Looking Back at the WLS Top 40 Survey for July 3, 1964-- Part 2

What is really notable about this chart was that it was the first time the Beatles were not on it since the year began.  These are songs that I initially did not think I'd heard before.

33.  JUST BE TRUE--  Gene Chandler ( I heard this one before)

31.  THE FRENCH SONG--  Lucille Starr--  (Actually a French country song sung in French.)

29.  NOBODY I KNOW--  Peter & Gordon  (Heard it many times before, just didn't remember the name.)

25.  SHE'S THE ONE--  Chartbusters  (Definitely influenced by the Beatles, lick for lick.)

24.  MY HEART SKIPS A BEAT--  Buck Owens  (Imagine Buck being on a pop chart, along with Johnny Cash, Roger Miller and Jack Jones?  We also had a French singer and an Italian one as well.

23.  REMEMBER ME--  Rita Pavone  (Sung in Italian)

The Bakersfield Sound.  --RoadDog


NOT YOUR USUAL FLIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS:  "In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend from the ceiling.  Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face.  If you have a small child traveling with you, secure your mask before assisting theirs.  If you are traveling with more than one small child, pick your favorite."

Looking Back at the WLS July 3, 1964, Top 40-- Part 1

Since there were so many songs in the top 40 back then that I wasn't sure whether I had heard it before or not, I went to You Tube and was able to find all but one.of the 23 songs.  That You Tube is a great source of music.  Five of the songs were ones that I had heard of before.  And one was so good,"Party Girl"," that I will do some posts on Bernadette Carroll starting tomorrow.

39.  LAZY ELSIE MOLLIE-- Chubby Checker (a limbo knock-off)
38.  HEY HARMONICA MAN--  Stevie Wonder  (Not his best effort)
37.  GOOD TIMES-- Sam Cooke (I've heard it before.  It is a great Beach Music song.)
35.  IF I'M A FOOL--  Bobby Wood  (Shown as "If I'm a Fool (For Loving You)" and is an Elvis Presley song.
34.  BELSHAZAH--  Johnny Cash  (You Tube shows it as "Belshazzar.)

More to Come.  --RoadDog

JSS: Dog Drive-- Corn High-- Jewel Tailgating-- Death of D-18

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  DOG DRIVE--  We have three pooches we like to keep tabs on whenever we drive to Spring grove for shopping along US-12.  Nearest us is a husky dog named Zoe, who is one of the prettiest and laziest dogs ever.  Of course, with us being bug NIU Huskies fans, we like huskies.

Then, farther down the hill, we have a pair of clowns.  We don't know their names, but one is a JKack Russel and the other has the biggest ears we've ever seen on such a small dog.  We call them Jack and Ears.

2.  CORN HIGH--  If there is any meaning to corn being knee-high by the 4th of July, ours was already chest high with all the rain and cool temps.  Looks like a bumper crop.

3.  JEWEL TAILGATING--  Today, after being "attacked" by Ears and Jack (well, seriously barked at), I sent to our local Jewel and saw six guys tailgating in the parking lot and seeming to really enjoy themselves.  I had to ask them where the football game was.  They just laughed.

4.  DEATH OF D-18--  Sad to find out that one of the Decorah bald head eaglets was electrocuted yesterday when he landed on uninsulated high wire power lines.  They (there were three of them) had a rough eaglethood after being laid in really cold weather, having it really cold when first hatched and then bothered so badly by gnats they all left the nest too early, one of them breaking a wing in the process.

Just Some Stuff.  --RoadDog

NOT YOUR USUAL FLIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTSl:  As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Ronald Reagan Airport, a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: "Whoa, big fella. WHOA!!"

Movie Scratches: Blended-- West-- X-Men- Jump

Movie Scratches: A Dog's-Eye View of Today's Movies.

37.  BLENDED--  5-28--  Fox Lake--  $4.50--  Regardless of what the critics say, Adam Sandler is one really funny guy.  Loved the kids in this show.

38.  MILLION WAYS TO DIE IN THE WEST--  6-4--  Fox lake--  $4.50--Many, many, many ways to get killed in the West, and not just getting shot.  Good, but could have been better.

39.  X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST--  6-16--  Fox Lake--  Free--  Back to the past to save the future.  Raven is Nixon.

40.  22 JUMP STREET--  6-17--  Fox Lake--  $5--Two zany guys are back, this time in college.  Frat parties, Spring Break & the boss' daughter.

How Do You Open That Salt Shaker?.  --RoadDog

Fourth of July Here in NE Illinois-- Part 1: July 4th

With the 4th taking place on Friday, i was a day off all weekend.  Friday was Saturday and Saturday seemed more like Sunday.  Glad I took down all the flags, bunting, etc. on Sunday night as the forecast storms did roll in around 3 AM Monday morning and were quite bad.

