A published author graces our fair pages today, as we celebrate the release of Chris's new "Uncharted Territory"! Should we re-name ourselves today, "Tome Tag"? Congrats, Chris! Next stop, NY Times!📚
My pleasure, certainly, Chris! It's a blast to be a part of what I know must be your PR whirlwind this week! Mr. Griffith has been a personal hero of mine since his '60s sitcom (I was 10 in '65, pretty much mirroring Ron Howard's age and growth in his Opie character), and I know Dad had to have a couple of Andy's albums among his 20,000 LPs & 78s! Good luck with everything, Chris! You've got all of us Tune Taggers (and FR&B faithful) rooting for you and your tuneful tome!
Amazing work, guys! I loved the songs, especially the more soulful ones. Unlike Brad, I do enjoy myself some Eric Clapton here and there, especially that album (Brad's comment on the address had me in stitches, though 😅). I loved Chris's approach of highlighting forgotten gems, and how Brad expanded on those tags, both of you always bringing something very interesting to the table. Chapeau!
Thanks, Andy! Wasn't this a gas?!? I'm honored that Chris wanted to bring in Tune Tag during his celebratory week! This puts me back in the mind of my '70s days during a new-release day/week for an anxiously-awaited album, whether in radio or at the record store! We were all excited to be part of the publicity machine!
I thought of you for the very last tag...the Daddy Cool band and song! You were the very first 'Stacker to not only be fully-amazed by my past and vast recall'n'memory of songs'n'artists, but to also so unabashedly, clearly, and happy-to-fully-affirm all of that directly to me! That meant so much to me going forward (I finally felt I wasn't doing all this in a vacuum!)....so, a belated thanks if I've not before!🤗🎵It helped me be that much more confident in using that "super power," and it would not be outrageous to say that what FR&B (and, Tune Tag, in particular) has become, since your arrival, is in no small part thanks to your out-loud enthusiasm for what I do and how I do it!💖I thought it meant "hat" in French, but, seeing as how you use it for occasions like this: A heartfelt and big-ass Texan "Chapeau" to you, mon frere y mi amigo!💪🤠👍
So, what about Daddy Cool? It's just THAT memory, Andy, that pulled THAT tag outta the hat (and completely out of the blue, especially if one had never heard of that Aussie band)! There's no way to Google that one.....having never heard that Queen song (and, thanks to its visualizing the lyrics), my jaw fell when I heard "Daddy Cool" be sung and, of course, seeing the lyrics! So, back to high school, early-'70s, and having those two first (and, lone U.S. releases, I think) Daddy Cool albums to wrap it all up! Man, this was fun!🙏👉U
Thank you, Brad! It most certainly was! Chris's work is fantastic (I'm hoping his book will at least have a mention of my girl Mariah seeing as she's the solo artist with the most #1 hits!) and I'm so happy he's making another appearance here... this week, of all weeks! 🤩
Thank you also for your kind words. I am really glad to hear that my outwardly enthusiasm (Latin roots die hard, or never die at all) for something that I could so blatantly see (your talent, basically) gave you the confidence and the encouragement to keep making great work. As you know, you've also been instrumental in giving me that encouragement, that extra push and support to keep growing. So, it's mutual, my friend!
Big Texan chapeau, yes indeed! I happen to be at DFW airport right now for a few hours, connecting back to London, so a big howdy to you from your own very state! 🤠
I gotta think Ms. Carey takes up more than her share of column-inches in Chris's book! Thank you for that middle paragraph!🤗Here's hoping your wait won't be too long....I was sure you guys were keeping up with our confounded gov shut-down, and the possible delays, etc you might enounter! Safe and relatively rapid travels ("Hi, Stephan!"), and we'll see ya on the flip side back in Jolly Ol'!🤠✨
Thanks so much, Taz! Chris was beyond generous to indulge me on this one, and I'm more than delighted to be part of his busy PR machine during this momentous release-week and coming days! As his book is filled with decades of #1s, it was an inspired marriage, then, of incorporating as many hits as possible into our "Tome Tag"! Thanks again, Chris!📕
The Honey Cone's hotpants and "Want Ads" took me right back to high school. My friend was always getting sent home for taking hotpants in a bag to school so her mom wouldn't know and changing into them before going to homeroom. But of course her mom found out because she kept getting sent home. The song was also very popular among us girls with those lyrics. Fond memories!
Who knew Andy of Mayberry could sing and swing? Really enjoyed that tune.
Jim Croce, what an incredible songwriter. I saw his son AJ recently and he's a fantastic musician and does an excellent show.
