Nostalgia At It's Best - Rated 
For me, like many, Tony Visconti was behind some of the 1970's pop and rock I cut my teeth on. Visconti covers his early life in New York, how he got into music - he seems to be one of those individuals who had a natural musical talent complimented by a desire and hunger to learn and acquire more - how more by luck and fortune he gets a job in London and then starts to produce T.Rex and David Bowie. There are glorius insights into the politics of music and having to deal (in Bolan's case) with inflated ego's. There is just enough insight into the technicalities of the recording studio, recording and production techniques and the change and development of equipment over nearly 40 years. He reflects on how the music industry got in the way of his three marriages including the one with Mary Hopkin, his daliance with alcohol and narcotics, his long term on/off professional relationship with Bowie and how he is still active in music production at the ripe old age of 64 (when the book was written).
A rare view behind closed doors. Studio doors, that is. - Rated 
A terrific book, although distinguished more by the light it shines on Visconti's impressive career than for its illumination of the work of Bowie and Bolan, Visconti's best known clients.
Visconti's childhood, adolescence, and first ventures into the music business are fascinating. He had an old-school musical education - right down to a heroin habit. When he came to London his talent for arrangements, and general musicianship, were equal, or perhaps superior to any of his peers (he also was in the right place at the right time).
In some cases the stories we hear in this book are familiar ones, but Visconti's insights into Marc Bolan and David Bowie are always interesting. Sometimes I wondered whether the fact that Bowie comes out so much better is due to the fact that Mr Bowie also offers the prospects of future employment... but on balance his account rings true.
There are a few copyediting errors, and I could have done without the story of forgotten albums by artists like the Boomtown Rats. But this is a must-have for Bowie freaks, if not Bolan fans, and anyone who's more interested in an artist's studio activities than their sexual proclivities.
High hopes... - Rated 
Being such a fan of the major records produced by Tony Viconti, I was really looking forward to this book, to get an insight into his production and hear his many interesting tales of the artists he has worked with. Unfortunately, what I got from this book was a rather dull rant about how brilliant Bowie was, how awful Bolan was, and how he was the angel caught in amongst all of this.
I am quite sure Bolan could be a pain in the backside, especially when drugs were added to the equation, but the whole thing smacked of 'he's not here to defend himself so let's let rip'.If he was that bad, why was tony such a friend to him? It bugged me. And David Bowie was a saint in comparison according to tony- funny that, because the two fell out massively in the 80s which is not mentioned at all here, and his glowing praise for David seemed to be mr. visconti sucking up.
Tony visconti unfortunately, to me, came across as, although very talented, rather 'bitchy' and boring. The story of his life has intereseting moments, but it is not written in a fluent or easily followed style. I would reccommend listening to the amazing work he has produced, and not read his biased, rather dull, and frankly egotistical autobiography.
Life is Strange - Rated 
I enjoyed reading this, however, it does tail off after the first couple of hundred pages. As a previous reviewer notes, the 80s until now is almost presented in list form.
I would have liked to have read Visconti's views on some of the technical aspects of the records he produced, and some of the details of the recordings of the Bowie and Bolan material is limited to material which has been covered before. Indeed he has disclosed more information in interviews for publicising the book than sometimes appears in it! (And material such as Bowie's displeasure with Visconti due to an 80s interview is not mentioned at all.)
It is an enjoyable and easy read, but it seems like an overview. I gained little insight into his production techniques and what he brings to records he produces. It is no fluke that he has worked on some seminal works, so what are his philosophies and techniques?
There are occasional insights which are interesting and it is nice to hear some of his views, and he comes across as a flawed but likeable character, it is a shame that not all of the many stories he must have make it onto the page.
A man with a hundred tales to tell - Rated
Having been a music fan virtually from the first time I heard I Wanna Hold Your Hand crackling from my parents transistor radio I have stumbled across Tony Visconti's name so many times it's almost spooky. Whatever your particular musical bias there's a fair chance that the man will have touched your life at some point, whether through his work with happening sixties groups like Procol Harum and The Move, the seventies glam of T.Rex, the prog rock of Gentle Giant, the hard-hitting rock'n'roll of Thin Lizzy, or even the pseudo punk of Hazel O'Connor. And all this before we even begin to mention his on/off relationship with Bowie from the Mercury days onward.
I've waited a long time for this book to come out, believing that Visconti must have a hundred tales to tell, and for once it's a boo that lives up to all expectations. Candid, humorous and well-written, the only danger with this book is that you can easily lose a few hours simply through being unable to put it down. What's more, by a wonderful stroke of luck Visconti is a keen amateur photographer too and the previously unseen pictures included here are almost worth the purchase price in themselves.
If, like me, you thought you'd read everything about Bowie you'll be amazed at how much more you learn from Visconti's accounts of their work together. If, on the other hand, you simply enjoy a good read, written by someone who has, musically, tried it all and come out smiling, then this book is equally fulfilling.
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