"The Thrill Is Gone," Cubs Go Home

Listening to Lin Braehmer's show this morning on WXRT and the first song he played was B.B. King's "The Thrill Is Gone."  He couldn't have played a better song to sum up the NLCS for me.

Lin said that after the game (he and his wife have season tickets and he is a huge Cubs fan) decided to go into a Wrigleyville watering hole for a soothing drink when they saw a table full of Mets fans.  He was nice enough to order them a round, even though he hates the Mets.  A lot of us still remember 1969.  But worse of all, one of them was wearing a Mets jersey with the name Vetter on the back of it.  Everyone knows that Eddie Vetter of Pearl Jam is an ultimate Cubs fan.  That really hurt Lin.

Yesterday morning, he broadcast from Wrigley Field as the Cubs faced elimination and started with the part from "Animal House" after Dean Wormer had come into Delta House and told them they were all expelled.  That is when Bluto got up and uttered those remarkable words:  "Over?!  Over?!  Nothing is over until we say it is!  Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?  Hell, no!  And it ain't over now!"

Thanks for Putting It Into Perspective, Mr. Braehmer.  --RoadDog

WLS Top Ten for October 22, 1965: "Hang On Sloopy"

As in 50 years ago.

1.  YESTERDAY--  Beatles
2.  JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER--  Herman's Hermits
3.  GET OFF MY CLOUD--  Rolling Stones

4.  YOU'RE THE ONE--  Vogues
5.  LOVERS CONCERTO--  Toys
6.  EVERYBODY LOVES A CLOWN--  Gary Lewis
7.  LIAR LIAR--  Castaways

8.  HANG ON SLOOPY--  McCoys
9.  POSITIVELY 4TH STREET--  Bob Dylan
10.  ROSES AND RAINBOWS--  Randy Hutton  (Future Three Dog Night singer)

Numbers 34-40 were all new songs on the survey:

34.  1-2-3--  Len Barry
35.  SEA CRUISE--  Hondells
36.  MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF--  Walker Brothers

37.  MAY THE BIRD OF PARADISE FLY UP YOUR NOSE--  Jimmie Dickens
38.  BOYS--  Beatles
39.  CHILD OF OUR TIMES--  Barry McGuire
40.  LET'S HANG ON--  Four Seasons

Name That Tune:  "May An Elephant Caress You With His Toes."  --RoadDog


"May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose"

I Can Now Talk About the Cubs

I didn't much mention the Chicago Cubs before now as whenever I mention a favorite team during the season,they lose.  It's kind of like the curse of the Sports Illustrated cover.  Well, I didn't mention them and they still lost, so now I can say something.

Although I'm a White Sox fan, I back the Cubs unless they play my team.  Over my life, I have probably been to Wrigley Field more than I have been to Comiskey Park.  And, this year we had a very special team.  We watched all the games during the playoff run and had a great time until the Mets and that pitching and that Murphy guy came to town.

The Cubs were 6-0 against them during the regular season, but you sure wouldn't know it by the way they played us these past four games.  Their pitching throttled us and good old Joe wouldn't listen to me when I told him to walk Murphy every time he came to the plate.

Oh, well.  We had a great time in the Wild Card game and the NLDS.  These last four games were sheer agony.

But, we sure have something to look forward to for next year.  And, I figure the Cubs losing means I saved some big bucks on souvenirs, well, Liz did, as I don't buy Cubs stuff.

A Learning Experience.  --RoadCub


COUNTER PROVERBS:  With age comes wisdom.  --or--  Out of the mouths of babes come all wise sayings.

Past Movie Scratches: 6-- Sheriff-- Cogburn-- Pirates-- Kong-- Wild

TV movies from 2014.

97.  HALLOWEEN 6--  Was Michael's hometown on Route 66?

98.  98.  SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHERIFF--  James Garner tames a lawless town, his way.  While on his way to Australia.

