This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 1100

I was fortunate enough to see the Kinks in concert three times, but I never saw them perform "Tired Of Waiting For You." I saw the Rolling Stones twice, but was not treated to a rendition of "Get Off Of My Cloud." My live experiences with David Bowie and Ray Charles included neither "Suffragette City" nor "Hit The Road Jack." 

When you're doing a show and you have a large repertoire of songs to draw upon, time restraints dictate that some individual favorites are going to be omitted. And, although I can't sing or play guitar in any capacity other than...well, in any capacity, the same practical limitation applies to Dana and I putting together essential Fave Raves for a milestone edition of This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio.

For this week's epic celebration of This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 1100--1100!!!--we tried to put on a greatest-hits show, mixing popular selections with a few deeper tracks we haven't played in a while. A mere three-hour time slot meant that we wouldn't be able to program all of the (I ain't kiddin' here) five hours of material I pulled for my half of those three hours, nor all of the additional stacks o' tracks Dana had in mind. But I think we did a good job representing whatever the hell it is we do on this little mutant radio show. 

1100 shows. Yes, there were many, many, many more songs we would have wished to include in this week's celebration. But you know what? Next week is This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 1101. 1102 is the week after that. 1103, 1104. Oh, and January brings the impossible-but-true rockin' pop paradox of 30 YEARS OF DANA & CARL. Each week will accommodate what it can. 

The Best Three Hours Of Radio On The Whole Friggin' Planet. We got the hits. We've got some songs to play. Here's a sample of what we do, and what we've been doing for decades. If we've told you once, we've told you 1100 times: this is what rock 'n' roll radio sounded like on a Sunday night in Syracuse this week. Bring on 1101.

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, 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:

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

PS: SEND MONEY!!!! We need tech upgrades like Elvis needs boats. Spark Syracuse is supported by listeners like you. Tax-deductible donations are welcome at
http://sparksyracuse.org/support/

You can follow Carl's daily blog Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do) at 
https://carlcafarelli.blogspot.com/

TIRnRR # 1100: 10/24/2021

THE RAMONES: Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio? (Rhino, End Of The Century)

--

THE BROTHERS STEVE: We Got The Hits (Big Stir, # 1)

KID GULLIVER: Forget About Him (Red On Red, Kismet)

THE PARTIES: Let's Call It Love (Rainbow Quartz, Coast Garde)

THE SHANG HI LOS: Sway Little Player (Rum Bar, Kick It Like A Wicked Bad Habit)

BILL BERRY: 1-800-Colonoscopy (Kool Kat Musik, VA: For The Record--A Tribute To John Wicks)

THE GOLD NEEDLES: Billy Liar (Jem, What's Tomorrow Ever Done For You?)

--

THE RAMONES: Sheena Is A Punk Rocker (Rhino, Rocket To Russia)

THE BEVIS FROND: He'd Be A Diamond (Rubric, New River Head)

P. P. ARNOLD: The First Cut Is The Deepest (Sequel, The First Cut)

MARY LOU LORD: Right On 'Till Dawn (Rubric, Speeding Motorcycle)

THE ANDERSONS!: From The Get-Go (Lime Vinyl, Separated At Birth)

THE MnM'S: I'm Tired (Burger, Melts In Your Ears 1980-1981)

--

THE HOLLIES: I Can't Let Go (EMI, Clarke, Hicks & Nash Years)

HOLLY GOLIGHTLY: Time Will Tell (Damaged Goods, Truly She Is None Other)

POP CO-OP: It Ain't Easy Being A Boy (Silent Bugler, Four State Solution)

THE MUFFS: On My Own (Omnivore, No Holiday)

CHUCK BERRY: Promised Land (MCA, The Anthology)

DEAN LANDEW: After Work (single)

--

TIR'N'RR ALLSTARS: Waterloo Sunset (Kool Kat Musik/Futureman, VA: Waterloo Sunset

THE KENNEDYS: Life Is Large (The Kennedys, Life Is Large)

EYTAN MIRSKY: This Year's Gonna Be Our Year (M-Squared, Year Of The Mouse)

