Tuesday, September 8, 2026

DANA'S FUNKY SOUL PIT: The First 15 Years

 

With The 15th Annual DANA'S FUNKY SOUL PIT now in the books, it's time to update the list of songs that Dana has included in his Soul Pit over the last decade and a half of smoke and sweat.


Here 'tis!

THE "5" ROYALES: Think
THE 5TH DIMENSION: Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In (The Flesh Failures)
THE 5TH DIMENSION: Stone Soul Picnic
THE 5TH DIMENSION: Up Up And Away
20 MILES: Come Right In
THE AD LIBS: The Boy From New York City
THE AD LIBS: Nothing Worse Than Being Alone
ARTHUR ALEXANDER: Anna (Go To Him)
ARTHUR ALEXANDER: A Shot Of Rhythm & Blues
MOSE ALLISON: Parchman Farm
MOSE ALLISON: Young Man's Blues
SAMMY AMBROSE: This Diamond Ring
KIP ANDERSON: I Feel Good
VICKI ANDERSON: If You Don't Give Me What I Want (I Gonna Get It Some Other Place)
BOBBY ANGELLE: Too Much For You
BOBBY ANHELLE: Too Much For You
JOAN ARMATRADING: Me Myself I
P. P. ARNOLD: Angel Of The Morning
P. P. ARNOLD:  (If You Think You're) Groovy
LAVERN BAKER: Voodoo Voodoo
MARCIA BALL: That's Enough Of That Stuff
BESSIE BANKS: Go Now
DARRELL BANKS: Angel Baby (Don't You Ever Leave Me)
THE BAR-KAYS: Hey Jude
THE BAR-KAYS: Shake Your Rump To The Funk
THE BAR-KAYS: Soul Finger
RICHIE BARRETT: Some Other Guy
DAVE BARTHOLOMEW: My Ding-A-Ling
FONTELLA BASS: I Surrender
FONTELLA BASS: Rescue Me
SHIRLEY BASSEY: Goldfinger
THE BEATLES: Anna
THE BEATLES: Devil In Her Heart
ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS: Tighten Up
CHUCK BERRY: Maybelline
CHUCK BERRY: Rock And Roll Music
RICHARD BERRY: Have Love, Will Travel
RICHARD BERRY & THE PHAROAHS: Louie Louie
BETTY BIBBS: Pounds Of Soul
BIG SAMBO & THE HOUSE WRECKERS: At The Party
BLACK HEAT: Drive My Car
MARION BLACK: Come And Gettit
OTIS BLACKWELL: Daddy Rollin' Stone
BOBBY BLAND: Do What You Set Out To Do
BOBBY BLAND: Driftin' Blues
BOBBY "BLUE" BLAND: Don't Cry No More
BOBBY "BLUE" BLAND: Turn On Your Lovelight
EDDIE BO: The Hook And Sling
GARY U.S. BONDS: I Wanta Holler (But The Town's Too Small)
GARY U.S. BONDS: It's Only Love
GARY U.S. BONDS: Minnie The Moocher
BOOKER T & THE MGs: Green Onions
BOOKER T & THE MGs: I Want You (She's So Heavy)
BOOKER T & THE MG'S: Time Is Tight
BOOKER T &  THE MG'S: You Can't Do That
TINY BRADSHAW: The Train Kept A-Rollin'
BRENDA & THE TABULATIONS: Walk On In
DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER: He's Gone
GENIE BROOKS: South Side Of Soul Street
THE BROTHER JOHNSON: Get The Funk Out Ma Face
THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS: The Times They Are A Changing
JAMES BROWN: Cold Sweat
JAMES BROWN: Get On The Good Foot
JAMES BROWN: Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved
JAMES BROWN: Gut Bucket
JAMES BROWN: I Need Your Key (To Turn Me On)
SIR LATTIMORE BROWN: Shake And Vibrate
MAXINE BROWN: All In My Mind
MAXINE BROWN: Baby Cakes
ROY BROWN: Rockin' At Midnight
PEABO BRYSON: Minute By Minute
BUNZU SOUNDS: Zinabu
SOLOMON BURKE: Maggie's Farm
SOLOMON BURKE: Proud Mary
ROY BYRD: Rockin' With Fes
CHARLES CALDWELL: Hadn't I Been Good To You
CARL CARLTON: She's A Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)
ROSS CARNEGIE: Cool Dad
JAMES CARR: Pouring Water On A Drowning Man
ALVIN CASH & THE REGISTERS: Alvin's Boo-Ga-Loo
SHARON CASH: Fever
THE JIMMY CASTOR BUNCH: Tribute To Jimi
THE CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD: Come Together
THE CHAMBERS BROTHERS: All Strung Out Over You
THE CHAMBERS BROTHERS: I Can't Stand It
GENE CHANDLER: Eleanor Rigby
GENE CHANDLER: Nothing Can Stop Me
THE CHANTERS: No, No, No
RAY CHARLES: Let's Go Get Stoned
RAY CHARLES: Mess Around
CHUBBY CHECKER: Back In The USSR
CHUBBY CHECKER: The Fly
CLIFTON CHENIER: Jambalaya
THE CHI-LITES: (For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People
THE CHIFFONS: The First And Last
DEE CLARK: That's My Girl
JUDY CLAY: Sister Pitiful
MERRY CLAYTON: Gimme Shelter
JIMMY CLIFF: Miss Jamaica
GEORGE CLINTON: Do Fries Go With That Shake?
THE COASTERS: Poison Ivy
THE COASTERS: Searchin'
THE COASTERS: That Is Rock & Roll
COLD GRITS: It's Your Thing
NAT KING COLE: (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66
KING COLEMAN: (Do The) Mashed Potatoes
BOOTSY COLLINS: Bootzilla
