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Steve Goodman didn't make much enduring music besides "City of New Orleans," and his version of the song wasn't a hit. (Arlo Guthrie's was.) So it's fair to wonder if he merits a book-length biography, never mind the 784 doorstop that is Clay Eals' Steve Goodman: Facing the Music. But think of it as a shadow history of the '70s mainstream: Goodman befriended Jimmy Buffett, Bette Midler, and Randy Newman, and he was showman enough to open for Steve MArtin at his Let's Get Small peak. Diagnosed with leukemia at 20, Goodman pursued his career knowing it wouldn't last long -- he died in 1984 at 36 -- and Eals details the singer's star-struck life, from attending high school with Hillary Rodham to absorbing a lecture about looking sexier onstage from the icon of virility, Paul Simon. Alexandria singer-songwriter Tom Paxton, who since the '60s has proudly adhered to Pete Seeger's topical-song model, will perform some of Goodman's tunes. Eals discusses and signs copies of his work at 7 p.m. at Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW. Free. (202) 364-1919.
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