C. (Comment, never msg).'s Reviews > The Robert Service Story

Here is an anecdote from Christmas with my Dad last month, 2023. This Robert Service CD was one of his gifts from me, you see.

The first thing I seek on albums, books, photographs, letters, cards.... is their year. Who issues merchandise without a date, on the insert or CD!? Its internet reference will have to come from me. Thankfully, on the recording, 1940 is identified: voilà!

No one knows my Dad enjoys poetry. He memorized some from schooldays and others that moved him. A family of talented musicians on both sides, our Dad loves good entertainment of any kind. A few years ago, I think I mentioned buying a book about the Yukon or Robert. Dad exclaimed that “The Shooting Of Dan McGrew” was one of his favourites, which he quoted the first verse of. He reminisced about a friend of an old relative reciting that poem in a stentorian manner, impressing me to imagine that good poetry is made to be performed aloud.

You can guess how delighted I was, to recently find “The Robert Service Story” on CD! It was only $1.00 CDN but the point is: Robert delivers his poems! His story is narrated by a Canadian broadcaster, Les McLaughlin; who annoyingly used the poet’s last name all the way through. That and lack of detail is why it receives three stars.

My Dad was as pleased as I imagined and we played his favourite poem. Politely, Dad observed that the delivery was lacklustre. I thought the same but replied “They are his poems and we are learning how he sounded, from before you were born”. Dad concurred but reiterated that he had heard better. We turned it off and I laugh that Dad finds Robert lacking as an orator, if not as a memorable author!

*I put work into all my writing. Comments instead of clicks are appreciated.*