WLS Top Ten LPs and Tapes for Week of June 8, 1974: 'Band on the Run'

These were the Top ten albums on both LP and 8-Track format in Chicago fifty years ago.  How many are in your collection?

1.  THE STING (6th Week No. 1)--  Soundtrack

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

3.  GREATEST HITS--  John Denver

4.  CHICAGO VII--  Chicago

5.  SHININ ON--  Grand Funk

6.  BACHMAN TURNER OVERDRIVE II--  Bachman Turner Overdrive

7.  GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD--  Elton John

8.  BUDDHA AND THE CHOCOLATE BOX--  Cat Stevens

9.  COURT AND SPARK--  Joni Mitchell

10.  ROAD FOOD--  Guess Who

I personally have all but "Road Food" in my collection.

Must Have Really Been Enjoying My Music Back Then.  --RoadTooManyAlbums

Record Store Day Booty

This past Saturday was Record Store Day across the nation.  Mom and Pop Record Stores are one of the few places I feel like I'm home anymore.  In other words, I understand most anything in it.

As such, I visited my favorite Mom and Pop Record Store, The Vinyl Frontier, in McHenry, Illinois.  There were quite a few others also paying respects and buying albums and CDs.

I bought ten CDs and three albums.

ALBUMS:

The Best of Herman's Hermits Volume 2

The Box Tops: The Letter / Neon Rainbow

Beau Brummels:  You Tell Me Why / Don't Talk to Strangers

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CDs: 

These next six all had 22 songs apiece.

AM Gold 1966

AM Gold 1967

AM Gold 1968

AM Gold 1969

AM Gold: The 60s Generation

AM Gold: The Mid-60s

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Retro 70s  (two discs with 15 tracks each)

The Vogues Greatest Hits

Swing Time--  Wayne Hancock

House of Blues Swings!

--Love Those Mom and Pops.  --RoadRecord

Record Store Day Today

Today marks the 17th anniversary of Record Store Day in the United States and in several other world countries.

This is a day to show our appreciation for independently-owned record stores, those great Mom and Pop stores.  

And, I am fortunate to have a lot of record stores in the area, starting with my favorite one and another one in McHenry, Illinois.  My favorite one also has one great name for this kind of place, The Vinyl Frontier at 4720 W. Elm Street (Illinois Highway 120).  Kind of tells it all.  Especially with the near extinction of vinyl records, you know, vinyl.

The other record store is Siren Records at 3902 Main Street in McHenry.  Then we have two more places called Reef Records in Antioch and Lakemoor.

I'm sure going to The Vinyl Frontier and plan on buying at least one LP and several CDs.  I actually like CDs better than LPs now.

I Good Day for the Cause.  --RoadRecord

A Storm, Civil War Round Table, Oak Park Lounge, Sunnyside and Beatles

SATURDAY, JULY 23

We had quite the storm last night with plenty of lightning, thunder and some of the worst hail we've ever seen.  Beware all the roofing companies who'll be about now.

Went to Panera Bread in Cryustal Lake, Illinois, for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group on Lee and His Generals.  Stopped at Wendy's in McHenry on the way home and had one of their Biggie Bags for $5, a good deal in these days of no deals.

Stopped at the Pink Harrison cabin which was plaqued earlier this month.  Liz did not know it was there.  We had wanted to see the afternoon band at the Lakehouse on Pistakee (Lake), but it was too crowded, so ended up at Oak Park Lounge for a couple beers.  That is real old-time Chain of Lakes.  Then stopped at Sunnyside in Johnsburg on the way home.

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SUNDAY, JULY 25

Bob Stroud Root Saluted the Beatles' "Something New" album which was released this date in 1964 during the force of Beatlemania.  I realize the later Beatles songs were much better efforts, but to me the early ones were the real "FUN" ones.  Recorded the show on cassette.  Songs on the album:

I'll Cry Instead

Things We Said Today

Any Time At All

When I Get Home

Slow Down

Matchbox

Tell Me Why

And I Love Her

I'm Happy Just to Dance With You

If I Fell

Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand

Went to the McHenry American Legion and Sunnyside in the afternoon.

--RoadDog

POINTS TO PONDER:  If you replace  the "W" with a "T" in "What, Where & When", you would have the answer to each one.

Around Here: Da Bulls, Weird Hair on Athletes, Stucky's, Da Beatles and Stucky's Again

SATURDAY, JANUARY 15

We had snow flurries all day, but there was no accumulation.  That's a real good thing.  We went to Stucky's and watched the Bulls game, which sadly, they lost.  They are on a losing streak right now, but before that playing very well for the first time since the fabulous 90s when they won six NBA Championships in eight years -- the Michael Jordan years.  Ever since, they have been very sad.

