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Photograph by Bob Gentry 8/5/99
A Thought for Today
There is no friend so noble as some sunlight let in on a
room long darkened.
Once more into the britches. I have no hope of
really catching up with my mail, but I keep giving it a healthy try. Petula being in town
last week threw my rhythm out a bit, but what a happy, healthy diversion. For those of you
living in Northern California, don't forget that "Sunset Blvd" starring Petula
Clark as Norma Desmond has settled in for a month at the Curran Theatre. Miss it at your
peril, this is a once in a lifetime performance. Get thee to a Ticketmaster.
IF I COULD TALK TO THE ANIMALS
Hello! First, I don't know where you've been all these years, but
I'm so glad you're back via the computer. Please don't go away again. I saw you in Ohio at
Blossom Music Center and Vet's Memorial just a [few] years ago before I transplanted to
California. You were of course wonderful!
The question I ask is serious though it may sound silly to some. I was rereading your book
"And to Each Season" and when I came to your "lion" I remembered
Bromfield's "Animals and Other People," I think that was the book. Anyway, he
had a section in it about people who communicate with animals and he said they are
"tetched." He meant it as a good thing and included himself.
The question is -- do you think you are one of the tetched ones? I think my kids are, but
alas I am only a borderline tetched-one and only can do it now and then. Thank you for
being you and will look forward to all you say and do. Much Love, Dolores Cooper
Dear Dolores, I'm sure if you spoke to any of my friends they'd agree I'm "tetched',
though the might use the word eccentric or some other euphemism meaning a little off
center. But that's my job and I like it.
Concerning 'tetched' as it applies to having the ability to communicate with animals. I
would say that applies to me on a pretty high level, as it does to my brother Edward. Not
just domestic animals (members of the family) but wildlife as well.
I've been in what some would call pretty tight situations with animals in Africa, Asia and
North America and never encountered an animal of any kind I was afraid of and none have
shrunk from, threatened or avoided me. There was always communication there. Animals sense
that I love and am curious about them. Maybe that's all it is, a mutual trust. Whatever. I
do communicate with animals, often going out of my way to do so. Thanks for asking, Rod
12 YEARS OF CHRISTMAS
Mr. McKuen, I've searched high and low for a collection of your
poems called Twelve Years of Christmas. I recently stumbled across a misfiled copy of it
in my university library and I'm now convinced this is the perfect Christmas present for
my mother who has everything! Is this book still in print, and if so, do you have any
ideas where I might be able to find it? Thanks for your help! Susan
Dear Susan, 12 Years of Christmas is a collection of some of the poems I used to send
friends when I could afford little more than a Christmas card as a present. It brings back
mixed memories for me. It can be ordered from Stanyan by Mail, via the link on my Home
Page. Thanks and early Happy Christmas to you and your mom.
STILL TRYING & NO LUCK
Dear Rod: I am still trying to find a half-spoken/half-sung piece I
heard in the 70'sabout a love affair with an American woman that takes place in London and
she is returning (forever) to the States. It was a particularly moving and poignant song.
Any ideas? Thanks for any assistance. & Keep going! Ian
Dear Ian, The song you refer to doesn't sound like one of mine, though it might be. Wade
Alexander or Jay Hagan would be the ultimate source on whether it is or isn't. I don't
recognize it. If anyone else out there has some idea of what Ian might be thinking about
let me know and I'll pass the information along.
Sorry I can't be of more help. Stay well, Rod
INFO ON SINATRA
Dear Rod, I wonder if you could help me. I work in a CD store in the
UK and I have a customer who is desperate to obtain a couple of Frank Sinatra songs that I
have not been able to trace for him. Although the customer did not leave me with the
titles of these songs, he asked if there was any Frank Sinatra Societies or fan clubs,
perhaps in the U.S., where he could obtain information about these tracks. If you can help
me, I would be very grateful if you could send me any such address(es) on: Yours
sincerely, Phil Ruston. ( ruston.phil@virgin.net)
Dear Phil, not knowing the titles doesn't give me much to go on. I'll post your letter
here and on the Stanyan By Mail and McKuen Message Boards and see if that helps. There are
dozens of fine Sinatra sites and many fan clubs and societies devoted to Frank. Why not
try a Sinatra Search online. Or, at least get your customer to tell you what the heck we
all should be looking for. Sinatra has recorded and sung hundreds of songs in a career
that has spanned many of our entire lifetime. He has recorded 75 or 80 percent of his
material more than once in different arrangements.
