CONTENTS
Reprint Credits
The INSIDE THE HITS Website, Links and other Digital Resources
Foreward - To The Past
Acknowledgments & Dedication
Contents
Introduction: Goals and Game Plan
Part 0. What the HITs Have in Common
Toolkits For Enjoyment, Understanding and Vivisection
What Tells the Story: A Set of Telling Questions
Part I. Rock’s First Decade, and What Made It All Possible
A Brief Archaeology of Rock
New Medium, New Audience, New Money
Chapter 1. Passion, Personality and An Unlikely Monarch
Elvis Presley, “All Shook Up” (1957)
Low Money, High Hopes: Society and the Record Biz, 1955-7
Chapter 2. The Pretty Boys: Teen Idols from Philly and Beyond
Frankie Avalon, “Venus” (1958)
Chapter 3. Serious Doo-Wop at Chicago’s Best
The Flamingos, “I Only Have Eyes For You” (1959)
Chapter 4. Girl Groups to the Rescue - Reluctantly
The Shirelles, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” (1961)
Chapter 5. Motown: A Shot of Rhythm ’n Class
The Contours, “Do You Love Me” (1962)
The Temptations, “My Girl” (1965)
Chapter 6. The Funny Men: Novelty Records
Ray Stevens, “Ahab The Arab” (1962)
Belly-Laughing All the Way To the Bank
Chapter 7. Life’s a Beach, and Then It Ends
The Beach Boys, “I Get Around” (1964)
Be Careful What You Ask For
Chapter 8. Desperation Alley: a Lost Soul in Love Hell
Roy Orbison, “Oh, Pretty Woman” (1964)
Chapter 9. Rock Production Meets The Classics - and Triumphs
Dionne Warwick, “Walk On By” (1964)
Winding Up, Winding Down
Part II. The Beatles
Chapter 1. Timing, Teamwork, Genius
A Void So Big You Could Drive a Rock Group Through It
Down the Rabbit Hole
The Door to Wonderland
The Albums (contents same as the original U.K. LPs), as issued on CD:
Please Please Me (1963)
With The Beatles (1963)
A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
Advice From a Caterpillar - “Eight Days A Week”
Beatles For Sale (1964)
Help! (1965)
Rubber Soul (1965)
The Mad Tea Party Begins: Reinventing the Recording Studio -
“Tomorrow Never Knows”
Revolver (1966)
Through the Looking Glass: “Strawberry Fields Forever”
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
Perspiration, Inspiration, Karma, Luck
Tail Wags Dog, or A Little Bird Told Me
Magical Mystery Tour ( 196)7
The Beatles. (“White Album”) Double LP (1968)
Abbey Road (1969)
Let It Be (1970)
The Singles, B-Sides, etc. (1963-1970) collected on two CDs:
Past Masters, Vol. 1 and 2 (1988)
Alternate studio versions, out-takes, demos, etc. on three double-CD sets:
The Beatles Anthology, Vol. 1, 2 and 3 (1995 -97)
Chapter 2. Jewels In The Crown, Nails In The Coffin
Selected Brushstrokes and Singular Moments From Their Ouevre
Turning Points in the Groups Technology and Society’s Psychology
Thirty Songs That Dazzle, From “A Hard Day’s Night” To “The End”
Part III. The British Invasion, First Wave: Adventures in Excess and Elegance
We Write, You Sing, We Buy: The Brill Building
Rules? What Rules?
Chapter 1. The Kinks - Crotchbusters Extraordinaire
“You Really Got Me” (1964)
Chapter 2. The Zombies,
“She’s Not There” (1964)
Chapter 3. The Yardbirds - Heavy Breathing The Blues
“For Your Love” (1965)
Chapter 4. The Searchers
“Needles and Pins” (1964)
Chapter 5. Herman’s Hermits
“Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter” (1965)
Chapter 6. The Troggs - Here Today, Gone Today
“Wild Thing” 1966
Chapter 7. The Rolling Stones - No Holes Barred
“Satisfaction” (1965)
Boredom Behind the Board
Growth and Decay
“Sympathy For The Devil” (1968)
“Midnight Rambler” (1969)
Part IV. Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch:
An Explosion of New American Sounds and Styles, 1965-73
Chapter 1. The Byrds
“Mr. Tambourine Man” (1965)
Chapter 2. The Lovin’ Spoonful - Just a-Pickin’ and a-Grinnin’
“Summer In The City” (1966)
Chapter 3. The Turtles - Pop Perfection By the Numbers
“Happy Together” (1967)
Chapter 4. The Doors - Prophets of Sex, Drugs & More Sex
“Light My Fire” (1967)
Chapter 5. Aretha Franklin: The Past Stops Here - Amen.
“Respect” (1967)
Chapter 6. Buffalo Springfield: What’s Wrong With This Picture?
“For What It’s Worth” (1967)
Chapter 7. Crosby, Stills and Nash: Reluctant Heroes
“Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” and “Guinnevere” (1969)
CSN & Young, “Teach Your Children” (1970)
Chapter 8. Creedence Clearwater Revival: Americana, The View From L.A.
“Proud Mary” (1969)
Chapter 9. Stevie Wonder: Artists Take What’s Theirs - Finally.
The End of Rock’s Financial Adolescence
New Emotions: Breaking Out of the Motown Mold
“Superstition” (1972)
Chapter 10. Paul Simon - The Fear Behind the Fun
“Kodachrome” (1973)
Part V. Moments of Brilliance, 1974 thru 1988.
Chapter 1. Tina Turner
“What’s Love Got To Do With It” (1984)
Art Imitates Life
Chapter 2. Paul Young
“Every Time You Go Away” (1985)
Cruel Themes, Cruel Sounds
Chapter 3. The Pointer Sisters
“Automatic” (1983)Have You Heard The Songwriters’ Demo? Same As the Master!
Chapter 4. The Police - Surrepticity Stalking
“Every Breath You Take” (1983)
Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Sting = the Wedding March of the ‘80s?
Chapter 5. The Eagles
“One Of These Nights” and “Lyin’ Eyes” (1975)
Secret Passions, Hidden Desires. The Basement of the Mind.
“Lyin’ Eyes”: Simplicity and Classic Form, the Ultimate Country Statement
Chapter 6. Toto - The Lights Are On... Anybody Home?
“Rosanna” and “Africa” (1982)
Pardon Me, Your Chops Are Showing
“Africa”: An Impressionist Anthem, Personal and Global
The Fault, Dear Brutus
Chapter 7. The Doobie Brothers
“What a Fool Believes” and “Minute By Minute”
(1979)
Missed Opportunities of the Victorian Kind
“Minute By Minute”: Normal Fare, But Beautifully Detailed
Chapter 8. Robbie Nevil - Life’s Great/Awful [Choose One]
“C’est La Vie” (1986)
MIDI Moloch: From Happy Demo Sadkin Master
Chapter 9. Michael Jackson
“Billie Jean” and “Thriller” (1982)
MTV: The Battle To Be Seen and Heard
“Thriller:” What You See Is What You Get
Quincy Jones: Producer of the Century
Chapter 10.
Steely Dan, “Hey Nineteen” and “Gaucho” (1980)
The Difference Between Appearance and Reality
Donald Fagen, “I.G.Y.” and “The Goodbye Look” (1982)
Studies in Self-Amusement and Cynicism
Chapter 11. Raging Hormones, Rude Emotions: Letting It All Hang Out
Donna Summer: “Hot Stuff” and “Bad Girls” (1979)
The Knack: “My Sharona” (1979)
Pat Benatar, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” (1980)
Eurythmics, “Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This” (1983)
Chapter 12. Tracy Chapman and the Folk Re-Re-Revival:
“Talkin’ Bout A Revolution” and “Fast Car” (1988)
Roots Of the Modern Folk Re-Re-Revival
Fade In From Black: A Lone Voice Against Apathy
Epilogue
Key HIT Elements Matrix
Glossary
Index