Set to start in 10 minutes includes "Pieces of Dreams", What Are You Doing The Rest of your Life?" and How Do You Keep The Music Playing?".

Japanese Car manufacturing officials are visiting and the president asked for these.I introduced these and others to him 20 years ago. They never seem to get old.

WONDERFUL music that's a challenge to play from memory.

LOVE IT!

Russ

LOVE the selection, Russ ... I know you will nail them ... Any chance of recording?

"Break a Leg"... Russ:

Glad I don't have to "follow that act"... and yes, just like Tony, I'd sure like to hear your rendition(s) if you care to share. Would love to have a front row seat!

Regards, ----Dave

+1

+2

Russ
Thanks for the tunes. I used to play "Pieces" but put it away and forgot about it. I don't keep much in my file cabinet anymore but went to see if I still had it an there it was. Found another favorite I forgot about in the "P" folder, "Poinciana." Put them both back in my piano favorites book and had a good time playing them after dinner tonight. I surprized myself on how well I remembered them. I still do "What Are You.." and I'm gping to look up "How Do You Keep...... "
Nice to have a gig where you can play such good stuff so have a great night and thanks again for the memory shakeup.

Poinciana ... my all time favorite version:

I have a copy of Russ's 'What are you doing the rest of your life' on five different playback devices (not including the YT video version bookmarked on my computer). He's supposed to play it at my funeral (assuming I go first ). I have another 'standard' I'd like to hear Russ do (and Tony too, as a vocal). My guitar player (from our ol' geezer's group), Bob Szmik, sent me a quick scratchpad of a tune he wanted to do at our next rehearsal (my house, every Sunday @ 2:00pm in case anyone wants to come ). He just played it straight so I'd know how it goes but says he's working on an intro and a solo for it. It's an old Cy Coleman tune called 'Why try to change me now". It's pretty simple, do either of you guys know it?

https://app.box.com/s/b20wso2ib87srnnllq3gtdr3c9mlgyvc

chas

Em7 A7/6 A7 Dalt D6 F#m7
I'm sen - ti - men - tal so I walk in the rain;

G G/F# A7/6 A7 Cdim B7 B7/F#
I've got some hab - its even I can't ex - plain.

G+7 G6 G/B Edim F#m7 B7
Could start for the corner, and end up in Spain --

Em7 A7/6 A7 D6 B7
Why try to change me now?


Em7 A7/6 A7 Dalt D6 F#m7
I sit and day - dream -- I've got day - dreams galore.

G G/F# A7/6 A7 Cdim B7 B7/F#
Ci - ga - rette ash - es, there they go on the floor.

G+7 G6 G/B Edim F#m7 B7
Go a - way weekends, leave my keys in the door --

Em7 A7/6 A7 D6
Why try to change me now?

(Bridge)
Am D7 Cdim G6 E7
Why can't I be more conventional?

Am7 D7 Cdim G6
People talk and they stare, so I try.

D9 E A C#m7-5 F#m7
But that can't be, because I can't see

Bm7 E7 Em7 Em9/A
My strange little world just go passing me by.


Em7 A7/6 A7 Dalt D6 F#m7
So let people won - der, let 'em laugh, let 'em frown;

G G/F# A7/6 A7 Cdim B7 B7/F#
You know I'll love you till the moon's upside down.

G+7 G6 G/B Edim F#m7 B7
Don't you remember I was al - ways your clown?

Em7 A7/6 A7 D6
Why try to change me now?

(Repeat Bridge)

G+7 G6 G/B Edim F#m7 B7
Don't you remember I was al - ways your clown?
Em7 A7/6 A7 F#7 B7
Why try to change me -- Why would you want to change me?

Em7 A7/6 A7 D6
Why try to change me now?

Thanks Fran. The changes are correct although we play it in a different key (G). Bob likes the Nancy Wilson version, Sinatra does a nice job but personally, I like the version by Little Jimmy Scott best. Just personal choice, that's all.

chas

I like Fiona Apple's recording (maybe it is her look)… and the often overlooked Brook Benton's recording.

Sad part is ask the kids today or the first 25 people that walk down the street what song that is
or if they have a heard it and they have no idea what you're talking about...

Got it...played it with my long-time partner, Tommy Johnston, the baddest B-3 player I ever worked with.

Chas occasionally makes me think of Tommy when I hear him.

Russ

'Why try to change me now". That song sounds like it was composed by a guy who got caught cheating by his current wife with whom he was cheating on his ex-wife with. Another possible title could have been "Well, what did you expect?". Uh, I may have just destroyed the beauty and innocence of this song. Oh well.

chas

Yes, Donny, but someone could play a bunch of songs from the 1920's for me and I might not know them either ...
it happens with every generation ... It's called LIFE ...

I can recognize the quality of music..
The best music was written in the 30's and 40's (my parents generation).

Music and lyrics have steadily falling.. Naturally the 50's and 60's are fond to me because of growing up years. And from mid 60's thru mid 80's a mix of some great and good material (stuff I had to play because it was popular at the time..). 90's to date the vast majority I don't care for and I don't have to like or play,, thankfully..

I an glad , playing "oldies" is acceptable.

I agree 100%. You can always pick out a few blockbuster hits or quality tunes from the decades following but....overall and for sheer volume of quality tunes, I think Fran got it right. There's a reason why most of the 'Standards' were written during that era and WHY THEY'RE CALLED STANDARDS.

Of course Fran and I could be wrong, but that's rare .

chas

Good points and I share that view too.

I really enjoy "old standards"... but I would argue that good music has been created after the 30's and 40's... and will continue to be written and performed long after we are all "in that other place." If you imply that a great deal of pure manure is also being created... and has been for a number of years, you would be 100% correct.

Music tastes have changed among the young, clueless and uninitiated... and at least 75% of today's audiences are hooked on "beats" and mindless or downright insulting lyrics. Thankfully, there are those who "soldier on" to keep traditions alive and introduce the young and impressionable to what good music is really all about.

Freedom of choice is a wonderful thing. One of my goals about my less than auspicious song-writing career (or hobby if monetary reward is factored-in) was to write the equivalent of a couple of old standards as I labored to meet my goal of 1000 songs written and recorded. I've come close a couple of times... I believe... but my ears tell me I'm not there yet. Failure isn't all bad when it becomes a learning tool... and there is always hope.

Now that the pressure is off... I spend most of my time pouring over my catalog to see what songs might be recorded better or relegated to the scrap heap if they can't be salvaged.

Music... and the making and/or performing thereof... should be fun. Thankfully, it still is.

Keep up the good work, guys. Your collective talent is extraordinary. ----Dave

Hi
Don’t think it was mentioned, but I think Summer of 42 was one of his ?
Love that tune.
Brings back great memories, used to practice playing it for hours.
( Don’t think I ever quite got it right , haha. My piano playing left a lot to be desired)

Jamal...one of my all time favorites. Met him in Columbus in the 70's. Tortured soul, but fabulous!


R.