New Release
Piloting the Currents:
Growing Up In Turbulent Times 1962-1973
Born into the uneasy normality of postwar Kansas City, a girl comes of age in the fast changing world of the 1960’s. With a government in crisis and social traditions failing, she navigates the counter-cultural rapids and family upheavals. Buoyant with curiosity, she creates an adulthood beyond the one expected of her. A look back then begins to reveal parallels with today’s world.
“…richly textured…” “…effectively dramatic…”
5″x8″ paperback, color. 374 pages
$25 + s/h
$4.99 for PDF
Or buy at a local KC shop
Fairway Creamery
5938 Mission Road, Fairway, Kansas [ directions ]
Marcy A. Smalley, a retired urban planner, is a writer, and musician. Her writing has appeared in The Sun and other publications. She edited Threshold – A Life’s Journey to Prairie, by Elaine Jones, Blurb Press, 2024. Her musical scores have been performed locally. As an urban planner she assisted in the development of the Kansas City regional transit plan. She and her husband Barrie (a Habitat for Humanity volunteer) live in the Kansas City area near their children and grandchildren. This is her first book.
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PART I
SO LONG CAMELOT
Elementary School 1962 to 1966
- “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” — Neil Sedaka (1962 original hit version)
- “Unchain My Heart” — Ray Charles (1961 original recording)
- “How to Handle a Woman” — from Camelot (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
PART II
RIDING THE RIVER
High School 1966 to 1969
- “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” — The Sound of Music (Original Broadway Cast, 1959)
- “Michael, Row the Boat Ashore” — traditional folk song (popularized version)
- “Goodnight Irene” — The Weavers (1950 hit version)
- “Take Five” — The Dave Brubeck Quartet (1959 original)
- “There She Is, Miss America” — Bert Parks (pageant theme)
- “Cool” — West Side Story (Original Broadway Cast, 1957)
- “Kansas City” — Wilbert Harrison (1959 hit version)
PART III
A WIDER NEW
College 1969 to 1973 and Beyond
- “Hummingbird” — Seals and Crofts (1973 original)
- “Aquarius” — Hair (Original Broadway Cast, 1968)
- “Bridge Over Troubled Water” — Simon & Garfunkel (1970 original)
- “Blowin’ in the Wind” — Bob Dylan (1963 original)
- “Our House” — Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1970 original)
- “Aqualung” — Jethro Tull (1971 original)
- “River” — Joni Mitchell (1971 original)
- “Let’s Stay Together” — Al Green (1971 original)
- “What’s Going On” — Marvin Gaye (1971 original)
- “Oh Very Young” — Cat Stevens (1974 original)