Music to Get Snowed in By Back in '67-- Part 3: "Snowin' Too Hard" or, "Pushin' Too Hard"

The nice things was that it had quit snowing by January 29, 1967.

TAX MAN--  Beatles
TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS--  Beatles
GOOD THING--  Paul Revere &  the Raiders

HOW DO YOU CATCH A GIRL--  Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs
FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH--  Buffalo Springfield  (You know, that group with Stephen and Neil.)
SIT DOWN I THINK I LOVE YOU--  Buffalo Springfield

RUBY TUESDAY--  Rolling Stones
I'VE PASSED THIS WAY BEFORE--  Jimmy Ruffin  (Probably one of the best-ever soul songs in my humble opinion.  When I listen to it, it tends to be for many times.)
I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW--  Tommy James & the Shondells

PUSHIN' TOO HARD--  Seeds
LOVIN' YOU--  Lovin' Spoonful  (This was oh the WLS charts by Bobby Darrin.)
HELLO HELLO--  Sopwith Camel

(WE AIN'T GOT) NOTHIN' YET--  Blues Magoos  (As good as psychedelic rock gets.)
TOBACCO ROAD--  Blues Magoos

SHE--  Monkees
LOOK OUT HERE COMES TOMORROW--  Monkees  (For some reason these guys were really HOT back then.)

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Children Behave, That's What They Say When We're Together."  Answer Below)--  RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  Your eyes stay open when you sneeze.

"I Think We're Alone Now"

Music to Get Snowed in By, the Blizzard of '67-- Part 2: "Snowing in the Street", or, "Dancing in the Street"

BREAK ON THROUGH--  Doors  (That snow drift!!)
LIGHT MY FIRE--  Doors

WORDS OF LOVE--  Mamas & Papas
DANCING IN THE STREET--  Mamas & Papas

LOVE IS HERE--  Supremes
NO FAIR AT ALL--  Association
HAPPY TOGETHER--  Turtles

LOVE YOU SO MICH--  New Colony Six
I HAD TOO MUCH TO DREAM LAST NIGHT--  Electric Prunes  (Was there ever a better name for a psychedelic group?)
SNOOPY VS. THE RED BARON--  Royal Guardsmen  (Was Snoopy flying a Sopwith Camel?)

LONELY TOO LONG--  Young Rascals
SEASON OF THE WITCH--  Donovan
PRETTY BALLERINA--  Left Banke

(I'M NOT YOUR) STEPPIN' STONE--  Monkees   (Some more Monkees?)
I'M A BELIEVER--  Monkees

Name That Tune (from above):  "Imagine me and You."  Answer Below.  --RoadDog



"Happy Together"

Music to Get Snowed In By Back in 1967-- Part 1: "The Snow Goes On" or, Well, "The Beat Goes On"

Yesterday, January 29, 2017, Bob Stroud went back to January 29, 1967, and played the music we'd be
listening to on WLS and WCFL during Chicago's Blizzard of 1967.  This was must-listen to  music for me.  It sure brought back memories of all those snow drifts (which, joy of joy, I didn't have to shovel because of my 'rasslin' injury back in December.

LET'S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER--  Rolling Stones  (Obviously not played too much on the radio back then.
STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF LOVE--  Four Tops
THE BEAT GOES ON--  Sonny & Cher

I'VE GOT TO HAVE A REASON--  Dave Clark Five
SCARBOROUGH FAIR/CANTICLE--  Simon & Garfunkel  (Or do you call it "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.")
TELL IT TO THE RAIN--  Four Seasons

GIMME GOOD LOVIN'--  Spencer Davis Group
I'M SO GLAD--  Cream  (Way before I had heard of them.  I can remember most of the words for some reason.)
YOU GOT TO ME--  Neil Diamond

TELL IT LIKE IT IS--  Aaron Neville
KIND OF A DRAG--  Buckinghams
DAYTRIPPER--  Otis Redding   (Otis puts the soul spin on the Beatles.)

LET'S GET TOGETHER--  Jefferson Airplane
(THEME FROM) THE MONKEES--  Monkees  (Based on you-know-who.  How many of you think the title is "Hey, Hey, We're the Monkees"?)
PAPA JEAN'S BLUES--  Monkees

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Here We Come, Walking Down Your Street."  Answer below.--RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You're the employee of the month at the local coffee house and you don't even work there.  As I get ready for my second cup o' joe.

