Just Like Old Times Around Here Last Week: Bars, Car Show, Plants, Margaritas, Trivia and the White Sox

Things sure are looking up this summer as compared to the last one we had.  Here's what I did  this past week.

MONDAY, JUNE 21

Obviously pretty much every day I am in the internet posting to as many of these eight blogs as I can.  And, this past week, we finally started getting some rain after an extended four week drought.

Monday, we went to Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg, Illinois, and enjoyed their $1.50 draft pints.

TUESDAY, JUNE 22

Made the rounds of the nurseries for plants in McHenry, Illinois: Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Meijer's.  Drove back to the McHenry Moose Lodge for their weekly car show.  I am a big Firebird guy and as I entered the grounds, I immediately saw a 2002 Firebird and a 1977 Trans Am.  Sadly, you don't see that many Firebirds.  Lots and lots of Camaros and Mustangs, but nor many Firebirds.  They were the only ones there.

Enjoyed a $3 margarita and their taco special (3 for $6 including rice and beans).

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23 

Went to Donovan's in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin and played trivia while watching the White Sox game.  Afterwards, enjoyed the half price burgers at Bricks & Ivy in Spring Grove, Illinois.

Sure Good to be Back to These Fun Things in the Summer.  --RoadDog

WLS Top Ten for Week of June 28, 1971: 'Nathan Jones'

Only fifty years ago.  Hey!!  That's half a century.   Who's old?

1.  IT'S TOO LATE--  Carole King

2.  IF NOT FOR YOU--  Olivia Newton-John

3.  NATHAN JONES--  Supremes

4.  DOUBLE BARREL--  Dave and Ansil Collins

5.  HERE COMES THAT RAINY DAY FEELING AGAIN--  Fortunes

6.  YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND--  James Taylor

7.  DON'T PULL YOUR LOVE--  Hamilton, Joe Frank, & Reynolds

8.  INDIAN RESERVATION--  Raiders

9.  RAINY DAYS & MONDAYS--  Carpenters

10.  WHEN YOU'RE HOT, YOU'RE HOT--  Jerry Reed

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

DEBUTS

27.  HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART--  Bee gees

28.  I DON'T WANT TO DO WRONG--  Gladys Knight & the Pips

29.  WATCHING THE RIVER FLOW--  Bob Dylan

30.  BEGINNINGS--  Chicago

ALL HIT BOUND

TAKE ME HOME, COUNTRY ROADS--  John Denver

RINGS--  Cymarron

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Well Now Me And Homer And Big John Talley Had A Crap Game Goin' Back In The Alley."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"When You're Hot, You're Hot"

Getting Into Summer of 2021-- Part 2: 'Mr. Blue Sky'

SURFER GIRL--  (live)  Beach Boys

SCHOOL'S OUT--  Alice Cooper     (We named our boat after this song.  And, when we retired, it became "School's Out ... Forever.")

SATURDAY IN THE PARK--  Chicago

IN THE SUN--  Blondie

SUNNY AFTERNOON--  Kinks

RACING IN THE STREETS--  Bruce Springsteen

GOOD DAY SUNSHINE--  Beatles

MR. BLUE SKY--  ELO

SUNNY DAYS--  Lighthouse

SUMMER BREEZE--  Isley Brothers

IN THE SUMMERTIME--  Mungo Jerry   (Still my favorite summer song.)

CALIFORNIA GIRLS--  Beach Boys   (But you now those Southern Girls, the way they talk.)

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "People Dancing, People Laughing, A Man Selling Ice Cram."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Saturday in the Park"

Getting Into Summer 2021-- Part 1: 'Beach Baby'

These were the songs Bob Stroud played on his Roc ad Roll Roots Salute to Summer 2021 on June 20 on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, the Drive.

If these songs from the 1960s and 1970s don't get you into the mood, nothing's gonna do it.

