WLS Top Ten for Week of January 31, 1972: 'Stay With Me'

 

These were the Top Ten songs and Debut songs fifty years ago today in Chicago according to WLS, 890 AM.

1.  AMERICAN PIE--  Don McLean

2.  LET'S STAY TOGETHER-  Al Green

3.  DAY AFTER DAY--  Badfinger

4.  BLACK DOG--  Led Zeppelin

5.  STAY WITH ME--  Faces

6.  CLEAN UP WOMAN--  Betty Wright

7.  DROWNING IN A SEA OF LOVE--  Joe Simon

8.  WHITE LIES, BLUE EYES--  Bullet

9.  NEVER BEEN TO SPAIN--  Three Dog Night

10.  DOWN BY THE LAZY RIVER--  Osmonds

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

DEBUTS

15.  PRECIOUS AND FEW--  Climax

19.  JOY--  Apollo 100 

25.  THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT--  Robert John

AIN'T UNDERSTANDING MELLOW--  Jerry Butler & Brenda Lee

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Hey Hey Mama Said the Way You Move, Gonna Make You Sweat, Gonna Make You Groove."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Black Dog"

Past Movie Scratches: Pool-- Beetlejuice-- Future-- Robot-- Brave-- Andreas

Past Movie Scratches--  Movies I saw on TV in 2020

109.  DEAD POOL II--  9-4--  He gets his posse.  

110.  BEETLEJUICE--  9-5--  One Wild and Crazy Guy!!!!

111.  BACK TO THE FUTURE:  PART 2--  9-7--  Biff should avoid manure trucks.  I would mind having one of those sports almanac books.

112.  I ROBOT--  9-8--  Did the robot do it?

113.  BRAVE HEART--  9-12--  Mel takes a beating and keeps on ticking.

114.  SAN ANDREAS--  9-13--  Takes a licking and keeps on ticking.  Talk about flotsam!!

--RoadDog

Music Deaths: Joe Simon

JOE SIMON, 85

Died 13 December 2021

Singer / soul   Had eight Top 40s from 1968 to 1975.

From Louisiana.

Some of his hits:

"The Chokin' Kind"  (#13-1969)

"Drowning in the Sea of Love:  (#11-1972)

"Power of Love"  (#11-1972)

"Get Down, Get Down (Get On the Floor)  (#8-1975)

Music Deaths: Mike Nesmith of the Monkees

MIKE NESMITH, 78

Died 10 December 2021

Guitarist / songwriter / singer / member of the Monkees.

So sad that we only have one Monkee left, Mickey Dolenz.

I was a big Monkees fan.  Required TV watching for me.

It's Winter: Air Pressure, Stucky's, Ice, Bears

Continued from January 17th.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 8

I was able to put air in all the tires on the Malibu and the warning lights and indicators went off.  I am of the opinion that this continuing cold had something to do with it.

Went to Stucky's in Johnsburg and enjoyed the $1 draft pints.  How do you beat that these days?  Unfortunately, we had a light rain falling and it turned into ice, so had a real fun time walking out to the car and cleaning off the windows.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 9

We didn't go to the McHenry Legion as they are closed for a few days because of a COVID outbreak. Listened to the Bears lose the last game to end the season 6-11.  Looks like changes are in store  for them.  So sad to see that Tarik Cohen didn't play at all this year.  I doubt he will ever play again.  Too bad, he was a lot of excitement carrying the ball.

Went to Sunnyside and there were a lot of sick people there.  Most said it was a cold and not you-know-what, but who can tell these days.

--RoadDog

Last Weekend: A Fish Fry and Lots and Lots of NFL Foorball

FRIDAY, JANUARY 21

Met Kevin and Kelly at Kelly's in Trevor, Wisconsin, for their fish fry.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 22

Went to Stucky's in Johnsburg, Illinois, and watched the Packers lose to the 49ers.  This was not expected and Liz and I had all our Packer gear on.  Maybe dear old Aaron can be a happy man again.

Of course, I kind of like the 49ers as their qb Tony Garrafalo is from the Chicago suburbs and played for EIU, one of their defense starters is Jimmy Ward from NIU and their field goal kicker is Robbie Gould who was a long-time Chicago Bear.  Why they fired him is beyond me.  But the year after they traded him, the 49ers beat Da Bears 15-0 and every point came off a Robbie Gould field goal.  I usually don't like the Bears to lose, but this was a good one.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 23

We had 3 inches of snow and our neighbors were nice enough to come over a clear it off.  Nice neighbors in this day and age.  We went to Sunnyside in Johnsburg to watch the KC-Buffalo Divisional Playoff game and this was one of the best ever with the Chiefs winning at the very end.  All four playoff games this weekend were the best ever.  Every game decided at the end.