BOOTSY COLLINS: What's So Never The Dance
THE COMMODORES: Machine Gun
ARTHUR CONLEY: Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
THE CONTOURS: Do You Love Me
SAM COOKE: Chain Gang
THE COOKIES: Chains
ELIZABETH COTTEN: Holy Ghost, Unchain My Name
DON COVAY: Watching The Late, Late Show
ARTHUR "BIG BOY" CRUDUP: She's Got No Hair
ARTHUR "BIG BOY" CRUDUP: That's All Right
DANDY: Rudy, A Message To You
BETTY DAVIS: If I'm In Luck I Might Get Picked Up
SAMMY DAVIS, JR: What Kind Of Fool Am I?
TYRONE DAVIS: Can I Change My Mind
BOBBY DAY: Over And Over
DESMOND DEKKER & HIS ACES: 007 (Shanty Town)
DESMOND DEKKER & THE ACES: The Israelites
THE DEL ROYALS: Always Naggin'
DERRICK & PATSY: Housewive's Choice
SUGAR PIE DeSANTO: Hello, San Francisco [Part 1]
SUGAR PIE DeSANTO: In The Basement (Part 2)
BO DIDDLEY: Cadillac
BO DIDDLEY: Pretty Thing
BO DIDDLEY: Road Runner
BO DIDDLEY: Say Man
BO DIDDLEY: You Don't Love Me
THE DIXIE CUPS: Iko Iko
KING CURTIS & THE KINGPINS: Ode To Billie Joe
ERNIE K-DOE: A Certain Girl
ERNIE K-DOE: Mother-In-Law
BILL DOGGETT: Honky Tobk (Part 2)
BILL DOGGETT: Ram-Bunk-Shush
FATS DOMINO: Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey
THE DONAYS: Devil In His Heart 
THE DONTELLS: In Your Heart (You Know I'm Right)
LEE DORESEY: Behind The 8-Ball
LEE DORSEY: Ride Your Pony
LEE DORSEY: Working In a Coal Mine
LEE DORSEY: Ya Ya
BIG AL DOWNING: Georgia Slop
SNOOKS EAGLIN: Red Beans
EARTH, WIND & FIRE: Got To Get You Into My Life
EARTH, WIND & FIRE: September
EARTH, WIND & FIRE: Shining Star
THE EQUALS: Police On My Back
THE ESQUIRES: And Get Away
THE ESQUIRES: Get On Up
ESQUERITA: Rockin' The Joint
GIL EVANS & HIS ORCHESTRA: Crosstown Traffic
BETTY EVERETT: Getting Mighty Crowded
BETTY EVERETT: God Only Knows
BETTY EVERETT: I've Got A Claim On You
BETTY EVERETT: The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)
THE EXCITERS: He's Got The Power
ELLA FITZGERALD: Savoy Truffle
ELLA FITZGERALD: Sunshine Of Your Love
THE FIVE DU-TONES: Shake A Tail Feather
THE FLAIRS: Foot Stompin'
EDDIE FLOYD: Knock On Wood
EDDIE FLOYD: Raise Your Hand
FRANKIE FORD: Sea Cruise
THE FOUR TOPS: I Can't Help Myself
ARETHA FRANKLIN: Chain Of Fools
ARETHA FRANKLIN: Do Right Woman-Do Right Man
ARETHA FRANKLIN: Eleanor Rigby
CAROLYN FRANKLIN: Boxer
ERMA FRANKLIN: Baby I Love You
ERMA FRANKLIN: It's Over
ERMA FRANKLIN: Light My Fire
BOBBY FREEMAN: Do You Wanna Dance
LOWELL FULSON: Tramp
LOWELL FULSON: Why Don't We Do It In The Road?
DAN GARDNER & DEE DEE FORD: I Need Your Lovin'
GASHEAD: Why Do You Treat Me Like A Tramp
MARVIN GAYE: Hitch Hike
MARVIN GAYE: Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
MARVIN GAYE: Sexual Healing
MARVIN GAYE: There Goes My Baby
MARVIN GAYE: What's Goin' On
MARVIN GAYE & TAMMI TERRELL: Ain't No Mountain High Enough
GLORIA GAYNOR: I Will Survive
BARBARA GEORGE: I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)
THE GLADIOLAS: Little Darlin'
GQ: Disco Night (Rock-Freak)
GQ: I Do Love You
THE GRAND PRIXX: You Drive Me Crazy
R. B. GREAVES: Paperback Writer
AL GREEN: I Want To Hold Your Hand
AL GREEN: Let's Stay Together
AL GREEN: Take Me To The River
AL GREEN: Tired Of Being Alone
THE GROOVE MASTERS: When Nature Calls
BILLY GUY: Here I Am
BIG JOHN HAMILTON: Big Bad John
JOHN HAMILTON & DORIS ALLEN: Them Changes
WILLIE HARPER: A Certain Girl
SLIM HARPO: I've Got Love If You Want It
VERNON HARRELL: Slick Chick
WYNONIE HARRIS: All She Wants To Do Is Rock
WYNONIE HARRIS: Lovin' Machine
WILBURT HARRISON: Let's Stick Together
RICHIE HAVENS: Freedom
RICHIE HAVENS: Here Comes The Sun
RICHIE HAVENS: Rocky Raccoon
RAY HAWKINS: The Thrill Is Gone
SCREAMIN' JAY HAWKINS: A Hard Day's Night
SCREAMIN' JAY HAWKINS: Talk About Me
ISAAC HAYES: Title Theme (From Three Tough Guys)
LEON HAYWOOD: Strokin' Pt. 2
HEATWAVE: Boogie Nights
DONALD HEIGHT: Don't Let Me Down
JOE HENDERSON: Snap Your Fingers
JIMI HENDRIX: Let Me Move You
CLARENCE "FROGMAN" HENRY: It Won't Be Long
THE HIGH NUMBERS: I'm The Face
JESSIE HILL: Ooh Poo Pah Doo (Pt. 1)
JESSIE HILL: Ooh Poo Pah Doo (Pt. 2)
JESSIE HILL: Whip It On Me
L. HOLLIS & THE MACKADOOS: Bui Bui
RICHARD "GROOVE" HOLMES & BRENDA JONES: This Is The Me Me (Not The You You)
THE HONEY CONE: Want Ads
JOHN LEE HOOKER: Dimples
