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A review by tracey_stewart
Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop by Marc Myers
4.0
I love this stuff. I love learning the background, the genesis for a work, be it a book or painting, tv episode or – obviously – a song. Websites like SongFacts are huge rabbit holes that I can and do fall into and lose ridiculous amounts of time. And this collection of 45 tales, originally articles in the Wall Street Journal, derived from the author's interviews with those who participated in the songs' creation and recording, are (more or less) fascinating.
There's a fairly common bit of trivia about the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", about how although everyone pretty much assumes it's about an acid trip (the capitals of the song title are LSD!), John Lennon always denied it, said it was based on a crayon drawing from one of his kids. Similarly, Steppenwolf's "Magic Carpet Ride" is not, as – oh, come on, as everyone who's ever heard it – thinks, about any mind–altering substances. It makes so much sense when you hear the story. ("Lucy" is not one of the 45 songs in this book, by the way – consider this a bonus.)
I do love this stuff. I love inside information, inspiration, in–jokes – I will never hear "Groovin'" the same again, now that I know about the Misheard–Lyric Joke the band used to make, which ranks up there with "There's a bathroom on the right" and "Hold me closer, Tony Danza".
I still find the selection of songs a little surprising. Despite never having heard of several, I have no argument with the songs and artists included (except for "Suspicious Minds" – I despise that song) – but I do wonder about so many artists who are not represented. Billy Joel, Simon and/or Garfunkel, Rush, Melissa Etheridge, Elton John, Styx, Bruce Springsteen. Bob Dylan. Michael Jackson – any of the Jacksons. Prince. David Bowie. Hell – the Beatles. I mean. There were two songs from the Rolling Stones, though. That doesn't work for me. But it's not my collection. I just wonder why. In a perfect world would these 45 songs be the 45 songs he would have chosen out of all the songs ever? Or did the songs choices depend on the interviews – whether people involved in the production were still alive, were willing, were otherwise available?
Why "Mercedes Benz" and not "Me and Bobby McGee?" I mean, it's a great story, but how do I know "Bobby McGee" doesn't have just as cool a background? (ETA: I have since learned that "Bobby McGee" was a cover by Pearl, so if it was going to be discussed here it would be under Roger Miller's name, most likely.)
The audio format took a bit of adjusting for me. Jonathan Yen did an excellent job of narrating, but still – knowing that the essays were based on taped interviews, it seemed off not to have the artists' own voices telling the stories. To sit with them, talk with them and extract the answers, edit everything down and write an article, and then give it to someone else to read – verbatim, with all of each person's idiosyncrasies – into a microphone – it just feels a little crazy. I mean, it does make sense, in that having to get the rights and permissions would have taken time and money from the book's budget, and the edited-down versions of the interviews were, I'm sure, pretty choppy. It just took a little time to adapt to the same voice reading Grace Slick and Loretta Lynn and Stevie Wonder and Michael Stipe. I absolutely commend the narrator and the producers for the decision not to try for impersonation of any sort – no accents, none of those characteristic speech tics, only a slightly lighter voice used for women's contributions. None of my problems with the book were due to the narrator – he was very good.
I think – apart from that – my only real complaint about this book is that it ended quite abruptly. The last song, "Losing My Religion", is featured, and then … that's it, no wrap up. Some kind of coda would have been nice. Other than that, it was a well–put–together compendium of articles.
But seriously, why two Stones songs?
