Author: nostalgicitalian

I'm just a guy who likes the classics. I love Old Time Radio Shows. I love Classic TV. I love Classic Movies. I love songs from the "Great American Songbook". I dig songs from the first decade of Rock and Roll. Don't get me wrong, I am not opposed to newer things. My musical taste ranges from Classical to Classic Rock and Country to Rap. I love a good book and am always looking for something to read. I tend to lean toward historical fiction, biographies, mysteries, and more. I have always believed that our past (and the things we've experienced in it) make us who we are today. That being said, after reading through some old My Space blogs (yeah, that's about how long it's been since I blogged regularly), I decided that I should once again write. Welcome to my blog. I hope you find it interesting, thought provoking, and entertaining in some way. CONTACT ME AT - nostalgicitalian@yahoo.com

Turntable Talk #27 – Art Rock

Here is the June edition of Dave Ruch’s Turntable Talk (the 27th installment for those keeping count)! Every month Dave, who hosts his blog A Sound Day, offers up a topic for our group of music loving bloggers for us to write about. This time around, he calls it “Art Rock” with the following instructions about the visuals of music:

This time around, either pick an album cover (liner notes or inserts too if you choose) that you think were outstanding,  or else write about whether the packaging – the pictures, album covers and so on were important to you and whether you find that lacking in this day and age.  Or if you ever bought an album just from the cover…

Things were obviously different when I was was growing up. I loved going into the record store down the road and flipping through albums. I can’t tell you how many covers caught my eye and made me look at the content. Album cover art was such an important part of purchasing music and the introduction to new artists.

Album cover art is a serious thing, obviously, as a quick search led me to to three books that I really need to check out (1000 Record Covers by Michael Ochs, The Greatests Album Covers of All Time by Grant Scott, Barry Miles and Johnny Morgan, and finally, The Art of the Album Cover by Richard Evans.)

On the cover of Evans’ book, there are a few of the great covers I considered for this piece. There are so many iconic covers that I could choose. I am one of the last writers for this month’s topic, so I would imagine that classics like Whipped Cream by Herb Alpert, Never Mind by Nirvana, or The Beatles Abbey Road (or their many others) have been chosen and already featured.

Dave offered up suggestions of how we might want to approach the topic and his last one got me thinking. He stated “if you ever bought an album just from the cover.” I was buying albums long before 1983, but never because of the cover. I had either heard a song on the radio and wanted the album or they didn’t have the 45, so I just bought the album. There was one album that did catch my eye and played a hand in my purchasing the album.

I firmly believe that Linda Ronstadt was one of the most beautiful voices in music. She was known primarily for pop/rock music and considered by many to be the leading female vocalist of rock. Her music was good enough to buy an album, but at the same time, her album covers were flat out sexy!

For example, Living in the USA has her in a hallway wearing roller skates and short shorts. Silk Purse has her on the ground in jean shorts sitting next to pigs with a cute smirk on her face. Simple Dreams shows her sitting in front of a vanity in a silk robe looking off to the side. Hasten Down the Wind has her standing on the beach staring off on a chilly evening. She was simply stunning even on the most simple covers.

I remember walking into my local record store and stopping at the display that featured that weeks new album releases. One of them grabbed my attention right away because there was a beautiful woman dressed in a 1940’s period gown lying atop of a purple sea of silk. Her eyes bore into me with a sultry and seductive look. Her shoe being kicked off only boosted the sexiness of it to me.

“What in the world?” I remember thinking. It was then that I noticed that the album was with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra. This just didn’t make sense to me. I flipped the album over and looked at the track list. These were songs from the Great American Songbook! I purchased the album without hearing anything from it! I could only imagine her amazing voice singing these songs! I had to have it.

