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They're Playing Our Song
The New York Times Bestseller
Grammy and Academy Award–winning songwriter Carole Bayer Sager shares the remarkably frank and darkly funny story of her life in and out of the recording studio, from her fascinating (and sometimes calamitous) relationships to her collaborations with some of the greatest composers and musical artists of our time.
For five decades, Carole Bayer Sager has been among the most admired and successful songwriters at work, responsible for her lyrical contributions to some of the most popular songs in the English language, including “Nobody Does It Better,” “A Groovy Kind of Love,” “Don’t Cry Out Loud,” and the theme from the movie Arthur , “The Best That You Can Do” (about getting lost between the moon and New York City).
She has collaborated with (and written for) a dizzying number of stars, including Peter Allen, Ray Charles, Celine Dion, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Clint Eastwood, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Carole King, Melissa Manchester, Reba McEntire, Bette Midler, Dolly Parton, Carly Simon, Frank Sinatra, and Barbra Streisand.
Her relationship with composer Marvin Hamlisch was the basis of the long-running hit musical, They’re Playing Our Song , for which she wrote the lyrics. And her work with composer Burt Bacharach, to whom she was also married for ten years, produced pop standards such as “On My Own” and “That’s What Friends Are For” (inspired by her friendship with Elizabeth Taylor), which raised over two million dollars for AIDS research.
But while her professional life was filled with success and fascinating people, her personal life was far more difficult and dramatic. In this memoir, Carole Bayer Sager tells the surprisingly frank and darkly humorous story of a woman whose sometimes crippling fears and devastating relationships inspired many of the songs she would ultimately write.
They’re Playing Our Song will fascinate anyone interested in the craft of songwriting and the joy of collaboration, but Carole Bayer Sager’s memoir is also a deeply personal account of how love and heartbreak made her the woman, and the writer, she is.
Grammy and Academy Award–winning songwriter Carole Bayer Sager shares the remarkably frank and darkly funny story of her life in and out of the recording studio, from her fascinating (and sometimes calamitous) relationships to her collaborations with some of the greatest composers and musical artists of our time.
For five decades, Carole Bayer Sager has been among the most admired and successful songwriters at work, responsible for her lyrical contributions to some of the most popular songs in the English language, including “Nobody Does It Better,” “A Groovy Kind of Love,” “Don’t Cry Out Loud,” and the theme from the movie Arthur , “The Best That You Can Do” (about getting lost between the moon and New York City).
She has collaborated with (and written for) a dizzying number of stars, including Peter Allen, Ray Charles, Celine Dion, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Clint Eastwood, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Carole King, Melissa Manchester, Reba McEntire, Bette Midler, Dolly Parton, Carly Simon, Frank Sinatra, and Barbra Streisand.
Her relationship with composer Marvin Hamlisch was the basis of the long-running hit musical, They’re Playing Our Song , for which she wrote the lyrics. And her work with composer Burt Bacharach, to whom she was also married for ten years, produced pop standards such as “On My Own” and “That’s What Friends Are For” (inspired by her friendship with Elizabeth Taylor), which raised over two million dollars for AIDS research.
But while her professional life was filled with success and fascinating people, her personal life was far more difficult and dramatic. In this memoir, Carole Bayer Sager tells the surprisingly frank and darkly humorous story of a woman whose sometimes crippling fears and devastating relationships inspired many of the songs she would ultimately write.
They’re Playing Our Song will fascinate anyone interested in the craft of songwriting and the joy of collaboration, but Carole Bayer Sager’s memoir is also a deeply personal account of how love and heartbreak made her the woman, and the writer, she is.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published October 18, 2016
53 people are currently reading
1129 people want to read
About the author
Carole Bayer Sager
68 books69 followersCarole Bayer Sager is a lyricist, singer, songwriter and painter. Her songs have been recorded by such artists as Carly Simon, Richard Marx, Leo Sayer, Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Bette Midler, Celine Dion, and Reba McEntire. Many of Sager's 1980s songs were co-written with her former husband, composer and pianist Burt Bacharach.
Sager won the Academy Award for Best Song in 1981 for "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)", which was the theme song of the movie Arthur. Sager has won a Grammy Award and two Golden Globes. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987.
Sager lives in Los Angeles and New York with her husband, Bob Daly. She also has an adult son Cristopher Elton Bacharach.
Sager won the Academy Award for Best Song in 1981 for "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)", which was the theme song of the movie Arthur. Sager has won a Grammy Award and two Golden Globes. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987.
