By Don Jacobson
Mmmmm, Stony Brook. I know it’s probably just another crappy-ass town on Long Island, but the name sounds so cool. Like there’s a bunch of folks hanging out down by this beautiful babbling brook who are, well, getting stonyed. And they all gather ’round to listen to their fine local non-commercial radio station, WUSB-FM – also known as Radio Free Long Island – especially on Tuesday nights, when the Tuesday Night Rock and Roll Dance Party is on the air. As Gene Vincent sings about pink Thunderbirds, they start dancing across the stones, deftly avoiding the rushing water below. In my mind’s eye, it’s truly an inspiring sight. Three hours later, the dancers are still high and dry, yet drenched in the sounds of garage rock at its best.
Then I wake up, convinced that’s how life should be every day. We should all be living in some kind of Stony Brook of the mind. And thanks to its podcast, the Stony Brook dance party doesn’t have to be for Tuesday nights only. Through the magic of downloading, it can happen any time you can access your iTunes. The show – which has been on for quite awhile and used to be called Dead End Radio – is hosted by some dude named Michael, but I can’t tell you anything more about him because, judging by the lack of information on the show’s website, he prefers to rock in obscurity. Which is a shame, because he’s doing yeoman’s service by coming up with three solid hours every week of obscure rockin’ oldies, vintage R&B and the best in new retro-garage. Where does he come up with all this stuff?
While factoids about Michael himself seem to be in short supply, he’s very generous in supplying his voluminous playlists. He’s also got this B-movie horror thing going on in the background when he’s on the air giving the song titles – the sound of a bubbling cauldron and maniacal laughter. I know that there was a seminal East Coast rock jock from the ’50s and ’60s who did that, too, and I’m sure it’s some sort of homage to that guy, whoever he was. Michael’s delivery is pretty no-nonsense, with little or no joking around and a lot of “getting right back into the music.” I appreciate that. Thanks, Mike.
Here is the Rock and Roll Dance Party playlist from Oct. 24.
1. Rock And Roll Trio, “Tear It Up” (Coral)
2. Mon-vals, “Cool Cat and His White Bucks” (Pen Joy)
3. Bob Riley & the Atoms, “Rock and Roll Mama” (Rare Fifties Boston Rockabilly)
4. Bullmoose Jackson, “Watch My Signals” (Black Tootsie Roll)
5. Ace Brown & the Helldivers, “7-10 Split.” Down To Nickels and Dimes
6. Rip Carson & the Twilight Trio, “Heart Attack.” Stand Back
7. Ronnie Self, “You’re So Right For Me” (Columbia)
8. Bill Haley & His Comets, “Straitjacket” (Essex)
9. Cochran Brothers, “Tired and Sleepy” (Ekko)
10. Gene Maltais, “Gang War” (Lilac)
11. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps, “Crazy Legs” (Capitol)
12. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps, “Pink Thunderbird” (Capitol)
13. Barnshakers, “Wiggle Like a Worm” (Goofin’)
14. Don & Dewey, “Justine” (Specialty)
15. Cordwood Draggers, “Might as Well Howl.” My Baby Likes a Rocketship
16. Rory Justice & His Ubangi Rockers, “Let’s Go Baby.” Rock n Roll Flu
17. Flatfoot Shakers, “Blow Whistle Blow.” High Heeled Lovin’ Machine
18. Janis Martin, “Barefoot Baby” (RCA Victor)
19. Smokey Stoker, “Let’s Have a Ball” (Rare Fifties Boston Rockabilly)
20. Artie Holmes, “Wee Willie Wiggle” (Rare Fifties Boston Rockabilly)
21. Hasil Adkins, “Jenny Lu.” Chicken Walk
22. Willie Egans, “Rock And Roll Fever” (Dash)
23. Shortie Billips, “Boss Chick” (Black Tootsie Roll)
24. Bo Diddley, “Rock and Roll.” ..and Company
25. Rahgoos, “Do the Rahgoo.” Garage Beat ’66
26. Excels, “Let’s Dance” (Move It)
27. Ronnie Cook & the Gaylads, “The Scotch” (Norton)
28. Don & the Goodtimes, “Long Green” (Original Northwest Sound)
29. Dimensions, “Penny” (Flash and Crash)
30. Joey Gee & the Come Ons, “She’s Mean.” Garage Beat ’66
31. Heartbeats, “Little Latin Lupe Lu.” Garage Beat ’66
32. Devo, “Uncontrollable Urge.” Pioneers Who Got Scalped
33. DC Snipers, “Get Awesome On the Street.” Missle Sunset
34. Guitar Wolf, “Missile Me.” Bang Of Hammers
35. Jewws, “Space City Beat.” L’explosion du Son de Maintenant
36. King Khan & BBQ Show, “Why Don’t You Lie?” What’s For Dinner
37. Kaiser George & the Hi-Risers, “Confession Of Love.” Transatlantic Dynamite
38. Squires, “Going All the Way.” Going All the Way With the…
39. Bunnies, “Gravy” (s/t)
40. Fabulous Itchies, “Do The Mashed Potato.” Here Come the…
41. Breakaways, “Farmer John.” Let’s Go To The Beach
42. Rave Ons, Love Pills.” Too Much Monkey Business
43. Midniters, “Whitier Blvd.” n Thee Midnight Hour
44. Jaguars, “Railroad Drag” (Norton)
45. Kookie Kat, “Neow Not Neow” (Atco)
46. Los Straitjackets, “Kitty Kat.” Twist Party
47. Kaisers, “Hipshake Shimmy Kitten.” Squarehead Stomp
48. Frankie Stein & his Ghouls, “Elbow Twist.” Ghoul Music
49. Rave Ons, “The Line.” Party Party Party
50. Rivingtons, “Long Tall Sally” (Liberty)
51. Ken Nordine & the Kinsmen, “Hot Saki.” Oriental Rock
52. Michael & the Jesters, “Screwdriver.” Frolic Diner
53. Sadies, “Black Sheep.” Tales Of The Rat Fink
54. Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs, “Monkey See Monkey” (MGM)
55. Invictas, “Watusi!” (Fine)
56. George Washington & the Cherry Trees, “Crisco Party.” Flash and Crash
57. Big Inners, “Ethymoditis Com Polypopis.” The Big Itch
58. Bel-Tones, “Back Down.” Strummin’ Mental
59. Gen Jenkins, “Short Stuff.” The Big Itch
60. Viscounts, “Night Fight.” Wildsville
61. Twilights, “Bohemian.” Weirdsville
62. Visions, “Cigarette.” Wowsville
63. Fritz & Jerry, “Pad.” Weirdsville
Posted on November 3, 2006