From all over the musical map we drive our Tune Tag-mobile today with a singer/songwriter/producer at the wheel! We're happy to have Tamara here for her first Tune Tag foray!
Thank you, Nick! I always appreciate your support and encouragement! Tamara and I had a fun time with this one, and I was truly amazed at Richard's solo composition!🎶Hope to see you in Chats!
Thanks. As you know, I think Tune Tag is quite fun, and has proven flexible enough to allow different people to show their musical personalities which keeps it fresh.
(I will look forward to a round 2 when it happens -- Tamara's note reminded me that I had a much better sense of the game after my first attempt)
(Also, I admit I haven't listened all the way through yet, but I will make sure to listen to Richard's teack).
Some fantastic tunes on here! “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” is one of my favorites from that entire soft rock era. In fact, I featured the track in my Five Faves installment on soft rock back in February: https://joyinthejourney.substack.com/p/five-faves-soft-rock-snoozin
I’d always assumed Looking Glass were a one hit wonder so it was fun to hear another hit from them. And the Josie Cotton cover was excellent!
I’m a sucker for early Culture Club so it was great to hear “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” again!
The Lumineers is a band I’d heard of but never listened to. I liked the track and will have to give them a listen.
“Beatlesque” was excellent as well, a great way to wrap up another fantastic Tune Tag!!
Thanks so much, Mark! This was a cool one (thanks, Tamara)! I'm glad I turned you onto the "Brandy" follow-up! I've always loved smooth-as-a-country-stream pop song like "Jimmy"! Thanks for dropping in your "Five Faves" link! I enjoyed it at the time, but, looking at it again...what a wonderful and genre-accurate handful of soft rock classics!
I have to share my fairly-recent Paul Davis article (I may have written it after your "Five Faves")....I've loved most of his output (so smooth and melodic), but, I really enjoyed digging into his career on this. And, the last song? Written and recorded just prior to his just-past-the-turn-of-the-century death, I dare you.....nay, double-dare you to listen to "Today" without....no, not just crying, but weeping (bring Tina along as you listen)! I can't be the only one who dissolves with those timely/meaningful lyrics and gorgeous, yearning melody! What an artist!
Let me know how you did with that song, OK? But, you'll enjoy all the hits and new songs before that one, too!
I'm glad you liked the other songs, too, in this Tag! I was gobsmacked by Richard's "Beatlesque," and it was cool sharing our 50-year friendship! Thanks again, Mark! (I'm working, now, on this Tuesday's, with Michael K. Fell, and he's amazing! You'll enjoy it, I know)!
"Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" is such a well written pop song - tells the whole story with very few lyrics. And I always got a kick out of how the post-Lurie version of Looking Glass turned into Starz!
You're bang-on about "Brandy," Matt.....story songs are such a tough niche in which to excel, and very few do it with any frequency....Dylan, certainly, but Jim Croce, John Denver, Van Morrison, Joni, Laura, and several others, come quickly to mind!
As for the LG-turned-Starz....I'm not sure I knew that before researching this one, Matt! Thanks, as always, for tuning in, Matt!🎵😁👍✨
Good call.....Gordon! But, you're right, the concise story song is the true masterpiece! But, as with books, a lot depends on what the author is going for...a shipwreck vs. a love story! Thanks for that link, Matt! I'll check it out, as will many of our readers, I hope!
That's right, Brad! As with books, I can appreciate both a concise or wordy style...all depends on how well executed it is. Personally, I love both Moby Dick and The Sun Also Rises.
Richard Orange... wow deep in the weeds! I've always felt that, without any justification other than I repped a band called Runaway Orange that didn't make it but if you like EMO you'll dig -on No Milk Records, with the exception of song or album titles (Orange Blossom Special and Orange by Jon Spencer Blues Explosion) no band really ever made it with the name Orange in their name yet so many try? He might have been huge! But he probably doesn't care. Orange you glad I chimed in? Got a good D. Byrne story to start the anecdotes thing off with now that he's back with a big release. Got to finish Lost in Austin first though. Great TUNE TAG!!!
Other songs'n'artists notwithstanding, Richard's first signed band was Zuider Zee (Columbia Records, 1975). His solo stuff, as far as I know, has mostly/only been in this century, and that's always been a whole different kettle o'fish, anyway, with streaming, algos, and self-signing all the vogue, lately (i.e. no major label signings, to speak of). Thanks, Steve!
