Somewhat Near Normal Last Saturday: Some of My Favorite Things

As another month hurries by.  And, I mean HURRIES BY!!  Why does time go so fast when you're having fun, and even here in the "V" fun.

People asked me in the past why I don't travel much during the summer.  Why travel when you've got a travel destination right here in the area.  I mean, Illinois' Chain of Lakes (or Chain 'o Lakes) is as much fun as you can have and we haven't had a boat since last year.  But there is always stiff going on with weekly concerts in many local towns, car shows, parades, holidays, bars and bands.

But, this year has been different with so many things canceled.

But, last Saturday, I came as close as you can to a return to the good old days. 

I went on my longest road trip since March 3, a whopping 20.4 miles to Algonquin, Illinois.  Usually by now, we would have been to Missouri on Route 66 at least once and out to the the Mississippi River at least once, but since we can't just have the fun we want because of you-know-what,  might as well just hang around here.

However, this past Saturday I got to do a whole bunch of my favorite things.  First, we had our first meeting of the MCCWRT discussion group outside at Panera Bread with facemasks on, then to my favorite store, Half-Price Books and then to one of my favorite fast-food places called White castle.

Last two stops were to check out plants at Meijer and Home Depot, something else I really enjoy.

That night, closer to home in Johnsburg, Illinois, we had fresh Stade corn on the cob and a band outside of Stucky's.

I Was Smilin'.  --RoadGrin

Every Blooming THing, Late July: RoadDog's Achin' Acre

I always feel my flowers are at their height of color here at the end of July when four major flower groups start blooming.

Right now, some 300 black-eyed Susans, 200 purple coneflowers, 200 tall phlox and 150 daylilies are blooming.  Those figures, of course, are estimates, but probably close.  I have done a real lot of transplanting.  Plus, my hostas are blooming their blue spikes and I probably have 150 of then as well.

I am still trimming bushes (and I really planted too many of them) and also weeding, pulling up and cutting down spent flowers and keeping up with the grass and all that is really keeping me busy when it is not too hot  and humid outside.  We are one of the highest spots in the state of Illinois and usually get a whole lot of breeze, but not so much lately.  Plus, our temps have been running in the 90s for much of the last three weeks.

This has all cut down on my working outside.  Who'd have known that when you get older, yardwork is so much harder?

Plus, I just read that growing a lot of corn raises the humidity.  And, we are surrounded by farmland with mostly corn being grown on it.

Thinking of changing the name of my yard to RoadDog's Achin' Acre.

Ohh, My Aching Back.  --RoadSore

Music Deaths: Ian Whitcomb, "You Turn Me On"

IAN WHITCOMB, 78

Died 19 April 2020

Singer/ author,  actor.  Had a real big hit with "You Turn Me On (Turn On Song)"   (#8-1965)  Quite a different sort of song and his only Top 40 song of three Hot 100s.

He was a part of the English Invasion, but then moved to the United States.

WLS Top Ten for Week of July 27, 1970: "Tighter & Tighter"

The Top Ten songs in Chicago fifty years ago this week according to WLS, 890 AM.

1.  MAKE IT WITH YOU--  Bread
2.  CLOSE TO YOU--  Carpenters
3.  BAND OF GOLD--  Freda Payne

4.  TIGHTER & TIGHTER--  Alive & Kicking
5.  O-O-H CHILD--  5 Stairsteps
6.  THE LOVE YOU SAVE--   Jackson Five
7.  LAY A LITTLE LOVIN' ON ME--  Robin McNamara

8.  WHY CAN'T IT TOUCH YOU--  Ronnie Dyson
9.  SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED, I'M YOURS--  Stevie Wonder
10.  BALL OF CONFUSION--  Temptations

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

DEBUTS

The WLS survey this week was just 30 songs, not the usual 40.

22.  IN THE SUMMERTIME--  Mungo Jerry
29.  HAND ME DOWN WORLD--  Guess Who

30.  AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH--  Diana Ross

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Hey Have You Ever Tried Really Reaching Out For The Other Side?"  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Make It With You"

Music Deaths: Eddie Cooley, R&B Singer (Co-Wrote "Fever")

EDDIE COOLEY, 87

Died 15 April 2020

Co-wrote the much recorded song "Fever" which became big hits for Little Willie John, Peggy Lee and the McCoys and had one Hot 100 pop song, "Priscilla"  (#20-1956) credited to Eddie Cooley and the Dimples.  The Dimples were a female trio.

Wrote songs for the King label and groups like the 5 Royales and Joe Tex.

Classic 1950s R&B.  Mighty good stuff.

"Got a Little Woman" is good too.  Of course,good version of "Fever."

WLS Top Ten for Week of July 20, 1970: "Close to You"

These were the Top Ten songs in Chicago according to Chicago's mighty WLS 890 AM.

1.  CLOSE TO YOU--  Carpenters
2.  BAND OF GOLD--  Freda Payne
3.  THE LOVE YOU SAVE--  Jackson Five

4.  O-O-H CHILD--  Moments
5.  MAMA TOLD ME--  Three Dog Night
6.  TIGHTER & TIGHTER--  Alive & Kicking
7.  BALL OF CONFUSION--  Tempations

8.  LAY DOWN (CANDLES IN THE RAIN)--  Melanie
9.  A SONG OF JOY--  Miguel Rios
10.  MAKE IT WITH YOU--  Bread

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

DEBUTS

24.  I JUST CAN'T HELP BELIEVING--  B.J. Thomas
26.  SUMMERTIME BLUES--   Who

28.  BIG YELLOW TAXI--  Neighborhood
29.  PEARL--  Tommy Roe

30.  SUNSHINE--  Archies

Name That Tune From the above songs:  (" Let Your White Birds Smile Up At the Ones Who Stand and Frown.")   Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)"

Chipmunks Running Amok 'Round Here (and in New England) and Other Yard Varmints Like Squirrels and Wascally Wabbits

I read in yesterday's Chicago Tribune that New England has so many of the lil' Alvins that they have become a nuisance.  We have a bumper crop here in northeast Illinois this year again.  I always have lots of them.  I have the Front Porch Chippers as I call them, and the Deck Chippers.

They can be a pain.  Just try slipping any flower with bulbs or tubers by them.  There is also flower pot mining to see if there is anything edible.  Fortunately, I don't think they've discovered the tulips and jonquils.

And, when they're running or chasing, watch out.  I've several scars from Chipmunk encounters of the fast kind.  I've even had ones this year and in the past who approach me demanding food.

They are lucky I like them so much or we would have serious problems.

We also have  lots of squirrels, though I haven't seen much of them this last month for some reason.  My biggest problem with them has been attacks on the roof and the Battle of the Bird Seed.  Last year, three squirrels ganged up on me and wiped out my three bird seed feeders, especially the one with their favorite, sunflower seed.  Boy they love sunflower seed.

However, that day, I vowed payback and the next day went to Menard's and got one of those feeders where the squirrel's weight closes the portals.  So far that has worked, but I have seen some of the varmints staring up at the feeder, just thinking and thinking.

And, this year I all of a sudden have three wascally wabbits running around the yard a whole lot.

We're Being Over Run!! --RoadMonk

FOX HUNTING:  Fox Mulder was an FBI agent on which TV series?


"The X-Files"

WLS Top 40 for Week of July 13, 1970, the Top Ten-- Part 7L "Lay Down (Candles in the Wind)"

These were the Top Ten songs in Chicago back fifty years ago.

10.  CLOSE TO YOU--  Carpenters     #1
9.  A SONG OF JOY--  Miguel Rios   #14
8.  THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD--  Beatles    #1

7.  GIMME DAT THING--  Pipkins    #9
6.  LAY DOWN (CANDLES IN THE RAIN)--  Melanie    #6
5.  BAND OF GOLD--  Freda Payne    #3
4.  RIDE CAPTAIN RIDE--  Blues Image     #4

3.  BALL OF CONFUSION--  Temptations   #3
2.  MAMA TOLD ME--  Three Dog Night    #1
1.  THE LOVE YOU SAVE--  Jackson Five    #1

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Will You Have Some Whiskey With Your Water, Sugar In Your Tea?"  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Mama Told Me"

WLS Top 40 for Week of July 13, 1970-- Part 6: "Teach Your Children"

15.  TEACH YOUR CHILDREN--  Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young     #16    Graham Nash looked a bit like Paul McCartney in the Golden Gate video.  Love that slide guitar intro.

14.  LOVELAND--  Watts' 103rd Street Band    #16    Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band.    Just try to not start moving some part of your body.

13.  THE WONDER OF YOU--     Elvis Presley      #9     Oh, that Vegas Sound.  Recorded live in Las Vegas.   It just built and built up.