--RoadDog

Past Movie Scratches: Transylvania-- Egypt-- Wonder-- Out-- Black-- Logan

Past Movie Scratches--  Movies I saw on TV in 2020

103.  HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3:  SUMMER VACATION--  8-12--  Going for an ocean cruise with the Van Helsings.  Could that be a problem?

104.  GODS OF EGYPT--  8-18--  Very vindictive gods vie for power.  Pretty hokey, but entertaining.

105.  WONDER WOMAN--  8-20--Mighty Amazon warrior in World War I against General Ludendorf and Aries.

106.  GET OUT--  8-23--  These white folks ain't what they seem.  Like the title says.

107.  MEN IN BLACK III--  8-27--  Don't call me Boris the Animal and the Moon space launch.  Boris has a real attitude problem as did the Bug in the first one.

108.  LOGAN--  9-3--  The end of our favorite wolverine.

--RoadDog

THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO SAY:  You are validating my inherent distrust of strangers.

Music Deaths: Robbie Shakespeare, Reggae

ROBBIE SHAKESPEARE, 68

Died 8 December 2021

Bass player (reggae), member of prolific Sly & Robbie with Sly Dunbar.

Worked with Peter Tosh on "Legalize It."

Music Deaths: Ralph Tavares of Tavares

RALPH TAVARES, 79

Died 8 December 2021

Singer with  Tavares who had a big 1976 hit with "Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel" (#15)

Other big hits:

"It Only Takes a Minute"  (#10-1975)

"Whodunit"  (#22-1977)

"More Than a Woman"  (#32-1978)

 

Music Deaths: John Miles

JOHN MILES, 72

Died 5 December 2021

Singer / songwriter / multi instrumentalist (pop / rock) 

Best known for his song "Music" which hit #3 in Britain in 1976.  Unfortunately, he wasn't well-known in the U.S., but he did have a #34 in 1977 in the States with "Slowdown"

Very underrated.  Go to You Tube and give him a listen.  Good stuff, real good stuff.

WLS Top Ten for Week of January 24, 1972: 'American Pie'

These were the Top Ten songs and Debut songs in Chicago fifty years ago according to powerhouse WLS, 890 AM.

1.  AMERICAN PIE--  Don McLean

2.  LET'S STAY TOGETHER--  Al Green

3.  DAY AFTER DAY--  Badfinger

4.  SUGAR DADDY--  Jackson Five

5.  WHITE LIES, BLUE EYES--  Bullet

6.  SCORPIO--  Dennis Coffey

7.  BLACK DOG--  Led Zeppelin

8.  STAY WITH ME--  Faces

9.  SUNSHINE--  Jonathan Edwards

10.  CLEAN UP WOMAN--  Betty Wright

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

DEBUTS

25.  WITHOUT YOU--  Nilsson

27.  HURTING EACH OTHER--  Carpenters

28.  ANTICIPATION--  Carly Simon

PRECIOUS AND FEW--  Climax

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I Remember Finding Out About You.  Every Day My Mind Is All Around You."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Day After Day"

Around Here: Da Bulls, Weird Hair on Athletes, Stucky's, Da Beatles and Stucky's Again

SATURDAY, JANUARY 15

We had snow flurries all day, but there was no accumulation.  That's a real good thing.  We went to Stucky's and watched the Bulls game, which sadly, they lost.  They are on a losing streak right now, but before that playing very well for the first time since the fabulous 90s when they won six NBA Championships in eight years -- the Michael Jordan years.  Ever since, they have been very sad.

I wanted to show Liz the hair that Bulls player Coby White had last year compared to this.  Back then it was one of those very eye-insulting 'dos, but now just a regular cut.  I don't like long, weird hair on athletes no matter if they're Whites or Blacks.

While looking for pictures of him, I found out that he was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina, which perked my interest since that is also where I was born.  However, he played high school basketball in Wilson, N.C.  He went to UNC-Chapel Hill, but unfortunately was one of those one-and-diners.  I'm not real happy with these guys or the schools that "hire" them for that one year before they go to the NBA.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 16

Bob Stroud featured the Beatles Album "Meet the Beatles" as later this week will mark the 58th anniversary of its release.  This was the fun Beatles in my book.  And, they were the ones who got me to listening to pop music.  I never did before.  And, of course, music has had a huge impact on my life.

We went to Stucky's in Johnsburg, Illinois, and watched two NFL Wild Card Playoff games.

--RoadBeatle

Around Here: Donovan's for Trivia, Riverside for $2 Cheeseburgers, $1 Drafts at Lake View Place and a Fish Fry at Cuda's

THURSDAY, JANUARY 13

Met Kevin and Kelly at Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes and played trivia.  Then went to Wilmot Riverside on Wilmot, Wisconsin, for their $2 Thursday cheeseburger special.  Lots of cheap drinking in Wisconsin, you know.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14

Met Kevin and Kelly again, this time at Lake View Place on Grasslake and enjoyed the Friday special with $1 pint drafts.  Met a former student.

We then went to 'Cuda's on Grasslake Road for their most excellent fish fry.

--RoadFish

Past Movie Scratches: Tombstone-- Up-- Homecoming-- Maze-- House-- Rock-- Jurassic

Past Movie Scratches--  Movies on TV that I watched in 2020.

97.  TOMBSTONE--  5-20--  It's the ugly mustaches vs. the Red Sashes Mighty big six-shooters.

98.  UP--  6-3--  Old guy gets stuck with kid, big bird and a dog.  And become friends.  What balloons will do for ya.

98A.   SPIDER MAN:  HOMECOMING--  6-17--  And you think you had a problem with your girlfriend's dad?

99.  MAZE RUNNER:  THE DEATH CURE--  6-22--  Certain aspects of the movie remind me of today.

100.  WHITE HOUSE DOWN--  7-21--  And, you'd think you might be safe there.

101.  THE ROCK-- 8-10--  The Rock was Alcatraz.  "Not Escape From Alcatraz."

102.  JURASSIC PARK--  8-11-- "Must go FASTER!!!"

--RoadDog

Music Deaths: Stonewall Jackson, Country Star

STONEWALL JACKSON, 89

Died 4 December 2021

Singer (country/Honky Tonk).

Achieved his greatest fame during country music's 'Golden" Honky Tonk era in the 1950s and early 1960s.

Born in Tabor City, North Carolina.  Stonewall is not a nickname or stage name.  It's his real name, but not likely he's related to the Confederate general of that name.

From 1958 to 1971, he had 36 Top 40 Country songs, including two #1s:

"Waterloo"  (1959)  It went to #4 on the pop charts.

"B.J. the D.J."  1964

If you like classic country, give a listen.

Second Weekend of This Year: Donovan's, 45 Diner, Stucky's, Da Bears and Sunnyside

THURSDAY, JANUARY 6

We met Kevin and Kelly at Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. for happy hour and trivia.

FRIDAY, JANIARY 7

The extreme cold continues.  Drove to the Bristol 45 Diner in Bristol, Wisconsin, and met the Magee teachers.  Always good to get together with old friends.  Got gas in Trevor, Wo., for $3 a gallon.  It was $3.465 at Rock Corner just over the Illinois border which is why I fill up with gas in Wisconsin.

Later drove to Stucky's on Johnsburg, Illinois, and found that we had low air pressure in all of our tires, more than likely from all this cold weather.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 8

I pit air into all four tires at the Mobil station in Johnsburg (which still has free air, believe it or not) and all the warning features turned off.

Went to Stucky's for the dinner special and $1 draft beers.  We should have come home earlier because it had started sleeting and getting out to the car in the parking lot was all kind of fun.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 9

We didn't go to the McHenry American Legion today because it was closed because of a COVID outbreak.  Went to Sunnyside and watched the Bears lose to end the season with a stellar 6-11 record.  No playoffs for us, obviously.

--RoadDog

Music Deaths: Bill Hinsche of Dino, Desi & Billy

BILL HINSCHE, 70

Died 20 November 2021

Instrumentalist and vocalist with Dino, Desi & Billy.  Worked with the Beach Boys.

The other two, members of his group were Dino Martin (son of Dean Martin), Desi Arnaz Jr. (son of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz).

They had two top 40s:

"I'm a Fool"  (#17-1965)

"Not the Lovin' Kind"  (#25-1965)

Music Deaths: Keith Allison of Paul Revere & the Raiders

KEITH ALLISON, 79

Died 17 November 2021

Bass player with Paul Revere & the Raiders 1969-1975.  Also worked with the Monkees, Sonny & Cher and Ringo Starr.

They said his resemblance to Paul McCartney was one of the reason they recruited him. Played on hits: "Too Much Talk," "Mr. Sun, Mr. Moon," and "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation)" which went to #1 in 1971.

CBS Sportscaster Ranks Cure Bowl As Best Game-- Part 2

"The game's biggest lead came when Miles Joiner  caught a 12-yard TD from Rocky Lombardi to put Northern Illinois ahead 24-16 late in the first half.  Even that deficit was short-loved as  Coastal got a field goal a minute later to make it 24-19.

"Not only was it a  one-score game the entire time, but the lead changed seven times (4 times in the third quarter).  It was non-stop, back-and-forth football entertainment.  Coastal couldn't stop Northern Illinois, and the Huskies couldn't stop the Chanticleers.

"Aside from the final  possession of the half, the first 12 possessions of the game ended with points, and only three of them ended in field goals.  When Coastal's Charles Ooverson came onto the field for the game's first punt, he did so with only 54 seconds left in the third quarter.

"It came down to the very last play, too.    Northern Illinois had the ball at the Coastal 8-yard line with two second left, but Lombardo's pass to Joiner was stopped short of the end zone and the Chanticleers held on  for the win."

I Completely Agree, That Was One Hell of a Game.  --RoadNIU

CBS Sportscaster Ranks Cure Bowl #1 As Far As Entertainment in 2021 (Coastal Carolina vs. Northern Illinois)

From the January 6, 2021, CBS Sports "Ranking the 37 college football games for 2021-2022:  Rose delivers as Orange, Cotton disappoint" by Tom Fornelli.

Evidently this guy watched all the bowl games and I have to say his picking the Cure Bowl game in Orlando, Florida, as the best of the lot is one I have to agree with.  It matched Northern Illinois versus Coastal Carolina and was the second bowl game player (read most meaningless), but not so with this one.

Coastal Carolina was a 12 1/2 point favorite, but Northern led the whole game until the last six minutes, when Coastal went up and "held" on to win.

This is what Tom Fornelli wrote:

"#1  Cure Bowl    Coastal Carolina 47  Northern Illinois 41

And so we come to the best bowl game of the postseason.  I'm assuming a lot of you are perplexed about how the Cure Bowl can rank ahead of the Rose Bowl or Music City Bowl, but that's just because most of you probably didn't watch it.

"You should have because the second bowl game of the season was incredible.  Not only was there a bunch of points scored, but it was a one-score game the entire time."

Continued.  --RoadBowl

WLS Top Ten for Week of January 17, 1972: 'Brand New Key'

These were the Top Ten Songs fifty years ago in Chicago.

1.  AMERICAN PIE--  Don McLean

2.  DAY AFTER DAY--  Badfinger

3.  LET'S STAY TOGETHER--  Al Green

4.  SCORPIO--  Dennis Coffey

5.  WHITE LIES, BLUE EYES--  Bullet

6.  SUNSHINE--  Jonathan Edwards

7. SUGAR DADDY--  Jackson Five

8.  BRAND NEW KEY--  Melanie

9.  I'D LOVE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING--  New Seekers

10.  HEY GIRL--  Donny Osmond

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

DEBUTS

29.  DOWN BY THE LAZY RIVER--  Osmonds

30.  SWEET SEASONS--  Carole King

FIRE AND WATER--  Wilson Pickett

Name That Tune(from the above songs):  "I'm I'm So In Love With You Whatever You Want Me To Do."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Let's Stay Together"

It's Winter: First Anniversary Attack on Capitol, Donovan's Reef. Magee Teachers, Stucky's and Air Pressure Problems

THURSDAY, JANUARY 6

The first anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capitol.  That is still hard to take.  Those pictures of the mob breaking in is right up there with those burning towers on 9/11.  As a  matter of fact, we were at Donovan's last year this date and that was when we first became aware of what was happening.  Barb, the bartender, had to turn the TV off when two patrons almost got into a fight over it.  I sure hope Americans will be able to reach some kind of a consensus on all this.

We have certainly been having a cold winter so far in the new year.  

Met Kevin and Kelly at Donovan's Reef.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7

Met the Magee teachers at the Bristol 45 Diner in Bristol, Wisconsin.  Always good to get together with friends I taught so many years with in Round Lake.  Both Bobs were there as was Karen.

Liz and I went to Stucky's at night.  Discovered that the air pressure in all four tires on the Malibu was way low and had many warnings.  I'll have to put some more in tomorrow.

--RoadDog

Music Deaths: Philip Margo, Sang 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'

PHILIP MARGO, 79

Died 13 November 2021

Vocalist of the Tokens, best-known for their 1961 recording of the "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."

Co-founded te group along with his brother Mitch Margo.  As a producer, he also worked on the Chiffons' "One Fine Day" and Tony Orlando & Dawn's "Knock Three Times."

