Being an account of some things I'm interested in, what I'm doing, and reflections on my past, especially music.
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.
From the March 1, 2023, MidWeek (DeKalb County) "Looking Back."
1973, fifty years ago.
"Clinton Rosette Middle School, named after the editor of the first daily newspaper published in DeKalb, the DeKalb Chronicle, has been tye center of controversy for many years.
"Built in 1903 as the township high school, it remained a high school until 1966 when it became the north side junior high school.
"Three years ago, a study was made on the feasibility of continuing operation of Rosette versus complete renovation of the facility, which was estimated at a cost of $1.5 to $2 million."
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Back in the fall of 1972 and spring of 1973, I was at the school a lot as I was preparing to become a teacher and taking classes at Northern Illinois University (also in DeKalb). It was a very run-down building at the time.
--RoadTeach
Okay, from over a year ago, but still a great game and it involved my school, Northern Illinois University. Unfortunately, we lost, but that was one enjoyable game to watch. Neither defense could stop the other's offense.
It was Coastal Carolina versus NIU.
From 247 Sports.com "College football bowl games: Ranking top ten from 2021" by Riley Gates.
He ranked the Cure Bowl at #3.
"With Grayson McCall coming back, you just knew we were in for a fun shootout. The Chanticleers star threw for 315 yards and four touchdowns, while Northern Illinois' Rocky Lombardi (is that not a great football name or not?) threw for 181 yards and two touchdowns.
"Both teams ran the ball for massive numbers too, as the Huskies had 335 yards on the ground to the Chanticleers' 199.
"Down six with just a little more than three minutes to go, Northern Illinois looked done for. But the Huskies forced a punt and went for a 15-play, 83-yard to try to win the game. With seven seconds remaining, Northern Illinois had the ball at the Coastal 8-yard line. Lombardi threw a complete pass for the first down but the receiver did not get out of bounds and time expired.
Finakl score was Coastal Carolina 47 NIU 41.
--RoadDog
That's right, these are the top songs in Chicago according to powerhouse WLS, 890 AM half a century ago.
Fifty years ago today, I was a student at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and finishing up my senoir year. I was taking my final education classes before I started student teaching the last 9 weeks before graduation. I was also getting my last good licks as a college student in and hitting the bars of Lincoln Highway. Our main hangout was Andy's.
* Means the song was climbing the charts. The number behind the artist is how high it got on the Billboard Hot 100 National Chart.
28. *THE WORLD IS A GHETTO-- War #7 Great sound guaranteed to get you into the groovin'. Latin Funk Rock band out of Long Beach, California.
27. *ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH-- John Denver #9 You forget how good of a voice he had. And, he loved anything doing with mountains. His second hit following you-know-what.
26. *DO IT AGAIN-- Steely Dan #6 That was some real good instrumentation. Their first hit. Jazz rock band formed in Los Angeles.
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "Walkin' Down The Street, Smoggy-Eyed." Answer below. --RoadDog
"The World Is a Ghetto"
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"
Songs that were on the radio and in our record collections on August 7, 1972, fifty years ago.
It's Bob Stroud's annual trip back fifty years to a great summer back in our youth on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, The Drive.
I was still in Georgia at the University of Georgia, finishing up my summer school classes, but getting ready to transfer back to Northern Illinois University where I had gone freshman and sophomore years. Slowly, I was becoming aware that as much as I was enjoying college life, and I sure did, it was getting time to go to the next phase of my life.
HAPPY-- Rolling Stones
SUMMER SUN-- Jamestown Massacre
SATURDAY IN THE PARK-- Chicago
TOO LATE TO TURN BACK NOW-- Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
BRANDY (YOU'RE A FINE GIRL)-- Looking Glass
JACKIE WILSON SAID-- Van Morrison
HERCULES-- Elton John
LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS)-- Hollies
WITCHY WOMAN-- Eagles
I NEED YOU-- America
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "But He Made It Clear He Couldn't Stay, No Harbor Was His Home." --Answer below. --RoadDog
"Brandy"
Five students were killed that day:
Catalina Garcia, 20 of Cicero
Julianna Gehant, 32 if Mendota
Ryanne Mace, 19 of Carpentersville
Daniel Parmenter, 20 of Westchester
Gayle Dubowski, 20 of Carol Stream
This took place on February 14, 2008, and happened at the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois.
A murderer came to campus and killed five students and wounded another 17 before doing the right thing and killing himself. It is too bad that all the murderers in these instances don't do that.
The murders took place at 3:05 p.m. Central Standard Time at Cole Hall.
A sad time for NIU and also for alumni like Liz and myself.
