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A Thought for Today
Let go of your anger. It doesn't justify the memory chips it takes to store it.
THE FIRST McKUEN VIDEO
My apologies for starting of today's Flight Plan with a
commercial, but it involves an experience I've had fond memories of for a long time and have always wanted to issue on video. So barely in time for this holiday season Jim Pierson & I produced the first in a projected series of a dozen or so Stanyan
videos, "Christmas in New England." It's my television special of the same name, done during the late 1970's.
As my very special guest I picked Dusty Springfield whom I'd worked with previously on the Johnny Cash Show and my own BBC series in England and to help us celebrate the holidays we added The New England Boys Choir. Working with Dusty and having her as a friend had always been special in my life and wait till you hear how beautiful she sings on this show. We had a ball doing it and received great reviews.
When it was first shown on television, "Christmas in New England" was a pick of the week by TV Guide who termed it, "Lovely,
two of the great pros, aided by The New England Boys Choir give us a simple, direct and enchanting show that will chase away the Christmas blahs." The Boston Globe said, "McKuen & Springfield's obvious chemistry adds a special glow to the holiday season." And the Los Angeles Times called it, "The warmest and most intimate special in many a Christmas season."
Because it's so late in the game this year we made only a couple hundred copies and the only place you can get them from is Stanyan By Mail in the USA and the PAL version is available from The Dusty Springfield Fan Club in Great Britain. It won't go into national distribution or become a DVD until next year. Here's a run down of the songs: The Carols of Christmas (Dusty & Rod) o Thank You for Christmas (Rod) o So My Sheep May Safely Graze (Rod) o Gloria (Boys Choir) o Simple Gifts (Dusty) o Have yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Rod) o Livin' Without Your Love (Dusty) o Baby It's Cold Outside (Dusty & Rod) o Shall I Tell You What's Come To Bethlehem (Boys
Choir) o A Talk with Jack McMahon o A Christmas Story from "Finding My Father" (Rod) o He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother (Rod) o Be Somebody (Dusty) o Alleluijah (Boys Choir) o Homeward (Rod) Joy To The World & Oh Come all Ye Faithful (Entire Cast)
Anyway I think it's a video you might like and it's my first official VHS tape release.
As the month starts winding down I'm still working on some of my early November mail.
FEEDBACK NAPSTER
Dear Rod, I may have missed your reply, if there was one, but I find that I'm still in love with your voice, music and poems and, probably like many others, I can put every note in place on most of the songs that I have.
I am pleased to see your songs on Napster and I hope that you don't mind as it is a great way to promote your music to a whole new audience. I only have albums and an old 8 track with no player so when my needle finally dies and/or I get some money I will contact Stanyan.
Gee its great to know that you are still around and I hope performing live. Your honesty and sincerity bind the world with love. Please come to Australia, as I'm sure that there are plenty of people who would be rapt. Love & Hugs, Debbie Sweeney
Dear Debbie, Anything of mine on Napster isn't there with my permission but I don't plan on doing anything about it unless it starts getting out of hand. Home taping of CD's by well meaning fans who pass them around has already seriously cut into sales at Stanyan By Mail.
After the first of the year this site will start offering selected tracks from albums that can be downloaded for free. We all hope that it will stimulate sales of the many new CD's that will soon be available from Stanyan. If it doesn't there will be no reason to record new music and release it because the cost of producing CD's, DVD's and
videos is very high when you are an independent company. Working for free may be noble, but it doesn't pay the rent.
I'm glad you enjoy my work Debbie and I hope one of my first trips for overseas concerts includes Australia. I've been to your wonderful country many times and always enjoyed myself.
With affection, Rod
A LETTER FROM WALT
Rod, Spent some time today looking for information on what you are doing as an artist. Introduced my children (6 -27-15) to some cuts off of Napster ( it does have a purpose.) Told them that as a young Air force officer (pilot) fresh from Vietnam (1969) I enjoyed displaying my sensitivity to the young ladies in my life by putting your poems to song. By God it worked so you started a revolution of your own.
As far as the depression is concerned...I have a business w/ an entertainer who experienced many of the same challenges and I have determined that almost all the celebrities I have encountered develop a "weight of responsibility" that certainly drains them in exchange for the fans and adulation. Their biggest breakthrough towards self-preservation was concluding that they owed them nothing of themselves....only the by-product of their talent.
I would like to see you offer new observations for this generation, as they desperately need to focus on a more gentle approach to each other. Good Luck and warmest regards from an old fan, Walt Collins, Phoenix, AZ
Dear Walt, I can't imagine a nicer compliment than hearing that you've turned your six children onto my work. I'd like to think I've done a few things worth passing on to other generations.
I know other friends (some of them writers and entertainers) who have experienced various forms of depression, but I'm not sure my past bout with 'clinical depression' falls into the category you mentioned. I do have a strong sense of responsibility toward my fans, and performing like any other work can be draining but I feel I owe the people who gave me the opportunity for success and still sustain me -- as much of myself as I can give them.
I can't tell you what it's like to look out on an audience and know that all those people gave up a few hours of their time to spend with you when there are any number of pursuits they might otherwise be engaged in. You really want to work hard to make it a memorable evening. That's one of the reasons I seldom get stage fright; they've come to see me, I'm there to entertain them - what is there to be afraid of?
On the forthcoming tour I doubt very much that I'll spend as much time backstage or at the stage door greeting fans as I used to, because the older all of us get the less energy we have and I'd prefer to expend my energy on stage giving the best performance I can than
signing books and records. If the truth were told, I have more 'stage fright' on a one to one
basis with fans backstage than I do one to one thousand while performing.
I stopped performing near the height of my career because I was pretty burnt out. I had been around the world several time over giving concerts, but had seen very little of the towns and countries I performed in. When I asked myself why? . . .and couldn't come up with an answer I knew it was time to stop for awhile. Now I can't wait to get back on stage. It remains to be seen whether or not I'll enjoy all that goes with 'the concert life' enough to continue performing after a season or two.
I know this much for sure, I have no complaints about my life and wouldn't change anything good or bad that's happened in it. However, I sure as hell wouldn't like to go back and do it all over again the same way. I'm convinced my best days lie ahead and I do hope to be around for awhile longer to say something that might be of help to this generation and the next.
That's what all of us are here for, or should be. Affectionately, Rod
NEW COLLABORATIONS WITH GLENN YARBROUGH
Any thoughts of more collaboration with Glen Yarborough? His voice and your words are still my favorite. And by the way thanks for all your work through the years. Suzanne Pigott
Dear Suzanne, Something is 'in the works' and I'll pass along your kind thoughts to Glenn. Warmly, Rod
CHURCH WINDOWS
Rod, I've been looking for the sheet music for the song, "Church Windows" that is on the CD "Noel at the Monastery " by The Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's. I have not had much luck on my own. I was wondering if you could tell me how
I would be able to purchase this. Any information you can give me will be extremely helpful. Thank you. Denise Rothermel
Dear Denise, I'm sorry to report that sheet music for "Church Windows" isn't available. One of these days a folio of my shorter classical works will be issued, but at the moment it's only in the planning stage. All the best, Rod
THE SECOND TIME AROUND
Hi Rod. I am so delighted to have rediscovered you and your safe place to land. I was looking for "If you go away," and decided to hit McKuen.com and got lucky! Here is my safe place story for you.
Back in 1969 when I left my one true love to marry another (a matter of unavailability on his part) and economics--a single woman with two small children (on my part), I cried and cried! His way of expressing himself to me was to have me listen to your "If you go Away." And I did. (listen and go away reluctantly.) Through the years, we kept in touch (same time next year), he rubbed my belly when I was pregnant with someone else's child, we shared events exchanged information on our lives, happy times and sad times, the children grew, married and had children of their own.
We tried forgetting each other and staying apart once for several years waiting for the other to rescue them. Recently, we have reclaimed our love and our friendship. Our meetings are infrequent at best, miles and family responsibilities exist between us, but still we continue on (sometimes together and sometimes apart), but still we love deeply and passionately. We have not stopped talking about the Rod McKuen years, and he was shocked when I gave him your website. Sorry Rod, but he thought you had passed on! Now we have all returned; we can all love each other once again and the past can become the present and the future is yet to unfold. Please don't go away. Rae Gold.
