In Memoriam
Don Tinsley – Rick Kurtz
These songs celebrate the immense talent of Don & Rick
The surviving members of The Mortals think of them often and hope that all of the
old (and new) fans touched by this music will appreciate their artistry as much as we do.
These first 9 songs are scheduled for release in 2026. (The remaining songs in The Mortals catalog will be released as soon as possible)
Code of Love – 1983
Written by Don Tinsley
Don Tinsley – Guitar
Lolly Lee – Lead Vocal
Rick Kurtz – Guitar, Solo
Bird Crain – Bass
Bryan Owings – Drums
(Engineer Mike Matos)
How Can I Believe – 1981
Written by Don Tinsley
Don Tinsley – Lead & Backup Vocals, Guitar
Lolly Lee – Backup Vocals
Rick Kurtz – Guitar, Backup Vocals
Bird Crain – Bass, Backup Vocals
Mike Matos – Drums, Hammond B-3 Organ
(Engineer Mike Matos – Assistant Mike Guerra)
Invisible Man – 1981
Written by Troy Crisswell, Don Tinsley
Don Tinsley – Lead Vocal, Guitar, Hand Claps
Lolly Lee – Backup Vocals
Rick Kurtz – Guitar, Solo
Bird Crain – Bass
Mike Matos – Drums, Claps, Tambourine, B-3
(Engineer Mike Matos – Assistant Mike Guerra)
Love Goes To Your Head – 1982
Written by Don Tinsley
Don Tinsley – Vocals, Guitar
Bird Crain – Bass
Bryan Owings – Drums
(Engineer Mike Matos)
Now Now – 1983
Written by Don Tinsley
Don Tinsley – Lead Vocal, Guitar
Lolly Lee – Backup Vocals
Rick Kurtz – Guitar, Solo
Bird Crain – Bass
Bryan Owings – Drums
(Engineer Mike Matos)
She Don’t Remember – 1981
Written by Don Tinsley
Don Tinsley – Lead Vocal, Guitar
Lolly Lee – Backup Vocals
Rick Kurtz – Guitar, Solo, Guitar effects
Bird Crain – Bass
Marcel Nichols – Drums
(Engineer Jerry Masters, Mike Matos)
Sunrise Told Me – 1981
Written by Don Tinsley
Don Tinsley – Guitar
Lolly Lee – Vocal
Rick Kurtz – Guitar, Slide Guitar, Solo
Bird Crain – Bass
Mike Matos – Drums
(Engineer Mike Matos – Assistant Mike Guerra)
Tell Me Why – 1981
Written by Don Tinsley
Don Tinsley – Guitar, Backup Vocals
Lolly Lee – Lead & Backup Vocals
Rick Kurtz – Guitar, Solo
Bird Crain – Bass
Mike Matos – Drums, Hammond B-3 Organ
(Engineer Mike Matos – Assistant Mike Guerra)
Tropical Depression – 1982
Written by Lolly Lee, Don Tinsley
Lolly Lee – Vocal, Guitar, Electronic Keyboard
Rick Kurtz – Guitar, Solo
Bird Crain – Bass
Bryan Owings – Drums
(Engineer Mike Matos)
All songs Recorded & Mixed at The Music Place Homewood, Alabama from 1981 to 1984
Remixed & Remastered by Mike Matos 2025-2026
Executive Producer – Mike Matos
Produced by – Mike Matos, Don Tinsley & The Mortals members listed by song credits
Mixed by – Mike Matos & Don Tinsley
This project was made possible by the invaluable assistance of Bird Crain
I hope that along with Don & Rick – Lolly, Bird and Bryan will receive the accolades they deserve for their exceptional talents – MM, rrrrrr
Pre-Release Song Sample
The Code of Love
I received mixed signals in a smoky place
The light’s too dim to read his face
Is he one of them, or one with me
I lower my guard, he drops his keys
Eyes blink it out, in code
Fingers tap it out, in code
We work it out
Until we understand enough
To break the Code of Love
The Code of Love
The Code of Love
The Code of Love
His strategy of innocence
Countersigns my lines of defense
We negotiate towards a just romance
Two soldiers of love in the resistance
Eyes blink it out, in code
Fingers tap it out, in code
We work it out
Until we understand enough
To break the Code of Love
The Code of Love
The Code of Love
The Code of Love
Eyes blink it out, in code
Fingers tap it out, in code
We work it out
Until we understand enough
To break the Code of Love
The Code of Love
The Code of Love
The Code of Love
The Code of Love
The Code of Love
The Code of Love
The Code of Love
The Code of Love
The Code of Love
The Code of Love
How can I believe
You said that you care
But it’s becoming clear
Those words you spoke to me were all lies
I tried to turn deaf ears on all the things I’d hear
But now my greatest fear realized
It’s a hard thing to say
I have to say it anyway
How can I believe in a love I can’t see
How can I believe in a love I can’t see
You twist old clichés to snag me in a haze
And keep me guessing, address unknown
‘Cause if I get too near
Your big picture disappears
And I’m left standing here all alone
It’s a hard thing to say
I have to say it anyway
How can I believe in a love I can’t see
How can I believe in a love I can’t see
It’s a hard thing to say
I have to say it anyway
How can I believe in a love I can’t see
How can I believe in a love I can’t see
How can I believe in a love I can’t see
How can I believe in a love I can’t see
How can I believe in a love I can’t see
How can I believe
How can I believe in a love I can’t see
How can I believe in a love I can’t see
How can I believe in a love I can’t see
How can I believe in a love I can’t see
Invisible man
Would you throw away my blue suede shoes, yea
Burn the old love letters
And even let the rumors railroad you into roaming down the line
You know I never could forget you, yea
Long enough to wander
