Skylark: The Life and Times of Johnny Mercer

Rating:
Summary: Overdue recognition for a genius of song
Review: A true example of why they don't write 'em like they used to, Johnny Mercer has written some of the catchiest, longest remembered and honored songs of the 20th century, many of which the average listener has little clue as to who put the words to the tunes that remain timeless in their appeal. As a collaborator with some of the finest tunesmiths ever (Harold Arlen, Hoagy Carmichael to name two) Mercer could dance with words as effortlessly and as beautifully as a prima ballerina while maintaining a roots, folksy manner both charming and disarming in its playfulness.

Philip Furia's biography is well recearched and referenced, using the recollections of friends, family, and cohorts, and finds a treasure trove in Mercer's own unreleased autobiography. Mercer's bouts with feelings of unworthiness as a composer were unexplained periods of doubt in a career that spanned the thirties through the sixties. While not the financial or acclaimed success of friend and rival Bing Crosby, Mercer became a standard for composition that has yet to be matched even by modern contemporaries like McCartney (who, the book indicates, explored a partnership in Mercer's latter years).

This book explores as best it can the song writing magic of Mercer, although the explanations of his seemingly effortless method of composition appears (as the author indicates) a tad glib and self-effacing. Were they available, additional tales of his creative inspirations would have been appreciated; any man who comes up with a couplet like "If for the stork you pine, consider the porcupine" deserves to be studied if only for the glee apparent in coming up with such delicious bits of rhyme and rhythm, certainly at a level equal or surpassing today's best.

Mercer's life was also painted in broad strokes of unhappiness, and the contrast between the joyous singer of "Zip-a dee-doo-dah" with the alcoholic and unsatisfied husband provides a remarkable set of circumstances.

This book was an enjoyable read in exploring the life and career of Johnny Mercer. Like the subject of these pages, I think I could have easily been fascinated with the book had it been twice as long, as this southern gentleman's tales and stories, against the background of his life and times, would have been captivating reading for any fan of the genre of the popular song and of show business personalities (and Johnny certainly had personality to spare). I would recommend this book along with an accompanying copy of "Capitol Collector Series - Johnny Mercer" or any good compilation of his songs. Be they his renditions or the more popular cover versions, Johnny Mercer is timeless, priceless, and almost "Too Marvelous for Words". Thank you Philip Furia.

Rating:
Summary: Too marvelous for words
Review: At last! A real biography of arguably the best lyricist in popular music. Sadly for me it is a"warts and all" book. I admire him so much that I felt hurt to see how human he was. After some time passed, I realized those "warts" were probably responsible for the quality of his later masterpieces. I am now listening " I Remember You " and "One for My Baby" and "This Time the Dream's on Me" with much more insight. Thanks Mr. Furia.

Rating:
Summary: Too marvelous for words
Review: At last! A real biography of arguably the best lyricist in popular music. Sadly for me it is a"warts and all" book. I admire him so much that I felt hurt to see how human he was. After some time passed, I realized those "warts" were probably responsible for the quality of his later masterpieces. I am now listening " I Remember You " and "One for My Baby" and "This Time the Dream's on Me" with much more insight. Thanks Mr. Furia.

Rating:
Summary: The Heart & Soul of Savannah
Review: I attended Kevin Spacey's sold out concert at the new Jazz At Lincoln Square Theater here in NYC last Tuesday (Dec. 14) and listened to his incredibly beautiful voice sing not only Bobby Darin songs, but classic Johnny Mercer songs. Not everyone remembers Bobby Darin & Johnny Mercer's album from the 60s; Two Of A Kind, but I do.

Johnny Mercer's business manager, Marshall Robbins, sent me a photo taken at one of their rehearsals, which is framed on my living room wall. Uncle Johnny (he was my godfather) and Bobby Darin (and Mr. Robbins) are eating Eskimo Pies as they look over sheet music.

Johnny Mercer was not only an American original, but a good human being. Savannah continues to hold him up as 'First Son' and probably always will. This is a wonderful book that makes him human with all the happiness, sadness and life's ups and downs. As I get older (I'm in my 60's now) I find myself going back to those glorious, sunny, happy days of Savannah where I grew up, and those wonderful Mercer songs we used to sing at cookouts on Tybee Island and Wilmington Island. This book brought back the old Savannah that lives only in the hearts and memories of those who are old enough to remember.

It is incomprehensible to me that we are only five years ago from Johnny Mercer's 100th Birthday. He and my dad grew up together. This book is for music lovers and people who want to know more about America's greatest song writers. It does not disappoint.

Rating:
Summary: Informative, but unfocused
Review: I bought this book on the basis of having read Philip Furia's excellent IRA GERSHWIN - THE ART OF THE LYRICIST. In fact, I probably wouldn't have taken Johnny Mercer very seriously if Philip Furia hadn't deemed him worthy of biography. I found this book very informative and insightful, but unfocused. The book is at its best when Furia analyzes Mercer's lyrics. Mr. Furia is a diligent student of the lyricist's craft and has the ability to express his criticism in a clear and logical way. He nailed Mercer's lyrics as "untheatrical," which I think is why I never really took to them. It explains Mercer's lack of having a hit song come from one of his Broadway scores. When Furia writes of Mercer's professional life, the book is interesting and insightful. The story of his personal life is only intermittently interesting and the amateur psychoanalysis is laughable. I found it odd that considering how effeminate Mercer was and how his life fits the homosexual case history in many ways (close to the mother, went into showbiz, married the first woman he had sex with) that there is no mention of his having been at least bi-sexual. Instead the book seems to go out of its way to butch him up. Where the book really jumps the track is when it touches upon the long-running, on-again-off-again love affair between Mercer and Judy Garland (who, Furia doesn't mention, often had affairs with homosexuals and, as Furia does mention, whose father and first husband were gay). At this point Furia jumps into HOLLYWOOD BABYLON territory and goes into a rather detailed and sleazy depiction of Judy Garland's sex life. It's enough to know that Mercer and Garland had an affair. I don't want to speculate on what they did in bed.

The backstage stories of the Broadway, Hollywood and British work are so good that I wish there were more of them and that they were more detailed. I also found the story of the creation of Capitol Records a fascinating one. Very interesting too were the descriptions of Mercer's work habits and his working relationships with his collaborators. SKYLARK is a Jeckyll-and-Hyde kind of book. The professional part of the story is excellent. The personal story is murky and questionable. Furia obviously dislikes Mrs. Mercer and depicts her as a gold-digging, spendthrift manipulator. There are too many unasked questions, for example, Why did Johnny Mercer put up with her if she was so awful? He must have been getting something out of the deal, despite the fact that they had separate bedrooms and adopted their children. Furia draws too many conclusions based on nebulous evidence. I don't know what audience this book is aimed at. Those interested in the craft of the song and the musical may be turned off by the sleazy elements. Those interested in the sleaze might be bored by the song analyses.

Rating:
Summary: A Skylark he was!
Review: If you've lived a while and remember the music of the '30s through the '60s, hum a tune and the chances are it will be one of Mercer's -- either lyrics or lyrics and music. The man was a phenomenon! Furia gives an even-handed account of Mercer's life, including the good, the bad, and the ugly. When he was sober, he was a prince, a genius. When he was in his cups, he was someone else. Furia gives us Mercer's Savana upbringing as a "southern boy," and that was always part of his persona. This is a book you will want to read and to skim as an encyclopedic account of his myriad works. "Skylark" is the perfect title.