WLS Top 30 for Week of Jan. 10, 1972-- Part 5: 'Let's Stay Together'

These were the Top Ten Songs in Chicago fifty years ago this week according to WLS, 890 AM.  *  Means the song was climbing the charts.  The number after the artist is how high the song got on the Billboard National Hot 100 chart.

10.  I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING--  New Seekers      #7    Why do I want a Coke right now?

9.  LET'S STAY TOGETHER--  Al Green      #1         Just something about this song.

8.  SUGAR DADDY--  Jackson Five    #10       I don't remember it.

7.  IT'S ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS--   Partridge Family   #20

6.  SCORPIO--   Dennis Coffey     #6

5.  DAY AFTER DAY--  Badfinger       #4

4.  HEY GIRL--  Donny Osmond     #9

3.  SUNSHINE--  Jonathan Edwards    #4       

2.  BRAND NEW KEY--  Melanie    #1     Her biggest hit.

1.  AMERICAN PIE--  Don McLean     #1       No singing allowed, now.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "A Long Time Ago I Can Still remember How The Music Used To make Me Smile."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"American Pie"

First Weekend of 2022

SATURDAY, JANUARY 1

Started snowing early and continued all day so just stayed home.  Watched Bowl Games, Yellowstone and the movie "The Magnificent Seven."

SUNDAY, JANUARY 2

"Binge watched" TV for the first time.  We don't have any of those streaming services, but Paramount Channel was running the "Yellowstone" series, so caught up on background. Great show but way too much cussin'.

Listened to Da Bears win on the radio and went over to the McHenry American Legion.

The new neighbor and his young son came over and cleared the snow off our driveway and sidewalk.  Mighty neighborly of them.

--RoadDog

THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO SAY:  I like you.  You remind me of when I was young and stupid.

Those Who Left Us in 2021-- Part 6: Elder, Dole, Unser and Nesmith

NOVEMBER

**  LEE ELDER, 87

He broke down racial barriers as the first black golfer to play in the Masters and paved the way for Tiger Woods and others to follow.  Died November 28.

DECEMBER

**  BOB DOLE

He overcame disabling World War II wounds to become a Republican Senate leader and a presidential candidate.  I voted for him.  He became a symbol of the dwindling Greatest Generation.  I really liked where he would personally go and meet WW II veterans on the Honor Flights.  Died December 5.

**  AL UNSER, 82

One of only four drivers to win the Indianapolis 6500 a record four times.  Died December 9.  His brother Bobby Unser was a three-time Indy 500 winner and died May 2.

**  MICHAEL NESMITH, 78

Singer, song-writer and best of all for me, a member of one of my favorite groups (and TV shows) The Monkees."  Died  December 10.

WLS Top 30 for Week of January 10, 1972-- Part 4: 'Hey Big Brother'

15.  HEY BIG BROTHER--  Rare Earth       #19    That was one great organ intro.   Rock group from Detroit.  Pete Rivera on drums and lead vocals.

14.  RESPECT YOURSELF--  Staple Singers        #12      This applies especially to today.  You must respect yourself, but also respect others.

13.  WHITE LIES, BLUE EYES--  Bullet    One of my all-time favorite songs.   Lead singer Ernie Sorrentino recorded this initially with studio musicians and when it became a hit, built a band to perform it on the road.

12.  YOU ARE EVERYTHING--  Stylistics     #9     A perfect reception first dance wedding song.  Their first big hit.    R&B vocal group from Philadelphia.

11.  ONE MONKEY DON'T STOP NO SHOW--  Honey Cone    #15   R&B vocal trio  from Los Angeles.  Member Edna Wright was a sister of Darlene Love.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):   "If You're Walking 'Round Thinkin' That The World Owes You Something."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Respect Yourself"

WLS Top 30 for Week of January 10, 1972-- Part 3: 'Black Dog'

Fifty years ago on Chicago's WLS, 890 AM radio.  I was a student at the University of Georgia at the time, but could get WLS late at night, that super 50,000 watts whether you needed them or not.

*  Means the song was climbing the charts.  The number after the artist is how high the song got on the Billboard Hot 100  national charts.

20.  CLEANUP WOMAN--  Betty Wright       #6      Her highest ranked song.   In 1978, she had a #8 song "Dance With Me" with Peter Brown.   She died May 10, 2020.

19.  WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO--  Donnie Elbert       #15     A great Beach Music version of a Supremes song.   Born in New Orleans in 1936.

18.  CHERISH--  David Cassidy     #9      Out on his own away from that TV show.  Did the Association proud on his cover of their song.  His highest-ranking song.   His half brother Shaun Cassidy had three straight Top 7 songs in 1977.

