WLS Top Ten for March 31, 1969: "It's Your Thing"

Fifty Years Ago Today on Chicago's WLS, 890 AM.

These are taken from Oldies Loon WLS Surveys where you can see all 40 songs.

1.  AQUARIUS / LET THE SUNSHINE IN--   Fifth Dimension
2.  HAIR--  Cowsills
3.  IT'S YOUR THING--  Isley Brothers

4.  YOU'VE MADE ME SO VERY HAPPY--  Blood, Seat & Tears
5.  DIZZY--   Tommy Roe
6.  TRACES--  Classics IV
7.  RUNAWAY CHILD, RUNNING WILD--  Temptations

8.  TIME OF THE SEASON--  Zombies
9.  ROCK ME--  Steppenwolf
10.  DO YOUR THING-- Watts 103rd Street Band


DEBUTS

36.  SNATCHIN' IT BACK--  Clarence Carter
37.  MY WAY--  Frank Sinatra

38.  THE BOXER--  Simon & Garfunkel
39.  HAWAII FIVE-0--  Ventures
40.  PINBALL WIZARD--  Who

Definitely a time for the rock musical "Hair" with the top two songs and a time to do a "Thing" with numbers 3 and 10.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Then Peace Will Guide the Planets And Love Will Steer the Stars."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In"

JSS: Good Ol' NIU and Sox-- Spring Left Real Quick-- Fighting the Squirrel and Chipmunk War

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  GOOD OL' NIU AND SOX--  A little while ago I was in Jewel when a guy looked at me, noticing my White Sox hat and NIU sweatshirt and called out, "Go You White Sox" and then "NIU."

Turns out he went to NIU, Northern Illinois University, entering in 1969 and graduating in 1973, the same years I went there (except for junior year when I was at UGA).  We probably passed each other at some point.  He went into business and was a member of the SAE fraternity.  I was Delta Sigma Phi.  He also really liked the 1967 White Sox, my all-time favorite Sox team/

2.  SPRING LEFT REAL QUICK--  As sunny and nice (50s) as the last two days were, the weather is sure making up for it today.  Overcast and bone-chilling windy 30s.  Oh well, we had two great days.

3.  FIGHTING THE SQUIRREL AND CHIPMUNK WARS--  Spent much time this morning fighting the squirrels and chipmunks over the bird seed.  But, at least at this time I think I gave something rigged up to stop them.  Several unsuccessful attempts have been made.

Take That You Bushy-Tailed Rats!!  --RoadDog

TOP TEN TRIVIA:  Bananas are curved because they grow toward the sun.

Thank A Vietnam Vet Today, It's National Vietnam War Veterans Day Today

It was a war that I never thought would get over.  It started when I was in junior high, went all the way through high school and all the way through college.  I thought it would still be going on today.  There just was no end in sight as we continued the buildup for all those years from 1963 to 1973.

It was my war as I came really close to having to go.  I gad a draft lottery number of 22 and was graduating from college in May 1973, but the last fighting troops were pulled out March 29, 1973.  So, I was that close.

Not that I was against the war, just it is my belief that if you go to war, you fight to win it as soon as possible and you do whatever you have to do to accomplish those goals, no matter how mad they are.

I have written about my experiences with the Vietnam War in past blog entries.  Click on My Vietnam War Experience in the labels below to see what I have written.

A Hard and Long War.

I'd Celebrate That!!! March 28-31: Friday Is National Vietnam War Veterans Day

Note, there are other celebrations on these days.  I just pick a few of the ones.  For all of them go to checkiday and type in the date.

MARCH 28

CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK DAY-- **  So important for early reading.  Every child should have picture books.

EAT AN ESKIMO PIE DAY--  **  Avoid brain freeze, though.


MARCH 29

NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY--  **  The last American troops came home March 29, 1973.  I'll be putting up my flags on Saturday.

NATIONAL MOM AND POP BUSINESS OWNERS DAY--  **  The backbone of America.


MARCH 30

PENCIL DAY--  **  Our first real writing instrument.

NATIONAL TAKE A WALK IN A PARK DAY--  **  It is so relaxing.  When I see parks, I don't get as mad with my taxes.


MARCH 31

NATIONAL TATER DAY--  **  Any kind of potato is alright with me, especially loaded baked potatoes, French fries and, of course, tater tots.

NATIONAL CRAYON DAY--  **  Please don't eat the crayons.  Keep that point sharp.

Taters, Taters, French-Fried Taters.  --RoadDog

TOP TEN TRIVIA:  Underwater, you can hear a blue whale's heartbeat from two miles away.

JSIS: A Travesty of Justice-- $3 Gas

JSIS--  Just Some Interesting Stuff

1.  A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE--  Everyone around here is really angry that the TV guy who faked his mugging was let off yesterday.  I mean, come on, the guy was guilty of a HATE CRIME!!!  Trying to set up white people like he did.  What we have is another O.J. thing.

2.  $3 GAS!!   Well, they did it.  Gas around here in northeast Illinois hit $3 yesterday.  Well, it hit $2.99.9 which is REALLY $3.  Who do they think they are fooling at $2.99.9?

Why?  Who knows?

--RoadDog

NOT SAYING THAT BASEBALL PLAYER ARE PAID TOO MUCH, BUT....  Mike Trout's new contract calls for $1,645 per pitch for the next 12 years.

State Capital Test

Earlier today, I took a test over naming the 50 state capitals.  Supposedly I missed two of them, but only remember one that I missed, the capital of Massachusetts.  However, I must admit that had we not had four choices for each capital I would have been hard pressed on these state capitals:  Maine, Montana, Kansas, New Hampshire, Washington, Delaware, Wyoming, North and South Dakota and Oregon.

