MONDAY 13tH & TUESDAY 14th
|
|
Rod on Maui, August 2003.
Photo by John Scoggins.
©2003 by Stanyan Entertainment.
A Thought for Today
Their remoteness makes the stars much
sweeter.
NOTE: Today I had hoped to be able to post links for the two
appearances coming up (October 25th and November 1st) but it will have to
wait until later in the week.
.ASK
ROD
I’m finally getting a chance to look at the current mail. Here are answers
to a few letters.
FRIENDS
I have a best friend in Alaska. One of those, "sit
together and say anything or nothing at all" kind of friends. We
communicate seldom, we visit every five or six years, and it's my turn to
go there now. Yet when we are together it is like no time has elapsed. We
can pick up the thread of a conversation 5 years ago. I've known her 23
years. She has long curly red hair, blue eyes, weighs 105 lbs, and was a
security officer for most of her working life. Your flight plan reminds me
I've got to treat her better. Cathe
Dear Cathe, I have a rule where friends are concerned. Always say I love
you before you say goodbye on the telephone and don’t forget to hug
friends when you meet and when you depart from each other. Why? Life at
best in tenuous and you never know when or IF you’ll meet again. Warmly,
Rod
A BOY NAMED CHARLIE BROWN
Dear Mr. McKuen, I recently purchased a video of
"The Mike Douglas Show" (1969) to see an appearance by Joan Rivers and
Alfred Hitchcock, a show in which you were Mike's co-host that week. I
wasn't familiar with who you were but immediately knew the "Champion
Charlie Brown" song you began to sing, which brought a smile to my face. I
just wanted to say hello after finding your website. You seem like a nice
man. I was 9 years old in1969, which makes me 42 today. I saw the Charlie
Brown film that year and it has remained a favorite to this day. I look
forward to becoming more familiar with your work. Thanks for having the
website. A fellow kitty lover (since '93 -- a late bloomer. Ronald
Dear Ronald, I get a kick out of learning the various ways people find out
about me, my work and my website. I knew there was a good reason for me to
work with Douglas that week. Not only did it turn you on to my stuff all
these years later but I had a good time doing the series, met lots of
interesting people and Mike even let me invite some of my friends on as
guests. I’ve got a bunch of great photographs from the show but alas none
scanned.
Writing the songs for A Boy Named Charlie Brown and thus working with a
man named Charles Shultz is one of the high points in my life.
Glad you’re into cats, I don’t know what I’d do without them. I’m writing
this in bed on my laptop and for company Kubby and Sunny (my two American
shorthairs) are both curled up beside me. In about 30 minutes Kubby will
wake up, stretch and walk across the keyboard – his signal for some
attention.
Thanks for writing Ronald and I hope you’ll visit A Safe Place to Land
often. Warmly, Rod
IF YOU GO AWAY
Please, how many times have you recorded "if you go
away"? Bibi. Frikotin
Dear Bibi, My friend Jay Hagan has compiled the most definitive compendium
of my work I know of and by his count I have recorded it nine different
times. That includes live recordings but not tracks taken from existing
records and compiled in Greatest Hits and Best Of collections. There are
also a number of versions of “If You Go Away” that are part of recorded
concerts that were never released. All the best, Rod
SOLDIERS WHO WANT TO BE HEROES
Hi Rod, I am trying to reassemble my fathers
LP/gramophone collection. He died 6 years ago when I was 16. I am now
trying to find all the albums my sister and I used to hear as children
growing up in India as a wedding present for her. I quickly realized that
isolated memories and lyrics doesn't help me at all when it comes to
locating that particular album! I hope you can help and tell me what
LP/gramophone record "soldiers who want to be hero's" could have been on.
