Record Store Day Booty

This past Saturday was Record Store Day across the nation.  Mom and Pop Record Stores are one of the few places I feel like I'm home anymore.  In other words, I understand most anything in it.

As such, I visited my favorite Mom and Pop Record Store, The Vinyl Frontier, in McHenry, Illinois.  There were quite a few others also paying respects and buying albums and CDs.

I bought ten CDs and three albums.

ALBUMS:

The Best of Herman's Hermits Volume 2

The Box Tops: The Letter / Neon Rainbow

Beau Brummels:  You Tell Me Why / Don't Talk to Strangers

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CDs: 

These next six all had 22 songs apiece.

AM Gold 1966

AM Gold 1967

AM Gold 1968

AM Gold 1969

AM Gold: The 60s Generation

AM Gold: The Mid-60s

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Retro 70s  (two discs with 15 tracks each)

The Vogues Greatest Hits

Swing Time--  Wayne Hancock

House of Blues Swings!

--Love Those Mom and Pops.  --RoadRecord

2024 Movie Scratches: Aquaman-- Mean-- I.S.S.-- Wonka

Movies I saw at the theater in 2024.

5.  AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM--  1-18--  Fox Lake-- $7--  Brotherly love knows no bounds and all the colors you could ever want.

6.  MEAN GIRLS--  1-23--  Fox Lake--  $5--  Grease updated to today.  The Queen Bee gets hers.

7.  I.S.S.--  1-23--  Fox Lake--  $5--  International Space Station in case you're wondering.  With a Russian/American crew.  What would happen if the two countries went to war.

8.  WONKA--  1-25--  Fox Lake-- $7--  For some reason I was hungry when  left the theater.  One cool Oompah Lumpa but sure would have loved to have seen more of them.

--RoadDog

Earth Day 2024: 'Nature's Way'

From Bob Stroud's April 22, 2024, Ten at Ten on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM.  If you missed it at 10 a.m., it will be rebroadcast at 10 p.m..  It streams

GET TOGETHER--  Youngbloods

MY CITY WAS GONE--  Pretenders

THE TREES--  Rush

AFTER THE GOLD RUSH--  Neil Young

MERCY MERCY ME--  Marvin Gaye

INVISIBLE SUN--  Police

I'D LOVE TO CHANGE THE WORLD--  Ten 

ROCK ME ON THE WATER--  Jackson Browne

NATURE'S WAY--  Spirit

BIG YELLOW TAXI--  Joni Mitchell

Name That Tune (from the above songs:  "Love Is But A Song We Sing Fears The Way We Die."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Get Together"

WLS Top Ten for Week of April 20, 1974: 'Spiders and Snakes'

Just a mere fifty years ago.  WLS was that big AM wattage station out of Chicago.

1.  BENNIE AND THE JETS--  Elton John

2.  HOOKED ON A FEELING--  Blue Swede

3.  THE  LORD'S PRAYER--  Sister Margaret Mead (Imagine this song on a young people's playlist today.)

4.  SPIDERS AND SNAKES--  Jim Stafford

5.  TUBULAR BELLS (THEME FROM THE 'EXORCIST')--    Mike Oldfield

6.  ERES TU--  Mocedades

7.  THE LOCO-MOTION--  Grand Funk

8.  SEASONS IN THE SUN--  Terry Jacks

9.  MOCKINGBIRD--  Carly Simon & James Taylor

10.  JET--  Paul McCartney & Wings

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DEBUTS

14.  BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME--  Gladys Knight & the Pips

15.  JUST DON'T WANT TO BE LONELY--  Main Ingredient

Name That Tune (from the above list):  "Everybody's Doing a Brand New Dance."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Loco-Motion"

Record Store Day Today

Today marks the 17th anniversary of Record Store Day in the United States and in several other world countries.

This is a day to show our appreciation for independently-owned record stores, those great Mom and Pop stores.  

And, I am fortunate to have a lot of record stores in the area, starting with my favorite one and another one in McHenry, Illinois.  My favorite one also has one great name for this kind of place, The Vinyl Frontier at 4720 W. Elm Street (Illinois Highway 120).  Kind of tells it all.  Especially with the near extinction of vinyl records, you know, vinyl.

The other record store is Siren Records at 3902 Main Street in McHenry.  Then we have two more places called Reef Records in Antioch and Lakemoor.

I'm sure going to The Vinyl Frontier and plan on buying at least one LP and several CDs.  I actually like CDs better than LPs now.

