Who Is Steve Goodman? (1948-1984)

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.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 - 01:19 PM

THANKS!! Art

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 04 Apr 98 - 03:23 PM

I might've told this before,but...

I had a longneck customized Vega tubaphone banjo (always kept a chicken inside to mute the sound and so I could say I had "a chicken in every pot") and I traded that banjo for a very small Martin guitar for my wife. Eventually I wanted that banjo back, but the guy who owned the store I'd traded it to wanted an outrageous amount of cash for it (even in the early 70 the amount was high). I was telling the sad tale at SOMEBODY ELSE'S TROUBLES, a great bar, folk club and hangout owned by Bill Redhed, Steve Goodman, Fred Holstein, Earl (of Old Town) Pionke & maybe others. Steve heard me tell it and he got that narrow/challenged look in his eye & he said, "How much will ya pay for it?" I answered, "$500.00"---that is what I'd paid for it the first time. Steve told me to get the cash. I got it and several of us went down to the store on an upper floor of a building on Wabash Avenue in Chicago's Loop area---above a huge record store. I gave the cash to Steve and he went upstars alone! We all hung out looking for LPs downstairs.

The owner hung around Steve up in the instrument store as Steve went from instrument to instrument---but he kept coming back to my old banjo.(Steve was already sort of well known.) Steve asked what it cost? $1,000.00 was what he was told. (That's already $200.00 less than what was quoted to me.) Steve walked away from it but later came back--telling the owner that "I'll play it on stage and mention you wherever I go if you'll cut the price!" BOTTOM LINE: Steve got it for me for five hundred bucks (no tax added)& brought it downstairs, handed it to me,and we all went next door to Millers Pub and had a beer. Then we went back to the club and bragged about scamming this notorious over-charger!

As he did on stage, when Steve was challenged by a situation he'd get that look in his eye like Mike Singletary at middle linebacker for the Bears & GO for the tackle! He was the best damn performer I ever saw (other than Pete Seeger or Louie Armstrong maybe).

I needed the rent money a few months later & had to sell that banjo for the same amount. Gigs were sparse sometimes.

The bar/folk club was named for Steve's song "Somebody Else's Troubles"---about "It's not hard to get along with soebody else's troubles-------They never make ya lose any sleep at night,-----And when fate is out there bustin' somebody else's bubble-----Everything's gonna be alright!/ (or something like that??)

This was a thinly disguised tale about Steve's own fight with leukemia----we all knew that around Chicago but not too many others knew about it. And to this day I'm amazed at how much that little guy has continued to mean to me. Thanks, John in Brisbane, for giving me the excuse to revel in the nostalgia of those youthful Kerouacian memories!

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Apr 98 - 04:50 PM

That's a great story, Art, and I don't think you told it to us before. I have just one question:
How does one pronounce "Kerouacian"????
Never mind.....
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Rufus
Date: 04 Apr 98 - 09:15 PM

I'm new to the Mudcat but I see that I am going to like it here. I think that I am about to learn a lot. And Art, thanks from me too. I've been an admirer of Mr. Goodman's since 1987 when I was turned onto him in a roundabout way via Buffett. Did I mention I was only 18. See? There is hope for the younger generations.

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 05 Apr 98 - 01:37 AM

Joe & Rufus,

Thanks for your kind comments. I do appreciate 'em. Of course, Jack THE MAN Kerouac is where Ker-oo--ak--ian (as in ian & Sylvia) came from.

Art

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Rockaday Johnnie
Date: 05 Apr 98 - 03:13 AM

Didn't Ian & Sylvia Record the Jack Keroauc Song That's The Ticket?

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 05 Apr 98 - 10:53 AM

No! I'm sure my bank statement would reflect that fact if they had!

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Alice
Date: 05 Apr 98 - 12:25 PM

Art, that was a sweet, sweet remembrance of your friend, and I'm glad this thread brought it up so we can appreciate both Steve Goodman and YOU.
(BTW, have you chosen a final name for your CD?)

alice, mt

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 05 Apr 98 - 07:38 PM

My thanks to all. I guess I should have known that such great material had been written by a formidable talent. The depth of emotion in your responses has touched me more than anything else I have read in a long, long time.

