10 SONGS: 7/5/2025

10 Songs is a weekly list of ten songs that happen to be on my mind at the moment. The lists are usually dominated by songs played on the previous Sunday night's edition of This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl. The idea was inspired by Don Valentine of the essential blog I Don't Hear A Single.

This week's edition of 10 Songs draws exclusively from the playlist for This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 1292

BALLZY TOMORROW: Five Personalities

From the acknowledgements listed in the forthcoming various-artists blockbuster Make Something Happen! A Tribute To The Flashcubes (due September 12th from the good folks at Big Stir Records):

"Special thanks to Robbie Rist; two years ago, when I said that someone should put together a Flashcubes tribute album, he immediately replied (and I'm paraphrasing): "YOU do it. You know bands! And I'll be on it!" When Robbie speaks, power pop fans listen."

This power pop fan listened anyway. And as the Flashcubes tribute album moved from Wouldn't it be cool? to GO TIME!!, it was clear to me that our Robbie should use the great power and responsibility of his nom de bop Ballzy Tomorrow to do a cover of the Flashcubes' "Five Personalities."

"Five Personalities" was originally recorded by 'Cubes guitarist Paul Armstrong's group the Richards (as heard on This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 3), co-written by PA with Richards lead singer Norm Mattice and CNY guitar legend Mark Doyle. With some additional songcraft from Flashcubes bassist Gary Frenay, "Five Personalities" was subsequently recorded by the Flashcubes themselves for their 2003 album Brilliant, and that arrangement provides the basic template for Ballzy Tomorrow's Make Something Happen! entry.

And man alive, Mr. Rist runs with it. Hell, Gary Frenay recently declared Ballzy Tomorrow's (and I quote) "phenomenal" rendition of "Five Personalities to be "Best version of the song yet. So inspired!" PA chimed in with "Stellar!," and 'Cubes drummer Tommy Allen added a reverent "AWESOME!!!"

They are correct. But I expected nothing less. When Robbie Rist speaks, power pop fans listen. And when Robbie plays and sings? They listen even harder.

THE FLASHCUBES WITH MIKE GENT: Reminisce

The new digital single is out! Yeah, sure, "Reminisce" will be on Make Something Happen!, but you can't wait until September 12th--you want it NOW!! So GO BUY IT. Then, y'know, reminisce later, and at will.

ORBIS MAX AND TIM IZZARD: Further Down The Line

Great music for an eminently worthy cause. Pop Aid 3: A Pop Compilation To Benefit Those Affected By The California Wildfires) is a new 2-CD collection from our friends at Kool Kat Musik. Let's cede the podium to Brother Ray Gianchetti to speak on behalf of the project:

"Hot on the heels of Pop Aid 2,  which benefited people impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton, comes Pop Aid 3: A Pop Compilation To Benefit Those Affected By The California Wildfires), a 30 track, 2-CD collection of exclusive/previously unreleased tracks! Once again, pop artists/bands from around the world have stepped up to contribute exclusive tracks to Pop Aid 3. Participating artists are the Stewart Dolly, Go Time!, the Trafalgars, Scott McCarl (Raspberries), Robin Schell, Hanemoon, the Frisco Connection w/ guest vocals by Paul Kopf, True Hearts, Band Of Jays, the PoZers, Zig Zag Road, Herb Eimerman, Orbis Max and Tim Izzard, Richard Turgeon, the Lucky Shots (Brent Seavers’ new band), the Dreambots, the Junior League, Grant Lindberg, Terry Carolan, Coke Belda, Rob Bonfiglio, the Treasures Of Mexico, John Larson and the Silver Fields, Little Roger, Tim Izzard and the Distractions, the Red Sticks, Sunbourne Rd AND tracks from two new projects featuring Jeff Murphy (Shoes) -  Joywire and Evasive Species (Jeff plus ex-members of Material Issue)!  Longtime music collector and Pacific Palisades resident Mark Verheiden has contributed liner notes that provide insight from his perspective of what he and his family experienced on January 7 and after. And like Pop Aid 2, Pop Aid 3 will support the work of the American Red Cross, with 100% of net profits going directly to the American Red Cross!  Great music for a great cause at a great price from the leading pop-oriented, fundraising label!"

