Jeff Daniels sent me two brand new songs -- they are played first and set the tone for the rest of the show: SINGERS & SONGWRITERS breaking new ground
PLEASE DO NOT POST THIS PLAYLIST ANYWHERE BEFORE 6 PM EASTERN TIME SUNDAY NIGHT. AFTER 6 IS OK. THANKS SO MUCH -- CHRISTINE LAVIN
Sunday Supper 2/4/24 4 PM - 6 PM Christine Lavin guest hosting on WFUV, 90.7 FM, or wfuv.org. At 6 PM the show goes automatically into the archives for "Sunday Supper."
Hi - Christine Lavin sitting in for John Platt here on Sunday Supper ON WFUV — JEFF DANIELS IS THE HARDEST WORKING MAN IN SHOW BIZ. HE DOES FILMS, TV SHOWS, AND LONG STRETCHES ON BROADWAY. HE’S ALSO A PLAYWRIGHT, OWNS HIS OWN THEATER IN CHELSEA, MICHIGAN, PLUS HE’S A SINGER/SONGWRITER AND SENT ME TWO BRAND NEW SONGS THAT SET THE TONE FOR THE ENTIRE BROADCAST TODAY: SONGS BY SINGER/SONGWRITERS WHOSE WORK IS LEADING THEM IN NEW & UNEXPECTED DIRECTIONS.
LET’S GET STARTED.
JEFF DANIELS WRITES: I now qualify as elderly . . . And I currently have long hair and a beard, both of which are mostly gray, so I look like an old hippie. And I still remember only a couple years ago when a woman came up to me in a restaurant and said she'd just seen TERMS OF ENDEARMENT on television. Then, with great concern, said, "You were younger."
I looked up and said, "So were you.”'
1. Jeff Daniels - Old Guy Blues 3:30
That was OLD GUY BLUES by actor/playwright/singer/songwriter Jeff Daniels, and here is GOD’S LITTLE JOKE’ by Jeff with this intro:
HE WRITES: 'This is my tribute to every person in any field blessed with the imagination necessary to see what others can't. We're different. Even outsiders. Especially in a small town.
The line "too much play in his steering wheel" came when I was doing TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD at the Shubert Theater on Broadway. Before each performance, the cast would gather onstage five minutes before the show went up. While the last of the audience was being seated, we'd be on the other side of the curtain chatting, catching up with each other, telling jokes. One of the other actors asked me how I was doing and I said I was looking to bounce back from last night's show where I'd screwed up a couple of lines. "Had a little too much play in my steering wheel." As soon as I said it, I knew it was a song.’
2.God’s Little Joke (Jeff Daniels) 5:25
3.Jonatha Brooke How Far You’d Go For Love 3:30
Chris back announces Jonatha Brooke’s song “How Far You’d Go For Love” from her play with music, ‘MY MOTHER HAS FOUR NOSES’ & Jeff Daniels brand new “God’s Little Joke.” Susan Werner has written the music for a MUSICAL “Bull Durham” scheduled this coming September in North Carolina. Visit www.susanwerner.com for info. Here’s two songs by her that just hint at her enormous talent —
4.“Movie Of My Life” Susan Werner 4:00
5.“I Can’t Be New” Susan Werner 2:49
6.Uncle Bonsai “Men & Women” 4:25
7.Mark Stepakoff - “Wikipedia Page” 3:00
8.Rod MacDThe Pandemic Wasn’t That a Time 4:34
9.Tim Atwell - A quiet game of chess 2:37
Chris back announces Tim Atwell from CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE, Rod MacDonald featuring Robin Batteau on violin, from his latest, RANTS & ROMANCE, Mark Stepakoff “Wikipedia Page” from an album in progress called THE SOUND OF THAT, Uncle Bonsai “Men & Women” a new recording by Andrew Ratshin, Arnie Adler and Patrice O’Neill . . . and two chestnuts by Susan Werner, “I Can’t Be New” and “Movie Of My Life.”
STATION ANNOUNCEMENTS HERE
then Chris intros HARMONY:
There was a German singing group, THE COMEDIAN HARMONISTS —who you could say were considered “THE BEATLES” OF THEIR DAY -- MID 1920s - MID 1930s — 12 FILMS, THOUSANDS OF PERFORMANCES world-wide and as we speak, the final performance of a musical based on their lives is happening right now — it started at 3 PM this afternoon, CHIP ZIEN leading the cast of “Harmony” at the Barrymore Theater.
