Inside Classic Rock Tracks: Songwriting and Recording Secrets of 100+ Great Songs (Paperback)

by Rikky Rooksby (Author) "The Everleys remain one of the great male duos in popular music..." (more)
Key Phrases: forbidden colours, tremolo guitar, main riff, New York, Beach Boys, Van Halen (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Presenting a remarkable selection of songs ranging from vintage rock ÕnÕ roll to todayÕs 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 youÕre 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.

About the Author
Rikky Rooksby has written various guides to the songwriting of artists ranging from Dire Straits to Fleetwood Mac, Madonna and Bob Dylan, as well as numerous how-to books for guitar players, including How to Write Songs on Guitar. A guitar columnist for Making Music, Rooksby has written features, interviews, reviews, and music transcriptions for such magazines as Guitar Techniques, Bassist, The Band. Music Collector, Encore and Sound On Sound.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Backbeat Books; 1st edition (September 9, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879306548
• ISBN-13: 978-0879306540
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #457,869 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Humorous and Insightful, January 20, 2002

By	"mike_black" (Orlando, Florida, United States) - See all my reviews

Rooksby does a great job of analyzing notable songs from the last few decades and explains what makes them effective. Some of his observations are funny too. I recommend this for anyone who is interested in songwriting and production, but is bored with the usual "How to Write Massively, Successful Hit Songs in 27 Easy Steps" format.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, unexpected, January 7, 2005

By	M. Poush "Abundantly Blessed" (Grinnell, IA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this book sight-unseen because it was a bargain book and I was trying to get over the $25 free shipping limit (hey, I'm honest). The online description was intriguing enough, but I was very surprised when the book arrived and surpassed my expectations. Physically the book is very attractive, and the low page count is deceptive because the book is larger than a normal paperback. The writer has very excellent insights about the music tracks spanning four decades, and he peppers his writing with biting wit. Definitely recommended!