SURFIN' USA--  (live) Beach Boys

ALL SUMMER LONG--  Beach Boys

WAKE UP SUNSHINE--  Chicago

SUMMERTIME BLUES--  Eddie Cochran

CALIFORNIA SUN--  Rivieras

HOT SUMMER DAY--  It's a Beautiful Day

BUS STOP--  Hollies

BEACH BABY--  First Class

ONE SUMMER DREAM--  ELO

DANCIN' IN THE STREET--  Mamas and the Papas

SUNSHINE SUPERMAN--  Donovan

SUMMER SUN--  Jamestown Massacre

DO IT AGAIN--  Beach Boys

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "You See Them Wearing Their Baggies, Hurache Sandals Too."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

(Surfin' USA"

Past Movie Scratches: Taken-- Legend-- Eli-- Godzilla-- Battleship-- Hunger

Past Movie Scratches--  Movies I watched on TV in 2020.

Of course, there were more this year because I sure wasn't able to see any in the theaters after mid-March (for some reason).

43.  TAKEN--  3-20--  As I said before, DON'T mess with his family.  His particular skill set is bad news for the bad guys.

44.  I AM LEGEND--  3-20--  Probably not a good time to watch this movie  with our virus.  Least we weren't turning into zombies.

45.  THE BOOK OF ELI--  3-20--  A man on a mission.  A blind Bible?  I didn't know he was blind.

46.  GODZILLA--  3-21--  The big guy saves us.  Thanks Godzilla.

47.  BATTLESHIP--  3-21--  "The Mighty Mo" saves us.  I've always been a big fan of battleships.

48.  THE HUNGER GAMES:  CATCHING FIRE--  3-21--  President Snow is not amused.  Have bow will arrow.

--RoadDog

Past Movie Scratches: Hidden-- Darkness-- Azkaban-- Goblet-- Tarzan-- Trek

Past Movie Scratches--  Movies I saw on TV in 2020.

37.  HIDDEN FIGURES--  3-2--  The black women who overcame all obstacles to put humans into space.

38.  THE DARKNESS--  3-4--  Don't pick up strange stones you find in caves.

39.  HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN--  3-14--  So, Sirius is really on Harry' side.   And the Rat.

40.  HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE--  3-14--  Dragons, mean mermaids and the Shining all rolled into one.

41.  THE LEGEND OF TARZAN--  3-17--  Don't Dis the Ape Guy.

42.  STAR TREK--  3-18--  Putting the Gang together and battling the crazed Nemo.

--RoadDog

LAWS OF THE UNIVERSE:  After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you will have to go to the bathroom.

Music Deaths: Lloyd Price

LLOYD PRICE, 88

 Died 6 May 2021

Singer (rhythm & blues / rock & roll) who had the 1959 hit song "Personality."

Born 1933 in Kenner, Louisiana.    First recording was #1 R&B hit "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" in 1952.

Some of his songs:

"Just Because"  (#29-1957)

"Stagger Lee (#1-1959)

"Personality" (#2-1959)

"I'm Gonna Get Married"  (#3-1959)

Fish Fry, '85 Firebird, Out on the Chain, Stucky's & the Legion

This past weekend was another one of those great times out here in northeast Illinois in the famed Chain of Lakes.

FRIDAY, June 18

We finally had some much-needed rain all morning.  We met a group of friends at Stucky's in Johnsburg for their great Fish Fry.  I just love a good Friday night fish fry.

SATURDAY, June 19

The big news is that Vince came over and installed a new starter in my '85 Firebird and it now runs!!!  He had it all winter and it is fixed up as good as new, so there will be some good times in it this summer.  We've had it since it was new.

During the afternoon, we went over to Rosie's Italian Eatery on Grasslake, one of the Chain of Lakes, to see a band that was playing on their deck.  Unfortunately, the place was packed so we didn't even go in.  Since we were already over in that area, we decided to check out the Sunset Grille where we found a duo playing outside and a place to sit so ended up there.

Nothing like ice cold beer, the sun, a band and sitting outside here in the Chain of Lakes, especially with everything opening up again after you-know-what.

