Who Wrote the Book of Love

by Richard Crouse

¸  The words to Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" were initially so risqué they had to be completely rewritten - in the hallway of the studio, as time was running out - before the song could be recorded. (He wrote the original version while working as a dishwasher in a bus station in Georgia.)

¸  Paul Simon's 1972 hit "Mother and Child Reunion" takes its name from an elaborate chicken and egg dish served at Say Eng Look Restaurant in New York City.

¸  Nirvana's huge hit "Smells Like Teen Spirit," interpreted by music critics and fans alike as an angst-ridden cry of teen rebellion, actually sprang from a bit of graffiti accusing Kurt Cobain of smelling like an antiperspirant for young women.

Genres: Music

296 pages, softcover

First published August 17, 1998

About the author

Richard Crouse is the regular film critic for CTV’s Canada AM , CTV’s 24-hour News Channel and CP24. His syndicated Saturday afternoon radio show, Entertainment Extra, originates on NewsTalk 1010. He is also the author of six books on pop culture history including Raising Hell: Ken Russell and the Unmaking of The Devils and The 100 Best Movies You’ve Never Seen, and writes two weekly columns for Metro newspaper. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Reviews

[Debra Komar · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light, "bathroom-style" read that relates the stories behind some of the biggest hits in popular music. Some stories are more interesting and detailed than others. The origin of Paul Simon's "Mother and Child Reunion" - the name of a chicken and egg dish at a Chinese restaurant - is a particular stand out.

[Kevin Gallan · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great little book about songs and their history