Lady's knight? Ummm, no, knaves. We're talkin' Ladies Night! If this was Tune Tag Tavern, the gals would be gratis guests! It's all about the females for this Tune Tag!
Hey, Brad, thanks again for hosting me. It was uber-fun, but since I didn't trounce you, there has to be a rematch! But first I have to recover, because you really kept me on my toes at every turn.
It WAS a fun trip, Ellen, and I thank you so much for your original theme idea, and the brilliant song'n'artist choices! A rematch? Oh, it is ON, sistah....it is SO on!💪😁👍💖🎵
That live performance of “Crazy on You”? Wow. It starts with such a beautiful, low key acoustic solo, only to build up and explode into that awesome chorus. Those screams still send shivers down my spine every single time. It’s wild and electric and authentic in all the best ways. What a powerful pick to open with, though I have to say Bonnie Raitt’s “Something to Talk About” holds a special place in my heart too.
I’ve been on a bit of a folk kick lately, and I’ve been deep into Tia Blake’s Folksongs and Ballads from 1972. I think you’d appreciate the simplicity of how her voice aches.
Thank you for your celebration of women in rock and for the passion and thought you bring to these entries. Looking forward to the next one!
Knowing Brad's industry knowledge and readership really spurred me to 'up' my game and look for something out of the ordinary. I'm glad you were wowed by that "Crazy on You" too and enjoyed the incomparable Bonnie.
Thanks for mentioning Tia Blake. I'll definitely look into that.
And thanks to Brad for being game to do a Tune Tag focused on women. I found so many possible picks, I would have enjoyed keeping it going and going, and he's great fun to play it with.
Agreed! That Heart video is so damn good. I don't think I have ever seen it before, but bloody hell, the song erupts and they definitely give it their all! Is it from an outside gig?
It's not clear. The video says 'Live, 1978' but then the poster, Don Jack, put this underneath: "Thanks to @NostalgicRock for the restored Crazy On You segment. The audio bootleg actually says it's Seattle, Washington 06/03/1979, but I don't know what to believe."
Hey, Michael......not sure the venue on the Heart; it's not mentioned on the video info. A guess would be outdoors, though, just guessing by what appears to be wind blowing, although I have seen fans onstage before (and offstage, from around this same time-frame with offstage fans blowing Steven Tyler's scarves hanging off his mic stand, pre-show)!
A great back and forth. I figured Ellen would be a formidable opponent. She may not have been “in the industry” per se, but I find her to be a relentless student. She probably knows more than a lot of folks who have been in some part or another of the music business.
A great start with early Heart. I didn’t know Mike Reid as a writer. I knew he was a classically trained pianist.
Christine McVie is the oft overlooked piece of the Mac puzzle. She was a star of some significance in England, but sort of just immersed herself in whatever FM became. She was overshadowed by the Nicks/Buckingham personalities but in a lot of ways became the glue.
The Pat and Neil story is amazing. It’s hard to stay with anyone for that long much less in the music business, touring and creating together. They created some classic tunes for sure.
It’s been a few decades since I heard The Pursuit of Happiness mentioned. I really enjoyed that first offering but lost track after. I guess they’re still together. Who knew.
I knew Ellen would get a Fanny reference in somewhere. Good job.
This was an extremely enjoyable Tune Tag. Kudos to you both.
Thanks, Daniel. That means so much coming from you.
I kept wishing I had more tags. I would have loved to have included Christine McVie -- yes, have to agree, she was the FM glue -- and many others, but I was also trying to outfox the Label Meister, which is not an easy task (as we have seen).
Yup, Brad would be a “tough nut to crack” for sure. If anyone could do it, you would be the one. I think a rematch is in order. Let’s make it happen Brad.
Thanks so much, Daniel! Ellen's doggedness in the digging is impressive, most certainly!
Mike Reid is such an unusually gifted talent....the physicality for football, and the nimble dexterity needed for ivory-tickling...and songwriting!
You're the second person in a week (someone in the 'Stack sphere...I forget) who's brought up the overlooked and underappreciated talents of Christine McVie, and what she brought to the Mac! Always overlooked due to the powerful media spotlight on the Peter Greens, Bob Welchs, and the Stevie & Lyndsey sideshow, she was so much the backbone of the band as anyone else (in a band pretty much full of backbones!), and I'm sensing, and happily willing to give her props for, being such a giving and altruistic part of the Mac machine!
The Pursuit of Happiness was such a novel entry....they caught Todd's attention, mainly because of their unique approach and the knowingly-winking songcraft!
Ellen and I will get a rematch together soon, no doubt! Thanks again, Dan!
Christine was always my favorite female member of FM. I think the band just about lost its soul when B and N joined, but Christine kept that soul alive.
So right....I think one could argue that, whatever B/N brought to the table (and, it was a lot, creatively), the cost may have, ultimately, been too great (I mean, all that DRAMA!)....but, that's what I mean when I say more of our praise for the Mac ought to go so much more in Christine's direction. Thanks, Charles!
Actually, I never followed the drama part! I literally didn't like what B&N brought to the table musically. I had been a big FM fan--I had all the records from the Peter Green/Danny Kirwan era, and had been trying to persuade my friends to give them a listen. Then my college roommate brought home "Fleetwood Mac", their first album with B&N. I listened in horrified disillusionment. When "Rumours" came out the band was irrevocably dead to me. I'm just glad Mick and the McVies were able to cash out big after all the years in the mines trying to make an honest living!
That's fair.....Good on Mick, though, for recognizing talent...although I believe he was initially taken by Lyndsey's guitar prowess, and 'twas he who insisted Stevie follow him, if Mick was offering a gig!
But, Mac is one of several bands (with many years, if not decades of life, if not prolonged success) who are classic case studies in experiencing (surviving?) drastic line-up/genre directions!
Usually spoken in terms of Acts 1 and 2, besides Mac, there have been Steely Dan (with front man, then changing into studio-only band), Doobie Bros. (pre- and post-McDonald), Genesis (with/without Gabriel, not to mention decade genre changes, '70s/'80s), Journey (pre- and post-Perry, and from jazz fusion to arena/hit rock), and many more!
I was on all those early Mac albums in real time, with 1972's "Bare Trees" being a particular favorite (I was a high school junior). I liked its mellow, tasty, and melodic style.
