WLS Top 20 for Week of March 2, 1974-- Part 3: 'Rock On'

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

10.  LOVE'S THEME--  Love Unlimited Orchestra     #1    Written by Barry White.  Considered the first Disco song to hit #1.

9.  *ABRA-CA-DABRA--  De Franco Family    #3    Family group from Canada. The new Jackson Five/ Osmonds.

8.  YOU'RE SIXTEEN--  Ringo Starr     #1    People worried about Ringo after the Beatles broke up.  Seven straight Top tens and two #1s out of the gate.

7.  *BOOGIE DOWN--  Eddie Kendricks     #2    Lead singer of the Temptations 1960-1971.

6.  *LAST KISS--  Wednesday    #34    From Canada.   Their only Top 40J. Frank Wilson had taken it to #2 in 1964.

5.  *SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS--  Henry John Deutschdorf     #1     You might know him better as John Denver.  This is why a big song played at Oktoberfest in Munich is "Thank God I'm a Country Boy."

4.  THE WAY WE WERE--  Barbra Streisand       #1 for three weeks.  Born in 1942 in Brooklyn.

3.  *DARK LADY--  Cherilyn Sarkisia      #1    You probably know her as Cher.

2.  *ROCK ON--  David Essex    #5     Real name is David Cook.  His only hit.

1.  SEASONS IN THE SUN--  Terry Jacks      #1    Three straight weeks at #1 in Chicago.  Sang with the Poppy Family "Which Way You Going Billy."

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Oh Where Oh Where Can My Baby Be."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Last Kiss"

Ending March: Crystal Lake, MCCWRT, Half-Price Books, CDs

SATURDAY, MARCH 26

Drove to Crystal Lake, Illinois, for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group meeting with today's topic being Civil War Artillery.  We were occasionally on topic.  Then drove to Algonquin and bought eight CDs at Half-Price Books.  All were $2 except one:

STICKY FINGERS--  Rolling Stones

OKTOBERFEST IN CHICAGO--  Die Musikmeisters

BUBBLEGUM, GARAGE AND POP NUGGETS--  22 songs

ACTUAL MILES GREATEST HITS--  Don Henley

GREATEST HITS--  Little River Band

ONLY THE BEGINNING THE VERY BEST OF--  Chicago

COUNTRY LEGENDS--  36 Hits   3 CDs

THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION SEVENTIES 100 HITS  This one was $10 for four CD set.

And, I Still Play CDs and Record on Cassette Tape  --RoadCD

WLS Top 30 for Week of September 13, 1971-- Part 1: 'So Far Away'

These are the songs that were debuts and Top 30 in Chicago fifty years ago.  * means it was climbing the charts.  The number after the artists is how high the song got on the Billboard Hot 100 National Charts.

ALL HIT BOUND

*TIRED OF BEING ALONE--  Al Green     #11   Born in 1946 in Forrest City, Alabama.  Inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.

30. *SUPERSTAR--  Carpenters    #2     Brother-sister duo from New Haven, Connecticut.

29.  *SO FAR AWAY--  Carole King     #14   That's James Taylor on the acoustic guitar.

28.  *DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN--  Lee Michaels   #6    Born 1945 in Los Angeles.  His biggest hit.

27.  RIDERS ON THE STORM--  Doors    #14    Their last Top 40 song.  Jim Morrison had been dead for awhile by now.

26.  TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS--  John Denver    #2    Born John Deutschendorf in 1943 in Roswell, New Mexico.  This is a huge song at Munich's annual Oktoberfest with his heritage.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "All My Memories Gather 'Round Her, Miner's Lady, Stranger To Blue Water."  How do you sing it in German?  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Take Me Home, Country Roads"

WLS Top 30 for Week of August 9, 1971-- Part 5, The Top Ten: 'Sweet Hitch-Hiker'

*  means it was climbing the WLS charts.  The number behind the artist is how high the song got on the Billboard Hot 100 National Chart.

