WLS Top Ten for June 30, 1967: "Come On Down to My Boat"

That's Right, 50 Years Ago.  If you remember these when they came out, somebody's gettin' old, don't you know.

1.  WINDY--  Association
2.  LITTLE BIT OF SOUL--  Music Explosion
3.  CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU--  Frankie Valli

4.  LET'S LIVE FOR TODAY--  Grassroots
5.  COME ON DOWN TO MY BOAT--  Every Mother's Son
6.  UP, UP AND AWAY--  5th Dimension
7.  SAN FRANCISCO, WEAR FLOWERS IN YOUR HAIR--  Scott McKenzie

8.  SHE'D RATHER BE WITH ME--  Turtles
9.  STEP OUT OF YOUR MIND--  American Breed
10.  LITTLE BIT SLOWER--  Jon & Robin

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "You're Just Too Good To Be True."  (Answer below.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  Charles Manson thinks you need to calm down.

"Can't Take My Eyes Off You"

"Na Na, Hey, Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)" Gary DeCarlo Dies

This morning i was listening to Mary Dixon do the news on WXRT's Morning Show with Lin Brehmer and she said that Gary DeCarlo had died.  He was the man who sang "Na Na, Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)" the song so connected with the Chicago White Sox originally and now all over the place in sports stadiums and arenas.

It didn't do too bad when it was released as well, going to #1 in 1969.

In 1976, Sox organist Nancy Faust started playing it whenever the other team put in a relief pitcher and it really caught on.  Even Lin Brehmer, Super Super Cubs Fan that he is, played the song right after the news.

Thanks Mr. DeCarlo and Nancy.  --RoadDog

About Last Weekend-- Part 2: About That Porch and Those Flowers

FRIDAY, JUNE 23RD

Most every morning I spend time sitting out on the front porch (FP) and have coffee and breakfast.  Love listening to the birdies, looking at the yard and sort of being a neighborhood watch.  I then go on the internet and do these blogs.  This morning I had one of those great Aunt Jemima sausage scrambles that I
"doctor" with extra onions and shredded cheese as well as Frank's Red Hot Sauce.

I went to our local grocery store, Jewel, and found they were selling all remaining plants for 75% off, a real good deal.  Most of their stuff was pretty well picked over, but I did find some good items.  I love this time of the season as stores are getting rid of their flowers for big discounts.  I stock up, but not that I need to.  I have more than enough plants but just can't help myself.

I went to McHenry and went to Wal-Mart, Meijer and Home Depot looking at flowers, but they did not have any on sale yet.  Had that new Steak 'N Shake Royale burger with the fried egg on it.  That is quite good.

Came home and did some yardwork and then went to Sunnyside Tap and the Legion and met up with the Usual Suspects.  Came home and enjoyed the Ultimate Jukebox in Margaritaville, our downstairs bar.

--RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You walk twenty miles on your treadmill before you realize it's not plugged in.

About Last Weekend-- Part 1: A Crown Pain, Hot Dog, Flowers and Suds

THURSDAY, JUNE 23

I had the joy of getting some dental crown (lots of drilling (one of my least favorite things to hear in a dentist office, especially when it is on me) work done in Round Lake Beach.  Thank goodness Dr. Bennett does all the work himself and it did not hurt as much as it might.

Afterwards, I went to Scotty's  Hot Dogs on Cedar Lake Road which has been there since 1966 and had one of their hot dog meals and ate out back at the picnic table.  Scotty's is a RLB institution, bona fide hot dog stand.  I hadn't been to it, though, for many years.

I then went to Ace Hardware in Round Lake, which at one time was billed as the world's largest Ace Hardware and might still hold the distinction. They were selling flats of flowers (48) for $4 as they get rid of supplies.  I bought a flat, of course.

Came home, did some planting, cut the grass then went to Sunnyside Tap in Johnsburg for their $1.25 pints.

--RoadDog

Non Power 5 Conference NFL Draftees-- Part 3: South Florida to Buffalo

South Florida--  three-- 4th, 5th, 6th
Albany (Georgia)--  one--  4th
Kutztown--  one--  5th
Wyoming--  one--  5th

Boise State--  two--  5th and 6th
Utah State--  one--  7th
San Diego--  one--  5th
Drake--  one--  5th

West Georgia--  two--  5th and 6th
Georgia Southern--  two--  5th and 6th
Louisiana Lafayette--  one--  6th
Tulane--  one--  6th

Coastal Carolina--  one--  6th
Chattanooga--  one-- 6th
Eastern Michigan--  one--  7th
Buffalo--  one--  7th

So What If You're Not Power Five.  --RoadDog

Non-Power Conference NFL Draftees-- Part 2: Youngstown Sate to South Dakota State

Continued from June20th.

School, number drafted and rounds drafted in.

Youngstown State--  two--  3rd and fifth rounds
Troy--  one--  3rd round
Toledo--  three--  3rd, 4th and 7th rounds
Central Florida--  one--  3rd

Northern Illinois--  one--  3rd
Grambling State--  one--  3rd
Florida International-- one--  3rd
Lamar--  one--  3rd

Florida Atlantic--  one-- 3rd
Alabama State--  One-- 7th
Bucknell-- one--  4th
South Dakota State--  two-- 4th and 5th

You Don't have To Go To a Power 5 Conference To Get Noticed.  --RoadDog


YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You don't need a hammer to pound in nails.