As for the "new and improved" Mac, late-'70s, their "Tusk" almost cratered the biz all by its lonesome, although they had inadvertent "help" from Frampton...in case you haven't read this one, I witnessed this implosion ("The Crash of '79") from "ground level" in real time:
Bare Trees is a real favorite for me. Yes, many bands went through reinvention. I preferred pre-Perry Journey, but I'm clearly in the minority. One band that has gone through an incredible number of re-inventions is Deep Purple. Probably 12 different lineups. The glue was always Ian Paice, which shows how important the drummer really is. Yes, I recall your Frampton piece. I remember when "Comes Alive" was unavoidable on the radio. Same thing happened with Boston, though I don't think they cratered the industry, more a graceful slide into obscurity.
Deep Purple's a great example....their fandom may have dwindled at a point....some might get exhausted trying to keep up with the lineup changes! I know I saw DP twice in the early-'70s, both times with Ian Gillan (and Buddy Miles opening....what was THAT about!?!)...nothing against him, but they certainly weren't on the same label (Warner Bros.) as DP, and I had none of his albums (just "Them Changes" on the radio constantly), but me and my friends were always anxious to discover new bands! Instead, for two years straight, we got "Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for Buddy Miles!"
"What?!? AGAIN?!?"😁
Boston...no, they were a year or two ahead of Frampton and Mac, and since it took Boston several years (instead of one to a couple for those other two) to record a follow-up, they had no chance to sell 19 million (or similar horrific number) fewer than their debut as Peter and Mac did!!!
Here's the story of THAT week...that began on August 25, 1976, for those who've yet to read it:
What a great Tune Tag, this one was! I loved the theme, and how you guys masterfully succeeded in staying "on topic" at all times! Finding connections is hard enough, let alone when you intentionally reduce the choice in order to shed light on so many great artists that A) don't often get talked about and/or B) many (especially from my generation) don't know or don't know enough about.
Of the ones I knew, I of course love Bonnie Raitt dearly. Such a solid discography from top to bottom, and while my favourite album of hers is Takin' My Time (early/mid 70s), I also love the late 80s early 90s "poppier" Bonnie -- what style can that woman NOT do?
I knew Fanny but it was great to get reacquainted.
And my favourite discovery here was Uncle Dog... loved it! Rock and roll, baby! 🤘🏻🎸
Thanks, Andy! This one was as challenging as it was fun! Ellen brought her "A game," as we say here in the States, sports-wise! Really strange how I'd never heard of Uncle Dog before...their "Old Hat" album was released in '73 on MCA....I was a high school senior, and two years later, I was at "progressive rock" KLOL/Houston, and I don't recall that album in the control room. Guess it didn't pass muster with our Music Director!
I wonder if only doing one album has something to do with it as well? If a band doesn't stick around, it seems you're less likely to hear about them. Or if they don't have any hits.
Also, there was a lot of great stuff coming out then. Wonder if they just got lost in the shuffle.
Right on all counts, Ellen! Storytime: Late-'60s, when, during any given week, Dad would bring home an armload of the new releases. At various times, from '68 to '70 (other years as well, but this time span was pretty prodigious!), I would hold in my hands (and put tonearm to vinyl) the debut albums from such brand new artists as Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt, Jethro Tull.....AT THAT MOMENT, during that entire first week of those artists' debut albums, EACH ONE was just another newly-signed kid hoping against hope that maybe...just maybe, they'd sell 20 albums, or enough to be given the chance to make another!
All of these were, at the time, early-20-something kids, all starry-eyed and hopeful! None could imagine they'd eventually sell billions, headline stadiums, and be inducted into something called the Hall of Fame! And, I guarantee you, none of them considered themselves a legend, or a major talent. They had a dream, high hopes, and enough talent (at that point) to get signed, and allowed entrance into a recording studio!
After they deliver the tapes, Ellen, is when each of these artists relinquish control (many of them HATE that...it's like us and our writing...once we push that "publish" button, it's now all up to our readers!,,,,Our endless editing ends.)
Will the label still be in business another week? Will they be sold to a conglomerate (and, there go all my supporters there who helped get me signed)? Will Springsteen get all my promotion energy? Will I ever get a full-page Billboard ad? Will FM play me? Can AM play me? Mercy.
The greatest examples I have for this phenomenon (great artists whom most humans have never heard of) are the Stephen Michael Schwartz 20-article collection, where we discover (among many other things) why his 1974 RCA debut only sold 15,000 units: https://bradkyle.substack.com/t/stephen-michael-schwartz
They all have their stories....great artists, great songs, great production, and, usually, the common thread running thru each? No radio airplay. Sad...but, that's why there's FR&B....the stories of these staggeringly talented artists need to be told, and experienced by others!
A lot of luck involved, right time and place with the right 'product' for that market. As you say, some extremely talented and deserving people never made it, and some less talented people lucked out.
It's great that you are telling their stories and giving them airplay now, including in this TT for the talented and deserving Shirley Eikhorn. I didn't know about her before this either, but what an impressive track record.
Another classic TT event! Love the ladies-forward theme of this one. I will say that I got to meet (and see in concert) three of these picks -- Pat Benatar, Bonnie Raitt, and Fanny. Pat Benatar I met on the street, right after she released Precious Time, when I was 16. She was walking with drummer Myron Grombacher, who happened to be my 2nd favorite drummer (#1 was Rush's Neil Peart). I was on my way to my grandparents' house, and when they neared, I said, "Are you Myron Grombacher?" Bonnie Raitt I met at the Seattle WOMAD festival in 2000, when the org I worked for (WEN: World Entertainment Network) did interviews with many of the artists there. Bonnie was extremely down-to-earth. Fanny played their first live shows in decades a couple of years ago, and one was at an Asian Islander Pacific Arts Festival in San Francisco, which I attended.
But enough about me....I did not know Shirley Eichard, so thanks for making me feel better about that, Brad! I was feeling like I should have. I also didn't know Uncle Dog, which I didn't feel bad about. It was a musical chess match of epic proportions.
'Are you Myron Grombacher?' would make a great title for a music quiz show or a short story -- or a substack post.
Funny about that, I almost put it in this TT, but one of my high school classmates, Al Lewis, was the Pat Benatar drummer on one of their recent tours. I saw him at our reunion last fall and he looks like a rock star -- they seem to go to rock star hairdressers who know how to cut that very specific look -- and he is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet.
