Showing posts with label Everlasting First. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Everlasting First. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 3, 2025

THE EVERLASTING FIRST: My introductory songs to a number of acts (the roots of THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO)

This was previously distributed to paid patrons of this blog. This is its first public appearance. You can be become a patron of Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do) for just $3 a month: Fund me, baby!

THE EVERLASTING FIRST [For those who came in late]: Continuing a look back at my first exposure to a number of rock 'n' roll acts and superheroes (or other denizens of print or periodical publication), some of which were passing fancies, and some of which I went on to kinda like. They say you never forget your first time; that may be true, but it's the subsequent visits--the second time, the fourth time, the twentieth time, the hundredth time--that define our relationships with the things we cherish. Ultimately, the first meeting is less important than what comes after that. But every story still needs to begin with that first kiss.

In 2019 I constructed a fake This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio playlist of tracks that served as my de facto introductions to the performer at hand. My first Beatles song, my first Dusty Springfield song, etc. As I wrote at the time:

"First things first here: As always, remember that I am not under oath.

"Today's fake TIRnRR playlist is comprised of tracks which--I think!--served as my introductions to all of these acts. I think. I'm relying on memory, but these represent my best recollections of what/where/how I first heard the Ramones, James Brown, the Rolling Stones, et al.

"In many cases, I'm pretty certain that these couldn't have actually been the first time I ever heard the performers in question. I must have heard the Kinks and the Four Tops as a kid in the '60s, but my first conscious connections to them only date back to 'Lola' and 'Are You Man Enough' respectively...."

Today, I want to re-visit and expand that subject with a list of the songs I think introduced me to the acts I've (now) known for all these years. I'll make corrections where I find them--the Isley Brothers and Velvet Underground entries in the original post were incorrect--and I left out a number of acts (like Sly and the Family Stone and Led Zeppelin) for whom I don't have a strong feeling about what song was my first.

Let this serve as a document of a whole bunch of musical Everlasting Firsts. So like Joey Ramone sang the first time I heard him on the radio in 1977: Hey-ho, let's GO!

