I've never believed that art should be a distraction, even when the world's malevolent tsuris is malevolently tsurising. But just as art--paintings, sculpture, poetry, literature, theater, cinema, spoken-word performance, and music, music, music--can challenge us and inspire us, it can also offer comfort while still encouraging us to keep our eyes on the ball and on the prize. We don't forget our problems, and we don't forsake our responsibilities. But we draw strength from the magic, from the positive delight human beings are capable of creating when they aren't hell-bent on burning the world to scorched earth.
Art reminds us that we can be better, that we can do better. Those reminders can come from creations that provoke us, that make us think, react, and act. Anger can be power. Beauty can also be power. Our better angels will seek and find footing in both. Maybe some can draw something of worth from pop songs played on a silly little radio show.
It's been a rough week. All we can offer in this forum is a little bit of music to comfort and inspire. It is not meant to distract our eyes from the prize. Turn it up, and keep going. 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. 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 # 1319: 1/11/2026
TIRnRR FRESH SPINS! Tracks we think we ain't played before are listed in bold
THE VICKSBURGS: Drive Faster (Play-Tone, VA: That Thing You Do! OST)
RIHANNA: Shut Up And Drive (Def Jam, Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded)
ANTHRAX: Got The Time (Island, Persistence Of Time)
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THE HUMAN LEAGUE: Mirror Man (Virgin, The Very Best Of The Human League)
DIANA ROSS AND THE SUPREMES: Reflections (Motown, The Ultimate Collection)
THE JAM: Smithers-Jones [single version] (Polydor, Direction Reaction Creation)
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HEADGIRL: Please Don't Touch (Lemon, GIRLSCHOOL: The Singles)
THE ROMANTICS: Keep In Touch (Nemperor, The Romantics)
UTOPIA: I Just Want To Touch You (Rhino, Deface The Music)
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THE MONKEES: Listen To The Band [single version] (Rhino, The Monkees 50)
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JANE WIEDLIN: Big Rock Candy Mountain (EMI, Tangled)
TAVARES: Free Ride (EMI, The Best Of Tavares)
R.E.M.: (Don't Go Back To) Rockville (Warner Brothers, Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982-2011)
MATTHEW SWEET AND SUSANNA HOFFS: Back Of A Car (Shout Factory, Under The Covers Vol. 2)
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SPECTRAFLAME: Love Don't Live Here No More (single) THE REDCOATS: Baby Don't Go (Dionysus, Meet The Redcoats...Finally!)
THE LITTLE GIRLS: I Really Want To Be With You (Valley Pop, Thank Heaven For Valley Pop)
SQUIRE: Boys Don't Lie (Tangerine, Big Smashes)
GENERATION X: Gimme Some Truth (Chrysalis, Perfect Youth [1975-1981])
THE CURE: Boys Don't Cry (Elektra, Boys Don't Cry)
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The Greatest Record Ever Made!
ELVIS PRESLEY: Kentucky Rain (RCA, The Essential Elvis Presley)
MIKE BROWNING: It's Festival Time (single) ANN PEEBLES: I Can't Stand The Rain (Rhino, VA: Can You Dig It? The '70s Soul Experience)
THE OUTCASTS: I'm In Pittsburgh (And It's Raining) (Strawberry, VA: Pushin' Too Hard [American Garage Punk 1964-67])
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LOS LOBOS: Come On, Let's Go (Rhino, Just Another Band From East L.A.: A Collection)
THE SOFT BOYS: The Queen Of Eyes (Matador, Underwater Moonlight)
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THE RAMONES: I Don't Want To Grow Up (Radioactive, ¡Adios Amigos!)
THE DIXIE CUPS: All Grown Up (Varese Sarabande, The Complete Red Bird Recordings)
THE BAY CITY ROLLERS: Rock And Roll Love Letter (Arista, The Definitive Collection)
HUNTINGTONS: Rock N Roll Girl (Tooth & Nail, Growing Up Is No Fun: Standards '95-'05)
THE KINKS: All Day And All Of The Night (Sanctuary, The Ultimate Collection)
THE BEATLES: I Need You [Take 1] (Apple, Anthology 4)
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NELSON RIDDLE: Batman Theme (Hightower, VA: The Music Of DC Comics: Vol. 2)
BRIAN WILSON: Our Prayer (BMG, Brian Wilson & Friends)
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