The Billboard Guide to Writing and Producing Songs that Sell


Book Description

The Billboard Guide to Writing and Producing Songs that Sell unveils the secrets to climbing the charts and reaching success in today’s ultracompetitive music industry. Eric Beall supplies his firsthand knowledge of today’s record business, as well as interviews with successful writers, producers, and executives from the worlds of pop, hip-hop, country, adult contemporary, and R&B. The result: a proven approach to constructing songs that open doors, create careers, and communicate to listeners around the world. Key areas explored include: •How does a song become a hit? •What makes a song a single? •Is there a formula for creating a hit? Fun and practical exercises provide opportunities to hone skills and expose specific talents, helping songwriters combine their unique voices to the demands of the commercial marketplace. Filled with fresh ideas that will spark beginners and veterans alike, this book will lead the way toward the industry’s ultimate challenge: the creation of that chart-topping hit song.




Anatomy of a Song


Book Description

Songs that sell the most copies become hits, but some of those hits transcend commercial value, touching a generation of listeners and altering the direction of music. In Anatomy of a Song, writer and music historian Marc Myers tells the stories behind fifty rock, pop, R&B, country and reggae hits through intimate interviews with the artists who wrote and recorded them. Mick Jagger, Jimmy Page, the Clash, Smokey Robinson, Grace Slick, Roger Waters, Joni Mitchell, Steven Tyler, Rod Stewart, Elvis Costello and many other leading artists reveal the inspirations, struggles and techniques behind their influential works .




First 50 Songs You Should Play on Acoustic Guitar


Book Description

(Guitar Collection). 50 songs essential to any guitarist's repertoire, including: Against the Wind * Barely Breathing * Boulevard of Broken Dreams * Champagne Supernova * Crazy Little Thing Called Love * Every Rose Has Its Thorn * Fast Car * Free Fallin' * Hey There Delilah * Ho Hey * I Won't Give Up * Layla * Let Her Go * Mean * One * Ring of Fire * Signs * Stairway to Heaven * Trouble * Wagon Wheel * Wish You Were Here * Yellow * Yesterday * and more.







The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 1955 to Present


Book Description

A descriptive list of top 40 hits with information on the performers, the names of their hits, number of weeks on the charts, and accompanying record labels.




The Song Machine: Inside the Hit Factory


Book Description

"An utterly satisfying examination of the business of popular music." —Nathaniel Rich, The Atlantic There’s a reason today’s ubiquitous pop hits are so hard to ignore—they’re designed that way. The Song Machine goes behind the scenes to offer an insider’s look at the global hit factories manufacturing the songs that have everyone hooked. Full of vivid, unexpected characters—alongside industry heavy-hitters like Katy Perry, Rihanna, Max Martin, and Ester Dean—this fascinating journey into the strange world of pop music reveals how a new approach to crafting smash hits is transforming marketing, technology, and even listeners’ brains. You’ll never think about music the same way again. A Wall Street Journal Best Business Book




"Alexander's Ragtime Band" and Other Favorite Song Hits, 1901-1911


Book Description

Fifty vintage popular songs including "Some of These Days," "Oh, You Beautiful Doll," many more. Reprinted from original editions. Introduction.




For Me and My Gal and Other Favorite Song Hits, 1915-1917


Book Description

31 vintage song hits from the World War I era, reprinted from original editions, complete with all lyrics, full piano arrangements and reproductions of the original covers. Introduction to the period and brief biographies of the songwriters




The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits


Book Description

All the information since the earliest Billboard charts were originally compiled in 1942 is gathered into this one essential reference on country music that has been updated and expanded to capture today's top recording artists and their biggest songs. Original.




The Billboard Book of Number One Hits


Book Description

Provides lists of hit songs by date with information on the artist, songwriter, producer, label, and offering interviews with popular artists.