Sager lives in Los Angeles and New York with her husband, Bob Daly. She also has an adult son Cristopher Elton Bacharach.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
July 3, 2016
I guess you're asking the wrong person. I thought it was terrific. Heartfelt , honest, funny, brave, and ultimately inspirational! But hey, I'm the author!
September 18, 2016
When I seen this memoir I recognised the name as a who I thought was a 1 hit wonder with the song Your Moving Out Today. I did not realise what a talented songwriter she is.
She is a Grammy & Academy Award Winner and has written songs with several people including Burt Bacharach who she was married to for 10 years.
Carole Bayer Sager tells this memoir straight from the heart. She is frank and honest, whose crippling fears and devastating relationships have inspired many of her songs.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and the author Carole Bayer Sager for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
She is a Grammy & Academy Award Winner and has written songs with several people including Burt Bacharach who she was married to for 10 years.
Carole Bayer Sager tells this memoir straight from the heart. She is frank and honest, whose crippling fears and devastating relationships have inspired many of her songs.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and the author Carole Bayer Sager for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2025
I love Carole Bayer Sager's lyrics, but I did not enjoy her memoir.
😭😭😭
WHY?
1) I usually enjoy memoirs read by authors, except when I don't enjoy memoirs read by authors.
Carole Bayer Sager's narration was robotic and flat.
2) Also, I felt that key details about her trajectory to success were omitted.
2 stars, rounded up.
February 7, 2018
This was a great read, thoroughly enjoyable. Carole Bayer Sager has always been one of my favorite songwriters and through reading this book I discovered how much I like her as a person. Her songs mean even more to me now since reading her story.
The book is also packed full of great celebrity anecdotes and can be very funny. In addition to being a great songwriter she is very entertaining storyteller, with many colorful tales, some amusing and some poignant, about high profile friends, collaborators and husbands.
This was one of the best memoirs I've read in a long time.
The book is also packed full of great celebrity anecdotes and can be very funny. In addition to being a great songwriter she is very entertaining storyteller, with many colorful tales, some amusing and some poignant, about high profile friends, collaborators and husbands.
This was one of the best memoirs I've read in a long time.
April 12, 2022
Carole Baer Sager, a Grammy and Academy Award winning singer/songwriter here writes with wit and verve of her collaborations with, among many others, Celine Dion, Clint Eastwood (??) Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Carole King, Melissa Manchester, Reba McEntire, Bette Midler, Dolly Parton, Carly Simon, Frank Sinatra, and Barbra Streisand.
She tells a story of success linked to a darker, more solitary life.
Great stories. Definitely read.
She tells a story of success linked to a darker, more solitary life.
Great stories. Definitely read.
August 1, 2016
I've never been a big fan of her songs (most are a little too treacly for my tastes) but have always appreciated her song-writing capacity and her personal life has always been on the interesting side. This was a well-told memoir about her life, including just enough inside dirt (mostly of her own relationships and the personalities of her spouses--especially Burt Bacharach) to keep me reading. As usual, personal memoirs are of, well, personal memories, so one is never sure exactly how much really happened exactly the way it was narrated but for the most part if felt authentic.
(Note: The following is from a quote from the advance reading copy so it may changed in the finished copy.) My only issue when her judgmental side emerged a few times, most notably when she commented on a new acquaintance's appearance, saying he appeared to be about "12 pounds overweight" which was rather odd since Carole had an admitted lifelong weight struggle.
Any fan of celebrity memoirs will find this a good story, especially if interested in the songwriting process and business.
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for the advance digital reading copy.
(Note: The following is from a quote from the advance reading copy so it may changed in the finished copy.) My only issue when her judgmental side emerged a few times, most notably when she commented on a new acquaintance's appearance, saying he appeared to be about "12 pounds overweight" which was rather odd since Carole had an admitted lifelong weight struggle.
Any fan of celebrity memoirs will find this a good story, especially if interested in the songwriting process and business.
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for the advance digital reading copy.
September 11, 2017
"I've always believed that the best songs come through us, not from us." ~Carole Bayer Sager, They're Playing Our Song
Warm and engaging as the decades of beautiful music she has given the world, Carole Bayer Sager's memoir is a reflective look at an artist, a writer, and a woman of great charisma and power (even when she did not recognize it in herself), and how her relationships with family members, songwriting partners, and lovers shaped her life and career.
Though many readers are familiar with Carole Bayer Sager's hits--including "A Groovy Kind of Love" and "That's What Friends Are For"--their knowledge likely only scratches the surface of her countless awards and collaborations. From Celine Dion to Carole King, Aretha Franklin to Clint Eastwood, Bob Dylan to Michael Jackson, Sager's professional partnerships provide an entertaining and fascinating series of portraits.
