Where Were You August 3, 1974?-- Part 3

These songs should take you back.  By Crackety.

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS--  Bachman Turner Overdrive
FREE MAN IN PARIS--  Joni Mitchell
NOTHING FROM NOTHING--  Billy Preston

WALK ON--  Neil Young
RADAR LOVE--  Holden Earring  (Dutch band)
WORKING AT THE CAR WASH BLUES--  Jim Croce  (released posthumously)

THE NIGHT CHICAGO DIED--  Paper Lace  (Just a few wrong things in this song.)
LaGRANGE--  ZZ Top
SOMETHING'S HAPPENING--  Peter Frampton  (Before he came Alive.)

"Back in the Bad Old Days."    --RoadDog

SIGNS OF OLD AGE:  You enjoy hearing about other people's operations.

Where Were You August 3, 1974?-- Part 1

Yesterday, Bob Stroud did his annual trip back to a summer forty years ago.  That would be 1974 in this case.

August 3, 1974, was in the summer after my first year of teaching and one where Liz and I moved from one apartment in Des Plaines to another in Vernon Hills, Illinois.  This was so I could be closer to school in Round Lake.  Liz was still looking for a job teaching with no luck.  She was working as a secretary at General Finance Corporation's home office in Evanston, Illinois, right by Northwestern's Dyche Stadium, so her drive got considerably longer.

The songs:

SUNDOWN--  Gordon Lightfoot
BRIDGE OF SIGHS--  Robin Trower
TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD--  Rufus (With Chaka Khan)

REBEL REBEL--  David Bowie
BIG TEN INCH--  Aerosmith
THE WEIGHT--  (live)--  Band

"I Pulled Into Nazareth..."  --RoadDog

Where Were You September 1, 1973?-- Part 4

Some more songs on Rock and Roll Roots that were on your radio or in your record collection.

JIMMY LOVES MARIANNE-- Looking Glass
CHINA GROVE-- Doobie Brothers
UNEASY RIDER-- Charlie Daniels

LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD-- George Harrison
MY LOVE-- Paul McCartney & Wings
MY MARIA-- B.W. Stevenson

GYPSEY MAN-- War
LOVES ME LIKE A ROCK-- Paul Simon
ROCKY MOUNTAIN WAY-- Joe Walsh.

I Wonder If People Would Wonder If I Went to L.A. Via Omaha? --RoadDog

Where Were You September 1, 1973?-- Part 1

Yesterday, Bob Stroud had part 4 of his monthly Rock and Roll Roots Time Warps back to the summer of '73. As I have already mentioned, this was a "Big" summer for me. I had graduated from NIU and had been looking unsuccessfully for a teaching job while living with Liz's parents in Palatine, Illinois.

In the meantime, I had been working three days as a mover (and I can say that is a really hard way to earn a buck (and I was getting $10 an hour, real big money back then). I was also driving a van back and forth from the Sheraton Inn-Walden in Schaumburg to O'Hare.

In late July, I got a full-time job working as an assistant manager at a Bonanza Sirloin Pit in Buffalo Grove and figured that would likely be my career job. I had given up on getting a teaching job and felt I was so poorly treated at interviews I wanted nothing to do with education anymore.

But, Then, Frances Made Me Fill Out the Round Lake School District Application. --RoadDog

Where Were You August 4, 1973?-- Part 2: "Knockin' On Heaven's Door"

WAITING FOR THE BUS/JESUS JUST LEFT CHICAGO-- ZZ Top
GYPSEY MAN-- War
GIVE ME LOVE-- George Harrison

MONEY-- Pink Floyd
KNOCKIN' ON HEAVEN'S DOOR-- Bob Dylan
LOVES ME LIKE A ROCK-- Paul Simon

ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN-- ELO
WE'RE AN AMERICAN BAND-- Grand Funk
BIG BARN BED-- Paul McCartney
LIVE AND LET DIE-- Paul McCartney.