Looking back now, I have to think that this album was a pretty big deal.  It wasn’t a big deal because it was a Linda Ronstadt album. What made this album a big deal was that it was one of the first times that a genuine rock and roll star tackled the “Great American Songbook.” In one review on the album I read:

By the early 80s, the usual crooners, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra etc., weren’t the biggest things with the youngsters. Yes, they were indeed respected and probably loved even, especially Frank, but they weren’t really selling many units to younger baby boomers. So when What’s New was released it really opened the eyes to a generation that wasn’t all that familiar with the works of George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin (except during the Holidays) but this album changed that. Yes, they were known to a point, but not like they should have been.

The album was almost never recorded. According to Wiki: Both her record company and manager, Peter Asher (of Peter and Gordon), were very reluctant to produce this album with Ronstadt, but eventually her determination won them over and the albums exposed a whole new generation to the sounds of the pre-swing and swing eras. Linda later remarked that she did her part in rescuing these songs which she called “little jewels of artistic expression” from “spending the rest of their lives riding up and down on the elevators.”

Nelson Riddle’s arrangements are simply beautiful and blend together with Linda’s vocals with perfection. Her voice is smooth and powerful at the same time. I can still remember dropping the needle on the vinyl with my headphones on. The opening strings of “What’s New” leading to her opening lyric gave me goosebumps. It still does. This amazing album blew me away as a 13 year old kid, and today each listen gets better and better.

The album was released in September of 1983 and stayed on the main Billboard Album chart for 81 weeks! I could have easily been a number one album, but it peaked at number 3, and stayed there for 5 weeks. The albums that prevented it from hitting number 1? Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Lionel Richie’s Can’t Slow Down. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance (Female).

The success of the album led to two more collaborations with Nelson Riddle. Lush Life was released in 1984 and For Sentimental Reasons was released in 1986. The later two didn’t do as well as the first album, which is a shame, because they were just as good (or better) than the first one. In 1986, there was a 2-CD collection which contained all the songs from the three albums entitled ‘Round Midnight. It remains one of my favorite collections.

Linda Ronstadt took a bold leap by recording an album of standards. The success of this album, in my opinion, paved the way for other singers to do the same. Gloria Estefan, Rod Stewart, Paul McCartney, Willie Nelson, Art Garfunkel, Michael Bolton, Diana Ross, Carly Simon, Cyndi Lauper, and Sheena Easton have all recorded some pretty amazing covers from the Great American Songbook. Pick up a Michael Buble’ album and you will find that it is probably 70% standards and 30% originals. Those songs will live on forever because they are just that good!

When I sit with the Linda Ronstadt/Nelson Riddle albums and close my eyes, I picture Linda as one of the many female singers of the 1940’s. Maybe it is a concert performance, or maybe it is a song stuck in the middle of an old radio show. Maybe it is a feature on Armed Forces Radio boosting the morale of the soldiers fighting in the war. Whatever it happens to be, it is magical!

I feel sorry for kids today who purchase music online or in a budget rack at Walmart. They will never know the excitement of an album cover that is so good you instinctively buy it and hurry home to give it a listen. I am glad to have had that experience many times!

Thanks to Dave at A Sound Day for another great topic. Thanks to the other bloggers who I am sure posted some fantastic pieces, too. Thanks to you for reading! I look forward to next month’s topic, Dave. Thanks again for allowing me to take part!

Friday Photo Flashback

I posted this week about our little getaway to my father-in-law’s cabin. As I mentioned, there were many things about that trip that reminded me of our trips to Caseville when I was a kid. Coincidentally, I stumbled on a picture I had not seen in some time from one of those trips. As a matter of fact, it may be from one of the last ones we took up there.

In 1981, my grandfather passed away after having a heart attack while he was on a business trip. I don’t recall how long we kept the place after he passed, but it had to be a few years later. He really loved that place and so did our family. I know it never felt the same for me after he had passed away, so I can only imagine what it felt like for my mom, my aunts, and my grandmother.

If I had to guess, my dad is probably the one who took this picture, of course, it could be my Aunt Jodi, I’m not sure. The Ford Aerostar on the left was my folks. When I moved away, my dad let me take it because it was more reliable than my crappy van. The van on the right has to be my Aunt Linda’s, I vaguely remember them having a van. Directly in front of the van is our trailer.

