TuneSmith: Inside the Art of Songwriting by Jimmy Webb Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of TuneSmith: Inside the Art of Songwriting
Book Review: Pop music analysis with lots of thought...and more
Summary: 5 Stars
As a conservatory-trained songwriter/computer and also a mathematician and computer programmer, I put a lot of thought and analysis into my own melodies and arrangements, but I have never seen pop music analyzed to this degree in a book.And there are few who would be more qualified than Jimmy Webb. I have rejoiced, cried, laughed and shivered to his songs for years. He wrote for Richard Harris (MacArthur Park, Didn't We?, etc.) as well as for Glenn Campbell (Wichita Lineman, By the Time I Get To Phoenix) and many others you have no doubt heard.
Along with all the analytical insights, you also get an intense look at the life of one songwriter.
I am in awe!
Book Review: Incredible journey
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is a wonderful exploration for anyone who considers the possibility of writing, not only songs, but prose or poetry. Webb proves himself to be a master of the written word in book form, and for that we are very grateful. Take Tunesmith away somewhere quiet for the weekend and come back on Monday with a whole new attitude. I did.Book Review: Reading this book is like studying with the finest master!
Summary: 5 Stars
Jim Webb is one of our true American treasures in the world of pop music. How lucky we are as songwriters to get the opportunity to get inside his heart and mind as he moves through the process of writing a song. Particularly interesting is Webb's take on lyrics......why he would or wouldn't use certain rhymes, for example. He addresses every part of the process, from formulating ideas to coming up with the best hook to the form of the song and on to writing the lyrics, melody and chord progression. He talks about some of the best written songs in pop music, disecting them and using them as examples. There is such an amazing amount of useful information in this book, it requires multiple readings to fully grasp it all. All in all, reading this book is like going to school and studying with the very finest master there is in the field of songwriting!Book Review: Simply a great book about songwriting and writing in general
Summary: 5 Stars
A key part of my teaching is to know books about writing. I can't say enough good about this book. It's one of the best books about writing as a career or just as a practice that I've ever read, and it's right on the mark about what aspiring (song)writers should learn and do. It's beautifully and literately written, and Jimmy has indeed done his homework. I have a brother (Jerry) and a son (Henry) in popular music, both successful, and I think they'd agree with everything he says.Book Review: fascinating but flawed journey into the world of songwriting
Summary: 4 Stars
Jimmy Webb is one of the greatest songwriters in the history of pop music. He does his fans a great honor here by inviting them to sit beside him on the piano bench as he talks about the creative process. Because I am not a professional musician, however, I found that I really enjoyed about two-thirds of this book. Those are the parts of the book that deal with the world of a songwriter, how he gets inspiration for his songs, Webb's own career and his dealings with some of the major figures of pop music. I found myself skimming over long, extremely detailed passages about the intricacies of writing melodies and lyrics. I felt some of this material belongs in a textbook for music students. This may be an unfair criticism on my part, criticizing something because I didn't understand it. But as a reader, that's how I felt. I also would have like to learn a lot more about Jim's personal life, his family, etc.