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The Sanest Guy in the Room: A Life in Lyrics
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
'. . . a compelling memoir. Breezy and unpretentious, The Sanest Guy in the Room is a delightful collection of memories, insider information and after-dinner anecdotes' The Times
'Brilliant stories and wonderful behind-the-scenes glimpses of a life and career in show-business . . . It's bloody brilliant . . . Read it!' Michael Ball
Don Black is the songwriter's songwriter, a composer's dream collaborator, and the man behind some of the twentieth century's greatest musical numbers.
Black made his first foray into the glittering world of showbiz as a stand-up, before realising his error and focusing on his lifelong passion instead - music. Shirley Bassey, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Henry Mancini and Barbra Streisand are just some of the artists Black has worked with over the years - not to mention his frequent collaborator, West End legend Andrew Lloyd Webber - in what can only be described as a remarkable musical career. Yet, never one to court fame, Black has always remained what Mark Steyn coined as 'the sanest guy in the room'.
Interwoven with the stories behind songs such as 'Diamonds are Forever' and 'Born Free' are vignettes of Black's life with his beloved wife Shirley, who died in March 2018, after almost sixty years of marriage. Black writes movingly about how the enormity of his grief changed his life, and how the dark days are slowly turning into dark moments.
The Sanest Guy in the Room is a rich and delightful paean to a life lived through song. It reveals the essence of Black's craft, looks at those who have inspired him and allows us to understand what made those icons tick. It is also a poignant tribute to Shirley, his biggest inspiration. Told with wit, warmth and great humour, this is Don Black's astonishing musical journey and an insight into a life behind the lyrics.
'. . . a compelling memoir. Breezy and unpretentious, The Sanest Guy in the Room is a delightful collection of memories, insider information and after-dinner anecdotes' The Times
'Brilliant stories and wonderful behind-the-scenes glimpses of a life and career in show-business . . . It's bloody brilliant . . . Read it!' Michael Ball
Don Black is the songwriter's songwriter, a composer's dream collaborator, and the man behind some of the twentieth century's greatest musical numbers.
Black made his first foray into the glittering world of showbiz as a stand-up, before realising his error and focusing on his lifelong passion instead - music. Shirley Bassey, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Henry Mancini and Barbra Streisand are just some of the artists Black has worked with over the years - not to mention his frequent collaborator, West End legend Andrew Lloyd Webber - in what can only be described as a remarkable musical career. Yet, never one to court fame, Black has always remained what Mark Steyn coined as 'the sanest guy in the room'.
Interwoven with the stories behind songs such as 'Diamonds are Forever' and 'Born Free' are vignettes of Black's life with his beloved wife Shirley, who died in March 2018, after almost sixty years of marriage. Black writes movingly about how the enormity of his grief changed his life, and how the dark days are slowly turning into dark moments.
The Sanest Guy in the Room is a rich and delightful paean to a life lived through song. It reveals the essence of Black's craft, looks at those who have inspired him and allows us to understand what made those icons tick. It is also a poignant tribute to Shirley, his biggest inspiration. Told with wit, warmth and great humour, this is Don Black's astonishing musical journey and an insight into a life behind the lyrics.
- GenresBiographyMusicNonfiction
273 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 23, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 2, 2021
A read on the loo type of book - very short paragraphs, no scandals nor gossip, as promised from the start, interesting in a niche area.
August 29, 2020
A lovely book, full of humour and humility.
A gentle, funny and touching book, not least of all for the fact that Don Black has only good things to say about just about everyone he has worked with, which must have been difficult considering the huge egos involved. I liked the way he sectioned the various aspects of his work and avoided any false idolatry.
A gentle, funny and touching book, not least of all for the fact that Don Black has only good things to say about just about everyone he has worked with, which must have been difficult considering the huge egos involved. I liked the way he sectioned the various aspects of his work and avoided any false idolatry.
January 29, 2024
RATING: 3.5 STARS
This is the ‘autobiography’ of the lyricist Don Black.
Don Black’s musical career has spanned over six decades. His works have included numerous musicals, television and film theme songs and in 1967 he won an Oscar for the lyrics to the song Born Free.
‘I have never been a fan of autobiographies’, says Don in his opening paragraph to the book, which is why this is not a traditional autobiography that I was expecting. But rather, it is a series of anecdotes spanning his career and his marriage to his beloved wife, Shirley.
