Getting in the Yule Spirit-- Part 4: "It's a Wonderful Life" and a Five Course Dinner

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18

As cold as it got today, if the president needs his famed border wall, let it be on the Canadian border so we can let them keep their cold weather on their side.

Went to the Fox Lake Theatre and saw "It's a Wonderful Life" on the big screen, a special treat as I wasn't even born when it was released in 1948 and it is, after all, my third favorite all-time Christmas movie.

Later, I went to Sunnyside in Johnsburg for awhile before going over to Stucky's where they were having their auce five-course dinner for $12.99.  I ate just what they brought out and still have enough for two more meals at home.  What a deal!

Then, back to Sunnyside for more drinks (this month $1.50 pint drafts Monday-Wednesday).

--RoadDog

The Drive's A to Z, the Letter "L": "Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)"

These are songs I've listened to since I sat down at the computer to do these blogs.

LOLA--  Links
LONELY BOY--  Andrew Gold
LONELY DAYS--  Bee Gees

LONELY IS THE NIGHT--  Billy Squier
LONELY OL' NIGHT--  John Mellancamp
LONELY PEOPLE--  America

LONESOME LOSER--  Little River Band
THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD--  Beatles
LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS)--  Hollies

LONG DISTANCE RUNAROUND--  Yes
LONG LIVE ROCK--  Who
LONG LONG WAY FROM HOME--  Foreigner

THE LONG RUN--  Eagles
LONG TIME--  Boston
LONG TRAIN RUNNIN'--  Doobie Brothers

LONG TWIN SILVER LINE--  Bob Seger
LOOK AT LITTLE SISTER--  Stevie Ray Vaughan
LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME--  Boz Scaggs

LOOKIN' FOR A LOVE--  J. Geils Band
LOOKIN' OUT MY BACK DOOR--  Creedence Clearwater Revival

LORD OF THE THIGHS--  Aerosmith
LORELEI--  Styx


Name That Tune (from the above):  "I Just Got Back From Illinois, Locked The Front Door, Oh Boy."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Lookin' Out My Back Door"

WLS Survey for December 29, 2019: "Whole Lotta Love"

Fifty Years Ago as we closed out 1969.

1.  SOMEDAY WE'LL BE TOGETHER--  Diana Ross / Supremes
2.  RAINDROPS KEEP FALLING ON MY HEAD--
3.  WHOLE LOTTA LOVE--  B.J. Thomas

4.  VENUS--  Shocking Blue
5.  I WANT YOU BACK--   Jackson 5
6.  JAM UP & JELLY TIGHT--  Archies
7.  EVIL WOMAN--  Crow

8.  DOWN ON THE CORNER / FORTUNATE SON--  Creedence Clearwater Revival
9.  MIDNIGHT COWBOY--  Ferrante & Teicher
10.  DON'T CRY DADDY--  Elvis Presley

**********************************

DEBUTS

38.  HEY THERE LONELY GIRL--  Eddie Homan
39.  I STARTED LOVING YOU AGAIN--  Al Martino

40.  MY HONEY & ME--  Luther Ingram

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "My, My, My, My Baby Now You're Out Of Sight."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Jam Up & Jelly Tight"

Getting in the Yule Spirit-- Part 3: "Star Wars" and Old Friends, Pizza and Beer

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17

I've been watching and recording (on VCR, that's right, VHS tapes) the various "Star Wars" movies in preparation for seeing the "last" one, "Star Wars:  The Rise of Skywalker" after schools are back in session and people go back to work.  I don't like crowds.  I'm a "Star Wars" fan.

We went to Half-Times in Johnsburg, Illinois, and met up with Usual Suspects Sue and Paul as well as Pam.  We used to do this at least once a month before Sue and Paul moved to New Mexico, so this was definitely kind of like old times.   Also, great pizza deals and cheap beer.  Our preferred pizza there is our special:  black olives, pineapple and sausage.

It was fun talking with them and planning our trip to the Indy 500 this coming May.  Stopped at Sunnyside afterwards.

Came home and watched "Star Wars:  A New Hope," the original "Star Wars" in 1977.

--RoadWars

The Drive's A to Z, Christmas 2019-- Part 2: The Letter "I", "In the Air Tonight"

It streams at www.wdrv.com.  This will continue until sometime after the new year begins and includes more than 2,000 songs.  They put it on pause between midnight and 6 a.m. (and tomorrow from 7 to 10 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m.).

Here are some of the songs I've been listening to today:

IN A BIG COUNTRY--  Big Country
IN-A-GADDA-DA-VIDA--  Iron Butterfly
IN MEMORY OF ELIZABETH REED--  Allman Brothers

IN MY LIFE--  Beatles
IN MY TIME OF DYING--  Led Zeppelin
IN THE AIR TONIGHT--  Phil Collins

IN THE CITY--  Eagles
IN THE DARK--  Billy Squier
IN THE EVENING--  Led Zeppelin   One of the problems with the Drive is way too much Zeppelin and Pink Floyd.

IN THE LIGHT--  Led Zeppelin
IN THE MOOD--  Robert Plant
IN THE SUMMERTIME--  Mungo Jerry

IN THE YEAR 2525--  Zager & Evans
IN YOUR EYES--  Peter Gabriel
INDIAN RESERVATION--  Raiders

INDUSTRIAL DISEASE--  Dire Straits
INSTANT KARMA--  John Lennon
INTO THE GREAT WIDE OPEN--  Tom Petty

INTO THE MYSTIC--  Van Morrison
INVISIBLE SUN--  Police
INVISIBLE TOUCH--  Genesis
IRON MAN--  Black Sabbath  One of the coolest-ever songs.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "If Man Is Still Alive, If Woman Can Survive."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"In the Year 2525"

Getting in the Yule Spirit-- Part 2: Usual Suspects Get-Together

DECEMBER 15, SUNDAY

Rock and Roll Roots featured the Dave Clark 5 group today in honor of drummer Dave Clark's 80th birthday.  They were the first British Invasion Group to come over after the Beatles and since they were more rocking, I even liked them better than the Beatles.

As a matter of fact, the first 45 single I ever bought was either the Dave Clark 5's "Anyway You Want It" or the Hollies'"Look Through Any Window."  I can't remember which one I bought.

Went to the Squaw Bar in Ingleside, Illinois, for the Bears-Packers game with the Usual Suspects and because Sue and Paul were visiting from New Mexico, there was a full turnout, including Pete, Katrina, Pam, Glen and Barb, and Laura and Ed.

Sadly, Da Bears lost to Da Pack.

Oh Well.  --RoadDog

The Drive's A to Z, Christmas 2019: The Letter "D" "Do You Want To Know a Secret"

I've been up awhile now and listening to these songs on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, the Drive A to Z which goes on to sometime after New Year.  They countdown all the songs alphabetically.

This morning's song:

DO IT AGAIN--  Steely Dan
DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS?--  Band Aid
DOO WAH DIDDY DIDDY--  Manfred Mann

DO YA--  ELO
DO YA THINK I'M SEXY--  Rod Stewart
DO YOU FEEL LIKE WE DO--  Peter Frampton

DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN-- Lee Michaels
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET--  Beatles
DOCTOR MY EYES--  Jackson Browne

DR. WU--  Steely Dan
DOES ANYBODY REALLY KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS--  Chicago
DOG--  Heart

DOMINO--  Van Morrison
DON'T ASK ME NO QUESTIONS--  Lynyrd Skynyrd
DON'T ASK ME WHY--  Billy Joel
DON'T BRING ME DOWN--  ELO

They have 18 more "don'ts" coming up.

It streams at www.wdrv.com.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "As I Was Walking Down The Street One Day."  --Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Does Anybody Know What Time It Is"

JSS: "A Christmas Story"-- The Drive's A to Z-- "The Last Jedi"

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  "A CHRISTMAS STORY"--   My all-time favorite Christmas show starts in a few hours and runs a 24-hour marathon on both TNT and TBS.  I will watch it straight through at least twice and definitely will catch parts here and there.  Watch out for whose dogs?  We will be having out Christmas dinner at a Chinese buffet, a regular tradition, but no Chinese goose.

2.  THE DRIVE'S A TO Z--  It started at 6 am this morning and will run until sometime after New Years Day.  They do take a stop from midnight to 6 am.  There will be over 2,000 songs arranged alphabetically by title.  It streams at www.wdrv.com. 

First song was "Abacab" by Genisis.    They are up to "At the Station" by Joe Walsh right now.

3.  "THE LAST JEDI"--  The last two weekends, I have watched all the first seven "Star Wars" movies on TNT as I get ready to see the Rise of Skywalker after schools go back in session.  This Sunday they will run "Rogue One" at 1 pm, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" at 4 and "The Last Jedi" at 7.  I'll be recording on my VHS tape.

--RoadWalker

Getting In the Yule Spirit-- Part 1: Army-Navy Football Game and "Guardians of the Galaxy"

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14

We went to the McHenry (Illinois) American Legion where we watched the Army-Navy college football game in Philadelphia.  The place was nearly full of folks pulling for the Army or the Navy and lots of banter and boasting going on.

I had been pulling for the Army the last ten years because of Navy's domination.  I just have a tendency to pull for the underdogs.  But, since Army had won the last three games, I was pulling for my real favorite, Navy.  I won a Navy hat.

And the Army fans were having quite the good time early on, but eventually the better team won.

Went to Sunnyside, came home and watched my favorite superhero movie "Guardians of the Galaxy."

--RoadLord


DID YOU KNOW:  Dueling is legal in Peru as long as both parties are registered blood donors.

Music Deaths: Howard "Sparky" Childress of the Sparkletones

HOWARD "SPARKY" CHILDRESS, 76

Died 2 December 2019

Guitar player with rockabilly band Sparkletones (also known as Joe Bennett & the Sparkletones.

Teenage band (they were ages 14-17) from Spartanburg, S.C.  Had a #17 in 1957 with "Black Slacks."  That kicked off with "BBBbRRrrr" and was 1:57 of try to keep up.   Also had a #42 in 1957 with "Penny  Loafers and Bobby Socks."

Give them a listen on You Tube.

WLS Top 10 for December 22, 1969: "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday"

Fifty years ago this week in Chicago.

1.  SOMEDAY WE'LL BE TOGETHER--  Diana Ross / Supremes
2.  RAINDROPS KEEP FALLING ON MY HEAD--  B.J. Thomas
3.  I WANT YOU BACK--  Jackson 5

4.  WHOLE LOTTA LOVE--  Led Zeppelin
5.  YESTER-ME, YESTER-YOU,YESTERDAY--  Stevie Wonder
6.  EVIL WOMAN--  Crow
7.  JAM UP & JELLY TIGHT--  Archies

8.  DOWN ON THE CORNER / FORTUNATE SON--  Creedence Clearwater Revival
9.  NA NA HEY HEY--  Steam
10.  VENUS--  Shocking Blue

******************************

DEBUTS

30.  WITHOUT LOVE--  Tom Jones
35.  I'LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN--  Dionne Warwick

36.  CUPID--  Johnny Nash
38.  WALKIN' IN THE RAIN--  Jay & the Americans

39.  WALK A MILE IN MY SHOES--  Joe South
40.  SIX WHITE HORSES--  Tommy Cash

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "And Just Like The Guys Whose Feet Are Too Big For His Bed."   Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head"

Music Deaths: Irving Burgie, Wrote "Banana Boat (Day-O) and Other Calypso and Caribbean Folk Songs

IRVING BURGE, 95

Died 29 November 2019

Wrote many songs for Harry Bellafonte in the late 1950s.

