tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-370535732024-03-07T15:42:01.113-07:00davewillieradio"You see, wire telegraph is a kind of a very, very long cat. You pull his tail in New York and his head is meowing in Los Angeles. Do you understand this? And radio operates exactly the same way: you send signals here, they receive them there. The only difference is that there is no cat."
- Albert Einstein, explaining radiodavewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comBlogger202125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-42837629678592154772009-09-25T14:47:00.005-07:002009-09-25T14:54:43.545-07:00One-Hit Wonder Day Bonus Post<span style="font-family:arial;">I couldn't resist posting a second one-hit wonder on this special day. Neil and Buzz had their only tune that hit <em>The Billboard Hot 100</em> back in 1980. It went all the way up to #29. You know them better as the Larsen/Feiten Band with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OPT_AxueVA"><em>Who'll Be The Fool Tonight</em></a>.</span>davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-80296555252196555192009-09-25T07:20:00.006-07:002009-09-25T14:47:02.701-07:00National One-Hit Wonder Day<span style="font-family:arial;">In case you were unaware, today is National One-Hit Wonder Day. Clint Holmes is this year's honoree at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Davewillieradio</span> for reaching <em>The Billboard Hot 100</em> only once in his career. The song? One of the favorites from my youth, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhcsWMWZMaQ"><em>Playground In My Mind</em></a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Recorded in May 1972 and released the following month, <em>Playground </em>peaked<em> </em>at number two on the charts in June 1973. Only Paul McCartney's hit <em>My Love</em> prevented Holmes' tune from reaching the top spot. When you listen to <em>Playground</em>, there are parts, especially the intro, that sound prepubescent Michael Jackson-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">esque</span>.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Viewed as a novelty act, Holmes' subsequent releases went nowhere. In addition to being a musician, he spent two years as a music and events correspondent on <em>Entertainment Tonight.</em> He was also Joan Rivers' sidekick on her short-lived television program, <em>The Late Show</em>.</span>davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-62241440383227050502009-08-13T09:27:00.008-07:002009-08-13T10:43:55.371-07:00A Genius Has Exited The Planet<span style="font-family:arial;">One of the most influential musicians of the 20th century has played his last encore. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member and Waukesha, Wisconsin native Les Paul passed away in New York at the age of 94.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Born Lester William Polsfuss, Paul started performing at home when he was 10 years old, organizing his own little orchestra. He also became fascinated with electronics, building his own broadcasting set in his basement.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Aside from making rock-and-roll possible with his 1927 creation of the electric guitar using the cartridge and stylus from a phonograph, Paul also contributed immensely to the advance of studio recording over the years with inventions like multitrack recording, reverb, and more than a dozen others.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Paul influenced scores of musicians in the worlds of rock and jazz. One of them was Steve Miller. Back in 1948, Miller's father struck up a friendship with Paul when the guitarist was visiting Milwaukee for a date at a local club.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">With his wife Mary Ford, Paul enjoyed a series of over 25 top forty hits in the late '40s and early '50s including <a href="http://www.divshare.com/direct/8181248-b1f.wma"><em>Vaya Con Dios</em></a>, <a href="http://www.divshare.com/direct/8181247-1fc.wma"><em>Hummingbird</em></a>, and <a href="http://www.divshare.com/direct/8181246-738.wma"><em>How High the Moon</em></a>.</span>davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-66471891478134322102009-06-09T09:06:00.004-07:002009-06-09T09:39:41.263-07:00Rankin Finds a Peaceful Place<span style="font-family:arial;">Singer-songwriter Kenny Rankin, who recorded a revered cover version of the Beatles' <em>White Album </em>ballad</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><em><a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/7611656-1d3">Blackbird</a></em> and was asked by Paul McCartney to perform it during McCartney and John Lennon's introduction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, passed away this past Sunday. Rankin contributed guitar to Bob Dylan's 1965 classic <em>Bringing It All Back Home</em>.