Equally riveting are Sager's descriptions of her writing and creative processes. The stories behind the songs, the emotional connections, and the revelations of self that came through the work add a layer of depth to the memoir that will leave its notes lingering long after the last page is finished.
Readers who enjoy celebrity stories, music (especially from the 70s, 80s, and 90s), musical theater, and writing will be delighted by They're Playing Our Song.
Warm and engaging as the decades of beautiful music she has given the world, Carole Bayer Sager's memoir is a reflective look at an artist, a writer, and a woman of great charisma and power (even when she did not recognize it in herself), and how her relationships with family members, songwriting partners, and lovers shaped her life and career.
Though many readers are familiar with Carole Bayer Sager's hits--including "A Groovy Kind of Love" and "That's What Friends Are For"--their knowledge likely only scratches the surface of her countless awards and collaborations. From Celine Dion to Carole King, Aretha Franklin to Clint Eastwood, Bob Dylan to Michael Jackson, Sager's professional partnerships provide an entertaining and fascinating series of portraits.
Equally riveting are Sager's descriptions of her writing and creative processes. The stories behind the songs, the emotional connections, and the revelations of self that came through the work add a layer of depth to the memoir that will leave its notes lingering long after the last page is finished.
Readers who enjoy celebrity stories, music (especially from the 70s, 80s, and 90s), musical theater, and writing will be delighted by They're Playing Our Song.
February 20, 2018
Well written memoir - I didn't realize that Carole Bayer Sager was responsible for all those hit pop songs in the 60's, 70's and 80's. Her very honest account of her interesting life, narrated with her cute New York accent, was fun to listen to. Carole met and collaborated with many famous entertainers and won awards for her lyrics through out the years.
The way she summed up her life so far, through good times and bad, she seems like a lovely person inside and out.
She didn't say anything about life in general that I didn't already know, but she said it well and with feeling. (I guess that's why she is an award-winning writer)
The way she summed up her life so far, through good times and bad, she seems like a lovely person inside and out.
She didn't say anything about life in general that I didn't already know, but she said it well and with feeling. (I guess that's why she is an award-winning writer)
May 15, 2021
If you have never heard of Carol Bayer Sager you have surely heard many of the songs she has written. Come In From The Rain, Looking Through The Eyes Of Love, That's What Friends Are For, and probably her biggest hit The Prayer (Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli). She has worked with some of the biggest names in the music business and many of the biggest names have sung her songs (Michael Jackson, Barry Manilow, Carol King, and many more). Sometimes her book seems to be a bit of 'look who I know' although it would be hard to write her memoir without mentioning all these names. She was even married to the well-known songwriter Burt Bacharach. A recurring theme of her book is her lack of self-esteem and self-confidence which began with her mother telling her she was fat. The only thing I found a bit disturbing in this book was several times when she was describing someone she would describe them as being 10 to 15 lbs. overweight. This was a fun memoir to read about all those wonderful songs that I remember from way back when and how they came to be written.
May 24, 2016
Academy Award–winning songwriter Carol Bayer Sager writes her memoir as lyrically as she does her songs. She reveals the behind the scenes story of the many hits that she co-wrote, the good, the bad and the crazy. Despite Carol's many devoted friends, which included Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson and Barbra Streisand, she still struggled with self doubt about herself and her talent. A real eye-opener into the world of celebrities and their view of themselves.
Note: I received a free review copy of this book and was not compensated for it.
Note: I received a free review copy of this book and was not compensated for it.
October 12, 2016
Review forthcoming
July 15, 2021
I read many music industry books because I like reading about the creative process and I like reading about the business aspects of a creative industry. Successful pop song lyricist Bayer Sager, I would think, would have a lot to say on the creative process and perhaps on the industry. But in this book, the focus is more on her life story, centered mostly on her romances and marriages and friendships. To her credit, she runs in an a-list crowd, having Elizabeth Taylor as a good friend, dating George Lucas and Davy Jones, and marrying Burt Bacharach. There are some interesting stories about the people she interacts with, and that accounts for most of the book.
But I was more interested in song writing and the music industry. Here, Bayer Sager sheds light on the process she used to write with a variety of other writers, including Bacharach, Paul Simon, Michael Jackson, and Bob Dylan. Ends up they are all have their unique creating styles, but also seem to be similar in the basic approach to songwriting. As for industry insight, you get a lot of grousing that the author feels underappreciated, but then she slips into a personal story, which leads me to wonder how seriously upset she really was. You do get some aspects of the industry through her marriages. She married a record producer, a songwriter/performer, and a music company executive, working her way up the “steady income” ladder of the music business. Interestingly, she seems happiest with the husband that is in the least creative line of work.
