Tune Tag #104 with David Burton of If You Get Confused, Pt. 2: Traffic, Eagles, Annie Lennox, Derek & The Dominos, Dave Mason, Stevie Wonder, Kyle Vincent
🤘Classic Rock is the byword here, but we also hear from some dynamic and, possibly, new names for some of us.
Welcome to Turn Tag!?!😱
While they do that, let’s welcome of If You Get Confused for his second Tune Tag!
David is the almost-30 creator of the newsletter, If You Get Confused, where he shares notes on songs that have meaning to him in hopes that they might provide meaning to other people too. He is a lifelong fan of music, and started his newsletter as a passion project to share music with anyone who wants to listen and find new ways to connect with the music he loves.
The title of his newsletter is named after the Grateful Dead lyric: “If you get confused, listen to the music play.” That’s a method that’s always worked for him, and his hope is that his newsletter helps anyone else who might need it!
This was David’s first turn in the Tune Tag arena from last Christmas Eve! Brrrr!🧊
Last week, we filed some albums alphabetically with of :
Next week, join us as we gently rewind with
of !
David’s song #1 sent to Brad: Traffic, “Dear Mr. Fantasy,” Live at L.A.’s Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Feb. 21, 1972
David’s rationale: This is one of my favorite classic rock songs. I’ve been listening to it a lot recently, so it’s top of mind. Also, as a Dead Head, I can’t help but mention how The Grateful Dead performed this song quite a bit in their later years. They covered this tune 60 times between 1984 and 1990!
Brad’s reply: I saw The Dead sometime in the ‘70s, David…most likely around ‘78, as best as I can remember. Never been a real fan, although there are some of their early-’70s output I enjoyed, but, these were albums on Warner Bros. that Dad brought home from the radio station at which he worked. Same with the concert ticket (and, why I don’t immediately recall the year I saw them!); Dad brought it home!
I do recall some of the solo albums…Garcia’s ‘74 self-titled, and the Keith and Donna Godchaux album (above), as well. I’m looking now, and they appear to be on Round Records and Grateful Dead Records. I know I had the triple-live Dead album (Europe ‘72), but that was on Warner Bros. proper. It makes me wonder if the Godchaux album and some of the others on Round and/or Grateful Dead Records were distributed by Warner Bros., even though that’s not noted on them (as shown on Discogs).
All of this to ask you, David, if you’ve ever gotten to those Dead “satellite” albums at all, and if so, what are your thoughts (feel free to comment below, if you’d like)?
Brad’s song #1 sent to David: Eagles, “Love Will Keep Us Alive,” 1995
David’s response: This ‘90’s Eagles song was later recorded, live, by a former member of Traffic, Dave Mason (and song co-writer, Jim Capaldi) in 1999! I am guessing Brad picked this due to the Dave Mason connection, who covered and recorded this for his live album. I wouldn’t know that without a little bit of research, so perhaps there’s another connection I am missing here!
Brad’s rationale: This 1995 song by The Eagles was written by Peter Vale, Paul Carrack (Ace, Squeeze, Mike & the Mechanics), and Traffic’s drummer, Jim Capaldi.
From the album, Dear Mr. Fantasy, A Celebration for Jim Capaldi (who died in January 2005 at age 60), here’s the 2007 live performance of “Love Will Keep Us Alive” with Jon Lord, Gary Moore, Mark Rivera, The Storys, Joe Walsh, Steve Winwood & Bill Wyman:
David’s song #2: Derek and The Dominos, All Things Must Pass version of “Tell the Truth,” 1970
Click here for viewing video on YouTube.
Brad’s response: From Wiki, with things I didn’t know (mainly the second paragraph, detailing the version for Harrison’s 3LP set; it’s from that album’s Dominos version I’ll be selecting my next Tagged song): “‘Tell the Truth’ is a song by the English–American band Derek and the Dominos, released in 1970 as the eighth track on their album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. The song was composed primarily by keyboardist Bobby Whitlock, with guitarist Eric Clapton adding the last verse. The band recorded the track at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida in August 1970, with Tom Dowd as their producer.
“An earlier version of ‘Tell the Truth’ was recorded in London during the sessions for George Harrison’s 1970 triple album, All Things Must Pass. The session marked the first recordings by Derek and the Dominos. Produced by Phil Spector, this original, faster version of the song featured guitar contributions from Harrison and Dave Mason. It was issued as Derek and the Dominos’ debut single, in September 1970, although the band had the release withdrawn.”
David’s rationale: Rolling with Dave Mason, he collaborated with Derek and the Dominos on the song “Tell the Truth.” This track also featured George Harrison! Mason contributed guitar to this initial version, which was released as a single but later withdrawn. The band actually re-recorded the song for their album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, without Mason’s contributions.
From my research, I also learned that Dave Mason performed live with Derek and the Dominos at their debut concert on June 14, 1970, at the Lyceum in London. But, he left the group shortly thereafter.
Brad’s song #2: Dave Mason, “If You’ve Got Love,” 1973
David’s response: He went with Dave Mason again, so maybe I was wrong about the Dave Mason connection initially. Or, we just both really love Dave Mason! I have to say, I really like this song. It’s the perfect mix of soft rock with the blues feel of the slide guitar. And as I have now come to learn, it is George Harrison on the slide! That’s super cool, and also right on par with my last song. We are really clicking here...
Brad’s rationale: We stay in the same early-’70s rock circle of friends with this 1973 Dave Mason track, “If You’ve Got Love,” which he wrote. It appears on his It’s Like You Never Left album (which Mason produced), his sixth solo album after leaving the late-’60s British band, Traffic, which he co-founded.
This was Mason’s first for Columbia Records, after four with Blue Thumb Records, and one with Island. From 1973 through 1980, Mason recorded seven albums for Columbia. As for credits for this album, Discogs includes the following:
Backing Vocals – Clydie King, Julia Tillman, Kathleen Saroyan, Maxine Willard, Bass – Carl Radle, Guitar – Son Of Harry, and Mark Jordan on piano. “Son of Harry” = “Harry’s Son” = Harrison, as in one Mr. George Harrison, who plays slide guitar, here, which takes us back to All Things Must Pass, joining Mason on those sessions!
David’s song #3: Stevie Wonder, “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” 1972
Brad’s response: Well, right off the bat, I’m noticing the same release year of 1973 as the Dave Mason track….at least for the single (in February). For the album, Talking Book was, officially, a 1972 release, on which “Sunshine” was the lead-off track.
David’s rationale: I wonder if Brad will notice another featured artist on that previous Dave Mason album, Stevie Wonder! He plays harmonica on Mason’s “The Lonely One.” I would be super impressed if Brad gets this connection...
This lovely Stevie Wonder ballad is from the same year as that Dave Mason album, 1973. Not my favorite by Stevie, but a pleasant tune nonetheless.
🌟Soft- or Power-? With K.V., Name Your -Pop🌟
Brad’s song #3: Kyle Vincent, “Sunshine Pop,” 2024
David’s response: I have never heard this song. When Brad passed it along, he said “try not to smile during this” - he was right! Such a bright and cheery song. I am guessing Brad picked it due to the overlap of “Sunshine” in the title/lyrics from Stevie Wonder’s song.
Brad’s rationale: “You Are the Sunshine Pop of My Life” Kyle Vincent seems to be saying, from his latest album, Sunshine Soul (SongTree/UMG Records), with all songs written, arranged, and produced by Vincent! Much like Stevie did, too, on Talking Book, Vincent plays not quite all the instruments: vocals, piano, flute, keyboards, and percussion, with former Rubinoos guitarist, Tommy Dunbar, playing acoustic and electric guitar on this track. Background vocals by Vincent and Lia Tenintro.
Kyle Vincent has been one of the most unheralded proponents and authentic flag-wavers of power pop for decades, and his 2024 album, Sunshine Soul (and its undeniably glorious earworm, “Sunshine Pop”), all point in that direction (album written, produced, and arranged by Vincent). Even Vincent’s use of Rubinoos legend, Tommy Dunbar on guitar, is a clear planting of his flag on Mount Power Pop!
