There’s something to be said for honesty when explaining the creative process. What to most is a miraculous confluence of talent and luck is often just an intersection between that and very, very hard work. Building a song is like building anything else --- it takes time and materials galore, inspiration and sweat. Building an iconic song that represents a time and place for millions of people is a phenomenon in and of itself. ANATOMY OF A SONG by Marc Myers is a compelling compendium of behind-the-scenes shop talk that will excite even the most casual music geek.

Like a classic radio station (a dying breed), ANATOMY OF A SONG takes you on a journey, into your childhood or your parents’ childhoods, into a time and place that no longer exists in quite the same way anymore, but is fully realized in a series of notes that remind the listener of the power of music to capture and enhance life in general. For those of us who grew up before FM radio, hearing “Penny Lane” for the first time coming out of the car speakers, to those of us who have never listened to music without downloading it first onto a device, ANATOMY OF A SONG is a fun and exciting ride.

"If you are a huge music fan, this book will become something of an encyclopedia that you will come back to time and again."

“Street Fighting Man” by The Rolling Stones is explained explicitly by Keith Richards. How that famous riff came to be is not just amazing but hilarious when discussed by the nutty musician himself. The Staple Singers’ “Respect Yourself” gets the full honest treatment by the one and only Mavis Staples; her ad-libs during that song make it one of their most memorable recordings. Steely Dan’s “Deacon Blues” from the provocative Aja album, we learn, was fashioned together like a jazz ensemble --- one piece at a time --- and yet the whole song is a coherent wave of sound that still seems fresh coming out of a radio speaker. Did you know that Elvis Costello recorded “Red Shoes” for My Aim is True and then hooked up with Clover, an American band that included a pre-“Power of Love” Huey Lewis?

If you are a huge music fan, this book will become something of an encyclopedia that you will come back to time and again. Since this is the day of the 144-character shout-out, the oral histories are kept short and sweet and will appeal to both older and younger generations of fans. Myers has selected a fascinating series of songs to delve into, representing different times and genres in equal measure. The fact that most of the superstars who wrote these songs contributed to the book (everyone from Mick Jones to Mick Jagger to Linda Ronstadt and Joni Mitchell) speaks to the high quality of the information within.

ANATOMY OF A SONG is a great starter pack for your newest music fan, the one who is willing to get a glimpse into the tuneful world prior to technology taking over its distribution. Pick up a copy during the holiday season and turn Christmas into a listening-and-learning party! Crank up the yule log and enjoy the spoils of our musical heritage.