Goodbye WXRT's Wendy Rice and Her Saturday Morning Flashback

Sad to hear this morning that Wendy Rice is doing her last WXRT, 93.1 FM Saturday Morning Flashback show from 8 to noon CDST.  It streams on www.wxrt.com.

I have listened to (and recorded on cassette tape) this show for many years.  I sure will miss her on Saturday mornings.  But the show will continue, but in a three-hour format.

She is doing a lot of interesting stuff about her time at WXRT, starting when she was an unpaid intern at the station back in 1978 and she started getting paid in 1982.

That is one thing about XRT, their deejays stay around for a long time.  none of that here today, gone tomorrow for them.

Anyway, Wendy, Thanks for All Those Great Saturdays.  --RoadDog

Movie Scratches: Style-- China-- Promise-- Z

Movie Scratches:  A Dog's Eye View of Today's Movies.  These are movies I have seen recently in the theaters.

29.  GOING IN STYLE--  4-27--  Fox Lake, $6--  Getting even with the bank and their company with a late-life, short-lived crime spree.  Sure hope there's a GIS II.  This was funny.

30.  BORN IN CHINA--  4-27--  Fox Lake, $6--  China's animals and their families.  Gorgeous scenery and how did they ever get those shots?

31.  THE PROMISE--  5-2--  Round Lake Beach, $6--  The Holocaust of the Armenians in Turkey during World War I.  I'm hoping this one gets a Best Picture nomination.  It was that good.

32.  THE LOST CITY OF Z--  5-2--  Round Lake Beach, $6--  If at first you don't find it, look and look again  And, World War I also.

I have seen several movies with World War I as a theme of late.  Must be the fact that we are in the centennial of America's entry into it.

Hard to Beat Those $1 Nathan's Hotdogs at Regal Cinemas in Round Lake Beach on Tuesdays.  --RoadDog

Music Deaths: Gregg Allman: Allman Brothers Band

GREGG ALLMAN, 69

Died May 27, 2017.

Born in Nashville.  Raised Daytona Beach, Florida.  He and brother Duane Allman formed a group originally called Allman Joys and later Hour Glass.  In 1969 they signed with Capricorn Records as the Allman Brothers Band.

Their live recording at Fillmore East is what their name out there.  Duane was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1971 and Gregg continued on.

They were extremely popular, but never had many top 40s.  Their biggest hit was "Ramblin' Man" (#2-1973), another great traveling song.  I also really liked their "One Way Out" #86-1972)  Gregg's biggest solo hit was also one of my favorites "I'm No Angel"  (#49-1987).  It always makes me remember Las Vegas.

He sure had that great gravelly voice perfect for Southern Rock and Blues.

I am a big fan.  Ya Gotta Love That Country Rock.

Music Deaths: Michael Parks: "Then Came Bronson"

MICHAEL PARKS, 77

Died May 9, 2017

Starred as Jim Bronson on the 1969-1970 NBC TV show "Then Came Bronson."

He had a #20 hit in 1970 with the show's theme song "Long Lonesome Highway" and a great song for cruising down the road.

WLS Top Ten for June 23, 1967: "Let's Live for Today"

All of these WLS Surveys are taken from the Oldies Loon site.

1.  WINDY--  Association
2.  LITTLE BIT OF SOUL--  Music Explosion
3.  CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU--  Frankie Valli

4.  SHE'D RATHER BE WITH ME--  Turtles
5.  GROOVIN'--  Young Rascals
6.  UP, UP AND AWAY--  5th Dimension
7.  LET'S LIVE FOR TODAY--  Grassroots

8.  COME ON DOWN TO MY BOAT--  Every Mother's Son
9.  I'LL PAY YOU BACK WITH INTEREST--  Hollies
10.  SAN FRANCISCO, WEAR SOME FLOWER IN YOUR HAIR--  Scott McKenzie

Name That Tune (From the Above Songs):  "You're Gonna Meet Some Gentle People There."  Answer Below.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You forget to  unwrap candy bars before eating them.

"San Francisco (Be Sure To wear Flowers In Your Hair)"

Music Deaths: Cuba Gooding, Sr.: "Everybody Plays the Fool"

CUBA GOODING, SR., 72.

Died April 20, 2017.

Actor and singer in the Main Ingredient on "Everybody Plays the Fool"  (#3-1972) and "Just Don't want to be Lonely"  (#10-1974.

Also father of actor Cuba Gooding, Jr.

That "Everybody Plays the Fool" is one of my all-time favorite R&B songs.

Welcome Summer 2017 (Officially): Summer Songs

Yesterday, Bob Stroud on Chicago's Classic Rock Station WDRV, 93.1 FM, the Drive, got a jump on Summer 2017 on his Ten at Ten show.  He said that summer officially arrives here in the Chicagoland area at 11:27 (or was it 11:47 p.m).

Here are ten tunes to get you ready for summer.  Can you guess the performers (answers below)?

