Don't Bring Me Down (Songs with Down in the Title)-- Part 2: 'Downtown'

11.  SUNDAY MORNIN' COMIN' DOWN--  Johnny Cash--  1970

12.  DOWN BY THE SEASIDE--  Led Zeppelin  1975

13.  ME AND JULIO DOWN BY THE SCHOOLYARD--  Paul Simon  1972

14.  DOWNTOWN--  Petula Clark  1964

15.  I'M DOWN--  Beatles  1965

16.  AIN'T GOIN' DOWN (TIL THE SUN COMES UP)--    Garth Brooks  1993

17.  GET DOWN WITH THE SICKNESS--  Disturbed  2000

18.  DOWN UNDER--  Men at Work  1981

19.  UPSIDE DOWN--  Diana Ross 1980

20.  DOWN BY THE RIVER--  Neil Young  1969

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I Met a Strange Lady, She Made Me Nervous.  She Took Me In And Gave Me Breakfast."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Down Under"

May the 4th Be With You: 'Space Oddity' A Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Far Away...

Bob Stroud played songs with this theme today on his Ten at Ten show on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, the Drive, Chicago's Classic Rock.

The reason, of course, was a play on words for a signatiure line from the Star Wars movies, "May the Force be with you."

Pretty good song selection and you can still listen to it tonight at 10 PM, CDST as it sure does stream.

SPACE ODDITY--  David Bowie

MAN ON THE MOON--  REM

SPACE TRUCKING--  Deep Purple

FULL MOON TURN MY HEAD AROUND--  Off Broadway

ROCKET MAN--  Elton John

2,000 LIGHT YEARS FROM HOME--  Rolling Stones

SPACE COWBOY--  Steve Miller Band

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE--  Beatles

WALKING ON THE MOON--  Police

MAJOR TOM--  Peter Schilling

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I Told You About Living In The US  Of  A, Don't You Know That I'm The Gangster Of Love?"  Answer below.  --RoadForce

"Space Cowboy"

Anybody Care to Go Back to 1973? Three Hours of Music from Fifty Years Ago on Chicago's WXRT

If you're like me, 1973 was a very important year.  The first half was a college year at NIU (they're playing "Two Hangmen" by Mason Profitt right now at 9:09 AM) and then I graduated, got married, bought my first car and started my one and only job teaching.  You might say it was quite a year for me.

Anyway, right now, Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM is doing their weekly Saturday Morning Flashback to this year.  It streams, so check it out until noon, CDST.

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I also wrote down every song they played in my RoadDog's RoadLog Blog.  Check them out.

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Also, if you're into Beach Music, WVCO, the Surf 94.9 FM,  in South Carolina is having the Beach Music Top Twenty songs ftrom now until noon EDST.

Tomorrow, Terri Hemmert has her Breakfast With the Beatles show on WXRT from 8 to 10 AM and Bob Stroud does his Rock and Roll Roots show from 9 to noon CDST on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM.  The show features music from the 1960s and 1970s.  All shows stream.

Lots of Great Music to Listen To.  --RoadMusic

A Storm, Civil War Round Table, Oak Park Lounge, Sunnyside and Beatles

SATURDAY, JULY 23

We had quite the storm last night with plenty of lightning, thunder and some of the worst hail we've ever seen.  Beware all the roofing companies who'll be about now.

Went to Panera Bread in Cryustal Lake, Illinois, for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group on Lee and His Generals.  Stopped at Wendy's in McHenry on the way home and had one of their Biggie Bags for $5, a good deal in these days of no deals.

Stopped at the Pink Harrison cabin which was plaqued earlier this month.  Liz did not know it was there.  We had wanted to see the afternoon band at the Lakehouse on Pistakee (Lake), but it was too crowded, so ended up at Oak Park Lounge for a couple beers.  That is real old-time Chain of Lakes.  Then stopped at Sunnyside in Johnsburg on the way home.

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SUNDAY, JULY 25

Bob Stroud Root Saluted the Beatles' "Something New" album which was released this date in 1964 during the force of Beatlemania.  I realize the later Beatles songs were much better efforts, but to me the early ones were the real "FUN" ones.  Recorded the show on cassette.  Songs on the album:

I'll Cry Instead

Things We Said Today

Any Time At All

When I Get Home

Slow Down

Matchbox

Tell Me Why

And I Love Her

I'm Happy Just to Dance With You

If I Fell

Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand

Went to the McHenry American Legion and Sunnyside in the afternoon.

--RoadDog

POINTS TO PONDER:  If you replace  the "W" with a "T" in "What, Where & When", you would have the answer to each one.

