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'Heart & Soul,' the new Autobiography from T'Pau's flame-haired icon, Carol Decker, is a book that has to be praised for its pure honesty, warts-and-all. Nothing is sugar-coated and Carol says it as it is. It will make you cry laughing and you may get a lump in your throat with some sad times Carol is sharing with us.
This book is witty, very sassy and it is such a good read.
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| Carol Decker - Autumn 1991 |
Since T'Pau made it big in 1987, the names 'T'Pau' and 'Carol Decker' have never faded; they go hand-in-hand. It's like they have been 'brand' names all this time. Which is why I know this book will appeal to a lot of people who grew up with Carol, and not just excusively those who were listening to her music or were necessarily a big fan of the band. Us fans were in our teens back in the day when we went to T'Pau gigs and now we are mainly in our 40's & 50's!!
For the first time, Carol talks of the 'bi-polar' lifestyle she lived. With the highs-and-lows and make-ups and break-ups including stories never before told from backstage and on the road touring. She is recounting in humorous prose how she went from the sleepy backwater of Shrewsbury to number one around the world.
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| Carol with her new pal Bryan Adams who T'Pau supported in 1987 |
everybody has happy and sad and up and down periods in their life (I admire Carol on so many levels for being so open on the more serious parts of her life), but there is still a lot of funny anecdotes in the book.
The hilarity throughout the book did make me laugh out loud on many an occasion!!
One of those occasions was when the band were on a private jet with crates of Champagne and beers on tap-Only the best for our Carol, but the only problem was that there was no toilet on board!!
Now the men in the band just used their lager cans (I hope there was no turbulence, otherwise it would have been a DIY circumcision!!) Poor Carol had to sit cross legged until they landed and was walking very oddly when she got off the plane!!
It's the way Carol tells a funny story, or even when she makes a story funny. She just has that knack of making you laugh!!
If you follow Carol on Twitter you will know where I am coming from. It could be a tweet of rude looking vegetables (No meat I'm afraid!) or something quite random. It gets her Twitter followers involved and it causes a lot of banter. If you're on Twitter, her handle is @caroldecker.
She will have you in stitches with some of her off-the-cuff tweets!!
There are a lot of stand-out moments in the book which have hilarity attached to them, and Carol's delivery is spot on!
People would be mistaken in thinking that T'Pau were an 'overnight success,' what with them making it big in America with 'Heart & Soul' before they made it big over here in the UK in 1987-They couldn't be further from the truth! Carol made it big with T'Pau when she was 29, almost 30-"Practically ancient," as quoted by Carol! But Carol didn't start singing until the beginning of the 1980's and she had one big slog ahead of her until that 'crowning moment' and success finally came.
Fame doesn't come knocking on your door-Well it didn't then. You had to work for your goal, literally, by working in all of those grotty pubs and clubs, which is exactly what Carol did do. There was no X-Factor or The Voice to hand it to you on a plate. When you look at today's young new singers, some of them are practically half the age Carol was when she made it big!
Carol says someone at her school suggested to her that she joined a band and to stopped annoying her class mates with her constant 'wailing,' as she was always singing along to the radio. Carol's career path could have been so different!! She knew she could hold a tune and was good at remembering melodies, but singing had never once occurred to her!
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| Carol on the cover of 'Brum Beat-Live at the Barrel Organ |
The following piece isn't mentioned in the book, but I wanted to share with you one of Carol's first ever reviews back in 1980. My god, he was so right!!
When Carol joined her first band, 'The Lazers,' (It was all about the Z's in those days) She got to feature on a double LP 'Brum Beat - Live at the Barrel Organ' singing two tracks 'Rivet' & 'Headache'.
The album showcased Carol's 'unique' and 'refreshing' vocals which the music scene was crying out for!
Carol did, however, have a huge fan after she had finished her short set.
It's a complement that any up-and-coming singer can only dream of receiving.
The quote was made by a Mike Davies.
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| 'Live at The Barrel Organ!' album cover |
I'm not yet too guarded about my advanced years to say I remember when Lulu began or that I was a slavering fool for those early Brenda Lee records and it's with the advantage of experience that I go on record that this vivacious fireball of talent is already better than either of them at their peak. Forget Little Miss Dynamite-This is Little Miss Nuclear Bomb!! The Lazers are going to be stars, Carol Decker is going to be a whole bloody solar system-or the business may as well go into liquidation en masse!"
