He's played the chord sequence on a piano and sung the first verse when he stops suddenly. Baker just fell about laughing, but went on to record the most ambitious single of all time. The book shows how technology has shaped the sound of records over the decades and also looks at how bands and producers have refused to be constrained by what was considered possible or sensible. Spector's Wall of Sound is broken down, the emergence of the synthesiser and sampling is contrasted with early tape delay technologies, and those who were there at key moments in pop history reveal how milestone singles and albums came about. Excellently researched and entertainingly written, the book is inspiring in showing what has been achieved with determination and little technology and educational in sketching the history of music as we hear it.
Book includes a good glossary of record production jargon and a guide to recommended listening.
No, not that Dave Stewart. This slim book is a useful guide to reading music and particularly helpful for keyboard players and guitarists, although there is a chapter on drum notation. A good book to share around the band, perhaps. For those with a sketchy appreciation of music theory, this fills in the blanks as it explains rhythm, intervals and chords, key signatures and transcription. On a cynical day, you might catch me wondering if the best way to succeed in the music business is to write books about how to do it.