Tune Tag #102 with Mark Edward Randall, Pt. 3: Robbie Williams, Raspberries, Isaac Hayes, Beach Boys, Mott the Hoople, Van Duren, Tommy Hoehn
A mix of the known and new, harmonies, like blueberries (or Raspberries), are in rich and proper summer abundance with this one!
Mark….MARK…..MARK!!!
“Oh, I’m sorry…did I startle you? TAG! You’re it…..Wait! Come back!”
Tune Tag welcomes back of Musings of a Broken Record!
We last tagged tunes with Mark in the spring:
Last week, we welcomed relative newcomer, Canadian of Breaking Ranks:
Next week, we’ll be pleased to welcome back vinyl retail veteran, of !
Mark’s song #1 sent to Brad: Robbie Williams, “Rock DJ,” 2000
YouTube won’t allow the “transporting” of this video to other sites, due to restrictions, etc, so click here to go to YT to view the Williams/“Rock DJ” video.
Mark’s rationale: So, when I started this Tune Tag with Brad in April, I was torn between ABBA’s “The Name Of The Game” and this. When Brad and I decided to toy with doing a two-part Tune Tag, I was able to kill two birds with one stone and picked this.
I’ve been a fan of Robbie Williams’ solo output since I was about fourteen, and saw the video for “Millennium” on TV. I really regret not buying his albums at the time; there are some real gems on them. I’ve been scouring local thrift shops ever since seeing Better Man in the theatre [Brad: “But, did you see the movie?”😂]. I keep coming up empty-handed.
(Before sending this to Brad, I’m happy to report that I finally went on Discogs and ordered a copy of Williams’ first North American album, The Ego Has Landed):
When Better Man came out, there was a misconception that because Robbie Williams didn’t crack North America, that also included Canada. He was pretty popular here. Mind you, he only had about five hits. Still, there was a period from 1999-2002 where Much and Much More Music constantly showed his videos, and his albums were readily available.
“Rock DJ” was popular enough to garner radio play in Canada. It’s easily my all-time favourite Robbie Williams track. There is a thumping hook based around Barry White’s 1977 single, “It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me.”
The video for “Rock DJ” was controversial: Robbie does a strip tease that is not for fans of blood and guts. As a result, the video got banned in some territories, and I imagine it didn’t help his chances in the States with MTV’s Total Request Live crowd. In Canada (at least to my memory), the video was shown as is.
There’s lots of places Brad can go with his first pick. I’m looking forward to seeing where he goes!
Brad’s song #1 sent to Mark: Raspberries, “Cruisin’ Music,” 1974
Mark’s response: I was so stumped on this! While trying to investigate, I learned that this was the final Raspberries single. It’s also the followup to “Overnight Sensation (Hit Record),” which I used to play years ago, back in the mp3 blog days.
Anyway, after finding out those two things, I realized why Brad picked this. In the U.S., Robbie Williams was a Capitol Records artist. As soon as I remembered that the Raspberries were also on Capitol, I had my huge a-ha moment. Nice one, Brad!
Brad’s rationale: Eric Carmen and the lads are cruisin’ and punching buttons on the car radio, waitin’ for what the screamin’ “Rock DJ” has to say! And, I bet they’re not ripping away their respective epidermides.
Mark’s song #2: Beach Boys, “Friends,” 1968
Brad’s response: A loose, stylistic tag between Raspberries and The Beach Boys? The Capitol tower in Hollywood as these two bands’ corporate home?
Mark’s rationale: When I was younger, I foolishly wrote off The Beach Boys. Then I heard “Feel Flows.” [Brad: Click here for a YouTube video featuring “Feel Flows” and its instrumental track and backing vocals! Enjoy, Mark!]
25 seconds of Brian remembering “Feel Flows”:
Later, I heard more of their output from that time period and it made me a fan. I even have some of their stuff now. Anyway, I love this one. I picked “Friends,” because it’s one of their later Capitol releases and I’m secretly hoping Brad picks another Capitol Records artist so we can do some sort of “Capitol and Associated Labels Tune Tag.”
Because Brad and I wrote that whole piece together on Chris Rainbow (linked below) who was heavily influenced by Brian Wilson, I’m glad we can converse here a little about The Beach Boys, themselves!
“Friends,” acapella:
🙏Remembering Brian…💖
Brad’s song #2: Stephen Kalinich and Jon Tiven (feat. Brian May), “Rude Awakenings,” 2015
Mark’s response: At first, I was baffled as to why Brad picked this. I’ve never heard of Kalinich, but I am familiar with Brian May, and to a much lesser extent, Jon Tiven.
Googling Stephen Kalinich tells me that he worked with Brian and Dennis Wilson and recorded an album in 1969 with Brian Wilson that went unreleased for nearly 40 years.
Jon Tiven I’m familiar with because he was in a band called Prix that was produced by Chris Bell of Big Star. I don’t know a ton of their stuff, but I had read about them before in relation to Chris Bell and a musician named Van Duren, with whom Tiven also worked.
Normally, I would take the easy route and pick a Queen song (with a nod to May’s presence on the track), but I’m feeling adventurous right now, and Brad gave me a good “in” to go a little bit out of my element and still pick something I like.
Brad’s rationale: Poet, Stephen Kalinich (shown above), co-wrote (with Dennis Wilson) two songs on The Beach Boys’ Friends album: “Little Bird” and “Be Still.” In 2004, he also wrote the lyrics to the Brian Wilson/Paul McCartney duet, “A Friend Like You,” from Brian’s Gettin’ In Over My Head album:
Here, from 2015, he teams up with musician/producer, Jon Tiven (who used to be a rock journalist/critic whom I used to read in the ‘70s, in Rolling Stone, and elsewhere) for The Essential Yomama album, and this “Rude Awakenings” track, featuring Queen’s Brian May on guitar.
Discogs album page: Stephen Kalinich & Jon Tiven, Each Soul Has a Voice liner notes:
“Here’s a pair that belongs together. Stephen Kalinich was a spoken word artist in beatnik L.A. starting in the mid-‘60s before joining Dennis and Brian Wilson to write songs for The Beach Boys. He succeeded, too.
“Jon Tiven has been a master musician and producer for enough years to have worked with almost everyone. Joined on these sessions by wife, Sally Tiven on bass, and the North Mississippi Allstars’ drummer, Cody Dickinson, this is music from a distant planet that also hits directly home.
“The songs ring with truth no matter what the price, and an inner glow that spreads outwards. ‘Rude Awakenings’….shows a troubadour on a mission to speak his innermost mind. Kalinich’s strong vocals guide the way, and have an uncanny ability to open wide the doors of perception.
“Tiven’s abilities on a variety of instruments let the music always live up to the task of spreading the word. Throw in guitar guests like Brian May and Steve Cropper, and the twisted southern soul of Stephen Kalinich’s mixture of Eastern and Western philosophies becomes an irresistible voyage into a brave new world. There isn’t anything like it anywhere, and thank goodness for that. Listen and be still.”
Paul McCartney & Brian Wilson sing Brian’s “God Only Knows” at the 2nd Annual Adopt-A-Minefield Benefit Gala, Live at the Century Plaza Hotel, L.A. September 18, 2002—audio with still photographs:
Mark’s song #3: Van Duren, “Oh Babe,” 1978
Brad’s response: Well, Mark picked up on the Jon Tiven appearance on “Rude Awakenings”! I’ll be curious to hear what Mark’s experience with this record has been! I had it at the time (‘78), as it was causing ripples in the new wavey/power pop lane of the rock press of the day. Completely tiny label I’d not heard of before, and haven’t heard of since: Big Sound Records of NYC:
Van Duren’s Discogs page allows this: “Van Duren is synonymous with the ‘70s Memphis Power Pop scene, playing with the likes of Chris Bell and Jody Stephens and at one point auditioning as the 2nd guitar player for Big Star just before the band’s demise. Van Duren went on to leave Memphis to record one of the great albums of the late 70’s, Are You Serious?, and is still releasing albums and playing live around Memphis.”
As for Jon Tiven, I only ever knew about his journalistic leanings in the ‘70s…his album reviews and articles seemed ubiquitous in the rock mags I was reading! I don’t think I was ever aware, at the time, he was a musician!
Mark’s rationale: I picked this because Van Duren was affiliated with all of these guys. I first heard of Van Duren (pictured below) years ago but became re-acquainted with him after watching a documentary on Tubi. He’s a really interesting guy, and it’s nice to see him getting some recognition finally.
