CHICAGO, CHICAGO:
This past Thursday (March 4th) marked the 184th birthday of The City Of Chicago. (And you’ll still find some of those founding fathers’ names voting in our local elections from time to time! j/k … sorta)
Happy Birthday #184, CHICAGO!!!
You don't look a day over 183!
Mrs. O'Leary, keep that cow away from my lantern, will ya?
Clark Besch
FH Reader Mike Wolstein sent us this list of “Chicago Songs” … and it’s quite a list!
Since you mentioned Chicago's
"birthday," here's some stuff I had buried away.
"Calling Me Home, Chicago" - an old tune that still gives me
goosebumps. I've attached it for you.
Many years ago, I found the list shown below.
Songs that mention Chicago:
=======================
From "Live Journal" site 2005-6: Songs that are about or mention
Chicago
"Slow Down Chicago" by Canasta
"The El" by Rhett Miller Wilco - Via Chicago
Cherry Poppin' Daddies - So Long Toots"
Born In Chicago" by Chicago's 80's faves, the Slammin' Watusis
Kelly Hogan's "No, Bobby Don't" is a great breakup song that talks
about riding the Blue Line alone.
Wilco's "Far, Far Away" talks about "Kissin' and ridin' on the
CTA."
The Returnables' "Bubble Gum" is all about falling in love on the
CTA.
Bad Bad Leroy Brown - Jim Croce
Sweet Home Chicago - many, many artists
Tonight, Tonight - Smashing Pumpkins
Goodbye to Guyville - Urge Overkill
The Fiery Furnaces - The Garfield El
Canasta - "Slow Down Chicago"
"Lake Shore Drive" - Aliotta, Haynes, and Jeremiah
"That Toddlin' Town" - Frank Sinatra
"Crook County" - K-Towner Twista
"Walk Wit' Me" - D.A. Smart
"In the Ghetto" - Elvis
"Chicago" - Screeching Weasel
"Full Moon" - Common
"The Woman Downstairs" - the Handsome Family
"312" - Bohemia
"Chicago" - Crosby, Stills and Nash
"Take Me Back To Chicago" - Chicago
"L.A., Goodbye" - The Ides of March
"Dead End Street" - Lou Rawls
"The Night Chicago Died" - Paper Lace
"Little Joe From Chicago" - Nat King Cole
"Is Chicago, Is Not Chicago" - Soul Coughing
"Leavin' Chicago" - Roosevelt Sykes
"Chicago Moan" - Tampa Red
"Chicago Blues" - Arthur Crudup
"Nobody Knows Chicago" - Big Joe Williams
"Chicago Bound Blues" - Bessie Smith
"Lester Leaps In" - Lester Young
"Lotus Blossom" - Duke Ellington
"Chicago" - Judy Garland
"State Of Illinois" - Art Thieme
"The Chicago Language Tapes" - Yuri Rasovsky
"43rd Ward" - Win Stracke
"Chicago Cops" - Bob Gibson And Bob Camp
"Wack, Wack, Wacker Drive" - Grimm Brothers
"A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request" - Steve Goodman
"Lincoln Park Pirates" - Steve Goodman
"Hopelessly Midwestern" - Chris Vallillo
"Barbed Wire Boys" - Susan Werner
"Illinois Blues" - Alvin Youngblood
"We're All Crazy In Chicago" - Johnny & The Leisure Suits
"Lake Shore Drive" - Aliotta, Haynes & Jeremiah
The J. Davis Trio mentions Chicago in a lot of their songs (referencing neighborhoods
and the like)
"Chicago" - The Tossers
"Chicago Is So Two Years Ago" - Fall Out Boy
"Cubs In Five" - The Mountain Goats
"Georgia Hard" - Robbie Fulks
"Chicago New York" - The Aisler's Set
Illinois First! is a band that sings all about Illinois history. "The
Ballad of Jean DuSable" is about the founding of Chicago.
Anything by Wesley Willis, especially "Rock and Roll McDonalds"
Donovan - To Try For The Sun - "We stood in the Windy City..."
