The Drive's Vinyl Four Weekend-- Part 1 "Hotel California"

Wonder why they're calling it Vinyl Four?

Starting at 3 p.m. today, Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM,  The Drive will start spinning four tracks from some of the best classic rock albums of all time.  You can listen to it at www.wdrv.com if you live out of the area.  All times are Central.

And, they will be playing them off of vinyl.

TODAY

3 p.m.  HOTEL CALIFORNIA--  Eagles

4. pm   BACK IN BLACK--  AC/DC

5.  pm  FOREIGNER--  Foreigner

6  pm  SECOND HELPING--  Lynyrd Skynyrd

7  pm  TOYS IN THE ATTIC--  Aerosmith

8   pm  WISH YOU WERE HERE--  Pink Floyd

11  pm  THE DOORS--  Doors

Classic All the Way.  --RoadDig

WLS Top Ten for March 31, 1967-- Part 1: Little Bit of Me, A Little Bit of You"

Yep, 50 Years Ago, today.  That's half a century for anyone who is counting.

1.  HAPPY TOGETHER--  Turtles
2.  I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW--  Tommy James & Shondells
3.  DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE--  Mamas and Papas

4.  LITTLE BIT OF ME, LITTLE BIT OF YOU--  Monkees
5.  THERE'S A KIND OF A HUSH--  Herman's Hermits
6.  PENNY LANE/STRAWBERRY FIELDS--  Beatles
7.  FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH--  Buffalo Springfield

8.  BABY I NEED YOUR LOVIN'--  Johnny Rivers
9.  THIS IS MY SONG--  Petula Clark
10.  SAY SOMETHING STUPID--  Nancy and Frank Sinatra

Name That Tune (from the above):  "Living Is Easy With Eyes Closed."  --RoadDog

BIZARRE LAWS IN AMERICA:  In hawaii you cannot put any coins in your ears.

"Strawberry Fields"

Another Great NCAA Basketball Tournament

Well, I am really far out of it now and have been since the first week.Currently, I do have two teams left in the Final Four: Gonzaga and North Carolina, but neither are in the Championship game, where I had Villanova and Kansas, with Kansas winning.

But, we sure had some great games last week.  The Gonzaga and Xavier wins over West Virginia and Arizona as well as the Oregon win over Michigan were as good of bb as it gets.  And, that Florida win over Wisconsin was one of those Games For the Ages., right up there with the Duke-Kentucky game 25 years ago!!

Then, in the Elite 8, the Florida-South Carolina game and UNC-Kentucky games were outstanding.

I, of course, want a really close game, even if my team loses, which it did with the Wisconsin loss to Florida on that last second three-pointer.

I do like the fact that three of the four remaining teams are there for the first time (well, Oregon did win it all way back in 1939).

I am hoping for lots of fun this Saturday.

Best Sporting Event of the Year.  Sorry Cubs.  --RoadDog

The last YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You think CPR stands for "Coffee Provides Resuscitation."

Root Salute to Chuck Berry-- Part 3: "You Never Can Tell"

CAROL--  Chuck Berry
ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN--  Electric Light Orchestra

NADINE--  Chuck Berry
PROMISED LAND--  Band

YOU NEVER CAN TELL--  Chuck Berry
BACK IN THE U.S.A.--  Linda Ronstadt

MEMPHIS--  Johnny Rivers
NO PARTICULAR PLACE TO GO--  Chuck Berry

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Oh Well, Oh Well.  I Feel So Good Today."  (Answer Below)):  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You introduce your spouse as your "Coffeemate."

"Back in the U.S.A."

A Roots Salute Tribute to Chuck Berry-- Part 2: "School Days"

These are the Chuck Berry songs Bob Stroud played on Sunday.  He would play one by Chuck Berry and then a cover:

SCHOOL DAYS--  Chuck Berry
SWEET LITTLE ROCK AND ROLLER--  Rod Stewart

MAYBELINE--  Chuck Berry
REELIN' AND ROCKIN'--  Dave Clark Five

SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN--  Chuck Berry
ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC--  Beatles

BROWN EYED HANDSOME MAN--  Chuck Berry
JOHNNY B. GOODE--  Chuck Berry
AROUND AND AROUND--  Rolling Stones

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "As I Was Motivatin' Over the Hill."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You can't even remember your second cup.

"Maybeline"

A Tribute to Chuck Berry on "Roots" and "Breakfast" Yesterday-- Part 1

Yesterday, March 26, Sunday, Bob Stroud had a Root Salute to Chuck Berry on his Rock and Roll Roots show on Chicago's WDRV.  He would play a Chuck Berry song followed up by a cover of a Chuck Berry song done by someone else.  I'll list the songs played in the next blog entry after this.

Meanwhile, across town, Terri Hemmert at WXRT played a Chuck Berry song at the top of her Breakfast With the Beatles show.  She said that in the 15+ years she has been doing the show, she has never started her show with any song other than one by the Beatles, but this was special.  Chuck Berry had a huge impact on the Beatles.  She played Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven."  She also said that Professor Moptop was going to do his part of the show on Chuck Berry's impact on the Beatles.

