Linda Lewis; David Gates; Sushi; Switchfoot

I had forgotten how much I love the process of recording, how a song comes to life with the arrangement.  Many a good song has got lost in a poor arrangement; many a poor song has been saved by a strong arrangement.

Recording Couldn't Love You I wanted to end with harmonies on the fade, the hook, but as they sounded good decided to open the song with them as well, but just acapella and it works.

I love light and shade in a song, in the arrangement and yet sometimes something pure and simple is just enough.

David Gates was a major influence for me.  I was shocked to hear on the radio the other day a song he had out in 1958, before even I was born, and that's saying something!  It was still distinctively him though, the voice.

He is of course a highly respected songwriter now, his songs, deceptively simple - the hits he is best known for are of course If, Everything I own and my personal favourite Make It With You but on his debut solo album there was a track, very long, Suite; Clouds, Rain that has stayed with me.

David Gates: http://youtu.be/d4pIyi3UtDU

I was fortunate enough to buy him a sake one night at a restaurant, thanking him for his music and inspiration.

When I first moved to California many moons ago there was a Japanese restaurant in Santa Barbara called Somethings Fishy!  Great name for a sushi bar. It was opposite one of my record stores and I would go in after their busy lunchtime and sit and eat with them.  This was the restaurant I met him in.

Sushi is a bit like marmite I think, you either hate it or love it, no in-between.  It has to be very fresh but I do love it, (hence one of our cats is called Sushi).

Somethings Fishy became well known as it was the last restaurant John Belushi and Robin Williams went to on that fateful night that ended with Belushi's untimely death ninety miles away at the Chateau Marmont on the Strip in LA.  The pair had been in and eaten and then drove back to LA.

I used to love the teppanyaki table where the chefs throw their knives in the air and stab customers!  Just kidding, but you could end up sitting next to anyone.  I think there's a Friends episode when Ross takes a new girlfriend to one and ends up sitting next to his ex-wife!

It's nice to see sushi in the UK at supermarkets now.

Gates also provided the music for a couple of movies.  Television is the important medium today for breaking a new artists, securing a sync deal for a TV show, Criminal Minds, Grey's Anatomy and the like.

I heard a great band on a show the other day, Switchfoot, an American Christian band.  The song was 'Your Love is a Song', check it out below.

Switchfoot: http://youtu.be/M6wEBUG67K0

It worked so well with the dialogue and scene.  The lyrics really suit the last story in the new trilogy of short stories of mine, Sleeping with your Eyes Open - "I've been keeping my eyes wide open."

Another great song is This Time I'll be Sweeter by the wonderful, beautiful and perhaps somewhat underrated Linda Lewis.  Her catalogue is being remastered I believe, albums such as I'm Not a Little Girl Anymore; her voice on This Time literally gives me goose bumps, every time I hear it, an incredible five octave range voice, but so emotional.  And did I mention she's gorgeous?!?

Linda Lewis: http://youtu.be/kwkaWDvs9BQ

Her albums are available now!

x

Kate Bush; Elton and Bernie; Andy Fairweather Low;

The was a great documentary on television the other night, about female artists.  Kate Bush was quite rightly came top.

She remains not only one of the most talented, inspirational female artists in the world, but one of the most talented, inspirational artists of either sex!  She is unique, always has been.  You know her history, her groundbreaking work.

What has always been interesting for me is that if you ask American female singers for influences, many name Kate Bush, and yet she failed to really make it in the States, simply because they didn't know how to market her, which genre of radio station to aim her at and it is a shame she did not receive more recognition there.

Today she remains private, with few interviews for her new album.  Years ago I was danced next to her, (well I moved my legs and arms, not sure I should call it dancing!).  She was with someone from EMI at the time, she must have been around twenty. It was at a music industry awards dinner and she seemed delightful and professional for someone so young.  She has remained driven and in control of her career, again like few others.  At sixteen she took on the mighty EMI and demanded Wuthering Heights should be the first single from The Kick Inside.  The rest is history of course but credit to EMI for believing in their artist -  can't see that happening today, can you?

There was another documentary also on, this time about Elton John and the early years.  I have always liked Elton's music, but am always disappointed that Bernie Taupin doesn't get more recognition.  His lyrics are some of the best ever written, and I was pleased that Bernie was a major part of the programme.

