Being an account of some things I'm interested in, what I'm doing, and reflections on my past, especially music.
BOBBY RYDELL, 79
Died April 5, 2022
Singer (rock and roll / pop)
Born Robert Ridarelli in Philadelphia. Teen pop idol. Appeared in movies "Bye, Bye Birdie" and "That Lady from Peking."
"We Got Love" (#6-1959)
"Wild One" #2-1960)
"Swingin' School" (#5-1960)
"Forget Him" (#4-1964)
Was Rydell High School in "Grease" named after him?
WEDNESDAY, JULY 6
Played trivia at Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, and, as usual, we had a smorgasboard to eat as folks brought food in.
THURSDAY, JULY 7
Drove to Captain's Quarters on Fox Lake and had their 50 cent wing special said hi to former neighbor Mel who used to live next to us and is an unbelievably good bartender there. Then drove to Antioch, Illinois, for the It's Thursday concert series, today featuring an all female group named Beatelles singing Beatles songs. That was sure a different way to hear the Beatles.
FRIDAY, JULY 8
Met Kelly and Kevin, Glen and Barb at Cuda's for their fish fry then went over to Lake View Place for their $1.50 draft beer and had never seen the place so crowded. Former neighbor Mel and a lot of the Captain's Quarters folks were there.
Fun and Games Around Here. --RoadDog
THINGS TO PONDER: Which letter in "Scent" is silent? Is it the "S" or "C?"
JULY 4th
Another birthday for our country.
I drove to McHenry and stopped at Jewel after getting two Sausage McMuffins at McDonald's (two for $2). Bought six 12-packs of Diet Coke at Jewel for $20. That's just $3.33 a pack, a great price in these days of inflation. Seems like everything in grocery stores is more expensive or downsizing.
I went to the 4th of July commemoration in Veterans Park, put on by the McHenry American Legion and Polish League of American Veterans (PLAV). We keep two folding chairs (not those sling things) in the trunk of the Malibu all summer as you never know when you're going to need them. I used one at the park and found a nice spot shaded by a tree.
There was a reading of the entire Declaration of Independence,something that was often done in the early years of the celebration. This was followed by a talk about formerly secret U.S. Army operations in Nicaragua and Central America back in the 1970s and 1980s. It was a big secret and we lost quite a few military personnel in it.
The wife of Jeffrey C. Schwab was there. He was killed in a helicopter crash on January 11, 1984.
Afterwards, I went over to the McHenry Legion and a big crowd of people came in from the ceremony. I sat next to Mrs. Schwab and had a nice talk with her.
Watched the Spring Grove fireworks display from the foot of the driveway, the only place you can still see them since all the neighborhood trees have grown so tall. We used to be able to see them from the front porch.
Happy 246th Birthday U.S.A. --RoadDog
These were the Top Ten songs (and Debuts) in Chicago fifty years ago this week.
1. BRANDY-- Looking Glass "You're a Fine Girl"
2. ALONE AGAIN(NATURALLY)-- Gilbert O'Sullivan
3. LONG COOL WOMAN-- Hollies
4. HOLD YOUR HEAD UP-- Argent
5. I'M STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU-- Al Green
6. IF LOVING YOU IS WRONG-- Luther Ingram
7. GOODBYE TO LOVE-- Carpenters
8. YOU DON'T MESS AROUND WITH JIM- Jim Croce
9. COCONUT-- Nilsson
10. GUITAR MAN-- Bread
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DEBUTS
17. BLACK AND WHITE-- Three Dog Night
24. RUN TO ME-- Bee Gees
26. GO ALL THE WAY-- Raspberries
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "Who Draws The Crowd And Plays So Loud." Answer below. --RoadDog
5. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) Made for $60,000
4. Evil Dead (1981) Made for $375,000
3. Halloween (1978) Made for $325,000 Madeover $70 million
2. Paranormal Activity (2007) Made for $15,000 Made over $200 million
1. The Blair Witch Project (1999) Made for $60,000 Made over $249 million
Don't sit next to Wendy at a horror movie, especually "Halloween."
Like, BOO!! --CootScared
THINGS TO PONDER: If the poison expiration date is past, does that mean its less or more poisonous?
The Top Ten songs in Chicago fifty years ago.