1.  SUMMER IN THE CITY--
2.  SUMMER OF '69--
3.  HOT BLOODED--

4.  IN THE SUMMERTIME--    My favorite all-time summer song.
5.  HOT GIRLS IN LOVE--
6.  SUMMERTIME BLUES--
7.  SUMMER BREEZE--

8.  HEAT OF THE MOMENT--
9.  HERE COMES THE SUN--
10.  BOYS OF SUMMER--

And, I sure love these early daylights and late sunsets.  Sadly, we start losing them now.  And, then those festivals.  Waucondafest is this weekend from Thursday to Sunday.

Bob Stroud also does a Summer salute on the first Sunday of Summer on his Rock and Roll Roots Show on the Drive.  Three hours guaranteed to get you in the mood.

Name That Tune (From Above Songs):  "I Got My First Real Six-String, Bought It At the Five-And-Dime."  Answer Below.  --RoadDog

1.  Lovin' Spoonful  2.  Bryan Adams  3.  Foreigner  4.  Mungo Jerry  5.  Lover Boy  6.  Who  7.  Seals & Crofts  8.  Asia  9.  Beatles  10.  Don Henley



"Summer of '69"

Going Back to 1968-- Part 2: "Monterrey"

WATERLOO SUNSET--  Kinks
DO IT AGAIN--  Beach Boys
HELLO, I LOVE YOU--  Doors   This song always reminds me of going out to Honey Hill in Wauconda, Illinois, for an afternoon of swimming and fun in Bangs Lake.

GOIN' BACK--  Byrds
I CAN'T QUIT HER--  Blood, Sweat & Tears
MONTERREY--  Animals

I GOT THE FEELIN'--  James Brown   The "Godfather of Soul"
SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL--  Rolling Stones
LIVIN' IN THE USA--  Steve Miller band   His first big hit.  He sang it at the Indy 500 Carb Fest several weeks ago.  Time has not been good to his voice on this one, but he was right on in all the other songs.

BLACK MAGIC WOMAN--  Fleetwood Mac
I THANK YOU--  Sam and Dave   When you say soul, they sure come to mind.
WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS--  Beatles

Name That Tune (From the Above Songs):  "She's Walking Down the Street, Blind To Every She Meets."  Answer Below.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You go to AA meetings just for the free coffee.


"Hello, I Love You"

Many Non-Power 5 Conference Players Drafted-- Part 1: Western Michigan to East Central

Looking through the first seven rounds of NFL draft choices, i couldn't help but notice there were a lot of players drafted from non-Power 5 conferences.  The Chicago Bears picked three of them with their five picks, as I have already mentioned.

School  totals and round for the non-Power 5 Conference players:

WESTERN MICHIGAN--  3  Rounds 1, 2 and 7
WESTERN KENTUCKY--  2  Rounds 2 and 3
SOUTH ALABAMA--  1  Round 2

ASHLAND--  1 Round 2
VILLANOVA--  2 Rounds 2 and 7
CHARLOTTE--  1  Round 3

EAST WASHINGTON--  2  Rounds 3 and 4
LOUISIANA TECH--  3  Rounds 3, 5 and 6
EAST CENTRAL--  1 Round 7

And There Are More to Come.  --RoadDog

"There's A Snow Shovel In Your Boat"

Not words you'd expect to hear from your boat mechanic.  Really.

But, that was what my boat mechanic Mike said when I went over to Lupo's Marina off Bluff Lake in the Chain of Lakes in Illinois on Saturday to pick up my boat.

And, there was a snow shovel in the boat.  I had taken the boat home from winter storage in Hebron at the end of April and then we had a really, really rainy May.   Water kept accumulating on the mooring cover and I had to put some snow shovels into the boat to hold up the cover.

But, with our weather, you never know when you'll need those snow shovels.

Just About In the Water Now.  --RoadDog

Going Back to 1968-- Part 1: "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay"

Wendy Rice took us back to 1968 on her Saturday Morning Flashback Show on Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM.  Not only does she play those great songs, but there are lots of bits of information.  It's a real trip back.

1968 was a high school year for me, junior-senior year and that surprise winning football season for the Palatine Pirates, 7-2.

REVOLUTION--  Beatles
ITCHYCOO PARK--  Small Faces
ON THE WAY HOME--  Buffalo Springfield

BEND ME, SHAPE ME--  American Breed  (A Chicago band)
CLOUD NINE--  Temptations
THE WEIGHT--  Band   (Still one of my all-time favorites.)

JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE MIND--  Amboy Dukes   (Ted Nugent's group)
FRESH GARBAGE--  Spirit
(SITTIN' ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY--  Otis Redding  (Does Soul and R&B get any better?)

GREEN TAMBOURINE--  Lemon Pipers   (As hippy as it gets.)
STONED SOUL PICNIC--  Laura Nyro
MONY MONY--  Tommy James & the Shondells

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I Pulled Into Nazareth, Was Feeling 'Bout Half Past Dead."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You've worn out the handle on your favorite mug.


"The Weight"

WLS Top Ten for June 16, 1967: "Up, Up and Away"

That's right, 50 Years Ago, when I was a mere lad of 16.