It was an intelligent programme, highlighting the change from what, for me, was Elton's best period, the early albums, Madman Across the Water and the brilliant Tumbleweed Connection to his later years.  Elton started off as a singer songwriter, beautiful melodies and lyrics but the programme examined his change from Reg to Elton and the personality change that went with it, which resulted in the silly costumes and wigs.

A friend of mine has close connections with Elton, mainly his old producer and his early band, and I couldn't help wondering how he was feeling if he was watching it, the grasp of success just eluding him.

I know personally I wasn't hungry enough, I wasn't prepared to sacrifice my life to try and 'make it'; I was too busy living the life of a rock star without actually being one - that's actually someone else's description of me at that time, but an accurate one probably.  I read an interview with Dido years ago, when she said she had give up over two years of her life to make it, no social life, nothing.

I have a couple of personal Elton memories, (I won't bore you with them now), thanks to one of the people who encouraged me as a kid, John Hall.  John was the owner of the record store I worked in whilst still at school, after school and Saturdays, and the occasional school day - I remember a teacher, Mr Rees, (good Welsh name), calling the shop on a school day and asking for me.  I picked up the phone thinking I was going to get yelled at but he asked me if I could bring in the latest Joni Mitchell album in school the next day, that is if I was gracing them with my appearance - his words, not mine!.

John opened and owned a club in Cardiff, the Revolution, a hippy club really.  My parents went more than I did as I was too young really.  I'd walk down Cardiff's main street with my Dad and all these guys, long hair, bikers, would go, "Hey John" to my Dad.  My Dad was very cool, but that's another story.

John went on to be Managing Director of Elton's record company, Rocket Records, and also launched Good Earth Records with Tony Visconti.  Their first hit, a number one, was the Surprise Sisters with a cover of a song by another mentor of mine, Andy Fairweather-Low, La Booga Rooga.

I know I've been very, very blessed with my life and the people I've met, I've been so fortunate and lucky and I never take it for granted, indeed I appreciate it more today than ever, probably as we all do as we get older.

Here are three links to three videos of three great songs:

Kate Bush: http://youtu.be/raVfK6__rJ0

This track by Kate has been used to chilling effect in many programmes.

Elton John: http://youtu.be/GE2MmwUbC_E

Elton and Bernie's haunting Talking Old Soldiers from Tumbleweed Connection.  It was a choice between this and his performance on the Christmas Morecambe and Wise show of "Sorry seems to be the Hardest Word."

and finally, Andy Fairweather-Low: http://youtu.be/k5FG3Ty3jD4

Andy's classic Wide Eyed and Legless; got goose bumps just now watching it, so many memories, Rockfield Studios, and some of the finest musicians I've ever meet.  Andy was and is so respected, and deservedly so.  He hated appearing on this Mike Mansfield, kids show.

Enjoy,

x

Love of my Life; John Paul Young; regrets

A couple of people picked up on a comment I made in a recent blog when I happened to say how sad it is when two people who were so close for some time end up not even speaking, ignoring calls or messages, why is that?   Is the line between love and hate that thin that in some cases people end up going from "I'd die for you", or "I'll kill anyone who hurts you", to wanting to kill each other!

Love is perhaps the most powerful force, but is hatred stronger?  The wish to harm someone you love that you feel has betrayed you?

Do you have regrets?  Sinatra, "Regrets, I have a few, but then again, too few to mention," or Robbie, "No Regrets, they don't work, no regrets, they only hurt."

I don't think you should have regrets, except over hurting someone of course, but life is surely a learning curve, it is short and we should live for the moment.  As I always say, "You can't have the highs without the lows."

John Paul Young once sang, Love is in the Air, great song, and of course it is because next week is Valentine's Day, and here comes the commercial, I've re-visited an old story of mine especially for the romantics out there.

The Love of my Life tells the story of a man and an afternoon from his childhood years ago.  Do most people search for that special someone?  Perhaps even finding them and not realising it.   What about when you've experienced that tenderness, that moment when your breath is literally taken away, by a word, or a touch, perhaps even a look.

There's the old saying; "Is it better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all?"

When we get older is there a fear of ending up alone?  Do some people therefore settle with what they have?  Stay together for the kids?  Sacrifices usually end up creating resentment.

