Todd Klein's Blog, page 12

My Music: TIME WAS

This song was begun in the early 1970s, in my notebook I have 1971 with a question mark as the date, so I wasn’t sure. After the title it said (incomplete), but that’s crossed out because below this I added a second verse in January 1977. The song is complex in chord structure and rhyme scheme, at least for me. I recorded both verses probably not long after I wrote the second one: TIME WAS (Complete).

In spring 1978 I bought a larger reel-to-reel tape deck, a Teac A-2340 like the one in the photo above found online. It first shows up in a photo in my Highland Park, NJ apartment from April 1978. This machine was able to record four separate channels in sync. One of my first attempts at that was another version of the song, but for some reason I only did the first verse: TIME WAS.

The earlier version with one stereo track having guitar and vocal was probably recorded on my other Teac, Model 1230, which had just two tracks and could not do synchronization, in other words, recording tracks separately and aligning them with each other. I had that one since 1971. When I got the 2340, I also bought four speakers and put them in the four corners of my living room, so I could hear all four channels in quad. It was awesome, and I was proud of the harmonies in the quad version, which I later mixed down to stereo.

Time Was is © Todd Klein, all rights reserved.

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Rereading: THE THIRTEENTH ADVENTURE by M. E. Atkinson

Cover and illustrations by Charlotte Hough

The second to last adventure of the Lockett family and friends continues on from the end of the previous book: “The House on the Moor.” But just when it seemed Oliver, Jane, and Bill Lockett might be able to enjoy the return of their parents from India for an extended stay, Oliver comes down with diphtheria. The other two must go into quarantine with their Aunt Lavinia at her seaside cottage miles to the east, and with them is the grumpy boy Caspar, who was also exposed to Oliver’s diphtheria. No one is happy about this.

Once they get to Aunt Lavinia’s, though, everyone begins to find ways to work together except for Bill and Caspar. A chance meeting with the Lockett’s old “frenemy” Fenella, who goes to school nearby, gets Bill and her involved in a plot to fool Caspar, but then other actual events like a burglary and talk of smugglers get the boys in more trouble. Bill and Jane have found part of an old floating dock, and decide to make it a raft. Then late one night Caspar takes it out, and can’t get back, he’s drifting out to sea, with only two neighbor girls as witnesses. Worst of all, he can’t swim, and fog is rolling in.

This one started a bit slow, but accelerates into all kinds of mystery and suspense, a real page turner and recommended.

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Rereading: THE BLACK STALLION’S COURAGE by Walter Farley

Growing up, I loved animals and was fascinated by horses and the idea of riding, though the only chances I had for that were occasional pony rides at a fair or party. Likewise, I knew nothing about horse racing other than what I read in Walter Farley’s books, I didn’t attend any actual races until decades later. Despite that, I think I know quite a bit about the subject thanks to books like this.

Alec Ramsey and Henry Dailey’s main barn at their farm has burned down, and due to a mistake by Alec, the insurance had lapsed. They need $100,000 to build a new one, and the only way to get it is to race. They have Black Minx, daughter of The Black, preparing for The Preakness after her win at The Kentucky Derby, but “Baby” as she’s nicknamed, is temperamental and hard to predict. In case she doesn’t come through, Alec decides to put The Black back into racing form and try him at the New York tracks. Will the former champion be able to make that comeback? The Black must enter handicap races, where a track’s handicapper adds weight to each horse attempting to get them all equal and at the finish line together. Whether The Black can succeed depends on how much weight he’s asked to carry, and how long the race is. He must also compete against the best young horses in the field today, years after his previous success. Alec knows he has the heart, but will his body hold up?

These books are all well written and recommended.

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Rereading: McWHINNEY’S JAUNT by Robert Lawson

This short book by one of America’s finest writer/illustrators is great fun. Professor McWhinney, needing to fill his bicycle tires, accidentally invents a gas that makes his bike lighter than air. When he sits on it, he can not only travel quickly, but through the air itself. His wife is busy with her hobbies, so McWhinney decides to take a cross country trip from New England to California on his amazing vehicle. There are plenty of adventures along the way and on the way back, including visits to Hollywood, the Grand Canyon, and other sights. The Professor doesn’t always have it easy, as when he’s nearly pushed into space by a blast furnace, or when a bear chews a hole in one of his tires, but he always manages to cope with calm optimism and clever fixes.

