What's it all About?

by Cilla Black

Cilla Black is without doubt one of Britain's most treasured personalities. Generations have grown up with Cilla's music, TV shows, and performances. But how much do we really know about 'the girl with the bright red hair and the jet black voice'? What's It All About? is Cilla's own story, told for the first time ever. It's the story of a woman who has worked ceaselessly to stay at the top for forty years despite setbacks and personal tragedy; a life of incredible highs and terrible lows. In this deeply personal autobiography she tells her unique story in intimate and vivid detail for the very first time. This is the real Cilla Black.

Genres: Biography, Music, Autobiography, Nonfiction

406 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2003

Reviews

[Carol Hislop · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book more but I couldn't. The book wasn't well written and I was bored reading about "me mam", "fellers" and everyone saying "ai ya" all the time. It's a shame really.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

My dad palmed this off on me a while ago so I thought I’d give it a read before I take it to the charity shop. I’m not particularly a fan of Cilla, but parts of the book were interesting enough - especially mentions of The Beatles and Brian Epstein. Cilla was probably the most sensible star of the Sixties, which doesn’t make this the most exciting of memoirs. It is also quite frivolous for the most, with little depth. Her relationship with husband Bobby was the sweetest thing, though.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming is about the best word to describe.

Written in the dialect of her upbringing with honesty and humbleness which is a reading delight.

Ms. Black's truly a British National Treasure and has quite the recollection of being a part of it in fully deserving the honor. Her extortionary bubbly attitude runs plentifully throughout with personal memories.

Can't think of the early 1960s without thinking Cilla Black...

Nice easy read.

5 Star

[Russell Sanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew little about Cilla Black until I saw a television account of her life and realized she was from Liverpool and rose to fame during the height of Beatlemania. And that’s when I purchased her autobiography Cilla Black: What’s It All About? I was truly fascinated by the “insider” information about the Beatles and the other groups of the time, among them Gerry and the Pacemakers and Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas. I loved her descriptions of her close friendships with John, Paul, Ringo and George, especially with Ringo who became a very close friend. She signed with the Beatles’s manager Brian Epstein, and her description of him, their friendship, and her devastation at his death were heartening and entertaining. I loved her telling of how she maintained close friendships with her mates from younger years, especially with her childhood friend Pat Davies and Cynthia Lennon, mother of Julian Lennon and first wife of John Lennon. The book is mostly a seemingly heartfelt tribute, rather than a “dish the dirt” memoir. I, not being British nor having lived in England, was surprised that not only did Black achieve the status of the best-selling female vocalist in her country, but also she became a beloved television personality, hosting several long-term shows. So what just is it that turned me off somewhat to this woman? She wants us to believe she is a still a “hometown girl” Liverpudlian at heart, simple and true to her upbringing. That may very well be true. But today the woman is a multi-millionaire, and while many celebrities seem to not flaunt that and live quiet lives, Black is so proud of it that she writes of her estate in England, her villa in Spain, and her apartment in Barbados as if we all have the opportunity to own such (or at least care deeply about her comfort.) Furthermore, she seems to want to refute every little gaff she made in her career as an “I didn’t mean it that way” moment or “the press misunderstood.” She seems intent, in this book, to whitewash every error she has made in her very public life, when perhaps it would have been best to ignore the tarnish on her silver celebrity status, letting it fade into the history that one forgets. And when she, at the end, lest us know she is on a quest for a perfect pink diamond, one that will cost her well over a million dollars, because she deserves a trinket of that magnitude, I felt like there is no way this boastful wealthy woman has any of her humble Liverpudlian qualities still intact. She just wants us to think that, counting on her adoring fans to say, “Well, we love her and want her to be happy.” She doesn’t dwell on her charitable activities, although she does mention them, but I have to wonder how much that excess-of-a-million dollars would buy if it were channeled into food for the hungry rather than a bauble for her finger.

[Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cilla Black will forever be known as one of the world's best - and most loved - entertainers. She died in 2015 at her home in Portugal. In 2003, she released her autobiography, entitled What's It All About? This title came from her 1966 song 'Alfie', which provided her and also Dionne Warwick with a hit. 'Alfie' was written by Burt Bacharach.

