The Closest Thing to Crazy by Mike Batt
The extraordinary life story of songwriter and composer Mike Batt, the man who has written multi-million selling hits for and with Art Garfunkel, Katie Melua, on the fiftieth anniversary since he shot to fame as part of the Wombles.
'What a life, what a talentVery funny and very quirky, but don't be fooled: just as remarkable musicianship lies behind the sweet accessibility of his best-known tunes, so a fearsome intelligence and a huge heart lie behind the immortal battiness of Batt. A fabulously readable and enjoyable ride from first to last' -- Stephen Fry
'Brilliantly told, the fascinating life of one of Britain's greatest songwriters' -- Matt Lucas
'A brilliant, funny, emotional book - I really enjoyed reading it' -- David Quantick
'I've known Mike Batt for half a century. I've seen his ups and downs (mainly ups) at close quarters and have been fascinated and staggered in equal measure, as readers of this memoir will be. I write words. He writes both words and music, conducts, produces, orchestrates and sings. Very annoying. Luckily he's also a good egg and a very funny one' -- Tim Rice
'Crazy and unstoppable. A riotous romp that, like the career it chronicles, never pauses for breath. An unputdownable read' * Record Collector *
'[A] mind boggling autobiography. Batt emerges as a born risk taker, willing to stake everything on even the most reckless gamble' * the Telegraph *
'Batt's storytelling is sharp, his humor is infectious, and his willingness to laugh at himself is refreshing. Think of it as Spinal Tap meets the Muppet Show 10/10' * All About the Rock *
'We've never read anything like it - it's fantastic!' -- Mark Ellen * Word in Your Ear *
'Fabulous....a fund of funny stories' * Daily Mail *
'Wildly entertaining...a remarkable anecdote on almost every page' * Daily Express *
'Rollicking ... ebullient ... all credit to Batt for his persistence. He remains a great entertainer ... Christmas present problems are instantly solved' * Mail on Sunday *
'Brilliantly told, the fascinating life of one of Britain's greatest songwriters' -- Matt Lucas
'A brilliant, funny, emotional book - I really enjoyed reading it' -- David Quantick
'I've known Mike Batt for half a century. I've seen his ups and downs (mainly ups) at close quarters and have been fascinated and staggered in equal measure, as readers of this memoir will be. I write words. He writes both words and music, conducts, produces, orchestrates and sings. Very annoying. Luckily he's also a good egg and a very funny one' -- Tim Rice
'The Closest Thing to Crazy makes clear that if there is one thing Batt possesses it is the spirit to bounce back ... full of enthusiasm'
* Independent *'Crazy and unstoppable. A riotous romp that, like the career it chronicles, never pauses for breath. An unputdownable read' * Record Collector *
'[A] mind boggling autobiography. Batt emerges as a born risk taker, willing to stake everything on even the most reckless gamble' * the Telegraph *
'Batt's storytelling is sharp, his humor is infectious, and his willingness to laugh at himself is refreshing. Think of it as Spinal Tap meets the Muppet Show 10/10' * All About the Rock *
'We've never read anything like it - it's fantastic!' -- Mark Ellen * Word in Your Ear *
'Fabulous....a fund of funny stories' * Daily Mail *
'Wildly entertaining...a remarkable anecdote on almost every page' * Daily Express *
'Rollicking ... ebullient ... all credit to Batt for his persistence. He remains a great entertainer ... Christmas present problems are instantly solved' * Mail on Sunday *
Mike Batt is a singer, songwriter, producer and composer who has been making hit records for more than fifty years. He was the lead singer and creator of the Wombles pop group in the early 1970s and is a multi-Ivor Novello Award winner, who has written and produced music for many artists, including Art Garfunkel, Cliff Richard, David Essex and Katie Melua, conducted many of the world's great orchestras and worked across many art forms, directing, designing, conducting and engaging in entrepreneurial activities in the entertainment industry.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781785120848 |
| ISBN 10 | 1785120840 |
| Title | The Closest Thing to Crazy |
| Author | Mike Batt |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Bonnier Books Ltd |
| Year published | 2024-09-26 |
| Number of pages | 368 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |