Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Sh-Boom (1954)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) 70 years ago this month, the Crew Cuts were singing that life could be a dream. When you awaken, can you recall your dreams? I'm glad I remember Thursday night's dream because it was so ridiculously random! My favorite ballplayer, Anthony Rizzo, and I were sitting on the sidewalk, our backs up against a brick wall. (I don't know where we were.) He was making me laugh. Then a car pulled up. Apparently we were waiting for my former coworker, Jamie, to pick us up. Only Jamie wasn't driving, he was in the passenger seat and beckoned us to get in. Alan Alda was driving. Of course he was.

2) The lead singer refers to his girl as "darling," "sweetheart" and "baby." Have you used an affectionate endearment lately? If yes, who were you speaking to? I just called my cat "Baby Girl."

3) Two members of this Canadian quartet are brothers, born 15 months apart. Do you have siblings? If yes, how close in age are you? One sister is just over a year older, the other is 8 years my junior.

4) A hit in Toronto, the Crew Cuts traveled by car to appear on TV in New York. How are your wheels? Would you give your vehicle a tune up before embarking on a 1,000 mile (500 miles each way) road trip? Since Alan Alda drives me places, I'll leave this decision to him.

5) In 54 and 55, they had five Top 10 hits. Then the Crew Cuts fell off the charts. Founding member Rudi Maugeri suspects it's because they were a "teen act" and teenage music tastes can change fast. Who did you listen to when you were in high school? I listened to the Beatles and Barbra Streisand. None of my classmates did, though. They were all into Elton John, Fleetwood Mac and James Taylor.

6) A well-maintained crew cut should be trimmed every 2-4 weeks. Is there an appointment with a hairstylist on your calendar? I may be at the stylist as you read this.

Let's look at the summer of 1954.

7) 70 years ago, Chicago Bears great Walter Payton was born. Today more than 1200 students are enrolled in Chicago's Walter Payton College Preparatory High School. Was your high school named after anyone? No, it was named for the town.

8) J.R.R. Tolkien's Fellowship of the Rings was published. It's the first of three volumes in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Have you read the books and/or seen the movies? Nope.

9) Sports Illustrated was first published. As a special promotion, the premier issue included baseball cards. With the introduction of online communities and trading apps, collecting baseball cards continues to grow in popularity. Are there any card collectors in your life? Not personally, but I feel like I do. Jen, my coworker at the card shop, gave her husband a display case for his baseball cards as a Father's Day gift. She agonized over choosing the right one.