppin' Out / Joe Jackson

Burning Down the House / Talking Heads

The Power of Love / Huey Lewis and the News

Small Town / John Mellencamp

Take It So Hard / Keith Richards

Being Boring / Pet Shop Boys

If It Makes You Happy / Sheryl Crow.

Other Format:

Online version: Myers, Marc, 1956- Anatomy of 55 more songs

ISBN:

9780802160201

0802160204