I haven't yet heard Terri Hemmert's entire show as I record it on cassette tape to listen to during the week as her show is on opposite Rock and Roll Roots.  I'll be looking forward to hearing what else Terri Hemmert plays and what the Professor has to say.

Roll Over Chuck Berry.  --RoadDog

JSS: The Happy Bill Murray-- 3 of 4 Great NCAA Games-- Yardwork-- Cassette Tapes

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.
1.  THE HAPPY BILL MURRAY--  First, his Cubs won it all last fall, now his Xavier is having quite the NCAA run.

2.  3 OF 4 GREAT NCAA GAMES--  Wow, three of the NCAA Tournament games last night were in the great category, meaning close and/or upset.  #1 Gonzaga just barely held off #4 West Virginia 61-58.  #3 Oregon just edged #7 Michigan by one point, 69-68 and, of course, that #11 Xavier win over #2 Arizona late last night.

3.  YARDWORK--  In a few minutes I'll be out in the garage to see if I can start the '85 Firebird after it's sat all winter.  Kind of doubt it.  I also need to get the lawn tractor running as grass-cutting season fast approaches.

4.  CASSETTE TAPES--  I was happy to find our local Meijer store in McHenry still was selling 5-pack bricks of audio cassette tapes for $4.69.  I had cleared them out back in February, thinking that was it for my cassettes in stores, but they evidently had some more.  Good news.  The only other place I know that still has them is our local Walgreen's here n Spring grove, but their five pack is $9.49, way too expensive.

Sad Day When I Lose My Cassettes.  --RoadDog

WLS Top Ten for March 24, 1967-- Part 2: "Lawdy Miss Clawdy"

I usually just list the top ten songs on the WLS Silver Dollar Survey, but went further down the list and found some interesting songs.

#20  "DON'T YOU CARE" and #28 "LAWDY MISS CLAWDY" were both by Chicago band Buckinghams, another push from WLS.  "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" went to #41 and "Don't You care" went to #6 on the Billboard Top 100 charts.

#27  THE LOSER--  Gary Lewis & the Playboys  Ranked #43 on Billboard.  Actual name "The Loser (With a Broken Heart)"  I didn't remember it.

#38.  SWEETS FOR MY SWEET--  Riddles   Did not rank on Billboard's Top 100.  This was another example of WLS (and WCFL) pushing local Chicago talent.    I didn't remember the group or this version of the song, but it is really good and worth a listen.  They also had a good song titled "It's One Thing to Say."

From the site Garage Hangover:  The Riddles were from the Chicago suburbs (the site said Elmhurst and someone else wrote in and said they were from Crystal Lake).  They recorded a version of "Sweets for My Sweet" which received airplay in Chicago in April 1967 on WLS and WCFL.  They were frequent guests on the local Chicago TV show "Kiddie-A-Go-Go."  Sorry for them.  I saw a clip of local favorites New Colony Six playing on one of these shows and it was the saddest thing ever.  The dancers were maybe seven to ten years old.

#40  MEXICAN ROAD RUNNER--  Herb Alpert.   Didn't rank in Top 100 on Billboard.  Actually, it wasn't "Mexican Road Runner" but "Mexican Road Race."  I guess whoever compiles the list was thinking the Road Runner from the cartoons.  Good song.

Name That Tune (from the above):  "Your First Kiss Thrilled Me So."    Answer belwo.  --RoadDog



"Sweets for My Sweet"

WLS Top Ten for March 24, 1967-- Part 1: "Happy Together"

1.  I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW--  Tommy James & Shondells
2.  HAPPY TOGETHER--  Turtles
3.  THERE'S A KIND OF A HUSH--  Herman's Hermits

4.  FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH--  Buffalo Springfield
5.  PENNY LANE/STRAWBERRY FIELDS--  Beatles
6.  BABY I NEED YOUR LOVIN'--  Johnny Rivers
7.  DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE--  Mamas & Papas

8.  UPS & DOWNS--  Paul Revere & the Raiders
9.  THIS IS MY SONG--  Petula Clark
10.  WESTERN UNION--  5 Americans

Name That Tune (from the above):  "Children behave, That's What they Say When We're Together."  (Answer Below)   --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN: You don't tan, you roast.

"I Think We're Alone Now"

JSS: A Movie Experience-- Warm-- 9-7

JSS:  Just Some Stuff.

1.  A MOVIE EXPERIENCE--  Tuesday, I went to Round Lake Beach's Regal Cinemas to see the movie "Logan."  Near the end of the first upcoming preview for the remake of "Alien" a light started flashing and an alarm went off.  At first, I, and the other people in the theater were unsure whether it was part of the preview or not, but it eventually dawned on us that it was a real fire alarm, so we exited.

The fire department came, checked and found nothing so we got to see the movie.

This was my first fire alarm since 2006, when I taught school.

2.  WARM--  Wow, temps in the 70s tomorrow.  Has spring finally gotten here?  Well, the spring equinox was this past Monday.

