Sure Been Enjoying This Warm Weather-- Part 1

Definitely something you wouldn't be expecting here in the Midwest along the Wisconsin-Illinois border.

The temperatures have been in the lower 70s with lots of sun.  We've got to really enjoy this because you-know-what is around the corner.

FRIDAY, we had a perfect day for the Cubs World Series parade and celebration in Chicago, but we didn't go and glad of it as that was some really big crowd as I had figured it would be with all the Cub fans around here.  We did watch it on TV in between trips outside to enjoy the sun.

I got a lot of yardwork accomplished and later we went to Bootleggers Bar for fish dinners, 'Cuda's for $2 craft beer and the Usual Suspects and later to the Legion.

SATURDAY, I sat out at the front porch, deck and gazebo.  Later, we went to Kevin and Kelly's and helped polish off Kelly's Oktoberfest, Strawberry Blonde and Port craft beers.  She is getting to be quite the brewer.  We sat outside at their place on Fox Lake and enjoyed the warm afternoon into evening.  Who'd have figured you'd get a chance to do this on November 5, wearing tee-shirts and shorts.  We then had a bonfire.

Enjoying It While We Can.  --RoadDog

SIGNS AND NOTICES:  At a car dealership in Maryland to announce new seat belt legislation:  "Belt your family.  It's the law."

Music Deaths: Motown Songwriter Robert Bateman

ROBERT BATEMAN, 80  Died October 12, 2016.

Motown songwriter.  Sand with the Satintones, who were Motown's first group to release a single (just before the Miracles).

He discovered the Marvelettes and wrote "Plese Mr. Postman,"  "Playboy" and "Twistin' Mr. Postman."

Music Deaths: Founding Member of the Intruders "Big Sonny" Edwards

ROBERT "BIG SONNY" EDWARDS, 74.  Died October 15, 2016.

Founding member of the Intruders from Philadelphia.  The group originally formed in the 1960s as a doo-wop group.

Producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff signed them in 1965.  They had some R&B success but broke through with "Cowboys to Girls" (#8 Pop and #1 R&B-1968).  They then had "(Love Is Like A) Baseball Game" (#26 Pop, #4 R&B-1968).

"Big Sonny" left the group in 1975 to devote his life to religion.

WLS Top Ten for November 4, 1966: "Cherry Cherry"

1.  LAST TRAIN TO CLARKSVILLE--  Monkees
2.  REACH OUT--  Four Tops
3.  96 TEARS--  ? and the Mysterians

4.  GOOD VIBRATIONS--  Beach Boys
5.  POOR SIDE OF TOWN--  Johnny Rivers
6.  HOORAY FOR HAZEL--  Tommy Roe
7.  DANDY--  Herman's Hermits

8.  CHERRY CHERRY--  Neil Diamond
9.  PSYCHOTIC REACTION--  Count Five
10.  WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL--  New Vaudeville Band

WXRT will have its Saturday Morning Flashback to the year 1970 from 8 a.m. to noon CDST.  It streams at www.wxrt.com.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I, I Love the Colorful Clothes She Wears."  --RoadDog



"Good Vibrations"

Time To Set Your You-Know Whats Saturday Night (Well, Maybe Sunday Morning): Ten Songs to Remind You: "Does Anybody Know What Time It Is"

And, it also TIME to celebrate a Cubs World Series Championship with that parade.

A time of the year I don't like.  It is already getting dark too early, but wait until Sunday to see it get dark fast.  This is when we set out clocks back an hour.

Today, Bob Stroud did his Ten at Ten on WDRV, 97.1 FM on Time.

DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS--  Chicago
FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME--  Foreigner
ISN'T IT TIME--  Babys

GOOD TIMES, BAD TIMES--  Led  Zeppelin
THE BEST OF TIMES--  Styx
TIME--  Pink Floyd
AIN'T WASTIN' TIME--  Allman Brothers

BAD TIME--  Grand Funk
ONLY TIME WILL TELL--  Asia
LOVE TAKES TIME--   Orleans

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I'm In Love With a Girl That I'm Talking About."  --RoadDog

SIGNS AND NOTICES:  Found written on the wall in front of a photocopier of a company going through hardships:  "Double Your Pleasure - Xerox Your Paychecks."

