“Your blog is in my RSS reader. When a new post comes out, I drop everything and come here and read and listen and think and sometimes shed a few tears. Thank you for this. It’s magical. Worth the extraordinary effort you put into it.” –Seth Godin (163: Joni Mitchell, ‘For Free’)
“Jeff, this is such brilliant writing. It deserves a huge audience. I just love your sense of humor and we really need one now.” —Judy Labensohn (247: Perry Como, ‘Kol Nidre’)
“Thank you so very much for your wonderfully eloquent and engaging posts. They not only bring back so many memories of the music of my misspent youth, but deepen my understanding and appreciation of the universal interconnections that music creates. It’s always a joy to read – so thank you for writing with such love.” —Linda (292: My 10 Life-Changing Albums)
“You sound like someone who has an unhealthy relationship with both women and himself.” —Stephen Linhart (272: Vilray, ‘Do Friends Fall in Love?’ with Rachael Price)
“I stumbled on to your website and that cost me almost the whole rest of my weekend. Can’t say I have yet read all your posts, but is has been a tremendous experience and often a trip down memory lane, to read your very well written and insightful comments. Many, many thanks.” —Jan dalhuisen (261: Kurt Elling/Sting, ‘Practical Arrangement’)
“This post brought some tears of happiness to my pandemic-weary eyes this morning.” —Elizabeth (229: The Beatles: ‘I’ve Just Seen a Face’ (“Rubber Soul”)
“Your writing always speaks to me just as much as the songs do. I thoroughly enjoy your work & am fascinated by all that I have learned from you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” —Darleen Kummer Feig (274: Tim Hardin, ‘Reason to Believe’)
“I’m a superficial music “lover” that never gets below the surface of the song. You provide the 3rd dimension. I really appreciate your firsthand experiences and the ties between the songs, artists, other happenings, etc that explain (to me) how it all fits together.” —Ellis Koch (070: Buddy Holly, ‘That’ll Be the Day’)
“Jeff, Great writing, great insight, great song. Like “In My Life” itself, your observations took me down memory lane and Life in the Time of Covid at the same time.” —Alan Tigay (053: The Beatles, ‘In My Life’)
“Once again I feel like we may be identical twins separated at birth.” —Jeffrey C. Apfel (260: David Crosby/Joni Mitchell, ‘Yvette in English’)
“Thank you for your insight, Jeff !” —Bill Evans’ widow, Laurie Verchomin (124: Bill Evans, ‘Nardis’)
“’We Are Decapede!’ is a moving, often heartwarming story that brought me to tears a handful of times. The sense of community and goodwill and a group of people working together is very striking. The book is a rushing rollercoaster of compulsive energy that makes for one feel-good experience that I’m guessing would be VERY commercially viable. Addictive reading.” –David Schloss, Professor of Creative Writing, Miami University (Ohio)
“We Are Decapede’ is a warm and wise reflection on the sixties and how that era influenced and changed the American way of life. It is a humorous and thoughtful story of a small-town band who years after its demise is reincarnated to become the focus of another social movement, spreading pride, hope and American values.” Mike Berlin
“By page 50 I couldn’t put it down. I didn’t want it to end, and when it did I wanted to start reading it again.” Netta Druckman
“The best book I’ve read in years.” – Adv. Hiram Amir
“Nephesh Theatre has been producing Jeff Meshel’s plays for 33 years! Jeff writes from the heart.
His plays have proven so endearing because of the great care and deep understanding of the characters he writes. He has always been a very important component in our repertoire, ensuring quality, while probing challenging issues and extracting very moving responses from our audiences.” –Howard Rypp, Founder and Artistic Director, Nephesh Theatrea
“Top shit!”—Peder Karlsson
“This is the first time I’ve gone nose-to-nose in the ring with a partner from the same weight class. I believe the results are something new and groundbreaking.”—Roger Treece
“Brilliant”— Jens Johansen, Vocal Line
”Talented work”— Van Dyke Parks
“As much as I love the source material, these recordings will be my go-to for Brian’s music in full flower, in full, glorious bloom. Something so right, a reminder that visionaries still find the beauty.”—Maggie Evans