3.  9-7--  Well, that's my record in the Sweet Sixteen beginning today.  Still remaining teams for me:  Baylor, Gonzaga, Arizona, Kansas, Purdue, UNC, Butler, UCLA, Kentucky.

Other than Butler, I am completely out of the East Region.  But, have all four left in the South.

No Clue Picking As Usual.  --RoadDog

Them "Idge" Phones: Has It Come To This?

From the March 21, 2017, Speed Bump comic strip.

In a long-enduring scene, where a father is teaching his daughter how to ride a bicycle for the first time and running along beside her yelling instructions, we see that happening today.  The daughter has a helmet on, of course, in this day of safety nets.    She is succeeding in her attempt.

The father, running behind her yells:  "You got it!  One hand on the handle!  Look up from time to time!  Good job!"

The daughter is staring down at her "idge" phone.  Even more surprising, the father isn't staring at his own "idge" phone or filming his daughter, which I could forgive him for.  In case you're wondering, "idge" phone is short for "idiot" phone.

I was at the theater he other day and saw that just about every single person, or groups of people entering had their eyes glued down at their "idge" phones.

Has Civilization Come to This?  So Sad.  So Sad.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You think being called a "drip" is a compliment.

2017 Movie Scratches: Wall-- Batman-- Moonlight-- Fall

Movies Scratches:  A Dog's-Eye View of the movies playing at the theaters this year.

17.  THE GREAT WALL--  3-6--  Fox Lake, Free--  What the wall "really" was built for.  Chinese ingenuity and tactics at their best.

18.  THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE--  3-6--  Fox Lake, $6--  The Caped Crusader like you've never seen him before.  Battling the sympathetic Joker who is just looking for a little respect.  Those Oz monkeys still scare me.

19.  MOONLIGHT--  3-7--  Round Lake Beach, $6.  Academy Award Best Picture winner.  Had to see it.  Nowhere near as good as "Hidden Figures" or "Fences."  My thought is that since it had a Black focus and gay as well, that put it over the top to beat the other two.

20.  BEFORE I FALL--  3-13--  Fox Lake, $6--  It was "Groundhog Day" all over again.  Until she finally "Got It Right."  Sadly, not a happy ending.

Way Too Many Pre-Show Commercials.  --RoadDog

Music Deaths: Valerie Carter (Backup Singer) and Jim Fuller ("Godfather of Surf Music")

VALERIE CARTER, 64

Died March 4, 2017.

Songwriter/singer.  Sang backup for Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Neil Diamond and ex-Eagles Don Henley and Glenn Frey.

JIM FULLER, 69

Died March 3, 2017

Lead guitarist with Surfaris.  Cowrote "Wipe Out." (#2-1963) (#16-1966)  Called the "Godfather of Surf Music."

Top Ten Paul McCartney Solo Songs: "Silly Love Songs"

From the October 19, 2016, Cheat Sheet "Paul McCartney: 10 of His Best Solo Songs."

They have a video and a short history of each song at the site.

1.  Maybe I'm Amazed
2.  Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey
3.  Band on the Run
4.  Early Days
5.  Every Night

6.  The Back Seat of My Car
7.  Fine Line
8.  Silly Love Songs
9.  Live and Let Die
10.  Only Mama Knows

Name That Tune (from the above):  "Stuck Inside These Four Walls, Sent Inside Forever."  (Answer below)  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You don't even wait for the water to boil anymore.


"Band On the Run"

Songwriters Hall of Fame 2017 Inductees

On February 22, 2017, the Songwriters Hall of Fame announced their 2017 inductees.

Peter Cetera, Robert Lamm and James Pankow of Chicago

Motown founder Berry Gordy

Jay Z--  the first-ever rapper

Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis

Max Martin

The induction will take place in New York City on June 15, 2017.

--RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You can outlast the Energizer Bunny.

Music Deaths: Lyle Ritz, Member of the "Wrecking Crew"

LYLE RITZ, 87

Died March 3, 2017

Bassist with the famed "Wrecking Crew" of Hollywood session musicians.  Played on such songs at the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations," "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" by the Righteous Brothers and "I've Got You Babe" by Sonny and Cher.

Also known as "The Father of the Jazz Ukelele."  On Herb Alpert's "A Taste of Honey."

Music Deaths: Chuck Berry

CHUCK BERRY, 90

Died March 18, 2017.

Despite his problems, he was a big reason we got Rock and Roll.  I really liked his "Johnny B. Goode" and "No particular Place to Go."

When i was a deejay, I sure played his only #1 hit, "My Ding-A-Ling" a whole lot and always got a lot of audience participation.

Rocked On out Of Here!!  --RoadDog

Living In Today's World: Getting Older

From the March 17, 2017, Shoe comic strip.

Shoe and another bird are sitting in Roz's Roost.

1.  The other bird says:  "I've noticed a lot of things have changed as I've grown older."  Shoe looks at him and says:  "Such as..."

2.  The other bird:  "For one, when I was younger, the lids on jars weren't screwed on as tightly as they are now."

I Second That.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  Your lips are permanently stuck in the sipping position.

