It’s Not Only Rock ‘n’ Roll

Jenny Boyd’s (George Harrison’s one-time sister-in-law) book might have been called Conversations About Creativity. This is a book in which she quotes numerous musicians, including Harrison and Ringo Starr, about the mystical process involved in creating music. But the book only takes us to the edge of the process and never smack-dab into the middle of it. Boyd, in fact, seems unable to define what creativity is or exactly how it works. And the quotes she includes are often contradictory; for example, on the effect of drugs and alcohol – some musicians see these as a boon, others as a bane.

While the book is readable and somewhat entertaining, and some of the statements from major musicians are interesting, there’s far too much reliance on lesser figures. Sinead O’Connor, for example, seems to be quoted on about every second or third page. The reader would be better served if Boyd had focused on a few particular songs or albums and discussed with musicians the creative process from first thought to finished recording. (Not surprisingly, such books already exist.)

Boyd also exaggerates the role of modern day musicians, portraying them as major change agents. That might be the subject of another book.