MONDAY
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Polaroid photo by Edward McKuen, August
2002 ©2002 by Stanyan Music Group. All rights reserved.
A Thought for Today
A laurel crown dries up; the vine from
which it came lives on.
.ASK
ROD
Good Monday morning, on to the mail.
THE 2003 BIRTHDAY CONCERT
I often enjoyed your concerts in Philly. & at the
Valley Forge Music Fair [talk about dating one's self]. On several
occasions I have seen remarks pertaining to a "supposed" upcoming
"Birthday Concert" [2003] in New York. Any truth? If so when and where
please. I would like to book well in advance.
I would also like to thank you for this site. In younger years your work
was a source of great comfort to a troubled mind. Now, as an aging person
I can again visit your words and once more find comfort. Rich Anthony
Dear Aging Rich: Thanks for the memories. It’s not a ‘supposed concert’
but an actual event. The next birthday concert takes place on April 30th,
2003 at Carnegie Hall.
I hope to post further details on it soon here on the flight Plan, so stay
tuned. Love, An Aging (but still here) Rod.
Where can I find additional information about the
2003 Birthday Concert? Russ Kraus
Dear Russ: See my response to the letter above and note that readers of
the Flight Plan will have first call on seating. Warmly, Rod.
A MAN ALONE
Hello Rod: I just received the "A Man Alone" album.
WOW! What great, memorable and riveting tunes. I remember Bing Crosby on a
TV interview, ca 1974, Lee Leonard - Ch 5, NY saying the performer (or
singer) is only as good as the composer. Not meaning to sound patronizing
- you made Sinatra shine in this one - particularly 1. A Man Alone 3. I've
Been to Town 5. Single Man 6. Beautiful Strangers. In case this CD wears
out, I've ordered another from Amazon.com (a great company) as a backup.
Mike Lund from Serendipity Recordings, Guilford, CT told me it's a hard
one ( A Man Alone) to get. "Lonesome Cities" and Love's Been Good to Me
are great melodies, but have gotten too commercial and overplayed. I hope
on your next CD you pick the best singer(s). You oughtta have several
different performers on one CD....My favorites - altho' somewhat obscure -
Steve Lawrence, Edie Gorme, Melissa Manchester, Carly Simon, James Taylor,
Jack Jones, James Naughton, Julius LaRosa, Steve Tyrell, et al..man...am I
dating myself (67)...Anyway, continued success....Regards, King
Dear King: I'm pleased that you found a CD copy of A Man Alone and that
you like it. As a producer and songwriter (co producer on this album with
Sonny Burke) FS was the easiest artist I ever worked with. He showed up at
every session knowing the material, took direction well (though in his
case very little was needed), did each song in only a couple of takes and
completed the album on time and under budget.
Frank's not being with us any longer has created a very personal void in
my life. When he was here he was accessible, always "UP" for work or play
and was a constant source of encouragement for my work.
That's quite a list of favorite singers. Of the batch only Jack Jones has
recorded several of my songs including I Never Go There Anymore and If You
Go Away. My friend Jim Pierson has been threatening to put together an
album of my songs chosen from those recorded by others, including FS,
Shirley Bassey, Vic Damone, Mathis, Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield, Como,
Glenn Campbell, Oliver, Diamond, Vera Lynn, Madonna, Percy Faith, Hoyt
Axton, Eddie Arnold, etc. Who knows maybe he'll get it together in time
for next years birthday celebration.
An album like that would certainly make a nice reminder of fifty plus
years of songwriting. As for dating yourself, I've got two years on you.
Luv, Rod
My wife and I will be attending your upcoming
concert at the College of DuPage in Chicago. I am really looking forward
to it -- and my wife is trusting me that she will have a great time. It
has been decades since I saw you perform at the Civic Opera House
downtown. In the meantime, I have seen Glenn many times, but, as you know,
he limits himself to, at best, one or two of your songs per concert.
Anyway, here is my question. Do you know if Sinatra's album of your songs
was ever put on CD? I have seen just about all his other stuff on CD, but
not the McKuen album. KL.
Dear KL: I'm looking forward to seeing you and meeting you and your wife
after the concert in DuPage next month. Over the years I think I've played
nearly every venue in and around Chicago and for sentimental reasons Mr.
Kelly's is still my favorite.
You're right about Glenn limiting the number of McKuen penned songs he
performs but considering how many of my tunes he's introduced over the
years I have no complaints.
A Man Alone has been released on CD but remains pretty difficult to come
by. As King mentions in his letter above it's still available from
Amazon.com so you might start there. Thanks for writing and I'll see you
both after the show, Warmly, Rod.
I ROLL BETTER WITH THE NIGHT
I Roll Better With the Night -- I think it was on a
calendar or something too many years ago to even think about, but I always
felt it spoke to me! If it is in a particular book, just say which because
I have every one of them ever printed! They hold a very special place in
my 'library'.
Also I would like the lyrics and music for "The Carols of Christmas." I
want to do use it for my voice class.
Thank you for all the enjoyable reading . . . "j.j." AKA jean and that
tells you why I have been and always will be your fan!
Dear JJ: The poem you asked about has been printed several times on The
Flight Plan. Go to the bottom of the Flight Plan Page and click on the
"Search This Site" link. Once the page comes up type in "I Roll Better
With the Night" and information on where the poem can be found will pop up
almost immediately. Don't forget to put the title in quotes.
As for "The Carols of Christmas" the complete songbook can be ordered from
Stanyan By Mail. All the best, Rod.
LISTEN TO THE WARM
Listen to the Warm is my favorite book, by any
author of poetry.
I became a fan with "When". Remember that old song?
