Tune Tag #49 with Ian Sharp of "LP": Beatles, Rupert Holmes, Steve Hillage, XTC, Knickerbockers, Todd Rundgren, James McCartney, The Rutles

Hark! Who goes there? The Faux Four? The Ersatz Beetles? The Querymen? Dirk, Stig & The Moon Dogs? Something's afoot in Tune Tag land, and we may need Jelly Babies to solve it! "Ladies & gentlemen..."

Hey, Ian! TAG! You’re IT!

Tune Tag proudly welcomes, from across the pond,

Ian Sharp

, who writes, catalogs, and sleeves his own LP on Substack!

Ian: I am a music writer, after a career as an educator of adults and studying of popular culture (and more) at the Open University. Music has been an obsession for my whole life - The Beatles, The Who, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, and many more.

I write about classic rock albums and the psychology of music in my online publication LP, and compile a weekly playlist of classic and new tracks. I live in Olney, Buckinghamshire, UK.

Last week, we had the pleasure of

MK Piatkowski

’s Tune Tag company:

Tune Tag #48 with MK Piatkowski, of Song of the Day, Pt. 2: Whitlams, Kylie Minogue, Rick Springfield, Gamble, Alex Lloyd, Electric Peanut Butter Company

And, next week, it’ll be our pleasure to welcome

Mark Edward Randall

of Musings of a Broken Record to Tune Tag!

Ian’s song #1 sent to Brad: The Beatles, “Help!”, 1965

Ian’s rationale: My first tune is the first record I bought (well, chose is a better word - I was 7 at the time, so I must have been given a little ‘Help!’). And so began a love for The Beatles that still gets deeper 58 years later. 

Brad’s song #1 sent to Ian: Rupert Holmes, “I Don’t Want to Hold Your Hand,” 1975

Ian’s response: Brad’s kept us in Beatles territory. I guess he intends to show how even those early examples of their songwriting craft can be developed into something more sophisticated. I love the opening as if Holmes is staying true to The Beatles, and then a piano chord drops us into a different type of song.

But, even this different phase sticks to the template of the original, including the middle eight, backing vocals, Harrison guitar tones, synth and more. It’s a skilled pastiche that stands on its merits. The lyrics reference the Beatles’ past: “that was 10 long years ago,” and the rest. All I currently know of Rupert Holmes is “Escape (The Piña Colada Song).” I’ll be finding out more. 

Brad’s rationale: Rupert rules! If all you know about the talented singer/songwriter/keyboardist/arranger/producer is a song about a tropical drink, his own recordings and numerous productions are well worth discovering!

And, it gets no better than a hit songwriter interviewing another hit songwriter! David Pomeranz (wrote Barry Manilow-hits, “Tryin’ to Get the Feeling” and “The Old Songs”) interviews Rupert Holmes in 2023. They talk Beatles, jingles, Ron Dante, Manilow, arranging, producing, The Cuff Links, The Archies, and much more:

David Pomeranz also co-wrote some songs, in the late-’70s, with FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE’s exclusive contributor, singer/songwriter/guitarist, Stephen Michael Schwartz! Stephen shares the story, and the exclusive demo, in his own words, here:

Stephen Michael Schwartz, Off the Clef #4: The Late '70s Collab Sessions, "Right Foot, Left Foot" w/David Pomeranz SONG DEMO

Ian’s song #2: The Rutles, “Get Up and Go,” 1978

The Rutles in their Sgt. Rutter’s uniforms, holding their controversial cups of tea.📸Rutles.org

Brad’s response: “The Prefab Four: A legend that will last a lunchtime!” When we compile (play) Tune Tag, I think most of us (I know I do) think about and wonder what the song we just sent might be tagged with! As much as I was on The Rutles in the day (and loved them), The Rutles never crossed my mind! Well done, Ian!

Ian’s rationale: I’m sticking with The Beatles theme. This satirical take could be an early version of “Get Back,” before McCartney and/or Lennon decided a better chorus would have fewer words. The Rutles, created by Eric Idle from Monty Python and Neil Innes, featured in a spoof BBC documentary, released an album (in 1978, on Warner Bros. Records worldwide).

Innes was a Monty Python associate best known for his song, “How Sweet to Be an Idiot.” Writing “in the style of” sounds easy - someone else has already done the heavy lifting - but it’s tricky to get the tone right. To create an entire alternative Beatle career, as Idle and Innes did, is extraordinary. Their live band included Ricky Fataar, once of the Beach Boys. Check the 1997 website about the Prefab Four, and see The Bonzo Dog Band for more Innes.

Brad’s song #2: The Knickerbockers, “Lies,” 1965