Go Back to June 7, 1970, With Bob Stroud This Sunday

I was wondering what was going to happen with Bob Stroud's very popular "Summer of" series on his Rock and Roll Roots shows on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 (96.9) FM, the Drive.  He started it with the "Summer of Love, 1967" and took a look back four times every summer to 40 years ago.  Last summer, he did the "Summer of 1979."

But the problem is that his show features the music of the 1960s and 1970s.  Now, we're into the 1980s as far as forty years ago is concerned.  He can't really go there.  So, what was he to do.  I was wondering anyway.

Yesterday on his Ten at ten show, I found out.  He is going back FIFTY YEARS, that's right, HALF A CENTURY!!  to the songs on the radio and in your record collection back on June 7, 1970.

It steams at www.wdrv.com and runs from 9 to noon EDST on Sunday.  Then, it rebroadcasts from 9 to midnight that night.

Give It A Listen.  The Stroud Crowd  --RoadStroud

WLS Top Ten for July 7, 1967: "Tracks of My Tears"

1967, 50 Years Ago.  That's Half a Century If You're Counting.

1.  LITTLE BIT OF SOUL--  Music Explosion
2.  WINDY--  Association
3.  CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU--  Frankie Valli

4.  COME ON DOWN TO MY BOAT--  Every Mother's Son
5.  LET'S LIVE FOR TODAY--  Grassroots
6.   SAN FRANCISCO WEAR FLOWERS IN YOUR HAIR--  Scott McKenzie   Summer of Love also played this song.  (See #10)
7.  LITTLE BIT SLOWER--  Jon and Robin

8.  MERCY, MERCY, MERCY--   Buckinghams    Another Chicago band
9.  TRACKS OF MY TEARS--  Johnny Rivers   What, Johnny singing someone else's song.  How could that be?
10.  STEP OUT OF YOUR MIND--  American Breed   LS playing a local Chicago band again.  Last night we saw the band Summer of Love at Antioch, Illinois' It's Thursday concert and they played this song.

Name That Song (from the above songs):  "I Love You Baby, And If It's Quite Alright I Need You Baby To Warm the Lonely Nights."  Answer below.  --RoadDog



"Can't Take My Eyes Off You"

Labor Day Weekend: Bands, Bars, Festivals, No Boating

Boating wasn't an option, even without the flooding. We generally stay off the Chain of Lakes on the weekends and especially holidays. We let the "weekend warriors" have their sway. Thank you very much, we'll go out on the weekdays.

SATURDAY I worked in the yard and fought mosquitoes. I planted eight tall phlox out by the deck flowerbed.

Then, we drove US-12 down to Wauconda where they were having a Main Street Festival. Old Rand Road, the original US-12 before the bypass, was blocked off and a great blues/rock band, Kevin Purcell and the Nightburners, was playing on a temporary stage.

We had some cotton candy for the first time in a long time. We had forgotten how little there is of it. The Rotary Club was selling it and the poor guy at the machine had cotton candy up to his elbows.

Lots of restaurants were offering food. I had an excellent burrito from a Mexican place for $4. Sat at a table and talked with another couple. They had been married for two years, BUT, had been married before and then divorced. They had met again at their daughter's wedding and the flame rekindled. That was a neat story. We found out they were also into the two lane roads so talked about some of our experiences.

SUNDAY I listened to Bob Stroud do his final Summer of Love installment. Today, he played the songs we were listening to on our radios back on this date in 1967. That was 40 years ago, and in Chicago, we were listening to WLS and WCFL. I'll print out the playlist later. I'm sure they will bring back some memories.

I then went to Alden Terrace in McHenry to visit with Frances.

Came home and then Liz and I drove to Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, for some of the World's Greatest Bloody Marys at Main Street. The big talk was about Wisconsin's easy victory and Appalachian State's great upset of Michigan. There are not too many Wolverine fans in Wisconsin.

Played NTN at Donovan's then drove back to the Chain of Lakes.

Passing over the Grasslake Bridge, we only saw about ten boats going no wake. Normally, on Sunday, you'd see close to a hundred and even more on a Labor Day weekend. The flooding has really put a damper on the celebration.

We went to Captain's Quarters to see Cirrus Falcon, one of out favorite bands. All those people who weren't out on boats were in here. There were no seats anywhere, so we left.

Drove Grasslake Road down to the Harbour Lounge and went outside to the tiki bar. When it comes to bands, we almost ALWAYS arrive when they're just going on break. However, this band was breaking down their equipment at 4 PM, way to early for an afternoon set. We found out that someone had complained and the police had told the owner that the band had to stop.

The owner had them move inside, but, again, we couldn't find seats so went home.

TODAY I enjoyed the deck, planted some more perennials, and caught some sun.

We went over to Alden Terrace so we could take Frances to the Labor Day celebration there. A guy was playing a piano with backing music and playing the Big Band songs this elderly group would like. He was quite an entertainer and everyone was having a great time.

Pretty Good Labor Day Weekend if You Ask Me. --RoadDog

Iron Butterfly and Canned Heat at Galt Airport

McHenry's Galt Airport hosted a psychedelic concert a couple weeks ago with two of the better-known 60s bands: Iron Butterfly and Canned Heat. I didn't go, but would have liked to. It was billed as a Celebration of the 1967 Summer of Love. They had posters out that looked like those you would have seen out at Haight-Asbury back in that year. They were psychedelic.

There was a bit of a proble leading up to it as the airport owner did not want to hire off-duty McHenry County sheriffs and police at the rate of $50 an hour. Hey, I would sure work for that!!!

I was able to get a poster at the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce a few days after the event.

Of course, Iron Butterfly is sometimes referred to as the first heavy metal band. Their biggest hit was 1968's 17 minute-long "In-a-Gadda-da-Vida" which is supposedly an alcohol-slurred version of "In the Garden of Eden." Then, there's the seven-minute drum solo. They were supposed to be at the Woodstock Festival, but got stuck at an airport.

I have an original album by them. but it is somewhat worn. I couldn't get enough of that song. Just hearing it takes me right back to that period of my life.

Bryan Wawzenek had an interview with bassist Lee Dorman in the Northwest Herald. He said the group had never played the short version of the song, which was made by a deejay in Detroit. They had other songs, but "In-a-Gadda-da-Vida definitely overshadowed all the rest of their efforts. He didn't join the band until the fall of 1967 after a tour of duty in Vietnam.

Canned Heat formed in Los Angeles in 1965 is is considered a blues-rock-boogie band. Bob "the Bear" Hite was the lead singer and harmonica-player. They were at the 1967 Monterrey Pop Festival and Woodstock where I always thought Hite wasn't too with it on the song that was chosen for the soundtrack. They had two great ROAD SONGS: "Going Up the Country" and "On the Road Again."

Take Me Back to the Sixties. --RoadDog