ASK ROD |
|
Photograph by Bob Gentry 8/5/99
A Thought for Today
Common sense sees the visible; Imagination goes beyond.
It's nice to be back. I've missed all of you
and our daily conversations. There seems to have been no shortage of mail while I was away
so I'd better get to it. Most of today's letters fall into the 'where can I find such
& such' category.
Before going directly to the mail, though, I want to take a minute or so to again thank
Melinda Smith and Jay Hagan for choosing a months worth of my poetry and prose to print
while I was away. Then there's Ken Blackie, who's had no 'off time' since he has the
thankless job of posting whatever goes up on ASPTL, rain or shine, every day. The help was
more than appreciated, it was a lifeline. I loved most of your choices too. The special
touch of sentiment by Melinda and the insistence by Jay of including prose selections.
Love to you both.
GUITAR CHORDS
Dear Mr. McKuen, I
wonder if you know of any source for the guitar chords / tablature for "The World I
Used To Know" & "Love's Been Good To Me." These two songs are my
favorites of the many that you have recorded and I would like to be able to play them for
my own edification. Thank you. Les Putnam
Dear Les, the words, music, piano arrangement, guitar chords/tablature for "Love's
Been Good To Me," & "The World I Used To Know" are available in the Rod
McKuen at Carnegie Hall SongBook from Stanyan by Mail. Thanks for asking. Cheers, Rod
YIKES! SAN FRANCISCO HIPPIE TRIP
Hi Rod, When I was in
college I had a record called Rod McKuen San Francisco Hippie Trip. Is it still around and
where would I find the CD. I love your work and was glad to find this web site. Best of
luck. Gordon Hodgson
Dear Gordon, That album still riles me a bit, along with a few other pirate albums. You
can get the real thing "Beatsville," (the album it was stolen from) from Stanyan
By Mail. In addition to the complete album, as it was originally recorded, there are six
or seven bonus tracks. Thanks for the kind words, Gordon.
All the best, Rod.
FROM ONE MUSICIAN TO ANOTHER
Hi Mr. McKuen....don't
know if you actually read your e-mail...but am passing this on to you nonetheless.
My 19-year daughter loves your work. I'm of the ripe old age of 42, a former musician,
singer, songwriter, producer, et al.but I gave it all up for academia. Thought that was a
more secure route for my young twin children at the time who were 5.
My son is now a budding musician, songwriter and producer of Techno music. My daughter,
classical and modern dancer and choreographer, and a photographer. Me....struggling to get
back to my music which I miss so much. My musical style when writing was folk rock...but I
could never write well enough to capture my vocal range.... Which was 3-4 notes shy of 4
octaves. Anyway, your lyrics inspired me when my daughter shared them with me recently . .
.because I had just found love again and my love has been the one to encourage me to go
back to my Music. And so I am trying. I have someone who will help me put it on MP3.
Things have changed quite a bit in 12 years, but I'm going to give it good college try.
With kindest of regards, I remain, sincerely yours, Susan Laberge
Dear Susan, That's a nice twist, your daughter turning you onto my work. At my age, it
usually works the other way around. 4 Octaves? Are you any relation to Yma Sumac? Thanks
for sharing the story of your very musical family. Nice to hear about so many genres of
music represented in a single household.
Do I read my mail? Yep. I read every E-mail sent to me, unless I come upon a letter that
indicates that there is original poetry contained in it. Not being judge or jury, I pass
those up.
I haven't gotten into MP3 yet, but have a feeling it won't be long. Knowing Ken Blackie,
Dwight Michaels and Bill Learning helps a lot. One or more of these tech geeks will show
up one day with an MP3 version of one of my songs, and bingo, I'll be in! Have heard a
pirated MP3 track from "The Earth" and it sounded pretty good.
I'm very concerned about the quality of any tracks released from the 200 plus albums I've
recorded and the 500 or so others I've produced. New methods of delivering music and
pictures always interest me. Dwight is working on a series of videos for his Stanyan By
Mail site; one ("The Single Man) is already up and available as a free download.