An awesome edition from two of my first great discoveries on Substack. Loved reading this, listening to the songs and exploring the stories. Great tune tags and banter, you two!
Thanks so much, Heard! I just looked....I owe you a song on OUR Tune Tag! I'll get right on it!
One of the many cool things about Tune Tag is that they're fun to come back to....later that same day, or next week...and, then some! Always something new, and always something familiar!
I think we’re just at your last song, Brad. I just finished my write ups today. I love the Substack collabs and look forward to the day I bring more to the table on my side! 🤣
You "bringing more to the table" will happen, Heard....I'm all about collabs, and I'm talking far more than just Tune Tag, which is its own powerful baby! In time, I'm sure you and I will find something organic we can collab on!
Great one, Clark! I'd love to have you do a Tune Tag, if you're game, Clark! Hit me up on DMs, and I'll hitcha with the process deets! It's simple! It's high time we did this, I hope you'll agree!--B
I was expecting fireworks, but it turned out to be a full fireworks festival 😁 So many great songs! Even one of my all-time favorites, “A Glass of Champagne” by Sailor, made an appearance. Plus a few I didn’t know or hadn’t heard in ages (like that opening track!).
And thank you for the kind shout-out and compliment, this was every bit a classy, classic TuneTag!
Thanks so much, Pe! Tagging with Tamara is a treat! Sailor was one of those UK acts who DID manage to get stateside release, as many didn't....or, at the very least, got quite limited release (or one of a handful of EU releases)!
I, too, enjoyed Tamara's classy add of our Manilow collab!
I love how TT is growing each time Brad. Sailor had a few great singles and afterwards George Kajanus produced a number of my absolute favorite early eighties dance singles (see my Peter Godwin episode).
Thanks for those kind thoughts, Pe....much appreciated! The Tag is, indeed, a curious mistress....always growing, and in so many different ways, particularly when it so thoroughly depends on the fabulousness of each and every guest, and the unique stories and important-to-them music they bring!
I don't know much about Kajanus. I'll check out your Godwin piece (was he in Metro? They were on domestic Sire for at least one album). Name's familiar, but can't pinpoint from where!
No he wasn't. Het met Godwin after Metro and was already producing some stuff. Most of it never surfaced. We could do a discovery into Sailor and I tackle his eighties productions. There's some interesting stuff in the ones that did surface. A Belgian singer in the category “sois belle et tais-toi” (look pretty and don't talk) 😁 and a sort of dominatrix with a very masculine voice. 😂 Could be fun
Guys, how COOL was this?! I don't even know where to begin!
Taz was spectacular. Her choices, yes, but also for keeping the sea/marine element going throughout! Fantastic! 👏🏻
Brad, your industry knowledge puts me to shame every single effing time, man 😅 You're THE music encyclopaedia, period. What's left for us mortals, eh?
Loved the intro, pre-Tune Tag, so to speak. I'm becoming a fan of Taz's work, as showcased both on here and on her Substack, which I strongly recommend.
As for the tracks on this Tune Tag, I liked most of them, especially "Brandy" and "Jimmy Loves Maryann".
Nice to see a more soulful, contemplative side to Culture Club than people would normally expect. (Quick aside to ask Brad if he ever managed to find that question mark 🤣 you crack me up!).
Am I a bitch if I say I liked the Eleanor Rigby cover except that I found it quite pitchy? Or is it my ears? I'll need to double check though so don't hold me to it.
Absolutely loved how the oceanic current brought us to Beatleland, and that ending with Beatlesque? Fantastic!
Thanks, Andy! Glad you liked it so much! Taz is a treat to Tag with!
And, you know how much I love how you appreciate and verbalize your "dig-quotient" of my record biz upbringing! I dasn't take it for granted, especially when it comes to the memory aspect of it all!!
I, too, loved Taz's song....especially after she posted a new (to me) video of Nash's performance of it! And, those two Looking Glass songs are, indeed, classics!
And, yes, I found the ❓...I all but tripped over it! Me and that dadgum OCD-Lite (now, with fewer calories)!