Trivia, Food, Captain's, the Beatelles, a Fish Fry and Lake View

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6

Played trivia at Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, and, as usual, we had a smorgasboard to eat as folks brought food in.

THURSDAY, JULY 7

Drove to Captain's Quarters on Fox Lake and had their 50 cent wing special said hi to former neighbor Mel who used to live next to us and is an unbelievably good bartender there.   Then drove to Antioch, Illinois, for the It's Thursday concert series, today featuring an all female group named  Beatelles singing Beatles songs.  That was sure a different way to hear the Beatles.

FRIDAY, JULY 8

Met Kelly and Kevin, Glen and Barb at Cuda's for their fish fry then went over to Lake View Place for their $1.50 draft beer and had never seen the place so crowded.  Former neighbor Mel and a lot of the Captain's Quarters folks were there.

Fun and Games Around Here.  --RoadDog

THINGS TO PONDER:  Which letter in "Scent" is silent?  Is it the "S" or "C?"

Summer of 1972 Again-- Part 2: 'Back Off Boogaloo'

Continuing withthe songson the radio and in your record collection fifty years ago.

GOING DOWN--  Jeff Beck Group

I SAW THE LIGHT--  Todd Rundgren

BACK OFF BOOGALOO--  Ringo Starr     Who said he needed the Beatles?

OUTA SPACE--  Billy Preston    The Fifth Beatle?

FREE FOUR--  Pink Floyd

MORNING HAS BROKEN--  Cat Stevens

DOCTOR MY EYES--  Jackson Browne   My favorite song by him.

HOT N' NASTY--  Humble Pie

AIN'T WASTIN' TIME NO MORE--  Allman Brothers

SUAVECITO--  Malo    You know who's brother.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "To See The Evil And The Good Without Hiding."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Doctor My Eyes"

WLS Top 30 for Week of May 15,1972-- Part 1: 'It's Going to Take Some Time'

Just a mere fifty years ago on Chicago's mighty WLS, 890 AM.

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

*OUTA SPACE--  Billy Preston      #2    Play that organ, Billy!  A great instrumental.  The Fifth Beatle?

*ASK ME WHAT YOU WANT--  Millie Jackson      #27      Some Prime Soul that sadly I don't remember,.  A comment said this was her second biggest hit and an all-time classic Carolina Beach Music song.  I sure agree with that.  Great Beach Music.  I played it a real lot.

30.  *DIARY--  Bread   David Gates wrote it and, of course, sang it.

29.  A HORSE WITH NO NAME--  America     #1     Takes you right back to 1972.  A real soundtrack to that year.  Their first hit.

28.  IN THE RAIN--  Dramatics    #5      Rainy Days & Mondays. you know.  From Detroit.  Their follow up to "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" from 1971 which went to #9.   

27.  *IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME--  Carpenters       #12    Such a beautiful voice.  No singing 8 octaves here.

26.  I SAW THE LIGHT--  Todd Rundgren     #16   Off his double album "Something, Anything."  His follow up to 1971's "We Gotta Get You a Woman" which he recorded as Runt.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "On The First Part Of The Journey O Was Looking At All The Life."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"A Horse With No Mane", Well, Let's Try "Horse With No Name"

No Foolin': Snow on Ground on April 1st? 'Everybody Plays the Fool'

FRIDAY, APRIL 1

Woke up this morning to find about an inch of SNOW on the ground (but not on the driveway, sidewalk or street).  It was all gone by noon, but, come on snow.  Is this nature's idea of an April Fool's joke?

In keeping with the tomfoolery, Bob Stroud dedicated his Ten at Ten on WDRV, 97.1 FM, Chicago "The Drive" to "Fool Around."  Ten songs foolin' around.

FOOL FOR THE CITY--  Fog Hat

EVERYBODYPLAYS THE FOOL--  Main Ingredient

FOOL IN THE RAIN--  Led Zeppelin

FOOLIN'--  Def Leppard

FOOL ON THE HILL--  Beatles

FOOLIN' YOURSELF--  Styx

FOOL TO CRY--  Rolling Stones

A FOOL FOR YOUR STOCKINGS--  ZZ Top

SHIP OF FOOLS--  Robert Plant

WON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN--  Who

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Okay, So You're Heart Broken. You Sit Around Mopin' Crying And Crying."  Answer below.  --RoadFool

"Everybody Plays the Fool"

WLS Top 30 for Week of March 13, 1972-- Part 1: 'Never Been to Spain'

These were the Top 30 songs in Chicago fifty years ago today.