I wanted to show Liz the hair that Bulls player Coby White had last year compared to this.  Back then it was one of those very eye-insulting 'dos, but now just a regular cut.  I don't like long, weird hair on athletes no matter if they're Whites or Blacks.

While looking for pictures of him, I found out that he was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina, which perked my interest since that is also where I was born.  However, he played high school basketball in Wilson, N.C.  He went to UNC-Chapel Hill, but unfortunately was one of those one-and-diners.  I'm not real happy with these guys or the schools that "hire" them for that one year before they go to the NBA.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 16

Bob Stroud featured the Beatles Album "Meet the Beatles" as later this week will mark the 58th anniversary of its release.  This was the fun Beatles in my book.  And, they were the ones who got me to listening to pop music.  I never did before.  And, of course, music has had a huge impact on my life.

We went to Stucky's in Johnsburg, Illinois, and watched two NFL Wild Card Playoff games.

--RoadBeatle

Top-Selling Albums According to Chicago's WLS AM on November 29, 1971: 'Teaser & the Firecat'

That's right, fifty years ago.  How many do you have?

*  means I have it.

1.  *SANTANA--  Santana

2.  THERE'S A RIOT GOIN' ON--  Sly & the Family Stone

3. AT CARNEGIE HALL--   Chicago

4.  SHAFT--  Isaac  Hayes

5.  STONES--  Neil Diamond

6.  *TEASER & THE FIRECAT--  Cat Stevens

7.  IMAGINE--  John Lennon

8.  *EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY--  Rod Stewart

9.  MEATY, BEATY BIG AND BOUNCY--   Who

10.  *TAPESTRY-- Carole King

Wonder If That Cat's Still Alive?  --RoadDog

Top Albums in Chicago for Week of October 4,1971

1.  EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY--  Rod Stewart

2.  EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR--  Moody Blues

3.  SHAFT--  Isaac Hayes

4.  TAPESTRY--  Carole King

5.  WHO'S NEXT--   Who

6.  BARK--  Jefferson Airplane

7.  RAM--  Paul & Linda McCartney

8.  MASTER OF REALITY--  Black Sabbath

9.  CARPENTERS--  Carpenters

10.  IMAGINE--  John Lennon

--RoadDog

WLS Top Albums for Week of May 24, 1971: 'Four-Way Street'

Remember these albums which were selling well back 50 years ago today.  How many do you have?

1.  FOUR-WAY STREET--  Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

2.  STICKY FINGERS--  Rolling Stones

3.  MUD SLIDE SLIM--  James Taylor

4.  JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR--  Various Artists

5.  UP TO DATE--  Partridge Family

6.  SURVIVAL--  Grand Funk Railroad

7.  TAPESTRY--  Carole King

8.  GOLDEN BISQUITS--  Three Dog Night

9.  AQUALUNG--  Jethro Tull

10.  PEARL--  Janis Joplin

Okay, I had all of them except one.  Guess which one.  Answer below.

Listening to LPs.  What A Great Way To Pass Some Time.  --RoadLP

"Up to Date"

K-Tel's 'Hit Machine' Album (1976)-- Part 2: "Let Your Love Flow"

 Continued from September 1.

These were the ten songs on the flipside of the album.

ISLAND GIRL--  Elton John

A FIFTH OF BEETHOVEN--  Walter Murphy & the Big Apple Band

LET YOUR LOVE FLOW-- Bellamy Brothers

WELCOME BACK--  John Sebastian (No Sweathogs allowed.)

EVIL WOMAN--  Electric Light Orchestra

TAKE A HAND--  Rick Springfield (Not Springsteen)

ROCK AND ROLL ALL NITE--  Kiss

I'M NOT LISA--  Jessi Colter

WHO LOVES YOU--  Four Seasons (What?  No Valli?)

DISCO LADY--  Johnnie Taylor

Lots of Bang for Your Buck, You Know.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Your Dreams Were Your Ticket Out."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Welcome Back"

K-Tel's 'Hit Machine' Album, 1976-- Part 1: 'Love Really Hurts Without You"

I bought this album at The Vinyl Frontier in McHenry, Illinois, on Saturday for Record Store Day for $3.

I had my eye on this album or possibly one about the old TV show "Hee-Haw."

For $3, I got twenty songs from 1976.

(SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE) SHAKE YOUR BOOTY--  K.C.& the Sunshine Band
RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED FROM--  Maxine Nightingale
MOONLIGHT FEELS RIGHT--  Starbuck

SUMMER--  War
WHEN WILL I BE LOVED--  Linda Ronstadt
HAPPY DAYS--  Pratt & McClain
OUR DAY WILL COME--  Frankie Valli

(YOU'RE) HAVING MY BABY--  Paul Anka
LOVE REALLY HURTS WITHOUT YOU--  Billy Ocean
DISCO DUCK (PART 1)--  Rick Dees  & His Class of Idiots

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I've Been Cheated, Been Mistreated."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"When Will I Be Loved"

Well, I Went to My Local Record Store on Record Store Day Today

I drove to McHenry, Illinois, just a few hours ago and visited my usual mom and pop record store, The Vinyl Frontier.  I always thought that was a great name for a record store.  Quite catchy.

