POP-A-LOOZA: It Was 1965

Released in '64, but...close enough!

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 reverie inspired by thoughts of my favorite year in rockin' pop, "It Was 1965."

The post itself isn't really about pop music (though its central line--"It was 1965. Anything could happen in 1965."--comes from an as-yet-unpublished piece I wrote about Paul Revere and the Raiders).  For a more music-centered look at 1965, we have This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio's year-specific special This Is 1965! My series The Greatest Record Ever Made! has shined its spotlight on a number of songs released in or associated with 1965, including works by the Rolling Stones, Wilson Pickett, Freddie and the Dreamers,  the Castaways, the Knickerbockers, and the Who, with more (including the above-mentioned Raiders piece) still to be seen in my long-threatened GREM! book. I've also written album appreciations of the Byrds' Mr. Tambourine Man and the Beatles' Beatles VI, a celebration of a B-side by the Barbarians, and my short story "The Copperhead Affair" is set on December 31st, 1965. Happy New Year!

But "It Was 1965" is about a feeling, a feeling I hope can manifest somehow as we cleanse ourselves of 2021. That feeling is at the heart of the latest Boppin' Pop-A-Looza. It's 2022; anything can happen in 2022. So yeah: Happy New Year!

1966 cover date, on the stands in '65.

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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.

THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE! (VOLUME 1)

An infinite number of tracks can each be THE greatest record ever made, as long as they take turns. I like that idea so much, I've been writing a book about it: The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1). The long-threatened book remains a work in progress, but what the hell. Work is progressing.

My first public announcement of my plan to do this book was waaaay back in September of 2018. The GREM! concept well predates that announcement, springing from a series of blog posts that commenced in 2016 with a celebration of Badfinger's "Baby Blue." The first proposed Table of Contents was posted in April of 2019, back when I was only planning for the book to discuss a mere 50 songs. 

50...?! How quaint. It's grown a bit since then. As of the last posted update in November of 2021, the book's Table of Contents was a collection of 165 songs. It now stands at 175--170 selections plus five bonus tracks--and that's probably where the number will stay.

The book's current Table of Contents appears below. But before you dive in to experience its splendor, it's worth repeating this caveat from one of the book's introductory chapters:

"This specific disclaimer is worth highlighting in bold and all-caps: THIS IS NOT INTENDED AS AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF THE BEST RECORDS EVER MADE! Jesus, no! The chapters in this book cover a number of popular and personal favorites, but it's nowhere near comprehensive, and it's not meant to be. It's a discussion and a celebration of pop's infinite promise--nothing more, nothing less."

Ready? Let's GO!

THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE! (VOLUME 1) 

Table of Contents

FOREWORD

DISCLAIMERS AND DECLARATIONS (A User's Guide To The Greatest Record Ever Made!)

A Fistful Of 45s

OVERTURE THE RAMONES: Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio?

