WXRT Saturday Morning Flashback-- Part 2: 'Sail On, Sailor'

THE OCEAN--  Led Zeppelin

SAIL ON, SAILOR--  Beach Boys

GROWIN' UP--  Bruce Springsteen

FEELIN' STRONGER EVERY DAY--  Chicago

THE HARDER THEY COME--  Jimmy Cliff

ELECTED--  Alice Cooper

ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN--  Electric Light Orchestra

LOVE TRAIN--  O'Jays

PANIC IN DETROIT--  David Bowie

ALL THE GIRLS LOVE ALICE--  Elton John

DIRTY LOVE--  Frank Zappa

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "People All Over the World Join Hands."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Love Train"

Music Deaths in 2022: Musey, Dozier, Newton-John and Pitman

DAVID MUSEY, 73

Died 6 August 2022.  Multi-instrumentalist player with Firefall and the Marshall Tucker Band.

LAMONT DOZIER,  81

Died 8 August 2022.  Singer and member of the Motown writing team of Holland-Dozier-Holland team that brought us all that classic Motown music.

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

OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN, 73

Died 8 August 2022.  Singer (pop), actress, notably for the 1978 musical film "Grease", co-starring John Travolta.  What can I say about her?  She was my second crush after Linda Ronstadt.

BILL PITMAN, 102

Died 11 August 2022.  Guitarist / session musician who played on many celebrated songs in the 1950s and 1960s.   Member of the Wrecking Crew.  Played on Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds" and Phil Spector's Wall of Sound.

Music Deaths in 2022: Tuggle, Morgan, Charlton and Wade

**  BRETT TUGGLE, 70

Died 19 June 2022  Keyboardist, played with David Lee Roth and Fleetwood Mac.

**  TOMMY MORGAN, 89   

Died 23 June 2022    Harmonica player / prolific session musician (popular music / film / television)  Played harmonica on "Good Vibrations"-- Beach Boys, "Rainy Days and Mondays"--  Carpenters and "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" by Hollies.

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

**  MANNY CHARLTON, 80

Died 5 July 22   Guitarist with rock band Nazareth.  Played on big hits like "Love Hurts."

**  ADAM WADE, 87

Died 7 July 2022  Singer / actor  "Take Good Care of Her"  (#7-1961), ""The Writing on the Wall" (#5-1961) and "As If I Didn't Know"  (#10-1961)

It's Hot, Real Hot, Today and Bob Stroud Did His Annual Ten at Ten Show on Summer Songs... It Must Be....: 'Under the Boardwalk'

This morning at 10 a.m., Bob Stroud played ten summer songs on his Ten at Ten show on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, the Drive.  The fact that its really warm, with 99 degrees forecast, June 21st and the fact that he played these ten songs makes me stringly believe that we must have enetered the best time of the year.  And, that would be... SUMMER!!.

Here are the ten songs he played.  All very Summer Worthy.

SCHOOL'S OUT--  Alice Cooper

IN THE SUMMERTIME--  Mungo Jerrry    My all-time most favorite summer song.

SUMMER BREEZE--  Seals & Crofts

UNDER THE BOARDWALK--  Drifters

SATURDAY IN THE PARK--  Chicago

DO IT AGAIN--  Beach Boys

HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME--  Sly & the Family Stone

SUMMER IN THE CITY--  Lovin Spoonful

SUNNY AFTERNOON--  Kinks

MR. BLUE SKY--  ELO

Also, maybe, just maybe, today's date might have something to do with it.

By the way, you can hear this again at 10 pm tonight.  Plus, if you still need more Summer Songs, this Sunday Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots show on WDRV will be three hours of summer songs from 9 am to noon, CDST.  It streams.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "The Tax Man's Taken All My Dough  And Left Me In My Stately Home."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Sunny Afternoon"

Songs from the Summer 1971-- Part 11: 'I Just Want to Celebrate'

I was a junior at the University of Georgia at this time fifty years ago, having transferred at the end of my sophomore year from Northern Illinois University.  My parents and family were now living in Dunwoody, Georgia, Atlanta northern suburbs.  My parents gave me a 1963 Rambler station wagon to go to school.