However, this year, the store was not participating.  Evidently there is a $1500 cost involved to be in it, and business has been so bad thanks to you-know-what, they are sitting this one out.

However, I did what I was going to do anyway and that was buy at least one album and five CDs.

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ALBUM

K-Tel Hit Machine  ($3)  1976  Those old K-Tel and Ronco collection albums were a great way to build up your record collection cheaply.  They usually had at least 20 songs.

Some of the ones on this album:

Shake Your Booty--  K.C. & Sunshine Band
Summer-- War
When Will I be Loved--  Linda Ronstadt
Disco Duck--  Rick Dees

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CDs  The Vinyl Frontier always has a 5 for $20 special.

**Nuggets from Nuggets  Great Garage Rock.

**  The Copulation Compilation  Including "The Rodeo Song" and "The I-95 Song"

**  American Beauty--  Grateful Dead  I loved their studio albums, but hated their shows, but I hate jamming.

**  Some Girls--  Rolling Stones

**  Electric Barnyard--  Kentucky Headhunters

I Did My Part for the Mom and Pop Record Stores.  --RoadDog

PONDER THIS:  The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.  Amen to that!

Get Your Vinyl Fix Right Now with WXRT in Chicago

Today, WXRT, 93.1 FM in Chicago is doing all vinyl Friday for the 4th of July weekend.  That means they are putting the needle down on those wonderful discs and playing a whole side.  They just finished Bob Marley's "Exodus" album, side 2.

So, if vinyl is your thing, as it is with me (but, hey, I like those CDs also) give them a listen. It started at 9 am and goes to midnight.  Streams.

And I need some summer songs and perhaps an ice cold beer.   The temperature outside here in northeast Illinois is 92 degrees in the shade, no breeze and fairly humid.  Hanging out inside the air conditioned house and naturally cool basement is on the to do list.

They just put on a Queen album, the one with "We Will Rock You."  See if you can guess the name of the album.

--RoadHotHotHot

FOX HUNTING:  Jamie Foxx won an Academy Award for his portrayal of which singer?


Ray Charles

All Album Sides on Chicago's WXRT Today "All Vinyl Thursday"

Starting at 9 am CDST, Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM will be playing nothing but album sides.

And, even better, they'll be playing them off vinyl.  Some of the deejays say they will even be bringing their own albums in to play as the radio station's albums aren't in as good of a shape.

The idea is to play just one side off the album and then go on to another album and play one side off it.  And not always Side 1 either.

I know I'll be listening.

Hey, it streams at www.wxrt.com.

Oh yes, and they go to midnight.

Good Old Albums.  --RoadDog

TOP TEN COUNTRY SONGS (From the March 21, 2018, Orange Peel Gazette):  TOP TEN COUNTRY SONGS:  "Her Teeth Was Stained, But Her Heart Was Pure."

"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

Eagles' "Greatest Hits 1971-1975" Tops "Thriller" as No. 1

From the August 21, 2018, Chicago Sun-Times by Mesfin Fekadu, AP.

"The Eagles' greatest hits album (which includes that Route 66 favorite 'Take It Easy" where he was 'Standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona) has moonwalked past Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' to become history's best-selling album of all-time in the U.S.."

The Recording Industry Association of America said the Eagles' album is  now certified 38x platinum, which means sales and streams of it have reached 39 million copies.  The album was released in 1976.

RIAA's platinum status was once equivalent to selling 1 million albums or singles, but in 2013, the company began incorporating streaming from YouTube, Spotify and other digital musical services.  Now 1,500 streams of an album is equivalent to an album sale.

The Eagles formed in Los Angeles in the early 1970s.  Co-founder Glenn Frey died in 2016.

By teh way, the Eagles' "Hotel California" is No. 3.

--RoadEasy

Sitting Here Drinking My Cheerwine, Doing Professor Moptop's Homework and Typing These Blogs

Right now I am doing the homework assigned me last night at McHenry Library (Illinois).  And that was having to listen to the entire "Abbey Road" album" by you-know-who.  We are celebrating the 50th anniversary of this album's release this year.

And, what better way to find out about it than by having the "Fessa tell you about each and every song on it. He went into great detail and did it with plenty of video.  I doubt that anyone, even Terri Hemmert (and she REALLY KNOWS A LOT) knows more about the Beatles than Professor Moptop.

