JSS: Crummy Weather-- 1973 On WXRT-- Bears QB-- Obama's $400,000

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  CRUMMY WEATHER--  Someone sure ordered up a whole mess of it for us the next several days.   Highs from today to Monday from 48 to 55 degrees,  Rain forecast at 50% today and Monday and 80% Sat. and Sunday.  Also pretty brisk winds with up to 30 mph gusts.

And, we're getting into boating mode.  Not the next several days.

2.  1973 ON WXRT--  Saturday, April 30, Chicago's WXRT 93.1 FM, will be going back to 1973 for its Saturday Morning Flashback show from 8 a.m. to noon, CDST.  That was a real busy year for me.  It streams.

3.  BEARS QB--  So, DaBears gave up some third round draft choices to move up to get UNC qb Mitchell Trubiskey.  here's hoping DaBears will have shocked us and have actually picked a good quarterback.  The past choices haven't been too good.

4.  OBAMA'S $400,000--  The ex-Pres. is getting that to give a speech at a health care meeting.  I don't know about you, but our ex-government people should not be able to use their ex-office to get super rich like this.

The Rich Get Richer, We Get Poorer.  --RoadDog

WLS Top Ten for April 28, 1967: "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon"

Fifty years ago today.

1.  DON'T YOU CARE--  Buckinghams
2.  ON A CAROUSEL--  Hollies
3.  LITTLE BIT OF ME, LITTLE BIT OF YOU--  Monkees

4.  SAY SOMETHING STUPID--  Frank and Nancy Sinatra  "Something Stupid"
5.  HAPPY TOGETHER--  Turtles
6.  YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES--  Dave Clark Five
7.  HAPPENING--  Supremes   "The Happening"

8.  CALIFORNIA NIGHTS--  Leslie Gore
9.  GIRL, YOU'LL BE A WOMAN SOON--  Neil Diamond
10.  HERE COMES MY BABY--  Tremeloes

Name That Tune (from above songs):  "In The Midnight Moonlight Hour, I'll be Walking a Long and Lonely Mile."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

SOME INTERESTING AND IRONIC PREDICTIONS:  "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication.  This device is of no use to us!"--  Western Union internal memo 1876.

"Here Comes My Baby"

Every Blooming THing-- Spring: Trees and Flowers

Hard to believe we are already just about 1/3 of the way through another year, but way into the first month of my yard's color.  I always try to have color from April to October.

The daffodils are starting to wane a bit, but hyacinths still blooming as are the grape hyacinths and several other bulb plants that I don't know their names.  The spreading phlox are blooming as are the yellow plant that always blooms at the same time.  So I have a nice blast of purple and yellow all around the yard.

Several trees already have their leaves.  The Bradford pear trees are staying in white bloom much longer than usual, but starting to lose their petals.  Earlier this morning I sat out OD (On Deck) in the back of the house,  had a cup of coffee and admired the Bradford pears, but those petals are a-fallin' and almost like snow.  I had to keep covering the coffee to prevent petals from taking a bath.  Several did kamikazes.

Also sat out FP (Front Porch) and admired the white crabapple's blooms and the weeping cherry's pink blooms.

I've been doing a lot of yardwork, clearing out flower beds and lots and lots of transplanting, especially of mums.

Love That Front Porch (FP) and On deck (OD).  --RoadDog

SOME INTERESTING & IRONIC PREDICTIONS:  "There is not the slightest indication that nuclear energy will ever be obtainable!  It would mean the Atom would have to be shattered at will, nonsense, utter nonsense."  Albert Einstein 1932.

Record Store Day Albums-- Part 1: Smash Sounds

I did buy that Harry Nilsson  Anthology CD, but  the main idea of Record Store Day is to pay homage to the vinyl albums.  That, and to get people into the mom and pop records stores.  Places old fogies like me can go to and still feel at home.  When I go into Best Buy, I don't know what a whole lot of the stuff they have is anymore, but usually have at least heard of them.

These are the songs on the Smash Sounds album that I bought.  1967 Atlantic Recording Corporation, printed in U.S.A.  SD 850

Songs with (*) are ones I haven't heard.

Side One

COOL JERK--  Capitols
THE BEAT GOES ON--  Sonny & Cher
SWEET SOUL MUSIC--  Arthur Conley

RESPECT--  Otis Redding
GLORIA--  Shadows of Knight
FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH--  Buffalo Springfield

Side Two

LOVE MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND--  Deon Jackson
BOOK OF MEMORIES--  Percy Wiggins *
STAND BY ME--  Ben E. King

JUMP BACK--  King Curtis *
NEIGHBOR, NEIGHBOR--  Jimmy Hughes *
LET'S GO GET STONED--  Coasters *

I especially like songs that I haven't yet heard (or don't remember hearing).

Good Music, Sam.  --RoadDog

SOME INTERESTING AND IRONIC PREDICTIONS:  "I think there could be a world market for 'maybe' 5 computers....  Doesn't seem like a good investment."--  Thomas Watson, Chairman IBM in 1943.

JSIS: Andie MacDowell-- Sox and Cubs Blow-Outs-- DaBears-- SOS Spring Safari

JSIS--  Just Some Interesting Stuff

1.  ANDIE MacDOWELL--  Oh, no.  That object of Bill Murray's affection in "Groundhog Day" is going to have a nude scene in her upcoming movie "Love After Love."  At age 59.  What happened to Rita?

2.  SOX AND CUBS BLOW-OUTS--  Yesterday, both the Cubs and Sox blew out their opponents.  The Cubs won 14-3 over Pittsburgh and the Sox beat Kansas City 12-1.  That means, of course, that both Cubs and Sox will lose today by one run as they "Used" up all their runs yesterday.

3.  DaBEARS--  It will be interesting to see if out beloved Bears will make a "Good" choice" in Thursday's NFL Draft in Chicago.  We need a quarterback.  Looking at the Bears' last three big choices, it doesn't look good.  These three "wonder qbs"  (because we wonder why they picked them) were Jay Cutler, Rex Grossman and Cade McNown.