Don’t ya recognize when love is true
Don’t ya see through me if anyone can
Like I’m an Invisible man
Don’t ya see through me if anyone can
Like I’m an Invisible man
Play detective and inspect for clues
You’d find the only crime is doubting
How could you suspect I’d been untrue when I never told you lies
You clearly got me with your slow voodoo, yea
And scientific romance
‘Cause you know my heart before I do
I know ya see through me if anyone can
Like I’m an Invisible man
Don’t ya see through me if anyone can
‘Cause I’m your Invisible man
If you’re not blind to the way I feel
Well then ya see that my love is real
My love is real
Don’t ya see through me if anyone can
Like I’m an Invisible man
‘Cause I’m an Invisible man
Don’t ya see through me if anyone can
Like I’m an Invisible man
Don’t ya see through me if anyone can
Like I’m an Invisible man
I hope ya see through me if anyone can
‘Cause I’m your Invisible man
Love goes to your head
If it is infatuation, then you’re just as good as dead
‘Cause you can kiss your heart goodbye when love goes to your head
If Cupid fires and his shot rings true
There’s only one thing that you can do
You can kiss your heart goodbye when love goes to your head
When love goes to your head
If she captures your attention
Watch, don’t get too excited
Cause you can kiss your heart goodbye when love goes to your head
Looks can kill, they can hypnotize
The way she looks you better hide your eyes
‘Cause you can kiss your heart goodbye when love goes to your head
When love goes to your head
When love goes to your head
I’m not talking prohibition
Just be careful is all I said
‘Cause you can kiss your heart goodbye when love goes to your head
Everybody wants a little romance
But lose control you don’t stand a chance
You can kiss your heart goodbye when love goes to your head
Oh when love goes to your head
Oh when love goes to your head
Oh when love goes to your head
Now Now
I’m-a waiting for a lover
Someone who caught my eye
I don’t want-a any other little girl for mine
Now Now, Now Now, Now Now
Now now, Now now, Now Now
I’m so happy
When I see her
My cares just fade away
Every problem disappears
When she smiles and says
Now Now, Now Now, Now Now
Now now, Now now, Now Now
Now Now, Now Now, Now Now
Now now, Now now, Now Now
Now Now, Now Now, Now Now
Now now, Now now, Now Now
She don’t remember
Emergency
My baby just declared World War three
And we’d agreed no more hostilities
I guess she don’t remember
I guess she don’t remember
I guess she don’t remember
Eternity
We swore forever now it’s wait and see
But enough’s too much, and it’s killing me
I guess she don’t remember
I guess she don’t remember
I guess she don’t remember
When the push comes to shove it
Breaks my heart, it spills the love
What can she be thinking of
I guess she don’t remember
I guess she don’t remember
I guess she don’t remember
I guess she don’t remember
I guess she don’t remember
I guess she don’t remember
I guess she don’t remember
I guess she don’t remember
I guess she don’t remember
I guess she don’t remember
I guess she don’t remember
Sunrise Told Me
Sunrise Told Me
Something was wrong
Save the story
Ya been gone too long
Moonrise stung me
Woke up the truth
It’s so funny
But now it’s your turn to lose
Save your love for another day
When you’re more at home
Learn to love in a better way
Or soon you’ll be standing all alone
Sunrise holds me, and it makes me more wise
Shows me myself, and all of the lies
Moonrise coldly captures the scene
Mainly shadows, if you know what I mean
Save your love for another day
When you’re more at home
Learn to love in a better way
Or soon you’ll be standing all alone
Well save your love for another day
When you’re more at home
And learn to love in a better way
Or soon you’ll be standing all alone
Sunrise Told Me
Sunrise Told Me
Sunrise
Tell me why
You say that the love is wrong
But I don’t think you understand
You know that the love is strong
Why won’t you tell me
You leave me here in this hell
Well I can’t crawl out again, no
We both know that game so well
Why won’t you tell me
Tell me why
Why love
Tell me why
Why love
You’re running me through the wall
Well, are you running me around
Just trying your best to stall
Why won’t you tell me
Tell me why
Why love
Tell me why
Why love
You live and you love a lie
Just saying those alibis
Can you give me the reason why
Why you won’t tell me
Tell me why
Why love
Tell me why
Why love
Tell me why
Why love
Tell me why
Why love
Tropical Depression
We fight
There’s lightning
You cry
And it rains
Heartaches
Battered by the winds
I guess we’re just fair weather friends
But there’s a Tropical Depression
Headed my direction
A Tropical Depression
Without you
No more warnings
Radar won’t register pain
Why do I go through it again
I guess that it’s still better than
A Tropical Depression
Headed my direction
Well there’s a Tropical Depression
Without you – ohh ohh
Well there’s a Tropical Depression
Headed my direction
There’s a Tropical Depression
Without you
Tropical Depression
A Tropical, Tropical Depression