Liz Phair - Stratford on Guy - "I was flying into Chicago at
night..."
"When The Cubs Win The World Series" - Cleaning Ladys
"Go Cubs Go" - Steve Goodman
"Route 66" - Depeche Mode (or many other artists)
"City Of New Orleans" - Steve Goodman or Arlo Guthrie
"Bear Down Chicago Bears"
"Back to Chicago" by Styx
"Someday" by Chicago, actually samples some of the protesters chants from
the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago ("The Whole World is
Watching!" over and over) but that's a little too specific as it's just about
the protests and the police brutality directed towards the protesters.
Sufjan Stevens has a whole CD with songs about Illinois (a follow-up to his CD
of Michigan themed songs from a couple of years ago)
"Chicago at Night" - Spoon (Girls Can Tell)
"Division Street Girl" - Jason Molina (Pyramid Electric Co.)
"Blue Chicago Moon" - Songs: Ohia (Didn't It Rain)
"Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night" - The Hold Steady (Separation Sunday)
"South Union" -- Lucky Boys Confusion
"Dear Chicago" - Ryan Adams
"A Guided Tour of Chicago" - The Lawrence Arms
"Chicago is Burning" - The Lawrence Arms
"Bad Lands" and "At Chicago" by Matt Ammerman. The first
song doesn't specifically mention
Chicago, but you know that what it's about (Ammerman is a local musician).
"Better Things and Big Buildings" by the Gold Coast Refuse. Again,
neither song
mentions Chicago by name, but they're a local band, and the songs are
invocative
of the city. Considering Thax Douglas
writes a lot of his stuff about bands in Chicago ... that would be possibly an
appropriate end to the mix ... since it's poetry/spoken word.
"When the Levee Breaks" by Led Zeppelin.
The Corner – Common Braid -- first day back, lining Lake Michigan
Alkaline Trio -- I'm Dying Tomorrow, Mercy Me, San Francisco
The Pixies do a cover of Born in Chicago, but not sure who wrote it.
Born in Chicago - George Thorogood
Chicago Bound - Jimmy Rogers
Playboy's Theme - Cy Coleman
Going to Chicago Blues - Lou Rawls
Back to Chicago - Duke Tumatoe
Peace Frog by the Doors
The Mekons and Waco Brothers must have more than this, but here are some that
come to mind
The Flame That Killed John Wayne - Mekons
Harm's Way - Waco Brothers
Fox River - Waco Brothers
Chicago Now! - The Fall
Kentucky Moon - The Kinks
"Train to Chicago" by Drink Me
"Hey, Chicago!" - Low
Was nobody here a fan of the local pop-punk band Slapstick in the mid 90s
(members of which went on to become Alkaline Trio)? I remember this one song
by Slapstick called 74 Fullerton.
Casiotone for the painfully alone "Oh, Illinois"
and a bunch of Sufjan Stevens songs from "Come On, Feel the
Illinoise"
"Chicago" by Ingram Hill
"We're All Crazy in Chicago" (Jonathon Brandmeier)
Hi Kent,
Tonight, as I let Spotify curate a playlist for me this song came up: Lake Shore Drive Chicago by Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah. Of course, I’m familiar of Lake Shore Drive by the same group, of which I’m a fan.
But the song that came up is a slightly different version of the famous one, with a slightly different title (note ‘Chicago’ in the end of the song name) and some added lyrics. Spotify mentions its release date as 2011.
I’ve failed to find more information on that version and I’m reaching out to you after I came across this post: http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2012/01/story-behind-lake-shore-drive-part-two.html?m=1.
Do you know anything about this song? Could it be an outtake or a b-side?
Spotify link:
https://open.spotify.com/track/7pw2LsmnWELMGcNDbVHZkK?si=qOnKGcviRUWE3heJKmQ16A
Thanks!
Mike
It’s definitely a new recording (well, as new as 2011 anyway!), and most likely something that Skip Haynes put together, using the original Aliotta, Haynes and Jeremiah backing track … something he’s done a number of times over the past twenty years or so. (I even have a Forgotten Hits version that he recorded for us!)
