Music Book Review: Anatomy of a Song, an Anatomy of 55 More Songs, both by Marc Myers

Anatomy of a Song (2016) and Anatomy of 55 More Songs (2022)
by Marc Myers (Music 781.64 Mye)

These 2 books are a nostalgic treasure trove of details about influential and iconic pop and rock songs from the 1950s-1990s. They are based on Myers’ Wall Street Journal column of the same title, which he defines as a subjective “oral history.” The first of what is now a two-volume ‘set’ looks at 45 songs released between 1952 and 1991 and the second covers the years 1964-1996. Each song is looked at in light of its effect when released, and over time. Myers interviewed dozens of singers, musicians, composers, and producers to supplement the brief history and overall impact of the songs. Each song’s entry is accompanied by an album cover or a marketing or candid photo of the performer/s. Many of the entries go into great instrumental and technical detail about the recordings, so some of it may be over a musical layman’s head. Not only are these books a carefully curated historical record of American popular music of the latter half of the 20th century but they provide an opportunity to fondly recall music that was significant culturally and/or personally at certain points in one’s life. Just a few of the songs profiled are: Rocket Man, Good Vibrations, Truckin’, The Gambler, Chapel of Love, Sundown, Heart of Glass, and Time After Time.

 

(If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the 100 Best-Selling Albums series.)

 

( official Marc Myers web site )

 

Recommended by Becky W.C.
Walt Branch Library

 

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