JSS About That Virus Thing: Commercials, Piano Dirges, Trying Times, Whole Milk

Just Some Stuff About These Days.

1.  COMMERCIALS--  Listening to the radio and watching TV, there seems to be a whole lot of commercials about how to get out of your time shares.  Sure glad we didn't buy one back in the days when we went to Myrtle Beach and were accosted often by these wonderful deals that were too good to pass up.

If it's not that, then it is lawsuits against nursing homes for elderly abuse.  You'd think these days the biggest worry about nursing homes would be the CV getting in.

2.  PIANO DIRGES--  I am getting to the point that I can't stand those slow, dirge pianos on commercials anymore.  Hope they don't destroy my love of piano.

3.  TRYING TIMES--  However, I have a new drinking game since I can't go into bars anymore right now.  Every time I hear a commercial with the words "Trying" Times or some variation of it, it is time to take a drink.  After awhile you forget about it all.

4.  WHOLE MILK--  Liz has been the one going to the store to buy stuff and she only gets whole milk (the Walgreens selection is limited), whereas I like 2% milk.  I remember the old days when my parents had milk delivered in those metal boxes which were handy places to store crickets, grass hoppers, frogs, toads and lizards we'd collect.

Now On Day 59 of Essentially Staying Home.

--RoadDog

LAUGHTER HELPS WITH THE "V":  Well, at least the fear of missing out (FOMO) isn't a thing anymore.

JSS: Winter Arrives Early-- Halloween Decorations-- Even Cold in Myrtle Beach-- How About That Wall MR. PRESIDENT?

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.

1.  WINTER ARRIVES EARLY--   It definitely has arrived early.  We had 5 inches of snow on Halloween and another 5 inches  yesterday.  And today, temps never much got past 20 degrees all day.

2.  HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS-- Unfortunately, I had taken down the Halloween outside decorations but not brought them inside.  Now they are covered with snow.  I'll have to wait for a warm up.  I sure hope it gets a bit warmer.

3.  EVEN COLD IN MYRTLE BEACH--  I usually listen to WVCO, 94.9 the Surf in North Myrtle Beach most mornings and they are talking of temperatures below freezing and wind chill tomorrow of around 20 degrees.  So, I don't feel so bad.

4.  HOW ABOUT THAT WALL, MR. PRESIDENT?--  I know our president would like to build a wall along our border with Mexico.  But I have a better idea for a wall.  Let's build it where an even bigger problem exists, and that would be along our northern border.

Now, don't get me wrong, I like Canadians, BUT I sure don't like THEIR WEATHER!!!  I think they should keep their weather on their own side of the wall and quit sending it to us.

Come On, Mr. President.  Build That Wall.  --RoadWall

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DID YOU KNOW:  The symbol on the "pound" key (#) is called an octothorpe.

Don't octothorpe me.

Happy 20th Birthday WVCO, the Surf: The Voice of Beach Music

August 19, 1998, this FM radio station switched format to a Beach Music/Oldies one.  It is located in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and at the epicenter of the Beach Music world.  That is the music that fans shag to, which is also the state dance, kind of a slow bop.

This is also a station I listen to most mornings while going through e-mails or typing away at these blogs.  I also listen to Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM.

Right now, at 8:27 a.m. EDST Jim Morgan is playing and they are doing all kinds of birthday activities.

When we first started going to Myrtle Beach in the 1980s, we listened to WNMB which had Billy Smith in the morning and played Beach Music.  Billy Smith was a real experience, or the Old BS'er as he called himself.

Anyway, Happy Birthday, The Surf.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE BECOMING A GEEK WHEN:  You have a poster on your wall of the Linux penguin.

All-Time Top 40 in Beach Music Today on the Surf, 94.9 FM

They've been counting listener votes for the last two months and now the Surf is  ready to announce the All-Time Beach Music Top 40.  They started at 11 a.m. EDST and are now at # 15.

