Convoy is the Greatest Song of All Time, West Hartford Swearing in Ceremonies, Big Football Game

Good morning, West Hartford! Today is Monday, Nov. 18, 2013; there are 43 days left in the year.

I’ve rediscovered the greatest song of all time: Convoy.

Kids, only in the 1970s could a ditty about truckers forming a line on a highway in protest of the 55 mph speed limit and tolls go straight to No. 1 on both the country and pop charts. Actually, only in the 1970s could a song be produced with a lyric describing a convoy of trucks as “a beautiful sight.”

Three years after C. W. McCall recorded this classic, a movie based on the song was made, starring Kris Kristofferson and Ali MacGraw. It was directed by Sam Peckinpah. Yes, that Sam Peckinpah. The legendary Sam Peckinpah, who was in the throes of a massive cocaine addiction.

How did that come about? Welp, the only modern comparison I can come up with is the comedy song “What Does the Fox Say” is being made into a children’s book. But that sort of makes sense.

But, again, it was the 1970s, man, and stuff like that happened. (Yeah, yeah, Kenny Rogers made a number of TV movies based on “The Gambler.” Maybe it’s a country music thing.)

Anyhoo, I saw Convoy in the theater when I was 6 years old (there were a lot of negligent grownups in my life), and even then I knew it was terrible.

Then again, what could one expect with a protagonist with the CB handle “Rubber Duck”?

The irony is that the movie Convoy was the biggest commercial success for Peckinpah, who basically disappeared after that.

As for the song? Check this stuff out. It’s AMAZING.

Kind of makes me want to make a movie based on “Devil Went Down to Georgia.”

Here’s five things going on in the area this week:

1. The Board of Education’s swearing in ceremony is at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

2. The Board of Education will then meet on Tuesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m..

3. The Town Council’s swearing in ceremony is at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

4. The Conard High and Hall High football teams will square off against one another Friday under the lights for the first time in the rivalry’s history. The game will be played at Conard High’s McKee Stadium at 6:30 p.m. Hall is 8-1, while Conard is 4-5.

5. CTfastrak is hosting an open house at the Elmwood Community Center on Nov. 20 at 5 p.m.