This Tuesday November 4th, I have an in-person author talk scheduled alongside my pal Dave Murray. We'll be appearing at Northern Onondaga Public Library's Brewerton branch, the event runs from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. We'll be discussing our books (Dave's novel A Breath Of Fresh Air [A Transplant Tale], my rock 'n' roll rants The Greatest Record Ever Made! [Volume 1] and Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones), and we hope to see someone--anyone!--present and accounted for so we don't have to just talk to each other. Attendees can preregister here. We'll even have some books on hand, and we'll be happy to sell 'em to you.
To get you all hyped up, here are some snippets of media quotes and giddy appreciation regarding the beauty, the splendor, and the wonder of all three books:
Praise for THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE! (VOLUME 1)
"Former Goldmine freelancer Cafarelli pens a series of well-crafted essays covering 145 records, but which will be crowned The Greatest Record Ever Made? The answer is all of them, the author postulating an infinite number of tracks can be the GREM, as long as they take turns. Objectivity is out, as is demarcation. Rock, punk, soul, country, disco, rap, show tunes – if it’s pop, it’s in. Some are here because they should be, some because of the memories they evoke for the author. The result is a love letter to the songs in question. All that’s missing is a spray of vinyl- scented perfume...[Cafarelli] writes with such passion he transforms the seemingly disposable into something profound. Just like the records he so loves."
--Peter Gallagher, Shindig! magazine [UK]
"The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) is basically an up-close visit with Cafarelli’s record collection, under the premise that on any given day, any of the 150 songs that he writes about here could be considered the greatest. And what songs they are! They run the gamut from well-known, acknowledged classics ('Heartbreak Hotel,' 'Get Off of My Cloud,' 'Be My Baby,' 'Yesterday') to relative obscurities (Television’s 'Elevation,' Suzi Quatro’s 'I May Be Too Young') and tunes from indie pop faves (The Spongetones, Eytan Mirsky) to stone soul grooves (Arthur Conley, Otis Redding, James Brown) and more. Cafarelli’s writing style is conversational and breezy, and the book is a hell of a lot of fun. Weaving bits of his personal experiences with the songs is another nice touch, even when he takes on darker topics; the chapter on Illinois power poppers Material Issue’s /Kim the Waitress' broaches the topic of suicide, with Cafarelli discussing a friend taking their life as well as the suicide of M.I. leader Jim Ellison. A worthy addition to any music fan’s library, The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) is one of those books that’s difficult to put down. Grade: A"
--John M. Borack, Goldmine magazine
"With The Greatest Record Ever Made (Volume 1), Cafarelli channels the energy of his Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do) blog into a compelling narrative encompassing a range of music styles from AM radio pop, bubblegum and punk to soul, hip hop, R&B and beyond. Each chapter offers a short blast of insightful prose that explores his own relationship with the featured artist/track along with the kind of historical facts that fans like us find addictive."
--S. W. Lauden, Remember The Lightning
"Carl's new book is an incredible collection of some of the greatest moments ever recorded. As you go through the book, it's one 'Oh WOW!' moment after another with rock, soul, folk, pop, country, and hip hop included."
--Jim Monaghan, WDHA 105.5 The Rock Of New Jersey
"Carl is also an incredibly gifted music scribe, writing the must-read daily music blog Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do) and in many fine publications. Relevant to today's topic, he has also published Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation with the Ramones, culled from his interviews with the band. His latest book, The Greatest Record Ever Made (Volume 1), features insightful, passionate, humorous essays on 145 of his favorite songs across all genres."
--Only Three Lads podcast
"Carl is a terrific and stylish writer who brings all 150-odd essays to life. He makes you want to search for these songs, to hear them again, or maybe hear them for the first time. You won't agree with many of his choices; I certainly don't. My version of this book would have very little overlap, and maybe yours, too. But that doesn't matter. He has the courage of his convictions and makes compelling cases for each song, and he is certain to change your mind about a few."
--Dave Murray, The Ego Has Landed
"Cafarelli shares his personal recollections, observations and circumstances that warrant the title of “Greatest Record Ever Made”. Interwoven within the dates and labels, there’s a bigger story being told – one that resonates with those of us who remember listening to live, Saturday night performances on WMMS or weekly broadcasts of the King Biscuit Flower Hour . It’s the story of the last generation of pop music lovers raised on radio."
--Richard Rossi, Power Pop News
"Carl Cafarelli should have his head examined!"
--disgruntled Goldmine readers
Praise for A BREATH OF FRESH AIR (A TRANSPLANT TALE)
Critical Praise
Moving and Inspiring: Many reviewers highlight the book's ability to weave hope and resilience into a story grounded in medical reality. Readers find themselves rooting for the protagonist and appreciating the honest depiction of life after a transplant.