"Bad Time"

A Long Hard Road for the Cubs, But, 2016 World Series Champions

I must first say that I am a Cubs fan...unless they play the White Sox.  Buy, I have always liked the Cubs and have probably even seen them play more games than my Sox.

I wasn't writing about the playoffs, but believe me, I was closely following them. Liz and I went out to area bars for just about every game, both NLDS, NLCS and the World Series.  I was even wearing my Cubs hat (the only article of Cubs clothing I have as compared to a real lot of Sox stuff.  I mean, a REAL LOT!!)

I didn't write about it in any blog because of superstition.  Whenever I write about one of my teams before the end of the season or game, they lose and I wasn't taking any chances.

Yesterday, I took the Cubs "W" (Win) car flag off before the game as bad luck, you know.  We left the Cubs car flag up, though.  We drove to Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg for the game.  We have gone here for many of the playoff games.  A good-sized crowd, but not too crowded and most were into the game.  Lots of cheering as we went on an emotional roller coaster.  This just HAD to be THE YEAR.

When the Indians tied it in the 8th, we left.  It was getting late, 10 p.m.

Saw the rest of the game at home in the downstairs Margaritaville bar and enjoyed the Ultimate Jukebox.  Then, in the 10th, with the final out I started really playing winning kind of songs and even a couple from Ohio's Pat Dailey in honor of that great Cleveland Indians team that gave us all we could handle.  "Put-In-Bay" and "Get Your Ass to Cleveland."

That went on until 2:30 this morning.

"If You Like Irish Whiskey and Drinking Ice Cold Beer."  --RoadDog

WDRV's A to Z Halloween Spooktacular-- Part 6: "Superstition"

STRANGE MAGIC--  Electric Light Orchestra
SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY--  U2
SUPERSTITION--  Stevie Wonder

SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL--  Rolling Stones
THIS HOUSE IS HAUNTED--  Alice Cooper
TIME OF THE SEASON--  Zombies

TWILIGHT ZONE--  Golden Earring
UNDERCOVER OF THE NIGHT--  Rolling Stones
VOODOO CHILE (SLIGHT RETURN)--  Jimi Hendrix

WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE--  Alice Cooper
WEREWOLVES OF LONDON--  Warren Zevon
WITCHY WOMAN--  Eagles

XANADU--  Rush
YOUNGBLOOD--  Bad Company
ZIGGY STARDUST--  David Bowie

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Please Allow Me to Introduce Myself, I'm a Man of Wealth and Taste."  --RoadDog

WDRV's A to Z Halloween Spooktaculat-- Part 5: "Psycho Killer"

Go Ahead, Scare Me.  I Sure Had a Lot of Scare Last Night.  That Game Drained Me.  Not to Mention Keeping Me Way Up Past My Bedtime.

PAINT IT BLACK--  Rolling Stones
PARANOID--  Black Sabbath
PEOPLE ARE STRANGE--  Doors

PSYCHO KILLER--  Talking Heads
RHIANNON--  Fleetwood Mac  (I must admit that I am not sure why this song is here, but I never really listened to the words.)
RIDERS ON THE STORM--  Doors

RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL--  Van Halen
SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT--  Bruce Springsteen
SPIRIT IN THE SKY--  Norman Greenbaum

THE SPIRIT OF RADIO--  Rush
SPIRITS IN THE MATERIAL WORLD--  Police
STRANGE BREW--  Cream


Name That Tune (from the above):  "She Is Like a Cat in the Dark and Then She Is the Darkness."  RoadDog


"Rhiannon"

WDRV's A to Z Halloween Spooktacular-- Part 4: Madman Across the Water"

This past Monday, Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM played Halloween-related songs from noon to about 7:30.

