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Post by dem bones on Apr 13, 2010 7:30:31 GMT
Don Short - Engelbert Humperdinck: The Authorized Biography (New English Library, 1972) Blurb: Singer of Release Me, which sold over five million copies, voted No.1 singer in more than a dozen countries and with a string of smash hit records to his name, ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK is one of the greatest singers of the century. From a wilderness of frustration Engelbert Humperdinck, alias Arnold George Dorsey, rose to fame to become a new and adored hero of the pop scene. With his handsome looks and his romantic singing he became a living legend not only in Britain but throughout the world. Now this detailed biography presents a portrait of the real Engelbert Humperdinck - his personal and professional secrets and successes, his concerts, his fans and his very own philosophy of life.You know the story (and you can multiply it by ten if you're pissed). You visit your favourite charity shop/ market stall/ car boot sale for the first time in weeks. 'Proceed with caution', you tell yourself, 'only buy if it's a must have'. All of which goes out of the window the second that NEL/ Everest/ Sphere/ Hamlyn [delete as applicable] logo leaps out at you from some crumpled spine, and suddenly everything looks like it's your all-time best find. Trouble is, you've a fiver to last the week, and you ain't gonna eat if you blow it on some crummy book, but you buy it regardless of any sane consideration such as 'do i have any interest in the subject matter?' You probably even shake hands with the dealer like he's the greatest mate you ever had. you're ten yards from the stall, you can't resist another peak inside your carrier bag-load of treasure, and .... and that moment of mute horror when the scales drop and you see your haul for the pile of crap it truly is. and then there are those few occasions when you land something that makes the whole f**k**g rigmarole worthwhile, and this is unquestionably one of them. The Love Poems That Engelbert Receives From His Fans, an exhaustive list of his fan club addresses ("The Engels Angels Chapter has all sorts of wonderful connotations), so many highlights for such a slim paperback. The chapter devoted to Career Versus Critics is a particular joy. Engelbert Humperdink was shattered when the British critics savagely flayed his first international television series in 1970.
Peter Black of the London Daily Mail wrote "The Engelbert Humperdink show was the nearest thing I've seen to zombie TV ... The luckless Humperdink was projected as a mindless hunk of muscles and looks.
Other critics were less flattering. But for Engelbert Humperdink it left him bewildered and naturally distressed. Very soon he was to retort.
'So much money, work, time and thought have gone into the shows. The critics are less than fair. What kind of show are they looking for? Sex, pornography, violence? Is that what they want? They will never find it in my type of show." some more NEL pop. haven't started it yet and possibly never will, but for some reason i already love it above life itself ..... Hugh Miller - Kingpin (NEL, October, 1975) Blurb; Michael McBain, hero of THE OPEN CITY, is in need of change. He's saddled with easy success and needs new competition. Circumstances move McBain from Glasgow to London where he becomes involved with Dave Cole big-time disc jockey, idol and kingpin of the progressive pop culture.
Cole is a man of flawed genius with enormous talent and depraved weaknesses. Together he and McBain form the nucleus of a million-pound discotheque venture but they clash violently - especially when McBain's sister employs her talent for bizarre sex to win Cole's loyalty.
This is a tough, relentless book which effectively mirrors the inhuman demands made on those in the public eye - and the excessive means with which they try to cope.
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Post by Steve on Apr 14, 2010 19:32:53 GMT
Don Short - Engelbert Humperdinck: The Authorized Biography (New English Library, 1972) You know the story... You visit your favourite charity shop/ market stall/ car boot sale for the first time in weeks... suddenly everything looks like it's your all-time best find... you're ten yards from the stall, you can't resist another peak inside your carrier bag-load of treasure, and... ...then you write it up at Vault and it goes straight onto some sad bastard in the midlands's wants list 'cos, god help me, that's my kind of book! May have to wait a while though - did you know that copies of Engelbert Humperdinck: The Authorised Biography are going on Amazon for £25 in just 'acceptable' condition and £75 if you want a 'very good' one. Mind you, if you want quality...
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Post by dem bones on May 26, 2012 17:51:56 GMT
i reckon those entirely reasonable prices will be a thing of the past if the silver tongued crooner triumphs over the Russisn gumster mafia at tonight's Eurovision Song Contest. Will this be the year when all our dreams come true and the UK finally retain the crown that is ours by birthright?
This is surely one of the finest pop biographies ever written, not least for Appendix I: The Love Poems Englebert Receives From His Fans ....
MY ENGELBERT
Engelbert so very sweet He always looks so nice and neat, He always sings from his very heart, Always from the very start.
Everyone loves him, including me, He makes a hit every time, Without him I'd go round the bend, Oh! I wish he was all really mine.
When I am sad and blue, I stop and think Engelbert of you, And you're on my mind day and night, For you are my leading lights
— Ena Horwood
This one inclines toward the morbid, but all is well in the end.
WHEN THERE'S NO YOU
We'd tickets for the very last show, Twelve we had seen, just one to go.
Same time and place, but another day, Friends we'd made were on their way.
Outside the theatre we all did meet, For this evening was a special treat.
Once again we were first in the queue, Spirits were high, for why we all knew.
By 8 o'clock all seats were filled, The red lights 'on' — audience stilled.
Such an ovation when Engel came out, He'd been so ill, we just had to shout.
He tried so hard and gave us his all, But halfway through he began to fall.
A specialist came, what could he do? Enge's last performance was nearly through.
Ten minutes passed - and he did re-appear, The time to sing with Jack Jones who was here.
The great show was over all too soon, He finished the series with first hit tune.
We left the theatre with tears in our eyes, Now came the moment for last goodbyes.
Would Engelbert still be on his feet? Backstage again, did hope we'd meet.
Time he spared, though so ill he'd been, Very few fans were left unseen.
We'd met before, but never like this, A fond farewell with a friendly kiss.
He's off to the States - everything new! What will be left 'When There's No You?'
- Janet Capp
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Post by andydecker on May 26, 2012 20:01:59 GMT
If a event ever deserved to be run over by a horde of hungry zombies ...
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