4.  SOS SPRING SAFARI--  Listening to the Surf, 94.9 FM, right now and they are talking about the SOS Spring Safari that kicked off last weekend and goes to Sunday in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  This is considered the epicenter of Beach Music, one of my favorite kinds of music.  One of these days, we hope to go there.  Not to dance but just to listen to all that great music.

DaBears Need a Break.  --RoadDog

I Made It To Record Store Day-- Part 2: CD and K-Tel Albums

I went to the Vinyl Frontier Record Store in McHenry, Illinois, for Record Store Day this past Saturday.

I bought the Harry Nilsson Anthology CD with two CDs worth of his songs.  Always love the two-fers.  It has all of his Top 100 hits including "Me and My Arrow," "Without You," "Coconut," "Jump Into the Fire" and "Everybody's Talkin'."

Unfortunately, it did not have the song "Rainmaker" which was on the flip side of "Everybody's Talkin'" and was played so often at Rick's in DeKalb, Illinois, back during my freshman year at NIU.

I have a great love for the collection albums, where you really get your money's worth.  I often refer to them as K-Tel albums because of that company that put out so many of this type of album.  I know some record buffs don't like them and, at the mom and pop record stores, they are usually very cheap.

But, Give Me a K-Tel Anytime.  --RoadDog

SOME INTERESTING AND IRONIC PREDICTIONS (From the Wassup magazine):  "We don't like their sound and guitar music is on it's way out."  --Decca Records memo declining to sign the Beatles, 1962.

I Made It To the Vinyl Frontier On Record Store Day

Saturday, April 22, when I first went by the Vinyl Frontier in McHenry, Illinois, the line waiting outside was down the sidewalk and around the corner, so went on the Crystal lake for my Civil War meeting.

I did stop on my way back and bought three vinyl albums and a CD.

Albums:

SMASH SOUNDS--  Atco Group  SD 850   1967  $3

THE SUPER GROUPS--  Atco SD33-279  1969  $3

BEAU BRUMMELS FROM THE VAULTS-- 1982 Rhino Records   $4.50

The first two were collections.

The CD was The Harry Nilsson Anthology  RCA/BMG   $7.99.

Even better, all records and CDs on Record Store Day were $1 off.

Going to Play Them This Week.  --RoadDog

STUPID UNITED STATES LAWS:  In New Mexico females are strictly forbidden to appear unshaven in public.

Today Is Record Store Day!!!

I am glad I was listening to Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM today as this date had completely slipped by me.  I knew it was Record Store Day, but had forgotten.  They reminded me.  Thanks, guys.

This is the day to go back into the past, go back to my time, when I used to love to go to mom and pop record stores, or even the big ones, and flip through those vinyl albums.  I could flip through them for hours, or until Liz got bored.  But, I had to go to clothing stores with her so this was a kind of payback.

I have gone to Record Store Day most years.  My local mom and pop record store is in McHenry, Illinois, and called The Vinyl Frontier.  I always felt that was a good name for a record store.  They get huge crowds for this day and open at 8 instead of the usual noon.  I tell you, it does my old soul good to see young people flipping through the albums and BUYING them in this digital download age.

I used to have a favorite record store in Crystal Lake, Illinois, where I'm heading in an hour for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group's meeting at Panera Bread at 10 a.m., about the month of April 1865, a really momentous month in U.S. history.  That record store was called Full Cyrkle Records.

I had another favorite one in DeKalb, Illinois, called Record Revolution and one in Goldsboro N.C., called The Record Rack.

So, I will stop at The Vinyl Frontier on my way to Crystal Lake.

There is a website and you can find record stores near you.  Just search Record Store Day.

WXRT has had many commercials about Record Day and starting at noon to midnight today, in homor of it, will only play vinyl records.  It streams.

Give Me That Vinyl.  --  RoadDog

A Trip Back For Us Last Weekend-- Part 2: The Old Stomping Grounds

APRIL 15, SATURDAY

We drove to Arlington Heights, Illinois, to put flowers and a U.S. flag on the graves of Liz's parents at Memory Gardens Cemetery.  We then cruised Northwest Highway from Arlington Heights to Palatine and ate at Photo's Hot Dogs.  This used to be the site of the Burger King I had my first job at and where we liked to hang out at during our high school days.

We then went by the old Palatine High School where we went and then the three houses our families lived in.

Stopped at J&D's in Wauconda and then watched the Blackhawks for as long as we could stand at Half-Times in Johnsburg.  They stunk again, losing 5-0.

APRIL 16, SUNDAY

Easter and we went to Grand Buffet in McHenry for their great meal.  Then to the PLAV and then to Sunnyside.

--RoadDog

The End of the "Blackhawk Dynasty"?

I remember back in 2015, when the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup, their third time since 2010.  Everyone was going around with the word "Dynasty" on their lips.  After they were swept by the Nashville Predators last night, I have to wonder about it.

The Hawks logo, is "One Goal" with a Stanley Cup on it.  For most of these sad four games, I would have been more than happy to settle for just one goal.  Three goals in four games for a #1 seed, just isn't very impressive.

Hopefully the coach will learn the importance of going into the playoffs hot, something the Hawks were not, losing their last four games and going 2-6 in the last eight.  No resting players when you're losing.  Now, they will have five-six months to rest.

Well, one good thing to come of it, I now have a real lot of time freed up.  Those playoff games seem like they go on forever and ever.  I am a Blackhawk fan, but not really a big hockey fan for anyone else.  If a hockey game happens to be on in a bar I'm in, I'll watch it, but otherwise not.

Plus, there is the amount of money I spend for souvenirs when the Hawks win the Cup.

