Our Featured Performer is all-time rock 'n' roll great GRAHAM PARKER, commencing with a track from the new GRAHAM PARKER AND THE GOLDTOPS album QUALITY FOOTWEAR: LIVE AT THE BROOK. We'll thread additional delights by Parker and his Goldtops, Parker solo, GRAHAM PARKER AND THE RUMOUR, GRAHAM PARKER AND THE FIGGS, GRAHAM PARKER AND THE SHOT, and GRAHAM PARKER AND MIKE GENT throughout the show, and back those steady nerves with the latest from THE CYNZ, LIBRARIANS WITH HICKEYS, THE SPONGETONES, GARRET VANDERMOLEN, THE CHELSEA CURVE, MIKE BROWNING, HERB EIMERMAN, and SUNBUZZ, a TIRnRR Fresh Spin by THE NEW BRUTARIANS, and a barrage of sheer rockin' pop wonder from TALKING HEADS, THE RUBINOOS, THE CYNICS, THE BANGLES, THE BREAKERS, BEATHOVEN, THE YARDBIRDS, THE SMALL FACES, THE MUFFS, THE EASTERN DARK, THE RAMONES, THE ON AND ONS, THE EXPLODING HEARTS, WRECKLESS ERIC, DWIGHT TWILLEY, THE FUN BOY THREE, THE SEARCHERS, and more, plus a LYRES-DMZ-LYRES three-fer in memory of JEFF "MONOMAN" CONOLLY. It all starts with Graham Parker and the Goldtops' new live rendition of the very first GP song Carl ever heard. Keep the lights low. Sunday night, 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, streaming via sparksyracuse.org, and as WESTCOTT RADIO on the Radio Garden app. The weekend stops HERE!
My thoughts on pop music and pop culture, plus the weekly playlists from THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO with Dana and Carl (Sunday nights 9 to Midnight Eastern, SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM in Syracuse, sparksyracuse.org). You can support this blog on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2449453 Twitter @CafarelliCarl All editorial content on this blog Copyright Carl Cafarelli (except where noted). All images copyright the respective owners TIP JAR at https://www.paypal.me/CarlCafarelli
Sunday, August 9, 2026
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
COMIC BOOK COVER GALLERY: August cover dates acquired in the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Following our June and July spotlights on comic books cover-dated with those months, the calendar's page now turns to the eighth month, with a gallery of comics cover-dated as August. Mind you, comic books were routinely post-dated, so a book claiming August credentials probably hit the spinner racks in June, and perhaps earlier in some cases. Publishers weren't exactly under oath here.
As always, we'll be sticking exclusively to the '60s, '70s, and '80s era of acquisition I've established for these galleries. Today's selections include books I bought new, back issues I acquired after the fact (but within the timeline), and B-stock contraband originally purchased without their covers. These aren't actual photos of comics in my collection; most images are courtesy of the Grand Comics Database, which is grand indeed. But I did have each and every one of 'em at some point in time.
If you like what you see here on Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do), please consider a visit to CC's Tip Jar. You can also become a Boppin' booster on my Patreon page.
My new book of short stories Guitars Vs. Rayguns!! Short Stories And Other White Lies is out now, and you can get autographed copies of the new book and my previous book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) directly from me. You can still get my previous previous book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones from publisher Rare Bird Books, OR an autographed copy here. If you like the books, please consider leaving a rating and/or review at the usual online resources.
I compiled a various-artists tribute album called Make Something Happen! A Tribute To The Flashcubes, and it's pretty damned good; you can read about it here and order it here.
This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl airs Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, streaming at SPARK stream and on the Radio Garden app as WESTCOTT RADIO. You can read about our history here
Sunday, August 2, 2026
THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO Encore Presentation: The real-life musicians of GUITARS VS. RAYGUNS!!
As a matter of logistics mandated an encore presentation of a previous episode of TIRnRR, I asked Dana if we could rerun our June 14th show, which was a salute to some of the many real-life performers mentioned in my new book Guitars Vs. Rayguns!! Short Stories And Other White Lies. The book ain't exactly sellin' like hotcakes--not even like day-old hotcakes--so any chance to gently hawk the damned thing is A-OK by me. Let's review your summary and ordering options:
Guitars Vs. Rayguns!! Short Stories And Other White Lies gathers tales of a foul-mouthed rock 'n' roll guitarist hijacked into space, an Old West gunslinger, a film noir gun moll who longs to be in a musical, a humorous fill-in superhero suddenly called to greatness, a former boy band star turned record company fix-it man, a would-be painter, an obsessed collector, a fated swordswoman, a fallen giant, a frustrated time traveler, a condemned sinner guiding tourists in Hell, a departed soul interviewing for a spot in Heaven, a 1976 Beatles reunion concert, and other untruths detailing love, loss, disappointment, miscellaneous hijinks, a fascination with shiny objects, and—occasionally--a juvenile sense of humor.
