Swing and a hit
Peter Gammons isn't the first sportswriter to be honored by the Hall of Fame. But Red Smith , as far as we know, never had a big band. After years of dabbling in music -- and recommending his favorites via his baseball column -- Gammons has recorded his debut. ``Never Slow Down, Never Grow Old," which arrives in stores next week , features a series of covers of his favorites (Warren Zevon , the Clash) and a Gammons original, ``She Fell From Heaven." We spoke to Gammons last week, before he was hospitalized and operated on for a brain aneurysm.
Q. You know there are a lot of songs about baseball. Did you consider doing one? How about John Fogerty's "Centerfield"?
A. I'm not a big fan of that one. They say, ``Put me in, coach." That never worked for me.
Q. And then you do Zevon's ``Model Citizen" but not his ``Bill Lee," which we know was about the legendary Red Sox pitcher.
A. I just didn't like the song as much. I liked it but I just didn't like it as much. I also sort of liked Zevon's last disc.
Q. Also, you've got Red Sox players, an announcer, and Theo Epstein. Why not Dan Duquette ? He's done musical theater.
A. He should have come and sung. I should have asked him, because I still really respect him. It would have been funny to do that.
Q. Would Theo and Dan have sung together?
A. They would have been very happy to. When Theo used to do his pregame shows, I remember they brought up Kelly Shoppach from the minor leagues. And Theo would say, ``What a great tribute to Dan Duquette to bring him up and bring him to the big leagues."
Q. What did you do to work on your voice or prepare to record? Singing ``Death or Glory" while driving home from ESPN is one thing. On record, it's another.
A. It's also totally different when you're up on stage at the Paradise and it's very loud. I found the recording process in the studio very difficult. We did a little music in one session, and then you stand there with headsets on your head and you're singing by yourself. When Eddie Vedder was fooling around at Fenway three weeks ago, I said, ``I can't believe how difficult it is to get in there and sing by yourself." He said, ``It's still difficult for me. I just think about Michael Jordan standing at the free throw line." I said, ``I'm not you or Michael Jordan."
Q. How extensive will your touring be? Will there be a show beyond the Hot Stove, Cool Music show in July?
A. I'll have a release party at the Paradise in August. A couple dates in New York. I was supposed to open for George Thorogood in Cleveland. I can't because of the trade deadline.
GEOFF EDGERS