Was Mark Davies a clairvoyant or somebody who knew fresh new talent when he saw it?
Obviously, it's the latter! You don't get to see and hear talent like that every day of the week!
This would have been one of Carol's first reviews, and by god, what a 'perfect' review it was!
Would fit nicely on pages two and three of your CV!!! In the book there's another great quote Carol should be proud of when she was called 'Springsteen In A Split-Skirt.'
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| An early picture of Carol and Ronnie |
It wasn't an easy journey and it was a dream that both of them wanted so much.
Anyone in Carol & Ronnie's shoes would be excused without question for giving up, but they both worked so very hard for this 'dream,' they kept on going.
Doors would open and then get slammed back in their faces, but they never once gave up as they believed in themselves so much.
Carol's sheer enthusiasm and determination shows in the book when she says she would always buy the magazines 'Melody Maker' and 'NME,' where she would send demo tapes/letters/promo photos to ads at the back of the magazines. Her determination was commendable.
There was no internet back then-the nearest thing to that were homing pigeons!! You couldn't email some mp3's of your songs/a covering letter and a promo photo....How would we manage now!!
Carol would persevere at sending off letters, demo tapes and promo pictures, until one day it fell in the hands of an interested party!!
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| The album that put T'Pau on the map!! |
The Lazers were performing at a Young Farmers Ball and Carol got a tad too excited and thought "That meant a Radio 1 DJ from London was going to get to see us! He'd think we were fantastic and we'd get a big record deal that night! It was that simple!!" This wasn't Carol being big headed, this was Carol being naive. She didn't understand in those early days the process of getting a recording deal.
Carol even says they once did a gig in a pub with not one punter there-Unless you can call a dog running in circles a punter. They had many a gig like this and this was them 'earning their crust,' whilst at the same time trying to make a name for themselves.
The band were so enthusiastic and got to record their first album near Chicago. Carol failed to hear the word 'near' and says all she could think of was shopping and cocktail parties!!
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| A 1987 promo picture of the band after being signed |
When Carol talks of those early days with her new 'baby' T'pau, her's and Ronnie's 'new creation' there is a huge sense of pride in her tone. America was loving her, the UK started loving her, second time round, and they were to be the biggest band of 1987!
Carol says that back in those days there were a lot of firsts that new bands on the scene would love to 'tick the boxes on' and say "I've done that!" These would include recording your first album, your first number one and your first Top Of The Pops!! Top Of The Pops was an institution back then!
Carol talks with such pride about her first time on Top Of The Pops as it was such a big deal back then!
When China In Your Hand went to number one on its fourth week in the charts, it stopped George Harrison from getting to number one with his single 'Got My Mind Set On You.'
When T'Pau's debut album 'Bridge of Spies' hit the top spot in the charts, the same time as 'China In Your Hand' was number one, it stopped Paul McCartney from getting to number one with his album 'All The Best.' So you could say that in 1987 T'Pau were bigger than the Beatles!!
Carol has said in the past that she has got the chart listings of when they were number one in both the singles and album charts framed!
This is one accolade that Carol says she is very proud of. In those days, it was rare to have a number one album and single at the same time!
1987/1988 saw the band at their peak. 5 big hits from the two-and-a-half-million selling 'Bridge of Spies.' (In the UK alone) Carol was so proud and loved the new lifestyle she had become accustomed to. She was now an international pop star and got recognised in most places she went.
Living the life of Madonna, even if it was just for a short time, was mad and such fun! There were decoys, with a male member of the crew sporting a red wig pretending to be Carol!
Carol was now mixing with rock's gliteratti!! Including Sir Elton John, Eric Clapton, AC/DC & The McCartney's, the latter kept in touch with Carol for a while and Linda would send Carol calendars which had pictures she had taken on them.
It was mad at times, but she was loving it!
On one occasion, Carol recalls, she was at a showbiz event and somebody tapped her on the shoulder and said Sir Elton John would like to meet you.