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

Hit Bound:  *A COWBOY'S WORK IS NEVER DONE-  Sonny & Cher       #8      A really cool song I'd forgotten about.  Interesting instrumentation.   Their last Top Ten together.  Of course, Cher had some success solo.

30.  DAY AFTER DAY--  Badfinger      #4      Beatles?    That's George Harrison on   guitars and producer.  Leon Russell on piano.

29.  NEVER BEEN TO SPAIN--  Three Dog Night      #5     Yep, I've never been there either but would sure like to.   Written by country star Hoyt Axton.   Played the father on "The Gremlins."  Also wrote "Joy to the World,"  "The Pusher"  and the "No No Song."

28.  *SON OF MY FATHER--  Giorgio      #46       I'd also forgotten this one.  Great song.  try this at Name That Tune and see if anybody gets it.  Most of the comments in a foreign language.  Giorgio Moroder from Italy.   Produced seven of Donna Summer's albums.

27.  LET'S STAY TOGETHER--  Al Green     #1      The pride of Forrest City, Alabama.

26.  AMERICAN PIE--   Don McLean     #1    From New Rochelle, New York.  Wonder if he knew the Petries?

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "A Long Long Time Ago I Can Still Remember How That Music Used To Make Me Smile."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"American Pie"

Around Here: Da Bulls, Weird Hair on Athletes, Stucky's, Da Beatles and Stucky's Again

SATURDAY, JANUARY 15

We had snow flurries all day, but there was no accumulation.  That's a real good thing.  We went to Stucky's and watched the Bulls game, which sadly, they lost.  They are on a losing streak right now, but before that playing very well for the first time since the fabulous 90s when they won six NBA Championships in eight years -- the Michael Jordan years.  Ever since, they have been very sad.

I wanted to show Liz the hair that Bulls player Coby White had last year compared to this.  Back then it was one of those very eye-insulting 'dos, but now just a regular cut.  I don't like long, weird hair on athletes no matter if they're Whites or Blacks.

While looking for pictures of him, I found out that he was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina, which perked my interest since that is also where I was born.  However, he played high school basketball in Wilson, N.C.  He went to UNC-Chapel Hill, but unfortunately was one of those one-and-diners.  I'm not real happy with these guys or the schools that "hire" them for that one year before they go to the NBA.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 16

Bob Stroud featured the Beatles Album "Meet the Beatles" as later this week will mark the 58th anniversary of its release.  This was the fun Beatles in my book.  And, they were the ones who got me to listening to pop music.  I never did before.  And, of course, music has had a huge impact on my life.

We went to Stucky's in Johnsburg, Illinois, and watched two NFL Wild Card Playoff games.

--RoadBeatle

WLS Top 30 for Week of August 9, 2021-- Part 4: 'Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey'

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

15.  IT'S TOO LATE / I FEEL THE EARTH MOVE--  Carole King     #1    #12  for "I Feel the Earth Move."   Love the piano intro on "I Feel the Earth Move."  Guess some deejay turned "It's Too Late" over and played the "B" side.

14.  UNCLE ALBERT / ADMIRAL HALSEY--  Paul McCartney     #1    Listed as Paul and Linda McCartney.   Quite an oddball song.  I was upset when the Beatles broke up, but then realized we'd be getting at least three times as many Beatles songs.  I didn't much expect anything from Ringo.  Was I ever wrong.  I always wondered if Paul's Admiral Halsey was our WW II Admiral William F. "Bull" Halsey.

13.  MIGHTY CLOUDS OF JOY--  B.J. Thomas      #34    Billy Joe Thomas, you know.   Now, you've been to church.

12.  SMILING FACES SOMETIMES--  Undisputed Truth      #3    From Detroit.   Their only Top 40 song.   Keep an eye on "Your Friends."  Maybe not so.  

11.  MAYBE TOMORROW--  Jackson Five     #20    Not one of the their better-known songs and I don't even remember hearing it, but, wow, this is a really good song.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Jealousy, Misery, Envy."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Smiling Faces Sometimes"

Songs of 1970-- Part 2: Breaking Up and Arriving on Stage

"Given so much unrest, everyone was exhausted," says author David Browne.  "It is no coincidence that the top songs of then year were as much hymns as pop songs."

But, if such anthems brought people together, the bands that created them were, at the time, falling apart.  Both Simon & Garfunkel and the Beatles broke up in 1970, as did Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

Meanwhile, great new musicians and groups rose to take their place, including Elton John, the Jackson Five, the Carpenters and James Taylor, all of whom released breakthrough songs that same year.

Whole new genres emerged as well, making 1970 a unique year that will live forever in musical history and in our memories.

