An album of songs written my John Dyhouse, and recorded for a collaborative project with a fellow musician who is into recording engineer/producing, mixing and mastering in his newly created, own home studio. All lead vocals by John Dyhouse, all backing vocals and  instruments by my collaborator in this project.

On Vocals

This is one of a series of eight tracks which I recorded back in the early years of my writing. I captured these songs on a digital camera with video capabilities. I was happy with most but one or two should have been given another take - I suggest, you may think more. But things are what they are. I have stripped the audio track from the video (original video on my You tube channel) and posted them on Soundcloud close to 10 years ago. I have now available, the ability to edit and manipulate the audio tracks. Just for purely personal reasons (makes them sound better ????) and have now posted them on SoundCloud as a remix. Hope you like it.

The One who Sung The Song

the one who sang the song - acoustic remix

So excited to share my first song with a fully instrumented backing. I was offered the chance by a friend to have guitars, bass, percussion and backing vocals on one of my songs. I jumped at the chance and enjoyed singing over the final arrangement. I am so pleased with the outcome. Would love to get some feedback. Thanks in advance if you can spare time to take a listen.

Please note, I have changed the image on this track! This red strat was gifted to me at the time, and I associate it with this arrangement BUT it is not me playing. My only contribution was the song and the lead vocals.

Babe I Get This Feeling (2023)

An update of a recently posted track, remixed and mastered. The second in a proposed collaboration between myself (lyrics and melody, and lead vocals) and the arranger/producer (backing vocals and all instruments).

BTW, the bottled beers were found quite recently and we thought they would make a great image for this track. My thanks to the brewery.

This And That (2023)

Third in a series of collaborations with a partner who plays and records all instruments, records my vocal, mixes and masters the track. The songs are and will be my own original material.
Basically my partner is using the project as an opportunity to be creative with the backing and feel/style and increase his skills in all aspects of recording modern music. I consider myself fortunate to have this opportunity to hear my songs with a professional backing.

This song was basically written (in 2020) with a simple ukulele backing in the style of a blues song; with an added bridge. The added rythm/percussion and some great guitar riffs improve the style and feel of the song whilst staying true to the original mood.

Title; Mr Nobody (2020)

Nobody listens to my plea
Nobody wants to listen to me
I'm just invisible, I'm not there
Nobody seems to care, for me.......
Mr Nobody

So many times I've tried to grow
Be the kind of man, I'd like to know
I'm just invisible, I'm not there
Nobody seems to care, for me.......
Mr Nobody

Call me mister No........body
Call me mister No........body
I'm just mister No........body
Nobody thats me!

Instro break

Nobody wants to be my friend
They got excuses I can't comprehend
I might as well….	not be around, I'm not there
Nobody seems to care, For me.......
Mr Nobody

Call me mister No........body
Call me mister No........body
I'm just mister No........body
Nobody thats me!

Outro
Nobody that’s me

Mr Nobody

Mr Nobody (2023)

A set of songs recorded om my old PC in the early stages of Lockdown. Recorded as videos and the audio has been stripped and edited in Audiotonic.

This is a cover of a song from the monty python film, The Life Of Brian

always look on the bright side of life (cover)

A set of songs recorded om my old PC in the early stages of Lockdown. Recorded as videos and the audio has been stripped and edited in Audiotonic.

This is a cover of a song from the beatles first album

I saw her standing there (cover)

set of songs recorded on my old PC in the early stages of Lockdown. Recorded as videos and the audio has been stripped and edited in Audiotonic.

This is a cover of a classic song by The Kinks

Dedicated Follower Of Fashion (cover)

I have been listening to some videos of various covers I recorded during Lockdown. All in the name of fun and sanity, Just sat down in front of my laptop, picked up my uke and started turning pages of my songbooks. Nothing special, just went for it and clicked record.

I wanted to post these onto Soundcloud so had to use a little technological magic. First stripping the soundtrack, and then using a few lttle tricks in my DAW (Audiotonic based on the Audacity codes and just as free) and adding a little reverb for effect. Finally posting on SC and creating this album/playlist.