A Big Savings For Me.  --RoadDog

WLS Top Ten for April 21, 1967: "Don't You Care"

1.  LITTLE BIT OF ME, LITTLE BIT OF YOU--  Monkees
2.  SAY SOMETHING STUPID--  Frank and Nancy Sinatra
3.  ON A CAROUSEL--  Hollies

4.  HAPPY TOGETHER--  Turtles
5.  DON'T YOU CARE--  Buckinghams
6.  YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES--  Dave Clark Five
7.  MR. UNRELIABLE--  Cryan' Shames

8.   YOU'RE GONNA BE MINE--  New Colony Six
9.  CALIFORNIA NIGHTS--  leslie Gore
10.  HERE COMES MY BABY--  Tremeloes

How about that, the real biggie Chicago groups, Buckinghams, Cryan' Shames and New Colony Six all in the Top Ten.  WLS and WCFL sure pushed our local talent.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Nearer and Nearer By Changing Horse."  Answer Below.  --RoadDog

STUPID UNITED STATES LAWS:  In Nebraska a parent can arrested if his child cannot hold back a burp during a church service.


"On a Carousel"

Movie Scratches: Kong-- Logan-- Life-- Ghost

Movie Scratches--  A Dog's-Eye View of today's movies.

21.  KING KONG: SKULL ISLAND--  3-14--  Woodstock, $6.  The big ape still has a soft spot for the pretty little gal.  And, then are those monsters he keeps having to fight.

22.  LOGAN--  3-21--  Round Lake Beach, $6--  A wild child finds her dad, the Wolverine.  But, he and Charles die.  Is this the end of the Wolverine and the Professor?

23.  LIFE--  3-28--  Round Lake Beach, $6--  Our first encounter with Martian life turns ugly.  The incredibly strong and adaptive Martian looks like an octopus and stalks the space station.

24.  GHOST IN THE SHELL--  4-5--  Fox Lake, $5--  A human brain in a synthetic super body.  Corporate greed, but the cat knew.  Really, really scary geisha girls.  Right up there with those "Oz" flying monkeys.

A Fire Alarm At the Theater.  --RoadDog

A Trip Back For Us Last Weekend-- Part 1: Even the Power Rangers Can't Help the Hawks

APRIL 13, THURSDAY

Saw the movie "Power Rangers", went to Billy's in Spring Grove for gyros and then to Sunnyside Tavern where we watched the Hawks forget how to score and lose 1-0 in the first playoff game against the Nashville Predators.  (See my blog entry "Why You Need To Go Into the Playoffs HOT."

APRIL 14, FRIDAY

It was a whole weekend of yard work for me as we had really nice weather.  Went to Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg and then the Legion in Fox Lake afterwards.

--RoadDog

Music Deaths: Billy Bland

BILLY BLAND, 84

Died March 22, 2017

Born in Wilmington, S.C.  Sang with the Four Bees in New York  One of their songs was "Toy Bell" which later became a big hit for Chuck Berry as"My Ding-A-Ling."

In 1960 he worked with Titus Turner on "Let the Little Girl Dance."  His demo was released and went to #7 Pop and #11 R&B.

Check out the song "Toy Bell" by the Bees on You Tube.

JSS: The Lincoln Gag-- The House Flipping Gag-- What's With the Tubs?

JSS:  Just Some Stuff.

1.  THE LINCOLN GAG--  I don't know about you, but I almost gag whenever one of those disgusting Lincoln automobile commercials come on with the equally gagging Matthew McCaunaughy.  YUCK!!

2.  THE HOUSE FLIPPING GAG--  I also am tired of all those house-flipping commercials on the radio.  The ONLY guys making money "flipping houses" are those ones running the programs.

3.  WHAT'S WITH THE TUBS? --  And then, there are those confusing bathtubs on those ED commercials.  I still haven't figured out how they have sex sitting in two different bathtubs.

Inquiring Minds Would Like to Know.  Please Make Them Stop!!!   --RoadDog

STUPID UNITED STATES LAWS:  In Massachusetts an old ordinance declares goatees illegal unless you first pay a special license fee for the privilege of wearing one in public.  (Glad I shaved mine off, I guess.)

Every Blooming THing, Early Spring 2017: Here Comes the Color!!

Spring has sprung.  All this rain and we're getting April flowers.  My goal is to have color from flowers throughout the year, and we are sure getting it right now.

Some of the tulips have opened up, but all the daffodils are brilliant yellow (and I have hundreds of them).  The hyacinths are blooming as well as are several other flowers that I don't know the name.  Creeping phlox is also coming into bloom.

The two remaining Bradford pear trees are white as is the weeping cherry pink.  One of the pear trees lost about half of it in a big windstorm last fall.  And speaking of wind, I have been doing a lot of limb and twig pickup from that fall storm as well as some storms earlier this month.

I have been doing a lot of mum and daisy transplanting the last two weeks and yesterday cut the grass for the first time.

Always Love This Time of the Year.  Plus, the Garden Centers Are Opening Up!!  --RoadDog

STUPID U.S. LAWS:  In Louisiana it is illegal to rob a bank and then shoot the teller with a water pistol.

Music Deaths: Two Blues Greats

The Blues Music community recently lost two of their best, James Cotton and Lonnie Brooks.

JAMES COTTON, 81.  1935 to March 16, 2017.

LONNIE BROOKS, 83.  Died April 1, 2017.

Born in Louisiana, moved to Chicago in 1960.  He had a huge hit with Robert Johnson's "Sweet Home Chicago," later covered by the Blues Brothers.

Lonnie Brooks was one of my all-time favorite blues performers, but his two sons carry on the family tradition.

Music Deaths: Clem Curtis, Member of the Foundations

CLEM CURTIS, 76

Died March 27, 2017

Lead singer with the Foundations on their 1969 hit "Baby Now That i Found You" which went to #11.  Also sang lead on "Back On My Feet Again" (#59-1968)

Born in Trinidad and moved to England.

He left the group before "Build Me Up Buttercup."

Them "Idge Phones"-- Speed Bump

From the April 8, 2017, Speed Bump comic strip.

