WLS Top Ten for April 29, 1966: "Kicks"

1.  KICKS--  Paul Revere & the Raiders
2.  SECRET AGENT MAN--  Johnny Rivers
3.  MONDAY MONDAY--  Mamas and Papas

4.  GOOD LOVIN'--  Young Rascals
5.  TIME WON'T LET ME--  Outsiders
6.  A GROOVY KIND OF LOVE--  Mindbenders
7.  RAINY DAY WOMEN 12 & 35--  Bob Dylan

8.  BANG BANG--  Cher  (What?  No Sonny?)
9.  SOUL & INSPIRATION--  Righteous Brothers
10.  SHAPES OF THINGS--  Yardbirds

Name That Tune (From above):  "Well, They'll Stone You When You're Trying To Be So Good."  --RoadDog

YOUR BANK'S IN TROUBLE WHEN: The toll -free customer service line is: 1-800-GO-BROKE.

"Rainy Day Women 12 and 35"

A Munger-Moss Motel Route 66 Trip-- Part 5: Bennett Spring and the VFW

APRIL 24TH, SUNDAY

Another trip to Hardee's for breakfast.  I spent a lot of time in the Munger-Moss Motel lobby seeing folks on their way home.  This is probably one of the best places in the world to go if you want to see movers and shakers of 66 and hear lots of great Route 66 talk.

Among those there were Kip Welborn, Jeff Meyer "The Roadologist", Roamin' Rick, Jerry McClannahan and Bob Giles.

Liz and I drove to Bennett Spring, about 14 miles from Lebanon and saw lots of trout fishermen and a trout hatchery.  The place is known for its rainbow trout.  I had never eaten trout so we went to the 1920 Lodge restaurant and I had rainbow trout almandine.  I'll sure be back.

Spent several hours at the Lebanon VFW on the way back.  Sat out by the picnic table at the Munger-Moss and talked with a couple riding their motorcycle across Route 66 from Williamsburg, Virginia.  Then went to the bowling alley across Route 66 from the motel.

Getting Our 66 Fix.  --RoadDog

YOUR BANK'S IN TROUBLE WHEN: the lobby is waist-deep in Euros.

A Munger-Moss Motel Route 66 Trip-- Part 3: Music Under the Stars for Bob and Ramona's 45th

APRIL 23, 2016

Drove around Lebanon some after coming back from the Gasconade Bridge.  Then enjoyed a sit-out on the porch in front of our room.

The place had a lot of people wandering around, some we knew.

Good idea of Ramona to bring our folding chairs, otherwise we would have been on the grass out there, not so bad, but at our age, getting off the ground is not so easy.  We sure had a great time listening to Jess McEntire and the U.S. 66 band playing music about the road and a lot of country from 6 to about 10.

And, the Hawks came from a 3-1 deficit to win 6-3 to send our playoff series to a seventh game.  Sorry about that Kip.

--RoadDog

YOUR BANK'S IN TROUBLE WHEN:  All cash deposits go directly into the teller's pants.

A Munger-Moss Motel Route 66 Trip-- Part 2: Save the Gasconade Bridge Rally

APRIL 23, SATURDAY

This was a busy day for us.  I kicked it off with a trip to Hardee's for breakfast and brought back biscuits and gravy for Liz.

We drove out to the Gasconade Bride, 14 miles east of Lebanon, for the Save the Bridge Rally.  There were several hundred people there, and, of course, a fair number of classic cars.  The bridge was closed back in 2014 as it is unsafe for vehicular traffic anymore.

It is a classic bridge, one where you really know you're crossing a bridge, not one of those with the huge concrete blocks which just don't say bridge to me.

Walked across the bridge and could really see why they closed it.  They had food and vendors.  I rejoined the Missouri Route 66 Association.

--RoadDog

A Munger-Moss Motel Route 66 Trip-- Part 1: Illinois and Missouri

We left this past Thursday, April 21st for the 500 mile drive to Lebanon, Missouri, for the 70th anniversary of the Munger-Moss Motel on Route 66.  Not only has the motel been serving 66ers since 1946, but owners Bob and Ramona Lehman have had the place for 45 years (1971).  That alone is quite a feat.

We have been coming to the motel since our second trip on 66, back in 2003

The first day was spent driving in Illinois with stops at Dwight for the Route 66 90th Birthday celebration, Dixie Truck Stop, George Ranks, The Cozy Dog and stayed at the Route 66 Hotel and Conference Center and their Filling Station Bar.

The second day, April 22,  was another driving one with a stop at Jack's (Jack-in-the-Box) in Litchfield for our taco fix, then getting lost in St. Louis.  Then lunch at another Jack's in Sullivan, Missouri.  (We don't have Jack's by us and have a big desire for their tacos.)

We took a ride along Hooker Cut, my favorite stretch of Route 66, and a stop at The Devil's Elbow Inn and the Munger-Moss Motel.  Talked some with Ramona  and then went to Senor Pepper's on Missouri-5 and Applebees.

Great to Be Back On the Old Road.  --RoadDog

Going Back to 1971-- Part 1: "Do It Again"

From Wendy Rice's Saturday Morning Flashback Show on Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM.

This was a college year for me, split between the University of Georgia in the spring and Northern  Illinois University for the fall.

