JSS: Crazy Weather-- Yellowstone, 1883-- the Drive's A to Z-- The Big Guy Up the Middle

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  CRAZY WEATHER--   We certainly have been having some crazy weather around here.  Yesterday we had thunder, lightning, rain and snow.  There was quite a bit of snow on the ground.  Then yesterday, we got 3-4 inches of very slippery snow.

2.  YELLOWSTONE, 1883--  This past Sunday I was able to watch some episodes of Yellowstone and 1883 on TV.  Both are very good, but all that good acting is kind of negated by the overuse of the f___ word.  Come on, get a thesaurus and expand your language base.

3.  THE DRIVE'S A TO Z--  The Drive, 97.1 FM, is now up to the letter "I" in their annual end-of-the-year A to Z.  They are playing 2,000+ songs.  They aren't sure when they'll end, but for sure sometime after the start of the new year.  It streams.

4.  THE BIG GUY UP THE MIDDLE--  Last night, O enjoyed watching the Minnesota-West Virginia bowl game, when the Gophers put in offensive lineman 380 pound, six foot 4 inch Daniel Faalele in  the backfield to run a play.  You never saw a team call a time out that fast as the Mountaineers did.  It didn't help as he crashed right through the line like there was nothing there.

The commentators mentioned when the Bears did that with our Refrigerator Perry back in the 80s.  It sure reminded me of him.

--RoadDog

THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO SAY:  Ahh ... I see the screw-up fairy has visited us again.

Music Death: Jay Black of Jay & the Americans

JAY BLACK, 82

Died 22 October 2021

Lead singer with Jay & the Americans.  Group got their name from Leiber and Stoller.  Lead singer originally was Jay  Traynor.  When he left,  David Black took over lead vocals and agreed  to adopt the name Jay Black.

The group had a #5 song in 1962 with "She Cried" with Jay Traynor singing lead. 

Other great songs:

"Only in America"  (#25-1963)

"Come a Little Bit Closer"  (#3-1964)

"Let's Lock the Door (and Throw Away the Key)"  (#11-1964)

"Cara Mia"  (#4-1965)

"Some Enchanted Evening"  (#13-1965)

"Crying"  (#25-1966)

"This Magic Moment"  (#6-1968)

"Hushabye"  (#62-1969)

Now, there is some great music.

Music Deaths: Paddy Maloney of the Chieftains and Ron Tutt, Long-Term Drummer with Neil Diamond

PADDY MALONEY, 83

Died 11 October 2021

Founder and leader of the instrumental folk group Chieftains.

How's that for an Irish Name?

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RON TUTT, 83

Drummer (session / traveling).  Long-term drummer with Neil Diamond.  Played with Elvis Presley also.

Music Deaths: Lonnie Smith (Worked with George Benson) and Everett Morton with The Beat

LONNIE SMITH, 79

Died 28 September 2021

Hammond organ player (jazz / soul).  Worked with George Benson.

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EVERETT MORTON, 71

Died 9 October 2021

Drummer.  Played with ska band The Beat, aka English Beat.

WLS Top Ten for Week of December 27, 1971: 'Have You Seen Her'

Finishing up the last week of 1971, these were the Top Ten songs and Debuts in Chicagoland according to WLS AM, 890.

1.  BRAND NEW KEY--  Melanie

2.  SUNSHINE--  Jonathan Edwards

3.  RESPECT YOURSELF--  Staple Singers

4.  HEY GIRL--  Donny Osmond

5.  AMERICAN PIE--  Don McLean

6.  HAVE YOU SEEN HER--  Chi-Lites

7.  WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO--  Donnie Elbert

8.  CHERISH--  David Cassidy

9.  SCORPIO--  Dennis Coffey

10.  DAY AFTER DAY--  Badfinger

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DEBUTS

23.  BLACK DOG--  Led Zeppelin

25.  WHITE LIES, BLUE EYES--  Bullet

28.  LOOKING FOR A LOVE--  J. Geils Band

29.  CLEAN UP WOMAN--  Betty Wright

DROWNING IN THE SEA OF LOVE--  Joe Simon

Name  That Tune (from the above songs):  "A Long Time Ago I Can Still Remember  How That Music Used To Make Me Smile."  Answer below.  --RoadDoh

"American Pie"

Last Week: Stucky's, NIU Bowl Game, Stucky's, McHenry Legion

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17

Sunnyside was having their customer appreciation Christmas party, but we figured it would be too crowded and too difficult to watch the NIU-Coastal Carolina Cure Bowl on TV, so went to Stucky's and sat with friends Kevin and Kelly and watched the game.  

We figured Northern would get blown out as we have lost the last six bowl games and been blown out in them, but this one was different.  Our guys came to play and we actually led for almost the whole game until the end, but lost, sadly. 

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18

No McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group for me as it was on Zoom only and I don't do Zoom.

