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 # 1274
ELENA ROGERS: A Little Bit Of Lovely
Exquisite. Elena Rogers has such an impressive command of vocal prowess, always inventive yet also always serving the song. With every note, you can sense that she knows exactly what she's doing, and somehow she still makes it all feel casual. Like Superman leaping over tall buildings in a single bound, Elena Rogers uses her powers and abilities because it's the right thing to do, and because she can.
Elena's new EP Always Trying offers further evidence of her pop magic, and "A Little Bit Of Lovely" is one of her strongest individual tracks to date. That's more than just a little bit of lovely.
THE JAM: Bricks And Mortar
When I was in college in the late '70s, the Jam were among a handful of the most important then-current bands for me. Only the Ramones and the Flashcubes loomed larger in my legend at the time, and I preferred the Jam to even the Clash, the Buzzcocks, the Undertones, Elvis Costello, the Sex Pistols, and...well, just about anybody else.
With the passing of the Jam's drummer Rick Buckler, we wanted to mix a few Jam tracks into this week's playlist. Our first set included a spin of the Jam's ace single "The Modern World," a track which once prompted Tom Kenny to shout out, "CARL! I just figured it out! The Jam is Michael Caine fronting a punk band! [Tom in thick Cockney accent:] Thissus th' moduhn wulhld!"
We opened our second set with "Bricks And Mortar," a Jam selection we'd never before gotten around to playing on TIRnRR. My first Jam purchase was in 1978, the American single release of "I Need You (For Someone)"/"In The City," followed in short order by the import 45s "The Modern World" and "All Over The World." The B-side of "The Modern World" was occupied by live performances of the Jam ragin' through covers of soul classics "Sweet Soul Music" and "Back In My Arms Again," followed by a quick live snippet of the band's own "Bricks And Mortar." This week, we play the studio version as part of our tribute to the Jam, as This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio remembers Rick Buckler.
THE FLASHCUBES: Reminisce
I'm not sure when I'm ready to reveal more details about the forthcoming tribute album Make Something Happen! A Tribute To A DIY Power Pop Band Called THE FLASHCUBES. We've already said the album will contain twenty-one tracks by various artists covering songs written by members of the Flashcubes, plus three new tracks by the 'Cubes themselves. The album is scheduled for September release by our friends at Big Stir Records, and we've played Make Something Happen! contributions from sparkle*jets u.k., the SpongeTones, Pop Co-Op, and the Kennedys. We've acknowledged that Chris von Sneidern is covering "No Promise," and I will tell you now that I have received Hamell On Trial's version of "Got No Mind."
For now, I'm holding off on public announcement of who else is on the album, even though all but a handful of the tracks have been assigned and confirmed. But rest assured: We're making something happen, and we won't be shy about it.
The most recent (heavily redacted) public update of the album's track listing tacked all three of the new Flashcubes tracks at the end of the album. I've now returned to my earlier intent to instead space out these tracks at the beginning, approximate middle (give or take), and end of the album.
Make Something Happen! will open with "Reminisce." It's such a great track, and it provides an irresistible introduction to what I hope will be one of this year's very best rockin' pop compilation albums.
THE JAM: In The City
The Greatest Record Ever Made!
THE CYNZ: Woman Child
The Cynz' 2024 single "Woman Child" scored significant airplay on our little mutant radio show, securing a berth (# 3!!) on the year-end countdown of our most-played fave raves. A new Cynz single "Heartbreak Time" has just been released, and we will have it on the radio Sunday night.
CHUBBY CHECKER: The Twist
I am very pleased that Mr. Chubby Checker has at long last finally--FINALLY!!--been nominated for The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. It's about friggin' time. Aside from the Monkees, Chubby Checker is my pick for the Hall's second most egregious omission to date. It's not an exaggeration to say that Chubby Checker's 1960 hit "The Twist" is one of the most impactful singles of the rock 'n' roll era--definitely one of the top five, possibly one of the top three. Come on, baby--let's get Chubby Checker in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
THE MONKEES: Listen To The Band
And jeez, induct the Monkees already. I plead that case here.
SORROWS: Never Mind
"Never Mind" is the leadoff blast from Sorrows' essential album Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow, and if it's not already planned as a single release we hereby recommend that it oughta be planned as a single release. Whatta track! It spins here again this Sunday night.
THE BEATLES: Paperback Writer
I happened to be working on something for my own next paperback book as this Beatles classic played on TIRnRR this past Sunday night. Dear Sir or Madam, will you ready my book? WAIT...! I need to finish writing it first. Hey, BeATle! Keep singing. I'll keep writing.
THE JAM: That's Entertainment
ALSO The Greatest Record Ever Made! Godspeed, Rick Buckler.
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My new book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) is now available, and you can order an autographed copy here. You can still get my previous book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones from publisher Rare Bird Books, OR an autographed copy here. If you like the books, please consider leaving a rating and/or review at the usual online resources.
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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