Tune Tag #64 with Steve Goldberg of "Earworms & Song Loops," Pt. 3: Hall & Oates, Tina Turner, Heaven 17, Blue Öyster Cult, Glen Campbell, Divinyls, Billy Lyall
After some vino and a game of UNO, good friend of FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE, Steve, and I do the Tune Tag tussle, mixing'n'matching tunes 'til the cows come home!🐄
Trick, Treat, or Tune Tag, Steve?
Tune Tag it is, as we welcome back of the unique and entertaining Earworms & Song Loops!
Last week, we enjoyed the Tune Tag company of of The Mixtape:
Next week, tune in for former member of Red Kitchen and The Figurants, songwriter
’s Tune Tag debut!
Steve’s song #1 sent to Brad: Blue Öyster Cult, “Joan Crawford,” 1981
Steve’s rationale: I have no profound reason to start off with this track, other than I believe Blue Öyster Cult is one of the greatest rock’n’roll bands of all time. I hesitate to say they are underrated, as they have had several hit songs and, in their heyday, sold out stadiums. But they are regularly overlooked and are, unbelievably, not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Shame).
“Joan Crawford” is from their 1981 album, Fire of Unknown Origin (produced by Martin Birch), which was the first BÖC album I ever bought (I was 14). “Burnin’ For You” is the giant mega-hit from that album, a song I’m sure everyone knows, but, in my opinion, the entire album is wall-to-wall bangers. The song “Heavy Metal: The Black and Silver” was featured in the R-rated animated sci-fi film Heavy Metal. I remember seeing it in the theater (I must have snuck in), and my mind was blown by all the graphic cartoon violence and sex!
My favorite track on the album, back in 1981 and still today, is “Joan Crawford.” Keyboardist Allen Lanier wrote the music, and musician/journalist David Roter (who wrote songs for BÖC and The Dictators among others) penned the lyrics. I thought Brad might pick another Roter song as his Song #1, but that’s what I get for assuming; it makes an ass out of u and ming. I assumed that joke would work as an infinitive. At least Felix Unger knows how to spell it correctly:
I’ve always appreciated the way Blue Öyster Cult blended sci-fi, pop culture and humor, and this funny, dark, twisted take on the Mommie Dearest book, written by Joan Crawford’s daughter, Christina (now 85), is a perfect example.
Brad’s song #1 sent to Steve: Heaven 17, “Don’t Fear the Reaper,” 2005
Steve’s response: The connection here is pretty obvious: Brad’s giving me a softball to start. I assumed (again) Brad might try for another famous actor-titled song, but instead, he found a serviceable cover of BÖC’s biggest hit song (outside of maybe “Godzilla”).
Now, don’t get me wrong; I’m a big Heaven 17 fan. I simply don’t think their version of “Don’t Fear the Reaper” is up to snuff. I dig the attempt at a dance club remix version, but it sounds dated and not particularly inspired. Give me Penthouse and Pavement over this any day.
Brad’s rationale: I listened to all 81 covers of this song so you wouldn’t have to! One of the best, IMO, is this one by Heaven 17, who had a new wavey career of note in the ‘80s. I’m sure Steve has heard much by them, and will find something good to bounce off them for his next song.
For the…uh, record (and tape, where available), I’ve always said BÖC’s recording of “Reaper” is one of the best records ever put on wax! There are a lot of great songs, with so-so production; there are many crystalline-sounding productions of fair-to-middlin’ songs.
But, to put it all together? Few have beaten BÖC’s combination of gripping song (written by guitarist, Buck Dharma), brilliant performance (on the chosen take) and expert production by David Lucas, Murray Krugman, and Sandy Pearlman. Does Heaven 17 come close? Hell, no. But, of the nearly 7-dozen covers, theirs is as passable as any. There’s no denying, though: It coulda used a little more🐄🔔:
Steve’s song #2: Tina Turner, “Let’s Stay Together,” 1984
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