Of course, 1970, was a college year for me, so these songs really strike up the old memories.  I pledge Delta Sigma Phi at NIU and moved out to the frat house in the fall after living freshman year at Lincoln Hall dormitory freshman year.  That spring was also the Kent State Riots when I really thought I was seeing the end of the United States.  Those were some scary times, I tell you.

I was looking out my dorm window when the rioting came to DeKalb and NIU as a confrontation between students and police took place right below me.  With all the police lights flashing, the campus radio station, WNIU played "Lay Down (Candles in the Wind)" by Melanie and any time I hear that song anymore it takes me right back.

1970 Was Quite a Time.  --RoadMusic

The Songs of 1970-- Part 1: 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'

Of course, any song from 1970 is going to be real special to me.  I find that the songs from when I was in junior high, high school and college are my favorites for some reason.  1970 was a college year for me at NIU.

From the August 2, 2020 Parade Magazine "The songs of 1970" by Jim Farber.

You can learn a lot about any given year by listening to its most popular songs.  In 1970, the No. 1-selling single was Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," an ode to everlasting hope and unwavering faith.  (That song always reminds me of NIU's Tune Room (also called Tomb Room) at the University Center.  If I heard it once there, I heard it lots.  Make sure you listen to Aretha Franklin's version which came out a year later.)

Nearly as popular were the Beatles' "Let It Be,"  "O-o-h Child" by the Five Stairsteps and B.J. Thomas' "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head."  All of these are meant to soothe and uplift.

These singles, and I'm sure you remember everyone of them, wound up defining life in 1970, a turbulent year in American history and beyond.  "It was a time of the Vietnam War, riots in the cities and [following] the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy," says Keni Burke, who crooned the Five Stairsteps' calming anthem "O-o-h Child," which assured us that "things are gonna get easier."

--RoadBridge

TEENAGERS AND CATS:  Cats and teenagers can lie on the living room sofa for hours on end without moving, barely breathing.

WLS Top 30 for Week of May 10, 1971-- Part 3: 'Power to the People'

*  Means it is climbing the charts.

20.  *IT DON'T COME EASY--  Ringo Starr     #4    George Harrison wrote this song and gave it to his buddy.  Nice guy, that George.  His first big hit.

19.  *WANT ADS--  Hone Cone     #1    Group of back up singers.    Edna Wright died September 12, 2020.  She was the sister of Darlene Love.

18.  *I'LL MEET YOU HALF WAY--  Partridge Family       #9     Their last Top Ten.     I still like that Susan Dey.  She replaced Annette for me.

17.  *BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER--  Aretha Franklin       #6     A whole different spin and vibe on this Simon & Garfunkel classic.  Aretha taking a song and making it her own again.  Aretha could do that.  I listened to this a whole lot of times.

16.  POWER TO THE PEOPLE--  John Lennon      #11     That old rabble rouser.  The second song on this week's chart with the same name.  The other one was by the Chi-Lites at #23.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Got To Pay Your Dues If You Wanna Play The Blues."  Abswer below.  --RoadDog

"It Don't Come Easy"

Bob Stroud Root Salutes the Beatles-- Part 2: 'Can't Buy Me Love'

And remember, that the previous week on April 4, the Beatles had 14 songs in the Hot 100, but they also had the Top 5.

#38   I SAW HER STANDING THERE--  One of the great Beatle "B" sides, the flip of "I Want to Hold Your Hand."

#14   DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET--  

#9    PLEASE PLEASE ME--  

#7    I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND--  It was released in January so had spent three months in the Top 100 by now.

#4    SHE LOVES YOU--  This one was on the Swan label here in the United States.

#2    TWIST AND SHOUT--  Beatles doing the Isley's "Twist and Shout."

#1     CAN'T BUY ME LOVE--  Fourteen songs on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts back this week in 1964.  Another reason there will never be another band quite like the Beatles.  Fourteen songs that are the very definition of joy and jubilation that is rock and roll.  This is the #1 song in the country this week in 1964.

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This was Beatlemania at its best.  As much as I admire their later music which was a whole lot more involved, these were the "Fun" songs and the ones I most enjoy listening to.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Well She Was Just 17 And You Know What I mean."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"I Saw Her Standing There"

Bob Stroud Roots Salutes the Beatles Having 14 Songs in the Billboard Hot 100 on April 11, 1964-- Part 1: The Fab Four Fourteen

 #81  LOVE ME DO--  It's tough to get one song in the Hot 100.  They had 14.  This was what Beatlemania was all about.  Brand new single so was on  its way up the chart.

#78  ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN   Their version of Chuck Berry's song.  His 1956 hit.

