Music Deaths: Johnny Mandel, that Song from 'M*A*S*H'

JOHNNY MANDEL, 94

Died 29 June 2020

If you've ever seen the movie or TV show "M*A*S*H" you are familiar with his song.  "Suicide Is Painless" serves as the introduction of both.  It was written for the suicide "Last Supper" scene in the movie where the guy was to commit suicide.

Director Robert Altman said he made $70,000 directing the movie, but that his son, Michael Altman, had made $1 million for writing the lyrics to the song.

"Through early morning fog I see

Visions of the things to be

The pains that are withheld for me I realize and I can see

That suicide is painless."

In case you're wondering what the words are.

American composer and arranger of popular songs, film music and jazz.  He also worked with artists such as Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Barbra Streisand and Tony Bennett.

Okay, now.  Get that tune out of your head.

Good Things Coming Out of the "V"-- Part 2: Throwing Stuff Out, Movies and John Prine

Continued from March 30.

**  I will be able to find the top of the bar as I clear everything off it.

**  We are eating stuff in the freezer.  Sadly some has to be thrown out with 2015 and before dates on the items.  A lot of stuff is nothing more than a block of ice.

**  We are cleaning out the refrigerator.  There are things in there that I don't remember having.  Plus, some real icky items which have been thrown out.  I swear, one thing made a bolt for it.

**  Plus, all the pantries are being cleared out with some way old stuff, as old as 2003, being thrown out.

**  I've been listening to a lot of John Prine tunes on You Tube.  I liked him before, but not as much as now.  He was a great entertainer.  What a way with words.

**  Plus, lots and lots of movies and even marathons.  Just this past week, I watched the Harry Potter marathon on USA.

**  Liz and I have been making a date to watch MeTV's "MASH" from 6-7 p.m.  You forget how good that show was.

**  This has been a really crummy spring so far.  Since the middle of March, we've only had about six decent days.  The last three days, we've had snow flurries and a little accumulation.  Looking forward to getting some 60+ days.

**  Fortunately, we have a big house, so we don't get on each other's way.  She stays upstairs and I stay downstairs for a lot of the day.

--RoadDog

LAUGHTER TO DEAL WITH THE "V":  To the tune of "Fifty Ways to leave Your Lover."

"Just use some Purell, Mel
Keep wipes near at hand, man
Don't Listen to John, Don
You don't need more TP."

JSS: Edmund Fitzgerald-- MASH Final Episode-- Marijuana Commerdials

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  EDMUND FITZGERALD--  Almost forgot to mention that the Great Lakes ship Edmund Fitzgerald sank on November 10, 1975.  Go ahead and play that Gordon Lightfoot song.   What started out as a one-day presentation on the ship, using the song, eventually turned into a three-day presentation when I taught school.

2.  MASH FINAL EPISODE--  On Monday, Liz mentioned to me that MeTV was showing the entire MASH final episode show in honor of Veterans Day.    You forget what an excellent show that was.  And at least there was no Henry Blake leaving MASH.

3.  MARIJUANA COMMERCIALS--  We either get diabetes commercials these days, health sign up or, now that Illinois is getting around to legalizing recreational use of it on Jan. 1, we are sure getting a lot of marijuana commercials.  Those persons who were so smug that they could use it for medical reasons or angry.  And the places who got them the permission are saying you can still do better if you get it for medical purposes.

JSS.  --RoadDog

Happy 40th, MASH

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the series premier of "MASH."  The first episode was September 17, 1972.  I remember watching it, especially after I really loved the movie.  But, I sure wondered how well it would do, especially since I'd never heard of any of the actors.

It didn't take long for me to realize the quality of the show.  How you could make people laugh and cry in the same episode is a hard feat to accomplish.  And, then, there was the stupidity of war.  War shows tend to go heavy into the fighting, but most of the time is spent out of action.  How do folks pass the time?

And, then, the cast and especially the supporting ones.  Sure made some names for themselves.  When one left, they made no effort to recreate the character, but brought in a new person with their own identity.  And, I liked the way the characters used names of real home towns, of course, there was Clinger's Toledo and the time they got the order from Tony Packo's.

Probably the funniest, if you can pick one, was the arrival of Winchester when we learned he would be a worthy opponent of the two others in the Swamp.  And, of course, the time Hawkeye wasn't going to fall for the practical trick which led to him sleeping out in the compound surrounded by barbed wire and in full battle attire.

And who didn't shed a tear when McLean Stevenson died?

My second favorite sitcom ever, after WKRP.

Thanks for Coming My Way.  --RoadDog

JSS-- Ice Gone--Windstorm Yesterday-- Bears Party-- Grape Crush

Just Some Stuff:

1. All that ice on the driveway and sidewalk is finally gone thanks to the warm weather Thursday to Saturday. I helped it along with a LOT of chopping, chopping, and chopping. Boy, are my wrists and hands ever sore.

2. Yesterday, we had ten friends over for a Bears-Packers party. And DaBears won!!! As horrible as this season is going, if you beat DaPack, things are good again. However, I'll be backing the Pack in the playoffs. I would like to point out to Kip that the Bears beat the Pack both games this year!!!!

3. We had major wind yesterday, with gusts up to 55 mph around Spring Grove, Il. We were lucky not to lose electricity as we usually do in any sort of inclement weather. It blew down my spiral Christmas tree, lost a red ribbon, and put out one strand of lights.

4. Grape Crush--Earlier last week, I bought a six pack each of Orange and Grape Crush in 12 ounce bottles. Getting a pop in a bottle anymore is rare, but I haven't had Grape Crush in a long, long time. It was as Good as I remembered it Being.  Wasn't that what Radar drank on "MASH?"

Life Just Goes On. --RoadDog