I was fortunate enough to attend An Evening with Don Black at the Southbank Theatre some years ago, which I thoroughly enjoyed, as I did this book. The ONLY criticism I have is that I would have liked the book to contain a little less lyrics, but other than that, a really interesting read.
This is the ‘autobiography’ of the lyricist Don Black.
Don Black’s musical career has spanned over six decades. His works have included numerous musicals, television and film theme songs and in 1967 he won an Oscar for the lyrics to the song Born Free.
‘I have never been a fan of autobiographies’, says Don in his opening paragraph to the book, which is why this is not a traditional autobiography that I was expecting. But rather, it is a series of anecdotes spanning his career and his marriage to his beloved wife, Shirley.
I was fortunate enough to attend An Evening with Don Black at the Southbank Theatre some years ago, which I thoroughly enjoyed, as I did this book. The ONLY criticism I have is that I would have liked the book to contain a little less lyrics, but other than that, a really interesting read.
March 5, 2022
Some interesting anecdotes but this autobiography was very eulogistic- celebrating his clear love and life if his wife who had recently died. Last third of the book concentrating on musicals was a trudge at best. Not quite the most dull book I’ve read this year but close to it.
May 31, 2021
Lyricist Don Black is probably best known for his movie work, including the Oscar-winning theme for Born Free and several Bond themes. But his career covers much more including collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber on musicals.
This, as Black says in his introduction, is an autobiography without the boring bits. What you do get is a raft of showbiz anecdotes, but also some interesting insights into the song writing process. The spareness inherent in writing lyrics is evident here, this is a short book and Black wastes few words.
There’s an evident love of life here but also an underlying sadness for the loss of a golden age of popular music, but also for the more personal loss of Black’s wife of 60 years.
This, as Black says in his introduction, is an autobiography without the boring bits. What you do get is a raft of showbiz anecdotes, but also some interesting insights into the song writing process. The spareness inherent in writing lyrics is evident here, this is a short book and Black wastes few words.
There’s an evident love of life here but also an underlying sadness for the loss of a golden age of popular music, but also for the more personal loss of Black’s wife of 60 years.
September 16, 2023
"Songs punctuate your emotions throughout your life."
Simply mesmerised. I absolutely loved it. I knew I would.
I wanted to read the book from the moment it was published, but it was so much money. I had to wait until now, when the price came down. I sailed through it in two days, spellbound.
I adore, too, the music and the musicals he writes about with so much love. If I happened to be near Alexa, at every mention of a song, for example, To Sir with love,I played it and sang along. If I was nowhere near Alexa, I just sang from the printed words in the book.
I have seen so many of the musicals he writes about, the ones he wrote the lyrics to, like Tell me on a Sunday, like Aspects of love and the ones he talks about like South Pacific and Chorus Line. I too, am a huge fan of The Great American Songbook. I didn't know about his Radio two show, but will definitely find it and listen.
I have a very very very tenuous link to Don Black. When I was a little girl, my parents were invited to Shirley and Don's wedding. My father was a cousin of either Shirley's mother or father, Ada and Jack.My father had a picture in an album of Shirley and Ros in a courtyard of their flats with the two sisters on his shoulders. My mother and father took me with them to their home to give a wedding gift a couple of days before the wedding and I remember a beautiful lady painting her nails. That's it. I wasn't invited to the wedding, but mum and dad were there.I believe my dad was very fond of the two girls, they are all grinning like mad in the photo, I remember. I don't know where the photo is now, but I do remember it..
My father had many cousins but when I got married in 1972 his cousins got offended because none of their children were invited and I never knew or saw any of that side of his family again, but I've always known Don and Shirley were out there somewhere and always followed his career with interest.
This has nothing to do, of course, with this lovely, lovely book.
I wish him.long life. Hs marriage sounds such a joyful and happy one. He writes with humour, love, and humility;
Stay in love with songs Your lyrics have given the world so much pleasure. Thank you for the beautiful songs.
I read very few autobiographies or memoirs but I loved this one.
Simply mesmerised. I absolutely loved it. I knew I would.
I wanted to read the book from the moment it was published, but it was so much money. I had to wait until now, when the price came down. I sailed through it in two days, spellbound.
I adore, too, the music and the musicals he writes about with so much love. If I happened to be near Alexa, at every mention of a song, for example, To Sir with love,I played it and sang along. If I was nowhere near Alexa, I just sang from the printed words in the book.