#74  THERE'S A PLACE--  Flipside of "Twist and Shout"

#61  THANK YOU GIRL--   "B" side in the States.

#52  FROM ME TO YOU--   Also a "B" Side in the States

#50  ALL MY LOVING--  Not released as a single here in the States, but in Canada.  But on the strength of the imports which came flooding here into the States from Canada, this song charted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.  On the "B" side was "This Boy."   This was the "A" side.

#48   YOU CAN'T DO THAT--  Fab Four Fourteen Countdown.  More COWBELL!!!

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I Got Something To Say That Might Cause You Pain."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"You Can't Do That"

Update on the Beatles Top Five Billboard Chart Hits

In Sunday's post on the Beatles having the Top Five slots on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 11, 1964, I was off by one week.  The Top Five they had was the week before, April 4.  I realized this when listening to Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots show yesterday and he did not have those.

It turns out that the Top Five that I listed was from April 4 and there were a total of just 12 Beatles songs in the Hot 100.  Two more joined the following week which was the one that Stroud played.

You can see the Top Five songs on my Sunday, April 11, 2021, post.

The other Beatles songs in the Hot 100 on April 4, 1964

31.  I SAW HER STANDING THERE  (Capitol)

41.  FROM ME TO YOU  (Vee Jay)

46.  DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET  (Vee Jay)

58.  ALL MY LOVING   (Capitol)

65.  YOU CAN'T DO THAT   (Capitol)

68.  ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN   (Capitol)

79.  THANK YOU GIRL   (Vee Jay)

Of interest, the 12 Hot 100 songs were not all on the same label, but four labels which showed how the record companies were scurrying to cash in on the Beatle phenomenon.  They were Capitol, Tollie, Swan and Vee Jay.  I put the record companies on the Top Five on my Sunday post.

Learn Somethin' Ever' Day.  --RoadTle

TEENAGERS AND CATS:   Neither teenagers nor cats turn their heads when you call them by name.

April 11, 1964: Beatles Have the Top 5 Songs in U.S. and 14 in the Hot 100

Five of the Beatle songs were in the Top Five.

And Bob Stroud is going to play all 14 of those songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for you in just a few minutes (and again at 9 PM CDST) on his Rock and Roll Roots Show on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM.  It streams, so tune in.  (www.wdrv.com)

Beatlemania was at its height back then, all those 57 years ago!!

#1  CAN'T BUY ME LOVE  (Capitol)

#2  TWIST AND SHOUT    (Tollie)

#3  SHE LOVES YOU   (Swan)

#4  I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND    (Capitol)

#5  PLEASE PLEASE ME    (Vee Jay)

There were also two Beatles' tribute songs on the list:

41.  WE LOVE YOU BEATLES--  The Carefrees

85.  A LETTER TO THE BEATLES--  Four Preps

--RoadBeatle

WLS Top 30 for Week of April 12, 1971-- Part 2: 'Power to the People'

25  *I DON'T BLAME YOU AT ALL--  Smokey Robinson & the Miracles      #18   I don't remember hearing it, but a great song.  Follow up to "Tears of a Clown."

24.  *WILD WORLD--  Cat Stevens     #11     One of my all-time favorites.  My intro to the Cat.  But, did he so "Wild" or "Wide"?    Brings back memories of my time at the University of Georgia.

23.  POWER TO THE PEOPLE--  John Lennon      #11   An organizing song?

22.  LOVE STORY (WHERE DO I BEGIN)--   Andy Williams     #9     Sap on Sap.  

21.  WE CAN WORK IT OUT--  Stevie Wonder     #13    Soulifying the Beatles and doing a great job.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Now That I've Lost Everything To You.  You Say You Wanna Start Something New."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Wild World"

1969, Anyone?-- Part 2: 'Ramblin' Gamblin' Man'

POLK SALAD ANNIE--  Tony Joe White    Let's Talk Suthern a Little Y'all.

JESUS IS JUST ALRIGHT--  Byrds     

VOLUNTEERS--  Jefferson Airplane   "Morning Maniac Music"

JINGO--  Santana

I WANT TO TAKE YOU HIGHER--  Sly & the Family Stone     Just in Time for Woodstock.  Throw your hand up!!

RED HOUSE--  Jimi Hendrix

SEA OF JOY--  Blind Faith

RAMBLIN' GAMBLIN' MAN--  Bob Seger    My first introduction to him.

HERE COMES THE SUN--  Beatles

DOWN BY THE RIVER--  Neil Young

WHAT DOES IT TAKE--  Jr. Walker & the All Stars

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Down There We have A Plant That Grows Out In The Woods And Fields."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Polk Salad Annie"