Le Freak, by Nile Rodgers

The prolific American hit maker tells his story.

Legendary musician, songwriter and producer Nile Rodgers - famous in equal measure for all three skills - tells about his unusual upbringing, drug use and various famous names he has produced. Rodgers' hardscrabble upbringing wouldn't have marked him out for success. When his career did take off, beginning with a string of hits with his band Chic, followed by writing and producing mega hit albums for Diana Ross and Sister Sledge, his addiction issues threatened to derail his career at any minute. Near death experiences didn't get him off addictive substances, but rather the humiliating experience of having a fellow musician tape a performance when Rodgers was totally stoned. When he saw the footage, he knew it was time to get off the drugs. 

Fans of Rodgers' biggest hits will find much to enjoy in this candid autobiography. A lot of time is spent on Madonna's Like a Virgin album, and David Bowie's Let's Dance, with guest appearances from a host of other big names. As a B52s fan, I would have liked to have read something about Cosmic Thing and Good Stuff, two albums he produced in the late 80s and early 90s. But you can't have it all.