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!

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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/  

Johnny K's Way Back Play Backs - October 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!

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

October 2013   

October 31: 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 singer, the late Bobby "Boris" Pickett, with "Monster Mash" (1962)

October 30: 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 the King of Pop, the late Michael Jackson, with "Thriller" (1983)

 
October 29: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #21 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American rock singer/songwriter, the late Warren Zevon, with "Werewolves of London" (1978)

October 28: 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 American folk music trio, Peter, Paul & Mary, with "I Dig Rock & Roll Music" (1967)

October 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 Memphis rock group, The Box Tops, with "The Letter" (1967)

October 26: 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 singer/songwriter, the late Bobby Darin, with "Mack the Knife" (1959) 

October 25: 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 English-American folk rock group, America, with "Sister Golden Hair" (1975)

October 24: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #21 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American country music singer/songwriter, Willie Nelson, with "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" (1975)

October 23: 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 American rock band, The Lovin' Spoonful, with "Nashville Cats" (1966)

October 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 singer/songwriter, the late John Denver, with "Country Roads, Take Me Home" (1971)

October 21: 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 and disco group, KC and the Sunshine Band, with "That's the Way (I Like It)" (1975)

October 20: 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 the American disco group, Village People, with "In the Navy" (1979)

October 19: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #30 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is the vocal group, Boney M., with "Rivers of Babylon" (1978)

October 18: 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 singer/songwriter, John Sebastian, with "Welcome Back" (1976)

 
October 17: 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 husband-and-wife Captain & Tennille, with "Love Will Keep Us Together" (1975)

October 16: 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 country music and rockabilly singer, the late Johnny Horton, with "Battle of New Orleans" (1959)

October 15: 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 the husband-and-wife duo, Sonny & Cher, with "What Now My Love" (1966)

October 14: 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 American band, The Turtles, with "Happy Together" (1967)

October 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 the British group, Bee Gees, with "How Deep Is Your Love" (1977)

October 12: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #19 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is R&B artists Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell with "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (1967)

October 11: 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 the American folk rock group, The Mamas and the Papas, with the autobiographical "Creeque Alley" (1967)

 
October 10: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #13 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is the British pop group, White Plains, with "My Baby Loves Lovin'" (1970)

October 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 John Lennon with "Imagine" (1971)

October 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 The Partridge Family, featuring Shirley Jones and David Cassidy, with "I Think I Love You" (1970)

October 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 singer-songwriter, Stevie Wonder, with "I Just Called to Say I Love You" (1984)

October 6: 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 the San Francisco-based folk rock group, We Five, with "You Were On My Mind" (1965)

October 5: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at only #40 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is British New Wave group, The Buggles, with "Video Killed the Radio Star" (1979)

October 4: 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 British singer-songwriter, Rod Stewart, with "Maggie May" (1971)

October 3: 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 British rock group, The Hollies, with "Carrie Anne" (1967)

October 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 American singer, the late Laura Branigan, with "Gloria" (1982)

 
October 1: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at only #74 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is the British rock group, The Who, with "My Generation" (1967)

Road Trips - September 2013

Take Me Home, Country Roads...to Parrsboro 

Road trips are a fantastic way to explore new areas and uncharted courses, as well as retrace memories and roads previously traveled. It was with the latter in mind that my road  trip companion, Kelley, and I decided to explore Nova Scotia’s Glooscap Trail and visit one of my very favorite places in the world; the town of

Parrsboro, NS

Parrsboro.  Known for its rugged coastline on the Minas basin in the Bay of Fundy, showcasing some of the highest tides in the world, as well as being the home to Ship’s Company Theatre, a professional theatre company based in the town and set onboard the MV Kipawo featuring works from maritime writers, and the Fundy Geological Museum, Parrsboro was my summer home as a child.  My grandparents on my mother’s side made their summer home in Parrsboro so I spent a great deal of time there growing up and, although my grandparents have long since passed away and the family cottage was sold many years ago, I continue to visit the area a couple of times per year.

Dominion Chair Company Store

Kelley and I decided to hit the road early, making our first obligatory stop at the Enfield Irving Big Stop for a quick fry-up.  With full bellies we continued to take the highway until we reached Masstown; a popular stop just outside of Truro.  From here we picked up the scenic Glooscap Trail, one of Nova Scotia’s scenic roadways, which winds along the shores of the Minas Basin and Bay of Fundy taking us through Great Village and Bass River, the home of the Dominion Chair Company Store.  I always make a point to stop at this store when I’m traveling through the area...and this trip was no exception; the three-level business has everything from convenience-store fare, hardware items, furniture, gift apparel and a liquor store outlet so there is literally something for everyone. 

Five Islands, NS

From here we continued along the Glooscap Trail passing through Economy, Lower Economy and made our second stop in Five Islands, a small community situated at the Colchester and Cumberland counties border and named for the five small islands located just off the coast in the Bay of Fundy.  According to Mi’kmaq legend, these small islands (named Moose, Diamond, Long, Egg and Pinnacle) were the result of their god Glooscap throwing mud, sticks and stones at the giant beaver that he believed had dammed his medicine garden in nearby Advocate Harbour, and thus the islands were formed.  I have fond memories spending time in this area as a child with my grandparents as well as camping with friends at the Five Islands Provincial Park in my late teen years. The hiking trails in the provincial park offer a stunning view of the rugged cliffs and the islands.

Our next scheduled stop was the Ottawa House By-the-Sea Museum located just minutes outside of Parrsboro at Partridge Island.  This museum, built in 1775 and was the summer home of Father of

Ottawa House By-the-Sea Museum

Confederation, Sir Charles Tupper in the 1860’s, was holding it’s end of season function, a Christmas tea and sale, so we decided to take part.  We had planned to meet up with some friends who had been staying in Parrsboro and working with Ship’s Company Theatre so it was great to enjoy such a pleasant afternoon of laughs, homemade sandwiches and sweets, and overwhelming hospitality from the ladies hosting the tea, all festooned in their holiday attire.  I hadn’t been out to the Ottawa House and Partridge Island in over 20 years so I was full of nostalgia as I regaled Kelley with stories of a childhood spent in Parrsboro and area.

Statue of Glooscap, Parrsboro NS

Following our visit to the Ottawa House, I took Kelley on a tour of Parrsboro showing her some highlights of the town such as Ship’s Company Theatre, the town hall/bandstand, the statue of Glooscap and my family’s former cottage.  In the early 1950s, my grandparents moved their two-room cabin they shared with my grandmother’s sister and her husband from nearby Canaan Mountain and settled in Parrsboro as they wanted to be closer to the ocean.  Over the years, the cottage saw several additions including a front living room, a back bedroom and the attachment of the original outhouse to the main building when plumbing was made available.  After my grandfather had retired and after my grandmother’s sister and her husband passed away, my grandparents would stay all summer at the cottage from the end of June until early September.  I can remember vividly my grandmother sitting in her rocking chair by the fireplace, telling stories that would make us hurt from laughing so hard or my grandfather, who was always the first one up in the morning, preparing the family breakfast on the woodstove with the aroma of bacon frying and coffee percolating filling the air. I loved being at that cottage as a child and I continue to enjoy visiting Parrsboro as a way of holding on to those past memories.

Parrsboro shoreline

By afternoon the tide was low so we took a stroll along the beach taking pictures while I visited with familiar ghosts; some things have changed dramatically in the 20 years since my family gathered on a summer Sunday afternoon at our cottage, such as the shoreline along the beach due to erosion from the powerful tides.  Other things have remained virtually unchanged.  My dad used to take me, my brother and our dogs for great walks up and down the Parrsboro shoreline; a great reward was finding golf balls that had come from an over ambitious golfer from the Parrsboro Golf Course that was perched atop the rugged cliffs offering spectacular views.

Although our road trip to Parrsboro was limited to an afternoon, I left smiling as I know I'll be back soon!

Photographs courtesy of Kelley Edwards & Jonathan King

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