Hey, 48 out of 50 isn't bad.  Thanks to my fifth grade teacher in Greenville, North Carolina, for making an impression.  It was pass  the test or get spanked.

You can take the test at Warped Speed:  Can You Name Every State Capital?  Go test yourself.

Made An Impression on Me.  --RoadPain

By the way, how do you pronounce the capital of Kentucky:  Louieville or Lewisville?


I pronounce it Frankfort.

I'd Celebrate That!!!! March 25-27: National Medal of Honor Day Today

**  I'd celebrate it.

MARCH 25

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE VICTIMS OF SLAVERY AND THE TRANSATLANTIC  SLAVE TRADE--  **  Lest we forget the inhumanity of man to other men.

INTERNATIONAL WAFFLE DAY--  **  Especially ones with stuff in them like blueberries or chocolate and different flavor syrups like at IHOP.

PECAN DAY--  **  Any kind of nut is alright with me.  Do you say Pea-can like me or puh-cahn?

NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR DAY--  **  The highest ward of bravery.


MARCH 26

NATIONAL SPINACH DAY--  **  With lots of butter or in a pizza.

NATIONAL NOUGAT DAY--**    Nougat good!!!


MARCH 27

MANATEE APPRECIATION DAY--  **  Poor guys getting wiped out by humans.  They just want to do their thing and be left alone.

NATIONAL JOE DAY--  **  In honor of all guys named Joe.  Just a day for the Average Joe.

NATIONAL QUIRKY COUNTRY MUSIC SONG TITLES DAY--**  And, there has been some really good ones.

She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy,  Red Necks White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer, My Head Hurts My Feet Stink and I Don't Love Jesus,  Take This Job and Shove It.

I'm Doing the Song Titles.  --RoadDog

NOT THAT BASEBALL PLAYERS ARE GETTING PAID TOO MUCH MONEY, BUT:  Mike Trout will be making $24,591 an inning.

WLS Top Ten for March 24, 1969: "Hair"

The Top Ten songs from Chicago's WLS 890 AM fifty years ago.  Debuts as well.

1.  AQUARIUS / LET THE SUNSHINE IN--  Fifth Dimension    Rose from #23 last week.
2.  HAIR--   Cowsills    Rose from #14
3.  TRACES--  Classics IV

4.  NO, NOT MUCH--  Vogues
5.  DIZZY--  Tommy Roe
6.  HOT SMOKE & SASSAFRASS--  Bubble Puppy
7.  TIME OF THE SEASON--  Zombies

8.  MAY I--  Bill Deal & the Rhondells
9.  INDIAN GIVER--  1910 Fruitgum Co.
10.  IT'S YOUR THING--  Isley Brothers


DEBUTS

33.  TIME IS TIGHT--  Booker T. & the MGs
38.  MEMORIES--  Elvis Presley

30.  THE CHOKIN' KIND--  Joe Simon
40.  MERCY--  Ohio Express

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "When The Moon Is In Its Seventh House."  Answer below.  --RoadDog



"Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In"

I'd Celebrate That!!! March 24: National Cocktail Day Today

MARCH 24

NATIONAL CHOCOLATE COVERED RAISINS DAY--  **  Love those chocolate covered raisins.  Also like chocolate covered peanuts.

NATIONAL COCKTAIL DAY--  **   And, we're not talking about fruit cocktail.

Think I'll Go Out and Get Me Some Cocktails.  --RoadDog

NOT THAT BASEBALL PLAYERS ARE GETTING PAID TOO MUCH, BUT:  Mike Trout, with his new contract, gets paid $66,978 an at bat.

It's That Tournament Time Again, I'm Talking 'Bout "March Madness"

Spent a lot of time yesterday watching the NCAA March Madness games.  As I've said before, I regard this as the best sporting event anywhere.  There are so many upsets, so many close games, so many who-are-theys.  Had to look up Belmont and Northeastern.

Yesterday, of the sixteen games played, I count two  upsets and a whole bunch of near upsets.  Six of them in fact.

In the first round, I always pull for the underdogs or little guys.  Even if they are playing a favorite of mine like Michigan State, Kansas or North Carolina.  Even if they end up getting blown out while doing that horrible intentional fouling at the end.  If the game is close, or the little guy is winning much of the game, I like it.

It is now so much better now that we can watch every game on the four different channels.  I used to hate it when Duke would be blowing someone out by fifty points and there was a close game going on elsewhere and we had to watch the boring Duke game.  Now, I can flip over to the "fun" games.

And speaking of Duke, which used to be my second favorite "Big Guy" team (behind UNC), I no longer support this team because they gave joined Kentucky as a one-and-doner team.  That cheapens college basketball.  I am so ashamed of Coach K going this route.

Doesn't Matter Who Finally Wins It As Long As It Is Not Duke or Kentucky.  --RoadDog

NOT THAT BASEBALL PLAYERS ARE GETTING PAID TOO MUCH, BUT:  With Mike Trout's new contract, he is getting paid $222,222 a game.  Good work if you can get it.

I'd Celebrate That!! March 21-23: National Puppy and Kitten Day Saturday

**  I'd celebrate that.

MARCH 21

NATIONAL FRENCH BREAD DAY--  **  With garlic butter, dripping.  YES!!

NATIONAL COMMON COURTESY DAY--  **  We could sure use more of it.


MARCH 22

NATIONAL GOOF OFF DAY--  **  Something I HAVE NEVER EVER done.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

AS YOUNG AS YOU FEEL DAY--  **  The trick is to grow older and not up.


MARCH 23

NATIONAL CHIP AND DIP DAY--  **  I must be in heaven.

CUDDLY KITTEN DAY--  **    Way too much fun.