DOCTOR MY EYES--  Jackson Browne
LET'S SEE ACTION--  Pete Townsend
LONG COOL WOMAN--  Hollies

SUPERSTITION--  Stevie Wonder
EASY TO SLIP--  Little Feat
DO IT AGAIN--  Steely Dan

IMMIGRATION MAN--  Crosby & Nash
BURNING LOVE--  Elvis Presley
OUT IN THE WOODS--  Leon Russell

I'M STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU--  Al Green
FREE FOUR--  Pink Floyd
ALL THE YOUNG DUDES--  Mott the Hoople

Name That Tune (From above songs, answer below):  "Lord Almighty, I Feel My Temperature Rising."  --RoadDog


"Burning Love"

The Drive's Salute to Record Store Day Last Saturday: Hotel California

Not only was local station WXRT really pushing Record Store Day all last week, but also on Saturday, Chhicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, the Drive did their Album Sides where they played nothing but vinyl, one side of a classic album at a time.

Here is a partial list of albums they played and which side:

DARK SIDE OF THE MOON--  Pink Floyd (2)
HYSTERIA--  Def Leppard (1)
SMASH HITS--  Jimi Hendrix (1)
MOVING PICTURES--  Rush (1)
AEROSMITH--  Aerosmith (1)

DREAMBOAT ANNIE--  Heart (1)
VAN HALEN--  Van Halen (1)
DAMN THE TORPEDOES--  Tom Petty & Heartbreakers (1)
BACK IN BLACK--  AC/DC (2)
BORN TO RUN--  Bruce Springsteen (1)

HOTEL CALIFORNIA--  Eagles (1)
MEATY BEATY BIG & BOUNCY--  Who (1)
LED ZEPPELIN IV--  Led Zeppelin (2)
BAND ON THE RUN--  Paul McCartney & Wings (1)

TOYS IN THE ATTIC--  Aerosmith (1)
THE STRANGER--  Billy Joel (1)
10 FROM 6--  Bad Company (1)
IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL--  Rolling Stones (1)

I Sure Remember Playing a Stack of Albums, Turning Them Over and Then Playing the Other Sides.  --RoadDog

YOUR BANK'S IN TROUBLE WHEN:  Your safety box is a Dunkin' Donuts carton wrapped in tin foil.

Music Deaths: Leon Haywood

LEON HAYWOOD, 74  Died April 5, 2016

Best remembered for his 1975 hit "I Want to Do Something Freaky to You" (#15 Pop, #7 R&B).  Joined Sam Cooke's backup group until Cooke's death in 1964.  He went solo as Leon Haywood.

A staple in R&B charts 1965-1984 with hits like "Come and Get Yourself Some" (#83 pop, #19 R&B).

Also wrote and produced Carl Carlton's "She's a Bad Mama Jama (#22 Pop, #@ R&B-1981).

WLS Top Ten for April 22, 1966: "Good Lovin'"

1.  KICKS--  Paul Revere & the Raiders
2.  SECRET AGENT MAN--  Johnny Rivers
3.  GOOD LOVIN'--  Young Rascals

4.  TIME WON'T LET ME--  Outsiders
5.  MONDAY, MONDAY-- Mamas & Papas
6.  GLORIA--  Shadows of Knight
7.  RAINY DAY WOMEN 12 & 35--  Bob Dylan  (from #23)

8.  DON'T YOU KNOW--  Keith Everette
9.  BANG BANG-  Cher
10.  SOUL & INSPIRATION--  Righteous Brothers

Name That Tune (from above):  "I Can't Wait Forever, Even Though You Want Me To."  --RoadDog

YOUR BANK'S IN TROUBLE WHEN:  You notice Kato Kaelin is sleeping in the vault.

"Time Won't Let Me"

We're #2: Songs That Never Hit #1-- Part 5: "Purple Rain"

And the song that kept them from #1.

5.   EXPRESS YOURSELF--  Madonna   "If You Don't Know By Now" by Simply Red

4.  PURPLE RAIN--  Prince   "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"  by Wham!

3.  CHAIN OF FOOLS--  Aretha Franklin    "Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)" by John Fred & His Playboy Band.

2.  LOUIE, LOUIE--  Kingsmen    "Dominique" by the Singing Nun

1.  LIKE A ROLLING STONE--  Bob Dylan

Name That Tune (From above):  "Once Upon a Time You Dressed So Fine."  --RoadDog


"Like a Rolling Stone"

We're #2: Songs That Never Hit #1-- Part 4: "Since U Been Gone"

And the song that kept them from #1.

10.  BOOGIE NIGHTS-- Heatwave   "You Light Up My Life" by Debby Boone was #1 for ten weeks.

9.  MANIC MONDAY--  Bangles   "Kiss" by Prince

8.  BURNING LOVE--  Elvis Presley   "My Ding-A-Ling" by Chuck Berry, his only #1 hit.

7.  SINCE U BEEN GONE-- Kelly Clarkson    "Candy Shop" by 50 Cent, #1 for nine weeks.

6.  NUTHIN' BUY A "G" THING--  Dr. Dre   "Informer" by  Snow  Only #1 hit.

Name That Tune (From above):  "Lord Almighty, I Feel My Temperature Rising."  --RoadDog


"Burning Love"

We're #2: Songs That Never Reached #1-- Part 3: "All I Wanna Do"

And the song that kept them from being #1.

15.  ALL I WANNA DO--  Sheryl Crow  "I'll Make Love to You" by Boyz II Men

14.  HURTS SO GOOD--  John Cougar   "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor and "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" by Chicago.

13.  WITHOUT ME--  Eminem   "Hot in Here" by Nelly

12.  SOUL MAN--  Sam and Dave   "To Sir With Love" by Lulu.  Spend five weeks at #1.

11.  THE GIRL IS MINE--  Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney   "Maneater" by Hall & Oates

Name That Tune (From the above songs):"When I Was a Young Boy, Said Put Away Those Young Boy Things."  (Answer below)  --RoadDog

YOUR BANK'S IN TROUBLE WHEN:  You want to make a withdrawal, clerks suddenly don't speak English.


