For Judy Collins Birthday - Hard Lovin' Loser

 

Judy Collins has appeared several times in this journal.  I thought for her birthday I would post one of her lesser-known songs.  Hard Lovin' Loser was on her In My Life album released in 1967.  I vaguely remember that Murray the K played it when he was on WOR-FM.

Don't Think Twice by the Wonder Who (Four Seasons) My Favorite Falsetto

 

This morning Corny O'Connell said that the Question of the Day would be falsetto sinfing.  Certainly, Frankie Valli used a falsetto voice in many of the Four Seasons' hits.  In late 1965 the Four Seasons were on the chart with Let's Hang On.  They wanted to simultaneously release another 45 RPM hit so they used the Wonder Who as a pseudonym for Don't Think Twice.  This Bob Dylan song was covered umpteen times over the years in different styles.  I consider this version a parody of a Dylan classic.

Mets Beat Cardinals 4-2 in an 11th Inning Walk-off

 

The regulation nine innings were pretty dull as the Mets were 0-15 with runners in scoring position.  The only highlight was Francisco Lindor's home run in the sixth inning.  Since the game was tied at 1-1 at the end of the ninth the game went into extra innings with the ghost runner rule.  In the top of the 11th inning, Michael Siani scored on a Brendan Donovan single to take a 2-1 lead.  The Mets were down to their final out when Harrison Bader drove in D.J. Stewart with the tying run.  Mark Vientos, recently recalled from the minors singled as a pinch hitter in the ninth, then drove a 1-2 pitch from Matthew Liberatore (0-1) just beyond the glove of a leaping Michael Siani at the center-field fence to win the game. He was disappointed that he did not make the major league roster and is trying to show the manager he belongs.

Game Recap

Yours truly at the game

I Feel Free by Cream - Random Oldie of the Day

 

My Comments about Some Stories in the News - April 25, 2024

• The situations in Israel and Gaza are tragic.  Hamas started the conflict by killing 1200 Israeli civilians and holding over 200 hostages.  At least 100 are still held by Hamas.  I support Israel but believe that they went too far in killing over 34,000 Palestinians in their attempt to destroy Hamas.  The best solution would be for Hamas to release the hostages and acknowledge Israel's right to exist.  Then Israel would stop the hostilities.  It is easier said than done.
• Pro-Palestinian protests have been held at prestigious universities such as Columbia, NYU, Harvard, and Yale.  Students have a right to protest, but it must be done peacefully and without disrupting the university's academic mission.  It reminds me of my time as a student when there were protests against American involvement in the Vietnam War.
• The situation in Ukraine is also tragic.  The Russians don't seem to want to give up.
• A sitting or former president is not above the law.  The Supreme Court is hearing testimony to determine if Trump has immunity since the crimes he allegedly committed were while he was President.
• It would be a worldwide tragedy if Trump was re-elected President.  I don't understand why anybody wants to vote for him after what he has said and done over the years.

 

Random Thoughts of the Day - April 24, 2024

• Watching the TV news every day is depressing.  I watch both national and local newscasts.  The situation in the Middle East is tragic.  I support Israel, but the deaths of civilians in Gaza sadden me.  The protests at college campuses today remind me of those opposing the Vietnam War when I was a student in the late 1960s.
• I wish I didn't have such a good autobiographical memory.  I often have flashbacks to unpleasant experiences of the distant past as I often second-guess myself.  I can't change what happened in the past.
• This Journal is approaching 5000 entries since October 2005. It is a vanity press for me.
• I am working on a newsletter for the Casey Stengel Chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research.

 

Mercy Me (The Ecology) by Marvin Gaye - An Appropriate Song for Earth Day