WLS Top Ten for March 17, 1967 "I Think We're Alone Now"

That's right, 50 Years Ago on St. Patrick's Day.

1.  I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW--  Tommy James  & the Shondells
2.  HAPPY TOGETHER--  Turtles
3.  THERE'S A KIND OF A HUSH--  Herman's Hermits

4.  PENNY LANE / STRAWBERRY FIELD--  Beatles
5.  FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH--  Buffalo Springfield
6.  BABY, I NEED YOUR LOVIN'--  Johnny Rivers
7.  DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE--  Mamas and Papas

8.  UPS & DOWNS--  Paul Revere & the Raiders
9.  RUBY TUESDAY--  Rolling Stones.
10.  SOCK IT TO ME BABY--  Mitch Ryder

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "She Would Never Say Where She Came From."  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You get drunk just so you can sober up.''


"Ruby Tuesday"

Musicians Born and Bred In (Or Near) Chicago-- Part 2

6.  MAVIS STAPLES--  Born and raised in Chicago.  Gospel and soul.  member of the Staples Singers, her family.

7.  MILES DAVIS--  Born in Alton, Illinois.

8.  PATTI SMITH--  Born in Chicago but her family soon moved to Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  Punk pioneer.

9.  RICK NIELSEN--  Rockford.  Cheap trick.

10.  STEVE GOODMAN--   "Go Cubs Go.  One of the best.

--RoadDog

Best Sporting Event of the Year Starts Today: The NCAA Tournament

Today is when the Cinderellas come out and upsets begin.  Right at this moment, Notre Dame and Princeton are in a great close game.  I won't say who is winning as that puts the whammy on them.

As the website Dagger says, this is a "Happy College Basketball Christmas."

All 32 games today and Friday will be shown in their entirety between CBS, TNT, TBS and truTV.  They have finally reached a way to show all these many, many games that has to suit everyone.  Not too long ago, all were carried on just one channel, which wasn't good as we'd get stuck watching a blowout while a very close one/upset was in the making at another game.

Myself, I ALWAYS pull for the underdog, even when they're playing one of my teams, such as is taking place right now.

Back to the Bar to Watch.  --RoadDog

JSS: Illinois State-- Jonquils-- Crazy Weather-- Deja Vu All Over Again-- Robins

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.

1.  ILLINOIS STATE--  You'd think with a 27-6 record that it would get you into the NCAA Basketball Tournament.  It didn't.  So ISU in the NIT.

2.  JONQUILS--  I have two jonquils blooming in the house.  I picked them while frozen Saturday.  I didn't think they would make it, but their blooms opened and I got to enjoy their color and smell.  Monday, they would have been under four inches of snow outside.

3.  CRAZY WEATHER--  Sure has been since we got back from Florida.    First, it was warm, but the windiest I've ever seen.  Then, it got cold and then we had 4-5 inches of snow this past Monday and Tuesday.  It has also been highs in the upper 20s until today.

4.  DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN--  Monday I saw the movie "Before I Fall."  Thought I was seeing "Groundhog Day 2."  But without the happy ending.

5.  ROBINS--  We saw our first robins of the year over the weekend.  Guess they must have gotten fooled by all that warm weather in February.

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO  MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You name your cats "Cream"and "Sugar."

Good to have Them Back, Though.  --RoadDog

Musicians Born and Bred In (Or Near) Chicago-- Part 1

WXRT, 93.1 FM

1.  ANDREW BIRD--  Graduated Lake Forest Hig School in 1999.  Atended Northwestern.  12 albums.

2.  BILLY CORGAN--  Born in Elk Grove Village and grew up in Glendale heights.

3.  CHAKA KHAN--  The Queen of Funk was born Yvette Marie Stevens.  Born and raised in Hyde Park.

4.  EDDIE VEDDER--  Pearl Jam front man and real big Cub fan.  Born in Evanston and lived there ten years.

5.  JEFF TWEEDY--  Wilco frontman.  Born in Belleville, near St. Louis, but hung around Chicago a lot.

Sweet Home Chicago.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  "You're offended when people use the word "brew" to mean beer.

Got Our Green On This Past Weekend

FRIDAY, MARCH 10TH

We went to the American Legion in Fox Lake, Illinois, for the Grant Township Annual Fish Fry.  $10 auce.  The place was packed.  Then went to Sunnyside in Johnsburg and saw the ladies giggle their way through a Sip & Paint activity.

SATURDAY, MARCH 11TH

We went to Lake Villa, Illinois, for their annual St. Patrick's parade, then adjourned to the VFW for corned beef & cabbage dinners, bagpiper, St. Patrick and the country band Xpress Lane.  Then to Sunnyside.

SUNDAY, MARCH 12TH

We went to McHenry, Illinois, for their St. Patrick's parade.  Went to the Gambler before and after the parade.  Saw the Blackhawks game there.  Then over to Corkscrew Pointe and had their sliders.  Then to the PLAV, Polish Legion of American Veterans and lastly back to Sunnyside.

Definitely Got Our Irish On.  --RoadDog

Music Deaths: Dave Yorko and Tommy Page

DAVE YORKO, 73

Died February 17, 2017.