"Hurts So Good"

I Did My Part for Record Store Day

I guess it is not National record Store Day anymore as they also have it in other countries.

I went to The Vinyl Frontier record store in McHenry, Illinois in the afternoon.  The place gets so crowded this day in the morning, I figured I'd miss some of the hub bub.  I didn't. there were 18 people in there and with the record racks being so close together, it was hard to move around.

The owner said that there had been 60 people in the place when he opened.  That had to be chaos.

I looked through most of the album racks.  I can tell you that few things are more fun than flipping through albums and looking for that special treasure.

I bought these albums:

Blue and Gray by Poco
Lady Willpower by Gary Puckett & the Union Gap
Young Girl by Gary Puckett & the Union Gap
Powerslide by New Riders of the Purple Sage
School's Out by Alice Cooper
In One Ear and Gone Tomorrow by the Buckinghams

These were all $3 albums, but for Record Store Day were marked down a dollar.

I also bought the CD Face to Face by the Kinks.

A Pretty Good Haul Even If I Do Say So.  --RoadDog

YOUR BANK'S IN TROUBLE WHEN:  Your monthly statements are handwritten, in crayon.

Music Deaths: Carlo Mastrangelo (Founding Member of the Belmonts)

CARLO MASTRANGELO, 77,  Died April 4, 2016.

Founding member of the Belmonts.  lead singer after Dion left.  Group named for Belmont Avenue in New York City.  he sang bass on tunes like "I Wonder Why" (#22-1958), "A Teenager in Love" (#5-1959), "Where or When" (#3-1960).

After Dion left, he sang lead on "Tell Me Why" (#18-1961) and "Come On Little Angel" (#28-1962)

National Record Store Day Saturday

A favorite time of the year for me.  This is a day to visit your local mom and pop record store and talk with others who are still fans of the vinyl record albums.

I'll be headed over to our local record store, The Vinyl Frontier in McHenry, Illinois, and no doubt will be buying some albums and maybe a CD or two.

Hope you're headed for one as well.

And, we have finally gotten spring with temps today in the 60s and 70s tomorrow.  Tomorrow after the record store, we're heading over to Route 12 Bar and Grill on US-12 (Rand Road) in Fox Lake where they will be having their first outside entertainment of the year.

About Time We Got Some Warm Weather.  --RoadDog

Just Hangin' Around-- Part 4: Basketball, SAL. the '85 Firebird and Officially Old

APRIL 4, MONDAY--  Went to J's with Kevin and Kelly and played quite well at NTN with two #2s and a #5 nationwide.  had their great BLT pizza.  SAL (Sons of the American Legion) meeting and I will be working on Legion Day at our American Legion baseball team.

That NCAA Championship game was one for the ages and made up for those two boring Final Four games Saturday.  Congratulations Villanova.  I was pulling for Carolina, but, WOW!!  I rank it right up there with the Duke-Kentucky game all those years ago when Christian Laettner nailed the winning bucket as time expired.

APRIL 5, TUESDAY--  Liz had a doctor appointment in Mchenry and we ate at IHOP on the way back.  I received my Medicare card.  Guess that means I'm old now.  Officially.  I took the '85 Firebird out for its first run of the year.  Hey, and Meijer had restocked several new bricks of audio cassettes so had to buy some.

APRIL 6, WEDNESDAY--  Rain and overcast all day.  Where is spring?  Went to Donovan's and The grove.

APRIL  7, THURSDAY--  Another really cold day with a little snow, but no accumulation.  Everyone is wondering where spring is.  Ate at Steak 'N Shake in McHenry, one of my favorite places.    Bought three tables to replace the outside and sunroom glass top tables that somehow all three managed to self destruct last fall.  The sunroom one just exploded into thousands of tempered glass shards.

--RoadDog

We're #2: Songs That Never Reached #1-- Part 2: "99 Luftballons"

Continued from April 1, 2016.

From the July 27, 2012, Rob O'Connor's List of the Day "We're #2! Part 2.  More Sings That Never Made It To #1."

This time he will also name the song that kept it from #1.

20.  MELLOW YELLOW--  Donovan   "Good Vibrations"  by the Beach Boys.

19.  99 LUFTBALLOONS--  Nena    "Jump" by Van Halen.  It still is the highest charting song by a German group in U.S. Pop History.

18.  19TH NERVOUS BREAKDOWN--  Rolling Stones   "Ballad of the Green berets" by SSgt. Barry Sadler

17.  DANIEL--  Elton John   "My Love" by Paul McCartney & Wings

16.  NEVER MY LOVE--  Association   "The Letter" by the Box Tops  "Cherish" and "Windy" both hit #1 for them.

Name That Tune:  "You Better Stop, Look Around."  --  RoadDog


"19th Nervous Breakdown"

WLS Top Ten for April 15, 1966: "California Dreamin'"

1.  KICKS--  Paul Revere & the Raiders
2.  SECRET AGENT MAN--  Johnny Rivers
3.  BANG BANG--

4.  SHAPES OF THINGS--  Yardbirds
5.  GOOD LOVIN'--  Young rascals
6.  GLORIA--  Shadows of Knight
7.  TIME WON'T LET ME--  Outsiders

8.  DON'T YOU KNOW--  Keith Everette
9.  CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'--  Mamas & Papas
10.  YOU BABY--    Turtles

Name That Tune (From above):  "There's a Man Who Leads a Life of Danger."  --RoadDog

BANKS IN TROUBLE:  After you get a free toaster, the bank president shows up at your house begging for toast.