Thanks so much, Ellen....this was a blast, and mad props to Chris for participating! That high school story is a hoot! I, too, had a high school friend, as it happens, who snuck hot pants in a bag to school....but, we dasn't go into Larry's melodrama!🤣
As you know, Griffith's TV show had him show off his pickin''n'grinnin' from time to time, and many folks later picked up on his '50s-era records from that! Croce was certainly one of the great rock troubadours, and it was cool to have an AJ mention and connection from Chris! Good to hear AJ is a talented performer, as well! Thanks again, Ellen!
A big, bad, beautiful Tune Tag, gents! Any Joe Jackson reference is a thumbs up in my book, as he's probably in my top 5 favorite artists list. Lots of stuff is new to me, and I'll check it out later when I can actually do more than read the words! I have an Andy Griffith record, so I was aware of that one, but did not know Honey Cone or Jimmy Dean. I second your feelings about Mr. Clapton, Brad. Though I love me a tasty, long guitar-solo! But let it be from The Allman Brothers or Prince or Gary Shider (Funkadelic) or anyone with some soul in their bones.
Check my reply, Steve, to Maple Mixtape for my "barefoot Joe" story! I don't think I've ever shared that, FR&B, except here! I look forward to your post-listen comments! Andy G was a neat, folksy listen, back in the day, and having his records during his TAGS series first-run must've been a cool accompanying "soundtrack"!
Honey Cone was a great trio! I had always wondered where Seals & Crofts picked up Carolyn Willis, and I do believe this past week, during research, was my first inkling she was in that song I had known and enjoyed on the radio from 5 years before! Then, enjoying that "Get Closer" song, I had no idea that was the same gal who sang backing in "Want Ads"! I gotta fun job!
Somewhere here, too, Steve, is where I have my story of (mainly) why I harbor such great disdain (today's daffy-nition: Great Dis-Dane: a large, grouchy dog) for EC!
Speaking of solos in general, I think I've grown to love solos from only members of Genesis: guitar, Steve Hackett; drums, Phil Collins! Hackett's are always meant to add atmosphere and color, while Phil's solos are almost melodic, and never for the purpose of garnering a standing O!
But, as you mention, I do favor long guitar solos to a point, and if they lean more toward fitting within the song, so much the better!🎸🎶🎼
Thanks so much, Ray! It's an honor to have you here....and, welcome to Substack! Chris was so generous to include me and Tune Tag in his current tome-touting tornado! We wish him and his "print-baby" nothing but the best!
I've got a shameless question for you, if I may be so bold, Ray! But, first, an equally shameless quoting from your review of Megadeth's "Dystopia":
"Dystopia isn't monumental, but it's a damned good (often magnificent) album." Yes!😁
Will you do me (and the Tune Tag faithful) the honor, Ray, of joining me in what would be our second "Tome Tag"....a Tune Tag with an accomplished author? It could be as metal as you'd like (with your tagged songs), and it's been said I've got some metal chops not to be sneezed at! I was 15 in '70 for my first concert: Led Zeppelin in Houston! I've seen Sabbath and Deep Purple multiple times in the early-'70s, and I met Randy Rhoads (and lived long enough to write about it)!👇
BTW, Tune Tag takes place all within 'Stack's DMs, and I'd be happy to fill you in there, too, with process deets, but by now, you certainly get the drift!
Thank you again, Ray, for enjoying this celebration of Chris's book, and thanks for considering tackling a Tag of your own! Feel free to answer yay or nay either here or in DMs!--Brad
First, what a wonderful post about Randy! I am envious you met him. That is so epic. The closest I got was Kevin DuBrow telling some Randy stories in an interview I did with Kevin many years ago and sadly, only months before he passed. My Randy footage was used in an article for Metal Maniacs. Swan songs all around. This is good stuff, man.
Thanks for that cool plug of my Megadeth review, LOL! Can't wait to hear the new and final album! I hope it's as much of a cooker as the first single is.
Sure thing, the honor is mine. I'm happy to play along. Just guide me what you need me to do. If you want to PM me details, go for it. It can be metal, punk or whatever genre you feel like hitting me with. I'm extremely diverse in my tastes. I made it a point to explore all the genres I could during college and beyond and especially when I was in the music industry. I loved having other genres to flag when I heard it in the artists I was reviewing and was praised for it. We can only better at our craft when we embrace diversity.
Thanks so much, Ray! I'll DM you process deets later today! Happy to hear about your genre diversity! Faithful FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE readers know all about my dad's collection, as my bro & I were growing up, of 20,000 jazz LPs & 78s, my mom managing country singer, Dale McBride, '70s-early-'90s, and Dad bringing home Warner Bros and Columbia promo LPs from the commercial radio station he worked at, '60s thru '70s! And, I did on-air on 2 commercial FM rockers, myself (mid-'70s), and worked at record stores in Houston and L.A. (late-'70s-early-'80s)! We're singin' from the same songbook, no doubt!
At 14, in '69, I was listening to bubblegum, Aretha, The Monkees, and Dad's bringing me Zappa, Tull, Sabbath, Alice, GTOs, et al promos, and I lapped it all up, happily!!😱
Thanks again, Ray.....Look for me in your DMs a little later! Meanwhile, you might find it helpful to peruse a couple more Tune Tags (they're tagged/linked at the top of the FR&B main page), just to get the flow and tone!---B🎵😁👍
Wow that's all I got to say. Well, you know me better so I'll add one juicy Tenafly anecdote: I grew up down the block from... Jimmy Dean and my sister was best friends with his daughter Connie so we had Big Bad John on the turntable in the house. He wasn't home much but took my sister to OKlahoma to visit the farm. She came back a vegetarian! He was always nice to us kids who knew he was a big star. Quite a musical neighborhood 🎼 Don't get me started on Englewood down the block the other way!
We'll save Englewood for another Tune Tag, Steve, when the musical serendipity leads us, map-wise, to that town! What a great story about Jimmy Dean! So, the man who so proudly hawks his own sausage turned your sis veggie?!? I believe that's the textbook def of irony...ironically enough!! Great to hear, too, that he was a nice guy to y'all!
I DO love your "Wow".....thanks! I'm so gobsmacked that Chris allowed our little enterprise, here, to be a part of his book publicity whirlwind this week! Thanks again, Steve!🎼🎵👍
I love Want Ads! I discovered it around a decade ago because it was sampled in an Avalanches track but I’d forgotten about it again until now. Thanks for reminding me!
Happy to have you and "Want Ads" getting re-acquainted, Joe! I believe we'll see your turn in the Tune Tag arena in about 3 or 4 weeks! Lookin' forward! Thanks for enjoying, and for your cool story! For a #1 song, I'm finding it surprising (based on some of the comments, here) just how little-heard it has been through the years....I'm glad Chris featured it as his first tune!
Two of the reasons I KNEW I appreciated you, Ken!! A story behind both: In around '79, either touring his debut or second album, I saw Joe at Houston's Texas Opry House (I was 24, and working at large retailer, Cactus Records). As has been documented elsewhere, FR&B, I had full access to this venue's back o' the house, and went back to see Joe after he ended his show....which may have been somewhat earlier than he had intended, because he sprained his ankle, somehow, doing a stage move of some kind.
So, by the time I got to the dressing room, staff had already wrapped his ankle with that tan sprain-wrapping tape, and he had that foot on an ottoman! So, I'm one of only about a dozen people to have ever had that mental image of Mr. Jackson!! I'd find it hard to believe his people would've allowed any photos to be taken, and I've Googled "Joe Jackson Houston ankle sprain" before to no avail!
As for Clapton, my dislike for his recorded work was fostered at about this same time, oddly enough....late-'70s. And, it may have been this Miami-recorded album, at that (I think it came out around '79)! The manager of Cactus kept playing that confounded album over our store's stereo, and we all got sick of it! We could all pitch in and suggest an album, of course, to put on for store listening, but she was relentless in her Clapton-love, and, as manager, we dare not--ahem--dissuade her from so doing!!🤣
Thanks, Hugh...a sentiment I know Chris echoes! I had forgotten about Honey Cone until Chris opened with them.....I'd always loved Carolyn Willis's turn on that Seals & Crofts hit...I never knew I was enjoying her 5 years before on "Want Ads"!
Thanks, Heard! That's a pretty amazing observation! Plus, I love the notion of taking your "bridge" as being like that of a song (as opposed to a span across a chasm)! As a non-songwriter (but, loving the artform and its artists!), I consider that a compliment, as I'm sure Chris would/does!
That was quite a run of songs and different artists, wasn't it?! In fact, it can be tough to
detect a similarity of song subject (badness, Leroy Brown, catching wrongdoers, etc) because of the different artists involved! You can't get more disparate, I don't think, than Andy Griffith and Queen!😱
In fact, Heard (a quick side note just for you!), I had a whole different sub-title, just below the main title that said something like, "This one is bad, like Michael Jackson bad" or some such, and, we now know where I was going with that! But, to kick it off like that, before anyone had read it (especially as we were celebrating Chris and his new book), it sounded less and less like a good idea the closer the drop date came! Thanks again!
Mine as well, Scat! Thanks for dropping in, reading, listening, enjoying, and commenting! You're welcome anytime, FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE! Thanks for subscribing, by the way!
I notice you're just getting started here on 'Stack! Welcome! I also notice my good bud, Mark Edward Randall subscribes to you! I don't know where you'd like your 'Stack to go, but, if you'd like to play Tune Tag, I'd love to have you! For newcomers, it's a great way to spread the word on your new page! Hit me up on Notes' DMs, and lemme know if you're interested! Thanks again, Scat....hear from you soon, I hope!--B
Cheers to not being big on Eric Clapton! As a Phoebe Bridgers fan, I'm borderline obligated not to like him. But beyond that, his music also just isn't for me. I heard a lot of it growing up because my dad is a fan...no thanks.
Somewhere else here, Max, I wax poetic about how/why I grew to dislike EC....well, I should add....to dislike even more! I even hesitated revealing my EC dislike here, but, it feels so good to finally come out!😉Thanks for your affirmation!✔
Some great songs here! I love that Chris included a couple of #1 songs here that aren't obvious choices. "Want Ads" has always been a killer! Nice job Brad following that up with "Sunday Papers!"
Thanks, Dan! Beyond proud to have hosted Chris on this one! He's a champ! And, he's aware enough of "the Tune Tag ethos" to have gone for the more obscure on occasion, not for that particular novelty notion alone, but, to give some "airing out" of tunes'n'artists not yet overplayed on other media!
And, "Sunday Papers" seemed to come to me fairly quickly, and I was gobsmacked to find a pic of Joe with a newspaper!📰👀
I can tell already this is going to be fun. A couple of thoughts about the first selections:
"Want Ads" is great, I hadn't heard that before. I appreciate Brad sparing us the tag of the Pina Colada song (and I'm always happy to hear Joe Jackson).
"The Bee Gees considered the idea of saying goodbye to the stage, but their friend Eric Clapton suggested they try their luck in America, in Miami. Clapton had retreated to Miami Beach to recover from his heroin addiction, in a house at 461 Ocean Boulevard, near Criteria Studios where he recorded Layla and was preparing his next album.
The Gibb brothers landed in Miami Beach to spend some time at 461 Ocean Boulevard and seek, with the help of producer Arif Mardin, their change at Criteria Studios, which at that time was a mecca for musicians, where Bob Dylan, The Eagles, Bob Marley, Fleetwood Mac, and James Brown had recorded for Atlantic Records. The Bee Gees’ first single in Miami, “Jive Talkin’,” was born in the van that took them along Biscayne from Ocean Boulevard to Criteria, and it showed their other face, one with rock rhythms, which earned them top spots on the Billboard charts. The release of the album Main Course, with the tracks “Winds of Change,” “Fanny,” and “Nights on Broadway,” confirmed the quality of their new work and marked the change they had been seeking."
Great JitneyBooks quote, Nick....thanks! Criteria did become quite well-used and popular with artists in the '70s (and, I guess, beyond)! And, with EC and the BGs being RSO label-mates, that made it just that much more a fitting studio/artist "marriage"!
As for "Want Ads," you'll be heartened to know I abhor "The Pina Colada Song," but, absolutely adore Rupert Holmes! So, even if I had thought to tag "Want Ads" with "TPCS," I never would have! His songwriting and production catalog is truly stunning, over time! He wrote a rare song about cannibalism in 1970 ("Timothy" by The Buoys), and produced Barbra Streisand's "Lazy Afternoon" album in 1975, after SHE heard his '74 "Widescreen" album, and sought him out, telling him she loved how his songs had the scope and breadth of movies! Thanks again, Nick!
Thanks for having me, Brad! It’s always a blast to play Tune Tag, especially when you get to learn about Andy Griffith’s music career
My pleasure, certainly, Chris! It's a blast to be a part of what I know must be your PR whirlwind this week! Mr. Griffith has been a personal hero of mine since his '60s sitcom (I was 10 in '65, pretty much mirroring Ron Howard's age and growth in his Opie character), and I know Dad had to have a couple of Andy's albums among his 20,000 LPs & 78s! Good luck with everything, Chris! You've got all of us Tune Taggers (and FR&B faithful) rooting for you and your tuneful tome!
Amazing work, guys! I loved the songs, especially the more soulful ones. Unlike Brad, I do enjoy myself some Eric Clapton here and there, especially that album (Brad's comment on the address had me in stitches, though 😅). I loved Chris's approach of highlighting forgotten gems, and how Brad expanded on those tags, both of you always bringing something very interesting to the table. Chapeau!