Re Shirley Eikhard, it's criminal how many Brits and Canadians and other nationalities have been turned down by US record companies. Even the Beatles had trouble. So she's in good company on that score, but who knows how much we've missed out on!
It’s funny you should say that that story should be a Substack post, because I’m actually working on a Pat Benatar triptych and am trying to figure out how to make it work as three separate posts because they all go together. It’s more memoir than music history based. It’s going to be way too long for a single post. Anyway, I feel like mentioning it out loud will push it into existence.
I sort of thought that by approaching her drummer who I’m sure never got directly talked to the way Pat would have, would be my in to actually having a conversation with them. You’ll have to wait for the post to find out if that was successful or not! :-)
Thanks a bunch, Steve! I love your stories.....I wonder if that's the first time Myron Grombacher has ever heard the query, "Are you Myron Grombacher?"
Didn't you write about seeing Fanny at the AIPAF? I seem to recall reading something about your Fanny......let me rephrase that!
Feel free to drop the link in here somewhere!
It's bizarre to realize that no U.S. label saw fit to release those first 4 Shirley Eikhard albums! I was curious to discover why I'D never heard of her after my years in radio and records...once I saw her career Discogs page....."Oh, 4/5 of her output was never released in the States!" And, Uncle Dog I was unaware of. Thanks again!
I love this celebration of women in music so much! When Brad approached me about doing a Tune Tag (next week’s!) I had in my mind that I would pick all female artists, but then I ended up finding a song that wasn’t by a female artist that I just had to use 😂 Now, I almost regret that because it would have been great to have two all female Tune Tags in a row!
God I love Heart! And Pat Benatar! I’m going to have to go read your pieces on females in rock!
Thanks, Kristin! I love when the Tag is organic....go with your heart, go with your gut, when it comes to choosing song'n'artist! So, I'm glad you went with your 💖 on that particular artist! I have to remind myself of that, too, from time to time!
On a TT I'm playing now, I struggled mightily with NOT including one particular song/artist...we'd kinda gone, already, too many times to that similar well! But, after spending extra time trying to wriggle my way out of it, I realized there's no better song/artist, in that position, than the one I'd already landed on!
By all means, do check out Ellen's articles on females in rock! And, don't forget to consider cross-posting! Thanks again, Kristin....see you next week!🌟🎵👍
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Kristin, and I'm going to look forward to your TT next week.
Maybe next time we ask Brad to schedule us back to back, and then we conspire to stump the Grand Master with our women in music picks.
I love Heart and Pat Benatar too, and I had to remind myself that not everyone knows them because they are so much a part of my rock 'n' roll DNA. And it's good to remind people through their tunes how fab they are. Same for Bonnie and Fannie. You can never get too much.
I've been out of the loop for awhile, and came back from a long trip to find this still sitting in my inbox. Wow, what a great series of picks by both of you. All the back-stories are head-spinning--as one would expect from you two.
I've been on a bit of a Heart kick recently, having found a bunch of amazing covers of their songs. They are true rock gods, so it was great that you kicked off this round with them.
Thanks so much, Charles. This is double the fun because you never know what song Brad will pick, or why, and there seem to be intriguing stories behind every group and song.
I'm looking forward to reading the Wilson sisters' joint autobiography. Expecting there will be a lot of great stories and a big dose of inspiration, because have to agree that they are true rock gods. Just this song alone at the beginning of their career!
Thanks, Charles! Glad you finally landed from your trip, and landed here! This was certainly a fun one with Ellen! We oughta be able to reprise our efforts sometime soon....stay tuned!
Wow, an amazing Tune Tag! This was wonderful!! Storming out of the gate with that live performance of “Crazy On You” really set the tone. The two Bonnie Raitt songs (I’d not heard the Nancy Wilson cover) were lovely. Despite going to university in Canada, I wasn’t familiar with Shirley Eikhard - I’ll have to check out her work. The Pat Benatar live performance was a revelation. I’ve always known she had an amazing voice but I didn’t know she was still active. Despite never having heard the song, I loved it. And she sounded incredible and is clearly still having so much fun! I do vividly remember TPOH’s big hit “I’m an Adult Now” from my college days in Halifax but never listened to much of their music (didn’t realize they were still going strong either). I’ve not explored Fanny’s music which is a gross oversight on my part. I’m looking forward to digging into their catalog and reading about them when Ellen covers them.
I loved this celebration of women in music, thanks so much Brad and Ellen!!
Thanks, Mark! This was fun, no doubt! Ellen and I may just have to get together as soon as this summer! That's a bit sooner than I usually do, but as we're about to pass 80 comments and several handfuls of likes, I reckon we're due for a right proper encore!
I was surprised to see Miss Nancy tackle Bonnie's hit, as well! I did NOT have that on my Bingo card!! It's so much fun to watch her mic technique, and her sometimes over-the-top histrionics. But, as I told myself when watching it....if you can do it, DO it!!! She can SO pull off those oh-so-different mannerisms, and it sure beats just another ho-hum run-through one can hear anywhere. Dad loved Nancy...and Ella (my fave), Peggy Lee, Sassy Vaughan, and others I heard coming out of his den, growing up!
TPOH is fun....I think this TT managed to edge, for me, "She's So Young" slightly past "I'm an Adult Now." There are more smoother pop elements in "SSY" for me than the more anthemic "Adult". Picking nits, I know, but, I've not stopped singing to myself "SSY" the past week!
After you....uh, dig into Fanny, check out Goldie & the Gingerbreads, Mark....one of the first female ROCK bands (who played their own instruments) to record in the '60s. Goldie (aka Genya Ravan) produced The Dead Boys' debut Sire album in 1977. Oh look, I wrote about it!
Thanks for that lovely comment, Mark. It was a pleasure to do as the songs and performances I was finding were so great. And there were other artists who would have been wonderful to include as well. Have to do a rematch with the great Kyle-dini and include more!
I have a CD somewhere of Buckingham & Nicks before they joined Fleetwood Mac. Also had some pre-fame Beatles material. BTW must tell you about a fellow I worked with who knew John Lennon in art school.
That lone B&N album (1973, on U.S. Polydor Records) was in the control room of Houston's commercial FM-rocker, KLOL, by the time I got there in '75 (as a precocious 20-year-old)! We were also given (by his manager, Mike Appel) cassettes of Springsteen's live "Fever" and "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" (Bruce hated that Appel did that)!
