If you'll allow me to indulge myself slightly, I have completed a recording of possibly my favourite song; Peter Gabriel's Solsbury Hill. This is one I'd like to share with everyone, so please have a listen.

The song is about Peter Gabriel's decision to leave the band Genesis, not an easy choice given he put a huge emotional investment in a lot of those songs. In Solsbury Hill he's emerged at the other side of that difficult decision and has regained his own sense of personal identity.

Years later after a very painful and traumatic breakup with a girl this resonated with me. NB said girl had a tendency to quickly replace a partner... and I was no exception.

Of course the band Genesis continued (flourished even) by replacing Peter Gabriel with their drummer Phil Collins. Given how much those Genesis songs meant to Peter Gabriel, that surely can not have been a pleasent experience. However he did go and see some of the early concerts and was man enough to humbly approach Phil Collins back stage and say:

"You sing my song better than me, but you don't sing them like me".

Aha. I know how that feels... and I agree with this sentiment. Of course people move on and are replaced (that's natural)... but it's never exactly the same, always a slightly different dynamic. I'm still me with all my plus points and I am still unique, as we all are.

There is an underlying positive message though, that breakups and change can be for the best. Plus there is the sheer elation of being able to be yourself again and face the world with a new spring in your step (recall that Peter Gabriel went on to reach new heights). So join me on a journey of personal liberation as we climb atop... Solsbury Hill.

~ Tony

P.S. Peter Gabriel often writes very moving songs and this is one of his finest. Indeed there is a whole website dedicated to people's stories of his music which I strongly encourage you to read: http://rec.horus.at/music/gabriel/Songs/about/

I'm going to make an unusual blog post and advertise my friends CD; Ghosts. There's a news article up with the cover sleeve and notes on his website, plus a few sample songs on his MySpace page:

http://www.acousticmoods.co.uk/chris/cds.html

http://www.myspace.com/chrisdumigan (Ghosts & January).

NB the MySpace page has some of his classical tracks, Ghosts contains 13 songs written in his youth and they almost all have vocals.

Highly recommended stuff, if you like my stuff there's a good chance you'll like Chris' album; I was the co-producer :-D

Lately I've been recording some covers just for the fun (good warm up for album #2).

The last two and a bit weeks my attention has been on the old classic Dirty Old Town. Since this isn't stuff I'm intending to sell and it's just for fun... I thought I'd share a few tracks. There is something to be said for hearing a track evolve...

So here's sample #1 - my first attempt.

As you can hear it's very simple, straight guitars solid vocals and a very ordinary bass line. At this point I needed some fresh ideas, enter Chris... so what did we add for the second draft?

1. Chris suggested a key change (note it goes from E to F# and back again for the instrumental, it just gives it a lift to take away the monotomy)

2. Chris pointed out that a lot of old Folk songs can have a cannon effect (i.e. where a line is repeated out of sync) so I used this for the additional guitar work on the final verse

3. Brass section

Now I wanted to add additional instruments but wasn't quite sure, I needed something rustic. Chris suggested a normal brass band (not orchestral which we had used before). We sat down together and worked out the first couple of bars bouncing off each other, after he'd left I took the basic idea and carried it on through the rest of the tune.

The final cherry on top? My bass playing ego was hurt so I had another go. Finally started to get a feel for the tune this time, odd how a bass line has a totally different mindset. During the take I noticed my body language change! My bass trademark seems to be sliding up to a note... nothing to do wiv masking my timing weakness of course!

So here is version 2.0 for your listening pleasure, enjoy :-)

Is there going to be a version 3.0???

Possibly... Chris has already agreed to lay down a three part harmony in the future. Just a case of finding the time now. 

No I haven't produced my second album in super quick time, but I have (finally) completed my friend Chris' album.

There's a very clear progression, Acoustic Moods #1 (Plugged) -> Solo #1 (Just Me) -> Chris #1 (Ghosts). Each one builds on the previous one and improves...  

The acoustic guitar has taken the brunt of the learning this time, Chris' style is different and relies on it more. So a lot of work went into getting the acoustic guitar sound right and that will feed back into my second album.

Where are we now? Well an initial cut has been produced and is just awaiting final seal of approval by some fresh pairs of ears, then mastering then Dan will put together the CD sleeves and all done.

That will be fun. :-D 

Currently I'm working on my friend Chris' album that will include Another Victim of a Broken Heart with him on lead vocals.

Now bear in mind that it has been just over twelve months since I bust a gut finishing my own version and that particular song stretched me to my limits (possibly beyond). Over the last couple of months working on Chris' album though I feel my production skills have improved dramatically again to the point where I just know I can improve that song.

Chris' version is going to sound awesome.

Does this mean I'm turning in George Lucas? Special Edition here we come! Though I feel awful about my version...

Still I can employ my new skill level on album #2... 

So where am I up to with my first album? Let's have a track by track breakdow:

1. But I Really Want To (almost done, possibly needs vocals touching up)
2. Lost Again (done)
3. Who We Are (done)
4. Did I Mean Nothing To You (vocals need touching up)
5. The Heart of the Andes (almost done)
6. I Don't Know Why You Went Away (almost done)
7. What I Mean To Say (done)
8. The Curse of... (needs a new guitar line)
9. The Watcher (almost done)
10. A Love Never To Be (almost done)
11. Another Victim of a Broken Heart (actually nearly done!)
12. All I Can Remember (needs quite a bit've work)

Many artists create a 'sound' and then stick fairly close to it for an album. Yes it's consistent and can work (a la the early Oasis albums), but how about trying something really different and adventurous? An album with many different styles, constantly changing and surprising the listener. That is my approach. (NB this has nothing to do with me having the attention span of a goldfish; tongue planted firmly in cheek!)

My album has an opening gambit of 3x very strong but accessible tracks, they gel nicely and lull the listener into thinking that they represent the basic 'sound'. Guess again...

Suddenly Did I Mean Nothing To You is a folk song! But everything prior to it was indie / prog rock!!! The Heart of the Andes is an unusal instrumental with classical influences! It is a real WTF moment, just what I intended :-) From there I steer back to more standard rock songs, but with unusual arrangements and instrumentation. The tracks become more adventurous reaching a pinacle with the progressive rock tune the Watcher.

The closing gambit is equally diverse, Another Victim of a Broken Heart is very much in the style of Meatloaf. BIG! Dan excelled himself with that arrangement. The grande finale is... an orchestral number!!!

That's the plan, the trick will be pulling it off.

There's so much of me aged 16 to 18 in there, it has to be perfect.