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 # 1292
BALLZY TOMORROW: Five Personalities
From the acknowledgements listed in the forthcoming various-artists blockbuster Make Something Happen! A Tribute To The Flashcubes (due September 12th from the good folks at Big Stir Records):
"Special thanks to Robbie Rist; two years ago, when I said that someone should put together a Flashcubes tribute album, he immediately replied (and I'm paraphrasing): "YOU do it. You know bands! And I'll be on it!" When Robbie speaks, power pop fans listen."
This power pop fan listened anyway. And as the Flashcubes tribute album moved from Wouldn't it be cool? to GO TIME!!, it was clear to me that our Robbie should use the great power and responsibility of his nom de bop Ballzy Tomorrow to do a cover of the Flashcubes' "Five Personalities."
"Five Personalities" was originally recorded by 'Cubes guitarist Paul Armstrong's group the Richards (as heard on This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 3), co-written by PA with Richards lead singer Norm Mattice and CNY guitar legend Mark Doyle. With some additional songcraft from Flashcubes bassist Gary Frenay, "Five Personalities" was subsequently recorded by the Flashcubes themselves for their 2003 album Brilliant, and that arrangement provides the basic template for Ballzy Tomorrow's Make Something Happen! entry.
And man alive, Mr. Rist runs with it. Hell, Gary Frenay recently declared Ballzy Tomorrow's (and I quote) "phenomenal" rendition of "Five Personalities to be "Best version of the song yet. So inspired!" PA chimed in with "Stellar!," and 'Cubes drummer Tommy Allen added a reverent "AWESOME!!!"
They are correct. But I expected nothing less. When Robbie Rist speaks, power pop fans listen. And when Robbie plays and sings? They listen even harder.
THE FLASHCUBES WITH MIKE GENT: Reminisce
The new digital single is out! Yeah, sure, "Reminisce" will be on Make Something Happen!, but you can't wait until September 12th--you want it NOW!! So GO BUY IT. Then, y'know, reminisce later, and at will.
ORBIS MAX AND TIM IZZARD: Further Down The Line
"Hot on the heels of Pop Aid 2, which benefited people impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton, comes Pop Aid 3: A Pop Compilation To Benefit Those Affected By The California Wildfires), a 30 track, 2-CD collection of exclusive/previously unreleased tracks! Once again, pop artists/bands from around the world have stepped up to contribute exclusive tracks to Pop Aid 3. Participating artists are the Stewart Dolly, Go Time!, the Trafalgars, Scott McCarl (Raspberries), Robin Schell, Hanemoon, the Frisco Connection w/ guest vocals by Paul Kopf, True Hearts, Band Of Jays, the PoZers, Zig Zag Road, Herb Eimerman, Orbis Max and Tim Izzard, Richard Turgeon, the Lucky Shots (Brent Seavers’ new band), the Dreambots, the Junior League, Grant Lindberg, Terry Carolan, Coke Belda, Rob Bonfiglio, the Treasures Of Mexico, John Larson and the Silver Fields, Little Roger, Tim Izzard and the Distractions, the Red Sticks, Sunbourne Rd AND tracks from two new projects featuring Jeff Murphy (Shoes) - Joywire and Evasive Species (Jeff plus ex-members of Material Issue)! Longtime music collector and Pacific Palisades resident Mark Verheiden has contributed liner notes that provide insight from his perspective of what he and his family experienced on January 7 and after. And like Pop Aid 2, Pop Aid 3 will support the work of the American Red Cross, with 100% of net profits going directly to the American Red Cross! Great music for a great cause at a great price from the leading pop-oriented, fundraising label!"
We received this wonderful set just in time to squeeze two tracks (by Orbis Max and Tom Izzard and John Larson and the Silver Fields) into an already-packed show, but it was well worth it. We'll have another Pop Aid 3 track on our next show, with more still to come in future weeks.
DOLPH CHANEY: Girl From Germany
TIRnRR Fave Rave Dolph Chaney was a late edition to the Flashcubes tribute album, as Dolph stepped in when circumstances forced another artist to withdraw from the project. And mein Gott, did Dolph ever deliver, and how! We suggested 'Cubes guitarist Arty Lenin's "Girl From Germany" as an appropriate Chaney choice, and faster'n you can say JAWOHL!, he responded with this inventive and engaging interpretation. As Dolph hisself explains:
"The idea was, 'what music would the Girl From Germany probably like, that might represent the gap the singer is feeling?' So I picked Kraftwerk, Blondie, Devo, and Berlin-era Bowie, and that inspired the synth approach."
