And on Piano ...Nicky Hopkins: The Extraordinary Life of Rock's Greatest Session Man [Paperback]

Julian Dawson (Author), Klaus Voormann (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2011

The Beatles. The Rolling Stones. The Who. The Kinks. The Jefferson Airplane. Joe Cocker. Quicksilver Messenger Service. The Yardbirds. Harry Nilsson. At the heart of their music, and of hundreds of others, was one man and a piano: Nicky Hopkins. For three generations, rock'n'roll has been the heartbeat of our world, and Nicky Hopkins defines rock'n'roll. For thirty years, before his tragically early death in 1994, Nicky Hopkins put his mark on some of the most unforgettable popular music ever made. This is the definitive work on rock music's greatest session player, and one of its unsung heroes. As Nils Lofgren (E Street Band) put it, "Nicky wrote the book on rock 'n' roll piano." This is the book about how he did it.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Plus One Press; 1st edition (April 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0984436227
• ISBN-13: 978-0984436224
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #182,328 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 58 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars FINALLY A LIGHT ON HOPKINS CONTRIBUTION TO ROCK 'N' ROLL May 6, 2011

By Stuart Jefferson TOP 100 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Trade size edition. Introduction by Klaus Voormann, 6 page Introduction, 338 pages of text including-25 page Discography, 3 pages listing bands and live appearances, film and video appearances, plus an Index. There's also many b&w photographs throughout the book beginning with Hopkins' early life and the bands he played with. Sprinkled throughout are album covers of various pertinent sessions Hopkins played on, or his solo work.

"Nicky could play anything. He was a genius." Bill Wyman.
"Nicky was a genius, but a lot of the time genius isn't noticed until many years later." Joe Cocker.
"I wish he were here right now-it would be so great if he could just walk right out on the stage and sit down at the piano." Steve Miller.
"He was just a brilliant, brilliant musician!" Chuck Leavell.

Session man Nicky Hopkins is, hopefully, known to just about anyone who has listened to THE WHO, JEFF BECK GROUP, Joe Cocker, THE KINKS, THE YARDBIRDS, STEVE MILLER BAND, THE STRAWBS, John Lennon, THE BEATLES, Lowell George, JEFFERSON AIRPLANE, Harry Nilsson, QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE, THE CREATION, P.P. Arnold, Billy Nicholls, THE MOVE, The Iveys/BADFINGER, Giles, Giles and Fripp, THE EASYBEATS, Dusty Springfield, FAMILY, Jackie Lomax, Donovan, Rod Stewart, George Harrison, Jerry Garcia, TOMORROW, and many, many more. His unique abilities, both as a piano (and sometimes organ/harpsichord) player and an arranger, made him the "go to" guy for many bands of the era. No matter if it was a simple piano piece to flesh out a song, or to arrange a piece of music, Hopkins was the man for the job. Similar to many good guitarists, Hopkins had a recognizable sound whenever he sat behind the piano. His unmistakable sound graced many fine albums and individual songs....

The author interviewed many people, including-P.P. Arnold, Long John Baldry, Ritchie Blackmore, Pete Brown, Vashti Bunyan, Joe Cocker, Dave Cousins, Spencer Davis, Gary Duncan, Al Kooper, Albert Lee, Nils Lofgren, Michael McDonald, Ian McLagan, Steve Miller, Andrew Loog Oldham, Graham Parker, Richard Perry, Prairie Prince, Keith Richards, Tom Rush, Brinsley Schwarz, Paul Samwell-Smith, Leigh Stephens, Rod Stewart, Shel Talmy, Mick Taylor, Richard Thompson, Joe Walsh, Bill Wyman, among many others-both well and relatively well known people in the music business. The various interviews were of varying length, but together they paint an in-depth portrait of both Hopkins and his music.

Hopkins ability to constantly come up with just the right sound kept him busy throughout the late 60's/early 70's. There was talk from both THE WHO and THE ROLLING STONES about joining their respective bands-something he regretted later in life not doing. A busy session man, Hopkins was rarely paid commensurate with his abilities. He quit THE JEFF BECK GROUP to play on a Stones record. He never kept track of his sessions, and never asked for a percentage instead of straight payment-huge mistakes. This was the era when session players were simply anonymous musicians, treated and payed with little regard for their talents. In the beginning Hopkins never really thought about, or knew, what top flight session musicians in the U.S. were payed for their contributions.