To enjoy this book you have to be willing to not look too closely at the physics involved, but most children would have no problem with that.

Recommended.

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My Music: ABOUT JOHN

John and Sue, Kansas City 1972

In August, 1976 I went back to Kansas City for the first time since 1972. The main reason was to attend the World Science Fiction Convention there and to see one of my favorite authors, the guest of honor, Robert Heinlein. I accomplished that, and it was wonderful, but I also wanted to spend time with friends I’d made in KC. There was my high school friend Mike and his wife Jane, and three people I’d met while renting a room at an old farmhouse: John, Sue, and Marsha. Marsha was the one who kept in touch by letters, and I stayed with her. She had been keeping me up on what all three of them were doing, and her reports about John were not good. John was getting into bad habits, and seemed to be making his living dealing drugs, something that he didn’t do when I knew him before. We spent some time together, and I enjoyed it, but was filled with unease over the direction he had taken. I wrote this song then: About John.

I don’t think I played it for him, I might not have written it until I got home. I’m not sure what the point of the song is, really, but I knew he was headed in a direction I didn’t like. It was his life, of course. He and Sue had split, and she was married to someone else. Marsha seemed about the same, and had a boyfriend, and we all enjoyed seeing each other. John got teary when I left.

I heard from John one more time in 1989, not long before I married Ellen. He called from Boston, where he was then living, and refused to say his name or give any details, as if worried the phone call might be tapped. When he heard about my upcoming wedding, he wished me well, and then abruptly hung up. I don’t know what happened to him after that. Sometimes I think it’s better not to know.

About John is © Todd Klein, all rights reserved.

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Rereading: THE SECRET OF DONKEY ISLAND by Lavinia R. Davis

My favorite books by Davis are about horses, this one features a donkey, and as always her handling of animals is excellent. Jamie Bassett lives with his family on the shore of Cape Cod, Massachusetts and enjoys visiting small Lion Island just across the bay from his home, which he reaches by rowboat. One day he discovers new residents, Cap Kirk and his donkey Bunty. Kirk is renting the fishing shack from the island’s owner for the summer. Jamie also makes new friends of summer neighbors Pot and Trixie, who have a fast motor boat. All three enjoy visiting the island together, but when they uncover evidence of poachers, they have a hard time convincing Cap it’s real.

Then a strong storm blows a derelict ship onto the island’s shore, while also wrecking the fishing cabin. Cap Kirk, with help from other adults and the kids, converts the derelict into living quarters with lots of hard work. But Cap is planning to leave in the fall, and Jamie wants him and Bunty to stay. How can he and his friends and family make that happen?

A fairly quiet story focused as much on Jamie’s personal growth as the mystery of the poachers, but well done and recommended.

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Rereading: THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER & CLAY by Michael Chabon

I bought and read this when It came out in paperback in 2001. At 640 pages, it’s a commitment to read, but well worth it in my opinion.

Joseph Kavalier grows up in pre-war Prague in a Jewish family to parents with good jobs, so he can indulge his interest in magic and escape tricks like those of his idol Houdini and his magic instructor Bernard Kornblum. As the Nazi hold on the area tightens, he and his family realize they won’t be able to escape to America like some of their family, but with the help of Kornblum, Joe does manage to get out in a dangerous and rather horrifying way, and makes his way alone across Asia and around the globe to Brooklyn, NY, where he’s taken in by his mother’s sister’s family, the Claymans. Sammy Clayman is Joe’s age, and they soon become friends and fellow dreamers. Sammy works for a novelty company, but what really interests him is the brand new field of comic books. Together, Kavalier and Clay create a new comic book hero, The Escapist, and convince Sammy’s boss to publish it, though they have to give up the rights. Before long, they are heading a successful line of comics.

Meanwhile, Joe wants desperately to get his family out of Prague, and take revenge on Hitler, though there are few options for either. He meets beautiful Rosa Saks, also an artist like himself, and she gives him hope that at least his little brother Tommy can be rescued by the aid agency she works for. Joe is willing to use his new income to fund that, and meanwhile, in the pages of his comics, Hitler and his henchman continue to take a beating. Sammy, the writer of the pair, understands Joe’s pain, but is dealing with his own issues. When the war with Germany finally comes, it will change their lives forever.

