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Scattershot
- Life, Music, Elton and Me
- Narrated by: Bernie Taupin, John Lee
- Length: 15 hrs and 35 mins
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Scattershot
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Publisher's Summary
*THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER*
*A Times Best Music Book of 2023*
'This is the most glorious of books. I am besotted by the life I never knew he had.' -Elton John
'Every page of Scattershot is a delight, a joy, a name-dropper fan's delight. Divine. I couldn't put it down.' -Pete Townshend
'Hilarious and so emotionally true, Scattershot is like a letter from a cherished friend. You'll want to keep it close, so you can read it again and again.' -Cameron Crowe
'Touching. Charming. Humble. Witty. And exquisitely written. Taupin's words need no musical accompaniment. They sing with a poets voice.' -Gary Oldman
'Eloquent and inspiring' -Robert Hilburn, author of Johnny Cash: The Life
'A funny, zippy narrative' -MOJO
'An entertaining ride that doesn't spare the horses' -RTE Guide
'Sharply written' -The Independent
'Self deprecating and refreshingly honest' - Sunday Times
'Brilliant memoir' Daily Express
This is the memoir music fans have been waiting for. Half of one of the greatest creative partnerships in popular music, Bernie Taupin is the man who wrote the lyrics for Elton John, who conceived the ideas that spawned countless hits, and sold millions and millions of records. Together, they were a duo, a unit, an immovable object. Their extraordinary, half-century-and-counting creative relationship has been chronicled in biopics (like 2019's Rocketman) and even John's own autobiography, Me. But Taupin, a famously private person, has kept his own account of their adventures close to his chest, until now.
Written with honesty and candour, Scatterhot allows the reader to witness events unfolding from Taupin's singular perspective, sometimes front and center, sometimes from the edge, yet always described vibrantly, with an infectious energy that only a vivid songwriter's prose could offer. From his childhood in the East Midlands of England whose imagination was sparked and forever informed by the distinctly American mythopoetics of country music and cowboys, to the glittering, star-studded fishbowl of '70s and '80s Beverly Hills, Scattershot is simultaneously a Tom Jones-like picaresque journey across a landscape of unforgettable characters, as well as a striking, first-hand account of a creative era like no other and one man's experience at the core of it.
An exciting, multi-decade whirlwind, Scattershot whizzes around the world as we ride shotgun with Bernie on his extraordinary life. We visit New York with him and Elton on the cusp of global fame. We spend time with him in Australia almost in residency at an infamous rock 'n' roll hotel in an endless blizzard of drugs. And we spend late, late night hours with John Lennon, with Bob Marley, and hanging with Frank Sinatra. And beyond the world of popular music, we witness memorable encounters with writers like Graham Greene, painters like Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali, and scores of notable misfits, miscreants, eccentrics, and geniuses, known and unknown. Even if they're not famous in their own right, they are stars on the page, and we discover how they inspired the indelible lyrics to songs such as "Tiny Dancer," "Candle in the Wind," "Bennie and The Jets," and so many more.
Unique and utterly compelling, Scattershot will transport the reader across the decades and around the globe, along the way meeting some of the greatest creative minds of the 20th century, and into the vivid imaginings of one of music's most legendary lyricists.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
What listeners say about Scattershot
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Oodles of Grooming
- 26-09-2023
Quite confusing, unfortunatly I lost track
I listened to around 3 hours of the audible book but found it very confusing on who was who and what was going on.
Just not a book for me unfortunatly.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Vivienne West
- 23-10-2023
Not one to miss.
Whilst listening to this book I felt I was part of Bernie’s world throughout the decades. With anyone else narrating, I believe his story would feel like a mire of self indulgent name dropping and extravagantly fanciful storytelling but he manages to recount his past in such a matter of fact way that there can be little doubt to its accuracy.
He is almost flowery and poetic in his style of writing and I have no idea how he can remember his life in such detail but I also felt an honesty to his recollections. I was left feeling envious of his life so far and the incredible people he has interacted with over the years.
This book is a time capsule of recollections about the famous and infamous over the decades and Bernie Taupin stands toe to toe with all these greats.
