Who Is Steve Goodman? (1948-1984)

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 04 Apr 98 - 01:19 PM

THANKS!! Art

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Jerry Friedman
Date: 04 Apr 98 - 01:13 PM

I did a Forum Search with "Goodman" in the Body box and "Thieme" in the Username box. One of the four results was this:

Steve Goodman was a grand fellow. We were all (mostly)Cub fans. When I was a kid we'd go to Wrigley Field after school. The gate were opened in the 7th inning to let folks out (nobody ever stayed to the end 'cause the Cubs never won). We'd just walk in & watch the rest of the game FREE and we would hope for an extra inning game. After the game we'd get a gunny sack from a guy and walk from left field to right field picking up trash and lifting the seats. That would get us a grandstand pass for the next game. After we were finished it was time for the players to come out at get on the bus. We'd hold autograph books up to the windows & get the signatures FREE back in the 50s...I had Duke Snider and Roy Campanella 3 times each--not to mention the entire Brooklyn team. When we finished with the visiting team we'd go to the Cubs side and get the stragglers. No hurry for the Cubs; we could ALWAYS get them. Wish I knew where those autograph books went!!! No, to Stevie! Me and my wife, Carol, were walking home one day. Carol was 8 months pregnant. A 2-seater car pulled up and it was Steve. He gave Carol a ride home and by the time I got there the coffee was brewed and the guitars were out. That was the first time he told us that he'd been diagnosed with his disease. He had just come back from the Sloan-Kettering Center & tratments. We were devastated. But the illness went into remission for the next l5 years. It always seemed like Steve was gonna beat it. And that's why it came as such a damn shock when I was on tour somewhere and heard from a motel room TV that he had died. My son, Chris, is 27 now. (He was born 2 months after Steve and me & Carol had coffee that morning.) And Carol and I were at a Cubs game WHEN SHE WENT INTO LABOR!! We walked home--over a mile. Cris was born a day later. Long labor! But as I write this I can see it like it was this morning. Yes, Chicago had a wondrous folk scene then; different now but still quite wonderful folks! Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 04 Apr 98 - 07:38 AM

Stevie was a grand fellow! Anyone around the Chicago folk scene in those heady days (in more ways than one) will attest to that.

I posted a personal remembrance of Steve a while ago. It'd be good to see it in this thread. But I'm not up to going through the head turmoil of trying to do it over again.

Max, would it be possible to find that and insert it here?? Hope it's doable! I'll add to it after I see all I wrote then...

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Dale Rose
Date: 04 Apr 98 - 12:11 AM

He was on Austin City Limits at least a couple of times. Be sure to catch the shows if they are ever repeated. Maybe a gentle request or two to PBS/ACL might help them decide that they should show them again. The part where Jethroe Burns comes out and plays with him is a real gem. The look of admiration and respect on Steve's face is genuine and worth any number of fake greetings that you see on TV nowadays. And of course, the music is wonderful.

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: S.P. Buck Mulligan
Date: 03 Apr 98 - 07:39 AM

All of the above, of course, as well as a "thanks" to John in Brisbane for asking, thus providing an opportunity to chime in with another paean. I saw Goodman at Passim, in Cambridge Mass, one Friday night, about 1975, and I've never seen anyone who was so plainly having a really good time for himself. His talent just overflowed everything he did - if you ever have the opportunity to listen to the collection "John Prine Live", pay close attention to "Souvenirs" - Prine called Goodman out to the stage to join him on this one, and they do a wonderful job of course, but there's a guitar break in there that is so happy, light, precise, and most importantly - sounds like it just rolled off his fingertips - that I never tire of listening to - it lasts about 30 seconds. I have to agree with Joel Ponzan too about "The Dutchman" - this Michael Smith song is the hardest song I ever sang in a gig, because I couldn't sing it without hearing Goodman, and I'd wind up listening to Steve Goodman in my head instead of paying attention to my own work.

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Frank in the swamps
Date: 03 Apr 98 - 05:52 AM

I saw Steve Goodman at S.U.N.Y. Binghamton in the mid 70's. It was a small venue, held about 100 people max. After giving a pretty long performance he shrugged and said "Well if you aren't going anywhere I ain't either" and played what was the longest concert I have ever heard. He did this solo! I've always had the utmost respect for the man because he worked so hard to give his audience all he had too give.

Frank.

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Apr 98 - 01:07 AM

There's a two-disc set on Steve's Red Pajamas label that gives a great introduction to Steve Goodman. It's called No Big Surprise: The Steve Goodman Anthology. It has one live CD and one from the studio, a total of 42 songs, more if you count medleys separate. While you're at it, you might want to pick up the Great Days Anthology from Steve's buddy, John Prine. It's good stuff, too.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Rufus
Date: 02 Apr 98 - 11:27 PM

Goodman was one of the best singer/songwriters to ever spin a musical yarn. You can find out everything you want to know and possibly more at:

http://www.hepcat.com/goodman/good.html

At least you asked. That shows you really care about someone that more people should care about. God rest his soul.

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Joel Ponzan
Date: 02 Apr 98 - 11:26 PM

Steve Goodman was (he died of leukemia about 10 (?) years ago) a prolific songwriter, an incredibly gifted guitarist and one of the hardest working performers I've ever seen. His rendition of "The Dutchman" is one of the most moving pieces I've heard. I had the pleasure of meeting him at several parties in NYC over the years, and he was the kind of guy who was more interested in listening to other musicians play than knocking you out with his latest. His death was a loss for all musicians.

Subject: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 02 Apr 98 - 11:09 PM

I realise that asking this question might be similar to querying who is Eric Bogle or What is A Child Ballad.

I know that he wrote Banana Republics (one of my favourites) and City Of New Orleans. I have seen his name mentioned in a couple of threads, and a search of the database shows that he has written 6 or 7 songs in there.

Any bio details please?

Regards John

PS Speaking of Banana Republics, I can't play a reggae guitar rhythm to save myself. Any tips please short of using it for kindling.