Like The Ricardos & Mertzes driving to Hollywood, we're all over the map on this one! A little rock, a little soul; a little pop, a little roll. We just may have to get up to get down!
Those two versions of Love Machine and the English Beat's Tears of a Clown got me dancing. Hadn't heard the others before, thought I knew Wham's songs, so that was great fun. The Diana Ross song was gorgeous, also new to me.
I'm glad you liked the Diana song, Ellen....I thought it was a B-side, but indeed, it was the second single released from her '76 self-titled album.
Except for the hits, I didn't know any of Wham's catalog...and, I was so glad I found them doing that Miracles song, a favorite! I wonder if George'n'Andrew recorded it, or if they just sprung it on that TV audience, and may have been a song they performed in their concerts. Thanks!
Great Tune Tag! Very energetic. I loved the soulful vibes. Musically, for me at least, it just got better and better.
One thing I want to point out is the fact that each of you made it abundantly clear when certain artists/genres/eras were outside of your level of expertise. One doesn't tend to see this level of honesty very often, not even on Substack, and it's a sign of greatness. We need more of that in this world.
Now, what's interesting to me is that despite your modesty and your alleged "gaps" (I can still tell how well you guys know your music), you still managed to find unexpected and very shrewd connections, and you told us a little bit about your lives in the process! I mean... I know I'm part of the furniture at this point when it comes to the Tune Tag audience, but this is how two music lovers sit down and talk music!
Thanks, Andy.....again, a terrific collab by a wonderful guest! I like your second paragraph...indeed, as I ask guests to share the whys and hows they grew to love the music and artists they do (and, I'm happy to do the same), I also appreciate guests' boldness and daring in sharing what's new to them, as well, and if I can role-model that, there ya go!
When it comes to music and its listeners, we learn a lot about folks when we have personal perspective, context, and POV!
Woo-hoo! Thanks, Mark.....I'm glad Dave and I scratched where you musically itch! Bad boys, goodness knows, are not new to me in the slightest, but "Bad Boys" was new to me! My fave takeaway from my Wham! bam was their cover of that Miracles song!
David and I share a love for the Associates, down to a mutual favorite, “Club Country”, so kicking things off with that track was absolutely brilliant. And the hits just kept coming (well, maybe with the exception of Bad Boys Blue 😁). Such a fantastic episode!
Golly, Pe.....We certainly fancy your tickle, so Tune Tag is tickled that we tickled your fancy! I'm sure I can speak for Dave when I add his dos centavos de gracias! All that just to say, "Thanks!"
Nice once guys! I remember Ranking Roger guesting on a Sting track years ago but didn't really know who he was. Interesting that he came from the band y'all mentioned here
Thanks, Adam.......I had heard about RR's Sting guest spot, but I've heard him (and heard of him) guesting on others' records, too! So, I looked up his career, and here's a list of everything he's been on...vocally, anyway!👉https://www.discogs.com/artist/43469-Ranking-Roger?superFilter=Vocals
I think he's even been on my fave, Scritti Politti's songs....one, anyway!
Another beauty of the Tag....sometimes it'll be bringing you the new-new (or new to you), and sometimes it'll be evocative and tug at the memories! Thanks, Dan!
Thanks, Chris! It's also really fun to get to know new folks, here, and how they grew up loving their favorite artists and songs! Dave brings a cool POV to his choices here!
I'm just catching up to this now, but it was fun tour of the 80s.
With both The Associates and George Michael I appreciate the fun energy of discovering "your" music. They both feel very fresh and like the sound of something new (at the time they were released). The "Bad Boys" video is amusing.
The English Beat have long been one of my favorites and their cover of "Tears of a Clown" is great.
Amusingly, I discovered that Peter Tosh story prepping for the Tune Tag in which I opened with his cover of "Johnny B Goode" but I don't think I mentioned it at the time.
Brad, what a blast and a fabulous response. Must do it again sometime
Those two versions of Love Machine and the English Beat's Tears of a Clown got me dancing. Hadn't heard the others before, thought I knew Wham's songs, so that was great fun. The Diana Ross song was gorgeous, also new to me.
I'm glad you liked the Diana song, Ellen....I thought it was a B-side, but indeed, it was the second single released from her '76 self-titled album.
Except for the hits, I didn't know any of Wham's catalog...and, I was so glad I found them doing that Miracles song, a favorite! I wonder if George'n'Andrew recorded it, or if they just sprung it on that TV audience, and may have been a song they performed in their concerts. Thanks!
