They're Playing My Song
Fifty-Two Great Songwriters Discuss Their Craft
Published on 1. September 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
298 pages
979-8-8558-0340-2 (ISBN)
Description
The greatest songwriters of the rock era tell how they created their biggest hits.
They're Playing My Song collects for the first time over fifty in-depth, personal interviews with the greatest songwriters of the rock era. Author Bruce Pollock has been writing about rock and pop music for over six decades and has enjoyed unique access to leading songwriters, some well-known, others only known through their work. His interviews span all genres, from doo-wop to hip-hop, and all of pop music's greatest eras from the fifties to today. Unlike other books that focus on personalities, Pollock focuses on the songwriter's craft, encouraging his subjects to reflect on how they've created the hit songs that defined their eras. A sensitive interviewer with a deep knowledge of the songwriter's work, Pollock is able to draw unique insights from a range of songsmiths, from John Lee Hooker reflecting on how he created some of his iconic blues songs, to Paul Simon's deeply analytical approach to crafting his hits, to contemporary songwriters like Julie Gold who speak to the ever-changing world of the pop music industry. Many of the interviews have been expanded and updated from their original publication. Anyone interested in how songwriters approach their craft will be enthralled by this book told in the unique voices of the creators themselves.
They're Playing My Song collects for the first time over fifty in-depth, personal interviews with the greatest songwriters of the rock era. Author Bruce Pollock has been writing about rock and pop music for over six decades and has enjoyed unique access to leading songwriters, some well-known, others only known through their work. His interviews span all genres, from doo-wop to hip-hop, and all of pop music's greatest eras from the fifties to today. Unlike other books that focus on personalities, Pollock focuses on the songwriter's craft, encouraging his subjects to reflect on how they've created the hit songs that defined their eras. A sensitive interviewer with a deep knowledge of the songwriter's work, Pollock is able to draw unique insights from a range of songsmiths, from John Lee Hooker reflecting on how he created some of his iconic blues songs, to Paul Simon's deeply analytical approach to crafting his hits, to contemporary songwriters like Julie Gold who speak to the ever-changing world of the pop music industry. Many of the interviews have been expanded and updated from their original publication. Anyone interested in how songwriters approach their craft will be enthralled by this book told in the unique voices of the creators themselves.
Reviews / Votes
"Songwriting is a mysterious gift. It's a blessing. A calling. For an illuminating inside glimpse at some of this magic, read this book." - Julie Gold, Grammy Award-winning songwriter"Bruce Pollock has been writing about songs and songwriters from the inside out, and the history from the outside with great perspective for decades. He knows, he cares, and he delivers. It's why his books have such resonance, and his insight is so trusted." - Holly Gleason, editor of Woman Walk the Line: How The Women in Country Music Changed Our Lives and Prine on Prine: Interviews and Encounters with John Prine
"Pollock is perhaps the most important scholar of American pop music." - Greg Shaw, founder, Bomp! Records
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Albany, NY
United States
Target group
US School Grade: College Graduate Student and over
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
38 Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
438 gr
ISBN-13
979-8-8558-0340-2 (9798855803402)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
09/2025
State University of New York Press
€24.49
Available for download
Person
Bruce Pollock has been writing about rock music since the 1970s when he began his career as a music journalist. The author of over twenty-five books, he is a well-known authority on popular song.