We received this wonderful set just in time to squeeze two tracks (by Orbis Max and Tom Izzard and John Larson and the Silver Fields) into an already-packed show, but it was well worth it. We'll have another Pop Aid 3 track on our next show, with more still to come in future weeks.

DOLPH CHANEY: Girl From Germany

TIRnRR Fave Rave Dolph Chaney was a late edition to the Flashcubes tribute album, as Dolph stepped in when circumstances forced another artist to withdraw from the project. And mein Gott, did Dolph ever deliver, and how! We suggested 'Cubes guitarist Arty Lenin's "Girl From Germany" as an appropriate Chaney choice, and faster'n you can say JAWOHL!, he responded with this inventive and engaging interpretation. As Dolph hisself explains:

"The idea was, 'what music would the Girl From Germany probably like, that might represent the gap the singer is feeling?' So I picked Kraftwerk, Blondie, Devo, and Berlin-era Bowie, and that inspired the synth approach."

Ich lieb es. Wunderbar! Danke schön, Herr Chaney. Danke schön.

CALLAN FOSTER: Insult To Injury

In addition to the four album tracks and one single we programmed from Make Something Happen! this week, we also wanted to play a non-'Cubes track by each of the other acts appearing on the Flashcubes tribute album. We made that particular something happen with assorted gems by Make Something Happen! participants sparkle*jets u.k., Librarians With Hickeys, Chris von Sneidern, Graham Parker, Joe Giddings, the Kennedys, Pop Co-Op, the Peppermint Kicks, Tom Kenny & the Hi-Seas, Hamell On Trial, the Armoires, Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin, the Mayflowers, Super 8 Featuring Lisa Mychols, Sorrows, and the Spongetones, each of 'em proving with their own material why we wanted them on the Flashcubes salute in the first place.

Callan Foster's cover of the Flashcubes' "It's You Tonight" predates the Make Something Happen! project itself; it's an epic one-man-band production that Callan posted on YouTube last year. We've played that on the show in the past, but this week we wanted to go with one of Callan's own tunes, so we slapped on his superb single "Insult To Injury," and reveled in the glory of power pop. 

If you don't know Callan Foster yet, don't sorry. We're pretty confident you'll hear him a lot going forward.

THE CHOOSERS: Christi Girl

"Christi Girl" was the Flashcubes' very first record, released as a 45 in 1978, and later picked up by Bomp Records for inclusion on a 1979 sampler LP called Waves Vol. 1. It was an absolute priority for a version of "Christi Girl" to appear on the Flashcubes tribute album, and Gary suggested the Choosers be...er, chosen. After all, the Choosers had already covered "Christi Girl" in a 2021 video, so this was a natural pairing. The Choosers even gave us a fresh graphic emulating the look of the original Flashcubes 45, taking us once again to that special place nobody else can go.

THE VERBS: I Need Glue

Meegan Voss was a veteran participant in the same vibrant late '70s Syracuse music scene sparked by the Flashcubes, and her 1978-1980 group the Poptarts shoulda been stars. Now, she and her husband Steve Jordan perform together as the Verbs. I remember Meegan from the Poptarts days, and I remember watching Steve on TV in the '80s, when he was the drummer for the house band on Late Night With David Letterman. Steve has worked with just about everybody, though one suspects his current gig as the Rolling Stones' drummer kinda pops out on the ol' résumé with extra added satisfaction.

We are so fortunate to have Meegan and Steve involved in this Flashcubes tribute project, and it's such a unique kick to hear how the Verbs have taken "I Need Glue," a very early Flashcubes punk number, and made it their freakin' own. 

HEY! Speakin' of glue....

THE RAMONES: Carbona Not Glue

The Greatest Record Ever Made!

THE BEATLES: Getting Better

"Getting better...?!" Have ya seen the news lately? Man, it's time we got to fixing a hole where the razzafrazzin' pain gets in.

THE BEACH BOYS: Little Deuce Coupe

On Sunday night, TIRnRR presents GOOD VIBRATIONS! Brian Wilson and the Legend of Summer. We'll hear music from Brian Wilson with the Beach Boys and as a solo act, we'll hear covers of some of Wilson's work, some other artists' work that we feel was influenced by Wilson, and some otherwise-unrelated material (including, but not limited to, some summer songs) that just feels appropriate to fit in. 