It’s not your typical Broadway musical — the authors are Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman. It’s based on the true story of what really happened to this singing group.
I’m going to play the LAST SONG IN THE FIRST ACT — It is set in their dressing room following their triumph at Carnegie Hall on December 16, 1933 - they received telegrams from Mayor Laguardia, Gypsy Rose Lee, Will Rogers, Albert Einstein even visits them backstage - but the world is in turmoil and the band members haven’t been home to Germany in a year — there’s a heated discussion about what they are going to do.
We’ll follow the ending of the first act with the song that closes the show — so here’s two songs from the Broadway musical closing today, “Harmony” --
10. Harmony - “Home” 4:23
11. “Stars In The Night” 4:27
Chris back announces HARMONY, by Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman cast led by Chip Zien then intros —- in 1993 a ground breaking record by the October Project was released — but they’ve gone above and beyond how they started. Here’s “Ready” with their friend Sam Bolen singing with them.
12.“Ready” October Project a capella version — actor Sam Bolen singing lead with the group
4:55
13."There’s A Light" - Lisa Klotz (from her brand new album: MORNING SUN) 3:11
chris back announces Lisa Klotz and the October Project
Chris intros City Winery
Feb 11 City Winery 8 PM 25 11TH AVENUE, 15TH STREET — I will be there -- already bought my tickets.
14 John Gorka - She’s That Kind Of Mystery 3:32
15 Patty Larkin - Good Thing/Angels Running 4:36
BACK ANNOUNCE JOHN & PATTY - Amelia Spicer sings harmony on “She’s That Kind Of Mystery” written by the late Bill Morrissey
SET UP CLIFF AND LUCY
16 Cliff Eberhardt w/Richie Havens “The Long Road” 5:39
17 Lucy Kaplansky - “Old Friends” 3:43
chris back announces CITY WINERY SHOW - EVERYDAY STREET is Lucy’s album “Old Friends” is from. NEXT SUNDAY FEB 11TH 8 PM, Chris mentions the late Richie Havens, how few duets he recorded — but he made time for Cliff Eberhardt, and John Gorka will sing Richie’s part next Sunday. PATTY LARKIN and LUCY KAPLANSKY onstage with John and Cliff.
Chris intros October Project — here’s a song from their ground-breaking album of 1993, followed by an updated version done with their world-wide choir
18 “Return to Me” - October Project from their ’93 album — 4:16
19 “Return To Me” - October Project w/Worldwide choir — 3:52
20 David Lutken “My Horses Ain’t Hungry” 3:01
Chris back-announces David Lutken & Lisa Helmi Johanson, singing “My Horses Ain’t Hungry” from the cast album of “The Porch on Windy Hill,” which will be at the Merrimack Rep in Lowell, MA April 3 thru 21st -- and visit theporchonwindyhill.com for future productions happening after that. We listened to October Project World-wide choir version of “Return To Me” and the original recording of “Return To Me.” octoberprojectmusic.com. Chris says she's been following David Lutken's career for the past 25 years -- don't miss him!
Chris announces Marilyn Maye with pianist Mark Franklin “Something Cool” written by Billy Barnes — Marilyn will be doing her annual birthday concerts for her 96th birthday at 54 Below, most shows at 7 PM — April 9th through April 20th.
21. Marilyn Maye “Something Cool” 3:10
Chris back-announces Marilyn Maye & Mark Franklin “Something Cool” by Billy Barnes — Marilyn will be doing her annual birthday concert for her 96th birthday at 54 Below, most shows at 7 PM — April 9th through April 20th (off the 13th & 15th) mostly 7 PM shows. 54Below.org. Chris also talks about Marilyn Maye holding the record for most appearances on "The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson" -- 76 TIMES! Also talks about Marilyn's master classes, treasured by everyone smart enough to invest in themselves.
“Some Like It Hot” recently closed — talk about how the song “Poor Little Millionaire” came as a surprise an hour into the show, introducing a new character who’d flip the show on its head. Talk about Paul & Steve from Delaware who celebrated their 100th time seeing the show by having 9 platters of Zabar’s food delivered to the cast & crew, including the ushers. They could have gone to Sardi’s alone and celebrated, but no, they bought dinner for everyone connected with the show, big-hearted guys that they are.