Wrote the songs:

Banana Boat (Day-O)
Island in the Sun
Jamaica Farewell
Mary's Boy Child

His songs have sold over 100 million records around the world.  In 1966 wrote the lyrics to Barbados National Anthem.

WLS Top 40 for December 15, 1969-- Part 7: "Evil Woman"

Fifty years ago in Chicago.

10.  JAM UP & JELLY TIGHT--  Archies    #10

9.  COME TOGETHER / SOMETHING--   Beatles   #1

8.  WHOLE LOTTA LOVE--  Led Zeppelin    #4

7.  EVIL WOMAN--   Crow   #19

6.  NA NA HEY HEY--  Steam   #1

5.  DOWN ON THE CORNER / FORTUNATE SON--  Creedence Clearwater Revival   #3

4  YESTER-ME, YESTER-YOU, YESTERDAY--   Stevie Wonder    #7

3.  RAINDROPS KEEP FALLING ON MY HEAD--  B.J. Thomas    #1

2.  I WANT YOU BACK-- Jackson 5   #1

1.  SOMEDAY WE'LL BE TOGETHER--  Diana Ross / Supremes    #1

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Some Folks Were Born To Wave The Flag, Yeah!  The Red, White And Blue."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Fortunate Son"

WLS Top 40 for December 15, 1969-- Part 6: "Leaving On a Jet Plane"

Theses were the Top 40 songs in Chicago according to pop station WLS, 890 AM fifty years ago this week.

15.  SMILE A LITTLE SMILE--  Flying Machine      #5    Brings back those NIU memories.  "Rosemarie, you'll get over it."  A studio project of British songwriters Tony MacAuley and Geoff Stephens.  Their only Top 40.

14.  LEAVING ON A JET PLANE--  Peter, Paul & Mary      #1    One comment said it was the last song he heard before leaving for Vietnam...and the first song he heard returning from Vietnam.    Lots of comments were about the Vietnam War.   Their last charting single and biggest hit.  Saving the best for last.

13.  BABY, I'M FOR REAL--  Originals       #14    It was quite popular in Chicago, but for some reason I don't remember it.  Great song, though.

12.  HOLLY HOLY--  Neil Diamond      #6    Kind of a set piece with "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show."   Born Noah Kaminsky.

11.  UP ON CRIPPLE CREEK--  Band      #25      One of my all-time favorite bands from then.  "A drunkard's dream if I ever did see one" you know.    Their biggest hit on the charts. 

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "When I Get Off This Mountain, You Know Where I Want To Go."  Answer below.


"Up On Cripple Creek"

Music Deaths: Douglas Lubahn, Bassist on Doors Albums

DOUGLAS LUBAHN, 71

Died 20 November 2019

American psychedelic, rock and jazz rock bassist.    Featured on three albums by the Doors.Played on their debut album and on seven of ten tracks of "Strange Days" album.  During those sessions, was invited to join the band full-time but turned it down.

Played on all but two tracks of "Waiting for the Sun."

WLS Top 40 for December 15, 1969-- Part 5: "Don't Cry Daddy"

20.  VENUS--  Shocking Blue     #1   Their only Top 40.  The lead singer in the video kind of reminds me of Linda Ronstadt for some reason.   Did she say "I'm your Venus"? or something else?  From Holland.

19.  A BRAND NEW ME--  Dusty Springfield     #24    A real pretty voice and nice video of her from back in 1969.  Born Mary O'Brien in 1939.

18.  DON'T CRY DADDY--  Elvis Presley      #6     A divorce song with an interesting melody.    The video shows Elvis family pictures.   Follow up to "Suspicious Minds"  (#1-1969).

17.  MIDNIGHT COWBOY--  Ferrante & Teicher       #10     Two piano players on an instrumental with a haunting melody.   Arthur and Louis.

16.  EARLY IN THE MORNING--  Vanity Fare    #12   The harpsichord gives it a Renaissance vibe.   British pop quintet.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "A Goddess On A Mountain Top was Burning Like A Silver Flame."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Venus"

WLS Top 40 for December 15, 1969-- Part 4: "Backfield in Motion"

The number after the artist is how high it got on Bilboard's Hot 100 songs.

25.  BACKFIELD IN MOTION--  Mel & Tim     #10   Love as a football game.  This one always puts me back at NIU.  Their biggest hit.

24. LA LA LA (IF I HAD YOU)--  Bobby Sherman    #9    I don't remember it.  Sounds a bit like his "Little Woman" song. Someone made a comment on You Tube that you could get a free copy of t on the back of a box of Honeycomb cereal.

23.  ELI'S COMING--  Three Dog Night      #10   Always reminds me of the Grant resident hall at NIU's snack bar called the Barn.   Their first Top Ten that wasn't a song from "Hair."

22.   HEAVEN KNOWS--  Grassroots    #24   Group formed in San Francisco in 1964.

21.  WONDERFUL WORLD, BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE--  Jimmy Cliff      #25   My first taste of reggae and I didn't even know it.  And, I really love reggae.

Name That Tune(from the above songs):  "Well You better Hide Your Heart, Your Loving Heart."  Answer below.



"Eli's Coming"

Music Deaths: Paul Barrere of Little Feat

PAUL BARRERE, 71

Died 26 October 2019

American musician most prominent as being in the band Little Feat, which he joined in 1972, three years after the band was founded by Lowell George.  He remained with them for fifty years.

Joined the band before their break through album "Dixie Chicken."  Cowrote song "Feets Don't Fail Me Now" and wrote "Time Loves A Hero."

Little Feat is one of my favorite bands and should have been bigger.

Music Deaths: George Chambers, Bassist of Chambers Brothers

GEORGE CHAMBERS, 88

Died 12 October 2019

George "Pops" Chambers, singer and bassist of  influential sixties psych-soul  band Chambers Brothers.

The group active in late sixties to early seventies, best known for their eleven minute song "Time Has Come Today"  (#11-1968) and "I Can't Turn You Loose"  (#37-1968).

Two of my favorite songs.  I especially like "Time has Come Today" when changing clocks for Daylight Savings Time.

WLS Top 40 for December 15, 1969-- Part 3: "And When I Die"

Fifty Years Ago.

30.  SHE--  Tommy James / Shondells     #23    Not one of their better known songs.  But repeated listenings and it grows on you.

29.  AND WHEN I DIE --  Blood, Sweat & Tears     #2    More horns,  more harmonica.  Takes me back to those good old days at NIU.  Written by Laura Nyro.   The last of three straight #2s.

28.  TAKE A LETTER MARIA--  R.B. Greaves      #2    Another defining song from the era for me.    One of the comments on the video said that he had a friend in Vietnam who dedicated it to his soon-to-be ex-girlfriend.  His biggest hit.

27.  BARBARA I LOVE YOU--  New Colony Six    #78    Slow song from one of those great 1960s Chicago bands with Ronnie Rice singing upfront.  One comment said that the Association was singing the background vocals, but I don't know.   Both WLS and WCFL really pushed our local bands.

26.  JINGLE JANGLE--  Archies     #10    Pop Music.  Bubble Gum Music?    A fun song, though.  Their second biggest hit after, of course "Sugar, Sugar."

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Last Night As I Got Home About A Half Past Ten."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Take A Letter Maria"

WLS Top 40 for December 15, 1969-- Part 2: "These Eyes"

The number after the artist is how high the song got on the Billboard Hot 100 National Chart.  (D) means a debut.

35.  WHAT YOU GAVE ME--   Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell   #49     (D)   As per usual, what a duet.  Classic Motown.    One of 11 Top 56 hits for them.

34.  DON'T LET LOVE HANG YOU UP--   Jerry Butler    #44   I don't remember this song. Some New Orleans/Gospel sounds here.

33.  IF I NEVER KNEW YOUR NAME--   Vic Dana    Did not rank on Billboard Hot 100 chart.   (D)   Orchestra backing him.  Born in Buffalo, New York.  Moved to California.

32.  TURN TURN TURN--  Judy Collins    #69    Now that is an angelic voice if there ever was one.  Biblical.  Offivial name "Turn!  Turn!  Turn! / To Everything There Is a Season."

31.  THESE EYES--  Jr. Walker & the All Stars     #16     Oh, That Soul. Oh, That Sax.  That old Guess Who song.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "A Time To Be Born, A Time To Die."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Turn Turn Turn"

WLS Top 40 for December 15, 1969-- Part 1: "When Julie Comes Around"

Theses were the Top 40 songs in Chicago fifty years ago this week.

WLS, 890 AM and WCFL, 1000 AM were the two biggest stations that young people listened to.

40.  SUNDAY MORNING--  Oliver    #35       (D)  Never heard it before.  Starts off slow, but gets better.

39.  WHEN JULIE COMES AROUND--  Cuff Links    (D)     #45    A forgotten gem, even with a pretty silly video.

38.  I'LL HOLD OUT MY HAND--  Clique     #45      I didn't remember it.  Their biggest hit was a few months earlier with  #22 "Sugar on Sunday."  They had the first version of "I Am Superman" with which REM had a big hit.  Give it a listen.

37.  WINTER WORLD OF LOVE--  Engelbert Humperdink     #16    (D)   Quite the ballad from quite the crooner.   Born Arnold George Dorsey in Madras, India.

36.  WEDDING BELL BLUES--  Fifth Dimension--    #1   Wow!!  That Marilyn McCoo!!

Name That Tune (from the above songs)L:  "  Bill I Love You So, I Always Will."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Wedding Bell Blues"

It's a Numbers Thing

Some Numbers of interest.

7-6     Record of the Chicago Bears as they prepare to play the Packers in Green Bay Sunday.

10-3    The Packer record.

14-0    The 2019 record of the Richmond-Burton High School Rockets.  They won the Illinois State Class 4A Championship!!

5    The number of Illinois State Championships won by Route 66, Lincoln Highway and US-12 high school football teams.

8    The number of days before we start adding daylight time to each day.  I'm really ready for it.

40   The number of new Christmas movies being shown on the Hallmark Channel.

$1,000   How much you win if you have the best WDRV 97.1 FM, the Drive logo in Christmas lights.

I'm Not a Twit.   And Don't Call Me Shirley.  --RoadDog

DID YOU KNOW:  That a pregnant goldfish is called a twit.

Music Deaths: Dallas Harms, Canadian Country Singer

DALLAS HARMS, 84

Died 12 October 2019

Canadian country music singer and songwriter.  Twenty of his songs made it onto Canadian Top 40s between 1972 and 1984 but he never had a hit in the U.S..

Highest ranking songs:

1982    #1   Honky Tonkin' (All Night Long)
1983   #5  Country Fever
1980  #6  Ballad of the Duke

Music Deaths: Gerry McGee of the Ventures

GERRY McGEE, 81

Died 12 October 2019

Son of famed Cajun violinist Dennis McGee.