1. ALONE AGAIN (NATURALLY)-- Gilbert O'Sullivan
2. BRANDY-- Looking Glass
3. LONG COOL WOMAN-- Hollies
4. I'M STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU-- Al Green
5. IF LOVING YOU IS WRONG-- Luther Ingram
6. HOLD YOUR HEAD UP-- Argent
7. WHERE IS THE LOVE-- Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
8. YOU DON'T MESS AROUND WITH JIM-- Jim Croce
9. GOODBYE TO LOVE-- Carpenters
10. HOW DO YOU DO-- Mouth & McNeil
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DEBUTS
22. SATURDAY IN THE PARK-- Chicago
27. JOIN TOGETHER-- Who
28. POWER OF LOVE-- Joe Simon
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "He Came On A Summer's Day Bringing Gifts From Far Away." Answer below. --RoadDog
"Brandy"
From the August 21, 2022, ListVerse by Mike Grindle.
10. Night of the Living Dead (1968) Made for $114,000 Grossed $30 Million
9. Psycho (1960) Made for $800,000.
8. Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989) Made for $17,000
7. Eraserhead (1977) Made for less than $100,000 Grossed over $7 million
6. Friday the 13th (1980) Made for $550,000 Grossed over $59 million
What's That Sahpe Outside the Shower Curtain? --CootBoo
Fifty Years Ago this week. That's half a century if you're counting.
10. *GOODBYE TO LOVE-- Carpenters #7
9. TOO LATE TO TURN BACK NOW-- Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose #2 #2 for two weeks.
8. *I'M STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU-- Al Green #3 Began career as a gospel singer.
7. DADDY DON'T YOU WALK SO FAST-- Wayne Newton #4 His highest-ever ranking song.
6. *HOW DO YOU DO-- Mouth & McNeil #8
5. *LONG COOL WOMAN-- Hollies #2 One of the best intros ever.
4. *WHERE IS THE LOVE-- Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway #5 Their next song went to #1 for five weeks in 1973.
3. *IF LOVING YOU IS WRONG-- Luther Ingram #3 Full title "If Loving You Is Wrong (I Don't Want to Be Right)".
2. BRANDY-- Looking Glass #1 Even Star Lord and the Cekestrial Being liked this song.
1. ALONE AGAIN (NATURALLY)-- Gilbert O'Sullivan #1
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "Spending My Day Thinkin' 'Bout You Girl." Answer below. --RoadDog
"Still In Love With You"
Fifty years ago this week these were the songs being played on Chicago powerhouse, 50,000 watt WLS, 890 AM.
* Means the song was climbing the charts. The number behind the artist is how high it got on the Billboard Hot 100 National Charts.
15. COCONUT- Nilsson #8 Talk about your laid-back Beach Song!! What do you put in the coconut?
14. LEAN IN ME-- Bill Withers #1 You just gotta love this song. It takes me right back to the University of Georgia during junior year. #1 for three weeks.
13. *HOLD YOUR HEAD UP-- Argent #5 That's as in Rod Argent, former members of the Zombies. Their only Top 40.
12. HOLD HER TIGHT-- Osmonds #14 Never heard it before. Pretty rockin' stuff.
11. *HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WHOLE U.S.A.-- Donna Fargo #11 From Andy Griffith's hometown, Mt. Airy, North Carolina. Also where the famed Siamese Twins Chang and Eng Bunker lived and are buried. A country song on the pop charts. Her next song went all the way to #5. Bet you can't name it (without looking it up.)
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "And Said, 'Doctor, Ain't There Nothin' I Can Take?' " Answer below. --RoadDog
"Coconut"
These were the Top 27 songs on the WLS Survey fifty years ago today.
* 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.
27. *BABY DON'T GET HOOKED ON ME-- Mac Davis #1 Country makes the pop list. Born in Lubbock, Texas.
26. *BACK STABBERS-- O'Jays #3 How much of a smoother intro can you get? Their first hit.
25. *BURNING LOVE-- Elvis Presley #2 Always liked that "Hunka, Hunka."
24. GONE-- Joey Heaterton #24 I'd never heard it before. Puts a pop spin to a 1957 Ferlin Husky song. A really powerful voice. From Long Island, New York. Her only Top 40.
23. *GUITAR MAN-- Bread #11 Boy, that guitar intro. Bread was and still is a favorite group of mine. Also went to #1 in Adult Contemporary.
22. BABY LET ME TAKE YOU IN MY ARMS-- Detroit Emeralds #24 I don't remember it. R&B vocal trio fromLittle Rock, Arkansas.
