This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 1359

Photo by Bill Baldwin

Recently, when looking for something else, I ran across this passage I wrote in June of 2022. It seems relevant to share again:

"My 62nd birthday was in January. When I was younger, 62 seemed so old. Now, while it's true that my curated collection of aches and pains can sometimes make me feel as old as my teen self once deemed 62 to be, it's also true that I ain't dead yet. I still read my superhero comic books, I still listen to my rockin' pop music, and I still retain a spark that insists I'm not too old for fun. I've developed sufficient maturity to perform necessary tasks and meet expected obligations. If time has slowed me down an eensy little bit, I'm still only 62. 

"We don't measure that in dog years. I aim to dance to punk rock at my daughter's wedding next year, and to keep dancing for a few decades thereafter. Don't tell me I can't. I didn't listen to naysayers when I was 17, and I'm not gonna start heeding the whining of crybabies now. I'm 62. And I'm singing my song.

"We're all products of what made us. I was built by family and friends, art and pop culture, education and experience (to the extent either of them stuck with me). I was formed by Batman and the British Invasion, the Sex Pistols, Motown, rock magazines, paperback novels, AM radio, FM radio, science-fiction, cartoons, pretty pinups, bubblegum cards, home cooking, fast food, Watergate, crushes on Suzi Quatro and Yvonne Craig, resentments, love, telephone conversations, occasional excess, regrets, excuses, adjustments, wins, losses, stalemates, and TV shows. And pie. Your individual composition may vary. 

"At 62, I'm not ashamed to listen to the Partridge Family. Strike that; I'm proud to proclaim that I listen to the Partridge Family. I'm less likely to listen to their biggest hit 'I Think I Love You,' but eager to stuff my iPod with PF tracks like 'I Woke Up In Love This Morning,' 'Somebody Wants To Love You,' and a peppy debut album track called 'Singing My Song.' I hear it, and I feel as young as ever. 

"But that's not why I listen to it. I don't need outside stimuli to feel young, nor validation to know I'm right. I listen because I like it. I'm old enough to be comfortable with that. Don't bug me when I'm singing my song."

More than four years later, I don't think my basics have changed at the age of 66 and three quarters. When my daughter got married in 2023, she and I did indeed dance to Joan Jett's "Bad Reputation." I had my first book published in 2023, and although its sales were disappointing, I've self-published three more since then. There have been losses, including the death of our friend Paul Armstrong earlier this year, and the passing of my oldest brother in 2024. Time remains the enemy. The aches continue to accumulate.

Still, for as long as we're able, we remain dedicated to the act of singing our song.

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. If you miss the show, it repeats immediately from Midnight to 3 AM on Monday, Thursday from 9 AM to Noon, Friday from 5 PM to 8 PM, and finally Sunday from Noon to 3 PM before a new show takes over that evening. All times are Eastern.

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, and about its truncated six-chapter sampler A Band Called GUITARS VS. RAYGUNS! 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.

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:
Volume 1: download
Volume 2: CD or download
Volume 3: download
Volume 4: CD or download
Waterloo Sunset--Benefit For This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio:  CD or download
Volume 5: CD or download

TIRnRR # 1359: 10/25/2026

TIRnRR FRESH SPINS! Songs we think we ain’t played before are listed in bold

THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY: Singing My Song (Razor & Tie, The Partridge Family Album)

MATTHEW SWEET AND SUSANNA HOFFS: And Your Bird Can Sing (Shout Factory, Under The Covers, Vol. 1)

THE HANDCUFFS: One More Song (OOFL, Electroluv)

BO STREET RUNNERS: Bo Street Runner [single version] (RPM, VA: Fab Gear [The British Beat Explosion And Its Aftershocks 1963-1967])

CHUCK BERRY: Carol (MCA, The Anthology)

THE JAM: David Watts [single mix] (Polydor, About The Young Idea)

--

THE HIGH FREQUENCIES: Shakin' Street (Jem, single)

