Inside the Hits: The Seduction of a Rock and Roll Generation (Pop Culture) [Paperback]

Wayne Wadhams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2001 | Series: Pop Culture

How does a song become more than words and music to represent or influence the voice of a generation? Inside the Hits dissects more than 60 of the most powerful and memorable hit songs since the birth of rock and roll to reveal the roots of their success. Author Wayne Wadhams examines the key ingredients that made the songs work then and now, including: melody, lyrics, performance, production, artist image, promotion, and market timing. What really stopped Mick Jagger from getting "Satisfaction"? How did a secretary who was mistaken for a prostitute give Donna Summer her new sound? Find all the answers in Inside the Hits. "Reading Inside the Hits was like reliving some of the most memorable moments in rock and roll. A captivating read for industry professionals and fans alike." - Phil Ramone

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

The Seduction of a Rock and Roll Generation

From sock hops and leather jackets, to free love and new drugs, from the We Generation to the Me Generation, hit music has provided the soundtrack. Songs make us laugh, cry, think, love, get angry, get sexy, and get funky. But how does a song become more than words and music to represent or influence the voice of a generation? How directed are the choices that music producers make?

Inside the Hits dissects more than sixty of the most powerful and memorable hit songs since the birth of rock and roll to reveal the roots of their success. Author Wayne Wadhams opens up songs like a surgeon, exposing each one as a living, breathing organism‹full of guts, heart, and hormones. He examines the key ingredients that made the songs work then and now, including: melody, lyrics, performance, production, artist image, promotion, and market timing.

Get the inside scoop from interviews with the artists, composers, producers, and engineers behind the hits.
-What really stopped Mick Jagger from getting Satisfaction?
-How did a secretary who was mistaken for a prostitute give Donna Summer her new sound?
Find all the answers, Inside the Hits.

Product Details

• Paperback: 550 pages
• Publisher: Berklee Press (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0634014307
• ISBN-13: 978-0634014307
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #848,441 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better use: as a songwrting and production learning tool, November 1, 2005

By 

Paul Biondi "Guitar Teacher" (www.bangonrecords.com - Bellmore, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Inside the Hits: The Seduction of a Rock and Roll Generation (Pop Culture) (Paperback)

Although not marketed as such, "Inside the Hits "makes a good resource tool for teachers and students who wish to analyze the song structure and production values of hit records. When I help my guitar students with their songwriting, I include deconstructing a hit song. After all, why reinvent the wheel when the information from a hit song is right there for us to use? The author does an excellent job of outlining key areas of songwriting and production and writes extensively about the elements of the groove; the arrangement; signature elements of a song; melodic development; the chord/harmonic progression; effects and techniques used in the mix; a guide of how the song was mixed (mix map); lyrical structure; cultural relevance; performance values and interviews with the artists, songwriters and producers. I give this book 4 stars instead of 5 only because the selected songs stop at 1988 and do not include more current writing and production trends. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in deconstructing hit songs for songwriting and production ideas.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music Lover or Music Pro, March 19, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Inside the Hits: The Seduction of a Rock and Roll Generation (Pop Culture) (Paperback)

If you've ever been moved by a pop song from the mid 50s thru the mid 80s but never known why - here's the answer.

Whether you're a music creator or music lover - it's all here and it's highly accessible for all. A truly remarkable contribution to our culture.

4.0 out of 5 stars product review, November 6, 2010

By 

daniel - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Inside the Hits: The Seduction of a Rock and Roll Generation (Pop Culture) (Paperback)

im still reading it...interesting it has histories of rock n roll ... 7 out of 10