In case anyone else can give Phil a helping hand, here's his address again. (
ruston.phil@virgin.net). Best of luck, Rod
LISTEN TO THE WARM
Hi sweetie, I had your book, Listen to the Warm and lost it in
moving, but cherish it, so much so and would love to have it again, can you tell me where
I can find it? Thank you very much and hope all is well with you, if not please write me,
I want it to be that way for you and I am sure I can help. Pamela
Dear Pamela, it's been a long time (if ever) since I've been called
"Sweetie." :) I'm fine thanks and still here in the middle of summer in Southern
California. Other than having the 'after shakes' of what has now been confirmed as a 7.1
shaker everything is peachy.
"Listen To The Warm" is available from Stanyan By Mail. Thanks for asking and
for the nice letter. With affection, Rod
Hi, my name is Lisa Smith I have read a lot of you poetry and enjoy
it very much. I used to have a book of poetry by you called "Listen to the
Warm," but have somehow misplaced it, or it may very well be lost forever. Anyway is
there a site that you have other than the one I just visited that would have some of that
poetry? If not, could you please consider sending me a few of the poems from that book?
Thank you so much, Lisa
Dear Lisa, your best bet for finding poems on line from "Listen To The Warm" is
to go back through the Flight Plan archives. I'm sure by now I've used over half of the
poems in it on the daily "FP." If you are looking for a particular poem ask for
it on one of the message boards and I'm sure someone will post it for you. All the best,
Rod
Good Morning Rod, It's still strange being able to contact you and
actually "talk" to you via computer. Really wish it was face to face, but this
will have to do.
Somewhere you wrote "it will have to do till I can bring home union square and make
every day a dandelion day" or something like that and I would love to be able to go
back to the book and read it all, but cannot remember where. Could you help?
I've enjoyed your works for years and even got the opportunity to see you in person in
Miami. It is something that I will always remember. You are an incredible man with so much
warmth and love. I only wish I could know you personally. (but I'm sure everyone says the
same thing) Thank you for any help...and thank you for YOU. Lona
Dear Lona, Thanks for all the kind comments. The poem you are thinking of is from
"Listen to the Warm" and is entitled "Three." Affectionatly, Rod
I THINK OF YOU
I HAVE BEEN A FAN AND
ADMIRER FOR LONGER THAN I CAN REMEMBER, PROBABLY SINCE THE FIRST TIME I THOUGHT MY HEART
WAS BROKEN FOREVER AND YOU WERE THE ONLY OTHER PERSON ALIVE THAT UNDERSTOOD. I HAVE LENT
MY BOOKS COUNTLESS TIMES, BUT THE LAST TIME I GUESS THAT PERSON FELT SHE NEEDED YOU MORE
THAN I DID, SHE NEVER RETURNED THEM.
ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITES WAS ONE THAT HAD A VERSE THAT WENT SOMETHING LIKE ". AND
MY PILLOW BECOMES YOUR FACE AND ARMS AND MY BLANKET BECOMES YOUR BODY AND I CRAWL BENEATH
IT SAFE AND WARM". IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET A COPY? OR CAN YOU TELL ME WHICH BOOK IT
APPEARED IN AND IF IT IS AVAILABLE? THANK YOU SO MUCH. I HOPE THAT IF YOU TOUR AGAIN,
COLUMBUS OHIO IS ON THE LIST. YOU HAVE A HUGE FOLLOWING HERE, A WHOLE NEW GENERATION OF
LOVERS HAVE DISCOVERED YOU.
THANK YOU FOR MANY YEARS OF TEARS, JOY, PEACE, COMFORT AND UNDERSTANDING BROKEN HEARTS AND
PATCHWORK MENDS. PENNY. COLS OHIO
Dear Penny, Sorry about the loss of your books, but you seem to have accepted it with the
grace I'd expect from my readers.
The 'poem' you mention is actually the lyric to a song I wrote for Petula Clark, "I
Think of You," (the beautiful music for it was composed by Francis Lai) It was a hit
for Perry Como. The lyrics are printed in two different books "The Beautiful
Strangers" (which is out of print and hard to find) and "Pastorale," a book
available in conjunction with a double LP of the same title it appears in. It can be
ordered from "Stanyan By Mail."
If you can wait for it, sometime within the next two months a definitive double CD
produced by Jim Pierson entitled " Petula Clark: from Downtown to Sunset Blvd"
will be issued by Varese Sarabande Records. It contains Pet's outstanding version of
"I Think of You," plus 40 or so other international Pet Clark successes. All the
very best, Rod.