I wish "Listen To The Warm" was still in print. I have younger friends
that I’ve shared it with and they all want their own copies. Best Regards
from an "old" fan, Joel Rizzo
Dear Joel: Thanks for the kind note. What a memory you have. "When" really
goes back. I think I did it as a single for Decca Records in the early
sixties but I no longer have a copy of it so I can't be sure.
I'm hoping that "Listen to the Warm" will be republished one of these days
in an omnibus edition. I own the reprint rights but I'm so into creating
new work that I haven't gotten around to thoughts of when or how to
republish Listen to the Warm, Stanyan Street, Lonesome cities or any of my
out of print work. Thanks for planting the seed in my head about “LTTW”
and for considering it your favorite. Warmly, Rod.
DOESN’T ANYBODY KNOW MY NAME
Dear Rod- about forty or so years I heard a song on
the radio by Jimmie Rodgers (of honeycomb fame) I believe the title was
two ten six eighteen ten forty four. I think the title referred to train
schedules.
That was the only time I ever heard the song and I never found it on any
Jimmie Rodgers albums. After almost a month or searching on the Internet,
I came across a song title credited to you called "two ten six eighteen".
Now the forty year old question, is it the same song and did Jimmie
Rodgers record it and, if so,
why isn't it on any of his albums? Thank you for your time. Ron Consiglio
Dear Ron: Thanks for writing. Yep, it's the same song. Jimmie Rodgers made
the first recording of "Doesn't Anybody Know My Name (210-6-18)" and other
artists including The Kingston Trio and Hank Williams Jr. have also put it
on record. I've recorded it in several versions over the years.
Jimmie did an excellent job on the lyric and the song was later featured
on an album on Dot Records “The World I Used to Know", containing five
other early songs of mine. All the best, Rod.
SOME OF THEM FALL
Hello, My name is Brandi Heppner, I am doing a
report for my "History of the sixties" class and I was wondering if
perhaps you could tell me a little bit about the poem "Some of them fall".
I think you are the coolest. I am also a poet well sort of. Thanks for
your time. Brandi Heppner
Dear Brandi, Some of Them Fall is actually a song that I wrote and
recorded in an album entitled The Single Man.
Over the years I've written many songs about man's inhumanity to his
fellow man including Ally, Ally Oxen Free, Soldiers Who Want to Be Heroes,
The Things Men Do and Maybe Tomorrow. Some of Them Fall certainly falls
into that category.
I'm against war and more importantly I think it is presumptuous for one
human being to kill another for any reason. Life and death are divine
rights. I also believe that it is the duty of artists, writers and
performers to draw attention to their beliefs especially when they involve
the well being of others.
When I wrote Some of Them Fall we were still in a so called 'Military
Conflict' in Vietnam. Declared or undeclared this is a war that no one has
yet been able to explain or justify. I lost good friends in those Asian
jungles and I grieve as much for those lost on both sides of that conflict
that I didn't know as I do the names on The Black Wall familiar to me.
Kindest Regards, Rod.
TEN-FOUR, GOOD BUDDY
Dear Rod--I have all your books love them immensely.
You are a breath of fresh air to me. I am a truck driver so I can only
work with my laptop on my time off. Would it be possible for you to come
to Springfield, mo. or Branson, mo sometime in the future? It is hard to
park 18 wheels just anywhere. We are outlawed in a lot of places. I am
based out of Springfield Missouri so I can always drop my trailer. It
would be a dream of mine to see you in concert and maybe hear "A Cat Named
Sloopy." Love it. I have loved your works since I was 13 and am now 43.
Thank you-Susan.
Dear Susan: I'll come to Springfield or Branson as soon as a one of your
local promoters invites me. Alas concerts can't be held without
sponsorship. Of course as part of the deal I expect a ride in the cab of
your 18 Wheeler.
Thanks for being with me all these years and for taking the time to write.
Luv, Rod
WHEN ARE YOU COMING TO . . .
INDIANA
Dear Mr. McKuen, I have written on several occasions and used your first
name, no disrespect intended. I have been a fan of yours since the 1970's
and frequently found peace within your writings. One question -- are you
ever coming to Indiana? Kay
Dear Kay: I'd like nothing better than to perform in Indiana again but so
far none of your local promoters have invited me to come. That's all it
takes Kay, someone in the Indiana area to sponsor and promote the concert.
I hope it happens one day. Meanwhile thanks for asking about a concert and
for the kind words about my writing. Warmly, Rod.
ARIZONA
Dear Rod, Just found your site and wish to thank you for the many hours of
listening pleasure you have give me. Through your albums but mostly
through Glenn Yarbrough's renditions of your music. I feel he has the
greatest voice ever. My opinion.
Time moves so quickly now and hope I have a chance to see you sometime. I
live in Prescott Az. and we have a college here that many fine artists
have performed. Anne Murray, Roger Whittaker, Willie Nelson to name a few.
Would be great to see you there. Wish you much happiness and good health.
John Bresnen
Dear John: Thanks for the kind words about my songs and music. I'll always
be grateful to Glenn for helping to create an audience for my work. As you
know he has recorded dozens of my songs and while he no longer performs
them, you and me and thousands of others who admire his voice will always
have his discs in our collections.
You're right about your local college. It has a great auditorium for
performers. For when I might be appearing in Prescott please refer to
Kay’s letter above.
We keep adding concerts dates so if I don't make it to Prescott maybe
we'll meet up at another venue. Keep watching The Flight Plan for further
announcements and thanks again for writing. Warmest Regards, Rod
Have a splendid week and sleep warm tonight.
RM 10/5/2002 8:07 PM PST
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(posted 09/28/2002).
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