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Rankin appeared on <em>The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson</em> more than 20 times. Carson was such a big fan that he penned the liner notes for Rankin's 1968 album <em>Mind Dusters</em>. Rankin also</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> wrote Helen Reddy's hit <em>Peaceful</em> and <em>Haven't We Met</em>, recorded by Mel Torme and Carmen McRae.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span>davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-15103606800710258492009-05-31T01:09:00.009-07:002009-05-31T01:51:10.365-07:00The Bluest Skies You've Ever Seen...<span style="font-family:arial;">In Seattle? Well, I just got back from there. It was cloudy and unseasonably warm. The skies were not the bluest I've ever seen, but Seattle and, for that matter, Tacoma were very beautiful.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">My trip reminded me of Bobby Sherman, who along with David Soul, starred in <em>Here Come The Brides</em>, inspired by the movie <em>Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. </em>The show's home base was Seattle. A French version of the show and theme song, performed by a chorus of male singers, was a smash hit in French Canada and entitled <em>Cent filles à marier</em> (<em>A Hundred Girls to Marry Off</em>). </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Both Sherman and Perry Como recorded versions of a song entitled <em>Seattle, </em>although <em>Brides'</em> theme song <em>Seattle</em> was written by Hugo Montenegro, Jack Keller and Ernie Sheldon. Sherman never released his as a single, although it received some airplay. Como reached #38 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #21 at Chicago's WCFL in 1969.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Here's a clip of Sherman's cut with scenes from the show:</span><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KqUV210d7sI&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KqUV210d7sI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-12400845020426275542009-05-24T00:31:00.005-07:002009-05-24T01:22:34.881-07:00Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?<span style="font-family:arial;">I had an interesting discussion the other day with a member of <a href="http://www.theconstellationbranch.com/">The Constellation Branch</a> (Stephen, the group's drummer, is second from the left) about music lyrics. Someone made a comment about <em>I Am The Walrus</em> by the Beatles and I followed up with "coo coo ca choo, Mrs. Robinson." Stephen, who also happens to work with me, said the phrase is "goo goo g'joob." </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">Being the Doubting David (since my brother is Thomas), I was skeptical, but knew I had mixed two songs together.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">After doing some research, it turns out we were both right. In the Beatles tune, it's pronounced "goo goo g'joob." However, in <em>Mrs. Robinson</em> by Simon & Garfunkel, it is "coo coo ca choo." </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">Both phrases loosely mean "No worries" or "Everything is all right." </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">A third spelling is "kukukachu."</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">If you're a fan of <em>That '70s Show</em>, you might remember Donna Pinciotti got stoned and used "coo coo ca choo" as an end to a random string of rhymes. Crush the turtle used the phrase in <em>Finding Nemo. </em>"Little dudes are just eggs, leave 'em on the beach to hatch, then 'coo coo ca choo,' they find their way back to the big 'ol blue."</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">It's funny how you can hear a song over and over, yet still get the exact words to the lyrics wrong. Oh well, "coo coo ca choo!"</span>davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-58531033760842961042009-05-20T22:09:00.010-07:002009-05-24T01:42:37.962-07:00Lujack & Rook Together Again<span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://www.hitparaderadio.com/">Hit Parade Radio</a> is preparing to debut as a 24/7 Oldies Radio Network developed by John Rook and featuring Larry Lujack. Rook, the president of Hit Parade Radio and former P.D. at WLS and WCFL, has lured Uncle Lar out of retirement yet again to handle morning drive at the Dallas-based operation. I wonder if Lujack will abandon Sante Fe, New Mexico (or Bumble Bee, Arizona) and move to the DFW Metroplex, where the office and studios are located?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Earthworks Entertainment is in the process of negotiating an affiliate relations and sales agreement with a major radio network group to distribute Hit Parade Radio. Expectations are for more than 100 stations to sign within the first 18 months. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Additional major, nationally recognized on-air talent, such as Wink Martindale and Lyle Dean who are rumored to be on-board, will be announced in the near future with a scheduled launch date in September.</span>davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-6013861136703027602009-05-19T07:55:00.014-07:002009-05-19T08:48:27.442-07:00Pardo Calls It Quits<span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-family:arial;">The legendary Don Pardo has retired at the age of 91. Pardo announced his last episode of <strong>Saturday Night Live</strong> over the weekend.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Pardo officially retired from NBC in 2004 and moved to Tucson. However, the producers of SNL convinced him to continue providing the introductions for their show. In 2006, he decided to begin prerecording his announcements from a home studio in Arizona. That lasted only a few episodes before producers insisted they needed him present in Studio 8H, and he resumed flying to The Big Apple on a weekly basis to do the show.</span> </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Pardo was the on-duty live booth announcer for NBC on November 22, 1963. He was first to announce to NBC viewers that President Kennedy had been shot in Dallas.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Pardo made his mark on game shows for NBC as the booming voice of the original The Price Is Right, hosted by Bill Cullen, from 1956 until it moved to ABC in 1963. The next year, he moved over to Jeopardy!, hosted by Art Fleming, which he announced from 1964 until the original version of the series ended in 1975. Pardo reprised that role with a cameo in Weird Al's 1984 tune <em>I Lost on Jeopardy,</em> a parody of the Greg Kihn Band's hit song <em>Jeopardy</em> from the previous year. Besides Pardo and Fleming, Greg Kihn and Dr. Demento also appeared in Weird Al's video.</span><br /></span><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/K_JIg9NB47M&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/K_JIg9NB47M&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-7087879890020088342009-04-15T23:46:00.008-07:002009-04-16T00:42:35.539-07:00The Original Voice of the Brewers Signs Off<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIkTq2WsMUIgsRrqxf8qDV0xlVACxF9L7VMgxXOfoFdUcm8Xp5o7wI3eSkTqTV0fFu8dOZeOUviZJGg1lFsAdLa1eKOw3zGdRJ8TpL9ONfsysAr_1hyO1Cmbhv5XerS1r-RAuOg/s1600-h/Merle+Harmon.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 145px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325189815184037058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIkTq2WsMUIgsRrqxf8qDV0xlVACxF9L7VMgxXOfoFdUcm8Xp5o7wI3eSkTqTV0fFu8dOZeOUviZJGg1lFsAdLa1eKOw3zGdRJ8TpL9ONfsysAr_1hyO1Cmbhv5XerS1r-RAuOg/s200/Merle+Harmon.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Merle Harmon, the original voice of the Milwaukee Brewers, died Wednesday afternoon. Harmon, who was paired with Tom Collins on radio during the club's initial season, was the Brewers lead play-by-play voice when Bob Uecker joined the Brew Crew as a radio broadcaster in 1971.<br /><br /></span></div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Harmon began his big league career calling Kansas City Athletics games for seven seasons, starting in 1955, as that club's original voice following their move from Philadelphia. He went on to do play-by-play for the Braves during their final two seasons in Milwaukee, the Minnesota Twins from 1967 through 1969, the Brewers through the 1979 season, and the Texas Rangers from 1982 through 1989.<br /><br /></span></div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">On the network level, Harmon handled the "Game of the Week" for ABC-TV in 1965 and for NBC-TV in 1980 and 1981. He worked the 1980 World Series for NBC. His broadcast experience included the National Basketball Association, Big Ten football and basketball and other college basketball games. He also handled New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs football games on local radio, as well as American Football League games for ABC.<br /><br /></span></div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">In 1980, NBC hired Harmon to anchor the Summer Olympic Games in Moscow. The Brewers refused to grant him a leave of absence and he was forced to give up announcing their games. The U.S. wound up boycotting the Games that year.<br /><br /></span></div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">From 1977 to the mid-90's, Harmon tended to his Merle Harmon's Fan Fair sports apparel and memorabilia stores, which started with three stores in Milwaukee and grew to more than 130 nationwide, including one I frequented in Mesa, Arizona.</span></div></div>davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-2299275373897902422009-03-27T22:55:00.002-07:002009-03-27T23:00:28.093-07:00Irving R. Levine Signs Off<span style="font-family:arial;">Irving R. Levine, NBC's longtime economics correspondent, died Thursday at the age of 86. He was on the air from 1950 until 1995. Levine was known for his distinctive collection of bow ties, which he became his signature.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Levine also had a significant career beyond his economic reporting. He was the first American television correspondent allowed to live in, and broadcast from, the Soviet Union during the Cold War era. He also covered the building of the Berlin Wall, the 1960 uprising in what was then the Belgian Congo and the travels of Pope Paul VI to the United Nations, India and the Holy Land, among the first international journeys by a pontiff.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Interestingly, Levine began his journalism career as an obituary writer and reporter for the Providence Journal.</span>davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-16568902910723135432009-03-21T18:45:00.003-07:002009-03-21T19:02:18.438-07:00<span style="font-family:arial;">I was listening to </span><a href="http://the-70s.com/"><em><span style="font-family:arial;">The 70's with Steve Goddard</span></em></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> today and heard an Elton John tune I hadn't heard in a long, long time. </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMdjVXJM13E"><em><span style="font-family:arial;">Mama Can't Buy You Love</span></em></a><span style="font-family:arial;">, a song Elton recorded with Philly soul producer </span><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:jcfwxqr5ldse"><span style="font-family:arial;">Thom Bell</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> in 1977, returned him to the Top Ten in 1979, but that year's </span><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:k9fuxq95ld0e"><span style="font-family:arial;">Victim of Love</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> was a commercial disappointment. Elton also launched a comeback tour in 1979 accompanied only by percussionist </span><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:3vfoxqt5ldke"><span style="font-family:arial;">Ray Cooper</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">My favorite Elton costume was his Donald Duck outfit. Interestingly, he looked right at home in a tutu, too. Go figure.</span>davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-80186442194443124502009-03-19T22:01:00.001-07:002009-03-19T22:03:58.442-07:00Behind The Music<span style="font-family:arial;">VH1 is bringing back "Behind the Music" this summer. The first two subjects: Lil Wayne and Scott Weiland. I thought the first two would be Rihanna and Chris Brown. It just goes to show what I know.</span>davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-77400843558256904522009-03-15T23:22:00.002-07:002009-03-15T23:30:24.830-07:00The End of an Era<span style="font-family:arial;">Here is the last song ever played at Super CFL...<a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/6823199-369">Life Is A Rock (But 'CFL Rolled Me)</a></span>.davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-17427724492244926182009-02-28T19:30:00.005-07:002009-02-28T21:28:12.813-07:00Paul Harvey...Good Day<span style="font-family:arial;">Radio legend Paul Harvey, whose news and commentary segments always ended with his distinctive sign-off, "Paul Harvey....good day," died today at the age of 90. Harvey died at his winter home in Phoenix, surrounded by family. No cause of death was immediately available.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Harvey never viewed himself as a newsman, even though some 18 million people tuned into his daily reports to hear his 15-minute take on the day's events. He got his start in radio in high school in Tulsa at age 14 when a speech teacher was so impressed with his voice that she took him to a local radio station, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">KVOO</span>-AM and told the program director that Harvey belonged on radio. He began reading news, making announcements — and sweeping floors — and a year later began getting paid.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Critics blasted him during the tumultuous Vietnam War years in the 60s and 70s, but he made one of his most famous flip-flops on that war, declaring on the air to President Nixon: "Mr. President, I love you but you are wrong."</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The idea of retirement never <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">occurred</span> to either Harvey or his wife, Angel, whom he married in 1940 and who was his producing partner throughout his career. When Harvey was 81 in 2000, his sole employer for all those years, ABC Radio Networks, signed him to a 10-year, $100 million contract. Rivals who had lost in the bidding told him they'd be back in 2010. Sadly, that opportunity will never come to fruition.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I remember listening to Harvey at lunch during the summer of 1976 when I was 15. He was part of the inspiration that cemented my decision to be in radio. Even though my career in that medium was brief, it was extremely fulfilling.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">To Paul Harvey, thank you and Good Day.</span>davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-30210550823855483082009-02-12T10:04:00.005-07:002009-02-12T10:21:23.980-07:00Molly Bee<span style="font-family:arial;">Molly Bee, who became an overnight country music star when she recorded the 1952 novelty hit <em>I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus</em>, died in California this past Saturday from complications following a stroke.<br /><br />Bee, in failing health for several months, was just 10 when she began her music career, singing the Hank Williams' classic <em>Lovesick Blues</em> on country star Rex Allen's radio show. Three years later, she released <em>I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus</em>.<br /></span><br />Bee went on to record a number of hit country songs throughout the 1950s and appeared in several musical comedies in the '60s. Although her star had begun to fade by the 1970s, she continued to tour and perform.<br /></span><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3YnrFjqGH7A&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3YnrFjqGH7A&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-65873056859322106622009-02-01T21:05:00.007-07:002009-02-02T06:55:51.908-07:00The World Did Not Come To An End<span style="font-family:arial;">Congrats to the Steelers for pulling out a heroic last second victory against the Cardinals. Here's a song commemorate the Cards amazing season...</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DwqqZPlAI7E&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DwqqZPlAI7E&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">At least I didn't walk away empty-handed. I won the 26" LG TV given away during halftime of the game at the <span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong>Hooter's</strong></span> in Ahwatukee, AZ. It's now my PC monitor.</span>davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-65934438676056402912009-01-30T10:39:00.002-07:002009-01-30T10:55:01.937-07:00One Last Bit of Housekeeping from 2008<span style="font-family:arial;">Before we get too far into 2009, there's one final 2008 nugget I want to share. It's the Top 20 albums from Billboard's 200 and the Top 20 singles from Billboard's Hot 100.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;">The Billboard 200<br /></span></strong>1. <em>As I Am</em>, Alicia Keys. MBK/J/RMG.<br />2. <em>Noel</em>, Josh Groban. 143/Reprise/Warner Bros.<br />3. <em>Tha Carter III</em>, Lil Wayne. Cash Money/Universal Motown/UMRG.<br />4. <em>Long Road Out of Eden</em>, Eagles. ERC.<br />5. <em>Taylor Swift</em>, Taylor Swift. Big Machine.<br />6. <em>Rock N Roll Jesus</em>, Kid Rock. Top Dog/Atlantic/AG.<br />7. <em>Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends</em>, Coldplay. Capitol.<br />8. <em>Now 26</em>. Various artists. EMI/Sony BMG Strategic Marketing Group/Universal/Zomba/Capitol.<br />9. <em>Carnival Ride</em>, Carrie Underwood. 19/Arista/Arista Nashville/RMG/RMG/SBN.<br />10. <em>The Ultimate Hits</em>, Garth Brooks. Pearl.<br />11. <em>Hannah Montana 2 (Soundtrack)/Meet Miley Cyrus</em>, Miley Cyrus. Hollywood/Walt Disney.<br />12. <em>Growing Pains</em>, Mary J. Blige. Matriarch/Geffen/IGA.<br />13. <em>Exclusive</em>, Chris Brown. Jive/Zomba.<br />14. <em>Sleep Through the Static</em>, Jack Johnson. Brushfire/UMRG.<br />15. <em>Black Ice</em>, AC/DC. Columbia/Sony Music.<br />16. <em>Death Magnetic</em>, Metallica. Warner Bros.<br />17. <em>Jonas Brothers</em>, Jonas Brothers. Hollywood.<br />18. <em>Coco</em>, Colbie Caillat. Universal Republic/UMRG.<br />19. <em>Spirit</em>, Leona Lewis. SYCO/J/RMG.<br />20. <em>High School Musical 2</em>. Soundtrack. Walt Disney.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="font-family:times new roman;">The Billboard Hot 100</span></strong><br /></span>1. <em>Low</em>, Flo Rida featuring T-Pain. Poe Boy/Atlantic.<br />2. <em>Bleeding Love</em>, Leona Lewis. SYCO/J/RMG.<br />3. <em>No One</em>, Alicia Keys. MBK/J/RMG.<br />4. <em>Lollipop</em>, Lil Wayne featuring Static Major. Cash Money/Universal Motown.<br />5. <em>Apologize</em>, Timbaland featuring OneRepublic. Mosley/Blackground/Interscope.<br />6. <em>No Air</em>, Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown. 19/Jive/Zomba.<br />7. <em>Love Song</em>, Sara Bareilles. Epic.<br />8. <em>Love In This Club</em>, Usher featuring Young Jeezy. LaFace/Zomba.<br />9. <em>With You</em>, Chris Brown. Jive/Zomba.<br />10. <em>Forever</em>, Chris Brown. Jive/Zomba.<br />11. <em>Sexy Can I</em>, Ray J & Yung Berg. Knockout/DEJA 34/Epic/Koch.<br />12. <em>Take a Bow</em>, Rihanna. SRP/Def Jam/IDJMG.<br />13. <em>Viva La Vida</em>, Coldplay. Capitol.<br />14.<em> I Kissed a Girl</em>, Katy Perry. Capitol.<br />15. <em>Whatever You Like</em>, T.I. Grand Hustle/Atlantic.<br />16. <em>Disturbia</em>, Rihanna. SRP/Def Jam/IDJMG.<br />17. <em>Don't Stop the Music</em>, Rihanna. SRP/Def Jam/IDJMG.<br />18. <em>Pocketful of Sunshine</em>, Natasha Bedingfield. Phonogenic/Epic.<br />19. <em>Kiss Kiss</em>, Chris Brown featuring T-Pain. Jive/Zomba.<br />20. <em>Closer</em>, Ne-Yo. Def Jam/IDJMG.davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-35941238402329535782009-01-20T07:45:00.005-07:002009-01-20T08:00:00.392-07:00NFC Championship Game MemorabiliaHere is my ticket stub and parking pass from this past Sunday's NFC Championship Game:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_gxCcSYkdJm-0L3T04YSXIJrf4t96Q7XdV8onAmaQPzjBfBznVIoyqzkf8sD-ai7TXpvPfrieKreOTqGKvTdSt7k-lyfSrjg-2WQ52mGjmATTSPbHGuLa4un-9mZM-KcE_NZyXQ/s1600-h/NFC+Championship.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 322px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293387644320524194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_gxCcSYkdJm-0L3T04YSXIJrf4t96Q7XdV8onAmaQPzjBfBznVIoyqzkf8sD-ai7TXpvPfrieKreOTqGKvTdSt7k-lyfSrjg-2WQ52mGjmATTSPbHGuLa4un-9mZM-KcE_NZyXQ/s400/NFC+Championship.bmp" /></a><br />And another tune that surely echoed in the minds of even the most ardent Cardinals supporters:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Yfw4Qsbnzv4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Yfw4Qsbnzv4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-64932678330983787252009-01-19T07:56:00.005-07:002009-01-19T08:37:16.603-07:00Hell Just Froze Over...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETPVxqW_R5Y1UOjer_OiSbkM6GGdbH7oBNkzDJUuk5aQigxLF6TnZvycIW4GeDLIqHZR4ZrUMCF4eFJYo1B65RUTMi7jzxk8w71Tm6Z5-x_xr0IGvsIYYgDBYE43kc_dj4bRyqA/s1600-h/1yppwb2b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 210px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293028309242725410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETPVxqW_R5Y1UOjer_OiSbkM6GGdbH7oBNkzDJUuk5aQigxLF6TnZvycIW4GeDLIqHZR4ZrUMCF4eFJYo1B65RUTMi7jzxk8w71Tm6Z5-x_xr0IGvsIYYgDBYE43kc_dj4bRyqA/s400/1yppwb2b.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I was at yesterday's NFC Championship Game when the Arizona Cardinals defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 32-25. As a lifelong Packers fan, I adopted the Cards as my second team because I live in The Grand Canyon State.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">As I was driving away from University of Phoenix Stadium, I thought about the song that best described what the Cards had just accomplished. A couple of the choices were obvious--"We Are The Champions" by Queen and Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'". Neither seemed right.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Then it hit me. All the critics and oddsmakers said the Cards never had a chance. They were 3 point underdogs to Atlanta, 10 to Carolina, and 3 1/2 to Philly.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Only one song would do:</span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WmhkOiWGSfM&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WmhkOiWGSfM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The Cards started out the season as a 45-1 shot to win it all. Even the initial spread has Arizona as 7 point dogs to Pittsburgh. Thank you for the disrespect and motivation.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">"The worst playoff team in NFL history" is one victory away from securing the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl XLIII. Let's <strong>"SHOCK THE WORLD!"</strong></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>*</strong>Note--That is NOT me in the picture. It's Cardinals' fanatic "Mad Jack" Corson of Chandler.</span>davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-7025864562254142382009-01-06T21:01:00.005-07:002009-01-06T21:14:26.781-07:00WLS<span style="font-family:arial;">For those of you who enjoy WLS from it's Top 40 days, here's a <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/6259505-846">1978 demo</a> featuring a number of The Big 89 jocks. This golden gift includes Larry Lujack, Tommy Edwards, and the late Yvonne Daniels, among others.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Thanks to my friend jb @ <a href="http://jabartlett.wordpress.com/">The Hits Just Keep On Comin'</a> for the clip.</span>davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-8868990166350345112009-01-01T00:01:00.003-07:002009-01-01T00:01:00.947-07:00Happy New Year 2009!<span style="font-family:arial;">I couldn't think of a better way to ring in 2009 than a holiday cut from an album by one of the Beatles, <strong>George Harrison</strong>. His 1974 album <strong>Dark Horse</strong> has been in my collection since it was released. My favorite tune is the title track.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">However, during Christmas and New Year's, I'm partial to side two, track one: <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/6154517-730"><strong>Ding Dong; Ding Dong</strong></a>. If you've never heard it, I know you will enjoy it.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Harrison is not the only big name on this song. He has recruited an all-star cast, including drummers <strong>Ringo Starr</strong> and <strong>Jim Keltner</strong>, who played under the pseudonym Buster Sidebury on both of the Traveling Wilburys albums; <strong>Gary Wright</strong> on piano; <strong>Klaus Voormann</strong>, who designed the Beatles' <em>Revolver</em> album cover and played with Manfred Mann, on bass; founding member of Foreigner, <strong>Mick Jones</strong>, and himself on guitars; <strong>Alvin Lee</strong>, former frontman for Ten Years After, on electric guitars; and <strong>Tom Scott</strong> on horns. <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Crisp">Sir Frank Crisp</a></strong> is also credited as Spirit.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Let's make 2009 a kick-ass year!</span>davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-74461539972470667882008-12-25T20:02:00.012-07:002008-12-25T20:40:33.220-07:00A Near-Purrrrrrfect Woman Reaches The End Of Her 9 Lives<span style="font-family:arial;">Sultry sex kitten Eartha <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kitt</span> passed away today. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Renown</span> for her 1953 version of <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/6182986-0b4">Santa Baby</a>,</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kitt</span> portrayed <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Catwoman</span> on the mid-60s TV show Batman, replacing Julie <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Newmar</span>.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Once called the "most</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">exciting woman in the world" by Orson Welles, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kitt</span> earned her first certified Gold record with the 1984 disco hit <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/6183012-8e8">Where Is My Man</a>. She also won Daytime Emmy and Annie Awards and was nominated for Emmy and Tony Awards during her distinguished career.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kitt</span> wrote three autobiographies – Thursday's Child (1956), Alone with Me (1976), and I'm Still Here: Confessions of a Sex Kitten (1989). In 1960, she was presented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.</span>davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-76445864670600054112008-12-19T09:34:00.009-07:002008-12-20T06:13:54.070-07:00A Christmas Gift For You<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281859592969499842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qc6NXur6G_cWWXkH0jirta81eh1hxKwBww5eIIxkbRj8nOAGHRZoAMrnszSvPme72P4vHTP0vFOiBkHG0sL-nELztFwl4fGZFtXHpUgDH-VTJ2IBsBoCYVZnWUp5rpsaG177UQ/s200/Christmas+LP+001.jpg" /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49OPcK59q3OcWlCPdl44SeFrm8mfaeUqR12-2Aazak2Kfz4Dt8moiZoXsPC_wCBJ4vMGLuK8XvHU14d02o3rRCGcephv77fiMqSYZMVrcg0gB2dW51L5b5SoPS48oOPT53OOmlA/s1600-h/Christmas+LP+003.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281859409226024322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49OPcK59q3OcWlCPdl44SeFrm8mfaeUqR12-2Aazak2Kfz4Dt8moiZoXsPC_wCBJ4vMGLuK8XvHU14d02o3rRCGcephv77fiMqSYZMVrcg0gB2dW51L5b5SoPS48oOPT53OOmlA/s200/Christmas+LP+003.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">My latest acquisition is a 1964 sealed LP, <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">A Christmas Gift For You From Philles Records</span></strong>. It's a Phil Spector-produced album featuring his entire Philles Records roster, including Darlene Love, The Ronettes, The Crystals, and Bob B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">The back-up musicians read like a Who's Who in the music business at the time:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Horns - "Teenage" Steve Douglas, Jay Migliori, Roy Caton & Lou Blackburn</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Guitars - Tom "Arbuckle" Tedesco, Bill Pitman, Irv Rubins & Nino Tempo</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Pianos - Leon Russell, Don Randi & Al Delory</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Bass - Ray Pohlman & Jimmy Bond</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Drums - Hal Blaine</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Percussion - Frank Knapp, <strong>Sonny Bono</strong> & Jack "Specs" Nitzsche</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Strings - Jimmy Vidor Strings</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Some interesting notes about the album and jacket cover:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">- On the back cover, the "The" in Bob B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans is both capitalized and not capitalized in several places. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">- Sleigh Ride is listed on the jacket and album as 3:45. It's actually closer to 2:45.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">- No time is listed for Silent Night on the jacket. On the LP, the time is 2:35.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">- Marshmellow World is spelled with an "e" on the front cover and album. On the back cover, it's spelled with an "a".</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I hope you enjoy these mid-60s classic Christmas tunes! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Side One</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/6130417-65a">White Christmas</a> - Darlene Love</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/6130418-3f4">Frosty The Snowman</a> - The Ronettes</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/6130419-b42">The Bells of St. Mary's</a> - Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/6130420-fb7">Santa Claus Is Coming To Town</a> - The Crystals</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/6130421-29f">Sleigh Ride</a> - The Ronettes</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/6130446-153">Marshmellow World</a> - Darlene Love</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Side Two</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/6130447-be7">I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus</a> - The Ronettes</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/6130448-b1a">Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer</a> - The Crystals</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/6130449-ffb">Winter Wonderland</a> - Darlene Love</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/6130450-b2b">Parade of The Wooden Soldiers</a> - The Crystals</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/6130478-ffd">Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)</a> - Darlene Love</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/6130479-228">Here Comes Santa Claus</a> - Bob B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/6130480-6b4">Silent Night</a> - Phil Spector and Artists</span></div></div>davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-42062019874947598862008-12-13T17:14:00.009-07:002008-12-13T18:22:34.211-07:00'Twas The Night Before Christmas...well almost<span style="font-family:arial;">Over the years, I've collected many records, both LPs and 45s. In my collection, I have a few Christmas albums. My favorite is a 1964 MGM release of Great Children's Stories (CH-517) featuring <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/6082255-7a9"><strong>'Twas The Night Before Christmas</strong></a>, <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/6082507-e35"><strong>The Little Fir Tree</strong></a>, and <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/6082754-522"><strong>The Night The Animals Talked</strong></a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I am particularly fond of <strong>'Twas The Night Before Christmas</strong>. The voice of the mouse belongs to popular character actor Bob Hastings. Hastings is best known for playing Lt. Elroy Carpenter on <em>McHale's Navy</em>, one of two Tommy Kelsey's on <em>All In The Family</em>, and <em>General Hospital</em>'s Capt. Burt Ramsey. His younger brother, Don, has been a fixture on <em>As The World Turns</em> since October 1960, the month after I was born.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I hope you enjoy this album as much as I do.</span>davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37053573.post-30546503952635836522008-12-09T15:21:00.002-07:002008-12-09T15:31:54.571-07:00'Lil Tommy Back Where He Belongs<span style="font-family:arial;">Tommy Edwards returns to <a href="http://947chicago.com/">WLS-FM</a> later this month, filling in for Dick Biondi. 'Lil Tommy will be on the air Monday, December 29, Tuesday, December 30, Friday, January 2, and Monday, January 5 from 7 to 11 p.m. (CST). I wonder if 'Ol Uncle Lar will make a surprise visit via the telephone?</span>davewilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09831595165733889818noreply@blogger.com