Where Were You March 4, 1976-- Part 1

This past March 4th Bob Stroud went back to that date 1976 to do the second part of his Time Warp on his Rock and Roll Roots show on WDRV, the Drive, in Chicago.

Back on that date, we had been living in our new house at 1013 Morningside in Round Lake Beach, Illinois, for less than a year. Liz and I were both teaching in the Round Lake School syste,. I was in my third year teaching 7th and 8th graders at Magee Middle School and Liz was in her second year teaching first graders at Beach Elementary School.

We had a great group of neighbors and did a lot with them.

And, of course, it was the big US bicentennial celebration.

These were the songs playing on the radio (still WLS and WCFL, but also a lot of FM stations. My comments in parentheses.

OVER MY HEAD-- FLEETWOOD MAC-- First single release from an album titled simply Fleetwood Mac that would really start it off for this band featuring two new players, Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. Written by Christine McVie and sung seductively by her. (I remember being confused, remembering the original lineup of Fleetwood Mac as being all guys. Where did this girl's voice come from?)
SQUEEZEBOX-- WHO-- From Who By the Numbers (Were they singing about an accordion?)

GOLDEN YEARS-- DAVID BOWIE-- From Station to Station album.
SING-A-SONG-- EWF-- Their horn section used by many, including Chicago (And Chicago had a pretty good horn section already.)

Poor Old Dad Never Gets to Sleep at Night. --RoadDog

It's Them, Not Me: Don't Look Now--$4+ GAS!!!

We had the big push to just shy of $4 ($3.99.9, now, that's really just shy of $4), then we actually had it drop off to $3.87 here in northeast Illinois. (Thursday I bought gas in Twin Lakes, Wi., for $3.80.) We stayed home last Friday, but Saturday driving to Milwaukee, were shocked to see gas along Wi-50 and I-94 at $4!!

What happened Friday to cause that jump? I didn't hear anything about it. I sure wish there was a site where we could read Big Oil's excuse each day. At least we would have something to chuckle about as they reach into our pockets for even more money.

That gas stayed at $4 all the way up to Milwaukee.

Coming home Sunday, we did find a really busy station in Oak Creek, Wisconsin with gas for $3.86. Gas in Illinois was anywhere from $4 to $4.10 (it is always more expensive.

Can't Wait to See the Quarterly Profits of the Big Oil GRBs at the end of This Month. --RoadDog

JSIS: Lockhorns-- Girl Scouts-- Attendant Amuck

JSIS-- Just Some Interesting Stuff

1. LOCKHORNS-- Always love reading the Lockhorn comics. From the March 4th Chicago Tribune. Mr. Lockhorn looks at his wife and says, "I'll put the toilet seat back down when you return the driver's seat to its original position." I have about cut myself in half getting into the car after Liz drives it.


2. GIRL SCOUTS-- A bog happy birthday to one of the finest organizations anywhere, the Girl Scouts. My wife was a member for a while as well. I already bought my cookies, did you?


3. ATTENDANT AMUCK-- Revolting passengers. I sure don't know what was worse on that American flight Friday. Was it the attendant who went nuts or all those passengers filming it with hopes of making money off their film.

All you saw were the cell phones being held up. How sad. Shouldn't you try to be doing something useful?

You'd Expect That at High School. --RoadDog

Off to Milwaukee for St. Patrick's

In just a few hours, we're heading to Milwaukee for the St. Patrick's Day Parade and celebration at the Irish House.

Most years I can't go because if deejaying in Lake Villa, Illinois, for their St. Patrick's Day Parade and then the party back at George's Cedar Inn, which I did for eighteen years. I'd still be there today, except the place was sold, so here I go north!!

Where's That Green Beer? --RoadDog

Where Were You March 4, 1966?-- Part 4

THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGING-- BYRDS-- New album out, Turn Turn Turn. From side 2 and by Bob Dylan, released in 1965. Title tune of their latest album.
HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED-- BOB DYLAN-- (OK, how's that for a Road Song?)

NOWHERE MAN-- On the "A" side. On the album, but not the one we got here. You had to buy the 45 if you wanted it.
BEATLES-WHAT GOES ON-- BEATLES-- On the "B" side. John and Paul wrote it so Ringo could sing it. This one was on Rubber Soul, but not in the UK and the rest of the of the world. (Hey, if Ringo can sing it, I sure can do it on karaoke.)
I'VE JUST SEEN A FACE-- BEATLES-- Lead off selection on the US Runner Soul.

ELUSIVE BUTTERFLY-- BOB LIND-- One hit wonder.
LIGHTNING STRIKES AGAIN-- LOU CHRISTIE-- The single had been at #1.

GLORIA-- SHADOWS OF KNIGHT-- Pretty proud of our hometown boys, In top ten locally and rising on the national charts as well with their version of a Them classic released the year before. "A" side.
DARK SIDE-- SHADOWS OF KNIGHT-- "B" side. Jimmy Sohns and the Boys.

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'-- MAMAS AND PAPAS-- The #1 song in Chicago March 4, 1966.

Next, we jump ahead ten years to March 4, 1976. Still a long time ago.

"Everything's Gonna Be Alright This Morning." Let's Spell Out Her Name. --RiadDog

Where Were You March 4, 1966?-- Part 3

The music of 46 YEARS AGO!! Gosh!!

I CAN'T LET GO-- HOLLIES-- brand new (Digging those vocals.)
I FOUGHT THE LAW-- BOBBY FULLER FOUR-- Their first hit with an old Crickets song. (Buddy Holly anyone?)

BATMAN-- MARKETTS-- The hit ABC TV program had its own hit Top 40 recording. There were a couple different ones out there. One by Neal Hefty who wrot the song and this one.
SURE GONNA MISS HER-- GARY LEWIS & THE PLAYBOYS-- brand new. (Jerry's son.)

HOMEWARD BOUND-- SIMON AND GARFUNKEL--follow up to "Sounds of Silence."
WOMAN-- PETER AND GORDON-- More British Invasion. Song written by Paul McCartney.

19TH NERVOUS BREAKDOWN-- ROLLING STONES-- Top Ten.
WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU-- FOUR SEASONS-- Some guys from the Jersey Shore who never needed a TV show to gain notoriety, unlike the current day misfits. (I was wondering what this meant, then remembered there is some sort of a TV show out called "The Jersey Shore.)

Good Stuff, Maynard. --RoadDog

Every Bloomin' THing-- Early March

Nothing major to report as far as flowers. I've seen some bulbs coming up, though, so it won't be long.

Yesterday, I took delivery on the lawn tractor from Buck brothers who did the tune up and other things to get the John Deere ready for the season. My LX-176 tractor with Piranha deck for mulching is 18 years old now. We moved in during the the winter of 1992 and the whole summer of 1993, I was working on the landscaping so didn't need to cut the grass.

However, the first time I cut grass in the summer of 1994 with the push mower, I knew that wasn't the thing to use to cut an acre and bought the tractor at Schmidt in Wisconsin.

This year, it needed a new battery and a few other things. Came to $306. I didn't have anything done last year.

Speaking of batteries, not only did the tractor not start because of the battery, but the two vehicles I had parked behind it didn't start either. First, the '05 Dodge Dakota in the drive way wouldn't turn over. A quick jump and it did though. Then the '85 Firebird in the garage wouldn't either, but a jump started it right up also.

Was It Something About That Side of the Garage That Hurt the Batteries? --RoadDog

Movie Scratches: Black-- Safe-- War-- Mysterious

A Dog's-Eye View on the Movies at the Theaters.

9. WOMAN IN BLACK-- 2-15-- FOX LAKE $4-- Little Harry Potter's all grown up. Did he die?


10. SAFE HOUSE-- 2-15-- FOX LAKE $4-- Something's dirty at the CIA. "Don't worry, I'll take care of it." Keeping the dirty little secrets.