NATIONAL PUPPY DAY--  **  Way too much fun.

Too  Much Fun.  --RoadDog

Past Movie Scratches: Inside-- Thor-- Iron-- Guardians-- Jurassic-- Independence

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

37.  INSIDE OUT--  4-27--  Not happy in San Francisco.

38.  THOR:  THE DARK WORLD--  4-28--  Loki's not a bad guy after all.

39.  IRON MAN 3--  4-28--  Careful what you do in the past.  It may come back to bite you in the ___.  How to destroy a perfectly good beach house mansion.

40.  GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY--  4-28--  Star Lord and his band of misfits.  The walking tree sure said a lot with just the words, "I am Groot."  And, the raccoon understood him.

41.  JURASSIC PARK 2--  4-28--  The "Hatari" hunt.  Lesson to be learned:  Don't steal the T Rex baby.

42.  INDEPENDENCE DAY--  5-4--  Remember, it's not over until the fat lady sings.  "Now, that's what I'm talking about."

Beware  That Seeking Arrow.  --RoadDog

Past Movie Scratches: Monster-- Hunger-- Jurassic-- Battleship-- Dodgeball-- Hunger

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

31.  MONSTER U--  4-4--  It's the unpopular nerd fraternity versus the cool frats.  It's "Animal House" all over again, but this time with nerdy monsters.

32.  HUNGER GAMES:  CATCHING FIRE--  4-20--  Back in the game again.

33.  JURASSIC PARK 2--  4-20--  Mom and Dad T.Rex taking care of baby T Rex.

34.  BATTLESHIP--  4-20--  The "Mighty Mo" to the rescue. Sometimes, analog better than digital.

35.  DODGEBALL--  4-21--  Misfits (the Average Joes) beat the studs.

36.  THE HUNGER GAMES:  MOCKINGJAY--  PART 1--  4-27--  The Revolution begins.  Pieta gets brainwashed.

--  RoadDog

TOP TEN TRIVIA:  Helen Keller could identify friends by their personal odors.

Eating and Good Times in the Area, Mar. 8-10

Still cold, but didn't stop us from having fun.  March 8-10

MARCH 8, FRIDAY

We went to the Grant Township Fish Fry at the Fox Lake American Legion.  Always a great meal and raising money for the Little League program.  Packed as usual.

MARCH 9, SATURDAY

We went to the Fox Lake Volunteer Fire Department's annual corned beef and cabbage dinner at the old fire station on Washington Street in Ingleside.  Then to Stucky's in Johnsburg and enjoyed the singing and antics of Uncle Will on the guitar.

MARCH 10, SUNDAY

Went to Stucky's for their $1.50 pints, $1 third pound burgers

--RoadDog

Joe South-- Part 3: Hits for Billy Joe Royal and "Rose Garden"

Continued from March 13.

He also played electric guitar on Simon & Garfunkel's second album "Sounds of Silence."  Billy  Joe Royal did well with five songs Joe South wrote:  "Down In the Boondocks,"   "I Knew You When,"  "Yo-Yo" (later a hit for the Osmonds), "Hush" (later a hit for Deep Purple).

The biggest hit of his songwriting career was "Rose Garden"  (#3-1971) by Lynn Anderson.  It was a hit in 16 countries and two Grammy Awards.  He also wrote three other songs for her that went to #1 on the country charts.

He also has written songs for a huge array of artists.

Quite a remarkable career.

--RoadDog

Music Deaths: James Ingram

JAMES INGRAM, 66

Died January 29, 2019

American singer, songwriter, record producer, instrumentalist.  Two-time Grammy Award winner.  Had eight Top 40s on Billboard charts.

Just Once  (#17-1981)
One Hundred Days  (#14-1982)

Baby, Come To Me  (with Patti Austin)  (#1-1982)
Yah Mo B There (with Michael McDonald)  (#19-1984)

What About Me  (with Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes)  (#15-1984)
Somewhere Out There  (with Linda Ronstadt)  (#2-1987)

The Secret Garden  (with a whole bunch of people)  (#31-1990)
I Don't Have The Heart  (#1-1990)

I'd Celebrate That!!! March 18-20 Wednesday Is First Day of Spring and International Earth Day

**  I'd Celebrate That

MARCH 18


ACT HAPPY DAY--  **  (Celebrated the third Monday of every March)   Happy is always better than sad, I always say.

AWKWARD MOMENTS DAY--  **  Maybe you had one yesterday after too much green beer, Guiness and Jameson.

NATIONAL SLOPPY JOE DAY--**  One of my favorite things to eat and slop all over the place.  How do you eat and not spill?


MARCH 19

LET'S LAUGH DAY--  **   Live Long, Laugh Often.

NATIONAL CHOCOLATE CARAMEL DAY--  **  Yum Yum


MARCH 20

BIBLIOMANIA DAY--  **  A love of books.  But, perhaps too much.  I do love my books.

GREAT AMERICAN MEATOUT DAY--  **  Always the first day of Spring.  Eat no meat of any sort.  Guess II could do that for one day.

INTERNATIONAL EARTH DAY--  **  Always the first day of Spring.  A good idea.

NATIONAL RAVIOLI DAY--  **  I love any kind of ravioli.

Sloppy Joes and Ravioli.  --RoadDog

Music Deaths: Paul Whaley, Drummer of Blue Cheer and Mark Hollis of Talk Talk

PAUL WHALEY, 72

Died January 28, 2019

Drummer who helped pioneer Heavy Metal with the band Blue Cheer out of San Francisco  Their biggest hit was a remake of  Eddie Cochran's 1958 Rockabilly song "Summertime Blues."  It went to #14 in 1968.