This book, written by Julian Dawson, a friend later in life in Nashville, tells Hopkins story from his early days in England in the 1950's, his discovery of r'n'r music, playing in bands like SCREAMING LORD SUTCH , and Cyril Davies. But even during these early years of life, Hopkins suffered a debilitating intestinal problem (which would eventually contribute to his death), that left him in hospital, and off the scene, for extended periods of time. If you've ever seen a photograph of Hopkins you know what I'm talking about. While this book concentrates on Hopkins' life, it's also about the beginnings of r'n'r in England, and his subsequent playing with a number of the best bands on the S.F. scene, during the musical explosion of the late 60's. Hopkins' story is tied to the first stirrings of rock, blues, and r&b, that was played by a loose gathering of like-minded people. As Hopkins' story unfolds, so does the story of this (then) new music, which was beginning to spread throughout England. In that respect this book is a window into this exciting era when groups were forming everywhere to play this new music. Likewise, Hopkins' life in the burgeoning Bay Area music scene is recounted in some detail, with a good look into his playing with QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE especially interesting.

Hopkins was in the front ranks of British session players of the day, which included John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Clem Cattini, etc., and he was a favorite of producers like Glyn Johns and Andrew Loog Oldham, among others. But a move to the U.S. would change his life (ultimately) for the worse. Settling in the Bay Area of S.F., he played with a number of bands in the area. He also met a woman, Lynda Van Orden (Steve Miller-"the girlfriend from Hell") who, in a nutshell, turned Hopkins' life into a nightmare. The book details Hopkins slide into alcoholism (he previously wasn't a drinker), and drug use-using a number of illicit substances. As a result his life would never be the same. And touring with The Stones in 1972, on their infamous trek across America, did nothing to help matters. After that tour Hopkins was literally a hollow shell of a man-unfit both mentally and physically.

The book relates in Van Orden's hold over Hopkins, and as a result Hopkins made a number of bad career decisions-not keeping an eye on his finances (which Van Orden spent), a disastrous solo career (even with many well known musicians on his recordings), Van Orden's infidelities, and Hopkins' increasing alcoholism. He also let Van Orden run his business affairs and her name appeared as a co-writer of some of his songs. To make matters even worse, Van Orden would attempt to sing-which was a disaster. Combining his personal and physical problems-Hopkins' apparent inability to take charge of his career, join a band for the duration, front his own bands, and effectively play his own music, Hopkins' life as a "name" musician was doomed. Van Orden was a strong personality where Hopkins' was weak, which he apparently didn't seem to mind, during their marriage-the music was all that really mattered to Hopkins. This is the period when the once top flight session player had to be strapped to his piano bench in order to play on sessions.

But the book ends on a relatively high note. Hopkins found Scientology, and credits that with his recovery from drug addiction. Hopkins also married again, this time to someone who helped him though his troubles. But at this late date, his career as a session player for major artists was over-he became the band leader for Art Garfunkel. During this period he also wrote film scores for foreign films. But what Hopkins really wanted was to form a band with Joe Walsh and singer Frankie Miller. But Walsh upped and joined THE EAGLES, so it came to nothing.

It seemed that Hopkins could never catch a break-which he deserved. In later years he regretted working for cash instead of a percentage, something which would have given him a relatively steady income for life. But without a composer's credit, he lost all of it. His illness kept him from playing sessions and continued to hamper his life. And of course the decisions not to join major bands when asked was a disastrous one. Combine all that with his various personal problems and you have a portrait of someone who was unlucky in every sense of the word.

Hopkins rubbed shoulders with some of the best musicians of the much vaunted 60's. He also knew the harrowing lows of addiction, and physical maladies. But at least near the end of his life, having moved to Nashville, sober, and happily married, Hopkins lived out the rest of his days, dying in 1994. Hopkins career began as a footnote on the back of many fine albums of the era, he found relative fame, and then his life fell apart. Hopefully this book will keep him from, once again, becoming nothing more than a footnote in discographies to both current and future generations of music listeners. He stands alongside session players like Hal Blaine, Leland Sklar, and other studio musicians, in both L.A. and N.Y., and with Charlie McCoy and a select few in Nashville, who played on countless songs by both unknown and popular artists of the era. His playing style, his sensitiveness with a song, his very sound, was a major contribution to r'n'r. He deserves to be remembered. Read more ›

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great biography of rock & roll's greatest piano player June 1, 2011

By Ezra Sidran

Format:Paperback

Julian Dawson has done a great job of painstakingly piecing together the details of the life of the legendary Nicky Hopkins. Hopkins' career stretched from the very dawn of the British Blues scene to the '90s. He played on hundreds of classic songs from the Stones' "Street Fighting Man" to Joe Cocker's "You Are So Beautiful."