1. BADFINGER: Baby Blue

2. CHUCK BERRY: Promised Land

3. DUSTY SPRINGFIELD: I Only Want To Be With You

4. THE SEX PISTOLS: God Save The Queen

5. ELVIS PRESLEY: Heartbreak Hotel

6. WILLIE MAE "BIG MAMA" THORNTON: Hound Dog

7. PATTI SMITH: Gloria

8. LITTLE RICHARD: The Girl Can't Help It

9. NEIL DIAMOND: Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show

10. CRAZY ELEPHANT: Gimme Gimme Good Lovin' 

11. WILSON PICKETT: In The Midnight Hour
12. THE HOLLIES: I Can't Let Go

13. MELANIE WITH THE EDWIN HAWKINS SINGERS: Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)

14. THE ROMANTICS: What I Like About You

15. SAM COOKE: Chain Gang

16. PETULA CLARK: Downtown

17. ARTHUR ALEXANDER: Soldier Of Love

18. TRANSLATOR: Everywhere That I'm Not

19. LESLEY GORE: You Don't Own Me

20. THE SHANGRI-LAS: Leader Of The Pack
21. THE SHIRELLES: Will You Love Me Tomorrow

22. THE RAMONES: Sheena Is A Punk Rocker

23. AMY RIGBY: Dancing With Joey Ramone

24. PINK FLOYD: Wish You Were Here

25. GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS: Midnight Train To Georgia

26.THE BOBBY FULLER FOUR: I Fought The Law

27. MERLE HAGGARD: Mama Tried

28. THE TEMPTATIONS: Papa Was A Rollin' Stone

29. BUDDY HOLLY: Peggy Sue/Everyday

30. ROBERTA FLACK: Killing Me Softly With His Song

31. JOHNNY NASH: I Can See Clearly Now

32. ELTON JOHN: Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting

33. SUZI QUATRO: I May Be Too Young

34. ALICE COOPER: School's Out

35. THE RARE BREED/THE OHIO EXPRESS: Beg, Borrow And Steal

36. ARTHUR CONLEY: Sweet Soul Music

37. OTIS REDDING: (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay

38. ARETHA FRANKLIN: Respect

39. THE MONKEES: The Girl I Knew Somewhere

40. THE MONKEES: Porpoise Song (Theme From Head)

41. PRINCE: When You Were Mine

42. THE 13th FLOOR ELEVATORS: You're Gonna Miss Me

43. THE ROLLING STONES: Get Off Of My Cloud

44. PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS: Just Like Me

45. BOB DYLAN: Like A Rolling Stone

46. THE KINGSMEN: Louie, Louie

47. BARON DAEMON AND THE VAMPIRES: The Transylvania Twist

48. THE MARVELETTES: I'll Keep Holding On

49. THE WHO: I Can't Explain

50. TODD RUNDGREN: Couldn't I Just Tell You

51. SHOES: Tomorrow Night

52. THE FLASHCUBES: No Promise

53. TELEVISION: Elevation

54. DONNA SUMMER: I Feel Love

55. SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES: The Tears Of A Clown

56. JUDAS PRIEST: Heading Out To The Highway

57. THE DIXIE CUPS: Iko Iko

58. THE NEW YORK DOLLS: Personality Crisis

59. MILLIE SMALL: My Boy Lollipop

60. THE EASYBEATS: Friday On My Mind

61. IKE AND TINA TURNER: River Deep Mountain High

62. THE RONETTES: Be My Baby

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

64. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: Girls In Their Summer Clothes

65. KISS: Shout It Out Loud

66. THE LEFT BANKE: Walk Away, Renee

67. THE BAY CITY ROLLERS: Rock And Roll Love Letter

68. THE KNICKERBOCKERS: Lies

69. THE WONDERS: That Thing You Do!

70. THE GO-GO'S: We Got The Beat

INTERLUDE The Tottenham Sound Of...The Beatles?!

71. THE DAVE CLARK FIVE: Any Way You Want It

72. JAMES BROWN: Please, Please, Please

73. GRAND FUNK: We're An American Band

74. THE VELVELETTES: He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'

75. THE FIRST CLASS: Beach Baby

76. THE ISLEY BROTHERS: Summer Breeze

77. THE RUBINOOS: I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend

78. THE PANDORAS: It's About Time

79. THE MUFFS: Saying Goodbye

80. BIG STAR: September Gurls

81. PAUL COLLINS/THE BREAKAWAYS: Walking Out On Love

82. LINDA RONSTADT: You're No Good

83. P. P. ARNOLD: The First Cut Is The Deepest

84. THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS: All For Swinging You Around

85. THE DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET: Take Five

ENTR'ACTE THE BEATLES: Yesterday

86. THE BEATLES: Revolution

87. YOKO ONO: Kiss Kiss Kiss

88. THE MC5: Kick Out The Jams

89. THE CHAMBERS BROTHERS: Time Has Come Today

90. MARVIN GAYE: I Heard It Through The Grapevine

91. SAMMY AMBROSE: This Diamond Ring

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

93. RICK JAMES: Super Freak

94. BIG BROTHER AND THE HOLDING COMPANY: Piece Of My Heart

95. THE FLAMIN' GROOVIES: Shake Some Action

96. THE DANDY WARHOLS: We Used To Be Friends

97. THE CARPENTERS: Only Yesterday

98. MATERIAL ISSUE: Kim The Waitress

99. THE 5TH DIMENSION: Medley: Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In (The Flesh Failures)

100. THE JACKSON FIVE: I'll Be There

101. SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE: Everybody Is A Star

102. LOVE: 7 And 7 Is

103. THE BANGLES: Live

104. THE SEARCHERS: Hearts In Her Eyes

105. THE FLIRTATIONS: Nothing But A Heartache

106. THE SPINNERS: I'll Be Around

107. TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS: American Girl
108. THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY: I Woke Up In Love This Morning

