Happy 245th, America's Strike Force, the U.S. Marines

Today marks the 245th birthday of one mighty fine fighting machine, the Marines.

They were formed by resolution of the Second Continental Congress on November 10, 1775.  The Corps' commander was Samuel Nicholas who raised a battalion of 300 by December of 1775 in Philadelphia.  By January, they went to sea under the command of Commodore  Esek Hopkins.  

In March, they undertook the first of many amphibious operations in their illustrious career, at the Battle of Nassau in the Bahamas, occupying the British port of Nassau for two weeks.

On January 3, 1777,  the Marines arrived at the Battle of Princeton attached to General John Calwalader's brigade.

And, you know what tomorrow is.

--RoadMarine

WLS Top 30 for Week of November 9, 1970-- Part 2: "King of Rock and Roll"

*  Means the song is climbing the charts.

25.  IT'S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE--  Glen Campbell    Fine job on this former Conway Twitty song that reached #1 in 1958.

24.  *SEE ME, FEEL ME--  Who   Slow at beginning, but built up.    Of course there was them doing it in the movie "Woodstock" and with all Roger Daltry's fringe flying around.  Watch the YouTube Woodstock version of this.

23.  *STAND BY YOUR MAN--  Candi Staton  Tammy's song with a soul twist.

22.  *KING OF ROCK AND ROLL--  Crow   Full name of it almost as long as the song at 2:33: "(Don't Try to lay No Boogie Woogie On the ) King of Rock and Roll."    Written by Jeff Thomas and also a famous English version by Long John Baldry.

21.  *STILL WATER--  Four Tops  One of the greatest belly rubbin' songs ever.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Listening To You, I Get Music.  Gazing At You I Get The Heat."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

(See Me, Feel Me"

WLS Top 30 for Week of November 9, 1970-- Part 1: 'Stoned Love'

Fifty year ago on Chicago's WLS 890 AM.   * Means it was climbing the charts.    The number after the artist is how high it got on the Billboard Hot 100 National Charts.

HBD   *STONED LOVE--  Supremes     #7     No Diana this time.

30.  *YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME--  Elvis Presley      #11    Elvis doing that Vegas thing.  From the movie "Elvis:  That Is the Way That It Is."

29.  *10- 15 (20-25 YEARS OF LOVE)--  Presidents     #11       What they call Old School Soul.   Herb Kent, where are you?  

28.  *AFTER MIDNIGHT--  Eric Clapton     #18     Doing a J.J. Cale song.

27.  CRACCKLIN' ROSIE--  Neil Diamond      #1    Watch the Kathleen Mosley video of a very young Neil.  Was that a hair flip on the left side of his head?  Were we that young 50n years ago?

26.  CANDIDA--  Dawn    #3    A white guy with two black gals.  Their first hit.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "The Stars Won't Come Out If They Know That You're About."    Answer below.   --RoadDog

"Candida"

Every Blooming THing, Early November

Keeping true to my goal of having something blooming with big color all the way between April and October, the yard has a lot of color right now.

Several hundred yellow and orange mums are still in bloom.  The sedum have the dark heads and yellow stalks.  Burning bushes are burning red.  Plus, my lone remaining Bradford pear tree has just gotten it autumnal tones.  However, I do have several Bradford pear tree seedlings growing.

Just finished raking pine straw up into my two pine islands; great mulch, but a whole lot of raking, especially with all the wind we've been having so that pine straw was spread out over a really bit area.  Hoping that I cut the grass for the last time.

Rolled up the front yard hose onto the reel (200 feet of hose) and will get to the backyard hose later this month after I finish burning limbs and twigs.  

We've been having a great Indian Summer around here with temperatures in the lower 70s for the last six days.  Last year this time, we had already had a Halloween surprise snow storm that dropped six inches on the ground and then there was another surprise Veterans Day six inches.  No snow this year, but we have had a couple frosts.

--RoadDog

JSS: Strange Halloween-- No Decorating for Halloween--Where's the Halloween Candy?-- Injun Summer

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  STRANGE HALLOWEEN--  Well, last Saturday was  one strange Halloween for us.  For the first time ever, we didn't hand out candy to the lil' Trick or Treaters.  Too bad, as we always enjoy the really young ones out on their first spree.  They are so cute.  We were home, but all lights in the front of the house were out.  We still got a few knocks.  Felt guilty, but these times as they say.