After you've Gone written by Layton and Creamer in 1918 and recorded by many including Frank Sinatra and Nina Simone amongst other great Jazz artistes

After You've Gone - Cover

Just me and my ukulele: Another new song demoed with an acoustic ukulele. I don't usually include lyrics in the description but I seem to have sung this without making many of the words really clear, so just this once I have included the lyrics here.

IF I ONLY HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE AGAIN 
(Oct 2023)


Shattered Dreams
Broken promises
Map the highways 
Of my life
A broken heart
Long lost dreams 
The price I pay
For blinkered eyes

In my youth
I saw the world
A gilded path
And all that implies
But with age,
Experience
Shows the truth
Youth ever denies

If I had my life again would I make the same mistakes
If I had a second chance would I be smart
Would I come to realise
Would I see thru all those lies'
If I only had my life to live again

I believed 
What I was told
Had no doubts
Your love would last
But in time
Your love would die
Then my dreams
And hopes were trashed

If I had my life again would I make the same mistakes
If I had a second chance would I be smart
Would I come to realise
Would I see thru all those lies'
If I only had my life to live again


Main chord sequence: Am  Dm  G   C  F  E7
Chorus F  G  C  Am

If I Only Had My Life To Live Again

A litle bit of an experiment in a slow time with songwriting for me; possibly in the early 80's. I retold the story of Tom Dooley in my own words and with a new melody. Liked the words but not the new tune. It has lain dormant in one of my lyric notebooks. ever since.

But while looking thru one particular notebook for some songs to record (at long last), I sang this and thought, well if only for the lyric..... and it was a bit of fun. So here it is, hope it hits the spot for you.

Life Is Cruel (Life's A Joker)

"Get On Your Bike" is the fourth in a series of projects to create a fully arranged version of some of my songs. 

These are collaborative projects with an audio engineer just starting out in the field. He is hoping to learn from working on "the blank canvas" that my songs offer. Allowing him to work without preconceived ideas.

I write the songs and sing the lead lyrics. All other instruments and backing vocals, the mixing and mastering are down to my colleague. 

I am excited and very grateful for this chance to hear my songs "bought to life" in this way.

Get On Your Bike - 2023

An old song of mine from 1979, I am trying to bring up to date - a little; by re-recording rather than rewriting....

Not sure if it is working but I will revisit after having a chance to mull it over.

The Song Of My Life (ukulele)

An old song of mine from 1977, I am trying to bring up to date - a little; by re-recording rather than rewriting....

Not sure if it is working but I will revisit after having a chance to mull it over.

Crazy Ways (Ukulele)

This is a cover of a wonderful song by Ruth Nina Welsh, one of a number I have included on a playlist/album I am compiling.This is a work in progress, a number of fluffed lines in the lyric and one or two mistakes with the ukulele but posting it any way to make sure I do finish it soon.

No Tears Left To Fall - ukulele cover

Another old (1977) song I am catching up with. A simple acoustic ukulele backing

I Sing My Song In Remembrance

A song which came out of the blue (in 1979). 
I have been recording some old (but loved) songs from my original lyric notebooks. Some need new tunes, but this one I must have sung quite often to have remembered the original music and guitar chords. 
Maybe I had been considering my options?

A Cowboys Life For Me

A song I love by Ruth Nina Welsh from her album, "Somehow". (find Ruth on Facebook and Spotify and here on Soundcloud) 
A simple melody and wonderful lyrics. If you like this kind of music, I do recommend that you check her albums on Spotify.

It is accompanied here on a ukulele played thru an amp and a pedal chain consisting of compressor/sustain, delay and chorus pedals. I learning to be a little judicious with these toys, still somway to go I'm afraid.

Take Care - cover

Another, blast from the past, written in 1979 (yep) trying to use a novel theme. I had remembered the melody to this one but still needed to put chords (harmony) to it. Recorded on an acoustic uke, as a demo for later cataloguing

(Lifes A) Moving Picture Show

Written 1978, another of my older songs I am trying to get off the pages of my notebooks. Here, especially in the bridge I am having trouble with the melody/chords but after a little more work on it, I expect to rewrite and re-record and then re-load the corrected track. 
I am choosing this way as there are many songs I hope to post here with more detail (melody/chords) than simply the lyrics from a notebook page.

