WLS Top 25 for Week of July 10, 1972-- Part 1: 'Sylvia's Mother'

These were the Top 25 songs in Chicago back fifty years ago this week.  That's half a century, folks!!

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

25.  LIVING IN A HOUSE DIVIDED--  Cher    #22     She originally recorded with Sono Bono under the name"Caesar & Cleo" in the early part of their career.

24.  SYLVIA'S MOTHER--  Dr. Hook    #5     Their first hit.  Formed in Union City, New Jersey.

23.  *LONG COOL WOMAN--  Hollies      #2    From Manchester, England.   Their first Billboard Top 40 was "Look Through Any Window" (#32-1966). This was either the very first 45 I bought or the second one.  The other one was "Anyway You Want It" by Dave Clark 5.  That was the first 45 of many, many, many.

22.  *HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WHOLE U.S.A.--  Donna Fargo      #11     A country crossover by a gal from Andy Griffith's real hometown (the one that Mayberry was based on), Mt. Airy, North Carolina.

21.  OH GIRL--  Chi-Lites      #1     Some really fine belly-rubbing Soul.  Their biggest hit and as you might guess from the name, from Chicago.

And remember, tonight from 9 pm to midnight, Bob Stroud's Summer of 1972 will be rebroadcast on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM CDST.  It streams.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Saturday Morning I Was Downtown Working For The FBI."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Long Cool Woman"

1970 Songs-- Part 4: Elton John's 'Your Song'

Continued from May 27.

ELTON JOHN    "YOUR SONG"

Elton John owes part of his breakthrough with "Your Song" to Three Dog Night.  The group's Danny Hutton, said:  "Elton  gave us this demo of it and we recorded it for our album 'It Ain't Easy' in 1970.  We thought about releasing it as a single, but in the end, we didn't."

Even Elton John's record company didn't initially intend "Your Song" as a single; they buried it on the B-side of "Take Me To the Pilot."  But when DJs flipped the single over and played the gorgeous ballad instead, it shot up into the Top Ten.

I listened to the Three Dog Night version on You Tube and I was not impressed.  However, I must say that I really did like Elton John's "Take Me To the Pilot."

--RoadDog

The Story Behind 'Michelle' by the Beatles

From the Jan. 31, 2021, American Profile "Stories behind the songs" by Jim Farber.

"MICHELLE"

WRITERS:  Paul McCartney and John Lennon, 1967

Before the Beatles' "Michelle" took the prize, no rock band had ever won a Top Song Grammy.  In truth, "Michelle" couldn't have rocked less. -- it swayed to a lilting melody penned by McCartney to recall his days as a student taking in Parisian culture.

But, because McCartney didn't speak French, he reached out to a friend for an assist with the translated part.  He also got help from Lennon, who devised the "I love you, I love you, I love you" bridge of the song.

"Michelle" went on to become one of only two Top Song winners to feature non-English lyrics.  The other:  "Volare," the very first winner in the category in the Grammy's inaugural year, 1959.

--RoadDog

Hey! Hey! Hey! Chicago's Bob Stroud Is a Nominee for the Radio Hall of Fame!

Bob Stroud, affable midday host on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, the Drive, has been nominated for the Radio Hall of Fame.   Host of the long-running "Rock and Roll Roots" show which recently celebrated its 40th year and has been running in Chicago for forty years as well as the M-F's Ten at Ten and his "One 45 At 1:45."   His knowledge of rock and roll is extensive.

I always learn something listening to one of these shows.  He knows so much I  sometimes think he must look some of it up.

You often see his playlists right here in this blog.  As a matter of fact, his annual Root Salute to a Bygone Summer will be my next post.  This year, we're going back fifty years to the summer of 1970.  Bob remembers that hairy year.

Bob is one of 24 nominees in six categories.

We're all pulling for you Bob.  But don't let it go to your head.  Look what happened to your hair the last time.

Proud Member of the Stroud Crowd.  --RoadStroud

EATING IN THE FIFTIES  (From FaceBook):  Pasta had not been invented.  You ate macaroni or spaghetti and liked it.