11. THIS MEANS WAR-- 2-22-- FOX LAKE $4-- It's Spy Vs. Spy (Remember Mad Magazine) for the love of m'lady.


12. MYSTERIOUS ISLAND: JOURNEY 2-- 2-22-- FOX LAKE $4-- Who's ready for adventure and pure hokey.

Senior Citizens Talk More Than High School Kids. --RoadDog

Off to See the Eagles: Day 2, February 28th: Dem Eagles

We weren't sure how successful we'd be on our annual trip out to the Mississippi River to see the bald eagles because of the lateness of the winter and the wonderful winter we are having this year, finally.

Perhaps the eagles didn't need to come down this far south to feed and since there probably wasn't any ice on the river, they wouldn't be congregating by the lock and dams as much.

Not so, though.

We found bald eagles right away at our first stop at he Dubuque, Iowa, lock and dam. At least we wouldn't be shut out. We finally found a bald eagle in the tree by the park by the Bellevue lock and dam. We hadn't seen one there in the last five or so years. This is where we first got a real close up look at one on our first eagle trip way back when.

By the end of the day, we had counted a total of 62 bald eagles, including one floating downriver on a log in Clinton.

Stayed at the LaQuinta in Davenport, had drinks at Applebees, Miller Time and Kelly's and grazed at the Golden Corral. Came back and enjoyed the pool.

A Good Day for Seeing Eagles. --RoadDog

Where Were You March "Forth," 1966?-- Part 2

Continuing with Stroud's "Marching Orders" back to March 4, 1966.

AT THE SCENE-- DAVE CLARK FIVE-- The British Invasion just over two years old now and the Brits just keep on coming like the Spencer Davis Group. This more established group keeps having hit after hit. (Not as familiar with this one, but sure glad they finally made the Hall of Fame.)
MY WORLD'S EMPTY WITHOUT YOU-- SUPREMES-- (Almost caught myself doing the choreography again. Man, they can get ya movin'.

DAYDREAM-- LOVIN' SPOONFUL-- Brand new (Good old Jon Sebastion.)
THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING-- NANCY SINATRA-- Walking right on to top of the charts, from Frank's little daughter. #2. (I Am Woman, hear me roar.)

STRAIGHT SHOOTER-- MAMAS AND PAPAS-- A couple tracks from one of the hottest new albums, a debut, If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears. Great new songs from one John Phillips.
GO WHERE YOU WANNA GO-- MAMAS AND PAPAS-- These are deep tracks. In another year or so this would be a hit for the Fifth Dimension. (Yep, we had Mama Michele for looking and Mama Cass for the singing.)

Do What You Wanna Do. --RoadDog


WILL ROGERS SAYS: Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for.

Another Duhhh Moment: The Pepperoncini Incident

Well, back in January, I walked into the girls' bathroom at McGuire's in Destin, Florida, because I didn't read the sign on the doors carefully enough. Well, actually, I was set up for that one, at least that's my excuse.

However, yesterday, I made another mistake when ordering pizza at J's Sports Bar & Grill in Ingleside, Illinois. They have half-price pizza on Mondays (along with $1.25 domestic pints). That, along with NTN makes the place a natural stop on that day.

And, their pizza is some of the best we've ever had. We are especially fond of the BLT Pizza. But, yesterday, we thought we'd try a different one and decided, well I decided, on the J's Beer Pizza which has pepperoncini peppers, sausage, onions, mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

Only, I read the first item as pepperoni for some reason. Liz tried to warn me, but for some reason, I didn't listen. It came and we ate. I found that I don't like pepperoncini peppers. Man, those are just a bit too hot!! It was a lot better when we picked them off.

Needless to say, I'm not ordering the Beer Pizza again.

Can't See Out of One Eye, Blind in the Other. --RoadDog

Four Days, 6 Bars, 1 Festival, 1 Band

We got home from the bald eagle trip to the Mississippi this past Thursday and took it easy.

FRIDAY, MARCH 2ND

Went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wi. for NTN and Italian bombers. We had eight Top Twenties. First time with the changes NTN has brought about. At last, they are showing some care about us oldsters playing during the afternoon instead of the young crew they seem to be going after.