But, a big reason I transferred was to go to a school with a big football program, which Georgia definitely had.  Vince Dooley coached the team which ended the season with an 11-1 record, good for second place in the SEC and a #7 AP ranking.  That was a fun year, but I couldn't get over the students attending the games wearing suits and evening dresses.  That just wasn't done at Northern.

HEART OF THE COUNTRY--  Paul McCartney  Bob Stroud always plays two Beatle songs at 9 am when Terri Hemmert ends her Breakfast With the Beatles show on WXRT.

BANGLADESH--  George Harrison

GETTING IN TUNE--  Who

I JUST WANT TO CELEBRATE--  Rare Earth

MERCY MERCY ME--  Marvin Gaye

RIDERS ON THE STORM--  Doors

DON'T GO NEAR THE WATER--  Beach Boys

I FEEL THE EARTH MOVE--  Carole King

LIAR--  Three Dog Night     A song that always reminds me of PLC Class at Quantico, Virginia, that summer.

BITCH--  Rolling Stones

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I Won't Ever Leave If You Want Me To Stay."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Liar"

Getting Into Summer 2021 (With A Little Help from Past Summers)-- Part 3: 'Summer Side of Life'

Continued from June 26 and 27.

Nothing like a good old song from summer's past to set the tone for this summer.

These were songs played on Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots Salute tio Summer on June 20, 2021.

SURFIN' SAFARI-- (live)  Beach Boys

SPILL THE WINE--  Eric Burdon and War

YOU TOOK THE WORDS RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH (HOT SUMMER NIGHT)--  Meatloaf

SUMMER IN THE CITY--  Lovin' Spoonful

STREET FIGHTIN' MAN--  Rolling Stones

SUMMER RAIN--  Johnny Rivers

SUMMERTIME--  Billy Stewart

THE SUMMER SIDE OF LIFE--  Gordon Lightfoot

SUMMER--  War

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Ev'ry Where I Hear The Sound Of Marching, Charging Feet."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Street Fightin' Man"

Getting Into Summer 2021-- Part 1: 'Beach Baby'

These were the songs Bob Stroud played on his Roc ad Roll Roots Salute to Summer 2021 on June 20 on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, the Drive.

If these songs from the 1960s and 1970s don't get you into the mood, nothing's gonna do it.

SURFIN' USA--  (live) Beach Boys

ALL SUMMER LONG--  Beach Boys

WAKE UP SUNSHINE--  Chicago

SUMMERTIME BLUES--  Eddie Cochran

CALIFORNIA SUN--  Rivieras

HOT SUMMER DAY--  It's a Beautiful Day

BUS STOP--  Hollies

BEACH BABY--  First Class

ONE SUMMER DREAM--  ELO

DANCIN' IN THE STREET--  Mamas and the Papas

SUNSHINE SUPERMAN--  Donovan

SUMMER SUN--  Jamestown Massacre

DO IT AGAIN--  Beach Boys

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "You See Them Wearing Their Baggies, Hurache Sandals Too."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

(Surfin' USA"

Summer of 2020 Songs-- Part 3: "Beach Baby"

As we burn up here in the Midwest.  Man, has it been hot.  But, hey, that's summer.

HOT SUMMER DAY--  It's A Beautiful Day
BUS STOP-- Hollies
WAKE UP SUNSHINE--  Chicago

SUNSHINE SUPERMAN--  Donovan
BEACH BABY--  First Class
SUMMER BREEZE--  Seals & Crofts

SUMMER SUN--  Jamestown Massacre
DANCING IN THE STREET--  Martha & the Vandellas
RACING IN THE STREET--  Bruce Springsteen

VENTURA HIGHWAY--  America
CATCH A WAVE--  Beach Boys

ONE SUMMER DREAM--  ELO
SUMMER--  War

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Don't Be Afraid To Try The Greatest Sport Around."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Catch A Wave"

WLS Top 40 for Week of March 9, 1970-- Part 1: "Let It Be"

Fifty years ago on the Big 890, Chicago.

