Mailbox & Feedback

Dear Sheet Music Magazine,
I’m a fan of SMMag. But I have to tell you, I’m not fond of the “theme” issues, such as the latest (Summer 2011) Folk issue. If a person is not that interested in folk music, the issue is pretty much a disappointment. I wouldn’t mind one or two folk songs in with a variety of other things, however. I’ve gotten a lot of enjoyment out of the magazine and love finding the obscure (to me) gems, like a great Harry Warren song I’d not heard before. I play the piano about one hour every evening, often playing from Sheet Music Magazine.
Speaking of Harry Warren, I was watching an old Alice Faye movie with Harry Warren songs and there was a great song: “You Say The Cutest Things, Baby”. I would love to have the sheet music for that. Maybe it has already appeared in the magazine? Anyway, thanks for a great magazine, and for listening.
——-David Godwin, FL

The song title is, “You Say The Sweetest Things, Baby,” and our best advice for anyone looking for the older out of print songs such as this one, is to please look at our classified ads for those people who advertise their vast collections. We know that Sandy Marrone (see her ad) has over 250,000 sheets in her collection. In fact, here’s a letter we just received from Sandy…

Ed – A couple months ago I got an envelope marked: THIS LETTER HAS BEEN MAILED FROM THE WISCONSIN PRISON SYSTEM. When I read the letter, a prisoner was requesting a song from me. I sent it to him, and he was so grateful that he wrote out by hand a song he’d written. It was a very plaintive ballad and a complicated manuscript because he plays the guitar and was trying to make it so that I could play it on the piano. He said that since he couldn’t pay me, he was sending me the only thing he could, which was the song he’d written. I was very touched.
Anyway, I just went back and read his original letter which said that he saw my ad in the back of Sheet Music Magazine! That makes me wonder where he would have gotten it in a correctional institute. I’ll ask him if I hear from him again. But I thought that, of all magazines to have access to in prison, it was impressive that SMM somehow made its way to him there.
So this was a “first” for me, and I wanted to tell you the far-reaching impact of your wonderful magazine and the resulting connections that can occur……… — Sandy Marrone

Sandy, Your note reminds me of a time when I was a college student in Washington, D.C., touring as the pianist with our college Christmas show. We brought the show to Lorton State Prison in Virginia. Two kindly looking African-American prisoners, a bassist and drummer, sheepishly sidled up to me onstage and asked if they could play the show with me. Yeah, sure, okay. There were no parts written for them. They didn’t need any. These guys were good! I didn’t even have to call keys. They were noted jazz players who fell right into everything in the score. We hung out for awhile after the show to play a few standards. I dared not ask if there were another pianist in the house who might want to sit in for fear of being blown away. I am sure there was, and that he listened politely.

As a 30 year faithful subscriber, this latest issue, was most disappointing. To put it bluntly a real cop-out with all these public domain songs. Come on guys, you can do better that that!! The only thing worthwhile was the article on Don Shirley. Sorry I had to tell you. — John P. LaRosa Musician, Teacher, Jazz pianist.

Great Edition! I especially enjoyed the chords and arrangement for HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN and WORRIED MAN BLUES.
I also believe HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN is best sung by a female.
—Jose Ortiz

I love the Spring issue with the jazz pieces. They’re an enjoyable challenge that offers something different from the old standards. And the audio of “Cool & Caressing” is great – something to shoot for. Also, some time ago you directed me to Sandy Marrone when I was looking for a hard-to-find piece of music. She has been a great resource. Thanks for that referral. I’ve been a subscriber for some 25 years and always look forward to each new issue. — Jack McDonough

I am addicted to Sheet Music Magazine. I can’t do without it. I got used to it coming every month, now every season. By the time it comes, I am in withdrawal. Thanks again, Joan Meeks

I’ve subscribed for 10 years or so. Recently I have been disappointed with the contents — to the point that I was ready to quit. I’m not that interested in old Broadway tunes that I have never heard of (I’m 77). On top of that, they don’t seem to me like particularly good music. But I did like the latest issue on spirituals. — Carl Spencer

