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"T’was in another lifetime, one of toil and blood, when blackness was a virtue, the roads were full of mud I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form, ‘Come in,’ she said, ‘I’ll give you,
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| Music, like comedy, is an art-form that can be merely
entertaining… or it can be much deeper than that. Both can also convey a powerful message that’s delivered in a manner that’s similar to getting laughing gas at the dentist’s office… you can experience the sting of reality as it’s being drilled into your head, but you’re so euphoric, you just don’t seem to care anymore… And what’s the particular significance in the words of Bob Dylan? It "t’was in another lifetime" that Paul Murphy "toiled" as an outstanding trial attorney. After serving ten-and-a-half years as an assistant district attorney, supervising the DA’s offices in several of Massachusetts’ busiest courthouses, Paul entered private practice as a criminal defense counsel… a "muddy road" of backed-up court systems, confusing legal ambiguities and conflicting values where the "blackness" of questionable character is often rewarded. Seeking to forge an identity and redefine his principles amid this legal "wilderness," Paul, under the pseudonym of Paul D’Angelo, found sanctuary from this turmoil in the form of stand-up comedy. After simultaneously working his way toward the top of two extremely divergent professions, Paul eventually chose to give up his promising legal career, the support of his family and friends, financial security and his social and professional status to move to Hollywood, focus on his true passion and chase his dreams. After that, all he had to do was justify the most important… and controversial… decision of his life… but, as Paul learned, if you’re forced to eat humble-pie long enough and make the effort to digest what you’ve learned, you just might poop-out something profound… and in the process of examining his priorities and reaffirming his values, Paul had an opportunity to contemplate the components of the basic decision- making process which, on many different levels, permeates the daily lives of each and every one of us. Now Paul is sharing his unique insight so you can apply these revelations to make better, more consistent decisions in your world… presented in an entertaining format which guarantees "you won’t feel a thing." |
1) WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, OUR LIVES CONSIST OF A CONTINUOUS SERIES OF DECISIONS a) Mama don’t let your babies grow-up to be comics Got a call from an old friend, we used to be real close, said he couldn’t go on the American way. Closed the shop, sold the house, bought a ticket to the West Coast, now he gives them a stand-up routine in LA… Billy Joel
b) I’d love to change the world… but I’m rrrrreally busy. I’d love to change the world, but I don’t know what to do… so I’ll leave it up to you… Ten Years After
c) How your decisions affect others: Accidents will happen Now I wasn’t looking for heaven or hell… just someone to listen to stories I tell. Toad The Wet Sprocket
2) THE FIRST STEP IN MAKING GOOD DECISIONS IS BACKWARDS a) Seeing the ‘Big Picture’ It’s too late, to fall in love with Sharon Tate, but it’s too soon, to ask me for the words I want carved on my tomb… Jim Carroll
b) It’s about time… I’ve been in the right place, but it must have been the wrong time. I’d have said the right thing, but I must have used the wrong line. I was on the right road, but I must have made a wrong turn…Dr. John
c) Bad decision-making: Examples of examples... They don’t know, what I know… Do you know?… I don’t know… Jimi Hendrix
d) ... and my perspective on perspective Sometimes I can't help the feeling that I'm just living a life of illusion... Joe Walsh
e) Decisions & Consequences: What goes around… One things leads to another… The Fixx
3) EVERYTHING OF VALUE HAS A COST a) "Gas, grass or ass… no one rides for free."You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need… The Rolling Stones
a) Progress?: Bill Gates & ‘The Revenge Of The Nerds’ Ball of confusion, that’s what the world is today…
Hurrying to get there just to save some time… Run, run, run, run, run.
