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 # 1216. This show is available as a podcast.
EMPEROR PENGUIN: What's The Worst That Could Happen
There are people--informed people, musician and music fan alike--who believe record labels don't matter.
We disagree.
Oh, it's true that a big-box corporate label is useless (or worse) to artists not pullin' in the mega-numbers, and it's also true that independent artists in the 21st century have tools to market themselves directly, tools that did not exist in previous eras. In those contexts, yeah, eff The Man. The artist is better off in those examples without the label.
But a good indie label can provide an invaluable means to getting new music to the right sets of ears. A great indie label can be a true partner to the artist, especially when physical releases are involved. That does matter. It can matter a lot.
One great indie label near 'n' dear to This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio's heart is Kool Kat Musik, led by the vision of Ray Gianchetti. We're proud to be biased here; Kool Kat released the last three TIRnRR compilations, and our Mr. Ray also did the CD version of fellow great indie label Futureman Records' digital set Waterloo Sunset--Benefit For This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio. But both Dana and I were Kool Kat fans long before we were Kool Kat...whatever we are that's more accurate than "artists." We play Kool Kat releases, new and old, nearly every week. Much of that is compelling stuff that might not have gotten to us if it hadn't been pushed our way by this great indie label called Kool Kat. Thanks, Ray!
This week's show includes spins of Kool Kat releases by the Mosquitos and Armchair Oracles, a sneak peek at a near-future Kool Kat release from On The Runway, and it opens with an irresistible track from Emperor Penguin, asking that musical question, "What's The Worst That Could Happen?" That comes to us courtesy of the latest Emperor Penguin album Gentlemen Thieves, and we're delighted to add yet another Kool Kat treat to our own humble Play-Tone Galaxy. Kool Kat's cool by us.
THE WEEKLINGS: None Of Your Business
Speaking of great indie labels, Marty Scott's storied Jem Records imprint was one of my big go-to resources for the grooviest imports and indie releases in the '70s and '80s, when I was a somewhat younger rockin' pop fanatic. Marty's considerable (and HOW!!) experience in the music biz lends an undeniable oomph to his current efforts with Jem's modern incarnation.
That prerequisite oomph has landed lotsa Jem releases by lotsa Jem stars on lotsa TIRnRR playlists. From the Grip Weeds and the Cynz to the Midnight Callers and the Gold Needles, and certainly including the superfine tribute compilations in the Jem Records Celebrates series, Jem has been amply represented from week to week on this little mutant radio show. We're very much looking forward to a near-future Jem release from Paul Collins, and to the forthcoming Jem Records Celebrates [redacted]. Thanks, Marty!
Right now, we're commencing airplay of Raspberry Park, the latest from the force of nature that is the Weeklings. ALL HAIL THE WEEKLINGS! We start with this week's spin of the album's first single "None Of Your Business." Marty and his PR Empress Maureen Daye Pietoso have now said GO! to airplay of the rest of the record, and that starts on our next show.
Jem of the airwaves. It's EVERYbody's business.
BO DIDDLEY: Bo Diddley 1969
BUBBLEGUM BO DIDDLEY! I dig this beyond any rational expectation. For some reason, ol' Bo did not perform this when I saw him on an oldies package tour many years ago.
Go figure.
And yeah, "Bo Diddley 1969" is barely (if even) a footnote to the mighty Diddley's rockin' c.v. It ain't exactly "Who Do You Love" or "Say Man;" it's not even "Background To A Music." But I like it. Bo Diddley, Bo-Bo-Bo Diddley!
THE HALF CUBES: Tell Someone You Love Them
When we discuss the great indie labels of today, we have to give much respect to Big Stir Records. Big Stir's Rex Broome and Christina Bulbenko are musicians themselves, transmogrifying dead air into beautiful sounds as the Armoires, and their passion for what they do drives the ongoing success of their label. We play Big Stir on the radio almost every week, with a spin of the latest from the Incurables this week and a new one from the Jack Rubies next time out. Thanks, Rex and Christina!