109. EDDIE COCHRAN: Somethin' Else

110. DAVID RUFFIN: I Want You Back

111. LED ZEPPELIN: Communication Breakdown

112. FREDDIE AND THE DREAMERS: Do The Freddie

113. THE BANDWAGON: Breakin' Down The Walls Of Heartache

114. HEADGIRL/MÖTOR HEADGIRL SCHOOL: Please Don't Touch

115. DON HENLEY: The Boys Of Summer

116. THE CLASH: Train In Vain (Stand By Me)

117. BEN E. KING: Stand By Me

118. GENE PITNEY: Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa

119. RUFUS: Tell Me Something Good  

120. THE SPONGETONES: (My Girl) Maryanne

121. THE TRAMMPS: Disco Inferno

122. HAROLD MELVIN AND THE BLUE NOTES: Don't Leave Me This Way

123. GRANDMASTER AND MELLE MEL: White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)

124. THE VELVET UNDERGROUND: I'll Be Your Mirror

125. DEL SHANNON: Runaway

126. THE EVERLY BROTHERS: Gone, Gone, Gone

127. THE COCKTAIL SLIPPERS: St. Valentine's Day Massacre

128. SAM AND DAVE: Soul Man

129. T. REX: 20th Century Boy

130. HEART: Kick It Out

131. THE RUNAWAYS: Cherry Bomb

132. AMERICA: Sister Golden Hair

133. THE KINKS: Waterloo Sunset

134. THE KINKS: You Really Got Me

135. HOLLY GOLIGHTLY: Time Will Tell

136. THE SMITHEREENS: Behind The Wall Of Sleep

137. THE COWSILLS: She Said To Me

138. ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE ATTRACTIONS: (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?

139. THE FOUR TOPS: Reach Out I'll Be There

INTERLUDE Old Time Rock 'n' Roll

140. THE BOB SEGER SYSTEM: 2 + 2 = ?
141. THE JIVE FIVE: What Time Is It?

142. LULU: To Sir, With Love [Museum Outings Montage]
143. FREDA PAYNE: Band Of Gold

144. THE CONTOURS: Do You Love Me

145. WHAM!: Freedom

146. THE COOKIES: Wounded

147. THE SUPREMES: You Keep Me Hangin' On 

148. THE BEACH BOYS: God Only Knows

149. JOAN ARMATRADING: Me Myself I

150. THE SELECTER: On My Radio

151. TRACEY ULLMAN: They Don't Know

152. MANNIX: Highway Lines

153. THE DRIFTERS: On Broadway

154. FIRST AID KIT: America

155. THE FIVE STAIRSTEPS: O-o-h Child

156. SOLOMON BURKE: Everybody Needs Somebody To Love

157. THE JAM: That's Entertainment

158. THE COASTERS: Yakety Yak

159. CHEAP TRICK: Surrender

160. TEGAN AND SARA: Walking With A Ghost

161. DAVID BOWIE: Life On Mars?

162. THE O'JAYS: Put Your Hands Together

163. THE GRATEFUL DEAD: Uncle John's Band

164. RITA MORENO, GEORGE CHAKIRIS, SHARKS & GIRLS: America

165. EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS: Do Anything You Wanna Do

166. JOAN JETT: Bad Reputation

167. STEVIE WONDER: I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)

168. MARYKATE O'NEIL: I'm Ready For My Luck To Turn Around

169. EYTAN MIRSKY: This Year's Gonna Be Our Year

170. THE JAYHAWKS: I'm Gonna Make You Love Me

An Infinite Number

INTERLUDE Underrating The Beatles

ENCORE! THE BEATLES: Rain

ENCORE!! THE T-BONES: No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)

Cruisin' Music

CODA THE RAMONES: Blitzkrieg Bop

AFTERWORD

Repeating the disclaimer: These selections are not ranked in any way, and this is most definitely NOT intended as an inclusive list of the all-time best songs. There are an infinite number of worthy prospects; these are the one I choose to write about in The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Voume 1).

At this writing, the book is only two chapters shy of a complete first draft. The completed chapters total just under 153,000 words, though that tally may shrink once I start revising the text. It is certainly possible that I will make further changes to the Table of Contents, but this is getting closer and closer to the final line-up.

I hope to complete those two remaining chapters in short order. Then, I'll finally get to the revision process, tightening the prose and reducing redundancies. Somewhere in there, I've gotta start looking for an agent.

I have a different book due out by the end of 2022, but the principal work for that one is already done. Which means it's finally time for The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1). 

Wish me luck.

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.

This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 1110

"Wool Hat." The producers of a TV show wanted to call him "Wool Hat."

Michael Nesmith would have none of that.

Nesmith had been cast alongside Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, and Peter Tork as the co-leads of a weekly TV sitcom. They played a fictional group called the Monkees. The fact that these made-for-TV Monkees also became a real-life group was thanks in no small part to Nesmith's stubborn determination. It would be a mistake to give Nesmith a disproportionate amount of the credit here--each of the four Monkees was integral to the process of transcending limitations, of making the Monkees matter--but there's simply no way in hell it could have happened without Nesmith's own strong will as catalyst.

