WLS Top Ten for Week of January 22, 1973: 'Rockin' Pneumonia-- Boogie Woogie Flu'

According to Chicago Power House WLS, 890 AM.  Has it really been fifty years?!!!

1.  YOU'RE SO VAIN--  Carly Simon  

2.   SUPERSTITION--  Stevie Wonder

3.  CROCODILE ROCK--  Elton John

4.  ME & MRS. JONES--   Billy Paul

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

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

7.  SUPERFLY--  Curtis Mayfield

8.  CLAIR--  Gilbert O'Sullivan

9.  ROCKIN' PNEUMONIA--BOOGIE WOOGIE FLU--  Johnny Rivers

10.  FUNNY FACE--  Donna Fargo

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

DEBUTS

21.  SEPARATE WAYS--  Elvis Presley

22.  DON'T EXPECT ME TO BE A FRIEND--  Lobo

23.  ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH--  John Denver

25.  LOVE JONES--  Brighter Side of Darkness

26.  JAMBALAYA (ON THE BAYOU)--  Blue Ridge Runners

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "You Walked Into The Party Like You Were Walking Onto A Yacht."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"You're So Vain"

2022 Movie Scratches: Thor-- Elvis-- Crawdads-- Nope

Movie Scratches for 2022--  Movies I saw in the theater.

13.  THOR:  LOVE AND THUNDER--   7-21--  Fox Lake--  $6--  A love story of a different sort.  An Zeus is a real codger.

14.  ELVIS--  7-28--  Fox Lake, $6--  As bad as the Colonel was, Elvis wouldn't have been as big without him.  I didn't see the whole movie the first time as I started coughing a lot and that's just not the thing to do these days.

15.  WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING--  8-4--  Fox Lake-- $6--  Now I understand about all those praying mantis mentions.   A real hard life for the Marsh Girl.

16.  NOPE--  8-8--  Fox Lake--  $6--  A real "One-Eyed, One Horned Flying Purple People Eater."   Horses and a mad chimp.  So, that's why all those balloon men. 

--RoadDog

2022 Movie Scratches: Bob's-- Maverick-- Elvis-- Dominion

Movie Scratches--  Movies I saw at the theater in 2022.

9.  BOB'S BURGERS MOVIE--  6-14-- Woodstock--   $5--   Love the characters, especially frequent diner Teddy.  But do they have to sing about everything?  It gets annoying.

10.  TOP GUN MAVERICK--  6-27--  Fox Lake--  $6--   "You told me not to think!"   The Mav and Goose's son make up.

11.  ELVIS--  7-12--  Woodstock--  $5--   The Colonel was certainly a Flim-Flam man.  Was the Colonel a good guy or a bad guy.  Tim Hanks for Best Actor Oscar.  Great music.

12.  JURASSIC WORLD DOMINION--  7-14--  Fox Lake--  $6--  Bringing back the old cast (well, at least the ones not eaten).  Barbasol Shaving Cream and spittinig dinosaurs.  Dinosaurs and humans living together in a Ghostbusters thing as Bill Murray can tell you.

$6 Matinees at Classic Cinemas.  $5 on Tuesdays.  --RoadMovie

WLS Top 27 Songs for Week of Nov. 13, 1972-- Part 2: 'It Never Rains in Southern California'

20.  *ROCKIN' PNEUMONIA - BOOGIE WOOGIE FLU--  Johnny Rivers     #6     That boogie piano.

19.  *IT NEVER RAINS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA--  Albert Hammond       #5     If no rain, where do those mudslides come from?   Born in London, England.

18.  *VENTURA HIGHWAY--  America      #8       That's Dewey Bunnell singing lead.  

17.  *YOU OUGHT TO BE WITH ME--  Al Green     #3      That music, those instruments and that voice!!   Not one of his better  known songs.  Part of 6 straight Top Tens from 1972-1973.  

16.  BURNING LOVE--  Elvis Presley       #2       Thought I was at a tent revival.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Chewing On A Piece Of Grass, Walking Down The Road."  Answer below.  --  RoadDog

"Ventura Highway"

WLS Top Ten (and Debuts) for Week of November 6, 1972: 'Listen to the Music'

That's right, half a century ago.

