See the USA on the Radio

Saturday night during Those Were the Days we will celebrate Americas’ 250th with a salute to cities, states, and locations that are mentioned in song. We will be taking you to New Orleans, Detroit Rock City, and Sweet Home Alabama. There are so many songs that we can play during a special Saturday night program. How about Viva Las Vegas, Last Train to Clarksville, Philadelphia Freedom, Midnight Train to Georgia, City of New Orleans, Kansas City, New York Groove, or Kentucky Woman? You can call or text a special request between six and midnight

I have many fond memories of 4th of July celebrations. Family gatherings with a big wash tub full of Ski, Double Cola, and Hillbilly grape, on ice. Noone ever talked about safety with 4th of July fireworks when I was growing up. I remember being told to throw your sparkler as far as you could when it was almost done burning. Later, of course, while walking barefoot I stepped on a recently burned sparkler. One of my many hard lessons learned. By the time I was growing up, fireworks that were legal really were lame. Nothing could leave the ground. I could buy snakes that when lit would grow into a foot of ashes and leave a spot on the sidewalk that would last until the end of time. Smoke bombs, snap-its, and party poppers were the only other trinkets that could legally be purchased. It was a very quick July 4th display on Aubrey Corners. We would often trek to Krouskop Park in Richland Center to watch fireworks. I clearly remember sitting there and watching men from the community lighting skyrockets just several yards away. The ash from the sky would fall down on the crowd. I recall on July 4th of 1976 we celebrated the Bi centennial at the Lone Rock 4th of July parade and then enjoyed a stop back at the Torch Supperclub in Gotham for lunch. The song playing on the jukebox as we walked in was The Boys Are Back in Town by Thin Lizzy which was a brand-new song that summer. My brain is wired that way. I can recall the song that was playing at certain good and bad times in my life.

I hope that you will tune in WRCO’s Those Were the Days this Saturday night between six and midnight. Thanks to all of the requesters last Saturday night. There was an overwhelming amount of response to our show. There were up north campers, folks traveling through the Driftless, and more first-time listeners. That is what makes every Saturday night an adventure. Let’s plan on another amazing night together. Please don’t step on your just burned sparklers. That will take the sharp edge off of your dancing.

Philip