Jimmy Webb: The Cake and the Rain: A Memoir

Despite the almost obligatory profanity which we've now come to expect from musicians' memoirs, Webb's literary gifts are obvious from almost the first paragraph. In common with many of his best known songs, Webb's writing is almost cinematically descriptive with corresponding images coming readily to mind. The fact that this memoir focuses almost exclusively on the years between 1955 and 1973 and jumps backwards and forwards chronologically I didn't find a problem at all and for me it was refreshing as practically all the autobiographies that I've ever read start at the very beginning ('I was born at a very early age'), spend an inordinate amount of time on the formative years and then wind-up racing towards the finishing line with the last decade or two of often dwindling success covered in as little as a few paragraphs. The current trend for memoirists to 'tell all' regarding their sex lives, no doubt encouraged by the publishers, is something Webb doesn't shy away from and maybe I shouldn't have been surprised at just how complicated his various romantic entanglements were given the nature of the songs he wrote at that time. Still, all that plus the detailing of his hippie lifestyle, the heavy pot smoking and Cocaine use, his obsession with cars and sailplanes and particularly the long, drawn-out account of the sailing expedition on the Magnifico, all could have been trimmed down to allow room to include much more on his music career and in particular the writing and arranging of albums such as Up, Up and Away and The Magic Garden for the 5th Dimension, Rewind by Johnny Rivers and The Yard Went On Forever by Richard Harris, all of which barely get touched on. However, there are plenty of fascinating stories told with refreshing honesty and much self-deprecating humour concerning the making of his first record as a writer/arranger while still at music college with fellow students the Contessas, his time at Jobette Music, meeting his early mentor Johnny Rivers and their eventual falling out, the Monterey Festival, Richard Harris and the recording of MacArthur Park, his inspired musical partnership with Glen Campbell, 'Swinging' London, meeting the Beatles in the recording studio and Paul McCartney's seemingly calculated offhand behaviour, the making of the Sunshower album with Thelma Houston and his ill-starred transformation into a singer-songwriter. That he became heavily influenced by Joni Mitchell is obvious to those of us familiar with his first few albums as a performer, but just how much he fell under her spell as their friendship developed is made very clear in the book. Webb must have hesitated before deciding to include the rather sordid tale concerning Harry Nilsson and John Lennon during the latter's 'lost weekend' period and I for one wish he hadn't because it left a nasty taste in the mouth coming as it does at the very end of the book. Still, I'm sure the publishers were delighted with its inclusion and indeed the rest of the book and apparently 'Part Two' has already been commissioned.

I was looking forward to this but the format is a disappointment. It is in mp3 but the sections appear to 'locked' together. I would be happy to transfer them onto several CDs so that I could listen to them in the car or on several mobile players but unfortunately I can only listen to it at home on my computer. It'll take me ages to get through it this way. Is this the future of Audio Books, I certainly hope not. (I deducted 1 star for this reason)

Master melodist he certainly is - but he is also a fantastic wordsmith so this book is a joy to read. Especially so for lovers also of quality songs written by Maestro Jimmy's forebears, during the twenties to seventies periodsBut we do also, of course, have a profusion of stories about the entertainment folk with whom Jimmy mingled, caroused and collaborated from the late sixties through the seventiesHe employs a device of drifting back and forth between years/decades. Effective enough but I'd have preferred old-fashioned chronological storytellingA total 'gasp' moment for me was the disclosure(s) of Jim's infatuation and physical mergings with the wife of an extremely well-known fellow songwriter. She was replaced in his hopeless affections by another Goddess (his perception) a few years after. Highly recommended

Brilliantly written summary of a brilliant career. Essential reading.

He wrote the songbook of my youth. Now he writes about what his life was like as he composed the songs that have become long term classics.As always Jimmy's recollections are clear enough to give a rich synopsis of his career that still continues to pack concert venues.No tone is left untuned so to speak of the master songwriter, as he is more than open about his drug use and the characters that surrounded him.The story is only taking the reader so far in the book. I look forward to reading about his later life.If you have any doubt about the relevance of Webb in the chronicles of Popular Music the extensive career information at the rear of the book spells it out to you.

It was so good to read an autobiography about someone in the music industry with so many great, new stories that you’ve never heard before. Fascinating and entertaining!

I was really excited when I heard this book had been released. I love Jimmy Webb's songs and I felt sure he would have a good story to tell but I'm finding it hard going, to be honest. I don't feel like Jimmy's personality shines through.

Was quite disappointed with this book. It's very repetitive & somehow jumping from past to present doesn't seem to work