Plus, I am greatly enjoying my 12 ounce bottle of Cheerwine, the taste of North Carolina.  Yesterday, while shopping at our Spring Grove (Illinois) Jewel store I was fairly shocked to see a four pack of bottles for sale ($4).  That is much more than the usual $2.50 I like to spend for a 12-pack of pop.  But, the fact you can only rarely find it here in northern Illinois made me pay that price.  (I really stock up on the stuff when I'm in N.C..)

Sure made my day.

So, here I sit, typing away with my own two little fingers, drinking the good stuff and doing my homework.  I figured I had left homework behind when I got out of college, but evidently not so.

How 'Bout Dat?  --RoadDog

Music of 1968: Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones

For these articles, I will only be writing a couple things mentioned in the articles about each artist.

JIMI HENDRIX:  UNBOUND BY THE RULES

"James Marshall Hendrix, the Stratocaster-burning, blues-bending left-hander who played a right-handed guitar upside down.  Hendrix came seemingly from nowhere, was discovered in New York, hustles off to London, where he became a star, and then returned to the U.S., where he introduced himself to Americans at the Monterrey Pop Festival."

THE ROLLING STONES:  GRITTY, RAW AND LOUD

"'Beggars Banquet' ...was released on Dec.6, 1968, the Rolling Stones were on fire.  Critics and fans who had skewered the band's previous album, 1967's psychedelic 'Their Satanic Majesties Request', forgave them everything.

"The band was entering its most creative period."

The next albums were "Let It Bleed",  "Sticky Fingers", "Exile On Main Street", and "Goats Head Soup."

Personally, though, I really liked "Their Satanic Majesties Request."

--RoadDog

Record Store Day Today!!!

It is finally here.  The day to visit your local mom and pop record store and flip through those vinyl albums and take a trip back in time.  None of that there downloading here today.  It is a real touch thing.  And, buy some albums which will be cheaper than buying the new vinyl albums which are way too expensive.

I'll be heading over to my local record place, The Vinyl Revolution Records in McHenry, Illinois, to get my taste.

Check out the Record Store Website for one near you.

Also, WXRT, 93.1 FM in Chicago is doing 1991 on Saturday Morning Flashback from 9 to noon, CDST.  After that, in honor of Record Store Day, they will be playing vinyl record sides from noon to midnight.

They stream at www.wxrt.com.

Too Much Fun.  --RoadDog

Will This Winter Ever Get Over?-- Part 2: Books, CDs, Sliders, Band and Da Hawks

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23

After the meeting, I drove over to the nearby Illinois emission testing station and the Malibu passed.  Then drove south to Randall Road, one of the busiest and most congested roads in the Northwest Suburbs. Always hate driving it, but have to to get to my favorite store still remaining, Half-Price Books.

I mean, they have vinyl records, CDs and books, three of my most favorite things.  And, they are all fairly cheap, even better.  Bought a Civil War book and two CDs, one the Beatles "Hard Day's Night" and the other a compilation of Cajun music.

Then, a stop at White Castle for sliders and they now have those great crab cake sliders.

Later, we went to the Fox Lake American Legion and enjoyed listening to Mitch Edwards playing his great selection of songs.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24

There was a real hard wind blowing today.  We wanted to watch the Chicago Blackhawks game since they were playing a rare afternoon game at 2 pm.  But, the first three places we went to were too crowded (and most were watching the NASCAR race).  We ended up back at Half-Times for the game, which, unfortunately, we lost.

--RoadDog

COME SAIL AWAY:  In the Bible, who hoped to flee from the presence of the Lord by sailing to Tarshish?

Jonah

This Past Weekend, December 2-- Part 2: "Rubber Soul," McHenry County Civil War Round Table and Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2

Bob Stroud saluted the 53rd anniversary of the Beatles' "Rubber Soul" album.    He played all the songs on both the British and American editions.  Over a century old.

Drove to Pine Crest Golf Club in Huntley, Illinois, for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table Christmas party.  We had about 40 in attendance and I met some interesting people from the Northern Illinois History Association, an umbrella group for all history groups in the northern part of our state.  The problem with all history groups is how to get the younger people interested.

We had an excellent buffet followed by an evening with Mr. and Mrs Lincoln, Max and Donna Daniels, very fitting as we approach the 200th anniversary of Illinois statehood tomorrow.  Mrs. Lincoln reminded us that this was also the 200th anniversary of her birthday (December 18, 1818).  If you ever get a chance to see one of this pair's shows, go see it.

--RoadDog

FOOD COMMENTS (from the July 1, 2017 Orange Peel Gazette):  "Artichokes ... are just plain annoying....  After all the trouble you go to, you get about as much actual 'food' out of eating an artichoke as you would from licking thirty or forty postage stamps.  Have the shrimp cocktail instead."  --Miss Piggy