I Good Day for the Cause.  --RoadRecord

The 20 Funniest Country Songs: 'Boy Named Sue'

 From Yardbarker by Amy McCarthy.

Who says country music has no sense of humor?

1.  DID I SHAVE MY LEGS FOR THIS--  Deana Carter

2.  YOU'RE THE REASON OUR KIDS ARE UGLY--  Loretta Lynn & Conway Twitty

3.  I'M GONNA MISS HER--  Brad Paisley

4.  SHUT UP AND FISH--  Maddie & Tae

5.  TEQUILA MAKES HER CLOTHES FALL OFF--  Joe Nichols

6.  I'M GONNA HIRE A WINO TO DECORATE OUR HOME--  David Frizzel and Shelly West

7.  BOY NAMED SUE--  Johnny Cash

8.  SOME BEACH--  Blake Shelton

9.  WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS--  Luke COMBS

10.  GOODBYE EARL--  Dixie Chicks

And, There Are Ten More to Go.  --RoadHaHA

Name That Tune (from the above tunes):  "Well, My Daddy Left Home When I Was Only Three."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Boy Named Sue"

Every Blooming THing-- Mid April

April showers (well, and snow on the 3rd) and flowers are blooming.  Especially the dear old dandelions.  What would spring be without the dandies.  Since I haven't used fertilizer or weedkiller in twenty years, I have a bumper crop.

In addition, I must have several hundred daffodills blooming and a hundred hyacinths.  The Bradford pear trees are in their brilliant white bloom as well.  The creeping phlox are in several hues around the yard.  I always try to have something blooming year round.  Here we go again.

Right now I am busy raking leaves out of flower beds and cutting down dead plants.

But, by far, my biggest challenge is the huge burn pile on the southwest corner of the lot.  I hired people to come over and cut down weed trees and clear overgrowth out last summer and that pile is huge.  Way too big to attempt a straight pile burn for fear it will get away from me.

So, I pull things off the pile and burn smaller fires.  This is a very tiring work.  And believe me at age 72 these first days of working out in the yard are getting rougher and rougher.  I am one sore lad indeed.

I Didn't Know You Could Hurt So Many Ways.  --RoadPain

NCAA Tournaments Are Over

By far, my favorite part of the sporting year.  And this year's edition did not disappoint. We had some upsets and a lot of close games.  As usual, I pulled mostly for the Little Guys even if they were playing favorite Big Guys teams of mine.

And, this year, I was even paying attention to the women's games more because, of course, of the Kaitlyn Clark hoopla.  Sure enjoyed the University of Iowa women's games.  Hopefully all this will carry over to the future college womens games and the WNBA.

I do think CBS made a major mistake in only offering the Final Four mens games on cable stations TBS and TNT.  They should have been on CBS.  And, even worse, the championship game last Monday came on at 9:15 pm in the Eastern Time Zone.  Another mistake.

I was pulling for Iowa to win in the womens tournament and Purdue in the mens.  However, it was not to be.  Both Iowa and Purdue gave good games in the first half, but were destroyed in the second half.  UConn and South Carolina were just too good.

Congratulations to UConn and South Carolina.

--RoadDog

WLS Top 10 for Week of April 13, 1974: 'Hooked On a Feeling'

Hard to believe, half a century ago.

1.  HOOKED ON A FEELING--  Blue Swede

2.  BENNIE AND THE JETS--  Elton John

3.  THE LORD'S PRAYER--  Sister Janet Mead

4.  SPIDERS AND SNAKES--  Jim Stafford

5.  ERES TU--  Mocedades

6.  SEASONS IN THE SUN--  Terry Jacks

7.  LAST KISS--  Wednesday

8.  TUBULAR BELLS (THEME FROM THE EXORCIST)--  Mike Oldfield

9.  MOCKINGBIRD--  Carly Simon & James Taylor

10.  SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS--  John Denver

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DEBUTS

15.  COME AND GET YOUR LOVE--  Redbone

16.  OH MY MY--  Ringo Starr

17.  TSOP (THE SOUND OF PHILADELPHIA)--  MFSB & the 3 Degrees

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "And I Shook It At Her."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Spiders and Snakes"

Tournament Time: CB&C and B-Ball

MARCH 21--  THURSDAY

I should mention that I got my third corned beef and cabbage dinner at the Fox Lake (Illinois) seniors luncheon earlier and were entertained by an Irish performer.  Good Irish food and entertainment.  

I am also glad now that we have complete choice as to what games we see since they are all shown from beginning to end on four different channels:  CBS, TBS, TNT and True TV.  That used to drive me crazy when we had to watch Duke blowing out some #15 or #16 team when we could see that there was a close one or upset in the offing on another channel.

With me, it is all about close games and upsets.

And, I still remember when they experimented with the triple screen (they showed three games at once).  That made it impossible to figure out what was going on.

Highlight of the day was Kentucky getting upset by  Oakland. Oakland?  Had to look it up.  It  is in Michigan.  I am not a fan of Kentucky in any way.  It was one of the original one-and-doner schools.  Then, I ended up staying awake until nearly midnight when Samford took Kansas down to the wire in what would also have been a major upset.  They lost by four.  I am a Kansas fan, but Samford is a major Little Guy school.

By the way, Samford is in Alabama.

--RoadB-Ball

WLS Top Ten for Week of March 30, 1974: 'Mockingbird'

 1.  HOOKED ON A FEELING-  Blue Swede

2.  LAST KISS--  Wednesday

3.  BENNIE AND THE JETS--  Elton John

4.  SEASONS IN THE SUN--  Terry Jacks

5.  THE LORD'S PRAYER--  Sister Janet Mead

6.  ROCK ON--  David Essex

7.  MOCKINGBIRD--  Carly Simon & James Taylor

8.  SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS--  John Denver

9.  LOVE SONG--  Anne Murray

10.  SPIDERS AND SNAKES--  Jim Stafford

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DEBUTS

11.  JET--  Paul McCartney & Wings

15.  TUBULAR BELLS--  Mike Oldfield

YOU'RE SIXTEEN--  Ringo Starr

OH MY MY--  Ringo Starr

Name That Tune (from the above songs):   "If I Had A Day That I Could Give You."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Sunshine on My Shoulders"

Tournament Time Is Here!! Whoopee!!

MARCH 21--  THURSDAY

Well, we are upon my favorite sporting event of the year, the NCAA Road to the Final Four and National Basketball Championship.  And it arrived today (well, other than the four play-in games).  

This is a time I pull for the Little Guys vs. the Big Guys, even if the Big Guy is one of my favorites like Duke, UNC or Kansas.  For me, it's all about the upsets and especially Cinderella stories.  I remember when Gonzaga made that deep run which sent everyone to maps looking to find the location of Gonzaga.

I also like to see a high seed upset a low seed.

And, every year we get a lot of upsets and close games.  I am no fan of blowouts, even when it is one of my teams doing it to someone.  I especially liked it the last years when a #16 beat a #1.  Now that is just plain fun.

And, it is here.

I went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, and watched the game with my buddy Rich who knows aa while lot about college basketball.  I then came home and continued watching games in Margaritaville while enjoying my Ultimate 300-disc Juke Box.

--RoadB-Ball

Leading Up to St. Patrick's Day: Two CB&C Dinners, St. Baldrick's and Two Performers

MARCH 16, SATURDAY

Okay, so no cb&c at the VFW, but I remembered seeing a flyer at Sunnyside in Johnsburg offering a cb&c dinner (corned beef & cabbage) so went there.  But, upon closer inspection of the sheet, I saw that this dinner was offered at Cullom Knoll, about seven miles away so decided to be disappointed.

So, came home and went online for awhile before driving over to Saylor Mick's in Spring Grove which had cb&c dinners so FINALLY got one after two false starts.  They also had a solo artist performing playing so got to enjoy that.

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MARCH 17TH--  SUNDAY
Bob Stroud featured the music of Van Morrison on his Rock and Roll Roots show on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM.  After all, the Van is Irish.

I drove over to the Fox Lake American Legion where they were having a St. Baldrick's head shaving event to raise money for diseases.  I didn't have my head shaved but did donate.  And, they had cb&c.  Two in a row!!  Plus, Matthew Holmes performed from 3 to 6 pm.  

Sadly, I left my to-go box when I left.

Oh well, I had my fill of corned beef & cabbage finally.

--RoadCabbage

WLS Top LPs and Tapes for Week of March 23, 1974: 'Court and Spark'

Maybe you still have one of these albums in either record or tape form?  Was it an 8-track or cassette tape?  Probably 8-track.

1.  GREATEST HITS (5th week at #1)--  John Denver

2.  THE WAY WE WERE--  Barbra Streisand

3.  HOTCAKES--  Carly Simon

4.  TUBULAR BELLS--  Mike Oldfield

5.  COURT AND SPARK--  Joni Mitchell

6.  SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH--  Black Sabbath

7.  UNBORN CHILD--  Seals & Crofts

8.  YOU DON'T MESS AROUND WITH JIM--  Jim Croce

9.  BRAIN SALAD SURGERY--  Emerson, Lake & Palmer

10.  BURN--  Deep Purple

--RoadDog

WLS Top Ten and Debuts for Week of March 23, 1974: 'Last Kiss'

That's right, a cool half century ago.

