The Legend-News

Latest Issue: 2016 June 6

About The Legend-News
Archives: 1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016

About The Legend-News

MCHENRY, ILLINOIS (2005 October 26) — The Legend-News is an irregularly-published, unfocused and rarely hilarious block of text (with the occasional picture), available for no particularly good reason.

Since its founding in 1998, The Legend-News has provided minutes of entertainment and information to the fans, devotees and stalkers of C.W. McCall, the country singer famous for his 1976 ode to the road, “Convoy.” The Legend-News temporarily suspended publication in early 2005, for reasons cited by its editor and publisher — actually, he’s the only person who does any work around here — as “I gotta get my head together.”

Now that Ed. has recovered sufficiently from his rest, The Legend-News is once again wasting bytes on a monitor near you, providing less-than-stellar coverage of C.W. McCall fandom, bad fiction based on thirty-year-old songs, and subtle hints that you should buy C.W. McCall CDs.

Once upon a time, The Legend-News was also available by email subscription; but due to the problems created by spammers constantly getting our IP address blocked, we’ve discontinued that service. Sorry about that.

The Mists of Time

The first edition of The Legend-News is dated 15 March 1998, but that’s an example of revisionist history at work. That first edition didn’t have a name; it was just a journal entry that appeared as the first page of the original version of the web site that I’d named C.W. McCall: An American Legend. Subsequent entries were merely designed to inform visitors to this site of the progress that I’d made in adding new transcriptions of the lyrics to the songs of C.W. McCall.

The first few months of entries were unscheduled. As I added new pages and expanded the site, I’d publish a new article telling of those changes. I don’t remember the exact date upon which I’d settled on a name for these notices, but that date was probably near the end of 1998. It was then that I decided to publish a weekly update about the site and other C.W. McCall-related news.

As for the name The Legend-News, it’s a play on words and a homage to the names used by real newspapers. Most newspapers have but a single descriptive name: ‘The Tribune’, ‘The Ledger’, ‘The Daily Telegraph’, ‘The Star’. But newspaper often merge, and the result of those mergers can be noted in hypenated names such as ‘Sun-Times’, ‘News-Ledger’, ‘Star-Tribune’.

Since this web site is devoted to An American Legend, I thought that the use of the word ‘Legend’ in the name of the newsletter seemed appropriate. But just ‘The Legend’ didn’t sound quite right, so I added ‘-News’ to it and became ‘The Legend-News’. It’s not a real journalistic endeavour, and I’m not a real journalist, but the name should make you envision a small local paper, published somewhere out West in a town where the sidewalks are still wood and the streets are muddy after a rain. In reality, The Legend-News is created on a Macintosh in the spare bedroom of my house in McHenry, Illinois; no ink has been harmed in the production of this publication.

Archives

1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016

These are the past issues of The Legend-News. Poor writing and bad spelling may be present; read with caution. Any links which you may find in these pages are not guaranteed to be valid. Click at your own risk.

Any information that has been struck (as indicated by a line through the middle ) is definitely not valid. Don’t even think of believing it.

Comments from “Future Ed.” are updates to the original content. These updates were not present when the issue was first published.

2016

June 6 : I Wrote This

2015

December 24 : The Year In Review · Song a’ the’ Season.
March 30 : Convoy 2015 · CONVOY The Movie on DVD.

2014

December 24 : Much Better Now · Song a’ the’ Season.

2013

December 24 : Not My Favorite Year · Crispy Critters · Previously, in The Legend-News: Holiday Homerdrive · Song a’ the’ Month.
June 6 : Up to Speed. · Over the Double Nickel. · Previously, in The Legend-News: Goin’ West. · Songs a’ th’ Month: “Convoy” and “’Round the World with the Rubber Duck”.
April 30 : Stuff. · Over the Double Nickel. · Previously, in The Legend-News: The Earl-y Show. · Song a’ th’ Month: “Old 30”.
March 4 : Surfin’ with the Rubber Duck: The easy way to fill a newsletter. · Plan Ahead: Upcoming events. · Previously, in The Legend-News: CONVOY II? · Songs A’ Th’ Month: A double feature of “Telluride Breakdown” and “Camp Bird Mine”.

2012

December 25 : A Blast from the Not-So-Recent Past: Scraping the barrel of archives and adding some new stuff. · Surfin’ with the Rubber Duck: Items about C.W. McCall that aren’t pages on this site. · Our Man in Ouray: A dispatch from the San Juan Mountains. · Previously, in The Legend-News: a Christmas story. No, not A Christmas Story. · Song A’ Th’ Month: “Sing Silent Night”
November 15 : Happy Birthday to Bill!: Birthday boy reaches 84. · We Get Letters: Some people just don’t understand the passage of time. · C.W. Sightings: Bashed-in the side of the feed store. · ConvoyTM.com: New! Improved! · Previously, in The Legend-News: One Hit Wonder, My @$$! · Song A’ Th’ Month: “Nishnabotna”
September 10 : Wolf Creek Pass: The Second Coming: An update on the “new” album from C.W. McCall. · ’Round the Waist with the Rubber Duck: It’s a hold-up. · C.W. Sightings: Duck season. · New Critters On The Block: They’re in the net. · Critters In the Wild: Bob Norton takes a break. · Previously, in The Legend-News: An Interview with C.W. McCall, from 2003. · Song A’ Th’ Month: “There Won’t Be No Country Music (There Won’t Be No Rock ’N’ Roll)”
August 6 : Remastered at Last: It’s the digital, baby. · The First “Convoy” Video?: Not just C.W. on a stage. · C.W. Sightings: Name-dropping. · New Critters On The Block: they’re in the net. · Gone 10-7: We lost another one. · Previously, in The Legend-News: Previously, in The Legend-News. · Song A’ Th’ Month: “Convoy (New Version)”
July 2 : Helter, Skelter, In The Summer Swelter: Too darn hot. · C.W. Sightings: He’s everywhere! He’s everywhere! He’s …in my house? · New Critters On The Block: they’re here, they’re there. · Skywalker: On the Road Again (Part II): Alan Chafin continues his trip. · Previously, in The Legend-News: The Absolutely Last, Final, and Ultimate Item That We Will Publish Regarding “That Line” in “The Gallopin’ Goose”. · Song A’ Th’ Month: “The Gallopin’ Goose”
June 6 : C.W. Sightings: He’s everywhere! He’s everywhere! · Skywalker: On the Road Again (Part I): Alan Chafin takes a trip. · Old Home Café: “Green Stuff” · Previously, in The Legend-News: An interview with C.W. McCall (Part Two). · Song A’ Th’ Month: “Convoy”
May 7 : C.W. Sightings: He’s everywhere! He’s everywhere! · Bad News: All our times have come; Here, but now they’re gone. · Old Home Café: “By the side / of the road” · Previously, in The Legend-News: An interview with C.W. McCall. · Song A’ Th’ Month: “The Silverton”
April 9 : April Unfoolin’: Get a calendar. · C.W. Sightings: He’s everywhere. · A Radio Station That We’ll Mention This Week: KAPY 91.7. · Rumors: Maybe it’s true, and maybe it ain’t. · Old Home Café: “This is a job for…” · Previously, in The Legend-News: ERTL Convoy Movie Truck.
April 2 : Prevarication: Well, like, you know…
March 5 : Lost In the Mail, Critters Are Found!: Unread messages. · Bloomfield to Baghdad: New fiction from Tom Claffey. · C.W. On the Radio: An interview with K-HOG. · Previously, in The Legend-News: The Clark County Fair · Over the Double Nickel: “Bypassed”. · eBay Update: Toys in the attic.
February 6 : Our Man in Ouray: News from the San Juan Mountains. · Video McCall: C.W.-related moving pictures. · American Spirit / The Real McCall Bundle: Complete your collection. · Over the Double Nickel: “I Sold It On eBay”. · Previously, in The Legend-News: “Today’s History Lesson: The Union Pacific Railroad”. · Old Home Café: “Bypass”.
January 9 : Truckin’ On Down The Other Side · C.W. On TV · The Other Guy · Over the Double Nickel: “Put On Some Pants!” · Previously, in The Legend-News: “The Earl-y Show” · Old Home Café: “Testing” · Song A’ Th’ Month: “Riverside Slide”

