ASK ROD

Christmas 2000, photo by Bob Gentry ©2000 Stanyan Entertainment

A Thought for Today

Anything you can dream you can make happen.

Many thanks to those of you who sent kind greetings over the holidays. I hope your Christmas was as happy and quiet as mine was and that Santa was generous.

FEEDBACK: LACK OF CONCERT PROMOTERS

Hi Rod I was idly flicking through the TV channels recently, and I landed on the tail end of the children's TV Show "Sabrina" featuring an episode about Valentine's Day. I just caught the last line "to paraphrase the great Rod McKuen..." So you aren't forgotten after all Rod.

You mentioned your lack of success in finding promoters to take you on, which is very sad indeed. If you do get exposure on TV, appearing on Jay Leno's show etc I am sure that suitable offers will become available to you! Best wishes. Alex

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Hi Mr. McKuen, As a long time fan of yours its exciting to hear you're doing live performances again, but disappointing that so few promoters won't book you. I hope an area like Northampton, MA would be hip and happening enough to support such a fine performer. It would be great to have a New England performance.

Sincere thanks for all the joy and touching words you've added to my life. Wishing you and yours joy, peace, happiness and health this holiday season and throughout the coming year, Deb

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Hi Rod Sending you and your busy 'planners' greetings and the very best wishes for a happy, recreational and reflective Christmas and a fantastic New Year. Still planning my US trip to see you...[in concert ie] later in 2001. To convince the promoters you have lots of fans get them to check your email collection!

Don't know if states-siders would prefer congratulations or commiseration's on selecting your new President. Hope he serves you all well whichever political persuasion you may be. Thanks for all of your thoughts and words [and time that you give us] Love and blessings...Noelene


Dear Alex, Deb and Noelene, Finding promoters for concerts is a real problem but I can understand their point of view. I've been out of sight for a long time. Alas most of today's bookers and promoters were not even a gleam in their parents eyes when I was filling clubs, concert halls and stadiums all over the world and breaking records doing so. So, it isn't just a case of out of sight out of mind.

Next fall's concert tour is very much on hold depending on how well the two March concerts do. That's why it's so important that as many people as possible travel to attend the performances in Aurora and Madison. If these two test dates aren't successful in terms of selling tickets you can bet it will be a long while before other promoters fall in line.

As to an appearance on Leno or other popular TV shows, one action follows another. Bookers for those shows know who Brittany Spears is but not necessarily Rod McKuen. Times have changed in the entertainment business. That our two mirror websites receive thousands of hits a week means nothing to the powers that be that do the booking for TV shows and personal appearance tours.

Finding a musical conductor, booking a band and assembling the right tour crew (lights, sound, road manager) is for me the easy part, but maintaining a well rehearsed band and crew with only isolated dates is nearly impossible. I don't know any artist able to afford that kind on indulgence. 

Remember, at the moment I have no major record or publishing company behind me and that's a big minus as far as promotion of any endeavor is concerned. Of course, as my career has always proven, one success leads to another and if I can make the March dates work all the dominos will line up.

Tickets for the Madison Wisconsin date on March 11th went on sale Tuesday and those for the Aurora Illinois concert the following night become available next week. I'm hoping that because the venues are so close that many fans will elect to attend both nights. 

Whatever happens I'm looking forward to the dates, seeing old friends and making new ones. Thanks for caring, Rod

PS: As to our new president, Noelene, I'm sure the country's behind him and all us are hoping for the best so it's a little early for congratulations or commiseration's 

NEW BALLADS

It's late and I feel funny knowing in just a little while I will be falling asleep with headphones on. Waking at some early hour to finally limp to bed. I am 31 Rod, my name is Don Blair, and have greatly been influenced by your music. I'm just getting started; right now my favorite is New Ballads. This record to me is seamless. Thank you for it, and also Apt. 4-E, Don

Dear Don, New Ballads has always held a special place in my heart. It re-teamed me with Don Costa who did the arranging and Nick Perito who conducted. At the time I was also working with Don and Sonny Burke on the arrangements and co-producing of "A Man Alone" that I had written for Sinatra.

