Paul Oakenfold: The Authorised Biography
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Product Description
Book Description
The authorised biography of the world's most successful DJ
Product Description
Paul Oakenfold has sold over 5 million records, has played to over 50 million people and is, according to the Guinness Book of Records, the most successful DJ in the world.
Now, in Paul Oakenfold - The Authorised Biography, Richard Norris reveals the fascinating story of Paul's rise from South London soul boy to Hollywood superstar. Spanning more than two decades, Norris follows the twists and turns of Paul's career and, with it, the rise of the multi-million-pound industry that is club culture.
As we near the end of the first decade of the New Millennium, Paul's star is still in the ascendant. With two Grammy nominations under his belt, he continues to work with the biggest names in music - Madonna, Justin Timberlake and Snoop Dogg to name but a few.
Packed full of revealing interviews with the movers and shakers of the music industry, and based on two years of in-depth intervies with Oakenfold himself, this book tells the extraordinary story of a man whose life defines dance music.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
It's hard to know what to make of this; as a traditional biography, its not great. While it is a reasonable assessment of what Oakenfold has been doing over the last twenty years, it doesn't delve particularly deep and there are few if any insights into him as a person. It's also sickeningly salivating; in the text he's given credit for launching the careers of (I kid you not) Will Smith and Happy Mondays, and there isn't a critical word to be said about the man in four hundred pages. There is also too much padding - there are two chapters dedicated to giving the history of Happy Mondays, with many seemingly random anecdotes told that have no reference to Oakenfold himself. He only comes into the picture when he produces their third album, and again, there are very few details about what he actually did on the project.
Where the book succeeds is as a general history of dance music from 1986 - 2007. It documents the club and ecstasy culture that developed in the late 80s and all the way through to the superclub era where it all fell apart. It puts into perspective Oakenfold's role in the whole thing (with exaggeration of course), and how he came to rise from small time promotor and DJ to global superstar. Still, there are many books that document this period better, mostly notably Altered State: The Story of Ecstasy Culture and Acid House and Superstar DJs Here We Go!: The Rise and Fall of the Superstar DJ. This book isn't a train wreck or anything; if you have a serious interest in dance music, club culture and Oakenfold you'll enjoy it.
Where the book succeeds is as a general history of dance music from 1986 - 2007. It documents the club and ecstasy culture that developed in the late 80s and all the way through to the superclub era where it all fell apart. It puts into perspective Oakenfold's role in the whole thing (with exaggeration of course), and how he came to rise from small time promotor and DJ to global superstar. Still, there are many books that document this period better, mostly notably Altered State: The Story of Ecstasy Culture and Acid House and Superstar DJs Here We Go!: The Rise and Fall of the Superstar DJ. This book isn't a train wreck or anything; if you have a serious interest in dance music, club culture and Oakenfold you'll enjoy it.
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
If you enjoyed books such a "Last Night a DJ Saved my Life" then you will enjoy this, not so much for its details on Paul Oakenfold but as a natural follow-on to the stories already told. In truth, the book doesn't give a very detailed insight into Paul Oakenfold's character or his personal life; it's more like a list of the things he has done with a few comments from him, but that doesn't make it any less valuable. In fact, if you are starting out as a DJ or promoter there's a lot to be learned in here about Oakie's work ethic and careful career planning. It seems very little happened by chance.
The writing style was alarming at first with the odd bit of wideboy speak to disrupt the flow. On the very first page is the gem "Backstage it's set up nice like you'd expect at this level" and I thought I was going to struggle my way through the book, but it settles down very quickly into a fast paced, interesting and pleasurable read. As an added bonus there's a CD tucked in the back (well there was on my hardback version).
All in all, I reckon a 7.5 out of 10. If you're a child of the superclub era then you'll love it.
The writing style was alarming at first with the odd bit of wideboy speak to disrupt the flow. On the very first page is the gem "Backstage it's set up nice like you'd expect at this level" and I thought I was going to struggle my way through the book, but it settles down very quickly into a fast paced, interesting and pleasurable read. As an added bonus there's a CD tucked in the back (well there was on my hardback version).
All in all, I reckon a 7.5 out of 10. If you're a child of the superclub era then you'll love it.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is a who's who of clubbing culture in the 90's and naughties. It defines how the clubbing world as we now know it came into force, especially around the progressive and trance scenes. This book really concentrates on the late 80's and early 90's era, especially in and around London, and while it does go a bit back and forth, linking the house scenes in NY to that of London, it gives a good account of the 'anything goes' attitudes to putting on nights around this time. My one concern about the book was how it really only 'sketchily' went over the 'boom' times of clubbing, especially from the period between about '94 and 2000. The Cream residency was a really big deal at the time, but took only one chapter before going on to 'Home' and then the albums. Also it makes Paul out to be someone who can do no wrong, and how he is somehow the centre of everything professional in the business when all around are not (I am pretty sure that the likes of John Digweed and Nick Warren etc might think otherwise). I am sure he made mistakes, and there are some people who might not share his ideas, but these are not mentioned to much affect.
Overall though a good read, and gave a good insight into how it all sparked off. If the second half of the book had been as insightful as the first, then this would have acclaimed a far better review.
Overall though a good read, and gave a good insight into how it all sparked off. If the second half of the book had been as insightful as the first, then this would have acclaimed a far better review.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Hagiography
If Oakenfold was as bright as he thinks he is, he wouldn't have created something as obviously fawning. I suppose a giant ego is required to be successful. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Baby Blue
The Most Successful DJ in the World?
Being a big fan of Richard Norris' previous works, in particular 'The Christological Controversy (Sources of Early Christian Thought)' I leapt at the chance to pick up a copy of... Read more
Published on 24 April 2008 by James Brown
Great read
Its a good book, not much written by Oakey, well perhaps 2 pages of his words and thats it. However it tells you about how he started, the struggles, friendships and... Read more
Published on 18 Feb 2008 by happy amazon user
Brilliant
I really thought this book was going to be aimed towards the American market which Oakey has been concentrating alot of his energies on in the last few years. Read more
Published on 10 Oct 2007 by Stuart Cullimore
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