THE EVERLASTING FIRST! My introductory songs to a number of acts

THE 13th FLOOR ELEVATORS: You're Gonna Miss Me
ABBA: Waterloo
BRYAN ADAMS: Lonely Nights
AEROSMITH: Dream On
HERB ALPERT AND THE TIJUANA BRASS: The Lonely Bull
THE ANIMALS: House Of The Rising Sun
JOAN ARMATRADING: Eating The Bear
BADFINGER: Come And Get It
THE BANGLES: The Real World
THE BARRACUDAS: I Can't Pretend
THE BAY CITY ROLLERS: Saturday Night
THE BEACH BOYS: Surfer Girl
THE BEATLES: I Want To Hold Your Hand
CHUCK BERRY: Johnny B. Goode
BIG STAR: September Gurls
BLONDIE: X-Offender
BLUE ANGEL: I'm Gonna Be Strong
THE BOOMTOWN RATS: Lookin' After No. 1
THE BONGOS: Telephoto Lens
BOW WOW WOW: C30 C60 C90 GO!
DAVID BOWIE: Changes
JAMES BROWN: Papa's Got A Brand New Bag
THE BYRDS: Turn! Turn! Turn!
FREDDY CANNON: Teen Queen Of The Week 
THE CARS: Just What I Needed
THE CATHOLIC GIRLS: Boys Can Cry
CHEAP TRICK: So Good To See You
CHUBBY CHECKER: The Twist
THE CHOCOLATE WATCHBAND: Inner Mystic
THE DAVE CLARK FIVE: Bits And Pieces
THE CLASH: Remote Control
THE COASTERS: Charlie Brown
EDDIE COCHRAN: Summertime Blues
COCKTAIL SLIPPERS: You Do Run
JUDY COLLINS: Both Sides Now
SAM COOKE: Chain Gang
ALICE COOPER: School's Out
ELVIS COSTELLO: Watching The Detectives
THE COWSILLS: Hair
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL: Down On The Corner
THE DAMNED: Stab Yor Back
THE dB'S: We Should Be In Bed
THE DEAD BOYS: Sonic Reducer
THE DICTATORS: America The Beautiful
DIVINYLS: Boys In Town
THE DRIFTERS: On Broadway
BOB DYLAN: Lay Lady Lay
EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS: Do Anything You Wanna Do
DAVE EDMUNDS: I Hear You Knocking
ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA: Can't Get It Out Of My Head
FANNY: I've Had It
THE FLAMIN' GROOVIES: Misery
FLEETWOOD MAC: Oh Well
THE FLESHTONES: Shadow Line
FOOLS FACE: L5
THE FOUR SEASONS: Big Girls Don't Cry
THE FOUR TOPS: Are You Man Enough
ARETHA FRANKLIN: Respect
GANG OF FOUR: Damaged Goods
MARVIN GAYE: I Heard It Through The Grapevine
THE J. GEILS BAND: Give It To Me
GENERATION X: Ready Steady Go
THE GO-GO'S: We Got The Beat
LESLEY GORE: California Nights
THE GRASS ROOTS: Midnight Confession
ARLO GUTHRIE: The City Of New Orleans
HERMAN'S HERMITS: Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter
THE HOLLIES: Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress
THE HOODOO GURUS: (Let's All) Turn On
BUDDY HOLLY: Peggy Sue/Everyday [can't remember which side of the 45 I played first]
THE ISLEY BROTHERS: Who's That Lady
THE JACKSON 5: I'll Be There
JOE JACKSON: Is She Really Going Out With Him?
WANDA JACKSON: Funnel Of Love
THE JAM: Batman Theme
RICK JAMES: Give It To Me Baby
JAN AND DEAN: The Little Old Lady From Pasadena
JEFFERSON AIRPLANE: Somebody To Love
THE JIVE FIVE: My True Story
BILLY JOEL: Piano Man
ELTON JOHN: Crocodile Rock
JOHNNY AND THE HURRICANES: Beatnik Fly
JUDAS PRIEST: Diamonds And Rust
GREG KIHN: For You
THE KINKS: Lola
KISS: Rock And Roll All Nite
THE KNACK: My Sharona
GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS: Midnight Train To Georgia
GARY LEWIS AND THE PLAYBOYS: Everybody Loves A Clown
LITTLE RICHARD: Tutti Frutti
LOVE: Can't Explain
THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL: Summer In The City
NICK LOWE: So It Goes
LYRES: I Really Want You Right Now 
THE MAMAS AND THE PAPAS: Monday, Monday
THE MC5: Kick Out The Jams
THE MIRACLES/SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES: The Tears Of A Clown
JONI MITCHELL: Help Me 
THE MONKEES: (Theme From) The Monkees
THE MOSQUITOS: Darn Well
MOTÖRHEAD: Motorhead
THE NERVES: Hanging On The Telephone
THE NEW YORK DOLLS: Personality Crisis
THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS: The Laws Have Changed
OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN: If Not For You
GARY NUMAN: Are "Friends" Electric?
WILSON PICKETT: In The Midnight Hour
THE O'JAYS: Back Stabbers
GRAHAM PARKER: Hotel Chambermaid
TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS: American Girl
GENE PITNEY: Town Without Pity
THE POLICE: Roxanne
IGGY POP: I'm Bored
THE PRETENDERS: Kid
PRINCE: 1999
SUZI QUATRO: I May Be Too Young
QUEEN: Killer Queen
THE QUICK: It Won't Be Long
R.E.M.: Wolves, Lower
THE RAMONES: Blitzkrieg Bop
THE RASPBERRIES: I Wanna Be With You
THE RECORDS: Starry Eyes
OTIS REDDING: (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
THE REMBRANDTS: Just The Way It Is, Baby
PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS/THE RAIDERS: Indian Reservation
JONATHAN RICHMAN: Roadrunner
THE ROLLING STONES: Get Off Of My Cloud
THE ROMANTICS: Little White Lies
ROXY MUSIC: Love Is The Drug
THE RUBETTES: Sugar Baby Love
THE RUBINOOS: I Think We're Alone Now
THE RUNAWAYS: Cherry Bomb
THE RUTLES: I Must Be In Love
SAM AND DAVE: Soul Man
THE SEARCHERS: Love Potion No. 9
THE SEX PISTOLS: God Save The Queen
THE SHIRTS: Poe
SHOES: Boys Don't Lie
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL: Mrs. Robinson
SLADE: Gudbuy T' Jane
THE SMALL FACES: Lazy Sunday
PATTI SMITH: Ask The Angels
THE SMITHEREENS: Behind The Wall Of Sleep
THE SPINNERS: I'll Be Around
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD: Wishin' And Hopin'
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: Born To Run
THE SUPREMES: Stop! In The Name Of Love
SWEET: Little Willy
TALKING HEADS: Uh-Oh, Love Comes To Town
TEGAN AND SARA: Walking With A Ghost
TELEVISION: Elevation
THE TEMPTATIONS: Papa Was A Rollin' Stone
TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS: 54-46 Was My Number 
TRANSLATOR: Un-Alone
THE TROGGS: Wild Thing
IKE AND TINA TURNER: Nutbush City Limits
THE TURTLES: Happy Together
U2: I Will Follow
THE UNDERTONES: Teenage Kicks
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND: Rock And Roll
WAR: The Cisco Kid
THE WHO: Pinball Wizard
LUCINDA WILLIAMS: Passionate Kisses
XTC: Making Plans For Nigel
THE YARDBIRDS: Heart Full Of Soul
THE ZOMBIES: Time Of The Season