My thanks again. John

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 06 Apr 98 - 04:05 AM

Alice, Hello & thanks! CD probably will be called __The Older I Get, The Better I Was__ .

I've a good recording of myself doing "City Of New Orleans" at the Green Dragon in Fort Atkinson, Wis. the weekend after Steve passed away. But can't use it for ONE switch around of words that happened in a verse. But with digital engineering maybe it could be fixed...

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: jane sanders
Date: 06 Apr 98 - 04:50 PM

There's a Steve Goodman web site or two around - you should check them out. One has film clips of Stevie (as my friends who actually knew him called him - I unfortunately didn't) performing - a real dynamo, to say the least. I attended the Steve Goodman Tribute evening at Medinah Temple in Chicago last winter - many performers there including John Prine and Arlo. People in the crowd were all pretty choked up by the end of the evening.

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Steve in Wisconsin
Date: 06 Apr 98 - 07:28 PM

I first encountered Steve Goodman on the stage at my high school in Northfield, Illinois. I was just getting into folk/acoustic music, but many there weren't (at first). Steve played his heart out and really captured most of the audience, but one guy kept yelling for "rock 'n roll." He ignored this for awhile, but finally (and out of the blue) said, "Alright. You want you're rok 'n roll"-blank-blank you" and launched into an incredible version of an old song called "Diane" (by Paul Anka, I believe). It brought down the house and won the last few rock 'n roll holdouts over. I have a very bad tape from that concert and it remains one of my most prized possesions.

One of my last memories was of sitting near Steve at a game at Wrigley. I want to say that it was in 1984 (when he died and the Cubs clinched the division for the first time in 39 years), but I may be romanticizing (sp?) it.

I saw him perform many times. To me, Steve Goodman was to music what Robin Williams is to comedy-pure genius. He could fire off the hottest, wildest solos and then soothe you with a quiet tune. It was a privilege to see. The closest thing to being there is the Live side of "No Big Surprise."

Acoustically,

Steve in Wisconsin

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 06 Apr 98 - 08:09 PM

At club gigs, where a table of 6 or 8 might be 30 years older than everybody else & wondering why they came to this, Steve would just STOP and ask 'em, "What year were ya married in?" Whatever they said, and I saw him do this several times, he'd reel off a huge medley of hits from THAT YEAR! Those people were IN HIS POCKET for the rest of the night by the time he finished the first few tunes. That was the same kind of challenge to Steve as buying back my banjo for me and screwing that shop owner over!

Art

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From:
Date: 11 Apr 98 - 10:22 AM

S.P. Buck Mulligan said,

I saw Goodman at Passim, in Cambridge Mass, one Friday night...

I have a tape of a Passim show of Steve's from that era, and some from WCAS.

Great stuff.

I'm not on this list, just reading on the Web, but if interested in trading Steve Goodman tapes, I have some.

Ian

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 11:49 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 11:53 PM

Good refresh Art. Harvey Andrews might well look in here and contribute.

Murray

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: BlueJay
Date: 29 Nov 01 - 02:54 AM

Thanks for the refresh and your memories, Art. Made my day, reading more about one of the people I most admire. What an incredible performer. I only saw Steve Goodman once, years ago at Red Rocks in Denver. Luckily I was near the stage. When he began "You Never Even Called Me by my Name", he asked if anyone had a cowboy hat, as he'd probably done many times before. This time, someone in the audience threw him a cowboy hat that was obviously about six sizes too large, and it was hilarious. About all you could see under the hat was the tip of his nose and his infectious smile.

He was one of a kind. I've always thought that Illinois should be called, "The Land of Goodman". Thanks again, Art, BlueJay

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Big Tim
Date: 29 Nov 01 - 12:05 PM

Thanks for the info on SG. I'm just home from a holiday in US which included a 7 hour trip on the "Train They Call the City of New Orleans" from Memphis to Hammond. I had always thought Arlo Guthrie wrote this song but on the train itself I discovered that it was in fact Steve Goodman. I was thinking about him as the train passed "graveyards of old black men and the graveyards of of the rusting automobiles". His spirit lives.