17.  HAVE YOU SEEN HER--  Chi-Lites      #3     Soul doesn't get much better than this.  Both spoken and sung.  Their second highest ranked song.  Their #1 came out three months later.

16.  BLACK DOG--  Led Zeppelin    #15     Let's do some Rock and Roll.  Always one of my favorites.  A real kicking song.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Baby, Baby, Baby Don't Leave Me."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Where Did Our Love Go"

Last Week of 2021: An Afternoon New Year's Eve Party at the Legion

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31

There goes yet another year, and boy did it go fast!!  Every year goes way too fast now.  They seem to last just 5 or 6 months.  Hey, and we have taxes coming up if all the tax preparation commercials haven't alerted you to that yet.

Still enjoying listening to the Drive's A to Z Classic Rock Countdown which started Christmas Eve Day and is still going.  They figure it will end sometime next week.

We went to the Fox Lake (Illinois) American Legion for our afternoon New Year's Eve party.  Being kind of old and having a hard time staying up past 11 pm anyway, this is a great way to get the experience without staying awake past bedtime.

The place was packed, of course.  Great to have it back after last year's didn't take place because of you-know-what.  Joe Kadlec put on his usual great job playing his guitar and singing.  The Legion provided Italian beef sandwiches and everybody brought a dish to pass, so there was plenty of food along with $2 draft beers and two really tasty jello shots and, of course, champagne.

Watched Alabama  and Georgia win the NCAA football semifinals and they will play Jan. 10th for the championship.  I went to Georgia for a year and have family members who attended so will be pulling Dawgs all the way.

We did not make it to midnight, of course.

--RoadDog

Those Who Left Us in 2021-- Part 5: Scott, Tutt and Powell

SEPTEMBER

WILLARD SCOTT, 87

The beloved TV weatherman who charmed viewers on NBC's "Today" show with his cheerful personality.  Died September 4.

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

OCTOBER

RONNIE TUTT, 83

A legendary drummer who spent years playing alongside Elvis Presley and teamed up with other stars ranging from Johnny Cash to Stevie Nicks.  Died October 14.

COLIN POWELL, 84

The trailblazing soldier and diplomat who had sterling reputation of service to Republican and Democrat presidents.  It is too bad he never ran for president himself.  I definitely would have voted for him.  Died October 18.

--RoadDog

WLS Top 30 for Week of January 10, 1972-- Part 2: 'Old Fashioned Love Song'

That's right, fifty years ago. Half a century.

25.  *DROWNING IN A SEA OF LOVE--  Joe Simon     #11      Sadly, he just left us, dying on December 13, 2021.  All the soul you could ever want.  He had 51 U.S. Pop and R&B  hits between 1964 and 1981, including eight pop Top 40s.

24.  ALL I EVER NEED IS YOU--  Sonny and Cher     #7      Husband and wife duo.   One could sing, the other not so well.  But it worked.

23.  OLD FASHIONED LOVE SONG--  Three Dog Night         #4      "An Old Fashioned Love Song"   Who says white guys can't sing Soul?

22.  GOT TO BE THERE--  Michael Jackson     #4     How that guy could sing that well at that age is beyond me.  His first solo song.

21.  *LOOKING FOR A LOVE--  J. Geils Band     #39    That's Peter Wolf singing with  "Magic Dick" Salwitz on harmonica and John "J." Geils on guitar.   Their first hit.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Somebody Help Me, Somebody Help me Now."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Looking for a Love"

WLS Top 30 for Week of January 10, 1972-- Part 1: 'Family Affair'

These were the top 30 songs in Chicago fifty years ago this week according to WLS AM 890.  * Means the song was climbing the charts.  The number after the artist is how high the song got on the Billboard National Hot 100 chart.

*SWEET SEASONS--  Carole King   #9   Born Carole Klein in Brooklyn.

30.  NOTHING TO HIDE--  Tommy James      #41   What, no Shondells?  Big hair Tommy.   I hadn't heard this song before, but it's a good one.   Born Thomas Jackson in Dayton, Ohio.

29.  STONES / CRUNCHY GRANOLA SUITE--  Neil Diamond     #14    Funny name for a song.

28.  NEVER BEEN TO SPAIN--  Three Dog Night     #5    A comment:  Joined the Navy in 1978 and went on a Mediterranean cruise.  Stopped in Roto, Spain.  "Couple of us went into a bar for a beer and there's a jukebox and the first song out of it was "Never Been to Spain."  What a great way to be 18 and in a foreign country for the first time."  What a great memory.

