13th
& 14th September, 2008
New concerts announced!
Click HERE for details.
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Photo by Jay Hagan,
7/12/08 Burbank, CA
A Thought for Today
Don’t expect too much and you will never
be disappointed.
.ASK
ROD
IF AT FIRST . . .
Rod: I’ve been a fan of yours since 1967. When I
was in the 6th grade I was introduced to your poems with Anita Kerr. I
ordered the set of records (records - you can tell I'm old) of The Sea,
etc. You inspired me to write and now, I am a published author.
(self-published)
I've had a difficult life, being married and divorced 11 (yes, eleven)
times. I listen to you and all my troubles fade. I just wanted to say
that I've been a fan since 6th grade (my teacher played some of the
poems for us) and I am still mesmerized by you.
Thank you for understanding how people feel and putting it into such
beautiful words. You are truly an inspiration.
“You turn a corner and things change.
Like wrinkles changing into dimples
and nighttime changing into day.
And love changing back again
to whatever it was before it came.”
I wish I knew what all my loves changed back to. I'm in pain every day
and attempted my life several times. The last time, I was found without
a pulse. Thank you, again. Bonnie (53 years young)
Dear Bonnie, your letter put a broad smile on my face, while causing my
forehead to wrinkle a little.
Apparently collecting my records is not your only hobby, by your own
admission you are also partial to marriage certificates. “11 times,”
wow. Have you never thought of living in sin? I mean, unless you own a
wash and wear wedding gown think of what you could save on marriage
paraphernalia, not to mention nerves that have probably gone jingle,
jangle, jingle a time or two too often.
When have you found time to write? Though if all those guys were heels
(and they must have been or why would you have shucked them off) writing
must have been a great escape. I hope you were a great housekeeper, or
if you didn’t always keep the house I’d like to think you held onto most
of the rings and things. At only 53 you are indeed a young pup so I
reckon number twelve awaits on the not too distant horizon.
But enough with the jokes, obviously love and marriage have been
anything but a barrel of laughs for you. I’m sorry you’ve known and know
such pain and if my work has been of some solace I’m pleased. Despite
rumors to the contrary marriage really isn’t for everybody. It didn’t
work out all that well for me. Romance shouldn’t and doesn’t have to
always mean a judge and signing on the dotted line.
Try to look on the bright side, so many people have no sense of
adventure but no matter how badly it worked out at least you were brave
enough to take chances. Risk is everything, life doesn’t amount to much
without it. And, I hope you continue to write it’s a great balm for just
about everything, While must of us from time to time get stuck for
inspiration I can’t imagine with your experiences –– good and bad ––
that you could ever be at a loss for something to write about.
The verse of mine you quoted isn’t meant to be sad, life is what it is
and sometimes it takes courage to go on. We all have plenty of courage
inside of us its just a matter of learning how to tap into it and then
remembering to do so.
Thanks for the kind words Connie and all my best to you. When in doubt,
keep on keeping on. Oh, and one more thing the lack of a pulse beat can
lead to even more serious medical problems. Warmly, Rod
SESSION DATES
Hi Rod, I recently purchased the “Christmas Jump
and Jive” and “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” CDs and have been greatly
enjoying both of them! I was wondering, though, if you have the dates
(or at least years) that the tracks were recorded? I’m a stickler for
these details, and any help that you could provide would be appreciated.
Thanks a bunch. Dave Pseja
Dear Dave, Some of my greatest joys are the albums I’ve had a hand in
producing & compiling. I’m particularly proud of the work I’ve been
involved in when it comes to restoring recordings from the 1940’s &
50’s. As for Christmas discs, someone once called me “The King of
Christmas” because of the dozens of holiday albums I’ve produced. So I’m
pleased that you picked up these two particular discs.
As for the recording dates you mentioned, I'm sure they are in a file
somewhere. When I'm not so backed up with work I'll try to dig them out
for you –– just don't know how soon that will be. Hope your patience
will pay off. This much I can tell you, the tracks were compiled from
V-Discs, radio programs and commercial recordings. Thanks for asking.
