NEWS FROM ME: That Thing You Do!

Mark Evanier's News From ME is my favorite blog, and the model for whatever the hell it is I do here at Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do). News From ME is also the specific resource from which I habitually pilfer that "whatever the hell it is I do" line. I'm a recidivist. 

A recent News From ME post found Mark speaking about my all-time favorite film, 1996's That Thing You Do! , and Mark followed that post with a few more words about the movie ("More On That Thing You Do!"). Mark's fresh appreciations of this wonderful movie prompted me to send him some information about its title song's author, the late Adam Schlesinger. Mark was nice enough to quote my remarks (and link to my Greatest Record Ever Made! celebration of Schlesinger's snappy little song) in one more News From ME That Thing You Do! post.

While some may question Mark's description of me as "a gentleman," and perhaps some will quibble about his determination that I "seem to be rather well-versed" about pop music, I'm very, very grateful for the mention. Thanks, Mark! And please, do keep on doing that thing you do.

If you like what you see here on Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do), please consider supporting this blog by becoming a patron on Patreon, or by visiting CC's Tip Jar. Additional products and projects are listed here.

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.

I'm on Twitter @CafarelliCarl

This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 1152

 

The process of assembling each week's playlist inevitably leaves a lot of great material on the virtual cutting room floor. At various points in its genesis, this week's TIRnRR included a new track by the Amplifier Heads, plus sundry worthies by Stevenson and Company, Chris Lund, Millie Small, T Bone Burnett, and maybe one other artist my brain can't remember in the moment. Oh, and also a different Supremes track, and a different Ramones track. None of these made it to the actual show.

I'm not talking about songs we considered as potential picks t' click when we were slappin' the show together; that would be a much longer list. All of the above were in the playlist when Dana and I set it up on Tuesday night. But changes were necessary. And changes were made.

Many--most?--such changes are mandated by timing. We have a three-hour show, and the original playlist would have run too long. Our next-to-last set was planned to include eight songs, but we cut it to two songs. Elsewhere in the show, we swapped out a few lengthier tracks in favor of shorter ones. 

But there were also creative considerations. Our first set offered three tracks in memory of the late singer Robert Gordon, with one more Gordon performance set to play in the eighth set, and still another at the very end of the show. Shortening the eighth set cost us one of the Robert Gordon songs, but we put it back into the show in a different spot, and also made room for one more Gordon goodie. That decision sent two other tracks out of our ninth set and into the cornfield.

For now. They'll all be back in the mix for next week's show, and our tentative plan is to kick off next week's proceedings with that Amplifier Heads single. The Best Three Hours Of Radio On The Whole Friggin' Planet? Yeah, we get the job done. By whatever means necessary. 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, on the web at  http://sparksyracuse.org/, and via the TuneIn Radio and Radio Garden apps 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). 

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

And NOW AVAILABLE! This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 5!: 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 # 1152: 10/23/2022

TIRnRR FRESH SPINS! Tracks we think we ain't played before are listed in bold

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

--

THE SMITHEREENS: Face The World With Pride (Sunset Blvd, The Lost Album)

R.E.M.: Gardening At Night [40th Anniversary Remaster] (IRS, Chronic Town)

PERILOUS: Rock & Roll Kiss (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 5)

ROBERT GORDON: Someday, Someway (Razor & Tie, Red Hot 1977-1981)

TUFF DARTS: All For The Love Of Rock 'n' Roll (Rhino, VA: DIY: Blank Generation)

ROBERT GORDON & CHRIS SPEDDING: Motor Biking (Sunset Blvd., Tear Up The House)

--

THE CYNZ: Narrow Hips (Jem, single)

ROCKPILE: Heart (Columbia, Seconds Of Pleasure)

VERDELLE SMITH: Life Goes On (Columbia, single)

THE ROMANTICS: She's Got Everything (Nemperor, The Romantics)

THE KINKS: Dedicated Follower Of Fashion (Guardian, To The Bone)

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

--

CHARLIE: She Loves To Be In Love (Renaissance, Anthology)