THE JOHNNY POPSTAR LUV EXPLOSION: Oh Renee (Futureman, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 1)

THE ORION EXPERIENCE: Adrianne (Sweet!, Cosmicandy)

THE B.A.R.: Katie's Shoes (JAM, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 2)

--

THE FLASHCUBES: Carl (You Da Man) (Northside, Flashcubes Forever)

FOOLED BY APRIL: Oh Dana (Luna Sea, VA: A Tribute To Big Star)

ROBB BENSON: The Tree Mind (Roam, The Tree Mind)

MR. ENCRYPTO: The Last Time [a cappella--expanded mix] (unreleased)

THE PHENOMENAL CATS: Seagirl (Sound Asleep, Seagirl And 5 Other Dogs)

TIM ANTHONY: Maryellen (JAM, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 2)

--

STYX: Kiss Your Ass Goodbye (Sanctuary, Cyclorama)

HELLO HELEN: Fall's Far Away (Futureman, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 1)

THE FINKERS: Last Thing On My Mind (Wizzard In Vinyl, Whole Lotta Fun)

AL GREEN: I Want To Hold Your Hand (The Right Stuff, Green Is Blues)

THE SMITHEREENS: Got Me A Girl (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4)

WRECKLESS ERIC & AMY RIGBY: Do You Remember That? (Southern Domestic, A Working Museum)

--

ANNY CELSI: Empty Hangers (Futureman, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 3)

ASTROPUPPEES: She Can't Say No (Hightone, You Win The Bride)

THE VILLAS: Pull You Back (Think Tank, Secrets)

THE BEAT: Rock N Roll Girl (Wagon Wheel, The Beat)

IRENE PEÑA: Must've Been Good (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4)

THE ARMOIRES: Appalachukrania (Big Stir, Zibaldone)

--

THE KINKS: All Day And All Of The Night (Sanctuary, The Ultimate Collection)

FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE: Better Things (Rykodisc, VA: This Is Where I Belong)

MANNIX: Highway Lines (Futureman, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 3)

RAY PAUL: Pretty Flamingo (Permanet Press, Whimsicality)

SEX CLARK FIVE: Fool I Was (Skyclad, Antedium)

THE MONKEES: You Told Me (Rhino, Headquarters)

JEREMY: Living The Dream (JAM, Living The Dream)

COTTON MATHER: My Before And After (Copper, Kontiki)

COCKEYED GHOST: I Hate Rock 'n' Roll (Big Deal, The Scapegoat Factory)

BIG STAR: September Gurls (Ardent, # 1 Record/Radio City)

THE STALLIONS: Why (Junk, Hey Baby It's The Stallions)

THE BEATLES: Rain (Apple, Past Masters)

--

THE POPTARTS: I Won't Let You Let Me Go (PlumTone, Fresh...Out Of The Toaster)

DANA & CARL [with DAVE MURRAY]: The Ballad Of Jah Clampett (Futureman, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 1)

Tonight On THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO # 1100

Yeah, our 1100th show. We're gonna celebrate. Join us? Sunday night, 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse on SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM http://sparksyracuse.org/

POP-A-LOOZA: THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE! Mannix, "Highway Lines"

Each week, the pop culture website Pop-A-Looza shares some posts from my vast 'n' captivating Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do) archives. The latest shared post is another chapter in the amazing adventures of The Greatest Record Ever Made!, celebrating the song "Highway Lines" by Mannix.

An infinite number of songs can each be THE greatest record ever made, as long as they take turns. Another saga 'bout another love gone wrong, and the DJ knows what I'm goin' through. This chapter about Mannix's "Highway Lines" will appear in my long-threatened book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1). And--SPOILER ALERT!!--there's a better'n decent chance you'll hear the song on the radio this Sunday night, provided you join us for our barnbustin' extravaganza observance of This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 1100.

TIRnRR # 1100 explodes into the airwaves and cyberspace this Sunday night, October 24th, 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, http://sparksyracuse.org/ And a Greatest Record Ever Made! acknowledgement of an all-time TIRnRR fave rave by Mannix serves as the latest Boppin' Pop-A-Looza.

No, not THAT Mannix. Pay attention, people.

TIP THE BLOGGER: CC's Tip Jar!

You can support this blog by becoming a patron on Patreon: Fund me, baby! 

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, and on the web at http://sparksyracuse.org/ You can read about our history here.

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

I'm on Twitter @CafarelliCarl.

Building THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO # 1100

This Sunday night, October 24th, Dana and I will be hosting the 1100th edition of This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl. With the playlist finalized and the file already sent to Dana for the hoodoo that he do so well, I can state for the record that This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 1100 is gonna be pretty freakin' good. If you have other plans for this Sunday night, cancel 'em. You need to be with us instead.

Approaching a milestone show, figuring out the specifics of how to acknowledge and celebrate, may seem like a challenge, but it really isn't. I mean, there is the challenge of figuring out what to omit so the playlist can fit into a mere three-hour time slot, but the act of coming up with choices is a snap. Sometimes our friend and intrepid stats man Fritz Van Leaven puts together a countdown show for us, and we do what Fritz tells us to do. Other times, including Sunday's TIRnRR # 1100, Dana and I bounce around ideas for what collection of songs can serve as an approximate summary of our story so far. Of course, it's gotta be a great radio show on its own merit, but with what we have to work with, that takes care of itself.

On the occasion of our 1000th show two years ago, I said this:

"For this celebration of our 1000th show, we’re going to play a number of songs that we have played before. We’ll play some hits, and we’ll play some deep tracks, maybe some things we’ve played recently, maybe some things we haven’t played in a while. You’ll hear stuff you know, but if we play something you don’t know, turn it up anyway—that’s how you discover even more songs to love. 

"That's our ongoing credo, and I think we demonstrated it in our 1000th show. I think it's evident in each of our shows."

Same approach applies to TIRnRR # 1100, with some of the same songs, and many different ones, too. I do believe you'll dig it. Please join us from to 9 to Midnight Eastern on Sunday, October 24th, for This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 1100.

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, and on the web at  http://sparksyracuse.org/ 

THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE: So It Goes

This piece originally appeared here as part of a longer post. I subsequently gave it a fresh shine for potential inclusion in my long-threatened book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1), but it is not part of that book's current plan. For now.

An infinite number of songs can each be THE greatest record ever made, as long as they take turns. Today, this is THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE!

NICK LOWE: So It Goes

Written by Nick Lowe
Produced by Nick Lowe and Jake Rivera
Single, Stiff Records [U. K.], 1976

A recurring point in my writing about pop music is my gratitude for people and things that went before, friends and periodicals and radio stations that turned me on to some specific sound or some particular purveyor of that sound. I consider myself lucky to have been at the right age and in the right place at the right time to experience so much transcendent music. This pervasive thankfulness goes from the serendipity of having older siblings during the British Invasion to the happy coincidence of discovering a tabloid rock rag called Phonograph Record Magazine at the precise moment for those pages of newsprint to introduce me to punk rock. And it includes a lot of radio stations.

One such station was WOUR-FM in Utica, NY, whose signal was readily accessible in the Syracuse market. After years of devoted AM radio worship, I grew disenchanted with Top 40 around 1976, when I was 16. I certainly couldn’t give up on listening to the radio—let’s not get crazy—so I migrated to freer-form airwaves. WOUR looms largest in my legend for providing me with my first spin of the Sex Pistols in the summer of '77. But before that, amidst the wealth of introductions to songs and/or artists both new and old--Graham Parker's "Hotel Chambermaid," Greg Kihn's "For You," the J. Geils Band's "Musta Got Lost," Michael Nesmith's "Rio," Joan Baez's "Time Rag," the Kinks' "No More Looking Back," the Yardbirds' "Heart Full Of Soul," the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band's "The Intro And The Outro," and so much more--WOUR played "So It Goes" by Nick Lowe.

"So It Goes" was the first single released by the upstart British label Stiff Records, a feisty U. K.-only issue in August of 1976. WOUR jumped on that import single, and I heard it frequently, loving it more and more each time. It wasn't released in America until Lowe's debut LP Pure Pop For Now People (or Jesus Of Cool, as it was named in its native England) came out in 1978, in the spring semester of my freshman year in college. By then, it was a golden oldie to me, but still as current as the rest of my beloved new wave. 

I don't think I'd yet read Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five, but I'm sure ol' Kurt would approve of Lowe nicking the fictional Billy Pilgrim's own recurring phrase. And so it goes.

TIP THE BLOGGER: CC's Tip Jar!

You can support this blog by becoming a patron on Patreon: Fund me, baby! 

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, and on the web at http://sparksyracuse.org/ You can read about our history here.

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

I'm on Twitter @CafarelliCarl.

POP-A-LOOZA: Reopening The Book On THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE!

Each week, the pop culture website Pop-A-Looza shares some posts from my vast 'n' captivating Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do) archives. The latest shared post is a recent update of my intentions for a book I've been threatening to write for a very long time: "Reopening The Book On The Greatest Record Ever Made!"

The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1). Although this piece is less than a week old, my GREM! file and proposed Table of Contents has already changed again in that short time. I've just completed chapters about the O'Jays, Cheap Trick, the Supremes, and the Cookies, restored a previously-written chapter about the Dandy Warhols, and tentatively removed the Pretenders from the book's blueprint. I expanded the number of entries in the book's current TOC by one additional chapter, but I'm still a-tweakin'.

And I aim to continue tweaking. An infinite number of songs can each be THE greatest record ever made, as long as they take turns. I'm writing a book about that concept. My still-simmering GREM! project is the subject of the latest Boppin' Pop-A-Looza.

TIP THE BLOGGER: CC's Tip Jar!

You can support this blog by becoming a patron on Patreon: Fund me, baby! 

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, and on the web at http://sparksyracuse.org/ You can read about our history here.

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

I'm on Twitter @CafarelliCarl.

10 SONGS: 10/19/2021

10 Songs is a weekly list of ten songs that happen to be on my mind at the moment. Given my intention to usually write these on Mondays, the lists are often dominated by songs played on the previous 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 # 1099.

THE BROTHERS STEVE: Better Get Ready

Yeah, you better get ready! The Brothers Steve have become consistent TIRnRR Fave Raves, so of course we're goin' full-throttle with their latest Big Stir Records release Dose. (To review: second album Dose follows the Brothers Steve's debut album # 1, and we repeat our earlier urgent note that the next one's gotta be called Dry.) We've been playing the new single "Next Aquarius," and figured it was time to dig into an album track. Our big 1100th show is coming up next week, so what could be a more appropriate track to play this week than "Better Get Ready?" NONE! None more appropriate! And I think we're gonna hear the Brothers Steve again next week on TIRnRR # 1100.

FANNY: Let's Spend The Night Together

Even into the mid '70s, it was still a little bit uncommon for a Top 40 pop song sung by a woman to directly suggest spending the night together. Hell, a decade before that, the lyrics of the Rolling Stones' "Let's Spend The Night Together" were deemed sufficiently scandalous that ol' Stoneface Ed Sullivan insisted that noted male singer Mick Jagger oughtta warble Let's spend some time together! while rolling his eyes as the Stones performed on Sullivan's really big shoe. Um, show. I recall seeing the all-female combo Fanny lip-sync this (as well as their ace cover of the Bell Notes' "I've Had It") on American Bandstand while I was vacationing in Missouri in 1974. I don't think I'd heard Fanny prior to that. I recall members of the band telling Dick Clark that they'd put a female POV on "Let's Spend The Night Together," though it really seemed then (as now) as just a matter of fact. If you wanna spend the time.

THE  FLIRTATIONS: Nothing But A Heartache

Unrequited love. It hurts like nobody's business. But it sure does sound terrific on the radio. The Flirtations tell the story like no other can.

THE GRIP WEEDS: Shape Of Things To Come

A teaser single covering Max Frost and the Troopers' "Shape Of Things To Come" heralds the not-soon-enough release of DiG, a covers collection from the rockin' pop force of nature that is the Grip Weeds. The shape of things to come? Sign us up!

THE JAM: Start!

My silly notion to start TIRnRR # 1099 with "Taxman" by the Beatles inspired Dana to follow with the Jam's "Start!," a 1980 track very obviously influenced by George Harrison's Revolver opener from '66. I was at first going to follow "Start!" with Prince's "Hot Summer," but realized while recording the show that we had to put the Bangles' "Start!"-influenced "I'm In Line" in that spot instead. Just had to. There was time to move Prince down a couple places in the same set--our apologies to the Pleasers, who wound up getting unceremoniously bumped--and still revel in the pop-fueled oomph of a radio show opening with the groovy triumvirate of "Taxman"-"Start!"-"I'm In Line." I only regret I couldn't squeeze "The Batman Theme" in before "Taxman." 

But it was, y'know...a start.

MAURA AND THE BRIGHT LIGHTS: Perfect Girl

The Maura of Maura and the Bright Lights is Maura Kennedy, one-half (with husband Pete Kennedy) of the world-renowned coffeehouse pop duo the Kennedys. Maura and the Bright Lights initially willed themselves into being in 2014 for the first-ever Bright Lights! Syracuse new wave rock 'n' roll reunion show. We have a handy-dandy history of Maura and the Bright Lights available for your reference right here. 

Gary Frenay of the Flashcubes is also a charter member of Maura and the Bright Lights. Recently, Gary was tasked with the challenge of creating an original song in the style of late '50s/early '60s girl-singer pop like Marcie Blaine's "Bobby's Girl" and Shelley Fabares' "Johnny Angel." The result was the dreamy "Perfect Girl," a swoon-worthy little number for Maura to sing. It's intended for a forthcoming film project, but we're thrilled to offer you this perfect little preview of coming attractions. (Today's Bright Lights are Maura on vocals, Pete on guitar, Gary on bass and guitar, Mike Kallet on piano, and the track's producer Tommy Allen on drums, percussion, and synth strings.) Let swooning commence.

SUZI QUATRO: There She Goes

This tune by my # 1 teen rock 'n' roll crush Suzi Quatro was recorded in 1982 for an album, but the album was shelved. The project eventually saw the light of day as a limited issue called Unreleased Emotion, which was much later exhumed for more general availability by the public servants at the Cherry Red label. There ya go!

KEN SHARP: Hellcat

Hey, speakin' of the Supersonic Suzi Quatro, here's another track infused with glam and glitter, this one courtesy of pop music's best friend, Ken Sharp.  We debuted Ken Sharp's new single "Hellcat" on last week's program. An immediate positive response to that (with a listener in Pennsylvania expressing specific delight) prompted a repeat spin this week. Plus, y'know, I like it. That usually helps.

TALL POPPY SYNDROME: Come Some Christmas Eve (Or Halloween)

Hey, it's a supergroup! Paul Kopf and Jonathan Lea (both of Stranger In A Strange Land, the former also of the Seeds, the latter also of the Jigsaw Scene)! Vince Melouney, from the original '60s lineup of the Bee Gees! Clem Burke of Blondie! Cream Puff War scribe Alec Palao of...we don't have space to list all of Alex's credits! I gotta start paying myself by the word. With all that firepower in its arsenal, it's no surprise Tall Poppy Syndrome's debut single "Come Some Christmas Eve (Or Halloween)" hits what needs hittin', and merits airplay by divine right. 

THE KINKS: You Really Got Me

Did we mention that next week's show is This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 1100? Well, we just mentioned it again. You should oughtta join us for that. In the mean time, here's our house band the Kinks with the greatest record ever made.

TIP THE BLOGGER: CC's Tip Jar!

You can support this blog by becoming a patron on Patreon: Fund me, baby! 

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, and on the web at http://sparksyracuse.org/ You can read about our history here.

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

I'm on Twitter @CafarelliCarl.