The interviews included in this fascinating collection of discussions with popular songwriters focus on the craft itself―and as such, they are of interest to both music fans and to budding songwriters. What inspires songwriters? Where do their songs come from? What is their process? What do they do when they get stuck? In this book, readers will hear from a vast range of well-known, successful songwriters, many of them performers as well, revealing the nuances of their skill: how they write their songs, from conception to finished work. The book discusses both song history and style. The songs discussed have defined eras and culture.
Full of trivia, wisdom, and fascinating revelations from such figures as Tori Amos, Burt Bacharach, David Bowie, Sarah McLachlan, Billy Joel, and John Mayer, In Their Own Words shines a light on what is often and inherently lonely craft. It gives readers a glimpse into a mysterious process and offes rising songwriters a wealth of advice from those who have spent decades successfully sharing their work with the public.

In Their Own Words: Songwriters Talk About the Creative Process

Biographies & Memoirs

DeMain, Bill

Arts & Literature

Praeger

"Behind The Muse" features interviews with over 40 successful and respected songwriters. Billy Joel, Burt Bacharach, Brian Wilson, Smokey Robinson, John Mellencamp, and David Byrne are among the acclaimed writers who discuss their methods for tapping into the sources of creativity, their work habits, and the stories behind their most popular songs. 
The book spans 70 years of popular music, from interviews with Mitchell Parish (who wrote the lyrics to "Stardust") and Burton Lane (whose standard "How About You?" first charted in the Big Band era) to discussions with current cutting-edge artists such as Aimee Mann and Tori Amos. 
Along the way, there are revealing interviews with the creators of famous songs from a wide variety of genres such as 1960s pop (Jimmy Webb, Hal David), Motown (Ashford &amp; Simpson), classic rock (The Byrds' Roger McGuinn, The Moody Blues' Justin Hayward), country (Dolly Parton), musical theatre (Jerry Herman, Marvin Hamlisch, Tim Rice), 1970s and 1980s Top 40 (Barry Gibb, Phil Collins, Steve Winwood), power pop (Nick Lowe, Squeeze's Glenn Tilbrook, Matthew Sweet), and current singer-songwriters (Suzanne Vega, Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan).

Behind The Muse: Pop and Rock's Greatest Songwriters Talk About Their Work and Inspiration

Arts & Photography

Music

Tiny Ripple Books

A celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ mind-blowing landmark album: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band celebrates its 50th anniversary in June 2017. Even after half a century, the Beatles’ groundbreaking work thrillingly evokes the sights, sounds, and mood of the sixties at their most joyously psychedelic and creative. Featuring contributions from leading authorities on the Beatles’ music, Sgt. Pepper at Fifty provides an in-depth critique of the album, by looking at the unique cultural circumstances that led to its creation; examining the rich assemblage of influences that informed its sound; exploring the landmark cover art, which continues to inspire debate and intrigue; and assessing the record’s enduring legacy as the pinnacle of British pop. In addition to 225 photos and other images, the book includes memorabilia.

Sgt. Pepper at Fifty: The Mood, the Look, the Sound, the Legacy of the Beatles' Great Masterpiece

Gaar, Gillian G.

McInnerney, Mike

Union Square & Co.

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Books by DeMain, Bill