We transferred them from cassettes to radio's standard 4-track cartridges ("carts") that we also had our ads and PSAs on, and played them fairly frequently....all prior to his '75 "Born to Run" breakthrough!
Houston was an early advocate for Bruce with his first 2 albums, as he played downtown's Liberty Hall at least once that I know of. Here's a story of my time at KLOL that I wrote a couple years ago:
Great Tune Tag you guys, I learned a few things here!
Brad, I have to thank you because I remember hearing that POH song "I'm An Adult Now" on the radio a bunch when I was in college but never knew who did it because it was the pre-Shazam days. It was such a great song and I'm glad to finally know who the band is so I can check out some of their other stuff. So much amazing music has come out of Canada; I also didn't know the writer of Something To Talk About was from Canada as well.
Thanks, Adam! Glad I Shazam-ed a song for ya! I find "She's So Young" quite the earworm, especially lately as I've worked on the TT this week! You're right about Canada....I HAD to find out why I'd never heard of Shirley Eikhard before....glad I discovered it was because only 1 of 5 had actually enjoyed a U.S. release!
Thanks so much, AJ. I was really pleased when you talked about Bonnie in your recent live session and how it took her about 15 years to make it big. I had to stifle my urge to say that she was in this Tune Tag with her biggest breakout song -- and written by a woman. Didn't want to spoil the surprise,
Hehe, well feel free in the future to chime in! And yes, I was really surprised when I heard her back story and how long she'd been at it before she finally hit. But I guess we the listeners benefit from all that "seasoning" she went through during those lean years.
I think artist and label can sometimes act like a player and a team in sports, Adam! Bonnie was with Warner Bros, and had middlin' album success (found regular play on FM stations), but was looking for that break-out hit that never came (from The Label of The Bunny, anyway)!
But, a change to Capitol, producer, and finding the right song led to her break-out AM radio success, and the album sales that followed! Sometimes, it's the players around you meshing with your talents that brings the ultimate success!
Whooo . . . Maybe I've spent too much time with Brad's silly gif's, but I want to pull out the Jim Carrey "Smokin" image.
Ellen found some great live or alternate performances. "Crazy On You" is a great opener, and I love Nancy Wilson's guitar playing. That opening is great, and the sheer rock-and-roll swagger of the whole thing is impeccable.
I also loved the Fanny track. I'd been wow'd by the live performance of "Last Night I Had A Dream" and that's a completely different mood but just great.
I hadn't heard "Something To Talk About" before, and that also has a great heat and swagger to it (and I loved the transition to hearing Shirley Eikhard performing her own work).
Two random associations: First seeing all of Ellen's comments about songs containing various shades of longing, I was thinking of Gram Parsons / Emmylou Harris "We'll Sweep Out The Ashes" (which, I hadn't realized, was written by a woman -- Joyce Allsup ) . A great song of embracing temptation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8c2SI1bq1E
Also, the story about "I Can't Make You Love Me" reminds me of the story behind "Brother Can You Spare A Dime"
"Harburg had some lyrics in mind, but the team couldn’t think up a title. They decided to take a break and take a walk in New York’s Central Park. A young man approached Gorney, his collar turned up and his hat pulled low. “Buddy, can you spare a dime?” he asked. The two songwriters glanced at each other and knew they’d found the words they’d been searching for."
Just listened to the Gram Parsons/Emmylou Harris song. Thanks for sharing that, Nick. Last week I found a perfect copy of Ben Fong-Torres' 1991 biography of Gram in a library sale for only $2. I was so excited. Such an influential figure from that time period. It doesn't take much to float my boat!
That's right, you've been reading a lot about that period of music history. I know that Gram Parsons was well-respected, but don't have a clear sense of his influence. I will be curious to see if he ends up making an appearance in any of your posts.
He's an interesting character with quite a history despite his short life. We'll see if he shows up, depending on which women I focus on. I'm curious too!
"We'll Sweep Out the Ashes"...I had that "GP" album, but, at 18 in '73, I wasn't really getting into it! I just noticed, though, that Emmylou recorded it again on her '82 "Last Date" live album, with a Barry Tashian dueting.
Love Jim Carrey, so maybe Brad can add that! (I loved all the silly gif's too.)
I'm glad you discovered "Something to Talk About." It's an amazing song by an artist who took about 15 years to make it big. Bonnie refused to leave music despite having your typical music industry woes, so she's one of my musical heroes.
"Brother Can You Spare a Dime" is such an iconic title. I'd never heard that story before.
I'm going to look into Joyce Allsup now, thanks for linking to that song.
Hey, Brad, thanks again for hosting me. It was uber-fun, but since I didn't trounce you, there has to be a rematch! But first I have to recover, because you really kept me on my toes at every turn.
It WAS a fun trip, Ellen, and I thank you so much for your original theme idea, and the brilliant song'n'artist choices! A rematch? Oh, it is ON, sistah....it is SO on!💪😁👍💖🎵
I'll be hittin' the gym, you can count on it. And knockin' back those rock 'n' roll docs like they're M&Ms!
Hi Ellen,
That live performance of “Crazy on You”? Wow. It starts with such a beautiful, low key acoustic solo, only to build up and explode into that awesome chorus. Those screams still send shivers down my spine every single time. It’s wild and electric and authentic in all the best ways. What a powerful pick to open with, though I have to say Bonnie Raitt’s “Something to Talk About” holds a special place in my heart too.
I’ve been on a bit of a folk kick lately, and I’ve been deep into Tia Blake’s Folksongs and Ballads from 1972. I think you’d appreciate the simplicity of how her voice aches.
Thank you for your celebration of women in rock and for the passion and thought you bring to these entries. Looking forward to the next one!
Knowing Brad's industry knowledge and readership really spurred me to 'up' my game and look for something out of the ordinary. I'm glad you were wowed by that "Crazy on You" too and enjoyed the incomparable Bonnie.
Thanks for mentioning Tia Blake. I'll definitely look into that.
And thanks to Brad for being game to do a Tune Tag focused on women. I found so many possible picks, I would have enjoyed keeping it going and going, and he's great fun to play it with.
Agreed! That Heart video is so damn good. I don't think I have ever seen it before, but bloody hell, the song erupts and they definitely give it their all! Is it from an outside gig?
It's not clear. The video says 'Live, 1978' but then the poster, Don Jack, put this underneath: "Thanks to @NostalgicRock for the restored Crazy On You segment. The audio bootleg actually says it's Seattle, Washington 06/03/1979, but I don't know what to believe."
Hey, Michael......not sure the venue on the Heart; it's not mentioned on the video info. A guess would be outdoors, though, just guessing by what appears to be wind blowing, although I have seen fans onstage before (and offstage, from around this same time-frame with offstage fans blowing Steven Tyler's scarves hanging off his mic stand, pre-show)!
I posted at same time as you, sorry!
I also thought the acoustic solo opening of "Crazy On Me" was really striking and great.
At the risk of being rude, and promoting my own work, if you're on a folk kick, I think you'd really enjoy Judy Roderick, which I just wrote about here: https://earnestnessisunderrated.substack.com/p/woman-blue
You're always welcome to drop a link here, Nick, and share your stuff...as is everyone! Feel free!😁👍
A great back and forth. I figured Ellen would be a formidable opponent. She may not have been “in the industry” per se, but I find her to be a relentless student. She probably knows more than a lot of folks who have been in some part or another of the music business.
A great start with early Heart. I didn’t know Mike Reid as a writer. I knew he was a classically trained pianist.
Christine McVie is the oft overlooked piece of the Mac puzzle. She was a star of some significance in England, but sort of just immersed herself in whatever FM became. She was overshadowed by the Nicks/Buckingham personalities but in a lot of ways became the glue.
The Pat and Neil story is amazing. It’s hard to stay with anyone for that long much less in the music business, touring and creating together. They created some classic tunes for sure.
It’s been a few decades since I heard The Pursuit of Happiness mentioned. I really enjoyed that first offering but lost track after. I guess they’re still together. Who knew.
I knew Ellen would get a Fanny reference in somewhere. Good job.
This was an extremely enjoyable Tune Tag. Kudos to you both.
Thanks, Daniel. That means so much coming from you.
I kept wishing I had more tags. I would have loved to have included Christine McVie -- yes, have to agree, she was the FM glue -- and many others, but I was also trying to outfox the Label Meister, which is not an easy task (as we have seen).
Yup, Brad would be a “tough nut to crack” for sure. If anyone could do it, you would be the one. I think a rematch is in order. Let’s make it happen Brad.
Thanks so much, Daniel! Ellen's doggedness in the digging is impressive, most certainly!
Mike Reid is such an unusually gifted talent....the physicality for football, and the nimble dexterity needed for ivory-tickling...and songwriting!
You're the second person in a week (someone in the 'Stack sphere...I forget) who's brought up the overlooked and underappreciated talents of Christine McVie, and what she brought to the Mac! Always overlooked due to the powerful media spotlight on the Peter Greens, Bob Welchs, and the Stevie & Lyndsey sideshow, she was so much the backbone of the band as anyone else (in a band pretty much full of backbones!), and I'm sensing, and happily willing to give her props for, being such a giving and altruistic part of the Mac machine!
The Pursuit of Happiness was such a novel entry....they caught Todd's attention, mainly because of their unique approach and the knowingly-winking songcraft!
Ellen and I will get a rematch together soon, no doubt! Thanks again, Dan!
Christine was always my favorite female member of FM. I think the band just about lost its soul when B and N joined, but Christine kept that soul alive.
So right....I think one could argue that, whatever B/N brought to the table (and, it was a lot, creatively), the cost may have, ultimately, been too great (I mean, all that DRAMA!)....but, that's what I mean when I say more of our praise for the Mac ought to go so much more in Christine's direction. Thanks, Charles!
Actually, I never followed the drama part! I literally didn't like what B&N brought to the table musically. I had been a big FM fan--I had all the records from the Peter Green/Danny Kirwan era, and had been trying to persuade my friends to give them a listen. Then my college roommate brought home "Fleetwood Mac", their first album with B&N. I listened in horrified disillusionment. When "Rumours" came out the band was irrevocably dead to me. I'm just glad Mick and the McVies were able to cash out big after all the years in the mines trying to make an honest living!
That's fair.....Good on Mick, though, for recognizing talent...although I believe he was initially taken by Lyndsey's guitar prowess, and 'twas he who insisted Stevie follow him, if Mick was offering a gig!
But, Mac is one of several bands (with many years, if not decades of life, if not prolonged success) who are classic case studies in experiencing (surviving?) drastic line-up/genre directions!
Usually spoken in terms of Acts 1 and 2, besides Mac, there have been Steely Dan (with front man, then changing into studio-only band), Doobie Bros. (pre- and post-McDonald), Genesis (with/without Gabriel, not to mention decade genre changes, '70s/'80s), Journey (pre- and post-Perry, and from jazz fusion to arena/hit rock), and many more!
I was on all those early Mac albums in real time, with 1972's "Bare Trees" being a particular favorite (I was a high school junior). I liked its mellow, tasty, and melodic style.
As for the "new and improved" Mac, late-'70s, their "Tusk" almost cratered the biz all by its lonesome, although they had inadvertent "help" from Frampton...in case you haven't read this one, I witnessed this implosion ("The Crash of '79") from "ground level" in real time:
https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/the-crash-of-79-albums-by-peter-frampton?utm_source=publication-search
Great discussion, all of it, Charles, and all these bands' "growth," "alterations," and "troop additions" always make riveting debates!
Bare Trees is a real favorite for me. Yes, many bands went through reinvention. I preferred pre-Perry Journey, but I'm clearly in the minority. One band that has gone through an incredible number of re-inventions is Deep Purple. Probably 12 different lineups. The glue was always Ian Paice, which shows how important the drummer really is. Yes, I recall your Frampton piece. I remember when "Comes Alive" was unavoidable on the radio. Same thing happened with Boston, though I don't think they cratered the industry, more a graceful slide into obscurity.
Deep Purple's a great example....their fandom may have dwindled at a point....some might get exhausted trying to keep up with the lineup changes! I know I saw DP twice in the early-'70s, both times with Ian Gillan (and Buddy Miles opening....what was THAT about!?!)...nothing against him, but they certainly weren't on the same label (Warner Bros.) as DP, and I had none of his albums (just "Them Changes" on the radio constantly), but me and my friends were always anxious to discover new bands! Instead, for two years straight, we got "Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for Buddy Miles!"