A safari tour bus has stopped by two zebras and four tourists are off it and standing near the zebras, and have their cell phones out, but are not taking pictures as you'd expect.  they are all staring blankly at the screens.

One zebra says to the other:  "For some reason, whenever they're around me, they get out their phones."

The other zebra has the regular stripes that you would expect a zebra to have, but the one speaking has different stripes.

Must be something with those stripes that make "Idge" phone owners stare at their screens.

I didn't quite understand this one.

--RoadDog

Past Movie Scratches: Carter-- Trek-- Groundhog-- Plan-- Jaws-- Wolverine

Past Movie Scratches--  Movies I saw on TV in 2016.

19.  JOHN CARTER--  1-25--  Ya gotta love that six-legged dog-thing.

20.  STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS--  1-26--  Kirk and crew battle Khan and a rogue federation admiral.

21.  GROUNDHOG DAY--  1-30--  How much am I bid for Larry?

22.  THE GAME PLAN--  1-30--  A too-cute 8-year-old daughter comes to live with her Pro Football QB Dad.

23.  JAWS--  1-30--  It's Big Shark vs. 3 Guys in a Small Boat.

24.  WOLVERINE--  1-31--  The Nagasaki A-Bomb gave him some power.

Must Duck and Cover Better.  --RoadDog

STUPID UNITED STATES LAWS:  In Kentucky by law, anyone who has been drinking is 'sober" until he or she "cannot hold onto the ground."

Why You Want to Go Into the Playoffs HOT

People are stunned around the Chicagoland area after the Blackhawks were shut out the first two games of the playoffs against the Nashville Predators.  Even before the series, I was worried about the horrible way the Hawks ended their regular season.  They lost the last four games and were 2-6 in the last eight.

This is no way to go into playoffs.

Other Hawks fans told of how the ones they lost were often just by one score and that players were being rested.

But, sports are a thing of streaks and mental prowess.  When you're winning, that plays on a continued win streak.

We watched the first game and the first two periods of the second one.  We left the bar after the end of the second period and didn't watch any more at home.  Glad we didn't as Nashville scored two more goals.

Maybe Coach Q Will Learn Something From This.  Hopefully.  --RoadSad

Music Deaths: Chuck Barris

CHUCH BARRIS, 87

Died March 26, 2017.

Creator of game shows like "The Newlywed Game" and the "Dating Game."  So, so much better than those stupid "Bachelor" and "Bachelorette" farces.  And, actually humorous.  Also, "The Gong Show," so dumb it was funny.

Wrote the songs "Palisades Park" which became a hit for Freddy Cannon, which got Chuck Barris in trouble because of his job with "American Bandstand."

Music Deaths: Chuck Berry

CHUCK BERRY, 90

Died March 18, 2017.

I already wrote about his death back in March.

Gotta Love Rock and Roll.

Thanks Chuck Berry!!

Music Deaths: Joni Sledge

JONI SLEDGE, 60

Died March 10, 2017.

Founding member of Sister Sledge.  Formed the group with sisters Debra, Kim and Kathy in 1971 in Philadelphia

Had hits with"He's the Greatest Dancer" (#9-1979) and "My Guy" (#23-1981)  But their biggest hit by far was "We Are Family"  (#2-1979)

Wasn't that the theme song of the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates?

OK, Got Me To Humming It.

What About the UNC Tarheel's Mascot?

Well, I  knew the two stories about how the Tarheel name came about, but I never was sure why their mascot is a ram.  I just figured that having someone running around dressed up like a foot's heel with black on it might look a bit peculiar.  Kind of like Alabama's use of an elephant as opposed to someone dressed like a Red Tide.

Here's the story behind the ram.

In 1924, the UNC football team had a popular player named Jack Merritt, who was called "The Battering Ram."  The head cheerleader decided it would make for a perfect mascot.

Over the years, UNC has had live rams and costumed rams.

Well, That's How Come the Ram.  --RoadDog

STUPID LAWS IN THE UNITED STATES:  In Indiana, bathing is prohibited during the winter.

What Exactly Is a Tarheel?-- Part 3: A Civil War Connection

Another story as to how the name Tarheel came about comes to us from the Civil War.

At a battle during the Civil War, North Carolina soldiers were getting on the case of some soldiers from another Confederate state for rapidly leaving (running) a battlefield when things got rough.  They threatened to put tar on the heels of the soldiers from the other state to help them "stick" better in battle.

General Robert E. Lee. when he heard about it is supposed to have said "God bless the Tarheel boys."

So perhaps the name comes from Robert E. Lee.

Now, I Suppose, There Will be Some Offended By the Idea That the Name Came From the Confederacy So the Name Might have to Be Changed So As Not to Hurt Their Feelings.  --RoadDog

What Exactly Is a Tarheel?-- Part 2: A Revolutionary Story

According to the UNC Athletic Department, there are two explanations to how the term Tarheel came into usage.

The first one takes us back to the American Revolution.  The story goes that British troops under General Lord Cornwallis were fording a river in eastern North Carolina on their march to Yorktown.  They discovered that their feet were covered with tar, a product of the state's abundant pine trees.

Some say that North Carolinians had dumped tar in the river to slow down the British advance.

The British were said to have observed that if you wade into a North Carolina river you'd get tar on your heels.

Hence, Tarheels.  Get It!!  --RoadDog

WLS Top 40 for April 14, 1967-- Part 7: "Happy Together"

Fifty years Ago Today.  The number after the performer is the top position on the National Billboard 100 Chart.