CISSY HOUSTON: Down In The Boondocks
HOWLIN' WOLF: Smokestack Lightnin'
HOWLIN' WOLF: Spoonful
PAUL HUMPHREY & HIS COOL AID CHEMISTS: Funky L.A.
THE INK SPOTS: I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire
THE ISLEY BROTHERS: It's Your Thing
THE ISLEY BROTHERS: Shout (Part One)
THE ISLEY BROTHERS: Summer Breeze
THE ISLEY BROTHERS: That Lady
THE ISLEY BROTHERS: Twist And Shout
THE JACKSON FIVE: Dancing Machine
THE JACKSON FIVE: I Want You Back
BULL MOOSE JACKSON: Big Ten Inch Record
BULL MOOSE JACKSON: I Want A Bowlegged Woman
CHUCK JACKSON: Any Day Now (My Wild Beautiful Bird)
THE JAM:  In The Midnight Hour
ELMORE JAMES: Shake Your Moneymaker
ETTA JAMES: At Last
ETTA JAMES: I'd Rather Go Blind
ETTA JAMES: Tell Mama
ETTA JAMES & SUGAR PIE DeSANTO: In The Basement (Part 1)
RICK JAMES: Bustin' Out
RICK JAMES: Super Freak
SKIP JAMES: I'm So Glad
LITTLE WILLIE JOHN: Fever
DOLORES JOHNSON: What Kind Of Man Are You
MARV JOHNSON: I Love The Way You Love
ROBERT JOHNSON: Traveling Riverside Blues
SYL JOHNSON: Take Me To The River
GLORIA JONES: Tainted Love 
LINDA JONES: Yesterday
QUINCY JONES: Takin' It To The Streets
SAX KARI FEATURING ELLA REED: Sweet Man
CHRIS KENNER: Land Of 1,000 Dances
CHRIS KENNER: She Can Dance
CHAKA KHAN: I Feel For You
KID THOMAS: Rockin' This Joint To-Nite
JUNIOR KIMBROUGH: I Gotta Try You Girl
EVELYN "CHAMPAGNE" KING: Shame
THE KINKS: Cadillac
GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS: I Heard It Through The Grapevine
GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS: Let It Be
GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS: Morning, Noon And Night
GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS: On And On
GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS: Operator
JEAN KNIGHT: Mr. Big Stuff 
KOOL & THE GANG: Funky Stuff
KOOL & THE GANG: Jungle Boogie
KOOL & THE GANG: Ladies Night
PATTI LaBELLE & THE BLUEBELLS: I Sold My Heart To The Junkman
MAJOR LANCE: It's The Beat
TOBY LARK: Shake A Hand
BETTYE LAVETTE: My Train's Comin' In
BETTYE LAVETTE: You're A Man Of Words, I'm A Woman Of Action
BYRON LEE & THE DRAGONAIRES: Express Yourself
LAURA LEE: What a Man
LAZY LESTER: I'm A Lover Not A Fighter
BYRON LEE & THE DRAGONAIRES: Express Yourself
LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS: Baby Please Don't Go
LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS: Let's Move
LIPPA INC.: Funkytown
LITTLE ANNE: Lean Lanky Daddy
LITTLE CAESAR & THE CONSULS: (My Girl) Sloopy
LITTLE EVA: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
LITTLE EVA: He Is The Boy
LITTLE EVA: The Loco-Motion
LITTLE EVA: Stand By Me
LITTLE EVA: Up On The Roog
LITTLE RICHARD: Dance What You Wanna
LITTLE RICHARD: Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey (Goin' Back To Birmingham)
LITTLE RICHARD: I Saw Her Standing There
LITTLE RICHARD: Rip It Up
LITLE RICHARD: She's Got It
LITTLE WALTER: You're So Fine
THE LOADING ZONE: No More Tears
SHORTY LONG: Devil With A Blue Dress
BARBARA LYNN: Maybe We Can Slip Away
CHERYL LYNN: Got To Be Real
MACEO & ALL THE KING'S MEN: Funky Women
TAJ MAHAL: Statesboro Blues
THE MAIN INGREDIENT: Everybody Plays The Fool
THE MAIN INGREDIENT: Get Back
THE MAIN INGREDIENT: Summer Breeze
THE MAJESTICS: Hard Times
THE MAR-KAYS: Plantation Inn
BOBBY MARCHAN & THE TICK TOCKS: Snoopin' And Accusin'
BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS: Soul Shakedown Party
MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS: Dancing In The Streets
MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS: (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave
MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS: Nowhere To Run
MARTHA [REEVES] & THE VANDELLAS: Something
THE MARVELETTES: Beechwood 4-5789
THE MARVELETTES: Locking Up My Heart
THE MARVELETTES: Please Mr. Postman
BARBARA MASON: Yes, I'm Ready
NATHANIEL MAYER: Leave Me Alone
CURTIS MAYFIELD: Freddie's Dead
CURTIS MAYFIELD: Move On Up
THE MAYTALS: 54-46 Was My Number
MARILYN McCOO & BILLY DAVIS JR.: Ticket To Ride
DAN McLAMB: Dan McLamb & His 3-Legged Dog
GWEN McCRAE: Ain't Nothin' You Can Do
"STICK" McGHEE: Drinkin' Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee
BIG JAY McNEELY: Nervous, Man, Nervous
