Richard Harris and his battle with Jimmy Webb to record MacArthur Park

The middle section of Richard Harris's definitive version of MacArthur Park became my anthem when I bought the single in 1968. The song is loved by millions of people. Harris said, "it is the story of my life." Here,  in a section from my upcoming book Richard Harris Raising Hell and Reaching for Heaven, he talks about the battle he had with c composer Jimmy Webb who, according to Harris, didn't want him to record the song. This is not how Webb tells the tale, I hasten to add. Then again, my book shows that they both have vastly different memories of their relationship.