1.  WINDY--  Association
2.  LITTLE BIT OF SOUL--  Music Explosion
3.  GROOVIN'--  Young Rascals

4.  SHE'D RATHER BE WITH ME--  Turtles
5.  UP, UP AND AWAY--  Fifth Dimension
6.  SOMEBODY TO LOVE--  Jefferson Airplane
7.  I GOT RHYTHM--  Happenings

8.  LET'S LIVE FOR TODAY--  Grassroots
9.  CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU--  Frankie Valli
10.  I'LL PAY YOU BACK WITH INTEREST--  Hollies

Name That Tune (From Above Songs):  "When I Think Of All The Worries That People Seem To Find."   Answer Below.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You can type sixty words a minute with your feet.

"Let's Live For Today"

Kickin' Off Our Summer '17-- Part 6: Of Boats, Classic Cars, Movies and the Civil War

JUNE 12, MONDAY

As we really get into a hot hot hot stretch.  Hey, it's summer.  Took the boat over to the marina to be summerized so we're one step closer to that aspect of out summer here on the Chain of Lakes.  Bought flowers at$8 a flat at Ace in Antioch (another summer thing)  and these included tall snapdragons (my favorite and something most places don't sell).

Back home it was trimming and yardwork  Then I went to the Green Street Cruise-In in McHenry which happens most every Monday during the summer to into September.  Tonight was Corvettes and there were probably sixty there.  Stopped back at Sunnyside Tap for $1.25 drafts.

JUNE 13--  TUESDAY

Did some yardwork and then went to Woodstock and saw the movie "Wonder Woman," met up with some Civil War buffs at Three Brothers restaurant  and then went to the McHenry Civil War Round Table meeting at the Woodstock Library and heard a talk on the five Confederate attempts to capture Nashville, Tennessee.

Why Go Anywhere Else?  --RoadDog

Birthday Salute to Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney turns 75 Sunday, June 18.  I can remember him as a fresh-faced young man back in 1964.  Reckon we're all getting older.

Bob Stroud did his Ten at Ten show on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM yesterday, June 16, on Paul McCartney songs.

UNCLE ALBERT/ADMIRAL HALSEY
SILLY LOVE SONGS
LIVE AND LET DIE

GOODNIGHT TONIGHT
MAYBE I'M AMAZED
GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE
BIRTHDAY

LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAN SAID
JET
YESTERDAY

WDRV will be doing the Beatles A to Z tomorrow, June 18 and Terri Hemmert will be devoting her Breakfast With the Beatles show on WXRT tomorrow to Paul from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m..  Both stations stream.

--RoadDog

Going Back to 1968 On Chicago's WXRT Today

Today, Saturday June 17th, Wendy Rice will  be going back to 1968 for four hours between 8 a.m. and noon CDST on Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM.

Lots of songs and information about that great year, which was my junior/senior year at Palatine High School in Palatine, Illinois.

And, it streams at www.wxrt.com for those of you out of the Chicago area.

--RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN: You're so jittery that people use your hands to blend their margaritas.

Paul McCartney Turns 75

It has been 11 years since he was 64 and sang about that birthday.

Paul McCartney was born June 18, 1942.

A little while ago, Bob Stroud did his Ten at Ten on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, The Drive, on Paul McCartney songs.  He will do it again at 10 p.m. CDST.  It streams at www.wdrv.com.

This Sunday, the actual birthday, WDRV will be doing the Beatles A to Z.  Nothing but alphabetical Beatles songs until they run out of them.

Sunday, of course, Terri Hemmert on Chicago'sWXRT, 93.1 FM, will be playing nothing but Paul McCartney songs on her Breakfast With the Beatles show from 8 to 10 a.m. CDST.  It streams as well.

Are we really getting that old?

Of course, Liz and I will be driving Route 66 this fall from one end to the other as we are now both 66.  Paul McCartney did that as well when he turned 66.

If It Was Good Enough for Paul, It Is Good Enough For Me.  --RoadDog

Remembering Neptune's Cove On the Chain of Lakes In the 1980s

NEPTUNE'S COVE

Last night we went over to Half-Times in Johnsburg, Illinois, to see their new addition.  We sat next to a couple and in talking, they mentioned that they used to hang out at the old Neptune's Cove on Fox Lake.

I immediately chimed in that I used to deejay there for John and Anne and did so for several years.  It was one of the original places where I started deejaying with my own equipment and we had some great times there.

I had gone in to talk with the new owners about deejaying as we used to go there often to see the country band Choyce.  I got the job.  I remember I had to build swings to put my turntables on as when people were out on the dance floor it caused a lot of needle skipping.

The remembered me being there.  They had met there and became king and queen one time of Neptune's in a contest, fell in love and have been married ever since.

Neptune's Cove became a popular 50s-60s place after Neptune's called Jukebox Saturday Night.  That closed and the place was torn down.

She is the sister of Pete and Tilly, who were the parents of Anne.  I  knew them well.  Pete and Tilly now live in Florida and Anne and John live in Dallas.

Old Times.  --RoadDog

40th Anniversary of the Summer of '77-- Part 3: "Give A Little Bit"

I KNEW THE BRIDE WHEN SHE USED TO ROCK AND ROLL--  Dave Edmunds    (I sure played the Nick Lowe version a lot when I was deejaying.  Somehow, really worked at weddings.)
GIVE A LITTLE BIT--  Supertramp
THE WHISTLER--  Jethro Tull

FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME--  Foreigner
DREAMS--  Fleetwood Mac
JUKEBOX MUSIC--  Kinks    (I've been listening to their 70s albums a lot of late as my local record store, the Vinyl Frontier in McHenry, Illinois, got someone's entire Kinks collection, much of it now in my vaults.)

