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Alan Johnson
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Grove Press
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 alter the direction of music. In this follow-up to his classic Anatomy of a Song, writer and music historian Marc Myers tells the stories behind fifty-five more rock, pop, R&B, country and reggae 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 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.
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Classic Pop issue 82 is on sale now!
In the latest issue of Classic Pop, we have a Wham! world exclusive interview with Andrew Ridgeley plus Pepsi and Shirlie who look back on their life inside the legendary pop group ahead of the release of a new singles collection and hotly-anticipated Netflix documentary.
Once more back in the Duran Duran fold, in an emotional exclusive interview, guitarist Andy Taylor reveals all about his forthcoming solo album as well as his surprise reunion with the iconic band for an upcoming Halloween-flavoured covers record. There’s further Duran-related action, too, as we take an in-depth look at their back catalogue in our Album By Album feature and catch up with founder member Stephen Duffy who talks Classic Pop through The Lilac Time’s stunning new long-player, Dance Till All The Stars Come Down.
Elsewhere, fresh from his Glastonbury triumphs, Rick Astley gives us a sneak preview of his new LP Are We There Yet? Our latest classic album feature is on Kate Bush’s The Sensual World and Kevin Rowland shines a light on the transformative experience that inspired Dexys’ latest project, The Feminine Divine.
We also give some much-needed love to Elvis Costello’s underrated tour de force The Delivery Man and