Wynn's Weekend Watch -  The Martian  (Number one 5 years ago today) 

Cinema Safe – Great site for movie theater procedures (Site)

New This Week -  100% Wolf

Word Is - Wonder Woman 1984 reportedly skipping the theaters and going straight to streaming. (Story)

 
536 Regal Cinema - Theaters have temporarily shut down, Regal is the second-largest movie chain in the country.  (Story)

Box Office - New Mutants #1

Hocus – Pocus - #2 at the movies 30 years after its original release   (Remember This?)

All Five Kenny Rogers - The Gambler movies, as well as Coward of the County, are out this week on DVD as a box set.  (Story)

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

Nancy asked me to remember one of her favs from a while ago, Steve Wariner.  I proudly played all his songs, as there was a time he could really do no wrong. His list of accomplishments is huge, but we will hit the highlights.  He was also a gigantic favorite with young fans in the early 1980's when we needed young fans.  That was a great gift he gave us then.  He was one of the artists that helped me fall in love with Country Music!

His First Big Hit -  1980   Your Memory

Steve Wariner is an amazing musician, singer, writer and about everything else.  He got a break when he was a band member for the late Dottie West, which at that time was a really good gig.  Eventually he had a solo career in the 1980's that was very successful, and totally enviable.  Fans loved him, and he's another artist that seldom, if ever, released a mediocre song.  In fact, he peeled off ten number one songs in his early success, and had a bunch of great songs that didn't hit number one.  He was one of our biggest hit makers!

One Of The Best Country Songs Of The 1980's  - Smash #1  (Ronnie Milsap Passed On This Song)

He recorded 18 albums, and had about 50 singles.  Lynda, Some Fools Never Learn, Lonely Women Make Good Lovers, Life's Highway, these are just a few of his biggest songs.  He also recorded duets with Glen Campbell, Garth, Nicolette Larsen, Diamond Rio, and Brad Paisley. His career has been incredible. 

Kansas City Lights - Off That First Album, Country Gold

He was playing bass for Chet Atkins, when he released his breakout album and in 1980 (self titled) and it was a smash.  His first single, Your Memory, a big song, followed by All Roads Lead To You #1, Kansas City Lights, By Now, all did very well on the charts, and a star was born. (He left Atkins band)  That first album was loved, as it is as good a breakthrough album as you will ever hear.  Over the next decade, Wariner was on fire, as fans loved him and so did radio.

This Helped Wariner Shift Gears  - GREAT Song!

Steve Wariner was as played an artist as we had then. His sound was sophisticated, refined, and was just flat out great.  Wariner, in the early days was not a traditionalist, but his music was amazing.  His sound would evolve as the format did, and his music and image did as well.  Very few, if any artist did as good a job as changing as he did. He was commercially born during Urban Cowboy, and then was led into the New Traditionalists, and beyond.  What he did was remarkable, as others were stubbornly left behind.

Lynda - This Was #1 -As He Evolved With The Format

That was a great move on his part.  But by the end of the 1980's things cooled down some on the charts. Then a real resurgence in the late 1990's gave Wariner a different kind of success. A duet with Garth, and he turned to writing great songs for artists like Garth, Clint Black, and others.  Then he recorded the gem of his career in many fans eyes, Holes In The Floor Of Heaven in 1998 that won about every single award you can win. It is still a huge favorite with many fans, some who are not even familiar with the Wariner of the early 1980's. If that's you, you've have a real treat ahead of you if you look for his music, this article will give you a great place to start.

This Song Is A Classic - Multi-Award Winner

He has reinvented himself many times, and that's smart.  Writer, master musician, insanely great guitarist, singer, collaborator, ambassador, Grammy winner, awards nominee and winner, and flat out star.  Steve Wariner is a great example of being nimble in an ever changing business. And for those who are not really familiar with him, if you Google him and spend some time listening, you are about to discover a new favorite of yours I have no doubt.  I was a big fan and have a ton of respect for every ounce of incredible talent he has.

 #1 With Garth

Steve Wariner is a star - Period. Flat out star in Country Music!

Other Recent Memory Lane Articles - Check them out!

Shenandoah

That Ain't Country

Patty Loveless

Eddie Rabbitt

When I was a kid, we used to drive out to Mapleside Farms in Brunswick and get apples in a white paper bag, or maybe some cider.  In those days it was kind of way out there, and it felt like a drive to the country. Things change.

Swig 'O Cider - Fantastic!

