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"