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A Thought for Today
To write it out is to let it go.
Dear Ken,
The topic of Jan. 3rd was both interesting and tough.
I've been a pretty bad poet but a pretty good songwriter (at least so I've been told) for over twenty years...just for my own pleasure and anyone who wanted to listen, and maybe as a form of self-preservation and therapy too. Some of the artists who have influenced me have been people like Gordon Lightfoot, Paul Simon, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell just to name a few.
The day I stumbled upon who Rod McKuen was, was a very nice day indeed. In my opinion he's gotta be just about the best, most prolific writer that I've had the pleasure to read and listen to. I think of him in the same light as he would think of Johnny Mercer. He seems to have a song or a piece of written word for everyone. Can anyone think of anything he hasn't done...and very well at that? He more than once said that poems and songs are like your children. Although you really love the youngest, it would be very hard to pick a favorite. I'm always singing McKuen songs to myself because I can relate to a lot of them in some way or another.
As far as favorites? Man, that is a hard question! SOME are "The Day They Built The Road" "Only Love" "The Single Man" "The Language Of Hello" "Take Me Home Again" "People On Their Birthdays" "Times Gone By" "We Two Are Drifting" "The Ivy That Clings To The Wall" (whew!) I could go on and on and on! And what about the classic works?
Wow! Where did he get the time?
Dave
MacDonald - (kind of a fan)
OK, Dave,
sounds as though you and I have a lot in common not least a love of, and
admiration for, the music of McKuen, Lightfoot, Simon, Cohen and Mitchell.
All five played a huge role in influencing and defining my musical taste
and during my very short-lived singing career their songs formed the bulk
of my repertoire.
Choosing just
one of your favorites for the column today was an easy task. At the risk
of being repetitive and boring, let me say once again how much I love the
album "Prolific Composer Rod McKuen Sings His Own". I was
thrilled when Rod sent me a copy of the CD because my vinyl copy ain't
sounding too good after 35 years! It contains some terrific numbers,
"Times Gone By" among them, and if there's anyone reading this
column today who doesn't yet have a copy of this album, go directly to Stanyan
By Mail (tell 'em Ken sent ya) and order it. You won't be sorry.
Thanks for an
interesting letter, Dave.
If you have a
favorite McKuen song or poem you'd like to share, drop me a line at ken@mckuen.com
and I'll make sure it gets an airing here one Wednesday.
Oh, and by the
way, I'm in a bit of a quandary right now and would appreciate your help.
I really love the photo of Rod we've been running over the past few weeks
but I also really like the one of he and Kubby Kat Too we posted
yesterday. Drop me a quick line and let me know which one you think we
should run with in the days ahead. Thanks!
- Ken, Johannesburg, January 17
Details of Rod's upcoming concerts
and appearances can be obtained via the link below:
Rod
McKuen Concerts & Appearances
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