MEL & TIM: Backfield In Motion
THE METERS: Cissy Strut 
THE MIRACLES: Going To A Go-Go
THE MIRACLES: Shop Around
THE MIRACLES: The Tracks Of My Tears
THE MIRACLES: You've Really Got A Hold On Me
THE MOMENTS: Rocky Racoon
WES MONTGOMERY: Caravan
NEW BIRTH: The Long And Winding Road
MAXINE NIGHTINGALE: Right Back Where We Started From
THE NITE-LITERS: Afro Strut
THE OHIO PLAYERS: Fire
THE OHIO PLAYERS: Love Rollercoaster
THE OHIO UNTOUCHABLES: Love Is Amazing
GODWIN OMABUWA & HIS CASSANOVA DANDIES: Do The Afro Shuffle
ORCHESTRE VEVE: Venus
THE ORGANICS: Foot Stumping
OTIS & CARLA: Tramp
KELLY PACE: Rock Island Line
THE PARAGONS: The Tide Is High 
JR. & HIS SOULETTES: Momma Love Tequila
JUNIOR PARKER: Lady Madonna
JUNIOR PARKER: Taxman
SONNY PARKER: She Set My Soul On Fire
PARLIAMENT: Ride On
PARLIAMENT: Tear The Roof Off The Sucker (Give Up The Funk)
DORIS PAYNE: You Better Mind
ANN PEEBLES: Didn't Take Your Man
THE PERFORMERS: Mini Skirt
THE PERSUADERS: Thin Line Between Love & Hate 
ESTHER PHILLIPS: Home Is Where The Hatred Is
ESTHER PHILLIPS: Hurtin' House
LITTLE ESTHER PHILLIPS: Cherry Wine
LITTLE ESTHER PHILLIPS: Mojo Hannah
SANDRA PHILLIPS: I Wish I Had Known
WILSON PICKETT: Hey Jude
WILSON PICKETT: Land Of 1000 Dances
WILSON PICKETT: Soul Dance Number Three
THE POINTER SISTERS: Don't Try To Take The Fifth
DAVID PORTER: Help!
BILLY PRESTON: Billy's Bag
BILLY PRESTON: Blackbird
BILLY PRESTON: Eight Days A Week
BILLY PRESTON: Get Back
LLOYD PRICE: Oooh-Oooh-Oooh
LLOYD PRICE: Stagger Lee
LLOYD PRICE & HIS BAND: Rock 'n' Roll Dance
PRINCE: Jungle Love
RED PRYSOCK: Hand Clappin'
JOEY RAMONE & GENERAL JOHNSON: Rockaway Beach
JAMES RAY: Got My Mind Set On You
OTIS REDDING: Can't Turn You Loose
OTIS REDDING: A Change Is Gonna Come
OTIS REDDING: Day Tripper
OTIS REDDING: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
OTIS REDDING: Louie Louie
OTIS REDDING: Mr. Pitiful
OTIS REDDING: Respect
OTIS REDDING: (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
ROY REDMOND: Good Day Sunshine
LULA REED: Rock Love
SIR MACK RICE: Mustang Sally
JMMY RICKS & THE RAVES: Daddy Rollin' Stone
JANE RIVER: Blatant Latent
THE RIVINGTONS: I Love You Always
THE ROBINS: Riot In Cell Block No. 9
ALVIN ROBINSON: Searchin'
SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES: I Heard It Through The Grapevine
VICKI SUE ROBINSON: Turn The Beat Around
THE ROLLING STONES: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
THE RONETTES: Be My Baby
THE RONETTES: I Can Hear Music
DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES: Love Child
DOCTOR ROSS: Cat Squirrel
DAVID RUFFIN: I Want You Back
DAVID RUFFIN: I've Lost Everything I've Ever Loved
DAVID RUFFIN: No Matter Where
RUFUS FEATURING CHAKA KHAN: You Got The Love
SAM & DAVE: Hold On, I'm Comin'
SAM & DAVE: I Thank You
SAM & DAVE: You Don't Know Like I Know
FREDDIE SCOTT: Are You Lonely For Me Baby
MABEL SCOTT: Disgusted
GIL SCOTT-HERON: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
THE SHARPEES: Do The 45
MARLENA SHAW: Liberation Conversation
RYAN SHAW: Do The 45
ROSCOE SHELTON: Question
ROSCOE SHELTON: Running For My Life
THE SHIRELLES: Boys
SHIRLEY & LEE: Let The Good Times Roll
THE SHOWMEN: 39-21-46
NINA SIMONE: Here Comes The Sun
NINA SIMONE: Love Me Or Leave Me
NINA SIMONE: Revolution (Part 1)
NINA SIMONE: Revolution (Parts 1 and 2)
NINA SIMONE: Save Me
NINA SIMONE: See-Line Woman
THE SKULLSNAPS: I'm Your Pimp
SLY & THE FAMILY STONE: Dance To The Music
SLY & THE FAMILY STONE: Family Affair
SLY & THE FAMILY STONE: Hot Fun In The Summertime 
THE SMALL FACES: Shake
HUEY "PIANO" SMITH & THE CLOWNS: Rocking Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu
HUEY "PIANO" SMITH & THE CLOWNS: Sea Cruise
LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES: A Chance For Peace
SMOKEY SMOTHERS: Come On Rock, Little Girl
THE SOUL BROTHERS: Mustang Sally
SOUL BROTHERS SIX: Some Kind Of Wonderful
THE SOUL SEEKERS: Something's Got A Hold On Me
RONNIE SPECTOR & THE E STREET BAND: Say Goodbye To Hollywood
BENNY SPELLMAN: Fortune Teller
BENNY SPELLMAN: Lipstick Traces (On A Cigarette)
THE SPINNERS: Magic In The Moonlight
THE SPINNERS: The Rubberband Man
THE STAPLE SINGERS: I'll Take You There
THE STAPLE SINGERS: Respect Yourself
