The 2025 New York State Fair will open this week. Even though we're just past the mid-point of August, in Central New York the State Fair has always symbolized summer's last festive flourish, the final party before we set a course for fall and beyond. As the State Fair folds up its tents at the close of Labor Day, kids all over the CNY region resign themselves to the fact that the season of fun in the sun has ended. A new school year awaits. Pencils, books, and teacher's dirty looks. Summer, we hardly knew ye.
I'm 65 years old, more than a wee bit past my school days. And I tell ya, I hate hot weather even more than I hate cold weather (which I also hate). But I still feel that haunting little pang as summer slips away. It shouldn't really mean anything to me anymore. Yet it does. Maybe it's just the sting of time accumulating and vanishing, as time does. We all know I never grew up. It's increasingly evident that I never will get around to completing (or even beginning) that maturity thing.
So why start now? Hell, Labor Day is still two freakin' weeks away. Before we trade our surfboards for snowplows, let's see some action. Let's swim with the honeys, dance on the beach, and kick up the sand with blithe abandon. Let's embrace whatever carefree age we can imagine, for as long as the sun and stars shine.
And senior citizens get into the State Fair for free! Summer tastes best when it's deep-fried. Meetcha on the midway, man.
NEXT WEEK: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 1300. This is what rock 'n' roll radio sounded like on another Sunday night in Syracuse this week.
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 all about this show's long and weird history here: Boppin' The Whole Friggin' Planet (The History Of THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO). You can follow Carl's daily blog at Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do).
TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS are always welcome.
Carl's latest book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) is now available, and you can order an autographed copy here. You can still get Carl's 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.
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 # 1299: 8/17/2025
TIRnRR FRESH SPINS! Tracks we think we ain't played before are listed in bold
JIM BASNIGHT: See It In Your Eyes (single) DIONNE WARWICK: Trains And Boats And Planes (Rhino, The Dionne Warwick Collection)
BLUES IMAGE: Ride Captain Ride (Rhino, Rhino Hi-Five: Blues Image)
EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS: Do Anything You Wanna Do (Captain Oi!, The Singles Collection)
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JOE JACKSON: Enough Is Not Enough (A & M, Steppin' Out: The Very Best Of Joe Jackson)
THE TREMBLERS: I'll Be Taking Her Out Tonight (Cherry Red, Twice Nightly)
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SEGARINI: Gotta Have Pop (Permanent Press, Gotta Have Pop)
BIG MAMA THORNTON: Hound Dog (Time-Life, VA: The Rock And Roll Era: Roots Of Rock : 1945-1956)
THE PALEY BROTHERS: Ecstasy (Real Gone Music, The Complete Recordings)
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PRINCE: Hot Summer (NPG, Welcome 2 America)
BLONDIE: In The Sun (Chrysalis, Blondie)
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THE VIBEKE SAUGESTAD BAND: Hey Now Sunshine (Rum Bar/Red Chuck, The Sun Sessions)
THE KINKS: Dedicated Follower Of Fashion (Sanctuary, The Anthology 1964-1971)
THE 5th DIMENSION: Carpet Man (Arista, The Ultimate 5th Dimension)
DAVID BOWIE: Young Americans [single version] (Virgin, Best Of Bowie)
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THE GRATEFUL DEAD: Scarlet Begonias (Rhino, The Best Of The Grateful Dead)
CROSBY, STILLS AND NASH: Long Time Gone (Atlantic, Crosby, Stills & Nash)
THE ENGLISH BEAT: Best Friend (Shout Factory, Keep The Beat: The Very Best Of The English Beat)
THE SELECTER: Three Minute Hero (EMI, Greatest Hits)
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The Greatest Record Ever Made!
FONTELLA BASS: Rescue Me (Rhino, VA: Beg, Scream & Shout! The Big Ol' Box Of '60s Soul)
WRECKLESS ERIC: Reconnez Cherie (Salvo, VA: Born Stiff)
THE VIBRATORS AND CHRIS SPEDDING: Pogo Dancing (Demon, VA: 100 Hits Punk & New Wave)
FREDDIE AND THE DREAMERS: Do The Freddie (EMI, The Definitive Collection)
HOLLY AND THE ITALIANS: Tell That Girl To Shut Up (Wounded Bird, The Right To Be Italian)
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THEE HEADCOATEES: The First Plane Home (Damaged Goods, The Kids Are All Square--This Is Hip! + Girlsville)
THE RAMONES: Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment (Rhino, Leave Home)
THE MnM'S: I'm Tired (Burger, Melts In Your Ears 1980-81)
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CHUBBY CHECKER: The Twist (Abkco, Dancin' Party: The Chubby Checker Collection [1960-1966])
DR. FEELGOOD: She Does It Right (United Artists, Down By The Jetty)
THE RUTS: Staring At The Rude Boys (Demon, VA: 100 Hits Punk & New Wave)
PUBLIC IMAGE LTD.: Public Image (Demon, VA: 100 Hits Punk & New Wave)
THE BEATLES: The End (Apple, Abbey Road)
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DEAN LANDEW: Summertime Friday Night (single) THE MONKEES: For Pete's Sake [TV version] (Rhino, Headquarters [& Beyond])
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