Sherri made a comment on my blog that put me in a time capsule back to around 1965.
She talked about what a wonderful time she was having singing karaoke with her friends.
There was a small neighborhood bar called Jerry Bruno’s in Sparkill, New York. It was not a fancy place. My mother and her best friend, Grace, would go there every Friday night after work and have a few drinks and sing. The bar was jammed.
Grace was Jim Thorpe’s daughter and bigger than he was. My Mom was five foot three. Those two buddies were the original “odd couple.”
There were a lot of celebrities living in that area. They all went too. They were just part of the Friday night gang.
One of them was the famous Don Costa, who you may remember was the band behind Sinatra and many other singers of that day.
Just for a lark, Don decided to bring his whole band into the bar one night and cut a record. It was a very limited edition.
It was called “Music to Break a Sub-Lease – Don Costa’s Freeloaders”
From the cover of the vinyl record:
A happy gathering assembled at Jerry’s place. He had amassed 150 meatballs complete with the necessary amount of spaghetti and beverages to wash them down……. Several false starts were made as none of the revelers could read music …… and Don saw the need for haste as the beverages were taking their toll and he was afraid the thuds made by falling bodies would come out on the soundtrack.
My Mom has been gone for years but I can hear her voice on that recording
It does not make me sad. It makes me remember how much fun she had and what a wonderful, crazy Irish lady she was!
If you are having a bad day, join in a sing along with these old standards. It would definitely cheer you up! Just stop what you are doing and enjoy yourself for a few minutes.
So this one is for you, Mom - and Don. You two must be laughing your heads off in Heaven! You never heard of the Internet.
This one is for you, Sherri. I know you will be singing along at your computer.
We know the words. And it is impossible to feel bad when you are singing.
Thanks to Michelle Vandepas for figuring out how to convert this from an old 33 vinyl record to a CD to the Internet. If Don Costa was still around, he would hire you in a minute.
This album is copyrighted to ABC – Paramount and is featured here without permission. But you did not make money on it – and neither will we – so hoping you’ll be a good sport and give us a pass. We need to remember the way it was!
Michelle Vandepas – Queen of the Techies
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Corinne,
WOW!!! Wow!! Wow! That was great! Michelle Vandepas did a wonderful job on the transfer to digital media. There were no pops or static. She must have “cleaned” that up. It’s amazing that you can see a pop on an soundtrack in the graph of the sound and just delete it without deleting any of the music.
What a great tribute to your mom and such a happy time in her life! Your mom sounds like she would fit right in with us now. The more things change the more they stay the same.
Getting together with friends and singing is so much fun, and I didn’t think about the fact that people did that a lot up into the 60’s. I know people got together and sang during WWII and after, but I didn’t remember they were still doing it up into the 60’s and probably into the 70’s. After that, songs got to be so different that you couldn’t sing them without a band or backup music because a lot of the songs became the guitar solos, etc.
Any of you reading this who don’t sing, start. The Lord says somewhere in the Bible to make a joyful noise, and singing is truly joyful. It doesn’t matter if you’re good. It matters that you do it.
And how cool is it that Don Costa, THE Don Costa, came to that bar, hung out and then brought his band to cut a record! That’s like knowing somebody like John Paul Jones before he was the legend of Led Zeppelin (the “Stairway to Heaven” band).
Let me put it in more recent terms. It would be like hanging out with Madonna when she was hanging out in a local bar and singing songs she wrote before she was anybody. This reference would apply to those who thought it would be risky for Cher, the actress, to go off and have a singing career. You grew up after the Sonny and Cher show. Cher sang before she ever started acting.
I listened to all the songs, I know most of them and have heard all of them. (Frank is one of my mom’s favorites. One of her favorite presents was the complete Frank Sinatra collection on CD). When I was growing up, car radios were optional equipment. I don’t know how much they cost, but most working class folks didn’t have a car radio and we were one of those families. The whole family used to sing where ever we went, especially on those long car trips on vacation. We sang at least half of those songs!
