SONG-A-WEEK: LITTLE SAM ~ RICK BERLIN

Long before I 'knew what I was doing' in the song writing department, I lived in a fat 3-story house in New Haven with a bunch of bohemian artists and musicians. Among them was an architect, Gus Dudley who stayed with us awhile awaiting a divorce. His son, Sam, would visit and we hung out. He was not much older than 7 or 8. We got super close for a few short days (the way kids do, choosing a favorite friend and then abruptly and beautifully moving on. I wrote this song about him on an old church upright we dragged into the house. My sister Lisa sang it - that's her in the photo. It made it onto the Orchestra Luna record (EPIC -1974). Lo and behold, down the road, Lisa married another Dudley (another Sam) and her son, Sam (I know, so many Sams), my awesome nephew, is playing with us (trombone) in the NICKEL & DIME BAND.

'Little Sam' was first performed at The Other Side (a long defunct drag bar across the street from Jacques). We played Sylvia Sydney's show. Lisa (who loved big stages - The Orpheum for example - was shy in smaller rooms. She walked to the back of the stage when it was time for her to sing and in a loud whisper said 'YOU SING IT!'. I did. I still do. But it is her tremulous and innocent version here that tells the truth about this song and about rocking chair heart.