Rod McKuen

[puppyshoes]

I read through your poets, and though McKuen isn't another Milts, or Keats, his poetry has out sold all modern poets. In someways his verses remind me of Whitman. Maybe it's because I'm a loner myself, or I see a kind of sorrow in both his verse and song. I remember back when I was in college, my Enghlish prof. told me he was bourgeois. What am I? I'm no Lady, or Old Money. Yes his poems were/are for the people. His music is intergrated into the mainstream of American standards. He introduced Jacques Brel to America, and was a close friend too. Their work was so intertwined that a Paris music critic said that Brel was their McKuen and McKuen was our Brel. Both men turned music into a poetic art form. I always believed that the real reason American poetry critics dislike him so is because you can actually understand his poetry!

[ctalerico]

I haven't read or thought of Rod McKuen in years but I greatly admire him and he turned me onto poetry. I have most of his 33 1/3 albums still. Worn out for sure! I was familiar with Jacques Brel but McKuen (and the Elly Stone Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris retrospective) gave me a deeper appreciation. McKuen did introduce me to the great Spanish composer, Joaquin Rodrigo through McKuen's Inside of Me, lyrics put to Rodrigo's famous Concierto de Aranjuez.

Rod McKuen had a major impact on my maturation as an artist. His work helped me get in touch with my own feelings back then when I was in my 20s and 30s. I no longer have any of his poetry books that I once owned (Stanyan Street and Other Sorrows and Lonesome Cities) but after posting this I'm going to listen to some of his albums that I've not played in years. Inside of Me and Jean and Love's Been Good To Me and A Man Alone are among my favorites but all his works are endearing. His work with Anita Kerr were very special for me (The Earth, The Sea and Home to the Sea).

I'm glad I came across your post. It rekindled my affection for McKuen and I'm going to re-experience him now, some 30+ years later.




I read through your poets, and though McKuen isn't another Milts, or Keats, his poetry has out sold all modern poets. In someways his verses remind me of Whitman. Maybe it's because I'm a loner myself, or I see a kind of sorrow in both his verse and song. I remember back when I was in college, my Enghlish prof. told me he was bourgeois. What am I? I'm no Lady, or Old Money. Yes his poems were/are for the people. His music is intergrated into the mainstream of American standards. He introduced Jacques Brel to America, and was a close friend too. Their work was so intertwined that a Paris music critic said that Brel was their McKuen and McKuen was our Brel. Both men turned music into a poetic art form. I always believed that the real reason American poetry critics dislike him so is because you can actually understand his poetry!

[puppyshoes]

I Have the sound tract recording of "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris." In many ways the songs are translation rather than adaptations. One thing always bothered me about this movie, and earlier stage play, Rod McKuen didn't get credit where it was due. On the inside of the record album, Eric Blau wrote a short introduction about Brel in English. He starts out with, "It all began to happen in 1961." He speaks of Elly Stone, and even says that Brel did for Europe what Dylan was to do in America. Never mind the fact that at that same time McKuen was to translate and later adapt, "Seasons in the Sun." Two of the songs featured in "Alive and Well" were owned by Stanyan, McKuen's publishing company. A book was also written about the movie, and in the entire book Rod McKuen is never mentioned. These days, I love John Denver. I enjoy my Gordon Lightfoot, and even Roger Whittiker records. In a couple of weeks Neil Diamond is singing in Albany. We can always hear Arlo Guthrie. All that said, when I think of poetry, I think of Rod McKuen first. Yes, once in a while I listen to him sing. Back in 1978, he tried to pick me up, I'll never forget how when I asked him if he had a cold, he told me he had been walking on the beach and got sand in his throat.

[ctalerico]

You're right about McKuen not being credited but, you know, I never gave it a thought, I guess because I was so into McKuen back then and knew that he translated Brel. In fact, I think some mention of that may be in the liner notes of one or more of his albums. I had met Elly Stone in Brothers and Sisters (a cabaret) in NYC when "Alive and Well" was running on Broadway. She sang several tunes from the show. I always enjoyed McKuen's own hoarse voice as being unique and pleasant in a manly way. "Sand in his throat" is apt. Lucky you. I probably only dreamed of being picked up by him!

[puppyshoes]

I got out my old Rod McKuen records and found I had more than I realized. I found something else, "Finding My Father." This was first published in 1977. He grew up not knowing his real father, he had only a last name. This is probably one of the most moving books I've ever read. It takes a lot to make me cry when reading. I cried all the way through this book. He went through physical and emotional abuse. Have any of you read his book? McKuen said that not one day went by that he didn't think about his father, what he looked like,how tall,etc. He talks about being born "out of wedlock." I'm reminded of Charlie Chaplin's "The Kid." He talked about a subject that was taboo at the time. Chaplin must have had a heart of gold. Anyway, if you can't find the book, go to McKuen's website, he sells almost everything he ever published.