Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Anyone Who Had A Cilla Record Will Be Disappointed, 19 Dec 2000
By A Customer
Douglas Thompson has written various biographies of a diverse group of performers, and I was looking forward to reading his take on the life of Cilla Black, almost an enigma to fans of the pop star-turned presenter. He is a great writer, but I felt he concentrated a little too much on Cilla's television (BLIND DATE/SURPRISE SURPRISE) work as opposed to her vast recording career. Cilla is often overlooked when it comes to retrospective documentaries and written works about The Beatles, Brian Epstein, George Martin, and the Sixties scene. But why? She was a major figure. Okay, as Mr. Thompson points out, she doesn't hold the same "Diva status" as Bassey or Dusty, but in her day she was huge, selling a million singles a day. There are still many fans of Cilla's soulful and strong singing voice (admittedly it has deteriorated) - and she deserves much more credit. The very first chapter showed shoddy research (Burt Bacharach conducted the ALFIE session, not ANYONE WHO HAD A HEART, Douglas!) which made me groan. He could of spoken to Bacharach, Martin, the Beatles camp, the various comedians, musicians and producers she worked with throughout her career, instead of devoting several chapters to the voices of BLIND DATE contestants and the inhabitants of Denham!! I can't diminish the fact that there are plenty of anecdotes that amused me, and lots of childhood stories and tales which rightly belong here - but again, did we really need to know so much about BLIND DATE? The people who are avid fans of the show already know that Cilla isn't the chummy comedienne in the Hospitality Suite that she is on screen. Disappointing, Mr. Thomsen. Having read your excellent Dudley Moore memoir, BOBBY'S GIRL was a letdown. Among many, I wish I'd learnt more about Cilla than what you told us about her presenter persona.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Tolerable froth..., 30 Aug 2000
By A Customer
I expected this to be an authoritative account of Cilla's life and career. Instead, what is on offer is a mish-mash of frothy gossip and inaccurate information. I have followed Cilla's career since I was 11 (1963), but Thompson makes the most glaring errors. For example, he says, "When Burt Bacharach was working with her [and George Martin] on the recording of Anyone Who Had A Heart he did twenty-three takes . . ." When Martin enquired what Burt was looking for, he replied, "That little bit of magic!" This should actually be attributed to the time Bacharach was directing the orchestra and overseeing the recording of Cilla's wonderful version of Alfie. A different song, and some two and a half years later than Thompson indicates! I would put this biography into the gossipy annals of the Sun and other similar tabloid newspapers. I liked the cover of Cilla with Bobby, her late husband, and it was this that attracted me to the book in the first place. In addition, for a trip down memory lane it helped me wile away a few (often irritating) hours.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Even Dionne Warwick wouldn't approve!, 27 Jun 2002
I expected this to be an authoritative account of Cilla's life and career. Instead, what is on offer is a mish-mash of frothy gossip and inaccurate information. I have followed Cilla's career since I was 11 (1963), but Thompson makes the most glaring errors. For example, he says, "When Burt Bacharach was working with her [and George Martin] on the recording of Anyone Who Had A Heart he did twenty-three takes . . . When Martin enquired what Burt was looking for, he replied, 'That little bit of magic!'" This should actually be attributed to the time Bacharach was directing the orchestra and overseeing the recording of Cilla's definitive version of Alfie. A different song, and some two and a half years later than Thompson indicates! I would put this biography into the gossipy annals of the Sun and other similar tabloid newspapers. I don't even think Dionne Warwick would approve! I liked the cover of Cilla with Bobby, her late husband, and it was this that attracted me to the book in the first place. I have always tried to avoid buying biographies but what I thought would be a good trip down memory lane (YES it DID help me wile away a few - very irritating - hours), this book really belongs in the dustbin of biographies.
Wouldn't recommend it at all but, Cilla, ever thought about writing your autobiography?
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