Getting in the Yule Spirit-- Part 2: Usual Suspects Get-Together

DECEMBER 15, SUNDAY

Rock and Roll Roots featured the Dave Clark 5 group today in honor of drummer Dave Clark's 80th birthday.  They were the first British Invasion Group to come over after the Beatles and since they were more rocking, I even liked them better than the Beatles.

As a matter of fact, the first 45 single I ever bought was either the Dave Clark 5's "Anyway You Want It" or the Hollies'"Look Through Any Window."  I can't remember which one I bought.

Went to the Squaw Bar in Ingleside, Illinois, for the Bears-Packers game with the Usual Suspects and because Sue and Paul were visiting from New Mexico, there was a full turnout, including Pete, Katrina, Pam, Glen and Barb, and Laura and Ed.

Sadly, Da Bears lost to Da Pack.

Oh Well.  --RoadDog

"Look Through Any Window" and "Any Way You Want It", And "Rubber Soul" or "Herman's Hermits' Greatest Hits."

On Sunday, Bob Stroud did a Rock and Roll  Roots Salute to the Hollies on the 50th anniversary of Graham Nash leaving the group and heading for America.  The Hollies and Dave Clark Five are my favorite two sixties British bands.

Like last week, where Stroud saluted the Beatles' "Rubber Soul" album on its 53rd anniversary of release, and where I had the problem of choosing between it and Herman's Hermits Greatest Hits" for my first-ever album.  (See my post.)

Well, today, he played the two 45s that I had to choose between for my first-ever record purchase.  That would be the Hollies' "Look Through Any Window" and the Dave Clark Five's "Any Way You Want It."  Unfortunately, I don't remember which one I chose for sure, but think it might have been the Hollies.

Well, the Memories.  --RoadDog

How I Make the WLS Top 40s

Yesterday I completed the WLS Top 40 music survey for August 4, 1969.  Every week I do the WLS Top Ten along with debuts, but once a month I take on the whole 40 songs on the list.

When I do this, I do it  in groups of five songs for the numbers 40 to 11.  Then I do the last ten on the last, usually seventh post.

I get the WLS Surveys from the Oldies Loon web site. wlsyear-oldies loon.

This is a rather time consuming (but completely enjoyable) task for me as it requires me to listen to every single song on You Tube and often many more times than once, especially with songs I am not familiar with or have only rarely heard.  Then I make comments.

Then I use Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1993 to find out how high the song charted on the national Billboard charts as well as some more information about the band.

Then, of course, comes the long, drawn-out two fingered typing on the keyboard.

For fun, you can try to guess the performer of the song in the title and then name that tune from a line in the song at the bottom of the list.

Well, That's How I Do It Once A Month.  --RoadDog

Seven Ways the Beatles Changed Boomer Childhood

Terri Hemmert, our Beatle enthusiast here in Chicago on WXRT, 93.1 FM, who has a show on Sundays from 8-10 am called Breakfast With the Beatles found this bit of information and passed it on to us.

1.  The Beatles made music a necessity.  (It sure did for me.  It had a huge impact on my life.)

2.  It displaced traditional childhood past times.  Like toys.  (Well, not really in my case.)

3.  The youngest Beatle fans started continually hanging out with older ones.  (Not me.)

4.  Children became aware of appearance and wanted to look cool.  (I didn't dare cross my parents in this situation.)

5.  They displaced traditional male role models.  (Like I said, I would not dare cross my dad.)

6.  Children became consumers when they became fans.  (To an extent.  I didn't have much money and my dad thought records were a waste of money. I didn't buy my first 45s until 1965, and even then, on the sly.)

7.  They created global and generational consciousness in younger boomers.  (There was no doubt but the Beatles were OUR music, not our parents.)

Something To Think About.  --RoadDog

EGGCELLENT  EASTER JOKES:  From April 2019 Wassup Magazine.    Q.  What does the Easter Rabbit get for making a basket?    A.  Two points just like everyone else.