10.  DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE--  Mama's and Papa's    #2
9.  WALK TALL--  2 of Clubs    #92
8.  PENNY LANE--  Beatles   #1

7.  MR. UNRELIABLE--  Cryan' Shames    No Rank   WLS taking care of our local Chicago bands.
6.  DON'T YOU CARE--  Buckinghams   #6
5.  FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH--  Buffalo Springfield   #7
4.  ON A CAROUSEL--  Hollies   #7

3.  SAY SOMETHING STUPID--  Frank and Nancy Sinatra    #1  Actual name "Something Stupid."
2.  HAPPY TOGETHER--  Turtles
1.  LITTLE BIT OF ME, LITTLE BIT OF YOU--  Monkees   #2

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "On The Corner is A Banker In A Motor Car."  Answer Below.  --RoadDog

STUPID UNITED STATE LAWS:  In Illinois is is illegal for anyone to give lighted cigars to dogs, cats, and other domesticated animals kept as pets.

"Penny Lane"

WLS Top 40 for April 14, 1967-- Part 6: "Jimmy Mack"

The number after the artists' names refers to the song's highest ranking on the Billboard Top 100.

15.  JIMMY MACK--  Martha & the Vandellas    #10     Their last Top Ten.

14.  YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES--  Dave Clark Five     #7    Their last Top Ten.

13.  CALIFORNIA NIGHTS--  Leslie Gore   #16  One of her 19 Top 100s  Her only Top tens were her first efforts including #1 "It's My Party."

12.  WESTERN UNION--  5 Americans   #5   The only Top Ten for the Dallas group.

11.  THIS IS MY SONG--  Petula Clark    #3    One of her five Top Tens, including #1 "Downtown," her first hit back in 1965.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Things Went Wrong Today, Bad News Came My Way."  Answer below.  --RoadDog



"Western Union"

WLS Top 40 for April 14, 1967-- Part 5: "The Happening"

20.  MIDNIGHT HOUR--  Messengers     (No Ranking)  Michael & the Messengers/ Milwaukee messengers.   Not Chicago, but in Milwaukee, close enough to push.

19.  HERE COMES MY BABY--  Tremeloes    #13   Written by Cat Stevens

18.  HAPPENING--  Supremes    #1   Actual name "The Happening."  Last hit as the Supremes before becoming Diana Ross & the Supremes, but sounded the same to me.

17.  YOU'RE GONNA BE MINE--  New Colony Six    (No Rank)  Again, Chicago Group.  WLS loved its local talent.  We high schoolers did too.

16.  AT THE ZOO--  Simon & Garfunkel   #11   First hit in 1958   "Hey School Girl"  (#49)  Recorded as  Tom and Jerry.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "In The Midnight Moonlight Hour I'll Be Walking A Long And Lonely Mile."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

STUPID LAWS IN THE UNITED STATES:  In Florida, women may be fined for falling asleep under a hair dryer, as can the salon owner.


"Here Comes My Baby"

JSS: Those Crazy Chicago Springs-- Real Cold Cubs Opener

JSS:  Just Some Stuff.

1.  THOSE CRAZY CHICAGO SPRINGS--  We had most of it this past Monday.  We were awakened at 4 a.m. by a major rainstorm with plenty of lightning and hail pounding on the windows.  Couldn't get back to sleep.

Then, it warmed up nicely and I sat out FP (Front Porch) for coffee and later OD  (On the Deck)  for lunch. Wore my shorts and tee shirt and was comfortable. I worked in the yard a bit, then went to the theater to see "Ghost in the Shell".  While in there I heard a pounding on the roof.  When I left, the temperatures had dropped 30 degrees and it was too cold for shorts and tee shirt.

Found out we had had another hail and rainstorm.  Liz said the yard looked like snow for a short time.

2.  REAL COLD CUBS OPENER--  Well, Monday was also the Cubs home opener and I was sure glad we weren't there.  Those poor Cub fans had to be miserable with the rain delay and how cold it had gotten.  But they did get to see the World Series Champion flags raised and a Cubs win.

Go Cubs.  --RoadDog

WLS Top 40 for April 14, 1967-- Part 4: " 59th Street Bridge Song"

The number after the performer is the highest ranking on Billboard's Top 100.

25.  SOMEBODY TO LOVE--  Jefferson Airplane    #5.  the first of two back-to-back Top tens.  Did not crack the Top 40 after that.

24.  BERNADETTE--  Four Tops   #4   Founded in 1953 as the Four Aims.

23.  LOVE EYES--  Nancy Sinatra    #15   Born in Jersey City, N.J..

22.  59TH STREET BRIDGE SONG--  Harper's Bizarre     #13   Group out of Santa Cruz, California. Their first and biggest hit.

21.  HIPPY DIPPY WEATHERMAN--  George Carlin      No ranking.   But really funny.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "People Are Searchin' For the Kind of Love That We Possess."  Answer below.    --RoadDog


"Bernadette"

WLS Top 40 for April 14, 1967-- Part 3: "Music to Watch Girls By"

30.  MUSIC TO WATCH GIRLS BY--  Andy Williams     (D)   #34  His first hit was in 1956 and last one in 1976.  Imagine Andy Williams on a Top 40 Now?

29.  GIRL, YOU'LL BE A WOMAN SOON--  Neil Diamond    #10   Real name Noah Kaminski.   Had 56 Top 100s  from 1955-1993.

28.  I'M A MAN--  Spencer Davis Group   #10    Out of Birmingham, U.K..

27.  BEGGIN'--  Four Seasons    #16

26.  SUNDAY FOR TEA--  Peter & Gordon    #31   Their last Top 40, only cracked the Top 100 one more time after that with "The Joker" (#97-1967)

Name That Tune (from the above):  "Well My Pad Is Very Messy And There's Whiskers On My Chin."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

STUPID LAWS IN THE UNITED STATES:  In Connecticut you can be stopped by thepolice for biking over 65 miles per hour.

"I'm a Man"

WLS Top 40 for April 14, 1967-- Part 2: "Tell It To My Face"

35.  CAN'T SEEM TO MAKE YOU MINE--  Seeds    #41   Los Angeles Garage Rock group.   Psychedelic music doesn't get any better than this.