This also reminds me of the night at the Long Branch bar just last year, my friends and I were all doing karaoke, and at the end of the night about 20 of us got up on stage together and sang “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge. That was so much fun because we were all doing it together.
You’ve given me a good reason to continue to hang on to my vinyl record albums and keep my turntable. I have two crates 24 inches long each full of my LPs. I was always careful with them and they’re in their original sleeves inside the jackets inside plastic covers to keep them safe from harm. I do need to start transferring them to MP3s because I don’t think my son will have the patience. He’ll just look at the titles and artists and download them from God knows where.
I still have some old albums my parent used to have. They’re not in as good a shape but I can still play and enjoy them. My favorite is the soundtrack from the movie “South Pacific”. “Paint Your Wagon” was also a big one with our car trips. Who knew Clint Eastwood could sing?
I’ll close with a profound saying for all who must be reminded that music is philosophy:
To do is to be — Plato
To be is to do — Aristotle
Do be do be do — Sinatra
Sherri
Being the Change I Wish to See – Sherris last blog post..A World That Stands As One
Corrine, Sherri
You guys give me way to much credit, Sherri I just moved it from CD, converted to an mp3 and uploaded…:) but I was happy to do it. The music takes me back as well….. I’ve got a bunch of old vinyl but most of mine is Pink Floyd and Frank Zappa and other 70 rebels.
Its a nice change to listen to this.
Michelle Vandepass last blog post..How Giving Up Myths, Lies, and Excuses Empowers Me!
Dear Michelle,
Making something recorded live in the 60’s sound that good is a real feat of excellence, easy or not. Getting music off old albums is the tough part. Once digitized it’s easier to work with all the way around. You can be modest, but I know that sound quality on those old records can be a huge challenge.
I, too, have a rather large collection of Pink Floyd. I recently went to a laser light show presentation at our local museum planetarium that has an IMAX theater. They did a two hour laser light show to “The Wall” in IMAX 3-D and Dolby THX surround sound. It was out of this world! If it comes around to you I highly recommend seeing and hearing it.
Pink Floyd never sounded better than that digitally remastered album. I have it on CD after the remaster and I have a pretty good sound system, Bose speakers and all, but Dolby THX is just so much better. I would love to hear my old band records remastered like that. My high school band would sound like a professional orchestra.
The sound systems our karaoke folks use is also better than most recording equipment in studios was back in the day.
Thanks for your great work on that album. It may have been technically easy to do, but it’s clear you have a terrific ear for music.
Sherri
Being the Change I Wish to See – Sherris last blog post..A World That Stands As One
Corinne. Somehow I was up at 6 am today (probably the full moon lunar eclipse) and listened to all of these songs. What fun.
I remember hearing some of them in your living room a few years ago and I know how much that album meant to you and I’m glad you could share it with us.
I was born In 1943 so of course, I know all these songs. Remember when we had music you could sing with on the radio?
I remember my mother singing all the time and so many people humming and whistling whent they were walking on the street.
Try that today and you will surely get arrested.
I would have loved to be in that bar with Helen and Grace – maybe I was!!!!
Dear Sherri and Michelle -
Since I have no idea what you are talking about as far as digitizing etc – I cannot comment.
I looked for that record in old record stores for years. Finally, I said, “stupid” – go on the Internet. Got it on Ebay for $3.00. The vinyl was perfect. Looked like it had never been played.
Sparkill is in Rockland County just 30 miles north of New York City. In 1965 it was exurbia. Now it is the suburbs because of new highways.
A lot of celebrities lived in the area – Broadway people – producers – actors – especially musicians because at that time New York was a major recording capital. Jerry Bruno was a musician. Maybe even in Don Costa’s band. Nobody paid much attention to them. We were all used to it. (Helen Hayes would go the grocery store and the movies and NOBODY asked for her autograph!)
When Michelle uploaded those old songs last night, I just cried my eyes out. I was so touched!
Thank you again, Michelle. And stop being so modest! You are a genius.
Dear Violet Lily Rose -
You commented recently on another article that you were going to wear a topless swim suit on Michican Avenue.
I think you should incorporate singing with your performance!
I would suggest, “Who’s Sorry Now” for openers.
