I'm a bit late in getting this word out, but I just found out about it myself. Syracuse's own Screen Test will have one of its songs featured in tonight's episode of the CBS television comedy Young Sheldon. The song "Make Something Happen" was written by Screen Test bassist Gary Frenay, and recorded by Screen Test in 1985. "Make Something Happen" was later recorded by The Flashcubes for their 2003 album Brilliant, and covered in 2017 by The Slapbacks for the compilation This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4. Screen Test's original recording of the song was included on the CD anthology Through The Past Brightly in 2018. (My own attempt to get The Monkees to record it in 2016 fell pathetically short.)
I first heard today's Young Sheldon news from Maura Kennedy, one half (with husband Pete Kennedy) of the world-renowned duo The Kennedys. Here's Maura's story:
Great news from Screen Test, one of my absolute fave local/original bands back when I was in my teens and early 20s growing up in Syracuse. A version of the band played at our wedding 25 years ago and we’ve collaborated with all three many times across the decades. Gary Frenay, Arty Lenin and Tommy Allen have remained dear friends throughout the years, and I’ve never grown tired of their music. I will never let go of my Screen Test 45s (from my cold, dead hands), even though I also have their music now on CD. Tonight, the Gary-penned, Screen Test-recorded “Make Something Happen” will get a much wider audience than from all the gigs and local spins the song has enjoyed over the past 35 years combined. (details at the end of this post.)
This brings back the time in the very early 80s when their video for “You Don’t Know Me” was featured on MTV’s Basement Tapes, and we all gathered at Wendy Curtis’s house to watch it air because she was the only one on the block who had cable TV, and then we all ran back to our houses and phoned in our votes on our wall-mounted, rotary phones. A band from a much larger city won that contest, but Screen Test have always remained our local heroes. Maybe this will finally make them an overnight sensation! Congrats, lads! Here are the deets:
Volume 1: download
“Make Something Happen” will be featured on tonight’s episode of the top-rated sitcom on TV, Young Sheldon (prequel to The Big Bang Theory), on CBS at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time.
They are using the 1985 Screen Test recording, featured on the 2018 release, Through The Past Brightly.
Screen Test is bassist Gary Frenay, guitarist Arty Lenin, and drummer Tommy Allen. All three are also founding members (with guitarist Paul Armstrong) of The Flashcubes, my favorite power pop group. Bazinga! Tune in to Young Sheldon tonight to hear Screen Test make something happen.
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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, and on the web at http://sparksyracuse.org/ You can read about our history here.
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 3: download
Hey, Carl's writin' a book! The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) will contain 133 essays about 133 tracks, each one of 'em THE greatest record ever made. An infinite number of records can each be the greatest record ever made, as long as they take turns. Updated initial information can be seen here: THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE! (Volume 1).
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