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Dipswitch-200 is vandaag 1 jaar geworden!

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Songs For a Lazy Afternoon LP, 1956, Liberty Records LRP 3011, USA Rod McKuen Track List Side One: 1. Lazy Afternoon (2:33) 2. John Hardy (2:38) 3. The Birds Courting Song (1:36) 4. Puttin' On The Style (2:06) 5. With a "No" That Sounds Like "Yes" (2:12) 6. Bimini (0:35) 7. Colorado Train (2:53) Side Two: 1. Jaydee (2:10) 2. Sinner Man (3:14) 3. All Around Trinidad (4:25) 4. Happy Is a Boy Named Me (2:15) 5. Aunt Louise (0:12) 6. Follow the Drinking Gourd (2:18) Album Credits Rod McKuen Main Performer McKuen's first record. Most of these songs were written by him. Orchestra directed by Barney Kessel. Technically Songs for A Lazy Afternoon is Rod McKuen’s first album and it's very hard to come by since it was recorded just about the time Noah started building his ark. Rod McKuen did record an earlier album that wasn't widely circulated, called Lonely Summer for a small California label Bond Records. Liner notes: Rod McKuen is one of those prolific artists who, just when I think I probably own most of his albums, I suddenly find six or seven more at the Good Will in Seattle's Ballard neighbourhood —including a Christmas album! "Songs For a Lazy Afternoon" isn't one of those though, I've had this one for a while; it's one of my favorites. I never knew much about Rod McKuen, but after reading the extensive liner notes on the back of this record (included below) and his bio on Wikipedia (here), I found out that Rod McKuen ran away from home when he was 11, he's worked as a logger and as a rodeo cowboy, he starred as Romeo in a production of some famous Shakespeare play, he served in the U.S. Army, he speaks Japanese and Korean and is a Japanese movie star, he was buddies with Jacques Brel and he's considered the best-selling and most widely-read poet of all time. He can also wiggle his ears, he has bionic legs and he can fly several feet off the ground simply by flapping his arms. For a full discography and more neat photos and things, visit the official Rod McKuen website here. Songs For a Lazy Afternoon — Notes by Mike Connolly If late some evening you should drive down a deserted Hollywood street, and notice a tall boy, slightly bent over, with his shoulders pushed a little forward - walking along whistling or singing to himself, chances are it might be Rod McKuen, singing some of the songs he sings in this album. You may ask, why are songs for a lazy afternoon being sung at night? Well, the seemingly placid young man on the other side of this album jacket doesn't have many lazy afternoons anymore. At the age of 23, he is a busy and successful actor, a published author, poet and songwriter, and a folk singer who has toured throughout the United States and Asia. Rod's first professional break came along when just after his sixteenth birthday, he joined the San Francisco Young Players and appeared in their production of "Romeo and Juliet." His role as Romeo was stirring enough to win him several top acting awards and the offer of two drama scholarships. Between productions with the Young Players, Rod began a radio disc jockey show for station KROW in Oakland, California. The program, entitled "Rendezvous With Rod," ran for three and a half years, and had one of the highest ratings of any show in the San Francisco Bay Area. During this period, Rod was also author of a syndicated newspaper column, "Scribbling on my Shirtcuff." The Army intevened in 1953, however, and both "Rendezvous" and the column were terminated. Actually, it was in the service in Japan that Rod's talents suddenly burst forth. His prowess as a folk singer was well known among his friends, but it wasn't until the owners of Maxim's, famed Tokyo night club, asked him to appear there for a week-end, that Rod really developed a style of his own. The "week-end" stretched into nearly five months. During this period, the Army brass decided that Rod would also be useful to the Armed Forces as an entertainer. His first assignment in that capacity was the television show, "Pop Concert," which was shown over a Japanese network. This show was so successful that the Army sent Rod on a concert tour throughout the Orient. He gave concerts to consistently packed houses in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, Taegu, Bangkok, and dozens of other cities. When the tour ended, Rod returned to his original duties as writer-producer with the Voice of the United Nations Command in Tokyo, a program which broadcast psychological warfare to Communist-dominated countries. He was later sent to Korea to work as the Army's Civil Information expert with the Korean Civil Assistance Command in Taegu. Rod's concert tour brought him to the attention of a prominent Japanese film producer, and the Army granted him permission to appear in a number of Japanese films. One of these, "The Boy and the General," is due for release in the United States soon. Language proved no barrier in Rod's foreign film roles, for he speaks both Korean and Japanese. During his Army tour of duty, Rod took time out to write his first book, "And Autumn Came," a collection of romantic poems in free verse published in 1954. The book received unanimous critical acclaim, with one critic labelling his works "among the finest of this generation." Another book of poems and a novel are to be published this Fall, and, recently, he completed his second novel. Upon his release from the service, Rod returned to his home in Oakland. Word of his success had preceded him to the states, and he was immediately offered a singing engagement at San Francisco's Purple Onion, one of the city's most unique clubs. It was during his stay there that he was "discovered" by columnist-socialite Cobina Wright, who persuaded him to come to Hollywood. Though singing is considered his main musical talent, he has had as much success writing music as performing it. No less than eighteen of his folks tunes have been purchased by many of the nation's most popular performers and several have been recorded by major artists. Since arriving in Hollywood, Rod has written songs for several motion pictures, individually, and in collaboration with Les Baxter, Bobby Troupo, and Barney Kessel. In his first American movie, now being filmed at Universal- International, he sings two of these songs, "Picnic by the Sea," and "Happy Is a Boy Named Me." With all of his varied interests, Rod claims he hasn't much time for anything else except "maybe being lonely occasionally." If out of this loneliness some of the songs in this album were conceived, then it has been a worth-while solitude. Here is a young man with something unique to offer - a sly wit for writing happy songs, and a tenderness for the sad ones. Best of all, however, is his sincerity which makes any of the songs believable when he sings it. The selections in this album are varied. For sheer rollicking fun, listen to "Puttin' On the Style," or, "With a 'No' That Sounds Like 'Yes'"; or, "Aunt Louise," a delightful little ditty which consumes all of thirty seconds. "Sinner Man," and the Negro slave song "Follow the Drinkin' Gourd" are serious and dramatic in content. Rod's own songs "Jaydee" and "Happy Is a Boy Named Me" are both haunting and beautiful. Rod is ably assisted by Barney Kessel and Tommy Tedesco, whose sterling guitars shine throughout. Occasionally you'll find a harmonica, a drum or two and a chorus sneaking in. In the final analysis, I'm sure you'll agree...it's all pretty wonderful. * * * * * * * Mike Connolly's daily column in the Hollywood Reporter can boast an audience of almost everyone in the film industry - from star to stenographer, from grip man to stockholder. In addition many millions read his magazine articles and yet another syndicated column. Surprisingly enough, with articles and columns, and all the time he spends running around digging up information for both, he found time last year to help write the very successful book "I'll Cry Tomorrow." * * * * * * * Orchestra under the direction of Barney Kessel. SONGS FOR A LAZY AFTERNOON was recorded in Hollywood, Calif. April 12 and 26, 1956 and May 17, 1956. Producer: Simon Jackson Engineer: Val Valentin Cover Photograph: Phil Howard [ Rod McKuen ]

