This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl is simply too large a concept to be neatly contained within a mere three-hour weekly time slot. Hence these occasional fake TIRnRR playlists, detailing shows we're never really going to do...but could.
Right now. Right now is not the best of times.
The words of the Beatles notwithstanding, when we find ourselves in times of trouble, just letting it be is not what we want to do, nor is it what we should do. However we decide to address the ills an (at best) indifferent world inflicts upon us, music can accompany our actions. We need songs of comfort and joy, and we also need songs that call upon the power of our anger and sorrow. Collectively, those are the songs this messed-up world needs right now.
Recently, the essential Only Three Lads podcast devoted an episode to that very subject of songs this messed-up world needs right now. Hosts Brett Vargo and Uncle Gregg welcomed their guests Eric McFadden and Kate Vargas (both of the band Sgt. Splendor, who will be making their real-life TIRnRR debut this Sunday) for a discussion of the music we need to hear as everything around us threatens to spiral out of control.
Great idea. I'm stealing it. Thanks, O3L!
Rather than following the O3L format and selecting five songs released in the 1970-1999 time frame, I'm ignoring eras and assembling a full-on imaginary TIRnRR playlist. I will say that my # 1 choice in this subject is most definitely the 2024 clarion call "If We Could Let Go" by the fab NYC group Slyboots. I wrote about that sublime track here, and you can buy yourself a digital copy of the song here. Given the troubles of our times, there's a decent shot "If We Could Let Go" is gonna rack up additional spins on almost every TIRnRR for the rest of the year. As I've written elsewhere, "As the country and the world seem increasingly eager to leap into the abyss and take us all with it, I've been trying to draw strength from my current favorite phrase: The audacity of joy. It takes a lot--a lot--to even attempt any kind of positive outlook. But we can't give up on hope. That would mean giving in, and that's what the bad guys want us to do. I refuse. We need to do much more than just hold hands and sing 'Kumbaya'...but we DO also need to hold hands and sing 'Kumbaya.' If we lose joy, we lose everything."
In the commentary accompanying our February 1st show this year, I wrote:
"The world outside our window is not outside of us. We are in it, we are part of it, in our anger, our sorrow, our desperate longing for peace, our stubborn pursuit of hope. We stand, we unite, and we try to believe a better world could be ours if we could be free of the darkness holding us back.
"If we could let go.
"We acknowledge that when things go wrong, playing pop music on the radio doesn't do much of anything to correct what's wrong. But we channel our outrage, our dedication, our belief that we CAN change, for the better.
"Belief is hope. Hope is joy.
"On this show, and in this life, we embrace the audacity of joy. We've all come to look for America. The America I have in mind is still out there somewhere.
"I still believe in its promise."
Thanks again to Only Three Lads for the inspiration. Listen up. These are some songs we need to hear right now.
This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl--y'know, the real one--airs Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, and on the web at http://sparksyracuse.org/ 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). TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS are always welcome.
The many fine This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio compilation albums are still available, each full of that rockin' pop sound you crave. A portion of all sales benefit our perpetually cash-strapped community radio project:
Fake TIRnRR Playlist: Songs This Messed-Up World Needs Right Now
SLYBOOTS: If We Could Let Go
THE O'JAYS: Love Train
BIG STAR: The Ballad Of El Goodo
CHUCK BERRY: Promised Land
THE DRIFTERS: Only In America
MICHAEL SIMMONS: America
--
STYX: Kiss Your Ass Goodbye
ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE ATTRACTIONS: (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding?
PHIL OCHS: I Ain't Marching Anymore
JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS: Light Of Day
WILSON PICKETT: You Can't Stand Alone
THE SUPREMES: Up The Ladder To The Roof
--
TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS: Pressure Drop
MARYKATE O'NEIL: I'm Ready For My Luck To Turn Around
CIRCE LINK AND CHRISTIAN NESMITH: I'm On Your Side
MELANIE WITH THE EDWIN HAWKINS SINGERS: Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)
ARETHA FRANKLIN: Save Me
THE CLASH: Clampdown
--
THE MONKEES: (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone
STEVIE WONDER: Higher Ground
THE FOUR TOPS: Reach Out I'll Be There
THE BYRDS: Chimes Of Freedom
THE AVENGERS: We Are The One
R.E.M.: It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
--
PATTI SMITH: People Have The Power
JOHN LENNON/PLASTIC ONO BAND: Power To The People
THE HOLLYWOOD STARS: All The Kids On The Street
THE DICTATORS: I Stand Tall
JUDAS PRIEST: Heading Out To The Highway
RAY CHARLES: Hit The Road Jack
--
THE SMITHEREENS: Face The World With Pride
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE: Stand!
MIDNIGHT OIL: The Dead Heart
PINK FLOYD: Wish You Were Here
THE JAM: In The City
MARTHA AND THE VANDELLAS: Dancing In The Street
--
THE MC5: Kick Out The Jams
THE FLAMIN' GROOVIES: Shake Some Action
THE BOB SEGER SYSTEM: 2 + 2 = ?
THE GRACES: Lay Down Your Arms
THE IMPRESSIONS: People Get Ready
THE PANDORAS: It's About Time
--
THE CHAMBERS BROTHERS: Time Has Come Today
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: Radio Nowhere
THE ARCHIES: Get On The Line
THE FLASHCUBES: Do Anything You Wanna Do
THE REMAINS: Don't Look Back
THE WHO: Won't Get Fooled Again
--
20/20: Song Of The Universe
WAR: Why Can't We Be Friends?
AMY RIGBY: Tom Petty Karaoke
THE KINKS: Better Things
THE O'JAYS: Put Your Hands Together
EYTAN MIRSKY: This Year's Gonna Be Our Year
THE RAMONES: I Believe In Miracles
THE BEATLES: Revolution [promo video version]
--
THE SHADOWS: Wonderful Land
THE ROLLING STONES: Street Fighting Man
