Well, dear readers, I’m too pooped to pop and yet I must pop and therefore I cannot poop. Wait, that didn’t sound very good, did it? That is a most unseemly way to begin Ye Olde Notes. What I mean to say is that though I’m too pooped to pop I shall be popping rather than pooping. Wait, that didn’t sound very good, did it? Well, why don’t I just proceed apace because this pooping and popping isn’t getting us anywhere. Speaking of anywhere, yesterday was a day I enjoyed very much. For example, I got up. I enjoyed that. Then I proofed, I jogged for the first time in ages, both of which I enjoyed very much. Then I shipped two big boxes of CDs. Then I proofed again. And then it was time to toddle off to our hainsies/kimlets gathering at Musso and Frank. We got a lovely table – we actually all arrived early – MusicGuy, Cason and the lovely Miss Karen, MBarnum, myself, and last but not least, Miss Adriana Patti, who was last to arrive, despite living only two blocks from the restaurant. Well, it was a completely delightfully delightful gathering. Many shrimp were consumed, many laughs were laughed, many pounded steaks were served, and bread pudding was the popular dessert (even though MusicGuy had peach pie). Everyone at the table was in top form and the fun got quite giddy when the Madame Spivy lookalike arrived and sat at the table next to us. Of course, only MusicGuy knew who Madame Spivy was, so I enlightened everyone. We were there close to two-and-a-half hours and it was the most fun I’ve had in ages. I then came home and plopped myself down on my couch like so much fish. Right then and there I was too pooped to pop after I plopped.
Last night, I finished watching a motion picture on DVDR entitled Freud. I’d never seen the film, and I must say I thought it was a very interesting movie, with many really fine scenes. Yes, it’s talky and yes, it’s long (two hours and twenty minutes), but the subject matter is always compelling, and the actors are wonderful, including Montgomery Clift as Freud, Susannah York as a patient, Larry Parks as a colleague, Eric Portman as Freud’s nemesis, and many others. The film was directed by Mr. John Huston and he was really in good form, especially in the dream sequences. The great black and white photography is by Douglas Slocombe. And then there’s Jerry Goldsmith’s score, which is in a class by itself. He was nominated for an Oscar for it. As I marveled at its complexity, I wondered if anyone will ever write such a score for a film again – a completely original, not sounding like a temp-track score that really gets under the skin of the film. I doubt it. The image quality looked great and I was very pleased to finally see the film.
Before I move on, I’d also like to tell you about a new CD I picked up the other day. I was perusing the jazz CDs at Amoeba and looking through the miscellaneous letters, something I rarely do. I was thumbing through the O’s and found a CD by a Danish singer named Trijntje Oosterhuis who, needless to say, I’d never heard of. But, since the album was entitled The Look Of Love: The Burt Bacharach Songbook, and listed The Metropole Orchestra, I checked out the song list. On the inlay was a picture of the singer and Burt, so I knew that he’d had to have been involved in some way. Then I saw it was produced by one of my favorite unsung composers, Pat Williams – since it was only ten bucks, I didn’t feel too pooped and I popped for it. And am I glad I did. It’s a wonderful album, just about perfect in every way. Most of the orchestrations are by Mr. Williams and they are gorgeous. It’s a wonderfully engineered CD (by Al Schmitt), and I cannot say enough about it. Ms. Oosterhuis is up to the task and then some – she’s got a bluesy, jazzy voice that is so delightful to listen to, it just takes you away on a wonderful journey. The CD is an import – there are more expensive copies on amazon.com, but it’s also showing up on eBay, too. If you love Burt, and great charts, and great singing, get it.
Well, whey don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because when I’m typing whey instead of why I really must be too pooped to pop, don’t you think?
This morning I shall be arising bright and early and also early and bright for a little impromptu breakfast at Du-Par’s with the West Coast contingent. Then I have a work session with Alet Taylor and John Boswell. Then I have to proof, package up a few orders, and then possibly have a little dinner meeting. In other words, a full day.
Have I mentioned that I’m too pooped to pop? Thankfully, I have nothing on for this evening other than watching a DVD or three, so that should be nice and relaxing and also relaxing and nice.
We may as well put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, we may as well break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, we may as well dance the Hora or the old-fashioned waltz, for today is the birthday of dear reader Joey. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to dear reader Joey. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO DEAR READER JOEY!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, breakfast, jog, proof, package, have a work session, proof, possibly have a little meeting, and then watch a DVD or three. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like and we get to give any old answer we like. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers and loads of lovely postings, shall we?