21. *BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY-- Daniel Boone #13 A feel good song. Takes me right back to college driving the old Ramblin Wreck around Athens, Georgia.
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "Lord Almighty, I Feel My Temperature Rising." Answer below. --RoadDog
"Burning Love"
SATURDAY, JULY 2
I was going to go to Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, for the 4th of July parade, but went to the parade in Fox Lake, Illinois, instead. Gas in Fox Lake was $5.46. GOSH!! Nothing like a parade for the 4th. They even had a marching band from Grant Township High School and lots and lots of politicians.
Went to the Fox Lake American Legion and saw a solo performer from 3 to 6 pm. Nothing like a band/performer in the afternoon as 9 pm is now too late for us.
Afterwards, went to Sunnyside in Johnsburg and enjoyed the Cheers type crowd. Gas at the Mobil station was $5.20. (I won't be happy until it gets below $3, but doubt we'll ever see it that "low" again.)
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SUNDAY, JULY 3
Sat out FP as usual and finished Thursday's breakfast. I made posts to all eight blogs. Drove over to McHenry to see the band at Miller Park, but it was too crowded. Ended up at the McHenry American Legion enjoying $2 drafts and $2 rail drinks.
Stopped at Sunnyside on the way home.
--RoadDog
THINGS TO PONDER: What if my dog only brings back the ball because he thinks I like throwing it?
FRIDAY, JULY 1
Went to Quality Tire in Spring Grove to check on the Malibu and then to McHenry to check out some garden centers at Wal Mart and Home Depot and then bought three 5-pack Maxell cassette bricks and a Sony Radio, Cassette and CD boombox player using a 30% off coupon. Nowadays a cassette brick costs $9.99 at Meijers which is the only place I know of to buy a brick. The boom box usually cost $69.99.
Gas on Illinois Highway 31 was $5.15 and $5.05. Getting better, but still way TOO expensive
Stopped at the Spring Grove Jewel on the way home and bought six 12-packs of Diet Coke for Liz at 3 for $10, a real good deal these days of inflation in pretty much everything. (Sale prices on these used to be 4 for $10.)
I see that USC and UCLA are going to join the Big 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. That will make it the Big 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Time for a name change. Another case of the rich get richer among the so-called Power Conferences. I liked the old days where conferences were based on regional location, but not no more.
Picked up the Malibu which ended up with $460 in repairs.
Met the usual suspects at Johnny's Cafe in Fox Lake and then went to the Fox Lake American Legion.
But, I Like Cassettes, and, Even More Important, Know How toUse Them. -RoadDog
Songs on the tadio and in our record collectionsfifty years ago. This is the third installment of Bob Stroud's annual trip back fifty years aago to a summer I definitely remember, 1972.
At this time, I was getting ready to transfer from University of Georgia to Northern Illinois University to finish out my college days. Senior year.
MOTORCYCLE MAMA-- Sailcat
SUFFRAGETTE CITY-- David Bowie
TRUE BLUE-- Rod Stewart
YOU DON'T MESS AROUND WITH JIM-- Jim Croce
BLUE SKY-- Allman Brothers
THE GUITAR MAN-- Bread
SENTIMENTAL LADY-- Fleetwood Mac
OLD MAN-- Neil Young
FREE FOUR-- Pink Floyd
GOING DOWN-- Jeff Beck Group
ALL DOWN THE LINE-- Rolling Stones
ALONE AGAIN (NATURALLY)-- Gilbert O'Sullivan (The No. 1 song in Chicago according to WLS.)
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Bob Stroud will do part 4 on Sunday September 4.
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "Uptown's Got Its Hustlers, The Bowery Got Its Hustlers." Answer below. --RoadDog
"You Don't Mess With Jim"
Songs that were on the radio and in our record collections on August 7, 1972, fifty years ago.
It's Bob Stroud's annual trip back fifty years to a great summer back in our youth on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, The Drive.
I was still in Georgia at the University of Georgia, finishing up my summer school classes, but getting ready to transfer back to Northern Illinois University where I had gone freshman and sophomore years. Slowly, I was becoming aware that as much as I was enjoying college life, and I sure did, it was getting time to go to the next phase of my life.
