Sunday, January 25, 2026

This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 1321

Our lives are accompanied by ache. The characteristics of the ache--the litany of losses, failures, broken trusts, broken promises, broken wills, and broken bones--are suffered with infinite variety, each collection of aches as unique as fingerprints or favorite records. Our ache is our own ache. Others may sympathize and care deeply, and we bless them all. We are better people if we care. 

But no one else knows exactly what we're going through, no matter how similar their own aches may be. We didn't come off an assembly line. Our mileage varies. We contain multitudes.

When we can help, we do. We have to. There may not be all that much we can do, sure. Still, we stand, we listen, and we lend a hand when a hand is what's needed. We speak or offer silent support, as the situation demands. When the time is right, we seek a shared comfort in the fragile delights this imperfect life can offer.

Our nation is flooded with heartbreak, and the same sorry status applies to the world at large. It applies in ever-changing degree to people we hold dear. It applies to us.

We can't defeat the ache. That doesn't mean we have to accept it. We resist, with will and determination. And on this inconsequential little radio program, we resist with the audacity of joy.

Joy embraces us and ours. The ache doesn't vanish. Maybe our joy can sing a little louder, at least for a little while. Peace be with you, Dana, and with all of our friends everywhere. This is what rock 'n' roll radio sounded like on another Sunday night in Syracuse this week.

The betting line favors the ache, I guess. I'm still placing my chips on joy.

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:

Volume 1: download
Volume 2: CD or download
Volume 3: download
Volume 4: CD or download
Waterloo Sunset--Benefit For This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio:  CD or download
Volume 5: CD or download

TIRnRR # 1321: 1/25/2026
TIRnRR FRESH SPINS! Tracks we think we ain't played before are listed in bold

THE LEGAL MATTERS: Stuck With Me (Big Stir, Lost At Sea)
DEBBIE DUVEEN AND THE MILLBANKS: Jennifer Jayne (Woronzow, Neon Classic)
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE: Everyday People (Epic, Greatest Hits)
MARY-CHAPIN CARPENTER: Passionate Kisses (Columbia, Come On Come On)
STYX: Everybody Raise A Glass (Universal Music Enterprises, Circling From Above)
AMY RIGBY: Hell-Oh Sixty (Tapete, Hang In There With Me)
--
JIM BASNIGHT: Think Of Me (Kool Kat Musik, Under The Rock)
THE CHARLATANS: Over Rising (Cherry Red, VA: C91)
THE KINKS: The World Keeps Going Round (Sanctuary, The Anthology 1964-1971)
THE HUMAN LEAGUE: Love Action (I Believe In Love) (Virgin, The Very Best Of The Human League)
THE FOUR TOPS: Standing In The Shadows Of Love (Motown, The Ultimate Collection)
TALKING HEADS: Burning Down The House (Sire, Stop Making Sense)
--
THE HALF/CUBES: Whenever You're On My Mind (Jem, Found Pearls)
SUPER 8 FEATURING LISA MYCHOLS: When We Close Our Eyes (Big Stir, VA: Make Something Happen! A Tribute To The Flashcubes)
THE LITTLE GIRLS: How To Pick Up Girls (Valley Pop, Thank Heaven For ValleyPop)
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WILLIE DOWNING: Under The Gaslight (n/a, The Simpleton)
THE BEARDS: This Girl (Sympathy For The Record Industry, Funtown)
THELMA HOUSTON: Jumpin' Jack Flash (Spectrum, The Best Of Thelma Houston)
THE GO-GO'S: This Town IRS, Beauty And The Beat)
THE MONKEES: Pleasant Valley Sunday (Rhino, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd.)
THE BANGLES: The Real World (Omnivore, Ladies And Gentlemen...The Bangles!)
--
THE JUNIOR LEAGUE: Sunset Park (Kool Kat Musik, Moon Neither Noticed Nor Ignored)
SPECTRAFLAME: Love Don't Live Here No More (single)
TONY VALENTINO: Riot On The Sunset Strip (Big Stir, Dirty Water Revisited)
THE RAMONES: All's Quiet On The Eastern Front (Rhino, Pleasant Dreams)
THE SUNSETS: Hot Generation (Festival, VA: Down Under Nuggets)
--
RANDY KLAWON: Spoonful Of Love (single)
THE CLICK BEETLES: If Not Now Then When? (Futureman, Pop Fossil)
MIKE BROWNING: It's Festival Time (single)
RICHARD HELL AND THE VOIDOIDS: Time (Omnivore, Destiny Street Complete)
THE MYNAH BIRDS: It's My Time (Ace, VA: You Heard Them Here First)
THE MIAMIS: Another Place, Another Time (Omnivore, We Deliver: The Lost Band Of The CBGB Era [1974-1979])
--
The Greatest Record Ever Made!
THE ISLEY BROTHERS: Shout (Part 1) (MOJO, VA: Songs The Beatles Taught Us)
THE BOOKENDS: Chasing Time (Jem, Calliope)
THE HIGH FREQUENCIES: Cleanup Time (Jem, Get High)
GO TIME!: Cost Time Commitment (Kool Kat Musik, X)
BOBBY DARIN: If I Were A Carpenter (Atlantic, If I Were A Carpenter)
RONNIE SPECTOR: Favorite Waste Of Time (Bad Girl Sounds, Something's Gonna Happen)
--
THE CYNZ: Love's So Lovely (Jem, Confess)
THE SMALL FACES: Hey Girl (Sanctuary, Ultimate Collection)
THE FLASHCUBES: Get The Message (Big Stir, Pop Masters)
EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS: Hard Drivin' Man (Captain Oi, The Singles Collection)
GLENN ERB: Fine Day (single)
THE KNACK: Heartbeat (Capitol, Get The Knack)
--
THE MORNING LINE: 90s Pickup (single)
SERGIO CECCANTI: Leave The Past, Don't Look Behind (Kool Kat Musik, Leave The Past, Don't Look Behind)
GAME THEORY: I Mean It This Time (Omnivore, Real Nighttime)
THE CASTAWAYS: Liar, Liar (Rhino, VA: Nuggets)
THE BEATLES: Every Little Thing [Takes 6 and 7] (Apple, Anthology 4)
--
JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS: Fun, Fun, Fun (Blackheart, Good Music)

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