Saying the album seems "seamless" is just about the nicest compliment you could give me. I work very hard at writing and programming all of the albums I'm involved with so that each one is 'of a piece.' Of course the songs have to stand on their own individually, but the overall album should be a seamless experience for the listener. Naturally the same hold true for a concert or a book. Thanks again for the kind words, Don. Cheers, Rod 

NAME THAT TUNE

Rod... I was hoping you could help me find a song... It wasn't one of yours but you may know it. I recently saw the movie "Proof of Life". Hope you saw it too. At the end as Russell Crowe is standing on the hill and Meg is driving away they play this awesome song. It sounded to me like Van Morrison. I've checked the Soundtrack for the movie but it's all instrumental. The name of the song may be something like "I Will Be Your
Man" or something similar. If you have any idea who the artist is I would be eternally grateful. Love you, Nancy Bakersfield, CA.

Dear Nancy, As an Oscar voter I've been sent a cassette of "Proof of Life" for review but Jenny and I haven't gotten around to screening it yet. I'm printing your letter with the hope that someone else out there has seen the film and can be of help. 

As a great Russell Crowe fan I'm looking forward to seeing "Proof of Life." Do yourself a favor and rent a couple of his earlier Australian flicks, "Hammers Under the Anvil," "Heaven's Burning," and the frightening "Romper Stomper." Cheers, Rod

CHARLIE BROWN

Hello Rod, Don Blair from Seattle again. I was wondering just how much of the Charlie Brown music you wrote? I have seen the record with the cartoon of the peanuts gang on the jacket, and I cannot recall if its Lucy or Charlie saying, "Who is Rod McKuen" I am hoping to get it for Christmas. A lot of my friends say the same thing.

I've been turning them on to you with comp. tapes we make for our listening pleasure while at work. Songs like Philadelphia, Cowboys & Indians, and The far side of the Hill. I'm off to play the piano Merry Christmas to you and yours. Stay Warm. Don

Dear Don, I wrote four songs for "A Boy Named Charlie Brown." The background score was written by the late Vince Guaraldi and arranged by John Scott Trotter. All of us received Oscar nominations for our work on the 1969 film but lost out that year to something called "A Hard Day's Night, " another collective effort by a little known group called The Beatles.

The complete songbook of "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" is available from Stanyan By Mail. Greetings of the season, Don, and thanks for spreading the word. Warmly, Rod 

YIKES! ARE ANY OF MY POEMS ABOUT SEASONS

Hi Rod, I hope this email makes it through what is likely a plethora of emails you must receive on a daily basis! I am sending this email on my daughters' behalf, as unfettered web and email access at her age is controlled in our household (as I am sure you will understand)

My daughter has been given a project to match poetry to a song and both must be about seasons - they apparently have to recite the poem, and demonstrate diligent research skills. So she phoned her uncle who said, almost immediately, "Rod McKuen". From there to your website and then we found this email address.

Please could you tell me if any of your poems are about seasons, and which have been recorded, either by yourself or by other artists? Please could you tell me the name of the publication where I could find the poetry text, and the album name of the artist who recorded it? Thanking you in advance Yours faithfully Malcolm

Dear Malcolm, My work and 'The Seasons? Where to begin. Not much research involved here I think. Open any of my books or pick up nearly any album and you'll find something pertaining to the seasons. Although it's pretty hard to find, there's even a boxed set of LP's I did with Anita Kerr entitled "The Seasons" (four LP's one each devoted to spring, summer, winter and autumn).

Again, Malcolm, it's hard not to find works of mine without an element of seasons and time. Your daughter could even go for the obvious and submit "Seasons in the Sun" as a song example, coupled with nearly any of my summer poems. She might also try this: Go to the Archives link at the bottom of this page and do four searches. Spring, summer, winter and autumn. Trust me, what pops up will keep her busy for a few hundred hours and if she works it right, show "diligent research."

