Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 2, 2026 ~ Malden Musings ~ Lana & Milo Meet Vinyl Records By Peter Levine I n the “fill my heart with song” department, in three parts... 1. The Newport Jazz Festival has once again come and gone. My one time attending was many years ago and — to be honest — I remember very little from the day (“bad ice cube” day?). We started the Saturday morning at Mike’s Café, made Newport halfway through Mel Torme’s first set and jetted back to Malden for last call at the Roadside. I recently broke out my pristine copy of Newport 1958 Mahalia Jackson vinyl record and have been wearing it out ever since. The “Queen of Gospel” performed a legendary, star-making set at the festival that year highlighted by powerful renditions of my faves, “The Lord’s Prayer,” “An Evening Prayer” and “Didn’t It Rain.” 2. Malden/Mahalia connection...mid-1960s, Preacher Jack is a Mahalia fanatic. Jack was famous for his unhinged boogie-woogie performances but was also an accomplished pen and ink guy. Long story short, he pens a 10x12 portrait of Mahalia, finds an address in a fanzine, sends her the drawing firstclass postage. Six months passed without a thank you note from the “little girl with the big voice” (which quite a few artists did in those days). Jack is in Malden Square, walks into Woolworths, picks up a copy of Look Magazine with Mahalia on the cover and opens to page 12. Jack stood gob smacked for what he described as feeling like “eternity” when he spied a photo taken in Mahalia’s living room with Jack’s pen and ink matted and framed on the wall going up the stairs to the bedrooms. He kept that Look Magazine on him for decades until it finally evaporated into thin air. True story. 3. Which brings me to my grandchildren Christian (16), Lola (13), Lana (6) and Milo (4), who are now the proud owners of their very own turntable. Six-year-old Lana’s first words: Established 1978 Mid-grade Regular 4.09 4.60 5.99 $4.91 Full Service ULS $5.359 Order online at angelosoil.com Kerosene Now Available! “What the heck is THAT, Papa!?” Centrally located in the living room I have also gifted many vinyl albums to the foursome, with Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” the “Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack” and the 1972 release “Hokey Pokey’ and Other Favorites’ on Melody House Records getting the most spins. Vinyl records being kept alive one family at a time. It is said in Malden Musings.... ● I ran into Mary Hampton’s little brother John (MHS Class of ’74) recently at — where else but the meeting place of the Maldonia elite — Pearl Street Station. Although it was just a “hello, how ya doin’” type of interaction, it is always a pleasure to run into another person who loves Malden just as much as I do. Stay well, John. ● Thinking of you always, Donna M. (Lynch) Pisaturo, on the Sept. 21 (2023) anniversary of your passing. A Somerville gal who married into Malden makHome of the Week Welcome Home to Pleasant Hills Offered at $535,000 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Commonwealth Real Estate Formerly Carpenito Real Estate SAUGUS – 1st AD - Wonderful Complex and Corner Unit! 5 Bright and sunny rooms, 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths, galley kitchen with granite counter tops open to dining area with slider to private balcony, living room with gas fireplace, wood flooring and crown molding, primary bedroom with private bath with walk-in shower, convenient laundry in unit, gas heat, central air, elevator in building from 1 car garage parking #18 with storage area and 1 exterior parking space #14. Very desirable complex located just outside of Saugus Center. Great opportunity - Great investment! Enjoy carefree living at its best! (781) 233-7300 335 Central St. Saugus commonmoves.com ©2024 BHH Affiliates, LLC, An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity. Milo & Lana Falzarano discovering the joy of vinyl ing Malden an even better place to live; we were very fortunate to have Donna in our lives. Rest peacefully, sweet Donna. ● This is a Public Service Announcement brought to you by the good folks (me) at Malden Musings: It is now safe once again to travel down Highland Ave. without fear of losing your muffler or blowing out a tire, but continue to avoid Pleasant Street, Canal, Broadway, Lebanon from basically Melrose to Malden for that matter, and most of Salem Street. No need to thank me. ● In the “she gives Malden a bad name department,” I present to you... the (late) middle-aged woman driving for Uber in the “USA 250” sweatshirt and unflattering activewear parked in the bike lane on Exchange Street who, when alerted by a passerby that she was parked in said bike lane, told the passerby to “mind their own expletive deleted business” accompanied by the one-fingered salute. Because of her ill-mannered and entitled “Karen” response, she will bypass GO and immediately be enshrined in the “Giving Malden a Bad Name Boorish Behavior Hall of Fame.” So be it, so shall it be done. ● Fun facts brought to you by those of us who love the esoteric side of pop culture (Paul Sherman?)... Hal Smith ruled in 1960! There was a catcher named Hal W. Smith who hit a Game 7 goahead three-run home run for the 1960 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates. There was also an All-Star catcher named Hal R. Smith who played for the Saint Louis Cardinals and finally there was the lovable Mayberry town drunkard of the Andy Griffith Show, Hal Smith aka Otis Campbell. How ’bout that! ● Speaking of PSS, next time you are there enjoying any of their fabulous offerings (especially their pizza pie!), say hello to MHS Class of 1975’s Paula Cagno, who is the newest great hire at that Malden institution. She’s like wicked nice just like the rest of her family. The Development Director at Bread of Life, Patty “Frankie’s Wife” Kelly, reached out to me recently and asked if I could spread the word. BOL has a new initiative — they’ve launched a garden paver fundraiser: 12x12 laser-engraved bricks to be placed at BOL along the bike path in between their garden planters (and beyond). Each paver is a $500 one-time donation. It’s the next project to beautify their space which, to date, 14 generous donors have participated in. Contact Patty at 781-397-0404 or on her direct line (781-820-4749) or go to their webpage for even more details: www.breadoflifemalden.org. If you venture into the beautiful BOL facility in person, please MUSINGS| SEE PAGE 7 FLEET CARD Check Out Our LOW PRICES!
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