WLS Top Ten (and Debuts) for Week of June 8, 1974: 'The Entertainer: Music from The Sting'

These were the Top ten songs in Chicago according to WLS, 890 AM fifty years ago this week.

1.  BILLY DON'T BE A HERO--  Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods

2. THE STREAK--  Ray Stevens

3.  BAND ON THE RUN--  Paul McCartney & Wings

4.  STAR BABY--  Guess Who

5.  THE LOCO-MOTION--  Grand Funk

6.  SUNDOWN--  Gordon Lightfoot

7.  THE ENTERTAINER (MUSIC FROM THE STING)--  Marvin Hamlisch

8.  MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS--  Maria Muldaur

9.  DANCING MACHINE--  Jackson Five

10.  THE SHOW MUST GO ON--  Three Dog Night

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DEBUTS

14.  MY GIRL BILL--  Jim Stafford

16.  FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY--  O'Jays

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Stuck Inside These Four Walls.  Sent Inside Forever."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Band On the Run"

WLS Top 29 Songs for Week of Dec. 11, 1972-- Part 3: 'Dialogue'

Fifty years ago.

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

20.  *SWEET SURRENDER--  Bread       #15       Imagine Bread doing a slow song.  Wonder how many babies ended up getting made because of a Bread song?

19.  IF I COULD REACH YOU--  5th Dimension    #10    Their last Top Ten.

18.  *FUNNY FACE--  Donna Fargo      #5      Country goes pop.  The pride of Mt. Airy, North Carolina, which was also Andy Griffiths home town and the one Mayberry was based on.

17.  *DIALOGUE--  Chicago       (Parts 1 & 2)     #24        Great blend of horns.  Great music.  Are they in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame yet?

16.  *CORNER OF THE SKY--  Jackson Five      #18     I don't remember this song.  From the Broadway musical "Pippin" starring Ben Vereen.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "You Kiss The Tears Away.  You Smile At Me And Say."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Funny Face"

WLS Top 27 Songs for Week of November 13, 1972-- Part 1: 'I'm Stone in Love with You'

That's right, a half century ago these were the big songs on Chicago's Powerhouse WLS, 890 AM.

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

27.  *I'M STONE IN LOVE WITH YOU--  Stylistics    #10  With that unique voice of Russell Thompkins, Jr.  From Philadelphia.

26.  *CLAIR--  Gilbert O'Sullivan     #2       Dig the whistling.  Follow up to "Alone Again (Naturally)"  Real name Raymond O'Sullivan.   A song about the 3-year-old daughter of his manager.

25.  *CRAZY HORSES--  Osmonds     #14      This is a great Halloween song.  Weird.  Who says the Osmonds can't rock.  This could be Heavy Metal.  Seriously.  Give it a listen if you don't remember it.  Especially watch the video.

24.  *OPERATOR--  Jim Croce      #17      My favorite Jim Croce songs.  Too bad we didn't have him longer.  Just imagine all those great songs he might have had.

23.  *IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME BY NOW--  Harold Melvin       #3      Hard to imagine a song that is more of a belly rubber.    His group?  The Blue Notes.

22.  *BEN--  Michael Jackson     #1      A song about a rat?  Title song from the movie.

21.  EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL--  Main Ingredient     #3     Again, this songs always reminds me of driving the Ramblin' Wreck ('63 Rambler station wagon)  on Lincoln Highway in DeKalb, Illinois, my senior year at NIU.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "See, The Number In The Matchbook Is Old And Faded."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Operator"

WLS Top Ten (and Debuts) for Week of November 6, 1972: 'Listen to the Music'

That's right, half a century ago.

1.  NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN--  Moody Blues

2.  GARDEN PARTY--  Rick Nelson

3.  I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW--  Johnny Nash

4.  FREDDIE'S DEAD--  Curtis Mayfield

5.  I'LL BE AROUND--  Spinners

6.  LISTEN TO THE MUSIC--  Doobie Brothers

7.  BURNING LOVE--  Elvis Presley

8.  BEN--  Michael Jackson

9.  GOOD TIME CHARLIE'S GOT THE BLUES--  Danny O'Keefe

10.  I'D LOVE YOU TO WANT ME--  Lobo

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DEBUTS

20.  SUMMER BREEZE--  Seals & Crofts

21.  AMERICAN CITY SUITE--  Cashman & Dill

22.  YOU OUGHT TO BE WITH ME--  Al Green

26.  ELECTED--  Alice Cooper

27.  OPERATOR--  Jim Croce

28.  CRAZY HORSES--  Osmonds

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Everybody's Misused Him, Ripped Him Off And Abused Him."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Freddie's Dead"

WLS Top Ten (and Debuts) for October 30, 1972: 'Freddie's Dead'

These were the Top Ten songs (and Debuts) in Chicago fifty years ago according to WLS, AM 890.

