Tune Tag #98 with Nuno Babo of Needle in a Substack: Ratt, Genesis, Crowded House, Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs, Dweezil Zappa
Portugal in the house, yo! One of my favorite names in the 'Stack-o-Sphere, one Nuno Babo is our special guest for a Tune Tag that features the hard, the prog, and The Dweez! Welcome aboard, y'all!
In what must’ve sounded like Tongue Tag over the phone…
Welcome to Tune Tag, of !
Nuno: I’m 46 years old, and I live in Oporto, Portugal (the second-largest city in the country, after Lisbon). I was a travel agent for about 11 years, and for the past 12 years, I’ve been working as a Tour Operator. Guess I’ve migrated from retail to wholesale. Musically speaking, I’ve written for several Portuguese online publications over the years: Music & Riots from 2012 to 2018, Ultraje (“Outrage” in English) in 2015, and Metal Imperium from 2023 onwards. I also collaborated with PopMatters in 2024!
You’ll recall that last week, we hosted of Nate Spins Vinyl:
Next week, we’ll be clearing the sidewalk for
of Earnestness is Underrated!Nuno’s song #1 sent to Brad: Ratt, “Body Talk,” 1986
Click here if YouTube video isn’t visible below.
Nuno’s rationale: I chose this track because it was sort of a beginning for me. I knew who Eddie Murphy, Charles Dance and James Wong were before I was familiar with Robbin Crosby, Warren DeMartini, Stephen Pearcy & Co.
One of the first records I bought was Ratt’s 1986 Dancing Undercover album, and for years (this was prior to the advent of the internet), I liked the song, but ultimately, I didn’t recognize the band. I had to sing an acapella version of the chorus to a friend of mine, so he could tell the band and song name.
Now that I think of it, I could’ve simply watched the end credits to find that out. Oh well, living and learning, I guess.
Brad’s response: From Wiki: “The second single, ‘Body Talk,’ was released in January 1987 in Japan. The song was written by Pearcy, Juan Croucier, and DeMartini. Ratt’s guitarist, DeMartini, had the song’s opening riffs for years. However, no one was able to develop it into a song.
“Under a very tight deadline (one day to be exact), Ratt bassist, Croucier, stepped in. He wrote all the vocal melodies and lyrics, adding additional chord progressions to the one riff that had been around for years. The song title was apparently conceived of by Ratt producer, Beau Hill, or vocalist, Pearcy.
“It was featured on the compilation album, Ratt & Roll 81-91. It was also used as a soundtrack for Eddie Murphy’s film, The Golden Child. The video was added to MTV in late ‘86, while the album’s first single, ‘Dance,’ was still in heavy rotation.”
My Ratt history is brief: When “Round & Round” came out in ‘84, I loved it. I was back at college as a 29-year-old, and I have no idea how I heard it (maybe from someone’s dorm room). I was too busy hittin’ the books!
Brad’s song #1 sent to Nuno: Dweezil Zappa, “Stayin’ Alive,” 1991
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Nuno’s response: According to my Discogs profile, I have 83 Items by Frank in my collection, and not one by Dweezil. So, I guess I am relatively more acquainted with the father than I am with the son.
When I Googled the track, I found that the fourth solo on this Bee Gees cover was played by none other than Warren DeMartini!
And, the track also features solos by Steve Lukather, Zakk Wylde and Nuno Bettencourt (who also co-produced the album, hence the “Get The Funk Out” vibe of the track, and he is Portuguese like yours truly, so that was a nice touch)! The other guitar player featured on the track was ace session player, Tim Pierce.
And because I was in a romantic mood because of the Bee Gees connection, I happily chose the next track.
