9th & 10th August, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New concerts announced!
Click HERE for details.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo by Jay Hagan, 7/12/08 Burbank, CA

A Thought for Today

Going your own way is fine but don’t forget to occasionally take in the scenery.

 

TO BEGIN WITH

The weather here is worth smiling about but for those of you not so lucky I won’t rub it in.

.ASK ROD

TO PRINT OR NOT TO PRINT

Rod, I’m sure you must receive many letters and E-mails, probably too many to answer, so how do you decide which ones to print in Ask Rod? Aaron Scott

Dear Aaron, some weeks I get about 150 messages and at other times twice as many. I try to keep up with as much of my mail as I can but life often gets in the way and I’ve been known to fall behind and in many cases, REALLY behind.

I usually print a letter when several people have asked variations on the same question. Over the years I’ve learned that for every query I get regarding a particular subject there are probably another five in the works on the same topic. The whole purpose of Ask Rod is to put in print the most asked and/or the most unusual questions.

I feel lucky that many of you drop by every week for Ask Rod but I know that some only look in now and again so no matter how many times I tell how to go about downloading my work, where to buy copies of “Listen to the Warm” or where to learn about my concerts and appearances, every now and again I have to repeat the process.

The whole thing can seem a bit self-serving and I apologize for that but unfortunately, it is what it is. All My Best, Rod.

THE SHOW GOES ON

Rod, When will you be appearing somewhere? Soon I hope, have loved all your books, poems and music for years, (some signed) and I have seen you a few times, please appear somewhere soon. Dana Segner

Dear Dana, Thanks for asking. Have only one gig scheduled for this year & it takes place in Palm Springs in November. For details click on "concerts". I appreciate your kind words & I hope this info helps. All My Best, Rod

ORDERING STUFF

Rod, How do we order your albums? Barbara

Dear Barbara, Thanks for asking. My books and albums are available from Stanyanhouse.com if you don't see something you like write Ben at that address & he'll probably be able to dig it up for you. Cheers, Rod

WE, WE

Hi Rod, in what album do you have the song We? Thank you, Bob

Dear Bob, "We" hasn't made its way to CD yet but will soon. It is featured on the following LP's:

Me Natalie (soundtrack)
Sold Out at Carnegie Hall
A Boy Named Charlie Brown & Other Film Songs
Live Across Australia & Around the World
Rod McKuen & Lisbeth List: Two Against the Morning

It may make the final cut and be featured on the all requests show in Palm Springs in November because there have been several letters asking that it be included. My version with Henry Mancini (who wrote the melody for it) is scheduled for an upcoming CD but no firm release date for that compact disc has been set yet. Thanks for asking Bob. Cheers, Rod.

(Forwarded from Ben at Stanyan House}
Years ago, I had every album Rod McKuen made and even have "We" engraved in my wedding band because it was among our favorite songs. I would love to get a CD with this song on it as an anniversary gift for my husband. Can you tell me which one contains it? Thank you, Kathy Bender

Dear Kathy, Please see the above answer. When is the anniversary? Maybe the powers that be can be talked into getting the CD with “We” out earlier than planned. Meanwhile ‘Happy Anniversary’ in advance and thanks for being there all these years. Warmly, Rod

COOKING WITH ROD

Dear Rod, You write a lot about cooking and I gather you are a gardener too (apparently this year’s tomato crop was spectacular). While your martini recipe can be found on a Safe Place to Land are we likely to see any other menus or cooking hints sometime soon? Ryan Bedford, London

Dear Ryan, Tomatoes have been beautiful and bountiful this year and earlier this evening, before settling down in front of the TV to watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, I had a delicious tomato and watermelon salad. Both gardening and cooking are important in my life and I do get requests for recipes now and again. Before too long I hope to initiate an occasional Cooking With Rod feature. Anything that’s fun and easy is certainly worth passing along. Cheers, Rod.

RM 8/8/08 First Publication

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Catch Rod McKuen live!

Click on the links below for details of concerts and appearances.

ROD McKUEN CONCERTS

ROD McKUEN APPEARANCES

notable birthdays

Saturday, 9 August

Robert Aldrich o Gillian Anderson o Amanda Bearse o John Wilkes Booth o Christopher Cuomo o John Dryden o Sam Elliott o Charles Farrell o Melanie Griffith o Whitney Houston o Stacie Hunt o Merle Kilgore o Phillip Larkin o Rod Laver o Ken Norton o Jean Piaget o Arion Salazar o Deion Sanders o Robert Shaw o Solomon o Herman Talmadge o Isak Walton

Sunday, 10 August

Devon Aoki o Ian Anderson o Rosanna Arquette o Patti Austin o Antonio Banderas o Nichole Bass o Noah Berry, Jr. o Claude Binyan o Rocky Colavito o Jeff Corey o George Crockett o Jimmy Dean o Eddie Fisher o Rhonda Fleming o Alexander Goehr o Jack Haley, Sr. o Bobby Hatfield o Herbert Hoover o Martha Hyer o Jane Pickens o Harry Richman o Junior Samples o Norma Shearer o Ronnie Spector

Rod's random thoughts Good or bad luck is nearly always rooted in good or bad judgment.

The guarantee for finding sanity again is finding love again.

Our differences will always give us sameness, continuation through the decades.

PORTRAIT

My desk is shedding paper,
like blades of churning harvesters.
It curls up ala peeling paint
on walls of some deserted fort.
The telephone, without last rites,
is buried underneath some books,
and still more paper everywhere.
Ring binders and a snapshot of a cat
who could have been
              young Magic’s uncle.
Paper clips, a three-ring punch,
spilled ink and paw prints
                          top off this sundae.
I await the demolition crew,
                   the wrecker’s axe.

Business as usual at our house.

-from "The Sound of Solitude," 1983. Revised 7/30/08

 
    AND FINALLY

Hope your weekend is fun-productive rather than work related. While I have a batch of stuff to catch up on I plan to sneak in a swim and a run or two –– well, a long walk anyway. Sleep warm.

RM Holmby Hills, CA August 9, 2008 2:10AM PDST

 
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Webmaster: Ken Blackie • Birthday Research by Wade Alexander • Poems from the collection of Jay Hagan •
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