“As 1981 rolled into 1982, the band was pushing , and I was no doubt reaching a crisis stage health-wise. To this day, looking at the cover of One Step Closer, that beautiful photo by Norman Seeff of us a Malibu beach at twilight, I can’t help but see the toll that alcohol and and drugs had taken on me by then. That photo, and a passport photo I took around that time, still looks to me like I had recently been beaten about the face with two-by-fours. The blackouts, the seizures, and the strained personal relationships–all of it was somehow still not enough to get me to admit my life was becoming increasingly unmanageable.” (p. 187)

And right about this time, Michael McDonald and the Doobie Brothers broke up just as their album hit Number One and they had a Number One single. Talk about Bad Timing!

What a Fool Believes is an honest autobiography of a successful singer who had a lot of problems. Michael McDonald dropped out of high school because of his struggles with attention deficit disorder. McDonald’s Big Break happened in the 1970s when he was asked to tour with Steely Dan. Both Donald Fagan and Walter Becker found McDonald’s unique voice useful in several songs like “Bad Sneakers,” “Black Friday,” and “Kid Charlemagne.”

McDonald’s luck ran out after a year when Fagan and Becker decided they didn’t want to tour any more. That’s when McDonald caught another Big Break when he was invited to join the Doobie Brothers. McDonald’s time with the Doobies brought both success and plenty of conflict with the other members of the band.

What a Fool Believes includes dozens of stories about the singers and groups Micheal McDonald worked with over his 50+ year career. McDonald doesn’t hold anything back about his drug-filled Life and his personal struggles. Very revealing. GRADE: B+

TRACK LIST:

1		No Lookin’ Back Bass – Willie Weeks Drums – Jeff Porcaro Guitar – David Pack Soloist [Tom Drum] – George Perilli Written-By – Ed Sanford, Kenny Loggins, Michael Mcdonald	3:51
2		I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near) Backing Vocals – Maureen McDonald Bass – Louis Johnson Clavinet – Greg Phillinganes Drums – Jeff Porcaro Guitar – Steve Lukather Written-By – Ed Sanford, Jerry Leiber, Michael Mcdonald, Mike Stoller	3:42
3		I Gotta Try Backing Vocals – Kenny Loggins Bass – Willie Weeks Drums – Steve Gadd Guitar – Steve Lukather Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa, Ted Templeman Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Greg Phillinganes Synthesizer – Michael Boddicker Written-By – Kenny Loggins, Michael Mcdonald	3:53
4		Our Love (Theme From No Mercy) (Single Version) Bass – Abraham Laboriel Congas – Bobby LaKind Drums – Jeff Porcaro Guitar – Steve Lukather Percussion – Jeff Porcaro Synthesizer – Brian Mann	4:22
5		Yah Mo B There (Single Version) Drums – John Robinson (2) Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa Synthesizer – James Ingram, Michael Boddicker, Rod Temperton Vocals – James Ingram Voice [African] – Quincy Jones Written-By – James Ingram, Michael Mcdonald, Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton	4:31
6		On My Own Backing Vocals – Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Clydene Jackson, Evette Benton, Julia Tillman Waters, Maxine Willard Waters Bass – Neil Stubenhaus Drums – Carlos Vega Guitar – Dann Huff Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa Piano [Acoustic] – Burt Bacharach Synthesizer – David Foster, Peter Wolf (3) Synthesizer [DX-7] – Greg Phillinganes Vocals – Patti LaBelle Written-By – Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager Bayer Sager	4:39
7		By Heart Bass – Willie Weeks Drums – Jeff Porcaro Drums [Simmons Toms] – Staff Fieldhouse Guitar – David Pack Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa Programmed By [Drums] – George Perilli Programmed By [Emulator] – Chris Pelonis Synthesizer – David Pack Synthesizer [Horns] – Scott Plunkett Written-By – Chuck Sabatino, David Pack, Michael Mcdonald Bass – Willie Weeks	4:31
8		Bad Times Bass – Nathan East Drums – Jeff Porcaro Guitar – David Pack Slide Guitar – Joe Walsh Synthesizer – Michael Hanna Written-By – Michael Mcdonald Bass – Nathan East	4:23
9		Matters Of The Heart Acoustic Guitar – Dean Parks Backing Vocals – Alison Krauss, Vince Gill Finger Cymbals – Lenny Castro Programmed By [Drums] – Jimmy Bralower Triangle – Lenny Castro Written-By – Michael Mcdonald Acoustic Guitar – Dean Parks Backing Vocals – Alison Krauss, Vince GillFinger Cymbals – Lenny CastroProgrammed By [Drums] – Jimmy BralowerTriangle – Lenny Castro Written-By – Michael Mcdonald	4:29
10		Sweet Freedom (Single Version) Arranged By [Horns] – Larry Williams, Rod Temperton Backing Vocals – Siedah Garrett Flute – David Boruff, Kim Hutchcroft Guitar – Michael Thompson, Paul Jackson Jr. Horns – Larry Williams Keyboards – Danny Sembello, Greg Phillinganes, Larry Williams, Rod Temperton, Tony Patler Saxophone – David Boruff, Kim Hutchcroft Synthesizer – Larry Williams Synthesizer [Synclavier] – Wells Christy Trombone – Bill Reichenbach (2) Trumpet – Chuck Findley, Gary Grant, Jerry Hey Written-By – Rod Temperton	4:05
11		Get The Word Started Arranged By [Strings] – Paul Riser Backing Vocals – David Lasley, Harry Bowens, Kathy Walker, Sweet Pea Atkinson Bass – Charles Frichtel Congas – Debra Dobkin Drums – George Perilli Guitar – Bernie Chiaravalle Keyboards – Michael Hanna Soloist [Sax] – Vince Denham Written-By – David Pack, Michael Mcdonald	5:40
12		Any Foolish Thing Backing Vocals – Chuck Sabatino Bass – Willie Weeks Drums – Jeff Porcaro Synthesizer – Chuck Sabatino Tenor Saxophone – Cornelius Bumpus Written-By – Chuck Sabatino, Michael McDonald	4:24
13		Take It To Heart Arranged By – Paul Riser Backing Vocals – David Lasley, Sir Harry Bowens*, Sweet Pea Atkinson Drums – George Perilli Guitar – Bernie Chiaravalle Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa Programmed By [Synthesizer] – Don Was, John Tesh, Michael Hanna, Michael Mason Sequenced By [Synthesizer] – Don Was, John Tesh, Michael Hanna, Michael Mason Sitar [Coral] – Bernie Chiaravalle Written-By – Diane Warren, Michael Mcdonald	5:54
14		Higher Ground (Previously Unissued)Written-By – Stevie Wonder Written-By – Stevie Wonder	4:03
15		Lost In The Parade Bass – Willie Weeks Drums – Jeff Porcaro Drums [Simmons] – Staff Fieldhouse Guitar – Robert Ford Synthesizer – Brian Mann (4) Written-By – Grady Walker, Michael Mcdonald	3:48
16		Blink Of An Eye Alto Saxophone – Brandon Fields Arranged By [Horns] – David Frank Bass – Pino Palladino Bass [Synth] – Jeff Bova Clavinet – Jeff Bova Drums – George Perilli, John Robinson (2), Manu Katche*Organ [Hammond] – Benmont Tench Programmed By – David Frank Programmed By [Drums] – Jimmy Bralower Rhythm Guitar – Randy Jacobs, Robben Ford Soloist [Guitar] – Warren Haynes Synthesizer [Horns] – David Frank Tenor Saxophone – Albert Wing Trumpet – Lee Thornburg Written-By – George Perilli, Michael Mcdonald	4:53

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Preface — ix

Love is a many-splendored thing — 1

My parents, Ray Charles, and Dr. Bilskey– 9

God, girls, and guitars — 18

Thank you, but that won’t be necessary — 27

New threads and New York City — 40

High school and marijuana (and not necessarily in that order) — 48

LA calls — 60

California dreams and a couple of nightmares — 65

One hit shy of a one-hit wonder — 78

What could possibly go wrong? — 89

Steely Dan and the (almost) murder of Aunt Mame — 97

The Dan’s European adventures — 106

Michael and Walter’s not-so-great adventure –118

Meet the Doobies — 123

Doobie or not doobie, that is the question — 133

Livin’ on the (It’s not my) fault line — 144

Minute by minute — 150

Don’t stop to watch the wheels come off — 163

Amy — 175

If that’s what it takes — 184

Our love — 196

Soundtracks, duets, and pigeons — 209

The million-dollar question — 217

In the blink of an eye — 230

Orientation day — 247

Nashville — 255

Tears to come — 268

As luck would have it — 274

Takin’ motown to the streets — 285

Through the many winters — 290

Doobie continued — 305

How do we land this thing? — 309

Michael McDonald Discography — 315

Acknowledgements — 323

Three Guns for Tonto: The Complete Tales of Sheriff Henry, Volume 7 is another wonderful collection of W. C. Tuttle stories. W. C. Tuttle was a prolific writer back in the Pulp Era and Steeger Press is in the process of reprinting all the Sheriff Henry Harrison Conroy adventures. This Volume 7 in the series collects two short novels.

Henry Harrison Conroy used to be a vaudeville comedy star. But his career was upended and Conroy headed to Arizona to claim an inheritance of a ranch. Conroy, based apparently on W. C. Fields, is elected Sheriff as a joke. He turns the joke on the town by remaining in office. Although Conroy knows nothing of the law, he solves mysteries and brings some justice to a lawless land. Conroy’s supporting cast includes his deputy – a retired lawyer who stays with him drink for drink, his jailer – a big goofy Swede, and a woman who likes him, but not his alcohol consumption.

In “The Shame of Arizona,” $35,000 in diamonds moves from place to place with bodies along the way. Two suspicious murders, the theft of horses, some Border irregularities, all mix together in an action-filled adventure with plenty of humor. GRADE: B+

In “Three Guns for Tonto” Sheriff Conroy is under heavy pressure by his rivals who want to see him turned out of office. The robbery of the Scorpion Bend Bank and two mysterious murders make Conroy look ineffectual. But, the Sheriff slowly puts the puzzle pieces together to decipher the crimes and show once again he’s the smartest man in Arizona. GRADE: B+

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

The Shame of Arizona — 1

The Guns for Tonto — 115

Let the Canary Sing takes the audience back to the beginning of Cyndi Lauper’s life in a lower-class Queens neighborhood through her rebellious youth pushing back against intolerance. As a child, Cyndi Lauper loved singing with her older sister, Ellen. But both girls had to deal with parents who were always fighting and a convent school where the nuns tried to tame the Laupers wild ways.

Both Cyndi Lauper and her sister left home at early ages. Cyndi joined the local music scene and slowly became a known as a talented but quirky singer. My favorite part of Let the Canary Sing were the scenes, using archival footage, of the writing and recording of “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” Cyndi Lauper did not like the original “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” She thought it was a guy’s song with a guy’s message. But Cyndi Lauper’s David Wolff, then Cyndi’s manager, managed to talk Cyndi into making changes to the song that made it acceptable to her and changed the focus to a girls’s song. Wolff was also responsible for the wrestling tie-in.

Alison Ellwood’s documentary Let the Canary Sing is a nostalgic exploration of the life and career of legendary pop icon Cyndi Lauper, along with a boisterous narrative anchored by the inimitable Lauper herself. If you’re a Cyndi Lauper fan, you won’t want to miss Let the Canary Sing, a marvelous documentary! GRADE: B+

Judi Dench and her friend Brendan O’Hea provide a guided tour of many of Shakespeare’s plays. What makes Shakespeare the Man Who Pays the Rent special is Dench’s experience with the roles she discusses. Dench’s long career acting in Shakespeare plays includes triumphs, disasters, and backstage shenanigans.

