I may have mentioned this before.
My mother told the story that when she was pregnant with me, she would listen to Rhapsody in Blue, quite often. I remember her playing the record, in my later years, but she tells the story that even when I was very young, I would stop what I was playing with and listen. She was sure that I remembered the music from my time in utro. I can't tell you that for sure, but I do know that I have carried a love of this Gershwin music with me, for my entire life.
I was cleaning out my families house the other day and one of the things I had to go through, were their old records. I knew this one would be there somewhere and I did finally find the 78 rpm copy that she used to play for me.
It got the boot, but before it did, I took this picture for posterity sake.
Thanks Mom, you couldn't have chosen a better piece of music.
Oooo, Oscar Levant, Eugene Ormandy, and the Philadelphia Orchestra... your mom had excellent taste! Thank goodness... you wouldn't necessarily be so happy with an affinity for, say, whatever the '50s equivalent of rap was. Gershwin, now that a woman can live with.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I thought so. :-)
ReplyDeleteThey loved show tunes, also. So things like My Fair Lady and Gigi and Westside Story turned up playing on the record player, when I was young.
I will say that Big Band has never been my thing, though.
you didn't keep the album????????
ReplyDeleteNo Gina, I couldn't. Not from 3 thousand miles away. It weighed a ton. So did all the other 78's and 45's and 33 1/3 records I got rid on in NY. It was a total shame.
ReplyDeleteOn top of that, I had no way to play the record, so again, a useless thing. But it did get a tribute...here on my blog.
Great story! I have two "in utero" stories. When Mom was pregnant with me, she craved raw potatoes. I absolutely LOVE the taste of raw potatoes, and no one else in my family can stand them.
ReplyDeleteMy folks wanted to name me Holly. The day before I was born, Mom and Dad were at The Friendly (a local tavern). A drunken blonde lady kept telling everyone in the place that her name was Cynthia Leigh, L-E-I-G-H. Mom went into labor and the doctor knocked her out for the delivery (it was 1961). When she woke up to meet me, she said: "Cynthia Leigh, L-E-I-G-H." She tried three more times for a Holly, but got a Jimmy, Robby and a Tommy.
You notice your Mom tried her best to get Holly, by the double consonants in your brother's names. LL, MM and BB?.
ReplyDeleteYou eat raw potatoes? :-)