Songwriters On Songwriting

On the surface this may seem not the most interesting book to read, 700 pages with a variety of songwriters covering different genres and time periods. But this is a book to savour, to dip in where and when you choose, and every interview will leave you feeling you have learned something new. Whether you wish to read about older writers such as Sammy Cahn and his experiences writing for Frank SInatra, singer songwriters such as Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Paul SImon and Neil Young or more contemporary artists like Madonna and Suzanne Vega you will come away with a greater understanding of the craft of songwriting. A good holiday read for the beach.Paul Zollo has an impressive CV; a Music and English graduate, editor of Songtalk (the journal of the National Academy of Songwriters), author of The Beginning Songwriters Answer Book, he has written for many music magazines and is an accomplished singer songwriter and recording artist. His understanding of songwriting and encyclopedic knowledge of the musicians he interviews allows his interviews to reveal a great deal about how they write, where they get inspiration from as well as some great anecdotes and stories.There are a couple of notable omissions such as Joni Mitchell and Tom Waits, and such a collection seems strange without them. Also not all the interviews are the same length and some are a bit short, such as Mark Knopfler's is only 6 pages whereas Paul SImon's is 36 pages and generally the longer the interview, the more rewarding the read. Don't let this small fault deter you as even the smaller interviews are illuminating in some way.You can dip in and out.

Great to dip into. The articles make me consider my own songwriting process. Doesn't get bogged down in theory. If you want technical look elsewhere. If you want to know about the great songwriters inspirations on a daily basis, you will find it here. I really wish I had bought this book sooner. Most of the great songwriters are represented. I can see this being a well loved book which I will store in my songwriting bag.

Still working through this book after several weeks....!!Very inspirational for any budding songwriter or one who has come to a standstill for any reason...A diverse collection of successful songwriters from many genres and eras...Providing useful insight into the creative process....Highly recommended....!!

Great book, very inspiring for any songwriter, no matter what age

A fascinating format where a knowledgable interview engages songwriters in conversation. A few say how they tap into the divine, or the subconscious , but most just get on and do it.