What do you think?
You Don't Have to Say You Love Me
Simon Napier-Bell was the manager of the Yardbirds, Marc Bolan, Japan and Wham! And co-wrote ‘You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me’ for Dusty Springfield which is one of the funniest books you will read.
Paperback
First published September 3, 1998
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 20, 2022
Simon writes with a cool sense of humour. Some interesting stories in here.
February 5, 2015
Simon Napier-Bell’s tales from the time when London was swinging belong to the category of memoirs that when delivered orally over several bottles of good Claret would be highly amusing but that in the print turn into something that is worth one or max two stars out of five. Napier-Bell is one of those mythical ”amateurs” who excel in their chosen metier with nonchalant ease. He manages bands and writes hit songs without any effort; “The eating out was the best bit with John’s Children. The gigs were little more than an excuse to end up in a posh restaurant…”
You rarely find biographies of these “amateurs” but memoirs are in abundance. The reader of course has the nagging feeling that some 15 per cent is true, some 15 per cent is exaggeration, and the rest is pure fiction. Nevertheless there are some funny stories in this book, like the one about John’s Children (with Marc Bolan) tour of West Germany when they were opening for the Who and causing riots, which merit the two stars.
You rarely find biographies of these “amateurs” but memoirs are in abundance. The reader of course has the nagging feeling that some 15 per cent is true, some 15 per cent is exaggeration, and the rest is pure fiction. Nevertheless there are some funny stories in this book, like the one about John’s Children (with Marc Bolan) tour of West Germany when they were opening for the Who and causing riots, which merit the two stars.
October 25, 2017
"You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" is the title of a wonderfully bittersweet ballad performed ably by Dusty Springfield and many others, including Elvis. This fellow claims to have written the lyrics, tossed off in a rush for fear of missing dinner, apparently his preferred occupation. Lots of anecdotes about sixties era celebrities, many forgotten, many never remembered, as well as profitable schemes worked out with the music industry.
What ought to have been touching, or frightening, such as the death of the Beatles' manager, was rendered banal through self interest. No compassion for the deceased, just "did he leave any phone messages?" (And who had voicemail in the 1960s?)
Some interesting music industry lore in terms of how people profited, but too often the writing fell flat when it ought to have been sharp (sorry, could not resist bad music reference).
What ought to have been touching, or frightening, such as the death of the Beatles' manager, was rendered banal through self interest. No compassion for the deceased, just "did he leave any phone messages?" (And who had voicemail in the 1960s?)
Some interesting music industry lore in terms of how people profited, but too often the writing fell flat when it ought to have been sharp (sorry, could not resist bad music reference).
April 24, 2022
Didn’t finish - really rare for me as I like to finish every book I pick up - but I lasted three chapters then threw this behind me. If you’re gonna write an expose of the sixties, then NAME NAMES, don’t just throw out things like “a certain well dressed manager of a foppish pop star” (or words to that effect). A pointless waste of my time.
Didn’t find any of it engaging. Total misfire for me.
Didn’t find any of it engaging. Total misfire for me.
December 1, 2024
Best two quid I’ve spent in ages (thanks Oxfam for this gem) this was hilarious. Part Austin Powers part Keith Richards. The sleezy business of managing groups in the 60s.
October 5, 2009
“A scurrilous memoir of the sixties’ music business” says the Daily Mirror, and for once I find it difficult to disagree with the tabloid scum. This is the definitive insiders guide to the music business (apart from his far better “Black Vinyl, White Powder”) from a man who was most definitely there.
The book’s title comes from the lyrics he wrote for Dusty Springfield, but Simon Napier-Bell made his name managing the Yardbirds, before discovering Marc Bolan and screwing everything and everyone along the way, leaving behind a trail of white powder, until he was eventually responsible for Wham. But let’s not hold that against him.
The excesses and failings are laid bare in glorious and often tragic detail. From getting rescued from a male brothel in Hamburg by Keith Moon, and selling non-existent bands to american execs, to rejecting Brian Epstein’s advances immediately prior to his suicide – it’s all there. Simon Napier-Bell went into music to have some serious fun, and has the stories to prove it.
The book was first published in 1983 and was only republished relatively recently. In the introduction SNB freely admits that sections of the book now make him cringe for both style and content, and that he would write the book very differently now. And in many ways he did – the far superior “Black Vinyl, White Powder” covers much of the same ground in a more considered and analytical way (with a similar, and sometimes overlapping, set of anecdotes).