2.  NO DECORATING FOR HALLOWEEN--  This was also the first time I didn't decorate.  We usually have lighted pumpkins in every window inside as well as about a thousand mostly orange miniature lights outside.  You might say we went dark.

3.  WHERE'S THE HALLOWEEN CANDY?--  I noticed that there was quite a bit less candy for sale at places before Halloween and then, the day after, when I usually do some stocking up, some stores didn't even have any candy on sale.

4.  INJUN SUMMER--  Well, since Tuesday, November 3, we have been having very warm weather for this time of the year.  We have been to Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg and sitting outside every day since then.  Very warm while sun is out, but when it starts going down, you see everyone  heading out to their vehicles to get more clothing.  Man, it gets downright cold.

--RoadDog

Past Movie Scratches: Halloween-- Avatar-- Guardians-- Hunger-- Trek-- Forrest

See if you can guess the names of the movies at the top.

Past Movie Scratches--  Movies I saw on TV in 2019, before Virus.

79.  HALLOWEEN--  10-30--  Yes, Tommy.  There is a boogey man and his name is Michael.  A fixated lad and just the film to watch the day before his Holiday.

80.  AVATAR--  11-4--  It's whites vs. Indians in space.  "I see you."  Do you see me?  Amazing cgi.

81.  GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY--  11-9--  Great movie and great music from a CASSETTE!!  I am a big cassette fan.  I still record on cassettes.

82.  HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE--  11-11--  You just got to hate President Snow.  I don't even like him on those orange juice commercials now.  Then, there is that laughing, laughing mc.  

83.  STAR TREK--  11-16--  How it all began.  Everybody meets everybody.  Who said, "Are you out of your Vulcan mind?"  "Who said, "I've got your gun?"  Young Spock meets old Spock.

84.  FORREST GUMP--  11-23--  Stupid is as stupid does.  "And, that's all I have to say about that."  Too bad they are going to have to change the name of the movie because someone was named after a Confederate general and some people have hissy fits when they see that.

Several Groups of Misfits.  --RoadDog

WLS Top Ten for November 2, 1970: 'Fire & Rain'

The Top Ten songs in Chicago fifty years ago.

1.  I THINK I LOVE YOU--  Partridge Family    You just gotta love that Danny Partridge.

2.  FIRE & RAIN--  James Taylor

3.  I'LL BE THERE--  Jackson Five

4.  WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN--  Carpenters

5.  IT DON'T MATTER TO ME--  Bread

6.  SOMEBODY'S BEEN SLEEPING--  100 Proof

7.  DEEPER & DEEPER--  Freda Payne

8.  GYPSEY WOMAN--  Brian Hyland

9.  GREEN EYED LADY--  Sugarloaf

10.  LOLA--  Kinks   How did it begin?

**********************************

DEBUTS

26.  SHARE THE LAND--  Guess Who

27.  CRY ME A RIVER--  Joe Cocker

29.  SEE ME, FEEL ME--  Who

30.  STILL WATER (LOVE)--  Four Tops

HBD   YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME--   Elvis Presley

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I'm Sleeping And Right In The Middle Of A Good Dream."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"I Think I Love You"

Music Deaths: Benny Mardones, Sang "Into the Night'

BENNY MARDONES, 73

Died 29 June 2020

Singer who had the 1980 hit "Into the Night."

This song actually charted twice.

In 1980 it hit #11 and in 1989 it his #20.

Not just a balladeer guy.  On the "American Bandstand" video, he kind of reminds me of Steve Perry of Journey.

Check out his songs 

"Hometown Gils"

"American Bandstand"

"Oh Me, Oh My"

Music Deaths: Willie Wright, Soul Singer and Songwriter

WILLIE WRIGHT, 80

Died 29 June 2020

Soul singer and songwriter.  Never had a Top 100 on the pop charts.  Which was too bad.  I've been listening to some of his songs on You Tube and what a talent he was.

I especially liked:

"Right On for the Darkness" (written by Curtis Mayfield)

"I'm So Happy Now"

Telling the Truth"

"Nantucket"   He performed there a lot.

Do yourself a favor and give him a listen if you've never heard him.  I wish I had while he was alive.

What a Long Strange Election This Has Been

And, it seemed like it started ten years ago.  I have never seen America so divided over this one.  Even my wife and I voted differently for the first time ever, thus cancelling our votes essentially.

