10 albums 10 days, day 2: Welcome To The Ponderosa, Lorne Greene

I’ve chosen Welcome To The Ponderosa: An Evening Of Songs & Stories With Lorne Greene (1964) as the second album that informed my musical appreciation.

It includes Greene’s hit single “Ringo,” which was introduced to me by my grade five music teacher Don Hoepner. It laid the groundwork for my enjoyment of spoken word pieces set to music — including Lou Reed’s New York, “Whatever Happened To Gus” by Medeski, Martin & Wood, and Poitier Meets Plato.

Looking at that list, and indeed the nine other selections I’ve made, I’m noticing my choices are all fellas.

My mother would not approve.

Which is one big reason why the list is, reflexively, all male.

Hers was a forceful personality and as I wobbled toward individuation we had our share of impassioned arguments over what was, and was not, acceptable artistic expression. Late in life she admitted she wished her late-in-life take on this matter had been her early-in-life take. But that is the journey for all of us — or so we hope, and aspire to.

Anyway, there’s your nickel’s worth of insight into my psyche. Hopefully that warms the cockles of your heart somewhat, 'cos I’m sticking with my initial hetero-normative selections, but in deference to Ma (and our common humanity) adding gender alternatives as a sober second thought.

With the exception of Steely Dan. I just don’t know of anyone else, regardless of chosen gender pronouns, who even approaches doing what they’ve done. If you’ve got thoughts and suggestions I am all ears.

Oh, and I will be making two selections per decade, of the decades I have enjoyed existing in — kind of.

Alright, today’s alternative to Alpha Straight White Male Lorne Greene — Peggy Lee, Is That All There Is? (1969)

Absolutely killer. And may I just say: I am so glad I did not first encounter it at the tender age of 10.

More anon.