To further illustrate Vincent’s legit power pop pedigree, he’s also worked with Parthenon Huxley, and was lead singer in teen power poppers, Candy (with eventual Guns N’ Roses and
guitarist, Gilby Clarke), whose lone album (Whatever Happened to Fun, 1985) was produced by Bay City Rollers and Raspberries producer, Jimmy Ienner. Speaking of the Rollers, in a recent 2000s iteration of the band (with only Ian Mitchell as the lone ex-Roller), Vincent was the lead singer.Candy, with lead singer, Kyle Vincent, on guitar on “Whatever Happened to Fun”:
And, Kyle Vincent is a fellow Fanilow, as Vincent recorded a 2016 tribute album to Barry, called Kyle Vincent Sings the Great Manilow Songbook! Manilow has called Kyle “One of the best singer-songwriters to come along since the heyday of Tin Pan Alley.” In 2014, Vincent won “Best Male Vocalist” at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards.
Many power pop proponents bemoan what they perceive is a lack of general recognition for, say, The Replacements’ Paul Westerberg as a power pop kingpin (I get it…he/they are often lumped into an alt or even punk lane; but one—with bandmates, Tommy Stinson and Chris Mars—can’t and doesn’t write a song called “Alex Chilton,” unless one is deeply and stylistically married to the power pop sub-genre).
Too many who should know Vincent’s music don’t, and I guess we’re trying our best to remedy that, here.
I first came across Vincent in the ‘90s, when he had a couple of CDs that I discovered, either online or in stores. In 1997, he had a self-titled CD on Hollywood Records (shown above), and Wow and Flutter in ‘99 on SongTree Records (below). He also had a CD with a song about his beloved San Francisco Giants (he was born and raised in nearby Berkeley).
Vincent also offered autographed copies of these CDs (I guess on his website, or with an address on his CDs), and I sent for one of each. I let him know of my lifelong love of The Houston Astros (at the time, still National League foes to his Giants).
Here’s the music video for his jangly and melodic ‘97 “Wake Me Up (When the World’s Worth Waking Up For),” written by Vincent and Parthenon Huxley. Attention playlist harvesters: Recorded exactly a decade after “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine),” this may make a perfect book-end accompaniment to that ‘87 R.E.M. hit:
David’s song #4: John Vincent III, “Next to You,” 2019
Brad’s response: I think we’re matching Vincents….I’m guessing they’re not related. I’m interested in hearing what background David has with his Mr. Vincent. I enjoy personal stories of how an artist moves someone else to be a fan, with John III being someone I’d never heard of before!
David’s rationale: I went with another Vincent here.
I am not sure if shared names are allowed in Tune Tag, but I am going with it! John Vincent III is someone that I have always wanted to listen to more of. I am hoping I introduced Brad to someone new here, as he’s always teaching me, and I am rarely sharing anything new with him!
Brad’s song #4: Annie Lennox, “I Can’t Get Next to You,” 1995
David’s response: Ha, Brad went with a Yin to my Yang. “I Can’t Get Next to You” has the exact opposite title of my last song, “Next to You.” Well played!
This tune is new for me (as is Annie Lennox). This was released in 1995 and definitely has some 90’s feel to it, but I also love the acoustic guitar being used in this song that makes it almost feel...classical?
Brad’s rationale: David, I bet there are ‘80s Eurythmics fans who are unaware of Annie’s (and guitarist, Dave Stewart’s, for that matter) late-’70s involvement with The Tourists, a new wavey band who had a 1979 hit (produced by Tom Allom) with Dusty Springfield’s 1964 UK #4, “I Only Want to Be With You” (written by Ivar Raymonde and Mike Hawker), on Epic/CBS Records (U.S.), where it got to #83 in the States.
Here are Annie, Stewart, and The Tourists lip-synching on UK’s Top of the Pops in ‘79: (click here to view it on YouTube, as they won’t allow it to be shown off their site).
As for my Annie song, “I Can’t Get Next to You” (rendered smoothly and brilliantly by her from 1995), that was a #1 U.S. hit for The Temptations, in 1969, on Gordy/Motown Records (written by Norman Whitfield—who produced—and Barrett Strong). Here they are, in a live performance, on a 1969 Ed Sullivan Show:
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Another awesome time tagging with you Brad! Love reading this weekly and love being a part of them even more. So much fun to see our notes come together. And it's always great learning new music, facts, etc from you!
Loved the Stevie/Dave Mason connection, great Tune Tag!