THE RUTS: Babylon's Burning [single version] (Cherry Red, VA: Kids On The Street: UK Power Pop And New Wave 1977-1981)

THE DRIFTERS: Sweets For My Sweet (Atlantic, All-Time Greatest Hits & More 1959-1965)

THE BANGLES: Going Down To Liverpool [single edit] (Cherry Pop, VA: Watching The Sky)

THE DOORS: Break On Through (Rhino, The Future Starts Here: The Essential Doors Hits)

SQUEEZE: Goodbye Girl [UK single version] (Cherry Red, VA: Surrender To The Rhythm--The London Pub Rock Scene Of The Seventies)

--

WEDNESDAY WEEK: Lose Control (Label 51 Recordings, Souvenirs)

DAVID BOWIE: Heroes [single version] (Virgin, Best Of Bowie)

THE SHADES: Are You My Angel? [single version] (Think Like A Key Music, Basement Sessions 1978-1980)

RASPBERRIES: I'm A Rocker (Capitol, single)

THE ISLEY BROTHERS: Twist And Shout (Epic, The Essential Isley Brothers)

RICHARD HELL AND THE VOIDOIDS: I'm Your Man [Destiny Street demo] (Omnivore, Destiny Street Complete)

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GLENN ERB: Drunk In The Parking Lot (single)

THE PRIMITIVES: I'll Stick With You [single version] (RCA, Lovely [Deluxe Edition])

THE LEGAL MATTERS: It Doesn't Matter (Big Stir, Lost At Sea)

SILVERHEAD: Rolling With My Baby [single version] (Cherry Red, VA: Oh! You Pretty Things: Glam Queens And Street Urchins 1970-76)

GENE CHAMPAGNE: I'm Disconnected (Sioux, Too Pop For Punk...Too Punk To Care)

RAY PAUL: Pretty Flamingo (Permanent Press, Whimsicality)

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COCKTAIL SLIPPERS: Back Where You Belong (Wicked Cool, Joyride)

CARLA OLSON: Street Fighting Man (single)

THE FLASHCUBES FEATURING TOM KENNY: Got No Mind (Big Stir, single)

CHRISTINA JEAN AND HER ALL-STARS: Teenage Kicks (Rum Bar, single)

WAR: Low Rider (Hip-O, Icon 2: The Hits & More)

THE LEAVES: Too Many People [single version] (Strawberry, VA: Pushin' Too Hard [American Garage Punk 1964-67])

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LAVA FANGS: Nothing Better (Cheersquad, single)

THE CLASH: Train In Vain (Epic, Clash On Broadway)

WILSON PICKETT: In The Midnight Hour (Rhino/Atlantic, A Man And A Half)

SUGAR: Needle Hits E (Rykodisc, single)

TONY MARSICO AND THE UGLY THINGZ: Bittersweet (Rum Bar, Poison Kiss)

POPDUDES: Ridin' In My Car (Big Stir, VA: Big Stir Singles: The Sixth Wave)

--

The Greatest Record Ever Made!

THE RAMONES: All's Quiet On The Eastern Front (Rhino, Pleasant Dreams)

THE ZOMBIES: She Does Everything For Me (Big Beat, Zombie Heaven)

THE DIRECT HITS: So Sad I Don't Feel Too Bad (Kool Kat Musik, 18 Live Performances!)

R.E.M.: Sitting Still (Hib-Tone, single)

ELTON DUCK: I Want To Make It Up To You (Mike Condello Music Scholarship Fund, Elton Duck)

DAVE EDMUNDS: Television (Omnivore, Swan Songs: The Singles 1976-1981)

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THE KENNEDYS: Girl On A Motorcycle (The Kennedys, Smoketree)

THE DAMNED: Love Song (Sanctuary, Smash It Up: The Anthology 1976-1987)

WILLIE NILE: Heaven Help The Lonely (Columbia, Places I Have Never Been)

THE BLASTERS: Marie, Marie (Hightone, American Music)

BENNY J WARD: Short Lived (Cheersquad, single)

THE MUFFS: I'm Here I'm Not [demo] (Omnivore, Really Really Happy)

APE HANGERS: Miss You Girl (Rum Bar, Ape Hangers II)

THE MOSQUITOS: I'll Just Hide (Kool Kat Musik, This Then Are The Mosquitos!)

--

THE HELLFLOWERS: Wild Ones (single)

TAMAR BERK: In The Wild (n/a, The Restless Dreams Of Youth)

DAVE COPE: Hit The Road (Kool Kat Musik, AM Silver)

TOE FAT: Born To Be Wild (On The Air, BBC Sessions 1969-1970)

THE MORNING LINE: Jet Set Stars (Big Stir, Stars)

BOW WOW WOW: Go Wild In The Country (Cherry Red, Your Box Set Pet--The Complete Recordings 1980-84)

WEDNESDAY WEEK: They Say (Label 51 Recordings, single)

THE BEATLES: Little Girl [John's Demo] (Apple, Rubber Soul: Special Edition)

--

BARON DAEMON AND THE VAMPIRES: The Transylvania Twist (WSEN, VA: The Syracuse History Of Rock-N-Roll)

NELSON RIDDLE: Batman Theme (Hightower, VA: The Music Of DC Comics: Vol. 2 [incorrectly credited to NEAL HEFTI])

Tonight on THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO

We open with an album track by THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY. Yes, we are in fact that sure of ourselves. The voice of DAVID CASSIDY will lead us into all sortsa c'mon-get-happy good stuff, including new music from THE HIGH FREQUENCIES, WEDNESDAY WEEK, GLENN ERB, LAVA FANGS, BENNY J WARD, THE MORNING LINE, and THE HELLFLOWERS, recent winners by THE COCKTAIL SLIPPERS, TONY MARSICO AND THE UGLY THINGZ, THE FLASHCUBES FEATURING TOM KENNY, GENE CHAMPAGNE, THE KENNEDYS, THE LEGAL MATTERS, CHRISTINA JEAN AND HER ALL-STARS, DAVE COPE, APE HANGERS, and WEDNESDAY WEEK again, new archival treats from THE SHADES and THE DIRECT HITS, plus your classics and should-be-classics courtesy of CHUCK BERRY, THE HANDCUFFS, THE RAMONES, DAVID BOWIE, MATTHEW SWEET AND SUSANNA HOFFS, THE DRIFTERS, THE RUTS, THE BANGLES, THE ISLEY BROTHERS, RASPBERRIES, ELTON DUCK, SQUEEZE, WAR, THE LEAVES, WILSON PICKETT, THE CLASH, THE ZOMBIES, TAMAR BERK, BOW WOW WOW, THE DAMNED, THE MUFFS, THE BLASTERS, DAVE EDMUNDS, SUGAR, CARLA OLSON, POPDUDES, and more. It all starts with great confidence with a fantastic LP track by THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY. Somewhere, Reuben Kincaid is smiling...and Danny Partridge is counting the dough. 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!

10 SONGS: 10/24/2026

10 Songs is a weekly list of ten songs that happen to be on my mind at the moment. The lists are usually dominated by songs played on the previous Sunday night's edition of This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl. The idea was inspired by Don Valentine of the essential blog I Don't Hear A Single

This week's edition of 10 Songs draws exclusively from the playlist for This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 1358

WEDNESDAY WEEK: They Say

Southern California combo Wednesday Week scored attention from MTV with their superb 1987 track "Why," compelling popsmacked li'l me to purchase a copy of their wonderful album What We Had. In this far-future world of 2026, the group's What We Had line-up--Kelly Callan, Kristi Callan, Heidi Rodewald, and David Nolte--returns with an incredible new four-song covers EP called Souvenirs. Rockin' pop veteran Don Dixon produces, and our assembled Wednesdays deliver simply splendid renditions of too-cool selections from the songbooks of the Zeros, the Dolly Mixture, Color Me Gone, and Sandie Shaw. We opened this week's TIRnRR with Wednesday Week's invigmoratin' take on the Zeros' "They Say," and circled back to their cover of the Dolly Mixture's "Side Street Walker" later in the show. Amazing stuff! "They Say" will return  to our playlist this Sunday night, and we'll also debut Wednesday Week's take on Color Me Gone's "Lose Control." We've long been grateful for What We Had. Now, we're also grateful for what we have.

