Tunesmith: inside the art of songwriting

"Jimmy Webb has given the American song book more hits, in more styles, than any other songwriter of his generation. He is also the only artist to ever receive Grammy Awards for music, lyrics, and orchestration. The wunderkind of pop music, Webb became the hottest songwriter around when, starting at age twenty-one, he wrote a string of hits recorded by Glen Campbell ("By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "Galveston"), The 5th Dimension ("Up, Up and Away"), and Richard Harris ("MacArthur Park")." "Now, Jimmy Webb uses the grace and eloquence that have characterized his lyrics to write Tunesmith, the ultimate book for aspiring songwriters - the first ever with such an insider's knowledge and experience. With a combination of anecdotes, meditations, humor, and advice, Webb breaks down the entire process of creating a song from beginning to end, including coping with writer's block, song construction, rhyme schemes, chord progression, and the art of collaboration. He then goes beyond the techniques of song crafting and the realms of creativity to shed light on the machinations of marketing yourself, selling a song, and coping with big business, be it in Hollywood, Nashville, or on Broadway. Webb also provides a glimpse into the inner circle of the professional music world, sharing tales from friends and close associates, including Nanci Griffith, Stephen Sondheim, Burt Bacharach, and Michael Stipe."--Jacket.

Includes index.

Out of thin air -- In this room you'll never make a mistake -- It's only words -- Elements of form -- It can't get no verse ... -- Give us a tune then, Jim -- In search of the lost chord -- You and the worlds and the music -- At odds and ends -- Getting to first base -- Living with it.