Today I came across a record of demos of #1 hits from the 1980s - Number One With A Bullet. It seemed strange that anyone would release a record of demos, which, by their nature, sound unpolished, a little dusty, slightly soulless. Even stranger, this record was reviewed in the New York Times.

Of course I had to slap it on the turntable. What did I learn from listening to the demo versions of Walk Like An Egyptian and Nightshift? Sometimes the star makes the song. Sometimes the song is already made. Sometimes what you need is a producer.

A colleague posed this question:

Worldwide, who do you think is more popular: Celine Dion or Bob Marley?

Walking home this afternoon, I thought I heard someone practicing the flute, tootling light melodies out an open window on a springlike day. It was the window washers maneuvering their platform from one floor to the next. A surprisingly lovely timbre and rhythm.