1.  NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN--  Moody Blues

2.  GARDEN PARTY--  Rick Nelson

3.  I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW--  Johnny Nash

4.  FREDDIE'S DEAD--  Curtis Mayfield

5.  I'LL BE AROUND--  Spinners

6.  LISTEN TO THE MUSIC--  Doobie Brothers

7.  BURNING LOVE--  Elvis Presley

8.  BEN--  Michael Jackson

9.  GOOD TIME CHARLIE'S GOT THE BLUES--  Danny O'Keefe

10.  I'D LOVE YOU TO WANT ME--  Lobo

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

DEBUTS

20.  SUMMER BREEZE--  Seals & Crofts

21.  AMERICAN CITY SUITE--  Cashman & Dill

22.  YOU OUGHT TO BE WITH ME--  Al Green

26.  ELECTED--  Alice Cooper

27.  OPERATOR--  Jim Croce

28.  CRAZY HORSES--  Osmonds

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Everybody's Misused Him, Ripped Him Off And Abused Him."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Freddie's Dead"

WLS Top Ten (and Debuts) for October 30, 1972: 'Freddie's Dead'

These were the Top Ten songs (and Debuts) in Chicago fifty years ago according to WLS, AM 890.

1.  NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN--  Moody Blues

2.  BURNING LOVE--  Elvis Presley

3.  GARDEN PARTY--  Rick Nelson

4.  USE ME--  Bill Withers

5.  BEN--  Michael Jackson

6.  EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL--  Main Ingredient

7.  FREDDIE'S DEAD--  Curtis Mayfield

8.  I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW--  Johnny Nash

9.  I'LL BE AROUND--  Spinners

10.  LISTEN TO THE MUSIC--  Doobie Brothers

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

DEBUTS

27.  VENTURA HIGHWAY--  America

28.  ROCKIN' PNEUMONIA/BOOGIE WOOGIE FLU--  Johnny Rivers

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "It's Gonna Be A Bright, Bright Sunshiny Day."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"I Can See Clearly Now"

WLS Top Ten (and Debuts) for Week of Oct. 23, 1972: 'Garden Party'

Oops, forgot to print this last Sunday.

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

1.  EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL--  Main Ingredient

2.  USE ME--  Bill Withers

3.  BEN--  Michael Jackson

4.  NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN--  Moody Blues

5.  BURNING LOVE--  Elvis Presley

6.  GARDEN PARTY--  Rick Nelson

7.  GO ALL THE WAY--  Raspberries

8.  FREDDIE'S DEAD--  Curtis Mayfield

9.  TIGHTROPE--  Leon Russell

10.  GOOD TIME CHARLIE'S GOT THE BLUES--  Danny O'Keefe

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

DEBUTS

12.  LISTEN TO THE MUSIC--  Doobie Brothers

18.  THUNDER AND LIGHTNING--  Chi Coltrane

20.  WITCHY WOMAN--  Eagles

25.  I AM WOMAN--  Helen Reddy

28.  I'D LOVE YOU TO WANT ME--  Lobo

I don't know about you, but this is quite a list of debuts.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Just What I'm Going Through They Can't Understand."  Answer below.  --ToadDog

"Nights in White Satin"

WLS Top Ten for Week of October 17, 1972: 'Garden Party'

These were the top songs in Chicago fifty years ago.

1.  BEN--  Michael Jackson

2.  EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL--  Main Ingredient

3.  BURNING LOVE--  Elvis Presley

4.  USE ME--  Bill Withers

5.  GO ALL THE WAY--  Raspberries

6.  NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN--  Moody Blues

7.  BABY DON'T GET HOOKED ON ME--  Mac Davis

8.  TIGHT ROPE--  Leon Russell

9.  GARDEN PARTY--  Rick Nelson

10.  PLAY ME--  Neil Diamond

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

DEBUTS

15.  FREDDIE'S DEAD--  Curtis Mayfield

20.  I'LL BE AROUND--  Spinners

26.  I CAN SEE CLARLY NOW--  Johnny Nash

27.  I BELIEVE IN MUSIC--  Gallery

28.  LOVING YOU JUST CROSSED MY MIND--  Sam Neely

29.  IT NEVER RAINS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA--  Albert Hammond

Name That Tune (from the above songs): "Letters I've Written, Never Meaning To Send."   Answer below.  --RoadDog

WLS Top 27 for Week of October 9, 1972-- Part 4: 'Saturday In the Park'

What were you doing fifty years ago this week?  Here are some songs that might help bring back the memories as they were the top ones in Chicago a half century ago.  A HALF CENTURY AGO?

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

10.  PLAY ME--  Neil Diamond   #11

9.  SATURDAY IN THE PARK--  Chicago   #3

8.  *USE ME--  Bill Withers       #2      Just so funky.  Always enjoy the intro.

7.  BACK STABBERS--  O'Jays     #3

6.  *BURNING LOVE--  Elvis Presly     #2      Probably my favorite Elvis song.

5.  BLACK AND WHITE--  Three Dog Night     #1

4.  *EVERYBODYPLAYS THE FOOL--  Main Ingredient    #3

3.  *GO ALL THE WAY--  Raspberries    #5   Their highest ranking song and only Top Ten.

2.  *BEN--  Michael Jackson    #1   His first solo #1.

1.  BABY DON'T GET HOOKED ON ME--  Mac Davis        #1      This was its third week at #1 onthe WLS chart.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "My Friends Feel It's Their Appointed Duty."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Use Me"

WLS Top Ten for Week of October 2, 1972: 'Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me'

Just half a century ago.  What a long strange trip this has been.

1.  BABY DON'T GET HOOKED ON ME--  Mac Davis   Second week at #1

2.  BLACK AND WHITE--  Three Dog Night

3. SATURDAY IN THE PARK--  Chicago

4.  BACK STABBERS--  O'Jays

5.  BEN--  Michael Jackson

6.  GO ALL THE WAY--  Raspberries

7.  EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL--  Main Ingredient

8.  BURNING LOVE--  Elvis Presley

9.  USE ME--  Bill Withers

10.  PLAY ME--  Neil Diamond

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

DEBUTS

21.  TIGHTROPE--  Leon Russell

23.  LISTEN TO THE MUSIC--  Doobie Brothers

27.  GOOD FOOT (PART 1)--  James Brown

29.  GOOD TIME CHARLIE'S GOT THE BLUES--  Danny O'Keefe

30.  STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN--  Mel & Tim  

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "She Was Morning And I was Night Time."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Play Me"

WLS Top 26 Songs for Week of September 11, 1972-- Part 1: 'Pop That Thang'

These were the top songs in Chicago according to WLS fifty years ago this week.

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

26.  *WHY--  Donny Osmond    #13       Frankie Avalon had a big hit with it at #1 in 1960.

25.  *SPEAK TO THE SKY--  Rick Springfield      #14      The song that put him on the map.  He had many more songs than the only one I could remember for a long time, which was "Jessie's Girl."

24.  BURNING LOVE--  Elvis Presley      #2      Probably my favorite Elvis tune  Get me that "Hunka Hunka Love."

23.  IF LOVING YOU IS WRONG--  Luther Ingram       #3        Love the start of this song and the instruments coming in and out throughout the song.  Talk about oozing Soul.

22.  *POP THAT THANG--  Isley Brothers      #24     Trio of brothers from Cincinnati.

21.  *PLAY ME--  Neil Diamond     #11   Born in 1941 in Brooklyn, New York.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "She Was Morning And I Was Night Time."   Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Play Me"

Summer of 1972 Again-- Part 10: 'Guitar Man'

This past Sunday, Bob Stroud had his fourth and final installment of his annual "Summer of" series on summers of fifty years ago.  That would make it the songs on our radios and in our record collections on September 4, 1972.

I was back in DeKalb, Illinois, getting ready to finish up my senior year at Northern Illinois University.  As much as I was having a really good time in college, I knew it was time to move on with my life.

HONKY CAT--  Elton John

LIFE IS A CARNIVAL (LIVE)--  Band

HAPPY--  Rolling Stones

BURNING LOVE--  Elvis Presley

TWISTIN' THE NIGHT AWAY--  Rod Stewart

BLACK AND WHITE--  Three Dog Night

STAR MAN-- David Bowie

GUITAR MAN--  Bread

DIALOGUE PARTS 1 & 2--  Chicago

GO ALL THE WAY--  Raspberries

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "The Ink Is Black, The Page Is White."  Answerbelow.  --RoadDog

"Black and White"

Movies, the Civil War and Sliders

TUESDAY, JULY 12

Drove to Woodstock, Illinois, and saw the movie "Elvis," met the folks from the McHenry County Civil War Round Table at 3 Brothers for a pre-meeting meal and then went to the Woodstock Public Library for the meeting and had a presentation by Bruce Allardice on "The Mysteries of the Hunley."  