Cheers, Rod
NOPE
A friend of mine occasionally quotes you as
writing/saying something like: one should live in New York but not so
long as to become too hard and live in California but not so long as to
become too soft. Did you? If so, what is the actual quote? It fits so
many different contexts in my life today and would be comforting to have
the accurate language. Thank you so much. Bob Long
Dear Bob, I've heard the quote before but didn't utter it. Try
Bartlett’s Quotations. Cheers, Rod
WHAT A DEAL TO STAY IN YOUR PAJAMAS
Hello Rod. One of the first songs my accordion
teacher gave me 10 years ago was "Gee it's nice to be alone". Lately I
have been singing it, it's such a dreamy song, but I only remember the
first two lines. The words have disappeared. Is it possible to get hold
of the lyrics somewhere? Thanks, Susanne
Dear Susanne, just what I needed today, a trip back to ‘the sixties.’
Here’s a little known fact, I thought about including this in the album
I wrote for Sinatra, A Man Alone, but decided that considering the other
songs I’d chosen it was out of character. Here are the words:
Gee, It's Nice to Be Alone
Gee, it's nice to be alone,
to wake up by yourself,
to own the day awhile
and not have to talk to anybody.
Gee, it's nice to be alone,
to get to know yourself,
to waste away the time
and not have to smile at anybody.
What a deal to stay in your pyjamas’
with nothin' very much to do
but watch the shadow's changing panoramas
when even the shadows don't look back at you.
Well, gee, it's nice to be alone,
to whisper, never shout
and suddenly find out
what solitude's about.
Gee, it's nice to be alone,
to rely on yourself
in shadow or sunshine
and not have a need for anybody.
Gee, it's nice to be alone... sometimes.
Words & Music by Rod McKuen. © Copyright 1966 by Rod McKuen & Stanyan
Music Group. © Renewed
THE SHOW MUST GO ON
Hello, Will there be any Rod McKuen shows? We have
been fans of his for years. Thanks, John
Dear John (I confess I always wanted to write a Dear John Letter, but
then you must get them all the time.)
Have added your e-mail address to the concert mailing list but an even
faster way of finding out when and where concerts and shows are
scheduled is to check in at my website from time to time. That’s where
they are announced first.
Only one appearance this year, four shows in November in the Palm
Springs area. For reservations and further info click on the “concerts
and appearances” links elsewhere on this page. Thanks and cheers, Rod
MUNICH, 1971
Dear Mr. Rod McKuen, by visiting your Homepage I
remember very well the concert you gave in 1971 in Munich. I never
forget: I was sitting in the front row, and I enjoyed your songs very
much....and I still do!!
I hope, you stay well and are still very creative in writing your
lyrics,...that I still read.
I remember: after the show in Munich I met you behind the stage, and I
asked you - sorry for that - " did you ever have vocal training? " I’ll
never forget this meeting with you.
Again, stay well - and I regret all the years, that you never visited
Germany again for another concert. If you do it in my area (Mannheim),
you will see me back in the front row again. Your Fan, Kurt Merkel
(meanwhile 62)
Dear Kurt, a few weeks ago (7/15/08) Der Spiegel ran a profile of me and
I was about to tackle a batch of mail that arrived from Europe as a
result of its publication; then I remembered your thoughtful letter and
I thought it was about time I got around to answering it first. My
apologies for being so late in writing back to you.
Thanks for remembering that night in Munich way back when. I recall my
1971 concert tour of Germany with great affection, the audiences were
very receptive and over the years even though I haven’t been back for
another tour ––the German public has been very good to me. To give you
an idea of how much everyone associated with my tour enjoyed themselves
in Deutschland, one of my concert managers fell in love with your
country and years later chose to retire there.
As for you and the Munich concert, with a beat up, lived in, voice like
mine how could I possibly forget a 25 year old young man who came back
after the show and innocently asked if I’d ever had vocal lessons. That
you remember me after all these years is the miracle. As for Mannheim
even though I’ve never been to your hometown I feel I know it because
when my brother Edward was in the army he was stationed there. Over the
years he has gone on and on about Mannheim this and Manheim that.
Another tour of Germany? It could still happen and I’d like nothing
better. The wonderful Bear Family, based in Hamburg, did a 7 CD
compilation of my work and that seems as good a reason as any to return
to your country for a ‘thank you’ visit.
Meanwhile, I am well and stay busy writing though there never seems to
be time enough to finish all the things I start, thanks for asking Kurt.
I hope my note finds you well and happy and that you won’t wait until my
next visit to write and tell me a little about what’s been going on in
your life for the past 37 years. All my best, Rod.
RM 9/12/08 First Publication
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