Spicks & Specks

Every time I see the Losers Lounge At Lincoln Center Summer Swing another event comes to mind... March 1974 @ Avery Fisher Hall @ Lincoln Center @ the Bee Gees. Great show. Their final tune, "Spicks & Specks."
After Barry sang:
"Where is the girl I loved All along
The girl that I loved She is gone
She is gone."
A young teen girl behind me shouted:
"No I'm not. I'm right here."

First of May

I have a delicious dichotomy. I crave contact sports and I love the Bee Gees. Played tackle football down Carl Schurz Park at 6 years old, and bought New York Mining Disaster 1941 the week it came out. I'm a sucker for orchestrated rock, brothers or sisters singing harmony, and hitting three guys when they try to tackle me. The secret: hit them first, they think you are going to try to avoid them. Don't.

First of May was the first single off the terrific red velvet felt double album, Odessa (spring, 1969). What a gift, not a thunk on it, every song a keeper. It's one of those records that swiftly moves me from feeling sad to happy then back again to sad. Sweet music, I miss tackle. Please, don't tell my orthopedist.




First of May

When I was small, and Christmas trees were tall,
we used to love while others used to play.
Don't ask me why, but time has passed us by,
someone else moved in from far away.
Now we are tall, and Christmas trees are small,
and you don't ask the time of day.
But you and I, our love will never die,
but guess who'll cry come first of May.
The apple tree that grew for you and me,
I watched the apples falling one by one.
And as I recall the moment of them all,
the day I kissed your cheek and you were gone.
Now we are tall, and Christmas trees are small,
and you don't ask the time of day.
But you and I, our love will never die,
but guess who'll cry come first of May.
When I was small, and Christmas trees were tall,
do do do do do do do do do ...
Don't ask me why, but time has passed us by,
someone else moved in from far away.

     

"I'll always love my momma, she's my favorite girl, you only get one, you only get one..." The Intruders sang so let's get going!

"Thomas Pryor's Stoops to Nuts I'll Always Love My Momma show," 

Saturday, May 9th @ 7pm to 10pm @ Ryans Daughter, 350 East 85th Street: 

free show, free music, free comedy, PRIZES, beer special.

Our Mother's Day Eve artists: Abbi Crutchfield, Walter Michael DeForest, Joe Dettmore, Apryl Miller, Liz Phillips, Luke Thayer and Eric Vetter and musical guests. I'll host and tell a good one.

My nickname for my mother was "Uncle Mommy" because I told her she was the best uncle I ever had. Come out and celebrate your Momma. If you are a Momma we'll celebrate you!

First Of May - Holy Communion - 1962

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First of May reminds me of my 1962 First Holy Communion suit. When you’re a seven year old pig boy, Mom gets rare opportunity to dress you up and keep you dressed up in one piece.

When Mom bought me my blue outfit I didn’t know I’d have to wear it three horrifying times.

Besides the communion event, we wore our monkey suits for the Crowning of the May Queen in St. Stephen of Hungary’s Grotto on the side of the church. Since the second grade class all had new suits and pretty white dresses, the nuns drafted us into the school-wide ceremonial crowning of the Statue of Mary. Some girl was made crowner and every one else in the class were her drones. Most of the Moms showed up for this non-prime time event simply because they couldn’t believe they got their kid to dress up again.

My third appearance in the suit nearly killed me. For some reason, the nuns at St. Stephen’s school and certain mothers were compelled to put on a talent show every year, despite the fact there was no talent in the student body, if you discounted the Reinwald Brothers' dueling accordion act. In second grade, Mrs. Otis, the show's producer, took advantage of our recent clothing purchase by having the boys and girls perform a Viennese waltz in our blue suits and the girls in their white communion dresses. She insisted the boys wear white gloves. Make me vomit! I begged Mom to stay home, faked sick the morning of the show triggering a kick in the ass on my way out the door.

Switchbox Susan ~ Yorkville Radio Show Schedule

Last night, my friend, Susan Neuffer, starred in a play at the American Theatre of Actors at 314 West 54th Street. Susan's acting was terrific, and she'll be on Jeopardy @ July 19th. Sue's steady drive following her passions inspires me.

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The theatre sits in the former XI Judicial District Court. The space has a spooky spiral staircase that Alfred Hitchcock would have fell in love with.

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Four pictures of Susan here are from a 2002 Losers Lounge show @ the Fez under the Time Cafe. Susan's name came out of the hat for the Karaoke number, "Staying Alive," in the Bee Gees show. She nailed it, of course.

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My radio show line-up is firming up. Here are my storytelling guests:

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July 13th & July 20th ~ Mickey Fiorillo,

born on East 84th Street in 1933, actor, iron worker, Shea Stadium & Citifield positions, bar keep, we'll talk 86th Street movie houses, particularly the RKO.

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July 27th ~ Edward Rogers, Songwriter, Musician, Radio DJ, with a splendid new album, "Sparkle Lane." Ex-Brit, New Yorker since he's 12, Ed brings a Birmingham sensibility to his observations and views. He lived in Yorkville.

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August 3rd ~ Woody Salvan, Esquire, lifetime Yorkville river man, knows more secrets than an Eight Ball

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August 10th ~ History of the Losers Lounge ~ guests: Joe McGinty, Nick Danger, David Terhune, songwriters, founders of show, neighborhood guys.

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August 24th ~ Francis Flaherty, writer, "The Elements of Story," and Deputy Editor, The New York Times, Metro Section. Frank's book is an essential story writing reference tool. Give Frank a neighborhood, he'll give you a story.

September 7th ~ Adam Wade ~ formerly from New Hampshire, master storyteller, Moth Grand Slam Champion over and over again

September 21st ~ The History of Cornelia Street Cafe with Robin Hirsch, owner and Minister of Culture, Wine Czar, Dean of Faculty & Angelo Verga, Bronx poet, teacher, editor, curator of innumerable literary events.

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Switchbox Susan is off Nick Lowe's Labor of Lust along with Cruel to Be Kind.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0l3QWUXVho

First of May

I have a delicious dichotomy, I crave contact sports and I love the Bee Gees. Played tackle football down Carl Schurz Park at 6 years old, and bought New York Mining Disaster 1941 the week it came out. I'm a sucker for orchestrated rock, brothers or sisters singing harmony, and hitting three guys when they try to tackle me. The secret: hit them first, they think you are going to try to avoid them. Don't.

First of May was the first single off the terrific red velvet felt double album, Odessa (spring, 1969). What a gift, not a thunk on it, every song a keeper. It's one of those records that swiftly moves me from feeling sad to happy then back again to sad. Sweet music, I miss tackle. Please, don't tell my orthopedist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gewTWM6fH0



First of May

When I was small, and Christmas trees were tall,
we used to love while others used to play.
Don't ask me why, but time has passed us by,
someone else moved in from far away.
Now we are tall, and Christmas trees are small,
and you don't ask the time of day.
But you and I, our love will never die,
but guess who'll cry come first of May.
The apple tree that grew for you and me,
I watched the apples falling one by one.
And as I recall the moment of them all,
the day I kissed your cheek and you were gone.
Now we are tall, and Christmas trees are small,
and you don't ask the time of day.
But you and I, our love will never die,
but guess who'll cry come first of May.
When I was small, and Christmas trees were tall,
do do do do do do do do do ...
Don't ask me why, but time has passed us by,
someone else moved in from far away.