Author Archives: rdavies

The great ironic comedian reads Dickens on CD (NPR).

(top: 14 nicely arranged tunes played by The Nancy Walker Sextet and the Dwyer Quintet; Reflections Music; bottom: the equally satisfying Beegie Adair album with 12 snappy tunes, Green Hill) (top: 14 songs, a somewhat minimalist approach to the melodies, … Continue reading →

If you can’t make it to Stonehenge Thursday, toss a Yule log on the fire to ensure new year’s light.

“The point in life is to know what’s enough–why envy those otherworld immortals? With the happiness held in one inch-square heart you can fill the whole space between heaven and earth.”

Riveting with many surprises, twists, and turns. Alec Guinness in one of his best-ever performances as George Smiley, ‘retired’ British spy. A wonderful cast including Joss Acklund, Michael Aldridge, Ian Bannen (exceptional), Hywet Bennett, Bernard Hepton (ditto), Michael Jayston (ditto), … Continue reading →

–from “Mary Had a Baby”, a traditional Saint Helena carol adapted nicely by Bruce Cockburn on his interesting Christmas CD

The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky. A nice complete version with Sleeping Beauty highlights available on Philips 2 CDs. Enjoy joy to satisfy the heart and soul of any Inner Child.

to brighten and express Christmas.

I remember buying this LP for myself in a doldrums period then and hunkering down to listen to great songs like “Changes”. And then Karen phoned me out of the blue, inviting me over to visit. It was the turning … Continue reading →

Dylan Thomas’s “A Child’s Christmas in Wales”, experienced on Christmas eve or Christmas Day. Dylan Thomas Reading was the first album Thomas recorded for the two women who founded Caedmon Records; this was the label’s first release in 1952. The … Continue reading →