Thanks, Andy! Wasn't this a gas?!? I'm honored that Chris wanted to bring in Tune Tag during his celebratory week! This puts me back in the mind of my '70s days during a new-release day/week for an anxiously-awaited album, whether in radio or at the record store! We were all excited to be part of the publicity machine!
I thought of you for the very last tag...the Daddy Cool band and song! You were the very first 'Stacker to not only be fully-amazed by my past and vast recall'n'memory of songs'n'artists, but to also so unabashedly, clearly, and happy-to-fully-affirm all of that directly to me! That meant so much to me going forward (I finally felt I wasn't doing all this in a vacuum!)....so, a belated thanks if I've not before!🤗🎵It helped me be that much more confident in using that "super power," and it would not be outrageous to say that what FR&B (and, Tune Tag, in particular) has become, since your arrival, is in no small part thanks to your out-loud enthusiasm for what I do and how I do it!💖I thought it meant "hat" in French, but, seeing as how you use it for occasions like this: A heartfelt and big-ass Texan "Chapeau" to you, mon frere y mi amigo!💪🤠👍
So, what about Daddy Cool? It's just THAT memory, Andy, that pulled THAT tag outta the hat (and completely out of the blue, especially if one had never heard of that Aussie band)! There's no way to Google that one.....having never heard that Queen song (and, thanks to its visualizing the lyrics), my jaw fell when I heard "Daddy Cool" be sung and, of course, seeing the lyrics! So, back to high school, early-'70s, and having those two first (and, lone U.S. releases, I think) Daddy Cool albums to wrap it all up! Man, this was fun!🙏👉U
Thank you, Brad! It most certainly was! Chris's work is fantastic (I'm hoping his book will at least have a mention of my girl Mariah seeing as she's the solo artist with the most #1 hits!) and I'm so happy he's making another appearance here... this week, of all weeks! 🤩
Thank you also for your kind words. I am really glad to hear that my outwardly enthusiasm (Latin roots die hard, or never die at all) for something that I could so blatantly see (your talent, basically) gave you the confidence and the encouragement to keep making great work. As you know, you've also been instrumental in giving me that encouragement, that extra push and support to keep growing. So, it's mutual, my friend!
Big Texan chapeau, yes indeed! I happen to be at DFW airport right now for a few hours, connecting back to London, so a big howdy to you from your own very state! 🤠
I gotta think Ms. Carey takes up more than her share of column-inches in Chris's book! Thank you for that middle paragraph!🤗Here's hoping your wait won't be too long....I was sure you guys were keeping up with our confounded gov shut-down, and the possible delays, etc you might enounter! Safe and relatively rapid travels ("Hi, Stephan!"), and we'll see ya on the flip side back in Jolly Ol'!🤠✨
Thank you! Fortunately only minor delays for now, so fingers crossed! Always nice to visit your US of A even if for a few hours! Happy Tuesday!
I knew this was going to be great and I was not disappointed! Thanks to both of you, two of my favorite music stackers. You keep us on our toes.
Thanks so much, Taz! Chris was beyond generous to indulge me on this one, and I'm more than delighted to be part of his busy PR machine during this momentous release-week and coming days! As his book is filled with decades of #1s, it was an inspired marriage, then, of incorporating as many hits as possible into our "Tome Tag"! Thanks again, Chris!📕
The Honey Cone's hotpants and "Want Ads" took me right back to high school. My friend was always getting sent home for taking hotpants in a bag to school so her mom wouldn't know and changing into them before going to homeroom. But of course her mom found out because she kept getting sent home. The song was also very popular among us girls with those lyrics. Fond memories!
Who knew Andy of Mayberry could sing and swing? Really enjoyed that tune.
Jim Croce, what an incredible songwriter. I saw his son AJ recently and he's a fantastic musician and does an excellent show.
Really fun TT, Chris and Brad!
Thanks so much, Ellen....this was a blast, and mad props to Chris for participating! That high school story is a hoot! I, too, had a high school friend, as it happens, who snuck hot pants in a bag to school....but, we dasn't go into Larry's melodrama!🤣
As you know, Griffith's TV show had him show off his pickin''n'grinnin' from time to time, and many folks later picked up on his '50s-era records from that! Croce was certainly one of the great rock troubadours, and it was cool to have an AJ mention and connection from Chris! Good to hear AJ is a talented performer, as well! Thanks again, Ellen!
A big, bad, beautiful Tune Tag, gents! Any Joe Jackson reference is a thumbs up in my book, as he's probably in my top 5 favorite artists list. Lots of stuff is new to me, and I'll check it out later when I can actually do more than read the words! I have an Andy Griffith record, so I was aware of that one, but did not know Honey Cone or Jimmy Dean. I second your feelings about Mr. Clapton, Brad. Though I love me a tasty, long guitar-solo! But let it be from The Allman Brothers or Prince or Gary Shider (Funkadelic) or anyone with some soul in their bones.
Check my reply, Steve, to Maple Mixtape for my "barefoot Joe" story! I don't think I've ever shared that, FR&B, except here! I look forward to your post-listen comments! Andy G was a neat, folksy listen, back in the day, and having his records during his TAGS series first-run must've been a cool accompanying "soundtrack"!
Honey Cone was a great trio! I had always wondered where Seals & Crofts picked up Carolyn Willis, and I do believe this past week, during research, was my first inkling she was in that song I had known and enjoyed on the radio from 5 years before! Then, enjoying that "Get Closer" song, I had no idea that was the same gal who sang backing in "Want Ads"! I gotta fun job!
Somewhere here, too, Steve, is where I have my story of (mainly) why I harbor such great disdain (today's daffy-nition: Great Dis-Dane: a large, grouchy dog) for EC!
Speaking of solos in general, I think I've grown to love solos from only members of Genesis: guitar, Steve Hackett; drums, Phil Collins! Hackett's are always meant to add atmosphere and color, while Phil's solos are almost melodic, and never for the purpose of garnering a standing O!
But, as you mention, I do favor long guitar solos to a point, and if they lean more toward fitting within the song, so much the better!🎸🎶🎼
You could confuse people by calling that your "shoeless Joe Jackson" story . . .
Ha!🤣I didn't even make that connection.....and, I'm a baseball fan!!!
As a former music journalist (though active contributor to the Metal Hall of Fame), this is superb stuff. Serious congrats!
Thanks so much, Ray! It's an honor to have you here....and, welcome to Substack! Chris was so generous to include me and Tune Tag in his current tome-touting tornado! We wish him and his "print-baby" nothing but the best!
I've got a shameless question for you, if I may be so bold, Ray! But, first, an equally shameless quoting from your review of Megadeth's "Dystopia":
"Dystopia isn't monumental, but it's a damned good (often magnificent) album." Yes!😁
Will you do me (and the Tune Tag faithful) the honor, Ray, of joining me in what would be our second "Tome Tag"....a Tune Tag with an accomplished author? It could be as metal as you'd like (with your tagged songs), and it's been said I've got some metal chops not to be sneezed at! I was 15 in '70 for my first concert: Led Zeppelin in Houston! I've seen Sabbath and Deep Purple multiple times in the early-'70s, and I met Randy Rhoads (and lived long enough to write about it)!👇
https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/my-1980-meeting-with-guitarist-randy?utm_source=publication-search
BTW, Tune Tag takes place all within 'Stack's DMs, and I'd be happy to fill you in there, too, with process deets, but by now, you certainly get the drift!
Thank you again, Ray, for enjoying this celebration of Chris's book, and thanks for considering tackling a Tag of your own! Feel free to answer yay or nay either here or in DMs!--Brad
First, what a wonderful post about Randy! I am envious you met him. That is so epic. The closest I got was Kevin DuBrow telling some Randy stories in an interview I did with Kevin many years ago and sadly, only months before he passed. My Randy footage was used in an article for Metal Maniacs. Swan songs all around. This is good stuff, man.
Thanks for that cool plug of my Megadeth review, LOL! Can't wait to hear the new and final album! I hope it's as much of a cooker as the first single is.
Sure thing, the honor is mine. I'm happy to play along. Just guide me what you need me to do. If you want to PM me details, go for it. It can be metal, punk or whatever genre you feel like hitting me with. I'm extremely diverse in my tastes. I made it a point to explore all the genres I could during college and beyond and especially when I was in the music industry. I loved having other genres to flag when I heard it in the artists I was reviewing and was praised for it. We can only better at our craft when we embrace diversity.
Cheers, brother!
Thanks so much, Ray! I'll DM you process deets later today! Happy to hear about your genre diversity! Faithful FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE readers know all about my dad's collection, as my bro & I were growing up, of 20,000 jazz LPs & 78s, my mom managing country singer, Dale McBride, '70s-early-'90s, and Dad bringing home Warner Bros and Columbia promo LPs from the commercial radio station he worked at, '60s thru '70s! And, I did on-air on 2 commercial FM rockers, myself (mid-'70s), and worked at record stores in Houston and L.A. (late-'70s-early-'80s)! We're singin' from the same songbook, no doubt!
