Tune Tag #114 with Michael K. Fell, Pt. 2: Sons of Adam, Country Joe & The Fish, Carolyne Mas, Nino Tempo & April Stevens, Jerryo, Archie Bell & The Drells, Carolyn Crawford
When Michael's invited to the party, expect a delightfully eclectic passel o' talented people to follow! And, today's no different! Keep track of how many of our musical guests are new to you!
✨Just between you and me…..🤫shhhhh: Michael told me he was attending a party the night before our Tune Tag taping. I think we’re in for a….well, let’s see if we can get a rise out of him…..Michael……..MICHAEL!!……
“HEY, MIKE!!!”
Oh, well….I’m sure he’ll pop up by the downbeat!
Welcome of !
I’m an artist and art educator from Portland, Oregon. However, I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and also lived in London for fourteen years! My personal love for records started when I was six after my uncle gave me a copy of KISS 'Alive!' I first started writing about art and psychedelic music in the 1990’s, and with the encouragement of my family, I launched my Substack, Home Is Where The Music Is, in December 2023, with a focus on music and art.
Thanks very much, Brad, for the kind invitation to take part in your legendary Tune Tag series again! My Tuesdays always start with a cup of coffee and Tune Tag. So, without further ado, let the games begin!
Enjoy Michael’s first Tune Tag foray by clicking here, but here’s a unique collab we did where he guided me through my first listen to key British band, The Pretty Things:
Last week, we welcomed of Rare Groove Productions, for her debut Tune Tag:
Tune (Tag) in next week to welcome Ken Frampton of !
Michael’s song #1 song sent to Brad: The Sons of Adam, “Feathered Fish,” 1966
Michael’s rationale: What a scorching single, right? Serious energy. Once upon a time, before a band called The Doors became synonymous with Los Angeles, the kings of Sunset Strip were Love and The Sons of Adam.
The latter initially started life playing surf rock, but soon transitioned into a noisy garage rock band. Their pal, Arthur Lee (Love), offered them three songs; they chose “Feathered Fish,” which became a live favorite.
Their guitarist, Randy Holden (pictured above), left the band before this 1966 single was recorded (the guitarist on the 45 is Craig Tarwater). Randy formed The Other Half, and they recorded a handful of singles, and one great LP before he was invited to join Blue Cheer. The Other Half’s LP also opens with a bruising heavy rock version of “Feathered Fish,” but for me, it’s The Sons of Adam’s teenage angst with its rocket-fueled guitar riff, and Arthur Lee-esque vocals that wins me over.
Brad’s song #1 sent to Michael: Those Darn Accordions, “We’re an Accordion Band,” 1994
Michael’s response: Oh, that darn accordion! It is a key instrument in so much European folk music. But, rarely in Pop or Rock (although I know Brad is a huge Jethro Tull fan, I bet he loves the accordion in “Skating Away On the Thin Ice of a New Day”!).
[Brad butts in: I heard my name invoked, Chairman; may I respond? I have got to stop watching Congressional hearings on TV! 2 stories, MKF, just from your paragraph above!
I played accordion from about ages 7 to 10, winning ribbons and trophies in 2 out-of-state recitals! After seeing The Beatles on that February ‘64 Ed Sullivan Show a month before my 9th birthday, I wanted to quit (as none was playing an accordion! I deduced it must not be a “hip” instrument)! I stuck it out for another year, though!
My next instrument was the flute, motivated and inspired by Ian Anderson’s playing on those first several Tull albums! I rented a flute (followed by a purchased one a little later), took one lesson to learn the fingering and embouchure, and off I went, learning by ear, all his flute licks off the records through A Passion Play (and, of course, playing and lead-singing in my high school rock band, Brimstone, early-’70s! That story’s here!):
One more! Picture it: Roatan, Honduras, summer 1998: I was on a Western Caribbean cruise with my mom, brother, and his wife. Roatan was our port o’ call one afternoon, and while stopping into a restaurant and waiting for our table, over the loudspeaker…in Honduras!….was “Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day”! Along with, possibly, the 238th moon of Saturn (in March, astronomers confirmed the discovery of a previously unknown 128 moons, bringing the ringed-one’s gaudy total to 274! C’mon, Satty, save some for the rest of us!), that just might’ve been the last place one might figure to hear that song!]
Back to Michael: Hmmm… the only connection I can find with this goofy take on the hit song by Grand Funk Railroad is that Those Darn Accordions released their album in 1994 on Flying Fish Records.
Brad’s rationale: After a song called “Feathered Fish,” my tartar sauce-lined noggin couldn’t help but go to the longtime traditional folk, blues and country label, Flying Fish Records (what else would fish with plumage do but fly?). An indie for years, it was sold to Rounder Records in the ‘90s.
Michael’s song #2: Country Joe & the Fish, “Cetacean,” 1968
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