I was just having a conversation with a coworker about our place in Caseville and I had mentioned that there was very little grass when we were there. There was plenty of sand, however. When Sam and I went up a few years ago, I was surprised that all the places had lush green lawns! You can see the patchy grass and sand in this picture.

Speaking of sand, behind us is the red shed that always seemed to have 10 bee hives in it. We’d always dodge the bees when we went in to get out the minibike we’d ride around the neighborhood in. All the roads were dirt at the time and at the end of our street was a wooded area with trees and trails – with sand. I remember how I’d always seem to get stuck in the sand back there when I rode it.

When I look at this photo I remember fondly some very special people. The lady on the left lived across the street from our place. They lived there all year. Her husband used to stock the lake behind our place and we loved fishing back there.

Next to her is my mom. This is the way I like to remember her, when she was healthy and cancer free. She looks so good here. I chuckle at the fact that she is wearing a hat, and wish I knew what it said.

Next to my mom, in front, is my cousin Melissa and behind her is my cousin Arin. I always loved when everyone got together at the trailer. We used to pull out all of the toys and stuff that my Aunt Jodi had up there and trash her room. She had this thing called Fashion Plates where you put the plates together and shaded a piece of paper over them and I seem to remember my cousins always playing with that.

It has been too long since I’ve seen my cousins. Melissa lives out of the country and Arin is about an hour or so South of me, so it is difficult for us to get together. I really miss being with them.

Next to my cousins is my grandmother, my mom’s mom. I have great memories of going to the Belle Isle Aquarium and Greenfield Village with her. I was a teenager when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. I didn’t want to see her sick, so I avoided going to a lot of family functions. It remains one of my biggest regrets. I miss her so much.

Behind my grandma is my brother, who has written a few guest blogs for me, and was the fourth and final member of the “Let’s Break Aunt Jodi’s Stuff Club!” He suffered through the 2 hour drive to Caseville with me as we listened to ballad after ballad (and mom’s singing) on the infamous red 8 track tape. We have so many great memories together there.

Next to grandma and in front of my brother and me, is my Aunt Linda (Arin and Melissa’s mom). Before she moved out of state, she and my uncle would host a summer family party. I loved those parties so much. It was always great to see those relatives from my mom’s side of the family who we didn’t get to see too often. My uncle would put on his captain hat and take folks for a spin around the lake on his boat. The older folks would be drinking home made Italian wine and playing bocce ball.

My aunt has been a wonderful support for me. We’ve talked bible and prayed together. She offered advice through my divorce and attended my college graduation. She continues to be someone who I can talk to about anything and she will be completely honest with me. I am so blessed to still have her in my life.

The first thing I notice about me is my huge hair, cheesy mustache and big glasses. Ah, the 80’s!

In front of my grandma is my Aunt’s dog. It was such a sweet dog. I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong, but I thought they called it Cocoa. Over by the van is my grandma’s dog, Mindy. Mindy was around for as long as I can remember. After seeing the way our dog ran around at my father-in-law’s this past weekend, it is amazing to see these two dogs just laying around! LOL

This photo instantly brings back memories of our summer Caseville trips for me. It stirs up sadness as I think of my mom and grandma. It brings smiles as I remember how lucky I was to have shared some wonderful times with my cousins and family. I am so glad someone decided to take this photo.

A Much Needed Break

I had a few days off over this past weekend and I got some much needed family time. The time started on a sad note, as Thursday morning, my wife’s family gathered at the National Cemetery where there was a small service for her grandma. They chose her grandfather’s birthday to go and have her ashes placed inside the wall with him. After the service, her dad said a prayer and everyone left.

Her grandparents are buried at the same cemetery as my mother, and my daughter asked to go see grandma. Last time we were there, she placed a heart shaped rock on the headstone. It was not there this time and she said, “Grandma must have liked it so much that she took it.” Who am I to argue with my daughter?

Friday afternoon, we loaded up the car, the kids, and the dog and made the two hour drive to my father-in-law’s place up north. I had been there once with him, but it was only a few hours. This time, we were all going to spend a couple days there. We were all looking forward to it.

