JSS: Cold-- Bears Party-- After Bears Party-- Early Legion New Year's

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  COLD--  Just went out to feed the little feathered friends and like to froze.  Temps are about 8 degrees here, but can't complain as there is no snow on the ground (sorry snowmobilers, and it has been unseasonably warm here, 30s-40s, until a couple days ago.  However, it was quite cloudy.  We almost forgot what the sun looked like.  Sure is a big difference from last year this time when it was nothing but vortex and snow.

2.  BEARS PARTY--  This past Sunday we had 20 friends over for the Bears game.  Sad as the game was, we still had a great time, with plenty of food, drinks and shotters.

3.  AFTER BEARS PARTY--  After the party, a lot stuck around for the Packer-Dirty Lions game.  A much better game, despite dirty player Suh.  Then we had a long Name That Tune contest on the ultimate jukebox.  Last night, we had another couple over to finish off the keg.

4.  EARLY LEGION NEW YEAR'S--  In a little while. we're going to the American Legion in Fox Lake for an early New Year's Eve party with food, karaoke from 1 to 5 p.m..  Toast is at 4 p.m..  Probably will be asleep at the stroke of midnight and 2015,

Just Some Stuff.  --RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  One goose, two geese.  One moose, two meese?  One index, two indices?

Bert Russell (AKA Bert Berns): "Twist & Shout" Songwriter Died Today, 47 Years Ago

I was looking at ye Olde Disc Jockey site this morning and saw that songwriter, producer Bert Russell (a.k.a. Bert Berns) died December 30, 1967.  I have been writing about his song "Twist & Shout."

besides that song, he wrote a lot of others and produced many as well.  Here is a partial list of songs he had a lot to do with during his much-too-short life.

Wrote these songs:

A Little Bit of Soap-- Jarmels 1961
Cry to Me--  Solomon Burke 1962
Tell Him--  Exciters 1962
Cry baby-- Garnett Mimms 1963 and Janis Joplin 1971
Everybody Needs Somebody to Love--  Solomon Burke 1964, Wilson Pickett 1967, Blues Brothers
Here Comes the Night--  Lulu 1964, Them 1965
I Want Candy--  Strangeloves 1965
Hang On Sloopy--  McCoys 1965
Piece of My heart--  Erma Franklin 1967, Big Brother & the Holding Company (Janis) 1968
Twenty-Five Miles--  Edwin Starr 1968

Produced these songs:

Cry to Me
Twist & Shout
Nobody But Me--  Isley Brothers (Big hit for the Human Beinz)
Under the Boardwalk--  drifters 1964
Baby Please Don't Go--Them 1965
Baby I'm Yours--  Barbara Lewis 1965
Make Me Your Baby--  Barbara Lewis 1965
Brown Eyed Girl--  Van Morrison 1967

One Really Talented Guy.  --RoadDog

Top Notes, R&B Band

From Answer.com.

Last week I was writing about the early Beatles hit "Twist & Shout" and mentioned the song had originally been sung by a R&B group called the Top Notes.

The group was founded in Philadelphia in the 1950s and featured vocalist Curtis Harmon on the piano.  In 1952. they had their debit single "For Love of All" on the Jubilee labels which became a minor regional hit.  However, the source wasn't sure if this was the Top Notes group that signed with Atlantic and had the first version of "Twist & Shout."

--RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth?

Take a Listen to Rock and Roll Musicians Who Died in 2014 This Sunday

Bob Stroud will feature the musicians we lost during 2014 on his Rock and Roll Roots program airing this Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, on WDRV 97.1 FM in Chicago.  Time is from 7-10 a.m., CST.

It streams at www.wdrv.com.

Worth a listen.

Tonight, his Ten at Ten at 10 p.m. will feature songs from 1968.  Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., he will feature 1979 and 1983.

--RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  Why is it that writers write, but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groc and hammers don't ham?

Six Classic Christmas Songs That Are Secretly Horrifying

From the Dec. 24, 2014, Yahoo! TV by Zach Seemayer.

Well, I just had to look into this one.  Some of the choices were stretching it a bit.

1.  I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS--  Terrifying to a child's viewpoint (although adults know better).  His mother is cheating on Dad and Santa is supposed to be the model of virtue.

2.  THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS--  Where is he getting all that stuff and at what cost?  Definitely exorbitant luxuries while there is so much suffering and hunger in the world.

3.  BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE--  Essentially, date rape set to music.  "Put some records on while I pour."

4.  SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN--  Santa watches all and knows all and then passes judgement.  I sometimes think Big brother is watching.  Well, what about Big Santa.

5.  JINGLE BELLS--  There is actually more than one verse.  In the second one, they drift into a snow bank and are thrown into it.  That had to hurt, and then someone rides by and just laughs.  Good Samaritan indeed.

6.  WALKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND--  People with overactive imaginations making pretend snow men at the height of the Great Depression.

Makes You Think.  --RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  Quicksand can work slowly, a boxing ring is square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

WLS Top Ten Survey for December 25, 1964

Fifty years ago.

1.  I FEEL FINE/ SHE'S A WOMAN--  Beatles
2.  MR. LONELY--  Bobby Vinton
3.  SHE'S NOT THERE--  Zombies

4.  I'M INTO SOMETHING GOOD--  Herman's Hermits
5.  MOUNTAIN OF LOVE--  Johnny Rivers
6.  COME SEE ABOUT ME--  Supremes
7.  LEADER OF THE LAUNDROMAT--  Detergents

8.  ASK ME--  Elvis Presley
9.  ANYWAY YOU WANT IT--  Dave Clark Five
10.  THE WEDDING--  Julie Rogers

--RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  Sweetmeats are candy while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.

Ten at Ten: Christmas

From WDRV, Dec. 24, 2014, Ten at ten.

Today, Bob Stroud played the Ten at Ten Christmas Songs show a day early.

HAPPY X-MAS (WAR IS OVER)--  John and Yoko
MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY--  Bruce Springsteen
PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS--  Bon Jovi

I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS--  Gregg Lake
I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS--  John Mellancamp
CHRISTMAS, BABY PLEASE COME HOME--  U-2
DING DONG, DING DONG--  George Harrison

CHRISTMAS IS THE TIME TO SAY I LOVE YOU--  Billy Squier
DO THEY KNOW ITS CHRISTMAS--  Band-Aid
CHRISTMAS EVE--  Trans-Siberian Orchestra

--MerryDog

Huskies Get Rolled in Florida

We had thought to go to Florida for the inaugural Boca Raton Bowl between two conference champs, the Northern Illinois Huskies of the MAC and Marshall Thundering Herd of C-USA.  But, we didn't care to pay those big pre-January prices and this year our Huskies were good, but not as good as in the past,  We were 11-2, but a whole lot of those victories were by the skin of our teeth.

We also considered going to DeKalb, Illinois, to watch it, but again, I was figuring a definite loss and we have a really bad storm rolling in today.

Well, I'm glad we didn't go.  It was a blow out.  Marshall beat us up badly 52-23.  We actually scored first, but on the ensuing kickoff, they ran it back for a TD and it went down from there.

We watched it at home in Margaritaville.

Marshall had something to prove for not getting into one of the Big Bowls and they sure did.  That happened to the Huskies before in the Poinsettia Bowl when TCU also had something to prove and buried us.

I'd say Marshall is ready for the next level.  We sure aren't, but we are on our third coach in five years.

I did learn that Florida Atlantic University (FAU) is in Boca Raton.  We played in their huge stadium.

I was very impressed with Marshall's quarterback.  The Bears hopefully will be looking for a new quarterback.  Maybe?

--RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France.

Deaths: Glen Larson: Four Preps and TV

GLEN LARSON, 77 Died Nov. 14, 2014.

Founding member and baritone of the Four Preps.  Also, a well-known TV producer.

The harmony of the Four Preps was a huge influence on Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys.  The group charted 18 times in eight years starting in 1956.

Some of their "biggies" that he sang and wrote:

26 Miles (#2, 1958)
Big Man (#3, 1958)
Down By the Station (#13, 1960)

After the group, he worked for Quinn Martin Productions on "The Fugitive."  he produced "Alias Smith and Jones," "The Six Million Dollar Man," "Battlestar Gallatica," "Quincy M.D.," "Magnum PI" and "Knight Rider."

he also wrote the themes for "Battlestar Gallatica" and "Fall Guy."

Quite an impressive resume for someone I'd never hear of before.

"Twistin' and Shoutin'"-- Part 2

From Wikipedia.

The original title of "Twist and Shout" was supposed to be "Shake It Up Baby.".  It became a chart hit for the Isley Brothers with their 1962 cover.  It became a big hit when the Beatles released it on their first U.K. album, Please Please me.

Chaka Demus had a #1 hit in the U.K. with it in 1994.

The Who have performed the song throughout their career.

Bruce Springsteen has played it in concert 350 times.

Phil Spector produced it (before his Wall of Sound).

It was the Isley Brothers' first big hit and notched their first Billboard Top 20 on the pop charts, peaking at #17 (It went to #2 on the R&B chart.)

Ronald Isley sang lead on it.

When the Beatles recorded it, John Lennon had a cold which is why his voice sounds that way.

When they recorded Please Please Me, they did 11 songs in ten hours.  This was the last one recorded.

The Beatles' single of the song was released March 2, 1964, with "There's a Place" as the "B" side.

Now You Know.  --RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  Let's face it, English is a crazy language.  there is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple or in in pineapple.

Twistin' and Shoutin'-- Part 1

From You Tube.

The song "Twist and Shout" which was a big hit for the Beatles fifty years ago in 1964, was originally sung by the Top Notes in 1961 and is a very rare version.  Back in 1961, they were a rising Philadelphia R&B band on the Atlantic records label

It was produced by staff member Phil Spector who had previously been a member of the Teddy Bears in 1958 and had the hit "To Know Him Is to Love Him."

When the song's writer Bert Burns (aka Bert Russell) heard it, he told Spector that he had messed up his song and said it would never fly.

The Beatles were mostly inspired by the 1962 version of it done by the Isley Brothers.

More to Come.  --RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLIST IS EASY?  How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

Music Deaths in 2014: Ray Charles Singer and Max Frost

BOB HARRIS, 91, died Feb. 14, 2014.  One time member of the Ray Charles Singers.

CHRISTOPHER JONES, 72, died Jan. 31, 2014.  Played Max frost in the 1968 movie "Wild in the Streets."  The song "Shapes of Things to Come" from the movie went to #22 that year.  Sung by Paul Wybier.  Jones also starred in TV's "The Legend of Jesse James."

Mo' Sox, Less Cutler

White Sox fans are all ecstatic about the signings of expensive free agents starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija, relief closer David Robertson and left fielder Melky Cabrera this past couple weeks.

I sure hope they do better than the last there really-highly paid free agents the Sox signed: Adam Dunn, Jake Peavey and Alex Rios.  Adam Dunn had about as bad of a year any player could have his first and second seasons, but played reasonably well the last two.  Peavey was a huge flop, completely worthless.  Only Rios played like he should have.

And, on the subject of Jay Cutler, he was FINALLY benched as DaSadBear quarterback, something that should have been done weeks or months ago when it became apparent he is not the NFL qb that his salary would indicate.

Our poor backup qb gets to face the #1 NFL defense tomorrow,

One thing our Chicago sports franchises don't know how to do is spend their money.

Oh Well.  --RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

WLS Top Ten R&B for December 18, 1964

1.  TWINE TIME--  Alvin Cash
2.  SOMETIMES I WONDER--  Major Lance
3.  THE JERK--  Larks

4.  LONG LONG WINTER--  Impressions
5.  BLIND MAN--  Little Milton
6.  VOICE YOUR CHOICE--  Radiants
7.  WHAT NOW--  Gene Chandler

8.  TOO MANY FISH IN THE SEA--  Marvelettes
9.  HOW SWEET IT IS-- Marvin Gaye
10.  WILD ONE--  Martha & the Vandellas

--RoadDog

Songs From Last Week's WLS Top 30 That I Didn't Know.

As usual, I remember the Top Ten songs fairly well, but see the names of others that I don't remember hearing.  As such, I have to go to You Tube which almost always has the recordings.

Here are the songs I didn't remember.

7.  ASK ME--  Elvis Presley  And I thought I'd heard all his big hits.  A pretty slow one.
13.  SHE UNDERSTANDS ME--  Johnny Tillotson  (Country pop)  Country comes to town.
14.  EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT--  Newbeats  A take-off on "Bread and Butter."

16.  SCRATCHES--  Travis Wammack  instrumental
17.  RIGHT OR WRONG--  Ronnie Dove  Slow ballad
18.  LEADER OF THE LAUNDROMAT--  Detergents  (See #30)

19.  WEDDING SONG--  Julie Rogers  Was this played a lot at weddings back then?
25.  I JUST CAN'T SAY GOODBYE--  Bobby Rydell     Slow
27.  WALK AWAY--  Matt Monro  Super slow.

28.  THE OTHER RINGO--  L:arry Finnegan  Not Lorne's outlaw desperado, but that guy with that famous band.
29.  FALL AWAY--  Eddie Albert  Slow
30.  DO WACKA DO--  Roger Miller  (OK, I've heard it, but just had to hear it again.)

And, He Had a What?  --RoadDog

WLS Top Ten for December 18, 1964: Beatles Back at #1

*  bRITISH iNVASION GROUP.

1.  I FEEL FINE/ SHE'S A WOMAN--  Beatles*
2.  SHE'S NOT THERE--  Zombies*
3.  MR. LONELY--  Bobby Vinton

4.  COME SEE ABOUT ME--  Supremes
5.  I'M INTO SOMETHING GOOD--  Herman's Hermits*
6.  RINGO--  Lorne Greene
7.  ASK ME--  Elvis Presley

8.  MOUNTAIN OF LOVE--  Johnny Rivers
9.  TIME IS ON MY SIDE--  Rolling Stones*
10.  ANYWAY YOU WANT IT--  Dave Clark Five*

--RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY.  Upon seeing the tear in the painting, I shed a tear.

A Fifty Year Christmas Comparison-- Part 2: 1963-2013

TELEVISION SPECIAL

1963--  The Judy Garland Christmas Show
2013--  Lady Gaga & the Muppets' Holiday Spectacular

COST OF A MAIL-ORDER 2 LB. FRUITCAKE

1963--  $4.25
2013--  $27.95  (You'd think that something that expensive would be more popular)

COST OF MAILING A HOLIDAY CARD

1963--  5 cents
2013--  46 cents

PRICE OF A CHRISTMAS TREE

1963-- $2.50
2013--  $45

MOST POPULAR TOY

1963--  Easy-Bake Oven $15.95
2013--  Big Hugs Elmo  $59.99

Now You Know.  --RoadDog

A 50-Year Christmas Comparison 1963-2013-- Part 1: Christmas Creep and Black Friday

From the December 2013 AARP Bulletin "A Boomer's History of the Holidays."

The holiday season has changed drastically in the last 50 years.  Perhaps the biggest difference is in the increasing "Christmas Creep" merchandising which had moved Christmas sales into October (and now September.  I saw stuff in September this past year.  And, of course, there is now Back-to-School Creep which starts in early July.)).

And, of course, mention "Black Friday" and opening stores on Thanksgiving to someone back in 1963 and they would look at you puzzled and ask if you are out of your mind.  No one gets up at 4 a.m. back then except maybe to get the turkey started.

--RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  The wind was too strong to wind the sail in.

Favorite Christmas Movies: Three Down, One to Go

I have managed to watch three of my top four favorite Christmas movies within the last two weeks.

It's a Wonderful Life--  #3
Miracle on 34th Street (original one) #4
Christmas Vacation #2

Guess What My favorite One Is (Which I Will See One Week from Tonight).  Hint, It has a 24-Hour Marathon.  --RoadDog

John Fogerty's Set List

These are some really great songs.  Set List from Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida.

1.  Introduction
2.  Centerfield
3.  Born on the Bayou
4.  Green River
5.  Looking Out My Back Door

6.  Who'll Stop the Rain
7.  Hey Tonight
8.  Big Train from Memphis
9.  Run Through the Jungle
10.  Midnight Special

11.  Garden Party
12.  Have You Seen the Rain
13.  Keep On Chooglin'
14.  The Night Time Is the Right Time
15.  Rock and Roll Girls

16.  Down On the Corner
17.  Good Golly Miss Molly
18.  Bad Moon Rising
19.  The Old Man Down the Road
20.  Fortunate Son

My favorite Group, CCR.  --RoadDog

Rolling Stone 100 Greatest Beatles Songs

Just #1200 to #91.  Date written, writer and album  *--  older Beatles song

100.  Hello Goodbye  11-27-67 Paul, Magical Mystery Tour

99.  Yes It Is--  4-19-65--  John, "B' side, Past Masters

98.  Long Long Long--  11-25-68--  George, The Beatles

97.  All I've Got to Do--  1-20-64--  John, With the Beatles

96.  Within You Without You--  6-2-67--  George, Sgt. Pepper's

95.  Ant Time At All--  7-20-64--  John, A Hard Day's Night

94.  You Won't See Me--  12-6-65--  Paul, Rubber Soul

93.  Sexy Sadie--  11-25-68--  John, The Beatles

92.  Dig a Pony--  5-18-70--  John. Let It Be

91.  Every Little Thing--  6-14-65--  Paul, Beatles for Sale  (Written to girlfriend Jane Asher)

--RoadDog

2014 Songwriters Hall of Fame

From the Feb. 14, 2014, Oldies Music News.

The following people were inducted into the Songwriter Hall of Fame in New York City on Jan. 12, 2014:

Donovan
Ray Davies (Kinks)
Jom Weaherly "Midnight Train to Georgia," "Neither One of Us"
Graham Gouldman (10CC)
Mark Jones "Suspicious Minds"

--RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

Rolling Stone Magazine Readers' Poll: Ten Greatest Early Beatle Songs

10.  I've Just Seen a Face
9.  The Night Before
8.  Yesterday

7.  I Want to Hold Your Hand
6.  A Hard Day's Night
5.  She Loves You
4.  I Feel Fine

3.  And I Love Her
2.  Ticket to Ride
1.  I Saw Her Standing There

"And I Love Her" was written by Paul McCartney in February 1964 for his girlfriend Jane Asher.  It took just there days to complete and was unusually long for a Beatle song back then.  It can be considered a forerunner of "Yesterday."

--RoadDog

Beatlemania Hits in 1964

From Yahoo! News.

Jacqueline Horsfall, then 15 years old, recalls her dad calling from the sofa: "The Beatles are on TV.  Don't you want to watch?"  She replied, "The what?  Beatles?"

She joined her parents and wrote in her diary that night: "Sunday, February 9.  The Beatles were on the Ed Sullivan Show tonight.  Their haircuts are out of the world.  I don't think they'll last long though."

The next day, she wrote: "Monday, February 10.  All the kids and teachers were talking about the Beatles. Ten of their songs are in the Top Twenty.  Almost immediately, we started imitating them."

"Tuesday, February 11  After church meeting tonight, everyone was acting like the Beatles.  The boys wore their hair in a fringe, and we played two Beatle albums.  An enterprising classmate sold Beatle photos at school snapped off the Ed Sullivan Show."

I sure wish I had been keeping a dairy or journal back then.

It Had Arrived.    --RoadDog

Two-Hit Wonders-- Part 3

10.  STRAWBERRY ALARM CLOCK--  Incense and peppermints, Tomorrow

9.  NINE INCH NAILS--  The Day the World Went Ahead, The Hand That Feeds

8.  LOS LOBOS--  Come On Let's Go, La Bamba

7.  MARKY MARK AND THE FUNKY BUNCH--  Good Vibrations, Wildside

6.  JETHRO TULL--  Living in the Past, Bungle in the Jungle

5.  ? MARK & THE MYSTERIANS--  96 Tears, I need Somebody

4.  KRIS KRISTOFFERSON--  Lovin' Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again), Why Me

3.  JANIS JOPLIN--  Piece of My heart, me and Bobby McGee (Written by #4)

2.  PINK FLOYD--  Money, Another Brick in the Wall

1.  YOUNG M.C.--  Bust a Move, Principal's Office

Now, You Know.  --RoadDog

Two-Hit Wonders-- Part 2

20.  BROWNSVILLE STATION--  Smokin' in the Boys Room, King of the Party

19.  THE CLASH--  Train in Vain, Rock the Casbah  (What, no Should I Stay or Should I Go?)

18.  ELVIS COSTELLO--  Everyday I Write the Book,  Veronica

17.  DIDO--  Thank You, White Flag

16.  EMF--  Unbelievable, Lies

15.  ANDEW GOLD--  Lonely Boy, Thank You for Being a Friend

14.  SSG BARRY SADLER--  The Ballad of the Green Berets, The "A" Team

13.  RADIOHEAD--  Creep, Nude

12.  MEN WITHOUT HATS--  Safety Dance, Pop Goes the World

11.  NEW ORDER--  True Faith, Regret

--RoadDog

Two-Hit Wonders-- Part 1

From the March 8, 2013, List of the Day by Rob O'Connor "Two Hit Wonders Because Every Radio Station Needs to Do a 'Two-for Tuesday' or be seen As Letting Us Down."

Based on Billboard Top 40 Charts.  These are groups and performers with just two Top 40 hits.

25.  THE BAND--  Up on Cripple Creek, Don't Do It  (The Weight went to #63)

24.  BARENAKED LADIES--  One Week, Pinch Me (It's All Been Done went to #44)

23.  BERLIN--  No More Words, Take My Breath Away

22.  BLACK CROWES--  Hard to Handle, She Talks to Angels

21.  BLUE OYSTER CULT--  (Don't Fear) the Reaper, Burnin' for You

--RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.

Around Here

THURSDAY DEC. 11TH:

Drove to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and had lunch at the Lake-Aire Restaurant and then went to Donovan's Reef in Twin lakes, Never Sink Inn in Spring Grove and Tommy's.

FRIDAY, DEC. 12TH:  I went to McHenry and paid $2.22 for gas as the "GAS WAR" continues.  Went to Target, Aldi's and on the way home, Angelo's Super Market in Johnsburg.  Gas there at $2.50.

Later, met the Usual Suspects at The Tank in Ingleside for $1 bottles and stopped at the Legion on the way back home.

SATURDAY, DEC. 13TH:  Met the president if out teacher union during the strike, Terri, for breakfast at the Iron Horse Grill in Round Lake.  This was my way of thanking her for the outstanding job she had done 20 years ago during the 38-school day strike we had to endure while the school board did all in its power to break the union.

In just a little while, we are going to the Legion for the Army-Navy game and then a later, a fundraiser for a lady with cancer.

--RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  The buck does funny things when the does are present.  (Well, the buck passed the buck.)

JSS: Christmas Lights-- Low Gas Prices-- Why So Few Sports-- Great Radio

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.

1.  CHRISTMAS LIGHTS--  I've been working on the outside lights whenever I get the chance because of really cold weather and have most of them up.  I have found a whole lot of the light strands where half of them don't work, way more than usual.  Perhaps it was the extreme cold from last winter which stopped me from taking them down for so long.

I also helped Liz put up the two inside trees, something I normally don't do.

2.  LOW GAS PRICES--  Gas prices in northeast Illinois are around $2.60 to $2.70.  Yesterday, gas in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, was $2.56.  But, the best news is in McHenry along Illinois Highway 31, where a Murphy USA station opened and has sparked a gas war.  Wow, gas war.  How long has it been since you've heard that?  Gas is "down" to $2.27!!

Enjoy it now, because come spring, Big Oil and their friends will have gas back up to $4+ and that will be really hard to take now that we're starting to get used to gas below $3.

3.  WHY SO FEW SPORTS--  Even though I don't mention it often, I am a real big sports fan.  I don't mention it, especially where success is concerned because that is the "Kiss of Death."  I mention it and my teams lose.

4.  GREAT RADIO--  Tune into WXRT, 93.1 FM tomorrow morning from 8 to noo, CST to listen to Saturday Morning Flashback which goes back 30 years to 1984.  It streams at www.wxrt.com.

Also over the internet, check out Fessa John Hook's Beach Class Reunion which this week is to 1955.  He will play the Top Forty Beach Songs from that year and give you lots of background.  Some of the songs he played: "No More Alcohol" by Jimmy Liggins, "Can't Do 60 No More" by the Dominos, "Fujiyama Mama" by Aniston Alla, "Hearts of Stone" by the Jewels and "Tweddly Twiddly Dee" by LaVern Baker.  This is Rock and Roll before it became Rock and Roll.  Streams at www.beachshag.com.

--RoadDog

WLS Top Ten R&B Songs, December 11, 1964

I decided to go ahead and list all of the top songs in Chicago for this date, so here is the R&B list.

1.  VOICE YOUR CHOICE--  Radiants
2.  IT'S ALL OVER--  Walter Jackson
3.  AIN'T IT THE TRUTH--  Mary Wells

4.  LONG LONG WINTER--  Impressions
5.  WHAT'S NEW--  Gene Chandler
6.  ADORABLE ONE--  Joe Simon
7.  THE JERK--  Larks

8.  TOO MANY FISH IN THE SEA--  Marvelettes
9.  SOMETIMES I WONDER--  Major Lance
10.  REACH OUT FOR ME--  Dionne Warwick

--RoadDog

WLS Top Thirty Survey, December 11, 1964-- Part 2

16.  SCRATCH--  Travis Wammack
17.  RIGHT OR WRONG--  Ronnie Dove
18.  LEADER OF THE LAUNDROMAT--  Detergents  "I don't know?"

19.  THE WEDDING--  Julie Rogers
20.  I'M GONNA BE STRONG--  Gene Pitney
21.  AS TEARS GO BY--  Rolling Stones

22.  BIG MAN IN TOWN--  Four Seasons
23.  SHA LA LA--  Manfred Mann
24.  SIDEWALK SURFIN'--  Jan & Dean

25.  I JUST CAN'T SAY GOODBYE--  Bobby Rydell
26.  SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES--  Drifters
27.  WALK AWAY--  Matt Munro

28.  THE OTHER RINGO--  Larry Finnegan
29.  FALL AWAY--  Eddie Albert
30.  DO WACKA DO--  Roger Miller

"Who's That Bangin' On the Piano?"  --RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  They were too close to close the door.

WLS Top Thirty Survey from December 11, 1964--- Part 1

From Oldies Loon site.

Fifty Years Ago, that's right.  I usually just do the Top Ten, but there were so many interesting songs on the list as well as quite a few I'd never heard of before, I went ahead and wrote all thirty.  There were only 30 listed because they also had the Top Ten R&B songs as well.  *= British Invasion

1.  SHE'S NOT THERE--  Zombies*
2.  MR. LONELY--  Bobby Vinton
3.  I'M INTO SOMETHING GOOD--  Herman's Hermits*

4.  I FEEL FINE/ SHE'S A WOMAN--  Beatles*  (From #18, guess where it will be next week.)
5.  RINGO--  Lorne Greene
6.  MOUNTAIN OF LOVE--  Johnny Rivers

7.  ASK ME--  Elvis Presley
8.  TIME IS ON MY SIDE--  Rolling Stones*
9.  COME SEE ABOUT ME--  Supremes

10.  DANCE, DANCE, DANCE--  Beach Boys
11.  BABY LOVE--  Supremes
12.  ANYWAY YOU WANT IT--  Dave Clark Five*

13.  SHE UNDERSTANDS ME--  Johnny Tillotson
14. EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT--  Newbeats
15.  GONE GONE GONE--  Everly Brothers

"Anyway You Want It" or "Look Through Any Window" were the first two 45s I ever bought.  I'm still not sure which one was first.

One or the Other.  --RoadDog

Three Hit Wonders, or, Third Time's the Charm-- Part 3

10.  FLOCK OF SEAGULLS--  I Ran (So Far Away), Space Age Love Song, Wish (If I Had a Photograph of You)

9. THE CURE--  Just Like Heaven, Love Song,  Friday I'm In Love

8.  CREAM--  Sunshine of Your Love, White Room, Crossroads

7.  THE KELLERS--  Mr. Brightside, When You Were Young, Human

6.  BEASTIE BOYS-- (You Gotta) Fight for Right (To Party), Intergalactic, Hey Ladies

5.  HOOTERS--  And We Danced, Day By Day, Where Do the Children Go

4.  HAMILTON, JOE FRANK & REYNOLDS--  Don't Pull Your Love, Winners and Losers, Fallin' in Love

3.  RUN D.M.C.--  Walk This Way, You Be Illin', Down With the King

2.  SPANDAU BALLET--  True, Gold, Only When You Leave

1.  AC/DC--  You Shook Me All Night Long, Back in Black, Money talks  (Highway to Hell peaked at #47.)

A Different Way to look at the Hits.  --RoadDog

Three Hit Wonders, or, Third Time's the Charm-- Part 2

20.  TROGGS--  Wild Thing, With a Girl Like You, Love Is All Around

19.  SAM & DAVE--  Hold On! I'm Comin', Soul Man, I Thank You  (A big surprise they only had the three huts as I really liked so many of their other songs.)

18.  ZOMBIES--  She's Not There, Tell her No, Time of the Season

17.  LISA LOEB--  Stay (I Missed You), Do You Sleep?, I Do

16.  PROCUL HARUM--  A Whiter Shade of Pale, Homburg, Conquistador

15.  BO DONALDSON & THE HEYWOODS--  Billy Don't be a Hero, Who Do You Think You Are, Heartbreak Kid

14.  DEEP PURPLE--  Hush, Kentucky Woman, Smoke on the Water

13.  CUTTING CREW--  (I Just) Died In Your Arms, I've Been In Love Before, One for the Mocking Bird

12.  KEITH--  Ain't Gonna Die, 98.6, Tell Me to My Face

11.  THE KNACK--  My Sharona, Good Girls Don't, My Baby Talks Dirty

What Color Are You Turning?  --RoadDog

Three Hit Wonders: Third Time's the Charm-- Part 1

From the March 29, 2013, List of the Day "Three Hit Wonders: Third Time's the Charm or Three's Company" by Rob O'Connor.

I sure miss Mr. O'Connors column that ran on Yahoo every so often.  Always interesting items with pictures and lots 'o info.

These are groups that only had three Top 40 hits.  Some of the songs I've heard, others not.  First song listed was biggest hit.

25.  PLAYER--  Baby Come Back, This Time I'm In It for Love, Prisoner of Your Love

24.  SIR DOUGLAS QUINTET--  She's About a Mover, The Rains Came, Mendocino  (One of my favorite groups with Doug Sahm and Augie Meyers who went on to form the Texas Tornadoes.)

23.  BANANARAMA--  Cruel Summer, Venus, I Heard a Rumour  (Or were they the Go-Gos.  I can never keep them apart.)

22.  RUPERT HOLMES--  Escape (the Pina Colada Song), Him, Answering Machine.  (Had a way with humorous songs.)

21. KATRINA & THE WAVES--  Walking on Sunshine, Do You Want Crying, That's the Way

And Who Did His Date Turn Out to Be?  --RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

While On the Subject of Annoying: Now We Know About the "Wilting Rose"

We are so lucky here in Chicago to have two of the most overpaid annoying athletes ever.  I'm talking about the Bears' "Scary Jay" and the Bulls' "Wilting Rose."

No one goes through the motions of being a "MVP qb (Trestman's words, not mine) better than Jay.

But our wonderful Rose is maddening because he so rarely plays, yet still gets that huge paycheck.  It's hard for the Bulls to rise to the top while pulled down by his anchor (not to mention the salary cap which so much of his money takes up).

But now we know exactly why he is unable to play so much.  The Rose is simply "Unable to Breathe" as his tee shirt says.  I would have to imagine it is quite difficult to play such an intensive game as basketball when you can't breathe.

Perhaps Rose Should See a Doctor About This Malady.  --RoadDog

Ten Most Annoying Songs of All Time

From the Sept. 15, 2013 The Y! Music by Robert of the Radishes.

10.  ACHY BREAKY HEART--  Billy Ray Cyrus  (Hey, helped raise Miley.)
9.  AFTERNOON DELIGHT--  Starland Vocal Band
8.  YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL--  James Blount

7.  I'M TOO SEXY--  Right Said Fred
6.  MY HUMPS--  Black Eyed Peas
5.  MACARENA--  Los Del Rio
4.  WANNABE--  Spice Girls

3.  MUSKRAT LOVE--  Captain & Tennille
2.  BARBIE GIRL--  Aqua
1.  PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME--  Chip-man & the Buckwheat Boys (I don't recall ever hearing this one.)  You Tube here I come.)

Again, played ad infinitum and infinitum, etc.

My Humps, Is That "Dirty?"  --RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

Top Ten Most Annoying Songs of the 1970s

From the Aug. 31, 2013, The Y! Music Playlist Blog by Robert of the Radishes.

Played on AM radio.

1.  MUSKRAT LOVE-- Captain & Tenille
2.  AFTERNOON DELIGHT--  Starland Vocal Band
3.  THE STREAK--  Ray Stevens

4.  MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS--  Maria Muldaur
5.  ESCAPE (THE PINA COLADA SONG)--  Rupert Holmes
6.  YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE--  Debby Boone
7.  CONVOY--  C.W. McCall

8.  (YOU'RE) HAVING MY BABY--  Paul Anka and Odia Coster
9.  RUN JOEY RUN--  David Geddes
10.  HAVE YOU EVER BEEN MELLOW--  Olivia Newton-John

I liked some of these, but my biggest problems with these songs were they were constantly played over and over and over and over.

And Over and Over and Over.  --RoadDog

Earlier This Year, the Beatles Grammy Special

From the November 14, 2013 Yahoo! TV, WRAP "The Beatles Get Grammy Special on CBS.

There was a two-hour special aired on CBS earlier this year "The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles."  Contemporary artists performed the songs of the Beatles along with archival footage of 50 years ago.

The show aired on February 9, 2014, the 50th anniversary of that dramatic appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show back in 1964.

The Beatles' initial appearance on Ed Sullivan is regarded as a pivotal moment in TV history with an estimated 74 million people watching.

The special will be taped on January 27th, the day after the Grammy awards and w aired at 8 p.m. on Feb. 9th.

The Beatles eventually won 7 Grammys, including three in 1996 for "The Beatles Anthology" album and "Free As a Bird."

I watched this special and sure enjoyed it.  Of course, it was the Beatles who got me interested in music.

Can't Get Enough of the Beatles.  --RoadDog

Linda Ronstadt's "Different Drum"

From the October 31, 2013, Wall Street Jornal by Marc Myers.

Linda Ronstadt was caught by surprise back in 1967 when she showed up at the studio to sing her first lead vocal single with her band, the Stone Poneys.  She was expecting an acoustic ballad.  Instead, she was given a faster arrangement with a rhythm section and string players brought in to replace her band mates.    She had just seconds to figure out how to sing it before the tapes started rolling.

Released in September 1967, it was written by future Monkee Michael Nesmith.  It peaked at #13 in Billboard's Top 100 chart.

One of my favorite performers.

Good Move.  --RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  I do not object to the object.

Pearl Harbor: The First of the Big Three "Where Were You"

Today marks the 73rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the event that launched the United States into World War II.  I rarely post on Sundays, but will make an exception when it occurs on December 7th.  Pearl Harbor has always been of great interest to me.

It was my parent's "Day of Remembering."  This is one of those days that you remember where you were when you first heard about it.

For my generation, it was the assassination of Kennedy.  For the next one it was 9/11.

I'll be putting my flags out today, hope you do the same.

This day will always be observed in all seven of my blogs.

My Five Picks for the RnR Hall of Fame Class of '15

MARVELETTES--  Great Motown female soul group.  (23 Top 100s, 3 Top Tens)  "Please Mr. Postman" #1, "Playboy" #7, "Don'r mess With Bill" #7.  I also liked "Beechwood 4-5789" #17, "Too Many Fish in the Sea" #25 and "The Hunter Gets Captured By the Game" #13.

SPINNERS--  Another great soul group dating from 1961, but hit their peak in the70s and early 80s.  (29 Top 100s, 7 Top Tens)  I especially liked "I'll b Around" #3. "Could Be I'm Falling in Love" #4, "One of a Kind Love Affair" #11, "Mighty Love Pt.1" #20, "Then Came You" #1, "The Rubberband Man" #2, "Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me Girl" #2 and "Cupid/I've Loved You For a Long Time" #4.

WAR--  (17 Top 100s, 7 Top Tens)  California band.  I especially liked their "Spill the Wine" #3, "Slippin' Into Darkness" #16, "The World Is a Ghetto" #7, "The Cisco Kid" #2, "Gypsey Man" #8,  "Why Can't We Be Friends?" ##6, "Low Rider" #7 and "Summer" #7.

BILL WITHERS--  From Slab Fork, West Virginia.  (13 Top 100s, 3 Top Tens)  "Ain't No Sunshine" #3, "Lean On Me" #1, "Use Me" #2 and "Lovely Day" #30.  he also sang with Grover Washington, Jr. on "Just the Two of Us" #2.

CHIC--  R&B, disco group from New York City  (10 Top 100s, 4 Top Tens)  "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah) #6, "Le Freak" #1, "I Want Your Love" #7 and "Good Times" #1.

Well, Those Are My Picks.  --RoadDog

Nominees for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Class of '15

These groups and performers have been nominated for inclusion in this august group.

Marvelettes
Spinners
War
Bill Withers
Chic
Sting (already in with the Police)
Kraftwerk
Lou Reed
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Joan Jett
Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Nine Inch Nails

Induction of the winners will April 18, 2015, in Cleveland, Ohio.

These Are Some Worthy Inductees   --RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?    When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

Seven Surprising Things Your Insurance Covers-- Part 3

5.  DOG BITES--  If your dog is a bad dog and bites someone, your homeowner's policy should cover it.  One-third of all homeowners insurance liability claims are related to dog bites.  Standard policies cover between $100,000 to $300,000.  But, what if your cat bites you or someone? What about the pet bird?

6.  DORM ROOM THEFT--  If your kid's flat-screen TV disappears at college, don't panic.  Most policies cover your children's college rooms, but most require the kid to be living on campus (so frat rooms are not covered).

7.  DEFENSE LAWYER--  No matter how careful you are, one accident at your home can entangle you in costly legal problems.  Your liability coverage should help pay for it.

--RoadDog

Seven Surprising Things Your Insurance Covers-- Part 2

3.  METEORITES--  Chances are slim of having your house hit by a falling meteorite, satellite or some other falling object, but your insurance should cover it if that happens.  Also, a life insurance policy should also pay up if the owner is struck and killed.

4.  RIOTS--  What if a victory celebration turns ugly or the locals don't agree with a judicial decision.  Are you covered?  Yes.  And, if you live in certain areas with certain folks, it is a  thing.  No rioting when O.J. was found innocent, but certain folks "liked" that decision.

--RoadDog

Seven Surprising Things Your Insurance Policies Cover-- Part 1

From the May 4, 2014, Chicago Tribune by Cameron Huddleston, Kipplinger Consumer News Service.

"Accidents happen.  That's why you have insurance."  You know about standard claims, "But what if your dog bites the mailman? A meteorite crashes through your roof" Or rioters torch your car (or business as in Ferguson)?  Suddenly, the answers or less clear."

Here are seven things you might not know that you have coverage in their event.

1.  VOLCANIC DAMAGE--  A definite possibility in some parts of the country.  But, you're covered, even here in Illinois.  But, your home isn't covered by earthquake damage and floods on standard policies.

2.  RODENT DAMAGE TO YOUR CAR-- Mice chewing on your wires?  Considered an "other than collision" auto claim.  But, some policies don't cover it.

--RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.

WLS Survey December 4, 1964

Fifty years ago.  It had been quite a while since the Beatles had been in the Top 20 until this week.  Would this one go to #1?

1.  SHE'S NOT THERE--  Zombies
2.  RINGO--  Lorne Greene
3.  MR. LONELY--  Bobby Vinton

4.  I'M INTO SOMETHING GOOD--  Herman's Hermits
5.  YOU REALLY GOT ME--  Kinks
6.  ASK ME--  Elvis Presley
7.  DON'T IT MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD--  Overlanders

8.  LEADER OF THE PACK--  Shangri-Laws
9.  BABY LOVE--  Supremes
10.  MOUNTAIN OF LOVE--  Johnny Rivers

12.  DANCE DANCE DANCE--  Beach Boys
13.  GONE GONE GONE--  Everly Brothers
18.  I FEEL FREE/ SHE'S A WOMAN--  Beatles

Hard to belive, a Half Century Ago.  --RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  Since there is  no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.

Deaths: Bob Crewe, Wrote and Produced the Four Seasons Hits

STANLEY ROBERT "BOB" CREWE, 82.  Died September 11, 2014.

New Jersey native who wrote and produced for the Four Seasons.also "Music to Watch Girls By" #15 and the classic Diet Pepsi commercial in 1966.

Some of his Four Seasons hits:

Big Girls Don't Cry-- #1 1962
Walk Like a Man-- #1 1963
Let's Hang On--  #3 1965
Rag Doll--  #1 1964

He also did the same for the Rays on "Silhouettes" and "Daddy Cool" #3 1957
"La Dee Dah" for Billy & Lillie #9 1959
"Tallahassee Lassie" by Freddie Cannon #6 in 1959
"Navy Blue" for Diane Renay #6 in 1964
"Lady Marmalade" for LaBelle #1 1975

His Dyno-Voice label gave us Mitch Ryder & the detroit Wheels and the Toys.

Quite a Songbook.

Deaths: Acker Bilk and Al Byron

ACKER BILK (MR. ACKER BILK), 85.  Died Nov. 2, 2014.  Best known for his #1 hit "Stranger On the Shore" in 1962.

AL BYRON,  Died Nov. 29, 2014.  Co-wrote "Roses Are Red (My Love)" with Paul Evans which hit #1 in 1962 for Bobby Vinton.  He also wrote the lyrics for Paul Evans' "Happy Go Lucky Me: which went to #10 in 1960.

25 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs-- Part 2

Ever since Steppenwold used that tern in "Born to Be Wild."  * I've heard it before.

14.  METAL THRASHING MAD--  Anthrax
13.  AM I EVIL--  Diamond Head
12.  SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE--  Judas Priest
11.  WELCOME TO THE JINGLE--  Guns N' Rose*

10.  DETROIT ROCK CITY--  KISS*
9.  RUNNIN' WITH THE DEVIL--  Van Halen*
8.  AT WAR WITH SATAN--  Venom

7.  THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST--  Iron Maiden
6.  N.I.B.--  Black Sabbath*
5.  SOUTH OF HEAVEN--  Slayer
4.  SATAN'S FALL--  Mercyful Fate

3.  FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE--  Metallica
2.  BLACK SABBATH--  Black Sabbath*
1.  ACE OF SPADES--  Motorhead

These songs tend to be in the same category of evil.

--RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.