ARROGANCE: Praying Mantis

Speaking of Don Dixon (and speaking of MTV fave raves from the '80s), we offer this spin of Dixon's song "Praying Mantis," as performed with his former group Arrogance. Our pal Eleanor Cook informs us that Arrogance was just inducted into The North Carolina Music Hall Of Fame. We only know of Arrogance's fine work because Eleanor pointed us to it--much obliged, Eleanor!--and it's our pleasure to congratulate Arrogance for their well-deserved recognition by North Carolina music fans.

Oh, and an open letter to the good folks at the NC Music Hall Of Fame: Please consider inducting the Spongetones at your earliest convenience. Thanks! Sincerely, your friends at This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio.

THE CYNZ: Neighborhood Bully

No kings. Don't tread on me, ya razzafrazzin' bully. 

ELTON DUCK: Bad Things

Blanche DuBois relied on the kindness of strangers. TIRnRR relies on our friends, both in terms of supporting this nonprofit radio station's quixotic quest and suggesting undiscovered or underappreciated sounds we should oughta discover and appreciate. One such friend is Robbie Rist, who has just turned us on to the majesty of Elton Duck. Elton Duck were a Los Angeles group operating at the end of the '70s into the dawn of mourning in America, and they friggin' kicked, man. They earn a righteous footnote in pop history for the fact that Michael Steele was Elton Duck's bassist at the time of their 1980 recordings, a spot she occupied after her early stint with the Runaways and before achieving fame with the Bangles.

Footnotes aside, this is prime stuff, and it's a damned shame it's not widely available. Robbie's a fan! And now we're fans as well. Robbie picked "Bad Things" as one of his Elton Duck go-tos; we hear, and we obey. More Elton Duck on our next show.

THE RUBINOOS: Wouldn't It Be Nice

It would be impossible to overstate the importance of the Rubinoos in my musical crucible when I was 17. 1977 was the year I fell for the Sex Pistols, the Ramones, Blondie, and so many more then-contemporary acts demonstrating that someone was still carrying the torch for the excitement and sheer buzz of my beloved 1960s British Invasion idols. 

The Rubinoos' eponymous debut album was an essential component of all of that, and I heard it (and owned it!) before I heard "God Save The Queen," "Blitzkrieg Bop," and "X-Offender." "Wouldn't It Be Nice" was my favorite track on The Rubinoos, a love letter from a lonely square-peg teen like me to the pretty one of his dreams. I wrote about it here. It's still my favorite, as the warmth of the crucible remains with me always.

And of course, my crucible in 1977 led me to the revelation of a transcendent local band in January of 1978: Syracuse's own power pop powerhouses....

THE FLASHCUBES FEATURING TOM KENNY: Got No Mind

And we hope you won't mind if we repeat this important announcement:

In memory of Flashcubes guitarist Paul Armstrong, the surviving 'Cubes are releasing a new single and planning an epic memorial live show. Let's review my recent hype on behalf of each event:

Our friends at Big Stir Records are now accepting preorders for "Got No Mind," the new 45 by the Flashcubes featuring Tom Kenny. Offered as a memorial tribute to Flashcubes guitarist Paul Armstrong (the song's author), the track has already been a TIRnRR fixture, and it will remain so for the foreseeable. And to sanctify the release of this 7" slab o' cantankerous wonder, the mighty Big Stir is also offering original copies of two previous Flashcubes 45s--1979's "Wait Til Next Week"/"Radio" and 2016's two-fer of Chris Spedding covers, "Boogie City"/"Hey Miss Betty"--both individually and in bundles with the new one. Visit The Flashcubes page at Big Stir for details.

