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

So Sorry to Hear About Death of WXRT's Lin Brehmer

Yesterday while doing these blogs I came across notice of the death of one of my favorite disc jockeys, Lin Brehmer on Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM.  I listened to him mornings until he shifted to midday.  Like he liked to say, "Your Best Friend in the Whole World."

He  had left the airways back in this past July because of cancer treatments and had a strong desire to get back on the air.

Listening to his show was like sitting with a good friend and talking music and especially his beloved Chicago Cubs (but, I didn't hold that against him).  And, how in the world did he come up with what he said on his Lin's Bin bits.  For any of you unjfamiliar with Lin's Bits, it was a lot like listening to that deejay on "Northern Exposure" only with bits of songs and lines from movies.

This past year has been rough on me as along with Lin Brehmer (always hard to spell his name), I lost two other of my favorite disc jockeys in Chicago:  Bob Stroud on WDRV and Terri Hemmert on WXRT.  But, though they are not on regularly, their signature shows are.  With Bob that would be Rock and Roll Roots, Ten at Ten and One 45 at 1:45.  Terri Hemmert has Breakfast With the Beatles.  Those shows still are on, so it is not like they are entirely gone.

Today, WXRT is going to salute the life of Lin Brehmer starting at 10 am, CDT.  It streams, so I will definitely be giving it a listen.

--RoadDog

Get Your Music Here: 1984, 1978, Beach Music, the Beatles and August 2, 1970

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1

**  Right now, Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM is having Bill St. James do his Time Warp which is back to 1984.    He's on from 6 to 10 am every Saturday.  All times are CDST in this entry unless otherwise noted.

**  Shortly, Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM will start their Saturday Morning Flashback from 9 am to noon.  This week they go back to 1978.

**  North Myrtle Beach, S.C.'s WVCO, the Surf, will play the top 30 Beach Music Songs from 9 to 11 am, EDST.

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SUNDAY AUGUST 2

**  Terri Hemmert will do her weekly Breakfast With the Beatles show from 8 to 10 am on WXRT, 93.1 FM.

**  Bob Stroud will be doing Part 3 of his annual trip back to Summer on WDRV.  This year, we go back to August 2, 1970, where he will be playing songs playing on your radio and in your record collection.  (That's tight, fifty years ago.  That's half a century.)  His show runs from 9 am to noon.

So Many Tunes, So Little Time.  --RoadNeedSomeMoreTime

JSS: U.S. Flag Day-- Paul's Birthday on WXRT'S Breakfast With the Beatles-- Piano and Violin Dirges for the "C-- The Sunday Chicago Tribune These Days

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  U.S. FLAG DAY TODAY--  Today is the birthday of the United States Flag.  On June 14, 1777, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress  passed on that date, the new nation's flag was put thusly:  "Resolved:  That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."

Hope you put your flags out.  I have my usual U.S. flag at the garage, the smaller one at the mailbox out by the street and a 76 Bennington flag hanging up on the porch.

2.  PAUL'S BIRTHDAY ON WXRT'S BREAKFAST WITH THE BEATLES--  It has now started, so tune in at www.wxrt.com for Terri Hemmert's annual salute to Paul McCartney on his 78th birthday, which is June 18, 1942.  Nothing but Paul songs, with and without the Beatles for two hours.  It runs from 8 am to 10 am, CDST.  Listening to it right now.

3.  PIANO AND VIOLIN DIRGES FOR THE "C"--  Sure getting tired of all those coronavirus commercials on TV with the "dirge" piano and violin soundtracks.  I may never be able to listen to this sort of music again.

4.  THE SUNDAY CHICAGO TRIBUNE THESE DAYS--  Just went out and picked up my Sunday Chicago tribune out in the driveway.  That's right, I still get the old hardcopy newspaper.  I sure am going to miss this treat when it's gone.

Sadly, today's Sunday Tribune is about the same size as the old daily Tribunes.  The old Sunday Tribune had a whole lot of heft to it.

CRAZY COUNTRY SONGS:  "If I Had Shot You When I Wanted To, I'd be Out By Now."

Just A Short Time to Join the Stroud Crowd in a Trip back to June 7, 1970

Bob Stroud will start his Rock and Roll Roots show in Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM at 9 am and it will run to noon CDST.  It streams at www.wdrv.com.  

