I like rock 'n' roll movies. I'm not referring to documentaries or biopics, though I've enjoyed a few of those. I'm talking about jukebox flicks: films with some sort of plot (however slight) and peppered with rockin' pop acts on-screen, doing that thing they do. That Thing You Do! is my all-time favorite movie of any description, and it dethroned my previous # 1 cinematic fave rave, A Hard Day's Night. From The Girl Can't Help It to the Monkees in Head through This Is Spinal Tap and more, I have a soft spot for movies that move to the big beat.
Rock 'n' Roll High School is certainly another one of my top rockin' films. The Ramones in a feature film? YES!! It's a joyful, delightful, and vibrant ode to B-movies, teen rebellion, and everything I've ever loved about pop music. The actors are perfect in their roles, star P. J. Soles is stunning, and the music is beyond great. It's THE RAMONES! 1-2-3-4!!
The circumstances of my first Rock 'n' Roll High School viewing are indelible. July 6, 1979. I was 19. My week had begun with a personal tragedy, and had trudged on impartially under the dismal shadow of that loss. Friday night found me at Uncle Sam's in Syracuse, pissed off and seeking my footing, one hand around a beer and the other a fist held high, red eyes forward, voice raised. Hey-ho, let's go. Rock 'n' Roll High School screened right there in the nightclub. The movie was followed by in-person live performances by the Flashcubes and the Ramones.
The redemptive power of rock 'n' roll. Green Lantern said that the dark things cannot stand the light. I say darkness can't withstand volume.
My soul still hurt. But I'd already determined that I was gonna survive anyway. It was just a cool bonus that survival came with a soundtrack. Rock-rock-rock-rock-rock 'n' roll high school.
We never stop being teenagers. Sure, we age, and even memory can fade before our bodies do the same. The spirit lingers. The music remains. Lights. Camera. Action follows. Rock. I do care about history. For better or worse, history brought me here.
Take it, Dee Dee!
This show is available as a podcast.
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, streaming at SPARK stream, and on the Radio Garden app as WESTCOTT RADIO. Recent shows are archived at 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:
TIRnRR # 1181: 5/14/2023
TIRnRR FRESH SPINS! Tracks we think we ain't played before are listed in bold
THE RAMONES: Blitzkrieg Bop/Teenage Lobotomy/California Sun/Pinhead/She's The One [live] (Sire, VA: Rock 'n' Roll High School OST)
THE RUTLES: Get Up And Go (Rhino, The Rutles)
THE BEATLES: Why Don't We Do It In The Road (Apple, The Beatles)
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THE MIDNIGHT CALLERS: Baby Let Me Be (Jem, Rattled Humming Heart) THELMA HOUSTON: Don't Leave Me This Way (Motown, The Best Of Thelma Houston)
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MIKE BROWNING: Saved By The Love (single) THE DRIFTERS: Sweets For My Sweet (Atlantic, All Time GreatGreatest Hits And More: 1959-1965)
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TALL POPPY SYNDROME: Let It Ride (single) LOU REED: Wild Child (RCA, Lou Reed)
SPARKS: Lawnmower (BMG, A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip)
THE RAMONES: Do You Wanna Dance (Rhino, Rocket To Russia)
WET LEG: Chaise Longue (Domino, Wet Leg)
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THE AMPLIFIER HEADS: When We Go Home Again (single) MARSHALL CRENSHAW: Little Wild One (No. 5) (Rhino, The Definitive Pop Collection)
PETE TOWNSHEND & RONNIE LANE: My Baby Gives It Away (Atco, Rough Mix)
THE HALF-CUBES FEATURING THE PERNICE BROTHERS: The Weakest Shade Of Blue (Big Stir, single) TODD RUNDGREN: Couldn't I Just Tell You (Rhino, Something/Anything?)
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RÅTTANSON: Fighting The Good Fight (single) LEW LEWIS: Win Or Lose (Stiff, Save The Wail)
CHILLIWACK: I Wanna Be The One (Mushroom, Lights From The Valley)
THEE HEADCOATEES: Pinhead (Sympathy For The Record Industry, Punk Girls)
MR. BRUCE GORDON: Genie In A Bottle (Futureman, One Tall Order)
THE ROLLING STONES: Child Of The Moon (Abkco, Singles Collection: The London Years)
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THE MYNAH BIRDS: I Got You (In My Soul) (Motown, VA: Motown Unreleased: 1966)
BADFINGER: Shine On (Real Gone Music, Badfinger)
THE RAMONES: Rock 'n' Roll High School (Sire, VA: Rock 'n' Roll High School OST)
JOHNNY THUNDERS & THE HEARTBREAKERS: All By Myself (Jungle, L.A.M.F.)
THE STOOGES: I Wanna Be Your Dog (Virgin, IGGY POP: A Million In Prizes)
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THE MONKEES: (Theme From) The Monkees [TV version] (Rhino, The Monkees)
THE CRICKLE: Place In My Heart (ROIR, VA: Garage Sale!)
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THE RAMONES: I Believe In Miracles (Sire, Brain Drain)
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND: I Can't Stand It (Polydor, Peel Slowly And See)
CHUCK BERRY: I'm Talking About You (MCA, The Anthology)
THE KINKS: Tired Of Waiting For You (Sanctuary, The Anthology 1964-1971)
THE BEATLES: Revolution [promo video version]
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