10 Songs is a weekly list of ten songs that happen to be on my mind at the moment. The lists are usually dominated by songs played on the previous Sunday 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 # 1141.
THE LEGAL MATTERS: What Is Life
1970 kinda sucked for me. As explained a little bit here, 1970 was the year that 10-year-old me was plucked from elementary school in North Syracuse at the end of fourth grade, separated from my peers as they prepared to enter fifth grade in the same old building that September, while I was catapulted to sixth grade at the middle school in Mattydale. Hijinks ensued. Happiness did not. Accepting the offer to skip fifth grade may have been the biggest mistake I ever made.
The transition occurred (not coincidentally) at a time when I began to listen to radio with greater focus, more specific intent. AM Top 40. My social and educational miasma notwithstanding, AM Top 40 had a lot to offer in 1970. Rock, pop, and soul music in general had a lot to offer in 1970.
A new tribute album called We All Shine On: Celebrating The Music Of 1970 recognizes the brilliance of 1970's offerings. A joint project of SpyderPop Records and Big Stir Records, We All Shine On is curated by respected pop scholar John M. Borack, and John's know-how drives an impeccable set of familiar 1970 numbers performed by some of 2022's best. We played the Test Pressings' We All Shine On cover of Edison Lighthouse's "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" last week, and we opened this week's show with the Legal Matters' exuberant and accomplished version of George Harrison's existential power pop classic "What Is Life." 1970! The music was the best thing about that year. The music endures.
NOLAN PORTER: Work It Out In The Morning
Why wasn't underrated '70s soul singer Nolan Porter a friggin' superstar? Why didn't he at least have a hit record? Arghh. This mundane real world leaves much to be desired. "Work It Out In The Morning," like other Nolan Porter potables we've played on previous shows, deserved jackhammer rotation on AM Top 40 circa '72, leading to a permanent status as a cherished Golden Oldie. Didn't happen. Shoulda.
NICHELLE NICHOLS: Why Don't You Do Right?
The '70s was when I became a fan of Star Trek, well after the fact. I was aware of the show during its original 1966-68 network run, and saw at least parts of an episode or three at that time, though I doubt I saw any episodes in their entirety until a much later date. Regular weekday syndicated reruns Stardate: Me Decade were my vehicle to seek out new life, new civilizations, and to boldly go where more than a few had gone before. Phasers on STUN!
The passing this week of actress Nichelle Nichols--immortal for her role as Lt. Uhura aboard the starship Enterprise--represents yet another piece of our formative years slipping away. In her memory, Dana reprised Nichols' 1967 single "Why Don't You Do Right." Hailing frequencies open, Captain., Godspeed, Nichelle Nichols. Ahead warp factor 8.
STEVENSON AND COMPANY: Talking Down To Me
Our forthcoming compilation CD This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 5 is steamin' along full-speed ahead. Among its many irresistible tracks is "Talking Down To Me," a song originally brought to our attention by every pop fan's best bud Steve Stoeckel. Steve's best known for his work as a member of the Spongetones and Pop Co-Op (the latter of whom are also represented on TIRnRR # 5), and "Talking Down To Me" is a li'l gem originally written by Steve's friend Danny Stevenson. Steve subsequently earned a co-write on the song, and added bass and vocals to what Danny and his drummin' brother Bruce Stevenson had already done. We loved it! And we played it on the radio, crediting it to the nom du bop King Mixer.
When it came time to address the idea of slapping together a fifth TIRnRR compilation, "Talking Down To Me" was an automatic choice. At the artists' request, the billing has been changed to Stevenson and Company. Which is just as well; a King Mixer could have cost us a fortune in breach-of-promise cases. The track will see its first-ever release on This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 5.
IRENE PEÑA: Come And Get It
We All Shine On: Celebrating The Music Of 1970 includes this ace performance by America's Sweetheart Irene Peña, as she takes on a classic Badfinger hit written by Paul McCartney. (Irene, incidentally, is also on This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 5, which means she's on at least two of 2022's best compilation albums. Go, Irene!)
THE CLICK BEETLES: Modern Girl
The way-fab Dan Pavelich has been an ally of This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio for years. We've played Dan's work with the Bradburys, and our annual This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio Christmas shows have often programmed selections from his seasonal various-artists benefit albums (Christmas Without Cancer and three volumes of Hi-Fi Christmas Party). As the rockin' auteur of the Click Beetles, Dan has been featured on both This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 3 and Waterloo Sunset--Benefit For This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, and the Click Beetles' Waterloo Sunset track "If Not Now Then When" (also on the CBs' album Pop Fossil) became a certified TIRnRR Fave Rave. Certified! Because we say so.
And now, as the world awaits the release of the Click Beetles' new album Emerald Green, Dan has granted TIRnRR the exclusive radio debut of a superswell new track called "Modern Girl." We approve! We like modern girls!
But honestly? We hereby reject the exclusive. All radio shows should be playing this.
NOW!!!
LULU: Love Loves To Love Love
Well. Who doesn't? And we certainly love Lulu. To her, with love!
THE STRAWBERRY ZOTS: And You Drive Your Pretty Car
It is very likely that this marks the TIRnRR debut of the Strawberry Zots. That delay may not be all that noteworthy at face value, given the fact that the esteemed Strawberry Zots never became a household name. But Dana and I saw the mighty Zots open for Dread Zeppelin in 1990, and I've owned a copy of the group's 1990 CD Cars, Flowers, Telephones for a very long time. Maybe we played them on our old show We're You're Friends For Now in '92, or one on of our other '90s projects prior to TIRnRR signing on at the end of 1998. But we ain't played 'em on This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio until now.
Better late than never!
KISS: Shout It Out Loud
The Greatest Record Ever Made!
AMY RIGBY: Tom Petty Karaoke
I don’t feel down
Yeah I’m alright
And when I do "Don’t Do Me Like That"
Hey I’m back
Walking into the light
And when I’m bringing "she went down swingin'"
I ain’t just singing
I’m coming on
"American Girl," take me outta this world
Turn it up. Or grab the mic if you like. You're among friends. And we hear you.
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.
I'm on Twitter @CafarelliCarl
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