WARNING: RUDE LANGUAGE! The author is a potty-mouth.
CARL'S BOOKS!
The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) (2024): $30
Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones (2023): $25
All books are autographed, and can be personalized upon request
SHIPPING: $5 Media Mail to addresses in the lower 48 states
BUNDLES:
Buy any two books, save $5
Buy all three books, save $10 ($60 for the lot of 'em)
[Same terms apply to multiple copies of the same book]
SHIPPING: $5 Media Mail to addresses in the lower 48 states
PAYMENTS via PayPal or Zelle to ccdatsme@aol.com
The book is available as a special order from most local bookstores--KEEP BOOKSTORES ALIVE! You can also order the book through any of your usual online resources like Amazon and Barnes and Noble (and you just might be the first to do so!), and I also have autographed copies available on eBay.
Do not attempt to eat the book. The reference to hotcakes was for rhetorical purposes only.
NEXT WEEK: Logistics permitting, we return with a new show, which will include a lot of great music from our Featured Performer GRAHAM PARKER! And this is what rock 'n' roll radio sounded liked as we read cool books on another Sunday night in Syracuse this week.
TIRnRR # 1341 Encore Presentation: The music of GUITARS VS. RAYGUNS!! SHORT STORIES AND OTHER WHITE LIES
CHUCK BERRY: Promised Land (MCA, The Anthology)
RICHIE BARRETT: Some Other Guy (MOJO, VA: Songs The Beatles Taught Us)
THE CYNZ: Love's So Lovely (Jem, Confess)
TOMMY JAMES AND THE SHONDELLS: Hanky Panky (Rhino, Anthology)
THE TRAMMPS: Disco Inferno [single edit] (Rhino, Rhino Hi-Five)
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL: Cecilia (Columbia, Old Friends)
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THE GRIP WEEDS: Every Minute (Ground Up, The Sound Is In You)
THE JAM: Absolute Beginners (Polydor, Direction Reaction Creation)
THE MONKEES: (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone (Rhino, More Of The Monkees)
MOTÖRHEAD: Ace Of Spades (Bronze, Ace Of Spades)
SLADE: Gudbuy T' Jane (Polydor, Greatest Hits)
LL COOL J: Mama Said Knock You Out (Def Jam, All World)
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ELVIS PRESLEY: Hard Headed Woman (RCA, The Top Ten Hits)
EDDIE COCHRAN: Twenty Flight Rock Razor & Tie, Somethin' Else: The Fine Lookin' Hits Of Eddie Cochran)
THE EAGLES: Tryin' (Asylum, Eagles)
BIG STAR: September Gurls (Ardent, # 1 Record/Radio City)
RONNIE SPECTOR AND THE E STREET BAND: Say Goodbye To Hollywood (Sony, VA: Cleveland International 1977-1983)
BLONDIE: Dreaming (Chrysalis, The Platinum Collection)
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THE SMITHEREENS: Face The World With Pride (Sunset Blvd, The Lost Album)
R.E.M.: Radio Free Europe (Warner Brothers, Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982-2011)
THE SELECTER: On My Radio (EMI, Greatest Hits)
THE SEX PISTOLS: God Save The Queen (Virgin, Kiss This)
THE ISLEY BROTHERS: It's Your Thing (Epic, The Essential Isley Brothers)
TALKING HEADS: Burning Down The House (Rhino, The Best Of Talking Heads)
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PERILOUS: Rock & Roll Kiss (n/a, YEAH!!!)
THE WHO: I Can't Explain (MCA, The Ultimate Collection)
THE FLASHCUBES: No Promise (Northside, Bright Lights)
THE SMALL FACES: Afterglow Of Your Love (Immediate, The Autumn Stone)
PRINCE: Hot Summer (NPG, Welcome 2 America)
DAVID BOWIE: Queen Bitch (Virgin, Bowie At The Beeb)
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WONDERBOY: Girl Songs (n/a, Hero Isle)
ELTON JOHN: Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting) (Rocket, Diamonds)
THE BAY CITY ROLLERS: Saturday Night (Arista, The Definitive Collection)
THE BUZZCOCKS: Ever Fallen In Love (IRS, Singles Going Steady)
ARETHA FRANKLIN: Save Me (Atlantic, I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You)
WANDA JACKSON: Let's Have A Party (Metro Select, First Lady Of Rockabilly)
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The Greatest Record Ever Made!
P. P. ARNOLD: The First Cut Is The Deepest (Sequel, The First Cut)
QUESTION MARK AND THE MYSTERIANS: 96 Tears (Cameo, single)
ARTHUR ALEXANDER: Every Day I Have To Cry Some (Razor & Tie, The Ultimate Arthur Alexander)
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD: Son Of A Preacher Man (Rhino, Dusty In Memphis)
POP CO-OP: You Don't Love Me Anymore (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Raduio, Volume 4)
CARL PERKINS: Blue Suede Shoes (Rhino, VA: Loud, Fast & Out Of Control)
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THE RAMONES: Blitzkrieg Bop (Rhino, Ramones)
1.4.5.: Let's Groove (Northside, 3 Chords & A Cloud Of Dust)
NELSON RIDDLE: Batman Theme (Hightower, VA: The Music Of DC Comics: Vol. 2)
KISS: Rock And Roll All Nite [single version] (Mercury, Alive! 1975-2000)
GUADALCANAL DIARY: Kum Ba Yah (Elektra, Walking In The Shadow Of The Big Man)
OTIS REDDING: Mr. Pitiful (Rhino, Otis! The Definitive Otis Redding)
HERB ALPERT AND THE TIJUANA BRASS: Green Peppers (A & M, Whipped Cream & Other Delights)
THE CHIFFONS: He's So Fine (Laurie, The Best Of The Chiffons)
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JOAN JETT: Bad Reputation (Blackheart, Bad Reputation)
YOKO ONO: Move On Fast (Rykodisc, Approximately Infinite Universe)
THE KINKS: You Really Got Me (Sanctuary, The Ultimate Collection)
SUZI QUATRO: Tear Me Apart (Razor & Tie, The Wild One: Classic Quatro)
LARRY WILLIAMS: Slow Down (Rhino, VA: Loud, Fast & Out Of Control)
CHAN ROMERO: Hippy Hippy Shake (Del-Fi, VA: Delphonic Sounds Today! [expanded promo version])
BRIAN WILSON: Meet Me In My Dreams Tonight (Rhino, Brian Wilson)
THE BEATLES: Paperback Writer (Apple, 1962-1966)
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FRANK SINATRA: One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) (Capitol, Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely)
Tonight on THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO
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We offer an ENCORE PRESENTATION of a recent epic show of records by some of the many real-life performers mentioned in Carl's new book GUITARS VS. RAYGUNS!! SHORT STORIES AND OTHER WHITE LIES. We start with CHUCK BERRY, end with THE BEATLES, and let FRANK SINATRA send us home, bookending music by THE CYNZ, THE TRAMMPS, THE GRIP WEEDS, THE RAMONES, RONNIE SPECTOR, THE KINKS, THE MONKEES, SLADE, WONDERBOY, WANDA JACKSON, BLONDIE, THE CHIFFONS, THE JAM, THE SMITHEREENS, THE ISLEY BROTHERS, THE SEX PISTOLS, PERILOUS, ARETHA FRANKLIN, POP CO-OP, SUZI QUATRO, THE FLASHCUBES, PRINCE, BRIAN WILSON, KING ELVIS THE FIRST, THE BAY CITY ROLLERS, DUSTY SPRINGFIELD, THE SELECTER, and still more of the rockin' sounds that make our pages turn. Alas, Carl's fictional performers GUITARS VS. RAYGUNS, THE CREEPING FLOCKS, PANTS-ON FLIERS, HIT CORPS, and WILLINGTON BLUE were not available for this show, because they don't, y'know...exist. We'll keep it real Sunday night, 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, streaming via sparksyracuse.org, and as WESTCOTT RADIO on the Radio Garden app. The weekend stops HERE!
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
BOPPIN' passes 3.5 million clicks
On Tuesday July 28th, BOPPIN' (LIKE THE HIP FOLKS DO) passed three and a half million views. We thank all of you who bop.
Sunday, July 26, 2026
This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 1347
This week, our pop community mourns the passing of Jim Prell. Jim was a dedicated music fan and an incredible supporter of independent artists, and he proved that time and time again on his radio show The Music Authority. I can't say that I really knew Jim all that well, but I knew him well enough to consider him a friend.
Although both Jim and I had a deep connection with the Syracuse new wave and power pop scene of decades ago, I don't think I met Jim until 2014. That was the year that Dana and I helped present the first Bright Lights! Syracuse New Wave Rock 'n' Roll Reunion Show, bringing back a number of the great 'Cuse bands from that era and witnessing as they plugged in and bid the silly concept of aging (or worse, maturity) to get stuffed. It was a magic, magic night, and I can't prove this, but my Swiss cheese memory insists that Jim flew in from his home in Florida to be a part of that evening. A bright light again!
Jim returned to the 'Cuse for subsequent Bright Lights! shows in 2016 and 2017, and his enthusiasm was unwavering and infectious. Later, he was kind enough to tell us that This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio was one of his inspirations in doing The Music Authority, though I'm pretty sure his passion for rockin' pop sound would have led him to create The Music Authority no matter what. I was hoping to see him again this fall, at a live music event being planned as a memorial for Paul Armstrong, guitarist for the Flashcubes and the single person most responsible for kick-starting the Syracuse New Wave scene that Jim and I cherished so much. Jim should be at that show. Hell, Paul Armstrong should be at that show, along with Ducky Carlisle. Scott Cornish. Jack Lipton. Norm Mattice. So many others, all departed from this world we know. Our list of losses grows and gathers weight.
Our memories stand, and no weight will stop us from standing tall. We will reminisce out loud, and we will celebrate the bonds that brought us this far. As Paul Armstrong sings with the Flashcubes: All I want to do is reminisce with you.
Godspeed, Jim. We thank you for the days. And this is what rock 'n' roll radio sounded like on another Sunday night in Syracuse this week.
This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl airs Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, streaming at SPARK stream, and on the Radio Garden app as WESTCOTT RADIO.
You can read all about this show's long and weird history here: Boppin' The Whole Friggin' Planet (The History Of THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO). You can follow Carl's daily blog at Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do).
TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS are always welcome.
Carl's new book Guitars Vs. Rayguns!! Short Stories And Other White Lies is available! Read about it here. Autographed copies of Carl's previous book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) are available here, and you can still get Carl's previous previous book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones from publisher Rare Bird Books. If you like the books, please consider leaving a rating and/or review at the usual online resources.
KLARK KENT: Away From Home (BMG, Klark Kent)
THE HIGH FREQUENCIES: Subterranean Homesick Blues (Jem, VA: Jem Records Celebrates Bob Dylan)
NRBQ: Blues Stay Away From Me (Sundazed, Workshop)
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Tonight on THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO
We open with a blast of Syracuse's own power pop powerhouse THE FLASHCUBES, offered in memory of our friend JIM PRELL. From there, we just try to do the kind of radio show we think Jim would have liked, with new music from BANDA AL9, THE KRAYOLAS, CLOCKWORK FLOWERS, THE MORNING LINE, MIKE BROWNING, THE WEEKLINGS, and THE CHELSEA CURVE, supplemented by a from-then-to-now array of radio-ready bliss by THE CHURCH, THE FOUR TOPS, THE HALF/CUBES, THE GREENBERRY WOODS, TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS, GRAHAM PARKER AND THE GOLDTOPS, BLONDIE, TIGER BOMB, BETH PEABODY, BOBBY WOMACK, THE SPONGETONES, AMY RIGBY, THE RAMONES, THE SELECTER, THE RAIDERS, THE SMALL FACES, SUNBUZZ, GANG OF FOUR, THE BANGLES, BOW WOW WOW, SKOOSHNY, KID GULLIVER, KIM WILDE, MICHAEL SIMMONS, THE GRIP WEEDS, THELMA HOUSTON, GEORGE HARRISON, THE BLUE HERONS, SISTER ROSETTA THARPE, NRBQ, PAUL COLLINS, THE HIGH FREQUENCIES, THE MUFFS, THE KINKS, and more, plus a BEATLES track we've never played before. Sunday night, 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, streaming via sparksyracuse.org, and as WESTCOTT RADIO on the Radio Garden app. The weekend stops HERE!