Overview

Songs that sell the most copies become hits, but some of those hits transcend commercial value, touching a generation of listeners and altering the direction of music. In Anatomy of a Song, writer and music historian Marc Myers tells the stories behind forty-five rock, pop, R&B, country and reggae hits through intimate interviews with the artists who wrote and recorded them. Hits range from Lloyd Price's 'Lawdy Miss Clawdy' to Pearl Jam's 'Go' and include oral histories with Mick Jagger, Joni Mitchell, Rod Stewart, Loretta Lynn, the Clash, Elvis Costello, Ron Isley, Roger Waters, Jimmy Cliff and many more.

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9781611855258

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Reviews

A treasure trove of music trivia between hard covers... [A] splendid volume. Guardian [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 A winning look at the stories behind 45 pop, punk, folk, soul and country classics. Washington Post 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 A serious contribution... Myers captures aspects of the music's history that are too frequently ignored. Wall Street Journal on WHY JAZZ HAPPENED Fantastic, eye opening -- Creed Taylor, multi-Grammy Award-winning jazz producer on WHY JAZZ HAPPENED

Author Information

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 author of the critically acclaimed book Why Jazz Happened.

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