FRIDAY, JULY 4TH:  I got out on the boat in the morning and did a Boat Float around Mineola Bay in Fox Lake.  Very few other boats out from 9-10 AM.  I came in early for the Fox Lake parade at 10 AM, only to find that was tomorrow.  The whole Fox Lake celebration will be tomorrow, but the fireworks are going to be tonight.

I had an early lunch at the Fox lake Lakefront Park on Nippersink Lake with a Polish sausage from Thornton's.

Picked Liz up and drove over to the Spring Grove Horse Fair Park and paid our $5 to park (goes to the fireworks).  Walked over to the parade route and saw our annual parade.  We had a two biplane flyover with smoke at the beginning of the parade and one car had a WWII vet who spent three years as a Japanese POW.  Always love the the antique tractors as this has always been quite an agricultural community, although now it seems to be sprouting more houses than anything else.

More to Come.  --RoadDog


NOT YOUR USUAL FLIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS On landing, the stewardess said, "Please be sure to take all your belongings.  If you are going to leave anything, please make sure it's something we'd like to have."

Where Were You the Summer of '74?-- Part 2

OH VERY YOUNG--  Cat Stevens
CAN'T GET ENOUGH--  Bad Company
GET OUT OF DENVER--  Bob Seger
LA GRANGE--  ZZ Top

ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER-- (live)  Bob Dylan
UP ON CRIPPLE CREEK-- (live)  Band
MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS--  Maria Muldaur
COME MONDAY--  Jimmy Buffett (His first top 40)

DON'T ASK ME NO QUESTIONS--  Lynyrd Skynyrd
INTO THE MYSTIC--  (live) Van Morrison
DON'T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME--  Elton John
DAY OF THE EAGLE--  Robin Trower

SUNDOWN--  Gordon Lightfoot
TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD--  Rufus
WILD THING--  Fancy
STAR BABY--  Guess Who

HELP ME--  Joni Mitchell
THE NIGHT CHICAGO DIED--  Paper Lace
REBEL REBEL--  David Bowie
RADAR LOVE--  Golden Earing

ANOTHER PARK, ANOTHER SUNDAY--  Doobie Brothers
LONELY PEOPLE--  America
BAND ON THE RUN--  Paul, McCartney & Wings (#1 album in Chicago)

Not on the East Side of Chicago.  Too Wet!!  --RoadDog

Where Were You Summer of '74?-- Part 1

The second part of Bob Stroud's annual trip back 40 year to a great summer.  This one is Summer of '74.  The next one will be August 3rd.

Songs in your radio and collections July 6, 1974.

ALREADY GONE--  Eagles
FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY--  O'Jays
U.S. BLUES--  Grateful Dead
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS--  Bachman-Turner Overdrive

YOUR MAMA DON'T DANCE--  (live)  Loggins & Messina
NOTHING FROM NOTHING--  Billy Preston
EYES OF SILVER--  Doobie Brothers
I HAVEN'T GOT TIME FOR THE PAIN--  Carly Simon


I WANNA GO TO THE SUN--  Peter Frampton  (Did he have songs before Frampton Comes Alive?
IF YOU WANNA GET TO HEAVEN--  Ozark Mountain Daredevils
WORKING AT THE CAR WASH BLUES--  Jim Croce
WALL STREET SHUFFLE--  10 CC

HELEN WHEELS--  Paul McCartney & Wings
LOCO-MOTION--  Grand Funk
SAME OLD SONG AND DANCE--  Aerosmith
RIKKI DON'T LOSE THAT NUMBER--Steely Dan

You Gotta Raise Some ____.  --RoadDog

NOT YOUR USUAL FLIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS:  On a Continental flight with a very "senior" flight attendant crew, the pilot said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin lights.  This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants."

Ten Patriotic Songs for Your Fourth of July

From the July 4, 2014,  WDRV, 97.1 FM, Chicago Ten at Ten.

PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM--  Elton John
AMERICAN WOMAN--  Guess Who  (Well, it wasn't all that flattering.)
ROCK IN THE USA--  John Mellancamp

PINK HOUSES--  John Mellancamp
FREEDOM--  Paul McCartney
ROCKING IN THE FREE WORLD--  Neil Young
MISS AMERICA--  Styx

LIVING IN THE USA--  Steve Miller Band
AMERICAN PIE--  Don McLean
STAR-SPANGLED BANNER--  Boston

Be sure to tune into Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots show tomorrow from 7 to 10 AM on the Drive as he will be going back to July 6, 1974, for the whole show.  If you remember that time, it will take you right back.

