David Cassidy could sing. And it wasn't even really supposed to be in his job description. Cassidy was hired in 1970 by the producers of a new TV series called The Partridge Family, and he was hired to be a face; he'd have to be able to act a little bit, but he was cast as Keith Partridge because he looked good, because his image could be used to sell merchandise and magazines and full-color posters to starry-eyed preteen girls. Maybe he could even sell a record or two. He wouldn't have to actually sing, just lip-sync to anonymous vocals by The Bahler Brothers. But Cassidy could sing; man, could he ever! His voice made this cathode-ray character, this packaged Tiger Beat product, come alive. Cassidy was never comfortable as a teen idol; he bristled under its restrictions, and never quite found his proper niche after The Partridge Family faded to black. But he was talented. He was well-loved by his fans. And he could sing. This week, the pop world mourns the loss of David Cassidy.
Tommy Keene was a star. I'd like to add that it doesn't matter if you never heard of him, but that would be a lie. It does matter, because Tommy Keene was the real deal, a gifted singer and songwriter, one of the key figures in my beloved genre of power pop since the '80s. You should have had an opportunity to hear him, and to become a fan. Frankly, I can't claim to have been all that much more in-the-know. I first heard Keene's music when my friend Greg Ogarrio included the classic "Places That Are Gone" on a mix tape in the early '90s. I for damned sure noticed that! Keene had a major label deal with Geffen in the late '80s, but the stardom he deserved never materialized. He continued to perform and record, and I own a number of his albums on vinyl and CD. I always meant to take a deeper dive into Keene's music, music which I knew I would love. Time is the enemy. Keene's sudden, unexpected passing shocked everyone. This week, the pop world mourns the loss of Tommy Keene.
My friend Ken Sharp has just recorded a new tribute to his idol, "I Wanna Be David Cassidy." My friend John M. Borack has written an appreciation of Tommy Keene for Goldmine. I have talented friends. All I could do was play some records, and join the rest of the pop world as we mourn the loss of two cherished figures. I woke up in love this morning. These are places that are gone.
This 899th edition of This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl also offered new music from Sex Clark Five, Chris Hillman, and Clockwork Flowers, plus a trio of new releases from Kool Kat Musik (Pseudonym, The Morning Line, and Jonny Weathers and Cosmic Scream). And we played some Partridge Family and Tommy Keene, all alongside TIRnRR Fave Raves like The Kinks, The Clash, The Monkees, The Velvet Underground, The Bangles, and Sly & the Family Stone. This world will not last forever. We turn it up for as long as it lasts.
NEXT WEEK: THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO # 900
Plan accordingly. This is what rock 'n' roll radio sounded like on a Sunday night in Syracuse this week.
This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl, Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse on The Spark WSPJ-LP 103.3 and 93.7, and on the web at http://sparksyracuse.org/
Spark Syracuse is supported by listeners like you. Tax-deductible donations are welcome at http://sparksyracuse.org/support/
You can follow Carl's daily blog Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do) at
https://carlcafarelli.blogspot.com/
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 # 899: 11/26/17
THE RAMONES: Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio? (Rhino, End Of The Century)
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THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY: Somebody Wants To Love You (Razor & Tie, The Partridge Family Album)
THE CLASH: Julie's Been Working For The Drug Squad (Sony, The Essential Clash)
THE RULERS: I Want My Ramones Records Back (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4)
THE TROGGS: With A Girl Like You (Fontana, Archeology)
TOMMY KEENE: Underworld (Geffen, Songs From The Film)
SLY & THE FAMILY STONE: Hot Fun In The Summertime (Epic, The Essential Sly & The Family Stone)
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SEX CLARK FIVE: The Legend Of Captain Abilene (Records To Russia, Ghost Brigade)
THE JAM: Thick As Thieves (Polydor, Extras)
THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY: I'll Meet You Halfway (Arista, DAVID CASSIDY & THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY: The Definitive Collection)
THE REPLACEMENTS: Bastards Of Young (Sire, For Sale)
TOMMY KEENE: There's No One In This City (Not Lame, Drowning)
DAVID CASSIDY: Get It Up For Love (Razor & Tie, Give It Up For Love)
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PSEUDONYM: I Don't Care About Love (Kool Kat Musik, Pack Of Lies)
THE TURTLES: She'd Rather Be With Me (Shout Factory, Happy Together)
TOMMY KEENE: Deep Six Saturday (Second Motion, Behind The Parade)
TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS: American Girl (MCA, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers)
THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY: Point Me In The Direction Of Albuquerque (Razor & Tie, The Partridge Family Album)
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND: Sunday Morning (Polydor, Peel Slowly And See)
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TOMMY KEENE: Run Now (Geffen, Songs From The Film)
THE NERVES: When You Find Out (Alive, One Way Ticket)
CHRIS HILLMAN: Here She Comes Again (Rounder, Bidin' My Time)
THE BYRDS: Mr. Tambourine Man (Columbia, Mr. Tambourine Man)
THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY: Doesn't Somebody Want To Be Wanted (Arista, DAVID CASSIDY & THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY: The Definitive Collection)
CIRCE LINK & CHRISTIAN NESMITH: I'm On Your Side (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4)
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CLOCKWORK FLOWERS: A Butterfly In The Rain (theclockworkflowers.com, single)
RAY PAUL: I Need Your Love Tonight (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4)
THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY: Singing My Song (Razor & Tie, The Partridge Family Album)
THE BEATLES: Hey Bulldog (Apple, Yellow Submarine)
TOMMY KEENE: Good Thing Going (Matador, Ten Years After)
ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS: Accidents Will Happen (Rykodisc, Armed Forces)
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JONNY WEATHERS AND COSMIC SCREAM: Times Have Changed (Kool Kat Musik, Jonny Weathers And Cosmic Scream)
THE WHO: I Can't Explain (MCA, My Generation)
TOMMY KEENE: Nothing Happened Yesterday (Alias, The Real Underground)
THE KINKS: I've Got That Feeling (Universal, Kinks)
THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY: Bandala (Razor & Tie, The Partridge Family Album)
THE BANGLES: How Is The Air Up There? (Omnivore, Ladies And Gentlemen...The Bangles!)
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THE MORNING LINE: Polygraph (Kool Kat Musik, Smoke)
THE SLAPBACKS: Make Something Happen (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4)
THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY: I Think I Love You (Razor & Tie, The Partridge Family)
NICK LOWE: Cruel To Be Kind (Yep Roc, Quiet Please...)
TOMMY KEENE: Never Really Been Gone (Matador, Isolation Party)
THE ROMANTICS: She's Got Everything (Nemperor, The Romantics)
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THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY: I Can Hear Your Heartbeat (Razor & Tie, The Partridge Family Album)
IRENE PEÑA: Must've Been Good (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4)
TOMMY KEENE: Hey! Little Child (Alias, The Real Underground)
WARREN ZEVON: Poor Poor Pitiful Me (Rhino, Genius)
STEPFORD KNIVES: Her Reputation (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4)
MATTHEW SWEET: I've Been Waiting (Sony, Playlist)
TOMMY KEENE: Places That Are Gone (Alias, The Real Underground)
THE MONKEES: Sunny Girlfriend (Rhino, Headquarters)
THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY: I Woke Up In Love This Morning (Arista, DAVID CASSIDY & THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY: The Definitive Collection)
THE SMITHEREENS: Got Me A Girl (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4)
SEX CLARK FIVE: Ride Of The Ghost Brigade (Records To Russia, Ghost Brigade)
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