Charlie Brown is no turkey

Being the loyal Peanuts fan that I am, last night I watched A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and today I’m pleased to see that the ratings are looking good.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving delivered its biggest audience in four years — 8.1 million viewers and a 2.2 rating in the adult demo, up 22 percent from last year. Pretty spry for a 39-year-old repeat, huh?

Thankful for Rewound Radio

Thanks to Mr. D.F. Rogers, I have Joel Whitburn Presents: Across The Charts The 1960s, and it’s the perfect companion for what Rewound Radio — by far the best oldies station on the Net — is doing this Thanksgiving weekend.

The All 60’s/No Repeat Weekend starts tomorrow morning (Thanksgiving Day) at 6AM (Eastern) and runs continuously until Sunday at 11PM on Rewound Radio. All 60’s songs with each song playing just one time.

Thanks for so many suggestions! We found almost all of them and they’re included. Rewound Radio really does play what you ask for!

We just ran the shuffle program tonight (we wanted to get as many of your songs in as possible). What a list! There are no rules other than no repeats. So, for example, you’ll hear things like Jimmy Gilmore’s “Sugar Shack” segueing into The Doors “Runnin’ Blue”. Totally unpredictable–and fun all Thanksgiving Weekend 🙂

As each song comes on I’m flipping to its entry in the book. Rewound Radio is playing *everything* from the 1960’s, and for many singles having the artist and song title is essential. Their “Instant On!” player, a great little Flash app, doesn’t do that, so I’m using Logitech’s excellent, but sadly now-discontinued, Squeezebox system.

The Whitburn book tells me that Thank U Very Much — a good song for Thanksgiving — is by The Scaffold and features Mike McGear, who is Paul McCartney’s brother. The song debuted February 10, 1968 on the Billboard hit chart, stayed for five weeks, and peaked at #68. Another option for listening to Rewound Radio and seeing the track information is to click on their PLS (Playlist) link and have the Real Player installed. Smartphone users are on their own, because I’m a confirmed clamshell guy.

Carol is making Thanksgiving dinner, and my sister’s family is coming over later. If they don’t want oldies with their meal I guess I’ll have to eat on the porch.

When I was washing dishes…

Out of nowhere, a song from high school, that I used to hear on WBCN in Boston, popped into my mind. This song.

I liked the lyric “I quit my job, ain’t got no money,” because I’d just started working at my first part-time job, washing dishes for $1.60/hour. Many times I’d work a Friday night from 4-10, then go back in Saturday morning at 8 and work until 10 that night. A sixteen-year-old kid working a 14-hour day, 20 hours out of 30. That couldn’t have been legal, even forty years ago. Back then I thought Savoy Brown was a Southern band, like the Allman Brothers, but they’re British.

Reed Page, R.I.P.

Worcester / Acton – Bryant “Reed” Page, Jr., 61, of Worcester, formerly of Acton, died suddenly Nov. 14, 2012. He was the beloved son of Bryant and the late Thelma Page of Acton. Reed is also survived by his three sisters, Tenley, Belinda, and Madi. He leaves behind four nieces, Briana, Kelsey, Ruth, and Taryn; three brothers-in-law, Peter, Donnie, and Joe, his lovely ex-wife, Shawn, several cousins, and many beloved friends.

A former ABRHS (Acton-Boxborough Regional High School) student, Reed obtained degrees from Leslie College and Harvard University. Reed worked for over a decade at Harvard after obtaining his Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering and Biology. He was a lifetime student of the struggles and the beauty that life brings. Reed dedicated much of his adult life to counseling, mentoring, supporting, and teaching hundreds of individuals battling addictions. Reed was very respected and loved by his community of brothers and sisters.

Reed was born with an intellect and genius that was enviable. His interests were varied, very passionate, and he was happiest when engaging in such loves as music, nature, and the company of good friends. He was in a band with several lifelong friends and was gifted with an amazing voice. He was awed by nature’s majesty and magnificence – sunsets, the stars, trips to Africa with members of his family, camping in Maine, the ocean, and everything about Hawaii.

Reed had a phenomenal wit and a sharp sense of humor with a huge grin and a belly laugh to match. No one could hug like Reed. He was devoted to his friends, his brothers, and sisters, and his family and he has left an indelible mark on every life and heart he touched.

Relatives and friends are invited to visiting hours on Mon., Nov. 19th from 4-7 p.m. at the Acton Funeral Home, 470 Massachusetts Avenue, (Rte 111) Acton, MA 01720. Funeral service will be held on Tuesday, November 20th at 1 p.m. at the Acton Congregational Church, 12 Concord Road, Acton, MA 01720.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to the Perkins School for the Blind (in honor of his niece, Briana). To donate online: www.perkins.org ; by mail: Perkins Trust Office, 175 North Beacon Street, Watertown, MA 02472. Guest book www.actonfuneralhome.com

Published in Worcester Telegram & Gazette from November 17 to November 18, 2012