Written today.
recorded on an iMac with the internal mic and no headphones (!) so it's probably going to be muddy as hell, but that feels about right for now.
LYRIC:
Fill up the glass, Bartender
Ply your art
Quench the fire in here, now…
@Crossroads
@jackmerlot: Hello? I think I'm in the right place, but there is nobody around right now?
@raven: Caw! Never-more.
@jackmerlot: Well a fat lot of good you are. Can you say anything else, or are you one of those greasy, diseased birds with no conscience?
@raven: Kra-Kaw! Never-more...never-mind...he's here!
@mingus: And I suppose you're wondering what you'd do, for a lifetime subscription to Ernie Ball's Bass Strings of the Month club, & a signed copy of the Black Saint & the Sinner Lady?
@jackmerlot: Hey, wait a minute. A guy that kinda looked like you gave me this card. *pulls out business card, printed on heavy bond stock with slightly raised monogram letterpress printed on it*
@mingus: Ah, uh, yeah. I mean, Ah Um.
@raven: Kraaaakkow! RED-RUM!
@jackmerlot: Hey, thanks a lot for meeting me, but you're not actually the guy I meant to meet here.
@woodyguthrie: May I help you?
He's standing in a State Fair Kissing Booth about 20 yards from @crossroads.
Do you wish to trade business cards with Woody Guthrie? ( y/n )
Cave Street posted a track recently, their contribution to the Woody Guthrie Project, organised by Akron Family.
http://akronfamily.com/woodyproject/W.G.A..html
I wanted to take a shot at this too, so here's my demo. It was really just half…
Aww, man. My cousin's youngest just turned one; his name is Arlo. I never axed my cousin if they named him after Arlo Guthrie, but I guess in the back of my mind I always assumed they probably considered that when they named him.
"This Machine Kills... Fascists." written in Sharpie marker on Woody Guthrie's acoustic guitar.
Final version
Every so often when i'm thinking of something else a western song pops up as if there is a soundtrack to a movie running in the back of my head. I might have to gather em all up into a playlist some day.
track nine, or at least…
I'm finally happy with this track - v1 was too much of a nothing song and it's been bugging me all the way to the last night of the challenge.
1 more to mix
Sassy Nation version!
Sister Savage and Mr Sandbags collaborated on the original of this wonderful heartbreaker of a song. I've been playing it on the guitar the last few days and it always seemed to come out with a grittier tone, so i asked…
This was an RPM track back in the day, and I've been playing it various ways to find a setting for it within the band repertoire. This doesn't sound much like our band would do it but it came out nicely, so i thought i'd share it.
Final version
Day 28
Anyone else still writing songs?
this is the result of trying to listen to too many mixes in one day. Sometimes it's just easier to record something else.
This was an RPM track back in the day, and I've been playing it various ways to find a setting for it within the band repertoire. This doesn't sound much like our band would do it but it came out nicely, so i thought i'd share it.
Final version
Day 28
Anyone else still writing songs?
this is the result of trying to listen to too many mixes in one day. Sometimes it's just easier to record something else.
This was an RPM track back in the day, and I've been playing it various ways to find a setting for it within the band repertoire. This doesn't sound much like our band would do it but it came out nicely, so i thought i'd share it.
This was an RPM track back in the day, and I've been playing it various ways to find a setting for it within the band repertoire. This doesn't sound much like our band would do it but it came out nicely, so i thought i'd share it.
This was an RPM track back in the day, and I've been playing it various ways to find a setting for it within the band repertoire. This doesn't sound much like our band would do it but it came out nicely, so i thought i'd share it.
This was an RPM track back in the day, and I've been playing it various ways to find a setting for it within the band repertoire. This doesn't sound much like our band would do it but it came out nicely, so i thought i'd share it.
I'm finally happy with this track - v1 was too much of a nothing song and it's been bugging me all the way to the last night of the challenge.
