author interview
A Conversation with Arthur Phillips
Arthur Phillips is interviewed by Tim Riley, the author of several books on rock history, including Tell Me Why: A Beatles Commentary and Fever: How Rock ‘n’ Roll Transformed Gender in America. Riley edits the Riley Rock Index.
Tim Riley: The Song Is You
tells the story of two music-obsessed people at different ends of the
music industry, and how music steers and inflects their obsession with
each other. It starts with a live Billie Holiday recording of “I Cover
the Waterfront,” and we learn that Julian’s father is the fan on the
record yelling out the song request. You’re very attentive to how such
intimate affections burst into public. Have you ever had a similar
experience–where a pop record takes on intense personal meaning in your
private life?
Arthur Phillips: All the time. I wouldn’t
have written this story otherwise. I do have that much in common with
Julian Donahue. I haven’t really taken my affections public, however. I
have befriended a musician whom I greatly admired when I was a kid,
and, many years ago, I did ask the singer of the Beautiful South to
dance with me at First Avenue in Minneapolis, at the end of their
concert. She looked at me as if I might be dangerous and ran to her
tour bus. But otherwise, it’s just me and my iPod having intense
personal experiences all the time.