Afterwards, a group of us went back to Stucky's to get a bite to eat and enjoy their $1 draft beers.

SUNDAY, June 20

Bob Stroud hosted his annual Rock and Roll Roots Salute to Summer, so that was a good way to welcome the season.

In the afternoon, we went over to the McHenry American Legion and enjoyed their "adequate" $2.50 Bloody Marys and an assortment of beer.

Like I Said, Good Times in the Area.  It's Good to be Back!!  --RoadFun

WLS Top Ten for Week of June 21, 1971: 'It's Too Late'

These were the Top Ten songs (and Debuts) in Chicago according to powerhouse WLS AM, 890 on your dial.  That's right, good ol' AM radio. Good ol' fifty years ago today.

Thanks to the Oldiesloon site for the WLS Surveys.

1.  IT'S TOO LATE--  Carole King

2.  RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS--  Carpenters

3.  THAT'S THE WAY I ALWAYS HEARD IT SHOULD BE--  Carly Simon

4.  WANT ADS--  Honey Cone

5.  DOUBLE BARREL--  Dave & Ansil Collins

6.  NATHAN JONES--  Supremes

7.  DON'T KNOCK MY LOVE--   Wilson Pickett

8.  DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS--  P-Nut Gallery

9.  DON'T PULL YOUR LOVE--  Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds

10.  INDIAN RESERVATION--  The Raiders

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

DEBUTS  

25.  FUNKY NASSAU--  The Beginning of the End

27.  DRAGGIN' THE LINE--  Tommy James

28.  RAINY JANE--  Davy Jones

29.  SOONER OR LATER--   Grass Roots

30.  SUMMER SAND--  Dawn

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

ALL HIT BOUND

I DON'T WANT TO BE WRONG--  Gladys Knight & the Pips

BEGINNINGS--  Chicago

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I'll Just Lay Me Down And Cry For A Hundred Years."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Don't Pull Your Love"

Welcome Summer!! Ten Songs to Get You in the Mood: 'Summer Rain'

On Thursday, June 17, Bob Stroud played ten summer songs on his Ten at Ten show on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM.

If these don't get you in the summer frame of mind, I don't know what will.

SUMMER BREEZE--  Seals & Crofts

BOYS OF SUMMER--  Don Henley   You know, that Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac.

SUMMER IN THE CITY--  Lovin' Spoonful  What's happening to the back of your neck?

SOME LIKE IT HOT--  Power Station

SUMMER RAIN--  Johnny Rivers    How about that, not singing someone else's song!!

HOT CHILD IN THE CITY--  Nick Gilder

IN THE SUMMERTIME--  Mungo Jerry

SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER--  Motels

HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME--  Sly & the Family Stone

SUMMER OF '69--  Bryan Adams

Feeling It Yet.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Nobody On the Road, Nobody On the Beach."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Boys of Summer"

Good Times in the Area: Last Weekend and This

Last weekend is a good example of why we like to stick around the area here in northeast Illinois during the summer.

The bars are open again and the bands are playing.  Spring Grove and the towns around us are in an area of Illinois known as the Chain of Lakes (or Chain o' Lakes).  There are about nine interconnected lakes and a long stretch of the Fox River.

And, boating is king.  As a matter of fact, we had three boats over a period of time ranging from 1985 to 2019.  The waterways go crazy on the weekend with hundreds of boaters out to have a good time.

An example of the fun we have took place last weekend.

On Saturday, our friends Kevin and Kelly had a party for their new granddaughter and a keg of beer and lots of food.  They have a house right on Mineola Bay on Fox Lake.  There is something about ice cold beer, the sun and watching the boats go by.

However, many folks brought their own libations and that keg wasn't empty, so we signed up for a Day After Party on Sunday with some other friends.  We worked as hard as we could, but we couldn't finish that keg.

So, it became necessary to have a Day After Party Part 2.  This time we succeeded.

Last night, we went out for one of those great Midwest fish fries at Stucky's in Johnsburg, Illinois.  In just a little bit, we're going to Rosie's on Grasslake where they will have a band out on the deck.

Oh, Well, Somebody's Got to Do It, and We're Just the Guys to Do It.  --RoadParty

WLS Top 30 for Week of June 14, 1971-- Part 5: 'It's Too Late'

 10.  IT DON'T COME EASY--  Ringo Starr      #4     And you figured he wouldn't do well without the other three chaps.

9.  DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS--  P-Nut Gallery      #62      A very, very unique song, but we all know "It's Howdy _____ ____."

8.  DOUNLE BARREL--  Dave and Ansill Collins     #22

7.  BROWN SUGAR--  Rolling Stones   #1

6.  I DON'T KNOW HOW TO LOVE HIM--  Helen Reddy       #13       Her first-ever hit.

5.  DOUBLE LOVIN'--  Osmonds   #14

4.  IT'S TOO LATE--  Carole King      #1    Jumped from #21

3.  THAT'S THE WAY I ALWAYS HEARD IT SHOULD BE--  Carly Simon      #10   Her first-ever hit.

2.  RAINT DAYS & MONDAYS--  Carpenters    #2

1.  WANT ADS--  Honey Cone     #1

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Experience In Love Preferred, But Will Accept A Young Trainee."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Want Ads"

JSS: Summer Songs-- 1980-- Paul's Birthday-- Sure Needed the Rain

JSS--  Just Some Stuff 

1.  SUMMER SONGS--  A great weekend to listen to music associated with the official start of our favorite season, and that would be summer.  Yesterday, Bon Stroud played ten summer songs on his Ten at Ten and this Sunday he will devote his entire Rock and Roll Roots show to that season.  It is on WDRV, 97.1 FM and streams from 9 to noon

Plus, tomorrow Bill St. James' Time Warp will feature summer songs from 6 to 10 AM on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM.  It streams.

2.   1980--  Plus, Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM will feature 1980 from 9 am to noon.  It streams as well.

3.  PAUL'S BIRTHDAY--  Sunday's Breakfast With the Beatles hosted by Terri Hemmert will be all Paul McCartney from 8 to 10 am.  It's his birthday, you know.  79 years old.  It streams.

4.  SURE NEEDED THE RAIN--  We had quite a display of lightning and thunder roll through the Midwest this morning.  It was a nice steady rain for several hours and we sure needed it.  The lawns were all brown except for the folks who watered theirs.  We still nee d more, though, but every little bit sure helps.

Lots of Music This Weekend.  --RoadDog

WLS Top 30 Songs for Week of June 14, 1971-- Part 4: 'If Not For You'

That's right, fifty years ago.  If you remember these from back then, you must be kind of ___.

15.  *IF NOT FOR YOU--  Olivia Newton-John     #25     Bob Dylan wrote it.  I don't now who I had a bigger crush on back then, Linda or Olivia.   Her first hit.

14.  *DON'T PULL YOUR LOVE--  Hamilton, Joe Frank, & Reynolds      #4       Why did Frank have a first name and the other two didn't?   Dan Hamilton and Tommy Hamilton in case you're wondering.

13.  I'LL MEET YOU HALF WAY--  Partridge Family     #9     Co-written by Carole's hubby, Gerry Goffin.  Well, then there was also that Susan Dey.  Wow!  Their last Top Ten.

12.  *DON'T KNOCK MY LOVE--  Wilson Pickett       #13     Mr. Wicked Pickett shows off his Soul.   Went to #1 R&B.

11.  NATHAN JONES--  Supremes       #16    Definitely a different Motown sound on this one.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I'll Just Lay Me Down And Cry For A Hundred Years."  Answer below.   --RoadDog

"Don't Pull Your Love"

WLS Top 30 Songs for Week of June 14, 1971-- Part 3: 'When You're Hot, You're Hit'

These were the top songs in Chicago fifty years ago.

*  Means the song was rising on the charts.  The number after the artist refers to how high the song got on the Billboard National charts.

20.  *WHEN YOU'RE HOT, YOU'RE HOT--  Jerry Reed        #9   Country funk and country rap?  #1 Country, #6 adult contemporary.  That Jerry's a real funny guy.  Follow up to his "Amos Moses."

19.  SHE'S NOT JUST ANOTHER WOMAN--  Eighth Day     #11     I don't remember this one, but a great song.  One comment said they were really the group 100 Proof Aged Soul.  Assembled by Holland-Dozier-Holland.

18.  *INDIAN RESERVATION--  Raiders      #1     Whole name ""Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)"   Hey, what happened to Paul Revere?  Listing the wrongs done to Indians and there were many.  Their only #1 song.

17.  SWEET & INNOCENT--    Donny Osmond       #7    Boy, those young girls let loose when he sang.  They had the Jackson 5 moves and the Elvis jumpsuits.

16.  *LIGHT SINGS-- Fifth Dimension     #44       I never heard it before, but your typical 5th D treatment.  From the Broadway musical "The Me Nobody Knows."

Name That Tune (from the above songs:  "Took Away Our Native Tongue And Taught Their English To Our Young."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Indian Reservation"

Music Deaths: John Hinch, Drummer with Judas Priest

JOHN HINCH, 73

Died 29 April 2021

Drummer with Judas Priest.  Played with the original  Priest lineup from 1971-1975.  Played on debut album.  Their first album was more blues rock than hard rock.

WLS Top 30 Songs for Week of June 14, 1971-- Part 2: 'Treat Her Like a Lady'

25.  JOY TO THE WORLD--  Three Dog Night    #1     Their biggest-ever hit.

24.  *GET IT ON--  Chase    #24     HORNS, HOrns HoRNs.  They had a four piece horn section.  Jazz-rock band (and don't forget the HORNs.  Formed by trumpeter Bill Chase   Chase and three other members were killed in a plane crash in 1974.

23.  *HIGH TIME WE WENT--  Joe Cocker      #22    Joe trying out his soul/blues chops.  Born John Robert Cocker.

22.  TREAT HER LIKE A LADY--  Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose    #3   Great words of advice to men.

21.  TARKIO ROAD--  Brewer & Shipley      #55   Kind of country/folkie.  About their driving back country roads in northwest Missouri between gigs.  Where the police suspect you.  Of course, their big hit was "One Toke Over the Line" which went to #10 earlier in 1971.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Headed Up To Crete, Nebraska, Trying My Best To Set The Highway On Fire.  But My Bicycle Won't Go No Faster."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Tarkio Road"

WLS Top 30 Songs for Week of June 14, 1971-- Part 1: 'Funky Nassau'

These were the songs on Chicago's WLS Survey fifty years ago this week.  A lot of them were played on Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Salute to the Summer of 1971 last Sunday, June 6.

* Means the song was rising on the charts.  The number after the artist is how high the song got on the Billboard Hot 100 National charts.

HIT BOUND

*ALBERT FLASHER--  Guess Who      #29     Group formed in 1963.    The Pride of Winnipeg, Manitoba doing some barrelhouse boogie.

*FUNKY NASSAU--  Beginning of the End    #15    Just try to listen to this one and not start moving.  I dare you.  Their only hit.   From the Bahamas.

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

30.  *I'M THE ONLY ONE--  Lobo     #9      Never heard it before.  What's you cat's name?

29.  *BRING THE BOYS HOME--  Freda Payne      #12     This one sure goes with the times.  Produced by that hit trio Holland. Dozier and Holland for Motown.   Had two other Top 40s in 1970 with "Band of Gold" (3) and "Deeper and Deeper" (24).

28.  *HERE COMES THAT RAINY DAY FEELING--  Fortunes     #15    English pop quintet.    Had a #7 song in 1965 with "You've Got Your Troubles."

27.  *MR. BIG STUFF--  Jean Knight      #2      Some real fine soul.   Her only Top 40 hit.

26.  *YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND--  James Taylor    #1      Born in Boston in 1948.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "It Always Seems To Be A Monday."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again"