Content
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Fred Parris / the Five Satins: "(I'll Remember) In the Still of the Night" (1980)
John Lee Hooker: "Boom Boom" (1984)
Felice and Boudleaux Bryant (1974)
Doc Pomus (1974)
Neil Sedaka (1980)
Hank Ballard: "The Twist" (1980)
Gerry Goffin (1974)
Jackie DeShannon (2012)
Phil Ochs (1974)
Buffy Sainte-Marie (1974)
Paul McCartney (1990)
Keith Richards (1985)
Pete Townshend (1974)
John Sebastian (1974)
Jimmy Webb (1989)
Frank Zappa (1974)
Laura Nyro (1984)
Paul Simon (1976, 1985)
Jerry Garcia (1984) and Robert Hunter / Grateful Dead (1974)
Valerie Simpson (2009)
Lou Reed (1974)
Tim Rice: "Jesus Christ, Superstar" (1974)
Melvin Van Peebles (1974)
Don Mclean: "American Pie" (2020)
Neil Smith / Alice Cooper: "I'm Eighteen" (2012)
Steven Tyler / Aerosmith: "Dream On" and "Walk This Way" (1985, 1987)
Linda Creed (1974)
Donald Fagen / Steely Dan (1985)
Randy Newman (1974)
John Prine (1974)
Bruce Springsteen (1973, 1984)
Allen Toussaint: "Southern Nights" (2014)
Chris Frantz / Tom Tom Club: "Genius of Love" (2014)
Marc Campbell / the Nails: "88 Lines About 44 Women" (2012)
Neal Peart / Rush (1986)
Mike Watt / Minutemen: "History Lesson, Pt. 2" (2012)
Billy Steinberg: "Like a Virgin" (2012)
Narada Michael Walden: "Freeway of Love" (2012)
Julie Gold: "From a Distance (2013)
Andy Partridge / XTC (1988)
Kool Moe Dee (2001)
Dave Alvin / the Blasters: "4th of July" (2013)
Susanna Hoffs / the Bangles: "Eternal Flame" (2012)
Sophie B. Hawkins: "Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover" (2019)
Todd Thomas / Arrested Development: "Tennessee" (2001)
Travon Potts: "Angel of Mine" (2001)
Shelly Peiken: "What a Girl Wants" (2018)
Tom Higgenson / Plain White T's: "Hey There Delilah" (2020)
Stephan Moccio: "Wrecking Ball" (2015)
Kevin Kadish: "All About That Bass" (2018)
Index of Song Titles
Introduction
Fred Parris / the Five Satins: "(I'll Remember) In the Still of the Night" (1980)
John Lee Hooker: "Boom Boom" (1984)
Felice and Boudleaux Bryant (1974)
Doc Pomus (1974)
Neil Sedaka (1980)
Hank Ballard: "The Twist" (1980)
Gerry Goffin (1974)
Jackie DeShannon (2012)
Phil Ochs (1974)
Buffy Sainte-Marie (1974)
Paul McCartney (1990)
Keith Richards (1985)
Pete Townshend (1974)
John Sebastian (1974)
Jimmy Webb (1989)
Frank Zappa (1974)
Laura Nyro (1984)
Paul Simon (1976, 1985)
Jerry Garcia (1984) and Robert Hunter / Grateful Dead (1974)
Valerie Simpson (2009)
Lou Reed (1974)
Tim Rice: "Jesus Christ, Superstar" (1974)
Melvin Van Peebles (1974)
Don Mclean: "American Pie" (2020)
Neil Smith / Alice Cooper: "I'm Eighteen" (2012)
Steven Tyler / Aerosmith: "Dream On" and "Walk This Way" (1985, 1987)
Linda Creed (1974)
Donald Fagen / Steely Dan (1985)
Randy Newman (1974)
John Prine (1974)
Bruce Springsteen (1973, 1984)
Allen Toussaint: "Southern Nights" (2014)
Chris Frantz / Tom Tom Club: "Genius of Love" (2014)
Marc Campbell / the Nails: "88 Lines About 44 Women" (2012)
Neal Peart / Rush (1986)
Mike Watt / Minutemen: "History Lesson, Pt. 2" (2012)
Billy Steinberg: "Like a Virgin" (2012)
Narada Michael Walden: "Freeway of Love" (2012)
Julie Gold: "From a Distance (2013)
Andy Partridge / XTC (1988)
Kool Moe Dee (2001)
Dave Alvin / the Blasters: "4th of July" (2013)
Susanna Hoffs / the Bangles: "Eternal Flame" (2012)
Sophie B. Hawkins: "Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover" (2019)
Todd Thomas / Arrested Development: "Tennessee" (2001)
Travon Potts: "Angel of Mine" (2001)
Shelly Peiken: "What a Girl Wants" (2018)
Tom Higgenson / Plain White T's: "Hey There Delilah" (2020)
Stephan Moccio: "Wrecking Ball" (2015)
Kevin Kadish: "All About That Bass" (2018)
Index of Song Titles