EDWIN STARR: Agent Double O Soul
EDWIN STARR: My Sweet Lord
THE STEROES: I Really Love You
STEVE STOECKEL, JOEL TINNEL, ALEX TINNEL & BRUCE GORDON: Dana's Funky Soul Pit
BARRETT STRONG: Money (Thats What I Want)
DONNA SUMMER: I Feel Love
SUN RA: Saturn
THE SUPREMES: Can't Buy Me Love
THE SUPREMES: Love, I Never Knew You Could Feel So Good
THE SUPREMES: You Can't Do That
THE SUPREMES: You Can't Hurry Love
THE SUPREMES: A World Without Love
BETTYE SWANN: The Heartache Is Gone
SYREETA: She's Leaving Home
T-MODEL FORD: I'm Insane
TARHEEL SLIM: Number 9 Train
A TASTE OF HONEY: Boogie Oogie Oogie
HOUND DOG TAYLOR & THE HOUSEROCKERS: Give Me Back My Wig
LITTLE JOHNNY TAYLOR: Part Time Love
THE TEMPTATIONS: Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today) 
THE TEMPTATIONS: Law Of The Land
THE TEMPTATIONS: My Girl
THE TEMPTATIONS: Psychedelic Shack
JOE TEX: Show Me
SISTER ROSETTA THARPE: This Train
CARLA THOMAS: B-A-B-Y
CARLA THOMAS: Gee Whiz
CARLA THOMAS: My Man Believes Me
DON THOMAS: Come On Train
JOE THOMAS: Page Boy Shuffle
IRMA THOMAS: Ruler Of My Heart
IRMA THOMAS: Time Is On My Side
JAMO THOMAS & THE PARTY BROTHERS ORCHESTRA: I Spy (For The FBI)
RUFUS THOMAS: Do The Funky Chicken
RUFUS THOMAS: Itch And Scratch (Part 1)
BIG MAMA THORNTON: Hound Dog
BIG MAMA THORNTON: They Call Me Big Mama
TINARIWEN: Tenhert
THE T.M.G.'S: The Hatch
TOOTS & THE MAYTALS: Funky Kingston
TOOTS & THE MAYTALS: Pressure Drop
THE TOP NOTES: Shake It Up, Baby
THE TRAAMPS: Disco Inferno
ANDREA TRUE CONNECTION: More, More, More
TOMMY TUCKER: Hi-Heel Sneakers
IKE TURNER PRESENTS THE FAMILY VIBES: Garbage Man
IKE TURNER'S KINGS OF RHYTHM (FEATURING JACKIE BRENTSON): You've Got To Lose
IKE & TINA TURNER: A Fool In Love
IKE & TINA TURNER: Gonna Find Me A Substitute
IKE & TINA TURNER: He's The One
IKE & TINA TURNER: I Can't Believe What You Say
IKE & TINA TURNER: It's Gonna Work Out Fine
IKE & TINA TURNER: Proud Mary
IKE & TINA TURNER: River Deep Mountain High
IKE & TINA TURNER: She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
STANLEY TURRENTINE: Spooky
THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH: Mama, I Got A Brand New Thing
THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH: Smiling Faces Sometimes
THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH: With A Little Help From My Friends
THE UNTOUCHABLES: Tighten Up
PHIL UPCHURCH COMBO: You Can't Sit Down
THE UPSETTERS: Jaywalking
THE VALENTINES: Breakaway
DON VARNER: Mojo Mama
SARAH VAUGHAN: Smooth Operator
THE VELVELETTES: He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'
THE VELVELETTES: Needle In A Haystack
THE VIBRATIONS: And I Love Her
THE VIBRATIONS: Love In Them There Hills
JUNIOR WALKER & THE ALL STARS: (I'm A) Road Runner
WEE WILLIE WALKER: Ticket To Ride
WAR: Me And Baby Brother
BILLY WARD & HIS DOMINOES: Sixty Minute Man
BILLY WARD & HIS DOMINOES: That's What You're Doin' To Me
DEE DEE WARWICK: She Didn't Know (She Kept On Talking)
DIONNE WARWICK: Do You Know The Way To San Jose
DIONNE WARWICK: We Can Work It Out
DIONNE WARWICK & SPINNERS: Then Came You
BABY WASHINGTON: I Don't Know
MUDDY WATERS: Let's Spend The Night Together
MUDDY WATERS: Rollin' Stone
MUDDY WATERS: Tom Cat
JOHNNY "GUITAR" WATSON: Gangster Of Love
YOUNG JOHN WATSON: Space Guitar
MARY WELLS: My Guy
MARY WELLS: Please Please Me
WEST COAST REVIVAL: Feelin' Alright
KIM WESTON: Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While)
ELTON & BETTY WHITE: A Jelly Behind Woman Bloews My Mind
THE WHO: Dancing In The Street
WILD CHERRY: Play That Funky Music
LARRY WILLIAMS: Bad Boy
LARRY WILLIAMS: She Said Yeah
LARRY WILLIAMS: Slow Down
SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON: Polly Put The Kettle On
JIMMY WILLIS: Soul Power
AL WILSON: The Snake
CANDY WILSON: The Last Bad Habit
JACKIE WILSON: Doggin' Around
JACKIE WILSON: Lonely Teardrops
JACKIE WILSON: (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher
BILL WITHERS: Let It Be
STEVIE WONDER: Uptight (Everything's Alright)
STEVIE WONDER: We Can Work It Out
EDDIE FLOYD: Knock On Wood 
BETTY WRIGHT: Clean Up Woman
BETTY WRIGHT: Let Me Be Your Lovemaker
CHARLES WRIGHT & THE WATTS 103rd STREET RHYTHM BAND: Express Yourself
THE YARDBIRDS: A Certain Girl
BUCKWHEAT ZYDECO: Hot Tamale Baby