I found her descriptions of the writing process to be the best parts in the book. And her characterizations of Burt Bacharach’s comments and voice were often hilariously odd. I learned a bit about song writing, but I learned a lot about the author that I probably didn’t need to know.
But I was more interested in song writing and the music industry. Here, Bayer Sager sheds light on the process she used to write with a variety of other writers, including Bacharach, Paul Simon, Michael Jackson, and Bob Dylan. Ends up they are all have their unique creating styles, but also seem to be similar in the basic approach to songwriting. As for industry insight, you get a lot of grousing that the author feels underappreciated, but then she slips into a personal story, which leads me to wonder how seriously upset she really was. You do get some aspects of the industry through her marriages. She married a record producer, a songwriter/performer, and a music company executive, working her way up the “steady income” ladder of the music business. Interestingly, she seems happiest with the husband that is in the least creative line of work.
I found her descriptions of the writing process to be the best parts in the book. And her characterizations of Burt Bacharach’s comments and voice were often hilariously odd. I learned a bit about song writing, but I learned a lot about the author that I probably didn’t need to know.
October 18, 2016
Carol Bayer Sager starts off this memoir in my least favorite way. She complains how her mother was deficient in the mothering department, and was thus responsible for so many of her neurotic fears and insecurities. Those insecurities do shine in the author’s relationships with men, particularly where her first two husbands are concerned, as well as in her love affair with Marvin Hamlisch. For those readers who feel cheated if a famous memoirist only says nice things about other famous people, and doesn’t disclose a whole lot of details about her or his personal life, you will definitely not feel cheated while reading this book.
No, Ms. Sager is not shy at all about revealing her true feelings about others, as well as telling all about her lovers and husbands. Burt Bacharach has the honor of getting the most thorough attention; and it was amusing to read the author’s warm acknowledgment of him at the end of the book; since the rest of the memoir made him sound like the most incredible narcissistic jerk. Yet, she still pined for him for so long. Her mother’s doing, obviously. Her mother, however, does fare much better at the end of the story, where she and Ms. Sager finally became close. Moreover, there’s nothing but good words for current husband Robert Daly, the businessman she married twenty years ago.
Music wise, fans of Carol Bayer Sager should enjoy all of her memories about writing songs with many famous composers. Unfortunately, I discovered I was not a fan of Ms. Sager’s work. Although I recognized her name, I could not place it with any songs, before starting this book. This memoir, though, as well as additional online research, led me to discover that with the exception of two songs, Come In From The Rain and Through the Eyes Of Love, I absolutely cannot stand the author’s music. I love pop music from the time period she was most actively writing, but her songs were the type that made me quickly turn to another station, if they came on the radio. Even reading the lyrics she included in this book usually made me cringe.
Nevertheless, Carol Bayer Sager has lots of loyal fans and has won many prestigious awards, so this memoir should have no shortage of anxious readers. Also, fans of celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Melissa Manchester, Carole King, Bette Midler, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond and Michael Jackson might want to take a look at it. People magazine definitely should love it, unless they consider most individuals mentioned in it too old to be mentioned in their magazine . . . unless, of course, those individuals die or are already dead.
(Note: I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher or author.)
No, Ms. Sager is not shy at all about revealing her true feelings about others, as well as telling all about her lovers and husbands. Burt Bacharach has the honor of getting the most thorough attention; and it was amusing to read the author’s warm acknowledgment of him at the end of the book; since the rest of the memoir made him sound like the most incredible narcissistic jerk. Yet, she still pined for him for so long. Her mother’s doing, obviously. Her mother, however, does fare much better at the end of the story, where she and Ms. Sager finally became close. Moreover, there’s nothing but good words for current husband Robert Daly, the businessman she married twenty years ago.
Music wise, fans of Carol Bayer Sager should enjoy all of her memories about writing songs with many famous composers. Unfortunately, I discovered I was not a fan of Ms. Sager’s work. Although I recognized her name, I could not place it with any songs, before starting this book. This memoir, though, as well as additional online research, led me to discover that with the exception of two songs, Come In From The Rain and Through the Eyes Of Love, I absolutely cannot stand the author’s music. I love pop music from the time period she was most actively writing, but her songs were the type that made me quickly turn to another station, if they came on the radio. Even reading the lyrics she included in this book usually made me cringe.
Nevertheless, Carol Bayer Sager has lots of loyal fans and has won many prestigious awards, so this memoir should have no shortage of anxious readers. Also, fans of celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Melissa Manchester, Carole King, Bette Midler, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond and Michael Jackson might want to take a look at it. People magazine definitely should love it, unless they consider most individuals mentioned in it too old to be mentioned in their magazine . . . unless, of course, those individuals die or are already dead.
