But now god knows, anything goes!

Good authors, too, who once knew better words.

Now only use four letter words.

Writing prose, anything goes.

When every night the set that's smart is in-dulging

In nudist parties in studios.

Anything goes.

As the troubador of the smart set. Porter was perfectly willing to mock himself as much as anyone else. Cole contains a fine selection of Porter's lyrics, and some notes on the real Cole Porter. For a coffee table book, it is well worth having.

The other great symptom of the Porter epidemic is an absolutely dazzling two-record set. "Bobby Short Loves Cole Porter", (Atlantic Records). Bobby Short is an old New York night club singer, who has been doing a one man Porter review for over a year now. He's the top. He's the Colosseum. He's the top.

Short has dug up a number of previously unrecorded Porter songs from some deep, dark vault in the Yale University Archives, to which the Old Blue left many of his papers when he died. This record contributes a great deal to our knowledge of Porter, dredging up songs which reveal a characteristic Porter flair, singing them as Porter himself would have. Short is a performer of great talent, both as a vocalist and as pianist. His two record set may be the finest tribute to Porter's talent yet produced.

The Porter fad, like all good things, will come to an end in a while. Some other neglected songwriter, performer, or film star will replace him ast he culture hero of the hour. But, while he is around, enjoy him.