5) PLUG-IN #1 - ACCUMULATING INFORMATION
Too much information, running through my brain. Too much information, driving me insane… The Police
b) Managing information: You haven’t got time for the pain When I was young it was more important, Pain more painful, laughter much louder, yeah, when I was young… Eric Burdon
6) PLUG-IN #2 – KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd, when they said "Sit down," I stood up. Oooh, oooh, growing up… Bruce Springsteen
b) Trial & terror… We won’t get fooled again… The Who outro I really don’t mind if you sit this one out… Jethro Tull
Welcome back my friends, to the show that never ends. We’re so glad you could attend come inside, come inside… E,L& P
7) "REALITY-SLAP" a) It’s hard to see the truth when your head is up your ass I would while away the hours, conferring with the flowers, consulting with the rain… On my head I’d be scratchin’, while my thoughts were busy hatchin’,if I only had a brain…The Scarecrow
b) Escapes from reality: Numbing your dumpster Woke up this morning with a wine-glass in my hand…Whose wine?… What wine?…Where the hell did I dine?… Peter Frampton
e) The only thing worse than aging is not aging… because that means you’re dead Still crazy… still crazy… still crazy after all these years. Paul Simon
8) PLUG-IN #3 – INDIVIDUAL VALUES a) Whatever floats your boat I get no kick from champagne. Mere alcohol, it doesn’t move me at all. So tell me why must it be true, that I get a kick out of you… Frank Sinatra
b) How Different Perspectives Affect A Decision: ? vs. ? Communication breakdown, it’s always the same… Having a nervous breakdown, drives me insane… Led Zeppelin
c) Establishing Priorities: "Save the animals" … and redeem them for valuable prizes There’s battle-lines being drawn. Nobody’s right, if everybody’s wrong… Buffalo Springfield
9) PLUG-IN #4 – FATE, DESTINY & OTHER STUFF YOU CAN'T CONTROL a) Go ahead, spin the ‘Wheel of Misfortune’ Nothing really matters, anyone can see… Nothing really matters… Nothing really matters to me… Queen
10) ACCOUNTABILITY a) Some poor excuses for excuses I said, Hey, no more excuses… I’ve made them enough to say, Hey no more excuses, it’s time to get tough… Graham Parker & The Rumor
b) Eating humble pie, digesting what I learned & pooping-out logic It’s my life and I’ll do what I want…It’s my life and I’ll think what I want… Show me I’m wrong, hurt me sometime, but someday I’ll treat you real fine… The Animals outro Dreamer… You know you are a dreamer… Supertramp
11) DOES LEARNING REALLY HAVE TO BE SO DIFFICULT? a) Yes it does… no pain, no gain Carry on my wayward son… they’ll be peace when you are done… Lay your weary head to rest… don’t you cry no more… Kansas THE END This is the end… beautiful friend, the end… This is the end… my only friend, the end… This is the end… The Doors
Written, directed & performed by Paul D’Angelo Produced by Jim Roach Jorge ‘Garbancito’ Leidsmar, sound/effects-editor Paul D’Angelo, sound/effects production Chris Murphy, sound & light technician
SPECIAL THANKS: In my comedy world, there are five people who I would like to specifically acknowledge and sincerely thank: Steve D’Addario, who had the faith to give me my first chance, sight unseen, Jack Gateman, who offered me the opportunity to establish myself, Mike Clarke, who has always been fair to me in an often-unfair business, Essex County D.A. Kevin Burke, who was extremely understanding, and Mike Lacey, who treated me like family where I had none.
I’d also like to express my gratitude to mis hombres: Bob Ogan, Richard Gallone, ‘The Cat-Man’, George Kelakos, Patty Ross, Johnny Pizzi, Paul Lang, Kevin Foley, Al Yebba, Robert Simonelli, Vinny Fuschetti, Randy Chapman, ‘Dugie’ Russell, Dan Turco, Rick D’Elia, Max Lane and ‘The Prune’ for making ME laugh.
A special tribute Bob Cardosi, Muffie & Uncle Dick
I can’t forget Paul Murphy… I couldn’t have done this without him!
And last, but most of all, I would like thank my parents, Jack & Fran, Uncle Vito, my brothers Jay & Chris, and sister Shauna for being the best family imaginable. |