That really made my night as we rarely have presentations on anything naval.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13

We joined Kevin and Kelly and we had Sliders that Jeff had picked up at White Castle in Kenosha for "snack day."  Cindy and Jerry usually bring in the heavy snacks.  We bring in butter pretzels.

THURSDAY, JULY 14

Went to the Fox Lake (Illinois) Theatre and saw "Jurassic World Dominion."  I sure enjoyed the six "Jurassic" movies.  Later we went to Sunnyside.

--RoadDog

WLS Top 27 for Week of August 14, 1972-- Part 1: 'Guitar Man'

These were the Top 27 songs on the WLS Survey fifty years ago today.  

* 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.

27.  *BABY DON'T GET HOOKED ON ME--  Mac Davis     #1    Country makes the pop list.  Born in Lubbock, Texas.

26.  *BACK STABBERS--  O'Jays      #3      How much of a smoother intro can you get?   Their first hit.

25.  *BURNING LOVE--   Elvis Presley     #2      Always liked that "Hunka, Hunka."

24.  GONE--  Joey Heaterton    #24     I'd never heard it before.  Puts a pop spin to a 1957 Ferlin Husky song.  A really powerful voice.  From Long Island, New York.  Her only Top 40.

23.  *GUITAR MAN--  Bread     #11    Boy, that guitar  intro.  Bread was and still is a favorite group of mine.  Also went to #1 in Adult Contemporary.

22.  BABY LET ME TAKE YOU IN MY ARMS--   Detroit Emeralds      #24     I don't remember it.   R&B vocal trio fromLittle Rock, Arkansas.

21.  *BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY--  Daniel Boone      #13      A feel good song.  Takes me right back to college driving the old Ramblin Wreck around Athens, Georgia.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Lord Almighty, I Feel My Temperature Rising."   Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Burning Love"

Those Who Left Us in 2021-- Part 5: Scott, Tutt and Powell

SEPTEMBER

WILLARD SCOTT, 87

The beloved TV weatherman who charmed viewers on NBC's "Today" show with his cheerful personality.  Died September 4.

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

OCTOBER

RONNIE TUTT, 83

A legendary drummer who spent years playing alongside Elvis Presley and teamed up with other stars ranging from Johnny Cash to Stevie Nicks.  Died October 14.

COLIN POWELL, 84

The trailblazing soldier and diplomat who had sterling reputation of service to Republican and Democrat presidents.  It is too bad he never ran for president himself.  I definitely would have voted for him.  Died October 18.

--RoadDog

Christmas Songs-- Part 2: 'Santa Claus Is Back in Town'

CHRISTMAS ALL OVER AGAIN--  Tom Petty

CELEBRATE ME HOME--  Kenny Loggins

2000 MILES--  Pretenders

STEP INTO CHRISTMAS--  Elton John

HAPPY X-MAS (WAR IS OVER)--  John and Yoko

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN--  Ronettes

WINTERTIME--  Steve Miller

GREENSLEEVES--  Jeff Beack

CHRISTMAS IS THE TIME TO SAY I LOVE YOU--  Billy Squier

SANTA CLAUS IS BACK IN TOWN--    Elvis Presley

CHRISTMAS--  Who

RIVER--  Joni Mitchell

SLEIGH RIDE--  Ronettes

SANTA CLAUS AND HIS OLD LADY--  Cheech and Chong

SOMETIMES IN WINTER--  Blood, Sweat & Tears

CHRISTMAS MUST BE TONIGHT--  Band

CHRISTMAS (BABY PLEASE COME HOME)--  Darlene Love

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Come On It's Lovely Weather."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Sleigh Ride"

WLS Top Ten for Week of March 29, 1971: 'One Toke Over the Line'

Go ahead and make a guess as to who sang the above song before you read down this list.

The Top Ten songs in Chicago, Illinois, fifty years ago this week according to WLS, 890 AM.

