THURSDAY ---Another Edition of.....

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......

1)         The Sunday NY Times Magazine piece re: “shrinks” , patients (the writer) sure struck some chords---reinforcing many of my negative opinions about having to do with this topic---not in particular order---Pomposity, Money, Nonsense, and Self Reliance, and people who say they are emotionally needy but mostly for attention since they function quite well.  And, of course, the “practitioners” who take full advantage of that.

2)         There are rare exceptions to the above mentioned “charlatans”---I knew of one.  Just one.

3)         One of the greatest story tellers who has amazing creativity, insight, and timing (and where he gets the time and energy for new material each week I know not) is Garrison Keillor. 

4)         Do you still want to know the answer to the “news item” of last week about the lesser known Knight of The Round Table that was responsible for its design---and his initials were carved into it when discovered in a sunken Galleon?

5)         My hat ---the one I never wear---is tipped to Stu Marcus for producing his 6^th annual “Wild About Harry” show in LI this past Monday.  

     They get better year after year and this year was         surely exceptional given the plaque unveiled in Harry Chapin’s honor at the site.  Nice that no one corrected the local “happy to make a few comments politico” when he proceeded to introduce Sandy Chapin (who was there to witness the plaque installation for her husband) as---“...honored that his daughter is here with us tonight”.

6)         Phil Ochs song nights are just great and it set me to wondering why there are no Harry Chapin Song nights given his huge and brilliant repertoire (with only 2 or 3 known to most people).

7)         What strange priorities we have.   The world is in turmoil with issues of great import all over the planet and the NY Daily News (I suppose the current rag known as the NY Post as well) have a front page devoted to the flight attendant story.  A piece that is, properly, relegated to page gimel in the NY times for a paragraph of so. Good thing is that he is a disgruntled employee and did not murder his passengers and crew.

8)         Patrick Smith made some valid points on the Leonard Lopate program (WNYC) Wed.  Folk Heroes are made by tabloids (my comments) and there was wrong on all sides---passenger and attendant.  His other comments re: safety, security, turbulence, and what frightens people and not pilots is truly fascinating. Hint---Turbulence does not frighten pilots---passenger discomfort does.

9)         The romance of the skies seem to be gone and we cannot blame that on some deranged miscreants of September 11.   Think of this—do you remember when passengers applauded upon landing?  Do you recall prop planes that had 2 levels with a spiral staircase (Stratocruiser)?  Do you recall the DC3 (still a workhorse and a safe one)?   Do you recall the drama of Pan American World Airways (forget Pan Am, its later publicity conscious incarnation)? Do you remember when meals (even in coach) were served with real napkins and silverware (hard to cut my over cooked crap served now with the nail clipper I could not bring aboard)?

10)   The airlines are doing something so positive the cable companies still have to catch up on this---they have turned a negative to a positive for the purchaser----can you figure it out?

11)   If you want folk music memorandums on this site they will be appearing---just not on Thursday.  Well, sometimes even Thursday.

12)   GM is getting ready for a Stock offering and the news stations report that they are recovering from a bruising bankruptcy. Seems to me the main bruising was to the shareholders and the employees.

 

THURSDAY ---Another Edition of.....

The weekly flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon.

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......

1)         “Cocktails” mean different things to different people---live-saving moments for recipients of AIDS cocktails, death to recipients of Molotov cocktails (remember him?), and socializing for the lucky and still not alcohol addicted during The Cocktail Hour at The Cocktail Party.

2)         Would it not be nice if the AIDS cocktails were administered in a social setting so that it could also be called a “cocktail party”?

3)         After the discovery of the shipwreck in England that held the remnants of “The Round Table” and the inscription of the designer (one of the lesser known members of King Arthur’s Round Table) it made me wonder if anyone knows the name---comment if you like and it will be posted next week.  

4)         It was nice to hear of such an ecumenical wedding that took place last week in Rhinebeck, NY and even more impressive the openness of the religious representatives that officiated.   I don’t know much about the Minister but the Rabbi has traveled a long path from non-religious to devout to pragmatism.   Sounds like a plan to me---why, though, bother with the props of Tallis and Yarmulke?  It’s Showtime, Folks!

5)         There is so much controversy regarding the proposed Mosque near Ground Zero (truly a poor expression) and there are pros and cons on each side.  One argument has never been uttered----December 7.  Would a Shinto Shrine or Japanese Cultural Center be welcomed at Pearl Harbor after all these years?  The answer to that might prove enlightening.

6)         So good to hear that the U S auto companies are doing so well given that the taxpayers paid for their years of “crap” products in the bail-out.  Not unlike the financial folks receiving huge bonuses and huge profits after sinking the economy and now reaping large profits.  What about the poor “shlob” down the street?

7)          I still don’t think that a Yugo would have been a better option---unless you used it for a garden planter.

8)         Just a reminder that you should tune your TV (or set your DVR) to August 18 on PBS for the live performance (no commercials) of “South Pacific”. A memorable event.

9)         Speaking of TV---was it not a better era when kids had less choice of programming and were there for the “children’s hour” (or 2) on radio instead of constant cartoons and commercials?  Quality not quantity should be the watchword.