He will be playing the songs on the radio and in your record collection (remember those LPs and singles?) from fifty years ago.  That's right, a half century.  If you miss it, he will rebroadcast from 9 pm to midnight today.

I had just finished my freshman year at Northern Illinois University, so, these songs were really special to me.

And, in the next ten minutes, Terri Hemmert will be starting her Breakfast With the Beatles show on Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM.  It goes to 10 am and also streams at www.wxrt.com.

--RoadDog

In Case You're Stuck in the House Because of You-Know-What, Here's Some Good Music to Listen To

Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM has its Saturday Morning Flashback to the year 1974 from 9 to noon, CDST.  It'll take you back.

Then, the Surf, 94.9 FM out of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has the weekly Beach Music Top 30 from 10 to 1 pm today.

Then tomorrow, Chicago's WXRT has Terri Hemmert's Breakfast With the Beatles from 8 to 10 am and Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM has Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots from 9 to noon.  Both are CDST.

All stations stream, so give it a listen.

Also, if you can figure out how to get in online, Chicago has another great station called MeTV 87.7 FM that plays a really big selection of oldies all day.

Also condolences to the family and friends of Kenny Rogers who died yesterday.  Sure enjoyed his music both with the First Edition and by himself.  That old graybeard.

So, If Stuck Home, Give A Listen.  --RoadDog

TOP TEN COUNTRY SONGS:  "My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend and I Sure Do Miss Him"

Terri Hemmert Salutes George Harrison on His Birthday-- Part 2: "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"

*  Beatles

HERE COMES THE SUN-- *
Professor Moptop
DEVIL'S BEEN BUSY-- Traveling Wilburys
CLOUD NINE--  George

WITHIN YOU WITHOUT YOU--  Strings Attached & Will Taylor
ONLY A NORTHERN SONG--  *
OLD BROWN SHOE--  Irv Irving

AIN'T NOTHING SHAKIN'--  BBC--  *
WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY SLEEPS--  Jake Shimabukuro
I ME MINE--  *

Name That Tune (from the Above Songs):  "Little Darling, It's been A Long, Cold, Lonely Winter."  Answer below.  --Roaddog


"Here Comes the Sun"

Terri Hemmert Salutes George on Her Breakfast With the Beatles Show Feb. 23, 2020-- Part 1: "Bangladesh"

Terri Hemmert always has a tribute to each of the Beatles closest to their birthday on her Breakfast With the Beatles show on Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM.  We listened to her show and Bob Strouds Roots Salute to George Harrison on the way home from the NIU basketball games in DeKalb on Sunday.

She played George singing with the Beatles, by himself and others singing his songs.

*  With the Beatles

DON'T BOTHER ME--  *
ALL THINGS MUST PASS--  George
SO SAD--  Alvin Lee

RUN OF THE MILL--   (Demo)  George
PARTY SEACOMBE--  George (Wonderwall)
IF I NEEDED SOMEONE--  *

EVERYBODY'S TRYING TO BE MY BABY--  *
Professor Moptop on names George went by
BADGE--  Cream  (George co-wrote the song)
BANGLADESH--  George

NOT GUILTY--  (Take 102)--  *
PIGGIES--  *
BEWARE OF DARKNESS--   Leon Russell

CHAINS-  *
STUCK INSIDE A CLOUD--  George
THE INNER LIGHT--  Jimmy McGrif & Jr. Parker

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "You're The One I'd be Thinking Of."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"If I Needed Someone"

Happy Belated Birthday George

Either yesterday or Monday was George Harrison's birthday.  He was born right at midnight either February 24 or February 25, 1943, so this is the question.  It doesn't really matter though.  Sadly, he died November 29, 2001.   He would have been 76.

George was always my favorite of the Beatles from the get-go and could he ever play that lead guitar.  It was too bad that the big two Beatles wouldn't give him much of a chance to do his stuff.

But, anyway, in honor of George's birthday, both Bob Stroud on his Rock and Roll Roots show on Chicago's WDRV and Terri Hemmert on her Breakfast with the Beatles show on Chicago's WXRT had their shows dedicated to George on this past Sunday.