MARK HOLLIS, 64

Died  February 25, 2019

Leader of group Talk Talk.    Their biggest hit was "It's My Life"  (#31-1984).

Music Deaths: Harold Bradley, Nashville A-Team Session

HAROLD BRADLEY,  93

Died January 31, 2019

Played on many country, rock and pop songs as a member of Nashville's A-Team of session players which included Floyd Cramer on  piano and pedal steel guitarist Pete Drake.  One of the most recorded guitarists in music history.

Performed on hundreds of albums, including ones by Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley,  and Willie nelson.

Some of the well-known songs he performed on:  Crazy, King of the Road, Crying, Rocking Around the Christmas Tree, Harper Valley PTA, Stand By Your Man, Battle of New Orleans and I'm Sorry.

Rock and Roll 2019 Hall of Fame Inductees

Announced December 13, 2018:

Zombies
Stevie Nicks

Janet Jackson
Roxy Music

Cure
Def Leppard

Radiohead

Induction is later this month, March 29 in Brooklyn, N.Y..

Congrats.  --RoadDog

TOP TEN TRIVIA:  Pound for Pound, hamburgers cost more than a new car.

WLS Top Ten for March 17, 1969: "This Girl's In Love With You"

Fifty years ago in Chicago, these were the Top Ten songs according to WLS, 890 AM.

1.  DIZZY--  Tommy Roe
2.  TIME OF THE SEASON--   Zombies
3.  TRACES--  Classics IV

4.  NO, NOT MUCH--  Vogues
5.  INDIAN GIVER--  1910 Fruitgum Co.
6.  THIS GIRL'S IN LOVE WITH YOU--   Dionne Warwick
7.  HOT SMOKE & SASSAFRASS--  Bubble Puppy

8.  MAY I--  Bill Deal / Rhondells
9.  PROUD MARY--  Creedence Clearwater Revival
10.  LONG GREEN--  Fireballs


DEBUTS

33.  DON'T GIVE IN TO HER--  Gary Puckett / Union Gap
34.  I'LL TRY SOMETHING NEW--  Supremes & Temptations

37.  I CAN HEAR MUSIC--  Beach Boys
38.  GIMME GIMME GOOD LOVIN'--   Crazy Elephant

39.  WILL YOU BE STAYING AFTER SUNDAY--  Peppermint Rainbow
40.  SWEET CHERRY WINE--  Tommy James  / Shondells

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Cleaned A Lot Of Plates In Memphis, Pumped A Lot Of 'Pane Down In New Orleans."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Proud Mary"

I'd Celebrate That!!! March 15-17: St. Patrick's Day Sunday

**  I'd celebrate that.

MARCH 15

DUMBSTRUCK DAY--**    OK, so I look like that all the time.

IDES OF MARCH--   44 BCE    Julius Caesar was dumbstruck when he was assassinated by Brutus and others.  BCE??

NATIONAL PEANUT LOVERS DAY--**    One of life's little pleasures.  So glad I am not allergic to them.

WORLD SLEEP DAY-- **   (Observed the second Friday of March.)   And,  I sure wish I could sleep like I used to.


MARCH 16

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION DAY--  **  The basis of good government.

LIPS APPRECIATION DAY--  **  Steven Tyler and Mick Jagger's Day.


MARCH 17

CAMP FIRE GIRLS DAY--**  Any organization  for youth is good.  Incorporated March 17, 1912.

NATIONAL CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE DAY--  **  You KNOW I'd celebrate this one.

SUBMARINE DAY--  **   March 17, 1898,  John Holland demonstrated his submarine for the Navy Department.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY--  **   You think I would celebrate this!!!

What's All This Green Stuff?  --RoadO'Dog

TOP TEN TRIVIA:  Blackbird, a chief of the Omaha Indians, was buried sitting on his favorite horse.

I'd Celebrate That!!!! Donald Duck Day Today

MARCH 13

DONALD DUCK DAY--  **   His first appearance.  Was it June 9, 1934 or March 13.  Go ahead celebrate both days.  Yell extra loud during the "Mickey Mouse Club" march.

EARMUFF DAY--  **  Well, hopefully we won't be needing them for awhile.

K-9 VETERANS DAY--  **  Definitely, they deserve to be acknowledged.

NATIONAL OPEN AN UMBRELLA INDOORS DAY--  Isn't that bad luck?  I don't think so.


MARCH 14

PI DAY--  I've got a feeling these don't come with ala mode.  Something about 314?

NATIONAL POTATO CHIP DAY--  **   Oh Boy!!!  Potato chips!!!!

NATIONAL SAVE A SPIDER DAY--  Spiders are ok as long as they are outside.  Inside and they'd just better beware.

--RoadDog

Joe South-- Part 2: "Games People Play" and "Rose Garden"

From Wikipedia.

(February 28, 1940 - September 5, 2012)

American singer-songwriter, guitarist and record producer.  Best known for his song-writing, he won a Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1970 for "Games People Play" and was nominated in 1972 for "Rose Garden."He started his pop career in 1958 with "The Purple People Eater Meets the Witch Doctor."He then wrote a couple songs for Gene Vincent.

He began his recording career with the National Recording Corporation where he served as staff guitarist  along with Ray Stevens and Jerry Reed.  He was also a prominent sideman, playing guitar on Tommy Roe's "Sheila",  Bob Dylan's "Blonde On Blonde" album, did the classic intro to Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools."

--RoadDog

TOP TEN TRIVIA:  No matter how much you push the envelope, it will still be stationary.

Joe South-- Part 1: Born Joe Souter

Joe South had the #26 song, "Games People Play"  in Chicago on the WLS Silver Dollar Survey for the week of March 10, 1969.  It was on its way down after peaking at #8 February 7 and 14.  It peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Here's what Joel Whitburn had to say about him in his "Top Pop Singles 1955 -1993."

