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Article - Reviewed: Wrestling
With Elephants
The
Biography of Don Black
Author:
James Inverne, Don Black
Foreword:
John Barry |
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Format: Hardback ( 222 pages, plus 16 pages of
separate b & w photos)
Published: Sanctuary Publishing
02 Jun 2003
ISBN: 1-86074-468-0
List Price: £16.99 |
Description:
 "Born
a working-class East End boy in the 50s, over 40 years Black went
on to write hundreds of songs for some of the most enduring hits
of film and stage, such as "Born Free", "Diamonds Are Forever",
"Sunset Boulevard" and "Out of Africa". He picked up a weatlh of
accolades along the way, including Academy Award nominations and
five Ivor Novello Awards, as well as collaborating with musical
legends such as John Barry, Michael Jackson, Andrew Lloyd Webber
and Quincy Jones. This biography covers the true rags-to-riches
story of Don Black, up to his successes with "Bombay Dreams" and
"Romeo and Juliet". "
Review
by Geoff Leonard:
08
June 2003
Black
Goes With Everything
Or
so they say. It was certainly the name of an excellent musical I
saw a few years ago, in Bromley, Kent, when around 30 of Don Black's
songs were performed by a variety of talented artists and dancers
in a two-hour show. The show hasn't yet found a home in the West
End of London and doesn't get a mention in James Inverne's compelling
biography, Wrestling With Elephants - The Authorised Biography
of Don Black, just published by Sanctuary Publishing. However,
it appears to be about the only thing which doesn't get a mention
in this fascinating 'rags to riches' tale, which chronicles both
successes and failures in an illustrious 40 years plus career in
the music, film and theatre business.
Inverne
clearly got plenty of help from his subject and his immediate family,
as he did from several of Black's collaborators and singers of his
songs, like John Barry, Elmer Bernstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elaine
Paige and Lulu. This is a big advantage for a biographer and not
only does it create a feeling of integrity, it also gives the impression
of frankness and honesty throughout - a refreshing change for a
musical biography.
Black
himself comes across as a very modest fellow. Proud of his success,
yes, but never boastful, and always prepared to admit when something
hasn't worked out and keen to establish the possible reason. So,
we are entertained and thrilled by stories of his Oscar win for Born Free or his first, massive, stage musical hit, Billy,
but can empathise with him when Budgie, which appeared to
be a perfect idea for a musical, unaccountably failed to attract
an audience. We can laugh along with his stories of John Barry offering
to fight John Phillips of the Mamas & Papas, or his own beginnings
as a stand-up comic (Don Black - A Living Joke), whereas we can
share his sorrow and frustration as manager of Matt Monro, a wonderfully
talented singer who could not stop drinking. Monro was obviously
a very close friend of his, it was much more than manager and star
relationship, and for the first time Black talks about how he fought
to hide Monro's alcoholism from the public.
Overall,
though, this book is about a successful career and having a lot
of fun along the way. It's also a story of a man who is a bit of
workaholic - he worries if he hasn't written anything for three
weeks, for example. It's about a man who cherishes lyrics and cares
deeply about every word he writes. To this end, he goes further
than many of his contemporaries by explaining in detail why he takes
a certain route in writing a song and even presents his 'Ten Golden
Rules of Lyric Writing'!
Black
is never one to dwell too long in the past and is always looking
for a new challenge. In this respect, John Barry fans will be pleased
to hear that Brighton Rock, the stage musical he is writing
with Barry, is still going to plan. He even relates an amusing story
of telling JB that the ten melodies he had sent were all melancholy
and they couldn't possibly have ten sad songs. To which Barry retorted
"It's not a ****ing picnic, it's about hell."!!
The
book contains some rare photos of Black, his family, friends and
collaborators taken throughout the course of his life and career.
It also contains a moving foreword by John Barry, in which he talks
of a deep mutual respect, trust and loyalty. It's easy to see why
the two friends have worked together so happily for almost 40 years.
I
recommend this book unreservedly to one and all. I'm about to read
it again!!
Geoff
Leonard, June 2003.
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