[78-L] RIP Michael Brooks

[Rodger J Holtin]

I, too, picked up those three Crosby volumes on Columbia when they came out
and have always been intrigued by the story of Bing's meeting with Harry
Stimson and being told that Stimson would make sure he was classified as
medically unfit for any form of military service.  What I find most curious
is the newest volume of Bing Swinging on a Star by Gary Giddins, which
covers the war years in great detail, Giddins does not mention Stimson or
the incident at all.  Considering all the details given about Bing's global
travels to entertain the military, that would seem an odd story to omit.

Brooks also told a cute personal story from his adolescence about
mis-understanding some lyrics as "oh, how they reek it in the rain."  I
don't know if his liner notes helped sell any more records, but they were a
small bonus for those of us who bought them, anyway.

Rodger Holtin
78-L Member Since MCMXCVIII

For Best Results Use Victor Needles

-----Original Message-----
From: 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com
[mailto:78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com] On Behalf Of Michael Biel
Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2020 2:12 AM
To: 78-L Mail List <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
Subject: Re: [78-L] RIP Michael Brooks


The liner notes on the identical inner sleeves on those three Columbia Bing
albums were also my first introduction to Michael Brooks. The graphics of
all those colorful labels on the Unipac jackets were what grabbed you to a
set featuring Bing Columbia's that had never been reissued on lp before, but
his notes explained why you should care. What was most striking was his
telling of his unsatisfactory meeting with Bing - a story he could tell now
that Bing was gone.

Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________
From: 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com
<78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com> on behalf of Douglas M. Elliot
<dme3 at cornell.edu.invalid>
Sent: Saturday, November 28, 2020 9:25:03 PM
To: 78-L Mail List <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
Subject: Re: [78-L] RIP Michael Brooks


Well, that makes me sad.  I was introduced to his unique perspectives way
back in 1978 when I picked up a series of Bing Crosby reissue albums that he
produced for Columbia.  The casual observations and flights of fancy in his
liner notes were something to behold.  I was corrupted for life by his
comments about the Guy Lombardo band.  He noted that that listening to the
sax section was like being engulfed by a giant placenta.

Doug Elliot

On 11/28/20 9:02 PM, Rodger J Holtin wrote:
> The more astute and connected already know this, I'm sure, but I just 
> stumbled on this tonight.
>
>
>
> https://syncopatedtimes.com/author-and-jazz-historian-michael-brooks-h
> as-die
> d/
>
>
>
>
>
> Rodger Holtin
>
> 78-L Member Since MCMXCVIII
>
>
>
> For Best Results Use Victor Needles
>
>
>
>
>
_______________________________________________
78-L mailing list
78-L at klickitat.78online.com
http://klickitat.78online.com/mailman/listinfo/78-l
_______________________________________________
78-L mailing list
78-L at klickitat.78online.com
http://klickitat.78online.com/mailman/listinfo/78-l


-- 
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
https://www.avg.com