I have seen so many of the musicals he writes about, the ones he wrote the lyrics to, like Tell me on a Sunday, like Aspects of love and the ones he talks about like South Pacific and Chorus Line. I too, am a huge fan of The Great American Songbook. I didn't know about his Radio two show, but will definitely find it and listen.
I have a very very very tenuous link to Don Black. When I was a little girl, my parents were invited to Shirley and Don's wedding. My father was a cousin of either Shirley's mother or father, Ada and Jack.My father had a picture in an album of Shirley and Ros in a courtyard of their flats with the two sisters on his shoulders. My mother and father took me with them to their home to give a wedding gift a couple of days before the wedding and I remember a beautiful lady painting her nails. That's it. I wasn't invited to the wedding, but mum and dad were there.I believe my dad was very fond of the two girls, they are all grinning like mad in the photo, I remember. I don't know where the photo is now, but I do remember it..
My father had many cousins but when I got married in 1972 his cousins got offended because none of their children were invited and I never knew or saw any of that side of his family again, but I've always known Don and Shirley were out there somewhere and always followed his career with interest.
This has nothing to do, of course, with this lovely, lovely book.
I wish him.long life. Hs marriage sounds such a joyful and happy one. He writes with humour, love, and humility;
Stay in love with songs Your lyrics have given the world so much pleasure. Thank you for the beautiful songs.
I read very few autobiographies or memoirs but I loved this one.
August 11, 2024
Don Black's memoir, "The Sanest Guy in the Room: A Life in Lyrics," offers readers a captivating glimpse into the world of one of the most prolific and successful lyricists in the history of popular music and musical theatre. Black's storytelling is as engaging and witty as his lyrics, making this autobiography a delightful read for music enthusiasts and casual readers alike.
The book chronicles Black's journey from his humble beginnings in London's East End to his rise as an Oscar, Golden Globe, and Tony award-winning lyricist. Black's self-deprecating humor and unpretentious style shine through as he recounts his collaborations with musical legends such as John Barry, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Michael Jackson.
One of the book's strengths lies in its behind-the-scenes anecdotes about the creation of iconic songs and musicals. Black's accounts of writing "Born Free," "Diamonds Are Forever," and "Sunset Boulevard" provide fascinating insights into the creative process and the music industry's inner workings. His stories about working with stars like Matt Monro, Quincy Jones, and Barbra Streisand are both entertaining and illuminating.
Black's honesty about his successes and failures is refreshing. He doesn't shy away from discussing projects that didn't quite hit the mark, offering a balanced view of a career spanning over five decades. This candor adds depth to the narrative and makes Black a relatable figure despite his extraordinary achievements.
While the book is generally well-paced, some readers might find certain sections a bit meandering. Black occasionally goes off on tangents that, while interesting, can disrupt the flow of the main narrative. Additionally, those looking for in-depth analysis of lyric writing techniques might find the book lacking in this area.
Nevertheless, "The Sanest Guy in the Room" succeeds in painting a vivid picture of a life dedicated to the craft of songwriting. Black's warmth, humor, and genuine passion for his work permeate every page, making for an enjoyable and often inspiring read.
In conclusion, Don Black's memoir is a must-read for anyone interested in the art of songwriting or the history of popular music and musical theatre. While it may not delve as deeply into the technical aspects of lyric writing as some might hope, it more than makes up for this with its wealth of personal stories and insights into a remarkable career in music.
The book chronicles Black's journey from his humble beginnings in London's East End to his rise as an Oscar, Golden Globe, and Tony award-winning lyricist. Black's self-deprecating humor and unpretentious style shine through as he recounts his collaborations with musical legends such as John Barry, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Michael Jackson.
One of the book's strengths lies in its behind-the-scenes anecdotes about the creation of iconic songs and musicals. Black's accounts of writing "Born Free," "Diamonds Are Forever," and "Sunset Boulevard" provide fascinating insights into the creative process and the music industry's inner workings. His stories about working with stars like Matt Monro, Quincy Jones, and Barbra Streisand are both entertaining and illuminating.
Black's honesty about his successes and failures is refreshing. He doesn't shy away from discussing projects that didn't quite hit the mark, offering a balanced view of a career spanning over five decades. This candor adds depth to the narrative and makes Black a relatable figure despite his extraordinary achievements.
While the book is generally well-paced, some readers might find certain sections a bit meandering. Black occasionally goes off on tangents that, while interesting, can disrupt the flow of the main narrative. Additionally, those looking for in-depth analysis of lyric writing techniques might find the book lacking in this area.
Nevertheless, "The Sanest Guy in the Room" succeeds in painting a vivid picture of a life dedicated to the craft of songwriting. Black's warmth, humor, and genuine passion for his work permeate every page, making for an enjoyable and often inspiring read.
In conclusion, Don Black's memoir is a must-read for anyone interested in the art of songwriting or the history of popular music and musical theatre. While it may not delve as deeply into the technical aspects of lyric writing as some might hope, it more than makes up for this with its wealth of personal stories and insights into a remarkable career in music.
September 2, 2022
I had expected an autobiography, but how wrong can you be. This is just a series of anecdotes littered with stacks of lyrics to pad out the book. The only reason it didn't get one star is that it provoked lots of research into songs and singers with whom I am familiar. It should also have got one star for the worst title of any book ever. But typical of the author. I quite enjoyed the early chapters (three pages on average, including lyrics). But when he talks about an old school friend, it has to be Laurence Graff who made billions in diamonds. That is so typical.
I was amazed he was Matt Monro's manager for a while, after writing the lyric to a melody by Udo Jurgens. "Walk Away" became one of my favourite songs of all time, by the best crooner ever. Then next up came his first collaboration with John Barry when they wrote the theme song for "Thunderball". I did like to hear about their work together on so many Bond movies. I had to agree that the lyrics for Lulu's "To Sir With Love" are quite special: "who has taken you from crayons to perfume" and "for closing books and long last looks" could not be better.
Early on, I jumped forward to a batch of photos and found Don Black next to A R Rahman. What were they doing together? I knew Rahman mainly for his brilliant score for Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire" and the great dance routine at the end to "Jai Ho". I found a video on YouTube of the author talking about his collaboration with Rahman on the musical "Bombay Dreams".
I have to admit that Don Black's body of work is huge. Just to pick a few: the two songs with Quincy Jones for "The Italian Job", working with Andrew Lloyd Webber on "Tell Me On A Sunday" (some of the best lyrics in any musical), the Oscar winning "Born Free" and a Connie Francis number "If I Never Sing Another Song".
But at the end of the book there are fifty pages in chapters called "More Musicals" and "My Top Ten Musicals". Just total rubbish and why this is not an autobiography. For something decent, read Dirk Bogarde's seven or Michael Palin's "Halfway to Hollywood".
I was amazed he was Matt Monro's manager for a while, after writing the lyric to a melody by Udo Jurgens. "Walk Away" became one of my favourite songs of all time, by the best crooner ever. Then next up came his first collaboration with John Barry when they wrote the theme song for "Thunderball". I did like to hear about their work together on so many Bond movies. I had to agree that the lyrics for Lulu's "To Sir With Love" are quite special: "who has taken you from crayons to perfume" and "for closing books and long last looks" could not be better.
Early on, I jumped forward to a batch of photos and found Don Black next to A R Rahman. What were they doing together? I knew Rahman mainly for his brilliant score for Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire" and the great dance routine at the end to "Jai Ho". I found a video on YouTube of the author talking about his collaboration with Rahman on the musical "Bombay Dreams".
I have to admit that Don Black's body of work is huge. Just to pick a few: the two songs with Quincy Jones for "The Italian Job", working with Andrew Lloyd Webber on "Tell Me On A Sunday" (some of the best lyrics in any musical), the Oscar winning "Born Free" and a Connie Francis number "If I Never Sing Another Song".
But at the end of the book there are fifty pages in chapters called "More Musicals" and "My Top Ten Musicals". Just total rubbish and why this is not an autobiography. For something decent, read Dirk Bogarde's seven or Michael Palin's "Halfway to Hollywood".
November 21, 2025
I had been keen to read this book for a while as I think his skills as a lyricist are second to none. The book follows a well trodden path; famous names, amusing anecdotes and snippets of Don’s younger days. He was born and raised in Hackney, a place that formed a big part of my early childhood as my Nan had a cafe ( or should I say Caff) there. He wrote this book just around the time his wife died so it has an extra poignancy. The downside is that Don, bless him, decided to fill many pages with his lyrics. Whilst these are excellent I think it didn’t go down well me singing ‘Born Free’ or ‘Take that look off your face’ apparently randomly..