Lead guitarist with the Ventures, instrumental group from the 1960s to 1970s.

Sought after session musician and played guitar on many early Monkees albums and also for Elvis Presley, Everly Brothers and Linda Ronstadt.

WLS Top Ten for December 8, 1969: "Na Na Hey Hey"

The Top Ten songs in Chicago fifty years ago today according to WLS 890 AM.

1.  SOMEDAY WE'LL BE TOGETHER--  Diana Ross / Supremes
2.  NA NA HEY HEY--  Steam
3.  DOWN ON THE CORNER / FORTUNATE SON--  Creedence Clearwater Revival

4.  COME TOGETHER / SOMETHING--  Beatles
5.  LEAVING ON A JET PLANE--  Peter, Paul & Mary
6.  BABY I'M FOR REAL--  Originals
7.  HOLLY HOLY--  Neil Diamond

8.  YESTER-YOU, YESTER-ME, YESTERDAY--  Stevie Wonder
9.  I WANT YOU BACK--  Jackson 5
10.  EVIL WOMAN DON'T PLAY YOUR GAMES WITH ME--  Crow

***********************************

DEBUTS

20.  ELI'S COMING--   Three Dog Night
32.  ELEANOR RIGBY--  Eleanor Rigby

33.  BARBARA, I LOVE YOU--  New Colony Six
36.  SHE--  Tommy James / Shondells

39.  THESE EYES--  Jr. Walker &B All Stars

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Early In The Evening, Just About Supper Time."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Down On the Corner

Pearl Harbor Survivor Art Wells Likely Last Living in Butte County

From the December 7,  2019, Chico Enterprise-Herald "Pearl Harbor veteran is now the last survivor living in Butte County.

On December 7, 1941, a young Arthur M. Wells was on board the USS Pennsylvania when the Japanese came a calling.    Now, 78 years later, he's the last remaining Pearl Harbor veteran in Butte County.

He served in the USMC from July 5, 1940 to Nov. 2, 1945.  He served on a series of battleships at Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa.

He regularly attends the Pearl Harbor commemoration, but will not be able to attend this year.

78 Years Ago Tomorrow, the Day of Infamy

December 7, 1941.  Japanese forces launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and the island of Oahu, striking a serious blow to U.S. forces stationed there.

The problem was that war had not been declared at the time.

Tomorrow is a day to remember what happened and to also remember that preparedness is always necessary.

I'll have my flags flying.  Hope you will as well.

Pearl Harbor

Okay, You Millennials, Okay You Boomers-- Part 2: Who's the Richest?

5.  Millennials would rather keep the jobs they have.

4.  Boomers are accepting weed.

3.  Millennials aren't automatically tech wizards.

2.  Baby Boomers tip more often than Millennials.

1.  Millennials are projected to become the richest generation in US history.

Being a Millennial helps with the tech as they grew up with it.

--RoadTipping

DID YOU KNOW:  The muzzle of a lion is like a fingerprint -- no two lions have the same pattern of whiskers.

Okay, You Millennials, Okay You Boomers-- Part 1 Are Boomers Wrecking Social Security?

From the November 30, 2019, ListVerse  "10 studies proving everything you believe about Millennials and Boomers Is Wrong" by Anthony Sfarra.

First to clarify: Boomers are those born between the end of World War II and the mid-1960s.  Millennials were born between the early 1980s and either the mid-1990s or early 2000s depending upon who you believe.

These are based on recent studies.  You can get more information by going to the site.

10.  Baby Boomers aren't killing Social Security.

9.  Millennials read just as much as older generations.  (Books)

8.  Baby Boomers have embraced technology too.

7.  Millennials are more religious than you might think.

6.  Boomers aren't ready for retirement.

So, Take That Stereotypes.  --RoadBoomer

DID YOU KNOW:  Donald Duck's middle name is Fauntleroy.

JSS: So Tired of Cyber Monday-- New Christmas Movies-- My Favorite Christmas Movies-- Snow Didn't Stick-- The Drive In Lights

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  SO TIRED OF CYBER MONDAY--  If I heard it or saw it once....  They just don't give it up.  By the way, I didn't order anything over the internet Monday or even leave the house on Friday.  Sorry guys, you lost that bit of your advertising dollar.

2.  NEW CHRISTMAS MOVIES--  I heard that Hallmark Channel has 40 new Christmas movies.  One of these days I might have to watch one of their Christmas movies.

3.  MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES--  I have added a fifth to my list of favorites.  It is "Scrooged."  Hey, Bill Murray.

4.  SNOW DIDN'T STICK--  It snowed over night on Monday, but did not stick on the driveway, sidewalks or street. I sure don't mind snow when I don't have to mess with it.

5.  THE DRIVE IN LIGHTS--  One of the three Chicago radio stations I listen to, WDRV, 97.1, 96.9 FM, the Drive, has a contest where the winner gets $1,000 if they have the best WDRV lights up in their yard.

Thinking About It.  --RoadDrive

DID YOU KNOW.  Telly Savalas and Louis Armstrong died on their birthdays.

Music Deaths: "Malcom "Molly" Duncan of Average White Band

MALCOM "MOLLY" DUNCAN, 74

Died 8 October 2019

Played saxophone on their 1975 instrumental hit "Pick Up the Pieces."  Scottish tenor saxophonist and founding member of Average White Band.

Recorded with Ray Charles, Tom Petty, Buddy Guy, Ben E. King. Dire Straits and Bryan Ferry.  Also played live with Eric Clapton, Marvin Gaye and Chaka Khan.

Music Deaths: Larry Junstrom Bassist with Lynyrd Skynyrd and .38 Special

LARRY JUNSTROM, 70

Died October 6, 2019

Bassist with Lynyrd Skynyrd and .38 Special.  Was a founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

However, he left the group before they recorded their first album.  He is better known as a member of .38 Special, with whom he performed 1977 to 2014.

Past Movie Scratches: Top-- Star-- Star-- Christmas-- Elf-- Planes

Past Movie Scratches--  Movies I saw on TV in 2018.

97.  TOP GUN-- 12-15--  Flying upside-down and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling."

98.  STAR WARS:  RETURN OF THE JEDI--  12-16--  Ewoks to the rescue.  Luke gets his father back.

99.  STAR WARS:  THE FORCE AWAKENS--  12-16--  Now it's the First Order and Kylo  Ren vs. BB-8, Rey and Finn.

100.  CHRISTMAS VACATION--  12-17--   Cousin Eddie's heart is bigger than his brain.

101.  ELF--  12-18--    Beware the central Par Rangers.  Reminds me of the horsemen after Frodo or mounted guys chasing Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.  "I'll have some syrup with that."

102.  PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES--  12-19--  We all agree, one of the funniest movies ever and without all those "F" bombs now used to make people laugh.  That poor, poor car.

Those Last Three Movies.  Very, Very Funny.  --RoadHaHa

DID YOU KNOW:  Alfred Hitchcock didn't have a belly button.  It was eliminated when he was sewn up after surgery.

Music Deaths: Ginger Baker

GINGER BAKER, 80

Died 6 October 2019

Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker was an English drummer and co-founder of supergroup Cream with Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton.  After that with another supergroup, Blind Faith.

He had a series of groups after that.

Some mighty good music here.

Music Deaths: Vinnie Bell, Session Guitarist

VINNIE BELL, 87

Died 3 October 2019

Session guitarist and pioneer in electric effects in pop music.  Was a member of the Ramrods  "Ghost Riders in the Sky"  (#30-1961)

Played on many well-known sons.  Some of them:

Good Morning Starshine--  Oliver
The Worst That Could Happen--  Brooklyn Bridge
Baby I Love You--  Andy Kim
Hello Dolly--  Louis Armstrong

Chapel of Love--  Dixie Cups
Only in America--  Jay & the Americans
Hair--  Cowsills
Eve of Destruction--  Barry McGuire

To see a bigger., and I mean MUCH BIGGER list of songs, go to Welcome to Vinnie.com

Music Deaths: Robert Hunter of Grateful Dead

ROBERT HUNTER, 78

Died 23 September 2019

Singer, songwriter and lyricist with the Grateful Dead.

Born Robert Burns and reportedly was great-great grandson of Romantic poet Robert Burns.  When his mother remarried, he took the name of his step-father.  Became friends with Jerry Garcia before the Grateful Dead was formed.

Wrote the words to many Grateful Dead hits, including:

Box of Rain
Casey Jones
Friend of the Devil
Scarlet Begonias
Shakedown Street
St. Stephen
Sugaree
Sugar Magnolia
Terrapin Station
Touch of Grey
Truckin'
Uncle Jon's Band

WLS Top Ten for December 1, 1969: "Na Na Hey Hey"

These were the Top Ten songs in Chicago fifty years ago, according to WLS, 890 AM.  This station and WCFL, 1000 AM were the two main stations kids listened to in Chicago back then.

1.  NA NA HEY HEY--  Steam

2.  COME TOGETHER / SOMETHING--  Beatles

3.  HOLLY HOLY--  Neil Diamond

4.  LEAVING ON A JET PLANE--  Peter, Paul & Mary

5.  SOMEDAY WE'LL BE TOGETHER--  Diana Ross / Supremes

6.  BABY, I'M FOR REAL--  Originals

7.  YESTER-ME, YESTER-YOU, YESTERDAY--  Stevie Wonder

8.  SMILE A LITTLE SMILE FOR ME--  Flying Machine

9.  DOWN ON TE CORNER / FORTUNATE SON--  CCR

10.  I WANT YOU BACK--  Jackson 5

*************************************

DEBUTS

36.  JINGLE JANGLE--  Archies

37.  DON'T LET LOVE HANG YOU UP--    Jerry Butler

39.  TURN TURN TURN--  Judy Collins

40.  VENUS--  Shockin' Blue

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "My Love Is Yours, Baby, Oh, Right From the Start."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Someday Well Be Together"

Congratulations to the Richmond-Burton Rockets on Winning the IHSA Class 4A State Football Championship!!!

Last night, in a chilly DeKalb, Illinois, at Huskie Stadium, Home of the NIU Huskies, the Richmond-Burton Rockets completed a wonderful 14-0 season with a big win over Murphrysboro.

Richmond-Burton serves students from Richmond and Burton townships and the villages of Richmond and Spring Grove.  We live in Spring Grove and our subdivision's high school students go there so it makes this an even bigger win for us.

And, what a season it was for the Rockets.  They were a scoring and defensive juggernaut.

A look at their games:

R-B  48  Wauconda  12
R-B  50  Aurora Central Catholic  0
R-B  47  Johnsburg  0
R-B  44  Harvard   0
R-B  38  Marengo  13
R-B  56  Woodstock  0
R-B  49  Woodstock North  0
R-B  37  Johnsburg 14
R-B  34  Quincy Notre Dame  14

So, in the regular season, Richmond-Burton scored 403 points and gave up 53.

*****************

PLAYOFFS

R-B  56  Chicago Urban Prep/Bronzeville  6
R-B  49   Marengo  7
R-B  24  Elmhurst Immaculate Conception  14
R-B  30  Coal City   0
R-B  50  Murphysboro  14

Scored 209 points and gave up 41 in the playoffs.

These scores show domination.

Immaculate Conception won Class 4A last year and Coal City was picked to winit this year.