The Michigan scenery on the drive up was so nice. I love those farm houses on the side of the road, the horses and cows in the fields, and the beauty of tall green trees. I love when you have to go from 55 mph down to 30 mph because you are driving through a small town. It takes me back to those drives up to Caseville with my parents when I was a kid.

We arrived at the cabin around 7pm on Friday night and we just relaxed for a while. It is just the way a cabin should be, cozy and peaceful.

We were all up early Saturday and the view from out the front window was exactly what I needed to see as I stood with a cup of hot coffee.

My mother-in-law made biscuits and gravy for breakfast. They were delicious! After breakfast, my father-in-law and I went to work. He has about 18 acres of property. He doesn’t mow it all, but there is quite a bit to mow. I hopped on the zero turn and he grabbed the weed whacker and we went to work on the yard.

I never saw the family leave while we were out, but after we finished I went inside to get some water and my phone rang. It was my wife. She said, “I need you and dad to bring the truck up to the merchandise outlet to get something.” I said ok and told my father-in-law. His response was, “What did they buy that won’t fit in your car?!” Well, I found out soon enough – and my son couldn’t be happier.

He got a Mustang long before I ever did! These things are like $200-$250 online and she got it (brand new) for $30! Yeah, what a deal!! There was a sale going on and there was also a 50% off sticker on it, so by the time the thing was rung up – $30! He was so mad that it had to charge before he could drive it. (The thing has a working radio in it!!!) Ella wanted to ride, too, so we went to the barn and got them one of the cars that were there.

We had hot dogs for lunch and then the fun began. My father-in-law brought out the four wheeler! To say that the kids were excited was an understatement.

I had never rode on one, so my father-in-law gave me a quick lesson in where the gas and brakes were, he placed Andrew in front of me and I was off on the trails and into the property with him.

Naturally, I went a lot slower than I would have liked, because I didn’t want him to fall off. He was so content to just sit there and ride. I’d ask if he was ok and he’d say he was and ask for more.

When I came back, Ella was raring to go. I really thought that she would be the one who was too scared to ride on it, but I was wrong. She hopped up and off we went. As we drove down the trail to the open area on the property she yelled, “Whoo-hoo! This is amazing!!” This filled my heart more than I can explain. Once we got to where the trail opened into the large open area, I drove her around and made little jumps on hills and such. She kept yelling, “Faster, daddy! Faster!!” She was a true daredevil.

As we were out in the field, we heard another four wheeler. Papa had pulled out the other one and had Andrew in front of him. Then it became a game. The two of us “chasing” each other, “racing” each other, and laughing the entire time! “Daddy, they are chasing us! Don’t let them catch us!” What a hoot!!

Daisy, our dog, was chasing us as we rode around, too. It was so hot and I can’t believe that she kept running after us. As soon as we’d pull away from the house, she’d be right on our tail. Running and chasing and occasionally barking at us. It was ridiculous.

As it got closer to dinner, Sam and I ordered pizzas from a place in town. It was expensive, but worth every cent. It was so cheesy and you could tell it was hand tossed and made fresh. They had these bread sticks, which were more like rolls, that had garlic and cheese on them. Oh, man! They were sinfully good.

It was a day full of fun. So much fun that we called it a night early. The kids were out like a light almost immediately. There was a huge car show in town that night, but there was absolutely no energy to go see it.

We woke up Sunday, Father’s Day, and coffee was already made. My mother-in-law made up some eggs and sausage. I was drinking my coffee on the porch and could smell the sausage from outside. This took me back to those days at my grandma’s place in Caseville. We’d be outside and we could smell the bacon or sausage from outside.

After breakfast, my father-in-law and I went out and finished up the weed whacking we didn’t get to on Saturday. After that we had to take apart some bunk beds that he was bringing home when we left. He had a rototiller that I needed to borrow and we loaded that up on the trailer, too.

