Johnny K's Way Back Play Backs - December 2013

Welcome to Johnny K's Way Back Play Backs  and join the groovy adventure with Johnny K as he jumps in his "Way Back Machine" and takes a trip back to yesteryear.

This is a place where great moments in music and pop culture are celebrated and remembered.

So pull up a beanbag chair, turn on your lava lamp and take a trip back to a groovier time!

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December 2013   

December 31: Today's "Way Back Play Back" features the Scots poem, "Auld Lang Syne".  Written by Robert Burns in 1788, this traditional folk song has become synonymous with New Year's Eve celebrations.  Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians performed "Auld Lang Syne" on New Year's Eve for decades and is played in Times Square in New York City every New Years immediately following the dropping of the ball.  This clip takes us back to December 31, 1976; the last year that Guy Lombardo performed "Auld Lang Syne" as he passed away on November 5, 1977.

Johnny K is wishing everyone a Happy New Year and all the best for 2014!

December 30: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #11 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American  jazz rock/rock band, Steely Dan, with "Reelin' In the Years" (1973) 

December 29: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American singer, actress and TV show host, Dionne Warwick, with "I Say a Little Prayer" (1967)

December 28: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American pop music group, Looking Glass, with "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" (1972)

 
December 27: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #11 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is Welsh singer, Sir Tom Jones, with "What's New Pussycat?" (1965) 

December 26: Today's "Way Back Play Back" resumes a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #11 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American  soul music group, The Chamber Brothers, with the single version "Time Has Come Today" (1968) 

December 25: Today's "Way Back Play Back" concludes a series featuring randomly chosen holiday-oriented hits from yesteryear; here American actress and cabaret singer, the late Eartha Kitt, with "Santa Baby" (originally recorded in 1953)

December 24: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen holiday-oriented hits from yesteryear; here is the husband and wife duo of Elmo & Patsy with "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" (originally recorded in 1979) 

December 23: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen holiday-oriented hits from yesteryear; here is American entertainer, the late Andy Williams, with "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" (released in 1963) 

December 22: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen holiday-oriented hits from yesteryear; here is Canadian entertainer, Anne Murray, with "Winter Wonderland" (released in 1981)

December 21: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen holiday-oriented hits from yesteryear; here is American singer/actress, the late Judy Garland (from the 1944 MGM musical "Meet Me in St. Louis"), with "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (1944) 

December 20: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen holiday-oriented hits from yesteryear; here is vocal group, Boney M., with "Mary's Boy Child - Oh My Lord" (released in 1978)

December 19: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen holiday-oriented hits from yesteryear; here is American entertainer, Dolly Parton, with "Hard Candy Christmas" (originally recorded in 1982)

December 18: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen holiday-oriented hits from yesteryear; here is American entertainer, the late Bing Crosby, and English entertainer, David Bowie, with "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" (originally recorded in 1977)

December 17: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen holiday-oriented hits from yesteryear; here is English entertainer, Paul McCartney, with "Wonderful Christmastime" (originally recorded in 1979)

December 16: Today's "Way Back Play Back" starts a series featuring randomly chosen holiday-oriented hits from yesteryear; here is American entertainer, the late Elvis Presley, with "Blue Christmas" (originally recorded in 1957) 

 
December 15: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American R&B/soul family musical act, Gladys Knight & The Pips, with "Midnight Train to Georgia" (1973)

December 14: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #5 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American rock band, Smith, with the Burt Bacharach-penned "Baby It's You" (1969)

December 13: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American disco singer, Anita Ward, with "Ring My Bell" (1979)

December 12: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American rock band, Creedence Clearwater Revival, with "Down on the Corner" (1969)

December 11: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American rock band, Chicago, with "If You Leave Me Now" (1976)

December 10: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #6 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is English rock band, The Kinks, with "Come Dancing" (1982) 

December 9: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #14 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is John Lennon and Plastic Ono Band with "Give Peace a Chance" (1969)

December 8: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American entertainer, Madonna, with "Like a Prayer" (1989)

December 7: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American disco singer, Yvonne Elliman, with "If I Can't Have You" (1978)

December 6: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #9 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is Canadian pop rock singer/songwriter, Andy Kim, with "Be My Baby" (1970)

December 5: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is  American female singing group and the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s,  Diana Ross & the Supremes, with "Love Child" (1968)