Lost love is sad but a life without tears means no life.

What is also sad is when snow melts I think.

After all the waiting the snow came, and now, it's nearly gone.  The snow has almost gone from the trees in our garden but here are a couple of shots from yesterday.

  

I love the snow on the boats in the creek.

Finished the draft for Sleeping, Love of my Life finished too.  Tomorrow recording with Tim at my house, with Annie on backing vocals!  Annie is our African Grey and when I rehearse or record she sings merrily along!

Here's John Paul Young:

http://youtu.be/qcP2gX1KvVI

Snow; log fires; stew;

Log burner throwing out heat, just made a huge pan of stew, (dumplings to be added later).  My kids always used to say "Boo to stew!" when they were younger ... they still do, come to think about it!

So winter is here apparently and I'm typing this in front of a log burning fire, the trees outside covered in snow.  Early February and it is the first 'real' snow we've had this winter.

As we get older, do we lose the love of snow?  Does it suddenly become a hassle?  You need to get to work or to a store.  My youngest son is hoping his school will be closed tomorrow whilst his older brother was so concerned he wouldn't get to work today he stayed there overnight!  That's what I call dedication - financially motivated for his trip up north next weekend!

One particularly bad winter I remember walking to work as a kid in Cardiff, from Cyncoed, past school, along the lake and into town.  We ended up helping someone with their car and he ended up giving us a lift towards the end.

It seems like we had more snow as a kid.  I have two memories from childhood; the first was going to the Globe cinema on the corner of Albany Road and Wellfield Road for my birthday.  There were a few of us and when we came out it had been snowing, heavily, and we were unprepared and got soaked walking home.

The second memory was a night I had stayed with my auntie Edith, who lived opposite us.  I used to love her house and in particular her son Raymond's bedroom, which was all dark wood.  His bed, a four poster, was on a raised platform and there were shelves and shelves of books all around the room, like a library.

Everybody Loves Raymond, well they did.  He was a flamboyant person.  He world for the government, all around the world, was based in India at the end.  I found out he was actually in national security, a spy!  I only found this out years later.  My aunt, at the age of 95, flew out to India to see him, where he still lived.

Anyway, I digress; it was the night before Christmas Eve and my parents had gone out so Edith was looking after me, I was about six I think.  I stayed over night and during the night the snow came, so heavily my Dad had to carry me over the road on his shoulders as it was deeper than I was tall!

More recently I remember walking from a country pub home in the snow few years ago and CJ falling over, I'm laughing as I type this.  It was early in the morning and the snow had drifted and was deep, very deep!  She was wet and not that amused, but I think the drink helped.

Cabin fever soon sets in though when you can't get out, and also with the cold and snow comes ice.  I hate ice on the road, so very dangerous.  I'm lucky these days that I work at home that I don't have to be anywhere.

I've always loved rainy Sunday afternoons; reading the papers, an old movie on television or a good book, perhaps Winter's Trilogy, available now on Amazon and soon iTunes and Kobo.

Here's a very, very quick video we made for a piece of music of mine, perfect for today, Winter's Day, available for download from iTunes, Amazon and other sites.

http://youtu.be/ssLpK9m1Xe0

Stay safe and warm.

x

McKuen; Pryor; Best

We're all inspired by other people; singers, writers, football stars, entrepreneurs, even D list celebrities that adorn the front pages of the tacky magazines that fill the shelves of newsagents.  

One person who inspired me more than most was Rod McKuen.

Rod is the world's best selling poet.  He's a songwriter, (you'll know Seasons in the Sun and If You Go Away), and composer who has twice been nominated for an Oscar.  He released a number of albums of his poems, him reading them over music, usually written by Anita Kerr.

I carry a small pocket edition of Stanyan Street and other stories with me everywhere and one of my prized possessions is a signed copy of his autobiography.  His poetry is accessible, no fancy language and millions have identified with his writing over the years and continue to do so.

It was also Rod who started my love for Old English Sheepdogs, he had his own Old English, Mr Kelly, on his TV show every week.

Now approaching 80 he is still active.  Previously signed to Frank Sinatra's label, Reprise (yes Sinatra launched that label in 1960 and it went on to have artists such as Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, The Kinks, T. Rex, Zappa, even Richard Pryor and more; Sinatra also insisted that every artists signed to the label retained creative control - imagine that today!).  Anyway Rod now runs his own publishing company and record label, Stanyan House.