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Here are some of the songs they played:

ROCK AND ROLL ROOTS  Beatles unless *.  Then that is George Harrison


ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN
WHAT IS LIFE*

I'M HAPPY JUST TO DANCE WITH YOU
LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD*

YOU LIKE ME TOO MUCH
MY SWEET LORD*

I NEED YOU
GIVE ME LOVE*

TAX MAN
THIS SONG*

I WANT TO TELL YOU
IF NOT FOR YOU*

WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS
BLOW AWAY*

ALL THINGS MUST PASS*

Way To Go, George.  --RoadGeorge

Big Changes at Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM

This is one of the three main radio stations I listen to in Chicago.  Most every morning, I start with the Morning Show, hosted by Lin Brehmer and, until a few weeks ago, Mary Dixon with the news and essentially a co-host.  But the station dropped its morning news and she is now with another station, sadly.

Now, in a few weeks, Lin will be flipping time slots to 10-2:30 pm with Richard Milne.  Lin Brehmer played a lot of music while being somewhat talkative.  One of my problems with most morning shows is too much talk.  I need my music to get me going in the morning.

Plus, not too long ago, Terri Hemmmert retired from the midday job, but still comes back on Sundays to do her Breakfast With the Beatles show.  Sadly, on that one, Professor Moptop has reached the end of his informative segments on the history of the Beatles.  Hopefully they will start re-airing his reruns.

And, today (and last Wednesday) the station is playing all day with no commercial breaks.  I appreciate that, but, hey, over-the-air stations have to have a revenue stream and this doesn't do anything for that important aspect.  So give it a listen today on www.wxrt.com.

WXRT, Chicago's Finest Rock.  --RoadRadio

DID YOU KNOW:  "Stewardesses" is the longest English word that is only typed with the left hand.

Some Great Music On the Radio This Weekend: 1986 and 1979

In just a short time, WXRT, 93.1 FM will begin their Saturday Morning Flashback show, today hosted by Johnny Mars, at 9 a.m. CDST.  It runs to noon and today we go back to 1986.  It streams at www.wxrt.com.

Sunday, Bob Stroud goes back to August 4, 1979 for his third part of his Summer of '79 Salute on his Rock and Roll Roots show from 7 a.m. to 10 on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM.  It streams as well at www.wdrv.com.

Also Sunday, Terri Hemmert has her Breakfast With the Beatles show on WXRT, 93.1 FM from 8 a.m. to 10.  Then Sunday night Tom Marker has his Bluesbreakers Show on WXRT at 9 o.m..

--RoadDog

BABY TRIVIA TEASERS:  Which restaurant chain uses a commercial jingle about
"baby back baby back ribs?"


"Chili's"

JSS: Summer of '79-- The Fours of July-- Breakfast With the Beatles

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  SUMMER OF '79--  In just a little bit, 7 am CDST, Bob Stroud will be going back 40 years to July 7, 1979, and playing those summer songs.  His show is Rock and Roll Roots on WDRV, 97.1 FM, the Drive.  And it streams at www.wdrv.com   It runs 7 to 10 am CDST.  His show will be repeated at 7 p.m. tonight.

2.  THE FOURS OF JULY--  And his station, WDRV, has been running the blocks of four songs from the same group ever since Thursday.  They play one or two well-knowns and then dig deep for the others.  Worth a listen.  It streams.

3.  BREAKFAST WITH THE BEATLES--  And, from 8 to 10 this morning, Terri Hemmert, on Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM, will be doing her weekly Beatles show, today featuring Ringo Starr because of his birthday.  It streams as well at www.wxrt.com.

--RoadDog

Trivia:  What movie does the line "Nobody puts Baby in a corner" come from?

"Dirty Dancing"

It's A Creedence Thing For Me: "Lodi" and CCR Getting Back Together?

I was listening to Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots just a little while ago, 7 am to 10 am Sundays on WDRV, 93.1 FM, Chicago, the Drive, something I do most every Sunday (I record Terri Hemmert's Breakfast With the Beatles, 8 to 10 am on Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM on my cassette tapes to listen to during the week.)

Anyway, Stroud played "Lodi" by Creedence Clearwater Revival and that song, of course, perked up my ears and is one that really takes me back to my college days because it was my fraternity's song (Delta Sigma Phi), that we sang about a special girl.  Only our words were different.  I couldn't tell you them here, but believe me, at our parties, we really belted our version out.