Guitarist with Johnny &the Hurricanes on "Red River Rock" (#5-1959), "Beatnik Fly" (#15-1960) and "Crossfire" (#23-1959).

TOMMY PAGE, 46

Died March 3, 2017.

Had a #1 hit in 1990 with "I'll be Your Everything."  Later, a record company executive and publisher of Billboard Magazine.

JSS: Cold-- Snow-- NIU Women's Basketball-- March Madness Begins

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  COLD--  After all that warmth we had here while we were gone, it sure turned cold this weekend.  Kind of took away from the enjoyment of the St. Patrick's Day parades this past weekend.  It is not supposed to get above freezing before Thursday.

2.  SNOW--  And, we had between 3-4 inches of snow to boot.  Again, why didn't they have this winter stuff here when we were in Florida.

3.  NIU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL--  Sadly, our ladies lost to Toledo in the MAC Conference championship so there will be no NCAA Tournament for them.  Boy, that Toledo sure takes the cake.

4.  MARCH MADNESS BEGINS--  And, speaking of sports.  The best sporting event of the year.  I have my favorites, but won't say who for fear of bad luck.  But, I can tell you that I ALWAYS pull for the underdogs (unless it is Toledo), even if they are playing one of "my" big time teams.

Squeak Those Floors.  --RoadDog

Who Sang It Better? "This Old Heart of Mine"

WNCT, 1070 AM out of Greenviille, North Carolina, Beach, Boogie & Blues, has a voting item.

You can listen to three versions of the song:  Isley Brothers, Rod Stewart and a third one by an Isley brother and Stewart.  However, the one by Rod Stewart by himself is much slower than the one he had a hit with back in the day.

I, of course, voted for the original singers, the Isley Brothers.  Surprisingly, the duo version is winning.

Vote Original.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You go to sleep just so you can wake up and smell the coffee.

Music Deaths: Walter "Junie" Morrison and Peter Skellem

WALTER "JUNIE" MORRISON, 62

Died January 21, 2017.

Keyboardist of the Ohio Players 1970-1974 and musical director of Parliament-Funkadelic 1977-1980.

Co-wrote Ohio Players "Funky Worm" (a real neat song) and Parliament-Funkadelic's "One Nation Under a Groove."

PETER SKELLEM, 69

Died February 17, 2017.

"You're a Lady"  (#50-1972.  Went to #3 in the UK.  Also "Hold On to Love" which went to #14  in the UK.

Music Deaths: Sonny Geraci-- Outsiders and Climax

SONNY GERACI, 69  Died February 5, 2017.

Lead singer of the Outsiders and later of Climax.  The Outsiders had four Top 40s:  "Time Won't Let Me" (#15-1966), "Girl in Love" (#21-1966), "Respectable (#15-1966) and "Help Me Girl" (#37-1966).

The group broke up and Geraci reformed it, but a legal battle took place over the name and he changed it to Climax which had a hit with "Precious and Few" which went to #3 in 1972.

Gettin' Our Green On This Weekend

It's going to be a busy time for us this weekend, even with this cold we're getting.  An early St. Patrick's if you will.

Today, we are going to the Grant Township Annual Fish Fry at the American Legion in Fox Lake.

Tomorrow is the annual St. Patrick's parade in Lake Villa, afterwards to the VFW for corned beef and cabbage and a country band.  On the way home, we'll stop at the Fox Lake FD for some more partying and more corned beef if still hungry.

Sunday, we go to McHenry for their St. Patrick's parade and then hit some local establishments.

Green for the Weekend.  --RoadIrish

WLS Top 40 for March 10, 1967-- Part 7: "Penny Lane'Strawberry Field"

These were the top ten songs in Chicago fifty years ago today.  The number after the performer refers to the highest chart position on the Billboard National Top 100 chart.

10.  LOVE IS HERE--  Supremes   #1  Actual name "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone."
9.  THE BEAT GOES ON--  Sonny & Cher   #6
8.  THEN YOU CAN TELL ME GOODBYE--  Casinos   #6

7.  FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH--  Buffalo Springfield   #7.  Their only Top 40.
6.  RUBY TUESDAY--  Rolling Stones--   #1
5.  BABY, I NEED YOUR LOVIN'--  Johnny Rivers    #3
4.  PENNY LANE / STRAWBERRY FIELD--  Beatles   #1

3.  HAPPY TOGETHER--  Turtles   #1   Their biggest hit.
2.  THERE'S A KIND OF A HUSH--  Herman's Hermits   #4
1.  I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW--  Tommy James & the Shondells   #4

Name That Tune (from the above):  "There's Something Happening here, What It Is Ain't Exactly Clear."  --RoadDog



"For What It's Worth"

WLS Top 40 for March 10, 1967-- Part 6: "Go Where You Wanna Go"

15.  MY CUP RUNNETH OVER WITH LOVE--  Ed Ames   #8   His biggest hit.  he was one of the famous singing group Ames Brothers.

