The Godfather

 “The Godfather” By Mario Puzo
 
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sipping from a huge glass of rye. Johnny didn’t mind that. He knew Nino sang just as 
well drunk as sober and what they were doing today wouldn’t require any real 
musicianship on Nino’s part. 
Eddie Neils had made special arrangements of some old Italian and Sicilian songs; and 
a special job on the duel-duet song that Nino and Johnny had sung at Connie 
Corleone’s wedding. Johnny was making the record primarily because he knew that the 
Don loved such songs and it would be a perfect Christmas gift for him. He also had a 
hunch that the record would sell in the high numbers, not a million, of course. And he 
had figured out that helping Nino was how the Don wanted his payoff. Nino was, after 
all, another one of the Don’s godchildren. 
Johnny put his clipboard and yellow pad on the folding chair beside him and got up to 
stand beside the piano. He said, “Hey, paisan,” and Nino glanced up and tried to smile. 
He looked a little sick. Johnny leaned over and rubbed his shoulder blades. “Relax, kid,” 
he said. “Do a good job today and I’ll fix you up with the best and most famous piece of 
ass in Hollywood.” 
Nino took a gulp of whiskey. “Who’s that, Lassie?” 
Johnny laughed. “No, Deanna Dunn. I guarantee the goods.” 
Nino was impressed but couldn’t help saying with pseudo-hopefulness, “You can’t get 
me Lassie?” 
The orchestra swung into the opening song of the medley. Johnny Fontane listened 
intently. Eddie Neils would play all the songs through in their special arrangements. 
Then would come the first take for the record. As Johnny listened he made mental notes 
on exactly how he would handle each phrase, how he would come into each song. He 
knew his voice wouldn’t last long, but Nino would be doing most of the singing, Johnny 
would be singing under him. Except of course in the duet-duel song. He would have to 
save himself for that. 
He pulled Nino to his feet and they both stood by their microphones. Nino flubbed the 
opening, flubbed it again. His face was beginning to get red with embarrassment. 
Johnny kidded him, “Hey, you stalling for overtime?” 
“I don’t feel natural without my mandolin,” Nino said. 
Johnny thought that over for a moment. “Hold that glass of booze in your hand,” he said. 
It seemed to do the trick. Nino kept drinking from the glass as he sang but he was doing 

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