On Saturday, November 7th, fans and participants representing the Syracuse power pop and new wave rock 'n' roll scene that the Flashcubes ignited in the late '70s will gather at Syracuse's original home of rock 'n' roll The Lost Horizon to pay loud and heartfelt tribute to the late, great Paul Armstrong. 

In his brash capacity as a guitarist and general spark plug for the audacious energy of the Flashcubes, Paul Armstrong was a key figure in the history of Syracuse rock 'n' roll, and the impact he and his brother Flashcubes Gary Frenay, Arty Lenin, and Tommy Allen have had upon my life and work is damned near beyond measure. As we bid farewell to Paul Armstrong, you can be damned sure we're gonna put on a tribute show that would make PA proud.

And to do that, a bunch of performers who loved Paul and shared his passion for three chords and a cloud of dust will gather at the Lost for a full-volume celebration of his legacy. We'll have live sets by Amerikan Primitive, Perilous, 1.4.5. Survivors, the Johnny Thunders Orchestra, The Wax Museum host Ronnie Dark, PA's Boston buds Sal Baglio and Mike Gent, Syracuse's favorite son Tom Kenny, and the Flashcubes featuring Mark Doyle. Your emcees will be Dana and Carl, and we promise the sort of bright-lights bonanza that Paul Armstrong would have dug the most.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW! It's possible there will still be tickets available at the door...but given the response so far, I would not recommend waiting. This one's for Paul Armstrong. And it's gonna be as loud as he was. YOU should join us. Got no mind? WE don't mind!

PALYMYRA DELRAN AND THE DOPPEL GANG: Spirit In My House

Palmyra Delran and the Doppel Gang covering a Joey Ramone solo number? Works for ME!

JOEY RAMONE: What A Wonderful World

Joey Ramone covering Louis Armstrong? Works for ME!

FOOLS FACE: Nothing To Say

The Greatest Record Ever Made!

THE FOUR TOPS: Standing In The Shadows Of Love

The Four Tops are my favorite Motown group, which is (to quote another Motown group) really sayin' somethin', WOOO! 

It's tough to pick a single favorite Four Tops song. "It's The Same Old Song" was my first Four Tops obsession decades ago, and "Reach Out I'll Be There" earned a chapter in my book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1). Their cover of "If I Were A Carpenter" made our year-end countdown show in 2023, and I won't be surprised if "Reach Out I'll Be There" does likewise this year.

"Standing In The Shadows Of Love" is another example of the top of the Tops. The song is most definitely not a political statement--Motown was deliberate in avoiding such things until later in the timeline--but in this election season, we're free to reinterpret and invoke its message as we see fit.

Standing in the shadows? Not now.

Stand up. VOTE. Love depends on it.

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, its six-chapter novelette digest A Band Called GUITARS VS. RAYGUNS!, 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

THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE! Fools Face, "Nothing To Say"

 Drawn from previous posts, this is not part of my book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1).

An infinite number of tracks can each be THE greatest record ever made, as long as they take turns. Today, this is THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE!

FOOLS FACE: Nothing To Say

Written by Jim Wirt

Produced by Pat Shikany

From the album Tell America, Talk Records, 1981

Pop fans have stacks 'n' stacks of stories about favorite almosts and shoulda-beens, cherished acts that seemed to have everything--everything--one could look for in a rockin' pop success story, missing only the success part. Springfield, Missouri's Fools Face were a prime example, a nonpareil group that wrote great songs, reportedly put on dynamic live shows, made some fantastic independent records in the '70s and '80s, and did not get noticed. 

Within the pop underground, however, Fools Face are renowned. By turns confident and vulnerable, Fools Face were always literate, intelligent, musically accomplished, rooted in '60s songcraft but forged in the crucible of '70s punk and new wave. 

