The commentary accompanying last week's posted playlist was reprised from the commentary accompanying a 2022 playlist, because the sentiments expressed then matched what I wanted to express in the present day. And while I don't want to make a habit of re-running commentaries, this bit from a different 2022 playlist stands as an explanation of This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio's guiding principles, and that explanation is worthy of repeat. I'll try to have something new to say next week. Unless, y'know, another rerun catches my fancy.
What is this radio show's format?
We circle back to that question every now and again. We do have a format, even if that format's not always discernible to folks looking at it from the outside. We oh-so-cleverly call the format This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio. Catchy! We use "power pop" as our hype, but it's really not a power pop format. It's certainly a rockin' pop format, generally favoring songs that are shorter in length and punchier in approach, embracing power pop and its periphery. We ain't exactly progressive or jazz, though we have played both.
We hold old records and new records in equal regard. Any record you ain't heard is a new record. Any record you already know and love is, by definition, something you know and love. Why not play 'em all?
Establishing a very broad parameter, we play hit singles, though we include hit singles that aren't always all that popular (or, in some cases, known at all) in the real world. They sound like hits to us, so we play them. That's the criteria. Power pop, soul, punk, country, bubblegum, folk, R & B, girl groups, ska, Top 40, left-of-the-dial, and--but of course--the rock 'n' roll the show's name promises you. It's all pop music anyway.
There are things don't fit the format; we don't play those things...except if we feel like it, in which case they suddenly do fit the format, at least for one week. We're not exactly under oath here. But Dana and I understand what suits the TIRnRR concept, and we know it intuitively. You're not going to hear many lengthier tracks. You're not going to hear stuff lacking in pizazz. Forget that noise. We have a show to do. SHOW business! Anybody can play records. It's more fun for everyone if we put on a show.
That's our format. And here's a show. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! It's time to turn it up a notch, because we have a show to do. This is what rock 'n' roll radio sounded like on a 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).
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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.
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