“Elton John himself never seems pretentious but Bernie Taupin's lyrics often do - sometimes pretentious in a clever sort of way, but pretentious nonetheless. There is a conflict between Elton's and Bernie's personal styles, no doubt about it.” WaySometimesSeemsDoubtStyleConflictCleverNo DoubtPretentiousPersonal Style Author:Jon Landau
“Everyone eventually winds up writing about themselves - the problem is finding the best way to go about it. To write about oneself literally, in the first person, presumes a more interesting personal life and philosophy than most rock lyricists possess. John Lennon was good for one great album based on musical direct address, 'Plastic Ono Band.” WayWritingFirstsPersonsPhilosophyProblemInterestingRocksWindBandFindingsDirectMusicalOneselfAlbumsBest WayAddressesPlasticPersonal LifeFirst PersonLennonLyricists Author:Jon Landau
“The early Stones were adolescent rockers. They were self-conscious in an obvious and unpretentious way. And they were committed to a musical style that needed no justification because it came so naturally to them. As they grew musically the mere repetition of old rock and blues tunes became increasingly less satisfying.” WaySelfRocksStyleGrewNeededConsciousStonesMereMusicalCommittedObviousTunesSatisfyingJustificationRepetitionSelf ConsciousRockersOld RockMusical Style Book:It's too late to stop now: a rock and roll journal Source: It's too late to stop now: a rock and roll journal
“The modern recording studio, with its well-trained engineers, 24-track machines and shiny new recording consoles, encourages the artist to get involved with sound. And there have always been artists who could make the equipment serve their needs in a highly personal way - I would single out the Beatles, Phil Spector, the Beach Boys and Thom Bell.” WayNeedsWellsArtistSoundBoysModernInvolvedMachinesTrackStudiosBeachBellsEngineersEquipmentGet InvolvedConsoleRecording StudioBeach Boys Author:Jon Landau
“The Rolling Stones are violence. Their music penetrates the raw nerve endings of their listeners and finds its way into the groove marked 'release of frustration.'” WayViolenceStonesReleaseFrustrationNervesListenersRollingPenetrateRolling StonesGroove Author:Jon Landau