November 27, 2020
Interesting book written in a chatty style. Don Black has written many fabulous lyrics for songs in the last 50 years or so. The book contains first hand accounts of his encounters with other famous lyricists. Woven into the text is the more serious and poignant account of how Don is grieving for his wife of 60 years, Shirley. This is the element for me that made the book really.In addition to this his account of how the nursing team sand ‘Born free’ to him on leaving hospital after an encounter with covid..very moving.
May 1, 2021
Published last year, this is the autobiography of the lyricist Don Black.
“I have never been a fan of autobiographies,” he says in the very first paragraph, justifying his decision to concentrate on interesting anecdotes spanning both his career and his 60-year marriage. This results in a book that’s quite light in tone, but an awful lot of fun.
There are—as you might expect—a lot of lyrics in the book, which only served to remind me quite how diverse Black’s career in lyrics has been.
“I have never been a fan of autobiographies,” he says in the very first paragraph, justifying his decision to concentrate on interesting anecdotes spanning both his career and his 60-year marriage. This results in a book that’s quite light in tone, but an awful lot of fun.
There are—as you might expect—a lot of lyrics in the book, which only served to remind me quite how diverse Black’s career in lyrics has been.
June 28, 2021
An easy read
The chapters are short which makes for a fast, easy read. Black is honest in his appraisal and opinions of people he's worked and is realistic about showbiz and the music business past and present.
There's some useful guidelines included for anyone thinking of pursuing or trying for success with lyric writing.
In reality he is a musical master from a bygone era. Much of this book reflects his continued enthusiasm and yearning for those faded times.
The chapters are short which makes for a fast, easy read. Black is honest in his appraisal and opinions of people he's worked and is realistic about showbiz and the music business past and present.
There's some useful guidelines included for anyone thinking of pursuing or trying for success with lyric writing.
In reality he is a musical master from a bygone era. Much of this book reflects his continued enthusiasm and yearning for those faded times.
January 30, 2025
Hardly a household name, and certainly not a famous face, Don Black is nonetheless the Oscar, Tony, Golden Globe and multiple Ivor Novello award-winning lyricist behind many hit West End and Broadway musicals, including “Tell Me On A Sunday” and “Aspects Of Love” with Andrew Lloyd-Webber, and all-time great songs like “Born Free”, “To Sir With Love”, “Ben”, and no less than five James Bond themes, including the classic “Diamonds Are Forever.”
To his credit, Black opens his memoirs by telling the reader how much he hates most biographies and their extraneous detail, and promises to stick to the material he thinks the reader will actually be interested in. and though that’s not entirely true, it’s an easy read, made up of many short chapters (some literally only a page long), but the overall impression is that of a first draft, rough notes to be expanded upon later, which certainly makes it chatty and conversational, but not especially well-written.
Still, Black is an enthusiastic and friendly companion, happy to gossip about the worlds of music and songwriting and name names, but seeing as he hardly has a bad word to say about anyone, don’t expect any lurid showbiz revelations, rather a breezy gazetteer of his many collaborators, and by default, a rough guide to being a jobbing songwriter.
Black is good company throughout, and anyone with an interest in songwriting should enjoy this book by a genuinely nice guy who adores his family, which he would probably consider the best review of all…
To his credit, Black opens his memoirs by telling the reader how much he hates most biographies and their extraneous detail, and promises to stick to the material he thinks the reader will actually be interested in. and though that’s not entirely true, it’s an easy read, made up of many short chapters (some literally only a page long), but the overall impression is that of a first draft, rough notes to be expanded upon later, which certainly makes it chatty and conversational, but not especially well-written.
Still, Black is an enthusiastic and friendly companion, happy to gossip about the worlds of music and songwriting and name names, but seeing as he hardly has a bad word to say about anyone, don’t expect any lurid showbiz revelations, rather a breezy gazetteer of his many collaborators, and by default, a rough guide to being a jobbing songwriter.
Black is good company throughout, and anyone with an interest in songwriting should enjoy this book by a genuinely nice guy who adores his family, which he would probably consider the best review of all…
November 18, 2020
The ability to make the reader laugh out loud whilst also to cry at the loss of the love of his life makes for a truly special autobiography . All this whilst discussing the Great American Songbook and similarly memorable songs . What more could you ask for?
March 2, 2021
An unusual autobiography. By his own admission, Don Black doesn’t like reading biographies with loads of information about families and childhood; he would rather cut to the chase. As he says:
Fair enough. I don’t have a problem with that. But this philosophy lead to an autobiography that is arranged as a randomly organised collection of loosely themed sections. A pity because it was very good in parts.