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: GUEST,Phillip
Date: 29 Nov 01 - 02:50 PM

Steve Goodman also wrote the perfect country & western song, as acknowledged by Davis Allan Coe. It had all the prerequisites of the country genre: Momma, trains, pickup trucks, gettin' drunk, prison, leavin', etc.

To wit:

Well I was drunk....., the day my Mom got outta prison

And I went.... to pick her up... in the rain

But, before... I could get to the station in my pickup...

She got run over by a damned old train.

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 12:06 AM

Beautiful Hammond, Indiana-----where Caroline Paton grew up. Right, Sandy???

Art

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 01:47 AM

As I have said elsewhere I wish I had had the chance to see Steve Goodman live.

However, as a fully paid up member of the Mudcat Pedant Club, I feel it incumbent upon me to point out that Goodman's line in "City of New Orleans" about "Changing cars in Memphis Tennessee" is erroneous. And I am assured about this by a greater pedant than I, who shall remain namelss.

Apparently the train they call the City of New Orleans never did change cars in Memphis, In fact, although I couldn't swear to it, I believe they never changed cars at all on this train.

Murray

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Raptor
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 08:51 AM

Correct me if this is not true but I'd heard that Steve Goodman was playing in a club with Chriss Christoferson when he did a song that "a friend " wrote when Chriss freaked out "who wrote that? It's Briliant". When Steve said "A mailman who lives in chicago" Chriss said "I gotta Meet him". It turned out to be JOHN PRINE and thats how Prine got into the scene!
(could be an urban Legend) But a good story! Raptor

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: jeffp
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 09:03 AM

I always interpreted the line, "Changing cars in Memphis, Tennessee" as meaning the singer got up and moved to another car, possibly to find somebody awake to talk with.

jeffp

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Deckman
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 10:53 AM

Thanks for bringing this thread up again Art. I missed it first time around. Hey, there's a great song title, "I Missed It First Time Around!" Never mind. CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Clifton53
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 12:01 PM

I had the good fortune to see Steve Goodman with Jethro Burns. It was a tremendous show with just the two of them. When he introduced " The City Of New Orleans", Steve said that he never enjoyed playing it more than when the " big guy tears it up", which Jethro then proceeded to do on the mando. Never heard it done like that before as Burns took us on a rambling train ride with notes flying everywhere and Steve standing back with a huge smile on his face.

Clifton

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 12:56 PM

Any train might change cars anywhere there was a side track. In Memphis there were numerous reasons to change cars, switch cargos from river barges (corn, soybeans, salt, coal, even molasses. A Missippi River barge is 195 feet long and 35 feet wide and has a draft of over nine feet. Just think of all the MOLES they had to kill to fill one barge !!!!! ;-)

Art Thieme
(BARGES, we don't need no stinkin' barges !!)

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 08:34 PM

I heard him the one time at Cambridge Folk Festival, and was knocked out by the way he leapt into action. Seemed so alive I couldn't believe it when he died.

Art - are you going to write your memoirs? Better yet, tell them to us here. Noone else knows those things.

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: 53
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 08:41 PM

I LIKE HIM IN THE DUO WITH JOHN PRINE ON SOVENIRS. BOB

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 10:43 PM

McGrath,

I've been writing the memoirs here at Mudcat----whenever someone asks a question that I've got a part of the answer for---or at least a wise crack, pun, one-liner, opinion on or facetious comment to spew out. Like semantic gas, it just erupts. Sometimes it stinks but I do hope not too often. I've got too much time on my hands and Max's site is a grand place to hang out & find a few folks who need some of the merde that stuck to my "thirsty boots" when it was the status quo "for my bootheals to be a-wanderin'" down the proverbial "hot dusty road".