THE SMALL FACES: Become Like You (Recall, The Definitive Collection)

THE RUNAWAYS: Rock N Roll (Hip-O Select, The Mercury Albums Anthology)

THE SOFT BOYS: I Wanna Destroy You (Matador, Underwater Moonlight)

SAM AND DAVE: Soul Man (Atlantic, VA: The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968)

SQUEEZE: Farfisa Beat (A & M, Argybargy)

--

DAVID WOODARD: Right Through Me (Kool Kat Musik, Stupid Kid)

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

ELVIS PRESLEY: A Little Less Conversation (RCA, The Essential Elvis Presley)

THE BABLERS: You Are The One For Me (Big Stir, single)

THE RAMONES: I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You (Rhino, Ramones)

THE SINGLES: He Can Go, You Can't Stay (Rainbow Quartz, Better Than Before)

--

THE WELL WISHERS: Figure It Out Myself (n/a, Blue Sky Sun)

SUGAR: If I Can't Change Your Mind (Rykodisc, Copper Blue)

DEADLIGHTS: Pretend To Pretend (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 5)

BASH & POP: Anything Could Happen (Fat Possum, Anything Could Happen)

THE MOBERLYS: Last Night (Power Popaholic, JIM BASNIGHT: Early Years)

TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS: Mirage (Rhino, Anthology)

--

RICHARD X. HEYMAN: Crave (Turn-Up, 67,000 Miles An Album)

SHONEN KNIFE: Top Of The World (A & M, VA: If I Were A Carpenter)

SPARKLE*JETS UK: Sunshine (SpyderPop/Big Stir, VA: We All Shine On: Celebrating The Music Of 1970)

THE RUTLES: Number One (Rhino, The Rutles)

THE SUPREMES: You Keep Me Hangin' On (Motown, DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES: The Ultimate Collection)

THE TEST PRESSINGS: Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes (SpyderPop/Big Stir, VA: We All Shine On: Celebrating The Music Of 1970)

--

BARON DAEMON & THE VAMPIRES: The Transylvania Twist (WSEN, VA: The Syracuse History Of Rock-N-Roll)

THE VELVET UNDERGROUND: Sweet Jane (Polydor, Peel Slowly And See)

MICKY DOLENZ: Some Of Shelly's Blues (7a, Dolenz Sings Nesmith--The EP)

WET LEG: Chaise Longue (Domino, Wet Leg)

KISS: Any Way You Want It (Mercury, Alive! 1975-2000)

WIRE: Mannequin (Pinkflag, Pink Flag)

--

IN DEED: Peace & Quiet (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 5)

XTC: Are You Receiving Me? (Spectrum, VA: Classic Punk)

THE FLASHCUBES FEATURING THE PALEY BROTHERS: Come Out And Play (Big Stir, single)

LINDA RONSTADT: How Do I Make You (Rhino, Greatest Hits 1 & 2)

THE COWSILLS: Ya Gotta Get Up! (Omnivore, Rhythm Of The World)

IGGY POP: Happy Man (Arista, Party)

--

POPULAR CREEPS: Gone By 45 (Big Stir, single)

AMY RIGBY: Tom Petty Karaoke (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 5)

ROBERT GORDON WITH LINK WRAY: Fire (Private Stock, Fresh Fish Special)

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

OSCAR TONEY JR.: Ain't That True Love (Ace, VA: The Soul Of The Memphis Boys)

WRECKLESS ERIC: Hit And Miss Judy (Salvo, Hits, Misses, Rags & Tatters)

ROBERT GORDON: Red Hot (Razor & Tie, Red Hot 1977-1981)

THE YARDBIRDS: Over Under Sideways Down (Rhino, Ultimate!)

--

ROBERT GORDON: Something's Gonna Happen  (Razor & Tie, Red Hot 1977-1981)

Tonight On THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO

Hey, we got TWO shows! Sort of. Dana & Carl will be MICHAEL MITSCH's guests today on his radio extravaganza BACK TO THE FUTURE. We'll be talking about our new compilation album THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO, VOLUME 5, about our own little mutant radio show, and about TIRnRR perennials like THE RAMONES, THE FLASHCUBES, and THE KINKS. Michael will be playing all of that music, and more! BACK TO THE FUTURE airs Sunday from 6 to 9 pm Eastern on WMSC-FM in Montclair, New Jersey. Join us! 

And then, Dana & Carl will travel like lightning back to Syracuse for TIRnRR at 9:00, with new music from THE CYNZ, THE WELL WISHERS, DAVID WOODARD, RICHARD X. HEYMAN, and POPULAR CREEPS, a farewell to the late ROBERT GORDON, and lotsa good stuff by THE SMITHEREENS, THE BABLERS, KISS, SAM AND DAVE, SPARKLE*JETS U.K., SHONEN KNIFE, THE SUPREMES, SQUEEZE, THE COWSILLS, THE RUNAWAYS, TOMMY JAMES AND THE SHONDELLS, MICKY DOLENZ, THE MOBERLYS, and a stellar cast of dozens. AND the Ramones, the Flashcubes, the Kinks, and tracks from This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 5. Why should Michael have ALL the fun? 

You can have fun with both shows: BACK TO THE FUTURE, 6 to 9 pm Eastern on WMSC-FM in Montclair, New Jersey: 90.3 on the local radio dial, https://wmscradio.com/ on the web, and via Radio Garden and iHeart Radio. THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO is on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, on the web at http://sparksyracuse.org/, and via the TuneIn Radio and Radio Garden apps as WESTCOTT RADIO. Sunday? The weekend stops HERE!

POP-A-LOOZA: UNFINISHED AND ABANDONED! The Snowman

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 look back at the one page I did for a proposed comic book feature to be called The Snowman.

The Snowman was a vague concept that never fully gelled. Its original inspiration came from ads in the back of Vampirella magazine. Wait, let's pause for a picture of the lovely Vampi.

Awesome. Anyway, my love of 1930s and '40s pulps and movie serials was fueled in part by ads in Vampirella, including one ad for something supposed to be like a serial supervillain's mask. I swiped that mask to create The Snowman, first as an attempt at a pulp novel (written in cursive in a spiral notebook early in my high school years, probably circa '74 or '75, and palpably influenced by cliffhanger serials and The Shadow pulps). Actually the aborted Snowman novel may have been preceded by a Snowman comic book story, written and penciled for my freshman Spanish class (with captions and word balloons en español). Similar time frame, either way. Much later, I used an entirely different version of The Snowman as a potential Batman villain in the journal for my 1979 Fantasy And Science-Fiction class, when I was a senior in college.

The 1979 version of The Snowman. The EVIL One!

Back to today's shared post. Although this undated single page of The Snowman was originally posted in my Unfinished And Abandoned series, it's also a good fit for He THOUGHT He Was An Artist! (Memoirs From Back At The Drawing Board). I still scribble little drawings--the illo at the top of this post was done a few days ago, when I realized I needed a new picture of The Snowman--but I have long since given up any notion of being an artist. 

And that's okay. I'm never going to stop doodling, but I'm a better writer than I am an artist. As I kick around the notion of self-publishing a collection of my short stories, I've toyed with the idea of doing the cover myself. I probably won't do that. I'd prefer that the book, y'know...sell.

I had a slightly more realistic shot at becoming an artist than I ever had at becoming a musician. It is possible that I could have honed my drawing skills with a little more dedication and a little more encouragement. My eighth-grade art teacher was a kind and positive mentor; my ninth-grade art teacher was not. I eventually put aside dreams of professional pencil-and-ink work, and concentrated on my words. (That story is told as part of a memoir of my childhood superhero creation Jack Mystery.)

Jack Mystery in the '80s

Other entries in He THOUGHT He Was An Artist! have revisited a pair of eleventh-grade high school art projects (done for a different teacher), Agent 690: Man Of Action! and Hero. Both are stronger on enthusiasm than they are on execution. My artwork did improve--a lot, I think--after I graduated from college. My sketches in the '80s showed some potential, but I was not prepared to pursue it. There were bills to pay, beers to drink, records to hear, and writing to do. The artwork couldn't be a priority. 