While we were doing that, my wife was packing up and loading the car. My mother-in-law wasn’t going to let us leave hungry, so she made up some turkey burgers and we all had another meal together. When they were in town the day before, they had picked up a chocolate cake for the “dads” for Father’s Day. Before we could even slice it, Ella was eating sprinkles off the top of it!

We had promised the kids another ride on the four wheelers before we left, and they couldn’t wait! Each kid got a few turns riding with me and Papa. Before I put it away, I just had to go and take it for a spin by myself – so I could see just how fast it would go. Man, this one I was on really clipped! I can see how easy it would be to get hurt on one of them. It was extra fun for me to just let loose and be a kid again for a few minutes.

Just before we left, it began to sprinkle. There was a storm on the way and we wanted to head out before it hit. The kids kept asking all the way home when we would be heading up to the cabin again. After the fun we had there, I would imagine the answer is “Soon. Very soon.”

Next trip, however, I will be sure to wear sunscreen!

Tune Tuesday – Don’t Get Around Much Anymore

To celebrate the birthday of a living legend, I thought I would choose a song that he’s NOT known for.  Sir Paul McCartney is 82 today and while he is known for his work with the Beatles and Wings, he’s had quite a solo career, too.

It’s amazing that he is still out touring at his age, but he still looks and sounds as great as ever.  Every review I have read about one of his shows says it is fantastic! 

The McCartney song I picked is from an album from 1988 but the song’s roots go back to 1940 and the legendary Duke Ellington.  He wrote Don’t Get Around Much Anymore in 1940. Lyrics were added to the song in 1942 by Bob Russell and it became a hit.

The song has been covered by just about everyone!  Bing Crosby, The Ink Spots, Micheal Buble’, Willie Nelson, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole and so many others have offered up their personal take on the song. McCartney’s version is a rocker with some “oomph” to it.

Back in 1988 Paul released what most call “The Russian Album.”. CHOBA B CCCP was  his seventh solo studio album. It was originally released in October 1988 exclusively in the Soviet Union. The album consists entirely of live-in-studio recordings of covers, mainly of rock and roll oldies.

I was working at WKSG, Kiss-FM when a bootleg of the album began to circulate.  It was pretty big news to have new stuff from McCartney.  We were an oldies station, so when we got our hands on Paul’s version of Kansas City from the album, we played the heck out of it.

I don’t remember if I got a copy of the bootleg or the official worldwide release in 1991 but I really loved this album.  Don’t Get Around Much Anymore really stuck out to me.  Paul must really like it, too, because I’ve seen him do it on talk shows like Letterman.

Give his version a listen and grab the album if you can.  I think you’ll like it. 

Happy birthday, Sir Paul McCartney!!

Movie Music Monday – Big Daddy

This month in 1999 that Adam Sandler’s Big Daddy opened in theaters. Recently this movie came up in a conversation my wife and I were having.

Our son Andrew will be there in October and he is at the age where he has meltdowns over things.  Those things are usually related to his safety (“No, you can’t put the screwdriver in the electrical socket!” “Buddy, you can’t hit the living room window with your monster truck!”)

There is a scene in the movie where the child that Adam Sandler wants to adopt wants to hear “the kangaroo song.”. He starts crying and yelling, “Kangaroo song! Kangaroo song!” until Sandler’s character yells, “ALRIGHT!” to stop the meltdown.  There are SO many times that we feel like Sandler’s character with Andrew!!

As difficult as Andrew can be, he can also be one of the sweetest kids!  Which ties into the cut from the Big Daddy Soundtrack featured today:  Sweet Child O Mine by Sheryl Crow.

The song, of course, was originally done by Guns N Roses.  I am obviously in the minority because I absolutely love her version of the song.  I think it is a great cover, but not everyone felt that way.

When it was released for the Big Daddy Soundtrack, it was also released as a bonus track on her third album The Globe Sessions. The website Ultimate Classic Rock actually features the song as part of their series of “Terrible Classic Rock Covers.  Taking it a step further readers of Rolling Stone Magazine named it the fourth worst cover song of all time!