IN THE AIR TONIGHT--  Phil Collins (I don't know, but that video was a bit scary.)
IN THE DARK--  Billy Squire
KARN EVIL--  Emerson, Lake & Palmer

LET IT BLEED--  Rolling Stones
LUCIFER--  Bob Seger
MADMAN ACROSS THE WATER--  Elton John

MAGIC BUS--  Who
MAGIC CARPET RIDE--  Steppenwolf
MAGIC MAN--  Heart

MAGIC POWER--  Triumph
MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR--  Beatles
MONSTER MASH--  Bobby "Boris" Pickett

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "When My Eyes Beheld An Eerie Sight."  --RoadDog

SIGNS AND NOTICES:  I went to a little hole-in-the-wall diner.  the sign read:  "Women are not served here.  You have to bring your own."

"Monster Mash"

Somewhere Ron, Ernie, Jack, Harry and Steve Are Smilin'

Here's to you Ron Santo, Ernie Banks, Jack Brickhouse, Harry Caray and Steve Goodman who are somewhere and are smilin'.

Cubs WIN the WORLD SERIES!!

Gonna Be a Long Night Here.

Fireworks going up all over the neighborhood and the "W" flags coming off.  Ultimate jukebox primed for some fun.  Margaritaville at Key North in business.

Cub Fan for Tonight!!  "Go Cubs Go."  --RoadDog

Sittin' FP and Enjoying It

This morning I enjoyed my coffee sittin' FP, front porch.  And, i was comfortable with temps in the 60s.  Who'd have thought we'd have three straight days of unseasonably warm temperatures this late in the year.

I enjoyed the fall colors.  Some of the trees are bare, but my weeping cherry and sunburst honeylocust are both covered in brilliant gold.  The dying hostas also are a deep yellow.  I have several different colors of mums blooming (mostly yellow) and the burning bushes are turning a bright red.

By the way, Bob Stroud will be doing 1980 on his Ten at Ten rebroadcast at 10 p.m. tonight.  Tomorrow, he does the year 1968 and Friday he does "Time" because of the fall back of daylight savings time this weekend.  Both will be broadcast at 10 a.m. and then again at 10 p.m..

Got to Enjoy the Front Porch Now As It Won't be Long Until You-Know-What.  --RoadDog

Annual Trip Out for Cheap Halloween Candy and Decs

Yesterday, I drove around the area, looking for cheap Halloween stuff, something I always like to do the day-after as most places drop  prices on decorations and candy 50%, some even more.

I hit Walgreen's first, but they hadn't dropped anything, so, out-of-there.  Jewel had dropped their decorations already, well over 50% so I got some stuff there.  They hadn't dropped the candy yet.

Later, i went to Wal-Mart and bought two decorations and then Meijer where I bought some 50% off candy and some employees told me to feel free to take any candy in their carts as they were running out of places to put it.  (I also bought my usual 5-cassette brick of Maxell tapes for $4.67, one of only two places I know of that sell cassettes.)

Foot-long hot dog at Steak 'N Shake and home.

Little Old Cheapo Me.  --RoadDog

WDRV's A to Z Halloween Spooktacular-- Part 3: "Godzilla"

In case you're tired of the same old, same old Halloween songs.

HALLOWEEN THEME--  John Carpenter
GALLOWS POLE--  Led Zeppelin
GHOST OF A CHANCE--  Rush

GODZILLA--  Blue Oyster Cult
GYPSEY--  Fleetwood Mac
HELL IS FOR CHILDREN--  Pat Benatar

HELLS BELLS--  AC/DC
HELTER SKELTER--  Beatles
HOCUS POCUS--  Focus

I PUT A SPELL ON YOU--  Creedence Clearwater Revival
IF YOU WANT BLOOD (YOU GOT IT)--  AC/DC
IN MY TIME OF DYING--  Led Zeppelin

Name That Tune )from the above):  "You Better Stop the Things You Do."  --RoadDog


"I Put a Spell On You"

WDRV's A to Z Halloween Spooktacular-- Part 2: "Devil Woman"