(D) is Debut.  The number after the artist is how high the song got on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

40.  ABC--  Jackson Five    #1   (D)   How do you beat those first four singles, all #1s.   Then theyhad two #2s after that.     Make sure you watch the Full version video by riley tourniquette.  I think you'll like it.

39.  ADD SOME MUSIC TO YOUR DAY--   Beach Boys    #64    (D)  Never heard it before, but, oh, those vocal harmonies.  After listening to it several times I'd say it should have been a big hit.  Their only Top 100 in 1970.

38.  WALKIN' THROUGH THE COUNTRY--  Grass Roots    #44    And another song I hadn't heard before.  And, another good song.   Formed San Francisco in 1964.

37.  LET IT BE--  Beatles   (D)     #1   Wow, a Beatles song with this low of a debut?  Were they losing it?  A song I heard WAY TOO MUCH!!!!

36.  TEMMA HARBOUR--  Mary Hopkin    #39      I'd forgotten this song.  Such a pretty voice.  Born in Wales in 1950.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "When We Played Tag In Grade School, You Wanted To Be It."   Answer below.  --RoadDog


"ABC"

Gone in 2019, But Not Forgotten-- Part 2: "Eye of the Tiger"

SHE--  Monkees       Peter Tork   Died February 21.  Keyboardist and bass guitar.
SHADES OF GRAY--  Monkees

POOR MAN'S SON--  Survivor  Stephan Ellis, bassist. Died Feb. 28.   Joined in 1981
EYE OF THE TIGER--  Survivor  Well, big thanks to Sylvester Stallone here.

KICKS--  Paul Revere & the Raiders    Wrecking Crew session drummer Hal Blaine on these two.  Drummed on 150 Top Tens and 40 #1s.   Some other songs:  Johnny Angel, Ringo, Surf City, Mr. Tambourine Man,  Monday Monday,  Windy, Mrs. Robinson, Bridge Over Troubled Water and I Think I Love You.   Played on most of Raiders and Beach Boys hits.
GOOD VIBRATIONS--  Beach Boys

MISERLOU--  Dick Dale    Died March 16   The King of the Surf Guitar.

RIGHT TIME, WRONG PLACE--  Dr. John    Died June 6  Born Malcom John Rebennack Jr.    Winner of six Grammy awards.  One of the Sounds of New Orleans.

I HEAR YOU KNOCKING--  Dave Edmunds      Dave Bartholomew  Died June 23     Two of New Orleans' best dying in the same month.  Wrote this song.  Wrote "Ain't That a Shame" and others for Fats Domino.
 
THE SUN AIN'T GONNA SHINE ANYMORE--  Walker Brothers   Scott Walker died March 23.  A trio who called themselves the Walker Brothers, but they weren't related.  Always reminds me of the Righteous Brothers.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "You Went Away And Left Me Long Time Ago."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"I Hear You Knocking"

WLS Top 40 for July 7, 1969-- Part 1: "Break Away"

These are the songs on Chicago's WLS, 890 AM from fifty years ago this week.  That's half a century.  I listen to every one of these songs on You Tube and there were some I'd never heard before.

(D)  means a debut song.  The numbers after the artists are how high the songs got on the Billboard Hot 100.  I get these from Joel Whitburn's "Top Pop Singles 1955-1993."  The WLS Surveys come from the Oldies Loon internet site.

40.  BIRTHDAY--  Underground Sunshine     (D)     #26   Garage rockin' the Beatles tune.  Rock quartet.  Their only Top 100 which makes them a One ____ _______.

39.  BREAK AWAY--  Beach Boys   (D)     #63      Not one of their better-known songs, but a good one.  What harmony, not a better one.  What a voice Carl Wilson had.  Look at the video and tell me what Mike Love was on at the time.

38.  HUSHABYE--  Jay and Americans     #62    Great slow dancing song and harmonies.  Group formed at New York University in 1959.

37.  LAUGHING--  Guess Who   (D)      #10  Love the start and then build up.  Group formed in Winnipeg, Canada, in 1963.

36.  SPECIAL DELIVERY--  1910 Fruitgum Co.     #38    Love my Bubble Gum Music!!!  Not one of their better-known songs.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "You Took Me By Surprise, You Didn't Realize But I Was Waiting."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Laughing"

WLS Top 40 for May 12, 1969-- Part 3: "Medicine Man"

Fifty Years Ago this week.

