Neil Sedaka: Rock'n'Roll Survivor: The Inside Story of His Incredible Comeback

by Rich Podolsky

(Book). From 1958 to 1963, Neil Sedaka sold 25 million records more than anyone except Elvis Presley. He thought he could do no wrong, but a year later he was all but off the charts, swept away by the Beatles and the British Invasion a blow he never saw coming. The deejays stopped playing his records, and the public stopped buying them. For 12 agonizing years, Sedaka battled to get back on the charts back to respectability. He tried everything: working with hip, young songwriters, playing on demo sessions, and even enduring the rough and tumble of working men's clubs in remote corners in the UK. Then, one magical night, he performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London. His new songs, including "Solitaire," were greeted with thunderous applause. Shortly thereafter, Elton John, the biggest rock'n'roll star of the decade, stopped by to see him and offered to sign Neil to his new label, Rocket Records. And that was it. In October 1974, "Laughter In The Rain" showed up at number 95 on Billboard Sedaka's first appearance on the charts in over a decade. Sixteen weeks later it reached number one, sealing one of the most amazing comebacks in music history. This vivid and authoritative book, written with full access to Sedaka and those closest to him, tells the absorbing story of how he overcame one obstacle after another to become the ultimate rock'n'roll survivor.

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2013

Reviews

[alan clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most enjoyable read.

I started this book knowing many of the songs that Neil Sedaka had written, but knowing very little of him. I still remember most vividly watching that famous Royal Albert Hall concert on TV, and reading this book has helped to put the songs (particularly The Hungry Years into perspective. I look forward to playing the songs of his in my record collection and recalling in many cases, the circumstances of their inception. This book did exactly what I hoped it would do; entertained and informed me of the man and his work.

[Cici · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great to learn more about Sedaka's career. It was very poorly edited though, which was quite irritating. I wouldn't want to read more from this author or publisher.

[Laura Pinto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neil Sedaka: Rock 'n' roll Survivor: The Inside Story of His Incredible Comeback is an excellent read from start to finish. Penned by Rich Podolsky, the author of Don Kirshner: The Man with the Golden Ear: How He Changed the Face of Rock and Roll (2012), Neil Sedaka: Rock 'n' roll Survivor follows the singer from his childhood in the Brighton Beach section of Brooklyn, New York to his musical education at the prestigious Juilliard School in Manhattan; his early songwriting days with Howard "Howie" Greenfield; his first wave of success as a composer, recording artist, and performer; his 1962 marriage to Leba Strassberg Sedaka; the forced retirement brought on by Beatlemania right on through Neil's incredible 1970s comeback and up to the present day. Neil Sedaka: Rock 'n' roll Survivor includes a foreword by Elton John, whose Rocket Records label helped catapult Neil back into stardom in 1975; and an afterword by lyricist Phil Cody ("Laughter in the Rain"). In between is the incredible tale of Neil's career, which has enjoyed tremendous highs and devastating lows; his relationship with his parents, Eleanor and Mac Sedaka; his life with Leba and their two children, Dara and Marc; and a generous sprinkling of quotes and observations from Neil's friends, family members, colleagues, and Neil himself. Well written throughout, Neil Sedaka: Rock 'n' roll Survivor is a must-read for fans of the Brill Building sound in general and Neil Sedaka in particular. Highly recommended!