Blake Shelton was a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and talked about his upcoming album 'Body Language' which will be released tomorrow (5/21), the season finale of The Voice, and his upcoming wedding to Gwen Stefani! 

I am still surprised this contest isn't a scratch off for a million.

Remember as of today, you can register for the Ohio Vax-a-Million Prize Money for getting your Covid-19 Vaccine.

Ohioans can enter to be eligible for the prize drawings at http://ohiovaxamillion.com or 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).

 Rules: 

1. You must be a permanent Ohio Resident 18+

2. Must Opt-In

3. Cannot Remain Anonymous

4. Entrants will be assigned a number for drawing.

5. Winnings will be taxable.

About Half – Of us feel good about returning to a movie theater (Cinamasafe)

Box Office Results -  Spiral From The Book Of Saw / Wrath of Man / Those Who Wish Me Dead  (Story) 

New This Week In Theaters -  Army Of The Dead  / American Fighter (Apple TV)

In June - You'll be able to get HBO Max with ads for $9.99 a month. The no-ads package costs $14.99.  (Story)

New Video - The Father / Tom and Jerry  / Raya And The Last Dragon  (Story)

Amazon - Is in negotiations to buy MGM for $9 billion (Story)

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins - Now opens in theaters July 23rd

Zach Snyder - One of the biggest complaints about his new film Army of the Dead is that it’s too long. (2 Hours 31 Mins)

NBC - Will air Annie Live! this holiday season. (Story) 

Twister - Movie turns 25 this week!  (Story)

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane (link) 

Also This Weekend - Wynn's Song Of The Week  (link)

Each weekday at 3:10.  I deliver the Throwback Song of The Day! 

Today's the artist said the song made him laugh and sometimes we all need that.  It just sounds fun!  Plus he needed a bus song on Clancy's Tavern in 2011. He put all the writers of the song into help him sing backup vocals and have some fun too.  That is not all he brought to the table cameo wise.

Remember the video?  It portrays an Animal House kind of Fraternity Scene.

See if you can catch all the stars that make an appearance in this one. 

Tune in tomorrow for another Throwback Song of The Day!

Chase Rice was the musical guest last night on Jimmy Kimmel Live, he sang his current single "Drinkin' Beer. Talkin' God. Amen": 

Alan Jackson made a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He sang his song "Way Down In My Whiskey": 

Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, and Jon Randall performed "In His Arms" from 'The Marfa Tapes' on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert recently. Watch their performance: 

Good Morning America announced the line up for their summer concert series earlier today. Performances include Lady A on July 2nd, Jimmie Allen & Brad Paisley on July 5th, Dierks Bentley on Jul 23rd, and Old Dominion on July 30th. Click here for more detials and the full line up! 

INTRODUCING OUR @GMA SUMMER CONCERT SERIES LINEUP ☀️?

Find the full list with dates here: https://t.co/BtUxJgr90S pic.twitter.com/hY7kpLjumM

— Good Morning America (@GMA) May 17, 2021

There are many things to write about as far as Country Music Memories are concerned. Last week we looked at some incredible duets (CLICK TO READ) and we will do more of those in weeks ahead.  This week, we will look at Desert Island Country Albums.  The ones you would choose if you were marooned on a desert island to listen to, (ALA - Tom Hanks In Castaway).  I'll list some of mine, and I will pick one for each article from each decade starting with 1980, up until 2019, and a Wild Card album which can be from any decade. So each installment, there will be 5 to list. I'll do four parts, so 20 should about cover it. 

If your favorite doesn't make the list this week, chances are it will make future lists on this subject, so let's have some fun.

Desert Island Country Island Albums - Part 1

The 1980's  (1981)  Earl Thomas Conley - Fire And Smoke

This album in my view, is one of the most pivotal albums in Country's shift from an older set of country stars, sound and image. ETC was different, but that didn't turn anyone off, in fact, he opened minds, ears and eyes.  It was his first album on a major lable (RCA). This ten song collection is incredible, each song being very strong, and boasted 4 big hits plus 6 fantastic album cuts, and both were unusual for the time. It was forward sounding, with a slick band and different kind of production.  It was traditional, yet contemporary, with a new way of doing things. He also was a new breed as he wrote the entire album as he was an incredible songwriter.  I think this album sent a message that new country was coming as it was very different than what was on the radio at that time.  Fire And Smoke, Song Of The Year 1981  It was soon to be a new day.  (Earl Thomas Conley Article I Wrote)

Singles -  Silent Treatment #7  /  Fire And Smoke #1 /  Tell Me Why #10 / After The Love Slips Away #16

Tell My Why - Third Hit Off This Album  (Read YouTube Comments)

The 1990's  (1997)  Tim McGraw - Everywhere

This is just flat out great stuff.  This is one of the very best albums, of any format, anywhere over the past 25 years.  Everywhere is an upper deck grand slam home run from the first song to the last. It was, and is the crown jewel of his incredible career.  There were great albums from him before this, and of course great albums after, but this is beyond sensational.  Again, this ten song album threw out 6 hits, 4 of them #1's.  Two of the hits spending 6 weeks at number one. This is a once in a lifetime kind of deal where an album is so good, and universally loved by fans. What a gem for music in general. Any artist  - recording any kind of music would love to record an album this good, focused, and on point.

Singles  - It's Your Love #1 (6weeks)  /  Everywhere #1  /  Just To See You Smile #1 (6weeks) /  One Of These Days #2 /   Where The Green Grass Grows #1  / For A Little While #2

Just To See You Smile  - 6 Weeks Number One!  What A Smash!

2000 - 2009 (2002)   Kenny Chesney  - No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems

Kenny Chesney has a ton of great albums, but this from 2002, was the first that showcased the island vibe that he became synonymous with.  Chesney had been on the charts since 1995 with the song, Fall In Love, and had been a solid act and consistent hit maker.  But this album changed a lot of things. After this, he seemed to record with a lot more confidence and had a better level of success.  He found his footing and launched a new direction. This fantastic album has 5 big hits, including a #1 with The Good Stuff, which won song of the year, and deserved it.  This set the stage for the wildly successful, When The Sun Goes Down album two years later. But this album to me is the best mix of who Chesney was, and who he was becoming in the years ahead.

Singles - Young  #2  /  The Good Stuff #1  / A Lot Of Things Different #6  /  Big Star #2  / No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems #2

No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problems - Changed A Lot Of Things For Chesney

2010 - 2019 - (2016)  Maren Morris - Hero

When Maren Morris came to the WQMX Studios a few years ago and was on our morning show, there was no doubt she was loaded with talent. This album is really great, and even though the chart numbers aren't mind blowing, the sales numbers are and so is the enthusiasm for her as a person, and her music.  She burst on the scene and was different. Her songs have a real punch and a powerful underneathe. I love her bold and determined singing style and use of vocals in a whole new way. This album was on the charts a long time with 4 singles and a number one.  It introduced us to a new star that was to become exceedingly popular with her fans on and off the stage. This is a very well done album, and will be a fan favorite for years to come.  Awards, and accolades, she is a star.

Singles  -  My Church #5  /  80's Mercedes #11  /  I Could Use A Love Song #1  /  Rich #8 

80's Mercedes - Great Song, Very Different, With A Thunderous Beat

Wild Card  -  (1980)  Alabama - My Homes In Alabama

This album helped change everything.  It broke through, became a huge hit, and put Nashville on notice that there was a new Marshall in town with a new look and sound. Alabama and Earl Thomas Conley around the same time hit the radio and began to pivot us to a whole new country, but in fairness, it would take a while longer still.  It was new, different and it was from a country "band"  very unusual then. It gave them 4 hit singles, with the last two going to #1.  That was the start of an insane 17 straight number ones and 30 some say 40 overall.  When this album came out, there was no denying that it was new, fresh, young but still traditional.  It set the stage for the incredibly successful Feels So Right album which launched them into superstardom, but this is where it began. There's something about this album I really like, it's natural, unspoiled, and groundbreaking.  They were right on time when we needed a hero.

Singles  - I Wanna Come Over (released 1979) #33  (My favorite Alabama Song) /  My Home's In Alabama #17  /  Tennessee River #1  /  Why Lady Why #1 

Their First Number One!

CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEKS = WYNN'S SONG OF THE WEEK!

I would like to share this with you, because what's happening with my mom right now will sound similar for many of you I feel. My mom is 93, is in very bad shape and the end is not very far off. Her memory has failed and now her body is too.  It has me thinking about the immediate future, but it also has me thinking about the past.

Yesterday, I tried to think about the last thing I did with both my mom and dad together before he died many years ago.  And I had a thought, and I was able to track it down.  And it made me happy to think of good times as opposed the difficult, beit temporary ones ahead as I have not lost my perspective.  My dad died in April of 1978, after a short battle with cancer. He told me he was ill in August of 1977, and it wasn't long after that things got pretty tough.  But Labor Day Weekend 1977, there was a very good day within it.  I was 15.

Me, my mom and dad together went to the old Municipal Stadium to see a doubleheader with the Tribe and the New York Yankees!  Just us three as my siblings lived out of town.  In those days the Indians were not very good at all, and the Yankees were great with tons of really good players.  They won the World Series later that fall.  I can't remember who's idea it was to go, but it was a good one.  And us three together doing things was very rare in those days.  Being honest, I can't remember why that was. It might be good I don't. 

But it was September 4, 1977. My dad bought us very nice upper box seats by home plate, that was rare too for us then.  We had pop and hot dogs and bought programs and kept score.  We watched and stayed for both games, and the Tribe WON both games! They swept the YANKEES in a doubleheader! The crowd was big for those days (28,184) and it was one of the best times I ever had at a game.  The crowd was crazy as we waved our "I Hate The Yankee Hankee"  (That was the giveaway that day). No one complained about being there for 8 hours. The weather was great, and the memory burned into my brain at that moment. I knew, at that second I would remember this day my whole life.  And I still do - like it was yesterday.

Yankee Hankee

My dad got very bad a couple months later, and passed in the spring.  My mom went on and lived alone in her house till this day, and has had a great life and led an interesting one as well.  She can't remember that day, these days, or any day, and that is a tough one.  But that's OK.  I do, and I am thinking more about that day these days than I have in decades.

As a kid I played lots of sports, and played them well.  I had a bunch of friends as a little kid, lived in a nice house in a good neighborhood.  Sleep outs, sleep overs, and parties, and all of those are incredible memories. But there is no doubt that September 4, 1977 - Labor Day weekend, was my very best day as a kid.

If I live to 100, or as long as my mom has so far, 93, I will never forget it.