Even though every rock song -- from This Land Is Your Land to Purple Haze to Promises in the Dark -- has its own distinct style and sound, making it an original, they all share the common bond of finding their birth on a scrap of paper where some songwriter tried to capture a particular vibe, cool hook, or stroke of inspiration.

Stephen Bishop has spent over three years gaining access to songs from an eclectic group of friends and collegues to cull a virtual who's who in rock 'n roll songwriting. Bishop's meticulous research has resulted in "Songs In The Rough: Rock's Greatest Songs in First-Draft Form," which provides a fascinating, first-ever look at 60 of rock's greatest songs in their original, handwritten, many times scrawled and scribbled rough drafts.

Beautifully illustrated, Songs In The Rough is filled with numerous collectors items, including songs by Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, the Beatles, and the Grateful Dead. Order the book from St. Martins' Press at (800) 288-2131