53rd Anniversary of "Rubber Soul" Release: My Memories

Bob Stroud is doing a Root Salute to this album on his Rock an Roll Roots show on Chicago's WDRV 97.1 FM as this album was released 53 years ago tomorrow.  This album and the one before it "Revolver," marked a major change  in Beatles music from their earlier work.

I remember back before Christmas 1965, I was about to buy my first album ever and was in the record store looking at albums and this was one I was looking at.  It ended up being a choice between this album or Herman's Hermits Greatest Hits.  I did a lot of thinking before going with Herman because this one had a whole lot of hits.  (I later bought "Rubber Soul.")

Albums back then cost $2.99 which was a huge amount for me to spend.  That was essentially six weeks of allowance or 150 pop bottles.  (Two cents a bottle going door-to-door.)  I had to get max bang for my buck.

Little did I know that those two albums would lead to a life-long obsession collecting albums, 45s, cassette tapes, reel-to-reel tapes and CDs.

Earlier, Bob Stroud played "Rubber Soul's" "I'm Looking Through You."  A great song that whenever I write it down on paper, I always absolutely HAVE to put little dots for eyes in the "o'" in the word Look.

I'd sure like to do that right now.

Funny How Music Can Bring Back Memories.  --RoadDog

WLS Best-Selling Records of the 1960s

This appeared on their April 28, 1967 Silver Dollar Survey.

I'M A BELIEVER--  Monkees   (1967)
WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL--  New Vaudeville Band   (1967)
HANKY PANKY--  Tommy James & Shondells   (1966)

CHERISH--  Association   (1966)
DOWNTOWN--  Petula Clark   (1965)
I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND--  Beatles   (1964)
LIMBO ROCK--  Chubby Checker    (1963)

I CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU--  Ray Charles    (1962)
WILL YOU LOVE ME TOMORROW--  Shirelles   (1962)
THEME FROM "A SUMMER PLACE"--  Percy Faith   (1960)

Name That Tune (from above songs):  "Those Happy Hours That We Once Knew."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

SOME INTERESTING & IRONIC PREDICTIONS:  "Rail travel at high speeds is not possible because passengers, unable to breathe would die of asphyxia!"  --Dr. Dion Lardner   1830

"I Can't Stop Loving You"

"Anyway You Want It" --First or Second Single?

Yesterday, Bob Stroud played Dave Clark 5's "Any Way You Want It" on his Rock and Roll Roots show and said that it was released in December 1964. The lead singer of the group, Mike Smith, will turn 63 this week.

This single brought back some memories for me. This was either the first or second single I ever bought. If it wasn't the first, then "Look Through Any Window" by the Hollies was. I bought both about the same time in 1964, but kept the purchase secret from my dad as he believed records to be a waste of money.

On the subject of the Dave Clark 5, two weeks ago, Little Steven played "Glad All Over" on his Underground Garage radio show, here in Chicago at WXRT FM and streaming world-wide. The show is syndicated so might be in your market as well.

He had Mike Smith introduce it and said that this song was a few minutes of pounding. It was the DC5 who dethroned the Beatles on the top of British charts back when anything the Beatles did went straight to number one.

According to Little Steven: "Go make a record better than 'Glad All Over'. Go ahead. I'll give you an unlimited amount of money. Go make a record better than that. You can't do it. Dave and Mike Smith were a fantastic combination." Little Steven, like myself, believes that it is a shame that the Dave Clark 5 have not been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Maybe 2008 will be the year.

At one time, the DC5 were told that they couldn't play "Bits and Pieces" at concerts as promoters feared the crowd's jumping up and down would cause damage to the dancehall floors.

I always thought drummer Dave Clark was the lead singer. He did provide vocals, but Mike Smith did most of the singing on their big hits. But, we didn't have anything like an MTV back when they used to play videos, so I never got to see who was singing.

DAVE CLARK 5 for the ROCK AND ROLL HALL of FAME!!!!!!

Sure Wish I Could Remember Which One I Bought First. --RoadDog