That book considers the relationship between drugs and music, and contains many insightful reflections on the changing nature of the music industry. This book is based upon titilating and self-aggrandising gossip.
Read “Black Vinyl, White Powder” for the broadsheet view and “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me” for the tabloid one – SNB, as ever, knows his market.
The book’s title comes from the lyrics he wrote for Dusty Springfield, but Simon Napier-Bell made his name managing the Yardbirds, before discovering Marc Bolan and screwing everything and everyone along the way, leaving behind a trail of white powder, until he was eventually responsible for Wham. But let’s not hold that against him.
The excesses and failings are laid bare in glorious and often tragic detail. From getting rescued from a male brothel in Hamburg by Keith Moon, and selling non-existent bands to american execs, to rejecting Brian Epstein’s advances immediately prior to his suicide – it’s all there. Simon Napier-Bell went into music to have some serious fun, and has the stories to prove it.
The book was first published in 1983 and was only republished relatively recently. In the introduction SNB freely admits that sections of the book now make him cringe for both style and content, and that he would write the book very differently now. And in many ways he did – the far superior “Black Vinyl, White Powder” covers much of the same ground in a more considered and analytical way (with a similar, and sometimes overlapping, set of anecdotes).
That book considers the relationship between drugs and music, and contains many insightful reflections on the changing nature of the music industry. This book is based upon titilating and self-aggrandising gossip.
Read “Black Vinyl, White Powder” for the broadsheet view and “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me” for the tabloid one – SNB, as ever, knows his market.
September 15, 2007
I always felt that the pop music aesthetic came pretty much from 'Gay' rock n' roll managers. For instance Brian Epstein who dressed The Beatles to appeal to a much larger audience base is one example. Although they had that butch leather look beforehand, Epstein tamed their wildness into something almost cute. But that cute had a bite and that was The Beatles sense of danger and genius.
Simon Napier-Bell was the manager of The Yardbirds, Marc Bolan (before T-Rex), Japan, and Wham among others. He is urban, witty, smart, and genius like. And also a fantastic writer. His memoir of London 60's is not only an insider's view how the pop market worked, but also a beautifully expressed work that I think is a classic form of the memoir.
And again I think the managers including Kit Lambert (The Who), Andrew Loog Oldham (The Stones), and Epstein do not get enough credit for what they have done on the big ongoing canvas known as 'pop music.'
Simon Napier-Bell was the manager of The Yardbirds, Marc Bolan (before T-Rex), Japan, and Wham among others. He is urban, witty, smart, and genius like. And also a fantastic writer. His memoir of London 60's is not only an insider's view how the pop market worked, but also a beautifully expressed work that I think is a classic form of the memoir.
And again I think the managers including Kit Lambert (The Who), Andrew Loog Oldham (The Stones), and Epstein do not get enough credit for what they have done on the big ongoing canvas known as 'pop music.'
January 2, 2019
A lighthearted romp through the life of a '60s rock impresario, told by someone who knows. A little less brilliant than I thought when I first read this book several years ago, but still laugh-out-loud funny at times. It does, however, come across as a little too flippant at times; like a long series of anecdotes told over a few pints at the local pub, some of the stories come across as glib or "you had to be there". For the most part, though, this is a load of fun. It's pretty shallow, but if you wanted a deep and encyclopaedic look at the rock business, I doubt you'd have picked this book up n the first place.
December 26, 2010
Lightweight, compared to "Black Vinyl, White Powder", which I really enjoyed. An account of Sixties rock and roll lifestyles, I couldn't help but feel the whole era deserved a deeper study from a man who was there. It just could not have been as easy to become a record producer, a major record producer, as it is made out in this book. He trivialised his job so much it became somewhat unbelievable and irritating. Easy to read though, and I ploughed through this in a couple of days.
January 12, 2016
Entertainingly gossipy and fun. First published in 1982 as S N-B looked back at his adventures in the 60s it's essentially an historical document in every way. He's very charming and the whole thing is rather like having lunch with someone who has a lot of great stories, some less discreet than others.
July 12, 2008
Top read, but was it all really s easy as he makes out?Never lets the truth get in the way of a good story
May 25, 2013
Fun, nasty fun!
September 8, 2013
Very entertaining
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews