WTIT: The Blog

Thanks to Gal for authoring this meme. Click on the Sat-9 title of song on the next line below to play.

Saturday 9: All the Way (1957)

… because The Gal Herself suggested it

Unfamiliar with this week’s tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Frank sings, “who knows where the road will lead us?” Which leads Sam to ask, does your vehicle have GPS? Yes. I’ve been on vacation this week and I spent most of it with the French twins. They still want to keep it “as friends” until they are sure that I’m staying single. They did not even go for my “One week Michelle will be more than a friend & MaBelle will just be a friend. The next we switch.” I thought is was a fucking reasonable compromise.

2) Sinatra introduced “All the Way” in the movie, The Joker Is Wild. During that film he also sang “Chicago (That Toddlin’ Town).” A few years later, in the movie Robin and The Seven Hoods, he declared Chicago as his “kind of town.” Besides Chicago, can you think of another city Frank immortalized in song? As a Yankee fan it would be hard to miss this one. They play “New York, New York” after every game. They use Frankie’s when they win, Liza’s when they lose.”

3) When Frank was 19, he saw a pretty girl sitting on her front porch, giving herself a manicure. He went and got his ukulele and serenaded her. That girl became his first wife, Nancy. Tell us how one of your romances began.

After my first divorce I made a lot of new friends including Jenna who is the only female friend I’ve had that wasn’t an ex. One night we went out to meet her friend “Inga”. She was a 10. Talking briefly we realized that we had met before at a bar that was an account of mine when working at WPOP/Star 104.1. She had zero interest in me and was on the dance floor all night with a variety of guys. She only spoke to me when she wanted another drink. (No I did not buy them. I can be an idiot, but not a complete moron.) At last call Jenna asked if I’d drive Inga home. This was because it was out of Jenna’s way but not mine. I really didn’t want to do this. Inga had shown zero interest in me. Driving home a gorgeous woman home without any hope of… Well you know.

We talked a tad about the night. Outside of her condo, she asked me to wait to see if she got in safely, which turned out to be fortuitous because she had no keys. She told me that if she could stand on my shoulders she could pop the kitchen screen and get in. So here we go (I had only 1 back operation in those days) and somehow we did it although she landed in the kitchen sink. I can still remember the sound of the crash, sounds of broken dishes and glasses. I just start laughing my ass off. I turned to leave and realized that Inga’s purse was on the ground with me.

At this point she stuck her head out the kitchen window. I was trying to hand her the purse and she said “No – come to the door.” So I did and as I said goodnight she asked me in for a drink. It was 2 AM. But I was not going to say “no” to a 10. Let me just say that I did not leave until the next day. I have always called her my “shooting star” girlfriend. I knew from that first night that we wouldn’t be together long. It was only 90 days. But during that time we saw each other every night. But after those three months she moved on. It was a great three months.

My oldest granddaughters, Lindsay & Lauren. Heather took this pic recently at Hershey Park in Pennsylvania.

4) Both Frank and Nancy grew up in New Jersey. When you think of NJ, what else comes to mind? My daughter and her family live in Jersey. What exit? 19.

5) Sinatra made Las Vegas as famous for entertainment as for gambling. He was so identified with the Strip, that when he played Caesar’s Palace the marquee simply said, “He’s here.” Have you ever been to Vegas? A couple of times. The last was in 2006 because my son Ben wanted his stag there. I asked my dad if he was interested and offered to pay his way. He did. We had a blast! I’d tell you more but that will stay in Vegas.

6) Thin for most of his life, Frank was blessed with a metabolism that allowed him to whatever he wanted without gaining weight. He especially enjoyed clams posillipo. What’s your favorite Italian dish? Elisabetta Canalis. She is an Italian actress.

7) Perhaps because of his hardscrabble childhood, Sinatra was a soft touch for charities devoted to kids. One of his favorites was Variety, which sends disadvantaged children on day trips to museums, zoos and sporting events. Here’s your chance to tell us about a cause that’s near and dear to your heart. My favorite charity is for “Our Sisters of the Tiny Breasts”. They raise money for breast implants. I believe strongly that only allowing rich women to have implants is inherently unfair.

8) Sinatra was a neat freak who couldn’t stand dust or clutter and showered at least twice a day. He got this from his mother Dolly, who was compulsive about housecleaning and hygiene. Can you think of a time when you caught yourself doing something and thought, “I’m just like Mom/Dad!” Yes.

9) In 1998, Sinatra was buried with the things he always had in tow: a bottle of Jack Daniels, a pack of Camels, a Zippo lighter and 10 dimes. Why the dimes? According to his daughter, “He never wanted to be caught not able to make a call.” Of course, 17 years later cell phones have replaced pay phones. Anyway, tell us what you always carry. I have this routine where I count to five before leaving the house. 1-4 is for cell phone, keys, reading glasses & wallet. 5 is for my fly. Once Kathy and I were in a store and she held up five fingers. I knew immediately what she meant.

2010, during his latest return in The Gatewood Studio. We record at Gatewood from 2004-2011.

I have a good friend that I met in college who has had an extraordinary media career. He was the voice of C-Span during its first decade or so. He’s written for the Washington Post. He now does news for a zillion radio stations. He was in the Hartford market back in the day. First as a Kiss DJ when they played elevator music. He spent most of college doing weekends as a booth announcer (yes kids they use to read every line live) at NBC 30. We drove together because I came home on weekends for a girlfriend and to record with WTIT. So he calls me up a couple f days ago and says that he reads every post of my blog (WTIT.org) and that I should consider writing a book because the stories of my antics with my friends at WTIT (WTIT Folklore if your looking for a category on my blog) because in his words “You’re a great writer. I know you don’t know that because it developed on the blog that you started just nine years ago. I want you to make it a book including comedy bits that we haven’t heard…” I told him that I have already done some 20 chapters that I will try to complete on my next vacation. But whether I finish it or not, it was as cool a compliment that I’ve got from my 25+ years in radio (and a bit of TV). He convinced me. Next vacation I work on that book… This pic is from 2010 the last time we were together. It’s taken in The Gatewood Studio that was home for WTIT from 2004 – 2011. Have a good summer day. See you back here. Same time, same blog.