Wednesday
5th November, 2008
New concerts announced!
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A Thought for Today
Silence never needs improvement.
This
One Does It For Me!
Hiya,
My friend Alan from Berkeley can't find the lyrics of Rod's song "Channing
Way".
He has lived on Channing Way loooong time back.
Hope you can help him out?
Shanna
Amsterdam/Netherlands
Sure thing, Shanna, you'll find the lyrics below along with the liner
notes to one of my favorite albums, Prolific Composer Rod McKuen Sings
His Own, in which Rod details a little bit about the song.
Prolific Composer Rod McKuen Sings His Own
“As a composer myself, I would like to congratulate Rod McKuen” ...
Jimmy McHugh
Being a lover of art and intrigued with the magnificence of Renoir, the
striking colors of Gauguin, the vibrant tones of Rouault, and the
softness of Monet, I find myself enthralled with the lyrics and music
expressing moods, memories, emotions, love and environmental scenes as
composed by Rod McKuen. As I listen to his new album Prolific Composer
Rod McKuen Sings His Own, I am completely engrossed in his unique
ability as a bard and balladeer. He casts a spell over the listener, and
one finds himself seeing and feeling into the depths of his emotions as
expressed in this beautiful album.
In this day and age it is truly a God-given gift to be able to hold
listeners’ attention... and Rod McKuen has it. As a composer myself, I
would like to congratulate him. He is one of our new greats in the
musical world, a most individual creator, a sentimentalist, a dreamer,
and one who possesses warmth and sincerity. Surely, his future is
unlimited and he will reach great heights.
Jimmy McHugh
Because the words and music
in this album are of his own invention, Rod offers the following
comments concerning his songs:
The Summer’s Long was written for Doug Davis of Atlanta, who painted
pictures of Piaf before he was killed in an airplane crash at Orly
Field. When a friend dies you realize how little time you found to spend
with him while he lived.
Channing Way is one in a series of songs I’ve written with street
titles. Others include Kearny Street and Stanyan Street; all are from a
forthcoming book called “Stanyan Street and Other Sorrows” and a
recording project, “Lonesome Cities.” Its theme is much the same as that
of Each of Us Alone. We are a world of strangers, dancing six feet
apart. We hold each other only in the boxing ring or wrestling match,
and our lack of communication extends not only to being apart from each
other but alone from ourselves.
The ultimate luxury is being able to say no without fear of
repercussions. Yes is the easy way out.
Thirty’s a bit early for reflection. But it’s the first birthday that
hurts a little bit. I started writing Looking Back at Thirty on a plane
to New York and finished it two weeks later coming home. Meanwhile I’ve
been disillusioned twice... not counting the stewardess on the return
trip.
The Lovers is not so much about love as it is the need for love. Jacques
Brel’s marvelous adaption of it has many recordings in France. The first
recording of it in English, other than my own, was made by Glenn
Yarbrough and remains one of my favorites. It has been translated into
several languages now and will soon be the subject of a short film.
Times Gone By celebrates yesterday, Summer in My Eye, today, and One Day
Soon, tomorrow. They were all written, I regret to say, without the aid
of Sophia Loren.
People can usually be divided into two distinct groups. The Hunters and
the hunted... though each of us is a little of both. The hunters want to
be caught, the hunted dress for the attack.
I’ve Been to Town, has been recorded by Eddy Arnold and Glenn Yarbrough,
and I recorded it in French last summer for Pathe-Marconi.
Rusting in the Rain is one of the newest songs in the album, and has so
far been done by Jimmie Rodgers, The Kingston Trio and Glenn Yarbrough.
Though the themes are different, it reminds me of an earlier song of
mine, The World I Used to Know.
So Many Others celebrates the fact that people would rather be lied to
than not cared about at all.
Rod McKuen
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