10 Songs is a weekly list of ten songs that happen to be on my mind at the moment. Given my intention to usually write these on Mondays, the lists are often dominated by songs played on the previous 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 # 1081.
STOECKEL & PEÑA: Why
This new record has been our little secret for quite some time, and we're delighted to now be able to share it with the world. "Why" is the first release by Stoeckel & Peña, as in Steve Stoeckel (of The Spongetones, Pop Co-Op, and Jamie & Steve) and America's Sweetheart Irene Peña. Both were previously among the many fine folks responsible for "Waterloo Sunset," a benefit project credited to TIRnRR Allstars, covering The Kinks to raise money for whatever the hell it is Dana and I do here.
So yeah, we're BIG fans of Stoeckel & Peña. We've been chompin' at the bit for this chance to spin their wonderful debut single, and its minty-fresh release on the mighty Big Stir Records label brings that glorious chance firmly into the now. Why? Because we like it. We like them. Much more to come from Stoeckel & Peña (in all their diverse pop incarnations) as TIRnRR rolls on.
The secret's out.
Spread the word.
And if you don't know "Why," well, you should.
JIM BASNIGHT: Middle Of The Night
This little mutant radio show has a long and proud history of playing Jim Basnight's music. Solo, with The Moberlys, with The Rockinghams...hell, if Jim ever joins forces with the chick who sang "Rescue Me," we'll start playing Fontella Basnight, too. "Middle Of The Night" is Jim's latest, a new single from the above-mentioned Big Stir Records. Of course we played it. It's Jim Basnight. Playing Jim Basnight is what we do.
ARETHA FRANKLIN: Save Me
Why does this lesser-known Aretha Franklin LP track from 1967 appear to be set on a collision course with our year-end countdown? Playlists are built on whatever groove we hear in our heads, regardless of whether or not anyone else can hear it as easily. "Save Me"'s mix of a "Gloria" riff with a casual lyrical reference to "the Caped Crusader, Green Hornet and Kato, too" establishes a groove that compels me to play it. Aretha's will. I am as Aretha made me.
JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS: You've Come A Long Way Baby
Dana and I have established a willingness--an eagerness!--to play records by Josie and the Pussycats. The early '70s cartoon group? The 2001 film version? BOTH! We love both. We have no need for Riverdale or any of that angsty nonsense, but we're good with hearing either of those earlier Josies and their long-tailed (with ears for hats) cohorts.
This week's show included "You've Come A Long Way Baby," a 1970 shoulda-been-smash single by Josie and company. Here's an excerpt from my history of bubblegum music, talking a little bit about that incarnation of Josie, Melody, and Valerie:
"One Saturday morning act that may have deserved a better fate was Josie and the Pussycats. The group is something of a pop culture footnote for introducing the world to one Cherie Moor, later to find fame as actress/singer Cheryl Ladd. Though based on an Archie Comics title, the music for Josie And The Pussycats was produced, not by Don Kirshner, but under the direction of songwriter Danny Janssen, best known for co-writing "Little Woman" for Bobby Sherman. And the sound Janssen chose for Josie and the Pussycats was cast, not in the image of The Archies, but in the soulful pop style of The Jackson Five.
THE LINDA LINDAS: Never Say Never
No, it's not a cover of Romeo Void's early '80s new wave touchstone of the same title. It's arguably better than that. The Linda Lindas have become the buzz band of 2021, deservedly so, and we're happy to do our little part to participate. "Claudia Kishi" has been our Linda Lindas Pick T' Click so far, but "Never Say Never" is my favorite. For now.
JOHNATHAN PUSHKAR: Junior's Farm
Like Red Bull, Johnathan Pushkar gives you Wings. I never get tired of that line. Everyone else is waaaaay past tired of it, but I never get tired of it. Never mind me; just listen to Johnathan's take on "Junior's Farm," from his brand-new album Compositions. C'mon, it's worth putting up with me if it means you get to hear that.
AMY RIGBY: I Don't Want To Talk About Love No More
Amy Rigby's gotten a lot of TIRnRR airplay over the years, both as a solo act and as a duo with her husband Wreckless Eric. I jumped on her track "Dancing With Joey Ramone" as soon as I heard it--it was one of my first iTunes purchases, and it's flat-out amazing--but the bulk of Amy's spins here have been as Dana's choice. I'm also a fan, mind you, but Dana's usually the one getting Amy Rigby into our playlists.
And lately, Dana's been playing a few tracks from Little Fugitive, the 2005 Amy Rigby album that gave the world "Dancing With Joey Ramone." "Like Rasputin" and "The Trouble With Jeanie" demonstrated that Little Fugitive held more delight beyond the great track I already knew, and this week's spin of the wonderful "I Don't Want To Talk About Love No More" made it obvious that I needed to own my own copy of Little Fugitive.
And now I do. Thank you, Discogs! I betcha I'll be adding more Amy Rigby to my collection soon. Radio's job is to sell records. Even if it's selling records to other DJs.
NANCY SINATRA AND DEAN MARTIN: Things
No, I didn't see it coming either. I'll take SONGS I DIDN"T EXPECT TO HEAR ON TIRnRR THIS WEEK for $1000, Alex.
IRENE PEÑA: Must Have Been Good
The release of Stoeckel & Peña's "Why" prompted us to celebrate Steve 'n' Irene as our Featured Performers this week, threading examples of their fine work throughout the playlist. With that plan in place, we wanted to close with a 1-2 punch of their greatest individual hits. "Must Have Been Good" was our introduction to Irene, a track from her 2017 album Trying Not To Smile. I think we first heard it as a single in 2016, courtesy of my former Goldmine colleague John M. Borack (who plays drums on the track). "Must Have Been Good" also found its way on to our own 2017 compilation This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4; its inclusion on TIRnRR # 4 helped to shape the overall feel of that set (a tale told here). Our Irene Peña feature absolutely had to culminate in a spin of "Must Have Been Good."
THE SPONGETONES: (My Girl) Maryanne
There was never any doubt about what song would close out our Steve Stoeckel spotlight. In a decades-long career loaded with oodles and oodles of great moments, The Spongetones' performance of his song "(My Girl) Maryanne" is the single greatest moment.
It is also The Greatest Record Ever Made!
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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 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
I'm on Twitter @CafarelliCarl.
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