Dana's Funky Soul Pit is GO!

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, September 6, 2026

This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 1352: DANA'S FUNKY SOUL PIT!


The annual Dana's Funky Soul Pit is always one of our most popular shows, and deservedly so. Dana does an outstanding job selecting and assembling a fascinating program of soul, R & B, funk, blues, disco, and rock 'n' roll nuggets, mixing the familiar and the obscure to compelling effect. I'm a fan!

Dana divided this year's Soul Pit into three distinct parts: Disco Night, King Records Tribute, and Artist Spotlights. Each section is great, though my 1970s teen pop-punk self would be disgusted with me for digging Disco Night. But as I wrote in my book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1):

"...In the late '70s, disco and punk were supposed to be at war with each other. As a self-professed punk rocker in that era, I can attest that, yeah, punks didn't like disco, and the bumpin'-n-hustlin' set was appalled by the loud and fast noise my people favored. Hatfields and Capulets, meet McCoys and Montagues. Never mind the fact that the mainstream rock crowd held both punk and disco in nearly equal disdain; this was war!

"Except that it wasn't. I'm skeptical of the notion that many of the Saturday Night Fevered ever took much interest in the Damned or the Dead Boys, but some among the new wave brigade did eventually allow their ears and minds to be a bit more open to non-pogo dance music, to the beat of dat ole debbil disco. Maybe it was just me, but I was a pop fan anyway; my intense dislike of disco music evolved into occasional tolerance, and tolerance evolved into a sporadic realization that some of the records weren't bad...

"...Later on, as the know-nothing Disco Sucks movement built its flammable foundation upon a bedrock of racism and homophobia, I began to wonder if I'd chosen the wrong side. The loudest parties chortling at the notion of smashing mirrored disco balls and stoking a bonfire of Saturday Night Fever soundtrack LPs were often just meatheads, the advance guard of reactionaries commencing the implementation of mourning in America. Me? I was a power-poppin' punk, and the Disco Sucks fascists hated me, too. Fuck them. I'd rather hear "Disco Inferno" than 'Hotel California' or 'Cat Scratch Fever' any freakin' day of the week. Burn those records instead. I heard somebody say, 'Burn baby burn!' Yeah, I'd rather hear the Trammps...."

And that is still true. Burn, baby, burn. Wail, baby, wail. Dance and sing, sweat and proclaim. This is what's going on. Welcome back to Dana's Funky Soul Pit.

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.

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 # 1352: 9/6/2026: DANA'S FUNKY SOUL PIT!
TIRnRR FRESH SPINS! Songs we think we ain’t played before are listed in bold

PART 1: Disco Night

DONNA SUMMER: I Feel Love (Casablanca, Summer: The Original Hits)
RICK JAMES: Super Freak (Motown, Icon)
VICKI SUE ROBINSON: Turn The Beat Around (Universal, VA: Disco Fever 2)
CHERYL LYNN: Got To Be Real (Sony, VA: Disco Nights)
GLORIA GAYNOR: I Will Survive (Polydor, Love Tracks)
MAXINE NIGHTINGALE: Right Back Where We Started From (Universal, VA: Funky Town - 20 Hot Disco Grooves)
--
EVELYN "CHAMPAGNE" KING: Shame (PolyGram, VA: That's Disco 60 All-Time Classics)
LIPPS INC.: Funkytown (Universal, VA: Funky Town - 20 Hot Disco Grooves)
ROSE ROYCE: Car Wash (Universal, VA: Funky Town - 20 Hot Disco Grooves)
THE TRAAMPS: Disco Inferno (Rhino, Rhino Hi-Five: The Tramps)
THE SPINNERS: The Rubberband Man (Rhino, The Very Best Of Spinners)
A TASTE OF HONEY: Boogie Oogie Oogie (Universal, VA: Funky Town - 20 Hot Disco Grooves)
--
GQ: Disco Nights (Rock-Freak) (Hip-O, VA: Disco 54: Funkin' On The Floor)
HEATWAVE: Boogie Nights (Sony, VA: The Best Of Disco)
KOOL AND THE GANG: Ladies Night (Spectrum, Get Down On It: The Collection)
AL GREEN: Take Me To The River (Capitol, The Definitive Greatest Hits)
OHIO PLAYERS: Love Rollercoaster (Shout! Factory, VA: Old School Soul Party)
CARL CARLTON: She's A Bad Mama (She's Built, She's Stacked) (Experience Music Project: Experience Music Project Presents Funk Blast! A Collection Of Classic Funk)
--
PART 2: King Records Tribute

ROY BYRD: Rockin' With Fes (King, VA: The King R & B Box Set)
DAVE BARTHOLOMEW: My Ding-A-Ling (Collectables, VA: The Very Best Of King-Federal-Deluxe Volume One)
ROY BROWN: Rockin' At Midnight (King, VA: King Anthology Of Risque Blues)
WYNONIE HARRIS: All She Wants To Do Is Rock (Collectables, VA: The Very Best Of King-Federal-Deluxe Volume One)
JOE THOMAS: Page Boy Shuffle (Playback, VA: Chicken Shack Boogie Volume II)
TINY BRADSHAW: The Train Kept A-Rollin' (Rhino, VA: Jump, Jive & Swing!)
--
BILLY WARD AND HIS DOMINOES: Sixty Minute Man (Varese Sarabande, The Essential Masters: Billy Ward & His Dominoes Featuring Clyde McPhatter)
JOHNNY "GUITAR" WATSON: Gangster Of Love (Collectables, VA: The Very Best Of King-Federal-Deluxe Volume Two)
YOUNG JOHN WATSON: Space Guitar (Varese Vintage, VA: Good Rockin' Tonight: 25 Essential Rock & Rhythm Classics)
THE CHANTERS: No, No, No (Varese Vintage, VA: Good Rockin' Tonight: 25 Essential Rock & Rhythm Classics)
LITTLE WILLIE JOHN: Fever (Collectables, VA: The Very Best Of King-Federal-Deluxe Volume Two)
BIG JAY McNEELY: Nervous, Man, Nervous (Ace, VA: Rhythm Riot!)
BILL DOGGETT: Ram-Bunk-Shush (King, VA: The King R & B Box Set)
LULA REED: Rock Love (Collectables, VA: The Very Best Of King-Federal-Deluxe Volume One)
--
SMOKEY SMOTHERS: Come On Rock, Little Girl (King, VA: The King R & B Box Set)
BULL MOOSE JACKSON: Big Ten Inch Record (King, VA: King Anthology Of Risque Blues)
THE "5" ROYALES: Think (Varese Vintage, VA: Good Rockin' Tonight: 25 Essential Rock & Rhythm Classics)
BILLY WARD AND HIS DOMINOES: That's What You're Doin' To Me (Varese Sarabande, The Essential Masters: Billy Ward & His Dominoes Featuring Clyde McPhatter)
BULL MOOSE JACKSON: I Want A Bowlegged Woman (Collectables, VA: The Very Best Of King-Federal-Deluxe Volume Two)
LITTLE ESTHER PHILLIPS: Cherry Wine (Collectables, VA: The Very Best Of King-Federal-Deluxe Volume Two)
MABEL SCOTT: Disgusted (King, VA: The King R & B Box Set)
BILL DOGGETT: Honky Tonk (Part 2) (Varese Sarabande, VA: Rock & Roll - The First 50 Years - The '50s - 25 Top 10 Hits)
--
PART 3: Artist Spotlights