This week's extravaganza also serves up an as-yet-unreleased treat from Big Stir recording artists the Half Cubes. The Half Cubes include Gary Frenay and Tommy Allen (two of the founding members of Big Stir recording artists the Flashcubes), working with talents like Fernando Perdomo and Randy Klawon on a mind-blowing array of accomplished covers. One hopes there'll be an album someday.
Meanwhile, this Half Cubes cover of "Tell Someone You Love Them" (previously done by none other than Dino, Desi and Billy) is just stellar. Lead vocal duties here fall to Rob Bonfiglio, who is married to Carnie Wilson and plays in his father-in-law Brian Wilson's band. Good vibrations! And another fantastic track from the Half Cubes.
ROCKY BURNETTE: Tired Of Toein' The Line
I made a mistake on the radio this week. Yes, the AGAIN!! is a given. Dana played Rocky Burnette's "Tired Of Toein' The Line," one-third of an in-set series of Dana's picks by Rocky's brother Billy Burnette ("Oh, Susan") and their daddy Johnny Burnette with his Rock 'n' Roll Trio ("Train Kept A-Rollin'). I mentioned how I disliked Rocky's "Tired Of Toein' The Line" at the time of its hit reign when I was in high school, but that I'm more'n okay with it now.
WRONG!
Not the part about dislike evolving to like; that's accurate. But I graduated from high school in 1977; "Tired Of Toein' The Line" was a hit in 1980, the year I graduated from college. See, I messed up my own timeline. I can't even toe that line, man. I blame my advanced age.
DAVID BOWIE: Life On Mars?
The Greatest Record Ever Made!
ARMCHAIR ORACLES: Nilsson Wilson
A song that references Harry Nilsson and the Beach Boys? Jeez, talk about pandering to the TIRnRR demo. We approve! From Armchair Oracles' new Kool Kat Musik album Nothingeveris. Thanks AGAIN, Ray!
MILLIE SMALL: Killer Joe
As much as I love Millie Small's lone American hit "My Boy Lollipop," I sometimes wonder if little Miss Bluebeat's greatest track might actually be her vibrant cover of the Rocky Fellers' "Killer Joe." Millie flips the POV of the original, changing the narrative voice of a boy fuming helplessly as his crush Marie dances with the fierce and fearsome Killer Joe to that of a chick fretting as her guy Killer Joe frugs and frolics with that obviously hinge-heeled hussy Marie. As I've said before: It's Rashomon with a beat!
THE FLASHCUBES: You For Me
Little-known fact: The Flashcubes' collaboration with Big Stir grew from seeds planted when the 'Cubes were promoting their self-released live-in-1979 album Flashcubes On Fire. That album came out in 2022, and during the run-up to its release we thought maybe one of its incendiary cuts could be a good candidate for Big Stir's digital single series. Little did we know where that would lead! The road to 2023's magnificent Pop Masters album mixed its paving material and paid off its state inspectors right here.
The Flashcubes On Fire track "You For Me" was written by guitarist Paul Armstrong, and this live version is its only released incarnation. A demo exists, but it can't compare to the fire heard here, with the Flashcubes' other guitarist Arty Lenin playin' his twelve-string just like ringin' a bell, Arty and bassist Gary boppin' in together for a combined vocal hook that conveys a bended knee and a fist in the air, drummer Tommy channeling Keith Moon and every mooned-over face that ever graced a Tiger Beat magazine lead feature, and Paul himself testifying with as flat-out, full-on, unabashed POP a thing as he's ever done. Underrated tune, even among 'Cubes fans.
THE RAMONES: I Don't Want To Grow Up
Also The Greatest Record Ever Made! It isn't in that book, but it is in this book.
And as I say every year on this date: Don't want to. Won't need to. Ain't gonna.
If you like what you see here on Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do), please consider a visit to CC's Tip Jar.
Carl's new book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones is now available, courtesy of the good folks at Rare Bird Books. Gabba Gabba YAY!! https://rarebirdlit.com/gabba-gabba-hey-a-conversation-with-the-ramones-by-carl-cafarelli/
If it's true that one book leads to another, my next book will be The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1). Stay tuned. Your turn is coming.
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 about our history here.
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