Box Office Results - #1 - Bob Marley:One Love   (28 Million)

#2- Madame Web 

#3- Argyle

New This Week – Drive Away Dolls (Coen Brothers)   / Ordinary Angels  (Hilary Swank)

Budget – For Madame Web was 80 Million

BAFTA - Awards this week, Oppenheimer was the big winner winning 7

People's Choice Awards -  Barbie -  won Movie of the Year

Kate Snow  - Has anchored the Sunday broadcast of NBC Nightly News since 2015 leaving next week

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

Also - 50 Most Important Country Songs 1980 – Today #43 -  (Link)

This month the Browns announced they bought 176 acres of land in Brook Park located about 30 seconds from the airport.  It's the site of the once proud and gigantic Ford Casting and Engine Plants that supplied generations with good jobs. It was the home of the legendary 351 Cleveland Engine in the day, with Ford building 34 million engines of various types there since 1951.  In its prime it employed 15,000 people every day.  The plant now is 99% gone but Ford still has some presence there, but nothing like before.

In Its Prime  - Local Legendary Place

I grew up about 10 minutes from this site in Berea and had friends who's dad or mom worked there.  On one side there is 1-71, on another is I-480, on another are heavily used railroad tracks and Snow Road on the other. Just over the tracks is Route 237 then Hopkins Airport.  And just before 480, there is Brookpark Road. Ever since they tore down much of the plant, I have wondered what was going to happen on this property. The airport can't expand that way, and I suppose they could build millions of square feet of storage warehouses, someone already has on a very small scale.  But the area is incredibly unique.

A domed stadium there?  I know that's charged many people up and I get where they're coming from.  The Browns have always played on the lakefront, it's tradition. The Lakefront is a site like few others in sports, and that's not lost on me.  The Indians/Guardians played there as well for generations, and League Park before that. But today we celebrate them far more at Progressive Field one of MLB's best ballparks.  Many have stated that the purchased site is like the old Coliseum site in Richfield, but it's not at all.  This site is about 10 miles from downtown, where the Coliseum was about 25, but seemed further as it was far more difficult for many to get to.  And there was (and still is) nothing around the Coliseum site, a place we all loved during its wonderful life.

What's interesting about this purchase is this. As where the current stadium is a very unique site and gives the Browns an identity, the new site has great potential if chosen to be among the most unique areas in sports if done properly, and that would be the key.  It's a stones throw from the airport, NASA, and a huge MId-West Train rail switch-yard. If you hired the right architects and engineers to do this, and built a dome with a surrounding area, revitalizing the entire area with proper themes and imagination it could be incredible.  But you'd have to do it right, and pay homage to a place that was once exceedingly important to the city, and make it so again. It could become the Browns new identity, on a famous site that personified the work ethic of an entire region matching the team's history.  But all of that would require a lot of really smart, visionary people and governmental cooperation. 

You would also have to make it accessible to ALL roads and interstates because everyone knows the current stadium parking and traffic is a mess. The thoroughfares surrounding this property are major and would all need to be updated around the site.  The RTA station is right there, and you would have to incorporate the Rapid Trains (The Main Red Line) to stop at the stadium on event days.  And it would need easy access to Hopkins.  If you used your head, you could have a brilliant plan here.  And if you decided on this, use those same smart, inventive type of people to reinvent the lakefront downtown and start something great there if the current stadium or site isn't in the plans.

All I am saying here is this. I have no idea who pays for what, how much, or any of that as that's not what this writing is about.  I'm saying if this is where things go, those involved must, must, must do it right and understand the potential to be very different and to own a venue like no other in America.  You'd have a dome, next a major airport, near the I-X Center on the highways.  You could attract any event on earth, and possibly spur a lot growth.  It's also about 5 minutes from the Browns Headquarters, and it's still Cuyahoga County where Brook Park sits. And if you literally drive 30 seconds north you're in the city of Cleveland.

Who knows where the Browns will or not not go, but I know this. This was purchased for a reason, and if you follow the money it generally takes you where you want to go for answers.  If I had to bet on where this is going, I'd say the days on the Lakefront are dwindling down to a few more years.

And if that's right, please do it right.  Really right.

Merle Haggard recorded a ton of big songs over many decades.  What makes this important, it dares to ask a question I think we've all silently asked at one time another when faced with an overwhelming challenge, like the pandemic or 911.  When this was out a few things were happening.  An ongoing brutal recession with jobs being lost rapidly and forever.  Many people were really hurting and needed a voice and this spoke directly to them.  The Big City album where this is from was a new and reinvented Haggard and was a big commercial and critical success.  This addresses the loss of much that was once perceived as good, and then facing the new, is it better?  But this pivots hard and ends as a song of hope that fans gravitated to.  Much of the feel of what Haggard is singing about has been relatable a few times since, namely subsequent recessions and even the pandemic and 911 with all of us feeling big loss during those times.  I get it, this song is very slow tempo, is sad at times by an artist not played anymore.  But Merle reminds us that life is not always a party, and there are times for rallying words. Granted some here sound dated but time marches on in music.  This #2 hit  - Was an anthem for hard times.

Last Week #44

For generations the fight has raged on what is better, Pie or Cake?  The answer is YES!  Both are amazing, and both have their place.  If I had to choose, I supposed I'd go Pie.  Strawberry Rhubarb pie to me is a real treat and so is Key Lime.  My two favs.  That's why this is so good!  I love pound cake and Key Lime!  Boom!! 

I fell in love with Pound Cake 30 years ago when I was doing mornings in Lakeland, Florida at WPCV and a listener brought us a fresh pound cake she made with mayo!!!  I couldn't stop eating it.  And now Key Lime??

THIS IS INCREDIBLE! - MAKE THIS!

If you missed any of my articles this week from WQMX.com here's a good chance to get caught up. Grab a coffee and ear buds and thanks for reading and listening every day!

It's A New Day

Eat Of The Week

50 Most important Songs 1980-Today - #44

Forgotten Jukebox - RC-24

The Mega Star Series - Ray Charles

BROWNS - Planes, Trains And Once Automobiles

Wynn At The Movies And More!

Box Office Results  - #1 - Argyle

#2 - Lisa Frankenstein

#3 - The Beekeeper

New This Week –  Bob Marley: One Love /  Madame Web (Marvel)  / Drift  / The Taste Of Thing

The Bob Marley – Biopic - $12 million on Wednesday. Breaking a decade-old revenue record for Valentine’s Day occurring midweek.

Taylors Era Movie - It will premiere on Disney+ on March 15th! 

Slowest Non-Covid - Weekend ever at movies

Taylor Swift - Will direct a movie she wrote as soon as the Era's tour is over

Travis Kelce - He's makes his debut as a film producer. March 9^th - My Dead Friend Zoe

Record - The New Deadpool / Wolverine trailer is the most viewed ever in a 24 hour period 365 Million

 The Oscars - Getting a new category. Beginning with 2026's Academy Awards, for Achievement in Casting. 

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

Also - 50 Most Important Country Songs 1980 – Today #44  (Link)

February was Black History Month, and all month I featured artists that contributed greatly to country music over the years.  It was great to look back on these amazing artists and showcase them.  In case you missed any of them, here is a recap of who was featured and where.

The Mega Star Series - Charley Pride

The Mega Star Series - Ray Charles

The Mega Star Series - Lionel Richie

Country Music Memory Lane - Big Al Downing

Forgotten Jukebox - Seven Spanish Angels

Forgotten Jukebox - Stuck On You

Forgotten Jukebox - Too Many Times

Forgotten Jukebox - Deep River Woman

50 Most Important Country Songs 1980 - Today - #45

Big Al Downing was a very talented artist, and a very interesting story that is little known, but should be. Here's a guy that played venues all over the world for decades, in front of millions of people, and never had any real charting success.  I remember playing BAD at my first station or two, and I remember seeing him on TV on tons of shows. But what an incredible career he had.

Big Al was a sizzling rockabilly piano player and that talent alone got him regular appearances at the Grand Ole' Opry and great concert halls everywhere.  I never met Al Downing, but by all accounts he was a hugely liked man and performer to all. He was a band member early in his career for the amazing Wanda Jackson. He also was a great song writer and early on wrote songs for Fats Domino and later for others like Tom Jones.  He then became a wonderful music producer well into the late 1990's for many in Nashville.

This Has Been Recorded By Many  - Written By Big Al

He was a much respected member of the country music community.  He did chart a few songs mostly in the late 1970's.  He had two top 20 hits back to back, Mr Jones, and Touch Me, both off the Big Al Downing album which enjoyed good commercial and great critical success.  As a result of that he was nominated for Best New Artist of 1980 by the ACM. He was also nominated for the ACM Single Of The Year for Mr. Jones.  Plus Billboard Magazine's New Artist of The Year & Single of The Year Awards for that same year.  All of this 20 years after breaking into the music biz. Mr. Jones is considered by some as one of the most poignant and powerful story songs we've ever had.

This Song Was Loved - Powerful

Big Al Downing performed world wide for most of his adult life, and was a fixture on Television on shows like Hee Haw, and American Bandstand With Dick Clark.  He's in the Rockabilly Hall Of Fame as well.  He was a sensational musician and a pretty darn good songwriter. And even though his charting success was limited, his contribution to country is not. 

The Story Behind The Story  - Fans Loved This Song

His start in the music business was from the 1950's and lasted until the early 2000's.  He helped integrate country music along with Ray Charles and helped pave the way for others that followed.  His single, Mr. Jones was a much loved song we played for a good long while, I remembered getting lots of calls for that song early on in my career.  And that Big AL Downing album, is really terrific.

Big Al Downing left behind great songs, great performances and a great legacy.   Al Downing passed away in 2005 at the age of 65.

For More On Black History Month click here for more information from our sister station (WAKR)

Deep River Woman - Lionel Richie & Alabama  - 1986 -  (Album - Dancin' On The Ceiling)

In 1986 Alabama was on top of world and so was Lionel Richie.  They were each dominating their respective charts that were seemingly miles apart.  But after Richie got on the country charts with Stuck On You, this was the next step.  This Richie penned gem of a song was about perfect.  Alabama was loved by about everyone no matter what your musical preference was, and so was Richie. Their harmonies on this song are legendary, as it sounded as if they had been singing together forever.  This song was a work of art in the fact too, it sounded like a song each one might have recorded independently of each other under different circumstances.  To me, that is the key to any attempted duet, is it a good song, or an attempt to make a big song out of an average one?  But lucky for us, they did it as a duet that went to #10 on the country charts.  This song was also redone on Richie's 2012 masterpiece album, Tuskegee with Little Big Town and is terrific as well.  I'll include both versions below.  But in 1986, with two musical giants meeting in the studio to record this amazing record, was the stuff of legends.

For More On Black History Month click here for more information from our sister station (WAKR)

Last Weeks Selection

My Mega Star Profile On Lionel Richie

WIth Alabama  - 1986

 With Little Big Town - 2012

Too Many Times  - Earl Thomas Conley And Anita Pointer - 1986

This was a moment.  In 1986 Earl Thomas Conley was one of country musics most successful artists. He was rattling off a long line of big hits and this is one of them.  He invited the incredible Anita Pointer of the R&B group The Pointer Sisters to sing on this very powerful duet, which was the title song of his new album.  ETC was way ahead of his time in country with his approach and sound, as he was always instituting new ideas and styles. This incredible duet with Pointer turned a lot of heads with her soaring vocals and powerful presence.  This was #2 on the country charts and in my view one of the best country duets ever.  This song reached people deeply and together they made the rounds for a long time appearing on all the Awards Shows, the talk shows and shows like Solid Gold.  They performed this song together on Soul Train, making Conley the first country artist to ever appear on that classic show.  There was also a TNN Concert Special honoring this remarkable moment.  This was a great example of two distinctively different sounds, styles and worlds marrying together and opening many eyes, ears and minds in and around country music.  Anita Pointer is the absolute star of this sensational duet that should live on forever.  This was perfection in about every way imaginable for all of us.

Both Anita and Earl have passed away - but this gem will always be here.

Song written by Micheal Smotherman / Tony McShear / Scott Page (Former member of Pink Floyd) 

For More On Black History Month click here for more information from our sister station (WAKR)

Last Weeks Selection

I put two versions of this in the article, to show the chemistry and affection between these two amazing performers. Worth a few listens  - Very heartwarming.