10)    The Sunday NY Times Real Estate Section makes you realize that, perhaps, John Edwards (with all his shortcomings) had a point---there are two different and distinct Americas.  Perhaps even more given the prices that some people pay for a place to sleep----and expletives excluded—ranging from over 25Milion dollars to a minimal number that is mentioned in the Gray Lady.  Then there are still SROs.   Not usually mentioned.

                                         

A Blast From The Past---and a Concert Update.

Prior to his most untimely death Harry Chapin was working on a musical (1981).   The Gospel set in Atlanta, GA with the terrific title---Cotton Patch Gospel.   The book and story were the creation of Tom Key (who also starred in it) and Russell Treyz and the music was all by Harry Chapin.

The very brief synopsis is that is is the Gospels  of Matthew and John set in the rural South of Georgia---hence, Cotton Patch Gospel.   Leaving the story aside for the moment---and as a critic noted---an under appreciated gem that ranks with Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell---let us focus on the music that Harry Chapin created for this.   The music is memorable and brilliant and a far cry from his more well known works---which, I add, should be better known (aside from the 2 or 3 "hits").

In truth I first heard the song back in 1984 when I was producing some benefit concerts for a local library in Rockland County, New York and Tom Chapin was our headlined.  He invited Scott Ainslie (an original cast member and the lead singer then) to join him on the stage to perform the piece---and tell the story of the musical. Besides myself  I have to admit that it blew the entire audience away. 

It is too long to go into here but suffice it to say that the music in that production ---in addition to Jubilation---is a brilliant piece of work.  It is revived in many local productions, it can be performed with a small or a large cast,  and the music and story lend themselves to some great interpretations .  An example;  I will be featuring Scott Ainslie (from the original cast album)  on my SUNDAY SIMCHA program on WFDU on August 8 and also on TRADITIONS that same day.   It is amazingly non-sectarian and yet makes some wonderful points.

This all leads me up to a mention of an event that will be happening on August 9 and I am happy to say that Judith Zweiman has accepted my suggestion to perform JUBILATION as her piece for the 6th Annual "Wild About Harry" program at Eisenhower Park in Hempstead, NY.   It promises to be a great evening of great Harry Chapin music with some truly impressive artists.  Price of admission---some food for the LI food pantries.   Get there early because it is justifiably well attended event and my sincere plaudits to Stuart Marcus for organizing and keeping this event going year after year.

While all the music will be of major moment let say that Judith Zweiman covers a wide gamut of genres and I have played her Jewish material on SUNDAY SIMCHA, her Sea Shanties on TRADITIONS, but she does some amazing Gospel music as was witnessed last year by the attendees at the Wild About Harry Program---Harry Chapin's take on Gospel.   You will not want to miss her take on JUBILATION

While the original cast is not available on video Tom Chapin and an original cast member--the amazing and talented Michael Mark---are. 

JUBILATION

THURSDAY ---Another Edition Of.....

 The weekly tip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon :

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......

1)      Why would news outlets make a point of talking about how certain individuals (BP Exec) are not getting golden parachutes since a pension of over one million a year and a payout of the rest of his contract ( another few million) when the average reader/listener makes less than $75,000/per annum and has to pay exorbitant medical insurance costs (among other things)?  Hard to believe that empathy or even comprehension of this outrage is expected.

2)      The line between Madoff machinations and the legal corporate compensation for failure is a really thin one. 

3)        I always wanted to be a “Mad Man” back in that time and now I doubt I would have handled the changes very well.  Though I did have a great idea for the premiums for the radio offers for the kid’s programs between 5-6 PM.

4)      Does anyone recall when you tested tubes and did not have the instant gratification the internet world and solid state world gives us?  Patience is a virtue; it is said.

5)      Amazingly a sandwich at The Meadowlands race-track costs over $15.00, hot dogs not much less---Yankee Stadium and Shea (CitiPark) ditto, pretzels $7.00 .  For a bargain and some good food for reasonable prices try the Cyclones Ball Park in Bklyn.  Better yet---eat before you go---if you must go.

6)      Allan Sherman had it right when speaking (singing) of high price Kosher sandwiches---“...you better be able to see the pastrami coming through the rye”.

7)       It is amazing to realize that some films that are my favorites are anywhere from 10-50 years old now---and one that I had never seen but recently saw the DVD version of the 1934 film---Here Comes Tomorrow.  Just brilliant.

8)      If you love Harry Chapin’s work and you also want to help the food pantries in Long Island you might want to go to the free concert on Aug. 9 at Eisenhower Park (Hempstead NY).  Put together by Stuart Marcus the price of admission is some canned food for the pantries---the name of the concert---Just Wild About Harry.

THURSDAY --Annother Edition of....

A flip of the fedora, as always, to Jimmy Cannon :

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......

1)            First it’s drought then its huge drenching and windy storms.  Whatever happened to moderation in the moderate climate?

2)            The NY Times reported that many children of high-powered friends of Mayor Bloomberg have gotten summer internships in the NYC Government.  Why am I not surprised?   Why am I not surprised that most people in public (and non-public) office would do the same---as did Mr. Giuliani.