LITTLE EVA: Up On The Roof (Not Now Music, VA: 100 teen Idol Hits)
LITTLE EVA: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do (Rhino, The Loco-Motion)
LITTL EVA: He Is The Boy (Soul Jam, VA: The Gerry Goffin & Carole King Songbook - Will You Love Me Tomorrow)
NINA SIMONE: Save Me (Bluebird, VA: Flying Funk)
NINA SIMONE: See-Line Woman (Spectrum, See-Line Woman: The Best Of Nina Simone)
NINA SIMONE: Revolution, Pt. 1 (MOJO, VA: Beatlemania / Volume 2 [An All-American Tribute To The Fab Four])
--
GARY U.S. BONDS: Minnie The Moocher (Jasmine, Dance 'Til A Quarter To Three: The First Two Albums & Greatest Hits 1960-1962)
GARY U.S. BONDS: It's Only Love (Razor & Tie, Dedication)
GARY U.S. BONDS: I Wanta Holler (But The Town's Too Small) (Varese Sarabande, The Very Best Of Gary U.S. Bonds)
LLOYD PRICE: Stagger Lee (Acrobat, Mr. Personality - The R&B HIts (1952-60)_
LLOYD PRICE: Oooh-Oooh-Oooh (Acrobat, Mr. Personality - The R&B HIts (1952-60))
LLOYD PRICE AND HIS BAND: Rock 'n' Roll Dance (Specialty, single)
DAVID RUFFIN: I Want You Back (Hip-O Select, David Ruffin--The Unreleased Album)
DAVID RUFFIN: No Matter Where (motown, The Ultimate Collection)
DAVID RUFFIN: I've Lost Everything I've Ever Loved (Motown, The Ultimate Collection)
--
MARVIN GAYE: Hitch Hike (Tamla, That Stubborn Kinda' Fella)
MARVIN GAYE: What's Going On (Tamla, What's Going On)
MARVIN GAYE: Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) (Tamla, What's Going On)
DIONNE WARWICK AND SPINNERS: Then Came You (Rhino, THE SPINNERS: The Very Best Of Spinners)

Tonight on THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO


At last! It's the long-awaited return of DANA'S FUNKY SOUL PIT, as our Dana puts together an astounding presentation of irresistible soul, funk, R & B, blues, disco, and beyond. Dana's divided this year's program into three parts--Disco Night, King Records Tribute, and Artist Spotlights--and he'll be delivering a stunning mix of primo material by DONNA SUMMER, BILLY WARD AND HIS DOMINOES, NINA SIMONE, OHIO PLAYERS, TINY BRADSHAW, MARVIN GAYE, WYNONIE HARRIS, LITTLE EVA, AL GREEN, KOOL AND THE GANG, GARY U.S. BONDS, VICKI SUE ROBINSON, LITTLE WILLIE JOHN, THE SPINNERS, CHERYL LYNN, LLOYD PRICE, LULA REED, HEATWAVE, DAVID RUFFIN, and much, much more. SOUL PIT! 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!

Saturday, September 5, 2026

10 SONGS (plus one bonus): 9/5/2026

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 # 1351

[REDACTED] FEATURING [REDACTED]: [REDACTED]

Mystery track! We debuted this on last week's blowout celebration of TIRnRR # 1350, and it opens this week's show. Still can't tell you about it just yet. If you happen to be at The Lost Horizon in Syracuse on Saturday, November 7th, rumor has it that the physical 7" 45 RPM of this mystery track will be available for purchase at the merch table, courtesy of our friends at Big Stir Records. As stated previously: Grab your bright lights and bikini bottoms--bikini tops are optional.

I don't mind.

DOLLY PARTON: Release Me
DOLLY PARTON: Don't Drop Out
DOLLY PARTON: Jolene

TIRnRR's unique mojo may or may not be equal to the task of presenting a proper tribute to the late Dolly Parton, but there was no power in this mortal sphere that could prevent us from at least offering some humble tribute to her legend and legacy. Over the course of our first 1,350 shows, we've only played a grand total of three different Dolly Parton tracks, "9 To 5," "Don't Drop Out," and "Jolene," and I'm pretty sure the spin of "9 To 5" was the work of a guest programmer. 

But if Ms. Parton wasn't a TIRnRR perennial like the Ramones, both Dana and I had enormous respect for her. I remember one time when a listener asked why a show like ours would program "Jolene," and I answered: Because it's a great track. Great tracks are welcome around these parts. (And I will eventually repurpose the commentary for this week's posted playlist as part of a Greatest Record Ever Made! piece about "Jolene.")

For this week's show, "Jolene" was an absolute must, and so was "Don't Drop Out," Dolly's astounding girl-group sound single from 1966. I had something specific in mind to serve as coda (see below), and we included her lovely version of the country classic "Release Me" in our opening set.

DAVID RUFFIN: Let Somebody Love Me

This coming Sunday night's TIRnRR serves up the long-awaited return of Dana's Funky Soul Pit. Dana's annual soul/R 'n' B/funk extravaganza is one of our most popular presentations, and Dana has outdone himself once again with this year's fabulous edition. This is can't-miss entertainment, and we hope you'll tune in Sunday night, September 6th, from 9 to Midnight Eastern. Get set to sweat.

And this year's Soul Pit will include a few tracks by David Ruffin. Best known as one of the lead singers in the Temptations, Ruffin's subsequent solo career offered a lot of extraordinary work that didn't always find the large audience it deserved. A 2004 release called David (aka David Ruffin--The Unreleased Album) collected a number of (mostly) previously-unissued sides Ruffin recorded from 1969-1971, and it's an amazing record. This week, I pulled out a sublime David track called "Let Somebody Love Me." For the Soul Pit, Dana has a different track from the same collection. Irresistible stuff.

