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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!"

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

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.

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

*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