Dan Stumpf will love Dench’s dissection of Hamlet and her insights into the roles she played in Shakespeare’s masterpiece. I was surprised when I read Dench’s chapter on King Lear. Many people consider King Lear to be Shakespeare’s best play, but Dench writes, “I can see that it’s an extraordinary piece of writing, but if you were to ask me my five favourite Shakespeares, King Lear wouldn’t be one of them.” (p. 183)

Over her seven decade career, Judi Dench developed opinions on how Shakespearean roles should be played, how audiences have changed, the influence of critics, how company spirit is necessary to success, and the importance of rehearsal room etiquette. Dench isn’t afraid to tackle technical subjects like developing the craft of speaking in verse and taking chances with Shakespeare’s intensions.

If you’re a Judi Dench fan, Shakespeare the Man Who Pays the Rent is a must-read. If you’re a Shakespeare fan, Shakespeare the Man Who Pays the Rent is a must-read. I came away from reading Shakespeare the Man Who Pays the Rent knowing a whole lot more about Shakespearean plays! GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

INTRODUCTION — 1

Macbeth

Lady Macbeth — 5

Stratford-upon-Avon — 21

A midsummer night’s dream

Titania — 25

Hermia — 36

First Fairy — 45

Play — 49

Twelfth night

Viola — 53

Maria — 68

The merchant of Venice

Poria –79

Company — 94

Hamlet

Ophelia — 97

Gertrude — 109

Coriolanus

Volumnia — 125

Fireside ramblings — 138

As you like it

Phebe — 143

Measure for measure

Isabella — 149

Rose Theatre — 165

Much ado about nothing

Beatrice — 167

King Lear

Regan, Cordellia and Goneril — 183

Failure — 197

The comedy of errors

Adriana — 199

Rehearsal — 213

Richard II

Queen Isabel — 217

Antony and Cleopatra

Cleopatra — 227

Cymbeline

Imogen — 245

Critics — 261

All’s well that ends well

Countess of Roussillon — 265

Shakespeare’s language — 277

Henry V

Katherine — 281

Hostess — 285

The merry wives of Windsor

Mistress Quickly — 291

Anne Page — 300

Audience — 304

Richard III

Duchess of York –307

Changing times –314

The winter’s tale

Hermione. — 317

Perdita — 328

Paulina — 336

Time — 349

Future of Shakespeare — 350

Romeo and Juliet

Juliet — 353

Advice — 371

Epilogue — 375

Acknowledgements — 379

It’s been over five or six years since Diane and I have had a cold or flu. So when Covid-19 gave us sore throats and persistent coughs, we didn’t have anything in our medicine chest to take. Diane’s doctor recommended Mucinex. I’ve seen a hundred Mucinex commercials over the years but hadn’t had a need for it. But now Diane and I needed something that would control our coughing, relieve our chest congestion, and loosen our mucus.

I bought a bottle of Mucinex DM Max and Diane and I took it immediately. Mucinex DM Max has a flavorful cherry taste. But, better than that, it goes to work right away. Both Diane and I stopped coughing after just one dose. Diane had two really bad nights because of her constant coughing, but Mucinex DM Max dispelled that problem.

I’ve been disappointed in medications over the past few years that promise relief and deliver…not much other than empty promises. It was great to take Muscinex DM Max and see it work right away giving us some relief from our Covid-19 symptoms. Have you used Muscinex?

Diane and I drove back to Western New York on Monday after spending a weekend in Ohio with Diane’s sister Carol. Patrick and Katie flew in to join us for Father’s Day. On Saturday, we all attended a High School Graduation Party along with 50 other people we didn’t know.

Diane and I both woke up on Tuesday after a night full of coughing and sneezing. Then things really went downhill: aches, pains, headaches, extreme fatigue. We spent most of Tuesday napping. But, we didn’t get any better.

After another crappy night of non-stop coughing, Diane brought out two Flowflex Covid-19 Antigen Home Tests. The results are above: two positive tests for Covid-19. Diane called her doctor and was told to take Mucinex. Diane was told to drink warm water with orange/lemon slices and two dollops of honey. And for fever and chills, take Afrin and tylenol.

My doctor told me to sleep a lot and drink a lot of fluids. Both doctors offered us Paxlovid but we both declined. We have friends that used Paxlovid who complained that Paxlovid was worse than Covid-19.

