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Rod & Sunny: Photo by Bob Gentry
8/5/1999
A Thought for Today
Solitude is company without demands.
Good Monday morning – or as
good as Monday can be. Here are some more of your letters.
THE FAMILY FEUD
Dear
Rod, While channel surfing very late last night, actually very early this
morning, I found an old rerun of a game show called Family Feud. I watched
for awhile and had great fun seeing Richard Dawson as the host, and Betty
White, Arlene Dahl, Jayne Meadows, Rory Calhoun, Cesar Romero, Mark
Goodson, a few names I didn't know...and Rod McKuen... as participants in
the game!
I didn't know you ever did game shows on television. What
others have you done? In what year was this one filmed? You were a very
handsome man then, and you still are today. I visit your site every day
and enjoy it immensely. I have been a fan of yours from day one and have
every book you've written...two copies of some of them. Your words are
among my most cherished possessions. Thank you so much for all of your
hard
work over the years. You are a true treasure. May you always be well and
happy, Judy Piemme
Dear Judy: All that sweet talk will get you everywhere. I did lots of quiz
and game shows over the years because they were fun, easy to do and like
everyone else who did & does them, I usually had a book, recording or
appearance I was pushing at the time.
Guest shots on talk TV are a form of prostitution that you usually only
indulge in when you want to draw attention to something you’re up to. The
supply and demand is endless.
Some of the game and quiz shows I’ve been on over the years include; Who
Do You Trust, What’s My Line, Masquerade Party, The Match Game and dozens
of appearances on Hollywood Squares. There are others but their names
escape me at the moment.
Like every out of work bachelor in Hollywood I appeared on a number of
“Dating Game’s” in order to keep the wolf from the door. We got paid union
scale and a set of encyclopedias, which Edward and I promptly sold at $300
a pop at Bernie’s Discount Center. I was in pretty good company, other
contestants who took the plunge in those days included Harrison Ford,
Michael Landon, Stephan Spielberg, Dudley Moore, LaVar Burton, Bruce
Willis, Donald Sutherland, Burt Reynolds, Treat Williams, David Cassidy,
Lee Majors, Rodger Miller and Tom Lehrer.
The Family Feud you saw was part of a week I did with my friend Richard
Dawson (he lives down the street) and the theme was “People Who Have Stars
on Hollywood Blvd.” Other team members during that week were Keenan Wynn,
Dorothy Lamour and the father of game shows, Mark Goodson. Sad to say only
Richard, Betty (she was the best player as always) and I are still around.
That series was taped during the eighties and was part of a very brief
return to TV for me after an absence of several years. God Bless Richard,
it took a lot to talk me into making an appearance since I was deep in
clinical depression at the time. My slide into CD continued and it was a
long time before I made any more public appearances. Thanks for the
memory. Warmly, Rod.
THE BLUEBIRD CARRIES THE SKY ON HIS BACK
In the
early 70's I was given a book titled Henry David Thoreau as edited by Rod
McKuen, I no longer have it and am looking for another but I can't find it
anywhere. Is it possible to tell where I can find it? Thanks, Brent
Sherrill
Dear Brent: Although Stanyan Books did several anthologies of quotations
by Henry David Thoreau the one you are referring to is probably “The
Bluebird Caries The Sky on His Back.” It was one of our best sellers. You
can order it from Stanyan By Mail. The price is $5.00. Thanks for asking.
Regards, Rod.
LOVE THOUGHTS
Dear
Rod, I'm getting married in a few weeks time, and we would like to include
some short quotes on love in our ceremony. I'm sure you have a plethora of
them, but if you have a few favourites, I'd be glad to know of them.
Unfortunately I haven't the time to go through all the Flight Plans and
find them all!
I understand that you probably have a backlog of mail but if there is any
chance of having my letter answered in the next few weeks, that would be
wonderful. Thank you, Celia Kearin
Sydney, Australia.
Dear Celia: Thanks for the query. Your letter is a bit difficult to
answer. Have I written about love? Yes, just a little bit. Here are the
‘Random Thoughts’ & 'Thoughts for the Day’ concerning love from last
month’s Flight Plans:
Buy love by giving it away.
Love is an act of giving; giving is an act of love.
Love is such an unusual and complete gift no one can write a proper thank
you note for receiving it or praise it enough for what it really is.
Love works best when we don’t work at it.
Loving someone without holding back is the highest high of all.
Make every day you stay together an anniversary of the day before.
Sometimes if you stop to weigh love, you find the scales completely empty.
The supply of love will never exceed the demand, but it should.
There is no fresh air without love.
To love is to remain always open.
We gather strength through fidelity.
And these are some other thoughts I’ve had about the subject over the
years:
Extending your hand is ending yourself.
If loving is an art, then we should all aspire to be Picasso or IBM - in
triplicate.
It doesn’t matter who you love or how you love, but that you love.
It is not possible to love fully and not be in receipt of more than you
have given.
Lie down with love, wake up with life.
Looking in your eyes, I see the sun come even in the darkness.
Love cannot be said aloud too often or spoken in silence too many times.
Love has no hidden highways, as hope hasn’t any padlocked doors.
Love is a four-letter word that should be used with discretion.
Love is knowing when to be quiet, even when it hurts.
Love is the bed you imagine others lie in, when you find yourself alone.
Love objects cast long shadows.
Love unreturned is not necessarily unrewarded.
Love, like magic, depends on believing.
Love works if you work at it.
Love’s a good friend when you’re walking, but an enemy in traffic.
Strength and courage will only carry us so far without friendship and
love.
The most that we can do for one another is care.
To hurt someone you love is difficult and takes no imagination.
To love is to remain always open.