14.  GO WHERE YOU WANNA GO--  Fifth Dimension   #6.  This was their first big hit.

13.  SOCK IT TO ME--  Mitch Ryder   #6  Real name, William Levise, Jr..

12.  DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE--  Mamas & Papas    #2

11.  UP & DOWNS--  Paul revere & the Raiders   #22  From Portland, Oregon.

Name That Tune:  "When I'm Far Away From You, My Baby."  --RoadDog


"Dedicated to the One I Love"

WLS Top 40 Survey for March 10, 1967-- Part 5: ""You Got to Me"

The number after the performer is how high the song got on Billboard's Top 100.

20.  RETURN OF THE RED BARON--  Royal Guardsmen   #15  Novelty pop sextet from Ocala, Florida.  This was their followup to "Snoopy Vs. the Red Baron" which went to #2.

19.  YOU GOT TO ME--  Neil Diamond   #18

18.  DARLIN' BE HOME SOON--  Lovin' Spoonful   #15  Had 7 straight top tens and one #1 until this song.

17.  WESTERN UNION--  5 Americans   #5  Dallas-based rock quintet, their biggest hit.

16.  WALK TALL--  2 of Clubs   #92   Patti Valantine and Linda Parrish.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Things Went Wrong Today, Bad News Came My Way."  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  (As I have my third cup):  You want to be cremated so you can spend the rest of eternity in a coffee can.


"Western Union"

JSS: Ally Lehman-- Windy-- Snow and Cold

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.

1.  ALLY LEHMAN--  We first saw her back in February when we went to DeKalb for NIU's Spring Homecoming and saw both the men and women's basketball teams.  We were quite impressed with the play of a short-haired girl out on the court, Ally Lehman.  She was excellent on the court.

We have since learned that she had all her hair cut off because of a teammate diagnosed with cancer and taking treatments.  We then learned that she is a senior and in ROTC and will be commissioned an officer when she graduates this spring.  Quite a Gal.

2.  WINDY, REALLY, REALLY WINDY--  I have never seen the wind blow as hard as it has the last two days.  A real wind tunnel.

3.  SNOW AND COLD--  The whole time we were in Panama City Beach at the end of last month we kept seeing the temps back home in Spring Grove, Illinois, in the 60s for many of the days.  Now that we are back, it has been nowhere near as nice with it dipping below freezing last weekend and tomorrow and the next day we are forecast for highs of 25 and 29.  And, we had about an inch of snow this morning, which melted very fast, though.

Too bad they couldn't have reversed the weather.

JSS.  --RoadDog

WLS Top 40 for March 10, 1967-- Part 3: "Lawdy Miss Clawdy"

30.  ON A CAROUSEL--  Hollies   #11    From Manchester, England.

29.  MORNING TOWN ROAD--  Seekers   #44   Last of four Top 100s.  Folk-pop quartet.  Their biggest hit was "Georgy Girl" (#2- 1967)

28.  MR. UNRELIABLE--  Cryan Shames   Didn't rank, but this was another example of WLS promoting local Chicago bands.

27.  LAWDY MISS CLAWDY--  Buckinghams   #41.  Thanks WLS.

26.  EPISTLE TO DIPPY--  Donovan   #19  Donovan Phillip Leitch

Name That Tune (from the above):  "Horses Chasing Cause They're Chasing."  --RoadDog


"On a Carousel"

WLS Top 40 for March 10, 1967-- Part 2: "The Hunter Gets Captured By the Game"

35.  DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL--  Al Martino   #42  Had 34 Top 100s.  Born Alfred Cini.

34.  59TH STREET BRIDGE SONG--  Harpers Bizarre   #13  Santa Cruz, California quintet

33.  WHAT A WOMAN IN LOVE WON'T DO--  Sandy Posey   (D)   #31.  From jaspar, AlabamaShe had three #12s:  "Born a Woman," "Single Girl" and "I Take It Back."  The country Girl Group sound.

32.  THE HUNTER GETS CAPTURED BY THE GAME--  Marvelettes   #13.  From Inkster, Michigan.  Had 23 Top 100s.

31.  I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOUR CARES--  Frankie Laine    #39  Born in Chicago as Frank paul LoVecchio.

Name That Tune (from the above):  "Slow Down, You Move Too Fast."  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  Someone says, "How are you?", and you say, "Good to the last drop."



"59th Street Bridge Song"

WLS Top 40 for March 10, 1967-- Part 4: "This Is My Song"

25.  I'VE BEEN LONELY TOO LONG--  Young Rascals   #16   This group was really hot 1966-1968, with three #1s.

24.  THIS IS MY SONG--  Petula Clark    #3  From Epsom, England.  Born Nov. 15, 1932.

23.  ARE YOU THE KIND--  Flock   Did not rank.  WLS backing another local Chicago band.  A grteat little, short (1:55) pop song complete with a jangling guitar.

22.  NO FAIR AT ALL--  Association    #50   Group formed in Los Angeles in 1965.

21.  MAIRZY DOATS--  Innocence    #75  This group also recorded as the Tradewinds.

Name That Tune (from above):  "AS I Look Back, I Can See Me Lost and Searching."  --RoadDog


"I've Been Lonely Too Long"

WLS Top 40 for March 10, 1967-- Part 1: "Hippy Dippy Weatherman"

These are the Top 40 songs as played on Chicago's famous WLS, 890 AM radio station fifty years ago.