12.  TIGHTER & TIGHTER--  Alive & Kicking     #7    Comment:  Listening to this song when he was in Vietnam  and "Hold on just a little bit tighter" meant something entirely different to him.  Co-written and produced by Tommy James.   One-hit wonder.

11.  O-O-H CHILD--  Five Stairsteps       #8      Chicago-based family band.  The Burkes.  Good song for today  "Things'll be brighter."  Some fine Soul and from Chicago.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "You Know I Got To Show You Nobody Else Before You  Ever Gave Me Such A Beautiful Feeling."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Tighter & Tighter"

WLS Top 40 for Week of July 13, 1970-- Part 5: "Make It With You"

20  MAKE IT WITH YOU--  Bread     #1   Their first and biggest-ever hit.  Great slow dancer.  Formed in Los Angeles in 1969.

19.  SUGAR, SUGAR--  Wilson Pickett      #25     Bubble Gum Music never sounded like this before.  Move over Archies. the Wicked Pickett's In Town.

18.  MY BABY LOVES LOVIN'--  White Plains     #13    You just can't hardly make a better pop song.  Their only Top 40.  A true one-hit wonder group.  That's Tony Burrows singing lead who sang on so many hit songs with different groups around this time.  Look him up.

17.  SAVE THE COUNTRY--    Fifth Dimension      #27    Doing a Laura Nyro song.  We can sure use some of this these days.  It's rough out there.

16.  IT'S ALL IN THE GAME--  Four Tops     #24    Slow, slow, slow Soul.   Detroit R&B group formed in 1953 as the Four Alms.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Come On People, Come On Children, Come On Down To The Glory River."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Save the Country"

Back to the Summer of 1970-- Part 7: "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)"

These are the songs on the radio and in our record collections fifty years ago on July 5, 1970, BC (Before Coronavirus).  No dinosaurs here.

Bob Stroud played these songs on his Rock and Roll Roots Salute to Summer 1970 show on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, the Drive.  He'll play Parts 1 and 2 the first Sunday in August and September.  His show runs from 9 a.m. to noon CDST.  It streams.

RIDE CAPTAIN RIDE--  Blues Image
TEACH YOUR CHILDREN--  CSN&Y
GET READY--  Rare Earth

AIRE OF GOOD FEELING--  Ides of March  (Bet you never heard this one by Jim Peterik.  Horns, horns, horns.  I must admit I'd never heard it before.)
LAY DOWN (CANDLES IN THE RAIN)--  Melanie   (This song always takes me right back to the Kent State Riots at Northern Illinois University when I thought I was seeing the end of the United States.)
ALL RIGHT NOW--  Free   One of my all-time favorite songs.)

ARE YOU READY--  Pacific Gas & Electric
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS--  Joe Cocker   (from the "Woodstock" album.  You remember that one, don't you.  Three albums worth.)

By the way, Chicago's WXRT 93.1 FM, will be going to the year 1971 for their Saturday Morning Flashback show from 9 a.m. to noon CDST.  It streams.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "There She Stood In The Street, Smilin' From Her Head To Her Feet."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"All Right Now"

Music Deaths: Steve Farmer, Amboy Dukes Wrote "Journey to the Center of the Mind"

STEVE FARMER, 71

Died April 7, 2020

Rock guitarist, played with Amboy Dukes.  Bandmate of Ted Nugent who was also in the band in its early days.  Wrote the band's best-known hit "Journey to the Center of the Mind" (#16-1968) their only Top 100 song and one of my favorites ever with that blistering guitar play.

Ted Nugent played lead guitar and John Drake was lead vocalist.

WLS Top 40 for Week of July 13, 1970-- Part 4: "Mississippi Queen"

Fifty years ago on Chicago's WLS 890 AM.

25.  GET READY--  Rare Earth     #4    The lead singer was the drummer.  Who says white guys can't sing soul?   Their first hit.

24.  MISSISSIPPI QUEEN--  Mountain     #21   A cow-beller that rocks.  One of my all-time favorites.

23.  CHECK OUT YOUR MIND--  Impressions      #28    Never heard it before, but real good song.

22.  HITCHING A RIDE--  Vanity Fare      #5   A Fun Song.  Flute and a cowbell!!  The singer in the video sure looks like Journey's Steve Perry.  British pop quintet.

21.  QUESTION--  Moody Blues      #21    They sure could harmonize.  The guy playing guitar at the start had to have blisters on his fingers.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "When We're Knockin' At The Door."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Question"

WLS Top 40 for Week of July 13, 1970-- Part 3: "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours"

30.  UNITED WE STAND--  Brotherhood of Man     #13    Those full vocal harmonies.  A song we can really use in these hard times.  If we HAVE TO HAVE a new National Anthem as the Blacks desire, perhaps this would be a good candidate.  British studio group.

