Jimmy Webb's book "The Tunesmith"

Paulie · Post by **Paulie** » Sun Jul 31, 2016 5:51 pm

Purchased Jimmy Webb's book "The Tunesmith: Inside The Art Of Songwriting" today and it's been a great read so far. Here are a few quotes from the first chapter that I found meaningful:

"The people who claim that th publishing and songwriting game is a tight ring into which beginners are not permitted are usually people with carelessly written manuscripts in their briefcases. The men who write the good songs haven't time for all this kind of talk. They are too busy writing and loving what they write before they show it to anybody else."
"Most amateurs do not regard the writing of songs as serious hard work. Indeed, there are members of my family who believe that worrisome character flaws and much moral ruin have evolved from the fact that I've never had a real job. In reality, however, songwriting is Hell on Earth. If it isn't, then you're doing it wrong."
"My reservation about amateurs is that they are money-mad. The professional loves songs and songwriting. The amateurs want some quick money and think that songwriting is an easy way to get it."

Len911 · Post by **Len911** » Sun Jul 31, 2016 8:26 pm

"All I Know", lol, is that imo his finest work was with Art Garfunkel, and the song, "Wichita Lineman" sung by Glen Campbell, the best and only song I ever liked by GC.

Wichita Lineman is a masterpiece!

sansharbour · Post by **sansharbour** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 3:21 am

He was a pretty darn good songwriter thats for sure
His songs are high quality and although that was sometime ago they are easily remembered.

The combination of unusual chords and great lyrics sink in .....they stick with you
That should be the aim of all songwriters

He was also brave enough to do something different ......i.e. MacArthur Park

Thanks for posting Paulie. I forgot that was one book I wanted to read

cosmicdolphin · Post by **cosmicdolphin** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 10:55 am

Read it last year.

Thought it was a good read but ended up more like a memoir of someone in the music industry with lots of anecdotes. Not sure I took much away from a songwriting technique point of view.

Len911 · Post by **Len911** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 12:40 pm

Thought it was a good read but ended up more like a memoir of someone in the music industry with lots of anecdotes. Not sure I took much away from a songwriting technique point of view.

You mean an egoir??

Imo what might be interesting is famous people's understanding of music theory. Typically these types of books seem like they are written by people burned out of songwriting, and as though they feel that you could learn the theory by studying it or analyzing their songs. Almost like an, "I'm burned out but need the money, so what else can I do?".

The men who write the good songs haven't time for all this kind of talk.

So... why are we talking about it?

I'm not sure that the word "amateurs" couldn't be replaced with the word, "Americans". I mean, what American doesn't seem to be money-mad, and believe that hard work seems to be the solution for everything,lol, it's so pervasive in our political speeches. It's also the answer for when something doesn't work out, as in, "you must not have worked hard enough"!

Obama, however, avoided any mention of political initiatives. He repeatedly urged students to work hard and stay in school.

Melania Trump

My parents impressed on me the values that you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond…

Michelle Obama

Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values: that you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond…

Imagine a trademark for "work hard" or "hard work", or if there was a fee for every time someone used one of those phrases. It would certainly end up more prosperous than the action itself, lol! The hardest working people I've ever known, have also been amongst the poorest!

Paulie · Post by **Paulie** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 8:51 pm

I'm highlighting lots of stuff in the book, I'll keep sharing quotes here.

lesmac · Post by **lesmac** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 11:25 pm

Jimmy Webb for president

Stay cool Len

mojobone · Post by **mojobone** » Tue Aug 09, 2016 5:43 pm

My wife thinks I'm being sensitive about folks who still ask me when I'm getting a 'real job'. This IS my real job; the others were just what I did to survive long enough to learn to do it. I don't hold it against strangers or jokers, but there are family members I no longer speak to. I will never forget the day I had to set my own mother straight. God bless her, she finally got it. This is serious business.

Kolstad · Post by **Kolstad** » Wed Aug 10, 2016 12:01 am

It's a classic book on songwriting for sure. One of the first I read, and you extracted some of the best points, Paulie.
I don't know if you still can make something of his ideas of "art", today, but there's a lot of good stories from back in the day in his book.

Len911 · Post by **Len911** » Sat Aug 13, 2016 7:41 pm

http://www.sodajerker.com/episode-4-jimmy-webb/

This site is really great. There are 91 interviews with famous songwriters, interviewed by a pair of songwriters, hour long interviews, that usually get to the heart of how they song write. In the JW interview though, I think they can hardly get a word in edge-wise,lol, however most are really good.

http://www.sodajerker.com/podcast/

the bottom left hand corner, if you hover your mouse, there is a wierd symbol you ave to click to start playing;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03t9y0q

Jimmy Webb's book "The Tunesmith"

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