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52nd out of 65 books
—
99 voters
Miss O'Dell: My Hard Days and Long Nights with the Beatles, the Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and the Women They Loved
CHRIS O'DELL WASN'T FAMOUS. SHE WASN'T EVEN ALMOST FAMOUS. BUT SHE WAS THERE.
She was in the studio when the Beatles recorded The White Album, Abbey Road, and Let It Be, and when Paul recorded "Hey Jude," she sang in the chorus.
She was at Ringo's kitchen table when George Harrison said, "You know, Ringo, I'm in love with your wife." And Ringo replied, "Better you than some...more
She was in the studio when the Beatles recorded The White Album, Abbey Road, and Let It Be, and when Paul recorded "Hey Jude," she sang in the chorus.
She was at Ringo's kitchen table when George Harrison said, "You know, Ringo, I'm in love with your wife." And Ringo replied, "Better you than some...more
Hardcover, 390 pages
Published
October 6th 2009
by Touchstone
(first published January 1st 2009)
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Okay--I've been on a rock and roll memoir kick. I've read Pattie Boyd's book and Bebe Buell's book. They both kind of depressed me because those women were really not much outside of their relationships with rock personas. This book was great--Chris O'Dell is "one of us" in the sense that she landed, by some good luck and lots of hard work, a life surrounded by some of the cultural icons of the rock world. Her story is the first of the bunch that did not involve total sex--which occurred but was...more
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Oh to be young and free in Swingin' London in the Swingin' Sixties! What a time that must have been - I was around then, but just a little too young and a lot not with-it, to fully appreciate and experience the wonderful opportunities available. Of course, one still had to be smart and quick to see how best to fulfill a need that hasn't been met. That was Chris O'Dell's greatest talent, along with a love of music and the people who make it. She had the ability to quickly endear herself to people...more
Jan 29, 2013
J
added it
Since finishing Just Kids, I can't stop reading 60s rock and roll memoirs. Patti Smith's Just Kids isn't in the same league as any other book and I feel strange even lumping it into the category of memoir since it is so much more than that. Apart from Just Kids and maybe Bob Dylan's Chronicles, most of the other books have just been fluffy and fun.
But there's nothing wrong with fluffy and fun sometimes, is there? Miss O'dell is one of the best 60s rock and roll memoirs I've read so far. Faithful...more
But there's nothing wrong with fluffy and fun sometimes, is there? Miss O'dell is one of the best 60s rock and roll memoirs I've read so far. Faithful...more
Miss O'Dell is not a literary genius but she does chronicle an era that many of us had either grown up in or had watched our siblings and older friends explore.
Though I did nt get to Woodstock (I was in Florence) upon my return the following week I heard some of the amazing stories.
Miss O'Dell tells the stories of what was actually happening at Apple records and on various recording studio outings.
The pages are filled with ' Sex Drugs and Rock & Roll . Her writing style is similar to a "ma...more
Though I did nt get to Woodstock (I was in Florence) upon my return the following week I heard some of the amazing stories.
Miss O'Dell tells the stories of what was actually happening at Apple records and on various recording studio outings.
The pages are filled with ' Sex Drugs and Rock & Roll . Her writing style is similar to a "ma...more
Chris O'Dell's life is pretty much just a string of good luck. A chance meeting in LA of a guy by the name of Derek literally changes her whole life. From there she goes onto work (and get to know) with some of biggest names in the music world - The Beatles, The Stones, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Santana, CSNY, among others. She also becomes intimate friends with Pattie Boyd and Maureen (Ringo's ex wife). Her life was a series of extreme ups and downs, including terrible drug use, but in the end s...more
I stayed up late a few nights in the row finishing this. Gave a really interesting insider look without feeling like she was telling every sordid detail. As a Beatles fan, I especially enjoyed hearing about her relationships with the various band members and their wives. I also was really shocked (well, not that shocked) to hear what big babies some of the rock stars she toured with are.
Don't mistake her as just another groupie though - she earned her place as an Apple employee, personal assist...more
Don't mistake her as just another groupie though - she earned her place as an Apple employee, personal assist...more
Wow. A really great long day in the life of miss odell hanging with some of the fab four and a few other icons in the biz. A very cozy and insightful behind the scenes read without an edge of ego in it. At times I felt I was just chilling in the kitchen with her and George Harrison groovin' to each other. The fun thing was it never drolled on about the music but just talked about her interactions in a very personal way which helped humanize the pop stars. And there is definitely some juicy bits...more
It is always fascinating to me to read the memoir of an ordinary person who traveled in the inner circles of the greatest musical groups of our time, particularly when that person admittedly had no particular talent or skills of any kind, but was simply in the right place at the right time. Chris O'Dell met a guy in a bar who worked for Apple Records, and she followed him to London where she hung out at his office doing simple office tasks and trying to make herself useful till she finally got a...more
Oct 22, 2009
Mike Hickey
added it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone interested in 60's rock & addiction recovery
Recommended to Mike by:
Neil Scott
Chris O'Dell's new book MISS O'DELL is like having a backstage all-access pass to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. At the ripe old age of 20, she manages to not only land employment at Apple Records and work for the Beatles but to actually become intimate friends with them, their wives, and their world. Her charmed life then takes her on a magical mystery tour with the Stones, Dylan, CSNY, Queen, Zeppelin, and Echo and the Bunnymen (you'll just have to read the book). As a genuine lover of 60's a...more
Again, wishing I could give 1/2 stars because this would be a 3.5.