(D) refers to a debut song.  The number after the performer is the top position reached on the Billboard national Top 100.

40.  LADY--  Jack Jones (D)  #39    If you like Frank Sinatra, you'll like him.  Had 20 Top 100s 1962-1968. His biggest hit was "Wives and Lovers" (#14-1963).

39.  ONE MORE MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB--  Ronnie Dove (D)  #45  Born in 1940 in Virginia.

38.  CALIFORNIA NIGHTS--  Lesley Gore  (D)  #16  Her last top 40.  Born New York City in 1946.

37.  HIPPY DIPPY WEATHERMAN--  George Carlin  (D)   Did not rank.  Mighty funny guy.

36.  DETROIT CITY--  Tom Jones   (D)  #27   Had 30 Top 100s.  The pride and joy of New South Wales.

Name That Tune (from the above):    "Along The Sand, Let's Walk the Shore Together."  --RoadDog


"California Nights"

Back Home Again

Well, its the weekend, what to do when you're back from the beach.

It's good to be home, even though the weather this past weekend was nowhere near as good as it was when we were gone these past 15 days.  Weather around Spring Grove, Illinois, was in the 60s much of the time.  Not so now/  It it 40s.

FRIDAY, MARCH 3RD

We went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, and Sunnyside Tap in Johnsburg, Illinois.

SATURDAY, MARCH 4TH

We saw one of our favorite bands, The Three Aces, play at the Fox Lake, Illinois, American Legion from 3-6 p.m..  Sure love these afternoon bands.

SUNDAY, MARCH 5TH

We went to Hickory Lodge in McCullom Lake, Illinois, for their $5 pizza special and $5 pitchers.  Then to Sunnyside.

Bands in the Afternoon.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  Instant coffee takes too long.

Recordings Inducted Into the Grammy Hall of Fame: "The Wanderer"

Twenty-five recordings were inducted as the Class of 2017 into the Grammy Hall of Fame on November 29, 2016.

They include"

JAILHOUSE ROCK--  Elvis Presley
I GET AROUND--  Beach Boys
YOU DON'T OWN ME--  Leslie Gore

WAKE UP LITTLE SUSIE--  Everly Brothers
THE WANDERER--  Dion
I GOT YOU BABE--  Sonny & Cher

MAGGIE MAE--  Rod Stewart
THANK YOU FALLETINME BE MICE ELF AGIN--  Sly & the Family Stone
SMOKE ON THE WATER--  Deep Purple

CHANGES--  David Bowie
ABC--  Jackson Five
CITY OF NEW ORLEANS--  Arlo Guthrie

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE THEME--  Lala Schiffrim

There are 1.038 songs in the Grammy Hall of Fame.  All songs inducted into it have to be at least 25 years old.

Name That Tune (from the above): "It's Late September and I Really Should Be Back in School."  --RoadDog


"Maggie Mae"

2017 Movie Scratches: Dog's-- Fences-- Lion-- Space

Movie Scratches--  A Dog's-eye View of the movies showing at theaters.

13.  A DOG'S PURPOSE--  2-2--  Woodstock, $5--  It made you laugh.  It made you cry.  A dog's eye view of reincarnation.

14.  FENCES--  2-7--  Round Lake Beach, $6--  Another Best Picture nominee.  I had earlier thought that "Hidden Figures" should get Best Picture, but not now.  If "La La Land" gets it, I'll join the blacks in their protest.  By far the best movie I've seen in a long while.

15.  LION--  2-8--  Fox Lake, $5--  Another nominee.  A lost Indian child gets lucky, gets adopted by Australian parents and then goes in search of his "lost" family.

16.  THE SPACE BETWEEN US--  2-10--  Fox Lake, $6--  A REAL long-distance love affair.

I Wish It Was Easier to See Movies Getting Nominated for Best Picture.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN: Your life's goal is to "amount to a hill of beans."

Music Deaths: John Wetton Member of Asia

JOHN WETTON, 67.  Died January 31, 2017.

Lead singer of Asia.  Performed with King Crimson in 1972.  Also a member of Roxy Music, Uriah Heep and Wishbone Arkansas.

His group Asia was made up of members of Yes, Buggles and ELP.

"Heat of the Moment" (#4-1982)
"Only Time Will Tell" (#17-1982)
"Don't Cry"  (#10-1983)

Music Deaths: "Joey Powers" and Bobby Freeman

JOSEPH "JOEY POWERS" RUGGIERO, 82

Sang "Midnight Mary" (#10-1964)

ROBERT THOMAS "BOBBY" FREEMAN, 76.  Died January 28, 2017

Wrote and sang "Do You Want to Dance"  (#5-1958)  From San Francisco.  Also sang "Betty Lou Got a New Pair of Shoes"  (#37-1958)  Also had "C'Mon and Swim" (#5-1964) produced by Sly Stone.