December 4: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is Australian soft rock duo, Air Supply, with "All Out of Love" (1980)

December 3: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American pop rock group, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, with "Lady Willpower" (1968)

December 2: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is British-based American singer/songwriter, Suzi Quatro, and English soft-rock singer, Chris Norman, with their duet "Stumblin' In" (1979)

December 1: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American singer/songwriter, Norman Greenbaum, with "Spirit in the Sky" (1970)

Johnny K's Way Back Play Backs - November 2013

Welcome to Johnny K's Way Back Play Backs  and join the groovy adventure with Johnny K as he jumps in his "Way Back Machine" and takes a trip back to yesteryear.

This is a place where great moments in music and pop culture are celebrated and remembered.

So pull up a beanbag chair, turn on your lava lamp and take a trip back to a groovier time!

****************************************************************************

November 2013   

November 30: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #26 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American blues/boogie rock band, Canned Heat, with "Let's Work Together" (1970)

November 29: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American new wave rock quartet, The Knack, with "My Sharona" (1979)

November 28: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #7 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is British pop band, The New Seekers, with "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" (1972)

November 27: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American pop music family group, The Jackson 5, with "ABC" (1970)

November 26: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #27 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American rock band, Sir Douglas Quintet, with "Mendocino" (1968)

November 25: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #6 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is Scottish folk-rock musician, Al Stewart, with "Year of the Cat" (1977)

November 24: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is the late Jeanine Deckers, known affectionately as Sœur Sourire or The Singing Nun, with "Dominique" (1963)

November 23: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is one of pioneers of rock & roll, Chuck Berry, with "My Ding-a-Ling" (1972)

November 22: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American rock & roll trio, The Cyrkle, with "Red Rubber Ball" (1966)

 
November 21: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #6 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American rock band, Dr. Hook, with "Sharing the Night Together" (1978)

November 20: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #40 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is Canadian rock band, The Stampeders, with "Hit the Road Jack" (1975)

November 19: Today's "Way Back Play Back" is dedicated to my mother on her birthday and continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is her favorite entertainer, American singer/actor, Elvis Presley, with "Hound Dog" (1956) 

November 18: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is English rock band, The Moody Blues, with "Nights in White Satin" (1967)

 
November 17: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #22 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American singer/songwriter, Neil Diamond, with "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show" (1970)

November 16: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American singer/songwriter, Bill Withers, with "Ain't No Sunshine" (1971) 

 
November 15: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is English rock band, The Rolling Stones, with "19th Nervous Breakdown" (1966) 

November 14: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #6 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American country rock band, Kenny Rogers and The First Edition, with "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" (1969) 

November 13: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #8 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is Scottish hard rock band, Nazareth, with "Love Hurts" (1976) 

November 12: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is Scottish singer/songwriter, the late Gerry Rafferty, with "Baker Street" (1978) 

November 11: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; ranked at #6 at Songs of the Century here is the American singing trio , The Andrews Sisters, with "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" (1941).  Lest we forget.

November 10: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is Canadian gospel rock band, Ocean, with the Gene MacLellan-penned "Put Your Hand in the Hand" (1971)

 
November 9: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American rock-n-roll singer, Johnny Rivers, with "Baby I Need Your Loving" (1967)

 
November 8: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #7 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is Californian folk band, The Association, with "Along Comes Mary" (1966)

November 7: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is  the husband/wife duo of Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., former members of the vocal group The 5th Dimension, with "You Don't Have to be a Star (To Be in my Show)" (1977)

November 6: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American entertainer, the late Sammy Davis Jr, with "The Candy Man" (1972)

November 5: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #6 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is Canadian rock band, The Guess Who, with "These Eyes" (1968)

November 4: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #6 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American progressive rock band, Kansas, with "Dust in the Wind" (1978) 

November 3: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #42 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is "The Man in Black," singer/songwriter Johnny Cash (with June Carter & the Carter Family and The Statler Brothers), with "Daddy Sang Bass" (1968)

November 2: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is Welsh folk singer, Mary Hopkin, with "Those Were the Days" (1968)

November 1: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #5 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is English singer/songwriter, Albert Hammond, with "It Never Rains (in Southern California)" (1972)

Road Trips - October 2013

Pumpkins, Apples & Butterscotch Pie - 
Fall On The Evangeline Trail

Evangeline Trail

Rich in history, agriculture and scenery, Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley and Avon River Valley make a perfect destination year-round.  However, during early October, with the foliage afire in its crimson and orange magnificence and produce ripe for the picking, the choice for our latest road trip adventure was sure to exceed expectation.  Having enjoyed our Thanksgiving dinners with friends and family earlier in the weekend, Monday’s holiday allowed us the opportunity to take in an autumn road trip and so, with a few extra passengers for good measure, Kelley and I hit the open road with the Valley in our sights.

Like many of our adventures, our day began with a hearty fry-up. In an effort to beat the breakfast rush, we left downtown Halifax around 8:30am and settled on the Esquire Restaurant, conveniently located on the

Fall foliage in Windsor, NS

Bedford Highway, to fill our bellies before making our way through Lower Sackville and onwards toward Highway 101.  With the recently twinned highway, we carried on Valley-bound until we reached the exit at Ellershouse and from there, continued along the Evangeline Trail taking us through the town of Windsor.  Although Windsor offers its visitors plenty to see and do, we opted on this excursion to simply enjoy the bright coloured fall foliage as we passed through the centre of town and carried on further opting for the town of Wolfville as our targeted destination.

Welcome to Wolfville, NS

As with all of our road trip adventures, a coveted treat is a factor in the choice of destination, and this trip to the Valley is no exception.  Being aficionados of a good piece of pie, we always choose to sample the wares at the Evangeline Inn & Motel while in the area however, as it was Thanksgiving Day, the place was standing room only when we drove by so we opted to check out some of the attractions and allow the lunch rush to settle down.  We decided to head into the centre of Wolfville which, considering it was a holiday, was a-buzz with people.  Traffic on Main Street was heavy, particularly on the west side of town as many people were enjoying a day of picking apples and choosing pumpkins, however we continued through making an obligatory stop at Hennigar’s Farm Market. 

Pumpkin People in Kentville, NS

It definitely seemed like everyone we encountered was in the mood to take in everything the Valley has to offer the autumn visitor.  After checking out the wares at Hennigar's we decided to venture further through New Minas on onwards to Kentville to see this year's Pumpkin People; Kentville is known for its annual display of Pumpkin people, which are caricatures of people crafted out of straw with pumpkin heads and staged throughout the town in various themes and poses.  Although Kentville, itself, is a fantastic destination for a road trip as it offers its visitors shops, restaurants and, being in the heart of the Annapolis Valley, a host of professional services, we opted on this visit to simply take in the spirit of the Pumpkin People and head back to Wolfville with hopes of procuring a piece of pie.

Evnageline at Grand-Pre, NS

As we made our way back through New Minas and Wolfville, we decided that no trip along the Evangeline Trail would be complete without checking out the Grand-Pre National Historic Site, located in Grand-Pre along the eastern edge of Wolfville.  The grounds of the memorial church in this historic park are always stunning but with the autumn foliage at its peak on this beautiful, sunny afternoon, they were particularly gorgeous.  Of course we could not pass up the photo opportunity to capture a shot of the statue of Evangeline, the heroine of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic poem set during the time of the expulsion of the Acadians, "Evangeline, A Tale of Acadie" (1847), before heading to our final and sought-after destination synonymous with this historic site.

As mentioned, there are many allures of the Annapolis Valley for both tourists and for people that call this area home; the rich history, the breath-taking scenery and the friendliness of the people...to name just a few.  But for anyone with a sweet tooth, the gem of this part of the world can be found at the onsite cafe for the Evangeline Inn & Motel.  We were here twice last year and were here

At the Evangeline Inn & Motel

again in the spring once we learned they were open for the season.  This time we were here to get one last piece of pie before they close for the season.  The crowd of hungry people that we saw when we first arrived in town had diminished by the time we got there but only because we learned that they were closing early for the day so the staff could enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with their families.  We knew what we wanted so we wasted little time in perusing the menu; butterscotch pie was served promptly and with the usual smile we have come to enjoy from the fantastic servers.  This treat made for the perfect end to the perfect day.  We bid adieu before jumping in the car to head back to the city, but not before advising that we will look forward to returning in the spring!

Photographs courtesy of Kelley Edwards & Jonathan King

Check out last year's adventures at my Road Trips 2012 blog: http://roadtrips2012.blogspot.ca/