At 14, in '69, I was listening to bubblegum, Aretha, The Monkees, and Dad's bringing me Zappa, Tull, Sabbath, Alice, GTOs, et al promos, and I lapped it all up, happily!!😱
Thanks again, Ray.....Look for me in your DMs a little later! Meanwhile, you might find it helpful to peruse a couple more Tune Tags (they're tagged/linked at the top of the FR&B main page), just to get the flow and tone!---B🎵😁👍
Wow that's all I got to say. Well, you know me better so I'll add one juicy Tenafly anecdote: I grew up down the block from... Jimmy Dean and my sister was best friends with his daughter Connie so we had Big Bad John on the turntable in the house. He wasn't home much but took my sister to OKlahoma to visit the farm. She came back a vegetarian! He was always nice to us kids who knew he was a big star. Quite a musical neighborhood 🎼 Don't get me started on Englewood down the block the other way!
We'll save Englewood for another Tune Tag, Steve, when the musical serendipity leads us, map-wise, to that town! What a great story about Jimmy Dean! So, the man who so proudly hawks his own sausage turned your sis veggie?!? I believe that's the textbook def of irony...ironically enough!! Great to hear, too, that he was a nice guy to y'all!
I DO love your "Wow".....thanks! I'm so gobsmacked that Chris allowed our little enterprise, here, to be a part of his book publicity whirlwind this week! Thanks again, Steve!🎼🎵👍
I love Want Ads! I discovered it around a decade ago because it was sampled in an Avalanches track but I’d forgotten about it again until now. Thanks for reminding me!
Happy to have you and "Want Ads" getting re-acquainted, Joe! I believe we'll see your turn in the Tune Tag arena in about 3 or 4 weeks! Lookin' forward! Thanks for enjoying, and for your cool story! For a #1 song, I'm finding it surprising (based on some of the comments, here) just how little-heard it has been through the years....I'm glad Chris featured it as his first tune!
Chris is alway a great read. Today's issue of TT wasn't half bad (get it?)...Thanks Guys!
Thanks, Paul! I was honoured to have Chris join us for our very first "Tome Tag"!!📚Book it!
Nice one, you two! You had me at Joe Jackson, and with the mild disdain of EC.
Two of the reasons I KNEW I appreciated you, Ken!! A story behind both: In around '79, either touring his debut or second album, I saw Joe at Houston's Texas Opry House (I was 24, and working at large retailer, Cactus Records). As has been documented elsewhere, FR&B, I had full access to this venue's back o' the house, and went back to see Joe after he ended his show....which may have been somewhat earlier than he had intended, because he sprained his ankle, somehow, doing a stage move of some kind.
So, by the time I got to the dressing room, staff had already wrapped his ankle with that tan sprain-wrapping tape, and he had that foot on an ottoman! So, I'm one of only about a dozen people to have ever had that mental image of Mr. Jackson!! I'd find it hard to believe his people would've allowed any photos to be taken, and I've Googled "Joe Jackson Houston ankle sprain" before to no avail!
As for Clapton, my dislike for his recorded work was fostered at about this same time, oddly enough....late-'70s. And, it may have been this Miami-recorded album, at that (I think it came out around '79)! The manager of Cactus kept playing that confounded album over our store's stereo, and we all got sick of it! We could all pitch in and suggest an album, of course, to put on for store listening, but she was relentless in her Clapton-love, and, as manager, we dare not--ahem--dissuade her from so doing!!🤣
Excellent TT guys, and congrats Chris on the book! Really dug the Honey Cones track, and Sheriff Taylor. Hadn't thought of Daddy Cool in *decades*.
Thanks, Hugh...a sentiment I know Chris echoes! I had forgotten about Honey Cone until Chris opened with them.....I'd always loved Carolyn Willis's turn on that Seals & Crofts hit...I never knew I was enjoying her 5 years before on "Want Ads"!
And, yes....always Sherriff Andy! Daddy Cool = Aussie Sha Na Na!
I consider the “Leroy Brown” exchanges as the “bridge” of this tune tag. Nice work - always fun to read and listen!
Thanks, Heard! That's a pretty amazing observation! Plus, I love the notion of taking your "bridge" as being like that of a song (as opposed to a span across a chasm)! As a non-songwriter (but, loving the artform and its artists!), I consider that a compliment, as I'm sure Chris would/does!