Thank You for a Great Season, Rockets.  --RoadRocket

JSS: So Tired of Black Friday-- That 70s Music on the Drive-- First Christmas Radio, Now Christmas TV?-- Christmas Toilet Paper?

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.

1.  SO TIRED OF BLACK FRIDAY--  I will be so glad when today is over.  For the last that is just about all I've been hearing.  Black Friday, Black Friday, Black Friday.  Give me a break.  And, we didn't even go out of the house so you wasted all that advertising money on us.

2.  THAT 70S MUSIC ON THE DRIVE--  In case you really like the music from the 1970s, Chicago's  WDRV 97.1 FM the Drive, is playing music from 1976 today.  Tomorrow its 1977 and Sunday 1978.  It streams.

3. FIRST CHRISTMAS RADIO, NOW CHRISTMAS TV?--  Of course, some of the Christmas radio stations fired up on Nov. 1 and all are going now.  Now, we have two cable channels showing pretty much nothing but Christmas movies.  Lifetime and Hallmark.  I've heard that most of these movies have pretty much the same plot.  I haven't seen any yet, but might just have to watch some to make up my mind on them.

4.  CHRISTMAS TOILET PAPER?--  And this pushes the boundaries a bit much.  Charmin even has a Christmas toilet paper song.  We've sure come a long way since "Please don't squeeze the Charmin."

Too Much, Man.  --RoadTP

DID YOU KNOW:  Tigers also have striped skin, not just striped fur.

Northern Illinois Closes Out Season With a Victory, End Up 5-7

Last night, the Northern Illinois University (NIU) football team ended its season at 5-7 with a 17-14 victory over Mid-American Conference division rival Western Michigan.  This was Thomas Hammock's first year as head coach.

It was also the first year I didn't even make it out to Huskie Stadium for even one of the five home games played there.

A few days ago I wrote in this blog about how often it is better for first year coaches not to have too good of a record and this fits the case.  Shoot, even our best ever coach, Joe Novak, had about as bad a record as you could have in his first three years at Northern.  In 1996, he was 1-10, 1997  0-11, and 1998 2-9.

***********************

NIU 2019 GAMES:

NIU 24 Illinois State  10
Utah  35  NIU 17
Nebraska  44  NIU 8
Vanderbilt 24  NIU 18

Ball State  27  NIU 20
NIU 39  Ohio 36
Miami (Ohio)  27  NIU 24
NIU  49  Akron 0

Central Michigan 48  NIU 10
NIU 31  Toledo  28
Eastern Michigan  45  NIU 17
NIU 17  Western Michigan  14

Of course, our all-time nemesis and rival is Toledo, and at least we beat them.

But, even better, NIU is not bowl eligible, which is alright with me as we usually get blown out pretty bad in those games.

Looking Forward to 2020.  --RoadHuskie

DID YOU KNOW:  An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

Movie Scratches: Zombieland-- Maleficent-- Addams-- Joker

Movie Scratches--  Movies I have seen at the theater this year.

25.  ZOMBIELAND:  DOUBLE TAP--   10-29--  Fox Lake, $5--  I did a whole lot of out-loud laughing, something I rarely do.  It was that funny.  Watch out for the Homer Zombies.  Make sure you sit through the closing credits.

26.  MALEFICENT:  MISTRESS OF EVIL--  10-29--  Fox Lake, $5--  Should be Maleficent the Mistress of Good.  The Queen as the bad one.  As was the queen's evil hench woman.

27.  THE ADDAMS FAMILY--  I guess if you live in New Jersey, you might have a problem with this movie.  Not as good as "Hotel Transylvania, but, "The Thing" stole the show.

28.  JOKER--  11-5--  Fox Lake, $5--  As the Joker falls further into mental illness.  I thought it would be hard to beat Heath Ledger as the Joker, but Joaquin Phoenix  takes it.

Classic Cinemas Sure Has Comfortable Seats.  --RoadDog

DID YOU KNOW:   There are only four words in the English language which end in "-dous":  tremendous, horrendous, stupendous and hazardous.

WLS Top Ten for November 24, 1969: "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday

Fifty years ago this week on Chicago's WLS 890 AM.

1.  COME TOGETHER / SOMETHING--   Beatles
2.  HOLLY HOLY--  Neil Diamond
3.  NA NA HEY HEY--  Steam

4.  AND WHEN I DIE--  Blood, Sweat & Tears
5.  LEAVING ON A JET PLANE--  Peter, paul & Mary
6.  TAKE A LETTER MARIA--  R.B. Greaves
7.  WEDDING BELL BLUES--  Fifth Dimension

8.  BABY I'M FOR REAL--  Originals
9.  SMILE A LITTLE SMILE--  Flying Machine
10.  YESTER-ME, YESTER-YOU, YESTERDAY--  Stevie Wonder

********************************

DEBUTS

31.  WHOLE LOTTA LOVE--  Led Zeppelin
36.  WONDERFUL WORLD, BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE--  Jimmy Cliff

38.  I'LL HOLD OUT MY HAND--  Clique
39.  DON'T CRY DADDY--  Elvis Presley

40.  LA LA LA, IF I HAD YOU--  Bobby Sherman

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "He'll Never Love You The Way That I Love You."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Na Na Hey Hey"

10 Things Your Ancestors Did Better Than You-- Part 2: Manners and Learning

5.  Have manners  (I'll second that, maybe third it.)

4.  Build

3.  Teach and learn.

2.  Create art.

1.  Have fun.

Go to the site to find out why they listed these items.

You mean you can have fun without an internet device?  Holy Cow as Harry would say.

Manners, What Manners?  --RoadManners

DID YOU KNOW:  "Underground" is the only word in the English language that begins and ends with the letters "und."   Mind-boggling.

10 Things Your Ancestors Did Better Than You-- 1: Save the Planet and Live Within Their Means

From the November 20, 2019, Listverse by Jamie Frater.

I just listing them, but you can go to the site and see why they said what they did.

10.  Save the planet.   (Hint:  no plastic)

9.  Live within their means.  (Boy is that true. Charge, charge, charge, declare bankruptcy, then repeat.

8.  Improve their mind.  (Through books)

7.  Eat

6.  Exercise.

Well Worth a Read.  --RoadDog

DID YOU KNOW:  The word "set" has more definitions than any other word in the English language.

Music Deaths: Rick Ocasek of the Cars

RICK OCASEK, 75

Died 15 September 2019

Had solo albums, but most famous with the band Cars.

Solo:  "Emotion in Motion" (#15-1986)

Some of his hits with the Cars:

Let's Go #14
Shake It Up  #4
You Might Think  #7
Magic  #12
Drive   #3
Tonight She Comes   #7

Music Deaths: Eddie Money

EDDIE MONEY, 70

Died 13 September 2019

Edward Joseph Mahoney, known professionally as Eddie Money.  Had eleven Top 40 songs in the 1970s and 1980s.

Some of his hits:

Baby Hold On

Two Tickets to Paradise

Think I'm In Love

Shakin'

Take Me Home Tonight

I Wanna Go Back

Walk On Water

Past Movie Scratches: Ghostbusters-- Jingle-- Planes-- Independence-- Miracle-- Wonka

Past Movie Scratches--  Movies watched on TV in 2018.

91.  GHOSTBUSTERS--  12-3--  Let the ladies do it.  This time it's the ladies turn.

92.  JINGLE THE BELLS--  12-4--  All for the love of a Turbo Mart.

93.  PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES--  12-4--  Getting from New York to Chicago (via Wichita) has never been more difficult.  The annoying blabbermouth.  Those aren't pillows!!  How 'bout those Bears!!

94.  INDEPENDENCE DAY:  RESURGENCE--  12-10--  They just about get us for a second time, but saved at the last possible second.  What heroes!!

95.  MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET--  12-13--  Is he Santa Claus?  Sure looks like it.  Only the cane knows.  My fourth favorite Christmas movie.

96.  WILLIE WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY--  12-12--  Love those Oompa Loompas.

--RoadDog

DID YOU KNOW:  Ingrown toe nails are hereditary.

WLS Top Ten for November 17, 1969: "Eli's Coming"

According to Chicago's WLS 890 AM.  That;s FIFTY YEARS ago.

1.  COME TOGETEHR / SOMETHING--  Beatles
2.  HOLLY HOLY--  Neil Diamond
3.  ELI'S COMIN--  Three Dog Night

4.  WEDDING BELL BLUES--  Fifth Dimension
5.  AND WHEN I DIE--  Blood, Sweat & Tears
6.  LEAVING ON A JET PLANE--  Peter, Paul & Mary
7.  NA NA HEY HEY--  Steam

8.  BABY I'M FOR REAL--  Originals
9.  FORTUNATE SON / DOWN ON THE CORNER--  Creedence Clearwater Revival
10.  TAKE A LETTER MARIA--  R.B. Greaves

*******************************

DEBUTS

30.  I WANT YOU BACK--  Jackson 5
35.  MIDNIGHT COWBOY--  Ferrante & Teicher

36.  HEAVEN KNOWS--  Grassroots
38.  RAINDROPS KEEP FALLING ON MY HEAD--  B.J. Thomas

39.  JAM UP AND JELLY TIGHT--  Tommy Roe
40.  EARLY IN THE MORNING--  Vanity Fare

********************************

Name That Tune (from the above songs): "Some Folks Ate Born Made To Wave The Flag.  Yeah, The Red, White, And Blue."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Fortunate Son"

This Should Be Another Sports Axion: Don't Start Off Too Well

Case in Point, the 2018 Chicago Bears and the 2019 Bears.

We were all really, really happy last year when Da Bears had that 12-4 unbelievable turn-around season under first year coach Matt Nagy.  That sure got hopes up and excitement for this season.  But with that 3-3 record (and especially after Sunday's excuse for a game) things aren't too happy for the Monsters this year.  Now, the Bears are 4-5.

And, of course, because of that record and the excitement, the Bears have a whole lot of night and late afternoon games this year.

Well, if this season ends up tanking, at least we won't have so many late games next year.

On that note, first year Northern Illinois University coach Thomas Hammock is off to a poor start with NIU now at 2-5.  This brings to mind the greatest Northern coach, Joe Novak, who went 1-11, 0-12 and 2-10 his first three seasons before he turned the NIU program into the winner it is today.  Now the Huskies are 4-6.

So, there's hope, and if the axiom proves true.

To Coach Novak.  --RoadHuskie

JSS: Edmund Fitzgerald-- MASH Final Episode-- Marijuana Commerdials

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  EDMUND FITZGERALD--  Almost forgot to mention that the Great Lakes ship Edmund Fitzgerald sank on November 10, 1975.  Go ahead and play that Gordon Lightfoot song.   What started out as a one-day presentation on the ship, using the song, eventually turned into a three-day presentation when I taught school.

2.  MASH FINAL EPISODE--  On Monday, Liz mentioned to me that MeTV was showing the entire MASH final episode show in honor of Veterans Day.    You forget what an excellent show that was.  And at least there was no Henry Blake leaving MASH.