30.  PROUD MARY--  Solomon Burke    #45     Explaining the song and his ancestors to it.  Great Soul rendition of it.

29.  DAY IS DONE--  Peter, Paul and Mary     #21    Does get much more folky than this.    Facing your fears.   Their next-to-last hit.  Their last one was "Leaving On a Jet Plane"  which went to #1 at the end of the year.

28.  I CAN HEAR MUSIC--  Beach Boys       #24     Part of Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots Show on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM on Sundays.    Vocals by Carl Wilson, a very underrated guy in the group.  Watch the Fritz 5137 video.  Mike Love is way off on this one.

27.  MEDICINE MAN--  Buchanan Brothers     #22     Can't get too much of this song which I hadn't heard in years.   Group consisted of Terry Cashman, Gene Pistilli and Tommy West.  West and Cashman produced many Jim Croce songs.

26.  ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE--  Jerry Butler     #4   Ice Man cool here.  Listen to what Mother has to say.  She wouldn't lead her son wrong when it comes to women.   His biggest hit.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "This Is The Way I Always Dreamed It Would Be."   Answer below.  --RoadDog


"I Can Hear Music"

Music Deaths: Hal Blaine, Drummer for Wrecking Crew

HAL BLAINE, 90

Died March 11, 2019

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer played on about 40 #1 songs and roughly 150 Top Ten.  Played on Beach Boy's "Pet Sounds" album as well as with Elvis Presley, Sonny & Cher, Mamas and Papas, Simon & Garfunkel and the Byrds.

His drumming was also a key part of Phil Spector's Wall of Sound.

Some of the songs he played drums on:

Mr. Tamborine Man--  Byrds
Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In--  Fifth Dimension
Bridge Over Troubled Water--  Simon & Garfunkel
The Way We Were--  Barbra Streisand
Strangers In the Night--  Frank Sinatra
Good Vibrations and California Girls--  Beach Boys

WLS Top 40 for August 11, 1967-- Part 4: "Baby I Love You"

25.  ZIP CODE--  Five Americans   #36   Dallas-based band.  Remember when we got Zip Code?  2:30 of pure pop.  I especially like the beginning of the song.

24.  BABY, I LOVE YOU--  Aretha Franklin   #4   Follow up to her #1 hit "Respect."  From 1967-1968, she had 9 Top Tens.

23.  LONELY DRIFTER--  Pieces of Eight   #59   Classic Beach Music.

22.  HEROES & VILLAINS--  Beach Boys    #12   Follow up to"good Vibrations" which went to #1.  And, Glen Campbell, who died earlier this week took the place of Brian Wilson on tours.

21.  ODE TO BILLY JOE--  Bobbie Gentry   #1  Her only Top 40 in pop.  But what a Top 40.  Her biggest hit by far.  Born Roberta Streeter in Mississippi.  She had three songs make the Billboard Top 40 Pop with Glen Campbell.

Name That Tune (from above songs).  "It Was the Third of June, Another Sleepy, Dusty delta Day."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Ode to Billy Joe"

Summertime Songs for Your Listening Enjoyment: "Summertime Blues"

Yesterday, Bob Stroud played ten songs about our favorite season because it was the first full day of it.  Here is a list of what he played on his Ten at Ten show:

BOYS OF SUMMER--  Don Henley
SUMMER BREEZE--  Seals & Croft
IN THE SUMMERTIME--  Mungo Jerry

SATURDAY IN THE PARK--  Chicago
SCHOOL'S OUT--  Alice Cooper
SUMMERTIME BLUES--  Who
SURFIN' SAFARI--  Beach Boys

SUMMER IN THE CITY--  Lovin' Spoonful
SUMMER OF '69--  Bryan Adams
HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME--  Sly & the Family Stone

Stroud always has listeners vote for their favorite song played.  I voted for "In the Summertime" by Mungo Jerry.  If I had to pick just one favorite summer song, this would be it.  I just love that "chh, chh,  chh" sound.  "Summer Breeze" won.

