New Bob Dylan Album Shadows in the Night to be Released in 2015

Rolling Stone magazine reports that a new Bob Dylan album featuring covers of adult standards will be released sometime in 2015.  No exact date was given. This will be announced officially next week by an advertisement in the new boxed set of the complete Basement Tapes.  We'll just have to be patient as November will be a big Bob Dylan month for me.

Musical Dedication to Ray Schwartz

Ray in 2014

Ray c.1997

Ray Schwartz was my colleague at the NJIT Library for several years.  I don't remember the exact years, but he moved on to William Paterson University several years ago.  Back in his NJIT days he had a short crew cut as seen above, but over the years he really let his hair grow.  To paraphrase Bob Dylan "He was so much older then, he's younger than that now."  Anyway I thought the perfect 1960s hit to dedicate to Ray would be Hair by the Cowsills.

The Final Jeopardy Question Last Night Was....

The answer was this restaurant chain was named after the 4th hit of a British rock group in 1967.  I guess I must have been tired since I worked late at NJIT.  I had eaten at the Ruby Tuesday's at 7th Avenue and 41st Street a few times.  I should have gotten it.  Oh well.

Random Comments of the Day

Boston radio personality Dale Dorman passed away.  I have heard of him, but didn't know much about him.  Several of my radio friends including Rich Appel and Gary Brefini are from the Boston area.  I assume Scott Fybush will have a long story about him in tomorrow's North East Radio Watch.

Someone on the NYRMB said that since of the World Series games was broadcast in NYC over  WMCA, it marked the first time since 1957 that the baseball Giants were heard on 570 AM.  He is mistaken since the Mets games were aired on WMCA from 1978-82.  Obviously during those 5 seasons there were several games between the Mets and Giants heard on WMCA.

I watched part of the Jets game on TV today.  They really sucked, especially Geno Smith.  I wonder when will Rex Ryan be fired since the team is now 1-7.

I wonder if the Tournament of Champions on Jeopardy will happen in November since that is sweeps month.

Jack Bruce of Cream passes at age 71

One of the best super groups of the late 1960s was Cream with Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton.  It was announced today that Jack Bruce passed away at age 71.  He performed as a solo artist after Cream had broken up.  My favorite Cream hit was White Room.

Van Lingle Mungo The Song and The Book

A few months ago I joined SABR (Society of American Baseball Research). As a member I received a free copy of the book Van Lingle Mungo.  There was a song by that title written by Dave Frishberg.  It lists Mungo who pitched for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1930s with other players of that era.  The book offers short biographies of the players in the song:

Heenie Majeski, Johnny Gee
Eddie Joost, Johnny Pesky, Thornton Lee
Danny Gardella
Van Lingle Mungo

Whitey Kurowski, Max Lanier
Eddie Waitkus and Johnny Vandermeer
Bob Estalella
Van Lingle Mungo

Augie Bergamo, Sigmund Jakucki
Big Johnny Mize and Barney McCosky
Hal Trosky

Augie Galan and Pinky May
Stan Hack and Frenchy Bordagaray
Phil Cavaretta, George McQuinn
Howie Pollett and Early Wynn
Art Passarella
Van Lingle Mungo

John Antonelli, Ferris Fain
Frankie Crosetti, Johnny Sain
Harry Brecheen and Lou Boudreau
Frankie Gustine and Claude Passeau
Eddie Basinski
Ernie Lombardi
Hughie Mulcahy
Van Lingle...Van Lingle Mungo

Who in Monroe Township, New Jersey is Reading This Journal?

I constantly monitor the readership of Bruce's Journal through Google Analytics.  Over the last year somebody from Monroe Township, New Jersey has accessed this site 379 times which is slightly more than once a day.  Monroe Township is off exit 8A of the New Jersey Turnpike in southern Middlesex County.  It is a bedroom community with a population about 39,000 halfway between NYC and Philadelphia.

I don't know anyone from that township.  Don Tandler lives in East or West Windsor which is nearby.  I think Don reads this journal once in a while but not as much as once a day.  I don't think anyone from NJIT lives there as it is a good 60 miles away from Newark.

Is this individual a

• Bob Dylan fan
• New York Mets fan
• Jeopardy enthuisast
• Oldies music maven

I am inviting Mr. or Ms. Monroe Township to reveal his/her identity and why he/she is attracted to this blog.  It gets about 20 hits a day and I often wonder who reads it.

Vote for Your Favorite Oldies

Mike Riccio, Tom Natoli and the other Chart Guys need your help to compile the list of the 77 most popular oldies.  We know that radio station do have such promotions, but "fudge" the results as they don't want to include songs that are out of format.  Please go to the Oldies Board and vote for your 7 favorite oldies.

The survey will be heard on Bob Radil's 60s 70s show on Rewound Radio around Christmas.  Here are my 7 favorites:

Song/Artist 1: Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan (1965)
Song/Artist 2: Turn Turn Turn (To Everything There Is A Season) - Byrds (1965)
Song/Artist 3: Mrs Robinson - Simon and Garfunkel (1968)
Song/Artist 4: Abigail Beecher - Freddie ( Freddy ) Cannon (1964)
Song/Artist 5: Mellow Yellow - Donovan (1966)
Song/Artist 6: Let It Be - Beatles (1970)
Song/Artist 7: Imagine - John Lennon (1971)

Bob Dylan's Never Ending Tour Resumes on the West Coast

After Bob toured Australia and New Zealand, he took a month off.  I think he deserves a break as he is 73 years old.  Anyway last night the tour resumed at the Paramount Theater in Seattle and got a positive review in a local newspaper.  He has not varied the set list at all as most of the songs are relatively recent.  The big day for us is November 29 at the Beacon Theater.

