Steve Gibbons and Scott Sivakoff performing Welfare Rag
Photo by Eileen Steele
This is our third issue of Gapin Chapin and we're still going strong. For that, Scott and I thank you! We knew there was interest in Harry's music and devotions out there, and all of the compliments and input is proving us right. You guys are outrageous!!!
Any ideas, stories, pictures, questions that anyone might have, feel free to ask us. The worst we can say is "I don't know." Thanks again to everyone! But first I should offer an apology…
We did miss last month's edition. The hundreds, if not thousands, of protest eMails, letters, and billboards reminded me. (Actually, nobody complained. So what does that tell you?) The reason is reasonably simple - I wasn't in front of my computer. I traveled to Philadelphia to take in Scott's Chapin Music show. More on that in a little…
A Note From John McMenamin: On January 20th John McMenamin performed yet another benefit show. I asked John if he could favor us with a follow-up report about his show for those of us not lucky enough to have been there. Here's what he had to say:
The concert January 20 was sold out despite the threatening weather. It got a little dicey in the parking lot afterwards, but the proverbial good time was had by all.
Sandy Chapin and the Harry Chapin Foundation gave me their blessing to perform this show to benefit our local elementary school. The school produced their first musical two years ago, which involved more than fifty kids from third through sixth grades. They had planned on doing a musical every other year but this year found that the funding they anticipated was not available. Harry Chapin fans basically saved the show. Thanks to all of them and to Sandy and Leslie Ramme at the Chapin Foundation.
The afternoon of January 20th saw the inauguration of our 43rd president so I thought it was a natural to open the show with "I Don't Want to be President", with a mini-choir of students backing me up with "Hail to the Chief". The kids enjoyed performing and helping to sell raffle tickets and refreshments. We raised a total of around $3800, which will cover all the production costs for the play. I asked the PTA, who sponsors the play, that any budget surplus be returned to the Harry Chapin Foundation.
The following songs were played:
First Set:
Second Set:
Once again, Rob DeVitis joined in the second set and added to the mayhem. As for the future, we are making some preliminary plans and will probably be doing the next show in the summer. I will give you all the details when I have them.
Onwards and upwards!
I Don't Want to be President
The Rock
Story of a Life
I Wanna Learn a Love Song
Flowers Are Red
Cat's in the Cradle
I Wonder What Happened to Him
Dreams Go By
Corey's Coming
Six String Orchestra
A Better Place to Be
Stranger With the Melodies
Dance Band on the Titanic
Taxi
Shooting Star
W*O*L*D
Mail Order Annie
The Mayor of Candor Lied
Tangled Up Puppet
Odd Job Man
Sequel
30,000 Pounds of Bananas
Remember When the Music
Circle
--John
Chapin Music Show Review: This was one great show! I was so glad that I went and got to meet, and re-meet, some friends. Scott's musical talent was in good form on Saturday night (despite a little finger mishap on the New York Subway the night before.) Scott was joined by Dave Underwood on guitar and vocals, Susan Shaw on cello and vocals, Wayne Kessler on the harp, and some less popular musicians. Howard Fields on the drums, John Wallace on bass and vocal pyrotechnics, and Ron Palmer sharing some of his Lessons and Experiences. Jeff Gross, Harry's old road manager, was also present, but I didn't see him lift anything over twelve ounces! (Jeff, John, Howard, Ron… it was great to meet you!)
There are two Internet sites that we put together featuring the show. Scott's site is http://www.purgatory.com/scott/my_music/Chapin_Show/Highlights/ and I put together a page of the photos I got from that night, at http://www.harryitsucks.com/chapinmusic_0102.html
As you would expect, the music was incredible, until I was coerced into singing. Actually, Scott has heard me sing before, so he started me slowly by asking me to do the speaking verse for Welfare Rag, Then as the traditional ending song came around, Frank Caliguri and I were called on stage to stumble through a verse. (Frank, I humbly accept full responsibility for singing off-key!)
Photos of Harry For Sale: Mike Superstein is a long-time fan and saw Harry in concert several times. On November 7, 1975 Mike took some fantastic photos of Harry at a show in San Diego. Mike is trying to raise some money for some legal expenses and together we'll soon be offering custom-made prints of some of the best shots. Some of these were even used by VH-1 in their Behind The Music special on Harry. Stayed tuned to eGroups for the announcement. In the meantime, here's a little sample.
Fan Directory Update The fan directory continues to grow! They come in by the tens each and every month since we started this concept almost four months ago! If you're not listed, then get there! Be famous, get your fifteen seconds of fame, and feel welcome among friends. The page is http://www.harryitsucks.com/fandirectory.html and if you want to join, you can write me (sgibbons@home.net) and I'll send you the questions. It's easy, we don't require any identification, and you'll be awarded your own personal link to include in you eMail signature.
(eMail your guess to sgibbons@home.net and the answer will appear in the next issue.)
Last Month's Question: "Not counting Harry (or his brothers or father) name the three famous historical Chapins and what they were famous for."
The Answer:
Deacon Samuel Chapin - Founded Springfield Massachusetts in 1637.
Ezra Chapin - First man executed for incest in Massachusetts history.
Dwight Chapin - Jailed for his involvement in the Watergate conspiracy.
Marty Acks is the only person who got all three people correct. There were a few guesses that were correct, but he's the only one that got them all. Congratulations to Marty!
For the guys out there who don't eat quiche, and don't like to admit they ever cry, how about the first song that brought a lump to your throat? Why do I expect more replies to this poll from the ladies then the men?
(eMail your answer to sgibbons@home.net and the results will appear in the next issue.)
Last Month's Poll: "What was the first Harry Chapin album that you bought (not borrowed)?"
Results:
Anthology of Harry Chapin Scott Sivakoff
Heads and Tales Steve Gibbons
Greatest Stories Live Jim Cuson
Sequel E. P. Hines
Portrait Gallery Scott Rameyer
Verities & Balderdash Donald Barton
Onwards & Upwards Sarah Chapin O'Leary
Anthology of Harry Chapin Harold Stein
Portrait Gallery Colin Gerrad
Verities & Balderdash Aaron Cohen
Greatest Stories Live Gail Cooper
Heads and Tales Marty Acks
Greatest Stories Live Doug Smith
Greatest Stories Live Richard Buikema Jr.
Greatest Stories Live Mac Jackson
Heads and Tales Norm Collins
No real surprises with last month's question. I could have predicted that Greatest Stories Live would have been the first album most fans bought. It was the first live recording of Harry and in my humble opinion, that's when Harry shined! Greatest Stories Live had 5, Heads and Tales had 3, and Anthology, Portrait Gallery, and Verities & Balderdash had 2, while Sequel and Onwards and Upwards had one vote each. If anything was a surprise for me, it was that Sarah's first album was Onwards and Upwards, but she is young after all. Thanks to everyone who got involved!
Thanks for the audience precipitation!
I thought I had selected a great song for this month. But I was stopped short in my tracks. Scott suggested a song that he and I made famous at the Firehouse Jam 2000. (Well maybe famous is too strong of a word?) This song was never released on any of Harry's albums, but there do exist a couple of recordings of Harry performing it. I believe the first time this was performed for an audience was at Harry's Broadway show, The Night That Made America Famous. It was also recorded on a television show, but with slightly different lyrics. The lyrics presented here are from the first recording. Thanks to Scott for correcting the chords for us.
G F#m
Two and two are five
Em D
And Abraham Lincoln's alive
G D
And London's in the South of France
E7 A7
Horses must wear pants
G F#m
C - A - T spells dog
Em D
And a book is a bump on a log
G D
And tin cans sing a mellow song
E7 A7
And the moon shines all day long
[chorus]
D A
Do you want to be dumb for the rest of your life
G A7
Do you really want to be stupid
D A
And when you grow up you get a very dumb wife
G A7 D
And then you can have yourself a dumb few kids
G F#m
Sugar tastes so bitter
Em D
And salt is very sweet
G D
A shark's a babysitter
E7 A7
And rocks are good to eat
G F#m
Aw soapsuds make you dirty
Em D
And coal dust makes you clean
G D
My Grandpa almost thrity
E7 A7
But Grandma's just thirteen
D A
Do you want to be dumb for the rest of your life
G A7
Do you really want to be stupid
D A
And when you grow up you get a very dumb wife
G A7 D
And then you can have yourself a dumb few kids
G F#m
It's foggy when it's clear
Em D
There's an elbow in your ear
G D
The world is made of dyanmite
E7 A7
That's almost right
D A
Do you want to be dumb for the rest of your life
G A7
Do you really want to be stupid
D A
And when you grow up you get a very dumb wife
G A7 D
And then you can have yourself a dumb few kids
E7 A7 D
And then you can have yourself a dumb few kids
D
Stoopid!