"Inside" information on commercial recordings

Just curious - is there any way to find out how a certain song on a certain album was recorded - i.e. - the equipment, instruments, fx,  mics, set up....etc. or is all that info way to deeply imbeded in the industry, or locked away in a secret vault???

Mix Magazine has a "classic tracks" feature every so often, where they tell you everything you wanted to know about a "classic" song by interviewing the people who recorded it. Check it out here: http://mixonline.com/classic-tracks/.

Recording Magazine does something similar, where they show you how to get certain "trademark" sounds, but they don't do it as often as Mix does, and they don't let you access it unless you have a subscription.

Another good resource is Alan Parsons. He recorded the Beatles and Pink Floyd (and his own group), and is sharing his knowledge. http://artandscienceofsound.com/

The 800-pound gorilla in this category would be Recording The Beatles, a book about...well...you know. http://www.recordingthebeatles.com/

Phil Ramone and Geoff Emerick also have good books out on how they recorded.  Mr. Ramone has produced just about everybody of note.  Geoff was a recording engineer for a small group from Liverpool.
Geoff's book
Phil's book

More often than not, such "inside" information about recent recordings is only discussed in the major trade magazines (if at all)...The info (limited, in most cases) is usually a part of an interview with the artist, the engineer or the producer but rarely includes all the "secrets" and techniques used...