My throat was on fire Thursday despite my frequent gargling and drinking fluids. The fire subsided Friday, but both Diane and I suffered terrible fatigue. No energy.

Today, we’ll test again and see if we’re Covid-19 free. I never want to have this vile disease again! Have you had Covid-19?

K. J. Parker (aka, Tom Holt) has written a trilogy of adventure novels about a rogue who stumbles from one dangerous situation to another. Parker made the wise decision of allowing “Saevus Corax” (aka, Florian met’Oc), a royal on the run, to narrate his own story: “Usually in human life you have at least some idea of which side you’re on, but not always.” (p. 188) In Saevus Corax Deals With the Dead, our intrepid narrator changes sides several times. As the novel opens, Corax and his 500 followers are “dealing with the Dead.” The real dead. Corax negotiated for the rights to strip the bodies of dead soldiers after a grand battle: battlefield salvage. Armor and weapons bring in Big Bucks in these Medieval times. But, Corax soon finds himself on the run. His family has put price on Corax’s head–dead or alive.

In addition, Corax and his salvage crew are framed in a heist so more forces are after their heads on a spike. Fleeing from city to city, fighting assassins and blackguards, you’d think this was a pretty grim story. And, you would be wrong!

Corax constantly jumps from one frying pan into another fire as his enemies converge on him. But Corax, despite his many flaws, is a genius at strategy and he’s almost always a step ahead of those who either want to kidnap him, or kill him. If you’re in the mood for a roller-coaster thrill ride with some laughs thrown in, give Saevus Corax Deals With the Dead a try. GRADE: B+

“It’s sweet, beautiful, and, most of all, kind. I hugely recommend this book.” Those words by Seanan McGuire motivated me to buy Travis Baldree’s Legends & Lattes. I read it in one day and discovered a new genre: Fantasy Cozy.

Viv, a battle-weary orc, decides to give up her mercenary life and aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. Most Fantasy novels I read feature plenty of adventures and quests and battles. Legends & Lattes tells the story of Viv’s efforts to start a small business and leave her combative life behind.

This novel, being a Fantasy, includes magic in the form of an ancient stone that’s supposed to bring Luck. Viv does have uncanny luck in hiring a master carpenter, a beautiful succubus as a barista, a young bard to play music, an incredible baker, and more helpful characters. Viv’s dreams are threatened by a local protection racket gang and a vicious enemy from her Past.

If you’re in the mood for something different in the Fantasy genre, something which is sweet and kind and earnest, Legends & Lattes hits the spot! GRADE: B

I love Bob Eggleton’s cover artwork for Logical Fantasy because it reminds me of the artwork in the late 1950s and early 1960s by the Winston Science Fiction series.

“Winston Science Fiction was a series of 37 American juvenile science fiction books published by the John C. Winston Company of Philadelphia from 1952 to 1960 and by its successor Holt, Rinehart & Winston in 1960 and 1961. It included 35 novels by various writers, including many who became famous in the SF field, such as Poul Anderson, Arthur C. Clarke, Ben Bova, and Lester del Rey. There was also one anthology, The Year After Tomorrow, edited by del Rey and others. There was one non-fiction book Rockets Through Space: The Story of Man’s Preparations to Explore the Universe by del Rey which details the factual science and technology of rocket flight. Many of the dust jackets became science fiction classics; the artists included Hugo Award winners Ed Emshwiller and Virgil Finlay along with Hugo nominees such as Mel Hunter and Alex Schomburg.”

It would be hard for me to decide whether John Wyndham’s Village of the Damned or Day of the Triffids gave me more nightmares. I read The Day of the Triffids after I was freaked out by the 1962 film version. The British SF writers of that era specialized in catastrophic novels where the Earth was imperiled and The Day of the Triffids–with the horrific situation of most people in the world blinded by an apparent meteor shower and then an aggressive species of plant begins killing people–was enough to give me nightmares for months. Village of the Damned features telepathic children with a scary agenda. Based on The Midwich Cuckoos (1957), Village of the Damned shows the power of contagion.