I'm working with Jim Pierson a friend and fellow producer on a couple of videos that will
make their way to DVD & cassette in the coming year. Dwight has several chapters of a
long form video he'll have completed soon. I hope by this time a year from now Stanyan
will have a major catalog of video and audio music that can be delivered on the net as
well as regular outlets.
Good luck with your own adventures with MP3 & let me know how it goes. Best wishes for
a very musical life ahead. Rod
HALLOWEEN STANYAN CARD
Hi, Rod--or is it
Webmaster Rod? Eye-catching "Subject" heading, huh! Actually, just a poor play
on words--web, Web. I know, just terrible! Just popping in to say I hope your project is
off to a flying start! Susan, with a smile
P.S. I LOVED your Halloween card so much I "dragged" it back and am using it as
my desktop background. I hope you don't mind. (If you do, let me know.) It's such a
WONDERFUL picture! :) Is the Stanyan Font disk just a single-font disk, or are there other
things on it as well?
Dear Susan. Good news if you're a "font freak". The Stanyan Font is already
available for purchase at P22 Type Foundry (my favorite type house). Here is the
description of it from their new catalog.
"This font was created for our friend and Beatsville collaborator, Mr. Rod McKuen.
The aim of this design was to produce a readable text font at small sizes, and decorative
display font at large sizes. It is used as the body text for this catalog and includes
regular and bold versions."
For a free copy of that 40-page catalog you can write P22 Type Foundry, PO Box 770,
Buffalo NY 14213. Better still you can see exactly what the Stanyan Font looks like by
going directly to http://www.p22.com At the top of the
page you'll be instructed to click for "fonts of the month" & there it is.
The font can be had for the ridiculously low price of $19.95 for Mac or PC.
Further news. Richard Kegler the High Honcho of P22, who personally designed the Stanyan
font, is working on a separate package of decorations and dingbats to complement our new
font as a second stand alone package. If enough of you show interest, Stanyan & P22
will make a CD version of my Symphony #1 and Piano Concerto # 2 by The Royal Philharmonic
as an exclusive part of the package. Judging by the 200,000 plus sales of Concerto Works
and Music for Guardian Angels it just might happen.
Those of you who missed the preview of The Stanyan House on Halloween will just have to
wait till the real thing goes up to see it. "The Project" drags on. Thanks,
Susan. Love, Rod
TIME STEP
Hello Rod, I sent this
same question some time ago, and if you responded, somehow I missed it, or simply do not
know where to look, but I'm going to try again.
I am in the process of writing my first novel, a romance, and I want to end it with the
main character reciting a poem called "Time Step", which I believe is one of
your older poems. I have searched and searched to find the book from which I first read
that poem, without luck. Now I'm beginning to think maybe I'm crazy and unsure if it was
indeed one of your poems....but it left such an impression on me that I know the words by
heart.
Anyway, I don't know where else to go but to the source. If someday my book is accepted
for publication, how do I go about getting the permission to use that short poem? And what
publishing company first published it? I've almost given up hope of using it, and yet it
would, in my opinion, be the perfect wedding vow for my character.
Any help you could give me would be GREATLY appreciated. Sincerely, Richard
Dear Richard, You are so right, "Time Step" is one of my earliest poems. It's
from my first book "and autumn came," published in 1954, where it was called
November 19th. Twenty-nine years later in 1983 I used it again in "Watch for the
Wind." It has been used at weddings and other ceremonies and has the distinction of
being one of the shortest poems I've ever written.
The copyright is owned by The Stanyan Music Group and any request to use it in your book
should be addressed in writing to Edward Habib c/o Stanyan, Box 2783, Hollywood, CA 90028.
The re-use fee is a nominal contribution to The Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation. Sorry
you had such a difficult time in tracking me down, but I'm glad we finally connected. Good
luck with your book. All the best, Rod
WITHOUT A WORRY IN THE WORLD
Dear Rod: I'm listening
to the album, "The French Connection". The song, "Without a Worry in the
World", was it your composition? You do a wonderful rendition! Is it possible to
obtain the lyrics to this song? I've decided to make it "my song" to live by!