Dear Rae, I'm not surprised your friend thought I had gone to 'The Great Beyond." We live in a climate where if you're not on TV, you're probably dead. But I'm still here, with no intentions of going anywhere any time soon if I can help it. Thanks for the nice love story. Warmly, Rod
HAPPY ENDING
All that I can say is thank you. I first found your works in Vietnam. They helped a lot. I listened to your works and thought of days gone by and a certain girl that was back home. I stayed in Vietnam for 3 years, longing to come home but afraid to. Silly isn't it. I still have the melancholy of the time, and memories are there also. That girl I had left behind waited those years and she and I are still married, and still listen to your works. So once again thank you. Warren
Dear Warren, your feelings about coming home are pretty typical of those of Viet-vets I've heard from over the years. I can't imagine your being able to forget about that experience ever. You guys (many just out of boyhood) fought hard and bravely for a government that didn't get behind you with a fully committed policy and a divided people that never gave any of you the kind of homecoming you deserved.
I love stories with happy endings so I send my love to you and Janay who waited for you. Sincerely, Rod
LISTEN TO THE WARM
In high school I loved Rod. The sad part is I did not dare to be me. Rod was not your typical poet in the Bible belt in the 60's. I have been reintroduced to him by a very wonderful friend... I have tried to find Listen to the Warm everywhere in little record stores who have rare LP/CDs without success. Can you help? Pam
Burns.
Dear Pam, both the book and CD of "Listen to the Warm" are available from Stanyan By Mail. I gave concerts all through the Bible belt during the 60's and had a great time doing so; but you're right I'm still not your typical bible belt poet. Wrong buckle. Warmly, Rod
TERM PAPER
I am a fan of your poetry ever since I came across a copy in a used bookstore in Mobile. I have a strange request. I have a term paper due in two weeks, and never having done an interview before I have no clue as to how to ask for one- so this is how I'm doing it. Interested? It's only for a term paper I want an A on so badly I can taste it. With you being one of my favorite current poets (other being Adrienne Rich) I had to ask. Thank you for you time. Jon-David Harcey
Dear J.D. , With only two weeks to go, your best bet is to probably explore this site a bit. There's a current biography and a recent interview. Check out the Home Page for
links. If you have any specific questions e-mail them to me and I'll try to answer them as best I can. Best Regards, Rod
FROM BELGIUM
Rod, I can't believe that this is you, my mother said always that you are dead. I think that I'm the biggest fan of you in Belgium, and there are Belgian singers who sing songs of your in our language.
I know that my English is NOT good. I read 4 books of yours and I have 3 Discs. I hope to get an answer, Tim Bal, Belgium
Dear Tim, Yes my songs have been translated into your language and I've had the good fortune to translate and co-write a number of songs with one of the great Legends of Belgium and France, Jacques Brel.
If there are any specific songs of mine you'd like information on, please let me know. Warmly, Rod
FANTASY CONCERT
Dear Rod, October 23, you published a letter from Bob White. Mr. White has this amazing fantasy concert idea of getting together you, Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart and Kim Carnes. What a terrific idea! The thought of the four of you together in performance just gives me a huge smile and feel good excitement!
I just want to wholeheartedly endorse his fantasy and say it would be a dream concert come true for so many of your life-long fans. I would travel to just about anywhere to attend that
once- in-a-lifetime event!
Thanks so much for all your hard work. You and your website are always an important part of my day. With my deepest admiration and respect,
Judy P.
Dear Judy, just so you know it sounds like a pretty good fantasy concert to me too. We can all dream. Thanks for the kind words of encouragement. With affection, Rod.
THE LAST WORD
Question: If Shrub really does become president, will Governor Marc Racicot of Montana continue to be his minister of misinformation?
Sleep warm. See you tomorrow.
11/27/2000 Previously unpublished
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