1.  LAST KISS--  Wednesday

2.  HOOKED ON A FEELING--   Blue Swede

3.  SEASONS IN THE SUN--  Terry Jacks

4.  ROCK ON--  David Essex

5.  BENNIE AND THE JETS--  Elton John

6.  SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDER--  John Denver

7.  LOVE SONG--  Anne Murray

8.  MOCKINGBIRD--  James Taylor & Carly Simon

9.  THE LORD'S PRAYER--  Sister Janet Maad

10.  BOOGIE DOWN--  Eddie Kendricks

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DEBUTS

13.  SPIDERS AND SNAKES--  Jim Stafford

ERES TU--  Mocedades

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Hey Kids, Shake It Loose Together."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Bennie and the Jets"

Leading Up to St. Patrick's Day: No Dyed River, Parades or CB&C, But Old-Time Radio, A Beer and a Band

MARCH 16, SATURDAY

This was to be the big day of partying everywhere.  I had lots of options, but many I canceled if they involved spending time outside.  It was kind of cold and very windy.  Plus there would be crowds.  The older I get, the less I like any one of those things.

That meant a no go to McHenry to see the Fox River dyed green or the parade.  That also ruled out the parade in Lake Villa.  Sad, because I surely love parades.  I decided instead to go to the Fox Lake/Grant Township Historical Society's meeting and see the Lake County Old Time Radio Players put on an old time radio show.  They did "The Shadow."  Quite a neat and enjoyable job.

I then  went to Lake Villa and found myself in a long detour, but eventually got to the Lake Villa VFW which was having a corned beef and cabbage dinner.  I was sad to find they had already given out of it by the time I arrived.  Bummer.

However, I did luck into a seat at the very crowded bar and had a beer while enjoying the 50s-60s band, Accents.  However, the power went out and I left.

Not Finished With the Day Yet.  --RoadDog

Leading Up to St. Patrick's Day: Teachers, Pi, a Cemetery and Some Bars

MARCH 14, THURSDAY

I met seven other teachers I used to work with at Magee Middle School in Round Lake at the Bristol 45 Diner in Bristol, Wisconsin, for breakfast.  It is always good to get together with old friends.  Stopped at my State Farm agent to see if I could get an adjustment on my vehicle insurance on the '05 Dodge Dakota and '85 Firebird since I don't drive either very much, but already was getting the lowest amount I could.

Bought an apple pie at Jewel for $3.14.  I wonder why that price?

MARCH 15, FRIDAY

Drove to Arlington Heights, Illinois, to replace the flowers on my mother and father-in-laws' graves, stopping along the way in Lake Zurich to get the tax information on my Charles Schwab account.  On the way back stopped at Sunnyside in Johnsburg and the Fox Lake American Legion.

Pi Is 3.14.  --RoadO'Green

Leading Up to St. Patrick's Day: Pizza, Beer, a Movie, a Presentation and Trivia

And, it was unseasonably warm around here until Saturday.

MARCH 11--  MONDAY

Went to Saylor Mick's in Spring Grove for half price pizza and Bricks 'N Ivy for the $8 pitcher of Blue Moon.

MARCH 12-- TUESDAY

Drove to Woodstock, Illinois, for the movie "King Fu Panda: 4" at the theater, then spent some time in the library before meeting members of the Round Table at 3 Brothers restaurant for dinner.  Then we adjourned back to the library where the McHenry County Civil War Round Table has a presentation on Confederate Railroads during the war.

MARCH 13--  WEDNESDAY

Put up the spring flowers at Liz's grave and talked with the funeral director at the Spring Grover Funeral Home about a grave stone.  Then drove to Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, for snack day/trivia at Donovan's Reef.  We sure ate well.

Good Times in the Area.  --RoadDog

WLS Top Ten (and Debuts) for Week of March 16, 1974: 'Boogie Down'

That's right, fifty years ago, half a century.  Really.

1.  ROCK ON-- David Essex

2.  SEASONS IN THE SUN--  Terry Jacks

3.  LAST KISS--  Wednesday

4.  SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS--  John Denver

5.  LOVE SONG--  Anne Murray

6.  HOOKED ON A FEELING--  Blue Swede

7.  BOOGIE DOWN--  Eddie Kendricks

8.  THE WAY WE WERE--  Barbra Streisand

9.  DARK LADY--  Cher

10.  MOCKINGBIRD--  James Taylor & Carly Simon

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DEBUTS

12.  BENNY AND THE JETS--  Elton John

14.  JUNGLE BOOGIE--  Kool & the Gang

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Girl You Just Don't Realize What You Do To Me."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Hooked On a Feeling"

Bob Stroud Salutes St. Patrick's Day: 'Give Ireland Back to the Irish'

Well, Sunday is that greenish day and Bob Stroud is saluting it with a special Ten at Ten today with songs that have to do with it.

GREEN RIVER--  Creedence Clearwater Revival

TAKE ME TO THE RIVER--  Al Green   (Get it?)

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN--  Thin Lizzie  (Irish band)

GREEN ONIONS--  Booker T. & the M.G.'s

BEAUTIFUL DAY--  U2  (Irish band)

GREEN TAMBOURINE--  Lemon Pipers

GLORIA--  Them  (Irish band)  And you thought the Shadows of Knight originally did it.  By the way, that's Van Morrison singing lead.

GREEN EARRINGS--  Steely Dan  (Never heard this one before.)

GREEN EYED LADY--  Sugarloaf

GIVE IRELAND BACK TO THE IRISH--  Paul McCartney & Wings

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The show will repeat at 10 pm tonight at WDRV, 97.1 FM, Chicago.  CDST.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "She Makes Me Feel So Good.  She Makes Me Feel Right."  Answer below.  --Road O'Dog

"Gloria"

2024 Movie Scratches: Boat-- Migration-- Swim-- Beekeeper

These are movies I saw in the theater this year.

1.  THE BOYS ON THE BOAT--  1-8--  $7--  Fox Lake--  Against all odds, the Davids beat the Goliaths and go on to win Gold in the 1936 Olympics.  Adolph was not happy.

2.  MIGRATION--  1-8--  $7--  Fox Lake--  Fox Lake--  Overcoming huge obstacles to get to Jamaica for a family of mallard ducks.

3.  NIGHT SWIM--  1-11--  FREE--  There is something wrong with our swimming pool.  A life for a life.  Beware flickering lights and the toy boat.

4.  THE BEEKEEPER--  1-11--   $7--  A guy you'd best not get on the wrong side of.  Rambo would be proud of this guy.  Protecting the hive and killing with politeness.

I am aiming to see 52 movies at the theater.

--RoadDog

Very Confusing Newspaper

I sometimes get behind in my newspaper reading.  A couple days ago I came across an old paper and started reading it.  One part I always like is a section called "Today's Birthdays."

This particular paper had some folks I was unfamiliar with.

Actor Antonio Sabato Jr. is 13  (52) (born 1972)

Rapper Ja Rule is 12  (48)  (born 1976)

Singer Mark Foster (Foster the People) is 10  (40)  (born 1984)

So what gives with these weird birthdays and ages?

I looked at the newspapers date. which was Thursday, February 29, 2024.

Ohhhh!  --RoadDuh

WLS Top Ten for Week of March 9, 1974: 'Boogie Down'

From the oldiesloon site.

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

1.  SEASONS IN THE SUN--  Terry Jacks  (fifth week at #1)

2.  ROCK ON--  David Essex

3.  DARK LADY--  Cher

4.  SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS--  John Denver

5.  LAST KISS--  Wednesday

6.  THE WAY WE WERE--  Barbra Streisand

7.  BOOGIE DOWN--  Eddie Kendricks

8.  LOVE SONG--  Anne Murray

9.  JIM DANDY--  Black Oak Arkansas

10.  HOOKED IN A FEELING--  Blue Swede

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DEBUTS

12.  ENERGY CRISIS  '74--  Dickie Goodman

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Ooga-Chaka, ooga-ooga, Ooga-Chaka, ooga-ooga."  Answer below.  --RoadSwede

"Hooked on a Feeling"

Last Weekend at the Legion: Cheap Beer, Fish Fry and an Afternoon Entertainment

Last week I ended up at the American Legion in Fox Lake for three straight days.

FEBRUARY 29, Thursday (As in Leap Year)

After a movie in Fox Lake I stopped by the Legion to enjoy those $1.50 pints of Lite.  This is the special every Monday and Thursday.  My buddy Frank joined me.  I left when the bingo folks started coming in.

MARCH 1, Friday

Saw the last episode of "Band of Brothers" at Frank's.  This was a great series which unfortunately I didn't get to see when it was on as I didn't subscribe to HBO.  Glad I finally got to see it.