"What, lil old me" she thought! He came over, Carol put her hand out to shake his hand and he went to kiss and hug her. She still had her hand out ready to shake his and ended up punching him in the ribs!!!
Carol goes on to explain another example of the first time she met a famous guitarist at Hammersmith Odeon, in the bar after her show. This story will make you laugh out loud and all I will say is that it involved a lemon!!
I love how the book goes full circle on numerous occasions :
When Carol was on a YTS scheme when she was unemployed and Prince Charles came to visit the people on the scheme and the project they were doing. Years later Carol was to perform for him at two Princes Trust events and even got a letter from him after each performance thanking her for being part of each event.
Carol also got to meet Princess Diana. She loved her personality and said she looked more beautiful in the flesh. When a photo was to be taken after one of the events with all of the stars who had taken part, Carol was standing directly next to the Princess and she whispered something in to Carol's ear, a word of advice on how to get the best smile!
I'll let you find out what Princess Diana said when you read the book!
Carol was down to perform 'China' at a Princess Diana tribute concert on the Althrop Estate but the date was a couple of weeks after her first baby was due. Carol was determined to make it and luckily she did.
The second thing that has gone full circle is Carol went to Holland to be an au-Pair for her Uncle not that it lasted long! But, years later when the bands second album 'Rage' was being recorded, the recording studio was very close to where she had been an au pair, bringing back memories of her youth.
Another example is that Carol first made her debut in The Shropshire Star when she was in a production of Pinocchio as a cat.
Ever since Carol has made it big as the 'T'pau icon,' she has been in the publication many many times.
She is one of Shropshire's most famous exports and still goes back and visits.
One year she turned their Christmas tree lights on.
Carol has very fond memories of Shropshire.
The band lasted 6 years until the end of 1991 and what they had was good. Carol & Ronnie's dream had come true and it was great while it lasted.
Carol says that back in those days there were a lot of firsts that new bands on the scene would love to 'tick the boxes on' and say "I've done that!" These would include recording your first album, your first number one and your first Top Of The Pops!! Top Of The Pops was an institution back then!
Carol talks with such pride about her first time on Top Of The Pops as it was such a big deal back then!
T'Pau's 1st ever appearance on Top Of The Pops
When T'Pau's debut album 'Bridge of Spies' hit the top spot in the charts, the same time as 'China In Your Hand' was number one, it stopped Paul McCartney from getting to number one with his album 'All The Best.' So you could say that in 1987 T'Pau were bigger than the Beatles!!
Carol has said in the past that she has got the chart listings of when they were number one in both the singles and album charts framed!
This is one accolade that Carol says she is very proud of. In those days, it was rare to have a number one album and single at the same time!
T'Pau performing 'China' on Top Of The Pops on its 1st week at number 1
1987/1988 saw the band at their peak. 5 big hits from the two-and-a-half-million selling 'Bridge of Spies.' (In the UK alone) Carol was so proud and loved the new lifestyle she had become accustomed to. She was now an international pop star and got recognised in most places she went.
Living the life of Madonna, even if it was just for a short time, was mad and such fun! There were decoys, with a male member of the crew sporting a red wig pretending to be Carol!
Carol was now mixing with rock's gliteratti!! Including Sir Elton John, Eric Clapton, AC/DC & The McCartney's, the latter kept in touch with Carol for a while and Linda would send Carol calendars which had pictures she had taken on them.
It was mad at times, but she was loving it!
On one occasion, Carol recalls, she was at a showbiz event and somebody tapped her on the shoulder and said Sir Elton John would like to meet you.
"What, lil old me" she thought! He came over, Carol put her hand out to shake his hand and he went to kiss and hug her. She still had her hand out ready to shake his and ended up punching him in the ribs!!!
Carol goes on to explain another example of the first time she met a famous guitarist at Hammersmith Odeon, in the bar after her show. This story will make you laugh out loud and all I will say is that it involved a lemon!!
I love how the book goes full circle on numerous occasions :
When Carol was on a YTS scheme when she was unemployed and Prince Charles came to visit the people on the scheme and the project they were doing. Years later Carol was to perform for him at two Princes Trust events and even got a letter from him after each performance thanking her for being part of each event.