COULDN'T GET IT RIGHT--  Climax Blues Band
WOULDN'T WANT TO BE LIKE YOU--  Alan Parsons Project
TAX MAN, MR. THIEF--  Cheap Trick

LIDO SHUFFLE--  Boz Skaggs
LIGHTS OUT--  UFO
JET AIRLINER--  Steve Miller Band    (I just saw him three weeks ago.  Still going strong at age 73.)

DO I--  J. Geils Band      (One of my all-time favorites.  Try to listen to it and not start moving.)
ARIELLE--  Dean Friedman
SIR DUKE--  Stevie Wonder   #1 Song in Chicago June 11, 1977.

And remember, Stroud will do this three more times on his Sunday Rock and Roll Roots show this summer.  I'll list the songs here, but even better to listen to them and be taken back... way back.

Name That Tune From the Above Songs):  "Leavin' Home, Out On The Road I've Been Down Before."  Answer Below.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You buy 1/2 and 1/2 by the barrel.


"Jet Airliner"

Kickin' Off Our Summer 2017-- Part 5: Summer 1977, Steak 'N Shake, Sunnyside, Margaritaville

SUNDAY, JUNE 11

How about kickin' off our Summer 2017 with a trip back to Summer 1977, 40 years ago.

Bob Stroud did his annual Rock and Roll Roots trip back to summer 40 years ago on WDRV 97.1 FM.  That was a fun three hours.  He'll also being doing three more parts to it in July, August and September.

We went to Steak 'N Shake to eat lunch and then to Sunnyside Tap in Johnsburg where we had fun talking with friends and watching the Cubs win.  We had also planned to go back to Captain's Quarters for the afternoon band, but didn't make it.

Came home and enjoyed Margaritaville, the bar in our basement and the Ultimate Jukebox as well as the Penguins winning the Stanley Cup by beating the Predators.

--RoadDog

Summer 1977, 40th Anniversary-- 2: "Life In the Fast Lane"

These are the songs in your album collection and on your radio back on June 11, 1977.

RICH GIRL--  Hall & Oates
TIME LOVES A HERO--Little Feat
SO INTO YOU--  Atlanta Rhythm Section

SOUND AND VISION--  David Bowie
LIFE IN THE FAST LANE--  Eagles
LEGEND OF A MIND--  Moody Blues  (From a live album released in 1977)

LONELY BOY--  Andrew Gold
I'M IN YOU--  Peter Frampton
(REMEMBER THE DAYS OF THE) OLD SCHOOL YARD--  Cat Stevens

HEARD IT IN A LOVE SONG--  Marshall Tucker Band   (You've got to love that Southern Rock sound.)
LET IT GO, LET IT FLOW--  Dave Mason
PEACE OF MIND--  Boston   (When this group came out with their first album, I told my students they were going to be big.  They were thinking how can that old fogey (I was 26) know about Rock and Roll.)

Name That Tune (from the Above Songs):  "I Ain't Ever been With A Woman Long Enough."  Answer Below.  --RoadDog



"Heard It In A Love Song"

It's Flag Day, Is Yours Up?

June 14th, became Flag Day declared by President Harry Truman in 1949.

Most years I remember it.

This morning I put up my flags.  I have one on the deck, the garage, the mailbox and a Bennington 76 flag hanging off the roof of the front porch.

That is my oldest flag as I bought it back during the nation's Bicentennial in 1976, 41 years ago.

I am writing about the U.S. flag right now in my Cooter's History Thing Blog.

Hoist Your Flag.  --RoadDog

Summer 1977, 40th Anniversary-- 1: "Main Street"

Every summer, Bob Stroud on his Rock and Roll Roots show on Chicago's WDRV, goes back 40 years to that long-ago summer.  I mean L-O-N-G  AGO year.  He does it in four parts in June, July, August and September.  He started the first part Sunday, June 11.

As he says it, these are "Albums in your collection, songs on your radio."

So, let's set the Way-Back Machine to June 11, 1977.

THE THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE--  10CC
SOLSBURY HILL--  Peter Gabriel
MAIN STREET--  Bob Seger

LOVE ALIVE--  Heart
MARGARITAVILLE--  Jimmy Buffett    (It wasn't until the 80s that I started getting into J.B..  But then I really did.  I have most every album and CD of his.  The perfect sound for boating.)
INDIAN SUMMER--  Poco

Name That Tune (From the Above Songs):  "Nibblin' On Sponge Cake, Watchin' The Sun Bake."  --Answer Below.  --RoadDog


"Margaritaville"  Well... it IS summer, you know.  The perfect summer song and the name of my downstairs bar here at Key North.

Kickin' Off Our Summer 2017-- Part 4: Yard Work, Boat, Captain's

SATURDAY, JUNE 10

Few things finer than sitting FP  (Front Porch) in the morning and having coffee and breakfast.  I get as many of these days in as possible over the summer and fall (even spring on those rare days you can sit out there comfortably).

Lots of yardwork (still trimming bushes) and I went over to Rick's and paid him money for this season's pier space on a channel going to Fox Lake and then we went to Menard's and Home Depot where I bought four more hostas (now 12 of them since yesterday).