CRAZY TRAIN--  Ozzie Osbourne
CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON--  Dave Edmunds
CUTS LIKE A KNIFE--  Bryan Adams

DANCING IN THE DARK--  Bruce Springsteen
DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN--  Bruce Springsteen
THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA--  Charlie Daniels Band

DEVIL WOMAN--  Cliff Richard
THE DEVIL'S GOT A NEW DISGUISE--  Aerosmith
DON'T FEAR THE REAPER--  Blue Oyster Cult

EVIL WAYS--  Santana
EVIL WOMAN--  Electric Light Orchestra
THE FIRST CUT IS THE DEEPEST--  Rod Stewart

FRANKENSTEIN--  Edgar Winter Group
FRIEND OF THE DEVIL--  Grateful Dead
FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND--  Elton John

Name That Tune (from the above):  "He Was Lookin' For a Soul to Steal."  --RoadDog

SIGNS AND NOTICES:  "Children left unattended will be towed at parents expense."

"The Devil Went Down to Georgia"

Music Deaths: Member of the Critters and Later the Four Seasons

DON CICCONE, 71.  Died October 8, 2016.

Original member of the Critters and later a member of the Four Seasons.  Born Plainfield, New Jersey.  Joined local group called Vibratones who later changed their name to the Critters.  Had a hit with "Younger Girl" (#42-1966) written by John Sebastian of the Lovin' Spoonful.

Their biggest hit, "Mr. Dieingly Sad," came the same year, going to #17.  Also had hits with "Bad Misunderstanding" (#55-1966) and "Don't Let the Rain Fall Down on Me" (#38-1967).

The band broke up in 1967 and he enlisted in the Air Force.  Two years later he was invited to join the Four Seasons where he played guitar and sang on "Who Loves You" (#3-1975 and "December, 1963" (#!-1976).  he left them in 1981 and became a successful jingle writer.

WDRV's A to Z Halloween Spooktacular-- Part 1: "Bad Moon Rising"

Chicago's WDRV yesterday played solid Halloween-related tunes from noon to 7:30.  Now, that all my Halloween lights and stuff are down and I have some sort of game to watch in a short time, I'll scare you, too.

All sorts of creepy things to frighten the weak of heart.

ABRACADABRA--  Steve Miller Band
BACK IN BLACK--  AC/DC
BAD MOON RISING--  CCR

BATTLE OF EVERMORE--  Led Zeppelin
BEAST OF BURDEN--  Rolling Stones
BLACK DOG--  Led Zeppelin

BLACK FRIDAY--  Steely Dan
BLACK MAGIC WOMAN/GYPSEY QUEEN--  Santana
BLOODY WELL RIGHT--  Supertramp

BORIS THE SPIDER--  Who
CAT SCRATCH FEVER--  Ted Nugent
CLAP FOR THE WOLFMAN--  Guess Who

Name That Tune (from the above):  "Got Me So Blind I Can't See."  RoadDog

SIGNS AND NOTICES:  Seen in a health food store:  "Shoplifters will be beaten over the head with an organic carrot.

"Black Magic Woman"

Music Deaths: Member of the Dixie Cups

JOAN MARIE JOHNSON (FAUST), 72  Died October 7, 2016.

With her cousins Barbara Ann and Rosa Lee Hawkins, formed the trio Dixie Cups.  They formed to compete in their high school talent contest in 1863, as the Mel-Tones.

Their biggest hit was "Chapel of Love" (#1-1964).  Also had hits with "People Say" (#12-1964) and "Iko Iko" (#20-1965).

Music Deaths: Songwriter and Keyboardist for Heatwave

ROD TEMPLETON, 68.  Died October 5, 2016.

Songwriter and keyboardist for Heatwave.  Wrote their hits "Boogie Nights" and "Always and Forever."  he also wrote Michael Jackson's hit "Thriller".

Other Jackson hits written by him were "Off the Wall" and "Rock With You."

Other songs he wrote:

Give Me the Night for George Benson
Sweet Freedom for Michael McDonald
Baby Come to Me for Patti Austin and James Ingram