This must have been for some kind of special event … doesn’t come across anywhere near as smooth as the original, which gained a whole new bunch of fans when it was used in the most recent Guardians Of The Galaxy movie.
Sadly, all three guys are gone now … but their best known track (believe it or not, it was never actually a hit … it never even charted!) is still featured in the Cornerstones Of Rock shows featuring local heroes The Buckinghams, The Ides Of March, The Cryan’ Shames, The New Colony Six and The Shadows Of Knight. (kk)
TONIGHT:
(I’m not sure just how much Primal Screaming any Lennon fan really needs … and, coupled with the fact that these tracks also include everything that Yoko recorded while making her album simultaneously, I think it’s safe to say that this set probably isn’t for everybody … but still a fascinating history of these sessions post-Beatles break-up, 1970 … especially since Ringo, George and old Beatles Buddies Klaus Voorman and Billy Preston also appear.)
And it wasn’t ALL primal screaming … you’ll find some fun moments of Lennon doing Elvis tracks along with a few other surprises (including some then recent Beatles tracks originated by Paul!) You’ll find complete information here:
https://theseconddisc.com/2021/03/04/i-found-out-john-and-yokos-plastic-ono-band-box-due-in-april/
And, if you’re a long-time fan of The Who, you’re going to LOVE this new, greatly-expanded box set of their 1967 “The Who Sell Out” album.
You can get a new 2-CD version with a bunch of extra, previously unreleased tracks … or, if you’re a MAJOR fan, there will also be a SEVEN DISC version available that features the original album in both mono and stereo plus 46 previously unreleased tracks, for a total of 112 tracks in all!
And we’re talking deluxe here … the 7-Disc Box also includes five CDs plus two 7” vinyl singles and comes with nine posters and an 80-page book!
Here’s the Deluxe Edition Track List …
Disc
One – Mono
1. Armenia City in the Sky 3:46
2. Heinz Baked Beans 0:58
3. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand 2:35
4. Odorono 2:30
5. Tattoo 2:48
6. Our Love Was 3:23
7. I Can See For Miles 4:07
8. I Can’t Reach You 3:27
9. Medac 0:56
10. Relax 2:38
11. Silas Stingy 3:01
12. Sunrise 3:02
13. Rael (Pt. 1 & Pt. 2 / Track Records Run Out Groove) 5:52
Bonus
Tracks
14. Pictures Of Lily (UK Single Mix) 2:45
15. Doctor, Doctor (UK Single Mix) 3:01
16. The Last Time (UK Single Mix) 2:51
17. Under My Thumb (UK Single Mix) 2:37
18. I Can See For Miles (UK Single Mix) 4:03
19. Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand (US Single Mix) 3:19
20. Someone’s Coming (US Single Mix) 2:31
21. Unused Radio London ad / Early Morning… (1967 mono mix) 2:59
22. Unused Radio London Bulletin / Jaguar (1967 mono mix) 2:55
23. Unused Radio London ad / Tattoo (early alternate mix) 3:05
24. Rael (Pt. 1 & Pt. 2 / Early Talentmasters early rough mono mix) 5:58
25. Sunn Amps Promo Spots 2:42
26. Great Shakes ad (Unreleased US Radio Commercial) 1:04
27. Our Love Was (Take 12 Rejected Mono Mix) 3:24
28. Rael (Early Mono Version) 5:45
CD
Two – Stereo
1. Armenia City in the Sky (incl. Two Radio London Jingles) 3:40
2. Heinz Baked Beans (incl. ‘More Music’ Jingle) 1:00
3. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand (Acoustic / incl. ‘Premier Drums Commercial’ /
Radio London Jingle) 2:34
4. Odorono (incl. Radio London ‘Smooth Sailing’ Jingle) 2:35
5. Tattoo (incl. ‘Church Of Your Choice’ Jingle) 2:54
6. Our Love Was (incl. ‘Pussycat, Speakeasy & Rotosound’ Jingles) 3:25
7. I Can See For Miles 4:10
8. I Can’t Reach You (incl. ‘Charles Atlas’ Commercial) 3:31