Outside of a splendid eponymous reunion album in 2002 and a subsequent live set preserved as Live At Last in 2005, Fools Face have been completely unrepresented in the CD format, nor will you be (legitimately) streaming their catalog any time soon. I think one of the 2002 tracks made its way to an International Pop Overthrow compilation. And even the Fools Face and Live At Last discs are difficult-to-impossible to snag nowadays. Fools Face's album output during their original 1979-1984 album career--Here To Observe, Tell America, Public Places, and the cassette-only self-titled sayonara usually referred to as "The Red Tape"--are rarer'n rare. I remember once seeing a copy of Here To Observe at a record store in Arlington, Virginia. I own the only other copy of that album I've ever seen, and I've never seen any copies of Tell America or Public Places except for the ones I bought and have held on to for years. (I've never seen the Red Tape either, but I have a CD-R a friend made for me.)

The Fools Face library is one of American indie pop's greatest gaps. I have heard that there are labels who would love a chance to bring this magnificent stuff back to retail. I have also heard that members of the band just ain't interested in that prospect.

My first exposure to Fools Face was via Trouser Press magazine, my first listen to their sound courtesy of a Trouser Press flexi-disc single of "L5" from Tell America coupled with the title tune from Public Places. Tell America absolutely blew my mind on first spin, and it's been one of my all-time favorite albums for four friggin' decades. And I wish you could all experience its wonder, on vinyl, CD, mp3, 8-track, streaming, a series of cereal box 45s, whatever. "Nothing To Say" is the greatest end-of-the-affair teen kiss-off you've never heard. And it's only one of the incredible treats to be found on Tell America.

In the unlikely event you could find it all.

The fact that Fools Face (like the Morells and the Skeletons) were from Springfield, Missouri enhanced my interest. My mother was born and raised in Southwest Missouri, and summer visits to the area were an essential part of my youth. The bus or plane from Syracuse brought us as far as Springfield, and my grandparents would pick us up there and bring us back to their home in Verona or (later on) Aurora. We occasionally made it back to Springfield's Battlefield Mall, where my cousin and I could see a movie (What's Up, Doc? was a favorite), and buy books or records. I never got to see any rock bands, mind you, but the idea of such utterly cool bands as the Skeletons and Fools Face coming out of that region always pleased me. I much, much later got to see the Skeletons a couple of times at shows in Syracuse; I regret I never had an opportunity to see Fools Face. But I have the records! And I still cherish them. I never lived in Missouri, and it's likely I'll never find myself back there again. But I have roots there. And I dig some of the music that came out of Springfield.

For me, the moment of Fools Face revelation came via the first track on Tell America. "American Guilt" is an acid-tongued critique of both gung-ho Reagan-era jingoism and mushy-headed neo-hippie naivete, lyrically as incendiary as a testimonial from the MC5, but with a perfect pop sheen. When the chorus soars with the lines, "When push comes to shove/All you need is love," the transcendent effect of the Beatles quote nails everything into place. "Land Of The Hunted" and "Stand Up" compress paranoia and determination into an irresistible 1-2 punch. "L5" even manages a compelling pop tune about space colonization.

Above all of that,  "Nothing To Say" is the best break-up song ever, encompassing casual heartache (or heartlessness?) and a matter-of-fact recognition of the need to just move on. After all these decades of adoring this track, I still haven't decided if the song's narrator is basically a good guy struggling to express the end of a teen romance (and let his soon-to-be ex-girlfriend down easy), or if he's just, y'know, an insensitive dick. 

I regret to admit I've been that guy, a long time ago, and I haven't yet settled on which description applies to me. The song is superb either way. That remains something to say.

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, its six-chapter novelette digest A Band Called GUITARS VS. RAYGUNS!, 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

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Fake THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO Playlist: Some great tracks released this year

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.

Almost every episode of This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio mixes new and old songs together with deliberate impunity; great records don't care what year it is. But for today's exercise in imaginary playlisting, I want to focus solely on the indie rockin' pop sound of the present day.