--RoadDog

Where Were You August 4, 1973?-- Part 1: Lots of Big Events In My Life

Sunday, Bob Stroud on Chicago's Drive, 97.1 FM WDRV (simulcast over 96.9 FM for the northern suburbs which is the one we get) went back to the songs playing on the radio and on our albums on August 4, 1973. That's 40 years ago for you mathematically disinclined.

I remember this was one really busy time for us. We had just rented an apartment in Des Plaines, Illinois. I was living there and Liz was still at her parents until our marriage coming up on August 25th, just 21 days away at this point.

I had just started what I figured to be my future job, working as an assistant manager at Bonanza Sirloin Pit in Buffalo Grove. They were impressed with me and planning on letting me run the new store in Schaumburg when it opened in six months. I would be the youngest-ever manager.

Then, there was that great music. I'll just list the songs because of this run-on paragraph problem and leave out Stroud's comments (as well as my own).

SATURDAY NIGHT'S ALRIGHT FOR FIGHTING-- Elton John
BAD BAD LEROY BROWN-- Jum Croce.

A Busy Time for Us. --RoadDog

Where Were You July 7, 1973?-- Part 3: "Tequila Sunrise"

Maybe these songs Bob Stroud played on his show this past Sunday might help remind you of 40 years ago.
Because of the NO PARAGRAPH/run all lines together Blogspot problem, I will not be writing down Stroud's comments or my own.

DIAMOND GIRL-- Seals & Crofts
TEQUILA SUNRISE-- Eagles
BROTHER LOUIE-- Stories

DANIEL-- Elton John
CINDY INCIDENTLY-- Faces
GIVE IT TO ME-- J. Geils Band
I'M DOING FINE NOW-- New York City

FEELING STRONGER EVERYDAY-- Chicago
UNEASY RIDER-- Charlie Daniels Band.

Who Was the Guy With the Green Teeth. --RoadDog

Where Were You July 7, 1973?-- Part 2

I was driving around my (well, soon, our) 1973 Ford Pinto which we had bought for $2200 at a Ford dealer in DeKalb. That was a HUGE amount of money for us.We traded the '63 Ramblin' Wreck in on it.

And, I was either still living in Palatine at Liz's parents' place or perhaps we had gotten the apartment in Des Plaines by then. I'm not too sure on the particulars.

By now, I had given up on getting a teaching job and looking for anywhere my career might take me. I hated the way I was treated at the teaching job interviews (well, the few I could even get). Liz was back home as well and looking for a teaching job while working at General Finance Corporation (a loan company) in Evanston. The Home of "Friendly Bob Adams."

We were getting married August 25th.

Then, There Were Those Great Songs Playing Back Then, All Those 40 Years Ago.

A Real Busy Time.  --RoadDog

Where Were You July 7, 1973?-- Part 1: Getting Ready to Marry

Sunday, Bob Stroud played the second installment of his Summer Trip back to 1973 on his WDRV show, Rock and Roll Roots.

I'll be listing the songs, but leaving the comments out because of the paragraph problem where skipped lines don't count anymore. 

Back on July 7, 1973, I was either driving a van back and forth from Sheraton Inn-Walden in Schaumburg, Illinois, a job I had taken while looking for a real job or working as an assistant manager at Bonanza Sirloin Pit in Buffalo Grove (I eventually gave up looking for a teaching job.)

I also might have had my three-day career as a mover, which ended when the truck I was working on was moving a printing company in Chicago and we were taking a particularly heavy piece of machinery over a gangplank when it broke, sending us and a several ton machine about six feet down. You never saw so much "air-swimming" as the four of us were doing to avoid having that fall on us. 

That was my last day at that job. Good pay ($10 an hour), but really, really hard work and dangerous, obviously.)

Keeping It Shorter Than Unsual Because of the Paragraph Problem. --RoadDog

Where Were You June 2, 1973?-- Part 1

This is the 40th anniversary of the Summer of '73.  Absolutely hard to think of it as being that long ago.  Bob Stroud started these summer Time Warps back in the Summer of '67, the Summer of Love.  This is a four part series, with one three-hour segment every first Sunday from June to September.

