Well, dear readers, another Broadway legend has left us, Mr. Charles Strouse, who I was lucky enough to know a bit, and I was lucky enough to record a LOT of his music over the years, including an entire Strouse album with Jason Graae called You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile. I discovered Strouse the way most people of my age did – with Bye Bye Birdie, a score with lyrics by Lee Adams, a score I dearly loved – first via the cast album, which I got from the Columbia House Record Club, and then the movie. I got to meet him back in 1990 when I decided to do an album called Classical Broadway. I think he and Harvey Schmidt were the first of the big Broadway composers I met, asking both if they’d like to contribute pieces. Both said yes and Charles had two wonderful pieces for us. That led me to contacting Cy Coleman and John Kander, who both contributed. And now, only Kander remains. Besides the all Strouse album with Jason, I recorded cut songs from Applause, and any time I could stick one of his songs on an album, I did. Of course, early on in our Kritzerland cabaret shows we did a Strouse evening and we’ve lots of his songs in other Kritzerland shows. He was one of a kind, to quote a song title from his Applause. I think if I had to choose one Strouse ballad melody that was my absolute favorite I’d have to go with Once Upon a Time from the musical, All American. He was, to put it simply, Broadway royalty and a gentleman. Here’s Jason singing Once Upon a Time from the Strouse album. Brad Ellis conducts our wonderful L.A. orchestra. If I’m remembering correctly, the beautiful orchestration is by our very own Larry Moore.
https://youtu.be/p02GkqP78Lc?si=cw1I0brg1KpOuWS9
Such a moving song. Ironically, I’d just finished watching on YouTube Michelle Nicastro singing Disneyland from Smile, from the Unsung Musicals concert from 1994 at the Danny Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, a spectacular concert featuring our little rep company of singers from back in those early days. I have a VHS of the whole concert, but heaven knows where it is. So, I’ve written someone who I know has it and asked if he could burn it to DVD. I’m hoping he can. At the end of that hyper emotional song, I burst out weeping for my beautiful Michelle, gone so young at fifty. That made me think of the others I loved and lost – Laurie Beechman, Rebecca Luker, Dorothy Loudon – and then the songwriters I’d been lucky enough to work with – Sondheim, Cy Coleman, Claibe Richardson and especially two of my dearest friends, Harvey Schmidt and Richard Sherman. And knowing that back in 2002 when Nick Redman made his little documentary about The First Nudie Musical, when almost all of that cast were still alive – only two of the actors who played the backers and Kathy Hietala, who played Eunice, the script girl and Rene Hall, who played Dick Davis, songwriter and pervert had passed. But now? Cindy’s gone, Alan Abelew is gone, the other two actors who played backers are gone, Lynne Stewart is gone. Enough already. Seriously, enough. Here’s Michelle doing Disneyland. Orchestration by Larry Moore. We had the big, full orchestra for this concert. I’d love to do one like it out here, but I wouldn’t do it without the band.
https://youtu.be/9n_F1QMYJyI?si=sHSs_LJiz9WHMcwg
Prior to all that, I ultimately got almost eight hours of sleep, just not consecutive. I went to bed at two-thirty, woke up at five, was up for two and a half hours, then went back to bed and slept until one-thirty. Once up, I had a ton of e-mails to answer, the thing that hadn’t arrived arrived, I’m still hopeful of another portion of a modern major miracle, I had a pastrami sandwich on some kind of roll from Mr. Pickles – very good – I ordered some stuff via DoorDash from Gelson’s – they have a 40% off sale at DoorDash and it was actually cheaper than driving over there. I dozed off for an hour, had a long telephonic conversation, had no time for a motion picture, and here we are.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, I’ll pray for another portion of a modern major miracle, I’ll eat – I got stuff to make BLTAs with – I’ll continue choosing songs, and then at some point I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
Not sure what’s happening on the weekend, but I’m hoping a nice meal out will occur.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up when I’m up, do whatever needs doing, pray for another portion of a modern major miracle, eat, continue choosing songs, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/Blu and Ray/streaming player? I’ll start – I have no idea. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall be singing songs by Strouse.