The truth of some promises is not as important as whether or not you can believe in them, with all your heart. A game of baseball can’t really make a summer day last forever. A home run can’t really heal all the broken places in our world, or in a single human heart. — Michael Chabon’s Summerland
I’ve been listening to Laurie Anderson’s Life On A String recording this fine late Spring afternoon as I do paperwork in the Library. I saw her once eight years ago at the Edinburgh Festival who’d commissioned a new work from her, and also decades back down London way. I’ve always lusted after her electric blue violin which is one of the coolest instruments I’ve ever encountered. Not to mention amazing sounding.
I just finished breakfast. I always drink tea as I never developed a taste for coffee no matter how good that I’m told it is. So it was lapsang souchong, a loose leaf first blush smoked black tea from Ceylon. With a splash of cream of course. And there was a rare surprise for breakfast too — apple fritters served with thick cut twice smoked bacon, using apple wood only, and yet more apples in the form of cinnamon and nutmeg infused apple sauce. There was even mulled cider for those wanting even more apples in their breakfast fare! Thus fortified, I’m now turning to writing the edition for this week…
Jennifer picks out five books about baseball, a sport said by some to have its origins in common with cricket, though in truth the true ancient of this hallowed sport are uncertain. So we give you five very different books, four true in their takes and one very not:
Richard reviewed Bull City Summer: A Season At the Ballpark and Beyond: ‘A gorgeously crafted coffee table book, it’s a collaborative effort between a series of photographers and writers, many of them with ties to the Durham area.’
Richard also lovingly reviewed Dan Barry’s Bottom of the 33rd. The book is his ode to the longest baseball game ever played in an organized league, a 33 inning behemoth staged between the AAA Rochester Red Wings and Pawtucket PawSox in 1981.
Richard once again reviewed yet another, Lew Freedman’s Baseball’s Funnymen. ‘When most people think of the history of baseball, they think of it in terms of a Ken Burns documentary – soaring music, sepia tones, and a certain reverence for the deeds of players engaged in noble competition. But there are other sides of the game, not the least of which is humor.’
And Michelle reviewed a novel where baseball is the game. Literally the game. Michael Chabon’s Summerland.
Richard also took on a small book about a big topic, Ivan Day’s Ice Cream: A History. ‘Decidedly England-centric in nature, Ice Cream is nevertheless an excellent short Ihistory of ice cream’s rise to popularity. Starting with the early ice creams and the, shall we say, unique flavors enjoyed in the Georgian period, Ice Cream lays out the steps by which ice cream evolved into its current form.’
Michelle Erica wrote a wide-ranging review of a bunch of baseball movies, which we titled Play Ball: Baseball in Film. ‘It was inevitable that great writers would see parallels between the quest for the pennant and the Quest for the Holy Grail, just as it was inevitable that Hollywood screenwriters would churn out bio-pics about the tragic greats and comedies about pranksters and pratfalls.’
April has a warm response to the first volume of what looks to be an intriguing comics series, Air: Letters from Lost Countries: ‘Blythe is not your typical airline attendant. Sure, she’s blonde, pretty and personable, playing into every conceivable stereotype there is. But Blythe is much more than that. For starters, she’s acrophobic, surviving each flight only through the wonders of modern pharmaceuticals. Then there’s the attractive, mysterious passenger she’s fallen in love with, who may or may not be a terrorist.’
Gary here with music. First up in new music this time is Croatian singer Vesna Pisarović’s Poravna, ‘ …an album of traditional Bosnian Sevdah songs delivered in all their emotional intensity and melancholy, backed by an international avant garde jazz trio.’ It’s a return to her roots for Pisarović, who’s better known for placing 11th in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002.
I’m also reviewing one of my favorite creators of interesting Nordic music. ‘Geir Sundstøl’s recordings have always had a cinematic quality about them. His 2025 offering Sakte Film (Slow Motion Film) pushes that envelope even further, as explicitly stated in the title. The Norwegian musician and composer here stretches his already multicolored sonic pallette with additional stringed instruments, more use of electronics, and a string quartet on some of the tracks.’
