Stardust Memories

 

 

I listened to John Scofield's 2009 release "Piety Street" last Sunday, a record that features New Orleans greats George Porter Jr., John Boutte and Jon Cleary. My friend pmac noticed this over at the Now Playing blog and mentioned a performance he witnessed in 2019 that featured just Scofield and Cleary, a guitar/piano set-up that he said was "incredible." I had no idea the tour existed, most likely because it never came to the U.S. I did see the original, full band "Piety Street" tour in 2009, but not this unique duo. I needed to hear this, toot sweet. Pmac took care of my needs and sent me a brilliant sounding, two hour set from Worspswede--pronounced "worspswede"-- on that very tour.

When I noticed the set list included "Stardust," my very favorite song of all time, I wrote to pmac and said, "This is my favorite song of all time! I am thrilled to have a version sung by Cleary."

When I was a kid, like most kids in the 60's, I listened to The Beatles. The Fabs were my whole musical world. "Stardust" meant nothing to me. As a matter of fact, "Stardust" was a punch line to me. 

My whole family loved music. Music played in every household. Aunts, uncles and cousins in Sheepshead Bay and Far Rockaway all had amazing record collections. And no matter what record was being played--The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Drifters, Herb Alpert--my father would always say, "Put on 'Stardust'." He said it at every family gathering. We always laughed. I know I laughed every time, even though I wasn't sure why. I probably thought just saying the name of the same song over and over again was funny.  I figured there was more to it. My father, a man with an amazing sense of humor, had so much shit going on all of the time, laughs were like Yeti sightings. So this "Stardust" gag was good enough for me. 

At some point I finally asked, "So is that your favorite song, Dad?" And he said, "I know you love your Beatles records, but 'Stardust' is the greatest song ever written." 

Then, I noticed on my copy of Ringo's solo record "Sentimental Journey," closing out Side One, was "Stardust," arranged by Paul McCartney. Hey, if The Beatles like it, I bet I'd I like it. 

I did!

A few years later, when I was no longer a squeaky, pain in the ass twerp, I paid attention to "Stardust" by Nat "King" Cole. I finally got it. And all these years later, after countless versions, the song still brings tears to my eyes. There is no equal.

But wait! There's more.

So I listened to the Scofield/Cleary show pmac sent me. It made my week, and it's only Wednesday. The setlist is ridiculous, with a number of songs I had never heard Cleary play before, and I have seen Cleary easily 40 or 50 times. Also, the guitar/piano set up is really special. To hear Cleary, one of my favorite artists out of New Orleans, sing "Stardust," my single favorite song of all time, hit me right in the po'boy.

BUT...wait...I'm not done.

Scofield introduces the song this way:

I wanted to learn how to play guitar because I loved The Beatles. Then one day my father asked me, "Do you know what the greatest song ever written is?" I said, "I Want To Hold Your Hand?" He said, "That's a good one, but no. It's 'Stardust." You know, I think my father was right.

Uh...excuse me? I mean, is this a great WTF in the history of WTFs?

I sat frozen on my couch and listened to a stunning, 10 minute reading of "Stardust" by John Scofield and Jon Cleary, all the while, shaking inside at Scofield's story, which just happens to be my "Stardust" story.

What are the odds?

"Stardust" is a miracle of music. 

Thank you Mitchell Parish. Thank you, Hoagy Carmichael. 

Thanks pmac.