Mirror mirror on the wall...

You're running late for an important meeting. You waste a valuable minute to dash into a restroom to make sure you look good. Uh oh, now what?

Friday!!!

I am so happy it's Friday! I feel silly, I feel sly, I feel ready for anything! I feel like a kid again... and I remember what used to make me really happy when I was a kid in school. What made you the happiest when you were in school? Remember the TV on wheels?

January 26, 1964

Today in rock history - The Beatles hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time on this day with "I Want To Hold Your Hand". It was the beginning of the British invasion. It was the start of my favorite era in rock music. It was the day that American performers said "this won't last". But it did last... all the old rules slowly ceased to exist. I was one of the first kids in school to comb my hair down... I got chewed out by a teacher. A year later the same teacher had a better Beatle haircut than I did. What a wonderful time to grow up!

Keith's Forgotten Oldie...

Today a record from a band that has more than one distinction under their belt... they are credited with pioneering heavy metal, and they were among the first "power trio's". "Summertime Blues" was San Francisco psychedelia at it's best extreme, and shook the roots of rock and roll all summer long in 1968, but was the only single by the band to climb into the top 40. The band had several lineup changes over the years, finally breaking up for good in 2009 with the death of founding member Dickie Peterson. I saw them back in 1969 or 1970 and was awed by their power and unique sound... I loved them. And I wasn't alone, Jim Morrison of the Doors called Blue Cheer the "single, most powerful band I've ever seen!"

Optimism!

Well after the freezing rain and snow Sunday and Monday, the forecast for the rest of the week is pretty darned good. Lately, a nice forecast seems to get me up for the day. I feel like a nice day is going to be a good day... and I get all optimistic. Even a silly idea seems to have merit (see picture). Do you feel better with a favorable visit from Mother Nature?

Postage Stamps now 45 Cents!

Just in case you missed it, the price of a postage stamp went up to 45 cents yesterday. Hopefully, you already bought a lot of stamps like this one... because "forever" stamps are still good!

COLD!!!

Bundle up today, dress in layers, avoid being outdoors if you can, and stay warm! Wind chills have been around 25 below zero all morning, and there's a wind chill advisory until noon. Brrrrr. And by the way, 2-6 inches of snow is on the way!

Keith's Forgotten Oldie...

Today a record that roared into the top 20 back in 1969, and got solid airplay for many months. The song "Evil Woman (Don't Play Your Games With Me)" was a national hit for the Minneapolis based blues-rock quintet Crow. A great dance song, Evil Woman featured overdubbed horns that the band was not happy about. The band released three albums without a second hit before finally disbanding in 1971. Lead singer Dave Wagner did release a solo album in 1973. Crow has the weird distinction of having the keyboard player with my favorite rock name... Kink Middlemist.

Miracle at the Liquor Store!

Hallelujah!

Football blues...

Well, the Packers quest for another Superbowl title ended yesterday with a disappointing loss at home to the Giants. But the Pack had a great season overall and ended up 15-2. And there's always next year. Me, I'm rooting for the 49ers now. And just to lift your spirits, here's a football picture showing two guys that should never sit together on the bench...

January 13, 1964

To me, this is a landmark day in rock history... I consider this the day the music was born. Prior to 1/13/64 we'd had plenty of rock and roll... Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and many more great acts. But then something happened and we got tunes from Frankie Avalon, Bobby Vee, Fabian and (ugh) Bobby Vinton. But very quietly and with no fanfare at all, an unknown (at the time) band from Liverpool, England released a record that would very shortly change everything. Today is the day the Beatle released "I Want to Hold Your Hand". And we were shortly going to get our rock and roll back!

Wednesday's Forgotten Oldie...

Today I'm featuring a song that reached #6 on Billboard in late 1966; Peter and Gordon's "Lady Godiva". A catchy novelty tune, the song dominated the airwaves almost immediately on it's September release. Unfortunately, the song signaled the impending end of Peter & Gordon as chart toppers. The follow-up "Knight in Rusty Armour" seemed to tell fans that the boys were stuck in the novelty mode, and they broke up in 1968.

Do you get it?

This is the funniest cartoon I've seen in a long time... do you get it?

If you don't get it, there was a TV show in the 50's called "The Honeymooners" with Jackie Gleason as Ralph Cramden. And he was always getting mad at his wife Alice, and threatening to send her "to the moon". Not very PC today, but we always knew that Ralph would never do it.

Monday...

Back to work. And we were just getting used to not working Mondays. Nice weather though, so how's your day going?

Frampton finds his Guitar!

Peter Frampton's famous 1954 Les Paul Custom has been returned to it's happy owner! Back in 1980, a lot of Frampton's equipment was believed to have been destroyed in a fiery plane crash in the Caribbean, including the iconic Gibson guitar. But a guitar tech in Curacao discovered the guitar and with the help of officials from the tourist board of Curacao was able to obtain it, and return it to it's delighted owner! The guitar's identity was confirmed by Gibson. Frampton hopes to use it for his upcoming tour starting February 1st. An amazing story!

The Wednesday Forgotten Oldie

Every Wednesday around 7:30 AM listen to Eagle 102.7 for the "Forgotten Oldie". Today, I'm featuring one of the 60's USA bands that shaped the sound of rock in San Francisco... and yet they receive virtually no credit for it. THE MOJO MEN were born as a British Invasion cover band, but when female drummer/singer Jan Ashton joined, the band moved to a more intricate, psychedelic sound that was highlighted by vocal harmonies. Their only top-40 hit was "Sit Down I Think I Love You", a song written by Stephen Stills and originally recorded by Buffalo Springfield for their first album. The Mojo Men version of the song came out in March of 1967 and stayed in the top 40 for several weeks.

2012... what's in store?

I only have one wish for 2012... that everyone is back here a year from now, still smiling and still happy!