Inside the Hits: The Seduction of a Rock and Roll Generation

by Wayne Wadhams

(Berklee Press). How does a song become more than words and music to represent or influence the voice of a generation? Inside the Hits dissects more than 60 of the most powerful and memorable hit songs since the birth of rock and roll to reveal the roots of their success. Author Wayne Wadhams examines the key ingredients that made the songs work then and now, including: melody, lyrics, performance, production, artist image, promotion, and market timing. What really stopped Mick Jagger from getting "Satisfaction"? How did a secretary who was mistaken for a prostitute give Donna Summer her new sound? Find all the answers in Inside the Hits . "Reading Inside the Hits was like reliving some of the most memorable moments in rock and roll. A captivating read for industry professionals and fans alike." Phil Ramone

Genres: Music

550 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2001

Reviews

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a nice idea for a book and the analysys are OK. But I couldn't find original insights or points of view that most musicians wouldn't notice. The way it's written could be more engaging too. That said, it's still worth being bought because it makes you think about structures of songwriting.

[Lequynh78gmail.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an old book, so it seems there are few reviews about it. Still, it is a very useful book to understand the inner workings of many hit songs. Although it was published a long time ago, there is much to learn from the author's analysis.