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The Parable of the Boy and the Balloon
There once was a boy who was at peace with the world. No, really. He knew love and joy on an intimate basis. They were his constant companions. Bosom buddies, even. The boy was out walking one day when he came across a shiny red balloon whose string was tangled in a thicket of… Read more
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Behind That Locked Door
What can I say about George Harrison’s songwriting? It must have been quite a mixed blessing to be bandmates with two of the greatest songwriters who ever lived. He must have learned a lot from them but it was difficult to get songwriting space on the Beatles’ albums. By the time they recorded their… Read more
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Three Bags Full – Fictional Humans of New York (FHONY)
Three plastic bags. It’s all he’s got; it’s all he needs. He has a system to avoid the worst of the winter on his skin. He’s got a sweater in one of the bags. The little guy, in severe need of a shave, glides across the floor in his green uniform, determined to… Read more
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All Of Me
Gerald Marks You know that awkward feeling you get when someone means the world to you and you mean significantly less to them? If not, good for you. If so, you’re in fine company, including that of Gerald Marks, who in 1931 wrote the lyrics to All Of Me. In the year 2000 the song… Read more
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Review: Maira Kalman Selects
I’m not really into design, per se, but I went to the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum because this sounded look an interesting exhibit. In Maira Kalman‘s own words: “What is this room about? Very loosely, it is about life and death.But isn’t everything? It is about falling in love with a group of objects.”… Read more
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Win It All
Photo by Jim Summaria I first heard Ian Hunter as the voice of Mott the Hoople, singing All The Young Dudes. “Speed jiveDon’t want to stay aliveWhen you’re twenty-five.” In December of 1974, Ian Hunter left Mott the Hoople for a solo career. One of his first hits was a song called Irene Wilde, one… Read more
Words & Music 