Music Deaths: Helen Reddy

HELEN REDDY, 78

Died 29 September 2020

Singer, pop and easy listening.

From Australia.  Made it big in U.S.  In the 1970s had 15 singles in the American Top 40.  Six made Top ten and three went to #1.  Her signature song was "I Am Woman."

Had 25 songs on the Adult Contemporary chart.

Her three Number 1's:

"I Am Woman" (1972)

"Delta Dawn"  (1973)

"Angie Baby"  (1974)  Quite a strange song.  Worthy of a scary movie.

I really liked the "Coach" episode when the women's basketball coach dumped the load of manure in his office with the words "I Am Cow, Hear Me Moo."

Music Deaths: George Young: Australia's Easybeats

GEORGE YOUNG, 70  Died October 22, 2017.

Guitarist with Australia's Easybeats.  Cowrote their big hit "Friday On My Mind" (#16-1967).  Brother of Angus and Malcolm Young of AC/DC.

He produced AC/DC's "Dirty deeds Done Dirt Cheap" album.  He also cowrote the John Paul Young song "Love Is In the Air" (#7-1978)

His brother Malcolm Young died November 18, 2017.

Music Deaths: "Little Stevie" Wright of the Easybeats

STEVEN "LITTLE STEVIE" WRIGHT, 68

Died Dec. 27, 2015.

Lead singer of the Australian group Easybeats whose one U.S. hit was "Friday On My Mind" (#16-1967).  Born in Leeds, England and family moved to Australia.  Wright helped form the band in 1964 in Sydney.  Cowrote "Friday On My Mind."  Had five other top five songs in Australia.  The band broke up in 1969.

Formed two self-named bands after that and had a #1 hit in Australia in 1974 with "Evie."

In 2001, "Friday On My Mind" voted best Australian song of all time.  The band also did an early version of "Good Times" which INXS covered.

Regarded as the best Australian pop band of the 1960s (even with the Bee Gees).

Some other Australian hits for the band:

"She's So Fine" #3 and "Wedding Ring" #7  in 1965.

"Women (Make Me Feel Alright)"  #4,  "Come and See Her" #3,  "I'll Always make You happy" #1, "Sorry" #1 and "Friday On My Mind" #1 in 1966.

All of these songs are on You Tube.

The Day of the Rugby-- Part 1

I watched the All Black blowout of the team USA today on NBC.  The Americans never had a chance.  There is a reason the New Zealand All Blacks are the #1 rugby team in the world and they clearly showed it.  It was textbook how to play the game.  I think the final score was something like 72-6.  (They are called All Blacks because of the black uniforms they wear.)

But, at least I got to watch a rugby game, something you rarely get here in the United States.  And, even better, I saw the All Black Haka, which is something to behold.  Just check it out on You Tube.

But, at least Soldier Field in Chicago was sold out at 60,000, and even though the crowd was mostly American, they were pulling a whole lot for the All Blacks.  I pulled out my All Black Haka coolie and All Black flag, even though I was pulling for the USA.

I got hooked on rugby on a trip I went with my mom and sister to Australia and New Zealand.  We arrived right when both levels of rugby from Australia and New Zealand were playing.  If Americans think they have rivalries in football, that is nothing compared to the one between these two countries.

I sure had a great time watching the games and learning about the sport.

--RoadDog

SAY WHAT?  "That's the $64,000 question."--  The radio show became the $64,000 TV show.

If That Don't Take the Merry Out of Christmas!

Came across a story on Yahoo saying that Santa Clauses in Sydney, Australia, were instructed not to say "Ho Ho Ho" because of fear of offending women.

Have we sunken to the rap and hip-hop level that badly? This is definitely a sad development.

What are they supposed to say, "Ha Ha Ha" or "Mer Mer Mer?"

Then, there is the story of some stores refusing to allow the Salvation Army to set up those traditional kettles outside their doors. Is that a Scrooge thing or what?

Can't We Just Have a Regular Christmas? --RoadDog

Fall is Apple Time

One thing I really like about fall, besides the tree colors and ESPECIALLY the smell of burning leaves, is the great apple crop.

I have to have my peanut covered caramel apples, especially those from Chicago's Affy Tapple Company. They've been making them since 1948. http://www.affytapple.com/

Then, there is the great apple cider. I'm not talking about apple juice, I'm talking about that really dark stuff. Stuff with a kick.

I stock up on these items as well as fresh apples. I have heard about a new apple that is supposed to be the best around these days, the honey crisp. Saturday, I finally found some at the local Spring Grove Jewel grocery store. It was quite expensive at $2.50 a pound, so I got one. Whoever came up with this is a genius. This was the BEST apple I've ever eaten.

I like my apples hard and a bit tart. Granny Smith's are also a favorite. While in Australia, we went by the place where they came into being.

Lovin' Those Fall Apples. --RoadDog