Product Description

"Our house is a very, very, very fine house. With two cats in the yard, life used to be so hard..." In 1970, "Our House" was recorded and released by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and immediately became a sentimental favorite for millions of fans. Its honest, romantic, homespun lyrics expressed a sentiment felt by all of us. To this day, the song remains a classic and is one whose melody and lyrics can be sung and repeated by the millions of people whose lives it touched. Songs like these and many others have created landmark moments in all of our lives, marking and celebrating key events, past and better times, current relationships, and hopes for the future. Now, Manuscript Originals has compiles the stories behind a collection of 25 of the world's most celebrated songs in Off The Record, a stunning book and CD collection that will commemorate the impact these classic songs have had in our contemporary world. Original handwritten images of the lyrics from these classic songs rendered by their original authors and accompanied by the songwriter's own artwork will be displayed in each of the book's 25 chapters. In addition, readers will find historical, social and "off the cuff" personal insights about these fascinating people and the music they produced. Illuminating photographs - some from the writer's or performer's personal archive that have never been seen before - will also document the journey of each artist's individual songwriting path. While the names of some of the songwriters included in Off the Record are better known to the general public than others, the songs these artists are associated with are some of the most famous titles in the world. Among the songwriters included are Graham Nash, David Crosby, Grace Slick, Ben E. King, Jimmie Davis ("You Are My Sunshine"), John Lee Hooker, Waylon Jennings, Randy Bachman, Peter Yarrow, and many, many more. The CDs enclosed in Off The Record include individual audio interviews from selected writers about their famous song's origin and the songwriter's perspectives on the creative process. A musical rendition of the song and/or its famous melody will also be represented. All told, Off the Record presents a remarkable and unique look into the world of songwriters and their classic songs. It gives the general consumer the ability to personally connect with some of the most beloved music of our times.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #674145 in Books
• Published on: 2002-09-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

From School Library Journal
Adult/High School-The lyrics to 25 of the previous century's most famous popular songs are handwritten by the writers and further explored through archival photographs and interviews. The styles range from "It Was a Very Good Year" to "Boom Boom," and the songwriters are as varied as Jimmie Davis and Grace Slick. The lyricists share insights into such subjects as the creative process, the practical aspects of working as an entertainer, the personal and cultural influences shaping their work, and their take on the state of the music industry today. There is plenty here to interest readers intrigued by popular music and the lives of the artists who create it, and the lavishly illustrated book is enhanced by two beautifully edited audio CDs.
Christine C. Menefee, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

A Very Very Very Fine Book!
I can't say enough good things about this book. It's a one-of-a-kind must-have for anybody who loves music. A real class-act. The pictures and layout are fabulous, and to read interviews of writers talking about how they created some of some of your favorite songs is enlightening. But the CD's---the audio interviews with these wonderful creative people---are truly amazing. I especially loved hearing Graham Nash talk about Joni Mitchell and "Our House"---but all the interviews are super. You feel like you've been invited into the writer's living rooms and are sitting right there while they share their trials, tribulations, and victories. What can I say, I just loved the whole experience...reading, listening, looking. If I could afford it, I would buy this book for every one of my friends. As it is at least two of them will find this under their trees this Christmas.

Music to my eyes!
A visually stunning book for music lovers or casual fans. The multimedia format really takes the music and lyrics to a new level. Cheers to Graham for this wonderful effort!

Can't get enough!
Already anxious for the next edition! I've always been a big fan of Graham Nash's, but never had the benefit of so much insight into the creation of great songs. Where do you find this type of memorable music today? It's rare. I can listen to each of the featured 25 songs in Off the Record and tell you about a special memory that is conjured up from the recesses of my mind. It's fascinating to read the artists' stories behind the songs. Please Graham, give us more!