Number One with an Axe! A Look at the Guitar’s Role in America’s #1 Hits, Volume 3, 1965-69
By Michael Rays
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About this ebook
What role has the guitar played in America’s #1 hit songs?
Guitar gadfly/pop historian Michael Rays continues to explore and answer this question in the third volume of his ebook series, “Number One with an AXE!” This book covers all 103 #1 hits of the years 1965-1969, an era when the guitar returned to #1-hit prominence after a lull in the early 60s. For each #1 hit, Rays gives:
• The title, artist, date the song reached #1 and number of weeks spent at #1
• Scores of 1-10 in four guitar-centric categories: Riffage, Rhythm, Fills and Solos (a song can score anywhere from 0-40 points)
• Commentary on the song and its guitar parts (plus various other observations)
• A video link to the song when available (which is most of the time)
The ebook ends with compiled lists of the top guitar #1 hits of 1965-69 based on various data gleaned from all the song scores.
"Number One with an AXE!" is a wildly fun slice of music history. It's a MUST for anyone who can't get enough guitar!
Michael Rays
Michael Rays grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He graduated from Northwestern University and served nine years in the Navy, flying the SH-60B Seahawk helicopter. Michael lives in Billings, Montana with his wife and daughter.
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Number One with an Axe! A Look at the Guitar’s Role in America’s #1 Hits, Volume 3, 1965-69 - Michael Rays
Number One with an AXE!
A Look at the Guitar’s Role in America’s #1 Hits
Volume Three: 1965-1969
By Michael Rays
Published by Michael Rays at Smashwords
Copyright 2017 Michael Rays
Also by Michael Rays, published at Smashwords:
Six-String Sleuth: A Guitar Player’s Guide to Figuring Out Song Chords
Guitar Odyssey
Guitar Odyssey 2: Talkin’ Dirty
Number One with an AXE! The Fifties
Number One with an AXE! Volume 2, 1960-64
Number One with an AXE! Volume 4, 1970-74
Number One with an AXE! Volume 5, 1975-79
Number One with an AXE! Volume 6, 1980-84
Number One with an AXE! Volume 7, 1985-89
Headers: Scores & Headlines from Brazil 2014
Number One with an AXE! is a look at the role of the guitar in America’s #1 Billboard hits. Guitar gadfly Michael Rays listens to, comments on and scores each #1 hit in terms of four guitar-centric criteria: riffage, rhythm, fills and solos. The result is an exploratory history of the guitar at the pinnacle of American pop music.
Guitars were everywhere as rock exploded in the late sixties—but how were they used in Billboard’s #1 hits? Let’s find out!
Table of Contents
Riffs on Guitar Odyssey
Ode to Guitar Players
Methodology Used
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
Facts & Statistics
About the Author
Riffs on Guitar Odyssey
Back to Table of Contents
…you quickly get into the spirit of the project and it becomes great fun to read.
- darkerthanblue.wordpress.com (Deep Purple blog)
Rays creates a chronicle of growth that will immerse and inspire fellow guitar players who have their own 'impossible' playing goals and aspirations…
- D. Donovan, Senior eBook Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
…a surprisingly entertaining read.
- Last Best News
…Michael Rays has crafted a literate, interesting, funny and, oddly, moving account of his six-string journey…
- Missoula Independent
You learn, as Rays did in real time, that the journey towards achieving something, even if it seems simple at first blush, can be trying, surprising, and fulfilling with ample happy accidents in between.
- Guitarkadia.com
Ode to Guitar Players by Michael Rays
Back to Table of Contents
What meaneth one who says ‘I play guitar’?
A batch of basic chords strummed ‘round the fire
An introverted teen who’d be a star
woodshedding endless blues licks on a Squier?
A young gal voicing jazz chords warm and pure
An old man finger-picking on the porch
A classicist, with tones that long endure
or metal shredders carrying the torch?
A drunken punker, fast and out of tune
an aging rocker holding onto youth
a bold flamenco player ‘neath the moon
a studious composer seeking truth?
Thus meaneth one who says ‘I play guitar’:
‘I’ve joined the journey infinitely far.’
Methodology Used (aka Are my methods unsound?
)
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