Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Don't Get Around Much Anymore (1942)

Unfamiliar with this song? Hear it here.

1) In this song, our lonely Romeo shares how he amuses himself these days. Which of the activities that he mentions have you most recently enjoyed: playing solitaire, reading a book, or listening to the radio? I just listened to the last innings of the Cub game on the radio.

 

 

2) The lead singer is tenor Bill Kenny. Which range is your voice: soprano, alto, tenor or bass? When I was in junior high, they put me in the with the altos because that's where I could do the least damage.

3) When Bill was on vacation in Atlantic City, he entered a series of talent contests and won 21 of 22. This led to his first professional booking. Tell us about a vacation of yours that took an unexpected turn. Shortly after I broke up with my boyfriend, I went away to California with my friend, Mindy. After three days in Disneyland we went to stay with a friend of hers in San Francisco. When Mindy knew him, he was married. Now he was divorced. He and I hit it off ... big time. It's the only vacation romance I ever had. Once I got home, my boyfriend and I reconciled, and Mr. California got on with his life, too. But it's a sweet, sexy memory.

4) This song was composed by Duke Ellington. He received many honors, including a coin struck in his honor. In 2009, he graced the District of Columbia's commemorative quarter. Do you save coins in a jar or piggy bank? I keep quarters for laundry in a heavy beer mug, and pennies in a piggy bank.

5) In 1976, Stevie Wonder recorded a tribute to Ellington called "Sir Duke." What's your favorite Stevie Wonder song?

 

 

6) The lyrics were written by Bob Russell. When he began his career, he shared an apartment with future novelist and TV screenwriter Sidney Sheldon. Have you ever tried your hand at writing lyrics, a novel or a screenplay? Every year I participate in Nanowrimo. I don't know how good my stories are, but it's fun.

7) In 1942, when this record was released, the federal government established a rationing system to conserve crucial supplies for our troops. Sugar was the first food to be rationed, followed by coffee and then meat. If you were around back then, which of those items do you think you'd miss the most? Can you imagine if we found ourselves in this situation today? Oh, the whining! I mean, if wearing a mask is too much for some of us, going without would be intolerable. FDR would probably be a puppet of the Deep State, and the Concentration Camps would be dismissed as Fake News.

8) Also in 1942, actor/singer Peter Tork was born. Without looking it up, do you know why Peter Tork was famous? Hey, hey! He was a Monkee!

9) Random question -- Have you ever deliberately lost a game? I admit that, when playing with children, I don't play to the best of my ability. But I've never thrown a game, either. Kids have to learn sportsmanship.