SATURDAY MARCH 3RD

Belated Mardi Gras party at Route 12 Bar and those great $4 black angus burgers. Should have had Louisiana-style food, though. Then, Captain's Quarters, $2.50 Coronas and the UNC-Duke basketball game. Who'd have figured it would be such a Tarheel blowout?

SUNDAY MARCH FORTH

As in, March Forth! Learn something new all the time. Into Round Lake Park to AJ's Horsin' Around and an afternoon party with Terry Spizziri and Nephew. Lots of Irish music getting ready for that upcoming day. It will be strange for me after deejaying at Cedar Inn the last 15 years, Its no longer open.

MONDAY MARCH 5TH

To J's in Ingleside for half price pizza (more on that in next post) and NTN with the Usual Suspects: Painter, Dazed, Drunk, Bill K, Klofmn, Pops, Liz and myself. Three Top Twenties. A stop at the Legion on the way home for 50 cent drafts.

Found out Renee's great-g-g-g grandfather was at the Alamo.

Wow, NIU upset Eastern Michigan in the first round of the MAC Championship Tournament. Who'd have figured that!!??

Always Good Times in the Area. --RoadDog


WILL ROGERS SAYS: If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out of it?

Where Were You March 4, 1966?-- Part 1

Yesterday, Bob Stroud could have done his Rock and Roll Roots show on the Drive, 97.1 FM in Chicago on songs with the word march or sound of marching in it in honor of March 4th, the date and command.

But, he did it on songs playing on the radio here in Chicago on WLS and WCFL back on March 4, 1966 and then jumped ahead ten years to that date in 1976.

I was a freshman at Fremd High School in Palatine, Illinois. Back then, freshmen and sophomores went to this school while juniors and seniors went to Palatine High School. Palatine, at the time was experiencing a huge growth with subdivisions opening all over the place. One of the biggest was Winston Park, where we had moved three years earlier.

My sophomore year, I went to Palatine as they had split the two schools. All freshmen still went to Fremd and all seniors went to Palatine still. The sophomore and junior classes were split, however. The next year, my junior, both schools were entirely split and thus began a real rivalry.

So, we got to be the lowest class two years running.

YOU BABY-- TURTLES-- Second hit following "It Ain't Me Babe." Much more pop oriented than their first folk rock one. ("It Ain't Me" was written by Bob Dylan. I was a big Turtles fan and their greatest hit album was one of the first I bought.
KEEP ON RUNNING-- SPENCER DAVIS GROUP-- Our very first taste of one Steve Winwood, their initial release here in the US. (As fine of garage rock as you can get.)

Bringing back the Memories. --RoadDog

March 4th March Forth

Well, I was not aware of this March Forth stuff until yesterday, March 4th, when reading the comics in the Chicago Tribune. Two comic strips featured the idea.

Frazz had the teacher in her classroom saying "Here's one: When is a date a command?" She then proceeds to march around. Then one of the kids says to Frazz "Turns out the world's tiredest joke can be made tireder." To which Frazz says, "I May 2nd that." I never thought of that either.

Then Mutts, by Patrick McDonnell had the dog taking a nap by a tree and sees the cat leading other animals in a march past him. The dog says "March 'Fourth'"

I had never thought of it.

Learning Something Every Day. --RoadDog

It's Them, Not Me: $4 Achieved

On our eagle trip Tuesday, we did see our first gas station with $4 gas by the I-80 bridge over the Mississippi River in Iowa. Well, actually $3.99.9, but we all know that price is really $4. Wednesday, we got gas in Dixon, Illinois, for $3.58 and then it was $3.70 the rest of the way to Dekalb. Thursday, it was $3.80 in Dekalb.

Yesterday, driving over to Round Lake Park to see Terry Spizzirri, we saw that Fox Lake was at $3.98 and $3.99 and all other stations were at $4. So, we arrived at the $4 level quite early in this year's "Summer Driving Season" as Big Oil used to use for an excuse for jacking up prices.