1.  NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN--  Moody Blues

2.  BURNING LOVE--  Elvis Presley

3.  GARDEN PARTY--  Rick Nelson

4.  USE ME--  Bill Withers

5.  BEN--  Michael Jackson

6.  EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL--  Main Ingredient

7.  FREDDIE'S DEAD--  Curtis Mayfield

8.  I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW--  Johnny Nash

9.  I'LL BE AROUND--  Spinners

10.  LISTEN TO THE MUSIC--  Doobie Brothers

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DEBUTS

27.  VENTURA HIGHWAY--  America

28.  ROCKIN' PNEUMONIA/BOOGIE WOOGIE FLU--  Johnny Rivers

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "It's Gonna Be A Bright, Bright Sunshiny Day."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"I Can See Clearly Now"

WLS Top Ten (and Debuts) for Week of Oct. 23, 1972: 'Garden Party'

Oops, forgot to print this last Sunday.

These were the Top Ten and Debut songs in Chicago fifty years ago.

1.  EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL--  Main Ingredient

2.  USE ME--  Bill Withers

3.  BEN--  Michael Jackson

4.  NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN--  Moody Blues

5.  BURNING LOVE--  Elvis Presley

6.  GARDEN PARTY--  Rick Nelson

7.  GO ALL THE WAY--  Raspberries

8.  FREDDIE'S DEAD--  Curtis Mayfield

9.  TIGHTROPE--  Leon Russell

10.  GOOD TIME CHARLIE'S GOT THE BLUES--  Danny O'Keefe

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DEBUTS

12.  LISTEN TO THE MUSIC--  Doobie Brothers

18.  THUNDER AND LIGHTNING--  Chi Coltrane

20.  WITCHY WOMAN--  Eagles

25.  I AM WOMAN--  Helen Reddy

28.  I'D LOVE YOU TO WANT ME--  Lobo

I don't know about you, but this is quite a list of debuts.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Just What I'm Going Through They Can't Understand."  Answer below.  --ToadDog

"Nights in White Satin"

WLS Top 27 for Week of October 9, 1972-- Part 4: 'Saturday In the Park'

What were you doing fifty years ago this week?  Here are some songs that might help bring back the memories as they were the top ones in Chicago a half century ago.  A HALF CENTURY AGO?

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

10.  PLAY ME--  Neil Diamond   #11

9.  SATURDAY IN THE PARK--  Chicago   #3

8.  *USE ME--  Bill Withers       #2      Just so funky.  Always enjoy the intro.

7.  BACK STABBERS--  O'Jays     #3

6.  *BURNING LOVE--  Elvis Presly     #2      Probably my favorite Elvis song.

5.  BLACK AND WHITE--  Three Dog Night     #1

4.  *EVERYBODYPLAYS THE FOOL--  Main Ingredient    #3

3.  *GO ALL THE WAY--  Raspberries    #5   Their highest ranking song and only Top Ten.

2.  *BEN--  Michael Jackson    #1   His first solo #1.

1.  BABY DON'T GET HOOKED ON ME--  Mac Davis        #1      This was its third week at #1 onthe WLS chart.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "My Friends Feel It's Their Appointed Duty."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Use Me"

WLS Top Ten for Week of October 2, 1972: 'Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me'

Just half a century ago.  What a long strange trip this has been.

1.  BABY DON'T GET HOOKED ON ME--  Mac Davis   Second week at #1

2.  BLACK AND WHITE--  Three Dog Night

3. SATURDAY IN THE PARK--  Chicago

4.  BACK STABBERS--  O'Jays

5.  BEN--  Michael Jackson

6.  GO ALL THE WAY--  Raspberries

7.  EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL--  Main Ingredient

8.  BURNING LOVE--  Elvis Presley

9.  USE ME--  Bill Withers

10.  PLAY ME--  Neil Diamond

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

DEBUTS

21.  TIGHTROPE--  Leon Russell

23.  LISTEN TO THE MUSIC--  Doobie Brothers

27.  GOOD FOOT (PART 1)--  James Brown

29.  GOOD TIME CHARLIE'S GOT THE BLUES--  Danny O'Keefe

30.  STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN--  Mel & Tim  

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "She Was Morning And I was Night Time."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Play Me"

WLS Ten for Week of September 18, 1972: 'Rock and Roll Part 2'

These were the Top Ten songs in Chicago back fifty years ago this week according to powerhouse radio station WLS, 890 AM.

