Tune Tag #97 with Nate Miller of Nate Spins Vinyl: Boyz II Men, Less Than Jake, Yardbirds, Foghat, The American Dream, Archie Bell, Billy Butler, Billy Vera
The march to #100 (and The American Dream) proceeds apace, with a coupla Billys and a Bell, the testosterone-rich trio of Boyz II Men, < Jake, Hogfat, a real Jimmy Page-turner, and tons more!
Well, someone’s anxious to play Tune Tag, so let’s get to it!
Tune Tag welcomes of Nate Spins Vinyl!
Nate Miller spent more than a decade as a sports writer, analyst, editor, and podcaster in the digital space. Now, he’s pursuing another passion with his craft: A love for popular music and its history. Please follow along as he collects, listens, researches, and shares stories on records spanning from the 1960s-2000s at the Nate Spins Vinyl newsletter!
Nate is an older millennial (February 1985) who lives with his wife and three sons in the northern suburbs of Atlanta, GA. He’s been there all 40 of his years on the planet. You can find him cheering on his beloved Atlanta Braves, regularly scouring record stores and antique shops, and often vacationing in Orlando, FL or at a campground in the family RV.
Last week, we enjoyed the company of Pe Dupré of :
Next week, we’ll welcome of for his first Tune Tag!
Nate’s song #1 sent to Brad: Less Than Jake, “The Science of Selling Yourself Short,” 2003
Nate’s rationale: Less Than Jake’s album, Anthem (Sire/Warner Bros. Records, produced by Rob Cavallo), was released on May 20, 2003. I graduated from high school the same week. “The Science of Selling Yourself Short” was the biggest song from the album. It began my love of what I learned to call “ska.”
I got to see LTJ for the first of seven times in my life at that summer’s Warped Tour, and the song became one of the “anthems” of one of the pivotal summers of my life, the space between high school and college.
Brad’s song #1 sent to Nate: The Yardbirds (with Jimmy Page), “I’m Confused” aka “Dazed and Confused,” 1967
Nate’s response: Admittedly, after some research, I think I finally put together the connection between such different songs from such different eras. Previously, I was really only familiar with Led Zeppelin’s rendition of “Dazed and Confused.” Digging deeper into the history of the song, I learned it was originally written by Jake Holmes. Aha, “Jake.” Could that be the connection to “Less Than Jake?”
Brad’s rationale: Less Than (Jake) Holmes, who wrote “Dazed and Confused.” YouTube content creator, Guy Gelso, with “The Story of ‘Dazed and Confused’”:
Nate’s song #2: Foghat, “Slow Ride,” 1975
Brad’s response: Both The Yardbirds and Foghat have been called, at various times, and by various critics, as “British blues rock,” so maybe that’s the lone tag, here?
Nate’s rationale: This may be a little too easy. At least, for me, the connection came easily. Director Richard Linklater’s 1993 coming-of-age film, Dazed and Confused, is absolutely one of my all-time favorites. I’ve watched it countless times. Foghat’s “Slow Ride” is featured heavily throughout the movie. It may be easy, but I couldn’t resist having it be part of this Tune Tag after Brad brought in the song, “Dazed and Confused.”
Brad’s reply: Ooh, ouch! I missed that one! Well, I’ve seen the movie—it’s required as an Austinite! They filmed in and around Austin in 1992 (I was still in L.A), with a release date of September 24, 1993, two months after I moved to Austin from California.
But, I was in a Matthew McConaughey vehicle (directed by Linklater) 5 years later: 1998’s The Newton Boys (which was also shot in and around Austin). I worked three nights in the Leander suburb north of Austin, as an extra (please, we go by “background artist,” now)! That story’s here:
As if all that weren’t enough, I also became good friends with the subject of a 2011 Linklater film, Bernie (starring Jack Black and Shirley MacLaine, and my “old friend,” Mr. McConaughey)! This post was sent as an exclusive to my paid subscribers in the summer of ‘23, so it’s behind a partial paywall.
But, behind the paywall are two videos of me singing (with sound)! If that’s not enough inducement, there are also photos of the actual subject of the Bernie movie, one Bernie Tiede, convicted murderer, and fellow 2016 tenor with me in Austin’s Capital City Men’s Chorus.
Bernie and I can be seen and heard as half of a break-out quartet during an early-2016 cabaret show, singing an Association medley (including “Cherish,” “Everything That Touches You,” and a couple others…I’m a tenor; Bernie is the baritone). Two months later, in an April 2016 re-trial, the jury issued Bernie a new sentence of 99 years to life. He’s 66:
Brad’s song #2: The American Dream, “Storm,” 1970
Nate’s response: I have ZERO familiarity with the band, The American Dream. Maybe I should? Or, maybe they are just that obscure.