Born Joe Souter on 2/28/40 in Atlanta.  Successful Nashville session guitarist/songwriter in the  mid-1960s.  Wrote "Down In the Boondocks,"  "Hush" and "Rose Garden."

  His only other solo Top 40 was "Walk A Mile In My Shoes"  (#12-1970).

A Very Talented Guy.  --RoadDog

TOP TEN TRIVIA:  More people use blue toothbrushes than red ones.

I'd Celebrate That!!! March 11: Girl Scout Day Tuesday

**  I'd Celebrate That!!!

MARCH 11

FILL YOUR STAPLERS DAY--  **  Observed Monday of second full week of March.

OATMEAL WAFFLES DAY--  Nice combination.

NATIONAL PROMPOSAL DAY--  **  Too scared to ask?  Gettin' kind of late.


MARCH 12

GIRL SCOUT DAY--  **  One of the great organizations for anybody.  Can some one sat SCALLOPS?

NATIONAL BAKED SCALLOPS DAY--  **  I love scallops.

ORGANIZE YOUR HOME OFFICE DAY--  **My work space here could be way less cluttered.   But who has time?

NATIONAL PLANT A FLOWER DAY--  **  I love flowers.  Definitely too early up here in Northern Illinois.

--RoadDog

WLS Top 40 for March 10, 1969-- Part 7: "Time of the Season"

That's right, these songs were the Top Ten in Chicago back exactly 50 years ago on WLS, 890 AM.  The number behind the artist is how high it got on the Billboard national charts, Hot 100.

10.   TRACES--  Classics IV     #2
9.  EVERYDAY PEOPLE--  Sly / Family Stone   #1
8.  THIS GIRL'S IN LOVE WITH YOU--  Dionne Warwick     #7

7.  NO, NOT MUCH--  Vogues   #34
6.  BABY, BABY DON'T CRY--  Smokey Robinson / Miracles      #8
5.  INDIAN GIVER--  1910 Fruitgum Co.     #5
4.  I'VE GOTTA BE ME--  Sammy Davis Jr.    #11

3.  PROUD MARY--  Creedence Clearwater Revival     #2
2.  TIME OF THE SEASON--  Zombies     #3
1.  DIZZY--  Tommy Roe    #1

Quite the Top Ten.  --RoadDog

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Left A Good Job In The City Working For The Man Every Night And Day."  Answer below.  --RoadDog



"Proud Mary"

It's About Time, You Know, Daylight Savings: "Only Time Will Tell"

I almost  missed the first hour of Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots today because of that daylight thing.  Slipped my mind, you know.

Right now he is Root Saluting the Time Change on his Rock and Roll Roots show on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM and it will go to 10 a.m., CDST.  It streams at www.wdrv.com.

Friday, his Ten at Ten was It's About Time, Daylight Savings Time.  All songs had time in the title.

TIME STANDS STILL--  Rush
DOES ANYBODY REALLY KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS--  Chicago
ONLY TIME WILL TELL--  Asia

GOOD TIMES BAD TIMES--  Led Zeppelin
LOVE TAKES TIME--  Orleans
TIME IS ON MY SIDE--  Rolling Stones
ISN'T IT TIME--  Babys

TIME HAS COME TODAY--  Chambers Brothers
BAD TIME--  Grand Funk
THE BEST OF TIMES--  Styx

Change Those Clocks.  --RoadDog

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Young Hearts Can Go Their Way."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Time Has Come Today"

WLS Top 40 for March 10, 1969-- Part 6: "Crossroads"

Fifty Years Ago on Chicago's WLS, 890 AM.

15.  CROSSROADS--  Cream     #28   All that great noise from just three guys:  Ginger, Jack and Eric.  A great Power Trio.  Go ahead.  Try and not move to this one.  Amazingly, they only had 5  Top 100s

14.  HOT SMOKE & SASSAFRASS--  Bubble Puppy    #14     Psychedelic Rock  Love the beginning of this song.  One of my all-time favorites.  Listened to this one LOUD and OFTEN.  One-Hit Wonders

13.  MAY I--  Bill Deal / Rhondells      #39   And, I really love Beach Music.  Originally done by Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs who did not chart with it.  .  Love the horns.

12.  LONG GREEN--  Fireballs     #73   A real Rave Up with this one.  From New Mexico.  Their last hit.

11.  RAMBLIN' GAMBLIN' MAN--  Bob Seger    #17    One of my all-time favorites.  Seger's friend Glen Frey played acoustic guitar and sank backing vocals on it.His first hit.  Michigan's pride and joy.

Name That Tune (from the above songs): " 'Cause I Was Born Lonely Down By The Riverside."  Answer below.  --RoadDog



"Ramblin' Gamblin' Man"

WLS Top 40 for March 10, 1969-- Part 5: "You Showed Me"

20.  MENDOCINO--  Sir Douglas Quintet      #27   Get that Tex-Mex thing going.    Love the organ.  Doug Sahm's band.  Also Augie Meyers.  Sounds a bit Texas Tornadoes.  Their second biggest hit of four Top 100s.  First and biggest hit, "She's About A Mover"  (#13-1965)

19.  BUT YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU--  First Edition     #11   Watch the video and see a really young Kenny Rogers, with non-white hair and beard, even.

18.  BUILD ME UP BUTTERCUP--  Foundations    #3     An absolutely great party song.  English Soul by a bi-racial group.  Their biggest hit.  Also had "Baby, Now That I've Found You"  (#11-1968).

17.  YOU SHOWED ME--  Turtles    #6   I've always thought this to be a rather strange, different song for them.   Pop-Folk-Rock group formed at Westchester High School in Los Angeles in 1961.