Not Forgetting.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 21
Met Kevin and Kelly at Kelly's in Trevor, Wisconsin, for their fish fry.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 22
Went to Stucky's in Johnsburg, Illinois, and watched the Packers lose to the 49ers. This was not expected and Liz and I had all our Packer gear on. Maybe dear old Aaron can be a happy man again.
Of course, I kind of like the 49ers as their qb Tony Garrafalo is from the Chicago suburbs and played for EIU, one of their defense starters is Jimmy Ward from NIU and their field goal kicker is Robbie Gould who was a long-time Chicago Bear. Why they fired him is beyond me. But the year after they traded him, the 49ers beat Da Bears 15-0 and every point came off a Robbie Gould field goal. I usually don't like the Bears to lose, but this was a good one.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 23
We had 3 inches of snow and our neighbors were nice enough to come over a clear it off. Nice neighbors in this day and age. We went to Sunnyside in Johnsburg to watch the KC-Buffalo Divisional Playoff game and this was one of the best ever with the Chiefs winning at the very end. All four playoff games this weekend were the best ever. Every game decided at the end.
--RoadDog
"The game's biggest lead came when Miles Joiner caught a 12-yard TD from Rocky Lombardi to put Northern Illinois ahead 24-16 late in the first half. Even that deficit was short-loved as Coastal got a field goal a minute later to make it 24-19.
"Not only was it a one-score game the entire time, but the lead changed seven times (4 times in the third quarter). It was non-stop, back-and-forth football entertainment. Coastal couldn't stop Northern Illinois, and the Huskies couldn't stop the Chanticleers.
"Aside from the final possession of the half, the first 12 possessions of the game ended with points, and only three of them ended in field goals. When Coastal's Charles Ooverson came onto the field for the game's first punt, he did so with only 54 seconds left in the third quarter.
"It came down to the very last play, too. Northern Illinois had the ball at the Coastal 8-yard line with two second left, but Lombardo's pass to Joiner was stopped short of the end zone and the Chanticleers held on for the win."
I Completely Agree, That Was One Hell of a Game. --RoadNIU
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17
Sunnyside was having their customer appreciation Christmas party, but we figured it would be too crowded and too difficult to watch the NIU-Coastal Carolina Cure Bowl on TV, so went to Stucky's and sat with friends Kevin and Kelly and watched the game.
We figured Northern would get blown out as we have lost the last six bowl games and been blown out in them, but this one was different. Our guys came to play and we actually led for almost the whole game until the end, but lost, sadly.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18
No McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group for me as it was on Zoom only and I don't do Zoom.
Finished putting up Christmas decorations outside and inside. We went to Stucky's in Johnsburg and enjoyed the $1 draft beers and a great pizza burger.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19
Enjoyed Bob Stroud's annual Holiday Hootenanny on WDRV, where he played three hours of 60s-70s Christmas music. Went to the McHenry American Legion and watched the Packers win a game.
Go Pack. --RoadDog
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4
Watched NIU defeat Kent State for the MAC Championship game, one of the rare times Northern actually dominated an opponent. (And earlier this season Kent State had just barely beaten us.) Sadly, I couldn't get it on the radio as I enjoy listening to Bill Baker call the Huskies as he's been doing it since the 1980s. He IS the "Voice" of the Huskies.
Went to the Fox Lake American Legion for their monthly first Saturday afternoon band and saw an excellent two-piece group but can't remember their name.
Then to Stucky's in Johnsburg for dinner, $1 draft pints and karaoke. A whole bunch of Sunnysiders came in.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5
Watched and listened to the Bears lose another game at home (now 4-8). I always enjoy listening to the Bear announcers on the radio as they are real fans.
Then to the McHenry American Legion for the $2.50 Adequate Bloody Marys and $1 off Happy Hour prices.
--RoadDog
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15
Went to Bricks 'N Ivy in Spring Grove, Illinois, and had that great Harry Caray pizza featuring four meats and four veggie, a real garbage pizza. And, best of all, it was half price. Also, $6 draft pitchers. Then to Sunnyside for the $1.50 draft pints.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16
Met a bunch of Sunnyside folks at the McHenry VFW to celebrate Rocky's73rd birthday. Absolutely great BLT sandwich. Then to the Polish Legion of American Veterans for cocktails and back to Sunnyside. Rocky somehow survived.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17
Temps in the upper 50s today, so did some yardwork to prepare for the winter.
Went to Half-Times in Johnsburg where they were having a NIU Watch Party for the televised Huskie football game. We had about 15 people there and the Huskies had a close game against Buffalo and finally won in overtime.
--RoadDog
Saturday, August 14
In the morning I was doing these blogs and listening to Bill St. James' Time Warp Show on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM. And, he was featuring 1969, a great high school college year for me and played two songs which took my right back to NIU.