Each of the tracks listed below is a 2026 (or thereabouts) release that has been played at least once on the real-world TIRnRR, co-existing in brightly boppin' bliss alongside the likes of the Ramones and the Four Tops. It includes a few tracks (by the High Frequencies, Glenn Erb, the Hellflowers, and Benny J Ward) that will debut on this coming Sunday night's show. Hey, tomorrow's sound TODAY! And it's not meant as any attempt to list the best of 2026-- man, there's still a lot of '26 I haven't heard yet--nor even necessarily all of the best 2026 stuff we've played so far this year. But here's a reminder that's what's happening RIGHT NOW is a pretty good time indeed.

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:

Volume 1: download
Volume 2: CD or download
Volume 3: download
Volume 4: CD or download
Waterloo Sunset--Benefit For This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio:  CD or download

Volume 5: CD or download

Fake TIRnRR Playlist: Some great tracks released this year

THE FLASHCUBES FEATURING TOM KENNY: Got No Mind

COCKTAIL SLIPPERS: Back Where You Belong

THE CYNZ: Neighborhood Bully

THE KENNEDYS: Girl On A Motorcycle

MICKY DOLENZ: Waiting For Day

RADIO KARMA: Sweetheart Deal

--

THE CORNER LAUGHERS: Dusking

MIKE BROWNING FEATURING ELENA ROGERS: Over And Under And All Around

THE SPONGETONES: The Music At The Close

DAVID MYHR: Summer Summer Summer

THE AMPLIFIER HEADS: A Song That Goes Sha La La

BANDA AL9: Indigo Skye

--

WEDNESDAY WEEK: They Say

BRIJITTE WEST AND THE GREENOWSKIS: Doin' Alright

TOMAS NILSSON: She's Alright And That's Alright

MUCK AND THE MIRES: It's Gonna Be Alright

SPECTRAFLAME: The Look In Your Eyes

WILDERSPOOL: Wild Apple Girl

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THE HIGH FREQUENCIES: Shakin' Street

PERILOUS: Overwhelmed By Reality

GARY CALAMAR: She's So Mid-Century

NICK PIUNTI: Big In Madrid

VEGAS WITH RANDOLPH: Let's Fool Around

RANDY KLAWON: Spoonful Of Love

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BENNY J WARD: Short-Lived

THE DAHLMANNS: Dark Side With You

GLENN ERB: Drunk In The Parking Lot

DEAN LANDEW: Sayin' Goodbye To My Crazy Days

THE CHELSEA CURVE: I Can't Help

TAXI GIRLS: Midnight Mixtape

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PSYCHOTIC YOUTH: I Found A Love

APE HANGERS: Miss You Girl

LIBRARIANS WITH HICKEYS: 1972

BETH PEABODY: Out And About

THE GREENBERRY WOODS: Waiting 'Round For Something To Go Wrong

MARY KARLZEN: Mr. Typewriter

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THE HELLFLOWERS: Wild Ones

PLASTICSOUL: (She's Got) The Move

THE HOVERING SPOOKS: Art School

TONY MARSICO AND THE UGLY THINGZ: Bittersweet

CINDY LAWSON: The Reckoning

DAVE COPE: Hit The Road

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THE BLUE HERONS: Demon Slayer

JOHN LARSON: Let's Kiss And Break Up

GENE CHAMPAGNE: I'm Disconnected

TIGER BOMB: Run Away

DEVIL LOVE: Tell Me You Love Me

RADIO DAYS: Keep Me Straight

THE LEMON TWIGS: 2 Or 3

SUNBUZZ: Anna Lee

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THE STEMS: Your Kind Of Love

THE KRAYOLAS: Summertime Boys

THE SUMMERTIMES: Luminous

THE ON AND ONS: Speck Of Smiling Faces

THE NUMBERS: Deception

THE WELL WISHERS: Pox On Everything

THE PEPPERMINT KICKS: Shaking Underground

SERGIO CECCANTI: Leave The Past, Don't Look Behind

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THE EX-BOMBERS: Down n Dirty

THE HALF/CUBES: When The Lights Are Out

Fake THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO Playlist: 7" 45 RPM singles that radio made me buy

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.