From the Archives … Chávez Ravine, the current home of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has been in the news recently. David wrote a fine review of his favorite musician Ry Cooder’s album about the place. ‘The story of Chávez Ravine, the place, is one of “eminent domain” (the right of the government to take private property for public use, with proper payment being made) and of “red-baiting” and “contracted hits” and lies, and cheating, and lots of other fine American stuff like baseball.’
David tells us that Dan Bern sings about baseball on his album Fleeting Days. ‘Dan Bern wants to be one of those “big guys.” And on this, his latest, album, he makes a giant leap in that direction. He’s one of those little guys they always talk about, we used to call ’em “new Dylans.” Now they’re all Elvis Costello-ey with dollops of Nick Lowe, and a touch of Dobro to display their rootsiness. Hey! What’s wrong with that?’
David reviewed another album on which Ry Cooder got second billing, The Chieftains’ San Patricio. ‘San Patricio is Spanish for Saint Patrick, and the album is a tribute to the soldiers of the San Patricio battalion, a group of Irish immigrant conscripts who deserted the US Army to fight alongside the Mexicans against the invading Yankees during the Mexican-American War in the mid-nineteenth century.’
John McCutcheon sings about all things American including baseball. I reviewed his album Storied Ground. ‘If you’re a fan of unadorned, straightforward folk songs, John McCutcheon writes and sings them as well as anybody, and Storied Ground is a fine example of the genre. And if you haven’t seen McCutcheon perform, you owe it to yourself and to the spirit of American folk music to go see him if he comes through your town. As he says in his liner notes, “What would Woody do?” ‘
NRBQ had an album entitled At Yankee Stadium, which was neither live nor recorded at Yankee Stadium … I reviewed their album Dummy, which doesn’t have any baseball songs on it. ‘Dummy is good honest rock ‘n’ roll, stripped down to its essentials, by a veteran road-tested band. They make it sound easy, but in reality, a lot of bands should be so lucky to sound this good on their best day.’
I was a fan of The Lovin’ Spoonful and solo John Sebastian back in the day, so I was curious about how Sebastian’s albums John B. Sebastian, Tarzana Kid, and Welcome Back held up when Collectors’ Choice reissued them. The results were mixed. ‘He was one of those musicians who, after initial success with a band, floundered through various attempts at a solo career, always on the fringes, never quite breaking through. In some ways, it was the fault of things over which he had little control, including the many vicissitudes of the recording industry, bad luck, bad timing. From the vantage point of 30 years later, though, it’s also plain that his half-octave singing range was a weakness, and his material wasn’t quite as strong as that of many of his contemporaries.’
So let’s take our leave of each other this time with some spritely music in the form of ‘Love Shack’ by the B-52s whose only official live recording got reviewed by Cat: ‘If you’re a fan of the band, you’ll definitely want Live! 8.24.1979, because official live recordings of this band are scarce. The liner notes are both informative and entertaining — kudos to Real Gone Music for these. Oh and ‘Rock Lobster’ is wonderful played live!’ Alas the Live! 8.24.1979 recording predates ‘Love Shack’ so you’ll need to enjoy it here instead! It’s a feel good summertime song that’s guaranteed to give you an earworm for days after you hear it. The ‘Love Shack’ I have for you to enjoy was recorded in Atlanta sometime in 2001.
I'm the Librarian for the Kinrowan Estate. I do love fresh brewed teas, curling, English mysteries and will often be playing Scandinavian or Celtic music here in the Library here in Kinrowan Hall if the Neverending Session is elsewhere.
I'm a violinist too, so you'll me playing in various contradance band such as Chasing Fireflies and Mouse in the Cupboard as well as backing my wife Catherine up on yearly Christmas season tours in the Nordic countries.