Finished putting up Christmas decorations outside and inside. We went to Stucky's in Johnsburg and enjoyed the  $1 draft beers and a great pizza burger.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19

Enjoyed Bob Stroud's annual Holiday Hootenanny on WDRV, where he played three hours of 60s-70s Christmas music.  Went to the McHenry American Legion and watched the Packers win a game.

Go Pack.  --RoadDog

Christmas Songs-- Part 2: 'Santa Claus Is Back in Town'

CHRISTMAS ALL OVER AGAIN--  Tom Petty

CELEBRATE ME HOME--  Kenny Loggins

2000 MILES--  Pretenders

STEP INTO CHRISTMAS--  Elton John

HAPPY X-MAS (WAR IS OVER)--  John and Yoko

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN--  Ronettes

WINTERTIME--  Steve Miller

GREENSLEEVES--  Jeff Beack

CHRISTMAS IS THE TIME TO SAY I LOVE YOU--  Billy Squier

SANTA CLAUS IS BACK IN TOWN--    Elvis Presley

CHRISTMAS--  Who

RIVER--  Joni Mitchell

SLEIGH RIDE--  Ronettes

SANTA CLAUS AND HIS OLD LADY--  Cheech and Chong

SOMETIMES IN WINTER--  Blood, Sweat & Tears

CHRISTMAS MUST BE TONIGHT--  Band

CHRISTMAS (BABY PLEASE COME HOME)--  Darlene Love

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Come On It's Lovely Weather."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Sleigh Ride"

Christmas Songs: 'Someday At Christmas'

 

These songs were played on Bob Stroud's Holiday Hootenanny Show in Rock and Roll Roots on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM on December 19, 2021.

CHRISTMAS IN CHICAGO--  Leon Russell

WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS--  Paul McCartney

CHRISTMAS SONG--  Jethro Tull

WHITE CHRISTMAS--  Darlene Love

PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS--  Eagles

SOMEDAY AT CHRISTMAS--  Stevie Wonder

HAZY SHADE OF WINTER--  Simon & Garfunkel

SNOOPY'S CHRISTMAS--  Royal Guardsmen

LINUS AND LUCY--  Vince Guardi Trio

I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS--  Greg Lake

LITTLE SAINT NICK--  Beach Boys

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Well, Way Up North Where The Air Gets Cold."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Little Saint Nick"

Last Week: An Automotive Double Whammy, Pizza, Sunnyside and Trivia at Donovan's Reef

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14 

Well, great news, the '11 Malibu is ready from Ray Chevrolet as we're down to just the '05 Dakota running at present, but it has been making strange noises.  Went in and paid my $1,743 for the repairs after I hit the raccoon.  As I pulled out of Ray Chevrolet in the truck, all of a sudden it started to jerk and shudder and I made it into the next BP station.  Then got it back to Ray Chevrolet.

Oh boy, an automotive double whammy.  They were nice enough t take me home in their courtesy vehicle.

Later had a great pizza at Half-Times in Johnsburg (for half-price and $1 14 ounce drafts, then went to Sunnyside.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15

It will cost $1,050 to repair the truck.  Ouch!  That was on top of the $1,500 to repair the Malibu.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16

This was one really windy day, by an equally windy night.  Went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin and had a real good time with Uncle Jeffy in trivia.

Ain't Owning Cars a Lot of Fun?  --RoadDog

THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO SAY:  It sounds like English, but I can't hear a word you say.

Music Deaths: Barry Ryan (Sang 'Eloise') and Deon Estus (Bassist with Wham)

BARRY RYAN, 72

Died 28 September 2021

Singer who had 1968 hit song "Eloise."

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DEON ESTUS, 65

Died 11 October 2021

Bassist. Played with pop group Wham and George Michael.

Music Death: Alan Lancaster, Member of Status Quo

ALAN LANCASTER, 72

Died 26 September 2021

Bass player / vocalist and founding member of Status Quo.  Huge in Britain, but only one Top 40 in U.S. with "Pictures of Matchstick Men" which went to #12 in 1968.  

Talk about psychedelic!!  One of my all-time favorite songs.  That intro!!  Wow!!

About Last Weekend: Wind, the Chevy Malibu, Army-Navy Game, Chili Cookoff, Bears-Packers Game

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11

We sure had a very windy day today, but nothing compared to Kentucky and southern Illinois.  Those poor folks really got hit.  We actually had snow on the ground for a little bit this morning.

We discovered fluid on the garage floor by the Malibu, but weren't sure about it until we drove to Walgreens and saw a new puddle  where we parked and knew we had a problem,  Came back home and got the truck and I followed Liz to Ray Chevrolet in Fox Lake and dropped off the car.  The leak reminded me of when we hit the limb blowing across the road in Johnsburg last November and spring a very expensive $3500 leak.

This would probably be from hitting the raccoon last night.

Drove to the McHenry American Legion for the Army-Navy game and a chili cookoff, two of my favorite things.  And, watching the game in a veterans place is great as you have lots of cheering.  And, of course, few things I like better than a chili cookoff.

And, even better, Navy won!!

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12

Worked on Christmas lights and went to Sunnyside where we watched the Tampa Bay game.  That Tom Brady sure is something else.  Sure wish the Bears had drafted him.

Came home an watched the Bears-Packers game which was a surprise in the first half with Da Bears even up by six points.  But, then, hey, it our Bears and those Packers.  They did not hold on.

RoadDog

THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO SAY:  "I don't work here, I'm a consultant.

Music Deaths: George Frayne, You Might Know Him Better as Commander Cody

GEORGE FRAYNE, 77

Died 26 September 2021

Vocalist / keyboard player.  Performed under the name Commander Cody.  His group was the His Lost Planet Airmen.  Who says Western Swing is dead!!!

Of course, he had that huge remake hit "Hot Rod Lincoln," his only Top 40 hit.

Other great songs by him

"Lost in the Ozone"

"Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)"

"Beat Me Daddy Eight to the Bar"

"Seeds and Stems Again"

A real Stoner's Paradise.

Music Deaths: Don Maddox (Country) and Pee Wee Ellis (James Brown)

DON MADDOX, 98

Died 12 September 2021

Singer / fiddle player (Country) and member of the hillbilly group Maddox Brothers and Sister Rose.  Rose Maddox had 13 Top 40 songs between 1959 and 1963.

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PEE WEE ELLIS, 80

Died 23 September 2021

Saxophonist (soul / jazz).  Worked with James Brown and Van Morrison.

WLS Top 10 Songs for Week of December 20, 1971: 'Have You Seen Her'

These were the Top Ten songs and debut songs in Chicago fifty years ago according to powerhouse WLS AM, 890 AM. 

1.  BRAND NEW KEY--  Melanie

2.  HAVE YOU SEEN HER--  Chi-Lites

3.  CHERISH--  David Cassidy

4.  SUNSHINE--  Jonathan Edwards

5.  RESPECT YOURSELF--  Staple Singers

6.  HEY GIRL--  Donny Osmond

7. GOT TO BE THERE--  Michael Jackson

8.  AMERICAN PIE--  Don McLean

9.  OLD FASHIONED LOVE SONG--   Three Dog Night

10.  ALL I EVER NEED IS YOU--  Sonny & Cher

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DEBUTS

27.  HEY BIG BROTHER--  Rare Earth

28.  LET'S STAY TOGETHER--  Al Green

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I Rode My Bicycle Past Your Window Last Night."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Brand New Key"

Music Deaths: Bob Moore, Member of Nashville's A-Team

BOB MOORE, 88

Died 23 September 2021

Was bassist with Nashville's A-Team of session musicians who played on a whole lot of of great songs  Just some of them:

"Crazy"--  Patsy Cline

"I'm Sorry"  Brenda Lee

"Help Me Make It Through the Night" -- Sammi Smith

"The Gambler"--  Kenny Rogers

"Rockin'  Around the Christmas Tree"--  Brenda Lee

"El Paso"--  Marty Robbins

"Hello Darlin' "--  Conway Twitty

"Are You Lonesome Tonight"--  Elvis Presley

"I Fall to Pieces"--  Patsy Cline

Music Deaths: Sue Thompson 'Norman'

SUE THOMPSON, 98

Died 23 September 2021

Singer (pop / country) who had 1961 hit songs "Sad Movies  (Make Me Cry)" and "Norman."  

Born Eva Sue McKee in Nevada, Missouri.  Often sang with Don Gibson.

WLS Top 30 Songs for Week of December 13, 1971-- Part 5: 'Old Fashioned Love Song'

These were the Top ten songs in Chicago fifty years ago this week.  That's half of a century for those of you counting.

*  Means the song was climbing the chart.  The number after the artist is how high the song got on the Billboard Hot 100 National Chart.

I do not make comments by every song as I have done that on previous posts.

10.  FAMILY AFFAIR--  Sly & the Family Stone    #1  

9.  *STONES / CRUNCH GRANOLA SUITE--  Neil Diamond       #14     Always thought "Crunchy Granola Crunch was a strange name for a song,  Sounds like a cereal.

8.  *SUNSHINE--  Jonathan Edwards      #4     One of the teachers we used to know used to date him.

7.  *RESPECT YOURSELF--  Staple Singers   #12

6.  *CHERISH--  David Cassidy     #9     Not just Keith Partridge you know.

5.  *ALL I EVER NEED IS YOU--  Sonny & Cher   #7

4.  GOT TO BE THERE--  Michael Jackson    #4

3.  *OLD FASHIONED LOVE SONG--  Three Dog Night   #4

2.  BRAND NEW KEY--  Melanie   #1    Her only #1.

1.  *HAVE YOU SEEN HER--   Chi-Lites    #3       I don't know of any other song that takes me back fifty years more than this one.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Well How Much Does It Cost? I'll Buy It.  The Time Is All We Lost, I'll Try It."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Sunshine"