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| | Publisher: Weightless Cargo Press
Salesrank: 552310
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| Our Price: $14.95 |
| Used Price: $59.99 |
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| Media: Paperback |
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Editorial Review:
HERE IT IS: your opportunity to share air with a Grammy Nominated, hit songwriter, to "collaborate" on a couple of original songs with this 40-year industry veteran, while enjoying some extremely candid and revealing music-biz war stories co-starring such colorful characters as Clive Davis, Sylvester Stallone, Glenn Frey, Karen Carpenter, Brian Wilson and many more. If you have a burning desire to improve your songwriting skills and if you love to indulge in a very amusing read, this is the book for you.
Makin' Stuff Up, secrets of songcraft and survival in the music-biz Reviews:
A very entertaining read 
2009-04-05 - I'm not a songwriter but who knows, maybe I could be! This book is anything but a boring dry read - it is very entertaining and contains a lot of useful "stuff." Bishop writes with obvious enthusiasm for his craft and displays his good sense of humor. Having grown up in the same era, I find myself relating well to the stories he has to tell. The songwriting chapters are interesting and it seems to me that he offers great insight and helpful tips on how to put one foot in front of the other and make your way toward creating a good, maybe even a great, song!
Parallel Lives
2009-02-26 - With no thanks to the school of hard knocks and tough competition, the romanticism of a songwriter's life is not all it's cracked up to be but the journey of chasing a song out of one's heart is. Rand Bishop leads us through parallel lives as he simultaneously shares his memoirs and takes the reader on a co-writing journey from title selection and a blank sheet of paper all the way through to the all important re-write/editing stage(s)of writing a song. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention he ushers the page turner(s) to a safe arrival at the end of the book utilizing a healthy and playful sense of humor, humilty and sincere encouragement to aspiring songwriters. For those who like autobiographies and are also music lovers, from teenager to top of the charts hit writer, Rand's recollection of his music business odyssey is a fun and entertaining read. For the serious writer, this is the type of book where the reader will benefit differently each time they read it and stumble across some little gem they overlooked on a previous pass to subsequently produce that elusive 'A-HA!' moment of genius to find a new way to say the same ole thing. The advice Rand shares ranks right up there with the likes of Pat Pattison and Harriet Schock. Thank you, Rand, for the approach from which you chose to write this helpful book.
The Cat Has Been Let Out of the Bag
2009-02-11 - "After reading 'Makin' Stuff Up' you will never listen to songs in the same way again. Bishop reveals the hidden secrets of great songwriting, effectively letting the cat out of the bag."
-- Mr. Bonzai, author/photographer: Faces of Music, Hal Blaine and the Wrecking Crew, Studio Life, and MUSIC SMARTS (Berklee Press, 2009).
Music Smarts - The Inside Truth And Road-Tested Wisdom From The Brightest Minds In The Music Business
Read this if you love, or want to make, music.
2009-01-06 - Rand Bishop is a man with the background to write this. He sheds a human light on an all too often inhumane music business with a full understanding of the artistry, exceptions, and caring which make the music matter.
The book is a primer for the aspiring songwriter. It's also accessible to people who care enough about music to learn how it's done. It's inspiring, but it's also the nuts and bolts and heartbreaks.
Rand actually takes you step by step through the writing of a song. He knows what he's talking about. And you learn how real he is by the personal experiences he interjects.
If you love music, buy this book. It's as close as can be written down to being part of the process of making that which we love.
You did it!
2008-12-31 - Finally I know what goes on behind the scene of writing a hit record. This book is a fun and fast read, a roller coaster of near misses that ends with the right on Bullseye of "My List". I was entertained and I already knew the ending. Very clever writing style that keeps a reader hooked.... good job Rand I especially like page 68.