Decided this would be a great time to go to Captain's Quarters and officially kick off our summer in the Chain of Lakes area.  This has been a tradition of ours for many years.  We  used to go there quite often over the summer as they have bands from 7 to 11 p.m., on Saturdays and Sunday afternoons from 3 to 7.  Nothing like a great band (and they have real good bands) on an early evening or Sunday afternoon, drinking ice cold beer and enjoying the whole thing.

However, the place has gotten so popular and crowded, we don't go as often.

We even were able to get seats at the bar (almost impossible) and enjoyed the great soul music of R Gang, who played the R&B Soul classics from the 60s-80s.

It Must be Summer Now.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  Your only source of nutrition comes from "Sweet & Low."

JSS: Hostas- Trimming-- Boat Off the Driveway-- Other Flowers

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  HOSTAS--  Between Friday and Sunday this past weekend, I bought 12 hostas.  Everyone was selling them for $4 a gallon pot, much cheaper than usual (about half).  Hostas have become my go-to plant.  They are little up keep and put on a great display of color and then even gets those blue flowers.  I look for a variety of tall, medium and small as well as leaf colors.

2.  TRIMMING--  My least favorite job in the yard.  That really takes it out of me.  And, i planted way too many yews and junipers.  Thankfully, I generally only have to do it once a season.

3.  BOAT OFF THE DRIVEWAY--  Finally got the boat over to the marina to get it ready for the boating season.  Between all the rain and cool days of May as well as being gone much of the last two weeks, we are finally "almost" in the water.

4.  OTHER FLOWERS--  In addition to all the hostas, I also bought six dianthus, nine geraniums and two flats of annuals.  I Got Some Planting To Do!!!

Just Some Stuff.  --RoadDog

Kickin' Off Our Summer 2017-- Part 3: Day-After-Party, Another Tradition

FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 2017

I went on a hosta buying spree in McHenry.  I bought of them at Wal-Mart and Home Depot.  Home Depot was selling their hostas for $4 in a gallon container.  I also bought 6 dianthus.  I am a big yard person.  Came home and watered the yard (as we have a bit of a drought going on after all the rain we had the last two months).

We then went back over to Kevin and Kelly's place on Fox Lake and sat out by the gazebo and had a mission to finish off the keg from yesterday.  We all enjoy this Day-After-Party as we call it.  They especially since they don't have hosting duty.  I am happy to report that we accomplished our mission.

We then went over to the American Legion on Nippersink Lake and had a few more cocktails over there.

Tough Job, But Somebody's Got To Do It.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  All your kids are named "Joe."

June 12, 2016: Mom's Death

It just dawned on me that this is the one year anniversary of Mom's death.  I was thinking it was the 14th or 15th.  But, I am not good at special dates.  Just look at how many times I got bin trouble for her birthday.

Hard to believe that both of our parents are now gone.

My advice to you is to enjoy your parents as much as possible while you have them.

Kickin' Off Our Summer 2017-- Part 2: End-Of-The-Year Party

THURSDAY, JUNE 8TH

Lots of yard work to do on our first full day back from the Mississippi.  Of course, a lot of trimming of the too many bushes that I planted.  Cut the grass

We then went over to Kevin and Kelly's place on Fox Lake for their End-Of-The-Year party.  They both teach and Kevin got out of school today.  We had an End-Of-The-Year party every year from 1983 to 2006 for our schools (we both taught as well).  And they continue our tradition.

Always great to sit out in their gazebo overlooking the lake on a perfect day and enjoying all that food, snacks and keg of beer.  We know quite a few of their teachers as well.

Of course, End-Of-The-Year isn't all that special anymore since we're both retired.

It Ain't Over Till It's Over.  --RoadDog

Kicking Off Our Summer 2017-- Part 1: The Band At Captain's

Well, we regarded the summer as not "officially"  here until we get out to Captain's Quarters in Antioch on Fox Lake and we finally got there this past Saturday.  R Gang was playing outside on the deck from 7 to 11 p.m..

Now, if I can just get our boat in the water for our 33rd year of boating, we'll be seriously into the season.  Between the rainy and cool May weather and being gone for so many days the last two weeks, the boat has been sitting in the driveway since April 29.

Of course, with all the things going on around here June to September, why go anywhere else for vacation.

Actually, Summer 2017 would have kicked off two weeks ago, but I was at the Indy 500 from May 25-29 and June 2-7, we were along the Mississippi River in Clinton, Iowa, Dubuque, Iowa, and Galena, Illinois, so we haven't really been around here much.

Summer Is Here!!  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  The nurse needs a scientific calculator to take your pulse.

WLS Top 40 for June 9, 1967-- 7: "Respect"

The Top Ten in Chicago 50 years ago.