Now, Mapleside is still in the same place, but nothing else is.  Of course that area really built up over the years, but Mapleside is still an incredible place.  Windy and I went out there the other day and it was great!  It had been a couple years since I had been there, and there have been some changes.  But at it's heart, Mapleside is still the same. Great place, great setting and a great feeling when you're there.  You can take your family there on the weekends and have the best time this fall.  Check their website!

My First Ever Hayride!

We took a hayride, and walked the grounds on a beautiful day. Music, sun and a slide ride, and a sip of cider too.  We did some shopping, made a memory or two and vowed we would be back sooner than later. We love places like this. Depending on when you go, and who you go with, you can have any kind of time you want to have!  We went to Szalays a few weeks ago and had a great time there too.   Then we had an ice cream and called it a day. 

Mapleside in Brunswick.  And the best part is?  They still sell apples in a white paper bag!

Mapleside Website

Mapleside Facebook

Over the weekend, Bob Gibson died at age 84.  For those of you who don't know exactly who he was, he was a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1960's and 1970's.  When you read about him, and take time to learn who he was, and what he did within the game, he just may be the best "overall"  player in the history of the Major Leagues.  He also without question was the most feared pitcher in MLB history.

Yes, we can talk about his stats, but that alone is too easy.  His run through the 60's and his 1968 season changed baseball forever.  In 1968, he was 22-9 and had a ERA of 1.12.  (Somehow, he lost 9 games) He was MVP and everything else that year.  And as a result of his dominance, baseball lowered the mound so hitters could have a better chance.  And it's still that low.  He is the only player I can think of that by himself, forced a geometric design change to baseball forever.  The game has been forever changed as a result.  He was a more modern day immortal of the game.

Indulge me here briefly.  251 wins, 56 shutouts, over 3,000 strikeouts, 9 straight gold gloves, 255 complete games, 13 shutouts in a single season, MVP, 2 time World Series MVP, 3,900 innings pitched and a seven game World Series win streak. 9 time All-Star, and in one World Series, he won 3 complete games in a week!  He once struck out 17 in a World Series Game! He also hit 26 home runs in his career (pitcher) and hit .303 in 1970.  He was a multiple World Series Champion, and he would pinch hit and pinch run too.  He is without any question the best Post Season starting pitcher ever. A guy like that today would demand 60 million a year. - And get it!  (His highest salary was $150,000 - highest in majors at the time)

He played his entire career with the Cardinals and was the face of that franchise long after he retired.  A beyond fierce competitor, and also a great man off the field.  Guys like Gibson are once every hundred year guys. Players that show up and impact the game so incredibly, the game is never the same. The list is short.  Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Bob Gibson. Ruth changed the game with the advent of the Home Run. Robinson, with skill, bravery, grace and complete social change, Aaron with our first look of total greatness, Clemente with his greatness and opening a huge door for Latin American players to enter the major leagues, and Gibson being so great and dominant, the game had to evolve and adjust to him. 

You may not know about Bob Gibson, and that's OK.  He like many, was a different time and a different era that is easily disposable today.  But that doesn't make him less great.  I think if I was starting a team that wanted to win a World Series, and I could take that one player to start my team, with due respect to all the great players of today, and 150 years of yesterdays, my pick would be Bob Gibson.

He was everything real greatness should, could, and can be.

Wynn's Weekend Watch - Joker - One year ago!

Cinema Safe – Great site for movie theater procedures (Site)

New Streaming This Week - Herb Alpert is.... (Scheduled and delayed from theaters from May)

This week, Melanie asked in an e-mail what I thought about one of her favorites growing up, Shenandoah. I played all their songs and always thought they were one of the most underrated country bands ever.  They were much like Blackhawk in the fact that the fans that found them, really loved them.   Though they did have better chart success.

Mama Knows - How GREAT Of A Song Is This?

They had 6 number one's, which is a lot, and had a bunch of other well charted songs.  They were extremely likeable with their music, their image, and in person. I emceed a few of their shows, and they were good guys, with good people around them. But they are a very good example of what happens sometimes in Country Music. They had the hits, the sound, the great lead singer, the radio play, the solid fan base, but for some reason, they just didn't become the "super group"  you think they would.

This Was A Big Number One!

They showed up right on time, late 1980's, and the traditionalist movement had begun. Shenandoah was traditional, and they flew in the face of the fading Urban Cowboy craze.  Their music was apologetically country and the format seemed ready to follow a new country band. They got good press, and were heralded as fresh and honest. But the gigantic success would prove difficult. 

Alabama was a big part of that. For over a decade, they ruled the roost as far as the Country Band thing was concerned.  And for some reason, we were somewhat reluctant to let anyone else really take off and fly unlimited. Many great bands came out. The Kentucky Headhunters, Confederate Railroad, Southern Pacific, Desert Rose Band, Blackhawk, Atlanta, and Shenandoah, who all had some real good success, but all sort of lived in Alabama's shadow at that time, even after the main Alabama run was over.

Their Biggest Hit - At Least On The Charts

But Shenandoah was smooth and very talented in every regard.  Marty Raybon, their lead singer, had the terrific signature voice that all great bands, regardless of format, have to have. They also had some great material to work with. Some of their songs are many fans all-time favorites, including Two Dozen Roses and Next To You, Next To Me, which was a three week #1. I was a fan because I always felt that whatever their current song was, it was solid.  Once they got going, they seldom had a "bad" song.

This Song Won Awards, And Is A Real Favorite - Great Match 

After hitting the charts in the late 80's, they rolled on for a good long while making great songs, and having good success.  Big songs like, Ghost In This House, Mama Knows, Church On Cumberland Road, Sunday In The South, and If Bubba Can Dance. All of these were big songs, and did well on the radio.  The album, Extra Mile is a classic as far as I am concerened.  They won an ACM, a CMA, and a Grammy.  Their collaboration with Alison Krause won a both a Grammy and a CMA for, Somewhere In The Vicinity Of The Heart.  Great song!

I Always Loved This Song!

But a big law suit over their name was a bigger problem, and they settled with a band from Kentucky on it. They got to keep the name, but it hurt.  Then there were two other bands that made the same name claim and things got tough. Later Raybon left the band, and eventually they disbanded and that was a shame.  But there have been reunions and the reformings.  And that's good to see.  They were really great for a time, and no one wanted them to just disappear.

This Was A Big Song!

Shenandoah was very good for country, and I miss them and their honest approach to our format.  Great music, great guys, great run. They deserve some love!  They were just good - everything!

You know, as lousy as this whole few months has been for about all of us in one way or another, there have been some success stories. And one of them, is a passion of mine, and that's golf.  And this is an industry that needed some really good news.

Golf is a game I feel everyone should learn to play, and not because I like it.  There are a few great reasons.  One, it gets you outside. Two, you golf with your best friends.  And three, golf is about the only game you can play your entire life.  That was the reason my dad taught me to play, and those are the words he said to me.  You can also take it up at any age. Golf is waiting for you. 

Golf is the only game that the ball is never moving when you play it. It's the only game that you cannot win, only play. There has never been an 18 scored on a course, so the course always wins. You can play it by yourself.  You will see something you have never seen before virtually every time you play.  You will build great friendships playing.  You can meet great people while playing, or going to the driving range.  The benefits are endless.

I have many friends in the golf industry, and they all have told me the past few years have not been kind to golf. And it's not the games fault.  People are different. Many are simply tech junkies now, if it's on a screen they love it, if not, they don't.  Many don't have the time to play or the attention span. Others lack the patience needed, as it is a game that takes time to learn to play well.  And some, it's just not exciting enough. 

Well, with the slowdown, many people were looking for something outside to do. Golf - BOOM!  The original social distanced game without question.  Many people took up the game, and like it. Many rediscovered the game, some played more, and some have had to admit they were wrong, and golf really is a great thing to do.  In fact, over 11 MILLION MORE rounds of golf were played this season than last.  And suddenly golf is back.

You Don't Have To Be Good To Play

There are new things that courses have done too. At Chippewa in Doylestown, they have the new Finn Cycles if you want instead of a cart. Pretty fun as I tried one out.  Also, they, and some other courses have installed GPS on carts to aid your game.  Many places now have carts that have USB ports to charge up, and courses overall have loosened some dress code rules.  Although I still think that the game deserves nice clothes and collared shirts.  Plus, many are offering good deals at various times of the day.

Finn Cycles !  Fun !

I'm glad for the boost to golf.  Learn to play. It teaches so much.  As much as I love the actual game, my favorite thing about golf is the time spent with my best friends on earth - every time!   Many good things can happen on a golf course with your friends and those memories will be with you for a lifetime.  And you spend time in some of the most beautiful settings.

Tee It UP!

COURSE WE PLAYED  - THIS SEASON  - AND RECOMMEND!     Save this for reference!

Chippewa  /  Firestone 9 /  Bunker Hill  /  Valleaire  /  Chenowith / Goodpark  / Pleasant Valley / Royal Crest /  Hilliard Lakes  /  Ironwood / Hinckley Hills  / Briarwood /  Thunderbird Hills North and South /  Hickory Nut / Mallard Creek  / Sugarbush  / Sable Creek / Cossett Creek / Copper Top /  Raccoon Hill / Fox Den / Boulder Creek

I am so proud to be the voice of Wilson Plumbing And Heating on WQMX!  We are a local company at WQMX, and so is Wilson, so it's a GREAT match.  I love putting my name next to theirs because of who they are, and how they do things.

I recently went down to their wonderful old building that serves as their headquarters on Cedar Street downtown Akron.  I love old historic buildings, and they have made it their own.  I met a ton a really good people there who clearly love what they do! Teresa gave me the tour and the invite and I'm glad she did!

Windy and I have called Wilson a few times over the past year or so, and we have been very impressed each time.  They replaced our furnace, and hot water heater last winter, and some plumbing issues this month.  All fixed, all good to go. AND they showed up on time and ready to go.  That's when I knew I wanted them to be our go-to.  When you have a major problem at the house you want someone to come take care of it.  Let's face it, when you call a heating or A/C company, you have a problem that needs to be handled  That's Wilson!

They came out, were incredibly polite, and treated our home with respect.  They treated it like it was their own home.  ON TIME, and honest that is what we all are looking for in people that work on our homes no matter what the problem or repair is.  Perfect!  The Wilson family still owns it, and have since 1958.  The Wilson family are good people on and off the job, and I'm proud to tell you that.  They live local and you can feel good about the fact you are supporting local biz, with our local dollars.

330 - 535- 5386.  I encourage you to put this number in your phone.  That way, you'll have one thing less to worry about when something goes wrong at the house. They do everything you can imagine.  They are your lifeline to getting things done quickly, politely, and done right.

Wilson Facebook Page

Wilson Website   (See all they do)

I think we all had reservations about how this Tribe season would go, both from a baseball stand point and a life stand point too.  But even though the season is shortened, late season, and post season baseball is still incredible to watch.

Three times this week, the Tribe had walk off wins in meaningful games and the area is a abuzz about it.  Now today, we can all catch our breath and get ready for the post season that starts tomorrow.  This only happens with a MLB team in town.  The every-day-ness of it is the key. Even if it's only 60 games this year, I'm bummed we aren't playing today!  And man, do we need a nice distraction.  I find when I'm watching the Tribe these days, it's all I can think about, and I think we all need that.

I know there were a bunch of social media experts out there that were poo-pooing the whole Clevinger  (BTW he's hurt again)  trade thing, and there were calls to cut Zac Plesac (BTW he's pitching incredibly well) after his really bad decision making earlier in the year.  I really wish "fans"  would quit whining about the ownership, and management with the Tribe.  This franchise has proven to us all, that it can be done, and compete with anyone even the teams with the huge money.  Then the 8 game losing streak didn't look good, and Manager Terry Francona being out most of the year was a drag as well. And sports radio experts were writing us off.  Take off your blinders, and stop the go-to old and tired complaining about Cleveland "poor me routine"

This season as reminded me of a few things that are really good to remember.  One, baseball is the greatest game in the world.  Two, the Tribe may be the best run organization in all of MLB. They have no real money in a small market, and somehow, we have won more games than any other team in the American League since 2013.  We are in the playoffs again, we will have the Cy Young winner yet again (Shane Bieber) , and more than likely the MVP (Jose Ramirez).  And three, our lives, our passion, and our desire to have a good life, no matter what is in front of us, is more powerful than the things or people that try to weigh us down.

There is no doubt we all would rather be at these games than not, but right now - not possible.  And sure, MLB has it's problems off the field, and that ticks me and everyone off.  But when you're in a race to win the World Series, it all fades and we can sit back, and enjoy this amazing ride.

Go Tribe!

Wynn's Weekend Watch -  Downton Abbey  -   (#1 one year ago today at the movies)

Good News – Right now, there are 10 first run movies in US theaters.  (List)

Cinema Safe – Great site for movie theater procedures (site)

Kane Brown – The latest to come to the Drive-Ins, Saturday (info)

Box Office - #1 Was  Tenet   #2 Was   The New Mutants

Disney - Black Widow and West Side Story both pushed back to next year     (Story)

West Side Story  2020

Black Widow  2020

WOW !!! – Word is Tom Hardy is going to replace Daniel Craig as the next James Bond (story)

NO Sequel – To Elf, because Will Farrell and John Favreau didn't and don't get along (story)

Family Guy and Bob's Burgers - Are both coming back to Fox for two more seasons by (story)

A Father of the Bride - Reunion is coming soon to Netflix. (story)

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