The Soundtrack of My Life

By: Clive Davis

Narrated by: Dennis Boutsikaris, Clive Davis

Length: 22 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

In this star-studded autobiography, Clive Davis shares a personal, candid look into his remarkable life and the last 50 years of popular music as only a true insider can.

In the history of popular music, no one looms as large as Clive Davis. His career has spanned more than 40 years, and he has discovered, signed, or worked with a staggering array of artists: Whitney Houston, Janis Joplin, Simon and Garfunkel, Barry Manilow, Patti Smith, Lou Reed, Dionne Warwick, Carlos Santana, The Grateful Dead, Alicia Keyes, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, and Aretha Franklin, to name a few. He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy, and hosted the world’s highest profile parties.

In this personal account, Davis tells all, from becoming an orphan in high school and getting through college and law school on scholarships, to being falsely accused of embezzlement and starting up his own record company, J Records. His wealth of experience offers valuable insight into the evolution of the music business over the past half-century and into the future.

Told with Davis's unmatched wit, frankness, and style, Clive exposes a trove of never-before-heard stories - some hilarious, others tragic, all revealing - that will captivate and inspire all music lovers.

©2012 Clive Davis (P)2012 Simon & Schuster, Inc.

What you may not know behind the scenes of music

Would you listen to The Soundtrack of My Life again? Why?

Possibly parts of it because it was interesting.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I was really surprised at the end. I guess I'm out of the loop of the music industry!

Which character – as performed by Dennis Boutsikaris and Clive Davis – was your favorite?

I don't know about FAVORITE, but I enjoyed learning an insiders's perspective of many of the "characters".

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Hearing about his firing and how the family got through it.

Any additional comments?

Good book, especially if you are interested in the music world.

Great read

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. The sphere of his influence was huge. So many facts about interesting artists.

What other book might you compare The Soundtrack of My Life to and why?

None

Have you listened to any of Dennis Boutsikaris and Clive Davis ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but I knew I could not due to its length. But I was glad for all of the content.

Any additional comments?

I know they were important and transformative, but a little too much time was spent on Joplin, Dylan and Aretha. Good book nonetheless.

Amazing Read

1st of All Clive Davis is the GOAT. You’re going to love this book if you are a music lover.

Great book

Great insight into the music industry and how great artists are managed. Very insightful and holds your interest.

great story and sensational narration...a #1 hit!

Close up look at the evolution of the recorded business over the past 30 or so years. Lots of great detail on personalities, as well as interesting events. I've been listening to Audible for 14 years, and the narration performed by Dennis Boutsikaris was, by far, the best reading I've ever heard. The content was 5 star. The narration was 7 star.

Learn about a life and music

I am not much of a music connoisseur, but I enjoyed this book anyway. Davis tells a great story, a personal story that just happens to weave in a lot of musicians and places that are famous today. Great listen.

Essential

If you don't have a mentor and you want to run a label, or you're an artist and want to know the pitfalls of some of your favorites that have come and gone, this is required reading.

one of the best books i ever heard

What does Dennis Boutsikaris and Clive Davis bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

the narrator was great. sounds like a young Clive Davis

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

can't wait to buy additional copies as gifts

Great stories and great history

Clive Davis is very diplomatic and, aside from a few notable exceptions like kelly Clarkston, he remains diplomatic and business-like in his depictions of the business relationships he has had with dozens of musicians,producers, writers, superstars and artists. I do wish he had spilled more greasy gossip but he admirably stays above the tattle tale, sensational claptrap that we get with the common tell-alls.
At times his arrogance comes through but you don't get to be the most successful exec in the music business by being meek.
He leads/led one of the most fascinating music business careers of the 20th century and this autobiography gives a decent history of popular music of the second half of the 20th century.

It's a compelling read.

AMAZING!!!

This book was filled with so many affirmations. As a rising music executive I’ve been able to identify a lot of likeness in the decisions and reasons Mr. Davis operated the way he does and still to this day.