Customer Reviews

Off The Record: Songwriters on Songwriting

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

"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

A visually stunning book for music lovers or casual fans. The multimedia format really takes the music and lyrics to a new level. Cheers to Graham for this wonderful effort!

Already anxious for the next edition! I've always been a big fan of Graham Nash's, but never had the benefit of so much insight into the creation of great songs. Where do you find this type of memorable music today? It's rare. I can listen to each of the featured 25 songs in Off the Record and tell you about a special memory that is conjured up from the recesses of my mind. It's fascinating to read the artists' stories behind the songs. Please Graham, give us more!

Off the Record is an interesting and beautiful book about a variety of music (not just Graham Nash's music-his song Our House is only 1 of 25 featured songs).

The book includes handwritten lyrics by the songwriters-some are incredibly beautiful. Also, I like "American Woman" which looks like an American flag.

Also, the book is very colorful and has a lot of pictures and interesting interviews. Ben E. King tells how he got kicked out of choir for having a loud voice. Thank goodness he still went on to use it!

Anyone who likes songs like "Never My Love", "I Feel the Earth Move", Do You Believe in Magic", What a Wonderful World", "Stand By Me" and more will enjoy this book.

I love Graham Nash's music, but was pleasantly surprised by the wealth of songwriters and musicians who are featured in OFF THE RECORD. This is a FABULOUS gift for any music lover.

The book includes handwritten lyrics of many classic songs, interviews (both written and audio (on 2 CDs)), photos, and more. The book is colorful, engaging, and a celebration of GREAT music...

I've been a fan of Graham Nash for a long time, and that's one of the reasons why I bought this book. But once I received the book, I discovered that it offers so much more than just information about Graham Nash. Some of the songs featured, like "Our House" and "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay," were popular when I was a teenager and really brought back memories. Hearing the stories behind these songs that are so memorable for me really gave them a dimension that they didn't have before, making me like them even more. I think this book is really wonderful and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves music, or who wants to look at the songs of their youth in a whole new way.

I guess I must fall into the constant stream of spammers who like this book. (What's your problem Mr. Frankfurter?) I got this book for my birthday recently and find it fascinating. Not much else to add other than kudos to Graham Nash for this engaging effort.

. . . was the music! I was surprised and mildly disappointed that the CD's didn't include the original recordings of the songs talked about. Other than that it was most enjoyable