1. Lloyd Price – Lawdy Miss Clawdy – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYO263wui1w
2. Little Willie Littlefield – K.C. Loving – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEPt9lrfO_8
3. The Isley Brothers – Shout – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFCePEPdaU4
4. The Marvelettes – Please Mr. Postman – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSlzhYd0rYw
5. Dion – Runaround Sue – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ID–jsd0HGZs
6. The Dixie Cups – Chapel of Love – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTq7w8P6_2I
7. The Kinks – You Really Got Me – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTTsY–oz6Go
8. The Righteous Brothers – You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NONMSNzLhHU
9. The Temptations – My Girl – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bsdGo8dEoY
10. The Four Tops – Reach Out I'll Be There – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd6XkaKmqMM
11. The Lovin' Spoonful – Darling Be Home Soon – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXjzOpz4Cyw
12. The Doors – Light My Fire – (7 min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deB_u–to–IE
13. The Young Rascals – Groovin' – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=falI0baGhBQ
14. Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane) – White Rabbit – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR8LFNUr3vw
15. The Stone Poneys – Different Drum – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FLN4MUROXk
16. Otis Redding – (Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyPKRcBTsFQ
17. Loretta Lynn – Fist City – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvPnYhftIjs
18. The Rolling Stones – Street Fighting Man – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_ypZLjVbFE
19. Tammy Wynette – Stand by Your Man – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM–b8P1yj9w
20. Steppenwolf – Magic Carpet Ride – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ccBi8f_2RE
21. Creedence Clearwater Revival – Proud Mary – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfyEpmQM7bw
22. The Edwin Hawkins Singers – Oh Happy Day – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzj3pOdCOqU
23. Elvis Presley – Suspicious Minds – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxOBOhRECoo
24. Led Zeppelin – Whole Lotta Love – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0utAHY3xo4
25. Janis Joplin – Mercedes Benz – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qev–i9–VKlY
26. The Rolling Stones – Moonlight Mile – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stpRIyHHw8g
27. Rod Stewart – Maggie May – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxtCqs2WFZE
28. Joni Mitchell – Carey – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bulwl46vz9s
29. The Staple Singers – Respect Yourself – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=–1pYKdqD1ls
30. Jimmy Cliff – The Harder They Come – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0Nm5baiM4M
31. Gladys Knight and the Pips – Midnight Train to Georgia – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0F9lh8TiSM
32. The Allman Brothers – Ramblin' Man – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x28jaeyX2s
33. The Hues Corporation – Rock the Boat – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO1Z8ikSEPU
34. Aerosmith – Walk This Way – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UFFa1HbFfA
35. Stevie Wonder – Love's in Need of Love Today – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmcXIaBwz_g
36. Steely Dan – Deacon Blues – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A0wGO3c2T8
37. Elvis Costello – (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0aAGP3ty_A
38. Blondie – Heart of Glass – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa911_8TP2s
39. Pink Floyd – Another Brick in the Wall – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR5ApYxkU–U
40. The Clash – London Calling – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7ZiwhDAo04
41. The Neville Brothers – Brother John/Iko Iko – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99NYJkWZC9I
42. Merle Haggard – Big City – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th7tgdCZjUo
43. Cyndi Lauper – Time After Time – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdQY7BusJNU
44. Bonnie Raitt – Nick of Time – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy8gHfGIS_A
45. R.E.M. – Losing My Religion – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwtdhWltSIg
There's a fairly common bit of trivia about the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", about how although everyone pretty much assumes it's about an acid trip (the capitals of the song title are LSD!), John Lennon always denied it, said it was based on a crayon drawing from one of his kids. Similarly, Steppenwolf's "Magic Carpet Ride" is not, as – oh, come on, as everyone who's ever heard it – thinks, about any mind–altering substances. It makes so much sense when you hear the story. ("Lucy" is not one of the 45 songs in this book, by the way – consider this a bonus.)
I do love this stuff. I love inside information, inspiration, in–jokes – I will never hear "Groovin'" the same again, now that I know about the Misheard–Lyric Joke the band used to make, which ranks up there with "There's a bathroom on the right" and "Hold me closer, Tony Danza".
I still find the selection of songs a little surprising. Despite never having heard of several, I have no argument with the songs and artists included (except for "Suspicious Minds" – I despise that song) – but I do wonder about so many artists who are not represented. Billy Joel, Simon and/or Garfunkel, Rush, Melissa Etheridge, Elton John, Styx, Bruce Springsteen. Bob Dylan. Michael Jackson – any of the Jacksons. Prince. David Bowie. Hell – the Beatles. I mean. There were two songs from the Rolling Stones, though. That doesn't work for me. But it's not my collection. I just wonder why. In a perfect world would these 45 songs be the 45 songs he would have chosen out of all the songs ever? Or did the songs choices depend on the interviews – whether people involved in the production were still alive, were willing, were otherwise available?
Why "Mercedes Benz" and not "Me and Bobby McGee?" I mean, it's a great story, but how do I know "Bobby McGee" doesn't have just as cool a background? (ETA: I have since learned that "Bobby McGee" was a cover by Pearl, so if it was going to be discussed here it would be under Roger Miller's name, most likely.)