Dawson has done a fantastic job conducting interviews with many of the rock and roll greats who worked with Nicky including Pete Townsend, Keith Richards, Chuck Leavell, Bobby Keys and many more.

If you are a serious student of rock and roll you must have this book!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great biography of Nicky Hopkins August 26, 2011

By Michael

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you are a long time fan of Nicky Hopkins, this is a must read. Thye book provides a good insight to the life of a famous sideman who most of his life, was stuggling to get by and how studio musicians and sideman musicians hired for a single tour are treated.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Detailed Account of Nicky's Life! February 21, 2012

By Joan A.

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

My hat is off to Julian for this book. As a friend of Nicky's I learned alot about his life that I never knew. Nicky did not flaunt himself or all that he accomplished. Anyone who knew Nicky should read this book. If you are a rock and roll buff, you should read this book. You will learn not only about this unsung hero but about the business of music as well. I actually discovered, through this book, that Nicky influenced me to take up piano as a child. I did not know his name back then but I certainly was a fan. Millions of people are fans of Nicky's and they don't even know it. Highly recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great read !! November 11, 2011

By Joey C

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an amazing look at the guy responsible for the piano playing on more hit records than you can imagine. Nicky played on almost everything the Rolling Stones recorded in their heyday. It looks into the world of the un-sung heros of the music industry...the studio musicians. Their ability to play just the right part to make the song a hit. Nicky was the best...the very best. The book is well written and concise.....couldn't put it down.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars No Ego, Perhaps That Was His Secret June 1, 2012

By Richard C. Ferris

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Julian Dawson, U.K musician and author, has written a comprehensive and meticulously researched biography on legendary keyboard artist, Nicky Hopkins. The book is loaded with priceless photos of Nicky, spanning his entire four decade career.
The bands, recordings, tours and session work he was associated with, are thoroughly documented. This not only includes his solo and band member work but also all the legendary albums he participated as a side man. Additionally, the author has detailed all his related major tours and video/ TV appearances. Obviously, this literary project was a labor of love.

It's almost impossible to identify another session musician, aside from Nicky, who would come close to working on four decades worth of legendary albums. The only one that comes to mind is Hal Blaine, the monster west coast drummer. Certainly no one can touch Nicky's musical contributions to the 60's/ early 70's musical scene including creation of classic albums by the Beatles, Stones, Who, Kinks, etc.

The book is filled with major insights into the arc of this artist's illustrious career. All his session work is well documented and his membership with The Jeff Beck Group and Quick Silver Messenger Service is abundantly covered. Both these bands held so much promise but for a variety of reasons never realized their full creative potential. Even more fascinating is the author's account of the bands Nicky was invited to join but for a variety of reasons choose to decline. A partial list includes The Who, The New Yardbirds, Plastic Ono Band, and possibly The Stones (accounts vary).

The book contains dozens of leading musician's accounts of various highlights of Nicky's stellar career.... A partial list include his appearance at Woodstock with the Jefferson Airplane, the major tours with the Rolling Stones and Joe Cocker, the legendary west coast session work, being musical director for Art Garfunkle's band, collaborations with Gerry Garcia, Joe Walsh and a host of other major artists.

Equally compelling is Nicky's ambition to achieve solo artist recognition.The book provides a thorough review of Nicky's solo record and touring projects. Unfortunately, none of these efforts ever reached the wide commercial appeal so rightly deserved. His talent was never in question but his well documented health issues were certainly a major factor in preventing Nicky's star to ascend.

Nicky eventually overcame his long struggles with drug and alcohol addiction which seriously impacted his mid career ambitions. The last decade of his life finds the artist content and inspired. His later work, particularly the soundtracks, while a Nashville resident, was some of his best. One could speculate that if he remained healthy, his most promising work remained ahead. Alas, this was not to be, Nicky died of complications from Crohn's disease on Sept. 6, 1994.

This book provides a vivid chronicle of Nicky Hopkins life and times. It will hopefully encourage readers not only to revisit the artist's session work and classic albums but also encourage readers to seek out the more obscure solo work. Only through listening to the full range of his musical legacy can one appreciate the depth of Nicky's talent.

Nicky Hopkins, through his long and fruitful career, may have sometimes been out of sight but he was never out of sound. Read more ›