3.  MARIJUANA COMMERCIALS--  We either get diabetes commercials these days, health sign up or, now that Illinois is getting around to legalizing recreational use of it on Jan. 1, we are sure getting a lot of marijuana commercials.  Those persons who were so smug that they could use it for medical reasons or angry.  And the places who got them the permission are saying you can still do better if you get it for medical purposes.

JSS.  --RoadDog

Music Deaths: Larry Taylor Session Musician Played With Canned Heat and the Monkees

LARRY TAYLOR, 77

Died 19 August 2019

Samuel Lawrence Taylor  was an American bass guitarist who was in Canned Heat and worked with the Monkees, John Mayall and Tom Waits.  he was the younger brother of Mel Taylor, long-time drummer with the Ventures.

Played with Canned Heat from 1967 to 1970 and was with them at various festivals, including Woodstock.  He also played as a session musician on the first two Monkees albums.

Past Movie Scratches: Sorcerer's-- Secrets- Goblet-- Azkaban-- Phoenix-- Christmas

Past Movie Scratches--  Movies I saw on TV in 2018.

85.  HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE--  11-24--  Don't pet Fluffy.  Ron knows his Wizard Chess.  Harry meets Lord Voldemort.

86.  HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS--  11-25--  Meet Dobby, the house elf.  The flying car and all sorts of spiders and one really big mean snake.

87.  HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE--  11-27--  Hadrid
's girlfriend.  The Paris witches and Bulgarian wizards.  Dragons, mermaids and hedges.

88.  HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN--  11-26--  Harry meets his godfather, Sirius Black.

89.  HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX--  11-28--  The witch of a witch, the cat lady Mrs. Umbraze.  We meet Hagrid's half brother and the Centaurs.

90.  CHRISTMAS VACATION--  12-2--  It's the squirrel vs. the Griswolds, the dog and the next door neighbors.

It's A Potter Thing.  --RoadPot

**************

DID YOU KNOW:  The dot over the letter "i" is called a tittle.

JSS: Winter Arrives Early-- Halloween Decorations-- Even Cold in Myrtle Beach-- How About That Wall MR. PRESIDENT?

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.

1.  WINTER ARRIVES EARLY--   It definitely has arrived early.  We had 5 inches of snow on Halloween and another 5 inches  yesterday.  And today, temps never much got past 20 degrees all day.

2.  HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS-- Unfortunately, I had taken down the Halloween outside decorations but not brought them inside.  Now they are covered with snow.  I'll have to wait for a warm up.  I sure hope it gets a bit warmer.

3.  EVEN COLD IN MYRTLE BEACH--  I usually listen to WVCO, 94.9 the Surf in North Myrtle Beach most mornings and they are talking of temperatures below freezing and wind chill tomorrow of around 20 degrees.  So, I don't feel so bad.

4.  HOW ABOUT THAT WALL, MR. PRESIDENT?--  I know our president would like to build a wall along our border with Mexico.  But I have a better idea for a wall.  Let's build it where an even bigger problem exists, and that would be along our northern border.

Now, don't get me wrong, I like Canadians, BUT I sure don't like THEIR WEATHER!!!  I think they should keep their weather on their own side of the wall and quit sending it to us.

Come On, Mr. President.  Build That Wall.  --RoadWall

*******************

DID YOU KNOW:  The symbol on the "pound" key (#) is called an octothorpe.

Don't octothorpe me.

Music Deaths: Peter Fonda

PETER FONDA, 79

Died August 16, 2019

Okay, so he was an actor and not a musician, but he's listed here for his great movie "Easy Rider" and that wonderful soundtrack.

Not only that, but it was a great road trip movie as well, something I appreciate even more now that I have gotten into Route 66 and old roads.

Thanks, Peter.

Music Deaths: Ian Gibbons, Keyboardist with the Kinks

IAN GIBBONS,  67

Died August 1, 2019

He wasn't with them during their heyday 1960s, but later.

Played with the Kinks from 1979 to 1989.  They had a big hit with "Come Dancing" in 1983 which went to #6.

Chicago's Soldier Field a Fitting Memorial to Our Veterans

Or, is it Soldiers Field as I usually call it?

From Wikipedia.

I started writing about this venerable site in today's Cooter's History Thing blog.  This is where Chicago's Veterans Day ceremony will be held today.

The design of Soldier Field is Neoclassic style with Doric columns rising above the east and west sides.  I am so glad they kept the columns after its interior was demolished and rebuilt with that huge bowl thing in 2002.

The stadium cost $13 million to build, a very large sum of money for a sporting venue at the time.  By comparison, the  the L.A. Memorial Coliseum cost $1 million.

In its earliest configuration, 74,,280 spectators could be seated with additional seating that could raise attendance to 100,000.  Now, attendance is limited to 61,500.

WLS Top 40 for November 10, 1969, the Top Ten-- Part 7: "Come Together"

That's right, fifty years ago today.  These were the Top 40 songs in the city according to Chicago's WLS 890 AM.

10.  TAKE A LETTER MARIA--  R,B. Greaves    #2
9.  LEAVING ON A JET PLANE--  Peter, Paul & Mary     #1
8.  TRY A LITTLE KINDNESS--  Glen Campbell    #23

7.  AND WHEN I DIE--  Blood, Sweat & Tears    #2
6.  HOLLY HOLY--  Neil Diamond    #6
5.  ELI'S COMING--  Three Dog Night   #10
4.  JUDY BLUE EYES--  Crosby, Stills & Nash   #21

3.  BABY IT'S YOU--  Smith     #5
2. WEDDING BELL BLUES--  Fifth Dimension    #1
1.  COME TOGETHER  #1   / SOMETHING   #3   --  Beatles

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "There'll Be One Child Born  And A World To Carry On, To Carry On."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"And When I Die"

Past Movie Scratches: European-- Minions-- Sorcerer's-- Goblet-- BFG-- Hell

Past Movie Scratches--  Movies I saw on TV in 2018.

79.  EUROPEAN VACATION--  11-7--  Clark wrecks pretty much everything in Europe like Stonehenge (Oops) and the Oktoberfest.

80.  MINIONS--  11-9--  Their history and how they found the young, despicable Grue.

81.  HARRY POTTER:  THE SORCERER'S STONE--  11-12--    You forget how young they were in the first installment of the series.

82.  HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE--    Or, the Drag, Fish & Hedges.  Plus, we get to meet old you-know-who.  Begins with V.

83.  BFG-- 11-18--  One nice giant and a bunch of real bad giants.  Loved to hear him talk.

84.  HELL BOY--  11-20--  Who Needs no stinkin' karaoke "I Can't Smile Without You."  And those really not nice tooth fairies.   I really like Hell Boy.

Love Those Minions and Hell Boy.  --RoadBoy

DID YOU KNOW:  Almonds are members of the peach family.

WLS Top 40 for November 10, 1969-- Part 6: "Suspicious Minds"

15.  LOVE WILL FIND A WAY--  Jackie DeShannon        #40   I don't remember this one., but it grows on you and I'm surprised it didn't do better.   Follow up to her biggest hit, "Put A Little Love In Your Heart."

14.  NA NA HEY HEY--  Steam     #1   Dig the single cover which had the lads sitting where?  As a White Sox fan, I definitely love this song.  Thanks Nancy Faust.   Their only Top 40 song.

13.  SMILE A LITTLE SMILE--  Flying Machine      #5   Almost a gag me song, but some redeeming parts.

12.  BABY I'M FOR REAL--  Originals     #14  Now, here is some great SOUL.  I don't remember it, but can almost hear Herb Kent, the Cool Gent, introducing this Dusty.   Formed in Detroit in 1966.

11.  SUSPICIOUS MINDS--    Elvis Presley      #1   Probably my favorite Elvis song.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "He'll Never Love You The Way That I Love You."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


Na Na Hey Hey, Goodbye"

WLS Top 40 for November 10, 1969-- Part 5: "Fortunate Son"

20.   I CAN'T GET NEXT TO YOU--  Temptations      #1     Motown like Motown should be.  Gotta love that choreography.  Their biggest-ever hit.

19.  FORTUNATE SON  #14 / DOWN ON THE CORNER  #3--   Creedence Clearwater Revival.   What you'd call a two-sided hit.     There's a reason this guys are my all-time favorite band.

18.  TRACY--  Cuff Links      #9    A fun piece of pop if there ever was one.  Clocking in at just 2:13.    "Tracy, never, ever let me go."  Their biggest hit and only Top 40.

17.  BALL OF FIRE--  Tommy James / Shondells     #19   They sure have come a long way from "Hanky Panky."  Real psychedelic, man.

16.  ROOSEVELT & IRA LEE--   Tony Joe White    #44  (Night of the Mossacin)  Two cats talking real deep Southron.  "Polk Salad Annie" part two.  Write Brook Benton's "Rainy Night in Georgia."

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Early In The Evenin', Just About Supper Time."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Down On the Corner"

Past Movie Scratches: Vacation-- Animal-- Amigos-- Caddyshack-- Vegas-- Nerds

Past Movie Scratches--  Movies seen on TV in 2018.

The numbers after the title are the date I saw these movies on TV or VCR.

73.  VACATION--  11-5--  The Griswolds overcome everything that can go wrong on a family vacation.

74.  ANIMAL HOUSE--  11-5--  "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?"  Classic line from my all-time favorite movie.

75.  THE THREE AMIGOS--  11-6--   Movies get real.  Talk about three guys without a clue.

76.  CADDYSHACK--  11-6--  It's Bill Murray vs. that Groundhog.  Who wins?

77.  VEGAS VACATION-- 11-6--   Poor Clark can't win.  Rusty can't lose and Ellen gets a boyfriend.

78.  REVENGE OF THE NERDS--  11-6--  It's kind of another A"Animal House."  Nerd power!!

These Are Some of the Funniest Movies Ever Made.  --RoadHaHa

DID YOU KNOW:  "Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt."

WLS Top 40 for November 10, 1969-- Part 4: "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday"

Yep, Fifty Years Ago!!!!!!!

25.  BACKFIELD IN MOTION--  Mel & Tim    #10   One great Soul Song   Their biggest hit.

24.  SO GOOD TOGETHER--  Andy Kim      #36    Never heard this song before.   Good song though and I couldn't help think how much this sounds like "Baby, I Love You."

23.  TURN ON A DREAM--  Box Tops     #58    Never heard it before, but since I am a big Box Top fan, hey, I Like It!!

22.  YESTER-ME, YESTER-YOU, YESTERDAY--  Stevie Wonder     #7   A great song, right up there with "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours."

21.  YOU'VE LOST THAT LOVIN' FEELING--  Dionne Warwick     #16      Those of you that think no one can match the Righteous Brothers version need to give this a listen.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I'm Gonna Have To Penalize You."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Backfield In Motion"

WLS Top 40 for November 10, 1969-- Part 3: "Hot Fun In the Summertime"

30.  MAKE YOUR OWN KIND OF MUSIC--  Mama Cass     #36    What a voice and great arrangement on this song.

29.  HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME--  Sly & Family Stone      #2     Kind of late in the year for a song with this title.  One of my favorite summer songs, though.

28.  SOMEDAY WE'LL BE TOGETHER--  Diana Ross / Supremes      #1   (D)  Brings back memories of dear old NIU.

27.  MIND, BODY & SOUL--  Flaming Ember    #26    I don't remember this song, but always thought this was a black group.  What you call blue-eyed soul.   Their first hit.

