Music Deaths: Broughton, Hawkins, Such and Cruise

I am running way behind of music deaths from last year, so will be listing many of these with very little extra information.

STEVE BROUGHTON, 72

Died 29 May 1922.  Drummer with the Edgar Broughton Band.

RONNIE HAWKINS, 87

Died 29 May 2022.  Singer (rock and roll).  Had the big hit "Mary Lou."  Assembled the group later known as "The Band."

ALEC JOHN SUCH, 70

Died 5 June 1922.  Bass player 1983-194 with Bon Jovi.  This was the period of time the band had most of their big hits.

JULEE CRUISE, 65

Died 9 June 2022.  Singer.

WLS Top 10 (and Debuts) for Week of Feb. 26, 1973: 'Love Train'

These were the Top Ten songs in Chicago fifty years ago.

1.  CROCODILE ROCK--  Elton John

2.  DUELING BANJOS--  Deliverance

3.  IT COULD BE I'M FALLING IN LOVE--  Spinners

4.  KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG--  Roberta Flack

5.  DON'T EXPECT ME TO BE YOUR FRIEND--  Lobo

6.  LAST SONG--  Edward Bear

7.  DO IT AGAIN--  Steely Dan

8.  YOU'RE SO VAIN--  Carly Simon

9.  ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH--  John Denver

10.  LOVE TRAIN--  O'Jays

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DEBUTS

21.  DANNY'S SONG--  Anne Murray

23.  AUBREY--  Bread

25.  NEITHER ONE OF US (WANTS TO BE  THE FIRST TO SAY GOODBYE)--   Gladys Knight & the Pips 

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I Heard He Sang A Good Song.  I Heard He Had A Style."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Killing Me Softly With His Song"

Past Movie Scratches: Magnificent-- Transylvania-- Midway-- Blind-- Brave-- Edge

Past movie scratches--  Movies I saw on TV in 2022.

1.  MAGNIFICENT SEVEN--  1-1--   That's all they needed.  An interesting group to the rescue and battling huge odds.

2.  HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2--  1-4--  Along comes baby Dennisovitch.  The monsters are a bit rusty.  Will he "Fang Out?"

3.  MIDWAY--  1-7--  Diving through all that flak and Japanese officers continually gazing skyward with binoculars.

4.  THE BLIND SIDE--  1-8--  Against all odds, he ends up going to Ole Miss

5.  BRAVE HEART--  1-19--  That mean old Longshanks.  But, she got the better of him at the end.  So did Mel.

6.  EDGE OF TOMORROW--  1-20--  A cross between "Groundhog Day" and "Starship troopers."

--RoadDog

MIDDLE AGE:  Maybe it's true that life begins at fifty, but everything else starts to wear out, fall out or spread out.

Movies, Big Band Music and Da Bowl

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10

Saw a movie double header at Fox Lake Theatre:  "80 for Brady" and "Plane."  So good to be back at the movies again.  Enjoyed both movies.  Then met Kevin and Kelly at the Fox Lake Legion for 50-50.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11

Went to Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg, ate at Taco Bell in Fox Lake and went to the Fox Lake American Legion where they were having a Valentine's dance with the Lakes Area Swing Band.  

They are 16 musicians who put on a great Swing/Big Band show.  There was a good crowd and most everyone was dressed like people used to when they went out dancing.  Most really could dance those style of dances.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12 

Went to Culver's in Fox Lake for that great double butter burger meals and then the SAL (Sons of the American Legion) meeting at the Fox Lake Legion.

I then went to Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, to Donovan's Reef where I had paid to have a seat at the Super Bowl party with AUCE and drink during the game.  I also had a room at the motel behind the bar, so driving home was not a problem.

That was sure a great game.

--RoadBowl

Drinkin' and Eatin' on the Cheap

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6

I must remember to always put the checkbook in the same place.  Whenever I don't, it goes on the "lam" for awhile.  Like it is right now.  

Met Kevin and Kelly at Half-Times in Johnsburg, Illinois, and enjoyed the $1 Lite pints and the $11.50 (half price) slab of ribs, fried and garlic bread meal.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7

Hey, Half-Times has $1 Lite drafts and half price pizza, sandwiches and ribs Monday to Thursday until the end of February.  I have to take advantage of ths deal.  I was back again.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8

I found the wayward checkbook and put it where I always do.  Let's see how long  remember to do this.  Went to Donovan's in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, and played live trivia with Kevin, Kelly and a host of others.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9

Met Kevin and Kelly at Bulldog Ale House in McHenry, Illinois.  They have their old special back.  Any of their draft beer pints for $2.  And, that includes domestic, import and craft beer.  That's talking my language.  Plus, 89 cent chicken tenders.

Too Good of Deals to Pass Up.  --RoadDog

WLS Top 10 (and Debuts) for Week of Feb. 19, 1973: 'Dueling Banjos'

Would you believe... Fifty Years Ago.  Time sure flies when you're having fun.

1.  CROCODILE ROCK--  Elton John

2.  YOU'RE SO VAIN--  Carly Simon

3.  COULD IT BE I'M FALLING IN LOVE--  Spinners

4.  DON'T EXPECT ME TO BE YOUR FRIEND--  Lobo

5.  DO IT AGAIN--  Steely Dan

6.  DUELING BANJOS--  Deliverance

7.  OH BABE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY--  Hurricane Smith

8.  KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG--  Roberta Flack

9.  ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH--  John Denver

10.  LAST SONG--  Edward Bear

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DEBUTS

23.  ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA--  Deodata

25.  BIG CITY MISS RUTH ANN--  Gallery

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Strumming My Pain With His Fingers."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Killing Me Softly with His Song"

A Day with the Groundhog in Woodstock then the Bars of McHenry and Johnsburg

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5

Drove to Woodstock, Illinois, for the last day of their Groundhog Days Festival.  I saw the movie "Groundhog Day" in the big screen at the Woodstock Theatre which was in the movie as the Alpine Theatre where Bronco Billy Murray and date went.  I didn't know the date was Mrs. Gary Fencik, Chicago Bears player from Super Bowl XX.

The place was packed and everyone was laughing at the comments.

Then took a walk around the Woodstock Square past the Top Top Cafe (now a Mexican restaurant) and Bill's Puddle, where Ned accosted Bill, the Pennsylvanian Hotel (Woodstock Opera House) and the bar where they drank to world peace.

Of course, the entire square itself was the site of Gobbler's Knob where the groundhog was pulled out of his burrow.   It also was where they danced in the gazebo, where Bill did his ice sculpture and the snowball fight.

Stopped at Wayne's Lanes which was the bowling alley in the movie where Bill saw his glass as half enpty and where the drunks got in the car and led the cops on a chase.  They now have a cut out of Bill Murray at the spot he was sitting at.

Drove to McHenry and had Bloody Marys at the Polish Legion  ($2.75), mixed drinks at the McHenry American Legion (rail drinks $3) and beers at Sunnyside  ($2).

Busy Day.  That Darn Goundhog's Got To Be Stopped.  --RoadHog

Thanks Groundhogs, Sunnyside, Legion, a Band and Chili!

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3

Went to Sunnyside on a really cold day.  Thanks a lot Groundhog!!  Willie and that six more weeks of winter!!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4

First Saturday of the month means the Fox Lake American Legion was having their monthly music in the bar from 3 p, to 6 pm.  Where else you gonna get entertainment on a Saturday afternoon in the middle of winter (thanks Groundhogs)?  And today's group was the Three Aces who excell at 50s-60s and old country music. One of my favorite local bands.  You should hear themk do "The Auctioneer."

And, the Fox Lake/Round Lake Rotary Club was having their annual chili cookoff, so I was forced to judge and sample the 20 different entries.  Man, music, beer and chili in one day.  Nothing could be finer.

An Eager Volunteer, Believe Me.  --RoadChili

WLS Top 25 for Week of February 12, 1973-- Part 4: 'Crocodile Rock'

Fifty years ago in Chicago, these were the top songs according to WLS, 890 AM.

* Means the son was climbing the charts.  The number after the artist is how high the song got on the Billboard Hot 100 National Charts.

10.  *THE WORLD IS A GHETTO--  War

9.  TROUBLE MAN--  Marvin Gaye

8.  *COULD IT BE I'M FALLING IN LOVE--  Spinners

7.  WHY CAN'T WE LIVE TOGETHER--  Timmy Thomas

6.  *DON'T EXPECT ME TO BE YOUR FRIEND--  Lobo

5.  *DO IT AGAIN--  Steely Dan

4.  SUPERSTITION--  Stevie Wonder

3.  *OH BABE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY--  Hurricane Smith

2.  YOU'RE SO VAIN--  Cary Simon

1.  CROCODILE ROCK--  Elton John

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "On The Morning You Go Gunning For The Man Who Stole Your Water."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Do It Again"

15th Anniversary of NIU Valentine's Day Murders

Yesterday marked the 15th anniversary since the five students were murdered and a whole bunch wounded on campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.  It took place on Valentine's Day.  A murderer entered Cole Hall and opened fire.

I must admit it had slipped my mind until I saw a couple TV news segments on it.  One was about a student who was wounded and the other was about the professor who was teaching the class in geography (which was my minor) who was also wounded.

