Tune Tag #22 with Ryan Stubbs aka Miter: Rush, Supremes, Steely Dan, Little Richard, Genesis
Prog'n'pop co-mingle peaceably with good ole rock'n'roll in a Tune Tag romp that kicks off '24 with a bang not heard since New Year's Eve.....1963.🧨🎆🎇🧨
Hey, Ryan!
Tune Tag welcomes Ryan Stubbs aka Miter!
Miter is the solo recording project of Ryan Stubbs, a Denver-based artist. Ryan is a lifelong practitioner of rock, and has shared stages with artists such as Liz Phair, Nathaniel Rateliff, Kings of Leon, the Decemberists, Devotchka, Cake and many others. He’s played festivals such as CMJ and Austin’s South By Southwest, and venues such as Red Rocks (near Denver) and Washington, D.C.’s 9:30 Club.
Ryan first turned more pointedly toward writing, recording, producing and releasing his own music in 2016 with the first Miter record, Wings of the Faith.
The Miter moniker was revived for 2022’s synth-heavy Shelled and retained for Miter’s current and primary music release and distribution vehicle, the Substack publication, Washed Memoir in Real Time (the best way to listen to or support Miter is to subscribe), where he releases one original, fully-produced Miter song per month. Ryan also initiated the Substack record label/artist collective LABELABEL, and congealed the Substack music video and variety show, Salon Du Monde, Fremont, also available at miter.substack.com.
This playlist includes all Miter tracks released in 2023.
Ryan: Who am I? What am I doing here? These are all questions running through one’s mind when prepping for Tune Tag. This is no joke. Selecting the first track is obviously the most important decision, and decisions are a tragedy that nobody should have to make.
Like Nicolas Cage searching for a National Treasure, I wouldn’t let complex codexes leading to original copies of the Magna Carta dissuade me. I came up with some options, but nothing that Brad Kyle wouldn’t see coming 20 steps ahead. This guy wasn’t playing Tune Tag; he was playing (turn it up to) 11-dimensional chess.
Ryan’s Song #1 to Brad: Rush, “La Villa Strangiato” (Live), 1981
Ryan’s rationale: Rush was my gateway drug to music. Sadly, some folks don’t move much further beyond Rush and I consider these to be the true fans. You know, the guys in the audience playing air bass to the Geddy Lee fills. I see you, real ones.
My first concert sans parents was in 6th (maybe 7th) grade. It was the Rush 1991-92 Roll the Bones Tour at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre in the Denver suburbs. I was utterly blown away, all the people (white dudes) singing along to every word of every song, the drum solo, the instrumental virtuosity, the video of the rapping skeleton for the “rap” segment of “Roll the Bones”. And for the cherry on top: After getting picked up by my friend’s mom, we saw Neil Peart emerge from an open limousine moonroof and then wave at us!
As a 6th (maybe 7th) grader, this was the greatest night of my life. I listened to Exit Stage Left on cassette over and over, and I do like this live version a bit better.
Brad’s Song #1 sent to Ryan: Genesis, “Los Endos,” 1976 (live from Seconds Out)
Ryan’s response: So, it will be a battle of wits! This couldn’t be a connection as simple as late ‘70s progressive rock live instrumentals. It seems as if Genesis was a trio at this point.
Brad: Actually, guitarist Steve Hackett held on through the 1977 tour; in fact, he left during the mixing stage of the Seconds Out album! Even then, while officially a trio (with Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks), they’d supplement the touring band with drummers Bill Bruford (for one tour), and Chester Thompson, and guitarist, Daryl Stuermer, both for many years.
Back to Ryan: Phil Collins is an excellent drummer and a savant, but let’s not kid ourselves—he’s no Neil Peart when it comes to drum solos.
Oh, of course: In “La Villa,” the segments “Monsters!” and “Monsters! (Reprise)” are inspired by “Powerhouse,” the 1937 cartoon “assembly line” jazz instrumental by Raymond Scott, who composed much of the music that was adapted by Carl Stalling for Warner Bros.’ animation department (Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies) for over 20 years.
Scott was also the inventor of the Electronium (a kind of synthesizer), and was employed by Motown Records’ L.A. office from 1971-’77 as their director of electronic music and research. Motown, home of The Supremes, whose hit, “You Can’t Hurry Love,” would later be recorded by Phil Collins, drummer for Genesis! Obviously, that is it.
Oh, and also I guess both Seconds Out and Exit…Stage Left were at least partially recorded at The Apollo in Glasgow, Scotland. Couldn’t be that basic. It seems that the only choice is to send back The Supremes’ “You Can’t Hurry Love.”
Brad’s rationale: You were right the first time, Ryan! Nothing more or other than my favorite prog rockers vs. your favorites in dueling live instrumentals!
Ryan’s Song #2: Supremes, “You Can’t Hurry Love,” 1966
Brad’s response: Ryan chose a Supremes original song that Genesis drummer Phil Collins once covered!
