The Soundtrack of My Life, the new book by music industry executive Clive Davis, should be required reading for anybody involved in the music business for several reasons. First, it’s because it is an incisive look at the workings of the music industry. Next, it is a first-hand account of pop music history during these past 40 years. Then, it will make them green with envy over all that Davis has accomplished and all the famous people he has worked with. And finally, it’s because it shows the power of karma or how the law of retribution is still very much at work in this world of ours.
For proof of the latter, take a look at his almost unbelievable career trajectory. Davis went to New York University and the Harvard Law School. He started out in the music business as a lawyer in the legal department of Columbia Records, where he rose to become president in 1967. Among his artists were Barbra Streisand, Simon & Garfunkel, Bruce Springsteen and Janis Joplin. He was fired in 1973 for allegedly using company funds for his personal expenses. Davis maintained that Columbia just wanted to get rid of him.
He bounced back to the top with Arista Records (Barry Manilow, Whitney Houston, Air Supply) in 1974, was ousted in 2000 and then founded J Records (Rod Stewart, Alicia Keys, Luther Vandross). He next became chairman of the RCA Music Group, the umbrella organization for RCA, Arista and J Records and of BMG North America. BMG merged with the Sony Music Group 2004 to become Sony BMG and later Sony Music Entertainment where Davis is the chief creative officer. Sony Music Entertainment is the owner of Columbia Records where Davis began his phenomenal music career. How’s that for bringing a career full circle.
The Soundtrack of My Life is about what happened in his early years: He was an orphan from a poor family who got his breaks through sheer hard work. New York University and Harvard happened because of scholarships. It is about those remarkable years between joining Columbia as assistant legal counsel and his present position at Sony. And it’s about his present status as a legendary music executive, often referred to as the man with the Golden Ears. He has turned lives around for the simple reason that he liked what he heard and thought it would sell. And sell a lot of records, Davis did.
In true music executive manner he summed up his music career with The Soundtrack of My Life Playlist. 1. Piece Of My Heart by Janis Joplin, Davis’ first talent discovery. 2. Mandy by Barry Manilow, the first No. 1 hit from Arista. 3. Everyday People by Sly and the Family Stone, the first recording to mix R&B with rock, blues and jazz. 4. All By Myself by Eric Carmen, the blend of rock and classical that launched the solo career of the former Raspberries vocalist.
5. People Have The Power by Patti Smith, whom Davis brought back to the top after years in retirement. 6. All That She Wants by Ace of Base. This was the song that got Davis to sign the Scandinavian band. 7. Freeway Of Love by Aretha Franklin. This is the recording that took the Queen of Soul to the pop charts. 8. Greatest Love Of All by Whitney Houston. The incredible blend of Davis’ then teenaged discovery with a song he had commissioned for the Muhammad Ali biopic of the same title.
9. Smooth by Santana and Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20. Davis created an all-time hit when he brought this song together with Santana and Thomas. 10. If I Ain’t Got You by Alicia Keys. The big seller by the singer, songwriter, arranger, producer and performer that Davis’ discovered. 11. They Can’t Take That Away From Me by Rod Stewart. The recording that gave birth to the hugely-successful Great American Songbook series. 12. Dance With My Father by Luther Vandross. Davis considers his relationship with Luther one of the highlights of his career. He still regrets that the song became a hit after Luther suffered his stroke.
Having also sort of followed his career like I did and still do the recordings of his artists, I know there are many other milestones in his life that should merit a memorable song. And he talks about a lot of them in this autobiography. Would you like to know what song should go with the time he transformed Broadway diva Streisand into a pop music star? What about when he found Joplin at the Monterey Pop Festival? Was it not also Davis who got Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina together for Danny’s Song?
What hand did he play in the rise of Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, Chicago, Billy Joel, Aerosmith, Blood Sweat & Tears, Pink Floyd, The Grateful Dead, Earth Wind & Fire? How is he associated with Dionne Warwick, Babyface, Sean Combs or American Idols Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson? Read all about them and more in this book, which is a name-dropper’s dream come true. The only difference is, it is all real.
I am sure you will be glad to find out that the 81-year-old Davis is bisexual and now out of the closet and why Steven Tyler sings, Old Clive Davis said, he’s surely gonna make you a star just the way you are, in his hit No Surprise.