27.  FAMILY AFFAIR--  Sly & the Family Stone   #1    Interracial psychedelic soul group from San Francisco.

26.  *STAY WITH ME--  Faces    #17   Recorded "Itchycoo Park" as Small Faces.   Watching the video, I'd have to say Rod wasn't stage shy anymore.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "But I Kinds Like The Music."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Never Been to Spain"

Those Who Left Us in 2021-- Part 4: Unser, Thomas, Bailey, Rumsfield, Everly, Watts & Asner

MAY

BOBBY UNSER, 87

Three-time winner of the Indy 500, May 2

B.J. THOMAS, 78

Grammy Award winning artist with songs like "I Just Can't help believing," "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" and "Hooked On a Feeling."  May 29.

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JUNE

F. LEE BAILEY, 87

 Celebrity attorney.  Defended O.J. Simpson and Patricia Hearst.  June 3.

DONALD RUMSFIELD, 88

Two-time Defense Secretary and one-time Presidential candidate.  June 29.

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AUGUST

DON EVERLY, 84

One half of the pioneering Everly Brothers.  August21.

CHARLIE WATTS, 80

Drummer with the Rolling Stones, August 24

ED ASNER, 91

That lovable, burly "Lou Grant, August 29.

"You Know You've Got Spunk."  "I Hate Spunk."  --RoadDog

Bob Stroud will be doing his annual Gone But Not Forgotten show on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM from 9 am to noon, CST.  It streams.

Past Movie Scratches: Accountant-- Suicide-- Immortals-- Hard-- Huntsman-- McClintock

Past Movie Scratches--  Movies I watched on TV in 2020.

91.  THE ACCOUNTANT-- 5-8--  Beware the pencil-pushing geek accountant  Very good at what he does, indeed.

92.  SUICIDE SQUAD--  5-9--  Talk about your bunch of lovable misfits.  Got to love that blonde gal.

93.  IMMORTALS--  5-9--  All sorts of Greek Mythology folks and some of the ugliest helmets ever invented.

94.  GET HARD--    5-8--  Preparing for prison the hard way.

95.  SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN--  5-10--  A new take on an old tale and a really, really wicked queen.

96.  McCLINTOCK--  5-16--  What a group of misfits.  One really funny movie, especially the mud fight.

--RoadDog

Last Week of 2021: Those Virus Boosters

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28

A received my Moderna booster shot at the Spring Grove Walgreens after a long wait for my 1 pm appointment.  Long as that was, there was another person who was supposed to get theirs at 12:15 pm.  Getting both the two vaccinations and the booster was nothing easy for us.  It was very difficult, especially considering that they wanted people to get those.  Plus, Liz and I are both 70 and have those underlying issues.  You'd have to think they would have made it super easy for us.

I had no problems in April with my first shot, but the second one made me really tired a day after I got it in May.  This booster really hit me hard as by night time I had a full-blown case of the flu and stayed in all Wednesday.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30

I am feeling much better today.

Took Liz over to the McHenry Walgreens and she had no problem with a wait and get hers right away.  Other than a sore arm site, nothing happened to her.  My arm site was sore for a couple days with both the regular shots and booster.

We went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, then home.

--RoadDog

Those Who Left Us in 2021-- Part 3: Baylor, McMurtry, Liddy, Philip, Mondale and Collins

MARCH

ELGIN BAYLOR, 86

The Lakers' 11-time NBA All-Star.  Died March 22.

LARRY McMURTRY, 84

The prolific and popular author who wrote "Lonesome Dove."  That still gets me when the mass of cottonmouth snakes killed that kid crossing the river.  YUCK!!  Died March 25.

G. GORDON LIDDY, 90

A mastermind of the Watergate burglary.  We sure heard a lot about him back then.  Died March 30.

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

APRIL

PRINCE PHILIP, 99

The husband of Queen Elizabeth II.  A World War II hero.  Died April 9.

WALTER F. MONDALE, 93

Former vice president and a liberal icon.  Died April 19.

MICHAEL COLLINS, 90

An Apollo 11 astronaut whom orbited the moon while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made their historic first steps in the lunar surface.  Died April 28.

Music Death: Graeme Edge of the Moody Blues

 

GRAEME EDGE, 80

Died 11 November 2021

Drummer and co-founder  of the band Moody Blues.  That's him on the drums for all their big hits.

A Moody Blues Greatest Hits CD is on my Ultimate Jukebox.

Music Death: Astro with Band UB40

ASTRO, 64

Died 6 November 2021

Vocalist / rapper with UB40.  Founding member of the group.  Real name Terrence Wilson.  Member of group for 30 years before leaving in 2013.

