25 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs-- Part 1

From November 24, 2014, Yahoo! Music by Rob O'Connor.

Not that I am a big-time heavy metal guy, but I have heard of some of them and you know how I feel about lists.  * I've heard of before.

25.  MASTERS OF PUPPETS--Metallica*
24.  COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN--Led Zeppelin*
23.  BLACKOUT--Scorpions
22.  PEACE SELLS--  Megadeath

21.  MIND OVER MATTER-- Raven
20.  TOXIC WALTZ--  Exodus
19.  UNDER THE BLADE--  Twisted Sister
18.  WAR PIGS--  Black Sabbath*

17.  COWBOYS FROM HELL--  Pantera
16.  OVER THE MOUNTAIN--  Ozzy Osbourne
15.  HELL'S BELLS--  AC/DC*

And, there are videos and information at the site.

I'm Just Listing Them.  --RoadDog

And, a Happy Thanksgiving to You

Finally have some sun here in Goldsboro, North Carolina, after overcast ever since I got here.  It rained and drizzled ever since Monday night.

Getting ready to sit down to an extremely good-smelling turkey that Mom has cooked for us.

I kind of felt like Ralph's old man in "A Christmas Story" as I was helping move the turkey from pan to platter,  What did Ralphie call him, "a real Turkesaurus?"

Watched the Macy's Parade in NYC and now getting ready to watch Da Bears play the Lions.  We'' have to see what our resident turkey, Scary Jay is going to do.  Will the good or bad Jay be with us today?  We'll know in about three hours.

Gobble, Gobble.  --RoadDog

Cold Ahead: N.C. T-Giving Trip 2014-- Part 2

NOVEMBER 21ST:

Drove south from the motel about 8 miles to US-33 and took it southeast to West Virginia, stopping in Athens, Ohio, for breakfast at Burger King (great biscuits) and then to I-77 and south through West Virginia and the W.Va. Turnpike. ($6 for three tolls).

Gassed up in Wytheville, Va., always the cheapest on the trip.  It was $2.56.  Decided not to stop in Mt. Airy, N.C., so I could hopefully get through the Durham-Raleigh traffic mess and driving along I-40 made it.

Took US-70 to Goldsboro and stopped at the Wal-Mart east of it and bought some items.

Arrived at Mom's and we went to Goldsboro's Paramount Theater and saw Jason Coleman's show.  He is the grandson of noted Nashville country pianist Floyd Cramer who was famous for his instrumental "Last Date" and his slip note style of playing.  I did not know he played piano on so many country hits.

--RoadDog

Cold Ahead, 2014 N.C. T-Giving Trip: Day 1

NOVEMBER 20TH:  Actually left early at 7 a.m..  Took Il-49 south to Mahomet, Illinois, stopping at Gibson City for a McRib meal (that season, you know).  Gas was $2.65 in Mahomet, the lowest I've seen in years.

Picked up I-74 southeast to Indianapolis in no problems going through the city on I-70.  East to Ohio and a stop at Englewood, Ohio, for my Skyline Chili fix (gotta have my Cincy Chili every chance I get.  I got to Columbus, Ohio, near the end of rush hour, but no traffic jams and got a room east of town at a Knight's Inn.

Drove around the surrounding area and found one of my favorite stores anywhere, Half Price Books.  Books and music, that's my game.  I almost thought I was going to set a record and get out of there without buying anything, but then found two Civil War Navy books, a CD by Buck Owens and two historical calendars.

The reason I'm calling this Cold Ahead is that it is mighty cold for November.  The temp in Spring Grove was 12 degrees when I left and it finally got into the upper 20s by the time I got to Ohio.  At least there wasn't as much road work as there was in the summer trip.

--RoadDog

Chicago Area Rugby Football Union

From Wikipedia.

Not long ago, I wrote about the rugby game played in the United States between our team and the best rugby team in the world, New Zealand's All Blacks which resulted in the U.S. being routed.  I mentioned that there were several rugby clubs in the Chicagoland area.

Among the men's Divisions:

DIVISION I:Chicago Griffins, Chicago Lions

DIVISION II:  Chicago Blaze (Lemont), Lincoln Park (Chicago), Southside Irish (Chicago) and Chicago Riot (Chicago.

DIVISION III:  Fox Valley Moors (St. Charles), Chicago Westside Condors, IAS CW Shamrocks (Manhattan, Il.), Illiana Misfits (Hammond, Ind.) NW Indiana Exiles (Hobart, Ind.), NW Woodsmen (Schaumburg) and Rockford Ravens.

DIVISION IV:  Chicago Blue (law enforcement), Chicago Dragons, Chicago Roosters (Wheaton), Kellogg School of Management and Lake County Gladiators.

There are also two women's divisions.

COLLEGIATE:  Eight teams

Chicago, DePaul, UIC, Lake Forest, Loyola, NIU, Northwestern, Lewis and Elmhurst.

NIU, my school, has won the last four collegiate championships.

Go Huskies!!!  --RoadDog

Movie Scratches: Annabelle-- Dracula-- Fury-- John

Movie Scratches.  A dog's Eye View of Currnet Movies.

The number refers to the number of movies I've seen this year.  10-15 refers to the date seen, Fox Lake is where I saw it and $4.50 is the price I paid.

69.  ANNABELLE--  10-15--  Fox Lake, $4.50--  How that doll got so darn mean.  A prequel.  Just as bad as Chuckie, but no sense of humor.

70.  DRACULA UNTOLD--  10-15--  Fox Lake, $4.50  To drink or not to drink the blood.  he did it for his family and country.  The fault is those mean old Turks.

71.  FURY--  10-21--  Fox Lake, $5--  "Machine" comes of age.  "best job I ever had."  War's real nitty gritty.

72.  JOHN WITT--  10-29--  Fox Lake $4.50--  Absolutely don't kill his cute little Beagle puppy.

The Mad Rush for the Bathrooms After a Long Movie.  --RoadDog

Global Blah Blah Blah

I am still at odds what to call this Al Gore thing.  Looking at the 12 degree temp reading this morning by our front window and seeing that we have gotten over freezing here in northern Illinois since last Wednesday and with three more days of it predicted, I just have a REAL HARD time calling it by Al's name.

To me, the "w" word means the opposite of cold, we we sure aren't getting.

I mentioned my problem with calling it the "G.W." words on one of my forums and one person said he called it Global Blah Blah Blah.  Sounds like a good name to me.

I was even thinking about going to Athens, Ohio, tonight to see my team play the University of Ohio, but am glad that didn't work out.  I wouldn't sit out in the cold at night, anyway.

It is way too early to be this doggone COLD!!

Any Better ideas for a Name?  --RoadDog

WLS Top Ten R&B for November 27, 1964

1.  ADORABLE ONE--  Joe Simon
2.  TOO MANY FISH IN THE SEA--  Marvelettes
3.  AIN'T DOIN' TOO BAD--  Bobby Bland

4.  VOICE YOUR CHOICE--  Radiants
5.  SINCE I DON'T HAVE YOU--  Chuck Jackson
6.  OH NO, NOT MY BABY--  Maxine Brown
7.  LONELY LONELY NIGHTS--  Vernon & Jewel

8.  AIN'T IT THE TRUTH--  Mary Wells
9.  WHAT'S NEW--  Gene Chandler
10.  AMEN--  Impressions

--RoadDog

WLS Top Ten for November 27, 1964

1.  I'M INTO SOMETHING GOOD--  Herman's Hermits
2.  SHE'S NOT THERE--  Zombies
3.  RINGO--  Lorne Greene

4.  LEADER OF THE PACK--  Shangri-Las
5.  ASK ME--  Elvis Presley
6.  YOU REALLY GOT ME--  Kinks
7.  TIME IS ON MY SIDE--   Rolling Stones

8.  BABY LOVE--  Supremes
9.  HAVE I THE RIGHT--  Honeycomb
10.  COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER--  Jay & the Americans

15.  MOUNTAIN OF LOVE--  Johnny Rivers
30.  ANY WAY YOU WANT IT--  Dave Clark Five

Going Back Fifty Years--  RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  He could lead if he would get the lead out.

Movie Scratches: Behind-- Leave--Gone-- Alexander's

Movie Scratches: A Dog's Eye View of Today's Movies.

65.  LEFT BEHIND--  10-3--  Fox Lake, $6--  It's Rapture Time and we're not talking about Blondie's song.  It's the real deal.

66.  THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU--  10-7--  Fox Lake, $5--  One of the funniest movies I've seen.  Finding old loves back home.

67.  GONE GIRL--  10-8--  Fox Lake, $4.50--  Like the lawyer said, "Just don't p___ her off.  One of the scariest females ever.

68.  ALEXANDER'S REALLY BAD DAY--  10-14--  Woodstock, free--  Don't even begin to think you've ever had a really bad day until you see what happened to this family.  Come on!!  Punched out by a kangaroo and menaced by an alligator?

Trying to Avoid As Many Pre-Movie Commercials As possible.  --RoadDog

Em-Bear-assing Bears

We got together with the Usual Suspects at the Squaw Bar in Ingleside, Illinois, for Da Bear game against Minnesota yesterday and were shocked, after the last three losses, to cheer for a Bear victory.

These last three weeks, with the blowouts at the hands of the Patriots and Packers and a bye week in between were surely times that tried Bear fans.  The team's play has been nothing short of embarrassing.

The whole team looks flat, but nothing as glaring as the shoddy, uninspired play of Scary Jay ( our qb Cutler).  The guy needs to be elsewhere, but die to an unbelievably bonehead play where the Bears signed his for a real long, well-paid, contract.  So, we're stuck with him.  Even the Cutler supporters, including several of our Usual Suspects, are not rising to his defense anymore.

And, the coach inspires no one.

I was hoping that if the Bears had lost yesterday, that they would have benched Cutler and told him he would have a shot at his old job after others had had their shot and failed as well.  We would have had the highest-paid back up quarterback in the NFL, bit, perhaps that would have lit the fire under Scary Jay and turned him into a real qb.

Oh, Well.  --RoadDog

WLS Top Ten for November 20, 1964

Since I'll be away from my lists, I will go ahead a couple weeks.

1.  I'M INTO SOMETHING GOOD--  Herman's Hermits
2.  SHE'S NOT THERE--  Zombies
3.  LEADER OF THE PACK--  Shangri-Las

4.  YOU REALLY GOT ME-- Kinks  (Three of the Top Four are British Invasion songs thanks to the Beatles.)
5.  RINGO-- Lorne Greene  (Pa on "Bonanza.  Go ahead and hum that song.  Did it have something to do also with another Ringo with the Beatles?)
6.  BABY LOVE--  Supremes
7.  COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER--  Jay & the Americans

8.  TIME IS ON MY SIDE--  Rolling Stones  (Their first WLS Top Ten.)
9.  PRETTY WOMAN--  Roy Orbison
10.  ASK ME--  Elvis Presley

17.  GONE GONE GONE--  Everly Brothers (Probably my favorite E.B. song.)
18.  SHE UNDERSTANDS ME--  Johnny Tillotson
19.  WALKING IN THE RAIN--  Ronnettes

20.  SCRATCHY--  Travis Wammack
29.  THE WEDDING--  Julie Rogers
30.  EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT--  Newbeats

I'm not familiar with #10, 18, 19,20, 29 and 30.

You Tube Here I Come.  --RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  We must polish the Polish furniture.

JSS: Gas Gouge Here-- Jaime Brockett-- Coyote On the Loose in Round Lake Beach

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.

1.  GAS GOUGE HERE--  Liz and I were shocked Friday to see gas had jumped from $2.94 on Thursday to $3.10 in Fox Lake, Illinois.  This even though the price of oil continues to fall.  As near as we know, the jump took all of qa second or two.

Hey, there is profit to be made.

Our gas stations like to do this every several weeks.

2.  JAIME BROCKETT--  On Tuesday, after the Vietnam Memorial ceremony in McHenry, Illinois, I went to one of my favorite places, Vinyl Revolution, a mom and pop music store and was shocked when I entered to see a copy of Jaime Brockett's album featuring that great "Ballad of the USS Titanic" song which clocked in at 10+ minutes and was a staple in early 1970s FM underground radio.

We have a copy, but the years of playing it for friends and on pretty bad stereos has done a lot of wear and tear.on it.  This one was in excellent condition and they were only charging $4 for it.  I grabbed it up right away and had the owner put it on his turntable.

He had never heard of the song or Jaime Brockett and was impressed.  I offered to let him play a song on the other side of the album that I like it, but he told me I'd best hurry up and pay for it as he was half motivated to put a new price on it.  he had looked it up and found that a copy of the album in excellent shape sells for around $60.

As the Who say, "Won't Get Fooled Again."


3.  COYOTE ON THE LOOSE IN ROUND LAKE BEACH--  Yesterday we were driving around Round Lake Beach after our dentist appointments, we saw what we though was a dog running down the street and near some houses.  As we got closer, we saw that it was a coyote.  And, it was in a heavily populated area.

They're Everywhere, They're Everywhere!!  --RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.

Dedication of the Vietnam Memorial in McHenry, Illinois

This past Tuesday, I joined around 300-400 others at Veterans Park in downtown McHenry for the dedication of this.  It was a really crummy cold, drizzly day and no fun to be out there on that count, but a very worthwhile one on a much larger scale.

McHenry's VFW, American Legion, Polish Legion and the Marine Corps League were in attendance as well.

The city was honoring four young men who graduated from McHenry High School, three in 1964 and one in 1967, who gave their lives there all those years ago.  This has been an ongoing effort for the past 14 years by the Class of '64 and one man in particular, but I didn't catch his name.

We had several speeches and McHenry's mayor called this a beautiful day for McHenry despite the weather.  It was.

Then, the families of the four fallen were introduced.

The monument stands in the southeast corner of the park and has four benches around it, one for each man.  The stone has their names, a map of South Vietnam showing where each fell and pictures on the back of it.

As a member of the Vietnam Generation, I was especially appreciative of all the efforts..

It Is a Very Fitting Memorial.

WLS Top 10, November 13, 1964

1.  THE LEADER OF THE PACK--  Shangri-Las
2.  YOU REALLY GOT MR--  Kinks
3.  I'M INTO SOMETHING GOOD--  Herman's Hermits

4.  HAVE I THE RIGHT--  Honeycombs
5.  SHE'S NOT THERE--  Zombies
6.  RINGO--  Lorne Greene
7.  PRETTY WOMAN--  Roy Orbison

8.  COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER--  Jay & the Americans
9.  BABY LOVE--  Supremes
10.  OVER YOU--  Paul Revere & the Raiders

"You're My Kind of Man."  --RoadDog

WLS R&B Top Ten, November 6, 1974

1.  AIN'T DOIN' TOO BAD--  Bobby Bland
2.  OH NO, NOT MY BABY--  Maxine Brown
3.  BABY DON'T YOU DO IT--  Marvin Gaye

4.  BEAUTICIAN BLUES--  B.B. King
5.  YOU MUST BELIEVE ME--  Impressions
6.  ADORABLE ONE--  Joe Simon
7.  THAT'S WHAT LOVE IS MADE OF--  Miracles

8.  HAD A TALK WITH MY MAN--  Mitty Collier
9.  IT'S ALL OVER--  Walter Jackson
10.  THAT'S WHERE IT'S AT--  Sam Cooke

"No Matter What the Others Might Say.  --RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY.  "  The farm was used to produce produce.

Movie Scratches: Turtles-- Runner-- Equalizer-- Tombstones

A Dog's Eye View of Today's Movies.

61.  TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES--  9-5--  Fox Lake, $6.  Wise-cracking hard shells, led by a big ol' rat battle evil and the hair guy sacks.

62.  MAZE RUNNER--  9-25--  Fox Lake, $6.  Watch out for the Grievers.  Bunch of boys face post-apocalyptic world, but don't know it.  Stay tuned for part 2.

63.  EQUALIZER--  9-30--  Fox Lake, $5--  Moral of this story: Absolutely don't mess with his friends.

64.  A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES--  10-2--  Fox Lake, free--  Even drug traffickers have feelings and family.  Liam battles certified psycho cases.

Love Those Free Movies.  --RoadDog

The Drive's A to Z, November 10, 2014: The End

Last song played Monday.

YOUR LOVE--  Outfield
YOUR LOVE IS DRIVING ME CRAZY--  Sammy Hagar
YOUR MAMA DON'T DANCE--  Loggins & Messina
YOUR MOTHER SHOULD KNOW--  Beatles

YOUR SONG--  Elton John
YOUR TIME IS GONNA COME--  Led Zeppelin
YOUR WILDEST DREAM--  Moody Blues
YOURS IS NO DISGRACE--  Yes

ZIGGY STARDUST--  David Bowie
ZOO--  Scorpions

It Starts Again in Spring.  How Long Is Spring?  --RoadDog

Finishing Up on the Drive's A to Z, November 10, 2014: Lots of "You"

Sad, but its all over until spring.  No more of that massive 2,000+ classic rock song alphabetical countdown, A to Z.  I listened to a lot of it, obviously.  It ended at 10:48 p.m. on Nov. 10th after eight days.

Here are the many, many "You" songs:

YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHI N' YET--  Bachman-Turner Overdrive
YOU BELONG TO THE CITY--  Glenn Frey
YOU BETTER YOU BET--  Who
YOU CAN CALL ME AL--  Paul Simon

YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR HAT ON--  Joe Cocker
(YOU CAN STILL) ROCK IN AMERICA--  Night Ranger
YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT--  Rolling Stones
YOU CAN'T DO THAT--  Beatles

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW IT FEELS--  Tom Petty
YOU DON'T MESS AROUND WITH JIM--  Jim Croce
YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME--  Bon Jovi
YOU GOT IT--  Roy Orbison

YOU GOT LUCKY-- Tom Petty
YOU GOT ME ROCKING--  Rolling Stones
YOU GOT THAT RIGHT--  Lynyrd Skynyrd
YOU LOVE THE THUNDER--  Jackson Browne

YOU MAKE LOVIN' FUN--  Fleetwood Mac
YOU MAY BE RIGHT--  Billy Joel
YOU MIGHT THINK--  Cars
YOU NEVER GIVE ME YOUR MONEY--  Beatles

YOU REALLY GOT ME--  Kinks
YOU REALLY GOT ME--  Van Halen
YOU SHOOK ME--  Led Zeppelin
YOU SHOOK ME ALL NIGHT LONG--  AC/DC

YOU WEAR IT WELL--  Rod Stewart
YOU WON'T SEE ME--  Beatles
YOU WRECK ME--  Tom Petty

You Know Who You Better Not Mess Around With.  --RoadDog

Happy Birthday Route 66, U.S. 12, U.S. 14, and Most All U.S. Highways

Yesterday, November 11th, was the birthday of the United States Highway system, the one that replaced the previous mosh of named and confusing roads like the Lincoln  and Dixie highways.  They became official on that date in 1926.

--RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  Feast your eyes on some of these very confusing sentences.  I had to stop and think about some of them.  I'll be running these for the rest of the month at the end of every first day's post in this blog.

Here's the first one.

The bandage was wound around the wound.

Dedication of Vietnam Memorial Today in McHenry, Illinois

In just a little over an hour, I will be going to McHenry, Illinois, so I can be at the dedication of the Vietnam Memorial at Veterans Park.  i usually go to the ceremony at the train station in Fox Lake, but the Vietnam War was my generation's war, so it means even more to me.

This is a project by the McHenry High School Class of 1964, to honor three of its classmates who were killed over there.  It also honors another one from the Class of 1967, who also died.

Sadly, it is on a cold and nasty day outside, but these veterans had to overcome all sorts of weather -related hardships, so that is another way to honor their memory.

I will be writing about it tomorrow.

Thanks, Veterans from All Wars.

Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald

November 10, 1975, the freighter SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank in a horrific storm on Lake Superior, one of the last Great Lakes disasters.

Of course, there is the song "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot which came out in 1976 and went to Number 1.  Hopefully WDRV will play that song today as they are in the letter "W" and are just playing "Wouldn't It Be Nice" by the Beach Boys.

My students used to hear the song and take it apart to find out all the history they could.  This eventually evolved into a four day unit on the Great Lakes.

(They did play it, but Bobby Skafish, the DJ, didn't know it (nor did I until Liz reminded me).  He said that two people had notified him on his Facebook page of the importance of playing that song on this day.)

--RoadDog

Happy Birthday USMC!!

The United States Marine Corps was established by the Continental Congress on this date, 239 years ago.

November 10, 1775.

Happy Birthday.

Drive's A to Z, November 10, 2014: While I Was Typin'

These songs have played since I got on the old 'puter.

UNDER PRESSURE--  Queen & David Bowie
UNDER THE BOARDWALK--  John Mellancamp
UNDER THE BRIDGE--  Red Hot Chili Peppers
UNDER THE MILKY WAY--  Church

UNFORGIVEN--  Metallica
UNSKINNY BOP--  Poison
UP AROUND THE BEND--  CCR
UP ON CRIPPLE CREEK--  Band

URGENT--  Foreigner
US AND THEM--  Pink Floyd

VALERIE--  Steve Winwood
VALLERI--  Monkees
VALLEY ROAD--  Bruce Hornsby
VENTURA HIGHWAY--  America

VENUS--  Shocking Blue
VENUS AND MARS/ROCK SHOW-- Paul McCartney & Wings
VICTIM OF LOVE--  Eagles
VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR--  Buggles

THE VOICE--  Moody Blues
VOODOO CHILE (SLIGHT RETURN)--    Jimi Hendrix
WAITING FOR THE BUS/JESUS JUST LEFT CHICAGO--  ZZ Top
THE WAITING--  Tom Petty

WAITING FOR A GIRL LIKE YOU--  Foreigner
WAITING FOR A FRIEND--  Rolling Stones

WALK AWAY--  James Gang
WALK OF LIFE--  Dire Straits
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE--  Lou Reed
WALK ON WATER--  Eddie Money
WALK THIS WAY--  Aerosmith

WALKING IN MEMPHIS--  Marc Cohn
WALKING ON THE MOON--  Police
WALKS LIKE A LADY--  Journey

--RoadDog

Drive's A to Z, November 10, 2014: End "S" begin "T"

SIZIE Q--  CCR

SWEET CAROLINE--  Neil Diamond
SWEET CHILD O' MINE--  Guns N' Roses
SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS--  Eurythmics
SWEET EMOTION--  Aerosmith
SWEET HITCHHIKER--  CCR
SWEET HOME ALABAMA--  Lynyrd Skynyrd
SWEET HOME CHICAGO--  Blues Brothers
SWEET JANE--  velvet Underground
SWEET TALKIN' WOMAN--  ELO

SWINGTOWN--  Steve Miller Band
SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL--
SYNCHRONICITY I--  Police
SYNCHRONICITY II--  Police

TAKE IT EASY--  Eagles
TAKE IT ON THE RUN--  REO Speedwagon
TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT--  Eagles
TAKE ME HOME--  Phil Collins
TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT--  Eddie Money
TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS--  Doobie Brothers
TAKE ME TO THE PILOT--  Elton John
TAKE ME TO THE RIVER--  Talking Heads
TAKE THE HIGHWAY--  Marshall Tucker Band
TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME--  Supertramp
TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN--  Steve Miller Band

--RoadDog

WLS Top 30 Songs, Nov. 6, 1964: Ones I Didn't Know-- Part 2

Follow Up.

DIXIE CUPS--  The whole name of the song "You Should Have Seen the Way He Looked At Me."  Girl group sound.  Biggest hit "Going to the Chapel."

OVERLANDERS--  British male quintet, part of the British Invasion.  Their song "Don't It Make You Feel Good" peaked at #75 on Billboard.  Had the "Beatle Sound."

TERRY BLACK--  Canadian male singer.  "Unless You Care" hit #99 on Billboard.

RONNIE DOVE--  Had 20 Top 100 hits 1964-1969.  "Right Or Wrong" hit #14.  Also sang #14 "One Kiss for Old Time's Sake."

HAL WILLIS--  Canadian singer who had an international hit with "The Lumberjack" which sold over 1.5 million copies.  Hit #5 on the Billboard country charts in 1965.  He and his wife's big break was when they were hired to tour with Elvis Presley in 1956.

--RoadDog

WLS Top Thirty Songs November 6, 1964: Ones I Didn't Know-- Part 1

Well, some of them I did know, but rarely ever heard, even back then.  Some I was completely unaware of at all.  I went to You Tube and heard all of them.

18.  I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN--  Peter & Gordon
19.  YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN--  Dixie Cups

21.  DON'T IT MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD--  Overlanders
23.  TEEN BEAT '65--  Sandy Nelson

24.  PEARLY SHELLS--  Burl Ives
25.  UNLESS YOU CARE--  Terry Black

26.  RIGHT OR WRONG--  Ronnie Dove
27.  WALKING IN THE RAIN--  Ronettes

28.  THE LUMBERJACK--  Hal Willis
30.  ASK ME--  Elvis Presley

--RoadDog

Deaths: Jack Bruce, Member of Cream

JACK BRUCE, 71  Died October 25, 2014.

Scottish bass player and vocalist who played in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and Manfred Mann (played on "Pretty Flamingo" (#29, 1966).  He was invited to join Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton in Cream and wrote many of their songs.

That's him you hear sinking "Sunshine of Your Love" (#5, 1968) and "White Room" (6, 1968).

The group broke up after three years and he started the West, Bruce and Laing Band with Leslie West and Corky Laing.  Later he toured with Ringo Starr's All-Star Band.

I was a huge Cream fan and bought everyone of their albums as they were released.  My cousin Joe in North Carolina was the first person to let me know about them.

--RoadDog

The Drive's A to Z, November 9, 2014: "Some" Stuff

"Some" of the songs played yesterday.

SOME GIRLS--  Rolling Stones
SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL--  Grand Funk Railroad

SOMEBODY--  Bryan Adams
SOMEBODY GET ME A DOCTOR--  Van Halen
SOMEBODY TO LOVE--  Jefferson Airplane
SOMEBODY TO LOVE--  Queen

SOMEBODY'S BABY--  Jackson Browne
SOMEONE SAVED MY LIFE TONIGHT--  Elton John

SOMETHING--  Beatles
SOMETHING ABOUT YOU--  Police

SOMETIMES A FANTASY--  Billy Joel

"Sometimes You feel Like a Nut, Sometimes You Don't."  --RoadDog


THE VERY LAST SAY WHAT?  "X-rates"--  Sounds much worse than NC-17.

The Drive's A to Z, November 8th: While I Was Typing

Since I went downstairs to the old 'puter and started banging away at the keys, the Drive has played these songs.

SCHOOL'S OUT--  Alice Cooper
SEA OF LOVE--  Honeydrippers
SECOND HAND NEWS--  Fleetwood Mac
SECRET JOURNEY--  Police

SEE WHAT LOVE CAN DO--  Eric Clapton
SEEKER--  Who
SEND HER MY LOVE--  Journey
SENTIMENTAL LADY--  Bob Welch

SEPARATE WAYS--  Journey
SET ME FREE--  Kinks
SEVEN BRIDGES ROAD--  Eagles
SEX & DRUGS & ROCK AND ROLL--  Ian Drury

SGT. PEPPER'S-A DAY IN THE LIFE--  Beatles
SGT. PEPPER'S-WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM NY FRIENDS--  Beatles
SHADOWS OF THE NIGHT--  Pat Benatar
SHAKE IT UP--  Cars

SHAKEDOWN--  Bob Seger
SHAKING--  Eddie Money
SHAKIN' ALL OVER--  Who (live)
SHAME ON THE MOON--  Bob Seger

SHARE THE LAND--  Guess Who
SHATTERED--  Rolling Stones
SHE--  Monkees
SHE BLINDED ME WITH SCIENCE--  Thomas Dolby

Loved the Video of the last song (Back When MTV Actually Played Videos.  --RoadDog

The Drive's A to Z, November 8th-- "Rockin'" Everywhere

Not too surprising, but a whole lot of Rock and Roll songs begin with the word "Rock."

ROCK AND A HARD PLACE--  Rolling Stones
ROCK AND ROLL--  Led Zeppelin
ROCK & ROLL--  Velvet Underground
ROCK AND ROLL AIN'T NOISE POLLUTION--  AC/DC

ROCK AND ROLL ALL NIGHT--  Kiss
ROCK AND ROLL BAND--  Boston
ROCK AND ROLL GIRLS--  John Fogerty
ROCK & ROLL, HOOCHIE COO--  Rick Derringer

ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC--  Beatles
ROCK AND ROLL NEVER FORGETS--  Bob Seger
ROCK AND ROLL PART 2--  Gary Glitter
ROCK AND ROLL STEW--  Traffic
ROCK AND ROLL WOMAN--  Buffalo Springfield

ROCK CANDY--  Montrose
R.O.C.K. IN THE U.S.A.--  John Mellancamp
ROCK ME--  Steppenwolf
ROCK ME ON THE WATER--  Jackson Browne

ROCK ME TONIGHT--  Billy Squier
ROCK MUSIC--  Jefferson Starship
ROCK 'M ME--  Steve Miller
ROCK 'N ROLL FANTASY--  Bad Company

ROCK OF AGES--  Def Leppard
ROCK ON--  David Essex
ROCK ROCK (TIL YOU DROP)--  Def Leppard
ROCK STEADY--  Bad Company

ROCK THE CASBAH--  Clash
ROCK THIS TOWN--  Stray Cats
ROCK YOU LIKE A HURRICANE--  Scorpions

Where Was the Casbah?  --RoadDog


SAY WHAT?  "What a bummer."--  As in an LSD trip gone bad.

Marine Corps Birthday

I'm getting ready to leave to go to the annual Marine Corps Birthday Breakfast at the Fox Lake, Illinois, American Legion, something I've done for the last eight years since they transferred it to the home post.

It is also the kickoff for the 2014 Toys for Tots program.

Lots of scrambled eggs, harsh black coffee and SOS.

This year I may also help out my Sons of the American Legion group who is handling the cooking chores.

The USMC was established on November 10, 1775.

A Proud Organization.

JSS: Boat's Up-- McRib's Back-- Gettin' Cold

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.

1.  BOAT'S UP--  I towed the boat over to the barn in Hebron and put it up for the winter today.

2.  McRIB'S BACK--  Well, that just really makes my day!!  I had my first one Wednesday.

3.  GETTIN' COLD--  We did have a real nice day Wednesday with temps in the 60s and sun.  By Thursdayhe winds were ripping and temps dropping.  It was in the nd sunny today, but the winds picked up again and temps dropped significantly so I have decided not to see the Johnsburg High School playoff game tonight.

Just Some Stuff.  --RoadDog

The Drive's A to Z, November 7th

Now on the letter "M."  You can listen to it as it streams at www.wdrv.com.  In the midst of over 2000 songs and ending this coming Monday or Tuesday.  They don't know yet.

Songs played since I've been typing:

MIDNIGHT RENDEZVOUS--  Babys
MIDNIGHT RIDER--  Allman Brothers
MIDNIGHT SPECIAL--  CCR
MIND GAMES--  John Lennon

MINUTE BY MINUTE--  Doobie Brothers
MINUTES TO MEMORIES--  John Mellancamp
MIRACLES--  Jefferson Starship
MISS AMERICA--  Styx

MISS YOU--  Rolling Stones
MISSING YOU--  John Waite
MISSISSIPPI QUEEN--  Mountain
MISTY MOUNTAIN HOP--  Led Zeppelin

MISUNDERSTANDING--  Genesis
MOBY DICK--  Led Zeppelin
MODERN LOVE--  David Bowie
MONA LISAS AND MAD HATTERS--  Elton John
MONDAY MONDAY--  Mamas and Papas

MONEY--  Pink Floyd
MONEY FOR NOTHING--  Dire Straits

"We Got To Move These Color TVs."  --RoadDog

The Drive's A to Z, November 7th: "Just Lay" It Down

JUST A GIGGOLO--  David Lee Roth
JUST A JOB TO DO--  Genesis
JUST A SONG BEFORE I GO--    CSN
JUST GOT PAID--  ZZ Top

JUST LIKE A WOMAN--  Bob Dylan
JUST LIKE PARADISE--  David Lee Roth
JUST LIKE STARTING OVER--  John Lennon
JUST MY IMAGINATION--  Rolling Stones

JUST ONE VICTORY--  Todd Rundgren
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE--  Billy Joel
JUST WHAT I NEEDED--  Cars
JUST YOU 'N ME--  Chicago

LAY DOWN SALLY--  Eric Clapton
LAY IT ON THE LINE--  Triumph
LAY LADY LAY--  Bob Dylan

LAYLA--  (Unplugged)  Eric Clapton

LEAN ON ME--  Bill Withers

"Running Away With Me"  --RoadDog


SAY WHAT? "Wear the pants in the family." --  Back when the women wore the dresses.

WLS Top Ten for November 6, 1964

1.  LEADER OF THE PACK--  Shangri-Las
2.  PRETTY WOMAN--  Roy Orbison
3.  COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER--  Jay & the Americans

4.  YOU REALLY GOT ME--  Kinks
5.  HAVE I THE RIGHT--  Honeycombs
6.  TOBACCO ROAD--  Nashville Teens
7.  THE DOOR IS STILL OPEN--  Dean Martin

8.  DO WAH DIDDY DIDDY--  Manfred Mann
9.  I'M INTO SOMETHING GOOD--  Herman's Hermits
10.  RINGO--  Lorne Greene  (That's right.  Pa.)

Even though the Beatles weren't in the top ten, their impact as starting the British Invasion was still there as five of the top ten were from England:  4,5,6,8 and 9.

There were quite a few songs rounding out the top 30 that I hadn't heard of before, so will write about them tomorrow.

It's Pa Cartwright Vs. Ringo, the Gunslinger,or Was He the Drummer from That Group?  --RoadDog

The Drive's A to Z, November 6th

Songs I've heard since I got to the old 'puter this morning.  as you can see, we are now in the letter "I."

IMMIGRATION MAN--  Crosby & Nash
IN A BIG COUNTRY--  Big Country
IN-A GADDA-DA-VIDA--  Iron Butterfly
IN GOD'S COUNTRY-- U2

IN MEMORY OF ELIZABETH REED--  Allman Brothers

IN MY LIFE--  Beatles
IN THE AIR TONIGHT--  Phil Collins
IN THE CITY--  Eagles
IN THE DARK--  Billy Squier
IN THE EVENING--  Led Zeppelin
IN THE MOOD--  Robert Plant
IN THE SUMMERTIME--  Mungo Jerry (Summer, where did you go?)
IN YOUR EYES-- (live)-- Peter Gabriel

INCENSE AND PEPPERMINTS--  Strawberry Alarm Clock
INDUSTRIAL DISEASE--  Dire Straits
INSIDE OUT--  Phil Collins

Giood Stuff, Maynard.  --RoadDog

RoadDog's School of Musical Knowledge: Hot, House, If, I Don't

Still Listening to the Drive's A to Z.  Today, you get to guess who performed the songs listed.  Answers are below:

1.  A HORSE WITH NO NAME

2.  HOT BLOODED
3.  HOT FOR TEACHER
4.  HOT LEGS

5. THE HOUSE IS ROCKIN'
6.  HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN
7.  HOUSES OF THE HOLY

8.  IF I NEEDED SOMEONE
9.  IF 6 WAS 4
10.  IF YOU CAN'T ROCK ME
11.  IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND
12.  IF YOU LOVE SOMEBODY SET THEM FREE
13.  IF YOU WANT BLOOD (YOU GOT IT)

14.  I DON'T CARE ANYMORE
15.  I DON'T LIKE MONDAYS
16.  I DON'T WANT TO KNOW
17.  I DON'T WANT TO MISS A THING

  Answers below:








1.  America


2.  Foreigner
3.  Van Halen
4.  Rod Stewart


5.  Stevie Ray Vaughan
6.  Animals
7.  Led Zeppelin


8.  Beatles
9.  Jimi Hendrix
10.  Rolling Stones
11.  Gordon Lightfoot
12.  Sting
13.  AC/DC


14.  Phil Collins
15.  Boomtown Rats
16.  Fleetwood Mac
17.  Aerosmith

So, How'd You Do?  --RoadDog


SAY WHAT?  "Tied to your mother's apron strings."--  Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah.

The Greatest Quarterback That No One Wants? Kyle Orton

From November 4, 2014, Yahoo! Sports "Buffalo's Kyle orton Is One of the Best Journeymen in NFL History."

Earlier this season the Buffalo Bills benched starting qb E,J. Manuel and put back up Kyle Orton in where he is now 3-1 as a starter and has the Bills at 5-3 and in the hunt for the playoffs.

Since 1958, there have been 17 quarterbacks who have started for five different teams, and Orton is one of them.  He has played for the Bears, Broncos, Chiefs, Cowboys and now the Bills and is 38-36 as a starter.

As a rookie, he went 10-5 with the Bears and led them to the playoffs, but was placed on the bench once there in favor of Rex Grossman (whom we like to call Gross Rexman for his extremely poor play).  We also believe the Bears could even have their last appearance in the Super Bowl had Orton played instead of Grossman.

Then, the Bears traded Orton to Denver for Jay Cutler.  And, we all know how ineffective Scary Jay is for us.  With Denver in 2010, Orton was 3-10, but a lot of that was because of how horrible the Bronco defense was that year.

I wonder if the Bills would like to trade qbs with us, even-up (considering how "elite" Jay is and the fact that Coach trestman thinks Jay will be the NFL's MVP this year.

Duh!!  Da Bears Know Da Nothin' 'Bout Da QBs.  --RoadDog

What's Up With the Presbyterian Blue Hose?

I came across mention this morning that this team was going to be playing #11 Mississippi this Saturday.  Before this year, when Northern opened the season against them, I'd never even heard of them.  I looked up their record which is 5-4 and in third place in the Big South Conference.

NIU blew them out 55-3 and the next month Presbyterian played North Carolina State and lost 42-0, and now, Mississippi.  They sure don't seem to mind playing out of their league, even though Northern is essentially out of our league when we play teams like Mississippi and State.

And, what's with the name, Blue Hose?

The rest of Presbyterian's record:

Bluefield College: Won 69-14
Furman: Won 10-7
Western Carolina: Won 19-14
Coastal Carolina:  Lost 40-28
Charleston South: Won 7-3
Monmouth Won 18-12
Liberty: Lost
Gardner Webb: Won 81-15

An Interesting School.  --RoadDog

The Drive's A to Z, November 5th: Now in the Letter "F"

Tuned in this morning and while I was a-typing this here blog, the Drive, WDRV, played these songs.  As you see, the Drive, after nearly two full days, is now on the letter "F."

FORTUNATE SON--  CCR
FOUR STICKS--  Led Zeppelin
FOX ON THE RUN--  Sweet
FOXEY LADY--  Jimi Hendrix

FRANKENSTEIN--  Edgar Winter Group

FREE AS A BIRD--  Beatles
FREE BIRD--  live-- Lynyrd Skynyrd
FREE FALLIN'--  Tom Petty
FREE FOR ALL--  Ted Nugent
FREE ME--  Roger Daltry
FREE RIDE--  Edgar Winter Group
FREE WILL--  Rush

FREEDOM OVERSPILL--  Steve Winwood
FREEZE FRAME--  J. Geils Band

FROM ME TO YOU--  Beatles
FROM THE BEGINNING--  ELP
FULL MOON TURN MY HEAD AROUND--  Off Broadway
FUN FUN FUN--  Beach Boys
FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND/ LOVE LIES BLEEDING--  Elton John

At Least Bob Stroud Didn't Have to Say the T.N. Words.  --RoadDog

The Drive's A to Z, November 5th: "Every" Song You Know

Before you look below, how many songs beginning with the word "Every" and variations of it can you recall?

Some of the songs played since yesterday.

"Every" Songs:

EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE--  Police
EVERY LITTLE THING SHE DOES IS MAGIC--  Police
EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY--  Rod Stewart
EVERY ROSE HAS A THORN--  Poison

EVERYBODY WANTS SOME--  Van Halen
EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD--  Tears for Fear
EVERYBODY WANTS YOU--  Billy Squier

EVERYBODY'S EVERYTHING--  Santana
EVERYBODY'S GOT SOMETHING TO HIDE--  Beatles

EVERYDAY I WRITE THE BOOK--  Elvis Costello
EVERYDAY PEOPLE--  Sly & the Family Stone

EVERYTHING IS COMING OUR WAY--  Santana

FIRE--  Jimi Hendrix
FIRE AND ICE--  Pat Benatar
FIRE AND RAIN--  James Taylor
FIRE DOWN BELOW--  Bob Seger
FIRE LAKE--  Bob Seger
FIRE ON HIGH--  ELO
FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN--  Marshall Tucker Band

"Except for Me and My Monkey."  --RoadDog


SAY WHAT?  "Watch the tube."--  But then flat screens are now tubeless.

The Drive's A to Z, November 4th: Currently "Crazy"

The Drive is now on the letter "C."  Since I have been typing away, these songs have played to right now.

COME SAIL AWAY--  Styx
COME TO PAPA--  Bob Seger
COME TOGETHER--  Aerosmith
COME TOGETHER--  Beatles

COMFORTABLY NUMB--  Pink Floyd
COMING UP--  Paul McCartney
COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN--  Led Zeppelin
CONQUISTADOR--  Procul Harum
CONTINUING STORY OF BUNGALOW BILL--  Beatles

THE CORE--  Eric Clapton
COULDN'T GET IT RIGHT--  Climax Blues Band
COULDN'T STAND THE WEATHER--  Stevie Ray Vaughan
COUNTRY COMFORT--  Elton John

COVER ME--  Bruce Springsteen
COVER OF THE ROLLING STONE--  Dr. Hook
CRACKER JACK PALACE--  George Harrison

CRAZY--  Aerosmith
CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE--  Queen
CRAZY OVER YOU--  Heart
CRAZY TRAIN-- Ozzy Osborne

CREEP--  Radiohead
CROCODILE ROCK--  Elton Jihn
CROSS-EYED MARY--  Jethro Tull

You Have to Wonder If "Communication Breakdown" Was Played for the First Time Ever Without That Second Song That Is Always Played?  --RoadDog

The Drive's A to Z, November 4th: How Many "Baby" Songs Can You Name?

The drive played five songs beginning with that word.  Also, there were six songs beginning with "Back."

A look back at the beginning of the letter "B' from yesterday.  You can go to the site and find a list of all songs played.

BABA O'RILEY--  Who
BABE--  Styx
BABE I'M GONNA LEAVE YOU--  Led Zeppelin

BABY BLUE--  Badfinger
BABY HOLD ON--  Eddie Money
BABY, I LOVE YOUR WAY--  Peter Frampton
BABY (SOMETHING'S HAPPENING)-- live--  Peter Frampton
BABY YOU'RE A RICH MAN--  Beatles

BABYLON SISTERS--  Steely Dan

BACK DOOR MAN--  Doors
BACK IN BLACK--  AC/DC
BACK IN THE HIGHLIFE AGAIN--  Steve Winwood
BACK IN THE SADDLE--  Aerosmith
BACK IN THE U.S.S.R.--  Beatles
BACK ON MY FEET AGAIN--  Babys
BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG--  Pretenders

BACKSTREETS--  Bruce Springsteen

Interesting Songs Following Each Other.  --RoadDog


SAY WHAT?  "Then the penny dropped."--  How the action started in one-cent slot machines.

The Drive's A to Z Songs-- November 3, 2014

As they promised, the Drive kicked off their A to Z a little after 7 a.m. today.  I am tuned in as I will be whenever I'm by a radio this next week plus.  WDRV 97.1 FM and 96.9 FM.  And they stream.  Go to the home www.wdrv.com and you can also see songs played by clicking on the A to Z bar.

Songs play so far:

ABACAB--  Genesis
ABOUT A GIRL--  Nirvana (unplugged)
ABRACADABRA--  Steve Miller
ACCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN--  Elvis Costello

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE--  Beatles
ADDICTED TO LOVE--  Robert Palmer
AFRICA--  Toto
AFTER MIDNIGHT--  Eric Clapton

AFTER THE GOLDRUSH--  Neil Young
AGAINST ALL ODDS--  Phil Collins
AGAINST THE WIND--  Bob Seger
AH LEAH--  Donnie Iris

AIN'T EVEN DONE WITH THE NIGHT--  John Mellancamp
AIN'T NO SUNSHINE--  Bill Withers
AIN'T TALKING ABOUT LOVE--  Van Halen
AIN'T THAT A SHAME--  Cheap Trick

AIN'T TOO PROUD TO BEG--  Rolling Stones
AJA--  Steely Dan
ALABAMA GETAWAY--  Grateful Dead
ALABAMA  SONG (WHISKY BAR)--  Doors

ALLISON--  Elvis Costello--  Elvis Costello

Bring On Those Robert Palmer Girls.  --RoadDog

The Day of the Rugby-- Part 3

The real growth in rugby is taking place in the high schools.  In 2002, the number of rugby programs in Chicago-area high schools was 8, now it is 50  Programs such as Rookie Rugby and its reappearance on the Olympic stage have helped grow it.

About 25% of American rugby players are women.  That is even higher than the world average which is about 20%.

Plus, the quality of U.S. players has improved tremendously to where some are regarded as being on the fringe of world-class players.  (Although the "whupping" the All Blacks put on our team shows that we still have a long way to go to compete at their level.)

Another area where rugby is strong is in the college clubs.

And, "there are certain understood codes of honor among rugby players.  One is that what happens on the field, stays on the field."

According to Vaughan Palelei, "There's not a sport on this planet where you can go, beat the living crap out of each other and then both sides will go out, have a beer and sing songs afterward."  You also won't see excessive celebration after a good play.

I, for one, am hoping I'll get more of a chance to see rugby on TV.

--RoadDog

The Day of the Rugby-- Part 2

From the October 31, 2014, Chicago Tribune "Emerging sport gets day on the big stage" by Chris Hine.

"Rugby is an intensely physical game, played without pads, in which broken bones and battered bodies are common.  The sport is also remarkable for the toughness of its participants and the intense camaraderie formed between teammates and foes alike.  It is a culture unfamiliar to most Americans--but that is changing."

Saturday rugby will have one of its biggest moments in Chicago when the best team in rugby, New Zealand's All Blacks will take on the USA Eagles at Soldier Field in Chicago before a 61,000 sell-out crowd, the biggest-ever for a rugby match in this country.  (The All Blacks take their name from the color of their uniforms in case you're wondering.)

And, rugby makes its Olympic debut in the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Chicago has two rugby clubs that play at the top level of U.S. competition, the Griffins and Lions.

Over the last two decades, rugby has become one of the fastest growing team sports in our country.  According to the Rugby World Cup, currently 1,130,000 Americans are involved in it, yet most people don't know much about it.

The Chicago Area Rugby Union says that the Chicago-area has 41 rugby clubs, including some women's clubs, up from 26 twenty years ago.

And, I Am Sure a Big Fan.  --RoadDog

One More Day of All Those Horrible Political Ads

The election is, thankfully, tomorrow.  This has been the worst-ever political campaigning in Illinois.  To hear the commercials, all candidates should be jailed for the horrible crimes they have committed against humanity.

And, the new Dirty Words are "Career Politician."  Man, if you're a "CAREER POLITICIAN" you are some kind of bad.

It is too bad that the candidates don't concentrate on what they plan to do instead of attacking their opponents.

As far as Illinois' two major jobs up for grabs this Tuesday, governor and U.S. Senator, I don't like any of them.  But, unfortunately, they are the only ones with a chance of winning.  I have to find the lesser of the two evils in each contest.  Perhaps they run their ads with that as the theme.  "I am not as bad as the other guy."

--RoadDog

The Drive's A to Z Is Back

I usually listen to WXRT FM Chicago,  WNCT AM Greenville, N.C., or the Surf out of North Myrtle Beach in the mornings while I am a-typing away on these blogs, but not so this week.

WDRV FM, 97,1 FM in Chicago starts their semiannual run through the alphabet today at 7 a.m. CST.  This is a massive undertaking which will continue through 2000+ songs played alphabetically this whole week and ending sometime early next week.

They don't play the same songs each time either, but do deep album cuts and audience suggested songs as well as ones they come up with.

I'll be listening and listing (imagine me listing something?) some of the songs, but it also streams live at www.wdrv.com.

--RoadDog


SAY WHAT?  "That's all, folks"--  Where've you been, Porky?

The Day of the Rugby-- Part 1

I watched the All Black blowout of the team USA today on NBC.  The Americans never had a chance.  There is a reason the New Zealand All Blacks are the #1 rugby team in the world and they clearly showed it.  It was textbook how to play the game.  I think the final score was something like 72-6.  (They are called All Blacks because of the black uniforms they wear.)

But, at least I got to watch a rugby game, something you rarely get here in the United States.  And, even better, I saw the All Black Haka, which is something to behold.  Just check it out on You Tube.

But, at least Soldier Field in Chicago was sold out at 60,000, and even though the crowd was mostly American, they were pulling a whole lot for the All Blacks.  I pulled out my All Black Haka coolie and All Black flag, even though I was pulling for the USA.

I got hooked on rugby on a trip I went with my mom and sister to Australia and New Zealand.  We arrived right when both levels of rugby from Australia and New Zealand were playing.  If Americans think they have rivalries in football, that is nothing compared to the one between these two countries.

I sure had a great time watching the games and learning about the sport.

--RoadDog

SAY WHAT?  "That's the $64,000 question."--  The radio show became the $64,000 TV show.