I was glad that neither show mentioned the killer's name.  I don't think the killers should ever have their name publicized.  Just refer to them as the killer or murderer.

Liz and I were eating dinner at K.C.'s Cabin in Spring Grove, Illinois, when we saw video on TV of what looked like NIU's campus.  The sound was off,  but the information was running across the bottom.  We were shocked and paying attention.  Our friend Gayle was a student there and another couple at K.C.'s was very concerned as their daughter went to Northern.

A sad time then and just this past Monday night three more students were killed at Michigan State.  At least this killer (and I notice they don't give his name most of the time) had the decency to, like NIU's killer, end his own life.

WLS Top 25 for Week of February 12, 1973-- Part 3: 'Dancing in the Moonlight'

*  Means the song was climbing the charts.  The number after the artist is how high the song got on the Billboard Hot 100 National Chart.

15.  JAMBALAYA (ON THE BAYOU)--  Blue Ridge Rangers      #16     But you might know them better as John Fogerty.  Where's Creedence?  Ol' Hank would be so proud.  This was a #1 country hit in1952 for Hank Williams.

14.  LAST SONG--  Edward Bear    #3       Little did I know this was the name of a band, not a solo performer.   Pop trio from Toronto, Canada.

13.  DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT--  King Harvest      #13     Takes me right back to 1973.  At this time I was getting ready to start student teaching in my senior year at NIU.  Their one and only Top 40 hit.

12.  YOUR MAMA DON'T DANCE--  Loggins & Messina      #4      Gotta love this song.  Their only Top Ten as a duo.

11.  ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH--  John Denver       #9      We could sure use another John Denver about now.  Was that David Crosby in the audience at the beginning of the video for the Wildlife Concert?

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Goodbye Joe, Me Gotta Go, Me Oh, My Oh."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Jambalaya (On the Bayou)"

WLS Top 25 Songs for Week of February 12, 1973-- Part 2: 'Killing Me Softly With His Song'

20. SUPERFLY--  Curtis Mayfield     #8     Love the intro to this song.   Follow up to "Freddie's Dead."

19.  DO YOU WANT TO DANCE--  Bette Midler       #17     Just breathless.  Just breathless.  I thought that Barbara Mason had sung a suggestive song at #25.    A new take on a Beach Boys classic song.  Her first big hit.

18.  LOVE TRAIN--  O'Jays       #1       To better days.  We could sure use that now.  This song just makes you feel good.

17.  KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG--  Roberta Flack        #1  for 5 weeks       As only Roberta can sing a song  Just a pure voice.

16.  DADDY'S HOME--  Jermaine Jackson     #9     He could sing too, not just Michael.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Hug And Kiss Me All Through The Night."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Do You Want To Dance"

WLS Top 25 Songs for Week of February 12, 1973-- Part 1: 'Dueling Banjos'

These were the top songs in Chicago according to powerhouse WLS, 890 AM, fifty years ago.

* means the song was climbing the charts.  The number after the artist is how high the song got on the Billboard Hot 100 National Charts.

25.  *GIVE ME YOUR LOVE--  Barbara Mason         #31     About as sensual and erotic as you can get.  She had a #5  song in 1965 with "Yes, I'm Ready."  Was that a precursor to this new song?

24.  *I'M JUST A SINGER (IN A ROCK AND ROLL BAND)--  Moody Blues     #12     No cerebral, just kickin'.

23.  *PEACEFUL EASY FEELING--  Eagles      #22     Can Glenn Frey get any more laid back?

22.  DUELING BANJOS--  Delieverance      #2 for 4 weeks       Actually Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell.    From the movie "Deliverance.  Some mighty strange folk up in them thar hills.  

21.  ME AND MRS. JONES--   Billy Paul   #1 for 3 weeks    You know they have a thing going on.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I'm Just A Wandering On The Face Of The Earth."    Answer below.  --RoadDog

"I'm Just A Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)"

Movies, Expensive and Cheaper Beer, Round Lake Beach and the Groundhogs

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31

Went to see the movie "Avatar:  The Way of Water" at the Fox Lake Theatre and to Half-Times in Johnsburg.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1

Went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes and got a room for the Super Bowl game.  Stopped at The Grove in Spring Grove and was shocked by having to pay $4 for a Miller Lite 16 ounce draft. Then to Saylor Mick's where I had the more reasonable $1 Hamm's pints.  Final stop was at Margaritaville at home.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2

Groundhog Day...Again.  Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania as well as Woodstock Willie in the much-closer Woodstock, Illinois, both saw their shadows, so six more weeks of winter weather.  Sigh.