Carol also got to meet Princess Diana. She loved her personality and said she looked more beautiful in the flesh. When a photo was to be taken after one of the events with all of the stars who had taken part, Carol was standing directly next to the Princess and she whispered something in to Carol's ear, a word of advice on how to get the best smile!
I'll let you find out what Princess Diana said when you read the book!
Carol was down to perform 'China' at a Princess Diana tribute concert on the Althrop Estate but the date was a couple of weeks after her first baby was due. Carol was determined to make it and luckily she did.
The second thing that has gone full circle is Carol went to Holland to be an au-Pair for her Uncle not that it lasted long! But, years later when the bands second album 'Rage' was being recorded, the recording studio was very close to where she had been an au pair, bringing back memories of her youth.
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| Carol on the front of the Shropshire Star |
Ever since Carol has made it big as the 'T'pau icon,' she has been in the publication many many times.
She is one of Shropshire's most famous exports and still goes back and visits.
One year she turned their Christmas tree lights on.
Carol has very fond memories of Shropshire.
The band lasted 6 years until the end of 1991 and what they had was good. Carol & Ronnie's dream had come true and it was great while it lasted.
So many people over the years have said how under - rated T'Pau were, including some of their songs. I'll never understand the reason for this. One question we'll never know the answer to.
Carol thinks they may have released 'Rage' the second album too soon, and they could easily have released it a bit later in 1989, whilst their popularity was at its peak.
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| T'Pau's 4th album Red |
Carol re-built a new T'pau around her in 1997 and a fourth 'Critically acclaimed' album 'Red' was recorded in 1998.
Carol's renaissance has been impressive and long lasting and she's been in huge demand ever since.
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| T'Pau at the Isle Of Wight Festival |
This was a huge success and it even saw them performing at The Isle Of Wight Festival that year to a packed-to-the-rafters 'Big-Top' stage.
Carol says her priorities have changed a lot now. From the person who was 'allergic' to children all those years ago, she now arranges her career around her family life.
'Secret Garden' at Isle Of Wight Festival
Fans asked if Carol and Ronnie were going to record again and 2014 they recorded T'Pau's 5th studio album 'Pleasure and Pain.'
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| Pleasure & Pain the new album |
Below is a poem Carol would read out at the beginning of The Promise Tour, which I featured at the top of this blog. The song that proceeded after she had read it was 'Heart & Soul. & I think it describes the band to a tee'
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| Carol Decker - Autumn 1991 |
This book is a must read. It won't just appeal to T'pau fans or even music lovers. It's a story of one person's ambition and chasing a dream. The book is hilarious in places where you will find yourselves laughing out loud.
It has to be said that Carol's honesty throughout the book was commendable.
Carol has had quite a few 'Spinal-Tap' moments mentioned in the book. Oh, I didn't mention 'twigletgate,' I'll let you find that.
There are also some sad, touching moments including when Carol's beloved mum died.
I urge you to get yourself a copy!!
Here's a great recent review of the book!
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| A great shot taken of fan Esra Joyce who says she takes the book wherever she goes & said it's a great read! |
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Between January & April 2016, the band were to tour the UK with the 'Songs & Stories' Acoustic Tour.
It was about the band performing their biggest hits, and some of the lesser known songs, which have stood the test of time, stripped back and played acoustically.
This was a first for Carol & Ronnie and the fans loved every minute of it.
It was so popular, it was a sell-out!!
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| A great picture of Carol & Ron on the tour by Peter Wiles |
Also, Carol was to tell us the stories behind the songs and what inspired her to write them.
2 songs a lot of people hadn't heard live before were 'Walk On Air' and 'Purity.' You could have heard a pin drop during these songs and Carol's vocals never fail to deliver-if anything, her vocals seem to get better every time I hear her perform, if that's even possible!!
The stories behind these 2 songs were so poignant and gave me goosebumps!
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| Another great photo by Emma Evans |
The tour also promoted the Autobiography, which Carol would sign after each gig.
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| A great shot by Geoff Marsh at St. Johns Church Farncombe |
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| Another fabulous shot!! |
Here's a great review of the opening night at Shrewsbury's Theatre Severn :
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