Thanks for another great issue. I was especially delighted to find Cole Porter’s Looking at You in the most recent issue [Spring 2011]. I know I am not the first to be bothered by an occasional discrepancy between the harmony in the piano part and the guitar chords listed above the staff. I realize that it has long been traditional for song publishers to simplify those guitar chords when a perfect match could be beyond the scope of the home amateur. However in the release of Looking at You (p. 32, 3rd and 4th staves) some of the printed chords would clash with the piano harmony and the sense of key center. Perhaps if “D7/E” were replaced with “B dim. 7/E” or “Am6/E” we would hear a better match. Likewise, the “Cm7/G” could be replaced by “Cm6/G” for an improved result. As this song is still under copyright, I realize that these issues may not have been under your control. I just thought it might be worth noting. Keep the great songs coming. —Patrick Mercuri, New Jersey

You’re quite right. This was an exact replica of the original sheet music, and those were the chord symbols contained in it. When we reset the music for legibility reasons, we make every effort to make such corrections as you suggest. In this case we could not. Thank you for your observations and we are sure that they will assist readers.

In the Spring 2011 Issue Mailbox, Carole Gray requests “Rufus, Rufus, I’ve Been Thinking”. I wonder if she is looking for “Reuben, Reuben, I’ve Been Thinking”, – - the correct title being “Reuben and Rachel”. This song can be found in a songbook called “The Golden Book of Favorite Songs”, published by Schmitt, Hall & McCreary”, a Division of Belwin-Mills Publishing Corp., Melville, N.Y. 11747. —Donna McBeth

Donna McBeth later emailed to us that the song “My Name is Solomon Levi”, also requested by Carole Gray, can be found in the same book. You may need to look for this out-of-print book online at eBay or elsewhere.

Just received and played Spring 2011 issue and it was the best in a long time for what I did not already have–more than half the songs were “new” including the Cole Porter. And while I had the Billy Taylor selections, it was good you included more jazz. Thank you. —Marilyn Walker

Suggestions for a couple more songs I remember from the Thirties: “The Merry Go Round Broke Down.”
Words I remember: “…it made a funny sound”…“and the merry-go-round went ‘oom-pa-pa, oom-pa-pa, oom-pa, oom-pa, oom-pa-pa!’ The merry-go-round broke down!” Also, from the same era: “The Music Goes Round and Round.” “You (I?) blow thru here, the music goes round and round, woeho hoho hoho and it comes out here.” I just got info on both composers and pub. dates for both from the Santa Cruz library source listed on your consumer services page, but I’m not sure if the Merry-go-round one is the same. Thanks for providing that source. I have subscribed almost continually to SMM since it started, and I am missing only a few issues (busy with family, apparently and forgot to send it in). Thank you for years of reference I have used quite often as a performer and now as volunteer director of a senior citizen singers group. Incidentally, I had an aunt when I was a kid, who loved music but couldn’t carry a tune. Every time I stayed at her house, she asked me to sing “You blow thru here”. I also had a girlfriend who loved “Alexander’s Ragtime Band;” even as teenagers she often asked me to sing that and other songs for her. Thanks again for helping to keep the love of meaningful music alive. —Leonore Lambert

Thank you for the good suggestion re “The Music Goes ‘Round and Around.” As you will note with this issue, your wish is our command.

Re: Joseph Smith’s article “A White Donkey on the Black Keys.” Your article and reprint of Ibert’s “Little White Donkey” reminded me of the first (and only) time I heard Mstislav Rostropovich at Carnegie Hall some time in the late seventies when he had only been in the US for a short while. After receiving s standing ovation for a concert of Bach, Dvorak, and other classics, he silenced the hall and matter-of-factly announced his encore: “The Leetle White Donkee.” —Steve Stellman

I have been a long time subscriber and have enjoyed rediscovering oldies and classics. But, lately… I find that the songs are too old. I’m wavering about renewing my subscription. Is there any way I can find out what popular songs are planned for this next year? —Anon.

We are, and have been, essentially a magazine of musical nostalgia. A vintage song is not necessarily a bad song. As Oscar Wilde said: there is good art, and there is bad art. Our apologies to you, and for the fact that we do not plan issues well in advance.

I think it is a pity that you only take subscriptions in USA and Canada. Do you plan to take subscriptions in Europe in future ? Can you give me the reason why you do not take subscriptions in Europe nowadays ??I hope that you will send me a replay ! —Anon.
We once attempted a UK edition but the costs were prohibitive, along with clearing international rights for the songs. We wish we could have done it. Many UK and European people write to us with the same request and regret. However, if you have a friend who purchases a subscription here in the USA, and then mails the issues to you, the copyright issue is circumvented since the purchase was made domestically. Like swimming, it’s called “the buddy system.”