miss peggy lee

Peggy Lee....one of the "GREATS".......she was a great singer and a consummate composer and she was unique, and just 'something else', as they say.....I mentioned this song, "Is That All There Is?" in my last post about the tv show "Boss"......I ended up feeling like what the song says...."Is That All There Is?", and then I found it on YouTube......This song was written by Mike Stoller and Jerry Leiber. I think it is my favorite of all their many songs.....
Back to "Boss" for just a moment: Having watched the next to last episode of this first season of "Boss"...I was overwhelmed with the fact that it is huge...Like Greek Tragedy, or a play of tragedy on a Shakespearean scale--like The Scottish Play that begins with "M".....So, I guess, there really is nothing new under the sun, as they say.....People have been corrupt and power hungry and stop at nothing, for centuries. "Boss" is our present day Greek Tragedy....Our "King Lear", or The Scottish Play.......
Now.....going back to the fabulous Peggy Lee: One of her GREATEST Albums in my opinion was "Norma Deloris Egstrom From Jamestown, North Dakota" (1972)....I understand this album was reissued in 2004 by EMI, using some alternate takes because the Original Master was somehow destroyed...(OY VEY!!), but it appears it is no longer available---a crying shame, because this is a record to cherish....! There are so many wonderful songs on this terrific album....Here are just two of them....Enjoy.....!
I was lucky enough to spend an evening with Miss Peggy Lee many years ago....dear friends of mine, Ken & Mitzie Welch, who had worked with her, had a "Game" Party, and I was one of the guests along with Ms. Lee.....All the "games" were music related or film/stage related. For one of the musical ones, we were divided into teams of four....I was on the same team as Miss Peggy.....Songs were played by different artists and you had to fill in their names going across the page, one right underneath the other like a crossword. When it was all filled in---another "Artists" name was spelled out going down the center of the musical crossword and that was the Final Answer for that particular game.....The most unforgettable moment was when one of Peggy's songs was played and she did not recognize that it was her singing. Truly, My Hand To God! This was Hilarious and absolutely honest on her part.....For me, this was a precious and delicious experience......She was one of The Best singer/songwriter's/performers---Ever! And here is one more video...."A Song For You", written by the great Leon Russell. This song is on that most memorable album I mentioned above.....I wish this were a better video, but I'm thrilled it is available at all!
A Song For You Lyrics

I've been so many places in my life and time
I've sung a lot of songs, I've made some bad RHYMES
I've acted out my life in stages
With ten thousand people watching
But we're alone now and I'm singin' this song to you

I know your image of me is what I hope to be,
I've treated you unkindly, darling, but can't you see
There's no one more important to me
So baby can't you please see through me
'cause we're alone now and I'm singin' this song for you

You taught me precious secrets of the truth, withholdin' nothin'
You came out in front and I was hiding
But now I'm so much better so if my words don't come together
Listen to the melody cause my love is in there hiding

I love you in a place where there's no space or time
I love you for my life, 'cause you are a friend of mine
And when my life is over, remember that we were together
We were alone and I was singin' this song for you,

We were alone and I was singing this song for you.



More To Come.........