Brad’s Song #2: Barbra Streisand, “Shake Me Wake Me (When It’s Over),” 1975 (Lazy Afternoon LP, produced by Rupert Holmes)
Ryan’s response: Shake me, wake me when this Tune Tag is over, because my mind has just been blown! This song, the next track on The Supremes A’ Go-Go, written by the law firm of Holland, Holland and Dozier, was covered by Streisand. That is the obvious connection, but clearly not the correct one.
“Shake Me, Wake Me (When It’s Over)” was originally written for the Four Tops in 1966. I share a surname with singer, Levi Stubbs, and while it is highly unlikely that I am related to Levi Stubbs, no one has proven to me that I am not. Brad likely wants me to use this connection to post one of my own Miter songs. Or at least that is what he wants me to think. No, not this time.
Leading me along like a mule with a carrot, Brad is trying to bring me to Steely Dan. I actually learned about the early Becker/Fagen connections to Streisand via this great FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE piece:
There’s only one choice, an early Becker/Fagen track. The true majesty of the Dan comes through in recordings with unbelievable session players. However, the song writing, chord progressions and musicality was all part of it, even in early demo recordings.
Brad’s rationale: The Supremes did “Shake Me” as the song following “You Can’t Hurry Love” on their A’ Go-Go album, both songs written by Holland-Dozier-Holland.
Ryan’s Song #3: Becker & Fagen, “Brain Tap Shuffle,” pre-Steely Dan
Brad’s response: I’m not seeing a connection between my Babs song and his Becker & Fagen. If he gave up, he just chose this as a left turn.
Ryan’s rationale: I really like “Brain Tap Shuffle.”
…..said Brad, with imaginary tail between proverbial legs! Ryan was beyond generous and thoughtful in praising FR&B’s recent Steely Dan/Babs piece, yet when push came to shove, I couldn’t snap to linking Babs with Dan! Kudos to Ryan! Shake myself off…there’s more Tunes to Tag!
Brad’s Song #3: The Dukes of September (Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs), “Reelin’ in the Years,” 2012
Ryan’s response: Alright, I suppose what is going on is a pre/post-Steely Dan test. I was unaware of the Dukes of September supergroup that includes Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs. The post-Dan supergroup juxtaposed with early Becker/Fagen is interesting, and opens up a wide variety of connections.
Well, played, Brad. Or should I say…nice try.
I’m not going the easy route with Boz Scaggs or Doobies; what I need now is a left turn. One that he won’t see coming. I’ve been playing nice so far. Now for an obtuse, tenuous connection that may be hard to even justify—but the gloves were off. Time to increase my power to 90% of capacity. FINISH HIM!
The “Steely Dan collaborators” theme could lead to hundreds of thousands of recordings. It’s interesting that all of it is connected in one way or another through players, record companies, venues, tours…basically the shared infrastructure of the music industry.
Brad’s rationale: It seemed a fun transition to go from early Becker/Fagen to more recent Dan delights, particularly this Fagen/Mac’n’Boz track from 2012; I only learned of The Dukes of September in recent researching! What fun it would be to then field a track from Ryan and The Dukes of Stratosphear, XTC’s ‘80s alter ego!
Ryan’s Song #4: Little Richard, “Lucille,” 1957
Brad’s response: I can’t find a link between The Dukes song and this Little Richard classic.
Ryan’s rationale: This connects Steely Dan to the Beatles, as I recently learned in this recent documentary, that the Beatles toured with Little Richard early in their career!
It is clear that many early blues and rock-based British bands, including the Beatles and the Stones, were parroting Black American blues, gospel and rock such as Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Sister Rosetta Sharp, Ma Rainey, and Bo Diddley. “Lucille” is probably my favorite Little Richard song.
Thanks to Tune Tag for proving that we are all connected!
Brad’s Song #4: Flamin’ Groovies, “The Girl Can’t Help It,” 1969
Ryan’s response: Flamin’ Groovies! I like the Groovies, but had no idea they did this Little Richard cover (words & music by Bobby Troup for the 1956 film of the same name):
I’m mainly familiar with the great album and song, “Shake Some Action” which, by the way, is on my ever-growing Stuff Miter Likes Playlist, which Brad obviously knew when selecting this song.
Well, I didn’t surface anything super obscure to impress the snobs, and I’m sure my mind was blown more times than Brad’s, which means Brad wins again. All I can hope for is an eventual rematch. No holds barred. I’ll get you next time, sucka!!
This is the most fun someone can have on the internet! Thanks for having me, Brad. I'm now off to get my official Tune Tag tattoo, every gets one, right?
As a Rush fanatic, and "La Villa Strangiato" being my favorite song by them (at least today), I was more than thrilled with how this all started off! And to get a peak into Ryan's mind is a bit like learning about Oz behind the curtain. Once we are inside we can never go back.
All the twists and turns were a blast, but maybe my favorite was the pre-Steely Dan/post-Steely Dan tag. I also was hoping for Dukes of Stratosphere, but having my hopes dashed, at my age, is considered a form of exercise. So good on ya!