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 # 1251.
HAYLEY AND THE CRUSHERS: Queen Of Hearts
We've been playing a couple of advance singles--"Unsubscribe" and "Alleyways"--from the new Hayley and the Crushers album Unsubscribe From The Underground. The album's out now, so we gave another spin to "Alleyways" in this week's opening set, and kicked off Set # 2 with Hayley and the Crushers' aggressive cover of Hank DeVito's "Queen Of Hearts." The song was first recorded by the ever-solid Dave Edmunds, and became a huge pop hit for Juice Newton. I may be alone among my peers in believing the definitive "Queen Of Hearts" belongs to Juice rather than Dave, but both versions are sublime, and the Crushers also turn in their own cool 'n' spunky rendition.
Does this mean Hayley Cain is now the reigning Queen of Hearts? The cards say yes. There she is, Miss Queen of Hearts....
DAVE EDMUNDS: Girls Talk
Dana followed my spin of Hayley and the Crushers' "Queen Of Hearts" with Dave Edmunds' ace rendition of Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk." The song has also been recorded by its author, and covered with confidence by the Knack and Linda Ronstadt (among others), but Edmunds absolutely owns this one. My favorite Dave Edmunds track.
DENNIS SCHOCKET AND CLIFF HILLIS: The Girls Are Back In Town
Credit the discovery here to The Spoon podcast with Robbie Rist, Chris Jackson, and Thom Bowers. We had already played "Here Comes Joanna," a mighty fine track from the new Dennis Schocket and Cliff Hillis EP Pop, Girls, Etc., and that track has scored berths on two previous TIRnRR playlists. All good, and I betcha there woulda been more spins to come.
But when Cliff hisself was a recent guest on The Spoon, an in-show play of the Pop, Girls, Etc. track "The Girls Are Back In Town" prompted me to shout out loud: WHY AREN'T WE PLAYING THIS SONG...?!
Well. Now we ARE. It will spin again this Sunday night. All credit to The Spoon. The girls are back in town? The Spoon says HELLO!
THE ARMOIRES: Ridley & Me After The Apocalypse
We've been hammerin' all available podiums on behalf of Octoberland, the forthcoming new album from SoCal/Appalachukrainia's phenomenal pop combo the Armoires. As we near its imminent release in...um, October, we have this opportunity to play one final teaser single. "Ridley & Me After The Apocalypse" demonstrates a sun still shining brightly after presumed Armageddon, and it adds to the mountain of evidence showing us that Octoberland is one of the very best albums of 2024. We'll hear yet another fab cut from Octoberland on our next show.
THE BAY CITY ROLLERS: Money Honey
As noted here, it was my great pleasure to appear last week as a guest DJ on Dedication--Fans Remember The Bay City Rollers on Scotland's TD1 Radio. You can hear my guest spot at this Tartan-festooned link, and it was great fun to talk with the show's hosts Laura Brady and Suz Rostron about the Bay City Rollers and reveal (and play!) my ten favorite Rollers tracks.
"Money Honey" wasn't on my Top Ten Rollers Songs list, but it was a runner-up, and I know it's a beguilin' li'l pop treat favored by Dedication's intrepid hosts. So! "Money Honey" returns to the TIRnRR airwaves, a dedication to Laura and Suz. Money in the bank.
VAN HALEN: Dance The Night Away
The Greatest Record Ever Made!
THE RAMONES: Rockaway Beach
Although our discussion was vast 'n' wide-rangin'--and included copious plugs for my books The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) and Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones--the main topic was the Ramones. The American Beatles! The greatest American rock 'n' roll band of all time! Each of us detailed our Top 5 Ramones tracks, and there was considerable crossover between the lists, but with enough individual variation to underscore the transcendent wonder of the Ramones.
"Rockaway Beach" was among the songs mentioned, the Ramones' highest-charting (# 66) single. It was a near-miss for my list--it would have been my # 6--but I'm happy that it did get mentioned. I tell ya, listening back to this podcast was a life-affirming experience. Not because Dana and Carl were on it, but because it was yet another delighted opportunity to immerse myself in the magic of the Ramones: The magic of the Ramones' music, and the magic of its ongoing impact upon my life.
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| Photo by John Tierney |
Chewin' out a rhythm on my bubblegum. I listed my top 25 Ramones tracks last year. I sang "Rockaway Beach" with 1.4.5. at my Ramones book release party. TIRnRR doesn't will itself into existence if not for the Ramones. Not hard, not far to reach. Hitch a ride. We'll blast out the Ramones on the radio.
(And thanks again to Brett and Uncle Gregg. Riff Randell would be proud of you.)
If you like what you see here on Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do), please consider a visit to CC's Tip Jar.
My new book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) is now available; you can see details here. My 2023 book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones is also still available, courtesy of the good folks at Rare Bird Books.
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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