I sure won't miss all the political ads on TV and the radio.  Every year they get nastier and dirtier.  I am now of the opinion to vote for any candidate not using the smear tactics.  If you believe them, then every politician should be imprisoned.

This is also the first time we voted by mail because of you-know-what.

If I had my rathers, I would vote for Lauren Underwood and Joe Biden, but unfortunately, they are Democrats and that party scares me even more that Donald Trump with their blind allegiance to the BLM movement in an effort to have Blacks sweep them to victory.  I voted for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in the last two presidential elections.

But, I can't do that this year.

Plus, there is the Democratic efforts (along with BLM) at Confederadication, the removal of all things Confederate from U.S. history.

Well, Regardless, I sure will be happy when all this is over.

How Soon Can Tomorrow Get Here?  --RoadTired

Past Movie Scratches: Pool-- Grown-- Rough--Pearl-- Mummy-- Pets

Past Movie Scratches--  Movies I watched on TV in 2019.

73.  DEAD POOL--  9-2--  A superhero like none other.  Really funny comments.

74.  GROWN UPS II--  9-8--  Those wacky pals are back with one really big outrageous 80s party with the J. Geils Band.

75.  ROUGH NIGHT--   9-9-- A bachelorette party that really goes wrong.  Another "Hangover."

76.  PEARL HARBOR--  9-12--  All that great action.  All that corny melodrama.

77.  THE MUMMY--  10-19--  A lady with a real attitude problem.

78.  SECRET LIVES OF PETS--  10-21--  Those animals are just so doggone cute.  Gotta love the rabbit with all that attitude.

Pass the Popcorn.  --RoadPool

The Drive's Halloween A to Z Spooktacular Today, 10 AM to ? 'Cat Scratch Fever'

Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM has stated playing nothing but Halloween songs already and will continue until the ghouls come home.  In honor of you-know-what.  And, they are playing them alphabetically.

They just finished playing 

CAT SCRATCH FEVER--  Ted Nugent

CLAP FOR THE WOLFMAN-  Guess Who

CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON--  Dave Edmunds

*****************************

They started with:

ABFRACADABRA--  Steve Miller

BACK IN BLACK--  ACDC

BAD MOON RISING--  Creedence Clearwater Revival

BATTLE OF EVERMORE--  Led Zeppelin

BEAST OF BURDEN--  Rolling Stones

BEWARE OF DARKNESS--  George Harrison

It streams so get your Halloween Scaredies right here today and tonight.  

--RoadBoo

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I See Earthquakes And Lightning.  I See Bad Times Today."  Answer below.  --RoadSkeered

"Bad Moon Rising"

It's a Howlin' Halloween Around Here For Sure: 10 Songs to 'Skeer' the Daylights Out of You 'Werewolves of London'

From Bob Stroud's Ten at Ten on Chicago's Drive, 97.1 FM, WDRV from Oct. 30, 2020.

Yep, gonna be a strange one indeed this year.  Besides being the first time since Liz and I have been married that we're not giving out candy (and I didn't even decorate the outside of the house).  Plus, the Illinois governor has decided to stop inside dining and drinking at restaurants and bars in Lake and McHenry counties as of today.  

Yep, it's Happy Coronavirus Time to All.  But, sadly, necessary.

Anyhow, we can still play our spooky music.  And here are ten sure-fired "skeerd" songs, compliments of Baron Von Frankenstroud.

1.  I PUT A SPELL ON YOU--  Screamin' Jay Hawkins

2.  SPIRITS IN THE MATERIAL WORLD--  Police

3.  SPOOKY--  Classics IV

4.  PSYCHO KILLER--  Talking Heads

5.  SEASON OF THE WITCH--  Donovan

6.  DEVIL INSIDE-- INXS

7.  DANCING WITH MR. D--  Rolling Stones

8.  GHOSTBUSTERS--  Ray Parker, Jr.

9.  WEREWOLVES OF LONDON--  Warren Zevon

10.  SCARY MONSTERS--  David Bowie

By the way, tomorrow from 10 am CDST to whenever, Chicago's WDRV 97.1 FM will be doing Halloween Songs A to Z.  So, if you like listening to Halloween scaries, give it a listen.  I sure will be.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "In The Cool Of The Evenin' When Everything Is Gettin' Kind Of Groovy."  Answer below.  --RoadBoo

"Spooky"

Music Deaths: Pete Carr, Lead Guitarist of Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section

PETE CARR, 70

Died 27 June 2020

Guitar player, session musician who played with the famed Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section.

An early friend of Duane Allman.  Played guitar on five #1 singles:

"If Lovin' You Is Wrong" by Luther Ingram

"Tonight's the Night" by Rod Stewart

"Torn Between Two Lovers" by Mary MacGregor

"Woman in Love" by Barbra Streisand

"What Kind of Fool" by Barbra Streisand

Others he worked with:  Joan Baez, Bob Seger, Joe Cocker, Boz Skaggs, Paul Simon, Staple Singers, Wilson Pickett and Hank Williams Jr.

Music Deaths: Tom Finn of the Left Banke

TOM FINN, 71

Died 27 June 2020

Bass player and vocalist with the Left Banke (Baroque Rock) who had a big hit in 1966 with "Walk Away Renee."

He was the last surviving member of the original Left Banke.  Lead singer Steve Martin Caro died in January of this year.

"Walk Away Renee"  (#5-1966)

"Pretty Ballerina"  (#15-1967)

Past Movie Scratches: Megalodon-- Godzilla-- Brother-- Impact-- Lethal-- Rogue

Past Movie Scratches:  Movies that I saw on TV in 2019, before the virus.

67.  MEGALODON--  8-17--  It's the U.S. Navy vs. a really, really big shark.  Svenghouli will have a field day when he gets around to hosting this movie.  Pretty dumb and dumber.

68.  GODZILLA--  8-18--  The big guy actually saves us.  Go, you GODZILLA!!!

69.  ON BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU--  8-20--  Great story and even better music.  Good old Pete the Toad.  More characters than you can believe.

70.  DEEP IMPACT--  8-22--  Another rogue asteroid menacing the Earth.  But Fish gets it.

71.  LETHAL WEAPON--  8-29--  Mel's a wild child,  but vengeance-minded.

72.  STAR WARS:  ROGUE ONE--  9-1--  Getting the plans for the Empire's Death Star.  How it all started.

--RoadZilla

Past Movie Scratches: Pearl-- War-- Suicide-- Battleship-- Resident-- Zombie

Past Movie Scratches:  These are songs I watched on TV in 2019.

61.  PEARL HARBOR--  6-25--   Doolittle gets 'em back!!  Go Doolittle.

62.WAR DOGS--  6-25--  War!!!  It is good for something.  Making money do those who supply the tools of trade.

63.  SUICIDE SQUAD--  6-30--  Task Force X.  That Harley's quite the gal.  Funny and crazy at the same time.  Just the gal for the Joker.

64.  BATTLESHIP--  7-18--  It's Aliens vs. the Mighty Mo.  The Aliens never stood a chance.

65.  RESIDENT EVIL 5:  RETRIBUTION--  8-13--     That was Umbrella and Red Queen.  Go humans.

66.  ZOMBIE TIDAL WAVE--  8-17--   Another SyFy cheesefest.  The worst acting, corniest acting and really bad visual effects.

--RoadBattleship

WLS Top Ten for Week of October 26, 1970: "It Don't Matter To Me"

The Top Ten in Chi-Town fifty years ago.

1.  I'LL BE THERE--  Jackson Five

2.  WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN--  Carpenters

3.  IT DON'T MATTER TO ME--  Bread   If you think these guys on ly sang slow, soft pop songs, give a listen to their "On the Waters" album on You Tube.

4.  FIRE & RAIN--  James Taylor

5.  I THINK I LOVE YOU--  Partridge Family   Their TV show could have been called "The Monkees II."

6.  GREEN-EYED LADY--  Sugarloaf

7.  SOMEBODY'S BEEN SLEEPING--  100 Proof

8.  LOLA--  Kinks   Was there ever a song so recognizable after the first few notes?  Well, maybe song #10.  

9.  DEEPER & DEEPER--  Freda Payne

10.  ALL RIGHT NOW--  Free

*********************************

DEBUTS

21.  GYPSY WOMAN--  Brian Hyland

25.  MONTEGO BAY--  Bobby Bloom

26.  TEARS OF A CLOWN--  Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

28.  HEAVEN HELP US ALL--  Stevie Wonder

30.  STAND BY YOUR MAN--    Candi Staton

Name That Tune (from the above songs): "Just Yesterday Morning, They Let Me Know You Were Gone."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Fire & Rain"