We began this week's exercise in better radio through better radio with a spin of NRBQ. This was in specific tribute to our friend and colleague Rich Firestone, whose own essential weekly broadcast bop-a-thon Radio Deer Camp is heard every Sunday afternoon from 5 to 7 Eastern, right here on SPARK! This week marked RDC # 100, and it remains a cool thing indeed to be able to hear Rich on the radio each week, whether we're at home or whether we're out ridin' in our cars. NRBQ is one of RDC's House Bands, so we played us some NRBQ to celebrate all things Radio Deer Camp.
This week also marks 100 consecutive weeks of TIRnRR. That may seem a strange accomplishment for a show that's been at it for more than 23 years, 1117 episodes in all. But our cash-strapped, marginal mutant radio project has been constantly buffered by technical kerfrazzles, DOA connections, and sundry essential components fritzing, sputzing, going dark, or otherwise bubbling with incandescent malevolence. Hell, one time the show was nearly rained out--in the studio--because of a leaky roof. Oh, and speaking of weather, legend has it snow can fall in otherwise-tropical Central New York, occasionally in sufficient volume to make travel to the studio an idea best described as "stupid." Some combinations of any or all of these nagging bedevilments, often further aggravated by the station's chronic lack of money, have forced us to skip a week here, two weeks there, a month over there, and even two separate hiatuses of a few months on end.
Nowadays, prerecording the show by remote eliminates much of that particular tsuris. 100 weeks is by far TIRnRR's longest consecutive streak to date. Our previous record, back in those quaint old in-person days, was a still-impressive 75 weeks. If I understand the statistics, 100 weeks beats 75 weeks by...wait, let me do the math. 100 minus 75, carry the two, divide and conquer, i before e, except February which has 28, put your whole self in and put your whole self out...yeah, 100 weeks is more than 75 weeks. I knew it!
And we'll keep doing it for as long as we're able. There are records to play and things to say. Kerfrazzles be damned. This is what rock 'n' roll radio sounded like on its 100th straight 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:
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/ TIRnRR # 1117: 2/20/2022
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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NRBQ: Ridin' In My Car (Red Rooster, Uncommon Denominators)
THE JAM: Beat Surrender (Polydor, Direction Reaction Creation)
WRECKLESS ERIC: Whole Wide World (Salvo, VA: Born Stiff)
MATTHEW SWEET: Faith In You (Volcano, In Reverse)
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THE FOUR TOPS: If I Were A Carpenter (Motown, 50th Anniversary--The Singles Collection 1964-1972)
LED ZEPPELIN: Good Times Bad Times (Atlantic, Led Zeppelin)
THE BUSH TETRAS: Too Many Creeps (Salvo, VA: The Definitive Story Of CBGB)
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THE MOODY BLUES: The Story In Your Eyes (Polydor, The Best Of The Moody Blues)
AU PAIRS: It's Obvious (Cherry Red, Shocks To The System)
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE: Everybody Is A Star (Epic, Greatest Hits)
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ARROGANCE: Praying Mantis (Gaff Music, The 5' 11" Album)
THE KINKS: She's Got Everything [Backing Track Take 2] (Sanctuary, The Anthology 1964-1971)
VERDELLE SMITH: Life Goes On (Columbia, single)
THE BREAKAWAYS: Everyday Things (Alive, Walking Out On Love)
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THE FLASHCUBES FEATURING SHOES: Tomorrow Night (unreleased)
JOAN ARMATRADING: Drop The Pilot (A & M, Greatest Hits)
THE HOLLIES: Look Through Any Window (EMI, Clarke, Hicks & Nash Years)
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THE BAY CITY ROLLERS: Wouldn't You Like It (Arista, The Definitive Collection)
MADNESS: House Of Fun (Salvo, VA: Born Stiff)
T BONE BURNETT: Jellico Coal Man (Columbia, Johnny Cash: Forever Words)
GRAHAM PARKER & THE RUMOUR: Mercury Poisoning (Spectrum, The Very Best Of Graham Parker)
JUDY CLAY & WILLIAM BELL: Private Number (Rhino, VA: Beg, Scream & Shout)
IAN DURY: Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (Salvo, VA: Born Stiff)
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THE MONKEES: Nine Times Blue (Rhino Handmade, Instant Replay)
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SANDY NELSON: Let There Be Drums (Moochin About, VA: The Greatest Instrumentals 1934-1962)
THE MONSTERS: Why Don't You Let Me Go (Royal International, Beat'n Hits!!!)
MÖTORHEAD: RAMONES (WTG, 1916)
THE RAMONES: I Can't Give You Anything (Rhino, Rocket To Russia)
HERB ALPERT & THE TIJUANA BRASS: Walk, Don't Run (A & M, !!Going Places!!)
GUIDED BY VOICES: My Valuable Hunting Knife (Matador, The Best Of Guided By Voices--Human Amusements At Hourly Rates)
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THE DAVE CLARK FIVE: Do You Love Me (Hollywood, The History Of The Dave Clark Five)
HOW MANY BEANS MAKE FIVE: Learning To Keep My Mouth Shut (La-Di-Da, One Last Look)
THE BANDWAGON: On The Day We Fall In Love (Kent, Breakin' Down The Walls Of Heartache)
THE PRESS CLUB: I'm Watching You (Digitek, It's No Game)
THE SHIRELLES: Will You Love Me Tomorrow (Varese Sarabande, 25 All-Time Greatest Hits)
THE BEATLES: When I Get Home (Apple, A Hard Day's Night)
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THE WAY OUTS: Way Outs (Flashback, VA: Cartoon Network Toon-A-Rama)
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