I really enjoyed Cilla's autobiography, finding it a really close up and very personal retelling of her life. It seems that she put her whole life into just under 400 pages.

The photos included were beautiful, and well picked to chronicle her best outfits and most important parts of Cilla's life. In addition, the use of the typical Scouse terms; eg. 'fellers', and 'ai ya' really reminded me of the kind of background which she had, and how Cilla stayed true to it for her entire life.

Yes, she made it big, but she still spoke with a Scouse accent and maintained her Liverpool sense of humour.
This book is truly the best for fans of Cilla, and for people who want to understand somebody who helped put Liverpool on the map.

I particularly enjoyed reading about Cilla's early days in the Cavern and her time with The Beatles as I work at the Cavern and have an absolute obsession with the band. I learned a lot from her book, and I intend to use some of her words the next time a tourist asks me if there is a cloakroom, or something similar!

(For reference, the Cavern no longer has a cloakroom - I always say this is because Cilla's not there to mind it anymore!)

Additionally, the way in which Cilla describes the love and respect which she had for husband Bobby Willis - and that which she had for her - was heartbreaking. The way in which she wrote about his death actually brought tears to my eyes, and seemed almost too personal to be reading about. I think she maybe should have kept some of her feelings to herself - they are, surely, too deep to share with the world.

But overall, Cilla achieved so much during her life that it was impossible not to enjoy this book, and also to appreciate Cilla's sense of humour. It really made the book all the more easily digestible because there was a joke or a tease around every corner, and I got through it in no time.

[Brian Haining · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a keen interest in the 1960's music scene and really enjoyed the detailed information provided by Cilla of someone who was initially on the peripheral looking in to quickly becoming a central participant. The book is full of details about the early tours and performances with others, backing bands, recordings etc and she really was 'living the dream'. The story moves onto more cabaret type bookings, TV variety shows where she ultimately morphed into a TV personality with Blind Date etc

She covers her new lifestyle in London and then her move to a large property in Denham, alongside plenty of holidays abroad. She moves in 'showbiz' circles in terms of friends and evenings out and details a number of loyal friends.

A theme through the book is her closeness to her Liverpool roots, her Mum and Dad and her family with Bobby.

Very enjoyable, detailed and included much content that she was in a unique position to know. Great stuff

[Darla Ebert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable from beginning to ending. I like that Ms. Black does not focus on the statistical evidence of her work but gets to the heart and personality of her story which is alternately humorous, dramatic and heart-rending. The author rubbed shoulders and was good friends with seemingly all of the pop singers of the 60's including the Beatles, Cliff Richards, Lulu, Dusty Springfield, Tom Jones, and numerous boy band members as well as t.v. and movie stars.
All of the author's sharing is PG and family friendly with the very welcome absence of expletives. and drug addiction.
Anyone interested in the styles, music and jargon of the 60's would find the story of Cilla Black to be a fun and memorable read.

[Salli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was annoyed to discover that chunks of this book have been taken and made into the coffee table book I read before this.
It did feel chatty and I wanted to read it. A very pleasant readable style, she comes accross as a lovely person. I just feel that we lack the "effecg on other people" buit this is of course autobiography and she is fully entitled to put her point of view. Am I putting her down by wondering who the editor was and what they had to do to get it into this shape.
A readable book which leaves me wondering about my own prejudices and the truth of the narrative.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted a light read and since I'd just visited Liverpool, I thought this might do the trick. I read it quickly and found it entertaining, particularly the early chapters about the Liverpool music scene in the 50s and 60s. I have to say that I'm not a fan of Cilla's and she does come across as a bit full of herself in docu-dramas and indeed, in this autobiography. She certainly enjoyed the millionaire lifestyle and being famous.

[Dale Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting, but decidedly cleaned-up, version of Cilla's life. She spends a lot of time talking about the things she bought with her money, and "correcting" newspaper stories about her that are now lost to time, but if nothing else it gives an indication of who she was, even if it's sometimes in a "methinks the lady doth protest too much" fashion.

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never been a great fan of Cilla but this book was a great read, well written and easy to follow. This book details Cilla's life from her childhood right up until her 60's. Would definitely recommend.