Yes, as Simon Cowell would say on the "Rigby" cover.... Zac Brown, pitchy? Yes. You, bitchy? No. He is well under the notes at the beginning, works through it in a lot of places, but slips back into being flat in others.
I'm glad you liked Richard's "Beatlesque"! It's quite an amazing work, and I was happy to give it some "air time"! Thanks again, Andy!
How could I not verbalise brilliance and greatness when I see it?
Totally with you on the OCD so I don’t blame you!
And glad I’m not the only one who heard those flat notes! As it was a live performance, there’s a more than reasonable chance that he couldn’t hear himself properly.
You betcha, Andy... and thanks! What would be interesting is to hear just how Zac Brown sounds on record. I hear ya about the live element, and I'm more than happy to hand him that conceit, what with monitor probs, perhaps, or other out-of-his-hands or other tough-to-control things!
I had no idea there was a cover of Jimmy Loves Mary Ann! Other than the chorus it sounds nothing like what I remember about the original but it really works! 80s production with catchy lyrics, how can you go wrong? Well, I don't think it was a big hit so maybe they did!
I know.....Josie's cover was so well of-her-time! The two arrangements, save for the chorus, as you say, are almost undetectable as the same song! I actually think a present-day power pop-type band could jangle the heck out of the song....I love to hear one try it! I looked, and there's only about half-a-dozen covers that have been recorded in the 5 decades since the original! Thanks, Dan!
Thanks, Adam! These are always great ways to get to know new musical folks on the 'Stack, and it's been a pleasure getting to know Tamara! Glad you enjoyed this one!
So many juicy extras in this. Way to go Brad. Sorry for the slow response...been one of those days with the day job.
Thanks, Taz.....I really appreciate your wonderfulness on this! I get the day job thing....I was pulled away to a couple things, myself! Cheers!
Very fun.
Thank you, Nick! I always appreciate your support and encouragement! Tamara and I had a fun time with this one, and I was truly amazed at Richard's solo composition!🎶Hope to see you in Chats!
Thanks. As you know, I think Tune Tag is quite fun, and has proven flexible enough to allow different people to show their musical personalities which keeps it fresh.
(I will look forward to a round 2 when it happens -- Tamara's note reminded me that I had a much better sense of the game after my first attempt)
(Also, I admit I haven't listened all the way through yet, but I will make sure to listen to Richard's teack).
You will really like it Nick. It’s very cool.
Indeed, that is well done and just really good-spirited.
Thanks, Nick!
Really enjoyed this Tune Tag, a lot of fun!!
Some fantastic tunes on here! “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” is one of my favorites from that entire soft rock era. In fact, I featured the track in my Five Faves installment on soft rock back in February: https://joyinthejourney.substack.com/p/five-faves-soft-rock-snoozin
I’d always assumed Looking Glass were a one hit wonder so it was fun to hear another hit from them. And the Josie Cotton cover was excellent!
I’m a sucker for early Culture Club so it was great to hear “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” again!
The Lumineers is a band I’d heard of but never listened to. I liked the track and will have to give them a listen.
“Beatlesque” was excellent as well, a great way to wrap up another fantastic Tune Tag!!
Thanks so much, Mark! This was a cool one (thanks, Tamara)! I'm glad I turned you onto the "Brandy" follow-up! I've always loved smooth-as-a-country-stream pop song like "Jimmy"! Thanks for dropping in your "Five Faves" link! I enjoyed it at the time, but, looking at it again...what a wonderful and genre-accurate handful of soft rock classics!
I have to share my fairly-recent Paul Davis article (I may have written it after your "Five Faves")....I've loved most of his output (so smooth and melodic), but, I really enjoyed digging into his career on this. And, the last song? Written and recorded just prior to his just-past-the-turn-of-the-century death, I dare you.....nay, double-dare you to listen to "Today" without....no, not just crying, but weeping (bring Tina along as you listen)! I can't be the only one who dissolves with those timely/meaningful lyrics and gorgeous, yearning melody! What an artist!
https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/audio-autopsy-1970-1986-a-little?utm_source=publication-search
Let me know how you did with that song, OK? But, you'll enjoy all the hits and new songs before that one, too!
I'm glad you liked the other songs, too, in this Tag! I was gobsmacked by Richard's "Beatlesque," and it was cool sharing our 50-year friendship! Thanks again, Mark! (I'm working, now, on this Tuesday's, with Michael K. Fell, and he's amazing! You'll enjoy it, I know)!