"(Theme From) The Monkees"

Last Weekend, January 20-22, 2017: 1050 Miles, Chili, and Packers

JANUARY 20, FRIDAY

A day spent on the road.  Left Goldsboro and encountered rain all the way through North Carolina.  Stopped in Mt. Airy (Mayberry) for my porkchop sandwich fix at Snappy Lunch and was smart enough not to try to eat the whole thing.  Then Virginia, West Virginia and Ohio.  Unbelievably warm for January, with temps in the 60s the whole way.  Spent the night at the Motel 6 in Richmond, Indiana.

JANUARY 21,  SATURDAY

Drove 415 miles through Indiana and Illinois to home.  Temps in the 50s the whole way.  Then went to the Fox Lake, Illinois, American Legion for the chili cookoff and there was an entertainer.  Later went to Sunnyside Tap.

JANUARY 22,  SUNDAY

Spent the afternoon at Sunnyside Tap in Johnsburg and saw the Green Bay Packers closely resemble Da Bears in their ineptness.  Was that Aaron Rodgers or Jay Cutler out there?  But, we had a great time with the crowd, which included quite a few Packer fans.

Drivin' and Cryin'.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You spend every vacation visiting "Maxwell House."

The Chicago Blizzard of '67-- Part 2: No Shoveling for Me

This snowstorm really caught Chicago by surprise.  The days leading up to it were unseasonably warm, topping out at 65 degrees the Tuesday, January 24.  A whole lot of people got into a spring fever mode.

Then came Thursday, January 26.  Forecasts called for four inches of snow.  The first flakes came down at 5:02 a.m..  It soon got up to that four inches...but didn't stop.  It continued for 29 hours, ending at 10:10 a.m. Friday January 27.

Even though Chicago expects snow during the winter, this overwhelmed everything.  Chicago and surrounding suburbs, including where we lived in Palatine, snowed to a halt.  Schools were called off.  Kids rejoiced.

Not only was there fun to be had out in that snow, but a great possibility of earning some extra spending money shoveling.  Remember, this was in the days before snowblowers and parents weren't afraid to put their kids to work.

However, I was unable to go outside or earn extra money as I was laid up with a broken leg (a wrestling injury back in December).  All I could do was continue practicing with my hockey game (those with the spindles attached to players that you moved up and down the rink).

But, I sure did enjoy watching my brother Bob putting on his snow gear to do some shoveling.  I couldn't help but smile.  To this day, he swears that I broke my leg on purpose to get out of shoveling this snow.''

A Real Snow Job.  --RoadDog

WLS Top Ten for January 27, 1967: "Kind of a Drag"

Fifty years ago, right in the middle of Chicago's Blizzard of '67, these were the hottest hits on the WLS Silver Dollar Survey.

1.  I'M A BELIEVER / STEPPING' STONE--  Monkees   I'm a Believer That Too Much Snow Will Fall.
2.  I LOVE YOU SO MUCH--  New Colony Six  (Chicago band)
3.  GEORGY GIRL--  Seekers

4.  SNOOPY VS. THE RED BARON--  Royal Guardsmen
5.  PUSHIN' TOO HARD--  Seeds
6.  NOTHIN' YET--  Blues Magoos
7.  KIND OF A DRAG--  Buckinghams  (Chicago group)

8.  WORDS OF LOVE / DANCING IN THE STREET--  Mamas and Papas
9.  I HAD TOO MUCH TO DREAM--  Electric Prunes  (How's that for a great psychedelic name?)
10.  98.6--  Keith

Name That Tune (from above songs):  "All I Want Is To Just Be Free, Live My Life The Way I Want To Be."  (answer below)--RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You lick the coffeepot clean.

"Pushin' Too Hard"

It REALLY Started Snowing 50 Years Ago Today, January 26, 1967-- Part 1: The Chicago Blizzard of '67

From the January 25, 2017, Chicago Tribune ""Blizzard of '67's record unbroken" by Nereida Moreno.

Thousands of people were stranded in offices, schools and factories as well as on the roads and streets.  About 50,000 vehicles and 800 CTA buses were abandoned.  It was the biggest disruption of commerce and transportation since the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.  Not only was there a real lot of snow, some 23 inches, but winds howled up some even bigger drifts of snow.

To kids, it was a more of a holiday with schools being called off.  There was fun to be had, including jumping off second floor roofs into massive piles of snow.

Sadly, in these days before snowblowers and parents who wouldn't send their kids out to shovel, our parents back then believed shoveling all that snow built stamina and good character.

Dig Me Out.  --RoadDog

Movie Scratches for 2017: Rogue-- Creed-- Sing-- Moana

This is a list of movies that I saw at the theater during the year.

A bit hard to see movies this January because of school being off and being on a trip to North Carolina.

The number of the movie, name, date seen, where I saw it, price and then a really short summary of it.

1.  ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY--  1-3-- Round Lake Beach, $6--  Or, Star Wars One, now #4, revisited.  telling the events leading up to the very first episode.  (I didn't know that.)

2.  ASSASSIN'S CREED--  1-5--  Fox Lake, $6--  Turns out that Christopher Columbus had the Eden Apple all along.  That Chris!!

3.  SING--  1-9--  Fox Lake, $6--  How to wreck a perfectly good heater.  Let the boy sing.  He's not cut out for a life of crime.

4.  MOANA--  1-9--  Fox Lake, $6--  Guess it was "Mo- ana" not "Mona-a."  What, no Haka?

Too Many Kids Seeing Movies on School Holidays.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  You can take a picture of yourself from ten feet away without using a timer.

Holy Replica! Life-size Lego Batmobile

From the January 18, 2015, USA Today by Detroit Free Press.

Chevy unveils vehicle inspired by upcoming movie.  I saw previews of the Batmobile Chevy commercial at the movie theater yesterday.  Talk about your ultimate tie-in between Chevrolet and the movie which is soon-to-be --released in a theater near you.  The movie is "The Lego Batman Movie."  It looks to be a hoot and I am thinking of seeing it.

Designed and assembled by Lego master builders in Enfield, Connecticut, it took 344,187 Lego bricks and 1,833 hours to build it.

--RoadDog

Music Deaths: Debbie Reynolds

DEBBIE REYNOLDS, 84.  Died December 28, 2011.

Died one day after her daughter, Carrie Fisher died.  Was married to Carrie's father, pop star Eddie Fisher.  Carrie was also once wife of singer Paul Simon.

Had hits with songs "Tammy" (#1-1957) from the movie "Tammy and the Bachelor."

Other hits of hers:  "A Very Special Love" (#20-1958), "Am I That Easy to Forget" (#25-1961), also "Aba Daba Honeymoon" (#3-1951).

Movies include "Singing in the Rain," "The Unsinkable Molly Brown, "How the West Was Won" and "The Singing Nun."

Music Deaths: Alexander "Al" Caiola, Legendary Studio Guitarist

ALEXANDER "AL" CAIOLA, 96.  Died November 9, 2016.

Legendary guitarist.  One of the top New York studio musicians of the 1950s and 1960s.

Played on:

 "Diana" and "Put Your Hand On My Shoulder" for Paul Anka
"Theme for 'A Summer Place'" for Percy Faith
"Mack the Knife" and "Dream Lover" for Bobby Darrin

"Calendar Girl" for Neil Sedaka
"Chances Are" for Johnny Mathis
"Mrs. Robinson" for Simon & Garfunkel

"It Doesn't Matter Anymore" for Buddy Holly

And these are just a fraction of the songs he played on.

Recording by himself, he charted with the TV Theme for "Bonanza (#19-1961) and the movie theme "Magnificent Seven" (#35-1966)

Recorded over 50 albums and on hundreds of commercial jingles.

Music Deaths: Leon Russell

LEON RUSSELL, 74.  Died November 13, 2016.

Real name Claude Brides.  Played in groups with David Gates of Bread and J.J. Cale.  Studio Musician in Los Angeles.  Co-wrote "Everybody Loves a Clown" and "She's Just My Style" as well as played on songs for Gary Lewis & the Playboys.

Also played on Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, Herb Alpert, Frank Sinatra, Byrds and others.  Was a member of Delaney & Bonnie, Joe Cocker's "Mad Dogs & Englishmen and George Harrison's "Concert for Bangladesh.

Wrote "Delta Lady" for Joe Cocker, "Superstar" for the Carpenters and "This Masquerade" for George Benson.

Had eleven top 100s.  His biggest hit was "Tightrope" (#11-1972), "Back to the Island" (#53-1976). and "Lady Blue" (#14-1975).

I personally really liked his HankWilson album which was him doing country songs.

Beware of Mattrephobia and Mattrecide

One thing I can surely tell  you about dealing with used mattresses in the state of North Carolina.  DON'T!!!!

There is a severe case of Mattrephobia permeating the state.  That would be fear of all things pertaining to used mattresses.  That is illegal.  That is no organization like Goodwill or Salvation Army that will take them.

And, then there is the clear threat of Mattrecide, the perceived belief that even touching a used mattress could lead to a sudden and painful death.

Perhaps some people have over reacted to the bedbug crisis?

I Know I Don't Want The Critters, But Gee Whiz, Don't Go Overboard.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  The only time you're standing still is during an earthquake.

Just Got Back

I arrived back home yesterday, January 21st, after a ten day trip to North Carolina to clean out Mom's condo at Topsail Beach.  I tell you, at age 65, I am getting too old to do that much moving.

Picked up my nephew Andy at RDU Airport and drove to the beach where I met my brother Bob and later my sister Julie and Ed met us.  We spent Friday night and all day Saturday clearing the place out and took two loads of stuff to the consignment shop in Holly Ridge.

Monday and Tuesday I spent at Carolina Beach and enjoyed Fort Fisher for a good long while on Tuesday.  I then spent Wednesday and Thursday at Goldsboro.

--RoadDog

WLS Top Ten for January 20, 1967: "I Love You So Much"

1.  I'M A BELIEVER / STEPPIN' STONE--  Monkees
2.  I LOVE YOU SO MUCH--  New Colony Six
3.  GEORGY GIRL--  Seekers

4.  SNOOPY VS. THE RED BARON--  Royal Guardsmen
5.  PUSHIN' TOO HARD--  seeds
6.  NOTHIN' YET--  Blues Magoos
7.  KIND OF A DRAG--  Buckinghams

8.  WORDS OF LOVE / DANCING IN THE STREET--  Mamas & Papas
9.  I HAD TOO MUCH TO DREAM--  Electric Prunes
10.  98.6--   Keith

Name That Tune (from above):  "Calling Out Around the World."  --RoadDog


"Dancing In the Street"

WLS Top 40 Survey for January 13, 1967-- Part 6: "Mellow Yellow"

10.  EAST-WEST--  Herman's Hermits
9.  SUGAR TOWN--  Nancy Sinatra
8.  MELLOW YELLOW--  Donovan

7.  GEORGY GIRL--  Seekers
6.  LOVE YOU SO MUCH--  New Colony Six  A Chicago group.
5.  WORDS OF LOVE / DANCING IN THE STREET--  Mamas & Papas
4.  GOOD THING--  Paul Revere & the Raiders

3.  KIND OF A DRAG--  Buckinghams   Another Chicago group.
2.  SNOOPY VS. THE RED BARON--  Royal Guardsmen
1.  I'M A BELIEVER / STEPPIN' STONE--  Monkees

Name That Tune (from above):  "Oh, Oh, Listen To What I Gotta Say."  --RoadDog



"Kind of a Drag"

WLS Top 40 Survey for January 13, 1967-- Part 5: "Tell It Like It Is"

Number after group is highest Billboard position.

20.  KNIGHT IN RUSTY ARMOR--  Peter & Gordon  #15.  Follow up to "Lady Godiva."
19.  GRIZZLY BEAR--  Youngbloods  #52   Folk Rock group from New York City.
18.  NEW WINTER DAY--  Tommy Roe  #23  Actual title "It's Now Winters Day."  Follow up to "Hooray for Hazel."

17.  TELL IT LIKE IT IS--  Aaron Neville
16.  NOTHIN' YET--  Blues Magoos  (We Ain't Got)  #5  Biggest hit of 4 Top 100s. From Tampa, Florida.
15.  98.6--  Keith
14.  JUST ONE SMILE--  Gene Pitney   #66  From Hartford, Connecticut.

13.  DEVIL WITH A BLUE DRESS ON--  Mitch Ryder
12.  WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL--  New Vaudeville Band
11.  STANDING IN THE SHADOWS--  Four Tops

Name That Tune (from above):  "One Day You're Up and the Next Day You're Down."  --RoadDog


"(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet"

WLS Top 40 Survey for January 13, 1967-- Part 4: "Where Will the Words Come From"

The number after the group name is the highest Billboard chart position.

25.  PUSHIN' TOO HARD--  Seeds   #36.  I would have thought it would be higher than this.

24.  WHERE WILL THE WORDS COME FROM--    Gary Lewis     #21   Had 15 Top 100 songs. His first seven songs all were Top Ten, including 1965's #1 "This Diamond Ring."  I didn't remember ever hearing this one.

23.  I HAD TOO MUCH TO DREAM--  Electric Prunes   #11.  Their biggest hit out of just two songs that charted on Billboard.  How many of you thought they said, "I Had Too Much to Drink Last  Night"?

22.  ALL--  James Darren   #35  From the movie "Run for Your Wife."    From Philadelphia.

21.  COMING HOME SOLDIER--  Bobby Vinton   #11.  Mr. Stanley Robert Vinton.  I'd never heard this one before.

Name That Tune (from above):  "Last Night Your Shadow Fell Upon My Lonely Room."  --RoadDog


"I Had Too Much to Dream"