Last week, we talked about 45s I acquired prior to hearing the songs. For this week's imaginary playlist, we go the more traditional route: I heard each of these songs on the radio, and I had to own the 45.

The radio waves varied: AM and FM, over the air and closed circuit, Top 40 and AOR, college radio, commercial radio, mainstream, left-of-the-dial, and all points in all directions. I tried to limit the selections to singles I picked up not too long after my radio suggested I should, but I included a number of lollygaggers that took me a little bit longer to secure. I'm allowing a few oldies (by the Vogues, the Lovin' Spoonful, and Edwin Starr) that I discovered waaaay after their original hit reign, 'cuz any record you ain't heard is a new record.

So let's hear some records!

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:

Volume 1: download
Volume 2: CD or download
Volume 3: download
Volume 4: CD or download
Waterloo Sunset--Benefit For This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio:  CD or download

Volume 5: CD or download

Fake TIRnRR Playlist: 7" 45 RPM singles that radio made me buy

THE SEX PISTOLS: God Save The Queen

EL DEBARGE: Who's Johnny?

THE ROYAL GUARDSMEN: The Return Of The Red Baron

JONI MITCHELL: Help Me

THE FUZZTONES: Bad News Travels Fast

THE GREG KIHN BAND: The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em)

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HÜSKER DÜ: Eight Miles High

AC/DC: You Shook Me All Night Long

VANITY: Pretty Mess

THE MONKEES: That Was Then, This Is Now

TONI BASIL: Mickey

SOFT CELL: Tainted Love

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THE VOGUES: Five O'Clock World

ARTISTS UNITED AGAINST APARTHEID: Sun City

JOHN COUGAR MELLENCAMP: R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: My Hometown

THE GO-GO'S: Vacation

THE CHESTERFIELD KINGS: I've Gotta Way With Girls

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ACE FREHLEY: New York Groove

THE VAPORS: Turning Japanese

THE KNACK: My Sharona

THE DICTATORS: Sleepin' With The TV On

WILLIE ALEXANDER AND THE BOOM BOOM BAND: You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'

JOY DIVISION: Love Will Tear Us Apart

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SIMPLE MINDS: Don't You (Forget About Me)

ROKY ERICKSON: Don't Slander Me

NICK LOWE: So It Goes

ABBA: Knowing Me, Knowing You

BLONDIE: The Tide Is High

GEORGE HARRISON: Crackerbox Palace

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THE POLICE: Roxanne

THE BABYS: Isn't It Time

THE CRETONES: Real Love

EDDIE MURPHY: Party All The Time

TWISTED SISTER: Leader Of The Pack

TOMMY TUTONE: 867-5309/Jenny

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GEN X: Dancing With Myself

TALKING HEADS: Burning Down The House

MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND: Blinded By The Light

PATTI SMITH GROUP: Because The Night

SHAUN CASSIDY: Hey Deanie

THE ROLLING STONES: Shattered

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EDWIN STARR: War

THE HUMAN LEAGUE: Don't You Want Me

BOW WOW WOW: I Want Candy

HEART: Magic Man

THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL: She Is Still A Mystery

ABBA: Take A Chance On Me

J. GEILS BAND: Centerfold

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KANSAS: Carry On Wayward Son

DAVID BOWIE: Changes

THE BAY CITY ROLLERS: Rock And Roll Love Letter

PETE SHELLEY: Homosapiens

TRACY ULLMAN: They Don't Know

QUEEN: Crazy Little Thing Called Love

THE CLASH: I Fought The Law

BLONDIE: Call Me

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THE BUGGLES: Video Killed The Radio Star

COMIC BOOK COVER GALLERY: Issues # 20 acquired in the '60s, '70s, and '80s

The 20th day of the month provides all the meager excuse we need to put together a Comic Book Cover Gallery of the twentieth issues of various titles. 

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, its six-chapter novelette digest A Band Called GUITARS VS. RAYGUNS!, 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