Saturday, June 28, 2025

Recommended reading - Heaven Can Wait, by Harry Segall (1941):


Heaven Can Wait

Comedy-Fantasy in Three Acts

By Harry Segall.

Filmed as:
Here comes Mr. Jordan (1941), directed by Alexander Hall.
Heaven Can Wait (1978), directed by Warren Beatty and Buck Henry.

ASIN: B000GVIZMI
Published by Dramatists Play Service, Inc.
Published 1941.

Description:

Mr. Jordan is checking passengers who are to depart in an airplane for the Hereafter. The routine is interrupted by the arrival of Joe Pendleton, an attractive prizefighter, who refuses to admit he is dead and induces Jordan to look up the "records," which reveal that Joe is not scheduled to arrive for another 60 years! But, as Joe starts to return to earth to continue his fighting, word reaches Heaven that Max Levene, Joe's manager, thinking he had been killed, had Joe's body cremated, and Joe has no body to return to. Jordan promises to find Joe another body and is informed that the wealthy Jonathan Farnsworth is about to be murdered by his wife. So, Joe suddenly finds himself in the home of the financier, visible as Joe to the audience but apparently as Farnsworth to Mrs. Farnsworth, and the public. The comedy begins when the pompous "Farnsworth" unaccountably goes into training as a fighter. In addition, "Farnsworth" decides to share his wealth and right the wrong "he" did to charming Bette Logan's father. Bette, having despised Farnsworth, finds herself falling in love with him and he with her. Just as Joe (still in Farnsworth's body) is about to get a chance to become a fighter, Jordan reports that Farnsworth does not approve of Joe's treatment of his body (and money) and is raising a fuss to have it back. While deciding on another body for Joe, Jordan receives a flash that K.O. Murdock, the champion, has been mysteriously shot. As K.O. is about to be counted out Jordan transfers Joe's spirit into the body of K.O. in time to have K.O. remain champ. There are still problems to be straightened out when Joe really becomes Murdock and loses memory of his previous existence-includingBette. Fortunately, they meet and fall in love again-and Mr. Jordan is free to head for the Hereafter, his earthly task accomplished."

Madeleine L'Engle, on writing:


With each book I write, I become more and more convinced that the books have a life of their own, quite apart from me.

- Madeleine L'Engle.

Friday, June 27, 2025

On this day in music history - Islands: Essential Einaudi, by Ludovico Einaudi (2011):


Islands: Essential Einaudi

Album by Ludovico Einaudi,
released June 27, 2011.

Credits:

I Giorni; The Earth Prelude; Le Onde (The Waves); Nightbook; Divenire; Dietro Casa (Nearby Home); Fairytale; Nuvole Bianche (White Clouds); Passagio (Passage); Primavera (Spring); Nefeli; Questa Notte (Tonight); Berlin Song; Melodia Africana 3; High Heels; White Night; L’ Origine Nascosta (The Hidden Source); Love Is a Mystery; Monday; Lady Labyrinth; Solo; Ancora (Again); Andare (To Go); Eros; Indaco (Indigo); Fly; Oltremare (Ultramarine).

On this day in music history - Love Sublime, by Renée Fleming and Brad Mehldau (2006):


Love Sublime

Album by Renée Fleming and Brad Mehldau,
Released June 27, 2006.

Credits:

Your First Word Was Light; The Hour Is Striking so Close Above Me; I Love the Dark Hours of My Being; I Love You, Gentlest of Ways; No One Lives His Life; His Caring Is a Nightmare to Us; Extinguish My Eyes, I’ll Go on Seeing You; Tears in Sleep; Memory; A Tale; Love Sublime.

On this day in movie history - The Room (2003):


The Room

directed and written by Tommy Wiseau,
was released in the United States on June 27, 2003.
Music by Mladen Milicevic.

Cast:

Tommy Wiseau, Juliette Danielle, Greg Sestero, Philip Haldiman, Carolyn Minnott, Robyn Paris, Mike Holmes, Dan Janjigian, Kyle Vogt, Greg Ellery, Piper Gore, Kari McDermott, Jennifer Vanderbliek, Bennett Dunn, Padma Moyer, Daron Jennings, Thomas E. Webster, Nora DeMarcky, Arelle Mitkowski, Frank Willey, Amy Von Brock.

On this day in music history - These Days, by Bon Jovi (1995):


These Days

Album by Bon Jovi,
released June 27, 1995.

Credits:

Hey God; Something for the Pain; This Ain’t a Love Song; These Days; Lie to Me; Damned; My Guitar Lies Bleeding in My Arms; (It’s Hard) Letting You Go; Hearts Breaking Even; Something to Believe in; If That’s What It Takes; Diamond Ring.

On this day in music history - Call of the Wild, by Lee Aaron (1985):


Call of the Wild

Album by Lee Aaron,
released June 27, 1985.

Credits:

Rock Me All Over; Runnin’ from the Fire; Champion; Barely Holdin’ on; Burnin’ Love; Line of Fire; Beat ‘Em Up; Paradise; Evil Game; Danger Zone; Hot to Be Rocked.