IN PRINT

BOOK REVIEW:

Henry Mancini...Reinventing Film Music

John Caps

University of Illinois Press

When I think of Henry Mancini, the theme to The Pink Panther comes to mind.  (A tie for very close second is the enduring theme to the television series, Peter Gunn and the memorable theme and popular song from the 1961 film Breakfast At Tiffany’s, Moon River.)  It is fitting that John Caps’ biography of his life reflect this in the pink lettering and inside jacket as well as the typeface reminiscent of the movie.

Mancini’s life was dedicated to arranging and composing music.  Early on, he would practice writing out arrangements of music he heard on the radio growing up near Pittsburgh.  He would study the orchestration and even learn the names of the arrangers of charts for big bands such as Benny Goodman, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington.

Born in 1924, Mancini witnessed the rise of big band swing and his pursuits as an arranger nearly landed his a place with Glen Miller’s military incarnation.  (He would eventually work with the Miller band as arranger and pianist with Tex Beneke at the Helm.)  It was his early love of film music, though, that would lead him to become arguably the most recognizable name in film and television music.  In Reinventing Film Music, details of the chance encounters and deliberate actions won and lost that propelled him on this journey abound.

The technical aspects of composing and arranging are given much more than a cursory mention that would be expected of a biography.  Notes on the orchestra membership of some studio recordings and details from his 1962 text on orchestration that appear in this book reveal some of the elements that made up the “Mancini Touch.”  The melodic choices that went into his memorable themes from the scores to Breakfast At Tiffany’s and Days Of Wine And Roses are described in detail that is inspiring for songwriters as well as those with a fondness for the tunes.  John Caps illustrates parallels between the scoring and the plot in Mancini’s approach.  In addition, some cliched elements are given defense, such as the over-dramatic moments in the scoring of Breakfast.  The cultural references help portray the composer as someone who was able to innovate while still taking care to create a successful score.

All of Mancini’s creative output is addressed in the book.  The most notable movies and television shows are discussed in depth including the main characters and the actors that portrayed them as well as plot points and the occasional depiction of scenes.  The film lover will enjoy being reminded of the details of the groundbreaking opening shot from Orson Well’s A Touch Of Evil with it’s dolly shot that encompasses over 3 minutes of uncut action as well as the fact that the Pink Panther theme is absent from the second movie from the series, A Shot In The Dark, due to the fact that it was an unintentional sequel salvaged from another film.

It doesn’t appear to be an accident that this book could serve the student of music and film in addition to serving as a biography of one of Hollywood’s most successful musicians.  The technical details are compelling and the background provided to many of his projects complete the picture for those not familiar with his work.  A must read for anyone interested in the genre of film music and films in general.

IN PRINT

BOOK REVIEW:

Tasteful Nudes...And Other Misguided Attempts At Personal Growth And Validation

Dave Hill

St. Martin’s Press 

Tasteful Nudes is a collection of memoirs and humorous stories from the life and times of the author, Dave Hill.  The subjects are wide ranging: from growing up in Cleveland to being a starving artist in New York City, odd jobs and career aspirations, and adventures (good, bad, and in-between) encountered while pursuing a career as an entertainer.  I think aspiring entertainers and artists will relate to some of the accounts in the book where Mr. Hill tries his hand at performing in a rock band, stand up comedy, and writing for television.  The chapter on the rise and fall of his band from the 1990’s, Sons Of Elvis, rang familiar to so many other experiences I have witnessed in the music biz,  either personally or watching a band I liked almost make it big, and it was refreshing and enjoyable to get a humorist’s account on the matter. 

In one lighthearted recollection from the book, the author answers the phone, “Hi, this is Dave Hill...from show business.”  This moxy-of-the-ages attitude casts many of the stories in an entertaining and endearing light.  The essays on being an entertainer are the most engaging in the book, especially those regarding music, where tales are recounted in a “look what I survived and it was worth all the hard knocks” kind of way.  Other moments reveal the joy found in that even the slightest success as an artist is valuable because it is so fleeting and hard to attain on any level.  For example, at the end of the road for the Sons Of Elvis, Mr. Hill, having found himself working as a painter instead of touring the country with the band whose latest single had been enjoying moderate rotation on radio and MTV notices a sticker for his one-time group while painting a bedroom of a house.  These accounts are balanced by tales of family and friends and ordinary circumstances with some humorous twists along the way.

IN PRINT

Book Review:

Elvis In Vegas

Paul Lichter

2012 Overlook Duckworth Peter Mayer Publishing

It seems that Elvis is slipping off the radar of pop culture recently, so, it is fitting that a new book about his life and times is released.

This book chronicles in photographs and anecdotes the milestones in the life of Elvis Presley during arguably the height of his stardom focusing on his association with Sin City.  Though this period primarily encompasses his many appearances at the Hilton International Hotel during the 70’s, the details also include appearances in 1956 at the Frontier Hotel as well as his later tour appearances.  

This book speaks more to the fan of everything Elvis than those only interested in his music and contribution to early rock and roll, but it’s important to remember that that is what he had become...a superstar known for more than his music.  It stands then that in most of the book, music is secondary to Elvis as a superstar or movie star.  All of these elements are essential to understanding the tragic and heroic life of The King.

The fan of the music may find details of the bands in Vegas interesting.  James Burton, featured prominently in the performances was originally asked to play the ’68 Comeback Special, but couldn’t due to his commitment with Frank Sinatra.  Longtime Elvis fan John Wilkinson signed on as rhythm guitarist, Ronnie Tutt (later replaced by Bob Lanning) on drums, Larry Muhoberac (later replaced by Glen Hardin) on piano completed the rhythm section for most of the Vegas engagements.  Recordings of this group reveal a unique sound created by seasoned musicians that was the perfect foil for Elvis’ Vegas period.

A large part of the photos are live shots and behind the scenes from the Vegas shows.  Fans of his costumes will find these detailed with outfit names.  It is interesting to trace the development of the outfits over the years as it is to note the use of the cape on some to compete the ensemble.  Their flamboyance becomes suitable of any mega-star musician from the 1970’s.  It is also interesting to see that they become a little more subdued (if only slightly) towards the end of his career.  The book reveals a little known fact that the jumpsuits were modeled after a karate Gi and initially designed by Priscilla.  

In the text, we find details of a generous and kind person who always put the music and the fans first.  You can easily take from this that that is a key to his success.  You also find an individual who was trapped in the enormous pressures of super-stardom and was capable of reacting unpleasantly when these pressures became to great or things didn’t go his way.  The book is unflinching in reflecting both sides and only strays from it’s focus on Vegas to provide some context to the last period of Elvis life.