Brad’s rationale: Ratt’s Warren DeMartini guests on one of the solos, along with yet uno mas Portuguese-American, Nuno…..Bettencourt, from Extreme. In fact, you can’t tell the players without a program…so, here ‘tis, courtesy Discogs, from Dweezil Zappa’s (yes, Frank’s kid) 1991 Confessions album (does the kid have connections, or what?!?) on Dad’s Barking Pumpkin Records:
“Stayin’ Alive”: Backing Vocals – The Nugees, Bass Guitar – Scott Thunes, Vanilla Ice Drums – Josh Freese, Philip Michael Thomas, Guitar [Heavy Metal String Section] – Mike Keneally;
Lead Vocals [Magic] – Donny Osmond
Soloist [1st Solo], Guitar – Dweezil Zappa
Soloist [2nd Solo], Guitar – Zakk Wylde
Soloist [3rd Solo], Guitar – Steve Lukather
Soloist [4th Solo], Guitar – Warren DeMartini
Soloist [5th Solo], Guitar – Nuno Bettencourt
Soloist [6th Solo], Guitar – Tim Pierce
Written-By – Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb (The Bee Gees)
Released just a week ago (June 17), an interview with The Dweez at The Marshall Factory, Museum, and Studio:
Click here if YouTube video is not available here:
Nuno’s song #2: Crowded House, “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” 1986
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Brad’s response: Oh, brother (donde esta usted?). Nuno appears to be linking to the Brothers Gibb, Barry, Maurice, and Robin. Here, you’ve got New Zealanders, the Brothers Finn, although only prolific writer, Neil, occupied Crowded House (a group made up of Aussies, as well as New Zealanders). Neil was a principal member of Split Enz with older brother, Tim, who co-founded that group in the ‘70s.
In fact, in a 2001 issue of New Zealand music rag, Rip It Up, Ed O’Brien of Radiohead hailed Neil Finn as popular music’s “most prolific writer of great songs.” And, did we know Neil was a member of Fleetwood Mac from 2018 until 2022? And, did he insist to Mick that his girlfriend become a member, too, or no deal? Nah…poor Mac. Been there, done that!
Click here to view on YouTube if video unavailable below (informative and entertaining clip, featuring interviews with Mick Fleetwood and Neil Finn, with snippets of live performances of “Fleetwood Finn,” including Stevie Nicks singing “Don’t Dream It’s Over”):
Nuno’s rationale: I love this Aussie band, and have most of their records in my collection. Three years ago, I saw an Australian show called Wolf Like Me, and it features this song, albeit in a lullaby format.
Click here if YouTube video is unavailable (lullaby version of “Don’t Dream It’s Over”):
Listening to the lyrics I got even more appreciative of their sound. Anyway, Tim Pierce is a session player on this album, as is Joe Satriani on backing vocals?!?!??!?
If I have to think of a weirder connection, the one that comes to mind is Jeff Beck contributing guitar on the ZZ Top live track, “Hey Mister Millionaire,” from their 1999 XXX album (there’s a song for Tune Tag)! Here’s an audio-only video of Top with Jeff Beck guesting on a live “Hey Mr. Millionaire” from 2023:
Brad replies: With a call-back to our Dweezil track, would you believe a Donny Osmond cover of “Don’t Dream It’s Over”?😱
Brad’s song #2: Joe Satriani, “Satch Boogie,” 1987
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Nuno’s response: One of the few guitar players that is as easy to sing along to as it is to air guitar, because of his extremely melodic sense of composition and playing style.
After hearing those initial chords I thought about Deep Purple (Joe Satriani replaced Ritchie Blackmore for the better part of The Battle Rages On 1993/94 Tour), particularly the first track of the Purpendicular album featuring the fabulous talents of Mr. Steve Morse (founding guitarist of The Dixie Dregs). That staccato riff gets me every time.
Brad’s rationale: Joe Satriani sings backing vocals on the Crowded House hit, “Don’t Dream It’s Over.” Ironically, he doesn’t play guitar on the song. Curiously, his “Satch Boogie,” though, is an instrumental! Guess the House got him all sung out the year before!
