Wonderful Tonight

George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me

By: Pattie Boyd, Penny Junor

Narrated by: Pattie Boyd

An iconic figure of the 1960s and ’70s, Pattie Boyd breaks a forty-year silence in Wonderful Tonight, and tells the story of how she found herself bound to two of the most addictive, promiscuous musical geniuses of the twentieth century and became the most famous muse in the history of rock and roll.

She met the Beatles in 1964 when she was cast as a schoolgirl in A Hard Day’s Night. Ten days later a smitten George Harrison proposed. For twenty-year-old Pattie Boyd, it was the beginning of an unimaginably rich and complex life as she was welcomed into the Beatles inner circle—a circle that included Mick Jagger, Ron Wood, Jeff Beck, and a veritable who’s who of rock musicians. She describes the dynamics of the group, the friendships, the tensions, the musicmaking, and the weird and wonderful memories she has of Paul and Linda, Cynthia and John, Ringo and Maureen, and especially the years with her husband, George. It was a sweet, turbulent life, but one that would take an unexpected turn, starting with a simple note that began “dearest l.” I read it quickly and assumed that it was from some weirdo; I did get fan mail from time to time.... I thought no more about it until that evening when the phone rang. It was Eric [Clapton]. “Did you get my letter?”... And then the penny dropped. “Was that from you?” I said....It was the most passionate letter anyone had ever written me.

For the first time Pattie Boyd, former wife of both George Harrison and Eric Clapton, a high-profile model whose face epitomized the swinging London scene of the 1960s, a woman who inspired Harrison’s song “Something” and Clapton’s anthem “Layla,” has decided to write a book that is rich and raw, funny and heartbreaking—and totally honest and open and breathtaking. Here is the truth, here is what happened, here is the story you’ve been waiting for.

©2007 Pattie Boyd (P)2007 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[T]he appeal of Wonderful Tonight is as self-evident as the seemingly simple but brash opening chord of 'A Hard Day’s Night'… a charming, lively and seductive book, and like all good memoirs it also works as a cultural history… The prose is clear and unpretentious, and although she writes candidly about the pain her husbands ’ infidelities caused her…this isn’t a bitter tell-all. There’s an aura of sweetness around Boyd’s approach."—New York Times Book Review

“A scrumptious memoir…There is exactly one big question for Ms. Boyd to answer here: What made her leave Mr. Harrison for Mr. Clapton, her husband’s close friend? To its credit the book answers that question plausibly and fully.” —The New York Times

"They say if you can remember the '60s, you weren't really there. Well, Pattie Boyd was there, and she remembers it all." Wonderful Tonight "is a unique gospel of a turbulent time by someone who was in the very eye of the rock 'n' roll hurricane." —Sydney Morning Herald

Open and honest book

Excellent! I highly recommend it. Hear all the juicy details of the Beatles and Eric Clapton from Patti's point of view. She tells what it's like to be part of the fame, and the drawbacks.

Good Autobiography

I really enjoyed hearing about Patti Boyd's life.It was especially nice that she narrated the book herself. I do agree with other reviewers though in that I wish she had gone into a bit more details in the book, but it was still a thoroughly enjoyable book.

Beware: Abridged version

I didn’t realize that this was an abridged version when I bought it (now I know where to look). I thoroughly enjoyed Pattie Boyd’s reading. It felt like we were sharing confidences over a cup of tea. I’m looking forward to reading the unabridged version and hearing her voice in my mind.

Nice Book

Doesn’t have any juicy details but it’s about her life and the fact she had some of the greatest love songs written in her honor. RIP Patti Boyd

My era Loving George in youth

George was always my favorite Beatle. What a wonderful surprise to discover that despite a few faults, he was essentially such a good man. This is a fantastic little trip down memory lane by a very special and beautiful muse.

Good for you Pattie

I wish I could talk to you we have such parrallels in our lives. The horror of addiction no matter your station in life stirs up the same emotions in the heart. Sooner or later it all catches up with us in one way or another, simply put a broken heart is just that, no matter whose it is. No matter the reason for it. I am in the throes of a bad patch in my life because my husband of 22 yrs. addictions, he lies terminally ill as i write this. I like you all ways tried to make things ok, but they never are. I only hope I can persevere through the loneliness and utter hopelessness I feel at this time. Thank you for your book, it gives me a glimmer of hope that maybe it can come true. How I wish we could do lunch together, oh the things we could talk about. Forty years is a long time I will be waiting on another book, maybe some fiction that that is another record of that time in so many of our lives, I being a bit younger than you, me 54, but with a sister exactly your age. Write us some more memories Patty.
Your Fan :)

Short and sweet

I found this a very interesting listen. As Pattie's life was very interesting. She as many ups and downs. I had seen George Harrison's "Living in the Material World" and Eric Clapton's "Life in 12 Bars" and it was nice to hear Pattie's perspective. Could have been longer with more detail.

intelligent and Surprising

She allows us a glimpse into the. lives of the musicians. we love. A worthwhile read.

Fantastic

What a wonderful story like an enchanted fairy tale I find the author’s voice absolutely perfect and well now I love her too! Cheers Pattie:)

Such a fascinating life!

Overall, I really enjoyed listening to this book, Pattie’s life is so fascinating. However, it was pretty short, I would have loved more details and wish she would have gone a little bit more in depth with some of her stories.