Glad you enjoyed it Mark. Tune Tag is a blast.
"Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" is such a well written pop song - tells the whole story with very few lyrics. And I always got a kick out of how the post-Lurie version of Looking Glass turned into Starz!
You're bang-on about "Brandy," Matt.....story songs are such a tough niche in which to excel, and very few do it with any frequency....Dylan, certainly, but Jim Croce, John Denver, Van Morrison, Joni, Laura, and several others, come quickly to mind!
As for the LG-turned-Starz....I'm not sure I knew that before researching this one, Matt! Thanks, as always, for tuning in, Matt!🎵😁👍✨
I love "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," but it sure took Gordon a lot more words than there are in "Brandy"! I wrote a bit about story songs a while back: https://criticalhitparader.substack.com/p/songs-with-a-story
Good call.....Gordon! But, you're right, the concise story song is the true masterpiece! But, as with books, a lot depends on what the author is going for...a shipwreck vs. a love story! Thanks for that link, Matt! I'll check it out, as will many of our readers, I hope!
That's right, Brad! As with books, I can appreciate both a concise or wordy style...all depends on how well executed it is. Personally, I love both Moby Dick and The Sun Also Rises.
Richard Orange... wow deep in the weeds! I've always felt that, without any justification other than I repped a band called Runaway Orange that didn't make it but if you like EMO you'll dig -on No Milk Records, with the exception of song or album titles (Orange Blossom Special and Orange by Jon Spencer Blues Explosion) no band really ever made it with the name Orange in their name yet so many try? He might have been huge! But he probably doesn't care. Orange you glad I chimed in? Got a good D. Byrne story to start the anecdotes thing off with now that he's back with a big release. Got to finish Lost in Austin first though. Great TUNE TAG!!!
Other songs'n'artists notwithstanding, Richard's first signed band was Zuider Zee (Columbia Records, 1975). His solo stuff, as far as I know, has mostly/only been in this century, and that's always been a whole different kettle o'fish, anyway, with streaming, algos, and self-signing all the vogue, lately (i.e. no major label signings, to speak of). Thanks, Steve!
An awesome edition from two of my first great discoveries on Substack. Loved reading this, listening to the songs and exploring the stories. Great tune tags and banter, you two!
Thanks so much, Heard! I just looked....I owe you a song on OUR Tune Tag! I'll get right on it!
One of the many cool things about Tune Tag is that they're fun to come back to....later that same day, or next week...and, then some! Always something new, and always something familiar!
I think you have found yourself in the queue? Yes? Glad you liked it.
I think we’re just at your last song, Brad. I just finished my write ups today. I love the Substack collabs and look forward to the day I bring more to the table on my side! 🤣
You "bringing more to the table" will happen, Heard....I'm all about collabs, and I'm talking far more than just Tune Tag, which is its own powerful baby! In time, I'm sure you and I will find something organic we can collab on!
Great theme and picks! I had to go listen to Ride Captain Ride by Blues Image, just to continue the groove.
Great one, Clark! I'd love to have you do a Tune Tag, if you're game, Clark! Hit me up on DMs, and I'll hitcha with the process deets! It's simple! It's high time we did this, I hope you'll agree!--B
perfect choice
I was expecting fireworks, but it turned out to be a full fireworks festival 😁 So many great songs! Even one of my all-time favorites, “A Glass of Champagne” by Sailor, made an appearance. Plus a few I didn’t know or hadn’t heard in ages (like that opening track!).
And thank you for the kind shout-out and compliment, this was every bit a classy, classic TuneTag!
Thanks so much, Pe! Tagging with Tamara is a treat! Sailor was one of those UK acts who DID manage to get stateside release, as many didn't....or, at the very least, got quite limited release (or one of a handful of EU releases)!
I, too, enjoyed Tamara's classy add of our Manilow collab!
I love how TT is growing each time Brad. Sailor had a few great singles and afterwards George Kajanus produced a number of my absolute favorite early eighties dance singles (see my Peter Godwin episode).
Thanks for those kind thoughts, Pe....much appreciated! The Tag is, indeed, a curious mistress....always growing, and in so many different ways, particularly when it so thoroughly depends on the fabulousness of each and every guest, and the unique stories and important-to-them music they bring!