Joe plays “Satch Boogie” for you at Hollywood’s Guitar Center (and their Artist Relations Room), and discloses what inspired its creation…namely a car accident he was in. Click here for YouTube video if the one below is unavailable:

Nuno’s song #3: Deep Purple, “Vavoom: Ted the Mechanic,” 1996

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Brad’s response: Gonna take a stab: Is Nuno tagging a guitarist (as I did), and finding him in an odd circumstance/venue we’re not used to seeing him (as in my Satriani singing backup for Crowded House…..still a head-scratcher!)? My first notice is that guitarist Steve Morse (originally in Dixie Dregs) plays guitar on this “late model” Purple from 1996. Digging only slightly deeper reveals that Master Morse is, now, a member of DP (or, at least was, from 1994-2022).
I was not at all aware Purple even existed in the mid-’90s (or beyond, for that matter). Borderline disturbing news given that I was a big fan of their early-’70s albums (Machine Head, In Rock, et al), and saw them at Houston’s downtown Sam Houston Coliseum for each of those albums’ early-’70s tour stops, with Buddy Miles (below), curiously, opening for each one!
His mind may have been goin’ thru “Them Changes,” but, opening for DP, apparently, was a change not worth considering! Nothing against him, but my friends and I liked to be surprised with a newcomer opening act from time to time (preferably from an artist who hadn’t been riding the wave of one lone hit for three years)! But, I digress………frequently!
Here’s what Deep Purple was apparently up to in 1995, the year before Purpendicular: Something they liked to call Dick Pimple Presents Music From Turtle Island:
To hear Discogs explain it, the release was a “Special limited edition mail-order only digipak CD single. 500 copies made. Deep Purple members are not credited with their real names on this release.”
In fact, here are the DP members, affecting something like The Rutles’ Dirk, Barry, Stig’n’Nasty (“legends that will last a lunchtime”), with the following anagrammatical mock monikers: “Featuring the amazing talents of MO St. SEVERE on banjo, UDO GLASNODOL Jr. on pianola, the Rev. REG GOOLE on da fundament, DIANA SPENCER (NO? - AI!) with kit on, er on the kit, and NIGAL NAIL the carpenter. Courier services by La NUT DOT, musicians managed by CAYENE BURP. Many thanks to all concerned from DPAS. © 1996 Dick Pimple.
Anagram solver can be found here. There are also anagram generators that can be searched for.
“Recorded in Orlando, June 21, 1995. Mixed on a Kenwood Chef by the Rev. Reg Goole. DICK PIMPLE are available for weddings, functions, pea and pie suppers and supermarket openings. Fee 15 guineas for two half-hour sets, 30 guineas for one half-hour set, (45 guineas and they'll leave the gear in the van).”
Excerpt from sleeve notes:
“Manufactured exclusively for the DICK PIMPLE APPRECIATION SOCIETY by those very nice people at RPM, this disc is available only to the bona fide and card carrying members of the DICK PIMPLE APPRECIATION SOCIETY and affiliated organisations.”
Click here if YouTube video isn’t available below. “The Turtle Island Shuffle”:
Nuno’s rationale: I was fortunate enough to see Deep Purple live on the 1998 Abandon tour, and the band was still firing on all cylinders.
Ian Paice played an explosive drum solo, Jon Lord was always on point, throwing licks and beautiful Hammond organ passages. Gillan’s voice was struggling a bit, but he was a consummate professional…much like Judas Priest’s Rob Halford when he lost his pitch on the ‘82 Live Vengeance release, and instantly corrected it, and a less attentive person would be none the wiser.
Steve Morse had some big shoes to fill, but he never faltered. His clinically precise picking, along with his beautiful sustain, grabs your attention from the get-go.
Brad’s song #3: Dixie Dregs, “Refried Funky Chicken,” 1977
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Nuno’s response: A spectacular band that features the immense talents of Steve Morse is this legendary Jazz Rock/Fusion group. Thanks to the immortal UK broadcaster, Tommy Vance, and his legendary Friday Rock Show most people heard the classic track, Morse’s “Take it off the Top.”