Love Letters on Broadway

This year Karen and I chose Love Letters as our Broadway show for our anniversary.  I think this was the first time we did not see a musical.  The show relates letters that were sent between Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd over a 50 year period.  We saw Carol Burnett and Brian Dennehy in today's show, but as you can from the web site other significant actors and actresses will appear in the weeks to come.

The entire show was dialog as the two characters sat at a table and read their letters.  You really had to pay attention and realize that the years were going by during the readings.  I recommend it highly.

9th Anniversary of Bruce's Journal

It was October 15, 2005 when I started this blog on AOL.  It eventually moved over to the Blogger service offered by Google.  There have been over 2600 posts covering topics from the ridiculous to the sublime.  I would classify the posts as:

• Autobiographical
• New York Mets
• Other Baseball
• Oldies
• Bob Dylan
• Mass Transit - in the last year these have moved to NYNJcommuting
• Random comments

I try not to get too personal.  We all have problems, illnesses and setbacks, but do we want to share them with everybody?  I keep in mind that anyone can access my posts.  I sometimes wonder who is lurking out there.

Happy Anniversary Karen

It was on October 16, 1983 when Karen and I were married at the Old Westbury Hebrew Congregation.  It is hard to believe that it has been 31 years.  Back then I was working at the New York Public Library at 5th Avenue and 42nd Street while Karen was working at Interpublic.  Obviously, so much as happened over the years.

Happy Anniversary, Karen and many many more.

Special Birthday Dedication to Cousin Brucie Who is 79 Years Forever Young Today

Cousin Brucie has certainly played many dedications over the years on SiriusXM, WCBS-FM., WNBC and WABC.  I think that for his 79th birthday I'll make a dedication for him.  I don't think the Cuz is a big Bob Dylan fan, so here goes.  I am picking a song from the 1970s that would likely never be heard on his show.  You would hear it sometime on WFUV, Q104.3, or Deep Tracks, but never on his show.  May you stay Forever Young and be on the radio for many more years.

May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young

May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young

May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young

Copyright © 1973 by Ram's Horn Music; renewed 2001 by Ram’s Horn Music

More Random Comments

I have commented before on the misuse of Facebook.  Two of my friends have posted photos of themselves while they are in the hospital.  I can understand people informing their friends about their medical condition.  I  certainly would not want anyone to see me in poor physical condition in a hospital bed.

Cousin Brucie just mentioned Mary Shaw on his show and played Mary Mary for her.  She has just moved into a new apartment in Staten Island.

The Cuz also just played Mr. Bassman by Johnny Cymbal.  When I heard that song it reminded me of my very brief reconnection with John of New Britain, Ct.  Every time I have encountered an old friend either in person or online the new relationship has not lasted.

I get conflicting data on people hitting Bruce's Journal from Blogger and Google Analytics.  According to Blogger, a post from March 2011 titled More Tsuris for the Mets got 132 hits in the last week but none reported from Google Analytics.  Go figure.

Random Comments of the Day

I wasn't excited by the nominees to the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame this year.  The ones that really should get in according to me are:

• Neil Sedaka
• Chubby Checker

Unfortunately there are politics going in choosing nominees and inductees.

Condolences to David McMillan on the loss of his father.  Dave worked as a temp for NJIT some years back and has kept in touch.

I had to stay a little late today at work to teach a class, but I was able to listen Bob Radil's 60s 70s show via my iPhone on the way home.

I will have to work on Columbus Day, but I shouldn't complain as there are still too many people out there pounding the pavement looking for jobs.

The Never Ending Tour is Extended for One More Night

By popular demand Bob Dylan's run at the Beacon Theater has been extended to Wednesday December 3 for a total of 5 performances.  As I stated before we have tickets for the second show on Saturday November 29.  I predicted that Bob will not be interviewed on WOR radio any weekday from 10 AM - 12 noon.  The pompous radio host at that time is not a fan.

I donated to WFUV Today

Every October I make a $100 donation to support public radio at WFUV.  It is nice to listen to terrestrial radio without commercials or a playlist picked by consultants.  In one word I would describe their music as eclectic.  You never know what will be played.  Corny O'Connell usually plays one oldie every half hour when I listen.  I also enjoy Mixed Bag with Don McGee.

Offbeat Oldie - The Great Airplane Strike by Paul Revere and the Raiders

Today I heard about the passing of Paul Revere at the age of 76.  I fondly remember watching them in the 1960s on Where the Action Is hosted by Dick Clark.  Who would sing about an airplane strike?  Apparently back then they had to cancel several gigs since they couldn't get to the venue.

Blue Snow Night by the Gurus - I never heard this on the radio

Back in the late 1960s there was a music show on Saturday mornings on Channel 5 in NYC. I can not remember the name of the show or its host. Anyway I distinctively remember seeing Blue Snow Night by the Gurus on the show. I don't remember hearing it on any NYC radio stations back then or on a classic rock station in recent years.

Cousin Brucie and Neil Sedaka are Interviewed on Fox5 in NYC

The Cuz and Neil Sedaka talk to Ernie Anastos about their days in Brooklyn.  Check it out by clicking the link below.


New York News

MLB is Testing Rules in Arizona Fall League to Speed Up Baseball Games

About a year ago I reported in this journal on long baseball games.  The man in the picture above seems to have nodded off during a long game.  I read today on the ESPN site that there were going to be rules tested in the Arizona Fall League to try to speed up games.  In 1981 the average game was 2 hr 33 minutes while it is now slightly over 3 hours.  The ESPN site details all of the rules, so it is not necessary to repeat them here.   I like the rule limiting teams to three trips to the mound by managers, coaches and catchers during a game, except for pitching changes.

I suppose the MLB will evaluate what happens in the Arizona Fall League this season before implementing permanent changes.  This likely would not happen until 2016 at the earliest.