WLS Top 23 for Week of April 9, 1973-- Part 1: 'Drift Away'

Fifty years ago today.  That's half a century.  I know where I was.  I was living with Liz's parents in Palatine, Illinois, and doing my student teaching at Maine West High School in Des Plaines, Illinois.  I was driving the ol' Ramblin' Wreck (1963 Rambler station wagon) back and forth.

As a matter of fact, one of the songs in this post especially takes me right back to those days.

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

23.  SPACE ODDITY-- David Bowie       #15    Good ol' Ziggy Stardust personna singing about Major Tom's trip.  His first Top 40.

22.  *DRIFT AWAY--  Dobie Gray       #5      One of my all-time favorite songs.  I love the comment:  "Almost  sounds like  he is opening  his heart up and baring his soul."  True.

21.  *ONE MAN BAND--  Ronnie Dyson      #28      Full title includes "(Plays All Alone)"  I don't remember it, however.   Good song.  Follow up to his only other Top 40 which was "(If You Let Me Make Love to You Then) Why Can't I Touch You"  (#8-1970).

20.  *STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU--  Stealers Wheel      #6    That's Gerry Rafferty singing.  You might know him better for "Baker Street."   Scottish band.  This is the song that takes me back to student teaching.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Well I Don't Know Why I Came Here  Tonight.  I Got The Feeling That Something Ain't Right."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Stuck In the Middle With You"

Music Deaths: Les McKeown of the Bay City Rollers

LES McKEOWN, 65

Died 20 April 2021

Lead singer with Scottish pop band Bay City Rollers, best known for their 1975 hit single "Bye, Bye, Bye".

Funny, I'd say "Saturday Night" which went to #1 in 1975.  "Bye, Bye, Bye" was a remake of the song by the Four Seasons.

They also had a #9 with "Money Honey," "#12 with "I Only Want to be With You" and a #10 with "You Made Me believe in Magic."

A classic Boy Band if there ever was one.  I remember the daughter of our next door neighbor back in 1975 was totally gaga about these guys.

Music Deaths: Adam Longmuir of Bay City Rollers

ADAM LONGMUIR, 70

Died July 2, 2018

Founding member and bassist of the Bay City Rollers with brother Derek on drums.  Had U.K. charters with "Bye, Bye Baby" and "Give A Little Love."

Left the group in 1976, but played on recordings of "Saturday Night" (#1-1976), "Money Honey" (#9-1976) and "Rock and Roll Love Letter" (#28-1976)

Group from Edinburgh, Scotland.  Charted eight times in U.S. and sold 120 million records worldwide.

OK, I have that "Saturday Night" song in my head right now.  How can you not?  And put that hand down.    Right after Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots I'll go to You Tube and listen to the group's songs.

Back in 1976, the daughter of our next-door neighbors, Alice, was in junior high and totally smitten with them.  All she would play and listen to all the time.

What the Brits Won't Miss About the Scots-- Part 2

I find out today that the vote for Scottish separation was 55% to remain, but with more promised autonomy.

But, these are too funny not to tell.

NO MORE WHINING, GRIPING AND BELLYACHING:  "Sometimes the sound of complaining coming from north of Hadrian's Wall is worse than a thousand pipers playing at once."

NO MORE SEAN CONNERY:  "He was great as the original James Bond but ever since then he's been one big pain in the butt with his nonstop lobbying for Scottish independence."

NO MORE HAGGIS:  "Not only will you no longer have to eat the stuff, you won't have to suggest that it's edible either."

The author, David Martin, is a humorist living in Ottawa, Ontario.

Wonder What William Wallace's Body id Doing?  --RoadDog


SAY WHAT?  "Drink the Kool-Aid."  Extreme compliance, like the Jonestown mass suicide.  When we were growing up, this is what we drank (non-poisoned, of course) instead of that bottled water the kids drink today.  And, it had s-u-g-a-r in it.  Lits of Sugar.

What the Brits Won't Miss About the Scots-- Part 1

From the September 12, 2014, Chicago Tribune by David Martin.

Appropriate today because of the referendum for Scottish independence occurring right now as I type.  Polls predict a close vote.  "But the English shouldn't be pessimistic about Scottish independence given all the positive results it will bring such as:"

NO MORE BAGPIPES:  "the sound of a dozen squirrels being tortured."

NO MORE SCOTTISH CINEMA:  "Can anyone understand what the actors are saying in Scottish films?"

NO MORE ENGLISHMEN WEARING KILTS:"They say it's a manly, but it just seems like an excuse to engage in cross-dressing."

NO MORE SCOTCH WHISKY: Because the Scots are your friends and neighbors, you had to act like the stuff was special and actually tasted good."

NO MORE LOCH NESS MONSTER:  "For all those years you had to humor the Scots and give some credence to their mythical monster.  Let's face it: It's nothing more than an elaborate ruse to entice tourists to visit a land with nothing much else to see."

These are pretty funny.

And, there Are More.  --RoadDog

Pigeon Problems-- RoadDog's News and Observation

The November 14th Chicago Tribune had an article about the pigeon problem in US cities. Besides rats and squirrels, and now, apparently some coyotes, pigeons have adapted themselves to living in urban areas better than any other non-domesticated animal. The tall buildings are an excellent substitute for the canyons they inhabit in the wild.

Whenever I go into Chicago, they are everywhere. Some won't even move until you almost step on them.

And, there are a LOT of them, and even more all the time. Many cities are trying to control them, even from removing their eggs, birth control, to using birds of prey to swoop down on them. In Brooklyn, NY, city councilman Simcha Felding has proposed an ordinance that would make it illegal to FEED pigeons and punishable by a $1,000 FINE if you break the law.

This proposal has pigeon-lovers up in arms.

But, what are you going to do. Feeding the pigeons only increases their numbers, but I'm sure they can forage for enough food in the garbage. Of course, the very worst thing they do is leave their droppings all over everything, especially statues, which they consider to be their very own private bathroom.

I remember being in a hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland, and right across the road was a statue of Sir Walter Scott, author of Ivanhoe and many other Scottish books. The body was black from all those years of early industry, but the head and shoulders was a striking white from you-know-what. Another time, I was in St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy. Now, if you want to talk pigeons, this has to be the largest concentration of themin the world. I was surprised to see all the open air eateries. I don't know that I'd like to eat out on that square.

Of course, I never had the pleasure of a pigeon dropping on the head, and I'm sure if it ever does happen, I will be a bit more anti-pigeon.

I Don't Mind a FEW Pigeons...But.... --RoadDog