Listener comments!

Sun. 2/15/09 7:03pm From: Steve L

Perfect opener...

Sun. 2/15/09 7:04pm From: texas scott

Hello Monica.I have a cyber-gift for you...
http://www.stupid.com/fun/CSTH.html
Enjoy!

Sun. 2/15/09 7:05pm From: mike tp

hi monica heard blossom left us the other day. bought her lp may i come in at a record store in hackensack. mellow and sweet.

Sun. 2/15/09 7:09pm From: CFB2

Perfect Pitch!

Thanks for the memories.

Sun. 2/15/09 7:10pm From: a listener

hiya monica---how you been?? we wanna hear some eleanor brooshin,,barbara lewis & jeanette jacobs 2nite you promised,,,thank you monica=)

Sun. 2/15/09 7:14pm From: cheri

r.i.p blossom

Sun. 2/15/09 7:15pm From: CB1

Hey Ms M -

About two years ago I heard an interview with Blossom and she said that she had recently been told by a vocal coach that she didn't know how to breathe. She responded by saying, "Well, too late for that now!" I loved that answer - and I could relate.

Sun. 2/15/09 7:22pm From: monica

Eveinin' Steve, Texas Scott, Mike TP, CB1 & CB2, Listener, and Cheri, As you may have guessed, tonight's show is dedicated to Blossom Dearie- Thanks for the rememberances. Any stories or memories of the lasy herself?

Sun. 2/15/09 7:22pm From: Steve M

Monica, This is great. Thanks

Sun. 2/15/09 7:25pm From: texas scott

the only memory I have is...she helped me learn how to mutiply by 8s.
there's sunshine in that voice.

Sun. 2/15/09 7:30pm From: HotRod

Hello, my dear...

Sun. 2/15/09 7:31pm From: Steve L

I loved the non-sequiturs she cracked on Blossom Dearie Live at Ronnie Scott's. Sample: "My mothere doesn't know I'm here. She thinks I'm still in jail."

Sun. 2/15/09 7:33pm From: Jack J

Hey Monica,
It's just past midnight where I'm at and this is really cool music.

Sun. 2/15/09 7:34pm From: texas scott

hey Hotrod,got any Blossom memories?

Sun. 2/15/09 7:37pm From: monica

Hey Steve M, Hot Rod, and Jack J- Thanks for joing this here soiree! Steve L - you saqw her perform, right??

Sun. 2/15/09 7:38pm From: miketp

hey stve is ronnie scotts in england? wish me and the boys and girls seen her. probably played at gullivers in w. paterson. does anyone now

Sun. 2/15/09 7:48pm From: Parq

Miss Monica, I've been looking forward to this show since Irwin mentioned it the other night. FMU is not the radio station that introduced me to Blossom - that honor goes to the old WNEW-AM. But most of what I know about Blossom, I've picked up from you guys. I don't know if Blossom knew from FMU, but I hope she did, coz the station is surely a great friend of hers.

Sun. 2/15/09 7:53pm From: Holly

Great show! Any chance of hearing "Rhode Island is famous for you"?

Sun. 2/15/09 7:53pm From: monica

hi parq - loved me some old wnew-am. let's hear it for stan martin! or was that fm? anyhoo, she would've understood wfmu methinks...

Sun. 2/15/09 7:54pm From: Steve M.

Steve L., John, Jorge Hernandez and I saw Blossom a few years ago at Danny's over Labor Day Weekend. I know it was the last gig of that run but I'm not sure of the year. The "Times" reported that her last live performance was at Danny's in 2006. We may have been there. Jorge might remember as it was his birthday.

Sun. 2/15/09 7:56pm From: ?

I did see Blossom several times in that dark little back room at Danny's Sea Palace on W. 46th. Ca. 2004-2006. Always astonishing. Her playing was so gentle, complex, and swinging all at once, and that brilliant lyric delivery. I never realized there were so many shades to sardonic and just plain cool until I saw her.

And, yes, Miketp, Ronnie Scott's Club is (was?) in London. The live album in question is from 1966.

Sun. 2/15/09 7:57pm From: HotRod

Wish I did, Scott...

Sun. 2/15/09 8:02pm From: Ismael

"Figure 8" used to make me cry as a kid. (am I dating myself?)

Sun. 2/15/09 8:02pm From: texas scott

love the stories in comments...keep um coming.

HR,so do I!

Sun. 2/15/09 8:03pm From: Steve L

Only one request, if it's in your kit bag: "My Attorney Bernie." Another Firshberg, I believe.

Sun. 2/15/09 8:08pm From: timotato

Monica, you mentioned who wrote "I'm in the Mood for Love" but I didn't understand the last name. James who? Was he the person who made it famous? When I was a kid a late night radio show on WMCA New York (55 AM) used to sign off with that song every night and I've been trying to find the recording. He sounded a bit like King Pleasure but no female voice was involved. Any help from you all would be greatly appreciated.