That seems a little harsh to me.  I think Sheryl’s voice sounds great on her version.  The song only went to number 29 on the charts in the US, but it did earn her the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance in 2000. So there! 

My Question To You

If you’ve been a follower of my blog for longer than a year, you’ve probably noticed a bit more “routine” to it. In the past, I kind of wrote about whatever was on my mind and there was no real format to it. I could write about my kids one day, music the next and some silly movie the day after that. Now, I have forced myself into more of a schedule. I wanted to know your thoughts on it.

Understand that if the mood hits me and I have something I want to blog about, I will still do it, maybe even on a day I have already posted something. The “schedule” gives me a bit of more preparation and an opportunity to feature some things in a different way. By doing this, I realize that the newer features (Music of My Life, Movie Music Monday, Tune Tuesday, Turntable Talk) are music heavy. I hope that there is enough variety to those features to be enjoyable.

Outside of music, there are my posts about books or photos. With the books I read, if I find one that I really enjoyed or think my blogger friends might enjoy, I will post a review or recommendation. I have had a few books that weren’t worth talking about. The audio feature in my car has really helped me to enjoy more reading. I get some good feedback from the Friday Photo Flashback. It is fun for me to look back at those old pictures and hope to find some fun ones in the weeks ahead.

Naturally, if I have some news to share, an opinion about something, a problem I am sorting through, or just need to write to clear my head, I will continue to do that. I like knowing what I am going to write about and the schedule has allowed me to plan something without spending a lot of time trying to find something. It also helps me to write daily.

So by saying all of that, I turn to you, my follower. Are there things you like/dislike? Is there something you’d like to see more/less of? I’d love to figure out a way to incorporate some blog cross promotions like I have done in the past. Guest bloggers or interviews with another blogger, etc… What do you think?

I ask because I figure you are the one who comes to this site and reads what I write. I want to continue to present things that you find interesting and at the same time write about things that are important to me (as well as document things for my family and kids to enjoy in the future). Please feel free to let me know your thoughts either in the comments or by email: nostalgicitalian@yahoo.com

I do appreciate you following this site and thank you for doing so.

Songs From The Backseat

I had a day off this week and had a chance to see my daughter play T-ball. Before the game, we had to take a drive down to get my son’s leg braces looked at. The whole family was in the car and Ella asked my wife to play “I am a C” song. I had no idea what that was. She proceeded to pull up a YouTube video of a Christian song for kids. Ella knew all the words.

Sam was surprised I had never heard this one before. I’d been in Vacation Bible School and certainly had sung many of the familiar Christian kid songs, but never this one. It warmed my heart a bunch to hear her singing along.

She did pretty good at T-ball, too, this week! I snapped this one and love it.


She’s all SASS!

Meanwhile, my son Andrew is learning all about house repairs with my father in law. My brother in law bought a house recently and they are working on all kinds of repairs and updates. Andrew is in heaven because “Pa” is letting him help!

He’s right at home with tools! I will have a helper for life!

Friday Photo Flashback

This was one of those weird finds on the hard drive. All I remember about this photo is that it was taken at a time where my dad and mom were really into photography. They had bought some high tech camera and were taking pictures of just about everything. I remember they told us we were going to the “Flower Show” which was happening somewhere in Detroit. My brother and I did not want to go!

I want to say right here that this picture kind of freaks me out. Why? Because I really don’t think that this looks like me or my brother! I’m not sure if it is because we both are in need of a haircut or what! It’s odd to look at myself in it.

I do remember that jacket I am wearing, However, I don’t ever recall having a Jim Morrison shirt (at least I think that is Jim Morrison). Another reason why this doesn’t look like me – I don’t ever remember parting my hair in the middle! What exactly is that?!

My brother obviously looks thrilled in the photo, too! I don’t recall that jacket at all. How old are we in this picture? I just don’t know! If I had to guess, I’d say this might be 6th or 7th grade for me, but I’m really clueless.

And now for the elephant in the room – From what I remember, my mother or father (whoever had the camera) thought their two boys would look good standing with Miss Piggy in the middle of them. Urgh. Maybe I should have picked another photo…..