Thanks for writing, Malcom and give your daughter my best wishes. I'd love to see her final paper. Cheers, Rod 

SOLITUDE'S MY HOME

Dear Rod I have recently received the new video featuring yourself and the late great Dusty Springfield-I enjoyed it very much, thank you. I am also a big fan of the late Dorothy Squires and on one of her albums she sings "Solitude's My Home," which she says you wrote especially for her.

This is a very emotional song, the lyrics are superb, I was wondering whether she recorded any more of your songs and whether "Solitude's My Home" was used in a film? I am hoping to get to know more of your music. Very Best Wishes Merry Christmas, Neil Randell

Dear Neil, Thanks for the reminder of my dear friend Dorothy.
Thanks to Wade Alexander who made sure she got the song at a time when she really needed a show stopper, Dorothy sang "Solitude's My Home" so beautifully she made it her own. I wish she had recorded other songs of mine, but alas she didn't.

I adapted "Solitude's My Home," from the great French songwriter Georges Moustaki's "Ma Solitude." His melodies have inspired some of my best lyrics. Our other collaborations include "Without A Worry in the World" and "Blessings of the Day."

Dorothy's version of "Solitude" will be included on a new Stanyan Strings album "The Hits of Rod McKuen," which in addition to instrumental versions of my songs includes vocals by Glenn Yarbrough, Sylvia Syms and Chris Connor. And an unreleased version of it is also on the forthcoming "Rod at the Grand Ol' Opry" set. Thanks Neil and Happy Holidays. Warmly, Rod 

INDIAN SUMMER 

Dear Rod The fortunate owner of a record player, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of your Love Songs 20 Favourites, Special TV Offer (JB 059 MX 196813) [AMCO SYDNEY], which I picked up at a charity store. It was terrific to find your website with further titles to go hunting for locally.

Have you sung a little jazz-tune, "Indian Summer" mostly consisting of the words: just lazyyyy - or can you tell me who has? Sounds like one of ye olde crooners, but music stores here can't help. Happy Christmas with your cats. Sincerely Brita Beeston, Ettalong, Australia

Dear Brita, Far from being 'a little jazz tune' "Indian Summer" is one of the most enduring American standards. It was written in 1939 by Al Dubin and Victor Herbert. Tommy Dorsey's record of it (propelled by a Frank Sinatra vocal) went to the top of the charts that year. Other recordings include versions by Glenn Miller, Perry Como and Robert Goulet. 

Sinatra re-recorded it decades later for Reprise with Duke Ellington as part of his "Francis A. & Edward K." album. By all means add this Reprise CD 1024 to your collection. The arrangements are by Billy May and the producer was Sonny Burke

Thanks for giving me the idea of recording "Indian Summer," I might do it as part of our Great American Songwriters series done in connection with the United States Postal office in a disc devoted to the works of Victor Herbert. All the best of the season to you and yours. Rod

THE HELP LINE

I am looking for 2 LPs on CD or cassette called "Listen to the Warm" and "Good Time Music". Thank you for your help. Jeff Perry 

Dear Jeff, no cassettes but plenty of CD's of "Listen to the Warm." "Good Time Music" is still only out on LP. Both are available from Stanyan By Mail. Warmly, Rod

HOLIDAY CD's

I have a few Christmas CD's on LaserLight and they indicate Stanyan Discs. I am interested in purchasing several of those listed. Can you please e-mail me a list of those available?

I am specifically interested in:
Liberace - 12 773
Christmas in London - 12 778
Bah! Humbug - 12 777
The Hollywood Angels - 12 538
Corky Hale - 12 12 536
Malcom Sargent Chorale - 12 527

Thank you very much, Barry K. Miller

Dear Barry, All of the above are available from Stanyan By Mail and you can find a further list and information on ordering at the link on The Home Page. Thanks, Rod


I'll be back tomorrow with another edition of Pass It Along. Sleep warm.

                       RM 12/27/2000 Previously unpublished

BETHLEHEM BC