"What?!? AGAIN?!?"😁
Boston...no, they were a year or two ahead of Frampton and Mac, and since it took Boston several years (instead of one to a couple for those other two) to record a follow-up, they had no chance to sell 19 million (or similar horrific number) fewer than their debut as Peter and Mac did!!!
Here's the story of THAT week...that began on August 25, 1976, for those who've yet to read it:
https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/breaking-boston-behind-the-scenes?utm_source=publication-search
What a great Tune Tag, this one was! I loved the theme, and how you guys masterfully succeeded in staying "on topic" at all times! Finding connections is hard enough, let alone when you intentionally reduce the choice in order to shed light on so many great artists that A) don't often get talked about and/or B) many (especially from my generation) don't know or don't know enough about.
Of the ones I knew, I of course love Bonnie Raitt dearly. Such a solid discography from top to bottom, and while my favourite album of hers is Takin' My Time (early/mid 70s), I also love the late 80s early 90s "poppier" Bonnie -- what style can that woman NOT do?
I knew Fanny but it was great to get reacquainted.
And my favourite discovery here was Uncle Dog... loved it! Rock and roll, baby! 🤘🏻🎸
Fab work, guys!!
Thanks, Andy! This one was as challenging as it was fun! Ellen brought her "A game," as we say here in the States, sports-wise! Really strange how I'd never heard of Uncle Dog before...their "Old Hat" album was released in '73 on MCA....I was a high school senior, and two years later, I was at "progressive rock" KLOL/Houston, and I don't recall that album in the control room. Guess it didn't pass muster with our Music Director!
I wonder if only doing one album has something to do with it as well? If a band doesn't stick around, it seems you're less likely to hear about them. Or if they don't have any hits.
Also, there was a lot of great stuff coming out then. Wonder if they just got lost in the shuffle.
Right on all counts, Ellen! Storytime: Late-'60s, when, during any given week, Dad would bring home an armload of the new releases. At various times, from '68 to '70 (other years as well, but this time span was pretty prodigious!), I would hold in my hands (and put tonearm to vinyl) the debut albums from such brand new artists as Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt, Jethro Tull.....AT THAT MOMENT, during that entire first week of those artists' debut albums, EACH ONE was just another newly-signed kid hoping against hope that maybe...just maybe, they'd sell 20 albums, or enough to be given the chance to make another!
All of these were, at the time, early-20-something kids, all starry-eyed and hopeful! None could imagine they'd eventually sell billions, headline stadiums, and be inducted into something called the Hall of Fame! And, I guarantee you, none of them considered themselves a legend, or a major talent. They had a dream, high hopes, and enough talent (at that point) to get signed, and allowed entrance into a recording studio!
After they deliver the tapes, Ellen, is when each of these artists relinquish control (many of them HATE that...it's like us and our writing...once we push that "publish" button, it's now all up to our readers!,,,,Our endless editing ends.)
Will the label still be in business another week? Will they be sold to a conglomerate (and, there go all my supporters there who helped get me signed)? Will Springsteen get all my promotion energy? Will I ever get a full-page Billboard ad? Will FM play me? Can AM play me? Mercy.
The greatest examples I have for this phenomenon (great artists whom most humans have never heard of) are the Stephen Michael Schwartz 20-article collection, where we discover (among many other things) why his 1974 RCA debut only sold 15,000 units: https://bradkyle.substack.com/t/stephen-michael-schwartz
This one on the week Boston's historic debut was released by Epic, the last week of August 1976, and the 3 other artists' Epic debuts were released with it....no one's ever heard of those incredible artists: (https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/breaking-boston-behind-the-scenes?utm_source=publication-search),
and, Sneaker, with 2 CBS affiliate albums in the early '80s, produced by Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, yet!! https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/audio-autopsy-1981sneaker-2-albums?utm_source=publication-search
They all have their stories....great artists, great songs, great production, and, usually, the common thread running thru each? No radio airplay. Sad...but, that's why there's FR&B....the stories of these staggeringly talented artists need to be told, and experienced by others!
A lot of luck involved, right time and place with the right 'product' for that market. As you say, some extremely talented and deserving people never made it, and some less talented people lucked out.
It's great that you are telling their stories and giving them airplay now, including in this TT for the talented and deserving Shirley Eikhorn. I didn't know about her before this either, but what an impressive track record.
Thanks, Andres, so glad you enjoyed it. Uncle Dog was a valued discovery for me as well.
Another classic TT event! Love the ladies-forward theme of this one. I will say that I got to meet (and see in concert) three of these picks -- Pat Benatar, Bonnie Raitt, and Fanny. Pat Benatar I met on the street, right after she released Precious Time, when I was 16. She was walking with drummer Myron Grombacher, who happened to be my 2nd favorite drummer (#1 was Rush's Neil Peart). I was on my way to my grandparents' house, and when they neared, I said, "Are you Myron Grombacher?" Bonnie Raitt I met at the Seattle WOMAD festival in 2000, when the org I worked for (WEN: World Entertainment Network) did interviews with many of the artists there. Bonnie was extremely down-to-earth. Fanny played their first live shows in decades a couple of years ago, and one was at an Asian Islander Pacific Arts Festival in San Francisco, which I attended.
But enough about me....I did not know Shirley Eichard, so thanks for making me feel better about that, Brad! I was feeling like I should have. I also didn't know Uncle Dog, which I didn't feel bad about. It was a musical chess match of epic proportions.
So glad you enjoyed it, Steve.
'Are you Myron Grombacher?' would make a great title for a music quiz show or a short story -- or a substack post.
Funny about that, I almost put it in this TT, but one of my high school classmates, Al Lewis, was the Pat Benatar drummer on one of their recent tours. I saw him at our reunion last fall and he looks like a rock star -- they seem to go to rock star hairdressers who know how to cut that very specific look -- and he is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet.
Re Shirley Eikhard, it's criminal how many Brits and Canadians and other nationalities have been turned down by US record companies. Even the Beatles had trouble. So she's in good company on that score, but who knows how much we've missed out on!
It’s funny you should say that that story should be a Substack post, because I’m actually working on a Pat Benatar triptych and am trying to figure out how to make it work as three separate posts because they all go together. It’s more memoir than music history based. It’s going to be way too long for a single post. Anyway, I feel like mentioning it out loud will push it into existence.
I sort of thought that by approaching her drummer who I’m sure never got directly talked to the way Pat would have, would be my in to actually having a conversation with them. You’ll have to wait for the post to find out if that was successful or not! :-)
That sounds great. Looking forward to it. Rock and roll memoir is a fave.
Thanks a bunch, Steve! I love your stories.....I wonder if that's the first time Myron Grombacher has ever heard the query, "Are you Myron Grombacher?"
Didn't you write about seeing Fanny at the AIPAF? I seem to recall reading something about your Fanny......let me rephrase that!
Feel free to drop the link in here somewhere!
It's bizarre to realize that no U.S. label saw fit to release those first 4 Shirley Eikhard albums! I was curious to discover why I'D never heard of her after my years in radio and records...once I saw her career Discogs page....."Oh, 4/5 of her output was never released in the States!" And, Uncle Dog I was unaware of. Thanks again!
I love this celebration of women in music so much! When Brad approached me about doing a Tune Tag (next week’s!) I had in my mind that I would pick all female artists, but then I ended up finding a song that wasn’t by a female artist that I just had to use 😂 Now, I almost regret that because it would have been great to have two all female Tune Tags in a row!
God I love Heart! And Pat Benatar! I’m going to have to go read your pieces on females in rock!
This was a great Tune Tag!
Thanks, Kristin! I love when the Tag is organic....go with your heart, go with your gut, when it comes to choosing song'n'artist! So, I'm glad you went with your 💖 on that particular artist! I have to remind myself of that, too, from time to time!
On a TT I'm playing now, I struggled mightily with NOT including one particular song/artist...we'd kinda gone, already, too many times to that similar well! But, after spending extra time trying to wriggle my way out of it, I realized there's no better song/artist, in that position, than the one I'd already landed on!
By all means, do check out Ellen's articles on females in rock! And, don't forget to consider cross-posting! Thanks again, Kristin....see you next week!🌟🎵👍
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Kristin, and I'm going to look forward to your TT next week.
Maybe next time we ask Brad to schedule us back to back, and then we conspire to stump the Grand Master with our women in music picks.
I love Heart and Pat Benatar too, and I had to remind myself that not everyone knows them because they are so much a part of my rock 'n' roll DNA. And it's good to remind people through their tunes how fab they are. Same for Bonnie and Fannie. You can never get too much.
We should totally tag team with Brad!! Hahahaha
I don’t know Fannie, but absolutely remember Bonnie! This tune tag took me back to when I was a teen and all the awesome female rockers!!
I've been out of the loop for awhile, and came back from a long trip to find this still sitting in my inbox. Wow, what a great series of picks by both of you. All the back-stories are head-spinning--as one would expect from you two.
I've been on a bit of a Heart kick recently, having found a bunch of amazing covers of their songs. They are true rock gods, so it was great that you kicked off this round with them.
Fun read!
Thanks so much, Charles. This is double the fun because you never know what song Brad will pick, or why, and there seem to be intriguing stories behind every group and song.
I'm looking forward to reading the Wilson sisters' joint autobiography. Expecting there will be a lot of great stories and a big dose of inspiration, because have to agree that they are true rock gods. Just this song alone at the beginning of their career!
Great to hear about that joint autobio from the Wilsons, Ellen! Hadn't heard about that before!
Thanks, Charles! Glad you finally landed from your trip, and landed here! This was certainly a fun one with Ellen! We oughta be able to reprise our efforts sometime soon....stay tuned!
Wow, an amazing Tune Tag! This was wonderful!! Storming out of the gate with that live performance of “Crazy On You” really set the tone. The two Bonnie Raitt songs (I’d not heard the Nancy Wilson cover) were lovely. Despite going to university in Canada, I wasn’t familiar with Shirley Eikhard - I’ll have to check out her work. The Pat Benatar live performance was a revelation. I’ve always known she had an amazing voice but I didn’t know she was still active. Despite never having heard the song, I loved it. And she sounded incredible and is clearly still having so much fun! I do vividly remember TPOH’s big hit “I’m an Adult Now” from my college days in Halifax but never listened to much of their music (didn’t realize they were still going strong either). I’ve not explored Fanny’s music which is a gross oversight on my part. I’m looking forward to digging into their catalog and reading about them when Ellen covers them.
I loved this celebration of women in music, thanks so much Brad and Ellen!!
Thanks, Mark! This was fun, no doubt! Ellen and I may just have to get together as soon as this summer! That's a bit sooner than I usually do, but as we're about to pass 80 comments and several handfuls of likes, I reckon we're due for a right proper encore!
I was surprised to see Miss Nancy tackle Bonnie's hit, as well! I did NOT have that on my Bingo card!! It's so much fun to watch her mic technique, and her sometimes over-the-top histrionics. But, as I told myself when watching it....if you can do it, DO it!!! She can SO pull off those oh-so-different mannerisms, and it sure beats just another ho-hum run-through one can hear anywhere. Dad loved Nancy...and Ella (my fave), Peggy Lee, Sassy Vaughan, and others I heard coming out of his den, growing up!
TPOH is fun....I think this TT managed to edge, for me, "She's So Young" slightly past "I'm an Adult Now." There are more smoother pop elements in "SSY" for me than the more anthemic "Adult". Picking nits, I know, but, I've not stopped singing to myself "SSY" the past week!
After you....uh, dig into Fanny, check out Goldie & the Gingerbreads, Mark....one of the first female ROCK bands (who played their own instruments) to record in the '60s. Goldie (aka Genya Ravan) produced The Dead Boys' debut Sire album in 1977. Oh look, I wrote about it!
https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/unearthing-the-dead-boys-young-loud?utm_source=publication-search
Enjoy....and, thanks again!
Thanks for that lovely comment, Mark. It was a pleasure to do as the songs and performances I was finding were so great. And there were other artists who would have been wonderful to include as well. Have to do a rematch with the great Kyle-dini and include more!
So much fun! You two are brilliant.
Well, thank you, Chris! Ellen was certainly fun to bat songs around with!
Truth. A great musical adventure.
A most excellent Tune Tag!
I'd say the two of you are well-matched, digging deep into your respective areas of expertise and coming up with plenty of gold. . . very fun!
Thanks, Hugh! Glad you had as much fun as we did.
I remember seeing Lucinda Williams sharing a sage with Shirley Eikhard and being wowed by Eikhard’s voice. Gurf Morlix was there … ask him.
She was huge in Canada as a singer, wasn't she? (I see you're Canadian. Love your icon btw.)