"Secret Agent Man"

Just Hangin' Around-- Part 3: Battle With the Squirrels, Final Four, Band and the Hawks

APRIL 1, FRIDAY--  Chased a cat away from the birdfeeders, but old Gray tail, now Reb the Squirrel made it up to the seed and was having a feast.  Just can't beat the squirrel.  He made it with a really high jump, I mean really high.Met Kevin and Kelly at the Legion and watched the Hawks win in overtime.

APRIL 2, SATURDAY--  Went to the Legion and enjoyed the 3 Aces playing all that old rock and roll and country.  Then went to Sunnyside and watched the Sooners get blown out by Villanova in the NCAA Tournament Final Four.  Watched the Syracuse-UNC game there and then home at Margaritaville.  It was close for awhile, then the Tarheels won easily.  Two very boring games.

APRIL 3, SUNDAY--  Met Kevin and Kelly at Sunnyside and watched a rare afternoon Hawks game as our guys won 6-4 after taking a 6-0 lead.  then went to Half-Time.

--RoadDog

From the Orange Peel Gazette.

BANK PROBLEMS:  When you make a deposit, tellers high-five each other.

Just Hangin' Around-- Part 2: Of Taxes, Somebody Likes Us and Blackie the Squirrel

MARCH 30, WEDNESDAY--

Went to H&R Block and had our taxes done.  The guy really seemed to know his stuff and hopefully we won't have the problems we had last year with Hewett & Jackson.  As usual, we owe, so it's off to work I go.  NOT!!

Stopped at the Whistle Stop in Fox Lake for breakfast afterwards.  I have never been there and heard it is a really good place to eat.  And, every time I drive by when they are open (breakfast and lunch) there are usually people lined up to go inside).  One of their March specials is an Irish omelet with corned beef and Swiss cheese.

The waitress later came back with a smile on her face and said that something had happened which just made her feel so good.  She said that an older man had told her to go ahead and pay for the breakfast of some other people and left.  We asked who they were and she said, "You."    Well, that sure made our day.  We didn't recognize anyone when we came in.

We later went to Donovan's and the Grove on our way back.

MARCH 31ST, THURSDAY--

Warm enough for me to sit outside on the front porch and finish yesterday's Whistle Stop Irish omelet.  First front porch breakfast of the year for me.  Love that outside eating.  Later enjoyed watching Blackie the Squirrel (our black squirrel) get thoroughly frustrated trying to overcome the new anti-squirrel devices I have up on the birdfeeders.  But, I figure it to be just a matter of time before he or Reb (our gray squirrel) figure out how to get the seed.  You can't beat squirrels.

We went to Sunnyside.

That Sure Was Nice.  --RoadDog

WXRT Cubs Home Opener, April 11, 2016-- Part 2: "The Boys of Summer"

WHEN LOVE COMES TO TOWN--  B.B. King & U2
THE BOYS OF SUMMER--  Don Henley
MOUNTAIN AT MY GATES--  Foals

DREAMS--  Cranberries
GLORY DAYS--  Bruce Springsteen
AIN'T NO REST FOR THE WICKED--  Cage the Elephant

MY HERO--  Foo Fighters
THE WAY WE GOT BY--
HERE COMES THE SUN--  Beatles

UNEMPLOYED--  Michael McDermott
SHINE--  Collective Soul
IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD--  REM

SOMEDAY WE'LL GO ALL THE WAY--  Eddie Vedder
FIRST--  Cold War Kids
KODACHROME--  Paul Simon

Hey, Linn, How About Doing Something Like This for the Real Good Team in Town.  I'm Talking 'Bout DaSox!!

Name That Tune (From the above):  "I Had a Friend Who Was a Big Baseball Player Back In High School."  --CubDog


"Glory Days"

WXRT Cubs Home Opener Party, April 11, 2016-- Part 1: "Centerfield"

Always a big part when WXRT's DJ Lin Brehmer and newsgal Mary Dixon host the annual, 23 years now, party for the season.  This year it was at Yacht Seas in Wrigleyville, the area near Wrigley Field.

They had seven bands and lots of appearances during the six hour show, half of it hosted by deejay Marty Linnerts.

They played lots of songs with a Cubs theme (considering all their losing for all those years and the incredible World Series hopes for this year.

Some of he songs"

HOWLING FOR YOU--  Black Keys
RUNNING DOWN A DREAM--  Tom Petty
BELIEVE--  Mumford & Sons

BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS--  Green Day
THEY PLAYED BASEBALL--  Baseball Project
BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE--  Talking Heads

CENTERFIELD--  John Fogerty
I NEED NEVER GET OLD--  Nathaniel Rateliff
WE USED TO WAIT--  Arcade Fire

"It Might Be, It Could Be..."

Name That Tune (From Above songs):  "Hold Tight, Wait Till the Party's Over." (Answer Below)  --RoadCub

THE LAST JAPANESE ECONOMY IS SO BAD:  The staff at the Sushi Bank fear they may get a raw deal.

"Burning Down the House"

Music Deaths: Andy "Thunderclap" Newman and Mike Gibbons

ANDY "THUNDERCLAP" NEWMAN, 73  Died March 29, 2016.

The band was formed by Who guitarist Pete Townsend.  best remembered for their "Something in the Air Tonight" which went to #1 in Britain in 1969 and #37 in the U.S..

MIKE GIBBONS  Died April 2, 2016.

Lead singer and trumpet player with Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods.  Formed 1965 and got a break opening for the Osmonds in the early 1970s.  From Cincinnati.  They sang a cover version of Paper Lace's "Billy Don't be a Hero" which spent two weeks at #1 in 1974.

