The story continues. If you listened to last week's episode, and followed the comments in the thread, you may remember two developments: 1) It's not Scott Joplin's piano, and 2) my wife was a little put out to find that I wasn't writing new lyrics to the song "I Love Her," as a birthday present for her; rather, I was professing my love for my piano (oops).







So, here is this week's installment:

Haddorff Postcard No.3

And, the musical selection, dedicated to my wife for her birthday this coming week:

"Yes Sir! That's My Baby" Music by Walter Donaldson, original words by Gus Kahn (New York: Irving Berlin, Inc., 1925) with a new third verse by Andy Strong, especially for my "baby"...

I hope you enjoy it!

--Andy

Next Week: Weeping Willow, I promise al-mahed!

Again, very nice playing and cool story!

And I'm looking forward to hear some rag on the Haddorff

Very cute Andy! I think you're kissing up to your wife so you can get another piano.... What do you think???????? hehehe.

Very nice!
You always manage to put a smile on my face, and this is something not many people can do.
A pity you can't browse through my old scores, I've got plenty!

Andy -

These just keep getting better and better !!!!!

You need to take your wife out dancing this coming weekend - and leave the Haddorff at home !!

Ha ha - hilarious, Andy!

I love the quasi-old-record voice you pull off for the music selection this week - very cool, very authentic ha - I'm still laughing. I really feel like you stepped right out of those old times, the inflections are spot-on. Heh - "I must say, she's really not that grey" is good!

The story, of course, is as entertaining as usual. Now you have the pencil used to write some of the best rag ever written!

Thanks again, Andy! Those old-time radio shows have nothin' on you .

Happy birthday, Andy! Have a nice party with your Haddorff!

I'm really glad you are enjoying these! They are fun to prepare! They take so much time, though, that at some point, I'll have to take a break to actually WORK ON THE PIANO(s)!



Soon, al-mahed! If I can just do a take of Weeping Willow that I can live with!




Jer, "Don't even think about it!" were, I think, her actual words... And also, "No more pianos come in unless an equal number of pianos go out!" To be fair, my wife was the one who pointed out the actual ad in the paper for this very piano! Then, her actual words were, "I don't know why I'm telling you this, but..."




Ha-ha, CA! Your comment gave me warm tinglies all over! Can you scan and post a picture of one of your favorite scores, or are they too fragile? (mine are falling apart!)




Indeed, carey! My wife actually said, "Do I need to sign us up for foxtrot lessons?" That would be a hoot!




Hey, Mattardo! I started out singing through a 20 oz. paper coffee cup with the bottom cut out (like a megaphone), but that wasn't quite right. Then I sang into an empty yogurt container--still wasn't right. Then I sang into a plastic bowl. That worked pretty well. When I mixed the tracks, I found a "filter," and that *really* did the job! (I'm still learning how to use this Cubase thing!) So, the guy on the phone at Frank's warehouse, and the guy singing the song are both processed with low *and* high tech means. Also, it's a little weird, but I like the way the song turned out with the voice filtered, but the piano not filtered! Also, that's pure piano on there--no EQ or reverb or anything! I'm tempted to sing "Ain't She Sweet" about my piano, but then, next week I might be singing "All Alone!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDY!!

Yes, they are very fragile, that's why they are in a box rather than on the shelf (I am not a fan of vacuum-cleaning paper crumbs), but if I come across something which I think you like, I will try. At any rate, I once found grandma's and grandpa's songs (two volumes) . I have to confess I haven't played them much, but they are not in a bad condition and I could scan the index for you....

Al-mahed: Thank you!

CA: You wouldn't happen to have a copy of "Up The Lazy River" would you?

Andy:
Sorry, I went through all my old scores and didn't find it...

Thank you for checking, CA! You're a real sweetheart! I hope you had fun going through the scores, at least!

And, not to worry! I know I'll find it some day... And when I do, I'm gonna play the heck out of it!

Thank you... I also checked if they had it online, but I didn't find a free copy. Some sites sell it though...

Andy, that is a true relic and treasure of a piano!

Andy - very impressed with your pre and post production. You honestly sound like different people, especially with the subtle panning of the voices. I love your committment! YOu could get a job singing like this (except for the yoghurt container stuck to you face ... might not look too good Loved the dodgy used piano salesman - so funny Thank you. Now to down load next one.

I'm pretty sure I can tell where the Andy words kick in Haha. I don't know many old time songs, but so glad that I recognised this one.

I stumbled on this thread. Absolutley love that piano, so charming! Don't ever tune it, you will ruin it!

Too late, Mr. Magic! See:

Haddorff Postcard No. 7

But good news! There are still five other Postcards with untuned Haddie! Let me know if you need the links, I'll be glad to share them. Thanks for listening!

--Andy

P.S., It's been awhile since she's been tuned, though, and she's drifting back to the Randomly Beating Frontier Temperament!