Among the celebrants will be Gary Frenay, Michael Simmons, P. P. Arnold, Bruce Springsteen, Raspberries, Jan and Dean, the Krayolas, Lisa Mychols and Super 8, Nelson Bragg, Sly and the Family Stone, the Sunrays, America, the Rubinoos, Curt Boettcher, the Ramones, the Yellow Balloon, Mike Browning, the Isley Brothers, the Smithereens, the Flamin' Groovies, Rob Bonfiglio, Al Jardine, Carnie and Wendy Wilson, Laurie Biaginio, Sixpence None The Richer, the Trade Winds, the Tearjerkers, Euclid Beach Band, 20/20, Doug Powell, R.E.M., the Ronettes, the Records, the Honeys, Jeffrey Foskett, Brad Jones, Eric Carmen, the Beatles, Fraternal Order of the All, the Anderson Council, the Parade, Jason Byrd, First Class, Jason Harrod, Johnathan Pushkar and Richard Barone, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, General Johnson and Joey Ramone...

...and Brian Wilson. And the Beach Boys. Surf's up. Join us.

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.

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.

10 SONGS: 4/26/2025

10 Songs is a weekly list of ten songs that happen to be on my mind at the moment. The lists are usually dominated by songs played on the previous Sunday night's edition of This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl. The idea was inspired by Don Valentine of the essential blog I Don't Hear A Single.

This week's edition of 10 Songs draws exclusively from the playlist for This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 1282

THE FLASHCUBES: The Sweet Spot

Work continues with blinding bright-lights speed on Make Something Happen! A Tribute To A DIY Power Pop Band Called THE FLASHCUBES. There's a lot of stuff that still needs doin', mind you, but we're on track for the album's planned September release from the good folks at Big Stir Records. We've already played Make Something Happen! contributions from sparkle*jets u.k., Joe Giddings, the Kennedys, Pop Co-Op, the Spongetones, and Super 8 Featuring Lisa Mychols, we've revealed that the album will also include 'Cubes covers by Chris von Sneidern, Callan Foster, and Hamell On Trial, and we have two more tracks to debut on our next show. 

We have three Make Something Happen! debuts this week.

In planning a Flashcubes tribute album, I was determined to include at least one new track by the Flashcubes themselves. In fact, we will have a 'Cubic trinity of fresh Flashcubes offerings, one apiece written or co-written by Paul Armstrong, Arty Lenin, and Gary Frenay. This show's already been pummelin' the airwaves with Paul's irresistible new tune "Reminisce," and we'll hear Arty's "If These Hands" on this coming Sunday night's broadcast.

This week's show opens with a sublime new Flashcubes track called "The Sweet Spot." Gary co-wrote "The Sweet Spot" with the late B.D. Love, who was also known to long-time Syracuse music fans as Buddy Love. That's not the NYC pop performer of the same dba, nor is it Jerry Lewis for that matter. Our Buddy/B.D. fronted Buddy Love and the Tearjerkers and My Sin, and he was an integral part of our local scene in the new wave era.  

Other than times 'Cubes guitarist Arty Lenin sat in on drums for Buddy Love and the Tearjerkers, I believe "The Sweet Spot" is the first Flashcubes-B.D. Love collaboration. And oh, it's magnificent. We are honored to be able to honor B.D. Love's memory by including this track on Make Something Happen! And we'll hear "The Sweet Spot" again on our next show.

Sweet.

CHUBBY CHECKER: Slow Twistin'

The many, many flaws of The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame notwithstanding, I remain adamant in my view that rock 'n' roll should honor its own. So I keep preaching that the Hall should finally correct its biggest snub to date (INDUCT THE MONKEES!!!), and that such honors should likewise be awarded to the New York Dolls, the Bangles, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Rick James, the Shangri Las, and a long list of other worthies.

NOW, dammit!

After the Monkees, my pick for the Hall's second-most egregious omission to date is Chubby Checker. Unlike these others, Chubby is at least on the ballot this year, so here's hopin'. We'll find out Sunday night. 

THE CHOOSERS: Christi Girl

In the summer of 1978, I haunted Gerber Music's Penn Can Mall location, badgering the (remarkably patient) staff about when the Flashcubes' debut single "Christi Girl" would be available for purchase. I was 18 years old, in between my freshman and second years at college, with a part-time job at another Penn Can store (which made it even easier for me to haunt Gerber Music at will). 

Anyway. Gerber had a promo copy of the 45 on hand, so even though they couldn't sell it to me just yet, they did let me hear the record play through the store's sound system. And I was fully stoked when it finally became time to trade cash for 'Cubes.

We should have a special place nobody else can go

We should know the things nobody else can know

When I was a teenaged Flashcubes fan, a newly-minted owner of my very own "Christi Girl" 45, could I have imagined that 47 years later I would be involved in getting a bunch of fab rockin' pop bands to record a bunch of Flashcubes songs for a Flashcubes tribute? Would I even conceive the possibility of a Japanese band doing "Christi Girl?" 

Whatever I coulda/couldn'ta at the time, these fanciful notions are coming true now. A few years ago, the Choosers offered a live video of their rendition of "Christi Girl," it for damned sure passed the audition, so Gary Frenay reached out to recruit the Choosers for this project. And the Choosers' finished version of "Christi Girl" will indeed help take Make Something Happen! to that special place nobody else can go.

THE POPPEES: She's Got It

The Poppees were an avowedly fab, Beatles-influenced NYC combo machin' schau in the late '70s. The group included Arthur Alexander, who went on to noted TIRnRR Fave Raves Sorrows, and we're fans. An ace 1978 single by the Poppees sported an effervescent beat original called "Jealousy" backed with this boppin' cover of Little Richard's "She's Got It" on the flip.

Remember this 45. We'll be mentioning it again before this week's edition of 10 Songs is done. Got it?

THE COWSILLS: She Said To Me

The Greatest Record Ever Made!

THE KINKS: Add It Up

As noted here, our pal and stats man Fritz Van Leaven informed us that this week's show would include TIRnRR's 70,000th spin, and that the milestone would be achieved with whatever track wound up being our 44th song of the night. We teased the event a few times throughout the show--Are we up to our 70,000th spin yet, Dana? How about now? Must be there by now, right?--until we were set to begin our next-to-last set with Spin # 69,999.

We called in the house band to help us tabulate. And the Kinks led us into...

BIG STAR: September Gurls

Our 70,000th spin, and it had to be "September Gurls" by Big Star. Had to be! Our all-time most-played individual track, the first song we ever proclaimed on-air to be The greatest record ever made! (way, waaaaay before it even occurred to me to write a Greatest Record Ever Made book), and a song that's emblematic of this little mutant radio show. Great pick, Dana.

SUPER 8 FEATURING LISA MYCHOLS: Pop Radio

Spin # 70,001. As we continue on the road to 100,000 spins, we start the next leg of the journey with a specific salute to the joy of radio. "POP RADIO!" Here's to every AM Top 40 hit and every left-of-the-dial communiqué that built TIRnRR. And we'll hear Trip 'n' Lisa's prototype for what became "Pop Radio" on our next program.

But right now, speakin' of "Radio"....

SORROWS: Radio

"Radio" was the B-side of the Flashcubes' second single "Wait Til Next Week." I bought the 45 directly from Gary Frenay at a show on Bowery in 1979. The song was co-written by Paul Armstrong and Gary Frenay, and although it was a live favorite at the time, it fell into disfavor within the band and was dropped from the set.

Coincidentally, within days of snaggin' my copy of "Wait Til Next Week"/"Radio" from Gary, I also picked up "Jealousy"/"She's Got It" by the Poppees. Yes! The same Poppees 45 referenced a few entries back! I love how this stuff ties together!

Sorrows formed out of the aftermath of the Poppees, and Sorrows' recent album Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow is guaranteed representation on TIRnRR's 2025 year-end countdown show. Guaranteed. 

And for Make Something Happen!, Sorrows have given us a cover of "Radio" that is nothing short of full-on freakin' phenomenal. 

Listen: You can search the four corners of the globe, and by the time you realize globes don't have corners, you'll already know that I'm the world's most insistent Flashcubes fan. Given that, consider the sheer gravity of me saying that Sorrows have accomplished the definitive version of the Flashcubes' "Radio." Pop music is my religion. Radio is one of my pulpits. With "Radio," Sorrows deliver the sermon we need.

Testify. And put your antenna to the sky.

THE ZOMBIES: What More Can I Do

TIRnRR spin # 70,015. What more can we do? Just keep spinning. Join us again on Sunday night for spin # 70,016 and counting.

If you like what you see here on Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do), please consider a visit to CC's Tip Jar. 

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. Recent shows are archived at Westcott Radio. You can read about our history here.