Remember, Bob Stroud will play three hours of summer songs this Sunday from 7 to 10 a.m. CDST on his Rock and Roll Roots show on Chicago's WDRV.  It streams, so grab a cool one, put on your sun glasses, sit back and get into the mood.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "You Can Stretch Right Up and Touch the Sky."  --RoadDog

SILLY PUNS:  I stayed up all night to see where the sun went.  Then it dawned on me.

"In the Summertime"

WLS Top 40 Survey for April 8, 1966-- Part 4: "Monday, Monday"

25.  SIGN OF THE TIMES--  Petula Clark   Went to #11 on Billboard.  Born in 1932 in Epsom, England.

24.  MONDAY, MONDAY--  Mamas & Papas   Their debut hit.

23.  LARA'S THEME--  Roger Williams    Went to #65 on Billboard  From the movie "Dr. Zhivago" starring Omar Shariff and Julie Christie.  His next song was "Born Free."

22.  SLOOP JON B.--  Beach Boys   Probably my favorite Beach Boys song.

21.  I GO CRAZY--  Buckinghams   Didn't chart on Billboard, but did well in their home town, Chicago  This came out before their big hit "Kind of a Drag" which did real well.

Name That Tune:  "Around Nassau Town We Did Roam, Drinking All Night, Got Into a Fight."  --RoadDog



"Sloop Jon B."

Greatest Summer Song Ever-- Part 3

"Surfin' U.S.A." was an immediate hit and went to #3 on the Billboard and Cash Box charts. Carl Wilson played the classic guitar riff at the beginning of it, but I have to wonder who is on that great organ you hear? 

In 1977, Leig Garrett covered it and it went to the Top Twenty and it was featured in the movies "Teen Wolf" in 1985, "My Blue Heaven" in 1990 and "Rush Hour" in 1998.

In order to reach number one, the song had to battle through five head-to-head rounds, beating out the Surfaris "Wipeout," "In the Summertime" by Mungo Jerry, "Summer Nights" from Grease, "Vacation" by the Go-Gos and then a really tough round against Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville."

Those crazy Parrotheads put up a real big fight before "Surfin' U.S.A." won 57% to 43%.

Got to Pop My Beach Boys' Greatest Hits CD On Now. --RoadDog

Greatest Summer Song Ever-- Part 2: "Surfin' USA" Mike Love Sang It

The Beach Boys' "Surfin' U.S.A." beat out big summer songs like this year's "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke and last year's "Call Me, Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen.

It was written by Brian Wilson with Mike Love singing lead and released as a single March 4, 1963 (fifty years ago!!) and was the title track of their second album and the follow up to 1962's "Surfin' Safari."

It is not actually original, however. It's melody was taken from Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen." It debuted on TV's "Steve Allen Show" two days before it was released where the group lip-synched it (common practice back in the days where live recording was a hit-or-miss thing).

Gettin' In That Summer Mode. --RoadDog

What the Magazine Said About "Surfin' U.S.A."

"Brian's songwriting had a momemtum of its own. March 4, 1963 saw the release of the band's first top 10 hit, 'Surfin' U.S.A.'. Based on Chuck Berry's 'Sweet Little Sixteen' (Berry finally won co-writing credit in the mid-70s after suing the group), the sprightly tune name-checked a number of popular surfing spots-- many in California, but also two in Hawaii and one in Australia.

The song peaked at #2 and served as the title track for the band's second album, released on March 25. It was Carl who came up with the memorable guitar intro, which itself owes something to Duane Eddy's 'Moving and Grooving.'"

That Is One Great Guitar Lick. --RoadDog

Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Tribute

I recently finished reading "Life Story: The Beach Boys: 50th Anniversary Tribute."

This was from last year's tour when all remaining Beach Boys were together again for the tour and they put out that album that really harkened back to their glory years in the 60s. As a matter of fact, they are going to be at the Walworth County Fair in a couple weeks and thinking about going to see them.

Great magazine with lots of information and hundreds of photos. Also, one section is "25 Far-Out Facts About the Beach Boys."

Worth a Read. --RoadDog