Went to Round Lake Beach for a dentist appointment and then to Big Lots, a new grocery store called Tony's and Meijer.  I found that Meijer has half gallons of milk for $1.65.  At Jewel, a gallon of milk is $2.99 and a half gallon is $2.49.  I hate paying almost as much for half the amount.   Later met quite a few friends at Half-Times and had a beef sub and those $1 Miller Lite drafts.

Of course, watched the movie "Groundhog Day" on AMC.  So nice of them to have a 24-hour run of the movie.

Not Loving This Winter Thing.   --RoadHog

I Was Back in Woodstock... Again-- Part 2: The Groundhog Bit Murray

More Fun Facts:

**  Murray was bitten twice by the groundhog while filming and even had to get rabies shots just in case.

**  The film was not shot in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, but rather Woodstock, Illinois.   During a scene with Ned Ryerson, Phil's old classmate,  a sign for Woodstock Jewelers can be seen in the background.

**  Ramis, Murray and  Stephen Tobolowski (Ned Ryerson) have been honorary  Grand Marshals  in Punxsutawney on Groundhog Day.

**  Other famous actors were considered for the role of Phil Connors that director Ramis considered "too nice: were  Chevy Chase, Steve Martin,  Robin Williams and Michael Keaton.  Keaton reportedly turned down the role because he thought it was too confusing.

** Even though the movie was filmed in Punxsutawney, it had a big impact on the town.  Celebrations went from about 5,000 to 35,000 after the movie came out.

******************************

How long was Phil stuck in deja vu?  No one really knows, but a whole lot.  The movie shows him reliving it 38 times.

--RoadPhil

I Was Back in Woodstock... Again for 'Groundhog Day'

This past Sunday, I drove the eighteen miles from the house to Woodstock, Illinois, to partake in the last day of the town's annual Groundhog Days festuival which started on February 1.

I was too late for the pancake breakfast at the Moose Lodge (where the dance/bachelor auction was held in the movie), but managed to get a seat to see the movie on the big screen at the Woodstock Theatre (where the scene with Bill Murray as Bronco Billy and his date went to see the movie "Heidi.")  I found out earlier that day that his date was the wife of Chicago Bear player Gary Fencik of the Super Bowl XX champs.

From the February 2, 2023,  WTAJ, Rochester, NY.  "Bill Murray's 'Groundhog Day' celebrates 30th anniversary" by Bill Shannon.

ANYWAY, SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT THE MOVIE:

**  Bill Murray's character, Phil Connors, evolved into a much nicer human being during the film.  At times when  director Harold Ramis would explain a scene, Murray would ask him:  "Good Phil or bad Phil?" so he would know how to play the character.

--RoadHog

The Civil War, Some Hot Dogs, CDs and a Big Snow

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29

Drove to Crystal Lake, Illinois, for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion meeting at Panera Bread.  Today's topic was the "The End, February and March 1865."  I, of course, brought up the Wilmington Campaign, also called the Battle of Wilmington, in North Carolina.  That was the follow-up to Fort Fisher's fall. 

It started snowing about half way through the meeting and coming down quite hard.  I decided not to go to Algonquin and visit Barnes & Noble or Half-Price Books because of it. Driving home, road conditions were getting quite bad.  

Stopped at Happy Jack's in McHenry for their great hot dogs and then The Vinyl Frontier Record Store, a real Mom and Pop store featuring albims, 45s and CDs as well as toys and stereo equipment.  One of my most fun places to go.

Snow conditions continued to get worse and I went home and stayed.  We had our biggest snowfall of the winter with around 8 inches by Sunday morning.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 29

Way too much snow to shovel by hand, and sadly, stoll couldn't get the snowblower started.  Later, I heard a snowblower out in front of the house and saw that a new neighbor was clearing my driveway and sidewalk for me.  I tanked him and said I couldn't start my snowblower so he took it home to take a look at it.  What a great neighbor.

Later I drove to Sunnyside and actually got a seat at the bar, something very difficult to do in Sundays when it gets reallycrowded.  Watched the NFC Championship game and part of the AFC one.  Came home and watched the rest of it.

--RoadSnow

Six 90s Shows That Wouldn't Fly Today-- Part 2

3.  *JERRY SPRINGER   1991-2018   Considered a daytime talk show.  But, all kinds of topics.  I must admit that this show is one of my guilty pleasures as I will sure watch it if I happen to catch a rerun.  You just can't help  smiling.

4.  JOHNNY BRAVO  Aired on the Cartoon Network.  Just, not for kids.

5.  THE REN & STEMPY SHOW   Aired on Nickelodeon.    Also not for kids.

6.  *DINOSAURS  1991-1995  Primetime sitcom.  I really liked this one.