[Kelly Artemiou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent read, I knew Cilla had come up with the stars of Liverpool - but LOVED the name drops. I love how normal she stayed. I didn't know she had been through so much. Dragged towards the end as it became a little more about feelings rather than life events. But decent read all round.

[Aaron Badgley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, I am late coming to this one, but I am glad I glad I read it. A great autbiography/memoir. She writes beautifully and it was difficult to put this one down.

[Siobhán Lucid · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed hearing the stories but omg she was full of herself

[Cheryl Briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love reading about the 60's, fashion, clothes etc so I found this interesting.

[Sam Herbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book a few months ago, but, following the death of 'our Cil' recently, I thought it was about time I read it. Cilla has led the most extraordinary life, and this book is real; you can almost hear Cilla talking in her famous Liverpool accent. It's a really funny book, full of anecdotes about growing up in Liverpool in the '60s, and seeing her childhood pals grow into world-famous pop stars. There are plenty of namedrops throughout! The story of her career is also impressive, and her love for music really comes through in her writing. Despite Cilla's success, she seemed to remain down-to-earth, remembering her roots. The tragic death of her adoring husband, Bobby, is a hard-hitting moment in the book, but the end is positive and uplifting. A great story, which I hope more people will read now that Cilla's no longed with us.

[Maris Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I grew up in the '60s, books about that decade, particularly memoirs-autobiographies -biographies of those artists, musicians, singers, etc.who were popular then, are books I seek. Cilla Black was one of the standout female British singers of that era & I found her book on Amazon. She came from Liverpool and her early years coming up in the music scene were closely intertwined with the Beatles. This story of her life kept me turning the pages, eager to follow along as her career took off. The thread throughout, that of how her boyfriend-husband to be-guided her success, was quite moving. I would definitely recommend this book, especially to boomers like myself, for whom this era was a magical time.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written with great honesty and, at times, you could almost hear Cilla reading it aloud. The sad thing is she came across as a very selfish and self centred person and although I wanted to read to the end there were several times when I had to put it down because I was so incensed by her complete disregard for anyone but herself, even though she spends several pages of the book telling the reader what a trouper she was and how the show must go on regardless of how she was feeling herself so perhaps she was a bit more self aware than I am giving her credit for.

I wasn't a fan before and I am even less so now. I feel sorry for her relatives and what they must have had to put up with over the years.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

i used to watch blind date and surprise surprise years ago but did not really know much about Cilla herself, this was a real honest account and heartbreaking at times from the loss of a child and the loss of friends and her husband, Bobby, an interesting read. Really moving account of Cilla's life.

[Marcus Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story....... brilliantly told, ups and downs of her life. Cilla tells all about the family including the sadness of losing 2 babies, and the death of her beloved Bobby which bought a tear to my eye.
Remarkable lady, who will be sadly missed. RIP

[Christine Busuttil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall this is a good ,interesting ,very honest ,read from Cilla
I particularly enjoyed the first half of her book ,and would of given it an extra half star if available ,as she tells us about her family,childhood ,and early days on the Liverpool scene

[Feebee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great book, a interesting woman but obvious self loving as she writes as if she can do no wrong. Not the best auto biography written

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laughed & cried all the way through this book . . .Brilliant read

[Tina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite boring I thought, lots of people she'd met and places she'd been.

[Chris Lilly · Rating 1 out of 5]

The interesting thing in this Kindle edition book is that she refers to herself throughout as 'Cilia'. It's not very interesting, but it's as interesting as it gets.

[Karen Vivian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it very easy read although sad knowing she has passed away. I love being nosy into peoples lives.

[Deebee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice collection of lovely stories from the amazing Cilla and her imfamous friends. With a few sad moments that are bluntly honest. I laughed, cried and smiled constantly. It's well worth a read.

[Jillian Blanchard]

lovely read

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just read this book and I could see and hear Cilla reading the book with me, she was so down to earth and never forgot who or where she came from. Thank you Cilla I enjoyed this very much.

[Deity World · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a life she had and I had no idea she knew Bobby since she was 17 they are both together now rip cilla and Bobby