Just Announced: The Children's & YA Book Awards Winners Explore Now

Anatomy of 55 More Songs: The Oral History of Top Hits That Changed Rock, Pop and Soul

Add to Wishlist

Anatomy of 55 More Songs: The Oral History of Top Hits That Changed Rock, Pop and Soul

Paperback

$18.00

View All Available Formats & Editions

Paperback
$18.00

View All Available Formats & Editions

SHIP THIS ITEM

Qualifies for Free Shipping
PICK UP IN STORE
Check Availability at Nearby Stores

Available within 2 business hours

Want it Today?
Check Store Availability

Related collections and offers

Want it Today?
Check Store Availability

Overview

NEW AND EXPANDED EDITION, NOW WITH 58 SONGS

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.

This new, expanded edition of the book features three new songs: “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac, “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” by War, and “Come On Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners. 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802161260
Publisher:	Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
Publication date:	12/05/2023
Pages:	416
Sales rank:	535,093
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Marc Myers is a regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal, where he writes about music and the arts. He is the author of the critically acclaimed books Anatomy of a Song, Why Jazz Happened, and Rock Concert, and posts daily at JazzWax.com, a three-time winner of the Jazz Journalists Association’s award for Jazz Blog of the Year.

Introduction 1

1 Walk On By Dionne Warwick 7

Interviews: Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick, Artie Butler

Released: April 1964

2 Dancing in the Street Martha and the Vandellas 13

Interviews: Ivy Jo Hunter, Paul Riser, William "Mickey" Stevenson, Martha Reeves

Released: July 1964

3 Sunshine Superman Donovan 21

Interviews: Donovan, John Cameron, Linda Lawrence

Released: July 1966

4 Good Vibrations The Beach Boys 27

Interviews: Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Hal Blaine, Don Randi, Al Jardine, Tony Asher, Tommy Morgan

Released: October 1966

5 Up, Up and Away The 5th Dimension 35

Interviews: Jimmy Webb, Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis Jr.

Released: May 1967

6 Get Together The Youngbloods 41

Interviews: Jesse Colin Young, Lowell "Banana" Levinger

Released: July 1967/Reissued: June 1969

7 The Weight The Band 49

Interview: Robbie Robertson

Released: August 1968

8 Fire The Crazy World of Arthur Brown 55

Interview: Arthur Brown

Released: September 1968

9 Bad Moon Rising Creedence Clearwater Revival 63

Interview: John Fogerty

Released: April 1969

10 Crystal Blue Persuasion Tommy James and the Shondells 69

Interview: Tommy James

Released: June 1969

11 Ain't No Mountain High Enough Diana Ross 75

Interviews: Valerie Simpson, Paul Riser, Mary Wilson, Eddie Willis

Released: July 1970

12 Paranoid Black Sabbath 81

Interviews: Ozzy Osbourne, Tom Allom

Released: August 1970

13 Truckin' Grateful Dead 87

Interview: Bob Weir

Released: November 1970

14 I'm Eighteen Alice Cooper 93

Interviews: Alice Cooper, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, Shep Gordon, Bob Ezrin

Released: November 1970

15 Bang a Gong (Get It On) T. Rex 101

Interviews: Tony Visconti, Bill Legend

Released: July 1971

16 Roundabout Yes 107

Interviews: Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman

Released: January 1972

17 Doctor My Eyes Jackson Browne 113

Interview: Jackson Browne

Released: March 1972

18 Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress The Hollies 119

Interviews: Roger Cook, Allan Clarke, Bobby Elliott

Released: April 1972

19 Rocket Man Elton John 125

Interview: Bernie Taupin

Released: April 1972

20 I'll Be Around The Spinners 131

Interviews: Thorn Bell, Phil Hurtt, Earl Young

Released: July 1972

21 Papa Was a Rollin' Stone The Temptations 137

Interviews: Barrett Strong, Paul Riser, Otis Williams

Released: September 1972

22 Killing Me Softly with His Song Roberta Flack 143

Interviews: Charles Fox, Lori Lieberman, Roberta Flack

Released: January 1973

23 Smoke on the Water Deep Purple 151

Interviews: Ian Paice, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ritchie Blackmore

Released: May 1973

24 Hello It's Me Todd Rundgren 159

Interview: Todd Rundgren

Released: September 1973

25 She's Gone Hall & Oates 165

Interviews: John Oates, Daryl Hall

Released: November 1973/Reissued: July 1976

26 Come and Get Your Love Redbone 173

Interview: Pat Vegas

Released: January 1974

27 Sundown Gordon Lightfoot 179

Interviews: Gordon Lightfoot, Lenny Waronker, Cathy Smith

Released: March 1974

28 I'm Not In Love 10cc 185

Interviews: Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman, Kevin Godley, Lol Creme, Cathy Redfern

Released: May 1975

29 Love Is the Drug Roxy Music 193

Interviews: Andy Mackay, Bryan Ferry

Released: October 1975

30 The Boys Are Back in Town Thin Lizzy 199

Interviews: Scott Gorham, Chris O'Donnell, John Alcock, Will Reid Dick

Released: April 1976

31 Fly Like an Eagle Steve Miller Band 207

Interview: Steve Miller

Released: August 1976

32 Year of the Cat Al Stewart 213

Interview: Al Stewart

Released: October 1976

33 Barracuda Heart 219

Interviews: Michael Fisher, Roger Fisher, Michael Derosier, Nancy Wilson, Ann Wilson

Released: May 1977

34 Nobody Does It Better Carly Simon 227

Interviews: Carole Bayer Sager, Carly Simon, Michael Omartian, Richard Hewson

Released: July 1977

35 Peg Steely Dan 233

Interviews: Donald Fagen, Tom Scott, Jay Graydon, Michael McDonald

Released: November 1977

36 My Best Friend's Girl The Cars 239

Interviews: Ric Ocasek, Maxanne Sartori, David Robinson, Elliot Easton

Released: October 1978

37 The Gambler Kenny Rogers 247

Interviews: Don Schlitz, Kenny Rogers

Released: November 1978

38 September Earth, Wind & Fire 253

Interviews: Allee Willis, Verdine White, Marilyn White

Released: November 1978

39 WHat A Fool Believes The Doobie Brothers 259

Interviews: Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins

Released: January 1979

40 Accidents Will Happen Elvis Costello 265

Interview: Elvis Costello

Released: May 1979

41 The Devil Went Down to Georgia The Charlie Daniels Band 271

Interview: Charlie Daniels

Released: May 1979

42 Good Times Chic 277

Interview: Nile Rodgers

Released: June 1979

43 Highway to Hell AC/DC 283

Interviews: Angus Young, Cliff Williams, Phil Rudd

Released: July 1979

44 Cars Gary Numan 289

Interviews: Gary Numan, Chris Payne

Released: August 1979

45 On the Radio Donna Summer 295

Interviews: Giorgio Moroder, Bruce Sudano, Stephen Bishop, Harold Faltermeyer, Keith Forsey, Gary Herbig

Released: November 1979

46 Bad Reputation Joan Jett 301

Interviews: Joan Jett, Kenny Laguna

Released: May 1980

47 Rapture Blondie 307

Interviews: Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Mike Chapman, Clem Burke, Tom Scott, Frank Infante

Released: January 1981

48 Don't Stop Believin' Journey 315

Interviews: Jonathan Cain, Neal Schon

Released: October 1981

49 Steppin' Out Joe Jackson 321

Interviews: Joe Jackson, David Kershenbaum

Released: August 1982

50 Burning Down the House Talking Heads 327

Interviews: David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, Jerry Harrison

Released: July 1983

51 The Power of Love Huey Lewis and the News 335

Interviews: Huey Lewis, Chris Hayes, Johnny Colla

Released: June 1985

52 Small Town John Mellencamp 341

Interview: John Mellencamp

Released: November 1985

53 Take It So Hard Keith Richards 347

Interviews: Keith Richards, Steve Jordan

Released: October 1988

54 Being Boring Pet Shop Boys 355

Interviews: Neil Tennant, Harold Faltermeyer

Released: November 1990

55 If It Makes You Happy Sheryl Crow 361

Interviews: Sheryl Crow, Jeff Trott

Released: September 1996

Acknowledgments 367

From the B&N Reads Blog

Page 1 of

Editorial Reviews

11/14/2022
Music journalist Myers details how 55 famous songs were conceived, written, and recorded in this perceptive follow-up to 2016’s Anatomy of a Song. Myers provides a brief introduction to each of his picks, and their composers, musicians, and producers share stories behind each song, as well. There are surprising details about musical arrangements (composer Burt Bacharach, who worked on Dionne Warwick’s “Walk on By,” had one piano play in the verses and two in the chorus), and insight from artists about their lyrics: Jackson Browne’s “Doctor My Eyes” became a “metaphor for lost innocence” but was inspired by an eye infection Browne had and a trip to the ophthalmologist; Pat Vegas, Native American rock band Redbone’s bassist, arranger, and coproducer, envisioned “Come and Get Your Love” as a song that showed that Native Americans were “about love, not about massacring”; and Tommy James and the Shondells’ “Crystal Blue Persuasion” took shape after James read a poem about the Book of Revelation. 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. Agent: Glen Hartley, Writers’ Representatives. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for Anatomy of 55 More Songs:
“Entertaining tidbits and insights infuse the second volume of Marc Myers’s eclectic array of musical hits, with singers, composers, lyricists, and producers delving into the backstories of some of the most recognizable, impactful songs of the 20th century. …one of the real joys here is in the way that those interviewed are so expressive and generous with their unalloyed admiration for fellow artists… ‘Anatomy’ is an enjoyable musical interlude — you inevitably sing the songs in your head as you read these stories. It would also, by the way, make one hell of a mixtape.” —Daneet Steffens, Boston Globe

“Highly, entertainingly readable.” —L. Kent Wolgamott, Lincoln Journal Star
“Anatomy of 55 More Songs is a fantastic addition to any music lover’s library.” —Glide Magazine

"These are engaging narratives that are dressed up with offbeat trivia that will make you the star conversationalist of any cocktail party." —Sal Cataldi, NYSmusic.com
Praise for Marc Myers and Anatomy of a Song:

“In these pieces…songwriters and performers speak in their own voices…Because of Myers’s 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.” —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 Myers’s 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
“[A] splendid volume.” —Guardian
“A music lover’s dream book.” —Cleveland Plain Dealer
“Anatomy of a Song…reads like a dream karaoke playlist. Not a dud in sight.” —Huffington Post
“Who would’ve ever guessed the inspiration behind Gladys Knight’s soul-stirring ‘Midnight Train to Georgia’ was ‘70s pinup queen Farrah Fawcett? That’s just one of the fascinating song histories revealed in the new book Anatomy of a Song.” —New York Post
“The short, sharp chapters breeze by like a particularly well-curated jukebox…Fast, fun and informative.” —Houston Press
“The most revealing and entertaining compilation of short stories on popular music we have seen this decade.”—Goldmine
“Anatomy of A Song. . . gets the lowdown on about forty years of hits straight from the artists’ mouths . . . It’s always cool to hear how the musical sausage gets made, especially when it’s 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
“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 doesn’t 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 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 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
“Music fans will enjoy the behind-the-songs stories.”—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

10/01/2022
What do the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations," the Temptations' "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone," Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water," Kenny Rogers's "The Gambler," and AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" have in common? Each is discussed in this collection of insightful pieces taken from and expanded upon Myers's column in the Wall Street Journal. As he did in his 2016 book, Anatomy of a Song, Myers blends research and personal interviews with artists, songwriters, arrangers, producers, and others to create an appealing mix of pop music classics, from Dionne Warwick's 1964 "Walk On By" to Sheryl Crow's 1996 "If It Makes You Happy." Each entry begins with a crisp black-and-white photo of the song's artist, and, like an album's liner notes, these pieces provide context and the backstory for each selected song. VERDICT Pop-music fans of a certain age will enjoy this collection and might even use it as a playlist.—Carolyn M. Mulac

Library Journal

2022-10-05
Wall Street Journal arts writer Myers continues his explorations of the kind of popular music that turns from melody to earworm.
When he was 14, recounts Brian Wilson, a neighbor’s dog barked at his mom. When he asked why, she replied, “Brian, sometimes dogs pick up vibrations from people.” Fast-forward a decade, and that offhand comment became the Beach Boys classic “Good Vibrations.” Jimmy Webb, similarly brilliant, pushed the 5th Dimension to voice “Up, Up and Away” so that, in the words of vocalist Billy Davis, “the goal was to feel the song as we sang, so it sounded as if we were up in the sky at the mercy of the wind.” As he did in his previous volume, Anatomy of a Song, Myers does a fine job of getting behind the hits. Sometimes there’s only one person to reveal a story—Robbie Robertson, for instance, is the only member of The Band left to speak for how “The Weight” came into being. (The setting, Nazareth, was inspired by the inside label of his Martin D-28 guitar.) The author examines other songs from different viewpoints, as with the six interviewees for Donna Summer’s “On the Radio.” Altogether, Myers turns in a who-knew kind of book: Who knew that Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys Are Back in Town” started off as an anti–Vietnam War song? Or that Chic, makers of the disco classic “Good Times,” thought of themselves as jazz musicians who, as Nile Rodgers tells Myers, “had set out to update Kool & the Gang”? The narrative contains plenty of joy, discontentment (Joan Jett recalls being weighed down by her best-known song: “The bad reputation thing was imposed on me”), and even newfound respect. For example, when fronting his own band, Keith Richards realized what a hard job Mick Jagger had: “being a front man is like nonstop, man.”
With snippets of business, creativity, techno-wizardry, and raw emotion, a pleasure for music fans.

Kirkus Reviews

Anatomy of 55 More Songs: The Oral History of Top Hits That Changed Rock, Pop and Soul

Anatomy of 55 More Songs: The Oral History of Top Hits That Changed Rock, Pop and Soul

Paperback

Paperback

Related collections and offers

Overview

Product Details

About the Author

Table of Contents

Customer Reviews