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 11:21 PM

CLAY EALS has been criss-crossing the country over and over (and over) to interview hundreds of people who were central to Steve's life---people who were there for all of it--all over the place.
I've heard that a few key people don't want to be involved but I do hope that they decide to agree to be interviewed. I'm excited about having that musical era and Mr. Goodman spotlighted in a way that gives the truest picture of those few moments in my city. It was a short time-line segment---but the glow of it was like the neon signs of Old Town and Rush Street glimmering and sparkling on wet rainy night pavement with us going for breakfast too wired to sleep or walking / staggering home after 4:00-AM gigs, guitars and banjo cases in hand.

Art

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Dec 01 - 01:51 AM

I've been searching for all the Steve Goodman songs I can find in Mudcat.

The following songs are all in DT. I didn't bother to set up links:
BANANA REPUBLICS
CITY OF NEW ORLEANS
DYING CUB FAN'S LAST REQUEST
ELECTION YEAR RAG
NOWHERE IN A HURRY BLUES
PENNY EVANS
THE DUTCHMAN (not written by SG, but sung by him)
TROUBLE WILL FIND YOU
VEGEMATIC
YOU DON'T EVEN CALL ME BY MY NAME

The following songs are in various threads. Click on the link to see them.
BEATNIK, PREVERT, DON'T TALK THAT WAY TO ME!
ELVIS IMITATORS
MY OLD MAN
SOMEBODY ELSE'S TROUBLES
THE CHICKEN CORDON BLEUS
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY IS ALMOST OVER

If I missed any, I'd be grateful if others would post links to them here.

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 01 Dec 01 - 02:42 AM

I was lucky enough to see Steve twice, once at the Main Point in Bryn Mawr, Pa., near Philly, and once in Philly at the Walnut St. Theater. The Roches opened for him at the Walnut St., and they were fantastic, but Steve's set was even better. And, as has been mentioned by several people here, when he got to what was obviously the end of the set, he stopped, looked out at the audience, looked at his band, and said, "Oh, hell, we came here to play, let's play!"...and went on for at least another half hour or more. The other thing I remember about Steve was his patter between songs: funny, accurate, and as quietly brilliant as his solos. I'll always be grateful to my med school roommate, Frank Venuti, for telling me about Steve Goodman.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: GUEST,harvey andrews
Date: 01 Dec 01 - 09:34 AM

I didn't know who Steve was at the Cambridge festival...he was just another American who pushed the British artists down the bill...and times were competitive back then!I did my best ever Cambridge set, the audience were on their feet at the end..the m.c. couldn't get them to sit back down..they were roaring and stomping for more..and little Steve Goodman walked out to the mike. The audience ignored him..."more, more," "follow that!" the young adrenalised me said..and Goddman began to play..no one heard a note..."more, more" then a little group by the left speaker paused and listened and then sat down...then a group by the right speaker..gradually the ovation grew quieter as row after row of people stopped cheering and listened and then sat down..this rippled eventually to the back of the tent until the whole audience was seated and quiet and listening to Steve playing "It's a sin to tell a lie" at double his usual speed..it was amazing. When he'd got them all settled he sang one quick verse and finished. They were in the palm of his hand and my performance was history! I was in the wings slackjawed. Best thing I ever saw..and I've loved the man and his music ever since. Seems to me we lost too many too young, Goodman, Chapin, Ochs, Wolf,Hardin,Rogers...how much bigger the storytelling songwriting scene would be if they were still alive!

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 01 Dec 01 - 10:43 AM

Right on, Mr. Andrews. I don't know your music -- but I want to.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: GUEST,harvey andrews
Date: 01 Dec 01 - 11:45 AM

Thanks Art the website is at www.harveyandrews.com and there are samples of tracks and a diary of the early days you might find interesting

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: musicmick
Date: 02 Dec 01 - 03:25 AM

I am one of the informants interviewed by Clay Eals for his Steve Goodman project. I met Steve when he was undergoing treatment in New York because, at that time, chemo was unavailable in Chicago. Steve flew into New York every other week. He took the treatment, then he had to rest for a day or two before he could fly home. In New York, in those days, folksingers usually stayed at Paula Ballan's apartment on East 67th. Everyone was there at one time or another. Most of us had our own keys. I was doing a recording project that took the whole summer, so I spent a lot of time with Steve when he was resting up for the next torturous treatment. His courage was to be believed. We remained close friends all his life, although we didn't get together unless we were both playing the same festival. Still, whenever he played Philly, which was whenever they could hire him, we found some time. I was about to start a set at a winery in New Jersey when one of my sidemen told me that Steve was dead. I played in a haze and I cried when I could. I dont really remember much about that day. Mike Miller