I am a huge fan of Beach Music, and not that Beach Boys Beach Muisic, though I like their stuff too.  I mean the kind of music they play along the coasts of North and South Carolina.  The music you can shag to and I'm talking the English shag.  Shag is the state dance of South Carolina.

The last songs played:

20.  DANCING/SHAGGING ON THE BOULEVARD--  Alabama  (Alabama got their start playing at the Bowery in Myrtle Beach.)
19.  BRENDA--  O.C. Smith
18.  WITH THIS RING--  Platters

17.  HOLD BACK THE NIGHT--  Trammps
16.  THANK YOU JOHN--  Willie Tee
15.  OCEAN BOULEVARD--  Band of Oz

14.  MYRTLE BEACH DAYS--  Fantastic Shakers
13.  MEET ME BAY WITH YOUR BLACK DRAWERS ON--  Gloria Hardiman
12.  GIVE ME JUST A LITTLE MORE TIME--  Chairman of the Board

Hive a listen.  Then, Friday, they will play the ALL-TIME top 40 of newer songs from 2000 to now.

Not the three I picked, but, shoot!!  I like 'em all, anyway.

Beachin' It, My Friend.  --  RoadBeach

Name That Tune (from the above):  "Life's Too Short To make A Mistake."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

YOU KBOW THE COMPUTER BELONGS TO A REDNECK WHEN:  There is a Skoal can in the CD-ROM drive.

"Give Me Just A Little More Time"

JSS: Billy Graham-- Warm Myrtle Beach-- Cold Here

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  BILLY GRAHAM--  I was listening to the Surf, WVCO 94.9 FM out of North Myrtle Beach this morning.  The song "Son of a Preacher Man" by Dusty Springfield was playing.  At the end of it, the deejay said that he had just gotten the news of Billy Graham's death.  Quite a coincidence.

2.  WARM MYRTLE BEACH--  I am a bit jealous of Myrtle Beach, S.C., though.  Temperatures there today are in the upper 70s, and even lower 80s in some places.  Must be a Southern thing.

3.  COLD HERE--  Well, as warm as Myrtle Beach is today, we are cold here in Northern Illinois.  Yesterday we had 55 degrees, but it rained all day.  We are so thankful it wasn't 21 degrees as it is today as we'd sure have had a real lot of snow.

Just Some Stuff.  --RoadStuff

Listening to the Radio This Morning

Right now I am listening to both Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM.  Linn Brehmer and Mary Dixon are doing their morning show live at the Dunkin' Donuts in Deerfield, Illinois, for the Cop On the Rooftop effort to raise money for Special Olympics, a good cause.  Sure pity those cops on the rooftop today as it is absolutely miserable to be outside.

Most weekday mornings I listen to WXRT and WVCO, 94.9 FM, the Surf, out of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  Well, actually Loris near North Myrtle Beach.  They play Beach Music.  Their morning man, Stevie B plays some of the best Beach and oldies ever.  I mean, he digs deep.  Way deep.

And, I am jealous of Myrtle Beach's weather today with sun and temps in the lower 80s.  I'll trade our blustery, overcast and 40s temps.

Of course, I can get WXRT over the local airwaves, but the Surf requires the internet.

I Love the Internet.  --RoadDog

It's a Music Weekend Around Here and in North Myrtle Beach

Bob Stroud will feature 1972 today, Horny Songs (this could be interesting) on Monday, 1985 on Tuesday and 1974 on Wednesday on his Ten at Ten show at 10 AM amd 10 PM on WDRV, 97.1 in Chicago.

Tomorrow morning, WXRT's Wendy Rice spotlights 1984 on her Saturday Morning Flashback from 8 to noon. Both stations stream if you're out of the Chicago area. (Both stations on CST)

And, let's not forget Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots show Sunday morning 7 to 10 AM and Little Steven's Underground Garage Sunday night on WXRT from 9 to 11 PM.