16.  MY WHOLE WORLD ENDED--  David Ruffin     #9    This was his first solo effort after leaving the Temptations.   Full title "My Whole World Ended (the Moment You Left Me)"  All that great Motown.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "And Then, Worst Of All (Worst Of All)  You never Call, Baby."  Answer below.   --RoadDog


"Build Me Up Buttercup"

I'd Celebrate That!!! March 9-10: Bang-Clang Day Today

**  I'd celebrate that!!

MARCH 9

BANG-CLANG DAY--  **  The anniversary of the battle between the USS Monitor and CSS Virginia, the first battle between ironclads.  And, with me being such a big Civil War buff, you know I'd celebrate this one.

BARBIE DAY--  **  On this date, Barbie made her debut in 1959.  Though I never had one.

NATIONAL CRABMEAT DAY--  **  I loves my crab meat.  With cocktail sauce, of course.

NATIONAL MEATBALL DAY--  **  The bigger and juicier, the better.

GET OVER IT DAY--  **  Half way between Valentine's Day and April Fools' Day.  A good day to put past indignities behind you and move ahead.


MARCH 10

GENEALOGY DAY  (celebrated the first Saturday of March) --  **  Always good to know where you come from.

INTERNATIONAL BAGPIPE DAY--  **  I love the sound of bagpipes.  And, look forward to hearing some  in the near future for you-know-what day.

INTERNATIONAL FANNY PACK DAY--  Never had one, never wore one.  Too embarrassing.

SALVATION ARMY DAY--  **  One of the great organizations of the world.

LANDLINE TELEPHONE DAY--  **  We still have one.  I haven't yet figured out how to use it completely.  What chance do I have with one of those "Idge" phones?

--RoadDog

WLS Top 40 for March 10, 1969-- Part 4: "I Got A Line On You"

Fifty Years Ago, 1969

25.  MR. SUN MR. MOON--  Paul Revere & the Raiders      #18    Hey, what happened to those Revolutionary War uniforms?  From Portland, Oregon.    Paul Revere was his real name.

24.  I GOT A LINE ON YOU--   Spirit     #25    Takes you right back to '69.  From Los Angeles.  Jay Ferguson lead singer, who had hit "Thunder island"  (#9- 1977) and was in Jo Jo Gunne  ""Run Run Run"  (#27-1972).

23.  ROCK ME--   Steppenwolf      #10    Nice sunglasses, John Kay.  Again, this one really takes my back to Senior Lounge at Palatine High School, just like song #40 did.

22.  RUN AWAY CHILD, RUNNING WILD--    #6   Temptations   As usual, you've got the Motown beat and those great harmonies.

21.  ONLY YOU--    Bobby Hatfield       #95   "Only You (And You Alone)"   The Platters would be so proud.  Where was Bill medley?

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "She Asked Me Maybe I Could Share Her Sorrow."   Answer below.  --RoadDog



"Rock Me"

I'd Celebrate That!!! March 8: International Women's Day

**   I'd celebrate it.

MARCH 8

MIDDLE NAME PRIDE DAY (Observed first Friday in March)--  **   Those middle names are often there to honor a family member.  My middle name is Louis.

NATIONAL BE NASTY DAY--  Be  as rotten as you wanna be.  Never the right thing to do.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY--  **  For women's rights.  You've come a long way, baby!!  Still a ways to go, though.

NATIONAL TARTAR SAUCE DAY--  (Observed 44 days before Easter)  **  I almost can't eat fish without it.  Mighty tasty stuff..  Since we'll be eating a lot of fish for awhile.

Louis and Proud.  --RoadDog Louis RoadDog

Movie Scratches: Upside-- Pursuit-- Dog's-- Favorite

Movie Scratches--  A Dog's Eye view of current movies seen at the theaters this year.

5.  THE UPSIDE--  2-5--  Fox Lake, $5--  Another "Green Book" but different circumstances.  Two totally different guys become friends through employment.

6.  COLD PURSUIT--  2-8--  Fox Lake, $6--  When, oh when, will the bad guys learn to leave Liam Neeson's family alone.  Always a bad move on their part.  You couldn't help but like some of the bad guys, though.  What a death tally.

7.  A DOG'S WAY HOME--  2-8--  What that pesky squirrel started.  It was a long-hard way home  for this pooch.  Should have gone home the first time.

8.  THE FAVOURITE--  2-12--  Round Lake Beach, $7--  A real period piece.  "Sometimes it's good to be queen."  Really frilly men and really deep court intrigue.

--RoadDog

WLS Top 40 for March 10, 1969-- Part 3: "Only the Strong Survive"

Still 50 years ago.  Stuck in the Sixties Again.

30.  TWENTY-FIVE MILES--  Edwin Starr     #6   Like he says:  "C'mon feet, start moving."   Born Charles Hatcher 1942 in Nashville.  Raised in Cleveland, Ohio.

29.  BACK DOOR MAN--  Derek     #59    The "Cinnamon" guy's back.  Never heard this song before, but a good one, even if it is just 2:08 minutes long.  Actually, Derek is Johnny Cymbal; who hada bighit with "Mr. Bass Man" in 1963, #16.

28.  ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE--  Jerry Butler       #4    Some great Soul Music with good words to live by.  How cool can you get if you're the "Ice Man"?    His biggest hit.

