This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 894

I can't claim to have been a big fan of The Tragically Hip, though the reason why was grounded in neither distaste nor indifference; it was unfamiliarity. I knew where the group got its name (from a Michael Nesmith video skit), and I sure thought that was cool. But I hardly ever--if ever--heard their music. I didn't know The Tragically Hip at all. I can't claim to have been a fan.

But many of our listeners are indeed fans of The Tragically Hip. This week, the passing of the group's frontman Gord Downie hit them hard, and we grieve right along with them. Music is our common language, our shared bond in all times, good and bad. We needed to play some Tragically Hip for our friends, so we did. I now wish I'd heard the group's eponymous debut upon its release in 1987; I would have liked it then. I do like it now. Listen: any song you ain't heard before is a new song. The old songs are old friends still. We play 'em all. Always. Through smiles and tears alike, the music is there for us every time.

(And if you wish to read an elegant and heartfelt tribute to Gord Downie from a fan, I suggest you read what our pal John Tierney had to say. Godspeed, Gord Downie.)

We also served up some new music that was new to everybody! The latest from Dave Caruso, Dana Countryman, Ed Ryan, and Tommy Gunn, the TIRnRR debut of The Seven & Six (with our longtime Fave Rave Lisa Mychols), and the irresistible new CD from Celsi, Bragg & Maitland. And we featured the music of The Tragically Hip. This is what rock 'n' roll radio sounded like on a Sunday night in Syracuse this week.

(And now a friendly reminder: six weeks until This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 900. As you were.)

This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl, Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air on WSPJ Spark Syracuse 93.7 and 103.3, and on the web at www.westcottradio.org

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Our new compilation CD This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4 is now available from Kool Kat Musik! 29 tracks of irresistible rockin' pop, starring Pop Co-Op, Ray Paul, Circe Link & Christian Nesmith, Vegas With Randolph Featuring Lannie Flowers, The Slapbacks, P. Hux, Irene Peña, Michael Oliver & the Sacred Band Featuring Dave Merritt, The Rubinoos, Stepford Knives, The Grip Weeds, Popdudes, Ronnie Dark, The Flashcubes,Chris von Sneidern, The Bottle Kids, 1.4.5., The Smithereens, Paul Collins' Beat, The Hit Squad, The Rulers, The Legal Matters, Maura & the Bright Lights, Lisa Mychols, and Mr. Encrypto & the Cyphers. You gotta have it, so order it here.

TIRnRR # 894: 10/22/17

THE RAMONES: Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio? (Rhino, End Of The Century)
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CELSI, BRAGG & MAITLAND: Heavenly Day (Steel Derrick, The Road To Glasgow)
NEIL DIAMOND: Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show (MCA, The Neil Diamomd Collection)
THE TRAGICALLY HIP: Grace, Too (U-Music, Yer Favourites)
KOOL & THE GANG: Hollywood Swinging (Mercury, 20th Century Masters)
THE BOBBY FULLER FOUR: Never To Be Forgotten (Del-Fi, Never To Be Forgotten)
THE PRETENDERS: Cuban Slide (Rhino, The Pretenders)
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THE TRAGICALLY HIP: Small Town Bringdown (Universal, The Tragically Hip)
ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS: I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down (Rykodisc, Get Happy!!)
THE FLASHCUBES: You Got My Promise (Northside, Flashcubes Forever)
SQUEEZE: Annie, Get Your Gun (A & M, The Squeeze Story)
POPDUDES: She Is Funny (In That Way) (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4)
THE MONKEES: She (Rhino, More Of The Monkees)
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DAVE CARUSO: Listen To This (Aural Contact Productions, Buddha Pesto Manifesto)
DAVE CARUSO: The Girl Who Checks All The Boxes (Aural Contact Productions, Buddha Pesto Manifesto)
THE ROLLING STONES: Memphis, Tennessee (London Calling, The Complete British Radio Broadcasts 1963-1965)
THE TRAGICALLY HIP: Poets (U-Music, Yer Favourites)
THE RAMONES: Substitute (Radioactive, Acid Eaters)
THE DRIFTERS: ON Broadway (Atlantic, All-Time Greatest Hits 1959-1965)
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND: Here She Comes Now (Polydor, White Light/White Heat)
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ED RYAN: Rocket Ship (edryan.bandcamp.com, Furious Mind)
TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS: American Girl (MCA, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers)
THE RUBINOOS: Nowheresville (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4)
THE ROLLING STONES: I Wanna Be Your Man (London Calling, The Complete British Radio Broadcasts 1963-1965)
THE TRAGICALLY HIP: Blow At High Dough (U-Music, Yer Favourites)
TEENAGE FANCLUB: Catholic Education (Matador, A Catholic Education)
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THE SEVEN & SIX: Monster Shindig (thesevenandsix.bandcamp.com, single)
IRENE PEÑA: Must've Been Good (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4)
THE TRAGICALLY HIP: Last American Exit (Universal, The Tragically Hip)
DAVID BOWIE: "Heroes" [single version] (Columbia, Nothing Has Changed)
THE HIT SQUAD: Best Of Me (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4)
THE YARDBIRDS: A Certain Girl (Rhino, Ultimate!)
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TOMMY GUNN: Past My Prime (n/a, Talk Of The Town)
THE WHO: The Kids Are Alright (MCA, My Generation)
HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES: Don't Leave Me This Way (Philadelphia International, single)
THE CREATION: How Does It Feel (Demon, Our Music Is Red--With Purple Flashes)
THE TRAGICALLY HIP: Ahead By A Century (U-Music, Yer Favourites)
CHRIS BELL: You And Your Sister (Omnivore, I Am The Cosmos)
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DANA COUNTRYMAN: Perfect Sunny Day (Sterling Swan, The Joy Of Pop)
THE MONKEES: Sunny Girlfriend (Rhino, Headquarters)
THE FORTY NINETEENS: The Longer I Wait (Kool Kat Musik, Good Fortune)
THE CLASH: Train In Vain (Epic, The Essential Clash)
THE TRAGICALLY HIP: Fifty-Mission Cap (Geffen, Fully Completely)
THE JAM: Beat Surrender (Polydor, Direction Reaction Creation)
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THE SPONGETONES: (My Girl) Maryanne (Loaded Goat, Always Carry On)
THE KINKS: You Really Got Me (Essential, Kinks)
THE TRAGICALLY HIP: My Music At Work (U-Music, Yer Favourites)
THE SMALL FACES: Talk To You (Immediate, Small Faces)
P. HUX: Better Than Good (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4)
STEPFORD KNIVES: Her Reputation (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4)
CIRCE LINK & CHRISTIAN NESMITH: I'm On Your Side (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4)
PAUL COLLINS' BEAT: She Doesn't Want To Hang Around With You (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4)
THE FLAMIN' GROOVIES: I'd Rather Spend My Time With You (Sonic Kicks, Fantastic Plastic)