He seems brutally honest, self deprecating and generous with his praise of those he admires.
A great wordsmith, narrator and historian.
I enjoyed being a fly on the wall.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Don
- 20-10-2023
A superb read. Thankyou
I put this review on Amazon as I have book/kindle versions but mainly used audio and would like it here as well because i disagree with some of the reviews here.
I chanced on this book when visiting LA and through attending the LA Live Talk of Bernie interviewed by Cameron Crowe. There was much discussion there about the songs and the words and some anecdotes about interesting people, including Sir Elton. But I don't recall any questions about the process of writing it. How many drafts before he was happy with it? Did he agonize over some sentences until they were just right? He says he wrote the lyrics for his favorite work in 30 minutes. Surely this book was different because... can I say it, was almost Joycean? Each sentence seemed to have been carefully honed. With audiobook at 1.2 speed on the long flight home, it became a pleasure to follow despite the intricate, full-bodied writing style, with the occasional 30 second rewind to savour a sentence. The visual metaphors, the choice of words were a challenge early but as the book went on, and the mind adjusted to the pace, well, some of it was just so clever and beautiful. Talking of his home office he said it was "unorganized". The immediate thought is a gotcha moment - should have been "disorganized" - but listening again to the context, the former was right, implying intent with the latter implying neglect. Brilliant if it was deliberate. The anecdotes were entertaining. Admitting all the not-so-fine times was honest. The struggle with parents' health was familiar and the later chapters were redemptive and uplifting. I love it when people open up like this when they are having an extraordinary life. We are richer for hearing it. Although I would not have wanted to meet him in some of those Almost Famous-style drinking sessions at a seedy bar between gigs, I think anyone today would enjoy a good chin-wag with Bernie over a meal and a drink. A chat about anything but Sir E because even Rocketman admitted surprise at what Bernie got up to over the years. Thankyou Bernie for putting in the effort.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 23-04-2024
I loved it! Brilliantly written (of course), honest, witty & humorous.
With no exceptions I thoroughly enjoyed this audio, with its flowery writing & visuals it generated (which I usually loath) but being frequently injected with humour, made for many laugh out loud moments.
When I discovered who Bernie was (back in the 80’s) I was envious of his life/job & genuinely believe he had the best job in the world & the best side of the “coin”.
I appreciated that he doesn’t waffle on about the intricacies of his job (which others found disappointing) but rather focuses on his life as a whole. Other reviews complained about him name dropping (which I found ridiculous) these ‘famous’ people are his friends, how is he supposed to talk about his life & experiences without mentioning them.
I particularly loved his honesty & capacity to remain unimpressed by famous twats, just because they’re famous, calling them out for being Not nice people.
Most of all I loved his loyalty, love & devotion to his friend (brother from another mother) Reg.
Looking forward to now listening to Elton’s side of the “coin”.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 25-09-2023
A life lived full
Whether or not you are a fan of the music of Bernie and the rainbow that is Elton this a a roller coaster of a ride and a fascinating peek into a beguiling world most of us can only read about. This is a Magical Mystery Tour de force.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 23-10-2023
Loved it
Thanks Bernie was a great read, what a great life you have had. I am happy that you and Elton found what life is really about in the end.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- John Cougar
- 27-04-2024
Bernie is an inspirational man for all seasons!
I found this telling very humourous, inspirational and revealing after every count. Well worth more than one listen! The words had me chuckling if not laughing out loud, what a gas. Wish I'd known this fella personally, a man after my own heart, it seems to me.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Daniel
- 05-10-2023
Not enough insight into the creative process, boring at times.
Not enough insight into the creative process and quite boring at times unfortunately. Elton’s memoir is superior
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Mark Foster
- 17-10-2023
Boring Boring Boring
The single worst audiobook that i have purchased, i’m sure theres s decent story in there but the monotonous reading where every sentence drifted straight into the next sentence put me to sleep . That reading was horrendous and why did the story not sound like anything that BT has ever written on spoken .. BT is a good interview and nothing like this verbose bore
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- djn63
- 03-11-2024
Sensational
Different to what one would expect but all the better for it. Great book. Essential reading for those interested in music
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