When I was young before I had cassettes, the only good way of making a playlist of songs was to stack 45s on the turntable. I would arrange them to play my favorite songs in my favorite order. These posts are about records I had in my stacks.
I remember wanting to get to the Treasure Island and purchase the new single by the Monkees, “Valleri” / “Tapioca Tundra”, released on February 17, 1968. When I played the B-side, I was blown away by the Michael Nesmith song. He wrote this song inspired by a large collection of old records from the ’20s and ’30s he purchased at a yard sale.
Along with “Magnolia Simms,” this was a tribute to the ragtime and jazz of the ’20s, even going so far as recording using gramophone technology to mimic the echo and the skipping of an old recording. It was also the basis for Nesmith’s first major solo project in 1968, The Wichita Train Whistle Sings. The title, “Tapioca Tundra” is not mentioned in the lyrics.
Mike Nesmith had a habit of doing this a lot on his compositions (“Papa Gene’s Blues,” “Auntie’s Municipal Court,” “Daily Nightly,” etc.). “Tapioca Tundra” was on a ride along with its A-side, “Valleri” which reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Cash Box singles chart.
Tapioca Tundra written by Michael Nesmith
One, two, three, four, five
Four, three, two, one, zero
Ah-ah
Reasoned verse, some prose or rhyme
Lose themselves in other times
And waiting hopes cast silent spells
That speak in clouded clues
It cannot be a part of me
For now it's part of you
Careful plays on fields
That seems to vanish
When they're in between
And softly as I walk away
In freshly tattered shoes
It cannot be a part of me
For now it's part of you
Sunshine, ragtime
Blowing in the breeze
Midnight, looks right
Standing more at ease
Silhouettes and figures stay
Close to what he had to say
And one more time the faded dream
Is saddened by the news
It cannot be a part of me
For now it's part of you
Well, Sunshine, ragtime
Blowing in the breeze
Midnight, looks right
Standing more at ease
Sunshine, ragtime
Blowing in the breeze
Midnight, looks right
Standing more at ease
Silhouettes and figures stay
Close to what he had to say
And one more time the faded dream
Is saddened by the news
It cannot be a part of me
For now it's part of you
“Tapioca Tundra” was used in the 2015, season 6, episode 11 of Better Call Saul[1].
Footnotes
- “Better Call Saul” is a critically acclaimed television series that serves as a prequel to the popular show “Breaking Bad.” Created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, the series follows the transformation of Jimmy McGill, a small-time lawyer hustling to make a name for himself, into the morally compromised and morally ambiguous lawyer Saul Goodman, a character well-known to fans of “Breaking Bad.” Set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the show skillfully explores the complexities of the legal profession, morality, and the consequences of one’s choices. Bob Odenkirk delivers a standout performance as Jimmy/Saul, and the series has been praised for its character development, storytelling, and visual style, maintaining the high standards set by its predecessor. “Better Call Saul” has garnered critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base for its nuanced exploration of the “Breaking Bad” universe. [Back]
Further Reading
Sources
- “Tapioca Tundra” https://www.songfacts.com/facts/the-monkees/tapioca-tundra and https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107859005020/
- “The Birds, the Bees & the Monkees” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Birds,_the_Bees_&_the_Monkees