Sun. 2/15/09 8:09pm From: Parq

Blossom used to protest that she didn't "write" the melody to "New Celeb", just stuck the lyrics onto a standard blues progression. Mercer begged to differ.

Sun. 2/15/09 8:11pm From: Ismael

Wiki says "I'm in the Mood for Love" was by Jimmy McHugh, w/lyrics by Dorothy Fields.

Sun. 2/15/09 8:13pm From: CB1

I saw Blossom do two shows a night for a week when she performed at Reno Sweeney's, where I was a waiter, in the Village in the mid 70's. I remember her seeming completely out of place in that rather decadent setting - but she mesmerized 'em and had a commanding presence way beyond her physical and vocal size.

Sun. 2/15/09 8:14pm From: Tony cormier

Nonsense, you read very well.. How appropriate that the people who touch us the most disappear at times only to reappear suddenly as if beckoned.

Sun. 2/15/09 8:15pm From: texas scott

hey Hotrod...I found this just for you(no one else look)

http://www.stupid.com/fun/IHCM.html

Sun. 2/15/09 8:16pm From: CB1

Ismael,

That's a different song. I think the one by James Moody is more commonly called Moody's Blues. There are many good versions of it. I love Genya Raven's, too.

Sun. 2/15/09 8:17pm From: Mineo

The piece you read was wonderful. It is how I feel about her. Every sentence.

Sun. 2/15/09 8:19pm From: monica

Hi Holly, , Mike TP, Ismael, Tony Cormier, and Mineo ~
Ismael, yes, there was a dispute about that song's ownership - thanks for reminding me! CB1 gets to the bottom along with yourself. I highly recommend the Whitney Balliett book for anyone with a serious passion for great singers and mesmerizing writing...

Sun. 2/15/09 8:21pm From: rick armstrong

Wow! Great tribute, I never listened to cabaret music, but thought of biting the financial bullet and checking out a show for the experience. It looks like I blew it by missing out on seeing the best there was in New York cabaret. Her performances were so regular, I took them for granted. At least I can listen to your show. Thanks for the tribute Monica, I'm happy I listened.

Sun. 2/15/09 8:21pm From: timotato

The version of "I'm In The Mood For Love" I'm hunting for sounded like it was sung, I'm guessing, by a black man and his voice was sort of soft, kinda like Nat King Cole's. I heard it around 1970.

Sun. 2/15/09 8:22pm From: Ismael

the Nat King Cole Trio did a version of "I'm in the Mood..." in 1944.

Sun. 2/15/09 8:23pm From: cheri

i'm loving this tribute monica,,these are grooovy tunes,,,i swear=)thanks again

Sun. 2/15/09 8:24pm From: Fred

Very Phil Schaaap-esque show.

Sun. 2/15/09 8:24pm From: Dan

"Just the Way I Want to Be" blew my mind. Thanks Monica, and thanks for the great show.

Sun. 2/15/09 8:27pm From: texas scott

ok, I found a mini-bio in case you're interested.

www.janetseidel.com/shows/blossomdearie.html

Sun. 2/15/09 8:29pm From: Gary Martin

DJ Monica!!
Back in the 70's I was married and lived in the west village and friends of ours went to 13th street to see Blossom where she seemed to have taken up permanent residence. we were always going to go but somehow never did...I always think of her on 13th street when you play her music. Yet another thing I never did!!! Great selection of music.
listener gary

Sun. 2/15/09 8:31pm From: gary again

messatge 2.
Peggy Lee, Hadda Brook, Anita O'Day, Ann Miller!!! Nobody does it better than DJ Monica.
Listener Gary

Sun. 2/15/09 8:34pm From: miketp

gary null would be proud

Sun. 2/15/09 8:34pm From: texas scott

hey Mo,got a link to the article?

Sun. 2/15/09 8:37pm From: Ismael

odd, I was just looking at "May I Come In?" on Amazon.

Sun. 2/15/09 8:38pm From: mark

hello from hull uk!
gotta work tom but your making me cheerily stay up

Sun. 2/15/09 8:38pm From: greg

"Just the Way I Want to Be" wow that was so revolver era beatlesque ...this women was actually a genius type.She could play, sing, had a geat unique voice,and very prolific in output, both recordings and live.
Great Show.....

Sun. 2/15/09 8:39pm From: Parq

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I always understood "Moody's Mood for Love" to be one of those vocalese transcriptions-with-lyrics of a famous solo by James Moody. An old friend and his uncles performed it at his dad's memorial - it was Dad's favorite song.

