Tad Lathrop & Don Giller, "Tell Me What You See" (1972)

"Tell Me What You See" is a throwback to our earliest years creating music together. I had been working on it for a while, little bits and pieces that finally came to fruition by the time we first recorded the then-lyric-less song in my college dorm at Antioch in February 1972.
Tad's interest in the tune was what made it tick. He helped compose the lyrics and melody, and his added guitar part gave the song a dimension I could not have hoped to conceive on my own. It was a realization that we could do much more.
By the summer we were in New York City, spending the evening hours writing and arranging new songs, either all Tad's, mostly Tad's with input from me, ideas I offered that Tad helped flesh out, or fully-collaborative. For 20- and 21-year-olds, it was a heady time.
Back on campus that Fall, we organized our own concert in late November. This performance of "Tell Me What You See" comes from that event.
The song is of its time, with moments we both now cringe. But it represents what we were then capable of, a peek into our early development as players fifty years ago this Fall.
Note: The End-Credits track comes from a 1971 home recording.

[@theblue-hots5548]

This is really good Don. It goes right to my soul

[@dongiller]

Thanks!

[@henryjraymondiii961]

Atmosphere! Breathe folks! Here it is.

[@rustybeltway2373]

Wow. Far out. Folky and dreamy. Holds its own with the tunes of the day.

[@jmc6327]

Wow, I came here by accident, but I really enjoyed this and have added it to my playlist.

[@dongiller]

Thanks!

[@kurikokaleidoscope]

Very lovely and entertaining.

[@andyinoregon]

Wow, Don, you and Tad were giving Patrick Simmons and The Doobie Brothers a run for their money in 1972 with this song!

[@dongiller]

Another non-existent influence. :)

[@andyinoregon]

@@dongiller It's the reverse influence. It sounds like The Doobie Brothers borrowed from your 1972 song when they recorded 1974's "Tell Me What You Want (And I'll Give You What You Need)."

[@dongiller]

@@andyinoregon That certainly makes sense. My “Tell Me…” was in heavy rotation around that time. :) Jeff Baxter actually jammed with a band I was in in late 1976. It was apparent he had a lot of Coca Cola that evening. “Coherent” would not be a word I would describe about him then.

[@andyinoregon]

@@dongiller My wife and I saw Jeff Baxter with Steely Dan in April 1974 at the U. of Toledo and with The Doobie Brothers in April 1977 at Bowling Green State U. We went to the nearby Holiday Inn Lounge for drinks after the Bowling Green show, and who did we see showing the pinball machine who's boss but the "Skunk" himself. The band was staying there overnight before resuming their "Takin' It To the Streets" tour. He played some beautiful pedal steel guitar on their song I mentioned above "Tell Me What You Want," recorded in late 1973 for their album "What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits," released in Feb. 1974. So glad you told me about jamming with Baxter.

[@katiezee2]

Once again, a lovely and beautiful piece, Don. You two collaborate so well.

[@rocketreindeer]

Fantastic stuff, thanks!

[@matttilley8620]

Holy shit! I always had you pegged to be in your twenties.

[@dongiller]

I wish. :)

[@SEB-EDIT]

Lovely, so genuinely/aesthetically seventies sound/Crosby Still Nash and Young.♪ Heck, you've been creating music for quite some time, my friend. You guys are really a fine guitarist duet.♪ Peace, Don. Respect ;^) ♪ .

[@dongiller]

Thanks!

[@Hack_The_Planet_]

Digging the music Don

[@jeffreyhampton9130]

Nice job. Sort of a Zeppelin thing going on; not quite Going To California, but another Zeppelin tune I can’t find in my head currently. Yeah, nicely done.

[@dongiller]

Interesting, as I wasn’t an avid LZ listener at the time. More Bert Jansch, whose one riff was “borrowed” by the band.

[@jeffreyhampton9130]

@@dongiller I gave this soothing song another listen. Nice job, truly.

[@plaws0]

As you say, very much of its time. Which means I like it. Even if I was only 9 at the time of the initial recording. 🙂

[@dongiller]

Don’t lie - we spotted you in the audience. :)

[@plaws0]

@@dongiller Lol! Nope. I'm a 1963. The '64s were on the way and they had to clear me out.

[@miakialchemy]

Very Stephen Stills 😎

[@dongiller]

You’re the first to notice the correct influence. :)

[@gregburke0073]

Makes me think of The Doobie Brothers "Clear As The Driven Snow". Good job. What tuning are you in?

[@dongiller]

Just the bottom E tuned down to D. And thanks!

[@KokoTheGorilla69]

Pretty good man!

[@jurgostuff]

Wow, beautiful!

[@lynnturman8157]

Wow. This is the most different Beatle cover I've ever heard.

[@dongiller]

I see what you did there.

[@HAL_9000__]

Pretty sweet. Is that you on vocals? Hey Don, I was looking for the Letterman bit where Larry Bud Melman came out as Roy Orbison. Have you posted that? Or can the Letterman channel post it? Thanks man.

[@dongiller]

Tad’s the vocalist. A very young Tad. :) You’ll find Calvert as Larry as Kenny as Roy in the Kenny the Gardener compilation.