Books

If These Halls Could Talk:

A Historical Tour Through San Francisco Recording Studios

If These Halls Could Talk: A Historical Tour Through San Francisco Recording Studios takes an in-depth look at San Francisco’s diverse music and music recording studio history. Filled with rare photos and behind-the-scenes stories, this book steps inside the recording studios where ’50s jazz and blues, ’60s psychedelic rock, ’70s funk, ’80s punk and early 21st Century everything came to life.Leading Bay Area artists, producers, engineers, and studio owners take readers on a guided tour through some of San Francisco’s top recording studios, venturing behind the scenes of popular music’s hottest albums. Readers will learn about the recording techniques, the magic, and the often unusual experiences that contributed to a wide range of recordings, including works by Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, Santana, the Pointer Sisters, Herbie Hancock, Journey, Huey Lewis and the News, Chris Isaak, Faith No More, Green Day, and many more.

What People are Saying…

“Ms. Johnson has done an admirable job of illuminating the struggles and triumphs of the many studio facilities, their founders, and the engineers who have contributed so much to this rich musical fabric. Illustrated with dozens of photographs, Johnson presents an entertaining, educational, and historic tribute to the studios and the people who shaped them…A well written, highly recommended, and thoroughly enjoyable book for anyone interested in recording and the creative process of music-making in general.”

Dan Alexander Dan Alexander Audio

“More than just another review of music trends and evolving styles, [If These Halls Could Talk] focuses on the studios themselves and their roles in fostering such styles, creating a multifaceted survey of the San Francisco music scene as a whole.”

Midwest Book Review

Born in a Small Town: John Mellencamp

Featuring interviews with everyone from childhood friends to band members, producers and engineers, this is a portrait of the real man, who grew up in Indiana and still lives there today – a passionate musician and a tireless campaigner for the lifestyle and values of the American family farmer.

This is the complete story of John Mellencamp, tracking his progress as he matured from youthful rocker with a made-up name to major star with a social conscience.

It is a journey typified by his 2007 release, Freedom’s Road, an impassioned call to arms to rediscover America’s founding traditions of freedom, justice, and never-say-die spirit.

An unlikely story but, in the end, an inspirational one that reveals a remarkable and unique fusion of heartland values and rock ‘n’ roll stardom.