Tune Tag #52 with Stanley C. of "If Ever You're Listening": Isaac Hayes, Cocteau Twins, Wyclef Jean, Tommy Keene, Lucy Dacus, Glen Phillips, Raveena Aurora

Stanley proved to be a more than formidable opponent, as his links and tags were cunning, devious, and tough to discern, and I couldn't have had more fun! Let's see how he did it!😎

Greetings, Stanley! Wag’n’Tag’n’Drag, you’re IT!

Tune Tag is proud to welcome

Stanley C.

of If Ever You’re Listening!

Hello readers! I can’t wait for you to read this new Tune Tag featuring Brad and me! It’s a fun little showdown! I greatly enjoyed myself during the process. If you’re unfamiliar with my work, you can explore my If Ever You’re Listening Substack today!

I analyze music trends to draw bridges of understanding between music listeners of different tastes, ages, ethnicities, and genders. My articles cover a lot of ground, so if you’re a curious soul like myself, there’s always something new to play with and think about!—Stanley C.

Last week,

Robert C. Gilbert

of Listening Sessions graced the Tune Tag stage!

Tune Tag #51 with Robert C. Gilbert of "Listening Sessions": Elvis Presley, Doors, Mink DeVille, Minnie Riperton, Smothers Brothers, Todd Rundgren

Next week, I hear-tell we’ll get a knock on the door from

Hugh Jones

of The Record Store Years!

“Hey, Boo-Boo! This is one swingin’ pic-a-nic basket….and, Tune Tag, too!”

Stanley’s song #1 sent to Brad: Wyclef Jean, “Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill),” 2007

Stanley’s rationale: I love this song. It holds a special place in my heart and contains a lot of sentimental value. Back in 2007, when it came out, I would sit real close to my TV (probably where bad eyesight all began!) and watch the music video on TRL and BET. The music didn’t sound like anything else at the time or since.

Entering those deportation camps depicted in the video virtually felt risky and adrenaline-rushing in the best way. There are also plenty of artists on the song, so I knew Brad could take the connection in any number of directions, which would be fun. 

Brad’s song #1 sent to Stanley: Isaac Hayes, “Let’s Stay Together,” 1972

Stanley’s response: Hmmm, this is interesting. I know Wyclef does sample Isaac Hayes from time to time. He’s done it on MOB’s “Hip-Hop Cops” and Destiny’s Child’s “Illusion.” Hayes was still living when this song was being made, so perhaps he was literally a songwriting partner.

The more likely scenario was that his sample was sampled or interpolated into the song. Although I don’t think the interpolation is exactly “Let’s Stay Together,” I believe it’s somewhere in Isaac Hayes’ enormous and eclectic discography. I’d love to know if Brad found exactly where those songwriting credits came from.👉[Here they are, Stanley! Just click right here! Half the population of St. Louis…and Hayes…have songwriting credits on it!]

Brad’s rationale: The Wyclef Jean song had lyrics from (and credited to) Isaac Hayes (among several others). I knew about most of Hayes’ AM hits over the years, and landed on this instrumental arrangement (with Hayes on sax and The Bar-Kays handling the rhythm section!) of the Al Green hit from 1971. Green rode the charts for 16 weeks and hit the top spot on Billboard’s Hot 100, while this Hayes instrumental got to #48 on the Hot 100 and #25 on their R&B chart.