Vera, Chuck, and Dave

C'mon, you know Vera, Chuck, and Dave...don't you?
They're the grandchildren on your knee from "When I'm 64"
Oh, and if you remember, it was actually "Chook" and not "Chuck"

Pretty talented kid, ain't she?

To set the scene...it's an overcast Sunday morning as I start this road to nowhere post. Cup of coffee to my left, old portable radio at my feet playing the American top 40 from this week in 1974, lovely wife still snoozing, and youngest daughter at her 23rd sleepover of the Summer.

Just me, Casey Kasem and the cat. This has rambling post written all over it...

Wait a minute, that's not Casey Kasem.

I can hear the foghorns from three different lighthouses outside...

"That's a joke, I say that's a joke son" - said as Foghorn Leghorn would.

Actually these are the culprits..

  

I think I hear a cowbell out there too.

What a cow is doing in the Atlantic Ocean, I do not know.

...just heard "Keep on Smiling" from Wet Willie (number 19!). Now that's a blast from the past.

I've missed a few gems too..

Billy Don't Be a Hero...now that's a 70's pop classic. Doesn't sound the same when not listened to a radio that looks like this though.

or this...

or even this...

Yes, I admit, I owned each of those as a kid. That one in the middle was actually a wrist radio. Unfortunately it weighed about five pounds. Whenever I wore it my bike would always pull to the left.

Reception was horrible on these...and I believe they only had AM reception (you kids might have to google that reference), but it was perfect for that era. The Night Chicago Died (number 14!) never sounded better than when heard on one of these relics. Which is different than sounding good, of course.

Oh Jesus...Rock the Boat (number 8!)

Brings me back to the Plymouth Volare wagon

That's how we rolled back then. Appreciate the faux wood paneling. Classy.

Oh my...Rock n Roll Heaven - The Righteous Brothers (number 3!)

and I was going to just comment about what was so righteous about these "brothers", but they sure do look righteous here.

"If you believe in forever, then life is just a one night stand"

That's heavy man.

According to the lyrics the hell of a band consisted of

Jimi Hendrix

Janis Joplin

Jim Morrison

Otis Redding

Jim Croce

and Bobby Darin.

so who played drums?

and why wasn't Mama Cass in the band?

Hey number 1!

Annie's Song.

I'm down with that.

Pleasant little tune.

This is when John Denver was everywhere, every talk show...variety show...heavy radio rotation. Seems like it wasn't until he started to hang around with God that he started to lose his luster.

Coffee's getting cold and I gots to get in the shower.

That was some decent time I spent with Casey

..and remember

Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.

Peace and love