Chris O’Dell moved to London in the late 60s and wormed her way into a job at Apple. She became friends with George, Paul, and Ringo and even ended up singing in the chorus on “Hey Jude.” She also became best friends with Pattie Harrison, and for a while lived with George as Pattie’s assistant. From there she toured with the Rolling Stones and hobnobbed with other rock luminaries, living the life of sex, excess drugs, and rock ‘n...more
Chris O’Dell moved to London in the late 60s and wormed her way into a job at Apple. She became friends with George, Paul, and Ringo and even ended up singing in the chorus on “Hey Jude.” She also became best friends with Pattie Harrison, and for a while lived with George as Pattie’s assistant. From there she toured with the Rolling Stones and hobnobbed with other rock luminaries, living the life of sex, excess drugs, and rock ‘n...more
Being an ENORMOUS Beatle fan who has read almost every biography, seen every discography/anthology, heard every interview, etc....This was a nice change of perspective. Granted, the point of view may have been a little skewed. It was nice to see the more human side of the Beatles, from a fan's perspective as opposed to the larger than life personas that surround them. I would totally read this book again, because it makes me feel intimately closer with the Beatles! An time that I wasn't even ali...more
Finished reading it and returned it to the library. The very next day, found a copy at a thrift store. It's fate!
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Love. this. So much.
Not only do I adore her casual way of telling a story, but the stories themselves fill me with so much envy that it's a little hard to breathe. It's not difficult to get pulled into the stories, and if you're as big a fan of the musicians she discusses as I am, you can see and hear what she saw and heard.
Her descent into addiction was hard to read, but still so...more
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Love. this. So much.
Not only do I adore her casual way of telling a story, but the stories themselves fill me with so much envy that it's a little hard to breathe. It's not difficult to get pulled into the stories, and if you're as big a fan of the musicians she discusses as I am, you can see and hear what she saw and heard.
Her descent into addiction was hard to read, but still so...more
Miss O'Dell is the remarkable story of an ordinary woman who lived the dream of millions--to be part of rock royalty's trusted inner circle. This ultimate insider rock memoir chronicles Chris O'Dell's life and experiences with the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Crosby, Stills and Nash, and others.
Listen to Miss O'Dell on your smartphone, notebook or desktop computer.
Listen to Miss O'Dell on your smartphone, notebook or desktop computer.
Chris was just 20 when by chance she met Derek Taylor who worked for the Beatles just
as they were starting Apple. He invited her to come to England, sure there would be a place for her. She hung out and became friends, lovers and worked with members of the Beatles, the Stones, Leon Russell and others. These are the lives and loves, friendships and betrayals, affairs and break-ups told by the woman who George Harrison wrote a song about, "Miss O'Dell."
as they were starting Apple. He invited her to come to England, sure there would be a place for her. She hung out and became friends, lovers and worked with members of the Beatles, the Stones, Leon Russell and others. These are the lives and loves, friendships and betrayals, affairs and break-ups told by the woman who George Harrison wrote a song about, "Miss O'Dell."
Apr 18, 2010
Liza Wiemer
added it
Wow, what can I say. Chris O'Dell shared the depth of her soul with the world in this book, a journey through a part of her life with the most famous people in the world and in turn, we can all walk away with seeing those who have contributed the most to music with different eyes. There is pain, humanity, love, understanding, forgiveness, and friendship that transcends money and fame and speaks right to the heart. I couldn't put the book down.
This books begins with the author's move to London in her early twenties to work for the Beatles and follows her life as an insider in the world of Rock and Roll. Name-dropping definitely abounds in this bio, but I ate it up! I'm a little jealous of Miss O'Dell's friendships with George Harrison and Mick Jagger. She manages tours for loads of amazing bands, while also picking up their serious party habits. Whoa, this crowd loved their cocaine! If you're into reading semi-gossipy fluff about awes...more
This book is one of my favourites for sure. Maybe that's because I am obsessed with the culture surrounding this book. Let's face it, I got to read about The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, the Rolling Stones, Queen, Fleetwood Mac, and so many more. And I got to read about them through the eyes of someone who was actually there. If you're into rock and roll, and you want to soak up all you can about the people who most influenced rock and roll, then this is a must-read.