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: John Hardly
Date: 03 Dec 01 - 12:54 AM

I posted this before-----still my favorite Steve Goodman story:

From the liner notes of "no big surprise--The Steve Goodman Anthology

After Steve recorded the song for Buddah Records, Neil Bogart, then the president of that company, asked him (and Rosie Grier, and a singer called "The Soul Of Country Music") to join Democratic candidate Edmund Muskie's 1972 whistlestop campaign through Florida for the presidential primary there. Steve didn't believe there were political solutions to life's problems. He wrote songs about politians with outrageous and audacious vagaries, bestowing upon them the irreverent admiration he always showed for desperados, con artists and pitchmen. In addition, Steve was coming off a recent bout of chemotherapy. But the chanced to observe a politician in action was too good to pass up, so he went along...when the train reached Sebring, the organizers made sure a big (bought-and-paid-for) crowd and lots of reporters would turn out.

After Rosey, "The Soul", and Steve did their thing, warming up the crowd by singing from the observation car platform, Muskie emerged (Lincoln-like) and launched into his speech. The entertainers retired to the air-conditioned lounge section. Steve suddenly felt stomach cramps--the after-effects of chemo, combined with symptoms of a lingering flu and an ill-advised Mexican meal the night before--and he dashed for the toilet. There hung the traditional sign, which he himself had immortalized in song: "Passengers will please refrain from flushing toilet while train is in the station." Steve arose from the seat, a lighter and happier man. He reached for the cord. He hestitated. What was the worst that could happen? Presumbly his loathsome and semi-radioactive deposit would simply fall below and be left (anonymously) between the tracks when the train pulled out. He yanked the cord and walked meekly back into the car.

He had no way of knowing that on this particular state-of-the-art passenger car, waste matter was sucked out of the toilet and straight back through vacuum tubes along the sides to be sprayed in a fine mist from the rear of the train. Muskie's campaign manager burst into the car howling, "People are being covered with shit out there!" Steve's reply: "Hey, man, he's your candidate!"

--Nancy Goodman Tenney

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 03 Dec 01 - 01:22 AM

Now we know why Muskie was crying.

Art

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: Fortunato
Date: 03 Dec 01 - 02:51 PM

Thanks, Art, et al for the good stories.

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: SaulBro
Date: 03 Dec 01 - 09:09 PM

The Steve Goodman website is at < http://www.hepcat.com/goodman/good.html>. One can also join the "Chicago-Shorty" email list from a link there, a low-traffic list about Goodman and associates.

As Jethro Burns used to say, "When you're with Steve, every day is Christmas". Sure miss Steve...we had a small gathering of fans recently(Oct. 2001) on Guemes Island, Washington. Present, among others, were Goodman's biographer Clay Eals, and some of us who had played with Steve(Bryan Bowers, Jeff Gutcheon, and I). We traded songs and stories, and reminisced about what Steve meant to us.

Saul Broudy Philadelphia, PA USA (who, btw, played harmonica with Steve in many live performances and on 3 of his mid-70s Elektra-Asylum albums)

Subject: RE: Who Is Steve Goodman?
From: GUEST,Ray Frank
Date: 03 Dec 01 - 11:10 PM

Hi all especially Mike Miller and Saul Broudy,

Clay Eals recently visited me at a gig to talk about Stevie and the memories flowed like wine.

I particularly remember visiting him at Sloan-Kettering hospital in Manhattan. We were both sitting on his bed playing guitars, working out the chords to one of his new songs. He was attached to an IV line and the bottle was swinging out of time to the music. As the chemo agents dripped in he turned pale and started throwing up. He declared that he was going to shave off his mustache because it made such a damned unwelcome vomit filter...then we kept on playing.

May Stevie live forever in our memories.

Best to all, Ray Frank