Book Recommendation – Lou’s On First – Chris Costello

Growing up, one of the things that is forever etched in my mind was waking up on Sunday mornings and Abbott and Costello movies would be playing on Channel 7 (WXYZ/Detroit). It was on those Sunday mornings that I was introduced to classic films like Buck Privates, Who Done It?, Africa Screams, The Naughty Nineties, and Hold That Ghost. Of course I loved all the Abbott and Costello “meet” pictures, too (Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and more)!

It wasn’t long after I first discovered them that I found one of the other stations played the Abbott and Costello cartoons after school. Even as a child, I could tell that Bud Abbott’s voice was his, and that someone else was voicing Lou Costello. I had no idea at the time that this cartoon was made in the late 60’s and that Lou had passed away in 1959.

In fact, I learned this week that there were a whole lot of things I didn’t know about him! I just finished a truly wonderful book about him, written by his youngest daughter, Chris Costello. A few years back, we became Facebook friends and she had posted that the audio version of her book was now available. I searched for it and got it to listen to on my drive to and from work.

I have had this book for sometime in printed form. It was on my “To Read” shelf for way too long. With all that I had going on in life, I found it difficult to actually sit and read for very long. So it sat on the shelf. When I recently discovered some of the audiobook platforms, I began to go back and search for audio versions of books on that shelf. When Chris said it was available, I was ecstatic.

Here is the Goodreads synopsis:

This intimate portrait of Lou Costello (1906-1959) offers a rare look at one of the most talented comedians of all time. Starting in the 1930s, Costello attained enormous fame touring the burlesque circuits with straight man Bud Abbott (1895-1974). Their live skits (including “Who’s on First?”), radio programs, and films made comic history. Behind the scenes, however, Costello faced numerous a bout with rheumatic fever that left him bedridden for months, the drowning death of his young son, and constant haggles with Universal Studios over its reluctance to adequately finance productions of Abbott and Costello films. Lou’s on First goes beyond Costello’s clownish persona to explore his Pagliacci, the private demons behind the happy public face, the heartbreaking moments in an otherwise storybook marriage, the business ventures soured by unscrupulous managers, and the true nature of the breakup of his twenty-one-year partnership with Bud Abbott.

I heard one comedian say, “The comedy community has a lot of trauma and pain.” A look at comedians throughout history will certainly show this to be true. Lou Costello had his share of tragedy and health problems.

Chris Costello was around 10 or 11 years old when her father died. She shares her memories of her dad, as well as stories and memories from those who knew him. As I listened to Chris share these stories, I learned about her father’s kindness to just about everyone he met that was in need. I learned that he truly did pay for Dean Martin’s nose job (and was sad to hear that he never really came around after that). I learned about the gambling that went on while making movies with Bud Abbott. I learned on the tragic death of his son and what that event did to Lou and his family. It was such an enlightening book.

I never really knew what brought the duo to their ultimate split. It was interesting to be able to know what was going on during the filming of certain movies as Bud and Lou’s partnership got close to an end. They were certainly professionals, because I would have never known that they were on the outs while some of those films were being made. They never looked like they were at odds with each other.

There are pros and cons to audiobooks. The pros of this one was that there are occasional audio clips from Bud and Lou and even audio from home movies. I don’t care how many times I hear Who’s on First – it will NEVER NOT be funny! It is a masterpiece!

This book made me laugh and made me cry. It is the perfect love letter to a comedic legend from his daughter. The “bad boy” from Paterson, NJ touched many lives, and his memory lives on there with a beautiful statue and memorial park.

Thank you, Chris Costello, for sharing these stories about your dad with me and the world.

I highly recommend this book to fans of Abbott and Costello! 5 stars! 

For those who want to listen to the audio book, you can find it on all the major audio book platforms. You can also order through Chris the limited-edition 10-CD Collection with 8-pg “Costello Family Photo Album” which she will gladly autograph. You won’t find this set on Amazon or elsewhere as she self-funded this collection.  For more info or to order email: accollectibles@aol.com