Brad’s song #3: Tommy Hoehn, “I Know I Love You Now,” 1978
Mark’s response: Brad picked this because Tommy Hoehn was in the same circle as Jon Tiven, Van Duren, etc. Like all of their stuff, this is another decent slab of power pop. I really want to switch things up with my next pick, though.
Brad’s rationale: The merging of some of power pop’s real royalty….sadly under-heard and even undiscovered, Tommy Hoehn and Jon Tiven on this album, and Van Duren, Hilly Michaels, Austin’s Seth Tiven, Big Star’s Jody Stephens (all on the Duren album), should be heard.
Mark’s song #4: Isaac Hayes, “Walk on By,” 1969
Brad’s response: Memphis! The home of Stax/Volt Records, as well as the birthplace of Tommy Hoehn, the home of Big Star and Ardent Studios, and so much more rock’n’soul! In fact, that toddlin’ Tennessee town might as well inspire my next and final song!
Mark’s rationale: I love classic R&B and didn’t want to complete this Tune Tag with a bunch of power pop groups. I’d hoped “Rock DJ” at the start would lead to some Barry White, but we went in another direction. I love said direction we went in (Brad always chooses some great directions!), but I felt this TT needed a switch-up.
I remembered all of these guys recorded at Ardent Studios, and there was Stax distribution for the Ardent label. I went on Ardent Studios’ website to see what albums might have been recorded there. Apparently, Anita Ward recorded at Ardent Studios, and I was tempted to pick one of her songs that wasn’t “Ring My Bell.” But, then I decided to go with someone who was also on Stax. Plus, this particular recording is in my wheelhouse.
My mom has this on vinyl. I wasn’t exactly sure where she heard Issac Hayes, so I asked her. She doesn’t remember, but she is a fan of this album and said she used to play it all the time. My mom doesn’t have a lot of her records left. We think my grandma chucked them out at some point. Luckily, her copy of Hot Buttered Soul survived the purge. It’s a really good album that deserves its classic status, and I’m glad it crossed my path.
Hot Buttered Soul hails from a time when albums could have four really long songs on them. It’s not the same thing as an EP. The full version of this Burt Bacharach/Hal David classic, “Walk On By,” is something like nine minutes long. I decided to go with an edit to send Brad. A live performance on a 1969 TV show:
Brad’s song #4: Mott the Hoople, “All the Way From Memphis,” (live, 1973)
Mark’s response: I love Mott The Hoople and assume Brad picked this one for the title. While it’s a great track, my favourite by them would definitely be their version of Lou Reed’s “Sweet Jane.”
Brad’s rationale: Gracious! Mott rocks this glam-era banger with the ferocity they never dared approach on their studio version, which was rockin,’ make no mistake. But, they roar through it here, on a Midnight Special stage far tinier than what they’d be used to at this point, whether opening or headlining arenas!
“All the Way from Memphis” was covered by Brian May on his 1998 album, Another World; Hunter guested on this cover. It was also covered by supergroup, Contraband on their only album (1991).
But, our party rises to a crescendo with this “All the Way From Memphis” on an Ian Hunter tour stop in 2004, as Brian May and Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott join in, as well. Elliott is a longtime fan of ‘70s glam-rockers, as he’s also been the lead singer of the David Bowie tribute band, The Cybernauts, as well as the Mott the Hoople cover band, Down ‘n’ Outz! I think he knows this song!
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Another great Tune Tag, guys! I love what you each bring to the table. I was a big fan of Robbie Williams’ first solo albums (I sort of lost track after his album "Intensive Care", but I did see him live once in 2005 or 2006, before/during his Rudebox era). I vividly remember the Rock DJ video (how not to!) and I always admired his voice, his debauchery, and his unique twist at life as a rock star. He's such a good singer, songwriter and performer.
And Isaac Hayes at the end! Sublime!! I also have Hot Buttered Soul and a couple of his other records on vinyl.
As for the tags themselves, I'm always amazed by how much a track can bring, and many different directions it can lead us to. This always fascinates me about Tune Tag, without fail!
Brilliant episode, guys! What really stood out was the Isaac Hayes track. I’ve been digging deeper into his catalogue lately (thanks to my incurable disco affliction 😅), but I didn’t know this one, until I heard it and instantly recognized every part of it from one of Belgium’s most popular bands and their debut single. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dppcuKJrqbE