Ich lieb es. Wunderbar! Danke schön, Herr Chaney. Danke schön.
CALLAN FOSTER: Insult To Injury
In addition to the four album tracks and one single we programmed from Make Something Happen! this week, we also wanted to play a non-'Cubes track by each of the other acts appearing on the Flashcubes tribute album. We made that particular something happen with assorted gems by Make Something Happen! participants sparkle*jets u.k., Librarians With Hickeys, Chris von Sneidern, Graham Parker, Joe Giddings, the Kennedys, Pop Co-Op, the Peppermint Kicks, Tom Kenny & the Hi-Seas, Hamell On Trial, the Armoires, Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin, the Mayflowers, Super 8 Featuring Lisa Mychols, Sorrows, and the Spongetones, each of 'em proving with their own material why we wanted them on the Flashcubes salute in the first place.
Callan Foster's cover of the Flashcubes' "It's You Tonight" predates the Make Something Happen! project itself; it's an epic one-man-band production that Callan posted on YouTube last year. We've played that on the show in the past, but this week we wanted to go with one of Callan's own tunes, so we slapped on his superb single "Insult To Injury," and reveled in the glory of power pop.
If you don't know Callan Foster yet, don't sorry. We're pretty confident you'll hear him a lot going forward.
THE CHOOSERS: Christi Girl
"Christi Girl" was the Flashcubes' very first record, released as a 45 in 1978, and later picked up by Bomp Records for inclusion on a 1979 sampler LP called Waves Vol. 1. It was an absolute priority for a version of "Christi Girl" to appear on the Flashcubes tribute album, and Gary suggested the Choosers be...er, chosen. After all, the Choosers had already covered "Christi Girl" in a 2021 video, so this was a natural pairing. The Choosers even gave us a fresh graphic emulating the look of the original Flashcubes 45, taking us once again to that special place nobody else can go.
THE VERBS: I Need Glue
Meegan Voss was a veteran participant in the same vibrant late '70s Syracuse music scene sparked by the Flashcubes, and her 1978-1980 group the Poptarts shoulda been stars. Now, she and her husband Steve Jordan perform together as the Verbs. I remember Meegan from the Poptarts days, and I remember watching Steve on TV in the '80s, when he was the drummer for the house band on Late Night With David Letterman. Steve has worked with just about everybody, though one suspects his current gig as the Rolling Stones' drummer kinda pops out on the ol' résumé with extra added satisfaction.
We are so fortunate to have Meegan and Steve involved in this Flashcubes tribute project, and it's such a unique kick to hear how the Verbs have taken "I Need Glue," a very early Flashcubes punk number, and made it their freakin' own.
HEY! Speakin' of glue....
THE RAMONES: Carbona Not Glue
The Greatest Record Ever Made!
THE BEATLES: Getting Better
"Getting better...?!" Have ya seen the news lately? Man, it's time we got to fixing a hole where the razzafrazzin' pain gets in.
THE BEACH BOYS: Little Deuce Coupe
On Sunday night, TIRnRR presents GOOD VIBRATIONS! Brian Wilson and the Legend of Summer. We'll hear music from Brian Wilson with the Beach Boys and as a solo act, we'll hear covers of some of Wilson's work, some other artists' work that we feel was influenced by Wilson, and some otherwise-unrelated material (including, but not limited to, some summer songs) that just feels appropriate to fit in.
Among the celebrants will be Gary Frenay, Michael Simmons, P. P. Arnold, Bruce Springsteen, Raspberries, Jan and Dean, the Krayolas, Lisa Mychols and Super 8, Nelson Bragg, Sly and the Family Stone, the Sunrays, America, the Rubinoos, Curt Boettcher, the Ramones, the Yellow Balloon, Mike Browning, the Isley Brothers, the Smithereens, the Flamin' Groovies, Rob Bonfiglio, Al Jardine, Carnie and Wendy Wilson, Laurie Biaginio, Sixpence None The Richer, the Trade Winds, the Tearjerkers, Euclid Beach Band, 20/20, Doug Powell, R.E.M., the Ronettes, the Records, the Honeys, Jeffrey Foskett, Brad Jones, Eric Carmen, the Beatles, Fraternal Order of the All, the Anderson Council, the Parade, Jason Byrd, First Class, Jason Harrod, Johnathan Pushkar and Richard Barone, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, General Johnson and Joey Ramone...
...and Brian Wilson. And the Beach Boys. Surf's up. Join us.
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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. You can read about our history here.
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