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.

Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

The Everlasting First archive

My blog series The Everlasting First looks back on my introductions to various specific elements of pop culture, particularly rockin' pop performers and comic book superheroes. The Everlasting First is dedicated to what every fan of any thing knows all too well: Every love story begins with that very first kiss.

The initial Everlasting First pieces combined music and comics, until I realized that the audience for one might not have any interest in the other; I later retroactively separated the combined entries. So far, the series has saluted my introductions to:


The series has also included Quick Takes for:


A (ABBA, Action Comics, Action Swingers, Adventure Comics, the Adverts, and Astonishing Tales)

B (the Beau Brummels, Chuck Berry, the Black Canary, Blackhawk, Blondie, and The Brave And The Bold)

C (Captain Marvel [Mar-Vell], the Challengers of the Unknown, the Dave Clark Five, the Clash, the Creation, and the Creeper)

D [music edition] (Dawn, the dB's, the Dead Boys, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, the Dickies, the Dictators, and the Drifters

 D [superhero edition] (Daredevil Battles Hitler, DC Special, Deadman, the Defenders, Detective Comics, Doll Man, and the Doom Patrol)

E (Eclipso, Eddie and the Hot Rods, Ellery Queen, and the Everly Brothers)

F (the Fantastic Four, the Flash, Fools Face, the Four Seasons, the Four Tops, and Funnyman)

G (Generation X, Ghost Rider, the Grass Roots, and Green Arrow)

H (Hellcat, the Hollies, Holly and the Italians, and Hot Wheels)

I (the Ides of March and the Invaders)

J [music edition[ (Jan and Dean and Jefferson Airplane)

J [comics edition] (the Joker and Justice Inc.)

K [music edition] (Klaatu, the Knack, and the Knickerbockers)

K [comics edition] (Ka-Zar, Kid Colt, and Krazy Kat)

L [music edition] (the Long Ryders, Mary Lou Lord, and Lyres)

L [comics edition] (Limited Collectors' Edition, the Lone Ranger, and Luke Cage)

M [music edition] (Mad Monster Party and the Morells)

M [comics edition] (Mighty Comics and Mister Miracle)

N [music edition] (New Riders of the Purple Sage and 999)

N [comics edition] (Nick Fury and ninjas)

O [music edition] (Oasis and the O'Jays)

O [comics edition (Operator 5 and the Outsiders)

P [music edition] (Pezband and the Penetrators)

P [comics edition] (The Prankster and the Punisher)

Q [music edition] (Queen, the Quick, and Quincy)

Q [comics edition] (The Question, the Queen Bee, and Quicksilver [Quality Comics])

R [music edition] (The Real Kids, Otis Redding, Run DMC, and the Runaways)

R [comics edition] (The Ray, Rima the Jungle Girl, the Rocketeer, and Roger Ramjet)

S [music edition] (Sam and Dave, the Selecter, Sham 69, the Shangri-Las, Simon and Garfunkel, and Slade)

S [comics edition] (The Sandman, the Seven Soldiers of Victory, the Silver Surfer, the Spider, Spy Smasher, and Star Wars)

T [music edition] (Television, the Temptations, Tommy Tutone, and the Troggs)

T [comics edition] (Teen Titans, Thor, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, and The Twilight Zone)



The Everlasting First's original A-Z goal remains in place, even though it stalled after T (for Tarzan and the Turtles).  I have begun work on the next entry, U is for Uncle Scrooge, and I intend to finish the alphabet. 

Eventually. Never underestimate the power of that very first kiss.

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

Carl's new book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones is now available, courtesy of the good folks at Rare Bird Books. Gabba Gabba YAY!! https://rarebirdlit.com/gabba-gabba-hey-a-conversation-with-the-ramones-by-carl-cafarelli/

If it's true that one book leads to another, my next book will be The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1). Stay tuned. Your turn is coming.

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.

I'm on Twitter @CafarelliCarl

Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Saturday, April 6, 2024

THE EVERLASTING FIRST: Buying the group or singer for the very first time

 

Most entries in my series The Everlasting First look back on my introductions to some specific performer or element of pop culture: The Go-Go's, Batman, Buddy Holly, Marvel Comics, the Isley Brothers, Powerpuff Girls, the Monkees, Tarzan, Suzi Quatro, The Occult Files Of Dr. Spektor, et al. Every love story starts with that very first kiss.

But today's music post isn't about introductions; it's about first purchases. Most (if not all) of these purchases were made after I had already been introduced to the artist's sound. 

In some cases, these weren't even the first records I owned by the artist at hand. This list politely ignores records I received as gifts, or which I inherited from older siblings. It excludes promos I received as a record store clerk, freelance writer, or intrepid rockin' pop DJ. I acquired each of these records as the result of a cash or credit card transaction. Some transactions were at retail, new or used, some were flea market finds, one or two were bought from friends, maybe some mail order, and we even have two flexi-discs that came with my paid subscription copies of Trouser Press magazine. Alas, there were no artists I purchased first on eight-track, nor any listed here from cassette buys. Flexi-discs, 45s, EPs, LPs, compilation LPs, CDs and paid digital downloads. Money made 'em all mine.

And each of these led to more purchases of more records by the same artist. Music is your best entertainment value. 

The value had to start somewhere.

* Denotes acts already in my collection (via gifts, hand-me-downs, etc.) prior to my first purchase of their work

THE 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS: "You're Gonna Miss Me," track on various-artists compilation LP  Nuggets
20/20: "Drive," track on various-artists compilation LP Waves Vol. 1
ABBA: 45, "Knowing Me, Knowing You"
AC/DC: 45, "You Shook Me All Night Long"
ALICE COOPER: "Eighteen, "track on various-artists compilation LP Heavy Metal
JOAN ARMATRADING: CD, Greatest Hits
P. P. ARNOLD: "The First Cut Is The Deepest," track on various-artists compilation CD One Kiss Can Lead To Another
BADFINGER: 45, either "Baby Blue" or "Day After Day"
THE BANGLES: EP, The Bangles
THE BAY CITY ROLLERS: 45, "Rock And Roll Love Letter"
*THE BEACH BOYS: LP, Pet Sounds
*THE BEATLES: LP, Rubber Soul
THE BEAU BRUMMELS: LP, The Beau Brummels Sing
CHUCK BERRY: LP, Chuck Berry's Greatest Hits
BIG STAR: LP, Radio City
BLACK SABBATH: "Iron Man," track on various-artists compilation LP Heavy Metal
BLONDIE: 12" single, "Rip Her To Shreds"/"In The Flesh"/"X Offender"
BLUE ASH: LP, Front Page News
DAVID BOWIE: 45, "Changes"
JAMES BROWN: 45s, "Cold Sweat" and "Don't Be A Drop-Out" [purchased together]
BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD: "Bluebird," track on various-artists compilation LP Heavy Metal
THE BYRDS: 45, "Eight Miles High"
SHAUN CASSIDY: 45, "Hey Deanie"
CHEAP TRICK: LP, At Budokan
THE CHOCOLATE WATCHBAND: "Inner Mystic," track on various-artists compilation LP 15 Original Rock N' Roll Biggies Vol. 2
*THE DAVE CLARK FIVE: LP, either Glad All Over or Having A Wild Weekend
THE CLASH: 45, "Remote Control"/"London's Burning"
ELVIS COSTELLO: LP, My Aim Is True
THE COWSILLS:: LP, The Cowsills In Concert
THE dB'S: "Death Garage" and "We Should Be In Bed," tracks on various-artists compilation LP Start Swimming
DEVO: "Come Back Jonee," track on various-artists compilation LP Rock 'n' Roll High School OST
THE DICTATORS: 45, "Sleepin' With The TV On"
BO DIDDLEY: CD, The Chess Box
BOB DYLAN: LP, Greatest Hits
EARTH, WIND & FIRE: CD, The Eternal Dance
THE EASYBEATS: 45, "Friday On My Mind"
EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS: 45, "Do Anything You Wanna Do"
*THE EVERLY BROTHERS: "All I Have To Do Is Dream," track on various-artists compilation LP Dick Clark 20 Years Of Rock N' Roll
THE FLAMIN' GROOVIES: LP, Flamin' Groovies Now
FOOLS FACE: Magazine flexi-disc, "L5" and "Public Places"
THE FLASHCUBES: 45 [with 33 1/3 B-side], "Christi Girl"/"Guernica"/"Got No Mind"
THE FOUR TOPS: "The Same Old Song," track on various-artists compilation LP The Motown Sound Vol. 6
MARVIN GAYE: "Ain't That Peculiar," track on various-artists compilation LP The Motown Sound Vol. 6
GIRLSCHOOL: Digital download, "1-2-3-4 Rock And Roll"
THE GO-GO'S: "We Got The Beat," track on various-artists compilation LP Urgh! A Music War
THE GRATEFUL DEAD: "Johnny B. Goode," track on various-artists compilation LP Heavy Metal
GEORGE HARRISON: 45, either "This Song" or "You"
HEART: 45, "Magic Man"
JIMI HENDRIX: "Freedom," track on various-artists compilation LP Heavy Metal
HERMAN'S HERMITS: LP, The Best Of Herman's Hermits
THE HOLLIES: LP, The Very Best Of The Hollies
*BUDDY HOLLY: LP, 20 Golden Greats
HÜSKER DÜ: 45, "Eight Miles High"
THE ISLEY BROTHERS: "This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You)," track on various-artists compilation LP The Motown Sound Vol. 6
JOE JACKSON: LP, Look Sharp!
THE JAM: 45, "I Need You (For Someone)"/"In The City"
RICK JAMES: LP, Street Songs
JEFFERSON AIRPLANE: "Somebody To Love," track on various-artists compilation LP Do It Now
JOAN JETT: 45, "You Don't Own Me"/"I Love Rock And Roll"
*ELTON JOHN: 45, "Philadelphia Freedom"/"I Saw Her Standing There" [I most definitely bought it for the B-side, sung by John Lennon]
JUDAS PRIEST: "Breaking The Law," track on various-artists compilation LP Breaking The Rules
*THE KINKS: LP, Kinks Size
*KISS: LP, Hotter Than Hell
THE KNACK: 45, "My Sharona"
