This Is Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio # 949

Dana is off on assignment this week, an assignment that apparently involves the consumption of craft beer. Nice assignment if you can get it. Me? Having just completed eleven consecutive days at work, I’m ready for some time off. But first, I’m ready for some rock ‘n’ roll.

“Rock ‘n’ roll” in this example includes a stellar stack of compelling new offerings from Gary Frenay, Vegas With Randolph, Dana Countryman (with Kai Danzberg), Kai Danzberg with Lisa Mychols, The Non Prophets, Michael Simmons, Mick Terry, and Stephen’s Ruin. I threw in various other irresistibles from past and present, and that effectively killed the first half of the show.

The second half of the show was devoted in its entirety to The Greatest Record Ever Made. An infinite number of records can be THE Greatest Record Ever Made, as long as they take turns. The Greatest Record Ever Made has been a frequent feature on my blog Boppin’ (Like The Hip Folks Do), and so far I’ve written 31 entries (plus one joke entry about Bob Seger‘s “Old Time Rock ‘n’ Roll,” a record I loathe). For this week’s closing 90 minutes, I packed in as many of those 31 as I could, hitting 27 of ’em, with a 28th (the sublime “Porpoise Song [Theme From Head]” by The Monkees) represented by an instrumental mix as we faded away. That left only “September Gurls” by Big Star, “Hey Jude” by The Beatles, and “Uncle John’s Band” by The Grateful Dead on the cutting room floor. Nonetheless, each is THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE! I hope to turn these into a book version of The Greatest Record Ever Made; for now, just turn it all up. Slapping together The Best Three Hours Of Radio On The Whole Friggin’ Planet is, as always, its own reward.

NEXT WEEK: This Is Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio # 950! 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, Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse on The Spark WSPJ-LP 103.3 and 93.7 FM, and on the web at http://sparksyracuse.org/

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/

Our new compilation CD This Is Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio, Volume 4 is now available from Kool Kat Musik! 29 tracks of irresistible rockin’ pop, starring Pop Co-Op, Ray Paul, Circe Link & Christia-n Nesmith, Vegas With Randolph Featuring Lannie Flowers, The Slapbacks, P. Hux, Irene Peña, Michael Oliver & the Sacred Band Featuring Dave Merritt, The Rubinoos, Stepford Knives, The Grip Weeds, Popdudes, Ronnie Dark, The Flashcubes, Chris von Sneidern, The Bottle Kids, 1.4.5., The Smithereens, Paul Collins’ Beat, The Hit Squad, The Rulers, The Legal Matters, Maura & the Bright Lights, Lisa Mychols, and Mr. Encrypto & the Cyphers. You gotta have it, so order it at https://tinyurl.com/ycnly8oz Digital download version (minus The Smithereens’ track) now available at https://tinyurl.com/ycauy9xt

TIRnRR # 949: 11/11/18

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

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DEAN LANDEW: After Work (deanlandew.bandcamp.com)

THE VOGUES: Five O’Clock World (Varese Sarabande, The Best Of The Vogues)

THE NERVES: Working Too Hard (Alive, One Way Ticket)

MICK TERRY: Pop’s A Dirty Word (Kool Kat Musik, Days Go By)

FREDA PAYNE: Band Of Gold (Rhino, VA: Can You Dig It?)

PEZBAND: Love Goes Underground (Passport, Laughing In The Dark)

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GARY FRENAY: Be Yourself (unreleased)

RUFUS: Tell Me Something Good (Rhino, VA: Can You Dig It?)

THE MONKEES: You Bring The Summer (Rhino, Good Times!)

VEGAS WITH RANDOLPH: Chick Fighter (Caged Giant, Legs & Luggage)

BLONDIE: Kung Fu Girls (Chrysalis, Blondie)

WILKERSON: Let It Go Tonight (SpyderPop, single)

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KAI DANZBERG WITH LISA MYCHOLS: Let Me Know (Big Stir, single)

STEVE BARTON: Shadow Of The Bride (Sleepless, Tall Tales And Alibis)

DANA COUNTRYMAN: If I Had A Girl (Sterling Swan, Cabaret Of Love)

SPANDAU BALLET: To Cut A Long Story (Parlophone, Gold)

THE GRIP WEEDS: After The Sunrise (Jem, Trip Around The Sun)

DEL SHANNON: Keep Searchin’ (We’ll Follow The Sun) (Rhino, Greatest Hits)

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STEPHEN’S RUIN: Jeannine (Kool Kat Musik, Never Too Late)

PRINCE: I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (Warner Brothers, The Hits/The B-Sides)

THE DAMNED: New Rose (Sanctuary, Smash It Up)

MICHAEL SIMMONS: This Is Most Certainly True (Big Stir, single)

THE BOB SEGER SYSTEM: 2 + 2 = ? (Capitol, single)

THE NON PROPHETS: Flesh And Blood (unreleased)

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This Is Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio Presents:

THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE!

An infinite number of records can be THE greatest record ever made, as long as they take turns. The rest of this week’s playlist is made up of a handful of those infinite turns.

BADFINGER: Baby Blue (Apple, Straight Up)

WILSON PICKETT: In The Midnight Hour (Rhino, A Man And A Half)

MATERIAL ISSUE: Kim The Waitress (Mercury, Freak City Soundtrack)

PATTI SMITH: Gloria (Arista, Horses)

FREDDIE & THE DREAMERS: Do The Freddie (EMI, The Best Of Freddie & the Dreamers)

SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES: The Tears Of A Clown (Motown, VA: Hitsville USA)

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THE FIRST CLASS: Beach Baby (Collectables, Beach Baby)

CHUCK BERRY: Promised Land (MCA, The Anthology)

GRAND FUNK: We’re An American Band (Capitol, Capitol Collectors’ Series)

DUSTY SPRINGFIELD: I Only Want To Be With You (Mercury, The Very Best Of Dusty Springfield)

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

THE JAYHAWKS: I’m Gonna Make You Love Me (Columbia, Smile)

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THE KINKS: You Really Got Me (Sanctuary, The Ultimate Collection)

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: Girls In Their Summer Clothes (Columbia, Magic)

THE DRIFTERS: On Broadway (Atlantic, All Time Greatest Hits & More)

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

GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS: Midnight Train To Georgia (Curb, Greatest Hits)

THE SEARCHERS: Hearts In Her Eyes (Omnivore, Another Night: The Sire Recordings 1979-1981)

THE RARE BREED: Beg, Borrow And Steal (Rhino, VA: Nuggets)

KISS: Shout It Out Loud (Mercury, The Very Best Of KISS)

THE WHO: I Can’t Explain (MCA, My Generation)

THE LEFT BANKE: Walk Away Renee (Mercury, There’s Gonna Be A Storm)

CRAZY ELEPHANT: Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’ (Varese Sarabande, VA: 25 All-Time Greatest Bubblegum Hits)

THE DAVE CLARK FIVE: Any Way You Want It (Hollywood, The History Of The Dave Clark Five)

THE KNICKERBOCKERS: Lies (Rhino, VA: Nuggets)

THE BAY CITY ROLLERS: Rock And Roll Love Letter (Arista, The Definitive Collection)

THE BEATLES: Rain (Apple, Past Masters)

THE MONKEES: Porpoise Song (Theme From Head) [instrumental mix] (Rhino Handmade, single)