Living In Today's World: Nobody Important On THAT Phone

From the January 6, 2017 Family Circus comic strip.

The father has called his son saying he has a phone call.  The little son is walking into the room where his dad is holding the receiver of a landline telephone out to him.  Son:  ""It can't be anybody important if it's on that phone."

Laughed So Hard I Cried.  --RoadDog

WXRT Goes to 1975 for Flashback

Chicago's WXRT is going back to the year 1975 on its Saturday Morning Flashback right now.  The show goes from 8 a.m. to noon, CST.  It also streams at www.wxrt.com.

Take a trip back 42 years with lots of great songs and memories.

So far they have played:

FAME--  David Bowie
LOVE IS A ROSE--  Linda Ronstadt

SLIP KID--  Who
ROCK SHOW--  Paul McCartney

--RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You're so wired, you pick up FM radio all by yourself.

WLS Top Ten for March 3, 1967: ""There's a Kind of a Hush"

1.  I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW--  Tommy James & Shondells
2.  THERE'S A KIND OF A HUSH--  Herman's Hermits
3.  RUBY TUESDAY--  Rolling Stones

4.  HAPPY TOGETHER--  Turtles
5.  THE BEAT GOES ON--  Sonny & Cher
6.  GEORGY GIRL--  Seekers
7.  PUSHIN' TOO HARD--  Seeds

8.  FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH--  Buffalo Springfield
9.  THEN YOU CAN TELL ME GOODBYE--  Casinos
10.  SOCK IT TO ME BABY--  Mitch Ryder

Name That Tune (from the above):  "There's Something Happening Here, What It Is Ain't Exactly Clear." (Answer below) --RoadDog


"For What It's Worth"

Music Deaths: Richie Ingul and Pete "Overend" Watts

RICHIE INGUL  Died January 13, 2017.

One of the vocalists in the Soul Survivors  "Expressway to Your Heart" (#4-1967)


PETE "OVEREND" WATTS, 69.  Died January 22, 2017.

Bassist with Mott the Hoople, glam rock group.  "All the Young Dudes" (#37-1972)  Produced by David Bowie.

Songwriters Hall of Fame Announces 2016 Nominees

P.F. SLOAN & STEVE BARRY: "Eve of Destruction," "A Must to Avoid" and "You Baby."

KENNY NOLAN:  "I Like Dreamin'", "Lady Marmalade" and "My Eyes Adored You."

DAN PENN & SPOONER:  "Cry Like a Baby" and "I'm Your Puppet."

MICKEY STEVENSON:  "Dancin' In the Street," "It Takes Two" and  "Devil With a Blue Dress On."

ALLEE WILLIS:  "September," "Boogie Wonderland" and "Neutron Dance"

OTHER NOMINEES:

Peter Cetera, Robert Lamm and James Pankow of Chicago
David Gates of Bread
Cat Stevens
Jeff Lynne of ELO
Sly Stone
Robert "Kool" Bell, Ronald Bell and George Brown of Kool & the Gang
Madonna
George Michael
Four others

They will be inducted June 2017 in New York City.

--RoadDog

Living In Today's World: Relics From a By-Gone Age

From the January 7, 2017, Dustin comic strip.

1.  Dustin's younger sister is in a calendar store and says to the clerk:  "I'd like to return this calendar I got for Christmas, please."  Clerk replies:  "Of course."

2.  Sister:  "I'll never use it.  Paper calendars are like pencils or stationery.  They're relics from a bygone age."
Clerk:  "We can give you store credit."

3.  Sister:  "What am I going to do with credit at the calendar store?"  Clerk:  "We also sell paper and pencils."

Gotcha.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  The Starbucks owns the mortgage to your house.

2017 Movie Scratches: Rogue-- Arrival-- Manchester-- Groundhog

Movie Scratches--  Movies I have seen at the theater in 2017.  A Dog's-eye view.

9.  ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY--  1-26--  Fox Lake, $6--  The kind of movie you really need to see on the big screen twice.  Especially now that I know it is a throw-back story and not the next one in the sequels.

10.  ARRIVAL--  1-31--  Round Lake Beach, $6--  Now I am trying to catch up on all the nominees for Academy Award Best Picture.  I'd only seen one before this.  It's all in the way that you say it.

11.  MANCHESTER  BY THE SEA--  1-31--  Round Lake Beach, $6--  Another Best Picture nominee.  A man battling his own personal demons.  Good movie, but way too much swearing and confusing flashbacks.

12.  GROUNDHOG DAY--  2-2--  Woodstock, Free--  What better way to celebrate Groundhog Day than seeing this movie on the big screen at the theater that appeared in the movie.  And, for FREE!

Catching Up On the Nominees.  --RoadDog

Living In Today's World: About Those Little Gas Company Flags

From the February 9, 2017, Speed Bump comic strip.

Two ladies are standing in a cemetery over a recently dug grave which has small red flags flying all around the edges.  One turns to the other and says:  "He worked his whole life for the gas company."

I wonder who sells those little flags.  They must make a fortune on them.  You see them all over the place.

--RoadDog