9. Medac 0:57
10. Relax 2:40
11. Silas Stingy 3:06
12. Sunrise 3:05
13. Rael (Pt. 1 & Pt. 2) 5:38
Bonus
Tracks
14. Rael Naïve (Full Coda) 1:37
15. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand (US single version) 3:25
16. Someone’s Coming 2:33
17. Summertime Blues 2:38
18. Glittering Girl 3:04
19. Early Morning Cold Taxi 2:59
20. Girl’s Eyes 2:51
21. Coke After Coke 1:08
22. Sodding About 2:51
23. Things Go Better With Coke 0:31
24. Hall of the Mountain King 4:26
25. Jaguar 2:54
26. Rael (Pt. 1 & Pt. 2 / IBC version) 6:26
CD
Three – Studio Sessions 1967 / 68
1. Glittering Girl (Take 4 / 2018 Mix) 3:29
2. Girl’s Eyes (Take 2 / 2018 Mix) 3:58
3. The Last Time (Take 8 / 2018 Mix) 3:51
4. Under My Thumb (Take 3 / 2018 Mix) 3:13
5. Our Love Was (Take 2) 3:21
6. Relax (4-Track To 4-Track Mix / 2018 Mix) 3:22
7. Relax (Take 1 & 2 / 2018 Mix) 1:58
8. Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand (Take 1 & 9 / 2018 Mix) 3:43
9. Relax (Remake Take 4) 2:37
10. I Can See For Miles (Full Version) 4:54
11. Medac (Take 11) 1:13
12. Odorono (Take 3 / Full Version / 2018 Mix) 2:47
13. Heinz Baked Beans (Take 1 & 3 / 2018 Mix) 2:16
14. Top Gear (Take 1, 2 & 5 / 2018 Mix) 3:03
15. Premier Drums (Take 1 & 4 / 2018 Mix) 2:17
16. Charles Atlas (Take 1) 0:33
17. Rotosound Strings (Take 1 / 2018 Mix) 0:15
18. Track Records (2018 Mix) 0:34
19. John Mason Cars / Speakeasy / Rotosound Strings / Bag O’ Nails / 2018 Mix)
1:02
20. It’s A Girl (aka “Glow Girl”) (Take 2, 3 & 4) 3:21
21. Mr. Hyde (First Stage Mix Take 1) 2:42
22. Little Billy (Take 1 & 3) 4:14
23. Mrs. Walker (aka “Glow Girl”) (Take 7 / 4-Track To 4-Track Mix) 2:31
24. Lightning (aka ‘Call Me Lightning’) (Take 1 & 8) 6:12
25. Dogs (Take 2) 3:14
26. Melancholia (Take 1) 3:50
27. Shakin’ All Over (Take 3) 1:35
28. Magic Bus (Take 6) 3:18
CD
Four – The 1968 Recordings (The Road to Tommy)
1. Glow Girl (2018 Mix) 2:26
2. Faith in Something Bigger (2018 Mix) 3:09
3. Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (2018 Mix) 2:38
4. Call Me Lightning (2018 Mix) 2:23
5. Little Billy’s Doing Fine (2018 Mix) 2:19
6. Dogs (2018 Mix) 3:10
7. Melancholia (2018 Mix) 3:21
8. Fortune Teller (2018 Mix) 2:22
9. Facts Of Life (aka Birds And Bees) (Backing Track / 2018 Mix) 3:22
10. Magic Bus (Single Version) 3:23
11. Call Me Lightning (Single Mix / Mono Version) 2:24
12. Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (UK Single Mix / Mono Version) 2:39
13. Dogs (Single Mix / Mono Version) 3:07
14. Magic Bus (Long Version / Mono Version) 4:35
CD Five –
Pete Townshend Original Demos
1. Kids! Do You Want Kids? 1:39
2. Relax 3:42
3. Glow Girl 3:27
4. Glow Girl (Version 2) 3:03
5. Inside Outside 3:09
6. Jaguar 3:02
7. Little Billy 2:14
8. Odorono 3:11
9. Pictures Of Lily 3:28
10. Relax (Version 2) 2:22
11. Melancholia (2018 Mix) 3:07
12. Thinking (aka “Sunrise”) (Version 2) 3:12
13. Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand 3:16
14. I Can See For Miles 4:15
7-Inch
Singles
Track UK
I Can See For Miles (Early Mono Version) 4:02
Someone’s Coming (UK Single Mix) 2:34
Decca US
Magic Bus (US / UK Mono Version) 3:19
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (US Single Mix) 2:24
The posters and inserts include: 20″ x 30″ original Adrian George album poster, a gig poster from The City Hall, Newcastle, a Saville Theatre show 8-page program, a business card for the Bag o’ Nails club, Kingly Street, a Who fan club photo of group, a flyer for Bath Pavilion concerts including The Who, a crack-back bumper sticker for Wonderful Radio London, Keith Moon’s Speakeasy Club membership card and a Who Fan Club newsletter.
Just a reminder that Joel Selvin’s new book, “Hollywood Eden,” will be out on April 6th … (one month from today) … and the pre-publication reviews are outstanding …
Electric Guitars, Fast Cars, and the Myth of the California Paradise
“Hollywood Eden beautifully captures our sixties California music scene — a time when life was truly fun, fun, fun.”
— Bruce Johnston, the Beach Boys
From the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean to the Byrds and the Mamas & the Papas, acclaimed music journalist Joel Selvin tells the story of a group of young artists and musicians who came together at the dawn of the 1960s to create the lasting myth of the California dream.
From surf music to hot-rod records to the sunny pop of the Beach Boys and the Mamas & the Papas, Hollywood Eden captures the fresh blossom of a young generation who came together in the epic spring of the 1960s to invent the myth of the California Paradise. Central to the story is a group of sun-kissed teens from the University High School class of 1959 — a class that included Jan & Dean, Nancy Sinatra, and future members of the Beach Boys — who came of age in Los Angeles at the dawn of a new golden era when anything seemed possible. These were the people who created the idea of modern California for the rest of the world.
But their own private struggles belied the paradise portrayed in their music. What began as a light-hearted frolic under sunny skies ended up crashing down to earth just a few short but action-packed years later as, one by one, each met their destinies head-on. A rock ’n’ roll opera loaded with violence, deceit, intrigue, low comedy, and high drama, Hollywood Eden tells the story of a group of young artists and musicians who bumped heads, crashed cars, and ultimately flew too close to the sun.
Joel put together this Spotify Playlist to describe what you’ll feel when reading “Hollywood Eden” … in his words, this is what his book will “sound like” …
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0w53BuSCbTNmat0DemQRVo?si=f_NO4SnsQ5Cy2XLyfu-5dA
Hello Kent,
My new book, Joy and Fear: The Beatles, Chicago and the 1960s, has just been published.
Here’s the link to the book:
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Joy-and-Fear/John-F-Lyons/9781682619322
I thought the book might interest those who read your website.
Thanks
John
Happy to pass along this information. Hard to believe that it’s already been four years since we last talked about your project. (Time certainly does fly, doesn’t it!!!)
Best of luck to you with your new venture. (kk)
Best Selling Author Mark Bego did an interview last week, discussing his friendship with Mary Wilson. It is now available as a Podcast here :
In addition to being interviewed for the TJ Lubinsky / Murray The K PBS special running tonight (in what turned out to be her last interview), word came out this week that Mary's solo album (titled simply "Mary Wilson"... and first released in 1979), would see its CD debut ... with bonus tracks from these sessions. It is available to order now. (Sounds like Mary had no plans to slow down in 2021 ... once the Covid touring band was lifted, she was supposed to hit the road as the opening act for B.J. Thomas!)
Today would have been Mary's 77th birthday. (kk)
And from FH Reader Ken Voss (after we ran that vinyl siding photo the other day) ...
I prefer vinyl flooring
