This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl is simply too large a concept to be neatly contained within a mere three-hour weekly time slot. Hence these occasional fake TIRnRR playlists, detailing shows we're never really going to do...but could.
In the time span from around 2004 through 2022, Dana and I had the pleasure of compiling and curating five various-artists This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio compilation CDs. Each of these was released commercially; the first two volumes were issued by JAM Recordings, the final three by Kool Kat Musik, and the first four albums are also available as digital downloads from Futureman Records (Kool Kat handled digital distribution of Volume 5). Details on how you can add 'em to your music library appear below.
I am very proud of these compilations, especially the last two, and most especially This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 5, which I firmly believe is one of the greatest rockin' pop compilation albums of all time. Modesty? Doesn't apply in this situation. All of the individual tracks shine, and the flow of track to track makes the whole feel like a cohesive artistic work. Think of Volume 5 the way we intended it, as a concept album about listening to a love story play out on the radio.
One should never say never, but it's very likely that Volume 5 will be the last-ever TIRnRR compilation album. We loved doing them, but they're expensive to do properly. I'm satisfied that we ended the series on such a high note.
Today's exercise in imaginary playlisting gathers tracks from the five TIRnRR compilations and plays 'em all together. Could have easily added a fourth hour of drop-dead primo material. As a bonus, we also give you TIR'N'RR Allstars' exquisite cover of the Kinks' "Waterloo Sunset," which a bunch of our talented friends put together as a fundraiser for us. We have great friends!
And our friends have made it possible to produce some fantastic compilations. Here's a playlist of some of the best from This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio Volumes 1-5. And you know what else these gems have in common?
Volume. Proceed accordingly.
This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl--y'know, the real one--airs Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, and on the web at http://sparksyracuse.org/ 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). TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS are always welcome.
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:
Fake TIRnRR Playlist: The Best Of The THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO Compilation CDs
LAURIE BIAGINI: Hey Mr. DJ
SCREEN TEST: Sound Of The Radio
MANNIX: Highway Lines
IRENE PENA: Must've Been Good
THE FINKERS: Last Thing On My Mind
AMY RIGBY: Tom Petty Karaoke
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JOHN WICKS AND THE RECORDS: Edges Of A Dream
HAWAII MUD BOMBERS: Office Crush
PERILOUS: Rock & Roll Kiss
1.4.5.: Your Own World
THE COWSILLS: She Said To Me
THE RICHARDS: Five Personalities
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CHRIS VON SNEIDERN: Goodnight Sailor
POP CO-OP: You Don't Love Me Anymore
THE SPONGETONES: Anyway Town
ARIELLE EDEN: Sagittarius
ANNY CELSI: Empty Hangers
DM3: 1 x 2 x Devastated
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THE RULERS: I Want My Ramones Records Back
LUGLESS BOOTH: I Blame His Brother
THE BLONDES: Suzi Quatro
BALLZY TOMORROW: Out There
POPDUDES: Desperation Time
MAD MONSTER PARTY: Can't Stop Loving You
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THE JANGLE BAND: So Long
RAY PAUL: I Need Your Love Tonight
CAROLYNE MAS: In The Rain
STEVE STOECKEL AND HIS THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO ALL-STARS: I Could Be Good For You
HOOVER AND MARTINEZ: What The Heart Wants
THE CATHOLIC GIRLS: Should Have Been Mine
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THE RUBINOOS: Nowheresville
KID GULLIVER: Forget About Him
GARY FRENAY: Just Like Me
MAURA AND THE BRIGHT LIGHTS: Maybe Someday
THE GRIP WEEDS: Strange Bird
THE SMITHEREENS: Got Me A Girl
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THE TEARJERKERS: Syracuse Summer
HELLO HELLEN: Fall's Far Away
TALL POPPY SYNDROME: Come Some Christmas Eve (Or Halloween)
UNCLE GREEN: I Don't Wanna Know About It
MICHAEL OLIVER AND THE SACRED BAND FEATURING DAVE MERRITT: You Won't Do
THE LEGAL MATTERS: Don't Look Back
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KELLEY RYAN: The Church Of Laundry
IN DEED: Peace & Quiet
P. HUX: Better Than Good
JUSTINE AND THE UNCLEAN: Vengeance
CHRIS RICHARDS: It Doesn't Sound Like You
STEPHENSON AND COMPANY: Talking Down To Me
THE SLAPBACKS: Make Something Happen
RONNIE DARK: Sarah
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MICHAEL CARPENTER: I've Been Loving You
PAUL COLLINS' BEAT: She Doesn't Want To Hang Around With You
THE HIT SQUAD: Best Of Me
THE VILLAS: Someone To Hold On To
LISA MYCHOLS: Almost Didn't Happen
CIRCE LINK AND CHRISTIAN NESMITH: I'm On Your Side
MR. ENCRYPTO: The Last Time [a cappella]
EYTAN MIRSKY: This Year's Gonna Be Our Year
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THE FLASHCUBES: Carl (You Da Man)
TIR'N'RR ALLSTARS: Waterloo Sunset