Then I went to the American Legion in Fox Lake again and met friends Glenn and Barb at the bar and enjoyed the Grant Township annual fish fry.  It was AUCE for $12 and, as always tasty.  And, as always the place was jammed tight with folks.

MARCH 2,   Saturday

Met Glenn and Barb again at the Legion and thoroughly enjoyed the show that New Odyssey Guy put on from 3 to 6 pm.  Where else you gonna get entertainment in the afternoon in March?

--RoadLegion

Fifty Famous Movie Quotes: 'It's Only a Flesh Wound'

From the April 24, 2022, Stacker "50 famous movie lines you've probably quoted at least once" by Andrew Lisa.

Can you guess the movie?  Answers below.

1.  "Help you, I will."  "Late, I will be."

2.  "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."

3.  You're killing me, Smalls!"   

4.  "How do you like them apples?"  

5.  "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out."  

6.  "I'm your Huckleberry."    

7.  "Wilsonnnnn!" 

8.  It's only a flesh wound."

9.  "You gotta ask yourself one question:  Do I feel lucky?  Well do ya, punk?"  

10.  "Run, Forrest, Run!"

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1.  Yoda in "Star Wars"

2.  "Gone with the Wind"

3.  "The Sandlot"

4.  "Good Will Hunting"

5.  "A Christmas Story"

6.  "Tombstone"

7.  "Castaway"

8.  "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"

9.  "Dirty Harry"

10.   "Forrest Gump"

--RoadDog

WLS Top 20 for Week of March 2, 1974-- Part 3: 'Rock On'

*  Means it was climbing the chart.  The number after the artist  is how high it got on the Billboard Hot 100 National Chart.

10.  LOVE'S THEME--  Love Unlimited Orchestra     #1    Written by Barry White.  Considered the first Disco song to hit #1.

9.  *ABRA-CA-DABRA--  De Franco Family    #3    Family group from Canada. The new Jackson Five/ Osmonds.

8.  YOU'RE SIXTEEN--  Ringo Starr     #1    People worried about Ringo after the Beatles broke up.  Seven straight Top tens and two #1s out of the gate.

7.  *BOOGIE DOWN--  Eddie Kendricks     #2    Lead singer of the Temptations 1960-1971.

6.  *LAST KISS--  Wednesday    #34    From Canada.   Their only Top 40J. Frank Wilson had taken it to #2 in 1964.

5.  *SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS--  Henry John Deutschdorf     #1     You might know him better as John Denver.  This is why a big song played at Oktoberfest in Munich is "Thank God I'm a Country Boy."

4.  THE WAY WE WERE--  Barbra Streisand       #1 for three weeks.  Born in 1942 in Brooklyn.

3.  *DARK LADY--  Cherilyn Sarkisia      #1    You probably know her as Cher.

2.  *ROCK ON--  David Essex    #5     Real name is David Cook.  His only hit.

1.  SEASONS IN THE SUN--  Terry Jacks      #1    Three straight weeks at #1 in Chicago.  Sang with the Poppy Family "Which Way You Going Billy."

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Oh Where Oh Where Can My Baby Be."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Last Kiss"

WLS Top 20 for Week of March 2, 1974-- Part 2: "Jim Dandy"

Fifty years ago on WLS, 890 AM Radio.

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

17.  THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL--  Charlie Rich    #1   Want some good old country belly rubbing music along with your soul and rock?

16.  I'VE GOT TO USE MY IMAGINATION--  Gladys Knight & the Pips    #4    From their "Imagination" album.  This is their first album after leaving Motown.

15.  *UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME--  Aretha Franklin     #3    The Queen of Soul.  Cowritten by Stevie Wonder.

14.  DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO (HERATBREAKER)--  Rolling Stones    #15     About the deaths of two kids.  Ten years after starting, they're still cranking out hits.  Beatles?

13.  *LOVE SONG--  Anne Murray      #12      "The National Canadian Songbird."

12.  *JIM DANDY--  Black Oak Arkansas      #24     Check out the video if you want to see a hairy band not afraid to shake it.

11.  ONE TIN SOLDIER--  Coven    #26  Full name "One Tin Soldier (The Legend of Billy Jack)"From Chicago and the bands only hit.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Hey Did You Happen To See."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"The Most Beautiful Girl"

WLS Top 20 for Week of March 2, 1974: 'Mockingbird'

That's right, 50 years ago this week.  Who's getting old?

WLS went from the Top 30 to the Top 20.

