Anybody Care to Go Back to 1973? Three Hours of Music from Fifty Years Ago on Chicago's WXRT

If you're like me, 1973 was a very important year.  The first half was a college year at NIU (they're playing "Two Hangmen" by Mason Profitt right now at 9:09 AM) and then I graduated, got married, bought my first car and started my one and only job teaching.  You might say it was quite a year for me.

Anyway, right now, Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM is doing their weekly Saturday Morning Flashback to this year.  It streams, so check it out until noon, CDST.

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I also wrote down every song they played in my RoadDog's RoadLog Blog.  Check them out.

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Also, if you're into Beach Music, WVCO, the Surf 94.9 FM,  in South Carolina is having the Beach Music Top Twenty songs ftrom now until noon EDST.

Tomorrow, Terri Hemmert has her Breakfast With the Beatles show on WXRT from 8 to 10 AM and Bob Stroud does his Rock and Roll Roots show from 9 to noon CDST on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM.  The show features music from the 1960s and 1970s.  All shows stream.

Lots of Great Music to Listen To.  --RoadMusic

WXRT's and Chicago's Lin Brehmer: 'Your Best Friend in the Whole World'

I've always had a hard time spelling his name in my blogs and journal. If I heard him say "Your best friend in the whole world" once, I hear him say it a thousand times.

Yesterday, WXRT had a lengthy show on Lin Brehmer and all the local news channels had bits on him.  He even had his name, birth year and death year on that iconic scorebeoard outside Wrigley Field, home of Lin's beloved Cubs.

I wonder if he gets cremated, will they spread his ashes around the field?

Lin Brehmer was a Queens, New York native and Colgate University graduate.  He started his radio  career at a station on Albany, Nerw York, before joining WXRT as a music director in 1984.  He left the station in 1990 for a one-year stint as music director at KTCZ- FM in Minneapolis before returning to host mornings at WXRT -- a position he held for nearly thirty years.

In 2020, he shifted to the mid-morning slot when Terri Hemmert retired.

I used to listen to him every morning after I retired in 2006.

Sure Going to Miss Him.  Our Best Friend in the Whole World.  --RoadDog

So Sorry to Hear About Death of WXRT's Lin Brehmer

Yesterday while doing these blogs I came across notice of the death of one of my favorite disc jockeys, Lin Brehmer on Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM.  I listened to him mornings until he shifted to midday.  Like he liked to say, "Your Best Friend in the Whole World."

He  had left the airways back in this past July because of cancer treatments and had a strong desire to get back on the air.

Listening to his show was like sitting with a good friend and talking music and especially his beloved Chicago Cubs (but, I didn't hold that against him).  And, how in the world did he come up with what he said on his Lin's Bin bits.  For any of you unjfamiliar with Lin's Bits, it was a lot like listening to that deejay on "Northern Exposure" only with bits of songs and lines from movies.

This past year has been rough on me as along with Lin Brehmer (always hard to spell his name), I lost two other of my favorite disc jockeys in Chicago:  Bob Stroud on WDRV and Terri Hemmert on WXRT.  But, though they are not on regularly, their signature shows are.  With Bob that would be Rock and Roll Roots, Ten at Ten and One 45 at 1:45.  Terri Hemmert has Breakfast With the Beatles.  Those shows still are on, so it is not like they are entirely gone.

Today, WXRT is going to salute the life of Lin Brehmer starting at 10 am, CDT.  It streams, so I will definitely be giving it a listen.

--RoadDog

Songs from the Summer 1971-- Part 11: 'I Just Want to Celebrate'

I was a junior at the University of Georgia at this time fifty years ago, having transferred at the end of my sophomore year from Northern Illinois University.  My parents and family were now living in Dunwoody, Georgia, Atlanta northern suburbs.  My parents gave me a 1963 Rambler station wagon to go to school.

But, a big reason I transferred was to go to a school with a big football program, which Georgia definitely had.  Vince Dooley coached the team which ended the season with an 11-1 record, good for second place in the SEC and a #7 AP ranking.  That was a fun year, but I couldn't get over the students attending the games wearing suits and evening dresses.  That just wasn't done at Northern.

HEART OF THE COUNTRY--  Paul McCartney  Bob Stroud always plays two Beatle songs at 9 am when Terri Hemmert ends her Breakfast With the Beatles show on WXRT.

BANGLADESH--  George Harrison

GETTING IN TUNE--  Who

I JUST WANT TO CELEBRATE--  Rare Earth

MERCY MERCY ME--  Marvin Gaye

RIDERS ON THE STORM--  Doors

DON'T GO NEAR THE WATER--  Beach Boys

I FEEL THE EARTH MOVE--  Carole King

LIAR--  Three Dog Night     A song that always reminds me of PLC Class at Quantico, Virginia, that summer.