Jerry, Jerry, Jerry!  --RoadDog

WLS Top Ten (and Debuts) for Week of Feb. 5, 1973: 'You're So Vain'

That's right, 50 years ago.  Time flies when you're having fun.

1.  CROCODILE ROCK--  Elton John

2.  YOU'RE SO VAIN--  Carly Simon

3.  SUPERSTITION--  Stevie Wonder

4.  YOUR MAMA DON'T DANCE--  Loggins & Messina

5.  WHY CAN'T WE LIVE TOGETHER--  Timmy Thomas

6.  OH BABE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY--  Hurricane Smith

7.  DO IT AGAIN--  Steely Dan

8.  DON'T EXPECT ME TO BE YOUR FRIEND--  Lobo

9.  TROUBLE MAN--  Marvin Gaye

10.  THE WORLD IS A GHETTO--  War

********************************

DEBUTS

23.  LOVE TRAIN--  O'Jays

24.  LAST SONG--  Edward Baer

25.  DO YOU WANT TO DANCE--  Bette Midler

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "13 Month-Old Baby  Broke The Looking Glass."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Superstition"

Six 90s TV Shows That Wouldn't Fly Today-- Part 1: 'TRL' and 'Married...with Children'

From Best Life by Lia Beck.

It's hard to believe, but the 1990s began 33 years ago.  (True) These TV shows probably wouldn't get made today.  She says some are outdated and others were offensive at the time and even more so today.  Lia says these should stay lost to history.  I disagree with the three that I watched.

*  Show I watched.

1.  TRL  Total Request Live MTV.   What, MTV playing music videos.  Why, the nerve.

2.  *Married...With Children  Aired 1987-1997.  This was a hilarious show with Al Bundy and loving wife and those two kids.  I didn't watch it at first because it was on Fox which I initially did not consider much of a network.  I was wrong.

Loved Al Bundy.  --RoadDog

'A Man Called Otto,' Crossword Puzzles, Word Searches, Half-Times and Some Snow

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25

Saw one of the best movies I've seen in a long time, "A Man Called Otto."  Besides him being old and living in a world he doesn't much care for and the loss of his long-time wife six months earlier, I felt I had a lot in common with Tom Hanks' character.   

If this movie doesn't get Academy Award nominations for best movie, actor and actress there is something mighty wrong.

I completed a Tribune Crossword Puzzle (the one on the comics page) with no help.  This is the first time I've ever done this.  If you'd told me six years ago that I world be doing crossword puzzles, I would have told you you're out of your mind.  Both my mom and wife were big fans of those.  Plus, I have come to enjoy word searches.  

Who'd have ever "figgered."

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26

Went to Half-Times for their $1 pints of Lite and half price pizza and sandwiches and had another one of their great TBC (turkey, bacon & cheese) subs.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27

Stayed home today as it snowed all day.  It has snowed 1 1/2 to 2 inches every day starting Wednesday.  All that snow we haven't been getting, we're starting to catch up.  I still can't get the snowblower started, but so far I have been able to easily shovel accumulation off.

--RoadPuzzle

Legions, Historical Society, NFL Playoffs, Bloody Marys and Beer

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20

Met Kevin and Kelly at Johnny's Cafe in Fox Lake, Illinois.  There are new owners there.  But still good food at reasonable prices.  Then went to the Fox Lake American Legion for 50-50.  We also have pull tabs for drink prices: 50 cents, half price and full price.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21

Went to the Fox Lake/Grant Township Historical Society meeting at the museum on Washington Street in Ingleside.  Met Frank and Lian there.  Today's topic was show and tell and a lot of the talk was about the old Pupper Bar/ Eagle Point Park, where I worked several yerars as house deejay until it closed.  That was one really fun place.  Imagine getting paid to have a good time.

Later, in the afternoon, I went to Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg to watch NFL playoff games and had a nice talk with Wayne and Angie who are now at the McHenry Moose Laodge, but for many years at Stucky's.  Wayne sponsored me joining the Moose Lodge there.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 22

I went to the Polish Legion of American Vets in McHenry for the $2.75 Bloody Marys and had a good time talking with folks.  Then to the McHenry American Legion which was packed.  Watched NFL playoff games at both places, then went to Saylor Mick's in Spring Grove and enjoyed half-price BLT pizza (this time with no sugar) and $1 Hamm's pints.  Had a nice talk with Dan and Chuck who live in Spring Grove as well.

--RoadDog

POINTS TO PONDER:  Why are there interstate highways in Hawaii?