The first was "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin and right after it he played "Commotion" by my all-time favorite 60s band (well, 70s as well), CCR, or Creedence Clearwater Revival. Man, I was right back.
"Whole Lotta Love" is one of the very few Lez Zeppelin songs I know the title of when I hear the song. For some reason, I just can't remember those song titles. And the Drive (WDRV) plays lots and lots of Led Zeppelin in their Classic Rock format. They also play a whole lot of Pink Floyd, another group I have big problems with song titles.
I've heard all the songs from albums of these two groups and recognize the song as one of theirs. But, name the song, I can't. If I were ever to get on Sherman and Tingle's show on the Drive and play their Seven Songs in 30 Seconds Challenge I'd be dead in the water if they played any by these two groups. (They play the song and you guess its name.)
On the subject of Pink Floyd, I was in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, (the inspiration for Andy Griffith's Mayberry) once and saw a great tee shirt for sale. It featured a picture of Floyd the Barber in pink and under it, it said "Pink Floyd." I almost bought it, but like with baseball caps, I sure don't need anymore tee shirts.
I Call WDRV the Station That Zep and Floyd Built. --RoadDoh!
LAWS OF THE UNIVERSE,LAW OF PHYSICAL SURFACES: The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on the floor are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet or rug.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 1
The usual Sunday morning stuff. Bob Stroud played part 3 of his annual Rock and Roll Roots to the Summer of 1971, fifty years ago. Of course, I had to record it. You can see what he played in the last several posts. He'll have a part 4 on Sunday, September 5 from 9 am to noon CDST on WDRV. This was a fun college year for me, spent between NIU and UGA.
Watered and watered and watered. We could sure use some rain.
I had planned to go to the McHenry VFW to watch their afternoon band and then go to the McHenry American Legion. But Liz said she thought she had seen something from the PLAV (Polish Legion of American Veterans) in McHenry about their annual summer street party.
There was no question where I wanted to go when I got that bit of information. Get me to the PLAV ASAP.
She was right. Of course, we didn't have it last year because of you-know-what, so I was really looking forward to it and would not have been very happy to miss it. I'm so glad Liz told me about it.
For $15, I got auce and aycd brats, burgers, side salads, corn on the cob and draft beer. Now, that is what I call a deal. Plus, we had a great country band playing and karaoke in between. And the weather was hot, but breezy and felt fine under the tent.
Afterwards, to the McHenry Legion for an adequate $2.50 Bloody Mary.
A Real Good Time. Thanks PLAV. --RoadDog
LAWS OF THE UNIVERSE, WARM WATER THEOREM: When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings. And, I have an ADDENDUM: Just as soon as you fall asleep for your nap, the phone doth ring.
From Bob Stoud's Rock and Roll Roots Salute to the Summer of 1971 on Chicago's WDRV, the Drive. This is the second part where he goes back fifty years ago and plays the songs you were hearing on the radio (mostly Chicago's WLS AM 890 and WCFL AM 1000 or had in your record collection.
Sure gave me memories of that great college year, split between NIU and UGA with summer vacation courtesy of the USMC at Quantico, Virginia.
BITCH-- Rolling Stones
TREAT HER LIKE A LADY-- Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
TEACH YOUR CHILDREN-- CSNY
HERE COMES THE SUN-- Richie Havens
ANGEL-- Jimi Hendrix
BEGINNINGS-- Chicago
GET IT ON-- Chase
FUNKY NASSAU-- Beginning of the End
Name That Tune (from the above songs): "You Who Are On The Road, Must Have A Code That You Can Live By." Answer below. RoadDog
"Teach Your Children"
"Given so much unrest, everyone was exhausted," says author David Browne. "It is no coincidence that the top songs of then year were as much hymns as pop songs."
But, if such anthems brought people together, the bands that created them were, at the time, falling apart. Both Simon & Garfunkel and the Beatles broke up in 1970, as did Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
Meanwhile, great new musicians and groups rose to take their place, including Elton John, the Jackson Five, the Carpenters and James Taylor, all of whom released breakthrough songs that same year.
Whole new genres emerged as well, making 1970 a unique year that will live forever in musical history and in our memories.
Of course, 1970, was a college year for me, so these songs really strike up the old memories. I pledge Delta Sigma Phi at NIU and moved out to the frat house in the fall after living freshman year at Lincoln Hall dormitory freshman year. That spring was also the Kent State Riots when I really thought I was seeing the end of the United States. Those were some scary times, I tell you.
I was looking out my dorm window when the rioting came to DeKalb and NIU as a confrontation between students and police took place right below me. With all the police lights flashing, the campus radio station, WNIU played "Lay Down (Candles in the Wind)" by Melanie and any time I hear that song anymore it takes me right back.
1970 Was Quite a Time. --RoadMusic