"Wool Hat?" Please. The name was Michael. Michael was the one who brought his laundry with him to his audition, the one who immediately insisted that this (originally) prefab project include songs he'd written, and that he be the one to produce the sessions for his songs. When the Monkees began to seek some measure of autonomy, to play on the records that bore their name, it was Michael who responded to corporate resistance by putting his fist through a wall, looking a suit square in the eye, and warning, "That could have been your face." 

(Nesmith added a multi-syllable word at the end of that statement, but decorum suggests we only reveal that the word started with "Mother.")

The make-believe Monkees became real. We can't say that was all Nesmith's doing, because it wasn't. But nor can we imagine that sequence of events without him. And his fist.

Of course, Nesmith was more than merely ("merely...?!") a Monkee. He was a songwriter, a musician, a producer, a visionary, an entrepreneur, a businessman, an author, a dreamer, a realist, a personality, a person. Darkened rolling figures move through prisms of no color. He wrote Linda Ronstadt's first hit. He invented the concept of MTV. He was the recipient of the first-ever GRAMMY Award for a video album. He was the only member of the Monkees to have a U.S. Top 40 single outside of the Monkees' aegis. He ran a company. He produced videos and films. He wrote books. He was respected. He was admired.

And he was also a Monkee. Perhaps he was once a reluctant Monkee, but he came to understand, to accept, and to appreciate the fortune he found beneath a wool hat. Weren't they good? They made me happy. That would have been enough. But he gave us more. Rising, rising, rising up again. We tip our own wool hats in tribute, and in gratitude. Godspeed, Michael Nesmith. Here's to the beat of a different drum.

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 # 1110: 1/2/2022

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)

--

MICHAEL NESMITH: Rising In Love (Pacific Arts, "...tropical campfire's...")

THE BENT BACKED TULIPS: Sweet Young Thing (eggBERT, Looking Through...)

MICKY DOLENZ: Circle Sky (7a, Dolenz Sings Nesmith)

SUSANNA HOFFS: You Just May Be The One (n/a, Bright Lights)

MICHAEL NESMITH & THE FIRST NATIONAL BAND: Nevada Fighter (Awareness, Nevada Fighter)

THE MONKEES: Sunny Girlfriend [acoustic remix of master vocal] (Rhino Handmade, Headquarters Sessions)

--

POP CO-OP: The Only Thing I Really Want (Futureman, VA: Happy Holidays 2021 From Futureman Records)

THE ENGLISH BEAT: Best Friend (Shout Factory, Keep The Beat)

MICHAEL NESMITH WITH RED RHODES: Grand Ennui (7a, Cosmic Partners--The McCabe's Tapes)

HOLLY GOLIGHTLY: You Ain't No Big Thing (Vinyl Japan, Laugh It Up!)

THE CONTINENTAL DRIFTERS: Some Of Shelly's Blues (Razor & Tie, Continental Drifters)

THAT PETROL EMOTION: It's A Good Thing (Rhino, VA: Children Of Nuggets)

--

THE MONKEES: Nine Times Blue (Rhino Handmade, Instant Replay)

THE ZOMBIES: Hung Up On A Dream (Big Beat, Zombie Heaven)

JIM BASNIGHT & THE MOBERLYS: Ugly Side (Power Popaholic, Seattle-New York-Los Angeles)

THE WHO: Armenia City In The Sky (MCA, The Who Sell Out)

MICHAEL CARPENTER & THE CUBAN HEELS: Tapioca Tundra (Big Radio, By Request--Vol. 2)

ONE IN A MILLION: Fredereek Hernando (Grapefruit, VA: Think I'm Going Weird)

--

JEREMY: Live For Today (JAM, Live For Today)

THE OUTSIDERS: Bend Me Shape Me (Ace, VA: You Heard It Here First! Volume 2)

MICHAEL NESMITH & THE SECOND NATIONAL BAND: Mama Rocker (Awareness, Tantamount To Treason Volume One)

D.B. COOPER: Ram On (Rhino, Buy American)

THE NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND: Propinquity (Capitol Nashville, Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy)

THE ATLANTICS: Teenage Flu (Something Hot Communications, Power Pop)

--

IRENE PEÑA: Shut It Down (Big Stir, single)

DAVID BOWIE: Andy Warhol (Virgin, Bowie At The Beeb)

GARY OWEN: The Girl I Knew Somewhere (7a, VA: Listen To The Bands)

THE WEEKLINGS: Baby You're A Rich Man (Jem, 3)

MICHAEL NESMITH & THE FIRST NATIONAL BAND REDUX: Calico Girlfriend (7a, Live At The Troubador)

CHRIS SPEDDING: Bedsit Girl (Cherry Red, VA: Surrender To The Rhythm)

--

MICHAEL NESMITH: Rio (Rio, From A Radio Engine To The Photon Wing)

JUNIPER: Best Kept Secret (Confidential Recordings, Juniper)

BO DIDDLEY: Bo Diddley 1969 (MCA, The Chess Box)

MICKY DOLENZ: You Are My One (7a, Dolenz Sings Nesmith)

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

--

ORBIS MAX: On Time (Power Popaholic, VA: Stone Ridge 2022 Tribute)

COCKEYED GHOST: About Jill (Big Deal, Keep Yourself Amused)

MICHAEL NESMITH & THE FIRST NATIONAL BAND: American Airman (Real Gone Music, Different Drum: The Lost RCA Victor Recordings)

THE PRETENDERS: Message Of Love (Sire, The Singles)

THE PAUL BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND: Mary, Mary (Elektra, East-West)

R.E.M.: Love Is All Around (TAG Recordings, VA: I Shot Andy Warhol)

--

MICKY DOLENZ: Don't Wait For Me (7a, Dolenz Sings Nesmith)

BIG STAR: I'm In Love With A Girl (Ardent, # 1 Record/Radio City)

FLOYD CRAMER: Papa Gene's Blues (RCA, Floyd Cramer Plays The Monkees)

CILLA BLACK: A Shot Of Rhythm & Blues (Ace, VA: She Came From Liverpool!)

MICHAEL NESMITH: Release (Rio, Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch Stash)

THE ROLLING STONES: Not Fade Away (Abkco, Singles Collection: The London Years)

--

THE MONKEES: Me & Magdalena (Rhino, Good Times!)

SHOES: The Things You Do (Elektra, Tongue Twister)

SPARKS: Lawnmower (BMG, A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip)

MICHAEL NESMITH & THE FIRST NATIONAL BAND: Silver Moon (Awareness, Loose Salute)

SQUEEZE: Farfisa Beat (A & M, Argybargy)

THE STONE PONEYS: Different Drum (Rhino, LINDA RONSTADT: Greatest Hits I & II)

MICHAEL NESMITH & THE FIRST NATIONAL BAND: Joanne (Awareness, Magnetic South)

THE MONKEES: Listen To The Band [single version] (Rhino, 50)

Tonight On THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO

Nesmith. We'll also play new releases from POP CO-OP, JEREMY, IRENE PEÑA, and ORBIS MAX, alongside an array of other incandescent sounds of varying vintage. But our Featured Performer AND our Featured Songwriter will be the late, great MICHAEL NESMITH. Sunday night, 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, http://sparksyracuse.org/

Writing Books In 2021

As I've noted a time or a zillion in previous posts, I've had a dream of writing books, and I've had that dream for a very long time. I've made a number of ultimately abortive attempts over the years, but never quite got there.

In 2019, I made a personal commitment to write a book called The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1). I secured an agent, crafted a book proposal, and worked at getting it done. External forces scuttled that plan, as I found myself without an agent, and with no clear path to publication. Nonetheless, I continued to work on the book, even as I tried to figure out what to do next.

In the mean time, though, I decided in 2021 to go back to an older book project. For that book, I was able to speak directly with an interested publisher; we agreed to terms, and that book is tentatively scheduled for publication in late 2022. My first book! I still can't talk about it, but its draft is done, just awaiting further movement behind the curtain. While I'm aware that everything could go up in flames before the book becomes a book, I am confident that it's moving in the right direction.

Throughout the process of preparing that book, I never stopped working on GREM! I continued crafting its chapters, tweaking its scope and its Table of Contents. Late in the year, I challenged myself to see if I could achieve a completed first draft of GREM! before 2021 was consigned to the dustbin 2021 deserves. With that, I would have been able to say I finished writing two books in one year. Yeah, baby! 

I fell short of that goal, but not by much. When the stroke of Midnight kicked 2021 aside, GREM! was a mere four chapters shy of a completed first draft. As I write this now, it's only two chapters shy of a completed first draft. The finished chapters total just under 153,000 words. The book is, at long last, nearly done.

I need an agent. I'll be working on that soon. And I'll be posting an updated Table of Contents for The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1), probably within a few days. I hope to be able to tell you more about it, and my other book, as 2022 settles in and orders its beverages. A happy new year? I sure hope so.

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.