MARY KARLZEN: Mr. Typewriter

Oooo--speaking of irresistible stuff! Our pal Robbie Rist is a big fan of Mary Karlzen, a singin' songwriter who appeared as a guest on a recent episode of The Spoon podcast. Robbie also played on some of Mary's fab new album For All That We Dreamed Of (as does the incredible Fernando Perdomo), and a Spoon spin of the For All That We Dreamed Of delight "Blindsided" served up sufficient spark to get me to buy the album--a podcast's job is to sell records--with the intention of inserting "Blindsided" into this week's TIRnRR.

BUT! Robbie suggested we should oughta play another track from the album instead, and we have been known upon occasion to just do as we're told awready. So Robbie's fave rave "Mr. Typewriter" (also a great choice) stands as Mary Karlzen's TIRnRR debut, with "Blindsided" likely for a near-future show. Hail, Mary!

EARTH, WIND & FIRE: September
THE DONNAS: I Don't Want To Go To School

Wait--SEPTEMBER...?! Didn't summer just start? I DON'T WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL!

THE TEARJERKERS: Syracuse Summer

The Greatest Record Ever Made! 

TIM CURRY: I Do The Rock

News that actor Tim Curry had passed reached us just as we were about to record this week's show. We had to tweak the playlist a bit--apologies to Judas Priest (whose "Living After Midnight" was bumped to accommodate the change), and also to Rush (whose "Circumstances" fell victim to time constraints resulting from the switch)--but it felt imperative to represent Curry in this spot.

Like many of us, my introduction to Tim Curry was his bravura performance as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I thought the film was a hoot, and I'm glad the first time I got to see it was in a matinee screening, unaccompanied by costumed moviegoers, practiced audience participation, and props ranging from airborne hot dogs and rolls of toilet paper to copies of The Cleveland Plain Dealer folded over one's head. I got to experience the movie as a movie, and I found it hilarious. The experience was then enhanced and writ larger over subsequent screenings and the now-familiar attendant hoopla. Lips, baby. LIPS!

One of my favorite Curry performances was his role on several episodes of the Wiseguy TV series. Curry played Winston Newquay, an evil record label executive (which isn't necessarily a redundant phrase), and he was so riveting and deliciously malevolent that I really wish he'd been cast as the Joker in the 1989 Batman film. Curry was an artist, and an unforgettable presence in everything he did. 

From Rocky Horror, we could have played Frank-N-Furter's signature song "Sweet Transvestite" as our Curry selection, but really, Curry's 1979 radio hit "I Do The Rock" felt like an undeniable choice. I do the Rock myself! Maybe not as well as Tim Curry did the Rock--I could never whack a ball with such velocity--but y'know...don't dream it. Be it. It's a lesson worth learning, remembering, and embracing. All the world's a stage. And a stage was what Tim Curry was born to inhabit.

DOLLY PARTON, LINDA RONSTADT AND EMMYLOU HARRIS: After The Gold Rush

All in a dream, all in a dream: A dream of the sound of Heaven, brought to Earth with the angelic voices of Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris. Godspeed, Dolly Parton.

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

Friday, September 4, 2026

THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE! The Tearjerkers, "Syracuse Summer"

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!

THE TEARJERKERS: Syracuse Summer
Written by Gary Frenay
Produced by Ducky Carlisle and Gary Frenay
Single, Sunday Records, 1980; unedited version released on the various-artists compilation This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 3, Kool Kat Musik, 2013

I hate hot weather. I hate cold weather, too; it's not an either/or situation, and it certainly makes sense to me to despise both extremes anyway. But when it's chilly, I can add extra layers of clothing. I can't peel off my skin when the temps pop to some unholy number that starts with a friggin' 9.

Even so, the residual little kid lurking within me retains an affection for summer. There's a sense of greater possibilities, a broader array of things to do, the elusive allure of vacation and fun. 

It doesn't last as long so it means a little bit more.

"Syracuse Summer" was written by Gary Frenay of the Flashcubes, and released as a single by the Tearjerkers in 1980. Vocals are by Gary's long-time pal/Tearjerkers guitarist Charlie Robbins and Tearjerkers bassist Dave DeCirce, Gary and his fellow Flashcube Arty Lenin join Ducky Carlisle and Keith Vincelette on backing vocals (as Northside All-Star Singers), Gary sings the bridge, and Tearjerkers guitarist Dave Soule and drummer Larry Dziergas complete the magic of this perfect, perfect single.

This sublime tribute to the mercurial climate of Central New York--Seasons change and you live extremes/You got snowfall covering your sunny dreams--has owned a permanent berth on my all-time Hot 100 for more than four decades. Its only CD or digital appearance to date was on our 2013 compilation This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 3, which included a cool percussive intro that was omitted on the original 45. I find I can hate hot weather and still absolutely, unequivocally adore this song.

I believe "Syracuse Summer" transcends its point of origin and its Central New York perspective. It travels well, and it's instantly relatable to pop fans across all climates and conditions. The song was subsequently recorded again by Gary and Arty with their combo the FabCats, and I always wished the Flashcubes themselves would have been willing to take a stab at it. That was not to be. But I still wish it had happened.

Summer fades. Leaves fall. Temps drop. Bright lights dim. In Syracuse, the summers are not built to last. But we still play music, all year long, in snow or shine. Even in Syracuse, the best parts of summer can last forever. 

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

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

COMIC BOOK COVER GALLERY: September cover dates acquired in the '60s, '70s, and '80s

It never occurred to me at the time, but when I was a kid there was a weird dichotomy in play with comic books sporting September cover dates. Because publishers routinely post-dated their books (in a desperate bid to extend their stay on spinner racks), many comics purchased during summer vacations--y'know, the time when we banish pencils, (text)books, and teacher's dirty looks with righteous impunity--sucker-punched us by proclaiming the dreaded month of our looming return to...school. School. SCHOOL...?! Save us, Justice League! AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!

Ah, doesn't matter. Even when my September-to-June sentence resumed each year, I'd still be scribbling ideas for Batman stories in my notebook during study hall anyway. So here's a gallery of comics with cover dates that threatened me with September, but delivered the thrill of summertime.

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