1 more to mix
I tell my students to keep things simple—couple o' chords, not to many notes, and just tell a good story. That's what makes a best songs. This fits that definition.
This was an RPM track back in the day, and I've been playing it various ways to find a setting for it within the band repertoire. This doesn't sound much like our band would do it but it came out nicely, so i thought i'd share it.
A happy song about being left by your no-good spouse. There's a word for the attitude in this song but I can't think of it right now ...
this is now a tidied up version 18/3/09
This was an RPM track back in the day, and I've been playing it various ways to find a setting for it within the band repertoire. This doesn't sound much like our band would do it but it came out nicely, so i thought i'd share it.
This was an RPM track back in the day, and I've been playing it various ways to find a setting for it within the band repertoire. This doesn't sound much like our band would do it but it came out nicely, so i thought i'd share it.
Poppa
INTRO:
Praise The LORD, Lift His Name On High.
VERSE ONE:
Praise the LORD, O my soul, and remember all the things He has done.
Glorify His name, yes, my soul; don’t forget all the good things He has done.
There’s none like…
I Call Upon Your Name
VERSE ONE (Richard):
I call upon Your name, for in You my peace is found, You’re the owner of my heart.
I call upon You, LORD, 'cause You’re all I've ever wanted, Yes, You’re all that I need.
Before I was born…
Like A Wave
--
If you make yourself a mule
someone's gonna ride you
this I know
Like a breeze moves through the air
or a wave upon the water
is how I go
When you can freely give
of all that you can hold
you can know no more…
Billy wanted a project for the 2023 Christmas holidays and asked some of his extremely talented musician friends to play on this track.
Matt Smith: Guitars & backing vocals
Paul Matthews: Pianos & organ
Naomi Daulby: Lead & backing…
Epic! This is pretty amazing. Like the way all the old jazzers took a solo and had to be distinctively themselves, this is like an 80s rock supergroup!
It's now 12:00 am....so Song 2 for RPM is as done as it will be!
In this tune I'm experimenting with vocal layering and using my analogue synth (my guitar and piano are giving me the skunk-eye). Thanks again for anyone listening out there…
3rd Song for RPM. Getting this done was filled with late night torture.
You tried so hard
You tried so hard
But you’re not there
You’re not there
You’re not there
You’re not there
You made your way
Oh you made your way
But…
Gates
w/m Nate Houge
(c) 2015 Lutefist
(Each line is 4 bars – song alternates between four bars of G and four bars of C)
G///G///G///G///
C///C///C///C///
G
Open up the gates, let the people in
Let the drinkers drink another pull of…
For the first track for this years RPM. I recently went on a short break to New York for the first time and had a walk about with my camera and explored most of Manhattan over the three or four days and man did my feet hurt at the end of it…
Sometimes writing a song is the very best and only thing you can do....
Cold Winter Moon
Oh cold winter moon
And the wind that blows
Bring me a change
For my weary soul
Take away this longing
That fills my heart
Something is over…
The final Song for my 2023 RPM challenge!! Dusted off my acoustic guitar (and blistered my fingers) to get this one done. Phew! I love Latin rhythms and so I found a beat and jammed it up. Thanks again to anyone who listens -it's really fun…
I've enjoyed listening to some tunes tonight and this one is right in my ball-park!
Wonderful groove and vocal. And it highlights something i kept noticing. You write or craft wonderful bridge parts, whether they are vocal or not they give that magical lift to a tune. If I find a nice bridge for a tune this year it's down to you!
Another one from the archives! Collab with glu from 2009 - I took his original guitar track and added vocals, then he remixed and made about four more versions, but this is my fave.
This is such a sensual feast! a classic.
I must have had one of the other four versions, but i'm so glad it's here because hard drives don't last forever!