10.  RESPECT--  Aretha Franklin   #1
9.  HIM OR ME--  Paul Revere & the Raiders   #5
8.  UP, UP & AWAY--  Fifth Dimension    #7

7.  MIRAGE--  Tommy James & the Shondells   #10
6.  I GOT RHYTHM--  Happenings   #3
5.  GROOVIN'--  Young Rascals   #1
4.  SHE'S RATHER BE WITH ME--  Turtles   #3

3.  SOMEBODY TO LOVE--  Jefferson Airplane   #5
2.  LITTLE BIT OF SOUL--  Music Explosion   #2
1.  WINDY--  Association  #1

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Who's Peaking Out From Under A Stairway"  (Answer Below).  --RoadDog



"Windy"

WLS Top 40 for June 9, 1967-- 6: "Come On Down To My Boat"

15.  I'LL PAY YOU BACK WITH INTEREST--  Hollies   #28

14.  DING DONG, WITCH IS DEAD--  5th Estate   #11   Formed in Stamford, Ct., in 1964.  Song originally from the 1939 movie "The Wizard of Oz."

13.  COME ON DOWN TO MY BOAT--  Every Mother's Son   #6  Rock quintet formed in Greenwich Village.

12.  RELEASE ME--  Englebert Humperdink   #4  Biggest hit for Arnold George Dorsey.

11.  LET'S LIVE FOR TODAY--  Grassroots   #8   Rob Grill was the lead singer from this song on out.

Name That Tune (from the Above Songs):  "Heigh-Ho, The Derry-O, Sing It High, Sing It Low."  Answer Below.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You chew on other people's fingernails.

"Ding Dong, Witch Is Dead"

WLS Top 40 for June 9, 1967-- 5: "Can't Take My Eyes Off You"

20.  SOUNDS OF LOVE--  Five Americans   #36  Originally from Oklahoma, but based in Dallas.  Javonne (Robin) Braga of Jon and Robin (see #25) married Five American member Jimmy Wright in 1970.

19.  SWEET SOUL MUSIC--  Arthur Conley   #2   His only Top Ten.  Discovered by Otis Redding.

18.  CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU--  Frankie Valli   #2   Born Francis Castellucio in Newark, New Jersey.

17.  YELLOW BALLOON--  Yellow Balloon   #25   Pop quintet from Arizona and Oregon.

16.  CASINO ROYALE--  Herb Alpert    #27  He wrote "Wonderful World" for Sam Cooke.

Name That Tune (from above songs):  "Spotlight On Lou Rawls, Y'all, Don't he Look Tall, Y'all."  --Answer Below.



"Sweet Soul Music"

WLS Top 40 for June 9, 1967-- 4: "Six O'Clock"

WLS, 890 AM, was one of the two big radio stations we listened to in Chicago in the 1960s and 1970s.  The other was WCFL, 1000 AM.

25.  LITTLE BIT SLOWER--   #18   Actual title "Do It Again A little Bit Slower."  Their backing group was called the In Crowd.  Their biggest hit of three songs.

24.  TRADES OF MY TEARS--  Johnny Rivers   #10   Actual Title "Tracks of My Tears."  Born John Ramistella.   Johnny doing another cover?  Imagine that.

23.  GIRLS IN LOVE--  Gary Lewis   #39   Gary Lewis & the Playboys formed in Los Angeles in 1964.  Had six straight Top Tens.  I didn't remember this one.  Thanks You Tube.

22.  STEP OUT OF YOUR MIND--  American Breed    #24   Interracial rock quartet from Cicero, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.  Eventually became Rufus.  WLS backing local talent again.

21.  SIX O'CLOCK--  Lovin' Spoonful   #18  Described as a Jug-Band Rock Group.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "People Say I'm The Life Of The Party "Cause I Tell A Joke Or Two."  Answer Below.



"Tracks Of My Tears"

WLS Top 40 for June 9, 1967-- 3: "C'Mon Marianne"

The number after artist refers to the highest position attained on the Billboard charts.  (D) means debut.

30.  C'MON MARIANNE--  4 Seasons   (D)   #9.  Their last Top Ten until 1975 when they were Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons.

29.  SUNDAY WILL NEVER BE THE SAME--  Spanky & Our Gang    #9   Their only Top ten.  Formed in Chicago in 1966.  WLS supporting another Chicago group.

28.  NEW YORK MINING DISASTER 1941--  Bee Gees   #14.  Their first hit.   I really thought this group was the Beatles performing under another name at first.

27.  DON'T SLEEP IN THE SUBWAY--  Pet Clark   #5   Her last Top Ten.  Petula.  Had six Top tens, including her #1 "Downtown."

26.  WEAR FLOWERS IN YOUR HAIR--  Scott McKenzie   #4   Actual title "San Francisco (Wear Flowers In Your Hair)'  Born in Jacksonville, Florida.  Raised in Virginia.


Name That Tune (from the above):  "You Wander Around On Your Own Little Cloud."  Answer Below.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  Your eyes stay open when you sneeze.

"Don't Sleep In the Subway"

WLS Top 40 for June 9, 1967-- 2: "Seven Rooms of Gloom"

35.  ALL I NEED--  Temptations    #8  Motown, what can I say?  Not one of their better-known songs, though.   Great Motown.

34.  HERE WE GO AGAIN--  Ray Charles   #15    Real name Ray Charles Robinson.  Born 1930 in Albany, Georgia.  Great country song.