That's on me. Can't blame my ninth-grade art teacher for that. And really, I'm not putting myself down when I say that maybe he was right; I don't think my artwork could ever have become ready for prime time. But I still do it, for myself. It's still fun. And it's still mine.

One of these days, I'm going to do a deeper dive into my '80s sketchbook. Today, we look back on a single page--the only page--of an unfinished and abandoned comic book project. The Snowman serves as the latest Boppin' Pop-A-Looza.

Writing? Drawing? Saving the world? All this stuff makes ya hungry.

If you like what you see here on Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do), please consider supporting this blog by becoming a patron on Patreon, or by visiting CC's Tip Jar. Additional products and projects are listed here.

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.

I'm on Twitter @CafarelliCarl

BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ: A New CD, A Radio Interview, A Forthcoming Book, Another Book Ready To Go, Another In The Wings

We're in the midst of a flurry of activity here at Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do) Central Command, and it seems like we should pause long enough to make note of some of what's been going on.

First, our new compilation album This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 5 has been generating its own positive buzz. I can't pretend to look at this project objectively, but to hell with objectivity anyway. This thing's flippin' fantastic. It even looks fabulous. We couldn't be prouder, and we urge all 'n' sundry to pick up their very own copy of This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 5. You can read about it here, and you can order it on CD or as a download. I do believe you'll be glad you did.

This Sunday, October 23rd, Dana and I are going to celebrate the CD's release with an appearance on Michael Mitsch's radio show Back To The Future. Michael's gonna play a bunch of tracks from TIRnRR Vol. 5, as well as music from some of our previous compilations and a few other rockin' pop irresistibles. We'll chat with Michael about the CD, and about the long and storied history of whatever it is we do on This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio. We'll also talk about the Ramones, the Kinks, the Flashcubes, the Smithereens, and any other glittery thing that flits into our POV. The show airs Sunday, October 23rd from 6 to 9 pm Eastern, and Michael informs us that the TIRnRR portion will take up the second half of the show. It all happens on WMSC-FM in Montclair, New Jersey: 90.3 on the local radio dial, https://wmscradio.com/ on the great 'n' powerful internet, and via Radio Garden and iHeart Radio. Join us!

Oh, hey! Back To The Future will end just as this week's exciting episode of This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio gets started. A total of almost five hours of Dana & Carl! HuzZAH!

Moving from music to the written word, I received an intriguing email from Amazon this week. It was merely hype, pointing me to a forthcoming book that Amazon's internal mechanism decided might be of interest to me. And it's a book that is indeed of GREAT interest to me.

I wrote it.

It was a cool little notice to see in my inbox. The book is still about seven months away from publication, hasn't gone through edits and proofs, hasn't finalized a cover design, and has not yet been formally announced by the publisher. But it's appeared as a preorder option from the usual suspects, and I'm gettin' stoked. My first book! 

As explained in a previous post, I'm refraining from specific comments about the book until the publisher says [Redacted] [Redacted] [Redacted] GO! The head of marketing contacted me to go over potential blurb resources, and the publisher and I just exchanged emails about the cover design. It's happening. It's real. My first book. I can't tell you how much that means to me.

Meanwhile, I just finished a fresh proofread and punch-up of my long-threatened other book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1). From earlier drafts that were just too long to be marketable, I've winnowed the song selection to 135 tracks and shortened the word count to under 115,000. Me being me, I'm sure I'll keep tweaking it here and there, but it's basically ready to go, and I'm happy with it. I remain hopeful that the publisher of my first book will also be interested in moving The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) beyond its idle threat status.

I haven't had time to write any fiction lately. AHOY Comics has published all of the prose fiction I sold to them, and has one more story under consideration. In 2023, I'm going to look into self-publishing Guitars Vs. Rayguns!, a book of these and some of my other short stories. The book will not include any of my Copperhead Kid and related adventures. Still hope to finish the Copperhead saga as its own separate novel.

And that's where I think I am and what this place looks like today. Back to work.

"Work...?!"

If you like what you see here on Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do), please consider supporting this blog by becoming a patron on Patreon, or by visiting CC's Tip Jar. Additional products and projects are listed here.

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.

I'm on Twitter @CafarelliCarl

10 SONGS: 10/20/2022

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 # 1151.

THE SMITHEREENS: Face The World With Pride

The intrepid Rich Firestone--who is the host of Radio Deer Camp right here on SPARK! and also one righteous rockin' dude--has declared that this track from the Smithereens' recently-released archival discovery The Lost Album is a hit record. Book it! "Face The World With Pride" at a Smithereens-approved Top Of The Pops!

We're with Rich. However, the stupid real world of radio formats that are all myopic all the time may not be prepared to follow Rich's lead. So our Reechie has called upon us--all of us, the independent DJs, bloggers, pundits, and loud 'n' boisterous fans--to intercede on the Smithereens' behalf. We hear and we obey. If you have a platform of your own, we join Radio Deer Camp's recommendation that you play the livin' chiclets outta this one.

TIRnRR will do its part. This was "Face The World With Pride"'s fourth straight appearance on our weekly playlist. I betcha we'll play it again next week, too. Hit records have gotta start somewhere. Face the world. Play it with pride.

ARIELLE EDEN: Sagittarius

We've mentioned that we have a new compilation album out, right!? Of course we have! These things don't just hype themselves, people. This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 5 is available at this very transcendent moment, as a CD or a download, it is THE best compilation we've ever done, and we see no need for silly humility as we urge you to buy it. In fact, we recommend you buy more copies than you actually need. Many more copies.

This is an album full of highlights, and one of those highlights is Arielle Eden's beguilin' li'l pop tune "Sagittarius." "Sagittarius" is sprightly and peppy, impossible to resist, and it could be just as appropriate for airing on a contemporary pop radio format as it is for our little mutant pop radio format. It's versatile. And it's cool! The stars decree it.

THE JANGLE BAND: So Long

The weekly This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio shows are international affairs, proudly playing rockin' pop records from all over this wide, wide world of wonder. That we-are-the-world vibe extends to our compilations, at least a little bit. For Volume 5, we have acts from Japan (the Mayflowers), Canada (Laurie Biagini), Sweden (In Deed), and Australia (the Jangle Band). We've been corresponding with the Jangle Band's Joe Algeri for years, and their ace number "So Long" was one of the first tracks we put on our wish list when we started constructing this new compilation.

When we were putting this week's playlist together, Dana mentioned how the mighty Kurt Reil's mastering makes all of the tracks on TIRnRR Vol. 5 snap in such a spectacular way, and how he's hearing the songs now in a way he never heard them before. I agree. And Dana mentioned "So Long" as a track we maybe oughtta play a little more often. I agree with that, too.

THE BEATLES: Helter Skelter

I GOT BLISTERS ON MY FINGERS...!

SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES: The Tears Of A Clown

The Greatest Record Ever Made!

RICHARD ÖHRN: Time's Not Running Out

We mentioned Uppsala, Sweden's phenomenal pop combo In Deed in passing a few paragraphs back. This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 5 also includes "Peace & Quiet," my favorite among favorite In Deed tracks. We'll hear In Deed's TIRnRR Vol. 5 track on next week's show. But THIS week, we're dead chuffed to serve up a track from In Deed guitarist Richard Öhrn's forthcoming solo album Sounds In English. The album is due out November 11th from our friends at Big Stir Records, and the advance digital single "Love And Friendship" is available right now. TIRnRR approves of these Sounds.

THE KINKS: Revenge

Our house band the Kinks, and a nifty 1964 instrumental called "Revenge." REVENGE! Now we're talkin', huh? Yeah, Lex Luthor was rumored to play rhythm guitar on that track. Well, Lex Luthor or Jimmy Page. Same diff.

JUSTINE AND THE UNCLEAN: Vengeance

Couldn't resist following "Revenge" with "Vengeance," Justine and the Unclean's contribution to This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 5. "Revenge" was our introduction to Justine Covault's fine work a few years back, a prime portal that led us to her own subsequent label Red On Red Records and all sortsa greatness that ensued. She's done so much fantastic stuff, both as a performer and as an ambassador and facilitator for other artists. She is, in short, really, really groovy. "Vengeance" is my favorite. Word on the street suggests there may be a full-length Justine album in the not-too-distant (and not-near-soon-enough) future. Prepare for VENGEANCE! It's FUN!

OSCAR TONEY JR.: Ain't That True Love

One of the many truths in our lives as pop fans is that there is always so much more magnificent music awaiting our discovery: new music, of course, and also old music that escaped our attention.

I don't recallI hearing (or hearing of) '60s soul singer Oscar Toney Jr. before last week. Maybe? Even if so, Toney didn't register with me until, like, now. A chance dive into the CD bins at Sound Garden in Syracuse netted me The Soul Of The Memphis Boys, a compilation CD collecting some Memphis sides by Ben E. King, Elvis Presley, Arthur Conley, James and Bobby Purify, Arthur Alexander, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dusty Springfield, Solomon Burke, Ella Washington, and more. Impulse purchase, come to Poppa!

On this disc, Toney's "Ain't That True Love" freakin' knocked me out. On the radio it went, and on the radio it will return next week. This is a bona fide soul classic, even if hardly anyone knows it. Classic.

There's so much out there, waiting for us to open our ears, eyes, and minds and just notice. The hunt continues. Ain't that...something?

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

"Come Some Christmas Eve (Or Halloween)" was written by Robin Gibb, an obscure ditty eventually included on deluxe reissues of the Bee Gees' 1968 album Idea. In our newfangled 21st century, Tall Poppy Syndrome reimagined it as (in their words) "a Mod-era Who performing the Zombies' Odessey And Oracle." Ah, these musicians and their ideas!

Oh, and it was a sublime idea. Tall Poppy Syndrome includes former Bee Gees guitarist Vince Melouney, which gives their Robin Gibb cover a sort of legacy status. Tall Poppy Syndrome's version of "Come Some Christmas Eve (Or Halloween" radiates confidence and vulnerability in paradoxically equal measure, the fragile emotion at its center granting it emotional gravitas, the surefire swagger of its execution commanding our attention and demanding volume far, far north of a mere 11. We are so, so proud to present this superlative Tall Poppy Syndrome track as part of This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 5. Get it. Crank it. Love it. Stand tall, you poppies. Stand tall.

If you like what you see here on Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do), please consider supporting this blog by becoming a patron on Patreon, or by visiting CC's Tip Jar. Additional products and projects are listed here.

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.

I'm on Twitter @CafarelliCarl

THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE! (VOLUME 1): The Lost Chapters!

Today's post is a tangent to my perhaps-imaginary/perhaps-eventual book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1). I had no problem filling the proposed GREM! book with what I think and hope are interesting chapters about 135 individual tracks. Tracks were selected and sequenced for the book's narrative flow, and there are a ton of other tracks worthy of equal consideration. The book's oft-repeated slogan applies: An infinitive number of tracks can each be THE greatest record ever made, as long as they take turns.

I finished writing the book at the beginning of this year. Since then, I've continued to do proofreads and tightening, and I've made it a little shorter than it was in January. 

