Theme: Murky Monday
20A. Chicago bluesman nicknamed for the creek he played in as a child : MUDDY WATERS
56A. Ill-gotten gains : FILTHY LUCRE
11D. Greeting from an affectionate dog : SLOPPY KISS
29D. Fast one : DIRTY TRICK
Argyle here. SLOPPY doesn't quite match up with the other three themes but this such a smooth puzzle, it can be forgiven. This should be a fair test for our tyros but otherwise a fun solve. Four long pinwheel arms with a good size block of white in the middle. Janice had quite a run this month. (4)
Across:
1. Discussion : TALK
5. Untidy situation : MESS
9. Zodiac transition points : CUSPS
14. "The Time Machine" people : ELOI
15. Fairly large fair : EXPO
16. Guitarist Eddie Van __ : HALEN
17. Reddish horse : ROAN
18. Birthstone for many Libras : OPAL
19. Stopped snoozing : AWOKE
23. "The Raven" poet : POE. Edgar Allan Poe
24. Tenth of ten in a race : LAST. It took a bit for this to sink in.
25. Harvest machine : REAPER. "Don't fear the reaper".
27. Filled with cargo : LADEN
30. Wise guy sometimes "wearing" pants? : SMARTY. (smarty pants)
32. Magnate Onassis : ARI
33. Fancy wineglass : GOBLET
36. Pretty good : OKAY
39. Little more than : MERE
41. Find another purpose for : REUSE
42. Biker's distance unit : MILE
43. Enjoys a buffet : EATS
44. Walked proudly : STRODE
46. Mo. city on the Miss. : STL. St. Louis.
47. New Haven alumni : YALIES
49. "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" storyteller : AESOP
51. Daily food allowance : RATION
53. Bungee __ : CORD
55. Bus station abbr. : ARR. (arrival time)
62. Damp : MOIST
64. Fifth of 13 popes : LEO V. There was 13 popes named Leo. Also, 34D. Family name of three popes : ORSINI
65. Use gentle persuasion on : COAX
66. Game show host : EMCEE
67. Soft French cheese : BRIE
68. Work the copy desk : EDIT
69. Bare : NAKED
70. Agile : SPRY
71. Family rooms : DENS
Down:
1. School session : TERM
2. Matty of baseball : ALOU. Just one of the Alou family.
3. Washer capacity : LOAD
4. Reader with Paperwhite and Fire models : KINDLE. A given for some.
5. Kitty cries : MEOWS
6. Political exile, for short : EXPAT. Expatriate.
7. Tiny tiff : SPAT
8. Shoe bottom : SOLE
9. Beer drunk after a shot : CHASER
10. Detroit labor gp. : UAW. (United Automobile Workers)
12. Black tea variety : PEKOE
13. Disdainful grin : SNEER
21. Yin partner : YANG
22. Not family-friendly, moviewise : R-RATED
26. Molecule part : ATOM
27. Flimsy, as an excuse : LAME
28. Wallpaper hanger's calculation : AREA
30. Fails to enunciate : SLURS
31. "You've Made __ Very Happy": 1969 Blood, Sweat & Tears hit : ME SO
35. __ noire : BÊTE
37. Range above tenor : ALTO
38. Sharp cry : YELP
40. Actor Morales : ESAI
45. British peer : EARL
48. Hit high in the air : LOFTED
50. Drew out, as latent talent : EDUCED
51. Japanese noodle dish : RAMEN
52. Dunkin' Donuts emanation : AROMA
53. "You're preaching to the __!" : CHOIR
54. Yiddish "Egad!" : "OY VEY!"
57. Barristers' degs. : LL.B.s (Bachelor of Laws)
58. Maryland athlete, for short : TERP. Terrapins
59. Morse creation : CODE
60. Ball game delayer : RAIN
61. Nos. requested by receptionists : EXTs. (Extension)
63. "Get it?" : "SEE?"
Not ready to go yet?
Argyle