Was it ever used as a movie theme? Love you, Rod! God bless! Linda
Dear Linda, "Without A Worry In the World" is my adaptation of the great Georges
Moustaki song "Le Méteque." Born in Greece, Georges is a great star in France
and all over the Europe. It was a number one record for me in Holland for ten weeks.
While the song has been used in several foreign films in the original French language, it
has never been featured in a movie with the English lyric. The words and music to it are
available in the songbook "Rod McKuen: Through European Windows." I'm delighted
you like the philosophy of it enough to want to make it 'your song.' Affectionately, Rod.
"SHALL WE CATCH THE SUN?"
Dear Rod, I'm still in
shock, for years I thought you'd be dead. My father bought a book of your
poetry("Listen to the Warm") for me a few years back. I love it, carry it with
me everywhere. Your views have become a companion, an advice book I guess. I suppose the
motive for this letter is gratitude. Rod, thank you. you have been such a mentor for me.
inspiring me in so many ways, you deserve much more than a thank you. Life, is so
beautiful...like "her tangled black hair against a white pillow", right? You are
beautiful, Rod McKuen dance while you can. Forever listening, Jacqueline Victoria
Dear Jacqueline, I appreciate your Kind thoughts. Lousy as I am at tap & ballroom, I'm
dancing through life as fast as I can. Thanks and love, Rod
WE COME INTO THE WORLD
ALONE
Dear Rod, We share a
birthday. April 12, 1955 is mine. I read a poem one time that you wrote and even copied it
and carried it around with me because it fit me so well. I have since lost it and would
like to know where to find it. It goes something like this. We come into the world alone,
We go away the same, We're meant to spend the interlude between in closeness, or so we
tell ourselves, But it's a long way from the morning till the evening. I hope I didn't
butcher it up too badly. I love your poetry. Thank You. Faye Lowrey
Dear Faye, we do share the month of April. I was born on the 29th of the month in 1933.
It's fitting that you like the poem because it's called "April 12th."
It's a very short poem, but I confess that it's one of my favorites too.
April 12th
We come into the world alone.
We go away the same.
We're meant to spend the interval between
in closeness,
or so we
tell ourselves.
But it's a long way between the morning and the evening.
If I had to be judged by one poem, I wouldn't mind it was this one. It was first published
in "In Someone's Shadow" (1969) and later reprised in "Alone,"
published in 1975. I've always regarded it as an unfinished poem. Thanks for caring about
it, Rod
POEMS ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA
Have just rediscovered McKuen
after too many years. Went to a concert in South Africa in the 70's and would have joined
the tour had he asked ! I guess I have most of his stuff in various forms but tried to get
the ultimate McKuen collection off Amazon.com with no success. Anyway, went off to
Johannesburg from Cape Town last week and discovered a whole lot of stuff that I didn't
have on CD. Got it - cost a fortune but doesn't matter as I have been playing it for the
last few days and driving everybody here nuts!
Question - any poems written about your tours to South Africa. I enjoy your poetry and a
lot of it is area/city/date based, but I haven't picked up anything that sounds local to
me. Will you come back? We are currently springboarded to win the world cup rugby in
Europe. Probably will be a New Zealand/South Africa final same as last year. Watch this
space !!. (Webmaster's note: It wasn't and, sadly, we didn't!)
Would love to meet you if you decide to come back for a visit. My wife and I are going to
Miami next month to try and see a bit of the Keys area. Looking forward to it. I have
spent quite a bit of time in California but mostly in the San Francisco/Silicone valley
areas.
Best wishes for your plans to start another touring season and hope you get to Cape Town
this time. R J Russell (Lobby)
Dear RJ, Sorry about the cost of importing CD's. As a collector I go through the same
problems here in the United States when buying imports from Japan, Europe and Australia.
Give a look at Stanyan By Mail's catalog, I think you'll find prices a bit more
reasonable.
As you probably know, I was very affected by my trips to South Africa. Off hand the poems
I remember best about your great country are "A Lion in the Streets of Jo'Burg"
and "Balloon Over Africa". I wrote both while in S. A. and they were published
in "Beyond the Boardwalk."
