The timing of our all-covers show is deliberate. Friday saw the release of the Flashcubes' splendid new covers album Pop Masters, as well as the ace new various-artists tribute album Jem Records Celebrates Ray Davies. We figured this was as good a time as any to indulge ourselves in the giddy thrill of rockin' pop acts acknowledging their influences.
In my part of the liner notes for Pop Masters, I wrote, "All musicians start out as fans of other musicians. If there are exceptions to that rule, I don't think I wanna hear 'em. In the beginning, inspiration prompts imitation. But imitation is itself instructive: it's learning by the simple act of doing. With the right inspiration fueling time, work, and talent, the whole shimmering thing evolves into sweet, sublime creation."
If you love a song, man, play that song. And then play another, whether it's from one of your heroes or from your inner muse. I wanna hear old, and I wanna hear new. I wanna hear it all.
So let's hear it. Let's hear tributes and salutes, emulations and reimaginings, knowing that what we learn from the Beatles or Prince or the Motors or the Kinks can lead to whatever subsequent spark we can strike on our own.
What better tribute could there be?
This is what rock 'n' roll radio sounded like on another 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, 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 # 1194: 8/13/2023: The ALL-COVERS SHOW
THE FLASHCUBES: Do Anything You Wanna Do (Northside, Brilliant)
HINDU LOVE GODS: Raspberry Beret (Rhino, WARREN ZEVON: Genius)
THE SPINNERS: My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me) (Motown, The Best Of The Spinners)
FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE: Better Things (Rykodisc, VA: This Is Where I Belong)
HEADGIRL: Please Don't Touch (Lemon, GIRLSCHOOL: The Singles)
THE DONNAS: Kids In America (Bulletproof, VA: Nancy Drew OST)
--
THELMA HOUSTON: Jumpin' Jack Flash (Spectrum, The Best Of Thelma Houston)
MERRY CLAYTON: Gimme Shelter (Columbia, VA: 20 Feet From Stardom OST)
IRENE PEÑA: The Summer Place (Big Stir, single)
NRBQ: It's A Wild Weekend [soundcheck recording] (Omnivore, In Frequencies)
THE GRIP WEEDS: Lady Friend (Jem, Dig)
THE BENT BACKED TULIPS: Sweet Young Thing (eggBERT, Looking Through...)
--
BEN VAUGHN: My Reservation Has Been Confirmed (benvaughmusic.bandcamp.com, Interpretations)
THE POSIES: I'm Looking Through You [outtake] (MOJO, VA: Beatlemania/Volume 1)
THE SUPREMES WITH THE FOUR TOPS: Love The One You're With (Motown, THE SUPREMES: The '70s Anthology)
MICHAEL CARPENTER: That's Alright By Me (Not Lame, VA: Full Circle)
MICHAEL MONROE: Shake Some Action (Yahoo!, Nights Are So Long)
MARY LOU LORD: Lights Are Changing (Sony, Got No Shadow)
--
THE RAMONES: Needles & Pins (Rhino, Road To Ruin)
THE MUFFS: Rock And Roll Girl (Sympathy For The Record Industry, Hamburger)
THE RUNAWAYS: Rock N Roll (Hip-O, The Mercury Albums Anthology)
THE BEVIS FROND: Let's Live For Today (Helter Skelter, single)
THE BANDWAGON: People Got To Be Free (Kent, Breakin' Down The Walls Of Heartache)
THE BANGLES: Going Down To Liverpool (Columbia, All Over The Place)
--
THE MIDNIGHT CALLERS: Come Dancing (Jem, VA: Jem Records Celebrates Ray Davies)
KID GULLIVER: I Started A Joke (kidgulliver1.bandcamp.com, Kismet)
STYX: Lies (RCA, Man Of Miracles)
THE MORELLS: Let's Dance On (Hightone, Think About It)
THE MONKEES: (I'd Go The) Whole Wide World (Rhino, Pool It!)
MARSHALL CRENSHAW: Crying, Waiting, Hoping (Rhino, The Definitive Pop Collection)
--
TIR'N'RR ALLSTARS: Waterloo Sunset (Kool Kat Musik, VA: Waterloo Sunset--Benefit For This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio)
MATTHEW SWEET & SUSANNA HOFFS: Different Drum (Shout Factory, Under The Covers Vol. 1)
THE CHARADES: Tears Of A Clown (Pop Madrid, When Shining Blue)
THE KENNEDYS: And Your Bird Can Sing (Futureman, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 1)
CISSY HOUSTON: Down In The Boondocks (Soul Music, Presenting Cissy Houston)
SHONEN KNIFE: Top Of The World (A & M, VA: If I Were A Carpenter)
SQUIRE: Boys Don't Lie (Tangerine, Big Smashes)
LINDA RONSTADT: Girls Talk (Asylum, Mad Love)
--
The Greatest Record Ever Made!
AL HIRT: Green Hornet Theme (RCA, The Horn Meets "The Hornet")
BOW WOW WOW: I Want Candy (Cherry Red, Your Box Set Pet)
THE SMITHEREENS: The Game Of Love (Sunset Blvd, Covers)
BLONDIE: Hanging On The Telephone (Chrysalis, The Platinum Collection)
LISA MYCHOLS: Go All The Way (Zero Hour, Power Pop Unplugged Volume One)
LIBRARIANS WITH HICKEYS: Listen, The Snow Is Falling (Big Stir, single)
THE BOAT MISSERS: We're For The Dark (dreamworldpop.bandcamp.com, Undercover)
AL GREEN: I Want To Hold Your Hand (The Right Stuff, Green Is Blues)
--
THE RUBINOOS: I Think We're Alone Now (Castle, Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About The Rubinoos But Were Afraid To Ask)
THE CRYAN' SHAMES: If I Needed Someone (MOJO, VA: Beatlemania/Volume 1)
THE SPONGETONES: On The Wings Of A Nightingale (Loaded Goat, Odd Fellows)
BIG COUNTRY: Prairie Rose (Spectrum, Wonderland)
MIKE BROWNING: Do It Again (mikebrowning.bandcamp.com, Class Act)
THE MOSQUITOS: Shakin' All Over (Kool Kat Musik, This Then Are The Mosquitos)
THE FLASHCUBES: Forget About You (Big Stir, Pop Masters)
THE BEATLES: Some Other Guy [live at the BBC for Saturday Club 26th January, 1963] (Apple, Bootleg Recordings 1963)
--
THE DICKIES: Banana Splits (A & M, Great Dictations)
THE MONKEES: Band 6 (Rhino, Headquarters)
No comments:
Post a Comment