Amazon.com: Written in My Soul: Rock's Great Songwriters Talk About Creating Their Music (9780809251537): Bill Flanagan: Books

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1986

Written in My Soul, first published in 1986, is a snapshot of some of rock & roll’s most iconic artists at the same moment. Bill Flanagan, who would go on to create VH1 Storytellers and CMT Crossroads, spoke about songwriting and creativity with Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, Joni Mitchell, Mick Jagger, Paul Simon, Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Bono and nineteen more music legends. Long a collector’s item, second hand copies of Written in My Soul have sold for over a hundred dollars. It is a look at rock & roll history from inside the heads of the people who made it.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

#outer_postBodyPS { display: none; } #psGradient { display: none; } #psPlaceHolder { display: none; } #psExpand { display: none; } Written in My Soul, first published in 1986, is a snapshot of some of rock & roll’s most iconic artists at the same moment. Bill Flanagan, who would go on to create VH1 Storytellers and CMT Crossroads, spoke about songwriting and creativity with Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, Joni Mitchell, Mick Jagger, Paul Simon, Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Bono and nineteen more music legends. Long a collector’s item, second hand copies of Written in My Soul have sold for over a hundred dollars. It is a look at rock & roll history from inside the heads of the people who made it.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA Flanagan includes only ``performers whose songs could be performed solo on acoustic guitar without losing their sense or impact,'' in particular those from the ``rock tradition anteceded by Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly.'' These narrow parameters are necessary because so many talented songwriters are not interviewed. The 27 who are include Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, Mick Jagger, Joni Mitchell, David Byrne, and Joan Armatrading. Flanagan's foreword discusses rock songwriting styles and methods in general. He then breaks the parade of songwriters into seven logical groups, including ``Southern Voices,'' ``Penitents of the Spirit,'' ``California Voices,'' and ``Emigrants.'' Each section is preceded by a brief introductory discussion, as is each interview. These discussions provide great insight into the history of rock and roll by placing the artists in context; the interviews then add insight into their various writing styles. Students and other interested readers of music literature, of songwriting, and of rock and roll will appreciate this well-organized, well-presented collection. Dorcas Hand, Episcopal High School, Bellaire, Tex.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Talk about a subtitle! Flanagan, executive editor of Musician magazine, interviews 27 songwriters of the rock eracalling some of their music rock is stretching itand talks about songs and songwriting. Most of the composers seem happy to speak more about their craft than their lifestyle or career; the interviews are unusually frank and revealing. Flanagan approached the book as a unified project, so it's frustrating that it doesn't add up to more than a collection of good interviews. At least here the artists have the last word, and the results are a good addition to any popular music collection. Mark H. Sullivan, Univ. of North Carolina Lib., Charlotte
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Bill Flanagan Page

Bill Flanagan is the author of two previous novels, A&R and NEW BEDLAM, as well as two non-fiction books, WRITTEN IN MY SOUL and U2 AT THE END OF THE WORLD, and a humor collection, LAST OF THE MOE HAIRCUTS. He has written for Esquire, GQ, Rolling Stone, Spy, Vanity Fair and many other magazines and newspapers.

Flanagan is also executive vice president and editorial director of MTV Networks for which he created and oversees the series VH1 STORYTELLERS and CMT CROSSROADS. Flanagan has produced, executive produced or co-produced countless hours of television, including specials for NBC and ABC, two concerts from the Clinton White House, and The Concert for New York City after the September 11 attacks. He is ombudsman of the Sundance Channel series SPECTACLE: ELVIS COSTELLO WITH....

Flanagan is an on-air essayist on CBS NEWS SUNDAY MORNING. He has been interviewed on TV by Oprah Winfrey, Diane Sawyer, Conan O'Brien, Jeff Greenfield, Bryant Gumble and Charlie Rose. He has twice guest-hosted for Charlie Rose and hosted PBS's special BOB DYLAN AT NEWPORT. He has also appeared in documentaries by Peter Bogdanovich, Julien Temple, and the BBC, been a guest on Terri Gross's FRESH AIR on NPR, and a talking head on PBS's American Masters.

Flanagan grew up in Rhode Island and graduated from Brown University. He is married to Susan Gallagher. They have three children and live in New York City.