Who Wrote the Book of Love?: The Stories Behind the Hits-from Chuck Berry to Chumbawamba

Jack S. Broumpton is an assistant professor of music at Huntington
College, Laurentian University.

Who Wrote the Book of Love? is a behind-the-scenes look at the
author’s favorite radio hits of the last 50 years. The chosen artists
represent a broad cross-section of popular music; they include Chuck
Berry, Fats Domino, Paul Simon, Alice Cooper, Bob and Doug MacKenzie,
Public Enemy, Alanis Morrissette, and Eric Clapton. “Leader of the
Pack,” “Mony Mony,” “Fame,” “Pretty Woman,” “Tears in
Heaven,” and a host of other titles invite such nostalgia-tinged
questions as, “Where were you when you heard this song?”

There is considerable variation in the behind-the-scenes stories. Some
songs had a special meaning for the composers, as in the case of Eric
Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven.” Other songs were the product of an
inspired collaboration between two great artists (an example is
“Fame,” the creation of David Bowie and John Lennon). Still other
songs came about almost by accident (e.g., “Maniac” by Michael
Sembello). A helpful bibliography and index makes this book a good
reference source as well as an entertaining read.