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

BUBBLING UNDER

*JET--  Paul McCartney & Wings  #7    

*SPIDERS AND SNAKES--  Jim Stafford  #3  Another strange one from Jim.  "My Girl, Bill."

*MOCKINGBIRD--  James Taylor & Carly Simon  #5   Originally done by Inezz and Charlie Foxx in 1963 when it got to #7.

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*20.  HOOKED ON A FEELING--  Blue Swede  #1  Pop group from Sweden.  I love that "Oooga-Chacka" and when I deejayed would play that part several times before getting to the rest of the song.  Also liked in on the :Guardians."

19.  TEENAGE LAMENT '74--  Vincent Furnier  (but you might know him better as Alice Cooper).  #48   A good song but I never heard it before.  

18.  NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP--  Barry White  #7   As sexy as anyone can sing.  Move over Marvin.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Oooga Chacka, Oooga Chacka."  Answer below.  --RoadChacka

"Hooked On a Feeling"

This Was a Week for the Weather

As they like to say:  "Don't like the weather?  Wait a day."

FEBRUARY 22, THURSDAY

It was so warm (58 degrees and sunny) and nice that my buddy Frank and I ate out on his deck overlooking a channel of the Chain o' Lakes.

FEBRUARY 23, FRIDAY

Still sunny but temps dropping to 40s and lower.  Down later to 30s and we had snow.  I figure about at least an inch on the ground by Saturday morning.  Cold and blustery.

Over the weekend it started warming up until we had temps to upper 60s by Tuesday, Feb, 27.

FEBRUARY 28, WEDNESDAY,

Like, Brrrrrrr!  We got another inch of snow on ground (probably more because a lot of it melted.  Plus, we had thunder and lightning as a cold front moved in.  Eleven tornadoes reported to the south of us.

FEBRUARY 29, LEAP YEAR THURSDAY

Temp at 22 degrees this morning, but warmed up to 30s.

It is supposed to get back to the 60s by next week.

One Strange February.  --RoadWeather

Still More New Names for Chicago Snowplows

Sister Jean's Machine

Skilling It

Snower Wacker Drive

Snowprah Windfrey

Super Bowl Shovel

Taylor Drift

Thawsome Sauce

The Magnificent Pile

The Salt Shedder

The Unslushabls

These were just too good.  --RoadPlow

Naming Chicago's New Snowplows-- Part 4: Salternate Reality

Just idea after idea. All good and most really having a Chicago angle.

Nat King Cold

Oh Snow You Didn't

Pablo Picassnow

Plowdineira

Plowed Gate

Salternate Reality

Scoop Dogg

Saltsa N Chips

And, It Was 69 Degrees On My Deck Just a Few Minutes Ago.  Oh, Well.  Just Something I'll Have to Learn to Live With.  --RoadNoSnow

WLS Top Ten and Debuts for Week of February 23, 1974: 'Dark Lady'

Fifty years ago on the mighty LS.

1.  SEASONS IN THE SUN--  Terry Jacks

2.  THE WAY WE WERE--  Barbra Streisand

3.  ROCK ON--  David Essex

4.  LOVE'S THEME--  Love Unlimited Orchestra

5.  DARK LADY--  Cher

6.  YOU'RE SIXTEEN--  Ringo Starr

7.  ABRA-CA-DABRA--  DeFranco Family

8.  ONE TIN SOLDIER--  Coven

9.  BOOGIE DOWN--  Eddie Kendricks

10.  THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL--  Charlie Rich

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DEBUTS

14.  LAST KISS--  Wednesday

22.  LOVE SONG--  Anne Murray

Name That Tune (from the above songs:  "Listen Children To A Story That Was Written Long Ago."  --RoadDog

"One Tin Soldier"

Naming Chicago's New Snowplows-- Part 3: Ferris Buehler's Scrape Off

Ferris Buehler's Scrape Off

Jesse Whiteout

Kevin McPlowster

Little Dibbie

Looper Scooper

Lost Shaker of Salt

Maxwell Street Plowish Sausage

Micicle Jordan

Mies van der Snow

Minnie MiNosnow

Here's to Jimmy B.  Miss You.  --RoadDog

Naming Chicago's New Snowplows-- Part 2: Deep Dish Plowza

Buddy Guy-cicle

Casimir Plowaski

Celery Salter

Chance the Scraper

Chicago My Home Plow

Chicago Plowhawks

ChiPlowgo

City of Big Shovels

CTRL-SALT-DELETE

Deep Dish Plowza

Earth, Wind and Plower

Ernie Snowbanks

Too Funny.  --RoadDog

Naming the New Snowplows in Chicago-- Part 1 Say What? 'Chillinois'

From the January 26, 2024, Chicago Tribune "Chillinois,' 'Taylor Drift,' 'Skilling It.'  by Kate Armanini.