Another member of the group, Arian Travers died 22 August 2021.

One of my favorite groups.  One of their CDs is on my Ultimate Jukebox.

WLS Top Ten for Week of January 3, 1972: 'Scorpio'

These are taken from the OldiesLoon site.

Fifty years ago in Chicago, these were the Top Ten and Debuts.

1.  AMERICAN PIE--   Don McLean

2.  BRAND NEW KEY--   Melanie

3.  SUNSHINE-- Jonathan Edwards

4.  HEY GIRL--  Donny Osmond

5.  DAY AFTER DAY--  Badfinger

6.  SCORPIO--  Dennis Coffey

7.  RESPECT YOURSELF--  Staple Singers

8.  IT'S ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS--  Partridge Family

9.  HAVE YOU SEEN HER--  Chi-Lites

10.  SUGAR DADDY--  Jackson 5

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DEBUTS

30.  DROWNING IN THE SEA OF LOVE--  Joe Simon  (Sadly, he just died December 13, 2021)

STAY WITH ME--  Faces

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I Remember Finding Out About You."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Day After Day"

Music Death: Ronnie Wilson of the Gap Band

RONNIE WILSON, 73

Died 2 November 2021

Multi-instrumentalist with funk soul band The Gap Band.

Obviously, they did better on the R&B, Soul charts, but some great ones like:

"Burn Rubber"

"Early in the Morning"

"Outstanding" 

And, especially one of my favorites :You Dropped a Bomb in Me."

Music Deaths: Rose Lee Maphis (Country) and John Mills

ROSE LEE MAPHIS, 98

Died 26 October 2021

Singer (country).  performed with her husband, guitarist Joe Maphis.

If you like old-timey country music, go to You Tube and giver her a listen.

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

JOHN MILES, 72

Died  5 December 2021

Singer / songwriter / multi-instrumentalist  (pop / rock)  Best known for 1976 song "Music."

Very underrated performer.  Go to You Tube and give a  listen for a bit and you'll know what I mean.

Those Who Left Us in 2021-- Part 2: Schultz, Wilson, Lown, Limbaugh, Ottens

These are just some of them.

FEBRUARY

GEORGE P. SCHULTZ, 100

Former Secretary of State.  Died February 6.

MARY WILSON, 76

Member of the Supremes.  Oh, those Supremes.  I don't know which I liked the best, their music or those great choreographed moves.  Died February 8.

BARNARD LOWN, 99

A Massachusetts cardiologist who invented the first heart defibrillator.  He's kept a lot of people alive that would have died.  Died February 16.

RUSH LIMBAUGH, 70

Talk radio host who was super conservative and ripped into liberals.  Laid waste to political correctness.  Good to have him as a counterbalance to all the ultra liberals out there, but I didn't listen to him.  Died February 17.

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

MARCH

LOU OTTENS, 94

The Dutch inventor of the cassette tape.  I had never heard of him before, but cassette tapes have been and still are a huge part of my life.  I still record on cassette tapes.  Died March 6.

I Love My Cassette Tapes.  --RoadDog

Those Who Left Us in 2021: Marsden, Lasorda, Spector, King and Spinks

From the December 26, 2021, Chicago Tribune "Influential figures lost in 2021" by Bernard McGhee, AO.

This is in no way a complete list, but I will give some names.

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

JANUARY

**  GERRY MARSDEN, 78,  ---    Lead singer of the 60s group Gerry and the Pacemakers who had such hits as "Ferry Cross the Mersey: and "You'll  Never Walk Alone."  Part of the British Invasion.  Died January 3.

Some of that great British Invasion music that got me hooked on pop music.  That's had a huge impact on my life.

**  TOMMY LASORDA, 93--  Baseball Hall of Fame Manager who guided the Los Angeles Dodgers to two World Series titles.  Died January 7.

Love my baseball still, but especially back in the 60s to 80s.

**  PHIL SPECTOR, 81--  The eccentric and revolutionary music producer who developed the "Wall of Sound" method.  Died January 16.

Great music, but a horrible person.

**  HANK AARON, 86

He endured racist threats with stoic dignity during his pursuit of Babe Ruth's home run record.  One of my all-time favorite players.  "Hammerin' Hank."  Died January 22.

**  LARRY KING, 87--  TV announcer whose "Larry King Show" set the standards for many years.  (I didn't watch him though).  Died January 23.

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

FEBRUARY

**  LEON SPINKS, 67--  Won Olympic Gold and then beat Muhammed Ali to win the heavyweight boxing title.  Died February 5.

--RoadDog