by Warren Zanes
First published 2009
Warren Zanes takes readers inside Warner Bros. Records during its first five decades as a music industry powerhouse. The label signed and developed artists across multiple generations, from Frank Sinatra's crooning classics to Madonna's pop anthems. Zanes documents the creative processes behind hit records, following musicians like Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, and Tom Petty into recording studios where they crafted their signature sounds. The book also covers the label's comedy division, showcasing performers like Bob Newhart and Steve Martin who expanded Warner Bros. beyond music. Through previously unpublished photographs from company archives, Zanes captures behind-the-scenes moments from album cover shoots and concert tours. This anniversary celebration reveals how one record label helped shape American popular music across changing decades and musical styles.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, business, american, non-fiction, music, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: behind-the-scenes
Setting: America, United States
Period: 20th Century, 21st Century
239 pages · Hardcover · Chronicle Books