29.  WHY CAN'T I TOUCH YOU--  Ronnie Dyson    #8     Great soul song and what a voice.  Full title  "(If You Let Me Make Love To You) Why Can't I Touch You?"

28.  ARE YOU READY--  Pacific Gas & Electric     #14    Biracial blues-rock band.  West Coast.

27.  SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED, I'M YOURS--  Stevie Wonder     #3     Is that a great bass line or what?  All over the place.  Steveland Morris.

26.  LAY A LITTLE LOVIN' ON ME--  Robin McNamara        #11     Love the start to the video.    Was this Bubble Gum music?  Who cares.  This is an infectious song.  One of the comments says he was in "Hair" before this song.  Looking at his hair I couldn't disagree.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "There's Rumors Of War, Men Dying And Women Crying."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Are You Ready"

Music Deaths: John Prine

JOHN PRINE, 73

Died April 7, 2020

I wrote about him back when he died as he was always one of my favorite performers.  I thought I was really knowledgeable about him, but since then, I've been on You Tube a whole lot and I find I really didn't know his songs.  And, that was my mistake.  I should have listened more.

I know whenever I'm at a bar and a solo performer is on stage and I ask for a John Prine song, that really impressed them.

John had what I consider one of his best ever songs just a year or so before his death with "Summer's End."  Watch the video and if that is not one of the saddest videos you've ever seen, let me know.  There is also a video about the making of this video.  make sure you watch it.

Music Deaths: Bill Withers: "Lean On Me"

BILL WITHERS. 81

Died March 30, 2020

Soul singer/songwriter.  best known for "Lean on Me"  (#1-1972).  Born in 1938 in Slab Fork, West Virginia.

Had two other big hits with "Ain't No Sunshine"  (#3-1971) and "Use Me"  (#2-1972)  Also, one of my favorites "Lovely Day" (#30-1978).  Always peps me up.  Used to hear it a lot on Herb Kent (The Kool Gent's) show.

Like one of his commentators on You Tube said:  "When we get out of quarantine it's gonna be a Lovely Day."  If you have not heard the song, give it a listen.

I'm listening to songs by him on You Tube right now.  Wow.

WLS Top 40 for Week of July 13, 1970-- Part 2: "Silver Bird"

(D) means debut.  The number after the artist is how high the song got on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

35.  GOOD MORNING FREEDOM--  Daybreak    #94   Great song.  Makes me think of a TV theme song.  Never heard it before.  Canadian group.

34.  WESTBOUND #9--  Flaming Ember      #24     (D)  I always thought this was a black group.  Turns out they were white.  A lot of comments on the video said the same thing.   White soul-rock band from Detroit.

33.  LOVE ON A TWO WAY STREET--  Moments    #3    A great slow-dancing song.

32.  SILVER BIRD--  Mark Lindsay    #25    (D)     What?  No Raiders or Paul?   In Vietnam, servicemen thought of the big silver birds that would take them home after their enlistment expired.

31.  BOYS IN THE BAND--  Boys in the Band   #48     Southern Soul.  From the Warner Brothers movie "Phynx."  Never heard it before.  Full title:  "(How Bout A Little Hand For) The Boys In the Band."

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "And Lost It On A Lonely Highway."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Love On A Two Way Street"

WLS Top 40 for Week of July 13, 1970-- Part 1: "Spill the Wine"

Fifty Years Ago on Chicago's WLS 890 AM.

40.  CECILIA--  Simon & Garfunkel     #4     Hard not to start moving something when this song comes on.  Love that clapping sound.

39.  MAKE ME SMILE--  Chicago     #9      Horns!!  I Need More Horns!!!!  Their first big hit.

38.  PEARL--     Tommy Roe  (D)    #50   This ended a streak of six Top tens with songs such as "Sheila," "Dizzy" and "Hooray for Hazel."   Born in Atlanta in 1942.

37.  HEY, MR. SUN--  Bobby Sherman       #24    Typical Bobby songs, he of the perfect hair.  One of the comments for a video said they got this song on the back of a cereal box.

36.  SPILL THE WINE--    Eric Burdon     #3    (D)    Of course, we know he was with that group called War, that long-haired noble gnome.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Children Play In The Park, They Don't Know."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Make Me Smile"