Sunday Music: The Best of Roberta Flack

Album Title: The Best of Roberta Flack

Why I Bought It: I haven't been to many popular music concerts; I could probably count them on one hand. One of that handful stands out in memory. It was an outdoor concert in Chicago, in summer of '79 or '80. The concert was free, but you had to bring your own blanket, lawn chairs, or whatever, and so many people were there that I couldn't even see the singer. The sound system was just fine, though, and I heard her clearly. She was, of course, Roberta Flack.

What I Like (Eerie): "Killing Me Softly With His Song". Just a powerful song - or is it a metasong?

What I Like (Romantic): "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face". Flack's other signature song. I have a cover by Gordon Lightfoot, which isn't nearly as good.

What I Like (Comforting): "You've Got a Friend". What more is there to say?

Overall: Some very good songs, some merely good. Janis Ian sang a better version of "Jesse", and I think I like Carole King's "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" a little better than Flack's, but that doesn't make either of them bad. "Where Is the Love", "You Are My Heaven", "Back Together Again" - lots of good old fashioned romantic stuff.

Mojo

Buster's been acting a bit oddly since the trip to the groomer. "Subdued" is not the right word; he's as bouncy as ever at walk times. But he's been spending an inordinate amount of time in his hidey-hole under the hassock, sometimes not even emerging for treats. More puzzlingly, there've been times when I've been petting or playing with him and he suddenly jerks away, looks around as if in alarm, and bolts for the hassock. Frequently, this occurred when Gracie showed up to horn in.

He seems to have gotten some of his mojo back the last couple of days, but he's still spending more time than usual under the hassock. From some of his mannerisms, I'm wondering if there's something bothering him about his hindquarters. He's not chewing or butt-scooting, but he'll suddenly twitch and look at one or the other hind leg for a moment - often before pulling his disappearing act.

I shall have to keep an eye on this.