34.  BUY FOR ME--  Nitty Gritty Dirt Band   (D)   #45   Full name of song "Buy For Me the Rain."  Their biggest pop hit other than "Mr. Bojangles" (#9-1970)

33.  TELL IT TO MY FACE--  Keith    #37  Real name James Berry Keefer.   The song had sort of an Arabic feel to it.

32.  SWEETS FOR MY SWEET--   Riddles    Did not rank.  Again, this was WLS playing a Chicago band.

31.  DETROIT CITY--  Tom Jones    #27  Early in his career, he went by the name  Tommy Scott.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "From The Letters That I Write They Think I'm Fine."  --RoadDog



"Detroit City"

What Exactly is a Tarheel?-- Part 1: And What About their Mascot

From Al.com.

Just last Monday, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tarheels beat Villanova in a close game to win the NCAA Nation basketball Championship for 2017.  Of all the "Big Guys" in college basketball, the Tarheels are my favorite, so i was happy.

But, inquiring minds in Alabama wanted to know what a Tarheel is.  And what about that ram mascot?

Of course, I would like to know what a Crimson Tide and elephant have to do with the University of Alabama myself?

According to the UNC-Chapel Hill athletic department, there are two stories as to how the name came to be.  One dates to the American Revolution and a dastardly deed committed by Americans on the unsuspecting British soldiers.

The other explanation deals with soldiers razzing one another during the Civil War.

More On This Later.  --RoadDog

Music Deaths: Songwriter "Ritchie Adams"

RICHARD ADAMS "RITCHIE ADAMS" ZIEGLER, 71

Died March 6, 2017.

Lead singer with the Fireflies on "You Were Mine" (#21-1959) and writer of such songs as Bobby Lewis' "Tossin' and Turnin'" (#1-1961) and Englebert Humperdink's "Afterthe Lovin'" (#8-1977) as well as many songs by Olivia Newton-John.

WLS Top 40 for April 14, 1967-- Part 1: "Close Your Eyes"

The lists are from Oldies Loon WLA and the information is taken from Joel Whitburn's"Top Pop Singles 1955-1993.

Fifty years ago on 89.9 AM.  (D)  Means Debut.  The number after the performer is the highest the song got on the Billboard Top 100.

40.  SWEET SOUL MUSIC--  Arthur Conley  (D)    #2  His first and biggest hit, only Top Ten..  Discovered by Otis Redding in 1965.

39.  SHAKE HANDS--  Lou Christie   (D)   #95   Real name Lugee Sacco.  The full name of the song "Shake Hands and Walk Away Crying."  This song will grow on you the more you listen to it.

38.   DRY YOUR EYES--  Brenda & the Tabulations    (D)    #20.  First hit for the group from Philadelphia.Kind of a forgotten but real good song.

37.  TRAVELIN' MAN--  Stevie Wonder   (D)   #32   Real name is Steveland Morris.  I don't remember ever hearing this one, but a good one, nonetheless.

36.  CLOSE YOUR EYES--  Peaches & Herb    (D)    #8   Soul duo from Washington, D.C..

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Do You Like Good Music."  Answer below.   --RoadDog

STUPID LAWS IN THE UNITED STATES:  In California community leaders passed an ordinance that makes it illegal for anyone to try and stop a child from playfully jumping over puddles of water.


"Sweet Soul Music"

WLS Survey for April 7, 1967: "There's a Kind of a Hush"

Fifty Years Ago Today in Chicago on WLS AM, 890.

1.  HAPPY TOGETHER--  Turtles
2.  LITTLE BIT OF ME, LITTLE BIT OF YOU--  Monkees
3.  I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW--  Tommy James & Shondells

4.  SAY SOMETHING STUPID--  Nancy and Frank Sinatra
5.  FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH--  Buffalo Springfield
6.  PENNY LANE /STRAWBERRY FIELDS--  Beatles
7.  DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE--  Mamas & Papas

8.  THERE'S A KIND OF A HUSH--  Herman's Hermits
9.  MR. UNRELIABLE--  Cryan' Shames    Chicago's own.  Thanks WLS and WCFL.
10.  THIS IS MY SONG--  Petula Clark

34.  TELL IT TO MY FACE--  Keith
35.  CAN'T SEEM TO MAKE YOU MINE--  Seeds

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I Know I Stand In Line Until You Think You Have the Time."  --RoadDog

"Say Something Stupid"

Music Deaths: Hurshel Wiginton, "Commercial Hurshel"

HURSHEL WIGINTON, 79

Died March 6, 2017.

Arranger and composer of songs such as "Little Band of Gold" James Gilreath (#21-1963) and "Road Runner" by the Gnats (#46-1965).

He led the Nashville Edition, a group of singers who worked on 12,000 recordings, including Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You"  (#53-1982) and Elvis Presley's "The Wonder of You" (#9-1970)  They were also on most of the episodes of TV's "Hee-Haw."

He got his break singing back up on Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman."

Emission Testing, Coupons Running Out-- Part 3: "The Home Wrecker"

FRIDAY MARCH 31ST--  This day we drove to Riverside Pub at Burton's Bridge.  It is on the Fox River and a part of the Chain Crawl and today is the last time we can use the coupons from their 2016 Chain Crawl book.

Liz got a 1/2 pound Angus burger and I had their famous "Homewrecker" sandwich.  This is one of the tastiest and biggest Italian sausage sandwiches you'll ever have.  I have had 'em before, and, hey, BOGO (with Chain Crawl coupon).  Hard deal to beat.

Today must have been National Eat Out Day as we decided to go over to All In Pub & Grub on the other side of the Fox River, but there was no where to park.  Kief's Reef, also by the bridge, was the same.  We drove to Crystal Lake and got on Il-31 and drove to McHenry where we found similar situations at Bulldog's Ale House and the PLAV.

We were finally able to find a place to park at Sunnyside.

Busy Day.  --RoadDog

STUPID U.S. LAWS:  In Alabama it is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle.   O.K., that is a law I can live with.