I don't know much about Kajanus. I'll check out your Godwin piece (was he in Metro? They were on domestic Sire for at least one album). Name's familiar, but can't pinpoint from where!
No he wasn't. Het met Godwin after Metro and was already producing some stuff. Most of it never surfaced. We could do a discovery into Sailor and I tackle his eighties productions. There's some interesting stuff in the ones that did surface. A Belgian singer in the category “sois belle et tais-toi” (look pretty and don't talk) 😁 and a sort of dominatrix with a very masculine voice. 😂 Could be fun
I am not sure any of us can keep up when you and Brad go at it - but we do our best.
You did more than your best Tamara. You nailed it! I always enjoy TT but this episode even more so!
Guys, how COOL was this?! I don't even know where to begin!
Taz was spectacular. Her choices, yes, but also for keeping the sea/marine element going throughout! Fantastic! 👏🏻
Brad, your industry knowledge puts me to shame every single effing time, man 😅 You're THE music encyclopaedia, period. What's left for us mortals, eh?
Loved the intro, pre-Tune Tag, so to speak. I'm becoming a fan of Taz's work, as showcased both on here and on her Substack, which I strongly recommend.
As for the tracks on this Tune Tag, I liked most of them, especially "Brandy" and "Jimmy Loves Maryann".
Nice to see a more soulful, contemplative side to Culture Club than people would normally expect. (Quick aside to ask Brad if he ever managed to find that question mark 🤣 you crack me up!).
Am I a bitch if I say I liked the Eleanor Rigby cover except that I found it quite pitchy? Or is it my ears? I'll need to double check though so don't hold me to it.
Absolutely loved how the oceanic current brought us to Beatleland, and that ending with Beatlesque? Fantastic!
Amazing work, guys!!!
Thanks, Andy! Glad you liked it so much! Taz is a treat to Tag with!
And, you know how much I love how you appreciate and verbalize your "dig-quotient" of my record biz upbringing! I dasn't take it for granted, especially when it comes to the memory aspect of it all!!
I, too, loved Taz's song....especially after she posted a new (to me) video of Nash's performance of it! And, those two Looking Glass songs are, indeed, classics!
And, yes, I found the ❓...I all but tripped over it! Me and that dadgum OCD-Lite (now, with fewer calories)!
Yes, as Simon Cowell would say on the "Rigby" cover.... Zac Brown, pitchy? Yes. You, bitchy? No. He is well under the notes at the beginning, works through it in a lot of places, but slips back into being flat in others.
I'm glad you liked Richard's "Beatlesque"! It's quite an amazing work, and I was happy to give it some "air time"! Thanks again, Andy!
How could I not verbalise brilliance and greatness when I see it?
Totally with you on the OCD so I don’t blame you!
And glad I’m not the only one who heard those flat notes! As it was a live performance, there’s a more than reasonable chance that he couldn’t hear himself properly.
Thanks again!
You betcha, Andy... and thanks! What would be interesting is to hear just how Zac Brown sounds on record. I hear ya about the live element, and I'm more than happy to hand him that conceit, what with monitor probs, perhaps, or other out-of-his-hands or other tough-to-control things!
Thanks Andy. I love how Brad always surprises us with so many extras in the final post.
Thanks, Taz.....I'm glad you like those! I put 'em in when I can find good, and likely, rare ones. That Lurie interview is a great example!
I had no idea there was a cover of Jimmy Loves Mary Ann! Other than the chorus it sounds nothing like what I remember about the original but it really works! 80s production with catchy lyrics, how can you go wrong? Well, I don't think it was a big hit so maybe they did!
I know.....Josie's cover was so well of-her-time! The two arrangements, save for the chorus, as you say, are almost undetectable as the same song! I actually think a present-day power pop-type band could jangle the heck out of the song....I love to hear one try it! I looked, and there's only about half-a-dozen covers that have been recorded in the 5 decades since the original! Thanks, Dan!
Enjoyed this, great episode you guys!
Thanks so much! It was fun.
Thanks, Adam! These are always great ways to get to know new musical folks on the 'Stack, and it's been a pleasure getting to know Tamara! Glad you enjoyed this one!