Educational Value: Healthcare professionals commend the book for providing insight into the transplant process. It’s often recommended as a resource for families navigating similar medical challenges.
Engaging Narrative: Literary critics have praised the author's storytelling style, noting how the blend of personal anecdotes and factual information keeps readers engaged from start to finish.
Reader Testimonials
“This book changed my perspective on organ donation. It’s both heartbreaking and uplifting.”
“A beautiful story of second chances and the power of community.”
“I couldn’t put it down. The characters felt real, and their struggles resonated with my own experiences.”
“Emotional, comical and inspiring”
“A Breath of Fresh Air quickly becomes a page-turner that you do not want to put down.”
“I (almost) literally couldn’t put it down. I’d recommend this book for anyone who likes David Sedaris!”
“…And really, this book is about victory: the victory of modern medicine but more so the victory of the human spirit.”
“His writing is deliberate, razor sharp, witty, and insightful, with some unexpected surprises.”
“I laughed, I cried, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.”
· “The novel crafts a compelling story, a story told with humor, passion, emotion, and determination, with elements of tragedy and despair, but ultimately awash in the delight of living to tell the tale. I loved it. This is very good work, and I hope it finds the audience it deserves.”
“I read the entire book in two sittings. It was hard to put down.”
“Thank you for writing this wonderful book.”
Praise for GABBA GABBA HEY! A CONVERSATION WITH THE RAMONES
"When I first heard the Ramones’ debut album sometime in late 1976, I thought it was the worst music I’d ever heard. I made a point of playing it for all my friends so they too could hear the worst band ever. But each time I played it, I found that I liked it a little more. I was starting to get it. And then I loved it, so much so that I went on to see the Ramones live at least 25 times. They totally rearranged my ideas about music. Reading Carl Cafarelli’s Gabba Gabba Hey, I’m reminded of the excitement and uniqueness of this band that saved rock ’n’ roll. There was never anyone else like them, and all of the joy and bedlam and fire and dedication that fueled the Ramones can be found in these pages. All that’s missing is a Dee Dee-shouted '1-2-3-4' intro."
—Jeff Tamarkin, Editor, BestClassicBands.com
"Ramones books? I've just about read them all. If there's one I've been waiting for, it's Carl Cafarelli's ode to the band he calls 'the American Beatles.' These four 1994 interviews with Joey, Johnny, Marky and C.J. were conducted separately, but Cafarelli pieces them together as only a lifelong fan could to create an intimate oral history of the legendary Queens quartet up to that point. Gabba Gabba Hey! is as short and sharp as any of the band's best songs. A must read for Ramones fans."
—S.W. Lauden, Remember The Lightning
"A veritable treasure trove of valuable information and first-person reminiscences from America's Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band, Carl Cafarelli's Gabba Gabba Hey is an engaging, fascinating and often humorous look at what made the Ramones tick, as recalled by the ones who made the magic happen."
—John M. Borack, Contributing Editor, Goldmine Magazine
"Gabba Gabba Hey and tell Tchaikovsky the news, Carl Cafarelli’s new book on The Ramones is an insightful, intelligent and most of all rip roaring fun read as it beautifully chronicles the exploits of one of music’s most groundbreaking bands through an exhaustive series of candid conversations. Don’t be a cretin, give it a read. You’d have to have had a lobotomy not to love it!"
—Ken Sharp, author and musician
"A comprehensive and insightful look at one of the most important bands ever - from the Ramones themselves. Gabba Gabba Hey feels like sitting down with old friends. Comfortable, engaging, and hard to forget."
—Alex Segura, bestselling author of Archie Meets Ramones
"ANOTHER BOOK and this one is about...THE RAMONES and is written by one of power pop's top shelf thought-leaders, Carl Cafarelli."
Bruce Brodeen, Pop Geek Heaven
"While conducted separately with each member by phone, Cafarelli creates the illusion that they’re all in the same room. By presenting it to us in this fashion, we get a sense of the competing forces within the band as well as the unique qualities each member possessed – what made the whole so much more than simply the sum of its parts.
"All these years later, this book represents an opportunity to relive the adventures of a most unlikely band of heroes. One cannot place a price on that."
Richard Rossi, Power Pop News
If you like what you see here on Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do), please consider a visit to CC's Tip Jar. You can also become a Boppin' booster on my Patreon page.
I compiled a various-artists tribute album called Make Something Happen! A Tribute To The Flashcubes, and it's pretty damned good; you can read about it here and order it here. 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.
Well deserved praise for a writer with rock n roll in his DNA.
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