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Rod & Sunny: Photo by Bob Gentry 8/5/1999

A Thought for Today

Ambition is the talent that takes us to the top the fastest.

BUNDLES FROM BRITAIN

Three interesting letters from England today, an explanation of psychological warfare and where my curls went are among today's topics

On to the e-mail bag.
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A FATHER AND SON ODYSSEY

Dear Rod I found your web site about 5 months ago and have been a daily visitor since then. I first found you back in the sixties here in the UK, watched all your BBC shows and came twice to live shows in London, one at the Palladium and one at the Albert Hall a few years later. 

This latter one made a big impression on me because, if I remember correctly, you were having a dispute with a record or publishing company about your songs and they had banned you from singing one particular one. You simply announced that you would therefore read it to a different accompaniment. I can't remember the song but from then on I have followed the principle that the individual is more important, and usually cleverer, than the corporate company. Thanks for the lesson. By the way Church Windows and The Albert Hall organ will stay forever in my memory

My question however is about the LP made from your earlier Palladium concert. For some reason I have two copies, must have told too many aunts I wanted one, but they are different. The 'Readers Digest' version of Madame Butterfly is missing from one. Do you know why?

Since then your writings have helped me through both good and bad times as so many others have said. You've made me think, understand, question, laugh, cry and you've written for me (it seems) so many times. Thank you. As a teacher I have used your material to motivate and stimulate many lessons on different topics.

Finally, as I ramble on, my eight year old son is now beginning to listen to your music (he does have a choice) and asks me to read him your poetry. He has speech dyspraxia which, because of the way they deal with that over here, means I, as a teacher and writer, have taught him at home for the last four years. 

I couldn't see the point of making a kid, who can't correctly pronounce words, learn to read. So I read to him, we studied geography and history, did Math and general knowledge of his world. Now, after years of speech therapy, he is improving and, at about six months, started reading on his own. It may be through word recognition more than phonics but it works for him.

When he first heard 'Doesn't anybody know my name', his favourite of your songs at the moment, he wanted to know what it was all about. Learning is all about asking questions and wanting to know more. If I could borrow the phrase 'it doesn't matter who you ask or how you ask but that you ask.' And if you, as the one questioned, don't know the answer it is fun finding out together. Not knowing doesn't lose you credibility, not bothering does.

We have spent the last 2 years trying to put together the ultimate learning experience. I intend, with James and a couple of others, to spend 3 years, on and off, travelling through Europe meeting people, living among them for a while and finding out about their ways of life, culture etc. We did a dummy run a couple of years back around the English coastline (I love the sea as much as you do) with local schools following us by newsletter. This time we intend to put our journey on a web page for all schools, indeed anyone, to follow. James will continue his education so he may not 'know love BETTER than long division' but he will see and understand how others live and hopefully come to love those he meets and the world in which they and he have been leant.

If you want to follow us let me know and I'll give you the web address. We start next January and who knows this could just be the start. I may be too old, but James might follow this format across the world and then everyone can see how others live and, possibly, just possibly, respect that way of life for the future. Maybe with the new technology available we can create links between ordinary peoples. Do I dream? Of course I do. You taught me to. And you taught me that dreams need hard work to turn them to reality.

So glad I found you again. AN AGED RAMBLER RR

Dear Richard, what a lucky young man James is to have you as a father. Your upcoming odyssey sounds like a dream come true for anyone inclined toward adventure.

Learning while doing is the best form of education there is.
(Incidentally the treatment for dyspraxia and dyslexia is not all that advanced in this country either.) Those who mispronounce words, see them in a different order than the rest of us or make little effort to read and write because their peers laugh and tease them, are often dismissed as 'troubled.' Worse, because of being ignored, they loose interest in learning altogether. 

The decision to educate James yourself is not just wise but shows a parent-child love that is far too rare these days. It can't be easy, but it must be one of the most rewarding things you've ever done. It is certainly something you'll never regret.

It gives me chills to remember performing "Church Windows" live with the great organ at Albert Hall. To repeat the experience is a dream I won't stop harboring until it happens again.

I haven't a clue as to where a copy of "Live in London" without "The Complete Madame Butterfly" on it may have come from and it's the first I've heard of such an animal.

I would love to follow you on your journey and after reading your letter I'll bet a lot of my readers feel the same way. Be sure and send me your web address and I'll pass it along.

