Chicken Soup For the Soul Series Adds The Story Behind Songs

The Chicken Soup for the Soul series is about to expand again with a new edition, Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Story Behind the Song. The November 10 release was developed and edited by Hollywood publicist Jo-Ann Geffen and tells the stories behind 101 popular hits in the words of their composers. The forward is by Motown composer Lamont Dozier.

The book reflects on many of our favorite songs that trace our lives through music from rap trendsetter Kanye West to Top 40 hit-makers Richie Sambora, Christina Aguilera, Melissa Etheridge, John Legend, the Backstreet Boys’ Howie Dorough, and Jewel, classic rock performer/songwriters like Chicago’s Robert Lamm, and Foreigner’s Mick Jones, Daryl Hall and John Oates, alternative rockers Aaron Lewis of Staind to Corey Taylor of Slipknot and legendary punk rock hits such as Joan Jett’s Bad Reputation and Jerry Cantrell from Alice In Chains...

Some bring laughter, others bring tears, but all are insightful and great reading for music fans, aficionados or people who just like a good story. Each of the tales is accompanied by a photo and the lyrics for the song that is discussed.

Among the songs by veteran artists in the book:

• My Way - Paul Anka
• Wouldn't It Be Nice - Tony Asher
• Shining Star - Phillip Bailey
  
• Bohemian Rhapsody - Roy Thomas Baker
  
• Walkin' in the Sun - Jeff Barry
• Tell Laura I Love Her - Jeff Barry
• On and On - Stephen Bishop
  
• Don't Fall in Love With a Dreamer - Kim Carnes
• Stand and Be Proud - David Cassidy
• Bad Bad Leroy Brown - Jim Croce (told by Ingrid Croce)
• Operator - Jim Croce (told by Ingrid Croce)
• What the World Needs Now is Love - Hal David
• Stop in the Name of Love - Lamont Dozier
• Where Did Our Love Go - Lamont Dozier
• Tusk - Mick Fleetwood

Thirty-eight more classic tracks by veteran artists that are included in the book are after the cut.

• Sara Smile - Daryl Hall
• Do You Really Want to Hurt Me - Roy Hay
• Soulshine - Warren Haynes
  
• At Seventeen - Janis Ian
• In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida - Doug Ingle
• Bad Reputation - Joan Jett
• Feels Like the First Time - Mick Jones
• Waiting For a Girl Like You - Mick Jones
• Saturday in the Park - Robert Lamm
• The Heart of Rock and Roll - Huey Lewis
• Midnight Blue - Melissa Manchester
• One Voice - Barry Manilow
• The Rose - Amanda McBroom
• Two Tickets to Paradise - Eddie Money
• Garden Party - Rick Nelson
  
• She's Gone - John Oates
• Eye of the Tiger - Jim Peternik
• Lust for Life - Iggy Pop
• Cruisin' - Smokey Robinson
  
• That's What Friends are For - Carol Bayer Sager
• In My Life - Richie Sambora
• Livin' on a Prayer - Richie Sambora
• Do You Believe in Magic - John Sebastian
• Daydream - John Sebastian
• Breaking Up is Hard to Do - Neil Sedaka
  
• Let the River Run - Carly Simon
• Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
• Could It Be I'm Falling In Love - Mervin and Melvin Steals
• True Colors - Billy Steinberg
• The Streak - Ray Stevens
• Peaceful Easy Feeling - Jack Tempchin
• Do That To Me One More Time - Toni Tennille
  
• Just Another Day in Paradise - Phil Vassar
  
• Because You Love Me - Diane Warren
• I Don't Want to Miss a Thing - Diane Warren
• Dog & Butterfly - Ann Wilson
• ...and many more