Some Words from the Bird

 A few posts back I passed along my thoughts on Frank Sinatra's "In the Wee Small Hours". If you recall, that album came off as the soundtrack of a broken heart; well, this follow up album is the soundtrack to the first few months of your next relationship. Those bright sunny days when you sing in the shower, wink at the drive-thru girl at Tim Horton's as she hands you your coffee, when even a meeting with your boss cannot wipe the shit-eating grin off of your face. All because you know that she is out there, and she is into you. You. Wow. Lucky bastard.  The tracks are old standards, but recorded a little jazzier, and Frank gives that classic delivery that we all know and love. Whatever was haunting him when he made his last album is gone. Frank is back in the driver's seat. He sings like he is the one in love, and he is suggesting you listen and love along with him. Remember, this was recorded long before hanging out with someone consisted of texting one ano...

 My father used to do some programming for radio. Once, I accompanied him into work while he tied up some loose ends. We headed into the record library, as he was looking for the perfect sound bites to go along with his piece. What a place. I've often wished I could go back and wander through those stacks; there were thousands of albums from every genre. Of course it was all vinyl back in those days, with the large, eye catching album covers and the record sleeves that were filled with lyrics to pore over and consider as you listened to the bump and warm crackle of the needle finding its groove before you were treated to your musical selection.  Obviously, the selection of the perfect sound bite requires a bit of concentration, especially when you have such a vast pool of material to draw from. I was situated at a turntable with a set of headphones, and was told to pick something to listen to. I had just begun my musical education, and had no idea what to listen to. But I di...