Generally, the stories and observations in the book are really interesting. For example, many (but frustratingly, not all) of the sections start with an interesting quote:
There are some great anecdotes that make me think I'd rather sit and have a meal with him, listening to his reminiscences, rather than reading them. He ventures into grumpy old man territory at times but, I can forgive him that as often there is a really sharp observation buried in the grumpiness:
I did enjoy this book but somehow, it is less than the sum of its parts.
I have never been a fan of autobiographies. I find all of them way too long, full of boring pages about stuff I'm not at all interested in. I only want to know about the subject, not about the subject's grandparents who may have come from Lithuania, or the subject's aunt who may have been a Windmill girl.
The first thing you learn as a lyric writer is not to waste a syllable, and that you have to eliminate the unnecessary. Lyric writing is all about compression and getting to the nitty-gritty. I guess that's why I find it numbingly tedious when these books veer away from the reason I bought the book in the first place.
Fair enough. I don’t have a problem with that. But this philosophy lead to an autobiography that is arranged as a randomly organised collection of loosely themed sections. A pity because it was very good in parts.
Generally, the stories and observations in the book are really interesting. For example, many (but frustratingly, not all) of the sections start with an interesting quote:
"Youth is believing that some day you'll dance like Fred Astaire."
--Jacqueline Friedrich (Journalist)
There are some great anecdotes that make me think I'd rather sit and have a meal with him, listening to his reminiscences, rather than reading them. He ventures into grumpy old man territory at times but, I can forgive him that as often there is a really sharp observation buried in the grumpiness:
When I wrote 'Born Free' in the sixties around six hundred people recorded the song. When 'Skyfall' won the Oscar I don't think anyone recorded it apart from Adele. No one covers songs any more which means it's harder than ever to write a standard these days.
I did enjoy this book but somehow, it is less than the sum of its parts.
January 25, 2022
Loved this book! Funny, emotional and I shed a tear at one point! Don Black wrote the musical ‘Billy’, the first musical I saw in The West End and the one that started my lifelong passion of musical theatre.
October 6, 2023
I have wanted to read this book since I saw Don Black being interviewed shortly after it was published. If you want an in depth autobiography in chronological order it’s not for you but if you want a fast paced series of anecdotes and stories based on a life of music and musicals then try it !
January 18, 2021
Excellent!
An insight into a lyricist
An insight into the recently bereaved
No fillers, all hits
An insight into a lyricist
An insight into the recently bereaved
No fillers, all hits
March 7, 2021
A mensch rattles off anecdotes in a love letter to popular song, his late wife Shirley and the joy of living well. Names are dropped on every page and it doubles as a Best Of lyrics book.
March 31, 2023
A very good read, packed with stories and memories of the music business and musical theatre. A first class biography is still to be written.
December 10, 2024
Really 3.5 stars. Fascinating!
May 1, 2021
My interim review of this book was well founded. I enjoyed it very much indeed and I continued to laugh and cry in equal measures. A litmus test for a biography can be, "would I like to spend an evening with this person?" In this case the answer is undoubtedly "Yes!".
This is a man who sat on Barbra Streisand's sofa in her home while she sang one of his songs to him with just a piano accompaniment.......and didn't mention it till almost the last page of the book!
His catalogue is almost a time-line of my adult life. I could have read it in a day but I deliberately slowed down to savoure it.
Please "tell me MORE on a Sunday."
This is a man who sat on Barbra Streisand's sofa in her home while she sang one of his songs to him with just a piano accompaniment.......and didn't mention it till almost the last page of the book!
His catalogue is almost a time-line of my adult life. I could have read it in a day but I deliberately slowed down to savoure it.
Please "tell me MORE on a Sunday."
August 13, 2025
If you're of a certain age and enjoy musical theatre, then this is a gentle and nostalgic trip down memory lane. Don Black is a man of simple tastes and an old romantic at heart, which has allowed him to pen a life of lyrics rooted in love. I'll certainly be passing this on to my mother, who is in her 8th decade, and will undoubtedly enjoy the many anecdotes relating to the song and dance of yesteryear.
May 28, 2024
A very enjoyable and easy to read set of memoirs from one of the great composers/lyricist of our time. Don know what his readers want to. know and gives it to them with the minimum of fuss and maximum enjoyment.
February 8, 2023
Fascinating and pithy from one of the most talented lyricists ever.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews