How songs are written...

Sometimes inspiration may descend upon one in unlikely places. I have written songs on trains,planes and ships and also on such surfaces as found scraps of paper,food wrappers,and once even on the sole of one of my socks. Recently, I have been traveling in the Midwest and Western states and been influenced and amused by all the "Country Music" stations on the radio. In a local restaurant I wrote a couple of lyrics on paper napkins. I recorded these songs in the A-Cappella - and put them up on my CC.Mixter.org page. To give them a listen - click here: Oh I'll Never Forget Ole' What's Her Name?

Baudelaire's Vision Interpreted

Clayton Corrello created an exotic backing music - redolent with lush embellishments echoing the decadent mental voyages of French symbolist poet, Charles Baudelaire. I wrote the first verse and the second verse is a translation of Baudelaire’s poem “Music”.
Many thanks to Susan Joseph for lending me her clear and exquisite voice. She adds some heavenly backing to my song and her harmonies in the second verse enhance the indefinable mystical qualities of the poet’s words. To listen, visit: Baudelaire

Van Gogh & Saint-Rémy-de-Provence Honored

Michel Simons ( a native Nederlander) has composed a dramatic backing score for my original lyric - "Days & Nights" - a tribute to Vincent Van Gogh and also to the beautiful area around Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. I sing the song and play the cello parts. To listen, visit: Days & Nights

Merkaba (gets a tune up)

Mr. Do-kashi-teru has generously extended the backing music for me to make room for more "Space Choir" and other embellishments. Bruno Grugeryvic helped me with the trumpet samples in this redux of our song "Merkaba". A "Merkaba" is a purportedly a divine light vehicle allegedly used by ascended masters to connect with and reach those in tune with the higher realms. To listen, visit: Merkaba (Trans-Harmonic Matrix Mix)

Old Dog & Mejans: Her Horned Helmet

This may be one of my more unusual offerings. Its a surreal ballad in the style of Bertolt Brecht and one can imagine some Old-Salt sitting in a smoky tavern delivering this; his strange memory. Ross Lorraine plays the Concertina for me...I rasp out the singularly strange original lyric. To listen, click this: HER HORNED HELMET

Corinna Corinna

Sometimes its pleasing just to simplify. Panu Moon (guitar) and I perform "Corinna,Corinna" - the traditional folk/blues song in a slightly melancholic, slower paced adaptation. To listen, visit:
Corinna,Corinna

A Song of Hope & Renewal

I love Ditto-Ditto’s and DoKashiteru’s musical sensibilities and their combined effort really resonates with something in me. Every so often, I like to write some lyrics (and sing a song) that is not too heavy…just something about Life’s happy moments and the joy of being in it. To listen to this song, visit: Springfever

Ballad of Paul Morphy

This video is a tribute to the great chess genius Paul Morphy (1837-1884). The accompanying song is in the style of the old parlor songs of the Stephen Foster era and is delivered by Anchor Méjans. Some images are taken from "public domain" films at Prelinger Archive.

Interpreting Old-Dog

Every so often somebody writes a lyric that resonates deeply with one's consciousness. I felt a need to interpret "Old-Dog" (Ross Lorraine) poignant lyric for his original work "No Forever". To listen, visit: no forever

St. Anthony's Fountain

The " British Council NZ " produced a delightful piece of music which I adapted to a mildly sinister, yet winsome romp, in which somebody who has flown the coop appears to have the last laugh. To listen, visit: St. Anthony's Fountain

Snowflake's Call To Consciousness

I was inspired by Snowflake's lovely voice and also by her call to action. My contribution to the CC.Mixter challenge is a melange of her vocals, the beautiful sustaining backing music of Alex Beroza and some of my own added Cello. To listen, visit: Apologize & Sanctify

Mermaid Video

Video made for Scott Altham's version of the Mermaid Song.

Storybook Song from Neptune's Realm

The multi-talented Scott Altham has produced a delightful and truly captivating version of my "Mermaid" song - to listen - visit: Mermaids

“Mermaid”, was penned during a recent Caribbean journey & written as part of the “Jeeves & Wooster in Lounge-Hop-Land” song cycle:for Moira Waugh and J. Lang, both of whom inspired me to create the lyrics. J’s melodic and free-flowing music and Moira’s wonderful vocals really enhance the overall atmosphere…a fantasy of King Neptune’s realm. To Listen, visit: Mermaid

Existential (But FunFunFun) Suburban Blues

Over the years Panu Moon and I have sung together in various venues and I have always loved his sense of humor and willingness to support some of my wackier ideas. Recently we collaborated on what he dubbed "Suburban Blues" and wrote a song titled "Fun Fun Fun" - He demonstrates his expertise on jazz guitar and I get to croon-out. To listen to this offering, visit: funfunfun

Istanbul Song Brought into Life

Mikael Hansson has produced a lovely and lush musical bed for my original song "Istanbul" - now titled "Heliopause" - I think he captured the longing and mystery I hoped for in the lyrics. It was a treat to be able to sing this piece and work with him. His careful attention to detail really shines in this one. To listen, visit: Heliopause

Amon Rowley Illuminated

The enigmatic and nearly forgotten English composer Amon Rowley (1909-80) has been the subject of mystery, controversy and speculation for many decades. To learn more about this fascinating character please visit Amon Rowley .
Several years ago I had the honor of performing/recording some of Rowley's pieces with the now disbanded TRI London) - the institute has however re-grouped under the banner, Amon Rowley Foundation.

The Incomparable Panu Moon

I have the privilege and honor of having Panu as a friend in this life. His influence on me has been profound. Not only is he a consummate guitarist but an accomplished singer and lyricist as well. To hear some of his offerings and also how other talents have re-mixed his work, check out his profile on ccmixter.org here: Panu Moon

GOA ( The Mysterious She Mix)

Privilege comes to me again as a collaboration with soundsmith J. Lang.
This time we create a "Lounge-Hop" offering which blends Eastern mysticism with a plaintive love ballad, titled: GOA ( The Mysterious She Mix). To listen visit: J.Lang

Yeats Interpreted Dramatically

Once again the enigmatic and delicious talent of "Onlymeith" has created a deeply dramatic soundscape for my reading of Yeats' poem "THE SONG OF WANDERING AENGUS" -
to listen to this offering visit: hazelwood

image by: jillian tamaki

Gnostic Oracle Music

When I hear the lyric/poems of A.M. Mews (as she alone can recite them) I feel as if I am in the presence of a Seer. Perhaps like one who once stood before the Oracle of Delphi. Her words are both familiar and foreign and perhaps too, conjure up images both personal and distant. I have a similar feeling when I listen to the raw energy which Bill Ray delivers in his wonderful drum solos, which to me are also polar in their dynamic control and paired sense of wild abandon. With that in mind I add my accompaniment of electric cello to try and create a mood of other-worldly evocations. Thanks to Victoria Melfi as well, for the brief ethereal female singing part. To listen - click here: Oracle (Purple Gnosis Mix)

Au Clair de la Lune Revisited

It has been recently brought to light that the very first discovered recording of a human voice was made by Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville in 1860 and is a 10 second rendition of the old French folk-song “Au Clair de la Lune” sung by the inventor’s daughter.
In honor of this discovery I am offering my version of this song.
I would like to thank my friend Anne Hagert for singing the female part for me. I translated the lyrics to suit my piece. My intention was to produce an audio-vignette, merging past and present and also introduce some humor. I call it the “Absinthe” mix because the song was popular during the Belle Époque and my embellishments echo the delirious atmosphere of the times….plus I get to play some neurotic cello!
To listen visit: Absinthe Mix Au Clair de la Lune
If you want to hear the original historical recording - go here:
phonoautogram

I Scratch the Surface with J. Lang

Consummate mixer and DJ - Mr. J. Lang has put together a wonderful upbeat song (yet still with a tinge of winsome melancholy) "Scratch The Surface" - I have the honor of writing the lyrics and singing this offering - but it takes the master of composition to deliver it like an old fashioned heart-shaped box of chocolates tied with big red bow! To listen - click here: "Scratch The Surface"

Kaer Trouz Interpretation

I respect Kaer Trouz and her explorations into the personal realms which she allows us glimpses. I couldn’t resist adding some cello and harmonies to her absorbing and sensitive offering “Deflated & Alone” - I tried to keep the integrity of her original deconstructed musical arrangement (enhancing the sense of unraveling) and place the cello portions in the spaces between. I loved singing the harmonies and the church bells add a hymn-like quality to this gutsy existential paean. To listen - visit: Alone Together

Dance-A-Thon

Scott Altham is a really fun guy to work with! He let me be esoteric and sing & dance all at once.
He produced a very trippy dance number with my lyric "Triumph" and a good time was had by all....to listen visit: TRIUMPH

Atlas with a Davy-lamp

The talents of the entity known as "Places to Know" - produced a deeply probing psychological atmosphere to accompany my lyrics for an original song "Atlas"...the music is a journey through deconstruction and sounds both unsettling and comforting combined....to hear this offering, visit cc.mixter.org here: Atlas With A Davy Lamp

Disgruntled Zygote

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-on5kwZ_A3s

This video was made by Forrest Stowe. Though not a collaboration in the strict sense - I did have the pleasure of singing the random words" - and I get to make a cameo appearance! His editing is pretty spectacular is this offering and the sound track he created is unique. A short film with content. (click link above)

The Madeline Songs (1975)

Once again I am honored to work with Anton Apasov. This offering, "Morning" was first composed in fragmentary form in 1975 by Amon Rowley. The current recording is one of a series of five pieces which are poems by English author Claude Houghton (1889-1961) - originally intended to be part of Amon Rowley's song-cycle titled: The Madeline Songs . Anton plays piano, Sandra Sandoz on flute and I sing the lyric. To listen - visit : Amon Rowley - Madeline Songs

Loveshadow Meets Cherry Gollogoly

Loveshadow's cool shade revives Cherry Gollogoly and her voice and heart come alive. Recently, ccmixter's reigning Sound Master "Loveshadow" has created two very unique and totally genre opposite offerings with Cherry's spoken word recordings, gracing them with his unexpected and captivating musical art. To listen visit "Bernadette's Prayer" and "Opening the gates of Taut".

Cherry Gollogoly Revives

Cherry Gollogoly has resurfaced and overcome her aphonia-phobia. Though no longer a Soprano, she still has her own vocal charm and is certainly an excellent performer. Her lyrics (often constructed from the Surrealist's "Exquisite Corpse" method) are intriguing and dreamy. Recently John Wagner ("Johnny Sockhead") brought Cherry back into the limelight with his "downtrance" version of her poem "In Egypt with no underwear" - re-invented as his offering 'Revive My Heart". To hear this piece - visit: Cherry

Citzen Nyx & Yeats

The brilliant and often enigmatic "Citizen Nyx" ( - nom de paix of one of cc.Mixter.org's most creative people) has produced a mix using my reading of W.B. Yeats' poem, "Song of the Wandering Aengus" - click here to listen: Yeats - Nyx

A Great Vacation in the Caribbean !

Had a wonderful cruise aboard the "Solstice", Celebrity Cruise Lines - sailing around Caribbean Islands, West Indies, Puerto Rico, St. Martins and St. Kitts. The pic shoes me with the band on board. (November 2008)

Icon CD - my most underground and arcane music ever - a collaborative project with sound wizard John Wagner. Available in small doses now. Inquire if interested!

The Dead (Resurrection Mix)

James Joyce's* words are taken Clubbing. The Dance of The Dead perhaps? The music and mix is by Derek Wright . Perhaps this is not as implausible as it might seem...the dead are after all pure energy. Rave on!
*adapted from James Joyce’s penetrating tale, The Dead (also known as The Dubliners)…in which, at the closing, the main character - Gabriel, ponders the bigger questions of life, death and the weather.
To listen - click this: The Dead