99.  ROOSTER COGBURN--  It's John Wayne vs. Katherine Hepburn and a bunch of bad guys.

100. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN:  DEAD MAN'S CHEST--  Capt. Jack vs. Davy Jones and his Kracken.  And that great water wheel fight.

101.  KING KONG--  The original movie.  Big guy falls for pretty gal.

102.  GOING WILD--  Con man Joe E. brown can't fly.

--RoadDog

Past Movie Scratches: Halloween-- 2-- Super-- 3-- 4-- 5

These are movies I watched on TV back in 2014.  Obviously, I saw these around Halloween.

91.  HALLOWEEN--  Or, crazy old Michael Myers.  Killed his sister and made horny teenagers all over town worry.

92.  HALLOWEEN 2--  Michael runs amuck in a hospital.

93.  SUPER EIGHT--  The alien goes home.

94.  HALLOWEEN 3--  Don't wear the mask.

95.  HALLOWEEN 4--  After ten years, he's back.

96.  HALLOWEEN 5--  No use trying to get through to Uncle Mikie.  No sense of humor and again, teens should avoid sex.

Obviously I saw a movie marathon.

--RoadDog

COUNTER PROVERBS:  What's good for the goose is good for the gander.  --or--  One man's meat is another man's poison.

A Losing Football and Baseball Kind of Weekend

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16TH--  Went shopping in McHenry.  usual Suspects at the Legion.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17TH--  Drove to Arlington Heights and had a great breakfast with Bob and Marilyn.  Then he drove to Evanston and had a nice walk to Ryan Field past some really pretty older homes with beautiful landscaping as the fall colors were starting.  Unfortunately, Northwestern lost to Iowa, but an absolutely great fall day for college football.

Afterwards we went to Sports Page in Arlington Heights to eat.  Stopped at Half-Price Books in Palatine on my way home.  This is my favorite store.

Liz and I went to several places that were too crowded before we found places to sit at the bar at the Legion to watch the Cubs game.  Unfortunately another loss to the Mets.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER  18TH--  Met the Usual Suspects at Squaw Bar for the Bears-Lions game.  Unfortunately another loss in a game Chicago could have won.  Then sat out by the lake at Kevin and Kelly's.  Came home and watched another Cubs loss.  Those pitchers and that Murphy guy are killing us.

--RoadLoserDog


COUNTER PROVERBS:  What will be, will be.  --or--  Life is what you make it.

Music Deaths: Chimes, "Lemon Tree" and "I Love How You Love Me"

LENNY COCCHO, Died May 8, 2015.

Lead singer with the Chimes, a Brooklyn quartet.  Had big hit with "Once in Awhile" (#11-1961).

WILL HOLT, 86, Died June 7, 2015.

Composed the folk standard "Lemon Tree."  (#35 for Peter, Paul & Mary in 1962 and Trini lopez (#20-1965).

LARRY KOLBER, 84, Died June 7, 2015.

Wrote "I Love How You Love Me" (#5-1961 for the Paris Sisters and #9-1969 for Bobby Vinton.

One of the original; Brill Building composers.  Wrote "Patches" (#6-1962 for Dickie Lee and also a hit for Clarence Carter.  Also "Forget Me Not" (#12-1958 for the Kalin Twins.

Music Deaths: Pattie Boyd and Louis Johnson

PATTIE BOYD

Died April 29, 2015, at age 71.

Ex-wife of George Harrison and Eric Clapton.  Was inspiration for Harrison's "Something" and Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight."

LOUIS JOHNSON

Died May 21, 2015, at 60.

Bass player and one half of Brothers Johnson (with brother George).  Had hits with "I'll be Good to You" (#3-1976), "Strawberry Letter #23" (#7-1977) and "Stomp" (#7-1980)  Played bass on Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and "Off the Wall" albums.

Also on Herb Alpert's "Rise" and George Benson's "Give Me the Night."

Four Song Covers You Probably Thought Were Original

From the April 20, 2015, Yahoo! Mail by Katherine Webs.

1.  JIMI HENDIX--  "All Along the Watchtower," originally by Bob Dylan.

2.  JOHNNY CASH-- "Hurt," originally by Nine Inch Nails.

3.  SID VICIOUS--  "My Way," originally by Frank Sinatra.   I never heard the Sid Vicious version.

4.  ARETHA FRANKLIN--  "Respect," originally by Otis Redding

ALSO, MARVIN GAYE--  "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," originally done by Martha & the Vandellas.

Name That Tune:  "There Must Be Some Kind of Way Out of Here."  --RoadDog


COUNTER PROVERBS:  Absence makes the heart grow fonder.  --or--  Out of sight, out of mind.

"All Along the Watchtower"

Heading Out for the Northwestern-Iowa Game

In just a few minutes I will be leaving for Arlington Heights, where I will meet up with my buddy Bob and after a gourmet breakfast, will head for Evanston and the Wildcat-Hawkeye game at Ryan Field.

It is a very chilly day.  We have a freeze warning in effect right now, our first of the year.

Afterwards, it will be a post-game chowdown somewhere and home for a baseball game.

--RoadDog

COUNTER PROVERBS:  The bigger, the better.  --or--  The best things come in small packages.

Every Blooming THing-- Mid-October 2015: The Color Has Arrived

Well, it is still blooming.  My asters and mums are carrying the color right now, as well as the wild mini daisies.  And, more color is being provided by the trees.  They were a bit late changing color this year, but are well on their way.  Our subdivision is one of the prettiest for color anywhere around.

My honey locusts are a brilliant yellow/gold and the amur maples are into their color blast.

I'm going out shortly to rake pine straw back into the pine islands.  Always love the free mulch, but not so keen on all that raking.

Planning on cutting the grass today as well.  Perhaps for the last time?

I have moved all of the plants I'll be overwintering into the house because of an expected freeze tonight.  Well, it is that time of the year.  Temps in the 50s yesterday, today and tomorrow and Sunday.  But, it is supposed to get into the 70s next week.  Indian Summer, you know.

Color from April to October.  --RoadDog

Music Deaths: Death of Another King This Year

BEN E. KING, 76, died April 30, 2015.

B.B. King died about two weeks late on May 14, 2015.Former member of the Drifters and a very successful solo artist.

Cowrote and sang "There Goes My baby (#2-1959.  Sang lead on "Save the Last Dance for Me" (#1-1960), "I Count the Tears" (#17-1960) "This Magic Moment" (#16-1961).

King only cut three songs with the Drifters before going solo in 1960.  Two were big hits: "Spanish Harlem" (#10-1961) and ""Stand By Me" (#4-1961).

"Not Too Long Ago" by the Uniques-- Part 4: Country Star Joe Stampley

Continued from October 3rd.

From Wikipedia.

Born in 1943 in Springhill, Louisiana.  Main singer of the Uniques (not the Jamaican and doo wop group of the same name). "Not Too Long Ago was the first national hit for Louisiana's Paula Records.

in 1971, Joe signed with ABC-Dot Records and released seven albums.  His "All These Things went to #1 on the country charts.  In 1975, he went to Epic records and released eleven albums  Overall, Stampley has over 60 charted records.

Joel Whitburn's Billboard Top Country Songs 1944 to 1992 ranks him 52nd among country artists.

--RioadDog

COUNTER PROVERBS:  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.  -or- Better safe than sorry.

WLS Top Ten for October 15, 1965

1.  YESTERDAY--  Beatles
2.  HANG ON SLOOPY--  McCoys
3.  JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER--  Herman's Hermits

4.  YOU'RE THE ONE--  Vogues
5.  LOVERS CONCERTO--  Toys
6.  YOU WERE ON MY MIND--  We Five
7.  THE WORLD THROUGH A TEAR--  Neil Sedaka

8.  LIAR LIAR--  Castaways
9.  GET OFF MY CLOUD--  Rolling Stones
10.  SUMMER NIGHTS--  Marianne Faithful

Name That Tune: "You Know It Gives Me Chills."  --RoadDog



"Hang On Sloopy"

WLS Top 40 Survey for October 8, 1965-- Part 4: "Lovers Concerto"

The Top Ten:

10.  ACTION--  Freddie Cannon

9.  THE IN CROWD--  Ramsey Lewis

8.  HELP!--  Beatles

7.  LOVERS CONCERTO--  Toys  (from #27)

6.  YOU'RE THE ONE--  Vogues  (from #21)

5.  THE WORLD THROUGH A TEAR--  Neil Sedaka

4.  YOU WERE ON MY MIND--  We Five

3.  JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER--  Herman's Hermits

2.  YESTERDAY--  Beatles

1.  HANG ON SLOOPY--  McCoys

Name That Tune:  "Every Time We Meet, Everything Is Sweet."  --RoadDog

COUNTER PROVERBS:  Clothes make the man.  -or-  Don't judge a book by its cover.

"You're the One"

--

Good Times This Past Weekend: Sports, Bars and GI Joe

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9TH--  A stay-at-home day because of the cold.  Lots and lots of TV.  Catching up on "The Walking Dead" marathon.  Sadly, the Cubs lose in first NLDS game to St. Louis, 4-0.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10TH--  Still watching "The Walking Dead" marathon.  Went to Pug Mahone's in Fox Lake for the Joe Gliniewicz fundraiser.  (Won a pair of Bears tickets)  Watched part of the Cubs-Cards game there and then went to the American Legion and joined a whole bunch of fans watching the Cubs win to tie the series at one apiece.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11TH--  Planning on watching part of the Bears game at 'Cuda's on Grasslake Road, but they were having a classic car show.  Drove over to the Lodge of Antioch and watched the first half of the game, then the third quarter at Limerick's and the last one at Lake View Place on Grasslake with Kevin and Kelly.  Bears won.  Enjoyed the panoramic view of the lake from the deck.  Ended up at Sunnyside Tap.

--RoadDog


COUNTER PROVERBS:  Many hands make light work. -or-  Too many cooks spoil the broth.

Pat Dailey at Skeeter's-- Part 4: Belly Up in the Bay

As one critic says, the instrument that Pat Dailey plays the best is the crowd.  We've never been anywhere Pat was playing that he didn't get the crowd involved.  Many are yelling at him or singing along.  You can start singing along even if you're hearing him for the first time.

Travelin' Guitar Man

Sing Me Away--

A Doobie and a Brew and Some Poontang Too

Raw Bars--  Which he dedicated to Skeeters.  Pat's beloved dive bars.  And Skeeter's definitely fits the definition.

What the Hell You Got Against Fish?--  Where's the thrill of ramming your hook into a salmon?

Great Lakes Song--  Many teachers use this song to teach their students the Great Lakes.  I used it as part of my Great Lakes geography unit.

You're There--  a love song.

Here in the North--

Legend of the Lake

Belly Up in the Bay--  About a big ol' carp who died, but lived a long life because he never got hooked by fish, fowl or man.  This one can go several ways.

He probably would have played longer, but the cold drizzle was starting to increase and everyone was outside.

--RoadDog

COUNTER PROVERBS:  Look before you leap.  -or-  He who hesitates is lost.

Pat Dailey at Skeeter's-- Part 3: Resident Rapper of a Summer Resort

Continued from October 7th.  These were the songs Pat Dailey played at Skeeter's Saloon in Carpentersville, Illinois, on October 3rd.

The Great Dog Convention--  (The real reason dogs always sniff each other's behinds.)

Rich Dumb Young Nymphomaniac  (Is there such a thing a the perfect woman?)

Slap My Ass  (And send me down the road.)

I Might Be Your Daddy  (Only you and your mom know for sure.)

Ugly Face  (You can jazzercize, exercise, but you can't do anything about that ugly face.)

How Big Is It?  (And the problems that accompany it.)

Resident Rapper  (Who says Pat can't rap?)

A Good Time Being Had By All.  More to Come.  --RoadDog