PS: Can't imagine doing a US tour and not including Ohio, I've done more concerts in
Pennsylvania, Texas & Ohio than any other states in America.
SCANDELOUS JOHN
Hello. I didn't know you had a website. I happened across your page
in a search on "Scandalous John." My parents had some of your albums and I used
to listen to them. I think Joanna was my favorite (or at least the one I remember most).
After I was married my husband and I were taping a show. Our VCR didn't have a timer, just
recorded until it stopped. When we watched the taped program, we discovered another movie
recorded after it and decided to watch it on a whim. The movie was "Scandalous
John" and we have loved it ever since. You, of course, were responsible for the
soundtrack. I have been looking for the soundtrack recently. What title/label was it
produced under? Any chance of a re-release? It was a very good soundtrack and the main
theme song was perfect. Thanks for making the music, the movie is all the better for it.
Christina Howard
Dear Christina, I loved writing the score and song "Pastures Green," for
"Scandalous John." What film composer doesn't dream of writing music for a
western, let alone a modern telling of "Don Quixote?" There are still copies of
the LP available through Stanyan by Mail. As far as I know there are no plans for its
re-release on CD. Though who knows, I have another half hour or so of music left off the
original soundtrack because of time constraints, so it would be fun to have a crack at it
again.
I liked working on "Scandalous John" because the producer Bill Walsh gave me my
total head as far as the music was concerned. Walsh was a big, rough, unassuming guy who
looked more like a lumberjack than statistically the second most successful producer (just
behind Hal Wallis) in film history. His films included "The Shaggy Dog,"
"The Absent-Minded Professor," "Son of Flubber," "Mary
Poppins," "That Darned Cat," "Lt. Robinson Crusso U. S.
N."," Blackbeards Ghost." "Bednobs & Broomsticks," and
"The Love Bug." He was responsible for nearly all of the most successful live
action films at Disney. A short while after "Scandalous John" was released Bill
died. It was a terrible loss for me personally and I wrote a poem about him and published
it in "Beyond the Boardwalk." It's called Largo and thanks to your letter I'm
using it as the poem of the day. Warmest Regards, Rod
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
HI Rod, I was in Philadelphia last week and visited the Franklin
Institute of Science museum and watched the movie in the round which was about the
Yellowstone National Park. One of the voices used sounded unmistakably like yours. Can you
confirm that it was? Thanks, Sam
Dear Sam, actually I did several voices for the IMAX production of
"Yellowstone." All in post production, including the voice of an old prospector.
Some years ago I narrated an excellent series on our National Parks, including one on
Yellowstone for PBS. I'm not sure which film you saw, but I did voice over work for both
of them. Considering it was in the theatre in the round, I'm pretty sure it must have been
the IMAX film. I've yet to see it.
Yesterday I bought "Grand Canyon, The Hidden Secrets" on DVD, which I worked on
briefly. I'm looking forward to screening it. If anyone 'out there' knows if
"Yellowstone" has been released on DVD or videocassette, let me know. Thanks for
being such a super sleuth, Sam. Warmly, Rod
THE SIMPSONS
Dear Rod, Did I see you on The Simpson's? Matt
Dear Matt, I wish. No "Simpson's" yet, but I got to play Rod McKuen (tough
casting) on an episode of "The Critic," by the same producers. And, have been in
recent re-runs of "The Little Mermaid" series as a deep sea philosopher fish
named Archamedes. Cheers, Rod
MOUNTAIN DEW
Dear Swami Rami Salami, How did you know? I LOVE Mountain Dew - I
mean I really, really, really LOVE it. You are truly an amazing psychic dude. Gotta do the
Dew, Clara
Dear Ms, Voyant (sometimes I answer the Swami's mail), so you're a speed freak on top of
everything else. Did you know 1 can of Dew has more caffine in it than 4 cups of coffee.
That's why I like it too. What a buzz! The reason I don't like it is each can contains 170
calories. Bob Gentry of Moisture turned me on to Mountain Dew. He's a musician & we
are all speed freaks, what's your excuse Love, The Swami.
Tomorrow Webmaster Ken Blackie will be here with his weekly feature "This One Does It
For Me." This is a feature I'm particularly fond of and I can't wait to see what he
comes up with this time. I'll be back on Thursday with a surprise or two. Join me tomorrow
for Ken's feature and meanwhile, sleep warm.
- RM 10/19/99 Previously unpublished |
