Tune Tag #77 with Chris Bro of "Chris's Shaped By Sound": Janet Jackson, Replacements, Black Taxi, Tracey Ullman, Bangles, Talking Heads, Doug Kershaw
A little rock, a little pop, and a little soul meets a little classic, a little retro, and a little bit new. Chris brings his unique point of view to today's Tag...let's jump in!
Welcome, Chris! Ghost Tag….You’re IT!
Tune Tag welcomes of !
Last week, we had tons o’ fun with of The Ryry Rundown:
Next week, we welcome back of Kalowski's Substack, for his Part 2! His Part 1 can be enjoyed by clicking here!
Chris’s song #1 sent to Brad: Black Taxi, “Shoeshine,” 2009
Chris’s rationale: Thank you again for the Tune Tag invite, Brad! Quite excited. So many choices to start off. After a heartbeat or so it was clear that a Black Taxi song would be my first choice. Why?
First, on my deathbed, I will still be telling people about this band. Sadly, they’ve broken up and I still feel everyone should listen to them!
Next (see what I did there? NEXT is the name of the new music show I host…I’m on week 794) - what song? Now the major bummer about them being broken up is the fact that you will never get a chance to see them live. AMAZING is an understatement. I've seen 100s of bands live, and Black Taxi is one of the greatest live bands I’ve ever seen/experienced.
The song I picked, “Shoeshine,” is brilliant live. Sometimes, the guitar solo would go on and on (never boring), and then the trumpet hits after the guitar solo. Chills. So bloody good. So I’ve got the band and the songs.
One more part of the reasoning - people might not listen to all of our songs. I want them to listen to this band. So it’s the first. A higher possibility of listening!
Oh, and one last reason: I picked Black Taxi because I was hoping against hope that maybe you saw them as you are in Austin, TX (I think I remember that correctly👍), and they played SXSW (South by Southwest) a few times…it would be crazy cool if you were familiar!
It’s possible too, since they were very good friends with Austin band, Bright Light Social Hour (BLSH). I was, in my head, going to follow up Black Taxi with BLSH. They pair so nicely in a sonic/fun/brilliant live way.
And, there’s a lot of ways one could follow up this song. Lyrics: about a Bad Dad (parent)—plenty of those songs around. Guitar with trumpet songs—yes, there are those, too. Songs that reference golf. Now, that would be something! Off the top of my head, I can’t think of one. I’d have to Google. Oh, Caddyshack. “I’m Alright” by Loggins. Are there any others? I’m not Googling.
I can’t wait to see what is suggested. Quite exciting!
Brad’s song #1 sent to Chris: Janet Jackson feat. Q-Tip and Joni Mitchell, “Got ‘Til It’s Gone,” 1997
Chris’s response: It’s Janet Jackson with Q Tip sampling Joni!!! Whoa. I did not see that coming. That’s the point, Chris (duh). I can’t wait to see/hear how this came about! Could be this: While Mitchell’s original track is largely concerned with environmental decay, Jackson uses the “You don’t know what you got ’till it’s gone” line in reference to a relationship, bringing up a fraught romance…becoming aware of that when it was too late to go back. Like the husband in Black Taxi looks back after falling for bad love and a lot of drugs that maybe he didn’t choose well.
Brad’s rationale: I bet Joni never saw this coming! I wonder if Chris did! I found the song here.
Janet samples Joni’s “Big Yellow Taxi,” and it’s a delicious, non-obvious tag that’s borderline, but unintentionally cruel to throw at Chris right out da box! But, Joni’s Big Yellow🚕and the “Shoeshine” group’s Black🚕gives us a small armada of Taxis that are a first for Tune Tag…and, it’s fun to be here for it! (Chris, now it’s time for you to say, “That’s fare!”)
Chris’s song #2: The Replacements, “I Don’t Know,” 1987
Brad’s response: I’m afraid I’ll have to cop this song’s title as my immediate response: “I Don’t Know.” The Replacements don’t happen to have a song called, “You Got Me, Chris,” do they? Or, “Whatchu Talkin’ ‘Bout, Willis”? We’ve got a solid decade between this one and the Janet tune. That’s not long enough to NOT have like liner-note-credits, but I’m not seeing any session player from one to the other.
If Steve Douglas played bari sax on Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” (as he did on this Replacements track), I’d be stunned at Chris’s wildly outrageous Tune Tag-in’! Alas, Jim Horn played bari sax on Joni’s Ladies of the Canyon 1970 album. I’m back at Square One. Whatcha got, Chris?
Chris’s rationale: So many different ways to go: As soon as I saw Q Tip, I knew I was going to play a Tribe Called Quest song. Too easy? Yes. I’m just moving in a straight forward line. I was thinking about continuing the love-gone-bad route. And no. I must play Tribe. Now, which song? “Can I Kick It?” It’s one of the greatest ‘90s raps - hell, songs of the ‘90s! Now, that’s too easy. I’m digging just a bit deeper (not much) into that same album. I’m going - Wallet: “I Left My Wallet In El Segundo.”
