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Christmas Eve 2001: Photo by Edward McKuen.
©2001 Stanyan Entertainment Group
A Thought for Today
Each encounter that becomes a friendship
turns into a lifeline. One can never have too many, only too many to
take care of.
Today the mail comes from far
away places.
THE NETHERLANDS
Dear
Rod, Thank you very much for the many songs and poems you have written
(and are still writing) I m nearly 45 years old and I learned to know your
music through a TV appearance you did on the Dutch Show from Willem Duys.
On it you sang Soldiers Who Want to be Hero's and Without a Worry in the
World. I bought both singles immediately.
On the B side of `Soldiers Who Want to be Hero's` is the song
Three. Unfortunately the record is so worn out it sounds awful. Is this
song still somewhere to be sold on a CD? I looked everywhere in the
Netherlands and on the Internet, but could not find it.
The word three is not a great word to look for on Internet ;-).
I really would like to have this song again. Kind regards, happy New Year
and thanks again, Dirk Bakkeren, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Dear Dirk, Alas “Three” is unavailable on CD but Stanyan By Mail still has
copies of “Pastorale,” the double LP it was originally taken from.
I can imagine your frustration at typing ‘three’ into a search engine and
coming up with half a million possibilities based on The Blessed Trinity
alone! All my best & thanks, Rod.
ANOTHER NOTE FROM HOLLAND
Hello
Rod, How are you doing these days?
I am very glad that you have been performing in the States again this last
year, but I was wondering if there is only the slightest chance that we
will be able to see you perform in Europe once again and than preferably
in Holland of course. If that chance exists I would love to hear from you.
Doing a special radio show for Christmas here and your music will take a
special place, as always. Would love to hear a little message from you to
all our listeners. Maybe...please?
Wishing you a merry Christmas and of course all the best for 2002 and hope
to see you in concert in Holland sometime again. Thanks for reading this.
All the best, Ivo van Dijck, The Netherlands
Dear Ivo, Thanks for the support and I hope the Christmas show went well.
My concert manager Jerry Lonn has been trying to put together a European
tour but it’s been a bit slow going. You can be sure that when things come
together The Netherlands will be a major stop.
I’ll record a message when I’m back in the studio after the 1st of the
year, don’t forget to write back with the stations call letters. My
greetings & best wishes to you and all your listeners for health,
happiness and peace in the coming year. Warmly, Rod.
FROM URUGUAY
I was
wondering if you could tell me the name of the poem that goes "people
riding on trains are nice they offer chocolate cover cherries...” thanks,
Jorge, Castillo. Uruguay, South America
Dear Jorge, Greetings from North to South!
Here, thanks to Jay Hagan, is your answer:
“The poem / song Jorge is looking for is called
“Underground Train” and it’s from The Earth.
Underground Train
People riding trains are nice.
They offer magazines
and chocolate covered cherries.
The details of their intimate lives.
If I’d been riding home to you
I could have listened with both ears
but I was on my way away.
Across the aisle from me
there was a girl crying
long silent tears
while an old man held her hand.
It was only a while ago you said
Take the seat by the window
you’ll see more.
I filled the seat beside me
with my coat and books.
I’m anti-social without you
I’m anti-world and anti-people too.
At times I think...
I’ll never ride the subway anymore
at least... not away.
-from “The Earth,” 1969
Keep
those questions coming... this is always fun to see if I can remember the
poem / song without having to scour my files.
Waterfalls, Jay”
Thanks, Jay. Hope this helps, Jorge. “The Earth” LP is out of print but
can still be found at used record stores & for sale on The Net. Warmly,
Rod
A LETTER FROM OZ / LONG DISTANCE DEDICATION
Hi Rod,
I have been reading your works with interest and admiration. You are very
gifted and I thank you for sharing with rest of us mere mortals your soul.
Many years ago I used to listen to a particular radio station here in
Sydney and they always played one of your poems or verses from a poem at
the close of the program.