10.  DRAGGIN' THE LINE--  Tommy James   #4

9.  *SIGNS--  Five Man Electric Band    #3

8.  NEVER ENDING SONG OF LOVE--  Delaney & Bonnie & Friends    #13

7.  BEGINNINGS/COLOUR MY WORLD--  Chicago     #7    Formerly the Chicago Transit Authority.

6.  *SWEET HITCH-HIKER--  Creedence Clearwater Revival    #6   Their last Top Ten.

5.  *TAKE ME HOME, COUNTRY ROADS--  John Denver        #2       His first hit.   One of the most popular songs played each year at the Oktoberfest tents in Munich.

4.  *WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE / ABRAHAM, MARTIN & JOHN--  Tom Clay    You should give this one a listen.  Wow!!     #8

3.  *MERCY MERCY ME--  Marvin Gaye    #4

2.  *RIDERS ON THE STORM--  Doors    #14   Their last Top 40.

1.  HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART--  Bee  Gees   #1

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Long-Haired Freaky People Need Not Apply."  --Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Signs"

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.

An Oktoberfest Kind of Weekend-- Part 2: Oom-Pah, Polkas, Beer, Brats, Baseball and College Football

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

We then drove over to Peterson Park in McHenry where the Sunshine Rotary of that town was having their Oktoberfest.  We primarily went there o see one of our favorite oom-pah bands, Die Musikmeisters do their things.  We both love oom-pah music and polkas.  Those are fun times.

And, they did not disappoint with a wide variety of  music and plenty of "Ein Prosits," the toasting song.  Polkas, marches and, of course, "Hofbrahaus."  Also enjoyed ice cold beer and brats.

Came home and cut the grass and later went to Sunnyside Tap and watched the Cubs beat the Sox 8-3 and then Wisconsin beat Iowa which did not make Mark too happy.

Ein Prosit.  --RoadDog

MURPHY'S PHOTOGRAPHY LAWS:  (from the Otange Peel Gazette)  1.  The best shots happen immediately after the last frame is exposed.

A Trip Back Kind of Weekend-- Part 3: Confederates in Illinois, the Ribbon Road, Oktoberfest and Fireworks

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

Drove to DeKalb, Illinois for the Sons of Confederate Veterans meeting and lunch at Rosita's on Lincoln Highway between our Camp Douglas Camp and the Rock Island Camp.  Confederates this far north!!  We also had quite a few members of the Sons of Union Veterans in attendance as well.  We heard an excellent presentation on the role of religion during the Civil War.

Afterwards, I took a ride on what used to be a ribbon road in DeKalb County, now Il-23 between DeKalb and Waterman and until this summer was called the worst road in DeKalb County because they had simply paved over the old ribbon road (9 feet wide which caused a whole lot of potholes.  I also drove through Elva, a town south of DeKalb that was started by barbed wire inventor Joseph Glidden and named for his daughter.

Stopped at Wal-Mart on Il-23 on the way back and loaded up on NIU stuff.

Liz and I went to McHenry for the St. Patrick's Church Oktoberfest and enjoyed brats and the bands.  Then over to Sunnyside where we saw the fireworks display from the Celebration in the Park of Johnsburg.  The park is right next to Sunnyside.  They had a good band there as well.

A Long Day.  --RoadDog

Finishing Up Oktoberfest

I came across a list of favorite Oktoberfest that folks like their oom-pah bands to play on those huge Munich tents.  I am not sure if they only have oom-pah bands playing or if perhaps some rock bands play as well.

These surprised me:

Seven Nation Army--  White Stripes
Sweet Home Alabama--  Lynyrd Skynyrd
We Are the Champions--  Queen

I Will Survive--  Gloria Gaynor
La Bamba--  Ritchie Valens
Born in the USA--  Bruce Springsteen

Don't Stop Believing--  Journey
No Woman, No Cry--  Bob Marley
You Shook Me All Night Log--  AC/DC

A Couple German ones:

Furstenfeld
Wahn Sinn Holle, Holle, Holle

Of course, a favorite Oktoberfest local group of ours here in Northern Illinois is the DeKalb Footstompers.  They are a four-piece group with the traditional drums and guitar.  But they get quite different with accordion and tuba.  You haven't lived until you hear them play Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze."

In the Mood for A Brat and a Beer, No Foam, Please.  --RoadDog


YOU MIGHT BE A YANKEE IF:  You don't have any hats in your closet advertising feed stores.

How to Correctly "Ein Prosit"

As I said, the first time I ever heard it was from an Oom-pah band called Der Dumpkoffs playing at the Mount Charleston Lodge near Las Vegas, Nevada.  We sure had a great time with their antics and this song.

Ein Prosit (Eyn Proz-it) Sing it twice.

Der Gemutlichkeit (Dar Gay-mute-lish-kite)  I salute our friendship & good times.

Do it twice.

Then comes the countdown in German: Eins, Zwei, Drei.

Then G'suffa (zuffa)  Where you take a big ol' drink.

Then, someone says either "Zicke Zache, Zicke Zache

or, Ticke-Tacke, Ticke-Tacke

Then you respond Hoi, Hoi, Hoi.

Or, Something Like This.  It's All So Fast.  --RoadPrositDog


YOU MIGHT BE A YANKEE IF: The last time you smiled was when you prevented someone from getting on an on-ramp to the highway.

Top Ten Oktoberfest Songs-- Part 2

Continued from yesterday.

4.  MOUNTAIN MOTHER--  Sierra Madre--  Spanish Sparkles

5.  COUNTRY ROADS--  John Denver (Wouldn't have expected this one.)

6.  THE DONKEY SONG--  Esellied--  The only traditional German song to make the list.

7.  HANDS TO HEAVEN--  Where you have to put your beers down, raise your hands and clap along.

8.  ANGLES--

9.  SWEET CAROLINE--  Oh, No!!  Oh, No!  You can't get away from this one anywhere.

10.  COWBOYS AND INDIANS--  Cowboy und Indianer--  the Lasso Dance.

Do I See a Stein Over There?  --RoadDog

Top Ten Oktoberfest Songs-- Part 1

Well, a little late.  Use it to get ready for this fall.

Is it polka music?  No say the Germans who refer to it as oom-pah music (as do I).  easy to sing along to and upbeat.  I wonder how the American bandstand kids would rate it.

Of course, regardless, the "Ein Prosit" song has to be played at least every 10-15 songs.  That would be the toasting song.

here are the Top ten Songs.  I forgot to write down the source (probably toasting too much).

1.  I Salute You--  Ein Prosit  (I first heard it played by Der Dumpkoffs in Las Vegas.)
2.  The Flier Song--  Fliegerleid (Actually a kids' animal song.)
3.  Hey baby-If You'll be My Girl--  DJ Otzi, European version

Ein Prositing All the Way.  --RoadDog


YOU MIGHT BE A YANKEE IF:  You think more money should go to important scientific research at your university than to pay for the salary of the head football coach.

Brrr! Mighty Cold Out There, Thanks A Lot Fox Lake Oktoberfest

Completely miserable weather today, the worst since Thursday when it started getting bad and it has stayed bad.  I've had to bring the summer plants in from the frond porch and back deck as temps last night got close to freezing and today may not even break 48 degrees and become the coldest high we've had for October 4th since the 1930s.

It's already caused us to cancel going to the Richmond-Burton football game last night and out to DeKalb today for the NIU game against Kent State.  I'm just not going to sit outside in blustery, cold and rainy conditions like this.

However, we'll be leaving shortly for a band at Route 12 Bar and after that, Ron Payton playing at the Legion, both afternoon gigs.

Then, this evening Fox Lake is having their annual Oktoberfest festival at Lake Front Park, inside I'm figuring.

Actually, their having the Oktoberfest is a big part of the reason we're having this "Global _____" incident.  Every year they have it, we get bad weather.  It's like the infamous spring carnival in Round Lake which brings on bad weather every April.

Too Much of This _____ Is More Than I Can Handle.  --RoadDog


SAY WHAT?  "In technicolor"--  If only life looked like that early color film process.

Hanging Around Here Last Weekend-- Part 1

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH:  We went to K.C.'s Cabin at 173 and Wilmot Road for their great breakfast omelets (even better at bogo), then drove around some Spring Grove subdivisions.    Went shopping at Wal-Mart, Target, Goodwill (my electronics store), Home Depot and Meijer's.

No high school football for third week in a row as the only home team was Round Lake and they do not do very well (they lost 58-0).  I missed the two previous weeks because of rain, cold or a combination of both.

Met Kevin and Kelly and Russ and family at the Legion.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH:

Enjoyed breakfast on front porch and then went to the Fox lake/Grant Township Historical Society meeting in Ingleside where we had a presentation of Grant Township Little League.  Did some yardwork before being chased in by a big bad storm.

Later went to the Oktoberfest party at Route 12 Bar and Grill in Fox Lake and saw the band Shreds of Evidence play nothing but 60s music (including a lot of the Kinks and Yardbirds).  Way too loud at first, but we prevailed.

Watched the first part of the NIU-Arkansas game there as well and the last part at Antonio's.  We don't get ESPNU at home.  Unfortunately, we were blown out 52-14.  That Arkansas is tough...and that offensive line of theirs!!!  Smallest guy at 315.

--RoadDog

Good Times Around Here Last Weekend

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4TH:

Back to '79 for Ten at Ten. Celebrated Coz's retirement day with him at Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5TH:

Wendy Rice went to 1970 for Saturday Morning Flashback on WXRT. Then, we made quite a haul of winnings from the Chain Crawl season ending party at Captain's Quarters and listened to the Average Joe Band. Went over to Oktoberfest in Fox Lake and saw the Alpiners.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6TH:

Breakfast With the Beatles celebrated John Lennon's birthday which will be this Wednesday. Got together with the Usual Suspects at Squaw Bar for Da Bears game. Da Bears so Sad!!! SAD!! Then saw a great football game at Antonio's, Tommy's and home. More on it in next post.

And, some college football team made #23 on both AP and USA Coaches Polls!!! Not saying, but sure am happy. (Bad luck if I do.)

Other than no boating because of lousy weather, it was a real fun weekend.

Got to Enjoy This Time Now Because You-Know-What Is On its Way (Old Man Winter). --RoadDog

A Day of Football and Saufen Und Spiel

Lots of good football games on today. I watched Northwestern beat Illinois State and Georgia unfortunately lose to South Carolina. There will be no joy at my sister's today. Kansas played a great game and upset ranked Georgia Tech.

Right now, I am catching parts of the Michigan-Notre Dame game and Iowa and Iowa State. I like Iowa and am not happy Iowa State neat my Huskies (NIU) last week in an all-Lincoln Highway matchup in Ames, Iowa. Go Hawkeyes.

And speaking of great football, anybody who say the East Carolina-Tulsa game last Sunday saw a great one. By the third quarter it became apparent that whoever had the ball last would win. That score went back and forth the whole game until ECU scored on a 40-yard "Hail Mary" pass as time expired to win. Go you pirates!!

We were joking that ESPN had moved the game from Saturday to Sunday because of Mom's 80th birthday party Saturday.

Then, there was that great Monday night game between Boise State and Virginia Tech, two teams that used to be Mid-Major like NIU (which plays North Dakota today) but both have climbed out of that pack. Once, I had hopes NIU would do that as well, but doubt that will ever happen.

Later, I am going to the Saufen und Spiel's beer and Banjo Night in Johnsburg, Illinois. Saufen und Spiel is like Oktoberfest and honors the towns German heritage. I haven't been to this event before so will check it out.

Football and Oktoberfest. Now That's My Idea of Fall! --RoadDog


MAXINE SAYS: Homemade gifts are the perfect way to say I've got lots more time than money.

And They Didn't Run Out of Warsteiners-- Oktoberfest-- Part 5-- The Party

We got there at 12:30 and got seats at the bar closest to the band and overlooking the Fox River. They weren't charging the $5 at the door to get in, but we later went back and paid. Hey, it's a good cause.

Immediately ordered two steins of Warsteiners. It cost $7 for the first one, but you got to keep the stein which is etched with Foxtoberfest 2009 and the After the Fox logo. Refills of Warsteiner, 22 oz., cost $3.25. Nice keepsake of a fun day.

We were joined by Pam, Jim, and Laura and Ed. Liz gagged the first Warsteiner's down and went to filling her stein with Miller Lite. Even though half German on her father's side (Klaus), she is not a fan of German beer or ANY import for that matter.

We were assured that they were not going to run out of Warsteiners this year as it was a new barrel. Last year, they had had it on tap all month.

EIN PROSIT!!

Party Time has arrived. The band started at 2:30 and played until 6:30. And they played all those great oom-pah songs that I love so much. I especially liked the new sing-a-long one where you follow a sign on a sort-of-like "12 Days of Christmas) song. Did a lot of video-taping.

Then, there was the $9 platter of German food that was really good (but not as good as Mar's the night before).

Got My German On. --RoadDog

And They Didn't Run Out of Warsteiners-- Oktoberfest-- Part 4

Oktoberfest 11th, after Rock and Roll Roots, we drove to McHenry, Illinois, for the second Foxtoberfest at After the Fox, a bar/restaurant located right on the Fox River (we boated there several times this past season).

This is a fundraiser for FISH, our local food pantry and a mighty good time last year. Unfortunately, they didn't do much advertising and I had to do a Yahoo search to find out about it. Sure wouldn't want to miss it. We REALLY had a great time there last year.

However, last year they RAN OUT OF WARSTEINERS BIER!!! And, we had eaten the breakfast buffet there ahead of the party and were too full to have the German food. Fortunately, we had spots at the bar as after a few hours you couldn't even find a place to sit at a table. Standing room only.

This time, we arrived hungry and thirsty, so the party was on.

Nothing Like a Good Old German Party. --RoadDog

And They Didn't Run Out of Warsteiners-- Oktoberfest-- Part 3

Continued from October 12th.

One of my favorite times of the year is Oktoberfest. Love the music, the beer, the food, the beer, the season (most years), and, did I mention THE BEER. I didn't like German beer at one time, BUT NOT NO MORE!

I've been enjoying listening to my German oom-pah music both at home and in the vehicles. I've especially been playing the Die Musikmeisters CD. By far, one of the best collections of songs. I have about 15 German Oktoberfest CDs.


MEXICAN OOM-PAH MUSIC

Several years ago, I was listening to one of our many Mexican stations here in Illinois (I do that from time to time and am a big fan of Mexican music even if I don't know what they're saying). I was surprised to hear a song that sounded like an oom-pah band and then another. I did a little research and found that back in the 1800s, a lot of Germans settled in northern Mexico and brought their music and culture with them. That is why it sounds like oom-pah but sung in Spanish.

Ein Prosit! Let's Count in German. --RoadDog

And They Didn't Run Out of Warsteiners-- Oktoberfest-- Part 2

This past weekend, we were planning on going to Antioch's Fall Festival which used to be Oktoberfest, but the weather was just too cold and overcast. This has certainly been one VERY LOUSY fall.

We also were planning on going to the Donovan's Golf Outing in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, (no golf for us, but $15 AUCE pig roast, roast beef, and an hour's free beer), but the place was standing room only when we got there. Disappointed, we left.

We drove to nearby Mar's Trading Post Inn in Wilmot and were able to get a seat at the bar. They were crowded for their Second Saturday Crazy Prime Rib dinner for $9.99 (usually $11.99). They also had a special German platter for $9.99, so we ordered that. Definitely some of the best German food I've ever had. And plenty of it. Had to get a doggie bag even though we don't have a dog.

What we really need now is a movie featuring Oktoberfest besides Chevy Chase's fight-starting German dance in "European Vacation."

Love That Hofbrauhaus. --RoadDog

And They Didn't Run Out of Warsteiner-- Oktoberfest 2009-- Part 1

I've been enjoying one of my favorite celebrations of the year, Oktoberfest. Great music (Oompah!!), food, beer, and friends.

The five-disc CD player is now stocked with five German Oktoberfest albums which I've been listening to, getting in the mood.

Oct. 3rd, I was at Fox Lake's Oktoberfest. No German food, but the three-piece Alpiners were walking around playing various "Oom-pah" selections. Would have been better if they had the full group on stage and been amplified. However, the New Invaders playing great sixties songs made up for it. When was the last time you heard a band covering "Shapes of Things" by Max Frost & the Troopers?

I then played some "Oom-pah" music at Rick's 60th birthday party.

Ein Prosit!! --RoadDog