And, just as I was about to send this DM to you, I couldn’t. So I deleted it. Too straight of a line. I need to do the giggle or the hand clap. Hand clap, I’m thinking: Beatles, “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” or Cars, “My Best Friend’s Girlfriend.” OutKast, “Hey Ya!,” or Steve Miller, with “Take the Money and Run.” “My Boyfriend’s Back,” by The Angels. Mellencamp has one.
And, while I was thinking of clapping songs - one my favorite laugh/giggle songs popped into my brain. And from one of my all-time favorite bands...win-win. It’s the manic (almost demonic?) laugh at the top of “I Don’t Know” by The Replacements. Done and done. I feel a bit better about that direction.
How will this one go? Another band banned from SNL (1986). Another band that coulda/shoulda/woulda been HUGE if they’d gotten out of their own way! Maybe another tune written about being in a band. Maybe a Minneapolis band? SOOOO many good ones. I’m sure I’ll be surprised.
Brad’s song #2: Tracey Ullman, “They Don’t Know,” 1983
Chris’s response: Holy balls. “Surprised” is an understatement! I can’t bloody wait to read/hear this reasoning behind Tracy Ullman’s “They’ll Never Know.” The Replacements’ love of the ‘60s? The giggle as Ullman is a comedian. Great show way back in the day...where am I going?
Do I play off the comedy part? Weird Al or Sam Kinison? Or, does Paul McCartney being in the video give me an excuse to play a “joke” Paul or Beatles song? I’m looking at you, “Temporary Secretary” (from Paul’s 1980 McCartney II album). Or really, any cover song.
Brad’s rationale: If “I Don’t Know,” and “They Don’t Know,” then who’s got the scoop?
Chris’s song #3: Bangles, “In Your Room,” 1988
Brad’s response: The rare Tune Tag sheer genre bulls-eye! Chris hit my Tracey “They Don’t Know” right in the kisser! Chris is to be applauded for nailing Tracey’s incredible ‘60s Brill Building/girl group feel with Susanna and her Bangles who are and were so on that ethos, ever far more so than The Go-Go’s.
I’ve always contended: When it comes to ‘80s evocative/retro/girl groups, if The Go-Go’s were the fun’n’poppy early Beatles, then The Bangles were The Stones, with just a tad more depth, gravitas, and, even more obviously in love with the era. If the Go-Go’s were bubble gum (the chewing kind, not the pop genre), then The Bangles were a comforting TV dinner…they didn’t want to be, nor did they need to be…steak.
Another tip o’ the cap to Chris: His choice gave me so many ways I could’ve gone in choosing my next song! I settled on a long-forgotten single female, who was one of the few in that ‘80s retro-pop-new wavey lane that seemed to be well-populated by female groups. That one’s comin’ up!
Chris’s rationale: And, I decided to go...birthday. Wait - what? Ullman was born in 1959. It’s a great excuse to play a Susanna Hoffs tune. (Added bonus--Weird Al also born in 1959 - I could have double-dipped)!
On Substack, we’ve been chatting about Matthew Sweet. Their duet cover albums are brilliant. A must listen. AND I have to play “In Your Room.” I bloody love that song so much. Thank you, Bangles, for the brilliant music! Bonus - super fun video and love the harmonies!!!
Where will he go? I’m not even going to guess. Almost done.☹
Brad’s song #3: Josie Cotton, “Johnny Are You Queer?,” 1981
Chris’s response: It’s “Johnny Are You Queer?” Lady lead singer? Or, somehow this tidbit I found while researching this tune: The song was based on Fear’s song, “Fetch Me One More Beer,” written by guitarist, Philo Cramer and John Clancy, according to Zach Carlson’s Destroy All Movies!!! The Complete Guide to Punks on Film.
Bobby and Larson Paine (above, flanking Josie), who were managing The Go-Go’s, re-worked the song with new lyrics and gave it to them, but after a falling out, forbade the band from playing it and gave it to Cotton (and produced her single), according to Eric T. Miller, in his 2006 interview with Josie Cotton in MagnetMagazine.com.
Regardless, here’s a rare audio-only video of The Go-Go’s playing “Johnny Are You Queer?” at San Francisco’s notorious Mabuhay Gardens in August 1979:
In several interviews, Cotton has suggested that the song’s title was lifted from lyrics in the Fear song, though she has also stated that Fear’s version of it went, “You’re a f*ckin’ queer,” which is consistent with Fear’s demo of the song (Warning: Explicit):
When Fear found out a variation of their song had become popular, they met with the Paines to discuss the publishing rights, and together decided that the rights would go to the winner of a coin toss, which the Paines won! (per Patrick Garvin, 2017, in “‘Johnny, Are You Queer?’: Cover Songs Uncovered,” The Pop Culture Experiment)
Brad’s rationale: I settled on Josie Cotton, whose 1981 Bomp! Records 12” single (above) I had at the time. I’m not even sure I knew or remembered she actually got signed off of Greg Shaw’s indie label, and became Elektra Records property.
Again, like Tracey and The Bangles, Josie’s “modus poperandi” was smack dab in the oh-so comfortable Beatles/Lesley Gore ‘65 hammock. I can’t wait to see how Chris will answer this Cotton ball, and if he had ever heard (or heard of) either/both Josie and the song!
This tidbit from
, creator of Rock and Roll Girl: She worked for Bomp! Records, but shortly after Josie was on the label. A week before Christmas, I asked Lori if she worked the Josie single, or ever met her:“I was still in high school, so I missed it by a year,” Lori replied. “I cut class with my punk friends and went down to KROQ to counter-protest the moral majority. KROQ was the only station playing it at the time. When I got to BOMP! and saw the album cover on the wall, I was so excited!
“We just got the annual Box of holiday cookies from Suzy (Greg’s widow) at BOMP!”
“My punk friends and I cut class, and I held a sign that read, ‘F*** the Moral Majority,’ as they were the ones protesting ‘Johnny Are You Queer?’. There were loads of media there, and some journalist or camera person said to me, ‘I bet your parents are proud of you.’ I guess that was supposed to be some kinda jab. Similar to the climate of today, furious religious people were getting in the way of art and freedom of speech.
“I was a senior, and that year, Valley Girl came out and there she is with the band in the film. So yea, lol! You go Josie, and she still is!”
Chris’s song #4: Talking Heads, “Swamp,” 1983
Brad’s response: Not finding anything, right off the bat, that Chris found in Josie Cotton’s “Johnny” and The Heads’ “Swamp”!
Chris’s rationale: My first thoughts were about The B-52s. Just to keep with the hair-do! Then I thought, unrequited love. I could bring back Black. With Pearl Jam. “I know someday you’ll have a beautiful life. I know you’ll be a star in someone else’s sky, but why can’t it be mine?” I mean, what a devastating line! I could flip the song on its ear and throw out Billie Ellish’s “I wish you were gay”!
Then back to unrequited love: Arctic Monkeys, “Do I Wanna Know?” This song absolutely kills me- every line is laced with such pure desire and longing. He is infatuated, almost in a lust-filled fever. That never happens. There is a sick, exquisite kind of pain that comes with loving or lusting after someone you can’t have. This song perfectly encapsulates that.
Then it hit me. Garbage, and their 1995 “Queer.” And that too is a bit on the nose. No? Or play off Queer with Queen?
And then it dawned on me: The song was in Valley Girl in 1983, so instead of just borrowing another track from that soundtrack, I went with a different 1983 soundtrack album. I pick one of my all time favorites: Talking Heads’ song, “Swamp.” A brilliant scene at the house party in Risky Business when Princeton comes for his interview. So that’s what I’m going with. Wow...that’s a long walk to this track!
My prediction? Hell, I’ve been not even close every time. So, I’m going way out there! “Swamp” was off the 5th Talking Heads album. So, you’ll pick a song off Who’s Next, or from Ziggy by David Bowie, or on Help! by The Beatles, or maybe a song from Band on the Run by McCartney and Wings...and...I’m definitely wrong. Can’t wait to hear/see what you come up with!
Brad’s song #4: Doug Kershaw, “Swamp Rat,” 1970
Chris’s response: Song 4 and the finale: Doug Kershaw with “Swamp Rat.” Well-played AND a song and performer I’ve never heard before. I’m going to have to dig in and listen to more. AND my black (behind the scenes) thread comes back as the song is linked to a live version on the Johnny Cash TV show. THE MAN IN BLACK!
Just a brilliant ending (which you had no idea you were helping me with)! Or maybe you did and that would make it even more brilliant. Thank you again, Brad!
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What a journey, gents. I loved how openly Chris shared his thought process, including potential tracks he was considering. So cool to let the reader step into the backstage a little bit. I felt this was a nice touch, and if Front Row and Backstage is not the ideal place to do that…!
I loved seeing you tag the Janet track, Brad. I’m a big fan, as you know. I love the darkness of that album, but I also enjoy its more contemplative/funky moments, like this track, which is a bit of both.
Finally, the whole queerness thing was hilarious in the best possible sense. Very refreshing.
Amazing work, guys!
This was a high level sonic chess match! I think it was a draw. The Josie Cotton backstory and the story behind “Johnny are you Queer?” was worth the price of admission by itself! I was a big fan at the time, and also a fan of Fear (the band, not the emotion)…who knew they went together like PB and Chocolate?
Love the Go-Gos clip from Mabuey Gardens, especially!