Anyway, the reason for this letter is to ask you whether you have a poem
or story that would be applicable to my situation. See, I am very much in
love with a lady who lives in the States and who is a big fan of yours and
I would like to direct her to one of your poem that reflects the love and
desire one feels for a person a great distance away. I have read her
favourites from your website (unpublished works) and your response to this
request in due course would greatly be appreciated as we will be spending
Christmas on opposite side of this earth. With warm regards, Steve Horvath
Dear Steve, Thanks for the nice note from Oz.
You don’t have to explain long distance love affairs to this guy. Finding
myself in the same situation last summer, I ran a series of ‘Love Letters
Unsent’ on consecutive Saturdays in the Flight Plan. I’ve probably had
more requests to reprint these columns than any others over the past three
years.
While it’s a little late as a Christmas present I’ll be re-printing one of
the originals this coming Sunday. You might alert your ladylove to that
effect or check it out first to see whether or not it’s appropriate to
your situation.
Hang in there. More than one romance has been sustained and even grown
stronger via The Net. My affection to you both, Rod.
AND FROM NEW ZEALAND
Dear
Rod, Things are not to good at the moment so I was looking through my Rod
McKuen books etc. while listening to Beautiful Strangers and I came across
a programme that you signed for me at the Philharmonic in Liverpool in May
1971 a very special night for me.
Then I found a photograph a friend of my husbands gave me it shows you
with his daughter, her Old English Sheepdog and a few other people, there
is also a Christmas card that you sent her in 1972. Her name was Margaret
Catterall and I'm sure her dog had something to do with your show.
I wish I had asked more questions now. Anyway just to let you know after
all these years your poetry and music still manage to help in times of
trouble as in times of joy. A very merry Christmas and best wishes for
2002 to you and all your crew. Any plans to visit New Zealand? Love Pat.
Dear Pat, If I had my way ‘Today New Zealand, tomorrow the world.’ Find a
promoter and I’ll be there.
People who own Old English Sheepdogs are a very tight community and there
are OES clubs all over the world. Once the news got around that I took Mr.
Kelly on stage for a bow when I sang his song I couldn’t go anywhere
without a Mr. Kelly look alike meeting me. Usually his master was being
drug along somewhere behind this hairy behemoth. So, I had Mr. Kelly’s
everywhere.
It was terrific and they always seemed to arrive just in time for my ‘mutt
fix.’ If I remember right Maggie’s dog was named Arabella but of course
she was always Mr. Kelly to me.
Thanks for the lovely words and keep this mantra; “Rod in New Zealand, Rod
in New Zealand.” Hey, it couldn’t hurt. Affectionately, Rod.
NORWAY
Hi ! I
have been listening to your version of Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now on
radio here in Norway. The broadcasting company told me it is a track on
the LP named is this fantastic song available on any CD? Hopefully to
receive an answer... With kind regards Jens Borgejordet
Dear Jens, It’s nice to know Norway hasn’t forgotten me. “Both Sides Now”
isn’t yet available on CD but hopefully it will be soon. If all goes
according to plan it will be part of a series called Rod McKuen: The
Warner Bros. Years. Each CD will contain two complete LP’s & in cases
where double albums are involved there will be many bonus tracks.
Stay tuned to this Website for further info. Thanks for writing Jens and
stay warm this winter. Norway in December, Brrrrr. Baby It’s Cold Outside.
Cheers, Rod.
DOWNLOADING THE MP3’s
Thank you for
the MP3's, looking forward to the ones to come.
But Thank You most of all for being there in my darkest hour.
With love, LaP
###
I can't
think of a better Christmas present for the "troops" than the downloads
you are providing. It's one of the best Christmas presents I received,
other that the love I receive from others and the love I give in return. I
hope you and Edward had a wonderful Christmas, and may the New Year bring
love, excitement, and a FULL concert schedule. Keep smiling:-) As always,
LarryJ
Dear La & Larry, Thanks for the encouragement. This seems like as good a
cue as any to present today’s download. All the best, Rod.