1.  JUST MY IMAGINATION--  Temptations

2.  SHE'S A LADY--  Tom Jones

3.  WHAT'S GOING ON--  Marvin Gaye

4.  ONE TOKE OVER THE LINE--  Brewer & Shipley

5.  WHAT IS LIFE--  George Harrison

6.  EIGHTEEN--  Alice Cooper

7.  ANOTHER DAY--  Paul McCartney

8.  L.A. GOODBYE--  Ides of March

9.  DOESN'T SOMEBODY WANT TO BE WANTED--  Partridge Family

10.  ME AND BOBBY McGEE--  Janis Joplin

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

DEBUTS

26.  NO LOVE AT ALL--  B.J. Thomas

27.  I PLAY & SING--  Dawn

28.  DREAM BABY--  Glen Campbell

29.  NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE--  Jackson Five

30.  WILD WORLD--  Cat Stevens

WHERE DID THEY GO, LORD--  Elvis Presley

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Every Day Through My Window I Watch Her As She Passes By."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Just My Imagination"

WLS Top 30 for Week of February 8, 1971-- Part 5: 'Your Song'

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

10.  YOUR SONG--  Elton John   #8   His first big hit.

9.  *HAVE YOU SEEN THE RAIN--  Creedence Clearwater Revival    #10     My favorite all-time band.

8.  REMEMBER ME--  Diana Ross     #16

7.  I REALLY DON'T WANT TO KNOW--  Elvis Presley    #21

6.  I HEAR YOU KNOCKING--  Dave Edmunds    #4

5.  *IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND--  Gordon Lightfoot    #5

4.  *WATCHING SCOTTY GROW--  Bobby Goldsboro      #11      That's my boy.  What a good Daddy.

3.  *MAMA'S PEARL--  Jackson Five    #2

2.  BORN TO WANDER--  Rare Earth     #17

1.  ONE BAD APPLE--  Osmond Brothers    #1

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "What A Tale My Thoughts Could Tell Just Like An Old Time Movie."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"If You Could Read My Mind"

WLS Top Ten Songs for Week of February 1, 1971: 'One Bad Apple'

These were the Top Ten songs in Chicago for this week 50 years ago.  Also included are the week's debuts.

1.  ONE BAD APPLE--  Osmond Brothers

2.  I HEAR YOU KNOCKING--  Dave Edmunds

3.  BORN TO WANDER--   Rare Earth

4.  REMEMBER ME--  Diana Ross

5.  YOUR SONG--  Elton John

6.  LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH--  Stephen Stills

7.  IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN--  Gladys Knight & the Pips

8.  I REALLY DON'T WANT TO KNOW--   Elvis Presley

9.  MAMA'S PEARL--  Jackson Five

10.  KNOCK THREE TIMES--  Dawn

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

DEBUTS

28.  LOVE STORY--  Henry Mancini

29.  SHE'S A LADY--  Tom Jones

30.  DOESN'T SOMEBODY WANT TO BE WANTED--

HIT PARADE BOUND  

HANG ON TO YOUR LIFE--  Guess Who

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "It's A Little Bit Funny, This Feeling Inside."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Your Song"

WLS Top 30 for Week of January 11, 1971-- Part 1: 'Montego Bay'

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

HIT PARADE BOUND:  

*WHEN I'M DEAD AND GONE--  McGuinness Flint    #47     A real different sound.  Kazoos, but not accordions.   British rock group.  Both members, Tom McGuinness and Hughie Flint were in the Manfred Mann Band.

30.  *WE GOTTA GET YOU A WOMAN--    Runt       #20     We really know it's Todd.  He wrote it and also produced it.  This song always reminds me of when Delta Sigma Phi fraternity brother Tom Smith and I went to Florida for Spring Break in his VW Beetle.  This was his first hit  after leaving Nazz and Utopia.

29.  MONTEGO BAY--  Bobby Bloom    #8     Still didn't think he was a white guy.  His only Top 40, so that makes him a real ___ ___ _______.

28. * I REALLY DON'T WANT TO KNOW--  Elvis Presley      #21     Smooth as silk, you know.   A number 11 hit for Les Paul and Mary Ford in 1954.

27.  *WATCHING SCOTTY GROW--  Bobby Goldsboro      #11    That's my boy, the King of Schmaltz.  Written by Mac Davis who died in 2020.

26.  AFTER MIDNIGHT--  Eric Clapton     #18       Always love the start of this song.  His first solo hit.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Leroy Boy, Is That You?  I Thought Your Post-Hangin' Days Were Through."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"We Gotta Get You A Woman"