Emission Testing and Coupons Run Out: We Hit the Road-- Part 2

March 29, Wednesday

We drove the 2011 Malibu to Crystal Lake for its emissions test.  And, it passed as well.  It is such a proud moment when your vehicles pass their emission test.  Perhaps we should have bumper stickers like those my kid is an honor student at .....

We then drove over to Hermann's Lowlife Pub and had a good time talking with the folks there.  Sure wish it was closer to home as this would be a regular hangout.  Our kind of dive.  On the way to the Riverside Pub at Burton's Bridge on the Fox River, Liz remembered seeing something about the old Sentimental Journey reopening and since it is right by the Riverside, we stopped in to check it out.

It is now called All Inn Pub & Grub and the new owners sure did a lot of work fixing it up.  Windows all around and a Las Vegas 50s vibe going on and even an old-fashioned player piano.  We enjoyed the happy hour prices and split one of the best Polish sausage sandwiches I ever had.

Going to Be a Regular Stop.  --RoadDog

BIZARRE LAWS IN AMERICA:  In Texas, there is no eyeball selling allowed.

Listening to My Lonnie Brooks CD

So sad to hear of the passing of one of my favorite Blues people last week, Lonnie Brooks.

As I type this right now, I am listening to his CD on Alligator Records called "Deluxe Edition."

Now, these are some great Blues songs.

1.  Jealous Man
2.  Something You Got
3.  Temporary Insanity

4.  End of the Rope
5.  Don't take Advantage of Me
6.  You Know What My Body Needs

7.  In the Dark
8.  Hoodoo She Do
9.  Figurehead

10.  One More Shot
11.  Cold Lonely Nights
12.  Zydeco

13.  Family Rules
14.  Roll of the Tumbling Dice
15.  Like Father, Like Son

What better Way to Say Goodbye.  --RoadDog

Are We Witnessing the End of Stores As We Know Them?

From the March 12, 2017, Chicago Tribune "12 chains, 1,366 closings" by Lauren Zumbach.

Within the last week Sears has announced that they don't think they can hang on and yesterday Payless Shoe Source said they were declaring bankruptcy.  K-Mart is down and out as well.  I look at it as just another thing that is being taken away from me.

All that happens today is more and more of what I like is being taken away from me.

Here is a list of stores being closed by different companies and the percentage of their total that are clising:

Abercrombie & Fitch:  60 / 8%

BCBG:  120 / 29%

Family Christian Stores:  237 / 100%

H.H. Gregg:  88 / 44%

J.C. Penney: 130-140 / 13%

The Limited:  250 / 100%

Macy's:  68 / 13%

Marbles: The Brain Store:  37 / 100%

MC Sports:  66 / 100%

RadioShack:  187 / 12 %

Sears:  150 / 10%

Staples:  70 / 5%

There are some on this list that I've never heard of before.

Frightening Figures.  --RoadDog

BIZARRE LAWS IN AMERICA:  In Kentucky race horses on the highway are illegal.

Congrats to the UNC Tarheels!!

Sure had a great time watching this whole NCAA Tournament.  As usual, they did a good job matching teams up.  Lots of good games.

And, the Championship game last night sure lived up to its hype.  We had two really good teams.  I am a UNC-Chapel Hill fan first, but was also pulling for Gonzaga.  And, it was much closer than the final score would make it look.  With just under a minute left, Carolina led by just one point and then the Zags went cold.

Makes up for last year's Championship loss to Villanova for Carolina.

I paid particular attention to the Carolina introductions.  Lots of juniors and seniors.  That is the way to build a team, not like Kentucky which usually has just freshman playing for one year before jumping to the NBA.

Great Game.  Great Tournament.  Great Time.  --RoadDog

A Real Good Cassette Collection: 20 Great Oldies-- Part 2

Side two:

A FOOL IN LIVE--  Ike & Tina Turner  (#27)  1960
MOMENTS--  Jennel Hawkins   (#50) 1962    Her only hit.
MY ADORABLE ONE--  Joe Simon  (No ranking)

OPERATOR--  Gladys Knight & the Pips   (#87)   1962
DANNY BOY--  Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles
GOOD FEELING--  Jimi Hendrix   (No Ranking)  Really, really early Hendrix.
WELL I TOLD YOU--  Chantels   (#29)   1961

I WANNA BE YOUR EVERYTHING--  Manhattans   (#68)  1965    Their first hit.
ONLY THOSE IN LOVE--  Baby Washington   (#73)  1965
BIG BOSS MAN--  Jimmy Reed   (#78)   1961   Some more Blues.

Some Great Music.  --RoadDog

BIZARRE LAWS IN AMERICA:  In Ohio it is illegal to get a fish drunk.

Coming to the End of Another Great NCAA Tournament

We sure had two really fine games in the Final Four this past Saturday.  Even though two of my teams, North Carolina and Gonzaga were in it, I was actually pulling for South Carolina and Oregon, both of whom lost.

Tonight I will be pulling for Carolina, but will be fine if the Zags win.

I see the line is Carolina by one.

I keep a running chart of what I consider to be good games, which is a close game.    Right now, that number stands at 24.

Greatest Sports Thing.  --RoadDog

The Drive's Vinyl Four Weekend Ends Today

Since the National Championship is today, the Vinyl Four ends as well.  Again, you can hear it at www.wdrv.com.  All times are Central.

They play four tracks from each album, and on vinyl.  You can get the list of all four songs they will play on each album at the site.

11  am   GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD--  Elton John

1  pm   1984--  Van Halen

3   pm   RUMOURS--  Fleetwood Mac

The Chain
Dreams
Second Hand News
Gold Dust Woman

4  pm   NIGHT MOVES--  Bob Seger

5   pm  4--   Led Zeppelin

6   pm   LET IT BLEED--  Rolling Stones

B-Ball and Music.  Like It.  --RoadDog

A Real Good Cassette Collection: 20 Great Oldies-- Part 1

I have been listening to some of my prerecorded cassette tapes (and I have a REAL lot of them) and came across a really good one titles "20 Great Oldies - Vol. 4."  Made in Holland.  I knew some of the songs, but there were a lot I was unfamiliar with.