And, down in North Myrtle Beach, SC, it is the Fall Migration of SOS for you Beach Music fans. SOS stands for Shagging on the Strand. Shagging is the state dance of South Carolina and the way Beach Music fans dance. The Strand is short for Grand Strand, that long stretch of beach along the coast in that area.

Hundreds of Beach Music fans swarm to North Myrtle Beach during this time when all the music venues feature Beach bands and deejays. One of these days I'll have to go there.

Both major Beach Music surveys, The Surf 94.9 FM and Fessa John Hook have "Hey Eugene" by Sea Cruz at #1. The Surf has #2 "The Driver" by King Tyrone & the Graveyard Ramblers and John Hook's #2 is "He's My Baby" by Heather Haywood.

Great Music. --RoadDog

JSIS: Denny's Chili-- Reality Show At Pier West and Angelo's-- SOS

JSIS--  Just Some Interesting Stuff


1.  DENNY'S CHILI--  I see my buddy Denny has been going to various places noted for their Cincinnati Chili and reviewing them.  Most recently he did one called "5 More 4's."  You can get your chili three-way, four-way or even five-way.  I don't know whether to thank or condemn him for getting me hooked on the stuff.  You can read it at www.dennygibson.com/blog.


2.  REALITY SHOW AT PIER WEST AND ANGELO'S--  Last week one of the Reality shows on the Food Network filmed at Pier West in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin.  This week, they are filming at Angelo's on the square in Woodstock, Illinois.  I forget the name of the show, but it has something to do with helping failing restaurants succeed.  Last Tuesday, we met some of the show's people at Donovan's.  We were not impressed at all.


3.  SOS--  We are in the midst of the ten-day SOS Spring Safari Party in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  That's Shaggin' On the Strand and it is a big Beach Music celebration.  Sure would like to be there.  If it keeps raining, we might just float over to there.  By the way, here shagging refers to the dance.

My, Oh My, It's SOS Again.  --RoadDog

Academy of Country Music Awards 2011: "When Alabama Gets the Bomb"

Quote from Tom Lehrer's "Who's Next" from the album That Was the Year That Was.

Monday night I watched the 2011 Academy of Country Music Awards Show on Fox. Well. actually, I recorded it on the old VHS and then watched it at 10 pm. By jumping over commercials and parts of performances, I was able to see the whole show in one hour (instead of the two).

I was glad to see the band Alabama get an award. Also happy to see they're coming back after that forever goodbye tour they had a few years ago. Judging from their facial hair, perhaps we should change their name to the "Graybeards." The three front men are still with the band. I didn't get a look at the drummer, so am not sure he is back.

I have all of Alabama's albums and on into their CD era. I liked them right out of the gate. As an Alabama bonus, we used to go to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, every year and often spent a night drinking ice cold beer, staring in amazement at how many mugs of beer the waiters could carry in one hand, and doing the hand signals to order at the wonderful old roadhouse, excuse me, boardwalk/beach house, The Bowery.

If you want some real fine country music, this is the place to go. This is where Alabama learned their chops, much like the Beatles did in Hamburg and Liverpool. The house bands play for free and depend on tips to get by. Plus, they play every night except Sunday.

There are pictures of Alabama when they were performing at The Bowery.

Love That Alabama. --RoadDog


HOW'S THAT AGAIN? Have you ever wondered what some sayings, especially by older folk, mean?

A BONE TO PICK (someone who wants to discuss a disagreement)

Congrats to Dick Biondi

He's been around since Rock and Roll began and is still chugging away at WLS-FM True Oldies at 94.7 FM here in Chicago doing his nightly show.

I just read that he has won the 2010 Carolina Beach Music Association's DJ of the year. Just one more thing to add to his list of honors and a very deserving one.

Dick, as we know, has been fired on more than one occasion and after a stint here in Chicago in the 60s, ended up at a station down in Myrtle Beach South Carolina spinning tunes, many of which were Beach Music ones. And, these aren't your Beach Boys beach songs, but that eastern Carolina sweet R&B.

These are the songs that folks along the south's east coast dance the shag to.