The new words were written by Cyzck and Beasey.

But, after the song, Stroud said the words I gave been waiting so long to hear, that Doug Clifford, Stu Cook and John Fogerty have been meeting and talking about burying the hatchet.  John's brother Tom Fogerty has since died.  When the band broke up in 1972, there were really hard feelings.

I consider CCR my favorite 1960s band.

Can a tour be long in coming?

CCR Forever.  --RoadFan


EGGCELLENT EASTER JOKES:    Q:  What would you get if you crossed the Easter Bunny with an over-stressed person?   A:  An Easter basket case!!

Seven Ways the Beatles Changed Boomer Childhood

Terri Hemmert, our Beatle enthusiast here in Chicago on WXRT, 93.1 FM, who has a show on Sundays from 8-10 am called Breakfast With the Beatles found this bit of information and passed it on to us.

1.  The Beatles made music a necessity.  (It sure did for me.  It had a huge impact on my life.)

2.  It displaced traditional childhood past times.  Like toys.  (Well, not really in my case.)

3.  The youngest Beatle fans started continually hanging out with older ones.  (Not me.)

4.  Children became aware of appearance and wanted to look cool.  (I didn't dare cross my parents in this situation.)

5.  They displaced traditional male role models.  (Like I said, I would not dare cross my dad.)

6.  Children became consumers when they became fans.  (To an extent.  I didn't have much money and my dad thought records were a waste of money. I didn't buy my first 45s until 1965, and even then, on the sly.)

7.  They created global and generational consciousness in younger boomers.  (There was no doubt but the Beatles were OUR music, not our parents.)

Something To Think About.  --RoadDog

EGGCELLENT  EASTER JOKES:  From April 2019 Wassup Magazine.    Q.  What does the Easter Rabbit get for making a basket?    A.  Two points just like everyone else.

John Lennon's 78th Birthday Today: "Imagine"

He was born this date in 1940.

Bob Stroud did his Ten at Ten today on Chicago's WDRV 97.1 FM on this man.  You can hear it again tonight at 10 p.m. Cebtral Time.

INSTANT KARMA--  John Lennon
YOU'VE GOT TO HIDE YOUR LOVE AWAY--  Beatles
WOMAN--  John Lennon

NORWEGIAN WOOD  (THIS BIRD HAS FLOWN)--  Beatles
WHATEVER GETS YOU THROUGH THE NIGHT--  John Lennon
HELP!--  Beatles
TWO OF US--  Beatles

(JUST LIKE) STARTING OVER--  John Lennon
IMAGINE--  John Lennon
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE--  Beatles

He also featured John Lennon on his Sunday Rock and Roll Roots Show.  Terri Hemmert devoted her whole Breakfast With the Beatles show on him as well this past Sunday.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "When I Was Younger, So Much Younger."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

WALLACE WOOD'S RULES OF DRAWING:  3.  Never trace what you can cut out and paste down.


"Help!"

An Oktoberfest Kind of Weekend-- Part 3: Radio, Stucky's, Uncle Willie, Bears

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23

As always, listened to Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots on WDRV from 7 to 10 a.m. and recorded Terri Hemmert's Breakfast With the Beatles (on cassette) on WXRT.  On the internet and the #1 song in Chicago Sept. 23, 1968, was "Fire" by the Crazy World of Arthur Brown.  If you want to see a crazy video, watch it on You Tube.

Drove by Sunnyside in Johnsburg to watch the Bears-Cardinals game, but it was too crowded.  We turned around in the Angelo's, Stucky's parking lot and saw a guy out on the Stucky deck singing, so figured we'd stop to hear him and enjoy the $1.50 drafts.

It turned out that the performer was Uncle Willie, one of our favorite entertainers these days, so we just stayed and partied with him.  He even knew and sang one of out favorite songs, "Two Hangmen" by Mason Proffitt."  That song takes us back to our college days as the group often performed at NIU and DeKalb.

Plus, the Bears really stunk it up in the first half.  When Uncle Willie quit, we went inside and watched the 4th quarter and Da Bears rallied to win!!!