These are a few of the creative offerings folks around here have offered in Chicago's second annual "You Name A Snowplow" contest. For some reason, it has been known to snow around here and we need these things to clear the white stuff off.  Why not have some fun while doing it?

Of course, Swifties will get the "Taylor Drift."  And, longtime weatherman, and town favorite Tom Skilling is retiring from WGN soon.  So, he's "Skilling It."

Here are some other good ones:

Above the Thaw

Arctic Institute of Chicago

Bad, Bad Leroy Plow

Better Call Salt

Bill Flurry

Buckingham Plowtain

Some More in the Next Post.  Great Sense of Humor Those Chicago Folks.  --RoadDog

WLS Top Ten (and Debuts) for Week of February 16, 1974: 'Dark Lady'

From the oldies loon site.

1.  SEASONS IN THE SUN--  Terry Jacks

2.  THE WAY WE WERE--  Barbra Streisand

3.  YOU'RE SIXTEEN--  Ringo Starr

4.  LOVE'S THEME--  Love Unlimited Orchestra

5.  ABRA-CA-DABRA--  DeFranco Family

6.  ONE TIM SOLDIER--  Coven

7.  DARK LADY--  Cher

8.  ROCK ON--  David Essex  (climbed from #26)

9.  THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL--  Charlie Rich

10.  NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP--  Barry White

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DEBUTS

24.  SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS--  John Denver

25.  UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME--   Aretha Franklin

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "You Come On Like a Dream.  Peaches and Cream.)  Answer below.

--  RoadDog

"You're Sixteen"

St. Valentine's Day Murders at NIU

Not forgetting that horrible day, 16 years ago yesterday, February 14, 2008, when a gunman (whose name won't be mentioned) stormed into a lecture hall at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and killed five students and wounded many others before doing the right thing finally and killing himself.

This hit Liz and me especially hard since we are both graduates of that school.

Not Forgetting.

WLS Top 10 for Week of February 9, 1974: 'The Most Beautiful Girl in the World'

That's right, fifty years ago.

1.  SEASONS IN THE SUN--  Terry Jacks

2.  YOU'RE SIXTEEN--  Ringo Starr

3.  THE WAY WE WERE--  Barbra Streisand

4.  ONE TIN SOLDIER--  Coven

5.  THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE WORLD--  Charlie Rich

6.  LOVE'S THEME--  Love Unlimited Orchestra

7.  AMERICANS--  Byron MacGregor

8.  ROCKIN' ROLL BABY--  Stylistics

9.  ABRA-CA-DABRA--  DeFranco Family

10.  LET ME BE THERE--  Olivia Newton-John

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

DEBUTS

26.  ROCK ON--  David Essex

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Goodbye to you my trusted friend."  Answer below.

"Seasons in the Sun"

Interesting Winter So Far and Adios Toby!!

January started off fine, then we had several 5 inch snowfalls and then a big 13-incher.  Unfortunately, I had problems getting the old snowblower (it's about 22 years old) started until the 13-incher, then it really had a hard time coping with all of it.  I did get some of the driveway finished before a really nice neighbor came over and finished it.  Of course, there was also those three days below zero the entire day.

Now, February has been a beaut so far.  Finally, all that snow has melted and the last several days its been 40s and even 50s today.  I was able to open up the house and get some fresh air in it.  Plus, I even had peanuts in the shell our OD (On Deck).  Not too many things finer that peanuts in the shell.

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So sorry to lose one of my all-time favorite country music stars, Toby Keith.  I have most of his CDs and even one on my Ultimate Jukebox.  Who cannot help but sing along with him on "I Love This Bar" and "Red Solo Cup."  And, of course that "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" pretty well sums up my feeling about 9/11.

I didn't find out about his death until Tuesday afternoon at Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg.  Someone put on a bunch of his songs and we gave him a rousing sendoff.

Sorry 'Bout That Dixie Chicks or Dixies or Whatever You're Calling Yourselves Now.  --RoadDog

How Long This Time?

Fun and computer games continue.  Thanks to a buddy, I got back on the internet in December, then went off it again.  I bought a new pc and somehow managed to get it hooked up and, well here I am again.

For how long who knows?

Plus, I now have to figure out how to get to my other three blogs on this site.  I haven't posted on them since May of 2023.

Love It But Hate It.  --RoadDog