Inside Classic Rock Tracks: Songwriting and Recording Secrets of 100+ Great Songs

Each song is dissected musically and lyrically without jargon in a way even non-musicians will easily understand. Unique among books about popular music, Rooksby explains why each song works or conversely, how some of them could be improved. An easy read that does provide some new information about most of the songs.

I agree with Val on the uninspired song selection, but my real complaint is that I didn't learn anything useful. Each song gets about one page which is not enough to go in depth on any topic after getting the half page song description out of the way. Ricky Rooksby's other books are way better. This book was a disappointment because the concept has a lot of potential which this book doesn't hit.

Nice!!!!!!!!

I bought this book sight-unseen because it was a bargain book and I was trying to get over the $25 free shipping limit (hey, I'm honest). The online description was intriguing enough, but I was very surprised when the book arrived and surpassed my expectations. Physically the book is very attractive, and the low page count is deceptive because the book is larger than a normal paperback. The writer has very excellent insights about the music tracks spanning four decades, and he peppers his writing with biting wit. Definitely recommended!

Rooksby does a great job of analyzing notable songs from the last few decades and explains what makes them effective. Some of his observations are funny too. I recommend this for anyone who is interested in songwriting and production, but is bored with the usual "How to Write Massively, Successful Hit Songs in 27 Easy Steps" format.

This is a decent delve into famous rock tracks doesn't go 'riff' deep but it does talk about arrangements

So sehr ich die Bücher von Rooksby schätze, in diesem Werk - das übrigens nicht nur Rocksongs behandelt - nervt der Autor mit seinen ständigen Sticheleien gegen die ach so minderwertige Popmusik der 80er und 90er, wie das bei Alt-Rockern ja allgemein üblich ist. Die rocklastige Songauswahl untermauert sein Anliegen noch zusätzlich.Ja, wir haben's verstanden, ihr mögt keinen Synthie-Pop. Aber in einem derartigen Buch möchte ich bitte nur Musiktheorie lesen und nicht die (teilweise zwanghaften) Ansichten eines Rockmusikers.