26.  GROOVY GRUBWORM--  Harlow Wilcox      #30   An instrumental by him (all 6'4" of him) and his band, the Oakies.  Perhaps from Oklahoma?  Yep.  A One Hit Wonder.

Name That Tune (From the above songs):  "And Just As Sure My Baby As There Are Stars Above..."  Answer below.  RoadDog


"Someday We'll Be Together"

Music Deaths: Art Neville of the Famed Neville Brothers of New Orleans

ART NEVILLE, 81

Died 22 July 2019

Was the third famous New Orleans person to die in a little over a month.  The others being Dave Bartholomew and Dr. John.

Keyboard player and founding member of the Meters.  Art "Poppa Funk" Neville.  New Orleans music icon won multiple Grammys.  The Meters formed in the 1960s and he also formed the Neville Brothers with his three brothers.

Way Too Good of Music.

Music Deaths: Dick Richards of Bill Haley & His Comets

DICK RICHARDS, 95

Died 12 July 2019

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dick Boccelli, who performed under the name Dick Richards was the original drummer of Bill Haley & His Comets.  he performed with them on their biggest songs :"Rock Around the Clock: and "Shake, Rattle & Roll."

Sang background vocals during recording sessions.  Joined Comets in 953 and left in 1955.

WLS Top 40 for November 10, 1969-- Part 2: "Ruben James"

(D) means Debut.  The number behind the artists is the highest the song got on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.

35.  GET RHYTHM--  Johnny Cash     #60     That beat, that sound, that voice.  Country goes pop!!!

34.  RUEBEN JAMES--  Kenny Rogers / First Edition    #26    The old black man who took in the little white boy and raised him.  Spelled "Ruben James."

33.  TEN COMMANDMENTS OF LOVE--  Little Anthony / Imperials     #82   At first, I didn't care for it (I don't remember ever hearing it), but the more I listened to it, the more I liked it.

32.  ELEANOR RIGBY--  Aretha Franklin   #17   (D)  Let her take someone else's song and make it her own.

31.  AREN'T WE THE LUCKY ONES--  Vic Dana    Did not chart.   The flip side of "I Tried to Love You Today."  believe it or not, I could not find this song on You Tube.  That is a rare thing indeed.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Well, All The Lonely People, Where Do They All Come from?  Yeah."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Eleanor Rigby"

WLS Top 40 from November 10, 1969-- Part 1: Evil Woman, Don't Play Those Games With Me"

Songs on Chicago's WLS 890 AM from fifty years ago.

The number after the artist is how high it got on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Chart.  (D) means Debut.

40.  EVIL WOMAN, DON'T PLAY YOUR GAMES WITH ME--  Crow    #19    (D)  One of the great garage rock/frat rock songs of all time.  Their biggest hit.

39.  A BRAND NEW ME--  Dusty Springfield     #24   (D)  One of my favorites by her.   Written by Chicago's Jerry Butler  "Just because of you."

38.  JEAN--  Oliver    #2   Gagged me then, still gags me.  Right up there with  with "Honey" in gag appeal.

37.  UP ON CRIPPLE CREEK--  Band   #25  (D)  One of my favorite songs by one of my favorite groups.  So much effort coming up with a name.   Their biggest hit.

36.  SHANGRI-LA--  Lettermen    #64   Just too pretty.  All that vocalizing.   Formed in Los Angeles in 1960.


Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "This Is My Same Old Coat And My Same Old Shoes."  --  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"A Brand New Me."

Past Movie Scratches: Lie-- Independence-- Jurassic-- African-- Purge-- Pets

Past Movie Scratches--  Movies seen on TV in 2018.

67.  THE GOOD LIE--  10-14-   And you think you have it rough?  Sudanese refugees.

68.  INDEPENDENCE DAY:  RESURGENCE--  10-20--  Mean old aliens take another shot at earth and almost make it this time.  But as usual, don't mess with humans.

69.  JURASSIC WORLD--  10-21--  Don't go near the water.  T Rex regains Top Dog thanks to Blue and buddies.

70.  AFRICAN QUEEN--  10-27--  Yuck!!  Leeches!!!

71.  PURGE:  ELECTION YEAR--  10-30--  The ultimate way to vent.  Just when you get rid of the rich kids, the neighbors show up.

72.  THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS--  11-4--  What goes on when you leave the house.

--RoadDog

Music Deaths: Jerry Larson Lead Singer of A Cappella Group Persuasions

JERRY LARSON, 75

Died 11 July 2019

For four decades the lead singer of a cappella group the Persuasions.  Eclectic cult favorite group.  Recorded 25 albums of pop, gospel, rock and blues.

They never had a Top 100 on the Billboard pop chart.

I'd never heard of them before, but listened to some of their songs on You Tube.  Wow!!!  You've got to hear their "People Get Ready."

Mighty Good Stuff.

Music Deaths: Gary Duncan of the Quicksilver Messenger Service Band

GARY DUNCAN, 72

Died June 29, 2019

Born Eugene Duncan Jr.  Adopted at birth and name changed to Gary Ray Grub.    American guitarist and singer, most famous for his time with Quicksilver Messenger Service, a San Francisco Acid-Rock group  featuring guitarist John Cippolina.  Their biggest hit was "Fresh Air"  (#49-1970).

A big part of the Haight-Asbury San Francisco Scene.

WLS Top Ten for November 3, 1969: "Holly Holy"

Fifty years ago.

1.  COME TOGETHER / SOMETHING--  Beatles
2.  WEDDING BELL BLUES--  Fifth Dimension
3.  JUDY BLUE EYES--  Crosby, Stills & Nash

4.  BABY IT'S YOU--  Smith
5.  SUSPICIOUS MINDS--  Elvis Presley
6.  TRACY--  Cuff Links
7.  HOLLY HOLY--  Neil Diamond

8.  TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS--  Three Dog Night
9.  LEAVING ON A JET PLANE--  Peter, Paul & Mary
10.  TAKE A LETTER MARIA--  R.B. Greaves

***********************************

DEBUTS

30.  YESTER-ME, YESTER-YOU, YESTERDAY--  Stevie Wonder
35.  CHERRY HILL PARK--  Billy Joe Royal

36.  MAKE YOU OWN KIND OF MUSIC--  Mama Cass Elliot
38.  GET RHYTHM--  Johnny Cash

39.  SHANGRI-LA--  Lettermen
40.  BACKFIELD IN MOTION--  Mel & Tim

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Sometimes It Hurts so Badly I Must Cry Out Loud."    Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Suite:  Judy Blue Eyes"

Movie Scratches: Boys-- Angel-- Hobbs-- It

Movie Scratches--  A Dog's Eye view of today's movies as seen at the theater.

I haven't been seeing many movies this year.

21.  GOOD BOYS--  8-27--  Fox Lake, $5--  The Beanbay Boys have quite the day of it and all for a kiss.  While the frat boys take a beating.

22.  ANGEL HAS FALLEN--  9-3--  Fox Lake, $5--  The third "Fallen."  Getting out of real tight spots a specialty.  Nick Nolte ridden hard and put away wet.

23.  FAST & FURIOUS PRESENTS:  HOBBS & SHAW--  9-3--  Fox Lake, $5--Forced to work together and they REALLY don't like each other.Great put-downs and some Haka too.

24.  IT CHAPTER TWO--  9-10--  Woodstock, $5--  Gettin' the hell out of Derry if you know what's good for you and in more ways than one.  Pennywise vs. Freddie Kreuger.  Now, that would be interesting.

Great Seats Now At the Classic Cinemas Fox Lake Theatre.  --RoadDog

Music Deaths: Dave Bartholomew, A Major Force in New Orleans Music

DAVE BARTHOLOMEW, 100

Died June 23, 2019

American musician, bandleader, composer, arranger, record producer prominent in all things New Orleans music.  In many music genres, including rhythm and blues, Big Band, Swing Music, Rock and Roll, New Orleans Jazz and Dixieland.

He was a big reason for Fats Domino's success, co-writing and producing big hits that crossed over to white audiences.

Some of the songs he was involved with:

Wrote "My Ding-A-Ling," a big hit for Chuck Berry.
I Hear You Knocking--  Dave Edmunds
I'm Walking--  Ricky Nelson

Blue Monday
Ain't That A Shame
I'm In Love Again

Walking to New Orleans
My Girl Josephine

That's Two First Rate New Orleans Music People Dying This Month.

Music Deaths: Dr. John

DR. JOHN, 77

Died June 6, 2019

Well, Dr. John.  What can I say.  Perfect New Orleans.  A real gumbo here in music.

Real name Malcom John Rebbennak Jr, but best known by his stage name, Dr. John.  Became popular in the 1960s after the release of his album "Gris Gris."  Had quite a theatrical stage show, complete with medicine shows, Mardi Gras costumes and voodoo ceremonies.

Had thirty studio albums and 9 live albums.  Won six Grammy Awards and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011.

He only had four songs make it into the Top 100 pop charts.  The two biggest were ""Right Place, Wrong Time"  (#9-1973) and "Such A Night" (#42-1973).

I also have a lot of his albums and CDs.

My Kind of Gumbo, You Know.

JSS: Merry Halloween-- No Snowblower-- Pine Straw Still Down-- Flowers Still Out-- Haunted Driveway?

Well, it would appear that winter has arrived here in the Midwest.

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  MERRY HALLOWEEN--  All we want for Halloween is snow.  Wait, that's for Christmas.  It started snowing last night and has continued until now at 2:12 p.m..  I'm figuring we have at least 4 inches of snow on the ground.

2.  NO SNOWBLOWER--  And, I haven't gotten my snowblower working yet and am really hoping a ran off the gas-oil mixture this summer, but can't remember.  Will find out soon enough.

3.  PINE STRAW STILL DOWN--  And, I had just begun to rake the pine straw from around the pine islands.  Can't see the pine straw anymore.

4.  FLOWERS STILL OUT--  And, I still have some flowers out in pots.  But, I have taken the ones I want to overwinter inside.

5.  HAUNTED DRIVEWAY?--  Well, my driveway has snow on it.  The folks across the street?  Their driveways have no snow on them.  Mine must be haunted.

Too Soon for Snow.  --RoadSnow

The Drive's Halloween Spooktacular A to Z: "Don't Fear the Reaper"

Right now, WDRV, the Drive, in Chicago is playing their Halloween A to Z songs and are in the letter "D".  It streams and goes on until later this evening.  www.wdrv.com.

Last ten songs played:

EVIL WAYS--  Santana
DON'T FEAT THE REAPER--  Blue Oyster Cult
DEVIL'S GOT A NEW DISGUISE--  Aerosmith

DEVIL WOMAN--  Cliff Richard
DEVIL WITH A BLUE DRESS ON/GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY--  Mitch Ryder
THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA--  Charlie Daniels Band
DARKNESS AT THE EDGE OF TOWN--  Bruce Springsteen

DANCING IN THE DARK--  Bruce Springsteen
CUTS LIKE A KNIFE--  Bryan Adams
THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON--  Dave Edmunds

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "He Was In A Bind Cause He Was Way Behind."  Answer below.  --ScaredDog


"The Devil Went Down to Georgia"

Music to Make You Howl at Halloween: "Werewolves of London"

From Bob Stroud's Ten at Ten on Chicago's WDRV (The Drive) 97.1 FM for Halloween today.

