Monday, August 15, 2022

This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 1142

We have not been in the habit of playing many Olivia Newton-John records on This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio. But nor did the sad news of her passing prompt her first-ever TIRnRR airplay. Our intrepid stats man Fritz Van Leaven tells us that we've played Olivia on five previous occasions, commencing with a spin of "Summer Nights," her Grease duet with Vinnie Barbarino, waaaaay back in 2006. A spin of "You're The One That I Want" followed in 2008, the same year we played "If Not For You" for the first time. The latter song returned to the playlist in 2018, and again in 2021. In 2021, I wrote this about "If Not For You:"

"My introduction to Olivia Newton-John. Hi, Olivia. I'm Carl. You're cute. Olivia's version of Bashful Bob Dylan's 'If Not For You' was also my introduction to the song itself; I'd not heard Dylan's rendition, nor George Harrison's cover, when Olivia's own sweet sound first appeared on American AM radio in 1971. 

"This was, of course, merely the start of Olivia's hit-makin' reign. I liked some of her subsequent radio smashes, and I was indifferent (or dismissive) of some others. The only ON-J product I ever owned was the Grease soundtrack and its attendant 'Summer Nights' 45. 'If Not For You' remains my favorite, and it remains my preferred version of the song. Apologies to Bob and George; ya never forget your first."

(I'm a tiny bit surprised--or really just disappointed--that we never got around to playing her hit "A Little More Love," but you'd be surprised how quickly a three-hour weekly slot fills itself t'burstin'. I regret we never did a deeper dive into her catalog, from 1966's "Till You Say You'll Be Mine" or her work with the Bubblegum Music Is The Naked Truth-approved group Toomorrow through subsequent LP cuts like her delicate reading of George Harrison's "What Is Life.")

If my chosen rockin' pop path ultimately diverged from much of the work of Olivia Newton-John--we dig what we dig--I retained an affection for her talent and an appreciation of her personality. Her talent was undeniable. And as for the pleasant and engaging vibe of her public persona, it's been said by folks who know these things that she was just as nice, just as amiable, away from the spotlight's glare. 

I believe that. It sounds exactly like Olivia Newton-John.

As our peers in the pop world mourn the passing of one of their heroes, we feel the loss, too. This week, we opened the show with a spin of "If Not For You," as we bid tearful farewell to a giant of pop music. And, with all due respect to Bobby Zimmerman and the Quiet Beatle, I still think Olivia Newton-John's "If Not For You" is the definitive version of "If Not For You." That sound is immortal. 

Even if we are not.

NEXT WEEK: THE 11th ANNUAL DANA'S FUNKY SOUL PIT! 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, on the web at http://sparksyracuse.org/, and via the TuneIn Radio and Radio Garden apps as Westcott Radio.

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/

You can follow Carl's daily blog Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do) at 
https://carlcafarelli.blogspot.com/

TIRnRR # 1142: 8/14/2022
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)
--
OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN: If Not For You (Hip-O, Gold)
THE SEEKERS: Georgy Girl (Rhino, VA: The British Invasion: The History Of British Rock Vol. 4)
HELIUM ANGEL: Georgie (Pilot Error, An Early Clue To The New Direction)
BEN VAUGHN: The Man Who Has Everything (Enigma, Dressed In Black)
SANTANA: Oye Como Va (Columbia, The Best Of Santana)
JOE COCKER: Feelin' Alright (A & M, With A Little Help From My Friends)
--
THE GOLD NEEDLES: The Good's Gone (Jem, VA: Jem Records Celebrates Pete Townshend)
KID GULLIVER: I Started A Joke (Red On Red. Kismet)
EARTH, WIND & FIRE: September (Epic, The Eternal Dance)
THE LEFTOVERS: Get To Know You (Oglio, Eager To Please)
MIKE BROWNING: All The Love Is Here (Kool Kat Musik, VA: Pop Aid)
LET'S ACTIVE: In Little Ways (Collectors' Choice Music, Big Plans For Everybody)
--
MANNIX: Come To California (n/a, Come To California)
THE DRIFTERS: On Broadway (Atlantic, All-Time Greatest Hits & More: 1959-1965)
MATTHEW SWEET: Come To California (Bulletproof, VA: Nancy Drew OST)
THE RAMONES: California Sun (Rhino, Leave Home)
MATTHEW SWEET & SUSANNA HOFFS: Different Drum (Shout Factory, Under The Covers Vol. 1)
--
JOHN LARSON & THE SILVER FIELDS: Jeannie (Shiny Fly, Mile A Minute)
POP CO-OP: I Just Love To Watch Her Dance (Futureman, Suspension)
THE MORELLS: Let's Dance On (Hightone, Think About It)
NICK FRATER: Dancing With A Gertrude (Big Stir, Aerodrome Motel)
THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS: All For Swinging You Around (Matador, Electric Version)
--
MARSHALL CRENSHAW: Something's Gonna Happen (Rhino, This Is Easy)
RONNIE SPECTOR & THE E STREET BAND: Say Goodbye To Hollywood (Cleveland International, VA: Cleveland International Records 1977-1983)
TODD RUNDGREN: I Saw The Light (Rhino, The Very Best Of Todd Rundgren)
THE FLASHCUBES: Christi Girl [Live At The Firebarn, May 26 1979] (Big Stir, single)
JAMES BROWN: Your Cheatin' Heart (Polydor, Soul On Top)
--
THE PUSH PUPPETS: There's No One Else Like Lynette (n/a, Allegory Grey)
NICK LOWE: Heart Of The City (Yep Roc, Jesus Of Cool)
THE MONKEES: Tapioca Tundra [acoustic version] (Rhino Handmade, The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees)
THE ON AND ONS: Vanishing Act (Citadel, Back For More)
THE CLICK BEETLES: Modern Girl (Vandalay, Emerald Green)
THE ORION EXPERIENCE: Adrianne (Sweet!, Cosmicandy)
--
JUDAS PRIEST: Heading Out To The Highway (Columbia, Point Of Entry)
THE SHOCKING BLUE: Venus (Repertoie, 20 Greatest Hits)
PAUL McCARTNEY & WINGS: Getting Closer (Capitol, Back To The Egg)
BARRY HOLDSHIP: It's Only Make Believe (Pop Garden Radio, VA: Sing Me A Song)
PETE TOWNSHEND: Let My Love Open The Door (Atco, Empty Glass)
--
CROSSWORD SMILES: Parallel Lines (Big Stir, single)
THE WHITE STRIPES: Fell In Love With A Girl (Legacy, Greatest Hits)
THE BREAKAWAYS: Walking Out On Love (Alive, THE NERVES: One Way Ticket)
THE FLASHING ASTONISHERS: Period Exclamatory (Futureman, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 1)
BALLZY TOMORROW: Out There (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 5)
R.E.M.: (Don't Go Back To) Rockville (Warner Brothers, Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage)
--
TALL POPPY SYNDROME: Come Some Christmas Eve (Or Halloween) (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 5)
THE BABLERS: You Are The One For Me (Big Stir, single)
THE SEEKERS: I Know I'll Never Find Another You (Rhino, VA: The British Invasion: The History Of British Rock, Vol. 3)
THE REPLACEMENTS: I Will Dare (Sire, For Sale)
LAURIE BIAGINI: Hey Mr. DJ (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 5)
THE BEATLES: Dear Prudence (Apple, The Beatles)
--
ARTHUR CONLEY: Sweet Soul Music (Rhino, VA: Beg, Scream & Shout!)

No comments:

Post a Comment