Fake THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO Playlist: THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE!, in sequence

An infinite number of songs can each be THE greatest record ever made, as long as they take turns. That's the premise of The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1), a book I've been writing since, oh, roundabout the dawn of time. I don't know if my book will ever be published, but I'm reasonably certain that it will eventually be finished, at least. No, really.

Whatever the book's merits or lack thereof, I dig the concept of celebrating individual songs. That feeling, that rush of sheer joy in a single song, is a large part of why I started writing about rockin' pop music decades ago. And it's a large part of why I always wanted to be on the radio, spinning the platters that matter. It's the song. It's everything else and more, sure, but it's the song. It's the song.

Writing a book like this involves a process that's similar to crafting the perfect playlist. High Fidelity, baby. Whether it's for a book, a radio show, a mix tape, or a This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio compilation CD, the specific sequence of songs--the flow, the feel--is key. Sequencing songs for an extended narrative like a book adds a need for the written words, emotions, and ideas to flow together as well. The arrangement of song chapters in The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) is designed primarily to enhance the reading experience, to connect as a page-turning event. But I hear each and every song in my head as I'm writing; inevitably, I feel a need for the sequence of songs to also work as a playlist.

Our favorite records don't live in isolation. Each one has a story to tell. Today's phony This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio playlist collects eleven song sequences from The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) and pretends it's a radio show. It's an extra-long radio show--this should just about fit into a four-hour show, 60 minutes over our usual Best Three Hours Of Radio On The Whole Friggin' Planet gig--and it still only manages to include about half of the songs discussed in my book. Still, this is one hell of a radio show playlist.

The sequences selected are taken from my current blueprint for the book, which differs slightly from even the most recently-posted Table of Contents. The work goes on. The beat--and the beast!--goes on. The music goes on. Infinitely.

This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl--y'know, the real one--plays Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse on The Spark WSPJ-LP 103.3 and 93.7 FM, and on the web at http://sparksyracuse.org/ You can read about our history here. 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

PS: SEND MONEY!!!! We need tech upgrades like Elvis needs boats. 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/

Hey, Carl's writin' a book! The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) will contain 134 essays about 134 songs, each one of 'em THE greatest record ever made. An infinite number of songs can each be the greatest record ever made, as long as they take turns. Updated initial information can be seen here.

FAKE THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO PLAYLIST: The Greatest Record Ever Made!, in sequence

THE RAMONES: Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio?
--
BADFINGER: Baby Blue
CHUCK BERRY: Promised Land
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD: I Only Want To Be With You
THE SEX PISTOLS: God Save The Queen
ELVIS PRESLEY: Heartbreak Hotel
WILLI MAE "BIG MAMA" THORNTON: Hound Dog
--
TRANSLATOR: Everywhere That I'm Not
LESLEY GORE: You Don't Own Me
THE SHANGRI-LAS: Leader Of The Pack
THE SHIRELLES: Will You Love Me Tomorrow
THE RAMONES: Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
AMY RIGBY: Dancing With Joey Ramone
PINK FLOYD: Wish You Were Here
GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS: Midnight Train To Georgia
--
ARETHA FRANKLIN: Respect
THE MONKEES: Porpoise Song (Theme From Head)
PRINCE: When You Were Mine
THE 13th FLOOR ELEVATORS: You're Gonna Miss Me
THE ROLLING STONES: Get Off Of My Cloud
PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS: Just Like Me
--
THE WHO: I Can't Explain
TODD RUNDGREN: Couldn't I Just Tell You
SHOES: Tomorrow Night
THE FLASHCUBES: No Promise
SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES: The Tears Of A Clkown
THE NEW YORK DOLLS: Personality Crisis
--
THE BAY CITY ROLLERS: Rock And Roll Love Letter
THE KNICKERBOCKERS: Lies
THE WONDERS: That Thing You Do!
THE GO-GO'S: We Got The Beat
JAMES BROWN: Please, Please, Please
THE MARVELETTES: I'll Keep Holding On
--
THE ISLEY BROTHERS: Summer Breeze
THE RUBINOOS: I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
THE PANDORAS: It's About Time
P. P. ARNOLD: The First Cut Is The Deepest
BIG STAR: September Gurls
SAMMY AMBROSE: This Diamond Ring
PAUL COLLINS: Walking Out On Love
LINDA RONSTADT: You're No Good
--
THE MUFFS: Saying Goodbye
MARVIN GAYE: I Heard It Through The Grapevine
THE FLAMIN' GROOVIES: Shake Some Action
MATERIAL ISSUE: Kim The Waitress
THE JACKSON FIVE: I'll Be There
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE: Everybody Is A Star
--
JEFFERSON AIRPLANE: White Rabbit
THE BYRDS: I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND: I'll Be Your Mirror
DEL SHANNON: Runaway
THE EVERLY BROTHERS: Gone, Gone, Gone
THE COCKTAIL SLIPPERS: St. Valentine's Day Massacre
--
T. REX: 20th Century Boy
THE RUNAWAYS: Cherry Bomb
AMERICA: Sister Golden Hair
THE KINKS: Waterloo Sunset
THE KINKS: You Really Got Me
THE SMITHEREENS: Behind The Wall Of Sleep
--
THE BEACH BOYS: God Only Knows
JOAN ARMATRADING: Me Myself I
THE SELECTER: On The Radio
MANNIX: Highway Lines
THE DRIFTERS: On Broadway
FIRST AID KIT: America
--
THE GRATEFUL DEAD: Uncle John's Band
THE PRETENDERS: Back On The Chain Gang
EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS: Do Anything You Wanna Do
STEVIE WONDER: I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)
MARYKATE O'NEIL: I'm Ready For My Luck To Turn Around
EYTAN MIRSKY: This Year's Gonna Be Our Year
THE JAYHAWKS: I'm Gonna Make You Love Me
--
THE BEATLES: Rain
THE T-BONES: No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)