Well, actually, a very, very distant relative named Baron Von Frankenstroud gave us the ten songs.

GHOSTBUSTERS--  Ray Parker, Jr.
SPOOKY--  Classics IV
DEVIL INSIDE--  INXS

SPIRITS IN THE MATERIAL WORLD--  Police
I PUT A SPELL ON YOU--  Screamin' Jay Hawkins
DANCING WITH MR. D--  Rolling Stones
WEREWOLVES OF LONDON--  Warren Zevon

PSYCHO KILLER--  Talking Heads
HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF--  Duran Duran
MONSTER MASH--  Bobby "Boris"Pickett

This will be repeated at 10 pm tonight.

Also, the Drive is running their Halloween A to Z show where they play a whole lot of Halloween songs in that order until way late this evening.  They started at noon and are up to the letter "D" now.

These all stream at www.wdrv.com.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Is There Somethin' Strange In Your Neighborhood?"  Answer below.  --RoadBoo


"Ghostbusters"

This Should Be a Sports Axiom: Save Some of Your Runs

After the last couple months, I would have to put these two likely axioms in play for sports.

Blowing Out Your Opponents Just Means That You'll Be Losing Some Close Games in the Future.

The Chicago Cubs blew out the Pittsburgh Pirates three straight games in September as they were fighting for a post season berth.  The scores were 17-8, 14-1 and 16-6.  Sure, we enjoyed those.  And they even won the next game, beating Cincinnati 8-2.

BUT:  Then came the nine game losing streak with five straight games lost by just one run.

4-2, 3-2 (10 innings), 5-4 (10 innings), 2-1, 9-8 and 3-2.  Cubs out of playoffs.

And, the St. Louis Cardinals blew Atlanta out in that one NLDS game and then lost four straight to the Nationals to bow out of the World Series.

Moral to the Story:  Save some of those runs.

Ain't It the Truth.  --RoadScore

From Happy to Happy Valley: #1 Place to Enjoy a Football Game is Penn State

#1  PENN STATE

Why, they even call the area where Penn State is located "Happy Valley" even though it really refers to the fact that the area wasn't hit as hard during the Great Depression because of Penn State being located there.

More than 100,000 fans descend into a cozy Pennsylvania town (42,353) every football weekend and transform it into one of the grandest parties in college sports.  Parking lots open on Thursday night as pop up towns of tents and RVs cluster around Beaver Stadium.

Students set up camps for first-come, first-served seating in their section, helping to build anticipation before game day.  Stroll through the tailgating area before kickoff and you're likely to be invited to share a beer or a brat in somebody's tent.

It's hard to beat the raucous atmosphere of a whiteout during a night game in State College with students chanting,  "We Are Penn State!!"

The downside?  Traffic is miserable with a two-lane road in and out of town.

I sure would like to have done some of (or all of) the research for this article.

Can't Beat Fun at the Old Football Game.  --RoadBall

WLS Top Ten for October 27, 1969: "Suite Judy Blue Eyes"

From the Oldies Loon site.

1.  SUSPICIOUS MINDS--  Elvis Presley
2. TRACY--  Cuff Links
3.  WEDDING BELL BLUES--  Fifth Dimension

4.  I CAN'T GET NEXT TO YOU--  Temptations
5.  HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME--  Sly & Family Stone
6.  BABY ITS YOU--  Smith
7.  SUITE JUDY BLUE EYES--  Crosby, Stills & Nash

8.  SOMETHING/COME TOGETHER--  Beatles
9.  BALL OF FIRE--  Tommy James / Shondells
10.  REUBEN JAMES-- Kenny Rogers / First Edition

**************************

DEBUTS

30.  BABY, I'M FOR REAL--  Originals
37.  NA NA HEY HEY--  Steam  That famed baseball song popularized by the White Sox.  Thanks Nancy Faust.  "Kiss Him Goodbye."

39.  FORTUNATE SON--  CCR
40.  GROOVY GRUBWORM--  Harlow Wilcox

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I Can Turn The Gray Sky Blue."   Answer below.  --RoadDog


"I Can't Get Next To You"

I Guess I Should Be Telling You How They Arrived at the Rankings

I have only been to a whole bunch of games at Northwestern's Dyche Stadium, now Ryan Field, and one U of Illinois and one Indiana University game, so that is the extent of my Big 10 football experiences.

The writers of the article in the Tribune last year said they weighed factors such as atmosphere, tailgating, tradition, food and even parking to rank fan experience at each school.

They think you should put some of these on your bucket list, but say you might want to skip the East Coast.  I personally believe that those East Coast schools:  Maryland and Rutgers, are a blemish on the Big Ten, 11,12,13,14.

--RoadDog

From Happy to Sad-- Part 5: #3 Nebraska and #2 Wisconsin

3.  NEBRASKA--  Even if the game is a dud, you'll never forget your first trip to Memorial Stadium.  It is well-situated  near booth the campus and downtown Lincoln, where the most intense pregaming takes place.

The "O" Street area is full of college bars and the Haymarket part of downtown is just the place for you late 20s and 30s folks.

The experience of the fans of the visiting team is unmatched, with upbeat "Sea of Red" locals saying, "Welcome to Lincoln!  Hope you enjoy the game!" and inviting you to their tailgate for free food and drink.

Eat a corn dog and ask who the third-string punter is.  Husker fans will know.

2.  WISCONSIN--  Tradition and winning combine for a fantastic atmosphere.  Wisconsin has it all.  When "Jump Around" blasts at Camp Randall before the fourth quarter and the stadium literally starts rocking, you know you're at the Big Ten's best parties.

Wisconsin doesn't have a central tailgating area, but feel free to pop onto a lawn for a house party and buy a red Solo cup  and tap a keg.  Fans mill in and out of bars on regent Street.  Grab a couple of Spotted Cows (craft beer, hey, it's Dairy Land for crying out loud) and some brats to feel like one of the locals.

Fans even stick around for the postgame celebration with the marching band, known as "The Fifth Quarter."

So, Who's #1?  --RoadDog

DID YOU KNOW (From the Orange Peel Gazette):  The longest one syllable word in the English language is   "screeched."

From Happy to Sad, Big 10 Football Fun-- Part 3: #5 Ohio State, #4 Iowa

5. OHIO STATE--  The first time you see the "Shoe", you might be awed by its size and grandeur.  There is a massive tailgating area and then, that marching band, which bills itself as TBDBITL:  "The Best Damn Band In The Land" and they live up to that as well..  Before the game, about 10,000 fans go to the St. John Arena  for a concert.  However, OSU fans have a reputation for being less than cordial to visiting fans.

Though I am definitely NOT an OSU fan, one year a buddy and I were in Columbus when the Buckyeyes played Indiana at home.  And, I was pulling for OSU, something I thought I'd never do.  But it is always more fun to be cheering with the home team when you are in their home.  I had a real good time at several bars.

4.  IOWA--  When "Back in Black" plays, the crowd roars in anticipation of "The Swarm" where Iowa players lock arms before running onto the field.

And recently, they have added another tradition, "The Wave" as fans show support for patients in the children's hospital that overlooks the stadium.  That to me is probably the greatest college football tradition anywhere and really moves you as you can see the kids waving back.  I'm getting tingles just typing this.

Kinnick Stadium is a classic brick stadium that seats about 70,500 fans, but there are often 100,000 or more people in black and gold milling around.

--RoadFan

From Happy to Sad, Big 10 Football Fun-- Part 2: Minnesota, Indiana, MSU, Michigan

9.  MINNESOTA--  TCF Bank is the most modern stadium in the Big Ten and a huge improvement from when they played their home games in the Metrodome.  Finally a home field on the campus and, and you can buy beer.

8.  INDIANA--  The Hoosiers have a late arriving crowd, especially for noon games.  There might be 15,000 fans in the stadium at kickoff and twice as many in the parking lots.

7.  MICHIGAN STATE--  A huge, underrated walk along the Red Cedar River on a fall day as the leaves are changing is a must..  Spartan Stadium is blah, but the tailgating is astounding.  Drink beer, not the water.

6.  MICHIGAN--   The Big House is an intimidating, massive stadium, sometimes referred to as a crater with a football field at the bottom.  Some consider it a sure-fire bucket list item, and that fight song will sure stick in your mind.

Football Saturday, You Know.  --RoadPunt

***********************

CROSS PURPOSES:  "Ferry Cross the Mersey" was a 1964 hit song for which British Invasion group?


Gerry and the Pacemakers

From Happy to Sad: Where to Go for Big Ten, 11,12,13,14 Fun-- Part 1: The Bottom Five

From the September 21, 2018, Chicago Tribune by Shannon Ryan and Teddy Greenstein.

Well, it's that time of the year again.  Leaves are turning, beer is flowing, winter's on its way.  Where to have a lot of fun at football games in the Big Ten, 11, 12, 13,14:

(Not exactly sure how come they still call it the Big Ten what with 14 teams, but I'll simply refer to it as the Big Ten after this.)

14.  MARYLAND:   Probably more into Hoops.

13.  RUTGERS:     Eating. but not much else.

I hate these two above teams being in the Big Ten.  They are not Midwest in any sense.

12.  ILLINOIS:    Bad teams don't attract.  Careful.  Everyone, even us fifty year olds get carded on the party street.  Well. that last second win against Wisconsin Saturday might help a little.

11.  PURDUE:  Low attendance at games.

10.  NORTHWESTERN:    Really not much around it.  But I will be at the game this Saturday.  Sre glad I wasn't there this past Friday against Ohio State.

--RoadTailGate
**************************

CROSS PURPOSE:  Who was the founder of the American Red Cross?


Clara Barton

Music Deaths: Roky Erickson of the 13th Floor Elevators

ROKY ERICKSON, 71

Died May 31, 2019

Singer, songwriter of the psychedelic band 13th Floor Elevators from Austin, Texas.  They were a One Hit Wonder band with just "You're Gonna Miss Me" (#55-1966)

Early in her career, Janis Joplin considered joining this band.  The band was a vocal proponent of the use of marijuana and  and psychedelic drug use and as such, were constantly under  attention of law enforcement groups.  They were the first group to call it Psychedelic Rock.

If you haven't heard this song, go to You Tube.  Very interesting.  Surprised that it didn't chart higher (excuse the pun).  Also, they have an hour-long album "The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators."  Worth a listen.  They sure liked that strange sound on their songs.

Far Out, Man, Far Out.

Music Deaths: Leon Redbone

LEON REDBONE, 69

Died May 30, 2019

About as unique of a musician as you can get.  His music defies genre.  Specialized in jazz, blues and Tin Pan Alley songs.  Easily recognized by his Panama hat and dark sunglasses.  Released eighteen albums and sang the theme song to TV's "Mr. Belvedere."

Provided the voice of snowman Leon in the movie "Elf."

I have several of his albums.  For some reason I always thought of him as being from New Orleans with his eclectic music.