I Know Where I'll be from 7 to 10 AM Tomorrow.  --RoadDog

WLS Top 40 Survey, July 3, 1964: The Top Ten

10.  WHAT HAVE I GOT OF MY OWN--  Trini Lopez*
9.  DON'T LET TE SUN CATCH YOU CRYING--  Gerry & the Pacemakers
8.  MY  BOY LOLLIPOP--  Millie Small
7.  THE GIRL FROM IPANEMA--  Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto
6.  MEMPHIS--  Johnny Rivers

5.  RAG DOLL--  Four Seasons (I just saw "Jersey Boys!"  Woe!!)
4.  CAN'T YOU SEE SHE'S MINE--  Dave Clark Five
3.  A WORLD WITHOUT LOVE--    Peter & Gordon
2.  LITTLE CHILDREN-- Billy J. Kramer
1.  I GET AROUND--  Beach Boys

No Beatles, but four of the Top Ten were British Invasion groups.

"Long Distance Information, Get Me _____ _______."  --RoadDog

THE LAST WHY TEACHERS TURN GRAY EARLY (Selected test answers):  Q:  How can you drop a raw egg onto a concrete floor without cracking it?  A:  Anyway you want because a concrete floor is very hard to crack.

Flags and Parades Today: 4th of July Around Here

Yesterday, I put up my Fourth of July flags, banners and bunting outside.  I even put my Bennington 76 flag up under the eaves of the front porch for the first time in twenty years.  This is getting to be an old flag in itself as I bought it back during the U.S. Bicentennial back in 1976.  So, it is now 38 years old.  Maybe even a museum piece down the road.  "This flag flew proudly at the 200th birthday of the United States, you know."

I have a full-size flag out at the mailbox, an Uncle Sam wind sock, RW&B ribbon on the door and U.S. flag banner in the front yard.  On the deck, I have white Italian lights, blue lights on the Dragon Plant, bunting and a flag.  I have RW&B Italian lights on the gazebo.

In just a bit, I plan to go out boating and then watch the Fox Lake, Illinois, 4th of July parade at 10 AM and go to their festival.  Then, I will drive over to the Spring Grove 4th of July parade and and the festival/

Later this afternoon, we will go back to Horse Fair Park in Spring Grove to see Mr. Myers playing their Caribbean-style music.  We've been following them since in 80s and are big fans.  They started in DeKalb, Illinois.

Then, we go home to watch the Spring Grove fireworks from our front porch.

Celebrating the 4th In Style.  --RoadDog

WLS Top 40, July 3, 1964

*  Haven't heard of it.

20.  HICKORY DIC & DOC-- Bobby Vee*
19.  TELL ME WHY--  Bobby Vinton*  (The two Bobbies)
18.  NO PARTICULAR PLACE TO GO--  Chuck Berry  (Great car, high school song)
17.  I'LL TOUCH A STAR--  Terry Stafford*
16.  DON'T THROW YOU LOVE AWAY--  Searchers

15.  FATHER SEBASTIAN--  Ramblers*
14.  THREE WINDOW COUPE--  Ripchords*
13.  PARTY GIRL--  Bernadette Carroll*
12.  DANG ME--  Roger Miller
11.  FIRST NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON--  Jack Jones*

"They Ought to Get a Rope and ___ __."  --RoadDog

WHY TEACHERS TURN GRAY EARLY (selected test answers):  Q:  If it took eight men 10 hours to build a brick wall, how long would it take four men to build it?  A:  No time at all, it was already built.

WLS Top 40 Survey, July 3, 1964-- Part 2

I usually only do the Top Ten, but decided to give the full spectrum of songs playing on AM radio back then.

30.  LITTLE OLD LADY FROM PASADENA--  Jan & Dean
29.  NOBODY I KNOW--  Peter & Gordon*
28.  WALK ON BY--  Dionne Warwick
27.  FARMER JOHN--  Premiers
26.  MIXED-UP SHOOK UP GIRL--  Patty & the Emblems

25.  SHE'S THE ONE--  Chartbusters*
24.  MY HEART SKIPS A BEAT--  Buck Owens*
23.  REMEMBER ME--  Rita Pavone
22.  I'VE HAD IT--  Crestones*
21.  I WANNA LOVE HIM SO BAD--  Jellybeans*

--RoadDog

WLS Top 40 Songs, July 3, 1964-- Part 1

And, that would make it a half-century ago.  Egads!!  It is amazing how many of these I don't think I've ever heard.  *= Don't think I've heard it before.

40.  WISHIN' & HOPIN'--  Dusty Springfield
39.  LAZY ELSIE MOLLIE--  Chibby Checker*
38.  HEY HARMONICA MAN--  Stevie Wonder*
37.  GOOD TIMES--  Sam Cooke*
36.  ANNIE IS BACK--  Little Richard*

35.  IF I'M A FOOL--  Booby Wood*
34.  BELSHAZAH--  Johnny Cash*
33.  JUST BE TRUE--  Gene Chandler*
32.  EVERY LITTLE BIT HURTS--  Brenda Holloway
31.  THE FRENCH SONG--  Lucille Starr

Looks Like I'm Going to Be On You Tube For Awhile.  --RoadDog

40th Anniversary of the Bar Code

I have been writing about it in my history blog the last several days.