(Note: I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher or author.)
September 10, 2016
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through Net-galley.
Update: Carole emailed me to let me know she went back and edited some of the things I pointed out. Looking forward to reading the final copy!
I went into this book knowing absolutely nothing about Carole Bayer Sager, other than the fact that she was a songwriter. I left the book feeling like she was almost a friend, or an aunt of some sort (the kind that has a tendency to overshare, but in a good way).
They're Playing Our Song started out rough for me. It seemed rather uninteresting, and Carole has a bit of a tendency to jump around. Occasionally, there would be an "orphan" paragraph-one that didn't really relate to anything or was literally out of place. The best example I can think of is the paragraph about Carole's weight around page 3-it comes up out of nowhere and isn't mentioned again until halfway through the chapter. I realize that weight is a constant throughout the book, but this paragraph seemed totally awkward.
Regardless, I soldiered on and I'm glad I did. I think Carole's writing really smoothed out toward's the middle of the book. Her chapters about her marriage to Burt had me totally hooked-who hasn't stayed in a bad relationship before? It was great (though saddening!) to read about her numerous self image issues and relationship issues. Logically, we all have issues, but it's so nice to realize that even a woman who (in my opinion) has lived a much richer life than I, has struggled just the same.
Overall, I really enjoyed Carole's almost conversational approach to her memoir, and it was a pleasure to read about her very, very varied career!
Update: Carole emailed me to let me know she went back and edited some of the things I pointed out. Looking forward to reading the final copy!
I went into this book knowing absolutely nothing about Carole Bayer Sager, other than the fact that she was a songwriter. I left the book feeling like she was almost a friend, or an aunt of some sort (the kind that has a tendency to overshare, but in a good way).
They're Playing Our Song started out rough for me. It seemed rather uninteresting, and Carole has a bit of a tendency to jump around. Occasionally, there would be an "orphan" paragraph-one that didn't really relate to anything or was literally out of place. The best example I can think of is the paragraph about Carole's weight around page 3-it comes up out of nowhere and isn't mentioned again until halfway through the chapter. I realize that weight is a constant throughout the book, but this paragraph seemed totally awkward.
Regardless, I soldiered on and I'm glad I did. I think Carole's writing really smoothed out toward's the middle of the book. Her chapters about her marriage to Burt had me totally hooked-who hasn't stayed in a bad relationship before? It was great (though saddening!) to read about her numerous self image issues and relationship issues. Logically, we all have issues, but it's so nice to realize that even a woman who (in my opinion) has lived a much richer life than I, has struggled just the same.
Overall, I really enjoyed Carole's almost conversational approach to her memoir, and it was a pleasure to read about her very, very varied career!
June 25, 2016
Carole Bayer Sager invites you into her head and her heart with this memoir, which is, I would imagine, the equivalent of sitting with her, having some tea and some forbidden chocolates, and trying to figure out the world. You can certainly read "They're Playing Our Song" and revel in the tales of early songwriting days in and around New York's Brill Building (with the likes of Carole King and Neil Sedaka), and you can watch her ascend through partnerships with Bette Midler, Melissa Manchester, Peter Allen, Marvin Hamlisch, and her sexy, infuriating, and Philip Roth-ish marriage to Burt Bacharach: This makes for a great read--dishy and tart and self-deprecating. However, you also grow along with Carole as she makes mistakes and great music, and you find that, whatever it is you're doing or want to do, you have a great deal in common with this funny, smart woman who is always on a journey for the truth and a way to make the world better, and always on a diet to get the thighs that will make her a happier person. The material on Elizabeth Taylor is particularly wonderful, and I wanted more. The same is true of her chapters detailing her relationship with her inimitable mother. A movie, perhaps? You finish this book thinking that anything is possible.
December 9, 2016
Here Carole Bayer Sager, one of our great American songwriters, transforms that writing skill into a compelling, rollicking, dishy-but-never-cruel inside look at Brill Building shenanigans, Laurel Canyon hipsters, Beverly Hillbillies and the crazy world of contemporary music. Always there at the right place and the right time, we follow a story arc that plays as dramatically as any Hollywood drama. They're Playing Our Song takes its place among other best-selling music autobiographies, in company with Keith Richards and Grace Jones.
Surprisingly vulnerable and at times painfully self-deprecating, Ms Bayer Sager comes across as a searching, troubled woman in troubling times, one who eventually finds her path, even as brilliant talent from bestie Elizabeth Taylor to collaborator Michael Jackson leave our world. You'll be tempted to finish it in a binge, but I found a 3-4 chapter a time read was a comfort, leaving me to want more. Five Stars!