Music Deaths: Chuck Barksdale, 84, Member of the Dells

CHUCK BARKSDALE, 84

Died May 15, 2019

Bass singer with the popular Soul Music group, the Dells for over fifty years.  The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.  The fictional group in the movie "The Five Heartbeats" was based on the group.

The group formed in Harvey, Illinois, and had hits such as "There Is" (#20-1968),  "Stay In My Corner" (#10-1968) and "Oh What A Night"  (10-1969)

Music Deaths: Leon Rausch of Bob Wills & Texas Playboys

LEON RAUSCH, 91

Died May 14, 2019

Was the voice of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.  He was the lead vocalist on all those Western Swing Music songs by the band from the 1950s into the 1960s.

After Bob Wills died in 1975, Mr. Rausch continued to tour.

Western Swing Music was recognized as Texas' official state music in 2011.

WLS Top Ten for October 20, 1969: Wedding Bell Blues"

Just fifty years ago.  Half a century.  A quarter of a bicentennial.

1.  SUSPICIOUS MINDS--   Elvis Presley
2.  I CAN'T GET NEXT TO YOU--  Temptations
3.  HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME--  Sly & the Family Stone

4.  TRACY--  Cuff Links
5.  JEAN--  Oliver
6.  WEDDING BELL BLUES--  Fifth Dimension
7.  JUDY BLUE EYES--  Crosby, Stills & Nash

8.  BALL OF FIRE--  Tommy James / Shondells
9.  REUBEN JAMES--  Tommy James / Shondells
10.  JESUS IS A SOUL MAN--  Lawrence Reynolds

*************************

DEBUTS

30.  ELI'S COMING--  Three Dog Night
32.  AND WHEN I DIE--  BS&T

36.  SO GOOD TOGETHER--  Andy Kim
38.  TURN ON A DREAM--  Box Tps

39.  MIND, BODY & SOUL--  Flaming Embers
40.  AREN'T WE THE LUCKY ONES--  Vic Dana

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "End Of The Spring And Here She Comes Back, Hi Hi Hi Hi There."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Hot Fun In the Summertime"

The Top Ten for Oct. 13 Is Found on the Blog Entry for October 13

I wrote down the Top ten songs for October 13, 1969, on my Oct. 13 blog entry, so check it out.

--RoadDog

WLS Top 40 for October 13, 1969-- Part 4: "Baby It's You"

15.  EASY TO BE HARD--  Three Dog Night     #4     From the musical "Hair."  Los Angeles group.

14.  BABY ITS YOU--   Smith     #5    Their first and  biggest hit by the Los Angeles-based rock quintet.

13.  BALL OF FIRE--  Tommy James / Shondells     #19

12.  REUBEN JAMES--  Kenny Rogers / First Edition    #26     Born in 1938 in Houston, Texas.  Sang with the New Christy Minstrels, before forming the First Edition.

11.  JESUS IS A SOUL MAN--  Lawrence Reynolds     #28   Never heard of it before.  Good soul, though.  From Mobile, Alabama.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "How Can People Be So Heartless, How Can People Be So Cruel."  Answer below.  --RoadDog



"Easy To Be Hard"

WLS Top 40 for October 13, 1969-- Part 3: "Is That All There Is"

For more fun, try to guess who sang the song in the headline of this post.

Fifty years ago in Chicago.

25.  SUGAR ON SUNDAY--   Clique    #22   Pop rock quintet from Texas.  Their biggest hit of three Top 100s.

24.  CARRY ME BACK--  Rascals    #26    Not the Young Rascals anymore.

23.  YOU, I--   Rugbys     #24    Their only Top 100.  You know.

22.  TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS--  Glen Campbell     #23

21.  MAKE BELIEVE--   Wind     #28   New York studio group featuring Tony Orlando.   One Hit Wonder.

20.  IS THAT ALL THERE IS--  Peggy Lee    #11    Her biggest hit was 1958's "Fever" which went to #8.

19.  SUGAR, SUGAR--   Archies    #1    Their biggest hit.   Love that Bubble Gum Music.

18.  SOMETHING / COME TOGETHER--  Beatles      "Something" #3   "Come Together"  #1

17.  WEDDING BELL BLUES--  Fifth Dimension   #1

16.  JUDY BLUE EYES--  Crosby, Stills & Nash      #21    "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes"  Written by Stephen Stills for Judy Collins.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "It's Getting To The Point Where I'm No Fun Anymore."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Suite: Judy Blue Eyes"

WLS Top 40 for October 13, 1969-- Part 2: "Holly Holy"

Fifty Years Ago in Chicago.

I was unable to listen to these songs on You Tube this time because of all the problems I've been having with the computer, so will just say whether I remember the song, how high it got on the Billboard Hot 100 national chart and perhaps something Joel Whitburn wrote about the group or song.

35.  SON OF A LOVIN' MAN--   Buchanan Brothers     #61    Their second and last Top 100.  Their big hit was "Medicine Man" (#22-1969).  A Two-Hit Wonder.  I don't remember this song.

34.  LOVE WILL FIND A WAY--    Jackie DeShannon    (D)

33.  YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE--   Brooklyn Bridge     #51    Out of Long Island, New York.    One of seven Top 100s.  My fraternity Delta Sigma Phi at NIU, had a song based on this song  "walk on, Walk on, with Delta Sigma Phi, and you'll never walk alone."

32.  HOLLY HOLY--  Neil Diamond      #6    (D)

31.  TAKE A LETTER MARIA--  R.B. Greaves     #2   Born Ronald Bertram Aloysius Greaves.  Half American Indian.  His biggest hit of 5 songs making the Top 100.

30.  ANY WAY YOU WANT ME--  Eve Sands     #50   "Any Way That You Want Me" by Evie Sands.   I don't remember this song.

29.  THE TRAIN--  1910 Fruitgum Co.    #57    I don't remember this song.   Their last hit.   No more Bubble Gum Music from them.

28.  WHEN I DIE--  Motherlode     #18    A true One Hit Wonder.

27.  DON'T IT MAKE YOU WANNA GO HOME--  Joe South    #41      Born Joe Souter in Atlanta.

26.  JACK & JILL--  Tommy Roe    #53      I don't remember this song.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Last Night As I Got Home About Half Past Ten."   Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Take A Letter Maria"

WLS Top 40 for October 13, 1969-- Part 1: "Smile A Little Smile"

These were the Top 40 songs on Chicago's WLS 890 AM back fifty years ago.  A (D) means it is a debut song.  The number after the artist is how high the song got on Billboard's Hot 100 national chart.

I usually listen to all of the songs in the top 40 but have been having serious computer problems which hopefully now are solved.  I only listened to 36-40.  The rest of the songs will have just comments by Joel Whitburn in his "Top Pop Singles 1955-1993" book.

40.  TEN COMMANDMENTS--   Little Anthony / Imperials     #82    (D)    Full name "The Ten Commandments of Love."    A bit too much, but grows on you with repeated listenings.

39.  LEAVING ON A JET PLANE--  Peter, Paul & Mary    (D)      #1   Such vocalizing.  Give me some Folk!!!

38.  YOU'VE LOST THAT LOVIN' FEELIN'--  Dionne Warwick    #16     (D)    Move over Righteous Brothers.  This is Dionne putting her spin on the song.  

37.  SMILE A LITTLE SMILE--   Flying Machine     #5    (D)  Love that horn at the beginning of the song.  Who is this Rose Marie?

36.  ROOSEVELT & IRA LEE--  Tony Joe White    #44      (D)   "Polk Salad Annie" Part 2.   watch where you're steppin'.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "All My Bags Are Packed, I'm Ready To Go."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Leaving On A Jet Plane"

Setting Up the New Computer Went Better Than I Could Have Hoped For

As I sit here typing away with my two little fingers on the new personal computer in front of me, I must admit that yesterday went much better than I believed it would.

Now, however, I just need to learn how to get sound on it and how to turn it off.

But today, all of the eight blogs have been done on the new one.

So Proud, So very Proud.

Maybe I'm Not As technologically Challenged As I Thought.   But, I Probably Am.  --RoadDog

CROSS PURPOSES:  Who delivered the "Cross of Gold" speech at the Democratic National Convention on July 9, 1896?      


William Jennings Bryan

Wish Me Luck As I Attempt to Set Up the New Computer Today

Last Friday, I bought a new personal computer at Wal-Mart, an HP all-in-one Windows 10 for $399 and today I am going to attempt to install it.

I do not expect to succeed, given my continuing record dealing with all this new technology/  I am, as they say, technologically challenged.  Our current pcs are XPs and no longer supported by Windows as I see every time I turn mine on.

I would gave gotten a new pc earlier, but again, I have to learn how to set it  up and use it, something I am not good at in any fashion.

I still use a 2003 flip phone and still hardly know how  to use it.

Well, Wish Me Luck.  --RoadHuh?

JSS: Plants In-- Bears/Packers-- Halloween-- Burning

JSS-  Just Some Stuff

1.  PLANTS IN--  With the crashing temperatures and freeze warnings Friday and this weekend, I brought in the plants outside that I overwinter in the sunroom.

2.  BEARS/PACKERS--  This past weekend was one of those crummy times when neither the DaBears nor Packers were on TV Sunday.  In the past it was because they usually both had byes.  Da Bears had a bye this week, but the Packers played Monday night.  That left us with no football to watch since we only watch these two teams on TV unless we happen to be in a bar and another game is on.

3.  HALLOWEEN--  I've been putting up Halloween decorations outside and inside, because you-know-what is about here.  Of course, everybody knew about it as Halloween Creep set in early in September.

4.  BURNING--  We can only burn leaves on weekends in October and November and what I'd like to know is why we get the worst weather those two days most every month.  Last weekend was a prime example with it being too wet and windy on Saturday and way too windy, overcast and cold on Sunday.

Like, Boo.  --RoadDog

WLS Top Ten for October 13, 1969: "Hot Fun In the Summertime"

The Top of the Top in Chicago fifty years ago.   The number after the artist is how high the song got on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

1.  SUSPICIOUS MINDS--  Elvis Presley   #1
2.  I CAN'T GET NEXT TO YOU--  Temptations    #1
3.  JEAN--   Oliver    #2

4.  I'M GONNA MAKE YOU MINE--  Lou Christie      #10
5.  TRACY--  Cuff  Links     #9
6.  LITTLE WOMAN--  Bobby Sherman   #3
7.  THIS GIRL'S A WOMAN NOW--  Gary Puckett / Union Gap    #9

8.  THAT'S THE WAY LOVE IS-- Marvin Gaye     #7
9.  HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME--  Sly & Family Stone    #2
10.  EVERYBODY'S TALKIN'--  Nilsson    #6

*************************

DEBUTS

32.  HOLLY HOLY--  Neil Diamond
34.  LOVE WILL FIND A WAY--  Jackie DeShannon

36.  ROOSEVELT & IRA LEE--  Tony Joe White
37.  SMILE A LITTLE SMILE--  Flying Machine

38.  YOU'VE LOST THAT LOVIN' FEELING--  Dionne Warwick
39.  LEAVIN' ON A JET PLANE--  Peter, Paul& Mary

40.  TEN COMMANDMENTS--  Little Anthony / Imperials

Name That Tune(from the above songs):  "We're Caught In A Trap I Can't Walk Out."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Suspicious Minds"