But even before I reduced the book from 175 songs to 135 songs, I already had a big, big stack of finished GREM! chapters that weren't going to be in Volume 1. Here's a list of songs for which I completed some sort of GREM! entry, but which will not be in The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1):

ARTHUR ALEXANDER: Soldier Of Love

AMERICA: Sister Golden Hair

BADFINGER: Day After Day

THE BARBARIANS: Take It Or Leave It

FONTELLA BASS: Rescue Me

THE BEATLES: Hey Jude

THE BEATLES: Thank You, Girl

THE BEVIS FROND: He'd Be A Diamond

BLUE ÖYSTER CULT: This Ain't The Summer Of Love

SOLOMON BURKE: Everybody Needs Somebody To Love

THE BUZZCOCKS: Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)

THE BYRDS: I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better

THE CASTAWAYS: Liar, Liar

RAY CHARLES: Hit The Road, Jack

THE CLASH: Train In Vain

PAUL COLLINS/THE BREAKAWAYS: Walking Out On Love

EDDIE COCHRAN: Somethin' Else

ARTHUR CONLEY: Sweet Soul Music

THE CONTOURS: Do You Love Me

SAM COOKE: Chain Gang

THE COOKIES: Wounded

ALICE COOPER: School's Out

THE CREATION: Making Time

DEEP PURPLE: Highway Star

THE DIXIE CUPS: Iko Iko

THE EVERLY BROTHERS: Gone, Gone, Gone

FIRST AID KIT: America

THE FIVE STAIRSTEPS: O-o-h Child

THE FOUR SEASONS: Walk Like A Man

THE GO-GO'S: Surfing And Spying

GRAND FUNK: We're An American Band

AL HIRT: The Green Hornet Theme

THE HUMAN SWITCHBOARD: (Say No To) Saturday's Girl

WANDA JACKSON: Let's Have A Party

THE JAM: That's Entertainment

RICK JAMES: Super Freak

ELTON JOHN: Saturday Night's Alright For Fightin'

JUDAS PRIEST: Heading Out To The Highway

THE KINKS: You Really Got Me 

THE LEFT BANKE: Walk Away, Renee

LOVE: 7 And 7 Is

THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL: Summer In The City

NICK LOWE: So It Goes

THE MC5: Kick Out The Jams

THE MONKEES: A Girl I Knew Somewhere

THE MONKEES: I Never Thought It Peculiar

THE MUFFS: Saying Goodbye

THE MYNAH BIRDS: I Got You (In My Soul)

THE NEW YORK DOLLS: Personality Crisis

THE ONLY ONES: Another Girl, Another Planet

TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS: American Girl

GENE PITNEY: 24 Hours From Tulsa

SUZI QUATRO: I May Be Too Young

JOEY RAMONE AND GENERAL JOHNSON: Rockaway Beach (On The Beach)

THE RAMONES: Babysitter

THE RAMONES: I Don't Want To Grow Up

THE RASPBERRIES: I Wanna Be With You

EMITT RHODES: Fresh As A Daisy

NELSON RIDDLE: The Batman Theme

THE ROMANTICS: What I Like About You

THE RUBINOOS: I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend

RUN DMC: Walk This Way

THE RUNAWAYS: Cherry Bomb

THE SEARCHERS: Hearts In Her Eyes

RONNIE SPECTOR AND THE E STREET BAND: Say Goodbye To Hollywood

SQUEEZE: Tempted

T. REX: 20th Century Boy

R. DEAN TAYLOR: Indiana Wants Me

TELEVISION: Elevation

VAN HALEN: Dance The Night Away

THE VELVELETTES: He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'

THE VENTURES: Walk--Don't Run

WHAM!: Freedom

Some of these are more finished than others; the less-finished ones (Ray Charles, for example) would have still needed some tweaking before I deemed them acceptable for use in the book. Still, each of these exists in some sort of complete (if not quite final) draft. Many of these pieces were intended for inclusion in the GREM! book at some point, but many were not. One WILL appear in a non-GREM! book in July of 2023, as part of my first book. The GREM! book itself does not yet have an assured path to publication, but I'm working in it. 

Some of these lost chapters may yet appear in an even-more-hypothetical This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 2; if so, they will appear alongside some other chapters I haven't finished writing. 

That's the very nature of the infinite. The story continues.

If you like what you see here on Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do), please consider supporting this blog by becoming a patron on Patreon, or by visiting CC's Tip Jar. Additional products and projects are listed here.

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.

I'm on Twitter @CafarelliCarl