Surprisingly vulnerable and at times painfully self-deprecating, Ms Bayer Sager comes across as a searching, troubled woman in troubling times, one who eventually finds her path, even as brilliant talent from bestie Elizabeth Taylor to collaborator Michael Jackson leave our world. You'll be tempted to finish it in a binge, but I found a 3-4 chapter a time read was a comfort, leaving me to want more. Five Stars!
November 2, 2016
I love a memoir and this one had enjoyable moments, but overall I felt it was dry. I listened to it and found it lacking in emotion throughout most of the book. CBS best parts were at the end when she gave deeper insight into her life and experiences. At times it felt like she complained about things in her life that in the end she had come to peace with, made amends for, or just got over. I guess that's the point to a memoir...it just seemed like a lot of unhappiness for a life that seems pretty nice considering what hardships people go through. I'd love to hear the other side of things- not for any other reason as to just hear another perspective about how things happened. I'm glad she's in a happy marriage now.
November 3, 2016
They're Playing Our Song was a wonderful excursion through a fascinating life. I kept stopping to go to iTunes and buy the songs CBS (Carole Bayer Sager) wrote. It made her words that much more meaningful to play the literal soundtrack to her life as I read her book. It is very funny at times. Brutally honest. Very touching. Silly but I liked the photos at the end to put names and faces together. What a quadruple talent to be a composer, a painter, an author and a damn good actress to act so happy while being plagued by doubts. Refreshing to find someone who feels and shares gratitude. There is also kindness and wisdom here too. I think I'll read it again!
October 19, 2016
Could not put it down
I have always been a fan of "the name under the title" Always loved to figure out who wrote and produced songs. Loved "Groovy kind of love" but I became Carole's fan when I heard the music to "Playing out song." I never saw the musical but I bought the album and later the CD. I looked at all the endless list of all the fabulous songs she wrote even I was surprised. Interesting parts are the relationship she had with the great Peter Allen (love him too) and marriage to Burt Bacharach.A good read
I have always been a fan of "the name under the title" Always loved to figure out who wrote and produced songs. Loved "Groovy kind of love" but I became Carole's fan when I heard the music to "Playing out song." I never saw the musical but I bought the album and later the CD. I looked at all the endless list of all the fabulous songs she wrote even I was surprised. Interesting parts are the relationship she had with the great Peter Allen (love him too) and marriage to Burt Bacharach.A good read
August 25, 2017
I usually don't read biographies, so I was so surprised how much I loved this book. While some might call it an autobiography, Carole calls it a memoir. She was correct to do so, because it feels like she is telling you her memories of her life. I highly recommend this book to anyone; especially people who remember the last half of the twentieth century. She don't just tell your her story, but makes you fell like your are there with her. This is the best memoir/biography I have ever read.
June 26, 2016
Carole Bayer Sager has written a book from the heart that is as open and personal as the songs she has written. The sense of peace she has achieved by the end of this part of her journey is contagious. Regardless of whether you are familiar with Carole or not this memoir is a worthy read!
June 30, 2017
Carole Bayer Sager is the lyricist for some of my favorite pop songs. I think she should have stuck with lyrics.
I didn't learn a lot knew and I'm not into kiss and tells. I just feel that I missed the meat.
I didn't learn a lot knew and I'm not into kiss and tells. I just feel that I missed the meat.
January 21, 2019
Bayer Sager wrote the lyrics for the stage musical They're Playing Our Song, which was loosely based on her relationship with Marvin Hamlisch. However, that musical and its background is just part of one chapter of this book. Basically, there is a chapter on every significant relationship and marriage in her life, including:
* She married record-producer Andrew Sager in 1970, and they divorced in 1978.
* On April 3, 1982, she married composer and pianist Burt Bacharach after over a year's co-habitation. The couple adopted an infant son, whom they named Cristopher Elton Bacharach and divorced in 1991.
* Since June 1996, Bayer Sager has been married to Robert Daly, former chairman of Warner Brothers and former chairman
Mere dates and less serious relationships get covered, including those with George Lucas, Davy Jones of The Monkees. Not all the relationships covered are intimate, some are mostly professional although there always seems to be a blend with her. On the more professional side, there is writing songs with Bob Dylan and a neurotifcally shy Michael Jackson.
More than a songwriter history, this feels more like a romance history. It does cover her career from her first pop hit, "A Groovy Kind of Love", with Toni Wine (Bayer Sager prefers writing partnerships), to "The Prayer (theme from Quest for Camelot)", performed famously by Céline Dion and Andrea Bocelli.