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Record

Rod McKuen Takes a San Francisco Hippie Trip

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I cannot bear the thought of you in someone else’s arms yet imagining you alone is sad.

Rod McKuen, Stanyan Street & Other Sorrows (via thelovejournals)

Poem

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This record/CD is a nice way to get to know Rod McKuen and his music. Also a good start for a record collection.

Greatest Hits, Vol. 3 CD, 1996, Laserlight 12 795, USA (LP, 03/1972, Stanyan SR 5031) Rod McKuen Track List CD: 1. Without a Worry in the World (Rod McKuen) (4:09) 2. Fields of Wonder (Rod McKuen) (2:37) 3. Cat Named Sloopy (Rod McKuen) (4:14) 4. The Single Man (Rod McKuen) (3:14) 5. Champion Charlie Brown (Rod McKuen) (1:59) 6. Capri in July (Rod McKuen) (2:08) 7. The Loner (Rod McKuen) (2:23) 8. Soldiers Who Want to Be Heroes (Rod McKuen) (2:55) 9. I Think of You (Rod McKuen) (2:32) 10. Pushing the Clouds Away (Rod McKuen) (1:54) 11. Pastures Green (Rod McKuen) (2:28) 12. Everybody’s Rich But Us (Rod McKuen) (1:56) 13. Bend Down and Touch Me (Rod McKuen) (3:21) 14. I’m Not Afraid (Rod McKuen) (3:47) 15. Rock Gently (*) (Rod McKuen) (3:00) 16. Solitude’s My Home (*) (Rod McKuen) (3:24) 17. Sweet Emily (*) (Rod McKuen) (2:01) 18. About the Time (*) (Rod McKuen) (3:03) 19. Baby, It’s Cold Outside (*) (Rod McKuen) (3:07) 20. Amor (*) (Rod McKuen) (2:55) Album Review Originally a vinyl release on Warner Brothers, the Laserlight reissue of Greatest Hits, Vol. 3 adds six bonus tracks. Covering the years 1967 to 1977, as on the volume two release, another song from a Peanuts television program is included, “Champion Charlie Brown,” in addition to such favorites as “The Single Man,” “Soldiers Who Want to be Heroes,” and the excellent “Rock Gently.” One of the bonus tracks is a tepid version of “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” performed as a duet with Petula Clark. Weaker than the previous two volumes, Greatest Hits, Vol. 3 nonetheless has a few shining moments. ~ Greg Adams, All Music Guide Album Credits Neely Plumb Producer Vic Smith Engineer Michelle Justice Design Hy Fujita Art Direction Wade Alexander Producer, Editing Michael McDonald Digital Mastering Wayne Massie Photography David Nutter Photography Bob Hall Engineer Rod McKuen Producer, Main Performer, Compilation Producer Arthur Greenslade Conductor Eddie Habib Project Coordinator Jimmie Haskell Arranger Bob Kovach ?, Mastering, Re-Recording Engineer Petula Clark Performer Greatest Hits, Vol. 3 LP, 03/1972, Stanyan Records SR 5031, USA Rod McKuen Track List LP Side 1: 1. Without a Worry in the World (Rod McKuen) (4:09) 2. Fields of Wonder (Rod McKuen) (2:37) 3. Cat Named Sloopy (Rod McKuen) (4:14) 4. The Single Man (Rod McKuen) (3:14) 5. Champion Charlie Brown (Rod McKuen) (1:59) 6. Capri in July (Rod McKuen) (2:08) 7. The Loner (Rod McKuen) (2:23) Side 2: 1. Soldiers Who Want to Be Heroes (Rod McKuen) (2:55) 2. I Think of You (Rod McKuen) (2:32) 3. Pushing the Clouds Away (Rod McKuen) (1:54) 4. Pastures Green (Rod McKuen) (2:28) 5. Everybody’s Rich But Us (Rod McKuen) (1:56) 6. Bend Down and Touch Me (Rod McKuen) (3:21) 7. I’m Not Afraid (Rod McKuen) (3:47) Originally a vinyl release on Warner Brothers,