HAPPY-- Rolling Stones
SUMMER SUN-- Jamestown Massacre
SATURDAY IN THE PARK-- Chicago
TOO LATE TO TURN BACK NOW-- Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
BRANDY (YOU'RE A FINE GIRL)-- Looking Glass
JACKIE WILSON SAID-- Van Morrison
HERCULES-- Elton John
LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS)-- Hollies
WITCHY WOMAN-- Eagles
I NEED YOU-- America
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "But He Made It Clear He Couldn't Stay, No Harbor Was His Home." --Answer below. --RoadDog
"Brandy"
On Sunday, August 7, Bob Stroud once again went back to the Summer of '72 in his annual Rock and Roll Root Salute to summer fifty years ago on August 7, 1972. These were the songs on the radio and in your record collection from HALF A CENTURY AGO. Can You Dig IT?
I was tooling around in a classic '63 puke green Rambler station wagon (not an SUV) that burned a quart of oil every fifty or so miles. You could smell me a coming a mile away.
JOIN TOGETHER-- Who
IMMIGRATION MAN---- Crosby & Nash
BACK STABBERS-- O'Jays
JESUS IS JUST ALRIGHT-- Doobie Brothers
CONQUISTADOR-- Procul Harum
FROM THE BEGINNING-- Emerson, Lake & Palmer
HOLD YOUR HEAD UP-- Argent
I JUST WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO YOU-- Foghat
SCHOOL'S OUT-- Alice Cooper
COCONUT-- Nilsson
OUTA SPACE-- Billy Preston
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "Well We Got No Choice, All The Boys and Girls." Answer below. --RoadDog
"School's Out"
We sure enjoyed the owners, Deb and Ron, and had many great talks with them. Their daughter Crystal often worked there as well and is a real good friend with Kelly, another one of our favorites, who was once the commander of the Fox Lake American Legion. Also, bartenders/waitresses Teesha and Carrie.
We also enjoyed good times with a whole bunch of regulars like Joe and Randy and others.
Stucky's, which was located in the Johnsbrg shopping center by Angelo's grocery store (the former Val's, now located in Fox Lake).
The place was packed and, of course, they were out of most everything as they were getting rid of stock and not buying much of anything. Lots of trips had to be made over to next door Angelo's when they would run out of items.
We drank the $2 cans of Busch Light (all their cans were as cold as you can get without freezing). Michelle was there doing karaoke (which she had been doing on Saturdays).
About half the people were from Sunnyside as it was a favorite of Sunnysiders. We even would have to do the Sunnyside Shuffle at times there. (Where you moved from tables to the bar.) Mark Hume and the Sunnyside owner Amy and her boyfriend Denny (they now co-own Cullon Knoll in Cullon Lake near McHenry) were there as well.
Crystal bought a round and said a tearful goodbye and thank you. Bartender/waitress Carrie will be working Tuesday nights at Cullom Knoll.
We Sure Are Going to Miss Stucky's. --RoadDog
These were the Top Ten songs and Debuts on Chicago Powerhouse WLS AM, 890, fifty years ago this week.
1. ALONE AGAIN (NATURALLY)-- Gilbert O'Sullivan
2. BRANDY-- Looking Glass
3. DADDY DON'T YOU WALK SO FAST-- Wayne Newton
4. TOO LATE TO TURN BACK NOW-- Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
5. WHERE IS THE LOVE-- Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
6. IF LOVING YOU IS WRONG-- Luther Ingram
7. HOW DO YOU DO-- Mouth & McNeil
8. LONG COOL WOMAN-- Hollies
9. LEAN ON ME-- Bill Withers
10. DAY BY DAY-- Godspell
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DEBUTS
25. GUITAR MAN-- Bread
26. BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY-- Daniel Boone
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "In A Little While From Now If I'm Not Feeling Any Less Sour." Answer below. --RoadDog
"Alone Again (naturally)"
JOE MESSINA, 93
Died April 4, 2022
Guitarist, played with Motown's in-house studio band, The Funk Brothers.
Dubbed the "White Brother with Soul." He was one of the most prolific guitarists ever. In 1959, Motown founder Berry Gordy recruited Messina for his Hitsville USA studio musicians group known as The Funk Brothers. He was one of three guitarists.
These were the guys you heard on most every Motown hit in the 1960s and early 1970s. So, if you have any favorite Motown songs from that era, most like it was Messina playing guitar.
Just some of the songs he played on:
"Dancing in the Street"- Martha & the Vandellas
"Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)"-- Four Tops
"Someday We'll Be Together"-- Diana Ross & the Supremes
"Your Precious Love"-- Marvin Gaye and TammiTerrell
"Ain't Too Proud"-- Temptations