Cry Your Little Heart Out (ukulele demo)

Aother of my older songs from the late seventies. A happier, more upbeat song than most of my output

My Country Lady (Ukulele demo)

This is a "special" song for me as it was probably the first song I ever wrote after I had my first guitar. from memory it was written around 1959/1960 and shows it's age in the lyrics. Almost embarrassing now because of the lyircs and especially the rhymes, which I would never dare to use these days; but I was only 13/14 at the time. The song structure is also very much of it's time, with a very short bridge, but probably called a chorus at the time. It is included here as one of a number of my older songs which I am recording for fun.

You Don't Love Me No More (guitar, demo)

Another  early original  song from from the sixties. Originally played on an acoustic guitar and in the folk idiom. Maybe the tempo was a little slower. I am however trying to recreate the song as written even though with a different style of backing

Still Waters (guitar demo)

Another  early original  song from from the sixties. Originally played finger style and in the folk idiom. Maybe the tempo was a little slower. I am however trying to recreate the song as written even though with a different style of backing

Silent Lady (guitar demo)

Another of my songs from my early lyric notebooks, again this was written in the early sixties (1960s). It is as the title suggests a ukulele demo; as there are a number of issues I have with remembering the song fully, I was happy enough to use the uke on this track.

I Saw You Standing

Written in the late sixties (#71 in my catalogue). Many of these early songs were simply me trying to find a style in my early days of songwriting. A simple arrangement as a demo, for now.... Lots of delay on this guitar

Solitude

Written in the early sixties (#13 in my catalogue). Many of these early songs were simply me trying to find a style in my early days of songwriting. A simple arrangement as a demo, for now.... Lots of delay on this guitar

the mystery man

Another in the series of early, original songs from my back catalogue. This is a "pop-py" song with a jazzy vibe; being written in the early sixties, unfortunately I have no dates in my note books for this period. 
Trying to feature a little lead playing on this short song.

Sunny Day - guitar demo

One of the very earliest of my original songs, presented here as a simple (and quick) ukulele demo. I think I was probably thinking of Bob Dylan when I wrote this, at least that's my excuse. For info, this was numbered #7 in my catalogue now numbering above 250.

Depression (ukulele demo)

Acoustic ukulel backed version of this early song, #1 in my back catalogue. Written in early sixties. But this is not the first song I wrote, just the first one I entered into the first of my lyric notebooks.
Very simple chord progression, I must have just learned about adding a flattened seventh to move from I to a IV chord. (cf the first two lines of the verse). Just a couple more to come from this era, I think, before I move on with later songs and even new songs.

Should True Love Be Discouraged

I recorded recorded this song as a small tribute to Richard Tandy who passed away recently, Richard played keyboards for ELO. This of course was one of their many successes.

Hold On Tight - ukulele cover

The second of two songs chosen to be performed at my local uke club as a tribute to Richard Tandy of ELO (keyboard), who passed away recently. I very nearly did not post this track; for two reasons. It is not a style I sing well and secondly I could not properly get my tongue around that phrase, "wamalama bamalama". I could hardly stop myself from laughing as I mangled the syllables. This was the last take of about a dozen, you can hear me laughing at the end of the song. Anyway, here it is.....

Rock & Roll Is King - ukulele cover

An early song - no explanation for it's origin, it happened!

Original song, "A Cowboys Life For Me"

A song where the idea was formed from a "Status Quo" lick. Written for a guitar, this does not realy stand out with a uke, but it uses the three chord structure of many of the Quo's songs

Its So She Said

An amateur singer/song writer; in it for the fun and satisfaction. Enjoying rediscovering old recordings and sharing new original songs with friends and anyone who would like to join me on the adventure.

The songs and playlists/albums hold an eclectic mix of original material and covers; I have also recovered various analog recordings and sequenced tracks. I sing because I enjoy it and make no claims to any musical performance skills, you are warned....

John Dyhouse

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks