WTIT: The Blog

Thanks to The Gal for authoring this meme. Click on the Sat-9 title of song on the next line below to play.

Saturday 9: Two Divided By Love (1971)

1) Sam’s teacher told her she’d use math every day. What’s the last math problem you solved? (Did you add to/subtract from the balance of your checkbook … use division to figure out how much you’d save with 25% off that sweater …) I think it comes down to tipping these days. And man, you wouldn’t think so, but strippers expect big ones, so to speak.

2) The lyrics tell us that if you take away the rain from a flower, the flower just won’t grow. Do you have any indoor houseplants? Could they use a drink of water this morning? No plants. I am barely housebroken myself.

3) This week’s artists, The Grass Roots, are introduced in this video by country music superstar Kenny Rogers. Who is your favorite country music singer? Carrie Underwood. It’s an Idol thing. When watch them discovered you never know. I’m not huge into country, I’m more of a country rock person: Eagles, Poco, later Byrds, CSNY etc.

4) The two unmarried members of the group — guitarist Warren Entner and drummer Ricky Coonce — competed for a lady’s affection on a 1968 episode of The Dating Game. Neither of them won! She chose Bachelor #1. Anyway, have you ever appeared on a game show? Do you know anyone who has? My dad appeared on a local cable show in the 80s. The host to my high school and asked my dad how my brother and I were doing.

5) The Grass Roots were originally called The 13th Floor. They chose this cheeky name because many high rises do not have a 13th floor since 13 is considered an unlucky number, and they were thumbing their noses at superstition. Are you superstitious? Not particularly. I’m huge with The Grass Roots. Trivia: Gal is correct that a band named 13th Floor were the Grass Roots for a short time. They weren’t the first band called the Grass Roots. And the 13th Floor singer went into the army and was replaced by Rob Grill. The first band were studio musicians. The second band wanted to write the music. The record company that made up (at the time) the fictitious band wanted control. That’s when the 13th Floor come in.

6) At the time of his death in 2011, group leader Rob Grill was still playing music, touring with a reconfigured Grass Roots. His widow Nancy referred to him as “one lucky son of a gun” because he’d been able to support himself as a musician, doing what he loved for 45 years. In what ways do you consider yourself fortunate? Rob Grill picked out his replacement before he died. Yes I am very fortunate. It’ll be better when Kathy is finally gone. I mean, we get along great still and I let her stay an extra week. But last night she said it would be today. I’m guessing tomorrow.

7) In 1971, the year this song was released, Walt Disney World opened in Florida. The Epcot Center was added in 1982. Have you ever visited this, or any, Disney theme park? No. The twins have tried to get me there. But since we just started hanging out again, I don’t want to push it.

8) Fresh chicken was just 43¢/lb. in 1971. Do you prefer the breast or drumstick? I’m a bit of a breast guy.

9) Random question: Do you work well under pressure? I could not be worse. I was pretty could until my 50s.

That’s a wrap on the Tape Radio Blog. Come back now. Well not exactly now. Same time. Same blog.

-30-