I have many hit songs in my mind and heart. If I were to release a Greatest hits album, these songs below would def make the list. Some have never been released or recorded, but most have, and I play many of them regularly at my airport gig. Every day at the airport is a brand-new concert. I never know what I’m going to play other than my break song and my last song. The break song is almost always Paul Desmond’s Take 5, which inevitably brings up a problem. That song is so identifiable that people from across the concourse will look over and mouth the words Dave Brubeck who I have great respect for, yet even though it’s his hit record, I still think the composer should get the credit, The other issue is they don’t want me to break once they hear the song so I sometimes lengthen it by morphing into Stevie Wonders “Dont You Worry Bout A Thing” over the 5/4 groove. Works like a charm, extends the song, and then easily goes back to Take Five and the end of the first set, which is either 90 minutes, 2 hours, or if I’m feeling really good 2 and a half hours. My closer at the end of the shift(night) is usually "One For My Baby" into either "I’ll Be Seeing You" and/or "We’ll Meet Again". but every once in a while, I’ll do the last few parts of the side 2 Abbey Road medley, playing the drum solo on the lower keys of the piano, however, just last week, my ol’ chum Will Bernard sent me a great version of Goodnight Irene by the amazing James Booker which made me recall that I used to sing that song with Col. Bruce to end his shows so in the last week, "Goodnight Irene" into "One For My Baby" has taken place and form. Works like a charm.
Anyway, here’s one version of the track listing for my mythical “Greatest Hits” Album, In some parallel universe, these songs got lots of airplay and made some imaginary record company lots of money, but more importantly to me, they are what I did to justify meaning and seek purpose while occupying the vessel of the human element that I wear during this earthly experience.
Billy’s Deli
Beautiful
Mindy #16
Excuse Me
Sally
I’m The Same
New Years Eve
Harpo
One More Try
1968 Homecoming Queen Rides Again
It’s A Wonderful Life
S.H. Kress And Co.
Indiana
Real Life
Mindy Lu
Pleasure Island
Janna-Belle
When Jared Smiles
Enjoy Each Leaf That Falls
Thank You Dad
Walter Cronkite's Universe
Dan Rather Sings The Blues
Land Of Opportunity
Gold Chains And Guns
Papavonne
My Philosophy
AH, WHAT THE HECK, LET’S MAKE IT A BOX SET AND INCLUDE A BUNCH OF THE INSTRUMENTALS-
Brian Wilson and Thelonious Monk at Disneyland
Wonderful Utensil Of Serenity
Waldo
Freedom Parkway
East Ponce
Mindy# 21
Sitises
JezJazz
Jez Loves Mindy
Dogwood Days
East Ponce
The Big 80’s
Oakland Autumn 1977
Out Of Bed Is This Reality
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