With lovely Keith Landry. Unfortunately, the studio I had at the time was on its last legs and the recording is a terrible quality, but I've never been able to get the vocal to sound better. Probably because I'm now over the awful thing* I did…
First Day of the 2024 RPM challenge .... so here is Song 1
I'm experimenting with my old analogue synth (Prophet 6) this year
Thanks to anyone who listens! A gloomy song for gloomy times. Onward!
One day
You’ll find
It’s over, it’s over…
Comments on Gumbo's stuff
Wonderful song - awesome performance.
Hey, where did the video go? Giving this album a whirl again - still one of my faves.
@Crossroads @jackmerlot: Hello? I think I'm in the right place, but there is nobody around right now? @raven: Caw! Never-more. @jackmerlot: Well a fat lot of good you are. Can you say anything else, or are you one of those greasy, diseased birds with no conscience? @raven: Kra-Kaw! Never-more...never-mind...he's here! @mingus: And I suppose you're wondering what you'd do, for a lifetime subscription to Ernie Ball's Bass Strings of the Month club, & a signed copy of the Black Saint & the Sinner Lady? @jackmerlot: Hey, wait a minute. A guy that kinda looked like you gave me this card. *pulls out business card, printed on heavy bond stock with slightly raised monogram letterpress printed on it* @mingus: Ah, uh, yeah. I mean, Ah Um. @raven: Kraaaakkow! RED-RUM! @jackmerlot: Hey, thanks a lot for meeting me, but you're not actually the guy I meant to meet here. @woodyguthrie: May I help you? He's standing in a State Fair Kissing Booth about 20 yards from @crossroads. Do you wish to trade business cards with Woody Guthrie? ( y/n )
Aww, man. My cousin's youngest just turned one; his name is Arlo. I never axed my cousin if they named him after Arlo Guthrie, but I guess in the back of my mind I always assumed they probably considered that when they named him. "This Machine Kills... Fascists." written in Sharpie marker on Woody Guthrie's acoustic guitar.
Love the minor / finished triad movements
Some skiffleheads I know dig this real well.
Creaky ol' Wurlitzer warm & inviting
Sounds a little Dylanesque, love it.
Loved this version.
Surprising how one song can be played in many different ways and still retain it's individuality.
Well, Gumbo Ill follow you any where
Alone tone needs more of this a few less mixes Faved
Oh, my this is great stuff! You got a real sound here. More more more
COME BACK
Hey Stu, people are asking if you're gonna be RPM-ing this year. Hope so!
I tell my students to keep things simple—couple o' chords, not to many notes, and just tell a good story. That's what makes a best songs. This fits that definition.
I love pure folk tunes like this. Nice work.
a lot of joy here!
good to hear
very good man
Comments made by Gumbo
Carlos Di Sarli 1958
So peaceful.
Soulful stuff. You're owning this. I like the birdsong too.
Ah this is mesmerising. Lovely. It's good to know you're still making music. I'm playing catch up here. Been away in the woods
Beautiful!
I hear ya brother. The floor is heaving :-)
It's like rediscovering an old treasure-box. I love this album!
Epic! This is pretty amazing. Like the way all the old jazzers took a solo and had to be distinctively themselves, this is like an 80s rock supergroup!
This is still a stunning listen
Oh I love the momentum in the lyric. Wonderful.
Gorgeous harmonies. There's a great build to this one.
Raw and rowdy praise the night. Dock Boggs sounded like this once. Love it.
Up with this sort of thing!
Nicely done. Is that yourself on keys? Very light! And I like the samples. Especially when the cop car pulls up alongside!
this is fun!
sad but true!
I've enjoyed listening to some tunes tonight and this one is right in my ball-park! Wonderful groove and vocal. And it highlights something i kept noticing. You write or craft wonderful bridge parts, whether they are vocal or not they give that magical lift to a tune. If I find a nice bridge for a tune this year it's down to you!
This is such a sensual feast! a classic. I must have had one of the other four versions, but i'm so glad it's here because hard drives don't last forever!
oh this is so tender
Good stuff. Such a cheery soundscape!