Inside Classic Rock Tracks: Songwriting and Recording Secrets of 100 Great Songs from 1960 to the Present Day

by Rikky Rooksby

Presenting a remarkable selection of songs ranging from vintage rock 'n' roll to today's electronic dance music, this book analyzes in fine detail the writing and recording techniques behind 100 selected singles and album cuts to see exactly what makes a great track great. Whether you're a musician looking for inspiration or creative tips, or a music lover who wants to get the most from your record collection, Inside Classic Rock Tracks is a unique combination of critical appreciation and hands-on insight. Readers will discover exactly how different sounds within songs are achieved, and the various ways engineers throughout the history of popular music have arranged and recorded them. Analyzes music from the worlds of funk, folk rock, surf, blues, disco, country, hard rock, Britpop, R&B, reggae, psychedelic rock, punk, Motown, techno and more.

Genres: Music

176 pages, Paperback

First published September 9, 2001

Reviews

[James Doughty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise yet in-depth

Each song is dissected musically and lyrically without jargon in a way even non-musicians will easily understand. Unique among books about popular music, Rooksby explains why each song works or conversely, how some of them could be improved. An easy read that does provide some new information about most of the songs.