Hey, I knew this was coming. They "kept" gas prices over $3 all fall and winter. Whenever it got down to $3.20 around here, reasons were "found" to raise it back up. When they "keep" prices up over winter, you know they are preparing to go up to new heights.

Some are calling for $5 gas around here. I should say that we live in McHenry County, next to Lake County in northeast Illinois, outside that rip-you-off city called Chicago where gas prices are always higher than most of the country.

Last year, we got to $4.25. I'm thinking their plans are to raise it to $4.50 this year, drop it back to around $3.70 for a low next fall and shoot for the $5 mark the following year.

Saddest part of all of this is that many of those involved are Americans, whose greed goes beyond caring what they do to their fellow Americans.

These GRBs Are Sure Not Nice People. --RoadDog

Goodbye Davy Jones: 11 Essential Tunes-- Part 3: "Daydream Believer"

6. SHADES OF GRAY: THE HEADQUARTERS-- transitional album wit the band contributing songs.

5. CUDDLY TOY-- written by harry Nilsson-- from the Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones album.

4. WHEN LOVE COMES KNOCKIN' (AT YOUR DOOR)-- From More of the Monkees album. Written by Neil Sedaka and Carole Bayer Sager.

3. DAYDREAM BELIEVER-- by John stewart, maybe Jones' most famous performance from The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees, the first Monkees album NOT to go to #1. released after the show was canceled.

2. LOOKOUT (HERE COMES TOMORROW)-- Written by Neil Diamond. A long-time favorite of Monkees fans. (Me too!)

1. GIRL-- from the Brady Bunch episode-- cut track with Marcia looking adoringly on.

I agree with O'Connor, the Monkees Need to Be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. --RoadDog

And, speaking of music, tomorrow (the 4th), Bob Stroud s doing a Time Warp back to march 4, 1966 for an hour and a half and then jumping forward to March 4, 1976 for another hour and a half. It streams live at www.wdrv.com from 7 to 10 AM CST.


Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!

Goodbye Davy Jones: 11 Essential Tunes-- Part 2

In saying goodbye to Davy Jones of the Monkees, here is a list by Rob O'Connor of eleven songs as lead vocalist or solo.

The Monkees were assembled in 1966 by Bert Schneider and Bob Rafelsont. Don Kirschner supervised the first two Monkees albums.

11. THE GIRL FROM CHELSEA-- written by the Gerry Goffin/Carole King team. Recorded in 1965, before joining the Monkees.

10. VALLERI-- A Boyce-Hart song from fifth album The Birds, the Bees & the Monkees.

9. I WANNA BE-- Another Boyce-Hart song from 1966's The Monkees album.

8. I'LL BE TRUE TO YOU-- Gerry Goffin-Russ Titelman, from the debut album also.

7. THE DAY WE FALL IN LOVE-- From 1967's second album. Wonder who came up with the title More of the Monkees?

More to Come. --RoadDog


WILL ROGERS SAYS: Alexander Hamilton started the US Treasury with nothing-- and that was the closest our country has ever been to being even.

Goodbye Davy Jones: 11 Essential Tunes-- Part 1

From March 1st Yahoo! "List of the Day Remembering Davy Jones: 11 Essential Tunes."

I'll be doing an entry on my Cooters's History Blog about Davy Jones. We were driving eastward from the Quad Cities listening to a country station when we heard the news of his death. You wouldn't expect to hear that from a country deejay.

Liz and I just looked at each other. Hey, both of us were big Monkees fans, shoot, I liked the Boys Bands from ten years ago. Good music is good music, especially when written by any of the greats. And that is exactly who the Monkees had writing for them.

Along with that great slap-stick, "Hard Day's Night"-like TV show, all those zany activities and them singing one of their songs. It was the Beatles meet Elvis Presley. Back then, it was hard to get to see your favorite bands on TV.

Then, "Daydream Believer" is Liz's all-time favorite song. She says it reminds her of me. (Get big head now.) It is even her ring tone. It always gets a positive reaction when it goes off. I've even heard people start singing. Whenever it comes on the radio or a juke box, Liz grabs for her phone.

"It's Because I'm Short. I Know." --RoadDog