Vincent's Dazzling "Whatever It Takes"

If you're the type of fan who longs for those halcyon days of turning on your transistor radio and listening to songs by bands like Ambrosia and Orleans, or tunes by power pop pioneers like The Raspberries, then you need to check out the music of Kyle Vincent. He's a supremely talented musician and songwriter whose latest album, Whatever It Takes, is a wonderful collection of sunshine-drenched pop songs that's a gift to music lovers everywhere. Kyle's a veteran performer who started out in the music world at the age of eight, when he played saxophone in his school's jazz program at Berkeley, California. He later took bass lessons from none other than guitar master Joe Satriani, and went on to front the power pop band Candy. That group's lineup included Gilby Clarke, who later became a charter member of Guns 'n Roses.

Candy released one album, 1985's Whatever Happened To Fun..., which was produced by Jimmy Ienner, who'd worked with Grand Funk Railroad and the Bay City Rollers. Wally Bryson of The Raspberries was the musical director for the project. The title track received a lot of MTV airplay at the time. The band went on to open for acts like Rick Springfield and Corey Hart, and the group is still well-regarded in power pop circles. Kyle went on to release a number of excellent solo albums, and his music has been featured in a number of television shows, including MTV's The Hills and The Real World, and films such as The Other Sister. He's also fronted touring versions of the Bay City Rollers and Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods, and opened for Barry Manilow (a big supporter of Kyle's music) on his Greatest Hits & Then Some tour.

Whatever It Takes is filled with shimmering pop confections that will move you, enchant you, exhilarate you and have you singing along on repeat listens. As soon as you hear the opening track, the lovely "Dreaming of July," you'll realize that this album is something special. The ethereal song is a beautiful ode to summer love that superbly captures the longing for that special someone that lights up your life, and the memories you've shared. The heartfelt vocals, masterful work from the backing musicians, and sparkling production resonate from every track on the record. Check out "Dreaming of July" to see what I mean: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE7LqGX4XkU.

Tracks like "Bubblegum Baby" and "I Feel New" radiate joy, and aptly illustrate Kyle's innate gifts as a songwriter and musician. It's something of a cliche to say "there's not a bad song on the album," but in the case of Whatever It Takes, it's true. The record features a talented lineup of musicians backing Kyle, including legendary session guitarist Louie Shelton, who has played on hits like "Last Train To Clarksville" and "Let's Get It On." Also appearing on the record are several power icons, including guitarist Tommy Dunbar of The Rubinoos, and drummer Jim Bonfanti and guitarist Wally Bryson of The Raspberries. Noted Japanese guitarist Kyoji Yamamoto plays on the title track, and Parthenon Huxley, a power pop hero in his own right, co-wrote the marvelous song "Hard To Be Happy," with Kyle.

The music on Whatever It Takes will instantly teleport you back to a simpler time, have you smiling from ear to ear, and will absolutely inspire you to check out the rest of Kyle's catalog of fantastic songs and albums. Kyle is a remarkable artist who crafts melodic, emotion-filled pop tunes that will get stuck in your head and steal your heart. Whatever It Takes is now available from Universal Music Group, and can also be found at Kyle's website, https://www.kylevincent.com, where you can learn more about Kyle and his music. I can't think of a better way to end this review than with a link to the track "A Gilbert O'Sullivan Song," which perfectly encapsulates all the best qualities of Kyle's music. If you'e ever been enthralled by the work of an artist who made a real impact on your life, you'll empathize with the feelings that Kyle shares in this tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1b3CaOi5TI.