22. “POOR LITTLE MILLIONAIRE” written by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman 4:13
Kevin Del Aguila, J. Harrison Ghee, Christian Borle, Adrianna Hicks, and NaTasha Yvette Williams starred — show will open later this year in London, and there’s a national American tour of SOME LIKE IT HOT in the works.
Intro Declan O’Rourke. Declan O’Rourke is an historical novelist whose day job is that of a singer/songwriter — his two books so far in the Great Famine Trilogy are THE PAWNBROKER’S REWARD & A WHISPER FROM OBLIVION. He will soon start work on the third, which is titled THE LONG WALK HOME. He might just be the most talented person I have ever met (and I’ve met Dame Edna). Dave Flynn, a friend of Declan’s wrote this orchestration for RTE Orchestra Irish National Television. Master class in how to arrange an orchestra for a folksinger and how a folksinger gets his voice to float above an orchestra.
23 Declan O’Rourke “We Didn't Mean To Go To Sea” backed by the RTE Irish National Orchestra, arrangement written by Dave Flynn 7:54
24 Barkin’ at the Moon - James Mee 4:52
We started out today with Jeff Daniels’ “Old Guy Blues” and end with James Mee, from Vermont, a different perspective from an old guy -- “Barkin' At The Moon”
https://www.americanoriginalscds.com/jamesmee_bio.htm.
THANK YOU John Platt for this opportunity (he’ll be back next week to mark the 50th anniversary of THE BOTTOM LINE) and THANK YOU Jeremy Rainer for engineering this broadcast and making me feel like a professional. Thank YOU, Phil Klum for remastering many of the songs we just heard. Stay tuned for Paul Calvaconte hosting “Calvalcade” from 6-9 PM immediately following this broadcast.
DON'T FORGET -- TONIGHT AT 7 EASTERN IS THIS MONTH'S INSTALLMENT OF THE GREENWICH VILLAGE FOLK FESTIVAL at greenwichvillagefolkfestival.org.
Finish with the Virtual choir version of “Joy” written and performed by the October Project and their world-wide choir. Visit octoberprojectmusic.com to hear many of their award-winning songs. Have your best Sunday night ever.
25. “Joy” Virtual Choir w/October Project 3:05
END OF SHOW.
——————————————————————-
At 6 PM Eastern when the broadcast is over it immediately is available in the weekend archives for "Sunday Supper" for the next two weeks, for you to listen to anytime in real time. But only the next two weeks.
After two weeks it goes "poof!" Thanks for tuning in!
Ciao!
Christine
- Her name is Kate Rockwell - she was one of the stars of "Mean Girls" - is terrific - here's a video of her singing in her apartment . . . with her dogs!
- See if this song inspires you to think back . . .
- APRIL FOOLS IN AUGUST. Buskin, Batteau, Forster, Lavin, AND Holmes making APRIL FOOLS of themselves in August
- Some of us are stopping by to say hi live -- from 7-9:30 PM Eastern tonight, Sunday July 7th
- Buskin & Batteau, John Forster, and me live on your computer screens -- free link
- Tonight (Sunday) 7-10 PM the Greenwich Village ONLINE Folk Festival, then Wednesday the APRIL FOOLS live at JOE'S PUB at 6:30 PM
- Use this link for $25 tickets: https://publictheater.org/productions/joes-pub/2024/a/april-fools/
- THE APRIL FOOLS IN MAY -- 6:30 PM Wednesday May 8th -- AT THE LEGENDARY PERFORMANCE SPACE 'JOE'S PUB' AT THE PUBLIC THEATER, 425 Lafayette Street, NYC
- "Total Eclipse Of The Sun" by Daniel Cainer written in 1999 as England experienced it -- but with a video featuring his American pals
- He wrote this in 1999 when England experienced it - here's a video I made for it today, with cameos by John Forster, David Buskin, Robin Batteau, Julie Gold & me. Enjoy!
- Jeff Daniels sent me two brand new songs -- they are played first and set the tone for the rest of the show: SINGERS & SONGWRITERS breaking new ground
- Sunday, January 7th, from 7-10 PM Eastern time, live and free on your computer screen