After all, you are going to be arrested anyway. You might as well have some fun!
I remember playing some of this recording for you last year when I finally found a copy. You loved it. Now you can enjoy it all and Helen (my Mom) forever!
Corrine, Corrine! I can’t tell you how much this means to me! To hear all the old songs it brings me back to the days when we used to sing around the piano when your father wuld play. Such wonderful family memories! I listened to every song and sang along (and also found myself doing the charleston! lol! How I remember your mother singing and dancing! She was the best! And the Five Foot Two song reminds me of my mom because they always sang that to her! Great memories that I wish my kids and their kids had also. Susie does remember though and she remembers Grace too. Thank you soooooo much for this!!! It made my day! I wish I could put this on a CD to take with me to Cape Cod next week to play for my kids! love you
Pam
Love these songs still — I play them at the Pioneer HOme in Anchorage when the “Pioneers of Alaska” visit them monthly for their birthday party. I have this big German gal who plays the drums along with me, and we have such fun, as well as the residents. .
Veras last blog post..Noah’s Ark in Alaska?
Listen chickie, I just went to a new physical therapist today, colored my hair, tweezed my upper lip, shaved legs and other areas, made an appointment for a manicure, pedicure and any other kind of a cure I can get so if I stand almost nude in a Rudi Gernrich
on Michigan and Chicago singing “Who’s sorry now?”
Uuhhh, where was I going with this? Oh, yeah, at least I will be well-groomed …. just so ya know, I have friends on the force too. Who else had a name like Violet Lily Rose, you can call me VLR for short. Just don’t call me Rosie.
Much love and your blogs are so fun – not like so many same-old-serious stuff.
Dear VLR -
Well, you sound very prepared for your new adventure. You sound like you are ready as soon as the toes and nails are done.
Be sure to let me know when the performance will take place.
Trying to decide which media should cover it. Front page? Sports page? Arts and Entertainment?
Keith Oberman’s “Let’s Play Oddball!” THAT’S IT!
Anybody out there have suggestions?
Dear Pam -
AH yes, the old memories. It was wonderful because we all were so close and everyone lived nearby!
It was a thrill for me to find that old record. And even more to have it made accessible by Michelle. I think she said it was an mp3. Maybe you can get it on to an IPOD. One of your kids must have one.
I find myself playing it while I am at my desk working.
Dear Vera -
I think everyone can relate to those old songs . most of the new are not exactly sing a long.
It must be very satisfying for you to work with the Pioneer Home in Anchorage.
So many of those older people have no visitors. It is nice to hear that you are one. Congratulations!
a song is not a song until its sung—a bell is not a bell until its rung—and love is not love until its given away! from “Singing Sam” a skid row wino who found”the new life” in Alocholics Anonymous
What a fabulous thing to have been involved in Corrine. And it sounds like a sensational night was had by all.
Although for me, singing in front of my computer, in an empty house, is the only humane way for me to join in.
Corrine,
WHAT A GREAT IDEA!!!
It was wonderful to hear those old songs again.
Brought back memories of your Mom. She had so much energy. Always singing and dancing.
Jerry and I had a great time listening and singing along. Jerry wanted me to play the songs over and over. It was getting late and I kept saying, I HAVE TO COOK!! We ended up eating sandwiches for dinner.
Thanks for the songs, thanks for the memories..
Love,
Patsy
Dear Karen – Karooch -
I am sure I would enjoy your singing!
The important thing is to enjoy it yourself. Thanks for listening!
Hi Patsy -
Brings back old times!
I find myself playing it at my desk while I am working on other things.
So glad Jerry is enjoying it too!
Love to both of you!
Dear Stan -
You are right! Songs are meant to be sung!
Glad you got a kick out of listening!
From time to time I look here by and read the always interesting and well written contributions. Here I would like to leave gladly a greeting from Thuringia in Germany!
Dear Matti -
Greetings back from Chicago!
You make Germany feel very close. Oh, the power of the Internet!
So glad you had some fun with that old music. I can’t stop playing it myself.
Don’t be a stranger. Come back soon!
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