I'm anxious to visit your land of the Southern Sun again; all I need is some promoter's
invitation. Silicone Valley? Sounds like you're "a computer nerd." If so, you
have a compatriot in the Webmaster of this site, Ken Blackie, who makes his home in
Jo'Burg.
Thanks for the note R.J., I'll be there one of these days & I expect you to say hello.
Cheers, Rod
LISTEN TO THE WARM
Time goes slow when you
hold onto past ghosts. I have never been so shocked to know you are still around! I lost
you back in 1972 and seems that no one else I ran into knew of your work. Last year I
found your old works on amazon.com, but still had no idea that you were still here on this
planet.
Rumors were no comfort and I never knew which ones were true about your ill fated
"departure". I have two daughters who know that "The Sea" always goes
with us to the ocean and that I love to "Listen to the Warm". Always know that
you have a lot of old friends in this world who have lived richer lives because your
writing. I have. I look forward to catching up on your work and feel almost 17 again
knowing that your writing will mirror parts of me that I will never be able to explain or
understand. Peace be with you. Sandy West, Marshall, NC
Thanks Sandy and welcome to A Safe Place To Land. I hope you stop by often. Rumors of my
demise still float around. I've had more than one letter addressed to "The Estate of
R. McKuen". I love life and all the fans and friends that keep me afloat. When I
leave the planet, I'll go kicking and screaming. Affectionately, Rod
T SHIRTS
I still listen to your
records, read your books and obviously look for you even on the computer after over 30
years. I saw you in concert in Chattanooga, Tennessee back in the early 70's. There have
been very few people, thoughts or things that have lasted, still feel good or fit after
all that time.
As it seems you are considering making available "stuff" for the faithful, while
have two Rod McKuen t-shirts put safely away the ones I have worn through the years have
definitely seen better days. I know everyone wants something from you and there just isn't
enough of you to get to everything, but I wish you would
consider t-shirts on the new Stanyan list. You meet some of the nicest people and get some
of the best smiles in a Rod McKuen T-shirt!
I wish I could tell you my favorite of your works, I can't. There just has always been
something of yours that fits whatever stage of life I'm going through at the moment, like
a good friend you've been there through the good, the bad and the indifferent. I have
always had your tapes in my car to help with the stress and you have helped me through
Houston, Texas and now Atlanta, Georgia "rush hours". Maybe your works should be
issued as Stress Help items with cars. I agree with your other fans, it brings a smile to
have a picture of you looking back from the computer screen. Take care and may you always
sleep warm. Cassandra Wiltberger.
Dear Casandra, Are you sure Dwight didn't put you up to writing this letter? He's been
going on for some time now about doing T. Shirts. I think it may happen soon. He's
narrowed it down to the ASPTL heart logo & the profile sketch, with McKuenisms such as
"It doesn't matter who you love or how you love, but that you love." My own
favorite is "I go to bed with a Rod McKuen book, or a friend who's read one." If
anyone out there has other ideas, drop me or Dwight a line.
Thanks for the nice thoughts, Casandra, I'm honored to have been part of your life for a
while now. Love, Rod
AND FINALLY . . .
Here's a new section of my own observations.
Feel free to send in your own contributions. I call it . . .
I'M OK!, YOU'RE OK!, Y2K!
If you haven't seen the commercial on TV yet,
you can actually buy "The Leonard Nemoy Y2K Family Survival Guide" for only
$49.95, by calling an 800 #. It includes a "friendly" video (which you can play
assuming your electricity hasn't gone out,) an audiotape (make sure you have a stock of
batteries for your Walkman) and a CD-ROM for your Y2K compliant computer. The same 800
number also sells a stock of food. "Canned Goods that has a shelf life of 10
Years." Thanks, Lenny, but I'm heading for CostCo.
Tomorrow as the week winds down it's back to our regular Friday feature "Pass it
Along," where I share the best (and sometimes worst) of things - sent by friends and
beautiful strangers - with all of you. Hope to see you then. Meanwhile if you've a
question or a thought you'd like to share drop a line rod@mckuen.com
Sleep warm and plan a safe weekend.
-
RM 11/28/99 Previously unpublished
|
