Wednesday was The Mark Steyn Club's ninth birthday, and we thank profoundly (almost) all our First Day Founding Members who opted to sign on for a tenth year. We hope, as this weekend proceeds, that our First Week Founding Members will want to do the same.
Mark is continuing to recover from his Ukrainian exertions. However, he has put together this week's edition of Mark Steyn on the Town, coming to you live-ish from an undisclosed location in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. On today's show, we start with playmates and end with chaperones. In between come a cavalcade of Non-Stop Number Ones, a long-lived director, and a song of revolution, all conjured by a variety of musical artistes from Sarah Vaughan to John Sebastian. (The late observance of the opening centenary is due entirely to accident and confusion caused by Mark's travels. He thought Transcarpathia was still on the Julian calendar.)
To listen to the programme, simply click here and log-in.
~Thank you for all your kind comments on our show. Sandy, a New Brunswick member of The Mark Steyn Club, enthuses:
This is just the best hour of my life, and it's weekly! The joy and knowledge I get from your program is priceless. I've formed a new found fondness for Johnny Mercer, with his nasally, marshmallowy, warm and inviting voice! He just seems so nice! I've noticed he sings a lot with Bobby Darin- is there a story there? Thanks for everything you do and for enriching all of us!
Thank you, Sandy. John Baker, a Steyn Clubber from the Carolinas, took a while, but he's come round:
I must admit Mark, I thought your Saturday "On the Town serenade radio show" sounded a little hokey to me so I never listened. Then on April 25th I tuned in. I don't know why, I just did.
Now I'm hooked. The music takes me back to a time when the world and, America in particular, seemed sane. Even with all the problems of bygone years it seemed better. What am I talking about?! It WAS better! Music has a unique power to take one to a specific point in one's life for good or bad. What I've discovered in the two episodes listened to, were good memories. Maybe it's because of my age, but that's what's happening when I hear those tunes.
Thanks for what you're doing. Stay healthy and safe travels, my friend.
Thank you, John. For Teresa Maupin, a California member of The Mark Steyn Club, Mark's Ukrainian forays have been especially rewarding:
Have totally enjoyed your Ukrainian On the Town trilogy! In the most recent episode, the lullaby backstory on "Summertime" came together for me since I sang the enchanting Gershwin song to my children at bedtime!
One more from Jake, a Steyn Clubber in the English West Country:
Rosie 'n' Riddle doing April In Paris - hot damn, that was fun! Has 'whom' ever sounded so lush? Rosemary Clooney sounded in glorious voice on these two tracks when I normally think of her as a ballad singer.
~On the Town is Steyn's weekly music show on Serenade Radio every Saturday at 5pm Greenwich Mean Time - that's 6pm in western and central Europe or 12 noon North American Eastern. You can listen from almost anywhere in the world by clicking the button at top right here. We also post On the Town at SteynOnline every weekend as a bonus for Mark Steyn Club members. You can find all our previous shows here.
We do enjoy your comments on our weekend programming. Steyn Clubbers are welcome to leave them below. For more on The Mark Steyn Club as it begins its tenth year, see here - and don't forget our special Gift Membership.
Mark Steyn on the Town can be heard on Serenade Radio at its regular times:
Saturday 5pm London time/12 noon New York
Sunday 5am London time/9am Los Angeles