As the practicing father of an eight-year-old you don't sound all that aged, but from one rambler to another I loved your letter and I certainly appreciate what you're doing with your life. Affectionately. Rod 

YOUR SONGS WITH YOU SINGING THEM

Dear Rod, I remember with great affection your BBC show, was it early 70's on channel 2? Since then I have always loved your voice, words and music. I had a tape in the 80's but sadly that went missing. Recently I have been trying to obtain some of your material on the Internet, especially you singing "Jean" but have found that all your old records are no longer in production although they are listed on HMV. Could it be possible that you might know where I could obtain copies of your back catalogue on CD or tape? yours sincerely--- David Johns

Dear David, There are a couple of dozen CD's available from "Stanyan By Mail" and there is good news about the BBC Series. Early next year producer Jim Pierson and I will be putting together the BBC series for Video and Laser Disc. We're about to master "Christmas in New England" the holiday special I did with Dusty Springfield. It will be available this year in the Pal format from Dusty's fan club in Great Britain and from Stanyan by Mail on VHS here in the US. Next year it will go into worldwide release on both DVD and Video. Hope this information helps. All the best, Rod

WHEN ALL OF US WERE YOUNGER

dear rod, i was only about 10 when i first saw you in leicester, england with my mum and my nan i picked some flowers while we waited to get you autograph and you tucked 
them in your belt on your trousers you signed my book a little blue one and on the page with the words from "jean" my name!

it is so nice to be able to think that we can contact you after so many years (i am now 36) i am trying to find your little "blue book" with the poems in. i get married on the 28.10.00
and would love some words from you that special man when i was a little girl. i will let you know if i find it and then what was chosen. I remember the big fluffy dogs on your record covers and your curly hair. Where's the curls gone? i know we all get old and have to change, but the rose in a coke bottle lasted me for years and that was the first thing i thought of when coke re launched the bottles you and a rose .

so nice to know you are about can not wait to tell my mum and nan (nan's 80 now). i will update myself on all the pages now i know you are there. nice to see you again lots of love from Warwickshire. England. jean xx

Dear Jean, Don't forget to pass along my love to your mom and grandmom. The book you're speaking of was a little book that used to be sold in the lobby of theatres where I was appearing. Actually it was a book, not of poetry, but of song lyrics with the famous 'rose in the coke bottle' cover. It's title is "The Songs of Rod McKuen and the only place on earth it's available is from Stanyan By Mail.

It's getting close to your wedding date, so if you'd like a particular song lyric or poem for the service, better E-mail me soon and I'll try to get it to you in time.

The curly hair never existed (naturally that is). The year you saw me I had an Afro Perm! Silly me, I thought because I was off on a world tour it would make my hair easier to take care of. It was awful and seemed to take ages to grow out. While in Africa I was photographed on a movie set with Peter Fonda (also sporting an Afro for the flick) and we looked like twins, well brothers anyway. Pretty funny. That same 'Do' is on the cover of one of Celebrations of the Heart. As it began to grow out I started looking like an aging Shirley Temple. What was I thinking?

Good luck with the upcoming ceremony and here's to a long and happy life with your new partner. With affection, Rod

PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE

Hi Rod, One nice thing about being a fan of yours and having other people know it, is that they bring me Rod McKuen books, etc. when they find them.

I love to read the biography parts... even if they all say the same thing. I bet I have read that you were a "psychological-warfare script writer" a thousand times. Umm, what exactly is a "psychological-warfare script" and for whom is it written. Please enlighten me.

Isn't this a fabulous autumn? It certainly is in Colorado. Dixie.

Dear Dixie, As a GI before leaving for Korea I was stationed in Tokyo for awhile where I worked writing propaganda scripts that were translated and beamed behind the bamboo curtain to North Korea..

One of my creations was "Moran" a sort of Korean Tokyo Rose who spoke quietly and played sentimental music. In other words all I did was adapt my old Oakland radio show "Rendezvous with Rod" for a smooth talking and sexy voiced Korean girl to speak from a female point of view. The idea was to make each North Korean soldier think she was speaking only to him. Defection to the South was the plan.

A typical script might begin "Hello, My Midnight Companion,
It's S0 romantic and warm in Seoul tonight, I wish you were here to share this autumn night with me." 

I know, it sounds pretty corny, but it worked so well that there were major defections and I was named by Communist Korea (along with "Moran" and others connected with the show) as an official war criminal. For all I know I'm still on the list. Wonder how that will play out when I play concerts in Korea next year?

It's a nice autumn here in California here too, Dixie, but without the famous, colorful fall foliage that Colorado can boast. I had some beautiful autumn leaves sent to me from Wisconsin recently. Warmly, Rod

FEEDBACK: OLDER RECORDINGS

What a coincidence ! You've been listening to your older recordings and you like them. Well..... I listen to your older recordings all the time and I like them too. We both have excellent taste in music. Now, for a real treat, listen to Moment to Moment. It'll blow you away ! Totally ! Blown away in Bakersfield, Ann

Dear Ann, Have been checking out dozens of older McKuen stuff, including many unissued albums I had forgotten about. I'm trying to remaster and rescue as many as I can. So many are on aging and undependable reel to reel tape and the idea is to transfer as much from the Stanyan Catalog to the digital medium as I can before the tapes totally disintegrate. Some have already been lost.

