Listen to this man. Seven years of college, you know. Trying to reason with 2020 and, now, 2022.

Friday, June 29, 2012

JSIS: Buffett-- No Turkey Legs-- No More "Hell"-- No More Vocational Ed

JSIS--  Just Some Interesting Stuff


1.  BUFFETT--  Parrotheads here in te Midwest are pretty happy Jimmy Buffett is returning to the Tinley Park, Ill., amphitheater after being at Toyota Park since 2008.  They're getting ready for tailgating and partying.  He performed there from 1995 to 2007 and the village even has a Caribbean Beach Block Party celebration every year.

Liz and I are BIG JB fans, but haven't been to one of his concerts since the late 80s when we used to see him at Milwaukee's Summerfest.  I do have probably every one of his albums on either vinyl or CD.


2.  NO MORE TURKEY LEGS--  I see that there will be none of those huge bbq turkey legs at this year's Taste of Chicago.  Tim McGivern, the Man Behind the Drumstick, since the earliest Tastes in 1981 is sitting this one out for health issues.  Oh well, we don't go to the Taste anyway.  But, I do love one of those big ol' legs.


3.  NO MORE "HELL"--   I see that Matt Groening is ending his "Life in Hell" comic strip after the 1,669th one.  It started in the late 70s and was popular among alternative news-weeklies.  But, declining syndication money has brought it to this.  I rarely had the opportunity to read it so wasn't much of a fan.  However, I am a big fan of another of Groening's works, "The Simpsons."  I wasn't until about six years ago, however.  I was a teacher and then there was Bart.


4.  NO MORE VOCATIONAL ED--  Time Magazine ran an article on the loss of vocational ed classes at public schools.  I always thought that was a big problem losing these programs because not every kid should be going to college and there is big bucks to be earned in vocational fields such as electricians, plumbers and mechanics.

Just Some Stuff.  --RoadDog

JSS: Summer '72-- Black Cat Blues-- Real Hot

JSS--  Just Some Stuff


1.  SUMMER '72--  This Sunday, July 1st, Bob Stroud goes back to the 40th Anniversary of the Summer of 1972 on his Rock and Roll Roots Show on WDRV, the Drive in Chicago from 7 to 10 AM CST.  A great way to time travel and the show goes out over the internet at http://www.wdrv.com/. I'll sure be listening.


2.  BLACK CAT BLUES--  Some neighbor has a big black cat who has taken up residence in the yard and going after my birds.  I have found the remains of two bords and imagine the cat is the culprit.  I would like to find out which neighbor and charge admission.  Better yet, KEEP YOUR DUMB CAT INDOORS!!!


3.  REAL HOT--  How did that song go, "Feeling, hot, hot, hot?"  It sure has been the last couple days.  Almost 100 yesterday and with humidity such that you sweated just standing there.  Just about got drenched just covering the boat in the breezeless channel.  I can stand the heat as long as there is a breeze.

Just Some Stuff.  --RoadDogweat

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Nothing Like a Good Ol' Summer Song... If You Know It

From Rob O'Connor's List of the Day Blog "#1 Summer Hits of the 2000s."

I have to admit that the 2000s music has largely been lost on me, especially since I retired from deejaying.  Of O'Connor's 28 songs holding the #1 spot on the charts for the most weeks, I only know for a fact that I have heard 10 of them.  I might be familiar with most of the others, but would have to hear it to be sure.

