riddle@ut-sally.UUCP (Prentiss Riddle) (12/28/84)
Funny coincidence: after the recent exchange of postings about "Little Boxes"
and its author, Malvina Reynolds, I ran across a Pete Seeger album which
included in the liner notes the story of how the song came to be written.
It seems that Malvina was driving with her husband one day to an afternoon
performance somewhere in the suburbs around San Francisco when the idea came
to her. Malvina stopped the car with the words, "Take the wheel, Bud, I feel
a song coming on." By the time they reached their destination, "Little Boxes"
was ready to be sung.
--- Prentiss Riddle ("Aprendiz de todo, maestro de nada.")
--- {ihnp4,harvard,seismo,gatech,ctvax}!ut-sally!riddlehollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (Jerry Hollombe) (12/30/84)
[]
As far as I know, the suburb of San Francisco that inspired Malvina
Reynolds to write "Little Boxes" is still there. You can see it driving
south out of the city (highway 1, I think). It's unmistakeable -- exactly
as the song describes it.
--
The Polymath
(Jerry Hollombe) Opinions expressed here are my own
Transaction Technology, Inc. and unrelated to anyone else's.
3100 Ocean Park Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
United States
(213) 450-9111, ext. 2483
...{garfield,lasspvax,linus,cmcl2,seismo}!philabs!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombeericf@uwvax.UUCP (Eric Feigenson) (12/31/84)
Not too long ago, I heard Bill Staines do an "updated" version of Little
Boxes, which started something like:
Little boxes, on the hillside
Little boxes full of macrame (sp?)
Little boxes, full of Escher prints
Little boxes, all the same
.
.
.
I can't remember the rest, but it was very funny. I know Bill didn't
write this new version. Does anyone know who did, and where I can get
the lyrics? Thanks!
-Eric
--
-Eric Feigenson
Usenet: {seismo, allegra, ihnp4}!uwvax!ericf
Arpanet: ericf@wisc-rsch.arpareid@Glacier.ARPA (01/01/85)
> As far as I know, the suburb of San Francisco that inspired Malvina > Reynolds to write "Little Boxes" is still there.... It is Daly City, just south of San Francisco. If you drive northbound from Silicon Valley to S.F. via highway 280, the boxes on the hillside can be seen best from the section of road that takes you from 280 back over to 101 just before the city line. There is one particular stretch that is quite visible from the highway, stands out somewhat on the hillside, and has the correct color sequence. -- Brian Reid decwrl!glacier!reid Stanford reid@SU-Glacier.ARPA
david@varian.UUCP (David Brown) (01/03/85)
Eric Feigenson asked: > Not too long ago, I heard Bill Staines do an "updated" version of Little > Boxes, which started something like: > > Little boxes, on the hillside > Little boxes full of macrame (sp?) > Little boxes, full of Escher prints > Little boxes, all the same > . > > I can't remember the rest, but it was very funny. I know Bill didn't > write this new version. Does anyone know who did, and where I can get > the lyrics? Thanks! The complete lyrics to this version appear in the latest issue of Sing Out! magazine (in the Folk Process column I believe). I won't copy them here since I recommend everyone run out and buy their own copy of Sing Out! to support this worthy magazine. You're not likely to find it in your local newstands, though you might in some of the more extensive magazine stores. You can also try music stores and local folk venues (Plowshares in San Francisco sells single issues). The surest way is to subscribe: the rate is $11 for 4 issues: Sing Out Box 1071 Easton PA 18042. I think they've been doing a splendid job since they moved to Pennsylvania 2 years ago and resumed publication as a quarterly: lots more songs, coming out on a regular schedule (it's wonderful to read announcements about events that haven't happened yet, even if they are on the opposite coast, and it's nice to receive the list of summer festivals in April instead of October), etc. The one thing I miss from the old Sing Out! (which probably had a part in nearly bankrupting them) is the sound sheet, a little flexible record that contained bits of each song in the issue. I understand that they've replaced this with a syndicated radio show that's supposed to be heard on Pacifica radio stations; KPFA (Berkeley's Pacifica station) has a show on Thursday afternoon called "Sing Out", but it appears to be locally produced and unrelated to the magazine. Does anyone know anything more about the magazine's radio show and if it is broadcast in the Bay Area? If not, is it possible to order cassettes? -- David Brown (415) 945-2199 Varian Instruments 2700 Mitchell Dr. Walnut Creek, Ca. 94598 {zehntel,amd,fortune,resonex}!varian!david
keesan@bbncca.ARPA (Morris Keesan) (01/03/85)
-------------------------------
And speaking of Malvina Reynolds, I recall that I had promised a short while
ago to post the address of Schroder Music if I found it. Here's a facsimile
of their ad in the latest issue of "Sing Out!"
MALVINA
REYNOLDS
Books & Records
Schroder Music Co.
1450 Sixth St.
Berkeley, CA 94710
Write for free brochure
--
Morris M. Keesan
{decvax,linus,ihnp4,wivax,wjh12,ima}!bbncca!keesan
keesan @ BBN-UNIX.ARPAdavid@varian.UUCP (David Brown) (01/05/85)
A bit more on the song "Little Boxes Re-Visited" (from "Folk Process",
pg. 48, of the latest issue of Sing Out! magazine -- 30:4 Oct-Dec 84):
It was written by Vermont singer/songwriter Dick McCormack in 1976
(there are lots of references to things that were trendy then, such
as little boxes full of Kliban cats). He has several recordings
available (although it is unclear whether or not this song is on
any of them); write to R.D. 2, Box 124, Bethel VT 05032 for info.
--
David Brown (415) 945-2199
Varian Instruments 2700 Mitchell Dr. Walnut Creek, Ca. 94598
{zehntel,amd,fortune,resonex}!varian!davidericf@uwvax.UUCP (Eric Feigenson) (01/08/85)
I'm so embarrased! Mere days after posting my query about "Little Boxes
(revisited)", I finally got my copy of SO! (very late this issue, wasn't
it?), and lo and behold there were the lyrics I was looking for. Thanks
to all who responded.
-Eric
--
-Eric Feigenson
Usenet: {seismo, allegra, ihnp4}!uwvax!ericf
Arpanet: ericf@wisc-rsch.arpa