I will do the track listing.  The number behind the artist is how high it got on the Billboard Charts and I will also have the year.

Side One

1.  (DO THE) MASHED POTATOES--  Nat Kendricks & the Swans  (#84) 1960
2.  BILLY'S BAG--  Billy Preston (No rank) 1965  His first song recorded.
3.  DOWN THE AISLE (WEDDING SONG)--  Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles  (#37) 1963.  Her first hit.

4.  BOOM BOOM--  John Lee Hooker (#60)  1962.  His only hit on the Pop Charts.  Great Blues.
5.  FOLLOW YOUR HEART--  Manhattans  (#92)  1966
6.  THAT'S HOW HEARTACHES ARE MADE--  Baby Washington
7.  RAINBOW--  Gene Chandler  (#12) 1963

8.  MISTY--  Lloyd Price  *(#21) 1963
9.  SHAME SHAME SHAME--  Wilson Pickett  (No Rank)
10.  IT'S TOO LATE--  Wilson Pickett  (#49) 1963

Name That Tune (from the above):  "Gonna Shoot You Right Down."  --RoadDog



"Boom Boom"

Past Movie Scratches: Standing-- Pineapple-- Insiduous-- Four-- Panda-- Conjuring

Past Movie Scratches--  Movies I saw on TV in 2016.

13.  STANDING TALL--  1-12--  Don't mess with the "Rock."

14.  PINEAPPLE EXPRESS--  1-12--  Careful where you throw that "Dube."

15.  INSIDUOUS--  1-22--  Which Dad you gonna get?

16.  I AM NUMBER FOUR--  1-23--  Aliens hunt down a hiding alien on Earth.  Pretty DUMB movie.

17.  KUNG FU PANDA 2--  1-23--  The Big Guy finds inner peace just in time to beat a mean old Sheng.

18.  CONJURING--  1-24--  It's a real lot of evil for one house to have.

Waiting for the Commercial Break.  --RoadDog

BIZARRE LAWS IN AMERICA:  In New Jersey there is a law that states that men cannot knit during fishing season.

The Drive's Vinyl Four Weekend-- Part 3: "Sgt. Pepper's"

Sunday, April 2, 2017

Well, those sure were two excellent Final Four games last night.  I'll write more about them tomorrow.

But, the Drive's, WDRV 97.1 FM salute to vinyl and classic albums as well as the Final Four continues today and tomorrow.

Today's Albums (Remember, they play four cuts from each album, all, of course on vinyl.):

10 AM   SGT. PEPPER'S--  Beatles

11 AM   STRANGE DAYS--  Doors

Strange Days
Love Me Two Times
Midnight Drive
People Are Strange

1   PM   QUADROPHENIA--  Who

3   PM  PRONOUNCE LEN-NERD SKIN-NERD--  Lynyrd Skynyrd

5   PM   DISRAELI GEARS--  Cream


Snap, Crackle and Pop.  --RoadDog

BIZARRE LAWS IN AMERICA:  In South Dakota you can not fall asleep in a cheese factory.

Emission Testing and Coupons Run Out: We Hit the Road-- Part 1

Because of two emission tests we had to take on our vehicles, we have four of them, we've been on the road some this past week.  that, and the fact that our Chain Crawl coupons ran out of date yesterday, March 31.

Last Saturday, March 25, I took the Dakota truck to Crystal Lake for emission test and went to the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group meeting at Panera Bread in Crystal Lake.  On the way home, I stopped at a Barnes & Noble.  I sure miss my Border's store in McHenry.

Sunday, March 26, we went to Fox Hole in McHenry for pizza, but weren't happy to find out that the coupon had a March 31, 2016, expiration date. Just one year off.   But, their beer nuggets made up for the lack of pizza.  Also stopped at the PLAV (Polish Legion of American Veterans) and Sunnyside.

Tuesday, March 28, we went to Vickie's in McHenry on the Fox River and used a Chain Crawl coupon, BOGO sandwich.  I had the Big Kahuna: 1/2 pound burger, pulled pork and onion straws.  It was huge and good.  Great view of the river and tasty popcorn.

--RoadDog

The Drive's Vinyl Four Weekend, Saturday, April 1

Again, the Drive plays four cuts from each classic album.  Streams at www.wdrv.com.  And, they will be playing them on vinyl.  Tune in today for:

10 AM    BOOK OF DREAMS--  Steve Miller Band

Jet Airplane
The Stake,
Jungle Love
Swingtown

NOON  EXIT ON MAIN STREET--  Rolling Stones

2.  VAN HALEN--  Van Halen

3  PM  BORN TO RUN--  Bruce Springsteen

4 PM  ARE YOU EXPERIENCED--  Jimi Hendrix

6 PM  THE LONG RUN--  Eagles

No Foolin'--  RoadDog

WLS Top 40 for March 31, 1967-- Part 2: "Love Eyes"

I also went farther down the list and found some other interesting songs:  The number after the performer is its highest Billboard ranking.

30.  YOU'RE GONNA BE MINE--  New Colony Six  (No rank)  WLS backing the local bands again.

31.  OH THAT'S GOOD--  Sam the Sham  (#54)  Full name ""Oh That's Good, No That's Bad."

33.  LOVE EYES--  Nancy Sinatra  (#15)

37.  SUNDAY FOR TEA--  Peter and Gordon  (#31)  Near the end of their hit-making career.

40.  MIDNIGHT HOUR--  Messengers   (No Rank)  Also known as the Milwaukee Messengers or Michael & the Messengers (As I knew them.)  Evidently out of Milwaukee, but played in Chicago.  They also did a great job on "Romeo and Juliet."  As good of Garage Rock as it gets.

--RoadDog

BIZARRE LAWS IN AMERICA:  In Maine you will get fined if you leave your Christmas decorations up past Jan. 14.  (I'm in trouble, but wait, I don't live in Maine.)