That sure made the lives of grocery store check out folks much easier.  And now, they are trying to get us regular folks to scan those codes ourselves.  I was extremely apprehensive at first, but have since done it many times and it is not so bad.  But, I usually do it only when the regular check out lines are too long or if I only have a few items.

I'm a semi-literate bar coder.

But, speaking of bar codes, we have a chain of discount stores here in Illinois called Aldi and those checkers are the fastest I've ever seen.  They can scan that code and put it in my basket faster than I can put items on the conveyor belt.  I generally wait until someone goes ahead of me so I can have a chance to get my stuff up there before the things are checked out.

Beep, Beep, Blip.  --RoadDog


WHY TEACHERS TURN GRAY EARLY (Selected test answers):  Q;  If you had three apples and four oranges in one hand and 3 oranges and four apples in the other hand, what would you have.  A"  Very large hands.

Deaths: Mr. Music Man, Gerry Goffin

GERRY GOFFIN, 75,   Died June 19, 2014.  One-time husband and co-songwriter with Carole King.  Worked in the famous Brill Building.

And, he wrote or co-wrote some many of my favorite songs.  Here's a partial list:

WILL YOU LOVE ME TOMORROW--  Shirelles
TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY BABY--  Bobby Vee
UP ON THE ROOF--  Drifters
ONE FINE DAY--  Chiffons

PLEASANT VALLEY SUNDAY--  Monkees
GO AWAY LITTLE GIRL--  #1 twice  by Steve Lawrence and Donny Osmond
LOCOMOTION--  #1 twice by Little Eva and Grand Funk
WHO PUT THE BOMP--  Barry Mann

(YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE) A NATURAL WOMAN--  Aretha Franklin
I'M INTO SOMETHING GOOD--  Herman's Hermits

Some Mighty Good Music.

WLS Top Ten: June 26, 1964

Still looking back at these great songs from that real turning point in rock history.

1.  LITTLE CHILDREN--  Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas
2.  I GET AROUND--  Beach Boys
3.  MEMPHIS--  Johnny Rivers

4.  A WORLD WITHOUT LOVE--  Peter and Gordon
5.  MY BOY LOLLIPOP-- Millie Small
6.  THE GIRL FROM IPANEMA--  Astrud Gilberto & Stan Getz  (jumped from #21)
7.  CAN'T YOU SEE SHE'S MINE--  Dave Clark Five (jumped from #24)

8.  PARTY GIRL--  Bernadette Carroll
9.  LOVE ME DO/ P.S. I LOVE YOU--  You Know Who
10.  LOVE ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART--  Ray Charles Singers

Thursday, I will list all 40 songs to get a better idea of the numerous types of songs on the chart at the time.  Three of the Top Ten are by British Invasion acts: #1, #4 and #7.  Not sure where Millie Small was from.

Never heard of "Party Girl" by Bernadette Carroll.  You Tube here I come.  --RoadDpg

What's Going On With Mitch Ryder?

From the April 6-12, 2014, American Profile "Ask American Profile."

The native of Hamtramck, Michigan, 69, has been working on a novel he plans to adapt to a musical, tentatively called Hide Your Love Away.  Ryder lives in Detroit and performs about 90 shows a year.

The high-octane rocker and his band, the Detroit Wheels, scored Top Ten hits in the 1960s with "Devil With the Blue Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly," "Sock It to Me Baby" and "Jenny Take a Ride."  He wrote and autobiography, "Devil & Blue Dresses" in 2011 and released his latest CD, The Promise" in 2012.

Another favorite performer of mine and one of the ultimate garage/frat rockers ever.

If Ya Can't Get Up and Dance to Him, Ya Can't Dance.  --RoadDog

What's Going On With Sam Moore?

From the June 22-28, 2014, American Profile Magazine "Ask American Profile.

Always good to get an update on my favorite 60s acts.

SAM MOORE:  The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member and Grammy winner, now 78, was half of the soul vocal duo Sam & Dave, and he continues performing, even after the loss of his partner, Dave Prater.1960
The native of Fort Valley, Georgia had big hits in the 1960s with such hits as "Soul Man," "Hold On, I'm Comin' " and "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby."  Moore's latest single, "They Killed a King" is a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. at whose rallies and speeches he sometimes performed.

I was huge fan of Sam and Dave and still am.  The there songs mentioned were good, but you're not going to believe how great the rest of their songs were.  I was fortunate to see them perform together in the 1970s at Chicago's Cubby Bear.

Who's a Soul Man?  --RoadDog

WHY TEACHERS TURN GRAY EARLY ( Selected test answers):  Q:  How can you lift an elephant with one hand?  A: You can never lift an elephant that has 1 hand.