Blog Entries by Bruce Pollock

Author Bruce PollockBruce Pollock ("The Next to Last of the Rock Journalists") is the Deems Taylor Award winning author of 15 books on music, including Bob Dylan FAQ, America's Songs, V.3 Working Musicians: Defining Moments from the Road and The Rock Song Index: The 7500 Most Important Songs of Rock and Roll History. Visit Bruce at brucepollockthewriter.com
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  • Dean Friedman - "Ariel"Dean Friedman - "Ariel"Dean's saga began with "Ariel," a song about falling in love with a Jewish girl from New Jersey.
  • Mike Watt - "History Lesson, Pt. 2"Mike Watt - "History Lesson, Pt. 2"Mike Watt of the Minutemen tells the story of the song that became an Indie Rock touchstone. It's also the story of what Mike calls "The Movement."
  • Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it.
  • John Lee HookerJohn Lee HookerInto the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.
  • Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
  • Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"The first of Billy's five #1 hits was the song that propelled Madonna to stardom. You'd think that would get you a backstage pass, wouldn't you?
  • Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"As a songwriter and producer, Narada had hits with Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Starship. But what song does he feel had the greatest impact on his career?
  • Valerie Simpson talks about Motown in 1969Valerie Simpson talks about Motown in 1969Adapting to the times, Motown made some of the most memorable music of 1969.
  • Songwriters Workshop: Part 1Songwriters Workshop: Part 1Bruce Pollack presents excerpts from his interviews with Randy Newman, Paul Simon, Andy Partridge and Jim Webb.
  • Songwriters Workshop: Part 2Songwriters Workshop: Part 2Excerpts from interviews with Richard Marx, Michael Bolton and Desmond Child as they discuss the art of songwriting.