The Oppenheimer Report 7/13/15

From the D. Jordan Taylor Collection
 

In keeping with my quest to become a better songwriter, I am reading a book right now by Bill Flanagan entitled Written in My Soul. The former editor of Musician Magazine interviewed 27 Rock and Blues musicians and discussed with them their songs and their song writing technique. The book is a little dated, as it was written almost thirty years ago, but I’m finding the interviews edifying. To me, it is very interesting to hear how other songwriters approach the art. So far, I have read interviews with Carl Perkins, Willie Dixon, Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, Pete Townsend, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Elvis Costello, Mick Jagger, and several others. As a practicing songwriter myself, I am looking for any common experiences I share with these famous writers.

There seem to be two camps among these many songwriters interviewed: those who feel that song writing is influenced by some inexplicable muse, and those who insist that song writing is nothing more than a craft that one perfects; it’s a job. Chuck Berry, widely considered to be one of the seminal influences on modern Rock ‘n' Roll, has a very business-like approach to his art. Give the people what they want, write for the white listeners so as to reach a bigger market; write songs that will draw big audiences, and make a lot of money. When he originally wrote "Johnny B. Goode", Johnny the “country boy” was a “colored boy”, and his producer told him the song would be a hit if he changed “colored” to “country”. In the other camp is Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones, who believes that songs come to him already written, and all he does is act as the middle man. Often, I don’t always know where from my songs come. Some of them seem to write themselves, and I do feel sometimes as if my songs are being influenced by some third party. Other artists say the same thing. I can’t sit down at a desk and decide to write a song. Either that song is there or it isn’t. No amount of coaxing or unblocking will bring it to the surface. The trick is to get the idea down before it disappears. If I had a nickel for every hook or phrase that I did not get down on tape or paper, I’d be a wealthy man. Elvis Costello said that he might have bits and pieces of songs running around in his head, and stored for long periods of time. Sometimes, he’d piece together lyrics from different songs, long after he’d come up with the ideas to produce something acceptable. I try to have a voice recorder handy wherever I go, and I am always listening for a clever line.

The most important thing that I am gleaning from this book of interviews is that there is nothing new under the sun. Almost all of the artists interviewed admit that they have borrowed licks and styles from other artists. Costello would go so far as to say he would set about to imitate another band’s style in some of his songs. I’m always amused when some high-minded critic shoots down a song or an artist by saying that he or she is derivative. Carl Perkins’ rockabilly style drew off the Blues and sped it up, Rock came out of the music of the Deep South, and much of today’s Soul pays homage to the Gospel music from the Deep South. There is a big difference between deriving music from some influential form, and copying it. The best artists add their unique mark to the songs they write. Jimi Hendrix admitted to being influenced by the Chicago Blues style of Buddy Guy, and Buddy Guy grew up listening to the old traditional Blues artists he heard down in his home state of Louisiana. One of the things I try to demonstrate on my radio show is that there is room for everyone’s interpretation, as long as it is fresh and interesting. Many times a songwriter like John Prine writes a great tune (Angel from Montgomery is my favorite), but it is another artist whose arrangement makes the song shine.

As destructive wildfires sweeping through Saskatchewan and points west dominate the headlines, we are finally getting some decent weather here in Ontario, after a very slow start. I might even get some tomatoes to grow this year.

 

“SHAVED ON THE SIDES WITH MOP TOP HEADS

FASHION FROM THE 80'S OR FROM DICKENS INSTEAD

POP ART PUNK ROCK IT'S ALL BEEN SAID

IF SOMEONE SAYS IT DIFFERENTLY THEN WE'RE ALL IMPRESSED

 

WE'RE STUMBLING AROUND IN THE CIRCLE OF LIFE

WE TURN TO THE LEFT UNTIL WE COME TO THE RIGHT

JUST STUMBLING AROUND IN THE CIRCLE OF LIFE

THE PAST IS THE FUTURE WITH A LITTLE MORE LIGHT” 
- excerpt from Circle of Life c1991

 

 

I hope you are all enjoying your summer.

 

-Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED-