Going Back to 1969-- Part 1: "Time Is Tight"

Songs played on WXRT, 93.1 FM, Chicago on Saturday Morning Flashback April 28.

Anything 1969 is a classic year for me.  I was a senior at Palatine High School in Palatine, Illinois, at the start of the year and a freshman at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb the second half.  Those were mighty good rimes indeed.

EVIL WAYS--  Santana
UNDUN--  Guess Who
I WANT TO TAKE YOU HIGHER--  Sly & the Family Stone

TIME IS TIGHT--  Booker T. & the MGs
FAT MAN--  Jethro Tull
QUESTIONS 67 & 68--  Chicago Transit Authority

BAD MOON RISING--  Creedence Clearwater Revival---   My ringtone
UP ON CRIPPLE CREEK--  Band
VENUS--  Shocking Blue

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I See Trouble On the Way."  Answer Below.  --RoadDog

AIN'T IT THE TRUTH:  I don't have grat hair; I have "wisdom highlights."  I am just very wise.


"Bad Moon Rising"

WLS Top Ten for April 29, 1968 ""The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly"

Fifty years ago today, in Chicago.

1.  HONEY--  Bobby Goldsboro
2.  MONY MONY--  Tommy James & the Shondells
3.  TIGHTE UP--  Archie Bell & the Drells

4.  A BEAUTIFUL MORNING--  Young Rascals
5.  THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY--  Hugo Montenegro
6.  I GOT THE FEELIN'--  James Brown
7.  THE UNICORN--  Irish Rovers

8.  CRY LIKE A BABY--  Box Tops
9.  YOUNG GIRL--  Union Gap
10.  HEY GIRL/MY GIRL--  Bobby Vee

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Well, Shoot 'Em Down, Turn Around, Come Home."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

AIN'T IT THE TRUTH:  The biggest lie I tell myself is...  "I don't have to write that down, I'll remember it."

"Mony Mony"

Every Blooming THing-- Late April

Believe it or not, it seems that Spring has finally arrived after one of the coldest Aprils in Chicago area history.

The grass has greened up and it won't be long before it will have to be cut.  I finally was able to get the flat tire off the '85 Firebird and then get the battery jumped so now I will be able to get the lawn tractor out (it was blocked in by the Firebird).  I was so glad when it started.

Quite a few branches were blown down over the winter and of late, so will have to pick those up.

The daffodils are blooming as are the hyacinths.  I have some other small bulb flowers that I don't know the name that are also blooming.

Oh, yes.  I should also mention that the dear old dandelions are doing their yellow thing.  What would spring be without those little fellers?

Good to Have Spring Finally Arrive.  --RoadDog

AIN'T IT THE TRUTH:  Old age is coming at a really bad time.  When i was a child I thought "Nap Time" was a punishment.  Now, as a grownup (and an old one at that), it feels like a small vacation.

Music Deaths: Kenny O'Dell Wrote "Behind Closed Doors"

KENNY O'DELL, 73

Died March 27, 2018

Singer/songwriter.  His only top 40 was "Beautiful People"  (#38-- 1967).   This was also a hit for Bobby Vee.  A great bit of pop music if there ever was.  Give a listen to it on You Tube.

He also wrote "Next Plane to London"   (#17-1967) for Rose Garden and "Behind Closed Doors"  (#15-1973) for Charlie Rich.

Movie Scratches: Wish-- Rabbit-- Panther-- Uprisin

Movie Scratches:  A Dog's-Eye View of movies I've seen this year at the movie theater.

13.  DEATH WISH--  3-7--  Fox Lake, free--  Word to all bad guys.  Don't mess with this guy's family.

14.  PETER RABBIT--  3-7--  Fox Lake, $5--  Rabbit  pie anybody?  Word to humans.  Don't mess with the rabbits and their friends.

15.  BLACK PANTHER--  4-2--  Fox Lake, $6--   Wakanda's not so backwards as thought.  The kind of movie you need to see on the big screen twice.  We have a village named Wauconda near here.

16.  PACIFIC RIM: UPRISING--  4-3--  Fox Lake, $5--  It's been ten years since the Battle of the Breech.  They're back and this time with the help of humans.

Expensive Popcorn.  --RoadDog

Music Deaths: Steve Mandell "Dueling Banjos"

STEVE MANDELL, 76

Died March 14, 2018

Guitarist on the song "Dueling Banjos" (#2-1973) with Eric Weiseberg.  From the movie "Deliverance."

12 McDonald's Food Items That Failed-- Part 3: McDLT

9.  McDLT--  Mid-1980s.  Burger with lettuce and tomatoes.  Came in a styrofoam package that separated the vegetables from the burger.

10.  McLean Deluxe--  91% fat free.  So  much healthier.

11.  Big N' Tasty--  McDonald's take on Burger King's Whopper.  Made with Angus burgers.  Was a success, but dropped by the company.

12.  Super-Size--  Started in 1993 and became a public relations disaster.

--RoadDog

AIN'T IT THE TRUTH:  I decided to stop calling the bathroom the "John" and renamed it the "Jim".  I feel so much better saying that I went to the Jim this morning.

Independent Bookstore Day This Saturday, April 28

Hundreds of mom and pop independent book stores will be taking part in it.

We have Read Between the Lines in Woodstock, Illinois.

If it isn't records and Cds, it's books for me.

Book It.   Dano.   --RoadDog

Neil Diamond Receives the Johnny Mercer Award

The Songwriters Hall of Fame on March 20, 2018, announced that Neil Diamond would receive the annual Johnny Mercer Award.  He will receive it on June 14 in New York City.

--RoadDog

AIN'T IT THE TRUTH:  I didn't make it to the gym today.  That makes five years in a row.

Record Store Day Booty-- Part 2: Them Cds

SATURDAY, APRIL 21

The Vinyl Frontier Records, McHenry, Illinois

CDs:

YOU REALLY GOT ME--  Kinks

ULTIMATE COLLECTION--  Delbert McClinton

BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD

TRENCH TOWN ROCK--  Bob Marley & the Wailers

GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT--  Legacy of Sun Records



CDs Bought at Siren Records, McHenry, Illinois

THE SINGLES COLLECTION--  Zombies

GOLD--  The Mamas & the Papas

Got Some Good Listnin' To Do.  --RoadDog

AIN'T IT THE TRUTH:  You know that tingly little feeling you get when you really like someone?  That's common sense leaving your body.

Record Store Day Booty-- Part 1: Them LPs

Well, April 21st has come and gone.  It was Record Store day and I went to two places in McHenry, Illinois and dropped almost $50 in the process, but for a good cause.

First I went to The Vinyl Frontier Records on Riverside Drive.  As always, it was packed.  The owner said the people were standing in line around the corner, almost to the bridge when he opened a little before 9 a.m.

Specials today were $1 off every album and 5 CDs for $20.

I bought five vinyl albums and five CDs.

Albums:

HERE COMES THAT RAINY DAY FEELING AGAIN--  Fortunes

LIVE!  TAKIN' THE STAGE--  Pure Prairie League

CSN--  Crosby, Stills & Nash

THE SPIRIT OF '67--  Paul Revere & the Raiders

RETURN--  Dave Clark Five

Come On Turntable.  --RoadDog

I'd Celebrate That!!! April 23-29: Pretzel Day This Thusday

APRIL 23, MONDAY--  Take a Chance Day**   Lovers Day**

APRIL 24, TUESDAY--  Pigs in a Blanket Day**

APRIL 25, WEDNESDAY--  World Penguin Day**  Admin Professionals Day**

APRIL 26, THURSDAY--  Pretzel Day**

APRIL 27, FRIDAY--  Arbor Day**

APRIL 28, SATURDAY--  Pool Opening Day**  Definitely not around here.

APRIL 29, SUNDAY--  Shrimp Scampi Day**

--RoadDog

WLS Top Ten for April 22, 1968: "A Beautiful Morning"

1.  HONEY--  Bobby Goldsboro
2.  CRY LIKE A BABY--  Box Tops
3.  YOUNG GIRL--  Union Gap

4.  MONY MONY--  Tommy James & the Shondells
5.  TIGHTEN UP--  Archie Bell & the Drells
6.  SUMMERTIME BLUES--  Blue Cheer
7.  THE GOOD, THE BAD, & THE UGLY--  Hugo Montenegro

8.  I GOT THE FEELIN'--  James Brown
9.  A BEAUTIFUL MORNING--  Young Rascals
10.  THE UNICORN--  Irish Rovers

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "A Long Time Ago When the Earth Was Green."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

AIN'T IT THE TRUTH:  Gone are the days when girls used to cook like their mothers.  Now, they drink like their fathers.


"The Unicorn"

Getting My Vinyl On Today: Record Store Day

The day is here.  No downloading today (I have never downloaded anything and wouldn't know how).

Today is the day to go visit your local mom and pop independent record store, flip through some albums and buy something.

In a short time, I will be leaving for the Vinyl frontier records in McHenry, Illinopis, located at 1326 N. Riverside Drive.  After that I plan to go to Siren records at 3819 Main Street, also in McHenry.  Very lucky to have not just one, but two places for old records here in the area (and within 12 miles of home).

There is also a Reef Records in nearby Antioch, but won't get there today.

And, as something to get the mind off this horrendous April we've been having, besides Record Day, we have signup for the annual Chain Crawl for the Chain of Lakes at Squaw Bar and Hilltop Lounge.

Records and Boats.  Alright.  --RoadDog

Two Days to Record Store Day

Looking forward to visiting a couple record stores in the area.  We have three places withing 12 miles of us.

It is good to see all the young people going through the albums (and some CDs) these days.  Barnes and Nobles continues to expand their vinyl albums collections for sale, but my biggest problem with them is that they charge $22 to $30 for each one.  That is a whole lot more than I am willing to pay for an album.

So, I will just stick with the used ones instead.

Give me That Old Time Vinyl!!  --RoadDog

AIN'T IT THE TRUTH:  (From the January 2018 Wassup magazine):  I changed my car horn to gunshot sounds.  People get out of my way much faster now.

12 McDonald's Food Items That Failed-- Part 2: Arch Deluxe

Continued from March 20.

5.  McSpaghetti--  On top of spaghetti, I lost my poor meatball.

6.  McAfrika--  Beef, cheese, tomatoes and salad on pita bread.  released in 2002 during a famine in Africa.  Didn't go over so well.

7.  Arch Deluxe--  1996 for adults.  quarter-pounder, peppered bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, onions, ketchup and secret sauce.

8.  McHotdog--  Self-explanatory.

--RoadDog

Four Days to Record Store Day!!

Mark it down.  We're just four days away from the annual Record Store Day!!!

It will be Saturday April 21.

This is your day to experience music the way it was intended to be.  None of that downloading stuff!!!

Go to the Record Store day site to find out your nearest Mom and Pop record store, if you don't already know where it is.

LPs and CDs, Oh My!!  --RoadDog

WORDS NOT YET IN THE DICTIONARY--  DOGSCARE:  running or operating a vacuum cleaner near your dog.

Music Deaths: Jimmy Wisner, Songwriter and Producer

JIMMY WISNER, 96

Died March 12, 2018

Pianist, arranger, songwriter and producer.  He had a hit "Asia Minor" (#8-1961) under the name Kokomo.  He wrote "Don't Throw Your Love Away" for the Searchers (#16-1964).

As a producer, he worked with Tommy James, Bobby Rydell, Neil Sedaka, Freddy Cannon, Len Barry, Spanky & Our Gang, Carly Simon and many others.

I have been listening to "Asia Minor" and "Don't Throw Your Love Away" on YouTube.  Great songs.