The second thirty years has gotta start somewhere.
I would be in my early nineties by then; Dana will have regressed to his twenties, because of his big ol' crossroads deal that I'm not supposed to talk about. It's a silly fantasy to think we'll still be doing this in 2052, but I didn't foresee us making it through the first thirty years, so what do I know? We're still here now. We'll keep playing pop music on the radio for as long as fortune allows.
This week's show pays tribute to the incredible Ronnie Spector. Ronnie Bennett. Veronica. Here is something I wrote about her in a celebration of the Ronettes' classic "Be My Baby:"
"Be My Baby" doesn't just have that iconic Hal Blaine intro. It has iconic vocals, iconic production, the iconic Phil Spector wall of sound. While pundits tend to overuse the word "iconic," if we can't call "Be My Baby" iconic, what other song could possibly qualify instead?
Boom-boomboom-chuk-boom-boomboom-chuk.
"Be My Baby" also has teen singer Ronnie Bennett. That is not a minor point. Bennett's waifish voice seems chaste and innocent while implying a sensuous something more. Her producer certainly noticed, and before long they were married, her new (iconic) name as Ronnie Spector far outlasting the troubled, tempestuous relationship itself. Like Tina Turner surviving her marriage to Ike, Ronnie Spector survived Phil Spector...
..."Be My Baby" inspired Brian Wilson to be better, more ambitious, greater in his vision and in his accomplishment. A wall of sound, a sound made for radio and the dreams that radio can conjure. Spector. Hal Blaine, and his invincible Wrecking Crew compatriots. Sublime vocal support from some teens named Estelle Bennett and Nedra Talley (Ronnie's sister and cousin, respectively). And a teenager named Ronnie, singing sweetly of love's promise while on the precipice of plummeting into its abyss. Soaring above it nonetheless. Boom-boomboom-chuk-boom-boomboom-chuk. I guess that says it all.
Rest in peace, Veronica. 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 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 all about this show's long and weird history here: Boppin' The Whole Friggin' Planet (The History Of THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO).
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/
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
http://sparksyracuse.org/support/
You can follow Carl's daily blog Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do) at
https://carlcafarelli.blogspot.com/
https://carlcafarelli.blogspot.com/
TIRnRR # 1113: 1/23/2022
TIRnRR FRESH SPINS! Tracks we think we ain't played before are listed in bold
THE RAMONES: Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio? (Rhino, End Of The Century)
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RONNIE SPECTOR & THE E STREET BAND: Say Goodbye To Hollywood (Cleveland International Records, VA: Cleveland International Records 1977-1983)
THE BLUSTERFIELDS: January Jones (New Atlas, The Vicious Afterglow)
ANNY CELSI: Au Revoir, My Darling (Ragazza, January)
THE BRANDOS: Strychnine (Relativity, Honor Among Thieves)
BILL LLOYD: Dial Nine (New Boss Sounds, Back To Even)
BRAM TCHAIKOVSKY: Shall We Dance? (Cherry Red, Strange Men, Changed Men)
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CHRIS CHURCH: We're Going Downtown (Big Stir, Darling Please)
KID GULLIVER: Forget About Him (Red On Red, Kismet)
RONNIE SPECTOR [with JOEY RAMONE: You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory (Kill Rock Stars, She Talks To Rainbows)
THE DIXIE CUPS: Chapel Of Love (Varese Sarabande, The Complete Red Bird Recordings)
WENDI DUNLAP: Baby Blue (Futureman, VA: Happy Holidays 2021 From Futureman Records!!)
LULU: To Sir, With Love [museum outings montage] (Retroactive, VA: To Sir, With Love OST)
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LAURIE BIAGINI: I'm Doing Fine (single)
DANNY WILKERSON: Let It Go Tonight (SpyderPop/Big Stir, Wilkerson)
THE RONETTES: Walking In The Rain (Abkco, The Best Of The Ronettes)
THE BREAKAWAYS: Everyday Things (Alive, Walking Out On Love)
STAR COLLECTOR: Green Eyes (Clockwise, Game Day)
THE JAM: Pretty Green (Polydor, Direction Reaction Creation)
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MIKE BROWNING: Raise It Up (single)
THE DARLING BUDS: Hit The Ground (Columbia, Pop Said...)
RONNIE SPECTOR: Something's Gonna Happen (Bad Girl Sounds, Something's Gonna Happen)
DAVE EDMUNDS: Don't Call Me Tonight (Columbia, Information)
CHUCK BERRY: Carol (MCA, The Anthology)
THE DICTATORS: Baby Let's Twist (Dictators, Bloodbrothers)
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ORBIS MAX: Spot On (single)
DOLPH CHANEY: My Good Twin (Big Stir, This Is Dolph Chaney)
THE RONETTES: Baby, I Love You (Abkco, The Best Of The Ronettes)
THE FABULOUS POODLES: Mirror Star (Sequel, His Masters Choice)
THE ISLEY BROTHERS: Got To Have You Back (Motown, Greatest Hits And Rare Classics)
EYTAN MIRSKY: Record Collection (Mirsky Mouse, Get Ready For Eytan!)
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LANNIE FLOWERS: Don't Make We Wait (SpyderPop/Big Stir, Flavor Of The Month)
FANNY: I've Had It (Cherry Red, Rock And Roll Survivors)
RONNIE SPECTOR: She Talks To Rainbows (Kill Rock Stars, She Talks To Rainbows)
FISCHER-Z: So Long (United Artists, single)
THE BEATLES: I'll Cry Instead (Apple, A Hard Day's Night)
FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE: Denise (Atlantic, Utopia Parkway)
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PAUL DAVIE & THE BFFs: Kiss Me Softly (n/a, Half And Half)
FREDA PAYNE: Band Of Gold (Rhino, VA: Can You Dig It?)
RONNIE SPECTOR: Whenever You're On My Mind (Bad Girl Sounds, Something's Gonna Happen)
GAME THEORY: Back Of A Car (Omnivore, Across The Barrier Of Sound: Postscript)
THE RAMONES: I Can't Give You Anything (Rhino, Rocket To Russia)
THE GO-GO'S: We Got The Beat [Stiff single] (IRS, The Whole World Lost Its Head)
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THE SPLIT SQUAD: Trying To Get Back To My Baby (Red Chuck, Another Cinderella)
THE KENNEDYS: And Your Bird Can Sing (Futureman, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 1)
THE RONETTES: He Did It (Rhino, VA: One Kiss Can Lead To Another)
HOLLY GOLIGHTLY: This Happens (Vinyl Japan, Mary-Ann)
THE MUFFS: Earth Below Me (Omnivore, No Holiday)
THE PRIMITIVES: Across My Shoulder (Castle, Buzz Buzz Buzz)
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SUPER 8: Out Of My Head (single)
GRAHAM PARKER & THE RUMOUR: Local Girls (Spectrum, The Very Best Of Graham Parker)
THE PENCILS: Till Your Luck Runs Out (Kool Kat Musik, Anthology)
HAYLEY & THE CRUSHERS: Jacaranda (Rum Bar, Fun Sized)
THE KINKS: I Need You (Sanctuary, The Anthology 1964-1971)
GUIDED BY VOICES: Glad Girls (Matador, The Best Of Guided By Voices: Human Amusements At Hourly Rates)
RONNIE SPECTOR: I'll Follow The Sun (429, English Heart)
THE RONETTES: Be My Baby (Abkco, The Best Of The Ronettes)
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