Visit Rod's website and see what I mean

http://rodmckuen.com/

I mentioned Richard Pryor there.  In front of me is a DVD of his first major concert.  In my humble opinion it is the funniest stand up DVD of all time, beware of the language but Pryor was a natural genius, a tortured one in many aspects.  Years ago I walked passed him and his scars from when he had burnt himself freebasing were clearly visible.  I then saw him a few years later in the Comedy Store on the Strip.  He was in a wheelchair, suffering from MS.  It was very moving and in many ways I wished I hadn't seen it.

The still below is from the DVD, Live in Concert, recorded in Long Beach.

It is said never meet your idols.  Twenty five years ago I spent an hour or so in the company of an idol of mine, George Best.  As everyone knows best was probably the most naturally gifted footballer of all time, the first soccer superstar.  Manchester United didn't know how to deal with the phenomenon that he became and he slowly crashed.

I remember having a bet with my Dad, fifty pence, that Best wouldn't be playing what was then First Division (now Premier League) football within a year; he wasn't and I lost the bet.

I had been to Best's bar in Hermosa Beach, south LA, Besties, which he had opened whilst playing in California at the end of his playing career.  It was at Stringfellows in London though that I met him.  I was standing at the bar and was aware of someone behind me, with their back against mine.  I turned slightly, my back against the bar, (no, not holding me up!), and saw that it was best.  Someone then walked up to him  and asked him for his autograph.  He had a magazine in one hand, a drink in the other.  He looked at the drink and magazine and then looked at me and asked me if I could hold them for him, which I did of course.  He signed the autograph and I gave him back his drink and magazine.  We started talking, he had apparently been asked by his then wife to go and get some cigarettes and a magazine for him earlier that day, at noon.  It was now two o'clock in the morning and he hadn't been home, he'd been holding the magazine for over twelve hours.  I suggested perhaps he should go home, which he agreed with, but then two men he was with got him to buy another round.  He offered me one, I said I was fine but that's I'd like to buy him one, which I did.  We talked about LA, he'd played for the Aztecs at one time, and still owned Besties.

I finally went to leave to go across the road to the Hippodrome, he came outside to come but sense got the better of him and he ended up getting into a taxi and going home.  Just months later he and Angie separated.  That night he was a true gentleman, polite, softly spoken, drunk.  The thing that angered me was the presence of the two 'hangers on' that were with him, getting him to buy all the drinks, using him to meet women, the women who literally were drawn to him like a magnet.

Much has been written about him since of course, all his problems, his illnesses.  I'll always remember that night, but here's how he should be remembered, a great shot and below a link to a nice video tribute.

http://youtu.be/Y3i9O7uqGJ8

Dallas; Cardiff docks; Bob Marley; Only Fools

I saw a photo yesterday of Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray, promoting the return this summer of Dallas, the TV show.  Still one of the highest viewed programmes, especially the 'Who Shot JR?" cliff hanger, it even made the news when the film for that episode arrived at Heathrow!

Is it good though to remake classics, films or TV shows?  Charlie's Angels, The A Team, Starsky and Hutch, Hawaii 5-O, 90210.  Some work, as in 90210, but are they running out of original ideas.  Aren't some films and shows sacred?  This year has a load of celebrations for Charles Dickens but how many times can you remake Great Expectations?  Are you ever going to better David Lean's superior and atmospheric film?  No.

How many times can you remake Shakespeare for Heaven's sake? (or tour it for that matter).  Why remake du Maurier's Rebecca - Hitchcock's first Hollywood film, Olivier and Joan Fontaine?  This happens to be one of my favourite books, a stunning, original novel, haunted by a ghost, a memory, a false one at that.  Anyway, the answer is one word - America.

American TV can't get enough of British period drama so many productions are actually made in partnership with the BBC and American networks such as A & E.

It is frustrating though because it means that the tight budget from drama is not spent on new writing, original drama, as much as it could and should be, because it's a harder sell.  ITV are actually presenting more original, contemporary drama than the Beeb and even Sky are getting in to the act.