I’d forgotten a lot of this, remembering mostly the comic book connections, which are well researched and handled, but there’s a great deal more to like about this book. It puts you firmly into New York of the late 1930s to 1950s, and the characters are masterfully written and fascinating. In particular, Joe’s journey, which takes him to Cuba and Antarctica as well as a secret hideout in Manhattan, come to life brilliantly, and is full of unexpected turns and excitement. Meanwhile, Sam and Rosa’s stories are equally emotionally rich and appealing.

A great book, my favorite by Chabon, highly recommended.

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Rereading: THE BLACK CANARY by Jane Louse Curry

This 2005 novel by Curry takes the “boy in London goes back in time” familiar theme in a somewhat different direction.

Twelve-year-old American James Parrett is staying in London with his parents. His mother is a singer who is working with a small ensemble on a tour of Britain and Europe, his father is doing some research at the British library and taking care of James. The boy looks and identifies as African American, his mother’s heritage, and he’s not thrilled with being in London, but making the best of it. One night he’s awakened by the sound of running water. He goes to investigate, and in the basement of the house they’re staying in finds a strange shimmering disk that seems to be a portal to another place. James goes through and finds himself deep in England’s past, though it takes him a while to find out it’s 1599 there.

Later, another similar portal opens for him when he’s out in London with his father, and this time James is stuck in the past. He gets help from a few friendly men, but is soon recruited to be part of the players and singers of The Children of the Chapel Royal, under command of Queen Elizabeth. They are preparing a performance for her at the palace, and James’ fine singing voice lands him a role, even though he needs instruction in many things the other boys know. James really wants to go home, but in the few chances he has to visit the portal he first found, the time back in modern London is wrong, it’s too early, before his family arrived.

James is being watched by another boy with his own secrets, and the two of them become involved in a treasonous plot, even while James is finding ever more success with the company. He feels the draw of his own time is fading, and if he doesn’t get back there, he’ll be stuck in Old London for the rest of his life.

Well written and recommended.

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My Music: DREAMSONG

I’ve always had interesting dreams, though I’m sure I remember only small bits and pieces. Often they’re in color. Common themes are “back in high school, haven’t studied,” “back where I used to live many years ago,” “working in New York,” “traveling in other countries,” “at a convention,” “with family and friends long gone,” and a mix of those and other ideas including occasional fantasy adventures. Some dreams have inspired songs and stories, this is one: Dreamsong.

I guess the themes here are, dreams can be an escape, or if they turn dark, waking can be an escape too. I like the instrumental I worked out for this one, even if I missed a note or two. It was written in June 1976 and recorded about 1978 in my living room.

Dreamsong is © Todd Klein, all rights reserved.

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Rereading: TO THE GREEN MOUNTAINS by Eleanor Cameron

Cover illustration by James Barkley

Published in 1975, this is one of Cameron’s best and most thoughtful books in my opinion.

Kath Rule and her mother Elizabeth live in one room in a hotel in a small Ohio town, Elizabeth is the hotel manager. The time period is World War One, but that doesn’t enter the story much. What does is small town attitudes of racism and malicious gossip. Many of the hotel workers are black, and both Kath and her mother are friends with them, to the dismay of other white townsfolk. They also have family in town and nearby who are more understanding. Kath’s father is alive, and living by himself in a small farm outside of town, where he struggles to make a go of it, and can never seem to get anywhere. He makes periodic visits to the hotel to see Elizabeth and get money, but seems uninterested in his daughter, and the feeling is mutual. Kath can’t understand their relationship.

Kath has friends her age in town, including Chattie, a rich girl who loves to gossip, and Herb, an albino boy who everyone but her shuns. Kath and Elizabeth are both friends with the black couple Tiss and Grant. He works at the hotel, but longs to become a lawyer, and some law books that Elizabeth gets for him drive a wedge between the two families, as Tiss feels Grant is neglecting her for studying. Events both small and life-changing happen to Kath and the others in the story, as she keeps hoping they can get away to live with her grandmother in the Green Mountains of Vermont.

Highly recommended.

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