Thank you for writing such beautiful lyrics and songs! Sincerely, Vandana
Dear Vandana, The most famous recording of it was made at the London
Palladium and released in an album entitled “Live in London.” That version
was also released as a single and became a hit throughout Europe. The
album is out of print but in the coming year Sanctuary in London is
releasing a new CD entitled The Ultimate Rod McKuen. It will contain among
other tracks “Soldiers," “If You Go Away,” “Without a Worry in the World"
and a new duet with Petula Clark.
Soldiers was included in six different Greatest Hits collections and there
are different versions of it in The Amsterdam Concert, Try Rod McKuen in
The Privacy of Your Own Home and Grand Tour. Warmest Regards, Rod
SAN DIEGO
Dear Rod, Thank you for what you have given me. I am
a child of the 60's generation. Boomers.
In 1963 I walked all over San Francisco trying to find Stayan Street (and
I imagined myself living that life). I cried over your cat when she was
lost. When my daughter grew up and moved away, I remembered and read SHE
and felt not so alone.
When will you be playing near the San Diego area? Robbie Taylor, San
Diego, CA.
Dear Robbie, You knowing about my work and identifying with it all this
time makes us old friends. There are no plans for a concert in San Diego
at the moment but I’d love to play there again so watch this space for an
announcement and thanks for writing, Robbie and for the compliments.
Affectionately, Rod
TEXAS BOOK FAIR
When and where is the Texas book fair and how do I
get tickets for it. Arant Grimes
Dear Arant, as I mentioned over the weekend my condition for appearing at
The Austin Texas book fair was completing a new book so that it could be
published in time for its introduction there. Alas I’m still working on
the book so my session in Austin has been scrubbed.
Sorry Arant, but I’ll get back to Texas one of these days. All my best,
Rod
PARIS, JOANNA & JEAN
Dear Rod, Over 30 years ago, in my college days at
the University of Alabama, I was reading a lot of your poetry. There is
one that was particularly meaningful to me. The only part I can remember
goes something like this: "I've traced your face on napkins until you were
more of what I wanted you to be than what you really were." Please tell me
the name of the poem and how I can find the lyrics. I think of this quite
often, and I just can't remember any more of it. Also, I believe, in '68
or '69, I saw a movie "Joanna" with Donald Sutherland and Genevieve Waite.
I have the soundtrack, and you are on it, with, I think, "I'll Catch the
Sun". Very nice. I'm a talker, so I will tell you one more thing. My best
college pal was so inspired by your "Jean" that he named his daughter
Tamara Jean, calling her Jean. I surely wish you would do a concert at the
University of Alabama, Please? Sincerely, Ms. Twirler Anne Waid
Dear Twirler Anne, The poem you are referring to is from my 1978 book
“Lonesome Cities.” Here it is.
Paris: Three
I’ve drawn your face
on tablecloths across the country.
tracing your smile
with my index finger,
making your hair just so.
Till now you are more
what I want you to be
than what you are.
I can paint your eyes and say
this is where I lived
for twenty minutes and more.
I order grapefruit
and pay for ruined napkins.
And between the morning and the evening
I draw your face a little fainter every day.
-from “Lonesome Cities” © 1967, 1968 by Rod McKuen & Stanyan Music Group
All Rights Reserved
I was on a working vacation in Switzerland writing “Lonesome Cities” when
I was offered the chance to write to score for “Joanna.” Thanks for the
kind news about Jean and for your thoughtful letter. Warmest Regards, Rod
PS: For me to do a concert anywhere I need a sponsor or promoter.
I’ll be back on Thursday but don’t forget to Join Webmaster Ken for his
weekly Wednesday feature “This One Does it For Me.”
Sleep warm.
RM 10/12/2003 8:57 PM PDT.
Click on the heart logo to
buy Rod McKuen books, CD's and lots more
Click
on the Stanyan House logo to subscribe to the McKuen Mailing List
Catch Rod McKuen live!
Click on the links below for details of
concerts and appearances.
ROD McKUEN
CONCERTS
ROD
McKUEN APPEARANCES
|