BITCH--  Rolling Stones

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I Won't Ever Leave If You Want Me To Stay."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Liar"

JSS: Summer Songs-- 1980-- Paul's Birthday-- Sure Needed the Rain

JSS--  Just Some Stuff 

1.  SUMMER SONGS--  A great weekend to listen to music associated with the official start of our favorite season, and that would be summer.  Yesterday, Bon Stroud played ten summer songs on his Ten at Ten and this Sunday he will devote his entire Rock and Roll Roots show to that season.  It is on WDRV, 97.1 FM and streams from 9 to noon

Plus, tomorrow Bill St. James' Time Warp will feature summer songs from 6 to 10 AM on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM.  It streams.

2.   1980--  Plus, Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM will feature 1980 from 9 am to noon.  It streams as well.

3.  PAUL'S BIRTHDAY--  Sunday's Breakfast With the Beatles hosted by Terri Hemmert will be all Paul McCartney from 8 to 10 am.  It's his birthday, you know.  79 years old.  It streams.

4.  SURE NEEDED THE RAIN--  We had quite a display of lightning and thunder roll through the Midwest this morning.  It was a nice steady rain for several hours and we sure needed it.  The lawns were all brown except for the folks who watered theirs.  We still nee d more, though, but every little bit sure helps.

Lots of Music This Weekend.  --RoadDog

Good Listening Music This Morning, Saturday Jan. 2

A good time to turn on the old radio or internet if you're a fan of old music (and some new).

Right now:

WDRV, 97. 1 FM, the Drive (Chicago)

The Drive's A to Z where they are counting down over 2,000 songs alphabetically.  It started Christmas Eve and is still going and in the letter "S".  They just played Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer."  It will continue to at least this coming Monday.

WDRV, 93.1 FM (Chicago)

Right now, Saturday Morning Flashback to the year 1970.  Johnny Mars just played "Bridge Over Troubled Water."  It goes to noon, CST.

WVCO, 94.9 FM, the Surf

Beach Music Top 25 Songs until noon EST.

Of course, tomorrow it is WDRV's Breakfast With the Beatles with Terri Hemmert from 8-10 am and Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots show from 9 to noon on WDRV.

All shows stream.

Love That Music.  --RoadDog

STUDENT TEST ANSWERS:  A mountain range is a cooking stove used at high altitudes.

Back to the Summer of 1970, Part 12: "Mississippi Queen"

 Songs on the radio (mostly WLS and WCFL in Chicago) and in your record collection (that's right, vinyl albums and even 45s perhaps) on September 6, 1970.  That would be fifty years ago.

I was a sophomore at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and having a mighty good time as the original frat rat with that old fraternity of mine, Delta Sigma Phi.  We were more like the Deltas at "Animal House" and even had a guy who had been at college for seven years and was a sophomore named Czych.  Until the end, the movie could have been about us, but there was no parade scene.  I do, however, wish we had known about toga parties.  We definitely would have had to have one.

HOUSE AT POOH CORNER--  Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

HAND ME DOWN WORLD--  Guess Who

LET IT BE--  Beatles

MAN, WE WAS LONELY--  Paul McCartney   This would have been at the 10 am time.  As Bob Stroud always plays two Beatle songs then (which is when Terri Hemmert's Breakfast With the Beatles show on Chicago's WXRT ends.

MISSISSIPPI QUEEN--  Mountain

LONG AS I CAN SEE THE LIGHT-- Creedence Clearwater Revival  Off that great "Cosmo's Factory" album.

ALL RIGHT NOW--  Free   One of the best-ever rock songs.

IT'S UP TO YOU--  Moody Blues

SPILL THE WINE--  Eric Burdon

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "There She Stood In The Street Smilin' From Her Head To Her Feet."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"All Right Now"

Get Your Music Here: 1984, 1978, Beach Music, the Beatles and August 2, 1970

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1

**  Right now, Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM is having Bill St. James do his Time Warp which is back to 1984.    He's on from 6 to 10 am every Saturday.  All times are CDST in this entry unless otherwise noted.

**  Shortly, Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM will start their Saturday Morning Flashback from 9 am to noon.  This week they go back to 1978.

**  North Myrtle Beach, S.C.'s WVCO, the Surf, will play the top 30 Beach Music Songs from 9 to 11 am, EDST.

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SUNDAY AUGUST 2

**  Terri Hemmert will do her weekly Breakfast With the Beatles show from 8 to 10 am on WXRT, 93.1 FM.

**  Bob Stroud will be doing Part 3 of his annual trip back to Summer on WDRV.  This year, we go back to August 2, 1970, where he will be playing songs playing on your radio and in your record collection.  (That's tight, fifty years ago.  That's half a century.)  His show runs from 9 am to noon.

So Many Tunes, So Little Time.  --RoadNeedSomeMoreTime

JSS: U.S. Flag Day-- Paul's Birthday on WXRT'S Breakfast With the Beatles-- Piano and Violin Dirges for the "C-- The Sunday Chicago Tribune These Days

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  U.S. FLAG DAY TODAY--  Today is the birthday of the United States Flag.  On June 14, 1777, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress  passed on that date, the new nation's flag was put thusly:  "Resolved:  That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."

Hope you put your flags out.  I have my usual U.S. flag at the garage, the smaller one at the mailbox out by the street and a 76 Bennington flag hanging up on the porch.

2.  PAUL'S BIRTHDAY ON WXRT'S BREAKFAST WITH THE BEATLES--  It has now started, so tune in at www.wxrt.com for Terri Hemmert's annual salute to Paul McCartney on his 78th birthday, which is June 18, 1942.  Nothing but Paul songs, with and without the Beatles for two hours.  It runs from 8 am to 10 am, CDST.  Listening to it right now.

3.  PIANO AND VIOLIN DIRGES FOR THE "C"--  Sure getting tired of all those coronavirus commercials on TV with the "dirge" piano and violin soundtracks.  I may never be able to listen to this sort of music again.

4.  THE SUNDAY CHICAGO TRIBUNE THESE DAYS--  Just went out and picked up my Sunday Chicago tribune out in the driveway.  That's right, I still get the old hardcopy newspaper.  I sure am going to miss this treat when it's gone.

Sadly, today's Sunday Tribune is about the same size as the old daily Tribunes.  The old Sunday Tribune had a whole lot of heft to it.

CRAZY COUNTRY SONGS:  "If I Had Shot You When I Wanted To, I'd be Out By Now."

Just A Short Time to Join the Stroud Crowd in a Trip back to June 7, 1970

Bob Stroud will start his Rock and Roll Roots show in Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM at 9 am and it will run to noon CDST.  It streams at www.wdrv.com.  

He will be playing the songs on the radio and in your record collection (remember those LPs and singles?) from fifty years ago.  That's right, a half century.  If you miss it, he will rebroadcast from 9 pm to midnight today.

I had just finished my freshman year at Northern Illinois University, so, these songs were really special to me.

And, in the next ten minutes, Terri Hemmert will be starting her Breakfast With the Beatles show on Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM.  It goes to 10 am and also streams at www.wxrt.com.

--RoadDog

In Case You're Stuck in the House Because of You-Know-What, Here's Some Good Music to Listen To

Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM has its Saturday Morning Flashback to the year 1974 from 9 to noon, CDST.  It'll take you back.

Then, the Surf, 94.9 FM out of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has the weekly Beach Music Top 30 from 10 to 1 pm today.

Then tomorrow, Chicago's WXRT has Terri Hemmert's Breakfast With the Beatles from 8 to 10 am and Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM has Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots from 9 to noon.  Both are CDST.

All stations stream, so give it a listen.

Also, if you can figure out how to get in online, Chicago has another great station called MeTV 87.7 FM that plays a really big selection of oldies all day.

Also condolences to the family and friends of Kenny Rogers who died yesterday.  Sure enjoyed his music both with the First Edition and by himself.  That old graybeard.

So, If Stuck Home, Give A Listen.  --RoadDog

TOP TEN COUNTRY SONGS:  "My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend and I Sure Do Miss Him"

Terri Hemmert Salutes George Harrison on His Birthday-- Part 2: "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"

*  Beatles

HERE COMES THE SUN-- *
Professor Moptop
DEVIL'S BEEN BUSY-- Traveling Wilburys
CLOUD NINE--  George

WITHIN YOU WITHOUT YOU--  Strings Attached & Will Taylor
ONLY A NORTHERN SONG--  *
OLD BROWN SHOE--  Irv Irving

AIN'T NOTHING SHAKIN'--  BBC--  *
WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY SLEEPS--  Jake Shimabukuro
I ME MINE--  *

Name That Tune (from the Above Songs):  "Little Darling, It's been A Long, Cold, Lonely Winter."  Answer below.  --Roaddog


"Here Comes the Sun"

Terri Hemmert Salutes George on Her Breakfast With the Beatles Show Feb. 23, 2020-- Part 1: "Bangladesh"

Terri Hemmert always has a tribute to each of the Beatles closest to their birthday on her Breakfast With the Beatles show on Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM.  We listened to her show and Bob Strouds Roots Salute to George Harrison on the way home from the NIU basketball games in DeKalb on Sunday.

She played George singing with the Beatles, by himself and others singing his songs.

*  With the Beatles

DON'T BOTHER ME--  *
ALL THINGS MUST PASS--  George
SO SAD--  Alvin Lee

RUN OF THE MILL--   (Demo)  George
PARTY SEACOMBE--  George (Wonderwall)
IF I NEEDED SOMEONE--  *

EVERYBODY'S TRYING TO BE MY BABY--  *
Professor Moptop on names George went by
BADGE--  Cream  (George co-wrote the song)
BANGLADESH--  George

NOT GUILTY--  (Take 102)--  *
PIGGIES--  *
BEWARE OF DARKNESS--   Leon Russell

CHAINS-  *
STUCK INSIDE A CLOUD--  George
THE INNER LIGHT--  Jimmy McGrif & Jr. Parker

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "You're The One I'd be Thinking Of."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"If I Needed Someone"

Happy Belated Birthday George

Either yesterday or Monday was George Harrison's birthday.  He was born right at midnight either February 24 or February 25, 1943, so this is the question.  It doesn't really matter though.  Sadly, he died November 29, 2001.   He would have been 76.

George was always my favorite of the Beatles from the get-go and could he ever play that lead guitar.  It was too bad that the big two Beatles wouldn't give him much of a chance to do his stuff.

But, anyway, in honor of George's birthday, both Bob Stroud on his Rock and Roll Roots show on Chicago's WDRV and Terri Hemmert on her Breakfast with the Beatles show on Chicago's WXRT had their shows dedicated to George on this past Sunday.

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Here are some of the songs they played:

ROCK AND ROLL ROOTS  Beatles unless *.  Then that is George Harrison


ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN
WHAT IS LIFE*

I'M HAPPY JUST TO DANCE WITH YOU
LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD*

YOU LIKE ME TOO MUCH
MY SWEET LORD*

I NEED YOU
GIVE ME LOVE*

TAX MAN
THIS SONG*

I WANT TO TELL YOU
IF NOT FOR YOU*

WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS
BLOW AWAY*

ALL THINGS MUST PASS*

Way To Go, George.  --RoadGeorge

Big Changes at Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM

This is one of the three main radio stations I listen to in Chicago.  Most every morning, I start with the Morning Show, hosted by Lin Brehmer and, until a few weeks ago, Mary Dixon with the news and essentially a co-host.  But the station dropped its morning news and she is now with another station, sadly.

Now, in a few weeks, Lin will be flipping time slots to 10-2:30 pm with Richard Milne.  Lin Brehmer played a lot of music while being somewhat talkative.  One of my problems with most morning shows is too much talk.  I need my music to get me going in the morning.

Plus, not too long ago, Terri Hemmmert retired from the midday job, but still comes back on Sundays to do her Breakfast With the Beatles show.  Sadly, on that one, Professor Moptop has reached the end of his informative segments on the history of the Beatles.  Hopefully they will start re-airing his reruns.

And, today (and last Wednesday) the station is playing all day with no commercial breaks.  I appreciate that, but, hey, over-the-air stations have to have a revenue stream and this doesn't do anything for that important aspect.  So give it a listen today on www.wxrt.com.

WXRT, Chicago's Finest Rock.  --RoadRadio

DID YOU KNOW:  "Stewardesses" is the longest English word that is only typed with the left hand.

Some Great Music On the Radio This Weekend: 1986 and 1979

In just a short time, WXRT, 93.1 FM will begin their Saturday Morning Flashback show, today hosted by Johnny Mars, at 9 a.m. CDST.  It runs to noon and today we go back to 1986.  It streams at www.wxrt.com.

Sunday, Bob Stroud goes back to August 4, 1979 for his third part of his Summer of '79 Salute on his Rock and Roll Roots show from 7 a.m. to 10 on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM.  It streams as well at www.wdrv.com.

Also Sunday, Terri Hemmert has her Breakfast With the Beatles show on WXRT, 93.1 FM from 8 a.m. to 10.  Then Sunday night Tom Marker has his Bluesbreakers Show on WXRT at 9 o.m..

--RoadDog

BABY TRIVIA TEASERS:  Which restaurant chain uses a commercial jingle about
"baby back baby back ribs?"


"Chili's"

JSS: Summer of '79-- The Fours of July-- Breakfast With the Beatles

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  SUMMER OF '79--  In just a little bit, 7 am CDST, Bob Stroud will be going back 40 years to July 7, 1979, and playing those summer songs.  His show is Rock and Roll Roots on WDRV, 97.1 FM, the Drive.  And it streams at www.wdrv.com   It runs 7 to 10 am CDST.  His show will be repeated at 7 p.m. tonight.

2.  THE FOURS OF JULY--  And his station, WDRV, has been running the blocks of four songs from the same group ever since Thursday.  They play one or two well-knowns and then dig deep for the others.  Worth a listen.  It streams.

3.  BREAKFAST WITH THE BEATLES--  And, from 8 to 10 this morning, Terri Hemmert, on Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM, will be doing her weekly Beatles show, today featuring Ringo Starr because of his birthday.  It streams as well at www.wxrt.com.

--RoadDog

Trivia:  What movie does the line "Nobody puts Baby in a corner" come from?

"Dirty Dancing"

Sitting Here Drinking My Cheerwine, Doing Professor Moptop's Homework and Typing These Blogs

Right now I am doing the homework assigned me last night at McHenry Library (Illinois).  And that was having to listen to the entire "Abbey Road" album" by you-know-who.  We are celebrating the 50th anniversary of this album's release this year.

And, what better way to find out about it than by having the "Fessa tell you about each and every song on it. He went into great detail and did it with plenty of video.  I doubt that anyone, even Terri Hemmert (and she REALLY KNOWS A LOT) knows more about the Beatles than Professor Moptop.

Plus, I am greatly enjoying my 12 ounce bottle of Cheerwine, the taste of North Carolina.  Yesterday, while shopping at our Spring Grove (Illinois) Jewel store I was fairly shocked to see a four pack of bottles for sale ($4).  That is much more than the usual $2.50 I like to spend for a 12-pack of pop.  But, the fact you can only rarely find it here in northern Illinois made me pay that price.  (I really stock up on the stuff when I'm in N.C..)

Sure made my day.

So, here I sit, typing away with my own two little fingers, drinking the good stuff and doing my homework.  I figured I had left homework behind when I got out of college, but evidently not so.

How 'Bout Dat?  --RoadDog

It's A Creedence Thing For Me: "Lodi" and CCR Getting Back Together?

I was listening to Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots just a little while ago, 7 am to 10 am Sundays on WDRV, 93.1 FM, Chicago, the Drive, something I do most every Sunday (I record Terri Hemmert's Breakfast With the Beatles, 8 to 10 am on Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM on my cassette tapes to listen to during the week.)

Anyway, Stroud played "Lodi" by Creedence Clearwater Revival and that song, of course, perked up my ears and is one that really takes me back to my college days because it was my fraternity's song (Delta Sigma Phi), that we sang about a special girl.  Only our words were different.  I couldn't tell you them here, but believe me, at our parties, we really belted our version out.

The new words were written by Cyzck and Beasey.

But, after the song, Stroud said the words I gave been waiting so long to hear, that Doug Clifford, Stu Cook and John Fogerty have been meeting and talking about burying the hatchet.  John's brother Tom Fogerty has since died.  When the band broke up in 1972, there were really hard feelings.

I consider CCR my favorite 1960s band.

Can a tour be long in coming?

CCR Forever.  --RoadFan


EGGCELLENT EASTER JOKES:    Q:  What would you get if you crossed the Easter Bunny with an over-stressed person?   A:  An Easter basket case!!

Seven Ways the Beatles Changed Boomer Childhood

Terri Hemmert, our Beatle enthusiast here in Chicago on WXRT, 93.1 FM, who has a show on Sundays from 8-10 am called Breakfast With the Beatles found this bit of information and passed it on to us.

1.  The Beatles made music a necessity.  (It sure did for me.  It had a huge impact on my life.)

2.  It displaced traditional childhood past times.  Like toys.  (Well, not really in my case.)

3.  The youngest Beatle fans started continually hanging out with older ones.  (Not me.)

4.  Children became aware of appearance and wanted to look cool.  (I didn't dare cross my parents in this situation.)

5.  They displaced traditional male role models.  (Like I said, I would not dare cross my dad.)

6.  Children became consumers when they became fans.  (To an extent.  I didn't have much money and my dad thought records were a waste of money. I didn't buy my first 45s until 1965, and even then, on the sly.)

7.  They created global and generational consciousness in younger boomers.  (There was no doubt but the Beatles were OUR music, not our parents.)

Something To Think About.  --RoadDog

EGGCELLENT  EASTER JOKES:  From April 2019 Wassup Magazine.    Q.  What does the Easter Rabbit get for making a basket?    A.  Two points just like everyone else.