More detail is about how she enters relationships with her own fears and insecurities about her weight and shape and height. This includes a lot of first-sex details with men. She often has been concerned she is being taken advantage of for her songwriting abilities, which perhaps was the case with a porn-addicted Bacharach. She characterized this relationship as abusive, albeit not physically.
* She married record-producer Andrew Sager in 1970, and they divorced in 1978.
* On April 3, 1982, she married composer and pianist Burt Bacharach after over a year's co-habitation. The couple adopted an infant son, whom they named Cristopher Elton Bacharach and divorced in 1991.
* Since June 1996, Bayer Sager has been married to Robert Daly, former chairman of Warner Brothers and former chairman
Mere dates and less serious relationships get covered, including those with George Lucas, Davy Jones of The Monkees. Not all the relationships covered are intimate, some are mostly professional although there always seems to be a blend with her. On the more professional side, there is writing songs with Bob Dylan and a neurotifcally shy Michael Jackson.
More than a songwriter history, this feels more like a romance history. It does cover her career from her first pop hit, "A Groovy Kind of Love", with Toni Wine (Bayer Sager prefers writing partnerships), to "The Prayer (theme from Quest for Camelot)", performed famously by Céline Dion and Andrea Bocelli.
More detail is about how she enters relationships with her own fears and insecurities about her weight and shape and height. This includes a lot of first-sex details with men. She often has been concerned she is being taken advantage of for her songwriting abilities, which perhaps was the case with a porn-addicted Bacharach. She characterized this relationship as abusive, albeit not physically.
June 19, 2024
I barely knew anything about Carole Bayer Sager (much more about her previous husband Burt Bacharach), but she does a great job going through her life as a songwriter and the lessons she has learned about how to live her own life along the way. I lost a little interest after the marriage to Bacharach but regained it when she went through her interactions with so many other stars. It was fun to hear her perspectives of working with the greats like Bacharach, Carole King, Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor, Clint Eastwood, Dionne Warwick, Hugh Jackman, Carly Simon and Whitney Houston.
October 25, 2020
Very good! The reader really gets to know Carole, inside and out, in this one. She has certainly had an interesting life!
July 6, 2016
Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with this book in exchange for a fair review.
When I was 10 or 11 I had a girl crush on Carole Bayer Sager. I thought it would be so cool to work with famous (and good-looking) musicians to write pop hits. It didn't hurt that Carole was quite glamorous herself.
I related to Carole's exasperation with her overly critical mother and enjoyed her reflections on early life in New York City. I was with her as her fame grew and she began collaborating and hobnobbing with the top musicians and celebrities. Carole even wrote with Bob Dylan and made a best friend of Elizabeth Taylor. Check out the picture of Liz and Bobby D kissing in the photo gallery.
As Carole became famous, I found her story to be less interesting and very similar to other celebrity biographies. We read about her "houseboy" and her fabulous parties with clever gifts. I was less enchanted with her stories of life in Hollywood than I was with her time on the east coast.
I did notice that Carole made note of the amount of weight her acquaintances could lose repeatedly. I understand this, since I know that an overly critical mother can unconsciously influence much in a person's life. I'm glad that Carole reconciled with her mother and compassionately took care of her at the end of her life.
When I was 10 or 11 I had a girl crush on Carole Bayer Sager. I thought it would be so cool to work with famous (and good-looking) musicians to write pop hits. It didn't hurt that Carole was quite glamorous herself.
I related to Carole's exasperation with her overly critical mother and enjoyed her reflections on early life in New York City. I was with her as her fame grew and she began collaborating and hobnobbing with the top musicians and celebrities. Carole even wrote with Bob Dylan and made a best friend of Elizabeth Taylor. Check out the picture of Liz and Bobby D kissing in the photo gallery.
As Carole became famous, I found her story to be less interesting and very similar to other celebrity biographies. We read about her "houseboy" and her fabulous parties with clever gifts. I was less enchanted with her stories of life in Hollywood than I was with her time on the east coast.
I did notice that Carole made note of the amount of weight her acquaintances could lose repeatedly. I understand this, since I know that an overly critical mother can unconsciously influence much in a person's life. I'm glad that Carole reconciled with her mother and compassionately took care of her at the end of her life.
April 7, 2017
Although entertaining, Carole Bayer Sager's autobiography revealed very little about the essence of who she was as a songwriter and how music informed her life, her view of the world around her, and the source of her creativity. In fact, after reading the book, I was more included to consider her a lyricist than a songwriter, as she describes her method as mostly listening to the melodies of her collaborators and then fitting in her lyrics along with lyrics that also might be contributed by others.