33.  ALFIE--  Dionne Warwick   #15   Title song of the movie.

32.  SEVEN ROOMS OF GLOOM--  Four Tops   #14     More great Motown.

31.  ROUND ROUND--  Jonathan King    No rank.  Famous for "Everyone's Gone to the Moon."  He also produced the group Hedgehoppers Anonymous.  Discovered the group Genesis.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Is It Just For The Moment We Live."  --  Answer Below.  --RoadDog


"Alfie"

WLS Top 40 for June 9, 1967-- 1: "Long Legged Girl"

These songs were on the WLS Silver Dollar Survey fifty years ago.  Where does the time go?  (D) denotes a debut.  The number after the performer is the highest charted on Billboard.

40.  MARY IN THE MORNING--  Al Martino   (D)   #27.  Real name Alfred Cini, born in 1927 in Philadelphia.

39.  LONG LEGGED GIRL--  Elvis Presley  #63   (With a Short dress On)   From his movie "Double Trouble."   A real rocker and only 1:28 long.

38.  THE JOKERS--  Peter & Gordon    #97.  Their last-ever hit of this British Invasion duo.    Title song from the movie.  Fats song that grows on you the more you listen to it.

37.  YOU MUST HAVE BEEN A BEAUTIFUL BABY--  Dave Clark Five   #35.  Their last Top 40 song.    Another British Invasion band at the end of their career.

36.  BOWLING GREEN--  Everly Brothers   (D)   #40  Last Top 40 for Don and Phil.  About the city in Kentucky.

Name That Tune (from above songs):  "When You Were Only Starting To Go To Kindergarten."   Answer Below.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You've worn out your third pair of tennis shoes this week.


"You Must have Been A Beautiful Baby"

Remembering William Graham Hood, III: Vietnam Veteran

My cousin, William Graham Hood III, was a naval aviator in Vietnam.  We all called him Graham.

He contracted cancer from Agent Orange back in the late 1990s and fought it until a couple years ago when he died from it.

Vietnam Veterans Remember-- Part 6: "I Got Spit On"

As with his in-country experience, Jim Miller also had a different experience when he returned home.    He met protesters when he returned in 1971.  "I got spit on," he said.  "They said I was a baby killer.  They blamed us."

In contrast, Don Pendleton, 66, left Vietnam in 1971 after 14 months there where he was a base guard at Long Binh Post.  the war wasn't as traumatic for him, but he did lose a few friends  He landed in Oakland, California, and a few hours later, he was a civilian.

"I don't remember there being that much harassment.  We stood in line for 24 hours, 36 hours to get out of the service.  From there, we got on a plane and came home."

Every Blooming THing-- Early June 2017

Right now the yard is a blaze of purple and white.  I have several hundred white daisies and a like number of wild purple tall phlox that are blooming.  In addition, my yellow mix and purple mix irises are also blooming.  I even have some white daisies out in the yard in a few locations.

The sunburst honeylocust trees are big time yellow and my Miss Kim lilacs are purple with all that delightful smell that they get.

I might even get to the point where I figure that I have finally finished getting the yard where I want it this summer-- after 25 years of working on it.

But, Probably Not.  --RoadDog

WLS Top Ten for June 2, 1967: "I Got Rhythm"

Fifty Years Ago.

1.  WINDY--  Association
2.  LITTLE BIT OF SOUL--  Music Explosion
3.  SOMEBODY TO LOVE--  Jefferson Airplane

4.  I GOT RHYTHM--  Happenings
5.  GROOVIN'--  Young Rascals
6.  MIRAGE-- Tommy James & the Shondells
7.  SWEET SOUL MUSIC--  Arthur Conley

8.  RELEASE ME--  Englebert Humperdink
9.  HIM OR ME--  Paul Revere & the Raiders
10.  RESPECT--  Aretha Franklin

30.  LITTLE BIT SLOWER--  Jon and Robin

Name That Tune (from the above):  "Who's Peekin' Out From Under A Stairway."  Answer Below.  --RoadDog



"Windy"

Vietnam Vets Remember-- Part 5: Coming Home

The unpopular Vietnam War was a lightning rod for protesters in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and returning veterans experienced a wide variety of homecomings.

For Pete Haley, his return in 1968 was uneventful since protesting the war had not yet hit its peak, he said.  Instead, Haley's experience with war protesters came on the battlefield.

"We actually killed a NVA, North Vietnamese (army) regular on patrol over there, "Haley said, "and he had a medicine kit on him that was donated by Berekely College of California.  I found that very offensive."

Vietnam Vets Remember-- Part 4: Sicknesses Linked to Agent Orange

Sitting nearby Pete Haley at the bar is Jim Miller, 65.  His Vietnam experience is quite different.

He went to South Vietnam in 1970 as a healthy young man and left a sick man plagued by ailments that haunt him still.  He attributes his illnesses to his time in Vietnam where he worked with grave registration.

"I took care of the dead over there," Miller said.  I got Agent orange from picking up dead bodies."

Agent Orange was a herbicide sprayed from planes to defoliage areas of the Vietnamese jungles and expose the enemy's troop movement.  the chemical is blames for health problems of veterans who came into contact with it.

Asked who he memorializes on Monday's holiday, Miller said,  "Anybody who served time and survived it because there's a lot of guys who never made it back -- from Vietnam, especially."

Vietnam Vets Remember-- Part 3: Memorials

Monday marks 49 Memorial Days since Pete Haley's return from the war and this month denotes 50 years since the fight that claimed his buddies' lives.

"I put a wreath on the monument in Battle Ground," he said when asked about memorializing his fallen friends.