1.  BLACK AND WHITE--  Three Dog Night

2.  BACK STABBERS--  O'Jays

3.  BABY DON'T GET HOOKED ON ME--  Mac Davis

4.  SATURDAY IN THE PARK--  Chicago

5.  ROCK AND ROLL PART 2--  Gary Glitter

6.  ALONE AGAIN (NATURALLY)--  Gilbert O'Sullivan

7,  LONG COOL WOMAN--  Hollies

8.  I'M STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU--  Al Green

9.  BRANDY--  Looking Glass

10.  GUITAR MAN--  Bread

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

DEBUTS

25.  YOU WEAR IT WELL--  Rod Stewart

26.  BEN--  Michael Jackson

27.  NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN--   Moody Blues

28.  USE ME--    Bill Withers

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Girl You're Getting That Look In Your Eyes."   Answer below.  --RoadDog

WLS Top 25 for Week of July 10, 1972-- Part 2: 'Day By Day'

Just a quick fifty years ago, you know.  *  Means it was climbing the charts.  The number after the artist is how high it got on the Billboard Hot 100 National Charts.

20.  *(IF LOVING YOU IS WRONG) I DON'T WANT TO BE RIGHT--  Luther Ingram    #3   His biggest hit.   From Jackson, Tennessee.

19.  *CONQUISTADOR--  Procul Harum    Featuring the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.  Rock group formed in England.  Robin Trower was lead guitarist at one time.

18.  I NEED YOU--  America    #9      Soft rock trio formed in London.

17.  *DAY BY DAY--  Godspell   As sung by the original Broadway cast from the rock musical.

16.  I WANNA BE WHERE YOU ARE--  Michael Jackson    #16      What,  not a #1 or Top Ten at least.  That didn't happen to him or his brothers too often back then.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "We Used To Laugh, We Used To Cry."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"I Need You"

WLS Top 30 for Week of June 12, 1972-- Part 4: 'Morning Has Broken'

Fifty years ago.  Where does the time go?

Back then I was going to summer school at the Univ. of Georgia in Athens and living in a trailer of campus.  I had to get some more credits as I was transferring back to NIU senior year and wanted to graduate in June 1973 after four years of college.

15.  *I NEED YOU--  America     #9     Those great harmonies.  Soft rock trio formed in London, England, even though they were Americans.

14.  MORNING HAS BROKEN--  Cat Stevens     #6     My buddy Ski turned me on to him as he had a copy of Cat Stevens' "Tea for the Tillerman."   His many hit songs serve as a great soundtrack to the 70s.

13.   LITTLE BITTY PRETTY ONE--  Jackson Five      #13      They were just as good with their version as the original singer, Thurston Harris.

12.  OH GIRL--  Chi-Lites      #1      Do you know what the Chi in their name stood for?  Not Milwaukee.

11.  *OUTA SPACE--  Billy Preston     #2      A real funky instrumental.  Pribably one of the greatest keyboardists ever.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm,  mmm, mmm."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Little Bitty Pretty One"

WLS Top Ten for Week of April 24: 'The Family of Man'

These were the Top Ten songs and Debuts fifty years ago on Chicago's WLS, 890 AM.

1.  THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE--  Roberta Flack

2.  ROCKIN' ROBIN--  Michael Jackson

3.  BABY BLUE--  Badfinger

4.  DOCTOR MY EYES--  Jackson Browne

5.  A HORSE WITH NO NAME--  America

6.  DAYDREAMING--  Aretha Franklin

7.  IN THE RAIN--  Dramatics

8.  A COWBOY'S WORK IS NEVER DONE--  Sonny & Cher

9.  THE FAMILY OF MAN--  Three Dog Night

10.  BETCHA BY GOLLY WOW--  Stylistics

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

DEBUTS

21.  RUN, RUN, RUN--  Jo Jo Gunne

23.  OH GIRL--  Chi-Lites

24.  SYLVIA'S MOTHER--  Dr, Hook

YOU COULD HAVE BEEN A LADY--  April Wine

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "And The Slow Parade Of Fears."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Doctor My Eyes"

WLS Top Ten for Week of April 10, 1972: 'A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done'

Where does the time go?