Just stumbled across this one at the library; I hadn't heard of it or her. Starting in 1968, she was an intimate with the Beatles, and managed on tours by The Rolling Stones, Dylan, CSNY, and many more. This is in a way a kiss and tell book, but she paints sympathetic and realistic portraits of those she dealt with. Silly and gossipy, it's still a fun read if you care at all about the people she's talking about.
I'm fascinated by the 1960's and 1970's. I was born in 1963, so I have vague memories of that era. I think that those years were a time of rapid change, especially in music.
This book is a true story of a young woman's very fascinating journey into what would become Rock and Roll history.
The coolest thing to me is you can friend her on Facebook....it really is amazing to see where life brought her!
This book is a true story of a young woman's very fascinating journey into what would become Rock and Roll history.
The coolest thing to me is you can friend her on Facebook....it really is amazing to see where life brought her!
Don't think of Chris O'Dell as a groupie, she moved to England back in the day to work at Apple. She worked with not only wth the Beatles, she worked with the Stones, Bob Dylan, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Eric Clapton. She went on to be one of the first female road managers in the business. Her stories abut her friendships with each of the bands and thir families are both hiliarious and endearing.
I loved this book and could not put it down. I loved O'Dell's insider perspective, but thought that what made the book interesting was that she was outsider in many ways. She felt a distance between her and the rock stars, even though they shared many intimate moments. Also, her relationships with the wives showed female camaraderie that you wouldn't expect.
O'Dell has an interesting tale to tell and she tells it clearly and quickly. The tone is kind, honest, and appreciative. She doesn't dish a bunch of dirt or dwell on evils and excesses, but manages to make the Beatles and the Stones be people, for the most part. On the other hand, there isn't a lot of emotion or analysis, which I suppose is better than a bad attempt at it. An excellent beach reach.
Jun 13, 2011
Janine Spendlove
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction
All I can say is WOW! The best way to describe Chris O'Dell is that she's the Forrest Gump of the Rock music scene. She was there for EVERYTHING! A must read for all Beatles fans (and Stones fans). No, I wouldn't want to have had her life, but seeing the rock scene from her perspective was amazing, and I'm glad she was so willing to share it!
It is amazing how life can just come at you. Chis O'Dell was drug out to a dinner that changed her life forever. She quit her job, jumped on a plane and entered into a world of sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll. She was a unique insider that has another look into the Beatles behind the scenes as well as Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones.
This book was fantastic! A fascinating inside look into the life of a woman on the road with some of the greatest rock and roll bands. I would highly recommend this memoir to anyone who has any interest in the music scene in the late 1960s and early 70s. Lots of inside info all with a personal touch that makes it easy to relate to.
So I also gave Les Miserables 5 starts. Are they on par? Obviously not. The each got 5 stars for different reasons, and because I truly loved both.
I totally dug this book;) It is just a cool insider (yet still outsider) view into a life I am ultimately jealous of (minus the drug addiction and what not). This chick basically by pure luck ended up an insider into some of the biggest deals of entertainment during some of the best times to be there.
If you like the Beatles, or the Stones, or that who...more
I totally dug this book;) It is just a cool insider (yet still outsider) view into a life I am ultimately jealous of (minus the drug addiction and what not). This chick basically by pure luck ended up an insider into some of the biggest deals of entertainment during some of the best times to be there.
If you like the Beatles, or the Stones, or that who...more
1 like · like · see review
Miss O'Dell is not a literary genius but she does chronicle an era that many of us had either grown up in or had watched our siblings and older friends explore.
Though I did nt get to Woodstock (I was in Florence) upon my return the following week I heard some of the amazing stories.
Miss O'Dell tells the stories of what was actually happening at Apple records and on various recording studio outings.
The pages are filled with ' Sex Drugs and Rock & Roll . Her writing style is similar to a "ma...more
Though I did nt get to Woodstock (I was in Florence) upon my return the following week I heard some of the amazing stories.
Miss O'Dell tells the stories of what was actually happening at Apple records and on various recording studio outings.
The pages are filled with ' Sex Drugs and Rock & Roll . Her writing style is similar to a "ma...more
This was a fantastic read! I wasn't too sure about it when I first bought it- I liked the idea behind it, but not the fact that it was set 30 years ago... but I ended up loving all the new things I got to learn from that time period in music history. It's one of the only bio books I've ever been able to get through (one of the subjects I'm pickiest about, that's for sure)
I listened to the audio version. This was interesting and entertaining,but I felt she was holding back a lot. The bits about George Harrison and his wife Pattie were enlightening. Until I read Clapton's book and this one,I always thought George worshipped Pattie...apparently not.
I wanted more. An incredible story about being in the right place at the right time. Fascinating insight into some amazing legends. The stories were told with candor yet balanced with respect for privacy. She made me feel the glamour and the pain.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What's The Name o...: Girl from US starts in music biz w/ Beatles [s] | 3 | 23 | Jan 27, 2012 06:06am |