That was quite a run of songs and different artists, wasn't it?! In fact, it can be tough to
detect a similarity of song subject (badness, Leroy Brown, catching wrongdoers, etc) because of the different artists involved! You can't get more disparate, I don't think, than Andy Griffith and Queen!😱
In fact, Heard (a quick side note just for you!), I had a whole different sub-title, just below the main title that said something like, "This one is bad, like Michael Jackson bad" or some such, and, we now know where I was going with that! But, to kick it off like that, before anyone had read it (especially as we were celebrating Chris and his new book), it sounded less and less like a good idea the closer the drop date came! Thanks again!
Soo cool 😎.... Andy Griffith is my hero 🙌 ❤️
Mine as well, Scat! Thanks for dropping in, reading, listening, enjoying, and commenting! You're welcome anytime, FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE! Thanks for subscribing, by the way!
I notice you're just getting started here on 'Stack! Welcome! I also notice my good bud, Mark Edward Randall subscribes to you! I don't know where you'd like your 'Stack to go, but, if you'd like to play Tune Tag, I'd love to have you! For newcomers, it's a great way to spread the word on your new page! Hit me up on Notes' DMs, and lemme know if you're interested! Thanks again, Scat....hear from you soon, I hope!--B
Cheers to not being big on Eric Clapton! As a Phoebe Bridgers fan, I'm borderline obligated not to like him. But beyond that, his music also just isn't for me. I heard a lot of it growing up because my dad is a fan...no thanks.
Somewhere else here, Max, I wax poetic about how/why I grew to dislike EC....well, I should add....to dislike even more! I even hesitated revealing my EC dislike here, but, it feels so good to finally come out!😉Thanks for your affirmation!✔
Some great songs here! I love that Chris included a couple of #1 songs here that aren't obvious choices. "Want Ads" has always been a killer! Nice job Brad following that up with "Sunday Papers!"
Thanks, Dan! Beyond proud to have hosted Chris on this one! He's a champ! And, he's aware enough of "the Tune Tag ethos" to have gone for the more obscure on occasion, not for that particular novelty notion alone, but, to give some "airing out" of tunes'n'artists not yet overplayed on other media!
And, "Sunday Papers" seemed to come to me fairly quickly, and I was gobsmacked to find a pic of Joe with a newspaper!📰👀
I can tell already this is going to be fun. A couple of thoughts about the first selections:
"Want Ads" is great, I hadn't heard that before. I appreciate Brad sparing us the tag of the Pina Colada song (and I'm always happy to hear Joe Jackson).
The Tom Dowd link reminded me that there's a documentary about him which I want to watch: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343107/
But apparently it's slightly difficult to find these days: https://www.reddit.com/r/audioengineering/comments/hdn6qn/is_it_gone_forever_tom_dowd_the_language_of_music/
Also worth noting, Eric Clapton recording at 461 Ocean Blvd inspired the Bee Gees to go as well: https://jitneybooks.com/the-bee-gees/
"The Bee Gees considered the idea of saying goodbye to the stage, but their friend Eric Clapton suggested they try their luck in America, in Miami. Clapton had retreated to Miami Beach to recover from his heroin addiction, in a house at 461 Ocean Boulevard, near Criteria Studios where he recorded Layla and was preparing his next album.
The Gibb brothers landed in Miami Beach to spend some time at 461 Ocean Boulevard and seek, with the help of producer Arif Mardin, their change at Criteria Studios, which at that time was a mecca for musicians, where Bob Dylan, The Eagles, Bob Marley, Fleetwood Mac, and James Brown had recorded for Atlantic Records. The Bee Gees’ first single in Miami, “Jive Talkin’,” was born in the van that took them along Biscayne from Ocean Boulevard to Criteria, and it showed their other face, one with rock rhythms, which earned them top spots on the Billboard charts. The release of the album Main Course, with the tracks “Winds of Change,” “Fanny,” and “Nights on Broadway,” confirmed the quality of their new work and marked the change they had been seeking."
Great JitneyBooks quote, Nick....thanks! Criteria did become quite well-used and popular with artists in the '70s (and, I guess, beyond)! And, with EC and the BGs being RSO label-mates, that made it just that much more a fitting studio/artist "marriage"!
As for "Want Ads," you'll be heartened to know I abhor "The Pina Colada Song," but, absolutely adore Rupert Holmes! So, even if I had thought to tag "Want Ads" with "TPCS," I never would have! His songwriting and production catalog is truly stunning, over time! He wrote a rare song about cannibalism in 1970 ("Timothy" by The Buoys), and produced Barbra Streisand's "Lazy Afternoon" album in 1975, after SHE heard his '74 "Widescreen" album, and sought him out, telling him she loved how his songs had the scope and breadth of movies! Thanks again, Nick!