The internet though holds possible exciting answers - being able to access the internet on our TV we can go from BBC iplayer to Love film or Netflix to any site, so for independent television and film makers this is possible an answer, getting your film or programme into millions and millions of homes, reaching people through not only their TV but through their laptops, iPads or tablets, even iPhones and smartphones.  The hard work will be networking and promoting your film/TV show who people watch it but if it's good, word of mouth is a powerful force.

I'm excited that this year my new books scheduled will be available not only on Amazon but also ibooks and Kobo, with the paperback of Jackson Woods stories available around September.  Here's the draft cover.  That's Cardiff docks, the Norwegian church on the bay where my father's parents met.  What is ironic is that the Pierhead building, where my mother's father worked, is just in the shot on the left (he was dock master during the second world war), a few hundred yards away.  All at the same time in the early 1920's but not knowing each other at the time.

Cardiff docks have changed so much.  Tiger Bay was exciting, dangerous, as in the 1959 film, which, like the aforementioned David Lean film Great Expectation, also stars John Mills.

The club to go to down the docks was the Casablanca.  It played some serious reggae.  I was a white 17 year old kid,  but was always welcomed, mainly because the record store I worked in after school and on Saturdays used to supply them with the music, and also a friend of my father's, Annis, used to own it.  I loved that club and the crowd.

I can remember driving home one night and John Peel played Bob Marley's Waiting in Vain.  I actually stopped the car to listen to it.  The next morning I found the dub version, with Junior (Police and Thieves) and loved it.  Here's a great video for Waiting.

http://youtu.be/G6NNGVHrqho

I also remember driving through the docks at night, in an old transit we had for the band at the time.  There were timber yards and steel and more.  I remember finding a small fibreglass boat one night too at the side of the road.........  All the yards have of course gone, now luxury apartments.

There's a great episode of Only Fools and Horses where Uncle Albert goes missing after being mugged.  He makes his way down to the docks where he used to work to find it has all changed.  Very poignant, made especially more so due to John Sullivan getting permission from McCartney to use his track.  Here it is.

http://youtu.be/_ZkzdQCAjaE

News that American TV are making their version of Only Fools.  David Jason is not best pleased apparently, yet he is in talks to make a UK version of Everybody Loves Raymond - what goes around eh?

Recording; Rodeos; Pure Country; homegrown

Pinch, punch!  Well at least I got it right today!

Good day recording yesterday, organic and real as we put it!!  the basic tracks for the Rodeo are finally finished, just vocals now and then mixing; running behind a bit later than planned but should be ready for March.

The title track was inspired after a visit to a local rodeo in Lebanon and also after we'd gone to see the PBR, Professional Bull Riders.  The Lebanon rodeo was amazing, quite small at the local fairgrounds, but a supportive crowd.  Rodeos are becoming very popular again in the States.  It symbolises a time gone and the lifestyle will appeal to many, travelling from town to town, just like a circus or travelling show.  Cowgirls and cowboys are right in front of you, direct from television it seems.

A particular favourite film of mine is Pure Country; no groundbreaking, thought provoking film it starts off similar to The Jazz Singer, disillusioned singer goes missing in action, back to his hometown.  Meets a girl who doesn't know who he is.  She's a cowgirl, enters rodeos to earn money to save her family's small farm.  You guessed the end right, very Hollywood, but take it as it is, it doesn't pretend to be anything else.  Nice performance by George Strait and the female lead, Isabel Glasser is easy to fall in love with.

The whole country life has long appealed to me, hence our six acres in Tennessee.  We've done the whole good life thing, chickens, ducks, even a sheep, plus of course grown our own.

Home Grown is a great organisation and their website is well worth a visit.  

http://www.homegrown.org

Charlie Taylor, when he's not running, grows his own, has turned it almost into an industry!  When you visit him at his office in Gallatin he'll have on hand produce he has grown.  This picture he took though will always remain a favourite of mine.

This Rocky Raccoon had been digging up Charlie's garden and produce and Charlie finally caught him!  So cute though.

Farm Aid is another worthwhile organisation, set up by Willie Nelson, with Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews to help and support American farmers.  Each year they hold a day long concert but their work continues throughout the year.

http://www.farmaid.org

Lovely to see Raff last night, been too long.

Here's the video for the main song from Pure Country, George Strait, Cross My Heart.

http://youtu.be/DLkSfdn4z1g