12 DOWNLOADS OF CHRISTMAS
#3
STAY WITH ME
THE STORY OF THE SONG
While writing the notes for the “Early Harvest” in 1994 I said “My first
(commercial) album was entitled “Songs for a Lazy Afternoon,” The title
song was written by Jerome Moross and John La Touche so it seems fitting
to bring this retrospective to a close with another Jerome Moross melody.
This time it’s his theme from the motion picture “The Cardinal” with a
lyric by Carolyn Leigh. “Stay With Me”.
I’ve always loved this song since I first heard it performed by Frank
Sinatra in 1963. Radio disc jockey’s received copies of Frank’s rendition
of “Stay With Me” just days before Frank Jr. was kidnapped so you can
imagine the effect it had when it was played during that difficult time.
“Stay With Me” has always given me great inspiration and consolation. I
sang it at all my concerts & benefits in the past year and will do so
again in 2002. To my mind it is one of Carolyn Leigh’s finest lyrics and
Jerry’s melody is superb.
The song flows without ego and is an affirmation of hope in an otherwise
often hopeless life. I think of it as a hymn for loners and lovers and
everyone in between. When people question me as to why, as a songwriter, I
include other people’s work in my repertoire I’ve only to point to “Stay
With Me” or “When The World Was Young” for an answer. Indeed there are so
many wonderful songs out there, pity I won’t get the chance to have a
crack at them all.
Until its inclusion in “Early Harvest” this remained a lost recording
because the track was done with The Royal Philharmonic seventeen years
earlier in London without a vocal. Sometimes during a self-produced
recording session I like to remain in the booth to concentrate on an
orchestral balance before adding the vocal at another date. Alas I’m
always available to myself but getting a symphony orchestra back to
correct a mistake not heard during the record date could prove a tad
expensive. I discovered the 16-track reel containing backing in my
basement in 1974 and all that remained was for me to finally overdub it.
The chances of my still being able to sing the song in the long ago set
key seemed remote but running it down in the headphones a couple of times
set me at ease and there were no problems. The entire 4:13 chart is taken
out of temp so there were no rhythmic guideposts to help but I’m very
satisfied with the completed performance. The 60 voice strong Ambrosian
chorus doesn’t enter till near the end of the song but I think you’ll
agree with me that the effect of letting the orchestration build to this
point adds real power to the track. Julian Lloyd Webber’s cello work is
marvelous.
Track recorded September 12, 1977 at Decca Studios, London and previously
unissued. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Ambrosian Chorus. Featuring
Julian Lloyd Webber, cello.
Arranged & Conducted by Dennis Wilson, vocal
overdub August 6, 1994 at Trax, Hollywood. Recording engineer, Michael McDonald. First issue September, 1994 on “Early Harvest” (Stanyan / LaserLight
CD 445). Still available.
THE WORDS
Stay With Me
Should my heart not be humble
Should my eyes fail to see
Should my feet sometimes stumble
On the way Stay With Me.
Like the lamb that in springtime
Wanders far from the fold
Comes the darkness and the frost
I get lost, I grow cold.
I grow cold, I grow weary
And I know I can’t win
And I go seeking shelter
And I cry in the wind.
Though I grope and I blunder
and I’m weak and I’m wrong
Though the road buckles under
Where I walk, walk along.
Till I find to my wonder
every path leads to thee
All that I can do is say
Stay with me, Stay with me
(instrumental)
(vocal answer) And I know I can’t win.
(instrumental)
(vocal answer) And I cry in the wind
Though I grope and I blunder
and I’m weak and I’m wrong
Though the road buckles under
Where I walk, walk along
Till I find to my wonder
every path leads to thee
All that I can do is pray
Stay with me, Stay with me
Words: Carolyn Leigh Music Jerome
Moross © 1962 Warner Tammerlane Music BMI. Used by Permission.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
STAY WITH ME
(A simple left-click on the
above link should start the download automatically. If you're having
problems, try right-clicking on the link and select "save target as....".)
Tomorrow a special holiday
edition of Pass it Along. Sleep warm
RM 12/26/ 2001 Previously
unpublished
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