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.
THE BROTHERS STEVE: Better Get Ready
Yeah, you better get ready! The Brothers Steve have become consistent TIRnRR Fave Raves, so of course we're goin' full-throttle with their latest Big Stir Records release Dose. (To review: second album Dose follows the Brothers Steve's debut album # 1, and we repeat our earlier urgent note that the next one's gotta be called Dry.) We've been playing the new single "Next Aquarius," and figured it was time to dig into an album track. Our big 1100th show is coming up next week, so what could be a more appropriate track to play this week than "Better Get Ready?" NONE! None more appropriate! And I think we're gonna hear the Brothers Steve again next week on TIRnRR # 1100.
FANNY: Let's Spend The Night Together
Even into the mid '70s, it was still a little bit uncommon for a Top 40 pop song sung by a woman to directly suggest spending the night together. Hell, a decade before that, the lyrics of the Rolling Stones' "Let's Spend The Night Together" were deemed sufficiently scandalous that ol' Stoneface Ed Sullivan insisted that noted male singer Mick Jagger oughtta warble Let's spend some time together! while rolling his eyes as the Stones performed on Sullivan's really big shoe. Um, show. I recall seeing the all-female combo Fanny lip-sync this (as well as their ace cover of the Bell Notes' "I've Had It") on American Bandstand while I was vacationing in Missouri in 1974. I don't think I'd heard Fanny prior to that. I recall members of the band telling Dick Clark that they'd put a female POV on "Let's Spend The Night Together," though it really seemed then (as now) as just a matter of fact. If you wanna spend the time.
THE FLIRTATIONS: Nothing But A Heartache
Unrequited love. It hurts like nobody's business. But it sure does sound terrific on the radio. The Flirtations tell the story like no other can.
THE GRIP WEEDS: Shape Of Things To Come
A teaser single covering Max Frost and the Troopers' "Shape Of Things To Come" heralds the not-soon-enough release of DiG, a covers collection from the rockin' pop force of nature that is the Grip Weeds. The shape of things to come? Sign us up!
THE JAM: Start!
My silly notion to start TIRnRR # 1099 with "Taxman" by the Beatles inspired Dana to follow with the Jam's "Start!," a 1980 track very obviously influenced by George Harrison's Revolver opener from '66. I was at first going to follow "Start!" with Prince's "Hot Summer," but realized while recording the show that we had to put the Bangles' "Start!"-influenced "I'm In Line" in that spot instead. Just had to. There was time to move Prince down a couple places in the same set--our apologies to the Pleasers, who wound up getting unceremoniously bumped--and still revel in the pop-fueled oomph of a radio show opening with the groovy triumvirate of "Taxman"-"Start!"-"I'm In Line." I only regret I couldn't squeeze "The Batman Theme" in before "Taxman."
But it was, y'know...a start.
MAURA AND THE BRIGHT LIGHTS: Perfect Girl
The Maura of Maura and the Bright Lights is Maura Kennedy, one-half (with husband Pete Kennedy) of the world-renowned coffeehouse pop duo the Kennedys. Maura and the Bright Lights initially willed themselves into being in 2014 for the first-ever Bright Lights! Syracuse new wave rock 'n' roll reunion show. We have a handy-dandy history of Maura and the Bright Lights available for your reference right here.
Gary Frenay of the Flashcubes is also a charter member of Maura and the Bright Lights. Recently, Gary was tasked with the challenge of creating an original song in the style of late '50s/early '60s girl-singer pop like Marcie Blaine's "Bobby's Girl" and Shelley Fabares' "Johnny Angel." The result was the dreamy "Perfect Girl," a swoon-worthy little number for Maura to sing. It's intended for a forthcoming film project, but we're thrilled to offer you this perfect little preview of coming attractions. (Today's Bright Lights are Maura on vocals, Pete on guitar, Gary on bass and guitar, Mike Kallet on piano, and the track's producer Tommy Allen on drums, percussion, and synth strings.) Let swooning commence.
SUZI QUATRO: There She Goes
This tune by my # 1 teen rock 'n' roll crush Suzi Quatro was recorded in 1982 for an album, but the album was shelved. The project eventually saw the light of day as a limited issue called Unreleased Emotion, which was much later exhumed for more general availability by the public servants at the Cherry Red label. There ya go!
KEN SHARP: Hellcat
Hey, speakin' of the Supersonic Suzi Quatro, here's another track infused with glam and glitter, this one courtesy of pop music's best friend, Ken Sharp. We debuted Ken Sharp's new single "Hellcat" on last week's program. An immediate positive response to that (with a listener in Pennsylvania expressing specific delight) prompted a repeat spin this week. Plus, y'know, I like it. That usually helps.
TALL POPPY SYNDROME: Come Some Christmas Eve (Or Halloween)
Hey, it's a supergroup! Paul Kopf and Jonathan Lea (both of Stranger In A Strange Land, the former also of the Seeds, the latter also of the Jigsaw Scene)! Vince Melouney, from the original '60s lineup of the Bee Gees! Clem Burke of Blondie! Cream Puff War scribe Alec Palao of...we don't have space to list all of Alex's credits! I gotta start paying myself by the word. With all that firepower in its arsenal, it's no surprise Tall Poppy Syndrome's debut single "Come Some Christmas Eve (Or Halloween)" hits what needs hittin', and merits airplay by divine right.
THE KINKS: You Really Got Me
Did we mention that next week's show is This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 1100? Well, we just mentioned it again. You should oughtta join us for that. In the mean time, here's our house band the Kinks with 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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