That’s part of the enjoyment here, though, learning about artists you don’t know. In any event, it seems one of the band’s members, Nick Jameson, later performed with and produced several of Foghat’s albums.
I mentioned previously that I know next-to-nothing about The American Dream, but I did discover they were a Philadelphia-based band. Hmmm, maybe that’s a good connection to something else. Young me enjoyed some Boyz II Men on occasion. They’re obviously from Philly, as their most fun jam states.
Brad’s rationale: The American Dream in 1970: The first album Todd Rundgren produced in a long career of outside freelance production jobs: Foghat’s Nick Jameson was in The American Dream before joining Foghat, and wrote this song, “Storm.” He sings and plays guitar and piano, and has the following on his resume:
Actor, comedian, musician, and producer, and is known for his portrayal of Russian president, Yuri Suvarov, over three seasons on the TV show, 24. Now 76, he currently resides in Reykjavík, Iceland, doing live comedy, live music entertainment and remote voice-over work! Wow. I petted a cat once!
Nick was recently interviewed (from his home in Iceland) by Jim Masters of the YouTube channel, “Jim Masters TV.” YouTube, in their finite wisdom, can’t/won’t allow the video to be played off-site, so click here to view this fascinating, far-reaching interview (Nick even talks about The American Dream, Todd Rundgren and Bearsville, and Foghat…and, so much more)!
Nate’s song #3: Boyz II Men, “Motownphilly,” 1991
Brad’s response: The American Dream producer, Todd Rundgren, is from Philly…more specifically, Upper Darby.
Nate’s rationale: Well, my mind goes from “Motownphilly” to just Motown Records. Were The Drells a Motown act? I’m not sure, so I look it up to find out they’re not. Dang it. Are we possibly sticking with a “Philly” theme here, and am I actually on the right track thinking record label? If so, “The Soul City Walk” was on Archie Bell and The Drells’ 1975 album, Dance Your Troubles Away, released by Philadelphia International Records.
Brad’s song #3: Archie Bell & The Drells, “The Soul City Walk,” 1975
Brad’s rationale: “The Soul City Walk” (written by Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, and Victor Carstarphen; all three produced with Leon Huff; Bobby Martin arranged) from the two main musical “Soul Cities,” “MotownPhilly,” and I went with Philly! My Houston homeboys, Archie Bell & The Drells, as we dance across 15 years (from the early-’90s of the Boys II Men to the mid-’70s and disco-dancing). If video doesn’t play, click here to access on YouTube.
Nate’s song #4: Billy Butler & The Chanters, “I Can’t Work No Longer,” 1965
Brad’s response: Is the tag “Name Name & The Plural Nouns”? Chicago is heard from, here, as the birthplace of this song’s writer, Curtis Mayfield, joining our other R&B hotbeds of Motown and Philly (and Archie Bell and The Drells’ Houston, for that matter)! Chicagoan Riley Hampton (usually a strings specialist) arranged (as did Johnny Pate), and another Windy City native, Carl Davis (below) produced.
Nate’s rationale: I really don’t have much of an idea for connecting this next song to “Soul City Walk.” Maybe I just look through the members of The Drells to see if any did some songs elsewhere. Billy Butler did with his group The Chanters prior to joining up with Archie Bell. From what I could find, “I Can’t Work No Longer” was The Chanters’ most successful offering.
Brad’s song #4: Billy Vera & The Contrasts, “My Heart Cries,” 1962
Nate’s response: What a rollercoaster ride this Tune Tag has been! From 2000s Ska to 1960s Doo-wop. I’m completely at a loss here, and even research doesn’t seem to be helping too much. Billy Vera has had a prolific career, particularly with songwriting. I just cannot find a connection to “I Can't Work No Longer.”
Brad’s rationale: One last Proper Name & The Plural Nouns: The unexpected (to me, anyway) Billy Vera & The Anything But The Beaters….Billy Vera & The Contrasts, from 1962! The 18-year-old Billy wrote and sang the B-side, “All My Love,” but this A-side was written by two longtime R&B mainstays, Etta James and Harvey Fuqua.
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Nice episode guys! Brad why am I not surprised that you know Matthew McCaunaghey and once sang in a choir with a murderer? 😂😂😂
Loved it!! How fun! I definitely would have gotten the Dazed and Confused Tag immediately 😂 I’ve definitely seen the movie a lot! I love Linklater! But, I think I managed to not hear about his films after SubUrbia. Somehow never managed to see The Newton Boys or Bernie, so will have to watch those and watch for Brad’s appearances! How cool and fun!
Great job Nate!