He also knew another one of my favorite DJs of all time, the late-great Billy Smith.

Way to Go You Italian Stallion. Put Some Peanut Butter on the Spaghetti. --RoadDog


DOORMATS WITH ATTITUDE: Come Back with a Warrant.
Thanks, Uncle Bo.

Enjoying the House

A couple days ago, I got to sit out in the gazebo for several hours. Today, I had a bonfire on the Grand Strand, the lower patio which is named after one of our favorite places to visit, Myrtle and North Myrtle Beach. Of course, this is the epicenter of one of my favorite types of music, Beach Music, and I'm not talking about the Beach Boys or Jan and Dean. I'm talking about East Coast Carolina Beach Music.

I've finally gotten the yard to just about where I want it. Now, I intend to enjoy it, especially since I'm not boating anymore.

We also have a great bar downstairs in the basement that we call Margaritaville with all sorts of nautical and Jimmy Buffett stuff as well as a TV in the upper corner, wet bar, and mini fridge. Why go anywhere else? We call the whole homestead Key North because we definitely aren't west but way north.

Then, of course, there's the oversized deck to enjoy.

Wasting Away Again at Key North. --RoadDog

Beach Music Loses Another Great Performer

Last month, while listening to the Surf, 94.9 FM from Myrtle Beach over the internet, I heard that Dink Perry, a founder of the Breeze Band had died quite suddenly. The Breeze Band is one of today's Beach Bands with a big following. Dink Perry had left the group to pursue a solo career.

Today, while listening again, I hear that Bill Pinkney (also spelled Pinckney), age 83, of the Original Drifters died yesterday. He was a member of the first group of Drifters when they formed back in 1953. He was still out on the road performing when his death occurred,

I was fortunate to get to see him do an excellent show in Las Vegas about ten years ago. He still motivated the crowd. He had spent a lot of years battling the large number of groups that claim to be the real Drifters. Over the years, the band had gone through a lot of changes. There biggest hits were probably "There Goes my Baby", and "Under the Boardwalk" although I like a lot of their other songs even better including "Sand in My Shoes" and "Don't Go".

Somewhere in Heaven, that Great Beach Band in the Sky, Just Got Better. --RoadDog

The Old BS'er and Beach Music

A&E did not have "24" on today at 7 AM our time, Central, so I went on the internet. I'm sitting right here at the old 'put, typing away with my two little fingers, and listening to Billy Smith coming at me live on the Surf from Myrtle Beach, SC. I love it when he plays the phone pranks; can't help but chuckle.

He also played a great one I haven't heard in a long time with his 50s pick, "Over the Mountain" by Johnny and Joe.

Aw, it's 8:50 and he's going off the air with his usual "I'm Going, But I'll Be Back" song. I'll just have to listen to Ted Bell now.

The Surf is "The Sound of the Beach" on the Grand strand and the World.

I voted on the Beach Music Top Forty Survey already. Ray Scott plays this countdown every Saturday from 9AM to noon. Top songs for this week are #1 :I Don't Want No Man" by Sea Cruz, and #2 "Emperor of My Baby's Heart" by Paul Craver.

A little bit about Billy Smith:

Billy was born in Marion, SC. As a child, his mother would take the five kids to Myrtle Beach on Sundays after church where he would go to the Pavillion (torn down this last fall) and boardwalk where the sounds emanating from the jukeboxes in the various bars enthralled them with their rhythm & blues records.

He began a regular at the local Marion record store and spent every dime he could get his hands on for R & B and Doo Wop songs, both of which are considered the forerunners of today's Beach Music. More to Come

My dad sure knew someone who also would spend all his money on records, which he largely considered as a waste of money. I wonder who that could be? Any guesses?

I also knew of one certain brother who pretty-well messed up his brother's Beatles collection while that brother was away at college. Now, who could that be? These records were left at home for safety. Didn't quite work out.

Doing the "Street Corner Serenade" by the Embers. --RoadDog