I’ve written hundreds of poems on the subject but wouldn’t presume to
select one for your wedding & where would I start or stop?
Here’s an idea, log onto The Message Center or The Rod McKuen Message
Board & describe in a little more detail what you’re after and I guarantee
you that the nice people who contribute to these sights will come up with
something.
Rod McKuen Message
Center
Rod
McKuen Message Board
OK Celia, now that I’ve done
your homework for you, the rest is up to you. Good luck and happy wedding
day, Rod.
Katie, Mr. Kelly & Rod on
the set of “The Loner,” 1969 Photo by Herb Ball: NBC
OLD ENGLISH
SHEEPDOGS
Do you
still have Old English Sheepdogs? There have been OES in my life for 29
years and I thank you for the introduction.
Oesquilts.
Dear OES: It’s been a while since the flop-flop of big hairy feet rattled
around this old house. Not having Old English Sheepdogs underfoot is a
real loss since these Bobtails have to be among the most beautiful,
clumsy, lovable creatures God ever created. Alas my four cats might just
pack up and leave home if I introduced canines into the family at this
point. All the best, Rod.
PUSHING THE CLOUDS AWAY
I
am off course, a fan of yours. Years ago I was given an album of yours. I
made a cassette that I play to this day, but it has had some demagnetizing
or something...
The
lyrics to the song/poem that end "I've never been able to push the clouds
away by myself.....help me.....please."
After having been married for 17 years, having my husband killed, and
being left with five kids (ages 15-32) I have finally (it has taken three
years) decided to start living again. That poem says a lot to me about
living. I only have the last few stanza's left on the tape and no idea
where the album disappeared. Can you help? ... Please? Mary
Dear Mary: The poem you are referring to, “Pushing The Clouds Away” is
from the book “Listen to the Warm” and it appeared with a beautiful
background score by Anita Kerr in The San Sebastian Strings Album “The
Sea.”
The Sea LP is in the Stanyan By Mail catalog and my recording of “Pushing
the Clouds Away” is available on the CD “Speaking of Love.” Either or both
are available from Stanyan By Mail.
Despite the adversity it sounds like you have had a good and productive
life . . . and hey, we’re both still here. Isn’t that something? Below,
thanks to the industry of Jay Hagan, are the words to the poem. With
affection, Rod.
Pushing the Clouds Away / Eight
Clouds are not the cheeks of angels, you know
they are only clouds.
Friendly sometimes,
but you can never be sure.
If I had longer arms
I’d push the clouds away
or make them hang above the water somewhere else,
but I’m just a man
who needs and
wants,
mostly things he’ll never have.
Looking for that thing that’s hardest to find –
I’ve been going a long time now
and along the way I’ve learned some things.
You have to make the good times yourself,
take the little times and make them big times
and save the times that are all right
for the ones that
aren’t so good.
I’ve never been able
to push the clouds away by
myself.
Help me.
Please.
© 1967 by Rod McKuen &
Stanyan Music
BITS &
PIECES
I have
been trying for years to find an album I listened to as a young girl, it
was "Bits and Pieces" but I have not had any luck. I really liked the
songs on that particular album and would love to hear them again. Is there
anywhere that I might be able to find it? I have checked the Stanyan site
but they did not have it listed. Thank you, Marsha Seals
Dear Marsha: Without meaning to sound flippant, if you can track down
copies of “Bits & Pieces” pick one up for me too. It’s one of the hardest
to find McKuen LP’s.
Here’s the scoop on the album: When you start to become successful those
companies you’ve recorded with in the past who didn’t believe in you
enough to stick with you, start digging. In this case it was Decca who
searched their archives and began releasing “new” collections in an
attempt to cash in on RCA & Warner Bros. Records efforts. Those
collections included albums entitled “Very Warm” as well as “Bits &
Pieces.”
Never was an anthology released with a more appropriate title. “Bits &
Pieces” contained singles (Two Brothers, Sure, Lonesome Traveler); tracks
from previous albums (Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo, Anywhere I Wander, Twenty-Three
Cotton Fiends, Silver Ring, Scarlet Ribbons, Kisses Sweeter Than Wine) and
a couple of unreleased tracks (I’ve Always Loved You, For You.) And shame
on them they asked full price for only ten tracks.
Fans aren’t easily fooled and “Bits & Pieces” didn’t sell enough copies to
stay in the catalog long, hence its highly collectable status. Later I
bought back all the material I recorded for Decca but considering the
albums in line ahead of it ear-marked for CD, don’t look for “Bit’s &
Pieces” to surface at your local record shop on compact disc any time
soon. If you can find it “Two Brothers” is on an out of print CD “Greatest
Hits, 2” (Stanyan-Laserlight 12-794) but none of the other tracks have
resurfaced. Warmest Regards, Rod.
SEASONS IN THE SUN & SOLO
How can
I find a CD containing "Seasons in the Sun" and "Solo"? Eva.
Dear Eva: “Solo” and a previously unreleased version of “Seasons In The
Sun” will be included in the boxed set Rod McKuen: The RCA Years, due out
at the end of the year. Sincerely, Rod.
THE FINAL WORD
Today it comes from Webmaster
Ken.
Using Outlook
Express is the moral equivalent of putting on spike heels, fishnets and a
bustier, walking down to the corner of Virus St. and Trojan Ave., and
shouting "Hello Sailor!" – Anonymous
Sleep warm tonight and wake up
smiling.
- RM 01/21/02
Catch Rod McKuen Live!
The
Songs of Johnny Mercer - Luckman Arts Center, LA
An Evening with
Rod McKuen - B.B. King's Blues Club, NYC
Did you miss any of the Christmas downloads?
Pay a visit to Rod's JukeBox to make sure you have
the full collection.
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