1.  THE FIRST TIME I EVER SAW YOUR FACE--  Roberta Flack

2.  A HORSE WITH NO NAME--  America

3.  I GOTCHA--  Joe Tex

4.  A COWBOY'S WORK IS NEVER DONE--  Sonny & Cher

5.  MOTHER & CHILD REUNION--  Paul Simon

6.  ROCKIN' ROBIN--  Michael Jackson

7.  ROUNDABOUT--  Yes

8.  BABY BLUE--  Badfinger

9.  ROCK 'N' ROLL LULLABY--

10.  PUPPY LOVE--  Donny Osmond

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

DEBUTS

14.  DOCTOR MY EYES--  Jackson Browne

22.  BACK OFF BOOGALOO--  Ringo Starr

28. SUAVECITO--Malo

30.  CASTLES IN THE AIR--  Don McLean

LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR ME--  Al Green

LITTLE BITTY PRETTY ONE--  Jackson Five

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Guess I Got What I Deserved, Kept You Waiting There Too Long."  Answer below.  RoadDog

"Baby Blue"

WLS Top 30 for Week of February 14, 1972-- Part 3: 'Clean Up Woman'

20.  SUGAR DADDY--   Michael Jackson   #10   Actually credited to the Jackson Five.

19.  WHITE LIES, BLUE EYES-- Bullet    #28    Rock duo from England.

18.  DROWNING IN A SEA OF LOVE--  Joe Simon   #11  Born September 2, 1943, in Simmesport, Louisiana.

17.  *MY WORLD--  Bee Gees   #16   Maurice and Robin were twins.

16.  CLEAN UP WOMAN--  Betty Wright    #6   Born 1953 in Miami, Florida.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I've Been Down One Time, And I've Been Down Two Times."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Drowning In a Sea of Love"

WLS Top 30 Songs for Week of December 13, 1971-- Part 1: 'Brand New Key'

That's right, fifty years ago.  Half a century.  Five decades.

* before a song indicates that it was rising on the charts.  The number after the artist is how high it got on the Billboard Hot 100 National Charts.

*HEY BIG BROTHER--  Rare Earth      #19     Everything you could want from a rock song.  Love the organ.  That's the drummer doing the singing.   Their first five songs all went to #19 or higher.

30.  *SUGAR DADDY--  Jackson Five     #10     I don't remember this one, but it's a good song.  That's Michael and Jermaine trading vocals.  Always loved the Jackson Five choreography.

29.  *DAY AFTER DAY--  Badfinger      #4     Love the start of it.  Did George Harrison play the slide guitar on it?  Takes me right back to Christmas 1971.   Welsh rock  quartet.  This song produced by George Harrison.

28.  *IT'S ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS--  Partridge Family    #20      I never heard this one either.  Okay girls, ow many of you had crushes on Keith (or was that David?)  Their first five songs all went #20 ir higher.

27.  *ONE MONKEY DON'T STOP NO SHOW--  Honey Cone      #15      Another song that did not get enough air play.  Great line:  "I love you, but I can do without you."

26.  PEACE TRAIN--  Cat Stevens      #7     Make sure you go to You Tube and watch the video "Peace Train" featuring  Yusuf/Cat Stevens Playing for Change Songs from Around the World.  It will blow you away.  Seriously.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I've Been Happy Lately, Thinking About The Good Things To Come."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Peace Train"

WLS Top Ten for Week of November 29, 1971: 'Got To Be There'

The Top Ten and Debut songs in Chicago fifty years ago today.

1.  SHAFT--  Isaac Hayes

2.  BABY, I'M-A WANT YOU--  Bread

3.  BRAND NEW KEY--  Melanie

4.  FAMILY AFFAIR--   Sly & the Family Stone

5.  HAVE YOU SEEN HER--  Chi-Lites

6.  6.  WILD NIGHT--  Van Morrison

7.  GOT TO BE THERE--  Michael Jackson

8.  ALL I EVER NEED IS YOU--  Sonny & Cher

9.  OLD FASHIONED LOVE SONG--  Three Dog Night

10.  CHERISH--  David Cassidy

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

DEBUTS

22.  SUNSHINE--  Jonathan Edwards

23.  NOTHING TO HIDE--  Tommy James

25.  LET IT BE--  Joan Baez

26.  SCORPIO--  Dennis Coffey

28.  THEME FROM THE SUMMER OF '42--  Peter Nero

I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING--  New Seekers

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "One Month Ago Today I was Happy As A Lark."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Have You Seen Her"

WLS Top 30 for Week of January 11, 1971-- Part 2: 'One Bad Apple'

25.  DOES ANYBODY REALLY KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS--  Chicago     #7      That piano then those horns.  Great story on the Chicago Infinity You Tube site for this song by Pablo:  "True Story:  I worked in an office with a 20-something receptionist; the rest of us were  in our 40s and 50s.  All the clocks in the office were out of sync, and -quite unknowingly - the receptionist asked 'Does anybody  really know what time it is?'  Everybody else chimed in 'Does anybody really care?'  We instantly had to explain that we weren't being mean, just quoting  song lyrics."  Good one.  