Then to Sunnyside and home.

Too Much Fun.  --RoadDog

MURPHY'S PHOTOGRAPHER'S LAW:  The other best shots are generally attempted through the lens cap.

Keeping Busy-- Part 3: A Farewell to New Odyssey At Parish Fest

SUNDAY, AUGUST 12

Did the usual FP (Front Porch) and OD  (On deck) and listened to Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots on WDRV. 93.1 FM from 7-10 a.m. and recorded Terri Hemmert's Breakfast With the Beatles on WXRT, 93.1 FM.

Liz and I went up early to get a table at St. John's Parish fest in Johnsburg, Illinois.  An elementary school friend of Liz's plays guitar and many other instruments in the the group New Odyssey which was playing today and had for the last ten or so years.  They bill themselves as "Three Guys, 30 Instruments" because they play 30 different instruments during the course of a show.

The do a ten-song Beatles medley and play all 30 of them in the ten-twelve minutes.  Quite a show.  They also play Beatles songs in one medley where the drummer wears a Sgt. Pepper's drum coat and plays that.  Quite impressive.

Sadly, after 40 years, this is their last year performing together.

Of course, there is all kinds of great food at the Parish Fest and we took advantage of much of it.  Plus, plenty of ice-cold beer.  I got a free beer when one of the people serving saw me in my Stan Mijita shirt.

Sure Going to Miss New Odyssey.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE BECOMING A GEEK WHEN:  You become physically ill at the mention of RIAA, and visibly excited at the mention of object-oriented programming.  (Now ask me if I have any idea what this was/is all about.)

Going Back to the Summer of 1978-- Part 2: "Feel Like a Number"

Songs on the radio or in your record collection on June 10, 1978.

ACCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN--  Elvis Costello
HEARTLESS--  Heart
EBONY EYES--  Bob Welch   After he left Fleetwood Mac.

FEEL LIKE A NUMBER--  Bob Seger
WITH A LITTLE LUCK--  Paul McCartney & Wings
LONDON TOWN--  Paul McCartney & Wings   These last two played at 8 a.m. when Terri Hemmert started her Breakfast With the Beatles show on WXRT.

LAY DOWN SALLY--  Eric Clapton   No longer with Cream at this point.
ICE CREAM MAN--  Van Halen
BECAUSE THE NIGHT--  Patti Smith Group

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "We Can Make This Whole Damn Thing Work Out."   answer below.  --RoadDog

CUSTOMER GUIDE TO SUPERMARKET CHECKOUT:  Make sure at least three of your items don't have the codes or price on them.


"With a Little Luck"

Music Listening This Weekend Here in Chicago

All times Central Daylight Savings.  Both stations stream.

WXRT, 93.1 FM   www.wxrt.com

Saturday Morning Flashback 8-11 a.m.  Today to 1991

Sunday--
Breakfast With the Beatles  8-10 a.m.  With Terri Hemmert
Bluesbreakers  9-10 p.m.  With Tom Marker

WDRV, 93.1 FM   www.wdrv.com

Rock and Roll Roots  7-10 a.m.  Part 4 of the Summer of 1977  Songs on the radio and in your stereo and your album collection for September 3, 1977.  With Bob Stroud

Tune In or Tune Out.  --RoadDog

About Last Weekend-- Part 4: Radio, Yard and Sunnyside

JUNE 25, SUNDAY

Sat out FP (Front Porch) in the morning for coffee and breakfast.  As I usually do.

As I do every morning, I listened to Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots on WDRV, 97.1 FM in Chicago.from 7 to 10 a.m..  Since this is the first official weekend of summer 2017, he played nothing but summer-related songs.

I am also recording Terri Hemmert's Breakfast With the Beatles which I will listen to later in the week.  It runs from 8 to 10 a.m. on Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM.

I did a lot of yardwork afterwards and later we went to Sunnyside Tap in Johnsburg, Illinois, for their 3 p.m. drawing where Liz won a $25 gift certificate.  We had been planning on going over to Captain's Quarters on Fox Lake to see their band (bands play 3 to 7 p.m. on Sundays during the summer), but we didn't make it, staying at Sunnyside and enjoying the camaraderie.  Sunnyside is a real "Cheers" kind of a place.

--RoadDog