ASK ROD
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ARE PEOPLE INSANE? i just wanted to say that i discovered your existence a whole
week ago. i bought used editions of listen to the warm and lonesome cities. i've always
enjoyed writing poetry but no one else's had ever really interested me until i read those
books. no one has ever said things that i wanted to say in such an exact fashion. to think
that i would call up the girl i love to read her poems that explained how i feel that were
written 30 years ago. who'd have thought? anyway, i know this is a long way about a
question, but i tried finding some more books of yours at barnes and noble, and other
bookstores as well as online only to find that none are being published anymore. 1) are
people insane? how can they not be in print anymore? 2) where can i find more? newly,
bryce w. finney
Dear Bryce, I reckon there are quite a few people out there who have a screw or two loose
& some of them may even run a few bookstore chains; but I hesitate to certify any of
them as crazy just because they don’t carry my books. To begin with, with the
exception of new poetry that from time to time appears here on the website and a number of
issues of Folio, I haven’t put out anything new since 1986. That year my last
publisher, Harper and Row, issued both "Valentines" & "Intervals".
In answer to your second question, nearly all of my books – including many first
editions can be purchased by writing Dwight Michaels at stanyanr@aol.com
. There is even a downloadable order form, updated periodically by Bill Learning, on the
home page of this web site. Another major source of my work is second hand book stores and
various internet auctions.
There will definitely be a brand new book of poetry published this year and afterwards you
can expect new works on a regular basis. Visitors to this site will always be the first to
learn of any publishing plans. Anyway, Bryce, welcome. Glad you turned over a rock and
found me.
COMPACT DISCS
Are there CD's of your music? I have old records, and
just don't play them anymore, but I do want your songs and voice about me ! Mert T
Dear Mert, Here’s a List of my current CD’s: After Midnight, Listen To The Warm,
Sold Out at Carnegie Hall, Lonesome Cities, Rod Sings The McKuen/Brel Songbook, Soundtrack
from "Joanna", Early Harvest, Speaking of Love, McKuen at the Movies, The French
Connection, Greatest Hits Vols. 1-4,New Carols for Chistmas, Music for Guardian Angels,
Without A Worry in the World: The European Hits, Concerto Works and the 40th Anniversary
edition of "Beatsville," released last month. "The Sea", an album I
did with the San Sebastian Strings and the marvelous Anita Kerr, is also available in both
English (narrated by Jesse Pearson) and French (spoken by Marc Ogeret.) Many of the
CD’s are available at local record stores and all are available from the address I
gave to Brice above. Rod
THE VOICE ON "FOR LOVERS"
I realize you would like very much to hear a totally
new question. I would like nothing better than to be the person to ask it, however, I fear
this is a repeat. While playing your albums/vinyl tonight....figure I might as well wear
them out. Why save for someone else who cannot care as much as I –they haven't the
memories I have with each one. Anyway...who is the voice on "For Lovers" ????
Such a beautiful creation. Brings back soooo many great memories of love and lovers. I buy
all the used albums I can find, just in case. I'm not so "long in the tooth yet"
and not all will become available on CD I am sure. Hope you have a new love...you deserve
the best. Thank you. Warmly, Sonja
Dear Sonja, Gene Merlino is the narrator of "For Lovers." Gene is a very
talented and much in demand West Coast session singer. He is also a charter member of
Anita’s Hollywood version of her famous Nashville group "The Anita Kerr
Singers". Rod
THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
Dear Mr. McKuen, Yesterday was Christmas and it was a
very nice Christmas with my 2 teens and my husband. My children were able to find a couple
of albums of yours on CD’s and gave them to me for Christmas. I listened to you for
the first time in years and it brought back memories of 1976 when I was 20 years old. I
heard you were going to be signing books at the mall, but I was scheduled to work. I went
to work, but all the while kept thinking that I wanted to see you. I could stand it no
longer. I called my then boyfriend (who is my now husband) to come get me from work (as I
had been driven in by a co-worker and had no car) and take me to the mall. I'm sure I said
nothing of any consequence to you, but I did get an autograph and I was happy. I had been
to one of your concerts and had many of your albums. I had the biggest crush on you back
then and listening to the music again yesterday has rekindled the crush. Now I am 42, been
married almost 20 years and have thoughts of running away to you. Midlife crisis? Perhaps.
My husband is a great guy so perhaps I'll just keep this a secret from him. He is more
into Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, Van Halen, and I was into more sensitive stuff, but he did
take me to your concert. I am so grateful to my children for bringing you back into my
life. It sounds like you are happy doing what you are doing and I am glad you are still
here on earth. Maybe you will chuckle reading this. Thank you and love [name withheld.]
Dear Name Withheld, No chuckles here, just gratitude and thanks. I am glad you like older
men and, yes, we’ll definitely keep this our little secret. Rod
- RM 1/3/99 |
