My Name Is Love: The Darlene Love Story (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

After singing lead vocal on the number one single "He's a Rebel," in 1962 (recorded under the name the Crystals), 21-year-old Love hoped that her producer, Phil Spector, would nurse her talent into stardom. Unfortunately for Love, Spector believed vocals were just one more cog in his musical Wall of Sound. Although she sang classics like "Today I Met the Boy I'm Going to Marry" and "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," by 1964 Love was well on her way to becoming "the most overqualified backup singer in the business." Hers is a sassy tale of a revered industry survivor who has watched contemporaries such as Tina, Aretha and Cher score comebacks while she sings backup for them. After 30 lucrative years literally singing in the background, she hoped for a revival of her own. Considered a relic in her 40s, she had to resort to cleaning houses to pay the rent. Cruise-ship gigs and a couple of failed musicals (Leader of the Pack and Carrie) brought her attention but no recording contract. While a comeback still eludes the singer, her story has a happy ending: in 1997, a New York jury awarded her $263,000 in back royalties from Spector. Years of touring with Dionne Warwick ("always a patsy for the tea-leaf readers of the world") and Tom Jones ("the conveyor belt [of women] to his room) offer her a cavalcade of stars to dissect, dote on or skewer in illuminating, entertaining portraits. Her sardonic observations border on the hilarious. Love is not afraid to speak her mind, and co-author Rob Hoerburger has polished those anecdotes to perfection. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The autobiography of a star who went from cutting hits like "Da Doo Ron Ron" and singing backup for the stars to cleaning houses in Beverly Hills?and then back again to concerts, Broadway, and roles in all three Lethal Weapon movies.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1st edition (September 16, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688156576
• ISBN-13: 978-0688156572
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #602,277 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Rock Bio EVER, December 7, 1998

By	Kim K. (Bayonne, New Jersey) - See all my reviews

Finished reading My Name Is Love within 24 hours, only taking breaks to eat,sleep & shower! What a story! What a great woman! Being a rapidly-aging baby boomer myself, I have long followed Darlene's career, but this book really gave me some incite into how much the woman has been through. I knew,for instance,she was Phil Spector's primary backup singer for everyone on his Phillies records label, but never imagined how many other singers and groups she sang along with, not just on record but in concert too! Truly amazing. Darlene is probably the most underrated singer on the planet, and one of the most down to earth as well. Her account of growing up and eventually facing prejudice, her failed marriages and her shabby treatment not just by Spector but from peers in the industry, record company executives, attorneys,etc. is a really sad story. Thankfully, Darlene is a survivor, always having great faith in God, the love of her husband Alton, plus a terrific sense of humor. She often relates in this book how so many people still don't know who she is or just pass her by on the street. Well, if I were fortunate enough to be on the same sidewalk as Darlene, I would be too starstruck to even say hello or remember my name. If only today's "divas" had an ounce of her talent and integrity. Whether or not you're a fan of Darlene's and/or 60's music, this is a must read for the historical info alone! Thanks for all the music, Darlene, and keep on singin'!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a fascinating account of a one of rock's pioneers, October 4, 1998

By	[e-mail] "suecassel" (Souderton, Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

Darlene Love's autobiography is a treat! Spiced with lots of dishy stories about famous folk from the early days of "girl groups" to Las Vegas and Broadway, I finished the book in record time (no pun intended!). Through it all comes the warmth and perseverance of one of rock's truly great back-up and lead singers. This woman has been through it all, and her book leads you through an amazing saga of missed opportunities, rock producer Svengalis, and friendships forged through adversity. I found the book immensely enjoyable and recommend it highly.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A RARE TREAT, April 29, 1999

By A Customer

This was one of the most inspiring autobiographies I have ever read and I have read many. Darlene Love, I love you and I was glad you told your story to the world. I am awaiting the day that your star will shine bright and the world will know what true "Love" is. This is a must read for music lovers, Ms. Love shows the other side of the business and offers insights on talented artist who never made it and who got ripped off along the way, but still got by in spite of it all. She is a true H-E-R-O worthy af all our respect. She is the unknown Diva and she should take her place along with Aretha, Patti, Glady's, Dionne, and Diana.