This book was first published in 1982 and the second edition has now been published. In 1982, it caused a storm as the book left no holds barred with its exposé of the UK music business in the 1960s. The new edition is unaltered and has two chapters added.

Simon Napier-Bell uses his own style to take us on a tour of Swinging London. He takes us on a tour of the clubs, brothels (where he had a habit of being rescued by Keith Moon) and introduces us to the bands that he managed.

The title comes from the Dusty Springfield song which he wrote. His other major songwriting claim is the Yardbirds' Over Under Sideways Down. With the Yardbirds, he takes us through their moods, Jeff Beck's refusal to play solos when he didn't want to and the making of the film Blow Up.

One of the most comical episodes, in my opinion, was his time managing John's Children. This group included Marc Bolan at one stage. We learn how Napier-Bell saw a band called The Silence from Leatherhead. "They were dreadful. Positively the worst band I had ever seen." He ended up as their manager for two years and he claims responsibility for The Legendary Orgasm Album. The band recorded their best ten songs, Andy Ellison added some "ad-lib" with the crowd and the screams were overdubbed from A Hard Day's Night. Hey presto! An instant live masterpiece.

In 1967, Napier-Bell was the recipient of one of the last phone calls from Brian Epstein. He resisted Epstein's offer of a weekend away and returned to find that he had died.

The book is an easy read in a chatty style. It takes the reader behind the scenes of a wonderful time in music and attempts to lift some of the mystique and hype.

Published: September 1998

Ebury Press