Also had top 40 hits with "Who Do You Think You Are" (#15-1974) and "The Heartbreak Kid" (#39-1974).

Rememberin' the Cold at the Ball Games: Shivering at Comsikey

Well, that White Sox home opener Friday was sure mighty miserable from both a weather and a score standpoint.

The Indians walloped our guys 7-1, with just one highlight, the home run of new player Frazier (I don't know his first name yet).  And, just as bad, only three ChiSox hits (two by Frazier).

If that wasn't bad enough, the weather was its own agony.  Those people out there were tried and true Sox fans and suffered with alternating snow and might, mighty cold as well as the whipping wind.

I remember back in the 80s, and especially the 1983 season when I had a twenty-game pack to see the Sox (as we also got tickets to the All star game that year).  Those April and May games were freezing.  It was so bad, that I would spend a whole lot of the game hunkered down in the bathroom which was heated.

Too COLD for Baseball.  --ShiveringDog

THE JAPANESE ECONOMY IS SO BAD THAT:  There is something fishy going on at the Sushi Bank.

Music Deaths: Patty Duke

PATTY DUKE, 69  Died March 29, 2016.

Had TV show of the same name where she played identical cousins.  received Best Supporting Actress Oscar in "The Miracle Worker" in 1962.

In 1963, starred in "The Patty Duke Show" as both American Patty Lane and prim and proper English cousin Cathy.  The show ran for three years.

Had two hit records, the biggest of which was "Don't Just Stand There" (#8-1965) and "Say Something Funny" (#22-1965).

She sure had the classic Girl Group sound.

Music Deaths: Peter Andreoli: "New York's a Lonely Town"

PETER ANDREOLI, 74.  Died March 24, 2016.

Songwriter and performer.  Sand with the Videls on the original "Mr. Lonely" (#73-1960), and the Trade Winds "New York's a Lonely Town" (#32-1965) and the Innocense's "There's Got to Be a Word" (#34-1967)

Music Deaths: Gogi Grant "The Wayward Wind"

GOGI GRANT, 91  Died March 10, 2016,.

Best remembered for the #1 "The Wayward Wind" in 1956. Born Myrtle Audrey Arinsberg.

Also had hit with "Suddenly There's a Valley" (#9-1955).  Retired from performing in 1967.

Baseball is Back, But You Sure Couldn't Tell By the Weather

**  Both the Sox and Cubs started the season 2-0.  The last time they did that was in 1951, when Liz and I were born.  Cubs are 3-0 so far and Sox are 3-1.

Right now, the Sox are losing their home opener 5-1.  OUCH!!

**  It is going to be hard to live with the Cubs fans this year with all of this hoopla around them.

**  The Sox home opener today and the weather is miserable.  High forecast at 38 degrees, windy, with light snow and rain showers in the afternoon.  This morning we had fairly heavy snow here with about a half inch on the ground, but not on anything I might have to clear off.

Northwest winds at 20 to 30 mph.  Chance of precipitation 70%.

**  Lin Braehmer, Mr. Ultimate Cub Fan, even was nice enough to mention the Sox home opener on his morning show on WXRT.  He even did a Sox-related Three for Free where he played snippets of three songs somehow related to the Sox.  I recognized the first one, knew the second and had no idea on the last one.

1.  Thunderstruck--  AC/DC
2.  Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye--  Steam
3.  Southside--  Moby

**  Monday he will be broadcasting live from Wrigleyville before the Cub home opener from 1-7.  Always a good time, even if they are for the Cubs.

**  Actually, I am a Cubs fan, UNLESS they play Da Sox.

**  The Sox, besides this rotten weather, had a fire early this morning in a storage room.

Play Ball!!  --RoadSox

Just Hanging Around-- Part 1: NIU Loses and a Very, Very Funny Movie

MARCH 28, MONDAY--  Went to Sunnyside to watch the NIU-UC-SC basketball game in the Las Vegas Tournament.  Northern finished the regular season 20-10 and the was the first post season tournament in twenty years and we were quite proud of them.  Unfortunately, they couldn't get the channel at Sunnyside.

We went over to nearby half-Times and they could get it.  Despite leading most of the game, we lost in the last ten minutes.

MARCH 29, TUESDAY--  Went to the Round Lake Beach Theater and saw one of the funniest movies I've ever seen, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2."  Enjoyed their Tuesday special $5.19 for ticket, $2 large popcorn and $1 Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs.

Stopped at Hardee's on the way home and had their great Four for Four deal.  It's nice to have Hardee's back in the area.

Met some friends at Half-Times later.

--RoadDog

12 Actors Who Died in 2015

From the Dec. 3, 2015, Cheat Sheet.

I am only going to list the five I watched the most.

1.  Leonard Nimoy, 83  Well, Mr. Spock.

2.  Anne Meara, 85.  Half of Stiller & Meara.  George's parents.

3.  James Best, 88.  Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane on "Dukes of Hazzard."

4.  Sir Christopher Lee, 93.  Saruman in "Lord of the Rings."

5.  Donna Douglas, 82.  Elly Mae Clampett on "The Beverly Hillbillies."

"Paw!"  Animals Down By the Cement Pond.  --RoadDog

Ain't It True: Cosmo Gets Sick

From the March 11, 2016, Shoe comic strip.

FIRST FRAME:  His nephew Skyler comes into the room and sees his Uncle Cosmo sitting in his easy chair and looking ill.
Skyler:  "Are you ok Uncle Cosmo?"
Cosmo:  "No, I'm feeling queasy."

2ND FRAME:
Skyler:  "Is it a side effect of your medication?"
Cosmo:  "No."

THIRD FRAME:
Cosmo:  The side effect of watching medication commercials."

It sure does seem like every other commercial is for a miracle drug.

Laughing Till I cry.  --RoadDog

WLS Top Ten for April 8, 1966-- Part 6: "Secret Agent Man"

10.  I'M SO LONESOME I COULD CRY--  B.J. Thomas
9.  DAYDREAM--  Lovin' Spoonful
8.  YOU BABY--  Turtles

7.  SHAPES OF THINGS--  Yardbirds
6.  CALIFORNIA DREAMING--  Mamas & Papas
5.  GOOD LOVIN'--  Young Rascals
4.  BANG BANG--  Cher

3.  SECRET AGENT MAN--  Johnny Rivers
2.  GLORIA--  Shadows of Knight
1.  KICKS--  Paul Revere & the Raiders

Name That Tune (from above songs):  "And Even If Time Ain't Really On My Side, It's One of Those Days for Taking a Walk Outside."  --RoadDog

THE JAPANESE ECONOMY IS SO BAD THAT:  500 back-office staff at the Karate Bank got the chop.

"Daydream"

Merle Haggard: "The Poet of the Common Man"

Born April 6, 1937  Died April 6, 2016 at age 79.

Part of the Bakersfield Country Sound along with Buck Owens.  Spend three years in federal prison at San Quentin.  Best known for his song "Okie from Muskogee which went to #41 Pop and #1 Country in 1969.  Signed with Capitol records and was on the country charts 105 times and even 12 times on the Pop.  38 Country #1s.

He had several crossover hits from Country to Pop, including "Okie from Muskogee", "The Fighting Side of Me (#92 Pop, #1 Country-1970) and "If We Make It Through December" (#28 Pop, #1 Country in 1973).

His touring back up band was called the Strangers.

His "Okie from Muskogee" is described as either Nixon-era anthem or a good-hearted spoof of heartland mores.

His "Okie from Muskogee" was my introduction to country music which I really hated back in high school and college.  In the days of anti-war and hippydom, this was the alternative.

--RoadDog

WLS Top 40 Survey for April 8, 1966-- Part 5: "Nowhere Man"

20..  I LIE AWAKE--  New Colony Six    Chicago's own.
19.  CAROLINE NO--  Brian Wilson
18.  OUTSIDE THE GATES OF HEAVEN--  Lou Christie

17.  TRY TOO HARD--  Dave Clark Five
16.  I CAN'T LET YOU GO--  Hollies
15.  TIME WON'T LET ME--  Outsiders
14.  NOWHERE MAN--  Beatles

13.  19TH NERVOUS BREAKDOWN--  Rolling Stones
12.  DON'T YOU KNOW--  Keith Everette
11.  SOUL & INSPIRATION--  Righteous Brothers

Name That Tune:  "I Can't Wait Forever, Even Though You Want Me To."  --RoadDog



"Time Won't Let Me"

About Last Weekend-- Part 2: Lots O' Basketball

Continued from April 1st.

MARCH 26TH, SATURDAY:

We had hoped to go to the Fox Hole in downtown McHenry for pizza, using a Chain Crawl coupon, but found out at 5 p.m., that the coupon was only good from 11 to 3.  Oh well.  We ended up with Kevin and Kelly at Sunnyside and later Half-Times in Johnsburg and watched the NCAA  and saw a really good game between Kansas and Villanova which Villanova won.

MARCH 27TH, SUNDAY

Went to Sunnyside and watched two NCAA games.

Final Four will be Villanova versus Oklahoma and North Carolina versus Syracuse next Saturday.

Dribble That Ball!!  --RoadDog

JAPAN'S ECONOMY IS SO BAD THAT:  Shares in Kamikaze Bank have nose-dived.

Sorry to Hear About the Death of Merle Haggard

Country legend Merle Haggard died today at age 79.  It was his birthday.  He had been suffering from cancer for many years and looking very bad the last several times I saw him.

I was listening to Classic Country WERF in Galax Country over the internet when I heard Buford Kegley make the announcement.

Merle Haggard was one of my favorite country singers and a big reason I got into country music in the mid 1970s.  You want country, HE was country.  None of that Bro stuff.  His songs could hurt you right down to your soul.  And, then there was his "Okie from Muskogee" which I first heard while in college.

I had seen it was his birthday today on the Ye Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac site by Bob Dearborn.  I also saw that this was the anniversary of the Capitol records Building in Hollywood.  Merle Haggard recorded for Capitol Records.

Puttin' Those Hippies in Their Place.

WLS Top 40 Survey for April 8, 1966-- Part 4: "Monday, Monday"

25.  SIGN OF THE TIMES--  Petula Clark   Went to #11 on Billboard.  Born in 1932 in Epsom, England.

24.  MONDAY, MONDAY--  Mamas & Papas   Their debut hit.

23.  LARA'S THEME--  Roger Williams    Went to #65 on Billboard  From the movie "Dr. Zhivago" starring Omar Shariff and Julie Christie.  His next song was "Born Free."

22.  SLOOP JON B.--  Beach Boys   Probably my favorite Beach Boys song.

21.  I GO CRAZY--  Buckinghams   Didn't chart on Billboard, but did well in their home town, Chicago  This came out before their big hit "Kind of a Drag" which did real well.

Name That Tune:  "Around Nassau Town We Did Roam, Drinking All Night, Got Into a Fight."  --RoadDog



"Sloop Jon B."

WLS Top 40 for April 8, 1966-- Part 3: "Till the End of the Day"

30.  A GROOVY KIND OF LOVE--  Mindbenders.  Also called Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders.  Went to #2 on Billboard.  From Manchester, England.  Two of the members Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman (who joined in 1968) were a part of Hotlegs and 10CC.

29.  LOVE MADE A FOOL OF YOU--  Bobby Fuller Four.  Went to #26 on Billboard.  their follow up to "I Fought the Law."  Bobby was from Texas and died mysteriously on July 18, 1966.

28.  TILL THE END OF THE DAY--  Kinks   Went to #50 on Billboard.  The London Brothers Davies.

27.  FRANKIE & JOHNNY--  Elvis Presley   Went to #25 on Billboard.  Elvis' take on a mid-19th century folk song.

26.  I'M COMING HOME CINDY--  Trini Lopez   His debut.  Went to #39 on Billboard.  Born as Trinidad Lopez III in Dallas in 1937.

Name That Tune:  "When I'm Feeling Blue, All I have to Do Is Take a Look At You."  --RoadDog


"A Groovy Kind of Love"

Anniversary of the Big Round Building in Hollywood

From the same site as the previous post.

On April 6, 1956, the Capitol Tower, home of Capitol Records in Hollywood, was dedicated.

It was the first circular building in the United States.

Spin Me Around.  --RoadDog

Alan Freed's "Big Beat Show" April 6, 1958: Dickie Doo & the Don'ts

From "The Olde Disk Jockey's Almanac" by Bob Dearborn (former Chicago DJ).

On this date in 1958, Alan Freed held his "Big Beat Show concert at the Public Hall.  It featured quite a lineup of rollers:  Buddy Holly & the crickets, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Danny & the Juniors, Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, Diamonds, Billy & Lillie, Chantels,  Dickie Doo & the Don'ts, Jo Ann Campbell, Larry Williams, Ed Townsend, Pastels and Screamin' Jay Hawkins.

Talk about getting more bang for your buck.

However, there were several of these performers that I did not know about, so had to do some more research on them.

I started with Dickie Doo & the Don'ts.  There was just something about their name that demanded further research.

Dickie Doo, But Who Don't?   --RoadDon't

THE JAPANESE ECONOMY IS SO BAD THAT:  The Karaoke Bank is up for sale, and it's (you guessed it) going for a song.

WLS Top 40 for April 8, 1966-- Part 2: "Leaning On a Lamp Post"

35.  634-5789--  Wilson Pickett   Went to #13 on Billboard.  One of 36 Top 100 Pop songs for the Wicked Pickett, the Pride of Prattville, Alabama.

34.  HE CRIED--  Shangri-Las   Went to #65 on Billboard.  A cover of the Jay & Americans song from 1962.  They formed at Andrew Jackson High School in Queens, New York.

33.  ONE TRACK MIND--  Knickerbockers   Went to #46 on Billboard.  Follow up to their biggest hit, "Lies."  From New Jersey.

32.  EIGHT MILES HIGH--  Byrds   Were they doing illegal drugs?

31.  LEANING ON A LAMP POST--  Herman's Hermits   Went to #9 on Billboard   From the movie "Hold On" starring Herman's Hermits.  Follow up to "Listen People" which went to #3 on Billboard.

Name That Tune:  "If You Need a Little Lovin', Call On Me."  --RoadDog



"634-5789"

JSS: Crazy Weather-- NCAA Tournament

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.

1.  CRAZY WEATHER--  We've sure had that around here the last three days.  Saturday we had probably an inch of snow (all of which melted) and then alternated between sun and quick snowstorms, at times you couldn't see more than 100 yards.  It changed about every thirty minutes.

Sunday, after a freezing start, temps got to the upper 60s, but the wind was horrific.  Yesterday we had near constant snow flurries and temps never got above 25 degrees.  (None stuck, though)

2.  NCAA TOURNAMENT--  A big congratulations to Villanova for that remarkable win last night as time expired.  That game with North Carolina will have to go down as one of the best, if not the BEST, game ever in the Tournament.  It is right there with the Duke-Kentucky game with the Laettner basket as time expired.

It made up for the two really boring Final Four games on Saturday.

And We were All Thinking Spring Had Arrived.  --RoadDog

WLS Top 40 for April 8, 2016-- Part 1: "Together Again"

40.  GOT MY MOJO WORKING--  Jimmy Smith   #51 on Billboard.  Pioneer jazz organist.  definitely New Orleans and jazz influence in the song.

39.  TOGETHER AGAIN--  Ray Charles   Went to #19 on Billboard.  The hit after his "Crying Time."

38.  YOUNG LOVE--  Lesley Gore   Went to #50 on Billboard.  Was a #1 hit for Sonny James.

37.  I HEAR TRUMPETS BLOW--  Tokens  Went to #30 on Billboard.  Neil Sedaka was once a member.  Good vocals.  Of course, their biggest hit was the #1 "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."

36.  INSIDE- LOOKING OUT--  Animals   Went to #34 Billboard.  The Animals were originally called the Alan Price Combo and formed in 1955.A blues song done British Invasion style by a really young Eric Burdon in the video.

Name That Tune (From Above):  "They Say That For Every Boy and Girl, There's Just One Love In This Whole World."  --RoadDog

THE JAPANESE ECONOMY IS SO BAD: that the Bonsai Bank plans to cut back some of its branches.

"Young Love"

Past Movie Scratches: Warriors-- European-- Vegas-- Bob-- Trader-- Road

Some movies seen on TV back in 2015.

31.  THE WARRIORS--  A gang makes its way through enemy gang territory to Coney Island.  Loved that baseball gang.  A hard way to get your Nathan's.