I have remastered Moment to Moment and Stanyan Street from "The Essential Rod McKuen' and I particularly liked "Bicycle Bells and Barrel Organs." It's probably one of the best jobs I ever did of scoring music to a poem. 

I can already anticipate the next question; when will they be released on CD; That's a still an unsolved problem, what to re-release and when, but certainly one I'm working on. .Luv, Rod 

THREE SCRATCHY BASSO'S AND KIM

Dear Rod: Are you firming up anything in the Boston area? I was going to suggest Lowell (Kerouac land) because they have two or three nice theatres but I won't do that. You have so many great songs I was going to plant the idea for a non-McKuen song such as Try A Little Tenderness but that probably isn't a good idea either.

You know how they had the three tenors concerts I've had this fantasy concert in my head for years. The group would be Rod McKuen, Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart and Kim Carnes. I don't know what you'd call it though.

Last of all. Will you be wearing one of those headphone mikes like Madonna? Please come to Boston, Bob White

Dear Bob, What a lineup. Your idea provided a nice Sunday smile. We certainly wouldn't need bass amplification on our mikes.

I'd be willing to bet the Boston area will wind up on the tour. As to wearing a headphone mike ala Madonna . . . I don't think so, and I won't dance - don't ask me.

"Try a Little Tenderness" has always been one of my favorite songs, particularly Sinatra's version. I wouldn't rule out singing it one of these days. Thanks for the suggestion, Bob. Cheers, Rod

"I KNOW YOU'RE NOT DEAR ABBY"

hello mr mckuen, i know that you are not dear abby but i also know that my soul longs to seek solice here when i am down or when i feel as though i am no longer in charge of my destiny. i am waiting here, longing for the man i love to make some decisions, to decide between the life he left behind, with his ex wife or the life that i can offer him here with me in a new town with new surroundings. 

he has my heart and i want to begin a life with him but he is
keeping me in limbo. you seem to know all the sides of love, the losses, the hurts, the risks, the belief that you have to be willing to play the fool and risk everything to be with the one you love, and then you know how it feels to have done that, to have played the fool and lost it all only to know that you would do it all again given the chance.

there is a line from the movie steel magnolia where julia roberts says that she would rather have 15 min of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special. that is the way i feel about him. i have risked everything to be with him and now he may go back to the life he had when i met him, when I thought that he would be mine forever. please print something for me today that says i will get over it if that happens, something that says you will survive this, you will meet someone else in time and he will be just a lesson that was hard to learn. i need that today. Thanks, sim

Dear Sim, you don't sound like a fool to me, but you'll be acting foolish if you continue to wait around forever for this guy to make up his mind. If he's not with you right now, he's already made up his mind. Get over him. You can and you will. Acting like a doormat is an invitation to be treated as one.

Letting go is never easy, but it can be done. If you stop and think about it, he's making it easy. Run, don't walk. You will meet someone else and it will be one who appreciates and deserves what you have to offer. Hang in there, but don't hang on. Love, Rod

LONG, LONG TIME

Rod, Scour did have 4 or 5 songs by you. "Pushing the Clouds," "Long Long Time," "Soldiers Who Want to Be Heros" (hmmm!), and another one that escapes my mind right now. What I am curious about is the "Long Long Time"...is that the one that goes "I think I'm going to love you, for a long, long time" (written by White and popularized by Ronstadt)...and if so, what album is that one on (and is it on CD)? I'm not expecting a response to the whole email, but if you could post one about the "Long Long Time," it would be great...I just love that song and would love to find your version (if that's the one). Take care! Eric

Dear Eric, As you can see I broke your letter down to one topic. I address the important matter of Napster in a later Flight Plan, probably Thursday.

Yes, we're talking about the same Gary White song "Long, Long, Time, " that was popularized by Linda Rondstadt. It's from my double LP "Pastorale" Arthur Greenslade wrote a terrific chart for it and I'm backed by The Westminster Symphony (a.k.a. RPO.) A copy of it is on its way to you. As ever, Rod 

THE LAST WORD

Not that I'm in any way attempting to sway you one way or the other, (not much) but Nicky Williams sent me this item I'm only too delighted to print.

VENTRILOQUIST POLITICS

A ventriloquist stops to entertain some people in a small town. He's going through his usual George W. jokes, when George W. himself walks up.

"I've heard just about enough of your denigrating George W. jokes!" He says. "What makes you think you can stereotype me that way? What does a person's knowledge of geography and world politics have to do with their worth as a human being? It's guys like you who keep people like me from being respected at work and in my community. I'm as smart as anyone else and..."

The ventriloquist begins to apologize, when George W. tells him, "You stay out of this, Mister. I'm talking to that little smart aleck on your knee!"

Fifteen days and counting.

See you tomorrow, meanwhile sleep warm.

                       RM 10/22/2000 previously unpublished

OF SONGS AND CITIES