The group was called Chicago Transit Authority at the time.

24.  *ROSE GARDEN--  Lynn Anderson      #3      Back when country ladies piled their hair.  Good words of advice.  I don't know, country with strings?    Her only Pop Top Ten

23.  *MOST OF ALL--  B.J. Thomas    I'd forgotten this song.

22.  FOR THE GOOD TIMES--  Ray Price     #11     Written by Kris Kristofferson.  Country music.   Born in Perryville, Texas.

21.  *ONE BAD APPLE--  Osmonds      #1     The white Jackson Five.  Even down to the moves.   Donny sounded just like a young Michael Jackson

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Does Anybody Really Care?"  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is"

WLS Top 30 Songs for Week of November 9, 1970-- Part 5: "Let's Work Together"

Fifty years ago this week in Chicago, these were the Top Ten songs according to WLS, 890 AM.

*  means the song is climbing the charts.  The number after the artist is how high the song got on the Billboard Hot 100.

I don't make many comments on these songs because I have already commented on them on Past Top 30s.

10.  *HEAVEN HELP US ALL--  Stevie Wonder    #9

9.  *MONTEGO BAY--  Bobby Bloom       #8      Actually a white guy.  I was always under the idea that he was a black man.  Died at age 28 by a supposedly accidental gunshot.

8.  SOMEBODY'S BEEN SLEEPING--    100 Proof    #8

7.  WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN--  Carpenters    #2

6.  *LET'S WORK TOGETHER--  Canned Heat    #26

5.  I'LL BE THERE--  Jackson Five     #1   This was the fourth and last of four straight out-of-the-gate  #1s for them.  Not a bad start.  The next two "only" got to #2.    So sad.

4.  *TEARS OF A CLOWN--  Smokey Robinson & the Miracles    #1

3.  *GYPSEY WOMAN--  Brian Hyland    #3

2.  FIRE & RAIN--  James Taylor     #3

1.  I THINK I LOVE YOU  --Partridge Family   #1

Name That Tune (from the above songs)"  "Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum, I Can Feel The Presence Of Someone."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Somebody's Been Sleeping"

WLS Top 40 for Week of May 11, 1970-- Part 6: "Hey Lawdy Mama"

Fifty years ago today.

15.  ABC--  Jackson Five     #1     The moves, the voice, the group.  Wow!!  This and "I Want You back" had me groovin'.  Watch the American Bandstand video.

14.  SOMETHING'S BURNING--  Kenny Rogers / First Edition      #11    Wow, Kenny with dark hair and beard.  Was he ever that young?  Watch the AllanOnaJourney video.

13.  HEY LAWDY MAMA--  Steppenwolf     #35   Not one of their better known songs, but a classic though.

12.  EVERYTHING'S BEAUTIFUL--  Ray Stevens    #1     So, he can sing something besides novelty songs.  A good song for these days.  "The world's gonna find a way."    Also, his only #1 until "The Streak" in 1974.  Remember that?

11.  UP AROUND THE BEND--  Creedence Clearwater Revival     #4      My all-time Favorite 60s group.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "The World's Gonna Find A Way."  --Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Everything's Beautiful"

WLS Top Ten for the Week of March 30, 1970: "Come & Get It"

That's right, FIFTY years ago!!

1.  LET IT BE--  Beatles
2.  SPIRIT IN THE SKY--  Norman Greenbaum
3.  INSTANT KARMA--  John Lennon

4.  LOVE GROWS (WHERE MY ROSEMARY GOES)--  Edison Lighthouse
5.  COME & GET IT--  Badfinger
6.  ABC--  Jackson 5
7.  UP THE LADDER TO THE ROOF--  Supremes

8.  BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS--   Simon & Garfunkel
9.  HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN--  Frigid Pink
10.  EASY COME, EASY GO--  Bobby Sherman

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

DEBUTS

36.  LITTLE GREEN BAG--  George Baker Selection
37.  FOR THE LOVE OF HIM--  Bobbi Martin

38.  YOU'RE THE ONE--  Little Sister
39.  HITCHING A RIDE--  Vanity Fare

40.  HEY LAWDY MAMA--   Steppenwolf

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Gonna Knock You Right On The Head.  You Better Get Yourself Together.  --Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Instant Karma"