Totality.
As I write this, a couple of days before the solar eclipse on Monday, the forecast for the Syracuse sky at the moment of totality is less than encouraging. What? Clouds in Syracuse...?! Who could have predicted THAT?
Nonetheless, I'm going to make my best effort to experience this rare event. I have the glasses. I have folding chairs in my car. At the appropriate time, my coworkers and I intend to head out and look to the sky. I'm told we'll have snacks! Half-moon cookies, I betcha. It will be a communal exercise, regardless of how much or how little the clouds allow us to witness.
There is something to be said for a shared experience. In our divided culture, we don't often have the opportunity to enjoy such synchronicity. We don't have the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, nor any other comparable watershed flashpoint where everyone everywhere seems linked in the moment. Even for those of us fortunate to be in the path of this eclipse's totality, I hear so many dismissing the relevance of that moment, that chance for us to maybe see something we'll never see again. I've even heard whining from killjoys mocking people excited about this once-in-a-lifetime cosmic occurrence.
How many times do I have to say this? DIG WHAT YOU DIG. I despise most reality TV shows, but you won't hear me ranting at people to stop watching them if the programs bring 'em satisfaction. Dig what you dig. Don't participate if it's not within your digging parameters. But don't ridicule those of us about to dig what we very much wanna dig.
Today, I look to the sky. My eyes will be protected, and my soul will soar, the clouds be damned.
The sunlight will dim. All we be dark.
And the sun will shine again.
Even in Syracuse.
This is what rock 'n' roll radio sounded like on another Sunday night in Syracuse this week.
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 # 1228: 4/7/2024
TIRnRR FRESH SPINS! Tracks we think we ain't played before are listed in bold
TOM PETTY: Saving Grace (MCA, Highway Companion)
SHERYL CROW: A Change Would Do You Good (A & M, Sheryl Crow)
STEVIE WONDER: I Was Made To Love Her (Motown, The Definitive Collection)
THE JAYHAWKS: Tailspin (Lost Highway, Rainy Day Music)
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BEN VAUGHN: Strange Desire (Bar/None, Mono USA)
CHICAGO: Free (Rhino, The Very Best Of Chicago: Only The Beginning)
MIKE BROWNING: Just One Day (single) TOMMY ROE: Stir It Up And Serve It (MCA, Tommy Roe's Greatest Hits)
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THE RAMONES: California Sun (Rhino, Leave Home)
YOKO ONO: Move On Fast (Rykodisc, Approximately Infinite Universe)
THE CHIFFONS: The Locomotion (Laurie, The Best Of The Chiffons)
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P. P. ARNOLD: To Love Somebody (Immediate, The First Cut)
SAM COOKE: Twistin' The Night Away (Abkco, 20 Greatest Hits: Portrait Of A Legend 1951-1964)
SCREEN TEST: Psycho (unreleased)
--
ORBIS MAX: You Know What You're Doing (single) PEARL HARBOR AND THE EXPLOSIONS: You Got It (Release It) (Blixa Sounds, Pearl Harbor & the Explosions)
THE KINKS: You Really Got Me (Sanctuary, The Ultimate Collection)
HÜSKER DÜ: Eight Miles High (SST, single)
--
RASPBERRIES: Drivin' Around (RPM, Power Pop Volume One)
THE VICKSBURGS: Drive Faster (Play-Tone, VA: That Thing You Do! OST)
BLACK HEAT: Drive My Car (Atlantic, Keep On Runnin')
THE CHURCH: The Unguarded Moment (Rhino, VA: Children Of Nuggets)
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The Greatest Record Ever Made!
BIG MAMA THORNTON: Hound Dog (MCA, Hound Dog)
HOLLY GOLIGHTLY: You Ain't No Big Thing (Vinyl Japan, Laugh It Up!)
THEE HEADCOATEES: Teenage Kicks (Damaged Goods, Punk Girls)
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THE REZILLOS: I Like It (Sire, Can't Stand The Rezillos: The [Almost] Complete Rezillos)
THE MnM'S: I'm Tired (Burger, Melts In Your Ears 1980-81)
LINK WRAY AND THE RAYMEN: Right Turn (Primo, The Essential Early Recordings)
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XTC: Making Plans For Nigel (Virgin, Upsy Daisy Assortment)
THE RUTS: Staring At The Rude Boys (Demon, VA: 100 Hits Punk & New Wave)
THE ROLLING STONES: Paint It, Black (Abkco, Singles Collection: The London Years
THE BEATLES: Tomorrow Never Knows (Apple, Revolver)
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THE B-52'S: There's A Moon In The Sky (Called The Moon) (Warner Brothers, The B-52's)
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