THE KNICKERBOCKERS: "Lies," track on various-artist compilation LP Nuggets
GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS: "I Heard It Through The Grapevine," track on various-artists compilation LP The Motown Story
JOHN LENNON: LP, Plastic Ono Band 
LITTLE RICHARD: LP, The Very Best Of Little Richard
LOVE: LP, Love
THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL: "Do You Believe In Magic," track on various-artists compilation LP Dick Clark 20 Years Of Rock N' Roll
MATERIAL ISSUE: CD, International Pop Overthrow
THE MC5: "Kick Out The Jams," track on various-artists compilation LP Heavy Metal
PAUL McCARTNEY: Either LP (McCartney) or 45 ("Another Day")
THE MIRACLES: "Going To A Go Go," track on various-artists compilation LP The Motown Sound Vol. 6
*THE MONKEES: LPs, Headquarters and The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees [purchased together]
MOTÖRHEAD: "Motorhead," track on various-artists compilation LP Geef Voor New Wave
MOTT THE HOOPLE: LP, All The Young Dudes
MICHAEL NESMITH: 45, "Joanne"
THE NEW YORK DOLLS: LP, New York Dolls
THE OHIO EXPRESS: "Down At Lulu's" and "Yummy, Yummy, Yummy," tracks on various-artists compilation LP 20 Heavy Hits
THE PANDORAS: LP, It's About Time
GRAHAM PARKER: LP, Squeezing Out Sparks
TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS: LP, You're Gonna Get It
PINK FLOYD: CD, Relics
IGGY POP: LP, New Values
*ELVIS PRESLEY: LP, Elvis' 40 Greatest
THE PRETENDERS: 45, "Kid"/"Tattooed Love Boys"
PRINCE: LP, either 1999 or Purple Rain
SUZI QUATRO: LP, Suzi Quatro
QUEEN: 45, "We Are The Champions"/"We Will Rock You"
THE RAMONES: 45, "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker"
*RASPBERRIES: 45, "I'm A Rocker" 
THE RECORDS: 45, "Starry Eyes/"Paint Her Face"
OTIS REDDING:"(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay," track on various-artists compilation LP  Dick Clark 2 0 Years Of Rock N' Roll
R.E.M.: Magazine flexi-disc, "Wolves, Lower"
PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS: 45, "Him Or Me--What's It Gonna Be?"
AMY RIGBY: Digital download, "Dancing With Joey Ramone"
THE ROLLING STONES: 45, "Let's Spend The Night Together"/"Ruby Tuesday"
THE ROMANTICS: 45, "Little White Lies"/"I Can't Tell You Anything"
THE RONETTES: "Sleigh Ride," "Frosty The Snowman," and "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," tracks on various-artists compilation LP Phil Spector's Christmas Album
ROXY MUSIC: LP, Roxy Music
THE RUBINOOS: LP, The Rubinoos
THE RUNAWAYS: LP, Waiting For The Night
THE SEX PISTOLS: 45, "God Save The Queen"
THE SHANGRI-LAS: "Leader Of The Pack," track on various-artists compilation LP Dick Clark 20 Years Of Rock N' Roll
SHOES: LP, Black Vinyl Shoes
SLADE: LP, Sladest
PATTI SMITH: 45, "Because The Night"
THE SMITHEREENS: LP, Especially For You
THE SPONGETONES: CD, Oh Yeah!
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: LP, The River [albeit only half of the double album, purchased used)
RINGO STARR: LP, Ringo
*THE SUPREMES: "Stop! In The Name Of Love," track on various-artists LP The Motown Sound Vol. 6
SWEET: LP, Desolation Boulevard
T. REX: "Get It On (Bang A Gong)," track on various-artists compilation LP Heavy Metal
TALKING HEADS: 45, "Uh Oh, Love Comes To Town"
*TAVARES: CD, The Best Of Tavares
TELEVISION: LP, Marquee Moon
THE TEMPTATIONS: "My Baby," track on various-artists compilation LP The Motown Sound Vol. 6 
*TINA TURNER: LP, Private Dancer
THE TURTLES: "She'd Rather Be With Me," track on various-artists compilation LP 20 Heavy Hits
THE DWIGHT TWILLEY BAND: "I'm On Fire," track on various-artists compilation LP Geef Voor New Wave
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND: LP, The Velvet Underground And Nico
*THE WHO: LP, My Generation/Magic Bus
STEVIE WONDER: "Uptight (Everything's Alright)," track on various-artists compilation LP The Motown Sound Vol. 6
THE ZOMBIES: 45, "She's Not There"

Those were some of my firsts. And you?

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

Carl's new book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones is now available, courtesy of the good folks at Rare Bird Books. Gabba Gabba YAY!! https://rarebirdlit.com/gabba-gabba-hey-a-conversation-with-the-ramones-by-carl-cafarelli/

If it's true that one book leads to another, my next book will be The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1). Stay tuned. Your turn is coming.

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.

I'm on Twitter @CafarelliCarl



Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Friday, March 22, 2024

THE EVERLASTING FIRST: Comic Books

The 1966-68 Batman TV series turned me into a lifelong comics fan. But my interest and (at least) peripheral awareness of comic books predates the BIFF-BANG-POW! of that specific introduction to Batman and Robin and their Gotham City playground.

Nor were the Dynamic Duo the first larger-than-life comics characters introduced to me via black-and-white cathode ray rather than four-color funnybook. I knew Superman, Flash Gordon, and Popeye from TV before I ever looked at a comic book. The same can be said of various characters from other media who had comic-book careers, from radio hero the Lone Ranger and pulp hero Zorro through various animated notables like Bugs Bunny, Woody Woodpecker, and the Walt Disney stable. In each case, I saw 'em first on TV.

My first conscious memory of comic books is circa 1965, when I was five years old. I betcha I saw comics before that, but my concrete details from that era are sketchy at best. Man, if only I'd thought to take notes! Irresponsible preschooler....

Anyway, I  do remember a 1965 Superman comic book that belonged to one of my older siblings: 80-Page Giant # 14, starring Superman's girlfriend Lois Lane. I regard this as my first comic book.

What came next after that 80-Page Giant? Lemme check my notes...er, skip that. There are a number of comics that I saw somewhere in this 1965-66 timeline. A big one for me was Metal Men # 16, which I adored. I had my sister Nina read this to me again and again. I wrote about the book as part of my remembrance of growing up in the '60s:

"Metal Men, by contrast, was just plain goofy fun: Bickering robots with super-powers and human personalities, saving the world from an outer-space invasion. One panel from that Metal Men comic book became a classic fave rave in my house, as the Metal Men fought off robot termites, prompting the Metal Man named Mercury to quip, 'You're not going to throw ME into an antipasto!'

"I laughed. I laughed and laughed and laughed. For a long time thereafter, Nina would occasionally wrestle and tickle me, and threaten to throw me into an antipasto.  I think she may have finally stopped just after I graduated from college, but I wouldn't put it past her to try again, even now.  And I'd probably still squeal with laughter, just as I did when I was five."

I also recall an issue of the World War II-set Our Army At War (# 162, cover-dated January 1966 but probably on stands in the fall of '65), in which Sgt. Rock and the battle-happy joes of Easy Company meeting the Norse hero Viking Prince. I betcha there was another Superman book for me somewhere in this time frame, and maybe some long-forgotten funny animal book, too.

And then: January 1966. Batman. A TV show sparks absolute superhero obsession. That obsession turned me into an avid comics fan. I remain so to this day.

For whatever reason, even though the TV show was what hooked me, I don't think any Batman title was my first comic book after being hooked. As with the case of that Lois Lane book mentioned above, my brothers and sister continued to bring comics into the ol' homestead. These included an issue or two of Tales To Astonish (starring Sub-Mariner and the Incredible Hulk) and, I think, an issue of Strange Tales (starring Dr. Strange and Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.), which served as my collective entry into Marvel Comics. 

Also in '66, my Dad took me to an outlet selling discount books and magazines, a clearance outfit whose wares included a bunch of cover-compromised comic books. I snapped up the 80-page Superboy # 129, an issue of The Flintstones, and maybe something else. But mainly: Superboy # 129.

Magic. Just absolute magic.

Summer of '66 found me on vacation in Missouri, picking up my first issue of Batman (a purchase probably preceded by acquisition of a paperback collection reprinting older Batman stories when I was home in Syracuse), another Tales To Astonish, another Superboy, and bypassing what would have been my first Justice League Of America. While in Missouri, my sister and cousin gave me a back issue of The Avengers. 

And I was off and collecting. 1966 and '67 brought so many more comic books into my hands, from World's Finest Comics to Tales Of Suspense to Spyman, Mighty Comics Presents, and Dell Comics' Super Heroes. And more. And LOTS more!

And I'm still getting more. I buy new comic books every week at Comix Zone in North Syracuse, coincidentally located in the same two-block radius where I started getting comic books regularly in the mid '60s. 

A few recent Comix Zone purchases

Some things don't change. My obsession certainly hasn't. It had to start somewhere. I see no reason why it will ever have to stop.

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

Carl's new book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones is now available, courtesy of the good folks at Rare Bird Books. Gabba Gabba YAY!! https://rarebirdlit.com/gabba-gabba-hey-a-conversation-with-the-ramones-by-carl-cafarelli/

If it's true that one book leads to another, my next book will be The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1). Stay tuned. Your turn is coming.

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.

I'm on Twitter @CafarelliCarl


Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)