It’s easy – far too easy, believe me – to write glum songs in a world of unrelenting bad news. With a recording project in the offing at that point, I thought I’d have a go at writing something cheery last year. I didn’t have anything cheery to say that was new or authentic so I delved into the well of music past and, like BJH with ‘Titles’ (composed entirely of Beatles song titles), came up with this.
This is the first sample from my album with Breige Devlin. It was conceived as a bit of fun, but the sentiment borrowed from those Beatles (and Reg Presley) in the refrain seems as true and necessary as ever. 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3743WFE24FA
I likey Colin.
“… so I delved into the well of music past …”
there’s a bit of Mason Williams Classical Gas going on in there (PS that’s a good thing) – or maybe it’s just my ears?
And big up to the proggy, psychedelic-y breakdown and playout.
Best of luck with the full album – is this representative (I note you say “it was a bit of fun”) or markedly different from the rest of the content?
Splendiferous!
Good visuals too.
Might have been nice to go back to the chorus right at the end.
Very, very good, Colin.
Thank you all – I guess it turned out okay 🙂 It was a completely live take (my guitar, bass, drums + guide vocal) – I had planned for there to be a *bit* of a play-out at the end, with a view to getting Big Bill Campbell to overdub some fireworks… but on the session, Ali & Louise just kept the groove going… for five minutes… So Bill had his work cut out to make the play-out ascend for that long! Reprising the chorus never occurred to me, Mike – though I did add a reprised chorus (needing the addition of a middle eight to get there) in another song we’ve recorded on the back of suggestions.
As for whether it’s representative, Rij… I don’t know! It depends how one breaks it down… There are 16 tracks, 9 of which are ‘full band’ – though maybe only 3 ‘rock hard’: ‘All We Need is Love’, a mad version of ‘Baby Don’t You Do It’ (Marvin Gaye via the Who) and a blistering ‘Shakin’ All Over’ (featuring Barry and Jim from Horslips, and on guitars Norman Boyd from Stonefish and Pat McManus from Mama’s Boys) – both of the last two being completely live takes, no overdubs.
The other 7 tracks break down into: 4 acoustic songs, 2 CH electric instrumentals (one of which, I suppose, rocks), and 1 acapella Scots Gaelic trad arr with multiple voices.
Breaking it down another way, there a 4 songs and 2 instrumentals by me, 9 songs by other writers and one ‘trad arr’.
The 9 songs by others are:
Shakin’ All Over (Johnny Kidd)
Ghosts (Horslips)
Rescue Me (Horslips)
Night Song (Buddy Mondlock)
Flyin’ Shoes (Townes van Zandt)
Baby Don’t You Do It (Holland / Dozier / Holland)
Take ‘Em All Down (James Devlin)
Pearl’s A Singer (associated with Elkie Brooks)
Brass in Pocket (Pretenders)
Or Unlike Elkie, as I always subtitle P’saS.