But John Wyndham was also a gifted short story writer. Logical Fantasy: The Many Worlds of John Wyndham displays Wyndham’s talents in stories like  “Spheres of Hell” (also known as “The Puffball Menace”) which was the original source for The Day of the Triffids. Then there’s the story of a homesick robot (‘The Lost Machine’) and a surprising tale of a lovelorn dragon (‘Chinese Puzzle’).

Five previously uncollected stories are included in Logical Fantasy. If you’re a John Wyndham fan, Logical Fantasy is a must-buy. If you’re a fan of classic SF stories from the 1950s and 1960s, you’ll enjoy this wonderful collection! GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• Introduction by Michael Marshall Smith — 7
• The Lost Machine — 13
• Spheres of Hell — 35
• The Man from Beyond — 63
• Beyond the Screen — 91
• Child of Power — 139
• The Living Lies — 171
• The Eternal Eve — 217
• Pawley’s Peepholes — 243
• The Wheel — 267
• Survival — 275
• Chinese Puzzle — 303
• Perforce to Dream — 323
• Never on Mars — 339
• Compassion Circuit — 361
• Brief to Counsel — 373
• Odd — 377
• The Asteroids, 2194 — 387
• A Stitch in Time– 403

It’s 90 degrees in Western NY–Real Feel temp is 98. We rarely get this warm in June. Gee, I wonder what’s causing this unusual hot weather…

Cool Rock, a 2-CD set from 1995, presents a variety of musical styles from Naked Eyes’ “Always Something There to Remind Me” and Taylor Dayne’s “Love Will Lead You Back.”

I could do without Wilson Phillips’s “Hold On” which shows up on a number of compilation CDs from this era. Do you remember these songs? Any favorites here? GRADE: B-

TRACK LIST:

1-1	Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes–	Up Where We Belong	3:55
1-2	Naked Eyes–	Always Something There To Remind Me	3:41
1-3	Club Nouveau–	Lean On Me	3:58
1-4	Thompson Twins–	Hold Me Now	4:42
1-5	Glass Tiger–	Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)	4:05
1-6	Teddy Pendergrass–	Love T.K.O.	5:00
1-7	Kool And The Gang*–	Joanna	4:22
1-8	Christopher Cross–	Think Of Laura	3:22
1-9	Tiffany–	I Think We’re Alone Now	3:47
1-10	Joey Scarbury–	Believe It Or Not (Theme From Greatest American Hero)	3:11
1-11	Roxette–	It Must Have Been Love	3:51
1-12	Culture Club–	Time (Clock Of The Heart)	3:42
1-13	The Motels–	Suddenly Last Summer	3:38
1-14	The Tubes–	She’s A Beauty	3:58
1-15	Ashford & Simpson–	Solid	5:07
1-16	Sergio Mendes*–	Never Gonna Let You Go	4:15
1-17	Wilson Phillips–	Hold On	4:24
1-18	Ambrosia (2)–	Biggest Part Of Me	4:09
2-1	Toto–	Africa	5:01
2-2	REO Speedwagon–	Can’t Fight This Feeling	4:10
2-3	Chris DeBurgh*–	Lady In Red	4:16
2-4	Tina Turner–	Private Dancer	4:00
2-5	Cutting Crew–	(I Just) Died In Your Arms	4:34
2-6	John Waite–	Missing You	4:27
2-7	Little River Band–	Cool Change	5:14
2-8	Corey Hart–	Never Surrender	4:55
2-9	Blondie–	Call Me	3:32
2-10	Spandau Ballet–	True	5:35
2-11	Marty Balin–	Atlanta Lady (Something About You)	3:27
2-12	Mr. Mister–	Broken Wings	4:45
2-13	Vangelis–	Chariots Of Fire	3:29
2-14	Dan Hartman–	I Can Dream About You	4:09
2-15	Taylor Dayne–	Love Will Lead You Back	4:37
2-16	James Ingram & Patti Austin–	Baby, Come To Me	3:35
2-17	Al Green–	Let’s Stay Together	3:18