Hollowfox,

In recent years, DM has been quoted as saying he did not first perform the song at Caffe Lena, in consequence of which we at the Caffe have become wary of claiming that he did.

Note that I said "quoted as saying." Did he actually say it ? I 'm not certain. A lot gets written about Caffe Lena (thankfully). But a lot of hearsay gets passed along as fact in the process. The quote surfaced when he played Albany not too long after Lena died and let us use the concert as a vehicle for raising awareness about the effort to keep the Caffe alive. I'll try to dig out the press clipping.

Your's is the most detailed (maybe even verifiable) account I've heard of the "Caffe Lena origin" story. No surprise there. I'm going to print it out and bounce it off a few oldtimers. maybe someone can add something. (don't hold your breath anyone, I'm pretty overloaded right now. It will take time).

Another variant of the tale has the old Executive Bar (now, alas, a spots bar) as the spot where he done the deed.

Part of the confusion, of course, stems from the fact that Don played the Caffe a number of times before he hit the big time. Lots of people saw and heard him there. And he spent a lot of time in Saratoga and in the Capital District (of New York State, USA for those abroad). It is no big stretch for many of us to graft AP onto those memories.

At worst, we've got an origin myth on our hands.

BTW, nobody does three-night bookings at Lena's anymore. Lena herself had started to change that. And no more three-sets-a-night either. Bunch of softies, we've become.

-George ::-.--O