Nicky Hopkins Book

And on Piano! Nicky Hopkins: The Extraordinary Life of Rock’s Greatest Session Man

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Published by Desert Hearts 9th May 2011, the UK version is a handsomely bound hardback book, generously illustrated with wonderful personal photographs,many never before published, in both black and white and colour, and with forewords from Bob Harris & Klaus Voormann.

>> Buy UK Version from Amazon

Nicky Hopkins: Eine Rock-Legende

Published in Edition Elke Heidenreich through Random House, the German version of the book was actually the first to appear, on 10th May 2010. Sensitively translated by rock specialist Kristian Lutze (Eric Clapton), the book received glowing reviews, particularly in FAZ and from Wolfgang Doebeling in German Rolling Stone. Forewords from Klaus Voormann and Wolfgang Niedecken.

>> Deutsche Version kaufen bei Amazon

And on Piano …Nicky Hopkins: The Extraordinary Life of Rock’s Greatest Session Man

A beautifully presented paperback copy of the book, with many additional black and white photographs, published in March 2011. The American version was launched with a celebrity panel at the SXSW Music Conference in Austin, TX, with the Faces’ Ian McLagan and Rolling Stone sideman Chuck Leavell in attendance. Backstage Books through Plus One Press. Foreword by Klaus Voormann..

>> Buy US Version from Amazon

 

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AND ON PIANO – NICKY HOPKINS: REVIEWS

‘Rock royalty’s go-to guy, with a life story as jaw-dropping as his CV. The subtitle of Julian Dawson’s fascinating biography is “The Extraordinary Life Of Rock’s Greatest Session Man”, neither part of which, after reading the book, is something you’d argue with. Even a partial list of the albums Hopkins appeared on is breathtaking “Hopkins” story is well-served by Dawson, a musician who knew Hopkins when towards the end of his life he relocated to Nashville.’
ALLAN JONES: UNCUT (NUMBER 7, TOP TEN BOOKS OF 2011)

‘Julian Dawson’s moving chronicle is as much about the changing nature of the music industry between the ’60s and the ’90s as it is about Hopkins’ role within it. With candid and uniformly complimentary contributions from an impressive cast numbering (Keith) Richards, Pete Townshend, Ray Davies, Duane Eddy and Richard Thompson. And On Piano… traces Hopkins’ singular rock ‘n’ roll journey in great detail and with real affection and admiration.’
SHINDIG (NUMBER 3, TOP TEN BOOKS OF 2011)

‘…Julian Dawson’s fascinating memoir ‘And On Piano Nicky Hopkins’
MARK ELLEN: THE WORD

‘Not for nothing does the subtitle refer to Nicky Hopkins as ‘rock’s greatest session man’. His list of clients is nonpareil! he even played on some Fats Domino recordings, there can be no greater testament to a rock ‘n’ roll pianist’s abilities. Perhaps the most unique aspect of this book is that it is the first rock biography I have read in which not one of the contributors has a single bad word to say about the subject. Universally loved, universally admired, Nicky Hopkins was a rare gift to rock and roll.’
ANDY GILL: THE WORD

‘Dawson’s work as a singer-songwriter helps in analysing Hopkins’ contribution to many careers, but it’s not hard to make a case for the man who played piano on Sympathy For The Devil.’
MOJO

‘Singer-songwriter Dawson met Hopkins just a few months before the session supremo’s death in 1994, but his long-held respect for a man who made such timeless contributions to so many great records spurred him on to produce this heartfelt biography. The author is determined to shine a bright light on the man at the keyboard who was often the glue that held things together.’
RECORD COLLECTOR