I really look forward to these little bits of my past as I sure was listening to the music and buying those albums and 45s, much to Dad's chagrin.

  My words in parentheses ( ).

LONG TRAIN RUNNING--  DOOBIE BROTHERS--Brand new from the album The Captain and Me.
RIGHT PLACE, WRONG TIME--  DR. JOHN--  (My first intro to non-Dixieland New Orleans music, but I didn't know it at the time.)

SHAMBALA--  THREE DOG NIGHT--  Debuting this week, 40 years ago and on its way to #1.  (Something about a GFC Christmas Party and a table with Freddie and myself standing on it and singing the song at the top of our lungs.  Who needs karaoke anyway?  Wait, we didn't have it back then.)
CISCO KID--  WAR--  (Just got to love that sound War had.)

ELDERBERRY WINE--  ELTON JOHN--  The last two songs were from your radio, Now, from your album collection.  Off side one of Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only the Piano Player.
AMERICAN TUNE--  PAUL SIMON--  His second solo album, There Goes Rhymin' Simon.  Lead off selection from side two.

Let the Memories Begin.  --RoadDog

Where Were You Spring 1967?-- Part 6

WHEN I WAS YOUNG--  ERIC BURDON & ANIMALS--  (It's been so long ago that I was young that I can't remember.)
MIDNIGHT HOUR--  MICHAEL & THE MESSENGERS--  local group (And one great rendition.  Wilson would be so proud.)

I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW--  TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS--  In Top Ten
SWEET SOUL MUSIC--  ARTHUR CONLEY--  By the late great.  Produced by Otis Redding.  (And, his biggest hit, one of my all-time favorites.)

HERE COMES MY BABY--  TREMELOES--  Written by Cat Stevens.  (Wasn't this the group the one record company signed while taking a pass on the Beatles?)
RUBY TUESDAY--  ROLLING STONES--  The "A" Side of the earlier single ("Let's Spend the Night Together" where the Stones wanted to play Tiddly-Wink.)

COME ON DOWN TO MY BOAT--  EVERY MOTHERS SON--  Their one and only hit.
GROOVIN'--  YOUNG RASCALS--  Brand new this week.  (The ode to my idea of a great time.)

LITTLE GAMES--  YARDBIRDS--  With a new guitarist by the name of Jimmy Page.
HAPPY TOGETHER--  TURTLES--  The #1 song in Chicago.  (Is it even possible to hear a Turtles song and not tap, hum, bop your head or react in at least some sort of way?)

Wonder How Old Tiffany Was When the Tommy James Song Came Out.  --RoadDog


TOO PUNNY:  PMS jokes aren't funny.  Period!!

Where Were You Spring 1967?-- Part 5

These wre songs on your radio (in Chicago WCFL and WLS) back in the spring of 1967.  Bob Stroud did this on his Rock and Roll Roots show on Chicago's WDRV in honor of "Mad Men" coming back on AMC April 7th.  When the last season ended, it was Spring 1967.

FRIDAY ON MY MIND--  EASY BEATS--  Still lots from the British Invasion, but this was the first from the Land Down Under.  (And, it had an AC/DC connection.)
SOCK IT TO ME--  MITCH RYDER AND THE DETROIT WHEELS--  (These guys sure knew their Frat Rock.)

A LITTLE BIT ME, A LITTLE BIT YOU--  MONKEES--  "A" Side of two-sided hit.  This one written by Neil Diamond.
THE GIRL I KNEW SOMEWHERE--  MONKEES--  "B" Side.

GIRL, YOU'LL BE A WOMAN SOON--  NEIL DIAMOND--  (Always wondered what Neil had in mind once she did.  Taking a lick from Gary Puckett here.  Stroud  played a Coke commercial by Neil Diamond after this.)
SOMEBODY TO LOVE--  JEFFERSON AIRPLANE--  Brand new this week.  (And one of their "Big Two.")

THERE'S A KIND OF A HUSH--  HERMAN'S HERMITS--  Two-sided hit "A" side.
NO MILK TODAY--  HERMAN'S HERMITS--  "B" Side.  Written by the same guy  who wrote "For Your Love" by the Yardbirds, "Bus Stop" and "Look Through Any Window" for the Hollies. His name Graham Gouldman.  (Like Stroud, I agree this is an often overlooked nugget of a song.  I will have to look up Graham Gouldman as I am not familiar with him, but definitely am with these songs, all favorites of mine.  "Look Through Any Window" was either my first or second single that I ever bought.)

I Hate It When There's No Milk.  The Cereal Just Isn't the Same.  --RoadDog

Where Were You Spring 1967?-- Part 4

One thing about songs from back then, you can sure fit a lot of them in a three-hour show, which is exactly what Bob Stroud did.  Sure enjoyed it.  Hope some of these are bringing back memories for you.  Stroud's comments first.  Mine in parentheses.

MY BACK PAGES--  BYRDS--  current release, a Dylan tune.
SWEETS FOR MY SWEET--  RIDDLES--  A good time to be a band in Chicago as chances were pretty good you'd get played on the radio on one of the two AM giants.  I can't imagine that happening today.  (The two giants on AM would be WLS and WCFL.  I hadn't heard this one for a VERY long time.  What a great song!!)

DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE--  MAMAS AND PAPAS--  Written by an artist who has been folk in the beginning, but now firmly entrenched in pop and rock, John Phillips, leader of the group.  Brilliant rerecording of an old Shirelles classic.  (I didn't know he wrote it so looked it up in Wikipedia which said it was written by Lowman Pauling and Ralph Bass.  So, who wrote it?)
)
HAPPY JACK--  WHO--  first U.S. hit.  (And I always thought it was "I Can See for Miles.")

YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES--  DAVE CLARK FIVE--  One of their last U.S. hits.  (And, I liked them just as much as Beatles.)
JIMMY MACK--  MARTHA REEVES--  Motown rescued an old Martha and the Vandellas song, put it out and it became a big hit for the leader of the group, Martha Reeves.  (And here I always thought it was performed by Martha AND THE VANDELLAS.)

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH--  BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD--  The first of a couple tunes by Stephen Stills.  This one with his group, their debut album.  (And, a big reason I got into country rock.)
SIT DOWN I THINK I LOVE YOU--  MOJO MEN--  San Francisco group.

There's a Man with a Gun Over There.  --RoadDog


TOO PUNNY:  They told me I had type A blood, but it was a Type O.

Where Were You Spring 1967?-- Part 3

BERNADETTE--  FOUR TOPS--  Current hit by the great Funk Brothers in Top ten.  (One of the Delta Sigs' four must-play groups at parties.  The Funk Brothers were Motown's House Band.)
ON A CAROUSEL--  HOLLIES--   (And one of my favorite British Invasion bands.)

AT THE ZOO--  SIMON AND GARFUNKEL--  A Paul Simon song.  (What was it about the giraffes?)
59TH STREET BRIDGE SONG (FEELING GROOVY)--  HARPER'S BIZARRE--  Another Paul Simon song.

STRAWBERRY FIELDS--  BEATLES--  "A" Side from current hit.
PENNY LANE--  BEATLES--  "B" Side
TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS--  BEATLES--  Final song from Revolver album, the last from September 1966, the last before all this new Beatle stuff.

I NEVER LOVED A MAN THE WAY I LOVE YOU--  ARETHA FRANKLIN--  She had been languishing in semi-obscurity throughout most of her time on Columbia Records, she made a jump to Atlantic and her career took off.)
LONELY TOO LONG--  RASCALS--  (Also one of my favorite bands from the era..)


Where's It All Happening?  --RoadDog


TOO PUNNY:  I did a theatrical performance about puns.  It was a play on words.

Where Were You Spring 1967?-- Part 2

That new episode of "Mad Men" was a good one Sunday night.

THE HAPPENING--  SUPREMES--  Title track from the film and much more happening than the film.
DON'T YOU CARE--  BUCKINGHAMS--  Their first hit on Columbia. Follow up to "Kind of a Drag."  (And a former Chicago band.)

MR. UNRELIABLE--  CRYAN' SHAMES--  Chicago's own, third consecutive Top Ten single in town.  (My second favorite Chicago band, after the New Colony Six.)
I'M A MAN--  SPENCER DAVIS GROUP--  I always thought the Stones had this song in mind when they recorded "Sympathy for the Devil."  (As fine of a Frat Rock song as there is.  Let's all chug!)

IT TAKES TWO--  MARVIN GAYE AND TAMMI TERRELL--  Recorded at Hitsville USA.
WESTERN UNION--  FIVE AMERICANS--  out of Texas.  (A band into communication.  Their other big hit was "Zip Code" recorded when that began reality.)

DARLING BE HOME SOON--  LOVIN' SPOONFUL--  (Probably my favorite song of theirs.  And, they had a lot of great songs.)
BABY, I NEED YOUR LOVING--  JOHNNY RIVERS--  A Four Tops song from 1964.  (Mr. Cover Guy)

"Bad News in His Hand."  --RoadDog


TOO PUNNY:  I'm reading a book about anti-gravity.  I can't put it down.

What Were You Doing Spring 1967?-- Part 1

Yesterday, Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots Show on WDRV was a Time Warp--  The Mad Men Time Warp, back to the spring of 1967 since that is where season 5 ended.  Of course, Sunday was also the season 6 premier.  It just kind of fit.

And, best of all, he did the full three hours on the spring of '67, instead of splitting the show between two dates like normal.

Back in the spring of 1967, I was finishing up my sophomore year at Palatine High School in Palatine, Illinois.  I had been on the wrestling team until I broke my foot in practice.  At least that got me out of Latin class early, before Mrs. Johnson got to ask me the hard translation that I hadn't done.  And, it got my buddy Kevin out early as well.  Hey, somebody had to carry my books.  She's always say, "Mr. Hatch, just wait until you get that cast off!!"

We were living in Winston Park subdivision, a huge housing development,  across the street from St. Thomas.

Of course, I was somewhat fearing taking my drivers test.  Poor Dad had been taking me out for practice in the family 1964 Bel Air, with its "wonderful" manual transmission which I was having serious trouble mastering.  Dad and I would come back shaken, not stirred.

BREAK ON THROUGH--  DOORS--  From their debut album, their first single (And I always thought it was "Light My Fire.")  The title of the "Mad Men" premier tonight is "The Doorway."
LET'S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER--  ROLLING STONES--  Their latest release was a one-and-a-half hit because of the subject matter of this "B" side.

Enjoyed That Season Premier Last Night.  --RoadDog

Where Were You March 3, 1965?-- Part 4

LAUGH, LAUGH--  BEAU BRUMMELS--  From San Francisco, one of their two hits.  (And, with a name sounding very British.)

I DON'T WANT TO SPOIL THE PARTY--  "B" Side of the #1 single in Chicago.  (Imagine the Beatles back then having a #1 two-sided single.  Who would have believed?)
EIGHT DAYS A WEEK--  "A" Side

These were the intro songs.

WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO THE RAIN--  SEARCHERS--  British Invasion group (And a song I hadn't heard.)
GOOD TO MY BABY--  BEACH BOYS

JUST ASK THE LONELY--  FOUR TOPS--
LET'S LOCK THE DOOR--  JAY & THE AMERICANS--  (Thanks, Bob, for not telling the name of the group.  That cost me an hour, but I sure enjoyed it.)

DOWNTOWN--  PETULA CLARK

Almost Fifty Years Ago, Now.  --RoadDog

Where Were You May 6, 1969?-- Part 1

This past Sunday WDRV's Bob Stroud went back to May 6, 1969 on his Rock and Roll Roots show and since we didn't go on the Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor celebration, I got to listen to it.

May 6th, 1969, I was a senior at Palatine High School in Palatine, Illinois, getting ready to graduate in about a month.  I had already been accepted at Northern Illinois University.  I'm not sure if we had had prom yet, but Liz and I were going (I'll have to ask her).  Liz was going to Harper College in Palatine, so we weren't sure how that would affect our relationship (going steady).

I was working at Burger King in Palatine on Northwest Highway (US-14) and earning a whopping $1.55 making those Whoppers.  Liz would be  working with her dad at general Finance Corporation in Evanston that summer (earning considerably more, but not having as much fun). The Burger King is now Photos.

These were the songs playing on Chicago radio 43 years ago (man, that's getting near HALF a CENTURY!!!

MORE THAN YESTERDAY--  SPIRAL STAIRCASE--  These first two songs were brand new this week back then.
SORRY SUZANNE--  HOLLIES--  A band we had been familiar with for the past 4-5 years.  (And those great vocal harmonies.)

TOO BUSY THINKING ABOUT MY BABY--  MARVIN GAYE--  Brand new from the Motown legend.
MR. SUN, MR. MOON--  PAUL REVERE & THE RAIDERS--  from the West Coast.  (Not one of their bigger hits.)

More to Come.  --RoadDog


OLDSTER BUMPER STICKERS:  Young at Heart.  Slightly Older in Other Places.

Where Were You April 8, 1970?-- Part 1: It's a Beach Music Thing for Me.

Yesterday, Bob Stroud did a Time Warp on his Rock and Roll Roots Show on the Drive, 97.1 FM back to April 8th both 1970 and 1980. Lots of good music then.

He played "Give Me Just a Little More Time" by Chairman of the Board. This was a favorite of mine back in 1970. I didn't know it at the time, but this song was going to become what was coined in the 1980s as Beach Music.

I already was a big fan of soul music and especially that great Motown stuff and this was greatly reinforced every time we took a summer vacation to North Carolina. You would hear a lot of soul music on the radio, plus my Goldsboro buddies Ronnie and Keith were big into it.

My parents told me about this new genre called Beach Music in the 80s and I was hooked right away. Right now, I am listening to 94.9 the Surf out of North Myrtle Beach, SC, which is considered to be the Heart of Beach Music. Often I listen to Beach Boogie and Blues on WNCT 1070 AM out of Greenville, NC.

This internet sure keeps me in tune with Beach Music which I can't get on local stations here in northern Illinois. Thanks, internet!!

Beach Music is mostly east coast or southern soul that was and still is played along the east coast of the US in southern states. It is not the Beach Music of the Beach Boys or Jan and Dean. It sometimes is called Carolina Beach Music.

"Give me Just a Little More Time." --RoadDog

Where Were You August 19, 1965?-- Part 1

I was a mere 14-year-old, just having graduated junior high and getting ready to go to Fremd High School in Palatine, Illinois.

This Top Twenty songs comes from WAIR 1340 AM radio out of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. I found this on Fessa John Hook's Beach Music Site.

1. I GOT YOU BABE-- Sonny and Cher-- Way before anyone ever thought of a "Groundhog Day" movie.
2. IT'S THE SAME OLD SONG-- Four Tops-- Some great Motown.
3. PAPA'S GOT A BRAND NEW BAG-- James Brown-- The first time I'd ever heard of him.
4. I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU-- Spinners
5. HELP-- Beatles-- Wouldn't be a 1965 chart without a Beatles song on it.

6. UNCHAINED MELODY-- Righteous Brothers-- Way before anybody ever thought of a "Ghost" movie.
7. DOWN IN THE BOONDOCKS-- Billy Joe Royal-- This song and "I Got You Babe" always remind me of my graduation trip from 8th grade that my parents gave me that summer. I went on a week-long fishing trip to Canada. These songs played over and over and over.
8. NOTHING BUT HEARTACHES-- Supremes-- Some more great Motown
9. BABY, I'M YOURS-- Barbara Lewis
10. CALIFORNIA GIRLS-- Beach Boys-- What about those Illinois girls? OK, Midwest farmers' daughters.

Good Stuff. Ten More to Come. --RoadDog