She did have a lot of influence in the US as well, but it seems more as a songwriter for other singers, like Cher.
Didn’t Fleetwood Mac do one (or was she covering Fleetwood Mac)?
Yes, she covered some Fleetwood Mac songs right before their hugely successful self-titled album came out in 1976.
I have a CD somewhere of Buckingham & Nicks before they joined Fleetwood Mac. Also had some pre-fame Beatles material. BTW must tell you about a fellow I worked with who knew John Lennon in art school.
That lone B&N album (1973, on U.S. Polydor Records) was in the control room of Houston's commercial FM-rocker, KLOL, by the time I got there in '75 (as a precocious 20-year-old)! We were also given (by his manager, Mike Appel) cassettes of Springsteen's live "Fever" and "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" (Bruce hated that Appel did that)!
We transferred them from cassettes to radio's standard 4-track cartridges ("carts") that we also had our ads and PSAs on, and played them fairly frequently....all prior to his '75 "Born to Run" breakthrough!
Houston was an early advocate for Bruce with his first 2 albums, as he played downtown's Liberty Hall at least once that I know of. Here's a story of my time at KLOL that I wrote a couple years ago:
https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/behind-the-mic-a-personal-peek-into-9a2?utm_source=publication-search
Thanks, David!
All ears about John Lennon! Like many, I'm quite fascinated with him.
This was such a cool post! Thanks, Brad and Ellen!
Glad you enjoyed it, Michael. It's quite motivational when you're trying to keep up with someone who's got DJ knowledge and crack research skills.
Thanks, Michael! Glad you liked! Ellen, take a bow.............and, a🎀!
You also!
Good idea! Keep it going!
Wish I could, but women in rock posts beckon on my own stack. I'll definitely be back for a rematch.
Great Tune Tag you guys, I learned a few things here!
Brad, I have to thank you because I remember hearing that POH song "I'm An Adult Now" on the radio a bunch when I was in college but never knew who did it because it was the pre-Shazam days. It was such a great song and I'm glad to finally know who the band is so I can check out some of their other stuff. So much amazing music has come out of Canada; I also didn't know the writer of Something To Talk About was from Canada as well.
Thanks, Adam! Glad I Shazam-ed a song for ya! I find "She's So Young" quite the earworm, especially lately as I've worked on the TT this week! You're right about Canada....I HAD to find out why I'd never heard of Shirley Eikhard before....glad I discovered it was because only 1 of 5 had actually enjoyed a U.S. release!
Yeah she's definitely a gem! I need to dig into her stuff too. And thanks for being my Shazam on this one lol!
Thanks so much, AJ. I was really pleased when you talked about Bonnie in your recent live session and how it took her about 15 years to make it big. I had to stifle my urge to say that she was in this Tune Tag with her biggest breakout song -- and written by a woman. Didn't want to spoil the surprise,
Hehe, well feel free in the future to chime in! And yes, I was really surprised when I heard her back story and how long she'd been at it before she finally hit. But I guess we the listeners benefit from all that "seasoning" she went through during those lean years.
I think artist and label can sometimes act like a player and a team in sports, Adam! Bonnie was with Warner Bros, and had middlin' album success (found regular play on FM stations), but was looking for that break-out hit that never came (from The Label of The Bunny, anyway)!
But, a change to Capitol, producer, and finding the right song led to her break-out AM radio success, and the album sales that followed! Sometimes, it's the players around you meshing with your talents that brings the ultimate success!
Love the nostalgia, and the girl's night theme. 🎸
Thanks, Paul!
Whooo . . . Maybe I've spent too much time with Brad's silly gif's, but I want to pull out the Jim Carrey "Smokin" image.
Ellen found some great live or alternate performances. "Crazy On You" is a great opener, and I love Nancy Wilson's guitar playing. That opening is great, and the sheer rock-and-roll swagger of the whole thing is impeccable.
I also loved the Fanny track. I'd been wow'd by the live performance of "Last Night I Had A Dream" and that's a completely different mood but just great.
I hadn't heard "Something To Talk About" before, and that also has a great heat and swagger to it (and I loved the transition to hearing Shirley Eikhard performing her own work).
Two random associations: First seeing all of Ellen's comments about songs containing various shades of longing, I was thinking of Gram Parsons / Emmylou Harris "We'll Sweep Out The Ashes" (which, I hadn't realized, was written by a woman -- Joyce Allsup ) . A great song of embracing temptation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8c2SI1bq1E
Also, the story about "I Can't Make You Love Me" reminds me of the story behind "Brother Can You Spare A Dime"
"Harburg had some lyrics in mind, but the team couldn’t think up a title. They decided to take a break and take a walk in New York’s Central Park. A young man approached Gorney, his collar turned up and his hat pulled low. “Buddy, can you spare a dime?” he asked. The two songwriters glanced at each other and knew they’d found the words they’d been searching for."
Just listened to the Gram Parsons/Emmylou Harris song. Thanks for sharing that, Nick. Last week I found a perfect copy of Ben Fong-Torres' 1991 biography of Gram in a library sale for only $2. I was so excited. Such an influential figure from that time period. It doesn't take much to float my boat!
That's right, you've been reading a lot about that period of music history. I know that Gram Parsons was well-respected, but don't have a clear sense of his influence. I will be curious to see if he ends up making an appearance in any of your posts.
He's an interesting character with quite a history despite his short life. We'll see if he shows up, depending on which women I focus on. I'm curious too!
"We'll Sweep Out the Ashes"...I had that "GP" album, but, at 18 in '73, I wasn't really getting into it! I just noticed, though, that Emmylou recorded it again on her '82 "Last Date" live album, with a Barry Tashian dueting.
As for Joyce Allsup, she's not on Wiki, but, here's her Discogs page: https://www.discogs.com/artist/1354429-Joyce-Allsup
She was a strictly CW songwriter in the '60s, and her "We'll Sweep..." was a 1969 Columbia single for Carl and Pearl Butler.
Love Jim Carrey, so maybe Brad can add that! (I loved all the silly gif's too.)
I'm glad you discovered "Something to Talk About." It's an amazing song by an artist who took about 15 years to make it big. Bonnie refused to leave music despite having your typical music industry woes, so she's one of my musical heroes.
"Brother Can You Spare a Dime" is such an iconic title. I'd never heard that story before.
I'm going to look into Joyce Allsup now, thanks for linking to that song.