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What’s New for the 22nd of June: books about baseball, air travel most unusual, some music about baseball (and some not)
I’ve been listening to Laurie Anderson’s Life On A String recording this fine late Spring afternoon as I do paperwork in the Library. I saw her once eight years ago at the Edinburgh Festival who’d commissioned a new work from her, and also decades back down London way. I’ve always lusted after her electric blue violin which is one of the coolest instruments I’ve ever encountered. Not to mention amazing sounding.
I just finished breakfast. I always drink tea as I never developed a taste for coffee no matter how good that I’m told it is. So it was lapsang souchong, a loose leaf first blush smoked black tea from Ceylon. With a splash of cream of course. And there was a rare surprise for breakfast too — apple fritters served with thick cut twice smoked bacon, using apple wood only, and yet more apples in the form of cinnamon and nutmeg infused apple sauce. There was even mulled cider for those wanting even more apples in their breakfast fare! Thus fortified, I’m now turning to writing the edition for this week…
Jennifer picks out five books about baseball, a sport said by some to have its origins in common with cricket, though in truth the true ancient of this hallowed sport are uncertain. So we give you five very different books, four true in their takes and one very not:
Richard reviewed Bull City Summer: A Season At the Ballpark and Beyond: ‘A gorgeously crafted coffee table book, it’s a collaborative effort between a series of photographers and writers, many of them with ties to the Durham area.’
Richard also lovingly reviewed Dan Barry’s Bottom of the 33rd. The book is his ode to the longest baseball game ever played in an organized league, a 33 inning behemoth staged between the AAA Rochester Red Wings and Pawtucket PawSox in 1981.
Richard once again reviewed yet another, Lew Freedman’s Baseball’s Funnymen. ‘When most people think of the history of baseball, they think of it in terms of a Ken Burns documentary – soaring music, sepia tones, and a certain reverence for the deeds of players engaged in noble competition. But there are other sides of the game, not the least of which is humor.’
And Michelle reviewed a novel where baseball is the game. Literally the game. Michael Chabon’s Summerland.
Richard also took on a small book about a big topic, Ivan Day’s Ice Cream: A History. ‘Decidedly England-centric in nature, Ice Cream is nevertheless an excellent short Ihistory of ice cream’s rise to popularity. Starting with the early ice creams and the, shall we say, unique flavors enjoyed in the Georgian period, Ice Cream lays out the steps by which ice cream evolved into its current form.’
Michelle Erica wrote a wide-ranging review of a bunch of baseball movies, which we titled Play Ball: Baseball in Film. ‘It was inevitable that great writers would see parallels between the quest for the pennant and the Quest for the Holy Grail, just as it was inevitable that Hollywood screenwriters would churn out bio-pics about the tragic greats and comedies about pranksters and pratfalls.’
Gary here with music. First up in new music this time is Croatian singer Vesna Pisarović’s Poravna, ‘ …an album of traditional Bosnian Sevdah songs delivered in all their emotional intensity and melancholy, backed by an international avant garde jazz trio.’ It’s a return to her roots for Pisarović, who’s better known for placing 11th in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002.
I’m also reviewing one of my favorite creators of interesting Nordic music. ‘Geir Sundstøl’s recordings have always had a cinematic quality about them. His 2025 offering Sakte Film (Slow Motion Film) pushes that envelope even further, as explicitly stated in the title. The Norwegian musician and composer here stretches his already multicolored sonic pallette with additional stringed instruments, more use of electronics, and a string quartet on some of the tracks.’
From the Archives … Chávez Ravine, the current home of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has been in the news recently. David wrote a fine review of his favorite musician Ry Cooder’s album about the place. ‘The story of Chávez Ravine, the place, is one of “eminent domain” (the right of the government to take private property for public use, with proper payment being made) and of “red-baiting” and “contracted hits” and lies, and cheating, and lots of other fine American stuff like baseball.’