2011

December 5 : Over the Double Nickel: “Somewhere Not Here” · Previously, in The Legend-News: “Now he’s the real McCall” · Song A’ Th’ Month: “Sing Silent Night”
November 7 : What We Got Here · Notable Natal Anniversary · Action Central Eyewitness News · Tales of the Old Home Café: “Turning Out the Lights” · Previously, in The Legend-News: “Instant Fame: What’s It Really Like?” · Song A’ Th’ Month: “Audubon”
October 4 : What We Got Here · Action Central Eyewitness News · Tales of the Old Home Café: “Sugar Shock” · Previously, in The Legend-News: I Gotta Code and “Ratchetjaw”
September 5 : What We Got Here · Action Central Eyewitness News · Over the Double Nickel: “Yesterday’s Words” · Previously, in The Legend-News: “Midland CB Commercial”
August 1 : What We Got Here · Tales of the Old Home Café: “Shut Down” · Over the Double Nickel: “Superman & Me” · Previously, in The Legend-News: “Top Ten Events In The Life of C.W. McCall”
July 13 : What We Got Here · About Monday Morning · C.W. McCall Sightings · Over the Double Nickel: “Gonna Take Old 30” · Previously, in The Legend-News: “Iraqi Convoy”
June 6 : What We Got Here: Happy Convoy Day! · The Rubber Duck on the Air · Critter Capers · Old Joke of the Month · Over the Double Nickel · Previously, in The Legend-News: Convoy, Explained. Sort Of.
May 2 : What We Got Here: Surfin’ with the Rubber Duck · Previously, in The Legend-News: Questions & Answers · Over the Double Nickel: “Oh, No, Don’t Let the Rain Fall Down”
April 4 : What We Got Here: C.W. McCall Kitteh · Previously, in The Legend-News: Pisgah People IS Good People · Over the Double Nickel: “Fuelishness”
March 7 : What We Got Here: C.W. McCall News Round-Up; Up Where They Cut The Cheese · Previously, in The Legend-News: It Must Be Something In The Bread · Over the Double Nickel: “Random Thoughts”
February 7 : What We Got Here · Hey, Joe, That’s Not Smog; That’s the Milky Way · Over the Double Nickel: “Don’t Fence Me In” · Previously, in The Legend-News: There the Heck Was Wall Drug
January 10 : What We Got Here · Over the Double Nickel: “My Stuff” · Previously, in The Legend-News: “Downhill Trucker”

2010

December 24 : Season’s Greetings · Over the Double Nickel · Previously, in The Legend-News · “Sing Silent Night”
December 6 : There’s No Variety In Ouray · “Sing Silent Night” and Friends · Over the Double Nickel · Previously, in The Legend-News · Shilling For The Pence
November 8 : Natal Anniversary · We’re Number One! · It’s a Hobby, Not a Job · The Future of The Legend-News · Bet You Didn’t See It Coming: Another Plug for Tom Claffey
July 22 : Convoy 2KX Update · But There’s Another Anniversary · Great Exaggerations · Where the Marmots Abound · Great Western Rocky Mountain Brass Band Festival · Tom Claffey
June 6 : Happy Convoy Day! · 18 Wheels Singing · Novels by Tom Claffey · Convoy 2KX Update
May 11 : Convoy 2KX Update · Searching for C.W. McCall · Critters on the Loose · C.W. Sightings
March 10 : Searching for C.W. McCall · Convoy 2KX Update · C.W. McCall is Not Dead · Old Home Café
February 4 : Convoy 2KX · Convoy 2000 · The Archives of The Legend-News

2009

December 24 : End of the Year · Coming Attractions · “Sing Silent Night”
November 10 : Back In Nineteen-Oh-Twenty-Eight · But Siriusly, Folks · Separated at Birth? · A Little To The Right Of Down Under · Rumored To Be Rumored
September 21 : Somewhere In Iowa · In Memoriam
August 31 : The Great Western Rocky Mountain Brass Band Festival

2008

December 24 : Holy $#!+, It’s Christmas · Chicken Run · I’ve Got a Secret · Must See TV · Must See DVD · So, What’s News? · How About the Critters? · Did I Say Thousand Island? · Recycling Department · “Sing Silent Night”
July 31 : The San Juan Odyssey Keeps Returning! · The Latest Sports Scores · 2010: A Duck Odyssey · Someone’s in the Kitchen · Movie Review: The Dark Knight (2008)
May 23 : The San Juan Odyssey Returns! · It’s the Truth! · Movie Reviews!

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

December 27
December 20
December 13
November 29
November 22
November 15
November 8
November 1
October 25
October 18
October 11
October 4
September 28
September 20
September 6
August 30
August 23
August 16
August 9
August 2
July 26
July 19
July 12
July 4
June 28
June 21
June 14
June 12
June 10 : A Long Time Ago, On a Highway Far, Far Away… · Song A’ Th’ Week: “’Round the World with the Rubber Duck”
June 9 : Difference of Opinion · And the Winner Is… · Song A’ Th’ Week: “Convoy”
June 7 : Previously, in The Legend-News · Truck Directin’ Man · Song A’ Th’ Week: “Convoy (new version)”
June 6 : FLASH! · Was A Quarter-Moon On The Sixth Of June · Flashback · One of Nature’s Most Beautiful Sights · Sing a Song of CB · Song A’ Th’ Week: “Convoy”
May 30 : Breaker One-Ninety-Five · Woo-hoo! Three-day Weekend! · Song A’ Th’ Week: “Roy”
May 24 : A Legend In A Big Rig · Song A’ Th’ Week: “Oregon Trail”
May 16 : Who’s The Leader Of The Band? · Song A’ Th’ Week: “Windshield Wipers In The Rain”
May 9 : I Been Searchin’ · I Want My C.W. · Song A’ Th’ Week: “Roses For Mama”
April 29 : Spring Has Sprung · The Grass Has Riz · Song A’ Th’ Week: “Watch the Wildwood Flowers”
April 18 : Lookin’ For Sloan · Song A’ Th’ Week: “Sloan”
April 11 : Who Are You? · Taxman · Song A’ Th’ Week: “Livin’ Within My Means”
April 4 : I Gotta Code · Song A’ Th’ Week: “Ratchetjaw”
March 29 : Trippin’ Down to New Orleans · Song A’ Th’ Week: “Take My Duds To The Junkman”
March 19 : Song A’ Th’ Week: “City of New Orleans”
March 14 : Song A’ Th’ Week: “The Cowboy”
March 7 : Finding C.W. McCall Albums · FLASH! · Song A’ Th’ Week: “Ghost Town”
February 26 : Song A’ Th’ Week: “I Don’t Know And I Don’t Care”
February 19 : Our Man in Montrose · Small World · Song A’ Th’ Week: “Audubon”
February 11 : Roots · From the Home of Them Q-alla Bears · Truck Rock · “Old Home Filler-Up An’ Keep On A-Truckin’ Café”
February 3 : “Kidnap America”
January 28 : “Riverside Slide”
January 18 : “Four Wheel Cowboy”

1998

December 22 : New Lyrics: “Wheels of Fortune”, “The Cowboy”, “Flowers on the Wall”, “Silver Cloud Breakdown”, “I Wish There Was More That I Could Give”, “Hobo’s Lullaby” · Changes
December 13 : New Lyrics: “Watch the Wildwood Flowers”, “Take My Duds to the Junkman”, “I Don’t Know (and I Don’t Care)”, “Night Hawk”, “Old Glory”
November 29 : New Lyrics: “Camp Bird Mine”, “The Only Light”, “Livin’ Within My Means” · Pop Psych Dept.
November 22 : New Lyrics: “Super Slab Showdown”, “Windshield Wipers in the Rain”, “Sing Silent Night”
November 15 : Happy Birthday, Bill!
November 8 : A reminder about Bill Fries’ birthday · Bob Norton’s birthday card for Bill · New Lyrics: “Outlaws and Lone Star Beer”, “The Little Things In Life”, “City of New Orleans”, “Milton”
October 25 : Wilderness completed · “Riverside Slide” · “The Little Brown Sparrow and Me” · “Telluride Breakdown” · “Silver Iodide Blues” · “The Little Brown Sparrow“ and “Aurora Borealis” from The Real McCall: An American Storyteller
October 11 : Black Bear Road completed · “Lewis and Clark” · “Oregon Trail” · “Write Me a Song” · “Mountains on My Mind”
October 4 : “Glenwood Canyon” · Wolf Creek Pass completed · Word of Mouth
September 20 : Autum arrives · CB Radio · “Ratchetjaw” · “Two-Way Lovin’”
September 13 : “Wilderness” · “Columbine” · “Rocky Mountain September”
September 1 : “Nishnabotna“ · “Niobrara” · “Green River”
August 23 : “Comin’ Back For More”
August 15 : “The Gallopin’ Goose” · Southwest Colorado Access Network · “Audubon” · X Marks The Spot
August 10 : “Roy” · “Convoy (new version)” · “Convoy” from The Real McCall: An American Storyteller
August 2 : “Long Lonesome Road” · “Green River” · New Lyrics
July 25 : New Items: The Best of C.W. McCall · Site News · My Collection
July 19 : Jimmy Driftwood · “The Battle of New Orleans” · “City of New Orleans”
July 12 : “I’ve Trucked All Over This Land”
July 10 : “Old 30”
July 9 : “Night Rider”
July 8 : “Four Wheel Drive” · “Roses For Mama”
July 7 : “The Silverton”
July 6 : “Crispy Critters”
July 5 : “’Round the World with the Rubber Duck”
June 24 : Album Covers · “Aurora Borealis”
June 21 : “Black Bear Road” · Reality
June 15 : 8 by 10 Black and White Glossy Photo
March 15 : The Search for C.W. McCall