This funky track (pardon the redundancy) features the band in full flight, chock full of serpentine guitar, bass, drums and violin runs.
Brad’s rationale: Two years after Ritchie Blackmore bolted from Deep Purple (he rejoined them from 1984 to 1993, before leaving for good), Steve Morse, with Dixie Dregs, released the band’s first major label album for Capricorn Records (distributed by Warner Bros.,U.S.), little-knowing he’d be joining the Purple ones, himself, from 1994 until his departure from the band in July 2022!
Nuno’s song #4: Gary Moore, “Over the Hills and Far Away,” 1987
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Brad’s response: Another lone guitar-slinger leading the way? It’s an interesting rock “sub-culture,” this corral of solo pickers! Most guitar-focused players/singers find themselves securely rooted in a band. But, the field is literally littered with these lone pickers who got themselves a contract, and then, found themselves a band to back them for their “solo” albums (see Les Dudek and Tommy Bolin in the ‘70s, for two)!
Nuno’s rationale: Though they never collaborated, Steve Morse participated in a Bob Daisley-led tribute to Gary Moore. He’s featured on the Moore track, “Parisienne Walkways.”
But, what first popped up in my head (apart from the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man) was the violin part featured on the song. It reminds me of the afore mentioned “Take it off the Top.” Dixie Dregs had the country, Gary Moore had the Celtic influences.
Brad’s song #4: Genesis, “Robbery, Assault and Battery,” 1976

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Nuno’s response: I must confess I am a massive Genesis fan, and yes I adore both their progressive side as I do their more commercial releases from the eighties and beyond. [Brad: I knew there was something about you I liked, Nuno!😁]
At first I was stumped by this choice, but I guess that’s the whole point, right?
I’m familiar with Phil Collins’ session work for Tears For Fears, Brian Eno, Argent, John Martyn, et al. But until doing this exercise, I was unaware they (Gary Moore and Phil Collins) worked together on a 1979 Jack Lancaster release, later renamed Wild Connections; appropriate title, by the way).
At that time, not as a Jack Lancaster album, but tagged as “Various Artists.” Weird, to say the least. [Brad: Even weirder, Nuno, is the fact that that album was released virtually everywhere on the planet but the U.S.!]
I guess they did with Lancaster what they did with John Coltrane back in the day. He became so popular, that even sessions he played for other musicians ended up being re-released as if it were a Coltrane record. Lancaster, sadly, died on May 4, 2025.
Brad’s rationale: My connection is the rare (for me) lyrical content tag! Gary Moore’s “Over the Hills and Far Away” (featuring traditional Irish folk band, The Chieftains, who also appear in the video) is about capturing a man apparently wanted for armed robbery. The Genesis “Robbery, Assault, and Battery” is about a far more nefarious and bothersome scofflaw!
Allmusic’s Donald A. Guarisco opined that “The darkly witty lyrics [likely Phil Collins, with Tony Banks composing] chronicle the adventures of a murderous crook who is able to commit mayhem without fear of reproach due to ineffectual police and a legal system that allows plenty of loopholes for aspiring felons.”
Gary Moore with The Chieftains, 1987 live TV performance of “Over the Hills and Far Away.” Click here to view video on YouTube:
Oh Nuno, you grabbed my heart with Deep Purple and Gary Moore. That Gary Moore song is a long-time favorite, so sad and yet I love it. And Deep Purple are heaven for me.
Enjoyed Dweezil doing Stayin' Alive too. So much fun.
Fantastic TT, and the Nuno x2 connection Brad found was Doctoral-level stuff! I look forward to watching that Dweezil clip as I’m a big fan. Seen him twice and like his pop, he always sports a monster band.
I will make a correction, though, on behalf of Crowded House and New Zealanders everywhere. The band formed in Australia but are from NZ and Australia. I like to support the tiny countries when I can.