Song:

“Country Girl” by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils (1973)

Mahler’s “Urlicht” is excellent, except you can’t dance to it, and I dance like Schubert’s trout. But don’t scorn the Ozark Mountain Daredevils’ trifecta: “Spaceship Orion” (it’s about drugs — I think), “Colorado Song” (special guitar tuning required), and “Country Girl” (killer harmonica). I like “Country Girl” best for two reasons: “country” and “girl.”

Book:

“The Blood of the Lamb” by Peter DeVries (1961)

So many dark horses out there: “Wolf Solent” (Powys), “The Lyre of Orpheus” (Davies), “Life on the Run” (Bradley), “Supper of the Lamb” (Capon), “All the King’s Men” (Warren). I even liked The Bible. The ending took me totally by surprise. I’ll go with the irreverent comedian Peter DeVries, especially “The Blood of the Lamb.” Funny, then funnier, then it rips your heart out.

Film:

“Murder by Death” (1976)

Haven’t seen “Casablanca” or “It’s a Wonderful Life,” so not those. I’ve memorized “Jaws” and “Butch & Sundance: The Early Years,” so I can ruin them for first-time viewers. But for yuks and satire it’s “Murder By Death.” You haven’t lived until you’ve heard Maggie Smith ask, “Where’s my Dickie?” And Peter Faulk’s gastro-urinary travails are poignant. No one can say “I gotta go to the can” like Peter Faulk — or “voice come from cow — on wall!” like Peter Sellers.