All politics and no play makes Jack a dull boy. I have a music podcast for you, a Music for a While. I begin with June — the month that busts out all over. Then I have “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes,” in its first-ever recording (November 1933). Why was I thinking of that song? New York, among other places, was pretty smoky for a couple of days, thanks to the Canadian wildfires. As I mentioned in a column last week, Françoise Gilot died, at 101. She was an artist and a mistress of Picasso. She had a number of other relationships, including a marriage to Jonas Salk. I wrote, “Not quite Alma Mahler level — but maybe tied with Cosima Liszt?” In any event, this led me to Tom Lehrer’s uber-clever song about Alma.

I end this podcast with some Respighi. Why? Well, I was in a Respighi frame of mind, because I had been writing of his Pines of Rome. He is known for his orchestral music, and not at all for his piano music (or other music). But he wrote an exceptionally beautiful and unusual piano piece called “Notturno” (“Nocturne”). It was favored by the late Earl Wild as an encore. I went looking for it on YouTube — and found a recording by Konstantin Scherbakov. Underneath was a comment that left a lump in my throat.

This particular piece of music has virtually saved my life. During my heaviest period of drinking, a friend, who plays the piano, sent it to me to help me calm my thoughts. I played the song and it was as if the world suddenly shifted into slow motion. I welled with emotions and calmness. I’ve been over 2 years sober today and as part of my morning meditations I listen to this song, this particular recording of it, on a daily basis. I just wanted to share my gratitude.

I kind of wish Respighi could know that. At any rate, music is a vital ingredient of life.