What we learn from this book, rather incessantly, is about her neuroses, body image issues, insecurities about being alone and feeling unsafe, along with her intimate relationships and the famous creative people she knew, liked or disliked, and worked with. In some cases, I was quite surprised about all the musicians who asked her to write with them, most notably Bob Dylan. This book jumped from one collaborative or romantic encounter/episode to another, pretty much non-stop.
It was a fast read, often feeling like bits and pieces from mags like People. There were some poignant moments and a few insightful revelations that reflected her growth as a person, but somehow, for all the words about songwriting, I never had the sense of what creating lyrics for so many iconic songs meant to her, not the self-conscious/self-aborbed her but the musician her.
What we learn from this book, rather incessantly, is about her neuroses, body image issues, insecurities about being alone and feeling unsafe, along with her intimate relationships and the famous creative people she knew, liked or disliked, and worked with. In some cases, I was quite surprised about all the musicians who asked her to write with them, most notably Bob Dylan. This book jumped from one collaborative or romantic encounter/episode to another, pretty much non-stop.
It was a fast read, often feeling like bits and pieces from mags like People. There were some poignant moments and a few insightful revelations that reflected her growth as a person, but somehow, for all the words about songwriting, I never had the sense of what creating lyrics for so many iconic songs meant to her, not the self-conscious/self-aborbed her but the musician her.
May 4, 2017
They're Playing Our Song, Carole Bayer Sager's memoir, was, for me, very uneven and somewhat disappointing. Part of it was my expectations and part of it was simply who she apparently is.
I have long admired her songwriting abilities and looked forward to this memoir. I think I was expecting to hear about life's usual ups and downs, about struggles and accomplishments, all told with a compassionate voice and maybe even a bit of wisdom thrown in. That is, in many ways, how I heard many of her lyrics over the years. While some compassion was there and even some wisdom, it seemed like her career consisted far more of succeeding in spite of people's failings rather than through collaboration, which is strange since her musical success was largely the result of who she collaborated with.
I don't want to sound overly negative, I did enjoy the book and most of the stories within it. Perhaps I put her on too high a pedestal and when she didn't seem to come near that height I was disappointed. I would still recommend this book to anyone who remembers her music fondly as well as anyone interested in behind the scenes celebrity tell-alls. The tell-all part is probably where I sometimes lost interest and lowered the pedestal a couple notches.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
I have long admired her songwriting abilities and looked forward to this memoir. I think I was expecting to hear about life's usual ups and downs, about struggles and accomplishments, all told with a compassionate voice and maybe even a bit of wisdom thrown in. That is, in many ways, how I heard many of her lyrics over the years. While some compassion was there and even some wisdom, it seemed like her career consisted far more of succeeding in spite of people's failings rather than through collaboration, which is strange since her musical success was largely the result of who she collaborated with.
I don't want to sound overly negative, I did enjoy the book and most of the stories within it. Perhaps I put her on too high a pedestal and when she didn't seem to come near that height I was disappointed. I would still recommend this book to anyone who remembers her music fondly as well as anyone interested in behind the scenes celebrity tell-alls. The tell-all part is probably where I sometimes lost interest and lowered the pedestal a couple notches.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
February 13, 2017
The reason I bought this book is because three of my favourite albums are the three Carole Bayer Sager recorded so I was very interested to learn more about it.
Other than learning a few tidbits about Burt Bacharach and Dionne Warwick (after the Apprentice we all knew what she was like) it was basically a oh woe is me my Mom thought I was fat and I could never have a good life afterward.
Was kinda disappointed it was another rich person bemoaning there life and their toxic relationships. They can afford a shrink and they can afford to leave his sorry ass which sadly a lot of women in bad relationships do not have the luxury of doing.
Hope I can still enjoy the albums. I should have learned by now it's not good to learn too much about the artists you enjoy cause you soon find they have very large feet of clay.
Other than learning a few tidbits about Burt Bacharach and Dionne Warwick (after the Apprentice we all knew what she was like) it was basically a oh woe is me my Mom thought I was fat and I could never have a good life afterward.
Was kinda disappointed it was another rich person bemoaning there life and their toxic relationships. They can afford a shrink and they can afford to leave his sorry ass which sadly a lot of women in bad relationships do not have the luxury of doing.
Hope I can still enjoy the albums. I should have learned by now it's not good to learn too much about the artists you enjoy cause you soon find they have very large feet of clay.
May 31, 2016
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. As a huge fan of music and especially songwriters I was thrilled to read this. I always want to know what inspires a songwriter. Carole was behind some incredible songs. I also realized she had incredible friends. What was surprising was her insecurities. This book is honest, witty and very fascinating.
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