27.  DO YOUR THING--  Watts 103rd Street Band        #11     Evidently, the THING was the THING back in 1969, what with this song and the one at #32, "It's Your Thing."  Another try to sit still when you hear this.  Actually Charles Wright and the 103rd Street Rhythm Band,

26.  GAMES PEOPLE PLAY--  Joe South      #12    "La, Da, Da, Da, Da, Da, Da."  Enough said.   Born Joe Souter in 1940 in Atlanta.  A big song-writer for others as well and guitarist.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Every Night and Every Day Now, Never Meaning What They Say Now."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Games People Play"

WLS Top 40 for March 10, 1969-- Part 2: "The Letter"

35.  YOU GAVE ME A MOUNTAIN--  Frankie Laine      #24   A country song.  What a crescendo!!  Written by Marty Robbins.  His next-to-last top 100.  His next one was "Dammit Isn't God's Last Name."

34.  BROTHER LOVES TRAVELING SALVATION SHOW--  Neil Diamond     #22   You can almost feel the preaching and Holy Rolling under that tent.   Hallelujah.  His next charting single was ""Sweet Caroline."  Go ahead and sing the refrain.

33.  THE LETTER--  Arbors    #20   A real psychedelic version of the Box Tops song.  Their biggest hit of 4 Top 100s.  Formed at University of Michigan.

32.  IT'S YOUR THING--  Isley Brothers      #2   At just 2:45, I wish it were longer.  Go ahead, try not to move to it.  Yeah.  Go ahead and try.  Their biggest hit.

31.  IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT--  Pail Anka      #64   Doing that old doo-wop classic.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "If You Want Me To Love You, Maybe I Will."  Answer below.  --RoadDog



"It's Your Thing"

I'd Celebrate That!!! March 6-7: National Oreo Day and National Cereal Day

**  I'd celebrate it.

MARCH 6

DENTISTS DAY-- **  Some wouldn't celebrate this, but we have a really great dentist, Dr. Bennett,  So here's to you, Doc!!

NATIONAL FROZEN FOOD DAY--  **  Were it not for this or canned food or doggie bag food, Liz and I would never eat.

NATIONAL WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE DAY--  **  Hard to imagine ANY KIND of cheesecake not being good.  Right, Golden Girls.

NATIONAL OREO COOKIE DAY--  **  Do you unscrew them to get max icing on one side  (then dip the other side in milk?)?


MARCH 7

NATIONAL CEREAL DAY--  **  I especially like Fruit Loops and raisin bran.

NAMETAG DAY--  **  Especially hard plastic ones.  Not those paper ones where you write your name and pull it off the adhesive and put it on yourself (and it comes off somewhere a short time later)>  Probably time to go through your junk drawers and throw some of them out unless, otherwise, you can't remember your name.

NATIONAL BE HEARD DAY--  **  For small businesses.  Since the big ones get all the advertising.

NATIONAL CROWN ROAST OF PORK DAY--  **  Though I've never had one, it sure looks good.

Crown Me.  --RoadDog

TOP TEN TRIVIA:  The lowest temperature in the world was minus 128.6 F (without a wind chill) at Vostok Station, Antarctica, on July 21, 1983.  And, we were complaining about 2 degrees here in northern Illinois yesterday.  Thanks a lot Canada.

WLS Top 40 for March 10, 1969-- Part 1: "Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In"

The top 40 songs in Chicago fifty years ago.  How's that for a slice of life?  (D) means DEBUT.  The number after the artist is the highest the song got on Billboards Top 100.

40.  AQUARIUS / LET THE SUNSHINE IN--  Fifth Dimension    (D)     #1   Takes me right back to Senior Lounge at Palatine High School in Palatine and that great juke box as we were finishing up senior year.   Their biggest hit.   Medley from "Hair."

39.  JOHNNY ONE TIME--  Brenda Lee    (D)     #41    Never heard it before.  Sounds more pop than country.    Her 49th (of 52) Top 100.   Her first Top 100 was "One Step At a Time" in 1957    #43.

38.  YOU'VE MADE ME SO VERY HAPPY--  Blood, Sweat & Tears   (D)    #2  Or do you say BST?  Love those horns.  Their first hit, and the first of three consecutive #2s.  Like CCR, they just never could crack it to #1.

37.  HAIR--  Cowsills   (D)     #2    A real Hippy song.    #40 and this one from the movie of the same name.   Family group from Newport, Rhode Island.

36.  GALVESTON--  Glen Campbell    (D)      #4    Such a young Glen.  Was Galveston a person or place or maybe both?   The pride of Billstown, Arkansas.

Definitely a lot of big debuts this week.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Shining, Gleaming, Streaming, Flaxen, Waxen."  Answer below.  --RoadDog



"Hair"

JSIS: $15 Minimum Wage-- Shoe-- Potholes

JSIS--  Just Some Interesting Stuff

1.  $15 MINIMUM WAGE--  I don't agree with this at all.  The idea for those low-paying first jobs is for a person to get experience and then go on to something bigger and that pays better.  Not for it to be an end-all.  I started my first job at age 16 at Burger King in Palatine, Illinois, for $1 an hour.

2.  SHOE--  From Fen. 19:  In Roz's Roost.  Roz is reading a newspaper (newspaper?) and says, "I think politicians should be limited to two terms."  The Professor, also reading a newspaper, replies, "So do I.  One office term and one prison term."

Anybody besides me wondering how so many politicians become so rich while and after they leave office?

3.  POTHOLES--  One result of that super cold we had earlier  in February is a bumper crop of potholes.  They are almost everywhere.  The poor tires are taking a beating.  Officer, I was just trying to avoid the potholes.  That is why I was swerving.

--RoadDog

I'd Celebrate That!!! March 5: Mardi Gras 2019 Today and Cinco De Marcho

Theses are from the Checkiday site which has more fays to celebrate and information about them.  I just pick out the ones of most interest  to me.

**  I'd celebrate that.

MARCH 5

CINCO DE MARCHO--  **  Marks the beginning of the season to train your liver for St. Patrick's Day, which will soon be here.  I didn't know of this one before this.  But, I have already been training for today, March 5, 2019, which is Mardi Gras.

MARDI GRAS--**  This year coming mighty late.

FUN FACTS ABOUT NAMES DAY--**    Look up interesting things about your name and other names.  You don't want to be in the Stink Hole Corner in Cribbage.

NATIONAL CHEESE DOODLE DAY--  **  Who doesn't like a cheese doodle now and then?

REEL FILM DAY--  This is for those old reel films you had to thread through a projector.  I never quite mastered the art so  my kids rarely saw a film in class.

NATIONAL POTTY DANCE DAY--  **   That little dance kids do when they need to go to  the bathroom.  I've done a variation of it outside the local tavern bathroom at times.  Come on buddy.  HURRY UP!!!

Drinking With A Purpose.  Well, That's My Excuse Anyway.  --RoadDog

TOP TEN TRIVIA:  with Jack DeRue.   J.C. Penney's middle name was Cash.

I'd Celebrate That!! March 4: Toy Soldier Day Today

**  I'd Celebrate That.

HUG A G.I. DAY**  Well, the gals.

NATIONAL GRAMMAR DAY--  **  It be good to have dat dere good grammer.

NATIONAL POUND CAKE DAY--  **  One of my favorites.  Especially with a side or top of ice cream.

TOY SOLDIER DAY--  **  I played with them a lot while growing up and still have some of them.

--RoadDog

Top Ten Trivia with Jack DeRue:  In ten minutes a hurricane releases more energy than all the bombs in the world.

WLS Top Ten for March 3, 1969: "Proud Mary"

As in fifty years ago.  WLS was one of the two big radio stations kids listened to in the Chicagoland area.  The other was WCFL, 1000 AM.  FM radio was just starting to get popular.

1.  DIZZY--  Tommy Roe
2.  RAMBLIN' GAMBLIN MAN--  Bob Seger
3.  TIME OF THE SEASON--  Zombies

4.  I'VE GOTTA BE ME--  Sammy Davis, Jr.
5.  PROUD MARY--  Creedence Clearwater Revival
6.  EVERYDAY PEOPLE--  Sly / Family Stone
7.  BABY, BABY DON'T CRY--  Smokey Robinson & Miracles

8.  YOU SHOWED ME--  Turtles
9.  INDIAN GIVER--  1910 Fruitgum Company
10.  GOT A LINE ON YOU--  The Spirit


DEBUTS

31.  RUNAWAY CHILD, RUNNING WILD--  Temptations
36.  BROTHER LOVES TRAVELING SALVATION SHOW--  Neil Diamond

37.  YOU GAVE ME A MOUNTAIN--  Frankie Laine
38.  DO YOUR THING--  Watts 103rd Street Band

39.  ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE--  Jerry Butler
40.  TWENTY-FIVE MILES--  Edwin Starr

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Whether I'm Right Or Whether I'm Wrong."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

COME SAIL AWAY:  Which pirate sailed on the Queen Anne's Revenge?

Blackbeard

"I've Gotta Be Me"

JSIS: Thank Goodness, No Marchado-- Cubs TV?-- Zion's Blowout-- Smollet's Bust

JSIS--  Just Some Interesting Stuff.

1.  THANK GOODNESS, NO MARCHADO--  I was so happy to see that he signed with the Padres.  That's all we need, another overpaid, underperforming player in Chicago and especially on my White Sox.

2.  CUBS TV--  The rich get richer.  No way I'll pay for or buy this travesty.

3.  ZION'S BLOWOUT--  Hope he's ok,   but I don't much like one-and-done college players or their teams.  I used to be a huge Duke fan, but now I pull against them.  Shame on Coach K for doing the Kentucky thing.  Sure loved Virginia Tech's win over Duke this week.

4.  SMOLLET'S BUST--  Trying to play those Black and Gay cards.  I'm getting more than a bit perturbed by these.

--RoadDog

I'd Celebrate That!!! March 1-3: National Anthem Day March 3

MARCH 1

NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTER LOVERS DAY-- **   What would Homer say?  Peanut butter on anything.  Give a dog some and sit back and enjoy.

NATIONAL PIG DAY--  **  And, they're so good... to eat.

SHARE A SMILE DAY-- **   Never hurts.

REFIRED NOT RETIRED DAY-- **   I guess this is about being retired.  I wish I had more time to enjoy it.  Time goes by so fast now.


MARCH 2

DRESS IN BLUE DAY--  **  To raise money for cancer.  Problem for me is that blue was the color of Union uniforms during the war.

EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY--  **  Nothing gets done without them.

NATIONAL BANANA CREAM PIE DAY--  **  I love most any kind of pie.

NATIONAL DOODLE DAY--  **  I've been known to do this.

OLD STUFF DAY--  **  Walk into my house and you know why I support this one.  Some say I support it too much.

NATIONAL READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY--  **  Also known as Dr. Seuss Day.  Reading is good.


MARCH 3

33 FLAVORS DAY--  **  As in ICE CREAM!!!!    Anniversary of the opening of the first Baskin-Robbins.

NATIONAL ANTHEM DAY--  **  When you-know-what officially became the National Anthem on March 3, 1931.  Reckon I'll be putting the flags out regardless of the major cold here on Sunday.

NATIONAL DAY OF UNPLUGGING--  **  Get unplugged from those 'putes and "idge" phones.

Ice Cream.  We All Scream for Ice Cream!!  --RoadDog

COME SAIL AWAY:  The second part of which novel begins aboard the Tsimtsum, a Japanese freighter transporting zoo animals?


"Life of Pi"