IS FOGERTY JOKING?

I have always felt that Rocket J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle the Moose were trying to be funny. The current weekend reruns are reinforcing that original feeling, and I am grateful for the opportunity provided by Channel 7.

But the John Fogerty “Centerfield” “rerun” does nothing for the memory of Creedence Clearwater Revival Days. Maybe Fogerty is trying to be funny?

If Robert Hilburn wants an example of constructive development of an old theme, he should check out the nouveau-soul sounds of the Commodores’ “Night Shift.”

STEVE MAGUIRE

San Luis Obispo

VULTURES

I’m sick and tired of reading Patrick Goldstein’s “big scoop” of the year: “Prince Ignores Night Ranger” (Pop Eye, Feb. 10). I mean, are we supposed to burn our Prince albums because he wouldn’t talk to those musical nerds? If the media would quit sticking it to him every chance they get, maybe the hype would go away.

But then again, when you’re a musical genius like Prince, all the vultures come out to prey.

J.C. MOORE

Woodland Hills

KERN CUTS

Although I greatly admire Norman Granz (Calendar Letters, Feb. 10) and I love George Gershwin, the tune that cuts anything anybody ever wrote, including Gershwin’s best, would have to be the favorite standard of jazz players everywhere and Jazzdom’s National Anthem, “All the Things You Are,” by Jerome Kern.

FRED CROPPER

Laguna Hills

Before this all turns into a heady shooting match over who wrote what better or contributed most (a pointless exercise at best), let’s pause, clear out collective throats and hum our own personal favorite American tunes.

And, as we do that, let us remember that each of those tunes is a gift from a master craftsman’s muse, and a tribute to our unique cultural humanity. In other words, fellas, shut up and listen to the music. (By the way, what are we doing for Irving Berlin’s birthday?)

EDGAR L. BULLINGTON

Leucadia

YUP

Excuse me, I must have dozed off. What, pray tell, is a “Yuppie” (Calendar cover, Feb. 17)?? Is it anything to do with cowboys answering in the affirmative??

P.H. THROCKMORTON

North Hollywood

WRINKLES

The article by Evelyn Keyes (“Wrinkles That Matter,” Feb. 17) brought forth the best smiles that this aging film fan has had in many years. Since we are contemporaries (I, too, am old and wrinkling) please allow me to inform her that I loved her images then and still do!

Since America has chosen to trash its senior citizens, all of us in that category seem to have little choice left to us. Evelyn has show us the way. Wonder drugs, bypasses and “patches” notwithstanding, she has eloquently griped! Mayhap this alone will do it for us.

JOHN F. McQUAID

Panorama City

Thank you for Evelyn Keyes.

Thank you, Evelyn Keyes.

HELEN POSCHIN

Hollywood

JESSE BELVIN

Bless Terry Atkinson for his coverage of the rerelease of Jesse Belvin’s “But Not Forgotten” album (Replay, Feb. 17). But next time please tell him to get the facts right: Belvin’s big seller was “Goodnight, My Love” not “Goodnight Sweetheart” (which was by the Spaniels), and it was not successfully covered by a white group.

STEVE BRIGATI

Los Angeles

WORLD VISION

“TV Charities: Let the Giver Beware” (by David Johnson and Jennifer Leonard, Jan. 20) discussed World Vision’s stand with the public accounting service of the Better Business Bureau. It reported that our financial statements contain inadequate information to allow informed decisions about giving.

As one of the largest private international relief and development agencies, we have for 34 years devoted our energies toward making World Vision not only responsive to a needy and hungry world, but open and responsible to the public.

Our compliance with the BBB has been a standard for years, and only this year a change in our system of reporting has created a need to provide additional information. We are working with the BBB officials and will fully comply with their request.

As part of World Vision’s total public accountability effort, we issue audited financial statements to anyone requesting one. In addition, we are charter members of ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability), and were instrumental in its formation years ago.

SKIP HUBBY

Vice President, Communications

World Vision, Monrovia

RICK DEES & ME

As Rick Dees grew in popularity, more and more people were noticing me. In the supermarket, people whispered behind my back, “He looks like Rick Dees.”

I enjoyed all this attention at first. I began listening to his program every day to find out who this person was. I realized he was an up-and-coming “hot” celebrity and seemed to have a lot of loyal fans.

I also realized that his “style” was making him a lot of enemies. Some people seem to take his insults very seriously and don’t like being the butt of his jokes.

I walked into a bar one night with a friend and this guy actually started pushing me around and told me to get lost or he was going to “mess up” my “pretty face.” (He said I insulted his wife on the phone.) Needless to say, I left in a hurry.

Personally, I don’t think I look that much like him. I don’t even think about it that much except when people bring it to my attention--and that happens more and more often.

It was kind of fun in the beginning, but since the drunk incident I’m getting a little concerned that some crazy who was one of Rick’s victims is going to succeed in taking it out on me.

Come on, Ricky! Let’s tone it down a little and we will both be happier.

STEVEN J. BLOOM

Huntington Beach