Wham! doing Love Machine was hysterical, with them wearing those shorts. Not sure what that was all about, but it made me laugh.
And, the gym class "costumes" were worn by everyone...not just George and/or Andrew! Maybe they stopped to do a show between gym and 3rd period math!🤣
Great Tune Tag! Very energetic. I loved the soulful vibes. Musically, for me at least, it just got better and better.
One thing I want to point out is the fact that each of you made it abundantly clear when certain artists/genres/eras were outside of your level of expertise. One doesn't tend to see this level of honesty very often, not even on Substack, and it's a sign of greatness. We need more of that in this world.
Now, what's interesting to me is that despite your modesty and your alleged "gaps" (I can still tell how well you guys know your music), you still managed to find unexpected and very shrewd connections, and you told us a little bit about your lives in the process! I mean... I know I'm part of the furniture at this point when it comes to the Tune Tag audience, but this is how two music lovers sit down and talk music!
Amazing work, on every level!
Thanks, Andy.....again, a terrific collab by a wonderful guest! I like your second paragraph...indeed, as I ask guests to share the whys and hows they grew to love the music and artists they do (and, I'm happy to do the same), I also appreciate guests' boldness and daring in sharing what's new to them, as well, and if I can role-model that, there ya go!
When it comes to music and its listeners, we learn a lot about folks when we have personal perspective, context, and POV!
Absolutely! And the best place to do that? Tune Tag! Is that even a question? 👏🏻😊
This might be the first Tune Tag where I loved every single song.
"Bad Boys" is one of my favourite Wham! songs and it always gets overlooked.
Woo-hoo! Thanks, Mark.....I'm glad Dave and I scratched where you musically itch! Bad boys, goodness knows, are not new to me in the slightest, but "Bad Boys" was new to me! My fave takeaway from my Wham! bam was their cover of that Miracles song!
If it's Motown and early 80s British pop I'm usually going to jump in head first. 👍
Hmmmm......A Motown-driven (themed) Tune Tag? I like the sound of that! Wanna start that, and bump your July 1st one back a few months? Your call.☎
Let's do it!
(Didn't see this earlier, my bad lol)
David and I share a love for the Associates, down to a mutual favorite, “Club Country”, so kicking things off with that track was absolutely brilliant. And the hits just kept coming (well, maybe with the exception of Bad Boys Blue 😁). Such a fantastic episode!
Golly, Pe.....We certainly fancy your tickle, so Tune Tag is tickled that we tickled your fancy! I'm sure I can speak for Dave when I add his dos centavos de gracias! All that just to say, "Thanks!"
Nice once guys! I remember Ranking Roger guesting on a Sting track years ago but didn't really know who he was. Interesting that he came from the band y'all mentioned here
Thanks, Adam.......I had heard about RR's Sting guest spot, but I've heard him (and heard of him) guesting on others' records, too! So, I looked up his career, and here's a list of everything he's been on...vocally, anyway!👉https://www.discogs.com/artist/43469-Ranking-Roger?superFilter=Vocals
I think he's even been on my fave, Scritti Politti's songs....one, anyway!
Love "Come Back and Stay," "Bad Boys," and "Love Machine!" I associate each of the songs with different points in my life.
Another beauty of the Tag....sometimes it'll be bringing you the new-new (or new to you), and sometimes it'll be evocative and tug at the memories! Thanks, Dan!
Love it! The only reason I get up on a Tuesday! Great read/listen. Thank you
Thanks, Chris! It's also really fun to get to know new folks, here, and how they grew up loving their favorite artists and songs! Dave brings a cool POV to his choices here!
Quite true. I love the musical journey
I'm just catching up to this now, but it was fun tour of the 80s.
With both The Associates and George Michael I appreciate the fun energy of discovering "your" music. They both feel very fresh and like the sound of something new (at the time they were released). The "Bad Boys" video is amusing.
The English Beat have long been one of my favorites and their cover of "Tears of a Clown" is great.
(Random bit of trivia that I learned last year, did you know that Peter Tosh was the inspiration for the two tone record logo -- https://thevinylfactory.com/features/radical-cover-art-2-tone-records/ and later an emoji -- https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-58180556 )
Nice choices by Brad of Diana Ross and Smokey Robinson highlighting the influences for David's choices.
Thanks, Nick! I enjoyed those Tosh links....I never knew the story behind the 2-Tone logo.
Amusingly, I discovered that Peter Tosh story prepping for the Tune Tag in which I opened with his cover of "Johnny B Goode" but I don't think I mentioned it at the time.