The audio format took a bit of adjusting for me. Jonathan Yen did an excellent job of narrating, but still – knowing that the essays were based on taped interviews, it seemed off not to have the artists' own voices telling the stories. To sit with them, talk with them and extract the answers, edit everything down and write an article, and then give it to someone else to read – verbatim, with all of each person's idiosyncrasies – into a microphone – it just feels a little crazy. I mean, it does make sense, in that having to get the rights and permissions would have taken time and money from the book's budget, and the edited-down versions of the interviews were, I'm sure, pretty choppy. It just took a little time to adapt to the same voice reading Grace Slick and Loretta Lynn and Stevie Wonder and Michael Stipe. I absolutely commend the narrator and the producers for the decision not to try for impersonation of any sort – no accents, none of those characteristic speech tics, only a slightly lighter voice used for women's contributions. None of my problems with the book were due to the narrator – he was very good.
I think – apart from that – my only real complaint about this book is that it ended quite abruptly. The last song, "Losing My Religion", is featured, and then … that's it, no wrap up. Some kind of coda would have been nice. Other than that, it was a well–put–together compendium of articles.
But seriously, why two Stones songs?
1. Lloyd Price – Lawdy Miss Clawdy – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYO263wui1w
2. Little Willie Littlefield – K.C. Loving – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEPt9lrfO_8
3. The Isley Brothers – Shout – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFCePEPdaU4
4. The Marvelettes – Please Mr. Postman – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSlzhYd0rYw
5. Dion – Runaround Sue – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ID–jsd0HGZs
6. The Dixie Cups – Chapel of Love – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTq7w8P6_2I
7. The Kinks – You Really Got Me – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTTsY–oz6Go
8. The Righteous Brothers – You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NONMSNzLhHU
9. The Temptations – My Girl – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bsdGo8dEoY
10. The Four Tops – Reach Out I'll Be There – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd6XkaKmqMM
11. The Lovin' Spoonful – Darling Be Home Soon – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXjzOpz4Cyw
12. The Doors – Light My Fire – (7 min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deB_u–to–IE
13. The Young Rascals – Groovin' – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=falI0baGhBQ
14. Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane) – White Rabbit – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR8LFNUr3vw
15. The Stone Poneys – Different Drum – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FLN4MUROXk
16. Otis Redding – (Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyPKRcBTsFQ
17. Loretta Lynn – Fist City – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvPnYhftIjs
18. The Rolling Stones – Street Fighting Man – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_ypZLjVbFE
19. Tammy Wynette – Stand by Your Man – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM–b8P1yj9w
20. Steppenwolf – Magic Carpet Ride – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ccBi8f_2RE
21. Creedence Clearwater Revival – Proud Mary – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfyEpmQM7bw
22. The Edwin Hawkins Singers – Oh Happy Day – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzj3pOdCOqU
23. Elvis Presley – Suspicious Minds – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxOBOhRECoo
24. Led Zeppelin – Whole Lotta Love – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0utAHY3xo4
25. Janis Joplin – Mercedes Benz – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qev–i9–VKlY
26. The Rolling Stones – Moonlight Mile – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stpRIyHHw8g
27. Rod Stewart – Maggie May – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxtCqs2WFZE
28. Joni Mitchell – Carey – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bulwl46vz9s
29. The Staple Singers – Respect Yourself – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=–1pYKdqD1ls
30. Jimmy Cliff – The Harder They Come – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0Nm5baiM4M
31. Gladys Knight and the Pips – Midnight Train to Georgia – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0F9lh8TiSM
32. The Allman Brothers – Ramblin' Man – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x28jaeyX2s
33. The Hues Corporation – Rock the Boat – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO1Z8ikSEPU
34. Aerosmith – Walk This Way – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UFFa1HbFfA
35. Stevie Wonder – Love's in Need of Love Today – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmcXIaBwz_g
36. Steely Dan – Deacon Blues – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A0wGO3c2T8
37. Elvis Costello – (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0aAGP3ty_A
38. Blondie – Heart of Glass – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa911_8TP2s
39. Pink Floyd – Another Brick in the Wall – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR5ApYxkU–U
40. The Clash – London Calling – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7ZiwhDAo04
41. The Neville Brothers – Brother John/Iko Iko – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99NYJkWZC9I
42. Merle Haggard – Big City – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th7tgdCZjUo
43. Cyndi Lauper – Time After Time – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdQY7BusJNU
44. Bonnie Raitt – Nick of Time – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy8gHfGIS_A
45. R.E.M. – Losing My Religion – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwtdhWltSIg