This past Saturday, I went to a concert where Sugar Ray was the featured performer for a "100 Day Countdown to the Super Bowl." I thought Mark McGrath and the boys were pretty good. They did lots of different sampling.

The highlight of the experience was a gathering of Hall of Fame football stars who gave out free autographs. There was Larry Wilson, Tony Dorsett, Seth Joyner, Earl Edwards (who I played golf with about 12 years ago), and the one man who I stood an hour in line to speak with and sign my Super Bowl hat. Elected to the HOF in 1982, from the Los Angeles Rams, one-fourth of the famed "Fearsome Foursome", #74, Merlin Olsen.

I had time to ask Mr. Olsen (yes, that's how I addressed him) one question and since broadcasting has always been in my blood, I wanted to know, "Why did you leave the broadcast booth?" His answer, "I got tired of living out of a suitcase." Not the greatest question in the world, but it was something I wanted to know and never read about, considering he left at the height of his broadcasting career.

Olsen, along with his NBC play-by-play partner Dick Enberg, formed the best team to broadcast NFL football in the 1980s. His soft-spoken, insightful comments are in stark contrast to John Madden and other analysts of today.

I also mentioned how I had a Rams-logo shower rug for 40 years that I recently was forced to permanently retire. Olsen seemed slightly amused. Before I left the area, he reached across the table and we shook hands again, the same as we had when I first approached his table.

This was a day I will long remember with great fondness. I met one of my sports heroes and he was every bit as nice as I could have hoped.

I'm not big on causes, most are self-serving. In today's email, I found this important announcement I had to share with you from the SaveNetRadio campaign. It's been slightly altered to apply to everyone who cares about Internet radio.

On Wednesday morning, the Senate Commerce Committee will meet to hold a hearing on the future of radio in the United States. Representatives from broadcast radio, music industry, and Internet radio will testify before the committee about the current state of the radio industry and how royalty fees and other issues, like competition and innovation, affect the future of the industry. This is an unprecedented opportunity for Internet radio to explain its value to Congress, and we need your help to make sure they are listening.

Please take a moment to call and ask each Senator to attend this important hearing. The Internet Radio Equality Act is still pending in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. This hearing will give members an opportunity to learn more about this legislation.

Here is a list of the members and their direct lines of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation:

Democrats:
Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (HI) (202) 224-3934
John D. Rockefeller, IV (WV) (202) 224-6472
John F. Kerry (MA) (202) 224-2742
Byron L. Dorgan (ND) (202) 224-2551
Barbara Boxer (CA) (202) 224-3553
Bill Nelson (FL) (202) 224-5274
Maria Cantwell (WA) (202) 224-3441
Frank R. Lautenberg (NJ) (202) 224-3224
Mark Pryor (AR) (202) 224-2353
Thomas Carper (DE) (202) 224-2441
Claire McCaskill (MO) (202) 224-6154
Amy Klobuchar (MN) (202) 224-3244

Republicans:
Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (AK) (202) 224-3004
John McCain (AZ) (202) 224-2235
Trent Lott (MS) (202) 224-6253
Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX) (202) 224-5922
Olympia J. Snowe (ME) (202) 224-5344
Gordon H. Smith (OR) (202) 224-3753
John Ensign (NV) (202) 224-6244
John E. Sununu (NH) (202) 224-2841
Jim DeMint (SC) (202) 224-6121
David Vitter (LA) (202) 224-4623
John Thune (SD) (202) 224-2321

When calling, give the following information:

* I am an avid Internet radio listener calling to ask that as a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, the Senator attend Wednesday's hearing on the future of radio.

* Internet radio has been a revolutionary force in the music industry since its creation and now empowers artist, consumers, and music lovers of every kind. The Copyright Royalty Board's unprecedented and ill informed decision to increase royalty fees for Webcasters by more than 300% has threatened to bankrupt this important industry and we need the Senator's help.

* The real future of radio for music lovers, artists, and the music industry as a whole is online. To save this industry and allow it to prosper, there must be parity and equality between webcasters, satellite radio, and broadcast radio. Today, Internet radio pays a recording royalty fee more than twice that of satellite radio, and terrestrial radio pays none at all. To fix this unfair and inexplicable inequality, please co-sponsor The Internet Radio Equality Act, S. 1353, which is pending in the Senate.

Please make the calls and ask each Senator to attend this important hearing. Thank you once again for your support of the SaveNetRadio campaign. This issue could not have gotten the attention it has without your support and cannot move any further without your continued efforts.

Why did I move to The Valley of the Sun? Give us a kiss...

BTW, football and partying ramp up to the next level when ASU travels to Madison to play the Badgers in 2010. In 2012, the Badgers return the favor and make the trip to the Grand Canyon State to face the Sun Devils.

My son, Danny, turns 26 on Monday and I know he thinks I only listen to tunes from artists like Elton John, Billy Joel, and Ted Nugent. Well, I must admit, my preference is '70s and '80s rock, but I get into Country, Jazz, and even Hip-Hop/Rap.

My latest set is just for him from the Ol' Man. Happy Birthday Danny!

(Holla at you later Eric (Bears fan), Becky (dug your tats), and all of Danny's friends I hung with in Madtown last weekend. We'll party again real soon.)

Wednesday turned out to be John Records Landecker's last show on True Oldies WZZN in Chicago. Without a new contract in place, Records was relieved of his duties, his bio removed from the station website, and Scott Shannon replaced him on Thursday and, presumably, Friday.

This is truly a classless move by the Citadel suits in New York. I've got two words for you, "BITE OFF!"

Watch out Scott Mackay and Dick Biondi, you will be next.

Is the end near for Records at True Oldies in Chicago? You'll know when I know. His contract with Citadel expires after Friday's show.

Just what we need, more New York-based Scott Shannon on that station. As it is, he voice-tracks nearly every shift and weekends, too!

Headphones off to Larry Lujack who will be inducted in April 2008 into the National Association of Broadcasters' Hall of Fame.

This is Uncle Lar's third major honor in recent years, following his induction in the Radio Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Illinois Broadcasters Association's Hall of Fame in 2002.

After being informed of his pending induction, Lujack had these comments for Robert Feder of the Chicago Sun-Times, "As this will be my third and probably last Hall of Fame induction, I've decided, in my acceptance speech, to dump the phony gracious and fake humility bit and just be truthful for a change. I was, still am and always will be incredibly good, and frankly, I'm more than a little disappointed that it took the NAB this long to recognize that fact! Further, I am deserving of this honor because I've always subscribed to the NAB Code of Responsible Broadcasting. I have no idea what it's about -- but I've always subscribed."

This is the wit and wisdom that made Uncle Lar...Superjock!

I may have to beg, borrow or steal a ticket to the NAB Show in Las Vegas for this blowout.

Good to see our friend, Jeff, from AM, Then FM make a triumphant return to blogging about our beloved Green Bay Packers. We missed that part of you, man!

Visit Out of Bounds and experience all that is Green and Gold.

(Special thanks to Scott at South End Zone for the heads up.)

With the start of the playoffs in baseball and the Cubs actually getting a chance to play in October, I thought it would be fun to listen to some of the songs that made it to the Chicago Top 40 Charts in the 1980s.

Most of these tunes were on the charts longer than The Lovable Losers will last in this year's post-season extravaganza. DBacks in four, clinching in The Friendly Confines on the same day the Pack bludgeons Da Bears and a day after the Badgers destroy the Fighting Illini in Champagne.

Today is One-Hit Wonder Day. Due to time constraints, only the tunes are included in this show.

Here's my playlist of One-Hit Wonders:

1970: "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)"--Edison Lighthouse (Peaked at #5)
1971: "Sweet Mary"--Wadsworth Mansion (Peaked at #7)
1972: "Precious And Few"--Climax (Peaked at #3)
1973: "My Maria"--B.W. Stevenson (Peaked at #3)
1974: "Please Come To Boston"--Dave Loggins (Kenny Loggins' second cousin) (Peaked at #5)
1975: "The Hustle"--Van McCoy (and The Soul City Symphony) (Peaked at #1)
1976: "Union Man"--The Cate Brothers (featuring Steve "The Colonel" Cropper) (Peaked at #24)
1977: "Black Betty"--Ram Jam (Peaked at #18)
1978: "Sometimes When We Touch"--Dan Hill (Peaked at #3)
1979: "Hold On"--Ian Gomm (Peaked at #18)
1980: "Into The Night"--Benny Mardones (Peaked at #11 & hit #20 on the Hot 100 chart in 1989)
1981: "Sausalito Summernight"--Diesel (Peaked at #25)
1986: "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades"--Timbuk 3 (Peaked at #19)
Special 1979 add: "Do You Think I'm Disco?"--Steve Dahl (& Teenage Radiation) (Peaked at #58 on the Hot 100 chart)

Others songs that just missed inclusion were "Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me)"--Reunion; "The Night Chicago Died"--Paperlace; "Beach Baby"--First Class; "Play That Funky Music"--Wild Cherry; "Driver's Seat"--Sniff 'n The Tears; and "Rolene"--Moon Martin.

I found 1974 and '79 chock-full of one-hit wonders, but couldn't get to them all. Maybe next time!

September 25th is One-Hit Wonder Day. It's the celebration of artists who had one hit make it to the (Billboard U.S. Top 40) charts, but were unable to make that sojourn back again.

Join me as I feature ten classic Instrumental One-Hit Wonders.

Check out The Hits Just Keep On Comin' as jb has his own One-Hit Wonder Fest.

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share some Kewl Packer Stuff with all you Green Bay fans. Please remember, THE BEARS STILL SUCK!

To get ready for another season of NFL football, here are a couple of inspirational songs, courtesy of my friend Shark, to fire up fans of the 12-Time World Champion Green Bay Packers:

"Go Packers Go" by The Wizenhiemers

"I'm A Packer Fan" by Ironhorse Band

Without any fanfare, here's my uber-collection of Stars On 45.

WCFL was one of two great Top 40 Chicago radio stations that I listened to growing up 35 miles west of Milwaukee. From 1965 to March 15, 1976, Super CFL battled WLS for supremacy in the 18-to-35 male listenership group.

With the help of John Rook and a talented staff of disc jockeys led by Superjock Larry Lujack, The Voice of Labor toppled The Big 89 in 1974. However, the victory was short-lived as 'LS regained its throne a year later.

Here's the lineup at WCFL in 1974:
6-10 a.m. - TOM MURPHY
10 a.m.-2 p.m. - BOB DEARBORN
2-6 p.m. - LARRY LUJACK
6-10 p.m. - DOCTOR BROCK
10 p.m.-2 a.m. - BILL TAYLOR
Weekends: DICK SHANNON, DOUG BRACKETT, DICK SAINTE

Today's show consists of some of the tunes that were Super CFL Top 40 Hits of 1974, as compiled by Ron Smith, and to pay homage to a great radio station that is gone, but not forgotten.

(Note: "I Honestly Love You" by Olivia Newton-John is from a 1998 release because I didn't have a copy of the '74 original.)

Larry Lujack was the #1 DJ in Chicago in the 70s and 80s. If you didn't have the opportunity to listen to Superjock on WLS or Super CFL, you missed a treasure of the airwaves.

In his career, Uncle Lar made a record, "The Ballad of the Mad Streaker," wrote a book, "Superjock: The loud, frantic, nonstop world of a rock radio DJ," and released five volumes of "Animal Stories" with Lil Tommy, Tommy Edwards.

Lujack made two more returns to Chicago radio through the magic of ISDN from his home in Sante Fe, New Mexico, but it wasn't the same.

Here is My Tribute to Larry Lujack...Superjock!

Check out more airchecks of Larry Lujack at reelradio.

Check out Chicago Sun-Times columnist Robert Feder's memories of Summer of '87. Some really good tidbits about Larry Lujack and John Gehron, both leaving WLS that year.

Speaking of The Big 89, I just received my four books on Chicago's Top 40 Charts by Ron Smith. Three cover the periods of 1960-69, 1970-79, and 1980-90 on 'LS and the last one is Super CFL 1965-1976. I plan to use these charts for future shows.

I've also got a tribute to Uncle Lar in the works. Keep listening for that special production.

I'm feeling a little mellow today. With the start of the fall semester at school rapidly approaching, I thought I would break out a few of my Favorite Ballads. I welcome you with Open Arms, Diane Franklin...The Last American Virgin.

Without the music of the '70s and '80s, I might be a lost soul without a musical compass. While I enjoy the songs and groups from other time periods, those two decades really are it for me.

Wanting to expand my horizons musically, I decided to take an online class this fall from UW-Colleges entitled "Jazz History and Appreciation." I look forward to becoming more knowledgeable about a genre I'm not as schooled as I feel I should be.

In that same vain, I started looking at songs from the 1990s. Here are some of the Forgotten Hits of the '90s.

Thanks to a gentle reminder from jb at The Hits Just Keep On Comin' that we’re getting a bit long in the tooth, it made me think of one of my favorite performers…Elvis.

Elvis Presley was arguably the most influential performer of the 20th Century. His glory days ranged from the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s, when he was dethroned by a British invasion spearheaded by a juggernaut called The Beatles. Elvis did it all. He was a rock star, a movie star, and even got the girl next door, Priscilla.

In memory of the 30th anniversary of his passing on August 16, I decided to honor his life and music with a show dedicated to The King of Rock and Roll.