32.  EUROPEAN VACATION--  Stonehenge never stood a chance against Clark.

33.  VEGAS VACATION--  It's Clark vs. the dealer and Clark always loses, but his son does very, very well.

34.  WHAT ABOUT BOB?--  Bill Murray drives Richard Dreyfus nuts.  Who's the psycho here?

35.  CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TRADER--  The rat and the boy-dragon.

36.  THE ROAD WARRIOR--  The dingo and me hit the road.  We meet mad max and that crazy helicopter guy.

How Come There's Never a Commercial When You Have to Go to the Bathroom?

Ten at 1967: "Penny Lane"

From Bob Stroud's Ten at Ten on WDRV, 97.1 FM in Chicago, April 4, 2016.

A great high school year for me at dear old Palatine High School, the old one by US-14, Northwest Highway in Palatine, Illinois.  This was the year that I met my wife Liz as well.  Bob Stroud rarely ever goes back to 1967, so have to enjoy it when I can.  I did.

I CAN SEE FOR MILES--  Who
WHITE RABBIT--  Jefferson Airplane
PENNY LANE--  Beatles

GIMME SOME LOVIN'--  Spencer Davis Group
GET TOGETHER--  Youngbloods
LIGHT MY FIRE--  Doors
PLEASANT VALLEY SUNDAY--  Monkees

LET'S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER--  Rolling Stones
WHITER SHADE OF PALE--  Procul Harum
ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER--  Bob Dylan

Name That Tune (From Above):  "You Know That It Would Be Untrue."  --RoadDog

Of course, you can hear it again at 10 p.m. CDST.

THE JAPANESE ECONOMY IS SO BAD:  We are hearing that the Sumo Bank has gone belly up.


"Light My Fire"

About Last Weekend-- Part 1: Lots of Civil War, Cheerwine and Loss of My Cassettes?

MARCH 26, SATURDAY--  Drove to Panera Bread Co. in Crystal Lake and met up with the rest of the McHenry County Civil War Round Table Discussion group to talk about Mobile Bay.  I'll be writing about this in my Running the Blockade Blog.

Afterwards, I went to Best Buy and Fresh Market, a very upscale store which I had found out sold that North Carolina treat, Cheerwine.  They do, but I still have two 2-liter bottles left from my last trip to North Carolina.  Went to Target for my usual bag of popcorn (some of the best in the world) and then went to Barnes & Noble and bought a CD and a Naval History magazine.

Then, drove to McHenry and went to Meijer and found out I should never go to Meijer the day before Easter.  The place was a madhouse with huge lines at every checkout counter.  I tried to buy my stuff at the outside nursery checkout, but they were having problems with it and I ended up back inside and managed to pick the slowest line.

I would have just left my stuff, but I had bought the last three 5-cassette bricks they had.  This could bring to an end my cassette recording once I run out of my stockpile.  I sure will miss my cassettes if that is the last of  them at Meijer.

Must Treasure My Last Cassettes.--  RoadDog

Past Movie Scratches: Gladiator-- Top-- Terminator-- Black-- Jaws-- Tremers

Movies I saw on TV in 2015.

25.  GLADIATOR--  Commotus the Really Baddus.  "Unleash Hell!!"

26.  TOP GUN--  "I feel the need... FOR SPEED!!"  Dr. Green as "Goose."

27.  TERMINATOR: SALVATION--  Those machines still after that guy John Connor.

28.  MEN IN BLACK--  Will knows nothing about birthing intergallatic babies.

29.  JAWS--  "You're gonna need a bigger boat."

30.  TREMORS--  Fishing for giant earthworms with really bad attitude.  Stay on the rocks!!

--RoadDog

We're #2!! More Songs That Never Made It to #1-- Part 1

From the July 27, 2012, Rob O'Connor's List of the Day "We're #2! Part 2.  More Songs That Never Made It to #1.  Rob will now also list the song that kept it from reaching #1 as per fan request.

25.  THE WRECK OF THE EDMUND FITZGERALD--  Gordon Lightfoot--  "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)" by Rod Stewart.  It was #1 for eight weeks.
24.  LYIN' EYES--  Eagles--  "Island Girl" by Elton John.
23.  SMACK THAT--  Akon--  "Money Maker" by Ludicris.

22.  BLUEBERRY HILL--  Fats Domino--  Had been #1 for Glenn Miller in 1940.
21.  DANCING ON THE CEILING--  Lionel Richie  "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin and "Stuck on You" by Huey Lewis & the News.

--RoadDog

WLS Top Ten for April 1, 1966: "Good Lovin'"

1.  GLORIA--  Shadows of Knight
2.  CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'--  Mamas & Papas
3.  DAYDREAM--  Lovin' Spoonful

4.  19TH NERVOUS BREAKDOWN--  Rolling Stones
5.  YOU BABY--  Turtles
6.  SHAPES OF THINGS--  Yardbirds
7.  BANG BANG--  Cher  (What, No Sonny?)

8.  KICKS--  Paul Revere & the Raiders
9.  NOWHERE MAN--  Beatles
10.  GOOD LOVIN'--  Young Rascals

Name That Tune (From the above):  "She Comes Around Here, About Midnight."  --  RoadDog



"Gloria"

Eight Best Ringo Starr Songs

From the March 14, 2016, Cheat Sheet by Jeff Rindskopf.

1.  It Don't Come Easy (1971)

2.  Photograph (1973)

3.  Back Off Boogaloo  (1973)

4.  No No Song  (A personal favorite)

5.  Blind Man

6.  You're Sixteen

7.  Goodnight Vienna

8.  Never Without You

This Is Ringo.  --RoadDog

From the Orange Peel Gazette.  BAD JAPANESE ECONOMY  Things have gotten so bad that the Origami Bank has folded.