3)            It seems to me that the last truly idealistic mayor in NYC was the much demeaned John Lindsay.

4)            Eric Bogle had it right in his “ Silly Slang Song”===”...do you remember when gay meant happy---oh what we have done to the mother tongue”.

5)            It is pretty rare these days to find doctors that still have real people answering a phone, have a positive personal relationship with you.  I am blessed with two of them.  Even more so since they are so good at what they do.

6)            I recall the halcyon days when people looked up and ahead of themselves and not down at their hands while they “twittered” or some such activity.  But, I suppose, back in the days of Socrates some bemoaned the invention of scrolls because it might prevent us from oral discourse.

7)            Some questions arise regarding the new play about Bernie Madoff (Imagining Madoff):

a.    Why a moral tale about a scoundrel?

b.    Why involve Elie Weisel in this fiasco? (He threatened to sue---and that ends his part in it)

c.   If Elie Weisel truly lost everything in the Madoff fiasco how does he still make ends meet and also retain attorneys?

d.   Shakespeare wrote plays dealing with morality and this seems to be nothing more than a tabloid sensational about a plain old criminal.  (I have not seen the play—and will not).

e.   Don’t plan on seeing it since it is “postponed”---read---cancelled.  If only Bernie were cancelled prior to his shenanigans---and the participation of the get rich quickers that he conned.

8)            TV is biblical in many ways.  Think of this ---Leave It To Beaver begat All In The Family which begat Married With Children which begat The Simpsons and that begat the brilliant envelope pushing outrageous (and funny) Family Guy.

9)            You have to love the car commercials and all the great things they can do---from driving up to mountain tops and fording great waters and traversing deserts.  How come they never show how they can handle traffic jams on The Cross Bronx Expressway or the various bridges and tunnels?   Better they should promote the CD players that can relax you in your overpowered portable palace.

10)      Sarah Palin is now an author, TV personality, Speaker, and one who never mentions that her idealism is for sale for very large bucks.  Amazing how she has become so “knowledgeable” and “informed”  so quickly.  Chris Smither’s song about Harry Truman was right on---

11)      So many people have tattoos these days it got me to thinking that if you have a DNR order in place and an emergency strikes with no next of kin around (with the documentation) what about a tattoo of it on your butt (or as the Brits say—Bottom)?

12)      TV in the summer is only good if you want to see the trash that was on the networks previously---BUT---Cable has some great  new alternatives one of the best starts its 4^th season this Sunday.  Mad Men

     

13)            Here is a good riposte for someone you find irritating when he says----
”What is your opinion—I value it?”    “No you don’t—you just want to tell me yours and I care not a whit about it”.  OK-- true story. Everything I learned from Dale Carnegie was a gem.

An Event Update and A Few Musical Comments

Starting with a few musical comments.   Harry Chapin is known for a number of songs ---just as Tom Paxton is known for some songs that no person realizes he wrote.  Harry Chapin is known, of course, for Taxi, Cats In The Cradle and for the real believers a few others.  For the true aficionados there are more.  So many more.   Yet there is one song which seems to have eluded many since it was written for a musical he composed and was not on any of his recordings---only on the original cast album  In fact, if memory serves, it was on his trip into the city to work on the show that the fatal crash occurred.   Cotton Patch Gospel was the show and it is still being performed by various school and amateur groups around the country.

Jesus in Atlanta and the Gospel told in those terms---musical terms is the basis of the show.   Some great music in it and one song  in particular has always grabbed me and it is, of course, on the original cast recording (you might find it on the Harry Chapin website).  I speak of "Jubilation" which was performed by Scott Ainslie in the original cast and who came many moons ago to our local library benefit program and at Tom Chapin's request joined him in doing the song---here is Tom Chapin doing it with the brilliant Michael Mark (I have not video of Scot Ainslie)



There are many other great songs in that show and if you can find the recording it is truly something to cherish---Harry Chapin as a Bway Musical Creator with a terrific show.

Which brings me to the events update---AUGUST 9. The annual Harry Chapin night at Eisenhower Park in Long Island (around 7:30). It is a very well attended Free concert (just bring some food for the local food banks---the price of admission---you know of Harry Chapin's cause about Hunger) and of the many performers there that evening Judith Zweiman has taken me up on the suggestion of doing "Jubilation"-=--she can do many things but Gospel is something she excels at and last year she blew the house (well, there is no house there) away. Hope to see you there.

One last item---and you will hear more of it on TRADITIONS this coming Sunday. Pete Seeger and a new CD produced by David Bernz and Danny Einbender called "Tomorrow's Children" (Appleseed Recordings). There is a great story behind this and how it came to be---you will hear it on TRADITIONS this coming Sunday along with some of the tracks from this most meaningful and important piece of work.

SInce we cannot give the store away---here is the cover of the CD which contains some wonderful liner notes by David Bernz---carrying on the tradition of Pete Seeger, Lee Hays and so many more. He is, as you probably know, one of the founders of Work O The Weavers----for that alone I add---bless that man.