Sun. 2/15/09 8:41pm From: Steve L

My god, that kind of entertainment journalism is a lost art. The reader was provided with such an indelible impression of the subject.

I wonder what Norma McClain Stoop would have had to say about Blossom!

Sun. 2/15/09 8:41pm From: SPUDS

Blossom sings like a note clean nightengale, very captivating. She seems to paint her songs with a brush dipped in both restraint, meloncholy and a peppering of sorrow. My interpretation of course, I never knew her name but the once or twice I heard snippets of her work they carved a home in my mind forever.
Did she do any work for Schoolhouse Rock?

Sun. 2/15/09 8:42pm From: monica

Hi Greg, Mark fro Hull, Gary M., Dan, Spuds Cheri! It's so wonderful to hear from so many Blossom Dearie fans.. she'd be happy - I think!

Sun. 2/15/09 8:44pm From: mike tp

good wy of putting it spuds. monicas got a great crew of listeners

Sun. 2/15/09 8:47pm From: texas scott

Dear Monica,
It's sad that someone has to die before others discover the joy of a happy voice.
Thank you for this tribute!

Sun. 2/15/09 8:47pm From: Ismael

could we hear "Mother Necessity," please?

Sun. 2/15/09 8:49pm From: SPUDS

Ahh...the word which escaped me was Haunting and a bit overwhelming as well.

Monica, Thanks for sharing all this with us.

Sun. 2/15/09 8:49pm From: timotato

Hey Parq... thanks!
I think the Moody version may be the one I'm looking for. It was sort of spoken-sung if I remember correctly. And it makes sense why he'd change the name to "Moody's Blues", because he sang the end so sadly, so emotionally.

Sun. 2/15/09 8:53pm From: CFB2

Kudos to the Lady M.

You have presented a tribute that cannot be compared.

You created a complex portrait of an artist I thought I knew, but now realize I only knew superficially.

Now I want to know more.

A simple thank on bended knees.

xxx

Sun. 2/15/09 8:57pm From: monica

Thanks so much CFB2 and ALL who tuned in/posted tonight!! What a joy to play few songs but such an amazing gal... Thanks for the memories, Blossom.

Sun. 2/15/09 8:57pm From: John

Thank you, thank you, Monica! This has been a wonderful show.
I'm trying to cook dinner, but I'm sniffling right now and it's not the onions.

Sun. 2/15/09 8:58pm From: Parq

Okay, it's my turn to ask for indulgence. (Lucky for me I listen to FMU - adherents to the RC Church have to pay for it. I digress.) My very first exposure to the name Blossom Dearie was in Mad Magazine, which proposed albums for chickenhearted people, including "Blossom Dearie Sing For the Leary". When eventually I heard her, I was stunned by how cool she was.

Sun. 2/15/09 9:02pm From: Steve L

I can't imagine anyone topping this memorial. Thank you, Mo!

Sun. 2/15/09 10:54pm From: HotRod

Thanks, Scott!! ;)

Mon. 2/16/09 1:57am From: Art

Driving south from NYC, I caught the last 40 minutes of your program. After hearing "Surrey With The Fringe On Top" and "That's Just The Way I Want It To Be", I fell immediately and madly in love with Blossom Dearie. My ecstasy soon turned to sadness in learning that Ms. Dearie had recently passed. Another wonderful talent who I shall not see in this life...Thank you for presenting such a loving and fitting tribute. Thank goodness I was able to hear most of this special event before your signal faded at Exit 8on the NJ Turnpike...

I sincerely appreciate the long sets, but Please, Please, PLEASE - - do occasionally provide us an on-air station ID. If not for the Internet, I would have never known how to find you guys!

Mon. 2/16/09 6:03pm From: Harry Shearer

A listener to my "Le Show", which had a small Blossom tribute yesterday, forwarded the link to your encyclopedic and lovely tribute. I was turned on to Blossom by Dave Garroway on his short-lived radio show. Then I got to know her a little bit in the 70s. She lived in a special world, as befitted a special talent. Thanks for the show.

Tue. 2/17/09 8:25am From: David Cress

Thank you to my friend in Wilmington Delaware who brought this tribute to my attention. I loved all of Blossom's renditions. One that resonates and follows me to the shower is "Surrey With The Fringe On Top". This was one of my Dad's favorite songs. Blossom transcends the generations.Thankx again Monica.

Wed. 2/18/09 1:26pm From: allan

i never considered that Blossom Dearie could be an acquired taste, because i fell in love with her voice the instant i'd ever heard it, and i'd been a fan ever since! i never saw her live, and now i will miss her Dearie-ly...

Fri. 3/6/09 1:20pm From: Bill Goffrier

I only found out now, thanks to my old friend Steve L, but I really appreciate your tribute to my favorite lady of jazz.

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