Off The Record: Songwriters on Songwriting [Hardcover]

Graham Nash (Compiler)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 2002

"Our house is a very, very, very fine house. With two cats in the yard, life used to be so hard . . ."In 1970, "Our House" was recorded and released by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and immediately became a sentimental favorite for millions of fans. Its honest, romantic, homespun lyrics expressed a sentiment felt by all of us. To this day, the song remains a classic and is one whose melody and lyrics can be sung and repeated by the millions of people whose lives it touched.Songs like these and many others have created landmark moments in all of our lives, marking and celebrating key events, past and better times, current relationships, and hopes for the future. Now, Manuscript Originals has compiled the stories behind a collection of 25 of the world's most celebrated songs in Off the Record, a stunning book and CD collection that will commemorate the impact these classic songs have had in our contemporary world.Original handwritten images of the lyrics from these classic songs rendered by their original authors and accompanied by the songwriter's own artwork will be displayed in each of the book's 25 chapters. In addition, readers will find historical, social, and "off the cuff" personal insights about these fascinating people and the music they produced. Illuminating photographs-some from the writer's or performer's personal archive that have never been seen before-will also document the journey of each artist's individual songwriting path. While the names of some of the songwriters included in Off The Record are better known to the general public than others, the songs these artists are associated with are some of the most famous titles in the world. Among the songwriters included areGraham Nash, David Crosby, Grace Slick, Ben E. King, Jimmy Davis ("You Are My Sunshine"), John Lee Hooker, Waylon Jennings, Randy Bachman, Peter Yarrow, and many, many more.The CDs enclosed in Off the Record include individual audio interviews

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-The lyrics to 25 of the previous century's most famous popular songs are handwritten by the writers and further explored through archival photographs and interviews. The styles range from "It Was a Very Good Year" to "Boom Boom," and the songwriters are as varied as Jimmie Davis and Grace Slick. The lyricists share insights into such subjects as the creative process, the practical aspects of working as an entertainer, the personal and cultural influences shaping their work, and their take on the state of the music industry today. There is plenty here to interest readers intrigued by popular music and the lives of the artists who create it, and the lavishly illustrated book is enhanced by two beautifully edited audio CDs.
Christine C. Menefee, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing; 1St Edition edition (September 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0740726781
• ISBN-13: 978-0740726781
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 10.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,286,292 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Very Very Fine Book!, September 25, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Off The Record: Songwriters on Songwriting (Hardcover)

I can't say enough good things about this book. It's a one-of-a-kind must-have for anybody who loves music. A real class-act. The pictures and layout are fabulous, and to read interviews of writers talking about how they created some of some of your favorite songs is enlightening. But the CD's---the audio interviews with these wonderful creative people---are truly amazing. I especially loved hearing Graham Nash talk about Joni Mitchell and "Our House"---but all the interviews are super. You feel like you've been invited into the writer's living rooms and are sitting right there while they share their trials, tribulations, and victories. What can I say, I just loved the whole experience...reading, listening, looking. If I could afford it, I would buy this book for every one of my friends. As it is at least two of them will find this under their trees this Christmas.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars May the musical journey never end., November 14, 2004

By 

J. Guild (Toronto,Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Off The Record: Songwriters on Songwriting (Hardcover)

This book is an absolute Gem!I just spent the afternoon enjoying this terrific book and the 2 CD's that came along with it.25 great songs, mainly from the second half of the 20th. century,and the songwriters behind them.The songs and writers were so well chosen that it's hard to imagine anyone not liking most,if not all,the choices.
To listen to these Artists talk about their lives,work,and the things that meant so much to them is a real treat.The interviews are all very personal and it seems that everything was spontaneous and came right from the heart.
Here is some of what you'll find:
"If you wanna make it,you can't fake it,you gotta live it."
Hank Williams Sr.
"The answer,my friend,is blowing in the wind."
Peter Yarrow will tell you what it means.
"You don't hit a home run every time you come to bat.You don't hit oil every time you drill."Jimmie Davis,Gov.Louisiana and writer of "You are my Sunshine".
"Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your Cold,Cold Heart." Where did Hank get that title?
"The Dragon lives forever and has been with us for 3 or 4 generations." Peter Yarrow
"Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree." L.Russell Brown tells us what prompted this one.
"Love is Like a Burning Ring of Fire"What gave Merle Kilgore and June Carter Cash the idea for this song?
I am reluctant to say anything negative about this super book;but I felt a letdown after the end of each interviev on the CD's.I think the songs should have been included in their entirety;but then again it would have been impossible to give it only 5 stars.
I read the book and then listened to the CD's;and found that a good order.
Finally,I'd recommend you read the other reviews.They all have something to add.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, January 3, 2003

By 

Anders M. Rasmussen "Ande Rasmussen" (Martindale, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Off The Record: Songwriters on Songwriting (Hardcover)

"Off The Record: Songwriters on Songwriting" by Graham Nash is WONDERFUL!

It features

Full color artistic renderings the lyrics of 25 famous songs by the original songwriters.
Songs like True Colors, What a Wonderful World, Never My Love, and many more.

Pictures of the songwriters and artists.

Interviews with the songwriters.

Then 2 CD's filled with songwriter interviews where you get to hear some of the story about what inspired the featured song and other songs the songwriter wrote.

"Songwriters on Songwriting" is beautiful and delightful.

Ande Rasmussen
Songwriter
Editor and Publisher of Inspirations for Songwriters
President of Austin Songwriters Group