Anyway, these are the ones that I am familiar with:

#23  OMG--  Usher (2010) 4 weeks
#21  Beautiful Girls--  Sean Kingston (2007) 4 weeks
#17  Lady Marmalade--  Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya and Pink (2001) 5 weeks

#16  Party Rock Album--  LMFAO (2011) 6 weeks
#15  California Gurls--  Katy Perry (2010) 6 weeks
#13  Rolling In the Deep--  Adele (2011) 7 weeks

#11  I Kissed a Girl--  Katy Perry (2008)  7 weeks
#10  Umbrella--  Rihanna (2007) 7 weeks
#3  Boom Boom Pow--  Black Eyed Peas (2009) 12 weeks
#1  I Gotta Feeling--  Black Eyed Peas (2009) 14 weeks

Losing My Summer Song Thing These Days.  --RoadDog

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

A Good Day Boating

Yesterday was to be a quick boating jaunt for a float before all this really hot weather rolls in today.  We ended up with friends the Double Ks and Frank and did some slow-cruising.  Since the weather was so nice (upper 70s and just a slight breeze) we decided to hit a couple places on the east end of Fox Lake to get our Chain Crawl passports stamped.  Usually, the west wind makes tying up at the piers difficult.

First stop was at Fairmount Shores which has added a lower deck area this year.  Met Bob and Vickie from the Legion and Sherry, who I used to work with at the old Puppet Bar way back in the 80s who were there for the Fox Lake Chamber of Commerce meeting.

Then, around the point to Columbia Bay and Electric Harbor and that great huge gazebo out by the water.  Had more drinks and got our passports signed by Lexi, who also bartends Sundays at Captain's (the same group own both places).  They have a $2 cheeseburger and fries special on Tuesdays.

A guy was there playing stuff from his iPod over the sound system and everyone was having a great time playing Name That Tune.  he was very impressed when I knew the John Hiatt and John Prine songs he played (they are two of my favorites).

Did a slow cruise back.

You KnowWhat They Say About a Day Boating and a Day At Work.  --RoadDog

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Going Back to My 1982: January

I finally got to read my journal from 1982.  I started it in 1978 (and wish I had started it back into at least the sixties).  I still continue with it, so that puts it going on 34 years of my life.  It is a hassle to make the entries, but great to read what I was doing back then.  I would have forgotten most of it.

January 1982 was a busy and key month in my life.

First off, it was very, very, very cold and we got a lot of snow.  I did a lot of complaining about it.  I was also jogging back then, sometimes in the school hallways.  Evidently, my classes were not the best as I also was having problems with quite a few kids.

I kept score at a lot of basketball games for our middle school teams.  And, I was especially amazed at how many times I'd be out to midnight and even 2 AM and still go to school the enxt day.  I sure couldn't do that anymore.

But, the key thing that happened to me was deejaying which I'll talk about tomorrow, 

In January 1982, I Still Would Have Been Thirty.  Wow!!  Could I Ever Have Been That Young.  --RoadDog

The Summer of '72-- Part 4

This wraps up the songs we were listening to back forty years ago, June 3, 1972.  This Sunday, Stroud should be going to July 1, 1972 and playing those songs so I WILL DEFINITELY be at the radio for that trip back into my past.

TUMBLING DICE--  ROLLING STONES--  Exile on Main Street was their brand new album out just a couple weeks.  First single release.
ROCKS OFF--  ROLLING STONES--  lead-off selection on the double vinyl set.

ISN'T LIFE STRANGE--  MOODY BLUES--  New single from an upcoming album entitled Seventh Sojourn.
LONG DISTANCE RUNAROUND--  YES--  From album Fragile.

AFTER MIDNIGHT--  J.J. CALE--  A song earlier done by Eric Clapton.
CONQUISTADOR--  PROCUL HARUM--  Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, recorded in April.

DOWN ON MY KNEES--  BREAD--  These last five songs highlight some of the variety back then.  This one is the "B" side of the current single.  The "A" side was "Diary," a typical maudlin composition from David Gates, but the "B" side was a true throwback to the British Invasion sort of thing like the Hollies meet the gerry and the Pacemakers meet the Searchers sort of thing.  (I really liked their album On the Water.)
MORNING HAS BROKEN--  CAT STEVENS--  #1 in Chicago from his latest album, Teaser and the Firecat.

Hey Bob, please say the names of the songs you intro each segment with.  I only figured out "Song Sung Blue" and "Oh Girl."

Taking me Back to Those Olden Times.  --RoadDog

Monday, June 25, 2012

JSS: It's An Animal Thing: Ferrets-- Rascwally Wabbits-- 30 Days in the Hole

JSS--  Just Some Stuff


1.  FERRETS--  The last several months, Liz and I have been participating in the internet Animal Rescue Site's animal shelter competition for Save-A-Pet in Grayslake, Illinois.  We were voting every day, but for the first time, we lost to another group for state leadership, The Greater Chicago Ferret Association.  Congratulations to them, but Louie the Lizard sure isn't going to like this.


2.  RASCWALLY WABBITS--  For some reason, we have an overflow of little bunny rabbits running around the house now.  Must have been a littter or whatever you call a group of their babies.  Cute, but don't eat my FLOWERS!!


3.  30 DAYS IN THE HOLE--  I also have an overabundance of chipmunks who are making lots of tunnel holes around the yard.  I have been flooding their tunnels, often getting a very wet and unhappy chippy emerging and running away.  Then, I get fussed at from somewhere else inthe yard.

Gettin' Overrun By 'Mules (As Bob Calls 'Em).  --RoadDog

The Summer of '72-- Part 3

Where were you and what were you doing 40 years ago?  These songs were playing on your radio June 3, 1971.

SOMEDAY NEVER COMES--  CCR--  Finally calling it  a day, the title of the album is Mardi Gras and is universally panned, but there are a couple of good John Fogerty tunes.  The band's final 45.  (A real sad time for me as I am a BIG CCR fan.)
TAXI--  HARRY CHAPIN--  His debut album called Heads and Tails.

THICK AS A BRICK--  JETHRO TULL--  Both radio stations (WLS and WCFL) have it as the #1 selling album in Chicago.  (This song was probably why they won a Grammy years later for best Heavy Metal act.  Really, Heavy Metal?)
IT DOESN'T MATTER--  STEVEN STILLS & MANASSAS--  At this point in time, CSN (and sometimes Y) are on hiatus from each other, off doing their own solo things.  Steven Stills put together a group named Manassas and this double vinyl album is one of the biggest-selling ones.

OLD MAN--  NEIL YOUNG--  From his biggest-selling album, Harvest.
IMMIGRATION MAN--  NASH AND CROSBY--  Teaming up for the first time.  (So, like the Beatles, the group was broken up, but we were still getting lots of music from them.)

I NEED YOU-- AMERICA--  Harmony was a big part of the Summer of '72.  Their follow up hit to "Horse With No Name" from their debut album.
30 DAYS IN THE HOLE--  HUMBLE PIE--  Without Peter Frampton who had gone solo.  From Smokin'.

One More Group to Come.  --RoadDog

Saturday, June 23, 2012

The Summer of '72-- Part 2

Going back forty years ago.  And remember, Bob Stroud does his Summer Special Rock and Roll Roots show tomorrow from 7 to 10 AM, CDST on the WDRV, http://www.wdrv.com/.   It streams so get in the mood for summer.

RUN RUN RUN--  JO JO GUNNE--  their one and only hit (And, what a great one.  One of my favs.)
SENTIMENTAL LADY--  FLEETWOOD MAC--  a track from their newly-released Bare Trees album from March '72.  (Before the really popular Mac of the mid-seventies.)

SAUVECITO--  MALO--  Music just made for a hot summer day by band out of San Francisco Bay area fronted by Carlos Santana's brother George.  Their one and only hit, quite big here in Chicago.  From the extended mix album cut.
TAKE IT EASY--  EAGLES--  Brand new group out of Southern California, their first single.  (Widely-known as a Route 66 song as they were "Standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona" right there on the Mother Road.)

BACK OFF BOOGALOO--  RINGO STARR--  Produced by George Harrison who played slide guitar on it.  Ringo's old friend from Germany, Klaus Voorman was on bass.  Gary Wright of "Dream Weaver" fame played keyboards.  (An All-Star band even back then.  Imagine that.)
OUT OF SPACE--  BILY PRESTON--  Instrumental from one of the great instrumentalists and friend of the Beatles.

I SAW THE LIGHT--  TODD RUNDGREN--  Leadoff selection from his third solo album entitled Something, Anything, a double vinyl release quite remarkable because Todd plays al the instruments and does all the singing and wrote all the songs on the first three sides of the LPs oher than one.
BABY BLUE--  BAD COMPANY--  From their great third album Straight Up, just coming down the charts.  Produced by Todd Rundgren.  (That Todd's a busy guy.)

SPACE TRUCKIN'--  DEEP PURPLE--  Latest from their Machine Head album which is a couple months old by now.  From side two.
COULD HAVE BEEN A LADY--  APRIL WINE--  A new band out of Canada.

Not Finished Yet, Either. --RoadDog

Marshall Tucker Band Still Performing

From June 17-23 American Profile Magazine.

One of my favorite groups from days of yore, the Marshall Tucker Band, is still performing, in their 41st year.  The Spartanburg, SC-based jazz, blues and Southern-fried-boogie boys just released a new greatest hits album which includes "Heard It in a Love Song," "Can't You See" and my all-time favorite, "Fire on the Mountain."

Doug Gray, a founding member and lead singer is now 64 and says their fan-base ranges from 18 to 65 years of age.

Remember to Watch Out for That Lightning In the Air.  --RoadDog

Thursday, June 21, 2012

The Summer of '72-- Part 1

Every year for the past five years, the Drive's (WDRV, 97.1 FM) has taken listeners to his Rock and Roll Roots Show (Sundays 7 to 10 AM) back to that summer 40 years earlier.  I don't mind telling you that these four monthly shows (always the first Sunday of June, July, August and September) are high on my list of must-listen things to do.

The June show was on the 3rd.  All songs were being played at the time on Chicago's WLS and WCFL.

Forty years before now, I was a junior at the University of Georgia in Athens and living at a trailer near town,  I was getting ready for summer session as I was transferring back to Northern Illinois University and had to have some classes in order to graduate the following June.

As usual, Bob Stroud's comments are given (they are what really makes the show that good) and mine follow in parentheses.

I'LL TAKE YOU THERE--  STAPLES SINGERS--  Chicagos own on their way to the top of the charts (And Bob was taking us there.)
DOCTOR MY EYES--  JACKSON BROWNE--  new artist's debut self-titled album released six months earlier.  His first hit.

MONA LISAS AND MAD HATTERS--  ELTON JOHN--  By now, we'd had five months of great album releases.  This released in mid-May and called Honky Chateau.  A track from side 2.
VA-HE-LA-LA--  LOGGINS & MESSINA--  from their debut album titled Sitting In.  A decent hit here in Chicago on radio station WCFL. (The beginning of Caribbean, Tropic Rock?)

ME AND JULIO DOWN BY THE SCHOOL YARD--  PAUL SIMON-- current single from his self-titled debut album.
FAMILY OF MAN--  THREE DOG NIGHT--  Written by Paul Williams.

Many More Songs to Come.  --RoadDog

It's Summer, Here Are Some Summer Songs!!

Yesterday marked the beginning of summer.  I'm getting my case of Beach, Boogie & Blues right now listening to WNCT AM over the internet.  Allen Vick is broadcasting from Greenville, NC.  I'm here in Spring Grove, Illinois.

Even an old tech hold out such as myself can appreciate that.

Anyway, May 28th, Memorial Day, Chicago's WDRV, the Drive, had a Ten at Ten devoted to those great Summer Songs.  Here they are:

1.  IN THE SUMMERTIME--  Mungo Jerry
2.  SUMMER BREEZE--  Seals & Crofts
3.  SUMMER OF '69--  Bryan Adams

4.  SUNNY AFTERNOON--  Kinks
5.  HOT SUMMER DAY--  It's a Beautiful Day
6.  THE BOYS OF SUMMER--  Don Henley
7.  SUMMERTIME BLUES--  Who

8.  SUMMER IN THE CITY--  Lovin' Spoonful
9.  SCHOOL'S OUT--  Alice Cooper
10.  MAGIC--  Cars

Gettin' in the Mood for Some Summer Fun.  --RoadDog

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

JSS: 1973-- Cooler Corn-- Eagles Gone-- Rotten Cubs

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  1973--  At 10 AM CDST, Bob Stroud does his Ten at Ten on the year 1973, a very eventful one for me.  It streams on http://www.wdrv.com/.  It has a repeat at 10 PM.


2.  COOLER CORN--  Friend Lulu sent an article about making perfect corn on the cob by putting boiling water into your cooler, closing the lid and waiting 30 minutes. Never thought of that before.


3.  EAGLES GONE--  The last month, I've been watching the eagle cam out in Decorah, Iowa, as three bald eagle chicks grew up.  To paraphrase Hawk harrelson, "They gone!!"  Our bald eafle babies here on the Chain of Lakes are gone now as well.


4.  ROTTEN CUBS--  Our Chicago World Series continues today after the Cubs beat the Sox last night 2-1.  We watched it at Tommy's here in Spring Grove, Il. and I knew it would be a loss for the Sox when they had bases loaded in the second inning and just one out and failed to score.  That is always a whammy.

We don't even want to talk about Monday's shellacking.

Just Some Stuff.  --RoadDog

If I Only Had My Money Now Back Then

From the June 19th Wilmington (NC) Star-News Back Then column by Scott Nunn.

From the June 8, 1962, paper.

Merritt's Burger House on Carolina Beach Road had an ad offering your choice of fish, shrimp, oyster, deviled crab and barbecue trays for $1 apiece.  And, they came with sides of fries, hush puppies and cole slaw.

Their cheeseburger was a whopping 22 cents!!

And, the restaurant is still there.  I bet the prices are a litttle higher now, though.

I Coulda Live Like a King!!  --RoadDog

No More Number One Song This Day

What with my Blogspot problems of late, I didn't have my monthly Number One Songs This Date, which I did on the first day of the month.  I figured to do a quick catch up with just every June 1st ending in the number two.  (I usually did all monthly songs from my four favorite music decades: 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.)

However, going to Josh Hosler's site to get the list, it was no longer there.  According to Hosler, Billboard has ended its agreement with him.  Now, you have to go to Wikipedia and can only get this date's #1 for one year at a time, something I'm not going to do because of time.

Anyway, a big thanks to Mr. Hosler for providing that great service.

Things Change.  --RoadDog

Mr. O'Connor's Top 25 Paul McCartney Beatle Songs-- Part 2

15.  *Paperback Writer
14.  *I Got to Get You Into My Life
13.  Michelle
12.  *I'm Looking Through You (Great song, but I really love to put those little eyeballs into the doule "o"s.
11.  *Good Day Sunshine

10.  Eleanor Rigby
9.  *We Can Work It Out
8.  And I Love Her
7.  Mother Nature's Son
6.  Martha My Dear

5.  *Things We Said Today
4.  *For No One
3.  Here, There and Everywhere
2.  "I've Just Seen a Face
1.  Penny Lane

Numbers 1 and 10 sure paint word pictures.

OK, So It Was 11 Favorites.  --RoadDog

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Good Times This Past Weekend

Thursday--  After boating on the Chain, it was on to Donovan's for NTN and Italian beef samwiches.

FRIDAY--  The movie "Men In Black 3" and the Spring Grove Fish Boil to raise money for the Spring Grove Fish Hatchery Park.  At one time, this hatchery provided fish for most of the state's waters.  They had a band, but they were playing dinner music, so left after eating.

Met the Usual Suspects at Stormy Monday on Fox Lake.

SATURDAY--  Boated over to McDonald's for breakfast and just got the boat covered before it rained.  In the evening, we saw the band HiFi Superstars at the Fox Lake Lakefront Park and then went over to Captain's Quarters on Fox Lake and saw the high energy band Sucker Punch.

SUNDAY--  Worked in the yard, then met the Usual Suspects over at Caprtain's again for the band Selective Recall who play some real great 80s music.

Not a Bad Weekend.  --RoadDog

Mr. O'Connor's Top 25 Paul McCartney Beatles Songs-- Part 1

From the June 14th List of the Day by Rob O'Connor.  These are in no particular order and for no particular reason.  Just a way to salute the McC.  An asterisk means it would be in my Top Ten.  O'Connor has comments, but these are mine.

25.  Hey Jude (Played to death back then.  I still have a hard time hearing it.)
24.  Yesterday  (Give me Scrambled Eggs Anytime.)
23.  The Fool On the Hill (In my case it would be (Fool in the Yard.")
22.  Helter Skelter (Too Mansonish.)
21.  Blackbird

20.  I'll Follow the Sun
19.  *Back in the USSR
18.  I Will
17.  *I Saw Her Standing There
16.  *All My Loving

Mote to Come.  --RoadDog

Monday, June 18, 2012

Give Me Those Summer Songs and the Sixties!!

Of music note, Bob Stroud, on Chicago's WDRV, the Drive, will be doing these in the upcoming week.

Today, on his Ten at Ten show, he will be playing ten great songs from 1969.  The music is great, but I also love the bits he does about the year every two songs, and, you get to vote on your favorite one.  Then, on Friday, he does 1968.

This will be at 10 AM, CSDT and it will be repeated at 10 PM, if you miss it.

Then, Sunday, Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots Show is his annual ode to Summer, it being the first full weekend of summer.  Then, July 1st, it's his part 2 of his four-part salute to the Summer of '72, forty years ago.

Don't live near Chicago?  The show streams over you-know-what at http://www.wdrv.com/.

I'll be Listnin' Shortly.  --RoadDog

The 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812

Todays marks the United States declaration of war on England back in 1812, starting the War of of 1812,  This is a largely forgotten war, but I started a blog on it back in April, Not So Fortgotten: The War of 1812.  I must admit that I have found out a lot about it in my research.

Take a Look at the Blog.  --RoadDog

Happy 70th, Paul McC

I should mention that today marks the 70th birthday of one Paul McCartney of that real old group, Wings and himself.  So, he has passed up "When I'm 64" and even his Route 66 sojourn when he turned 66 (something I want to do).

I was actually more of a George fan, but, could put up with Paul.  His group was the one that got me interested in music, so, they had a HUGE impact on me.  I didn't just spend a little over a quarter century deejaying parties for nothing and am now "stuck" with many old tech albums, 45s, cassettes and soon-to-be obsolete CDs.  Why, I even have some, not many, 8-tracks and reel-to-reel tapes.

Yesterday, WDRV's Bob Stroud played the entire Ram album, McCartney's second solo album in 1971.  Other than "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" and a few others that I have heard on Terri Hemmert's Breakfast With the Beatles Show on WXRT, I really hadn't heard too much of it, but must admit I liked it a lot, especially "Smile Away."   Of course, the world's biggest Beatle fan, Terri Hemmert, devoted her whole show to Paul McCartney music.

Go Ahead, Paul, Impact My Life.  --RoadDog

Blogger Still Essentially Down, But Having More Fun

Even though Blogspot has elected to hassle me and NOT TELL WHY, I find that the added time is well spent both working in the yard and, of course, boating.  All they will say is that my browser is no longer supported by Blogger.  Looks like I'll need to start searching for a new home for my blogs.

People ask me why, if we are both retired, we don't move from here,  Hey, summer here on the Chain of Lakes and in northeastern Illinois is as much fun as you can have anywhere else.

Just this past weekend, we saw three bands outside and boated over to McDonald's for breakfast (not many places you can do that) and ate on the boat.

Talking 'Bout the Yard Tomorrow,  --RoadDog