David tells us that Dan Bern sings about baseball on his album Fleeting Days. ‘Dan Bern wants to be one of those “big guys.” And on this, his latest, album, he makes a giant leap in that direction. He’s one of those little guys they always talk about, we used to call ’em “new Dylans.” Now they’re all Elvis Costello-ey with dollops of Nick Lowe, and a touch of Dobro to display their rootsiness. Hey! What’s wrong with that?’
David reviewed another album on which Ry Cooder got second billing, The Chieftains’ San Patricio. ‘San Patricio is Spanish for Saint Patrick, and the album is a tribute to the soldiers of the San Patricio battalion, a group of Irish immigrant conscripts who deserted the US Army to fight alongside the Mexicans against the invading Yankees during the Mexican-American War in the mid-nineteenth century.’
John McCutcheon sings about all things American including baseball. I reviewed his album Storied Ground. ‘If you’re a fan of unadorned, straightforward folk songs, John McCutcheon writes and sings them as well as anybody, and Storied Ground is a fine example of the genre. And if you haven’t seen McCutcheon perform, you owe it to yourself and to the spirit of American folk music to go see him if he comes through your town. As he says in his liner notes, “What would Woody do?” ‘
NRBQ had an album entitled At Yankee Stadium, which was neither live nor recorded at Yankee Stadium … I reviewed their album Dummy, which doesn’t have any baseball songs on it. ‘Dummy is good honest rock ‘n’ roll, stripped down to its essentials, by a veteran road-tested band. They make it sound easy, but in reality, a lot of bands should be so lucky to sound this good on their best day.’
I was a fan of The Lovin’ Spoonful and solo John Sebastian back in the day, so I was curious about how Sebastian’s albums John B. Sebastian, Tarzana Kid, and Welcome Back held up when Collectors’ Choice reissued them. The results were mixed. ‘He was one of those musicians who, after initial success with a band, floundered through various attempts at a solo career, always on the fringes, never quite breaking through. In some ways, it was the fault of things over which he had little control, including the many vicissitudes of the recording industry, bad luck, bad timing. From the vantage point of 30 years later, though, it’s also plain that his half-octave singing range was a weakness, and his material wasn’t quite as strong as that of many of his contemporaries.’
So let’s take our leave of each other this time with some spritely music in the form of ‘Love Shack’ by the B-52s whose only official live recording got reviewed by Cat: ‘If you’re a fan of the band, you’ll definitely want Live! 8.24.1979, because official live recordings of this band are scarce. The liner notes are both informative and entertaining — kudos to Real Gone Music for these. Oh and ‘Rock Lobster’ is wonderful played live!’ Alas the Live! 8.24.1979 recording predates ‘Love Shack’ so you’ll need to enjoy it here instead! It’s a feel good summertime song that’s guaranteed to give you an earworm for days after you hear it. The ‘Love Shack’ I have for you to enjoy was recorded in Atlanta sometime in 2001.
Iain Nicholas Mackenzie
I'm the Librarian for the Kinrowan Estate. I do love fresh brewed teas, curling, English mysteries and will often be playing Scandinavian or Celtic music here in the Library here in Kinrowan Hall if the Neverending Session is elsewhere. I'm a violinist too, so you'll me playing in various contradance band such as Chasing Fireflies and Mouse in the Cupboard as well as backing my wife Catherine up on yearly Christmas season tours in the Nordic countries.
More Posts
About Iain Nicholas Mackenzie
I'm the Librarian for the Kinrowan Estate. I do love fresh brewed teas, curling, English mysteries and will often be playing Scandinavian or Celtic music here in the Library here in Kinrowan Hall if the Neverending Session is elsewhere. I'm a violinist too, so you'll me playing in various contradance band such as Chasing Fireflies and Mouse in the Cupboard as well as backing my wife Catherine up on yearly Christmas season tours in the Nordic countries.