Again, a song written just to incorporate the riff at the beginning.  Quickly written and recorded in my lounge in Johnstone, Scotland in an afternoon for the purpose of 'giving my life meaning' on a miserable summer's day, and providing the band I was in at the time, Life Beyond Fiction, with appropriate material.  The band recorded a version of it in The Ludovic bar in Johnstone on a Friday night, where the drummer Billy did an outstanding drum break comparable to the iconic break played by Keith Moon in the unedited version of 'The Kids Are Alright'.

Succinctly Tonite (1989)

Written by Jimmy Judge and myself during a rehearsal at Sunset Studios in Paisley, Scotland.  I think that it was the first song that we ever wrote together.  Mostly Jimmy's song, from the words to the melody, but the chord progression was primarily mine I think (am I getting this right, Jimmy?).  This version was recorded in the lounge of my flat in Johnstone, Scotland, with Jimmy playing the keyboards and singing lead vocals, while I played my Washburn electro-acoustic guitar and sang backing vocals.  Not too shabby, as Adel would say.

Cruel Cruel World (1988)

The last song Jimmy Judge and I actively wrote together.  Primarily my song in this instance, hence the fact that I take the lead vocals, while Jimmy plays great lead guitar.  This recording is from a Nakedology rehearsal at Sunset Studios in Paisley, Scotland, and may even come from the night we actually wrote the song (as this also took place in the same rehearsal room), although I myself think it was the next rehearsal night - my memory's not what it used to be.  By this time, the band was working well together from a musical perspective, and we could nail a decent arrangement of a new song very quickly.  Unfortunately, various factors came into play which saw Jimmy leave the band shortly after this recording, and Nakedology were no more.  Pity - as this recording shows, we were capable by then of coming up with high quality sophisticated pop songs.

Never Go Out On A Monday (Nakedology) (1992)

The most depressing song ever?  Les Clelland, the bass player in Nakedology, said that this song should never be aired in public.  I must admit that some people already in the throes of an emotional crisis might find it a 'bit of a downer' if they are trying to escape their feelings on a drunken night-out, and come across me performing the song without warning.  Sorry, but self-pity is a very human response - everything in this song is legitimate as art.

Ooh-La-La (1988)

Breathe (Blair's Second Demo) (2005)

Remake of the song originally performed by Nakedology, recorded at my house in Randburg.  To my ears not as good as the original, just a lttle more 'hi-fi'.  I like the extremely restrained guitar solo!!

I Never Go Out On A Monday (Blair's Demo) (2005)

Rusty Old Turnstile (Without SAFM) (2005)

A song written in the early days of the band Nakedology, so that we would actually have something to play and practice.  Stems in its entirety from the opening guitar riff.  A fun track to play, it was highly influenced by garage band classics (96 Tears, the Sonics, etc.  Check out Jimmy Judge's cheesy organ lines).  I always loved singing the line 'and I looked out of these eyes!!' with just a hint of Bob Dylan and the Hawks circa the Manchester Trade Hall concert in 1966.

Sometimes (1991)

Written in my bedsit in Queens Park, Glasgow around 1991-2.  This version demoed in Randburg in 2005.  Drum machines are a necessary evil!  The Phil Spector drums idea originally came from Tam Carden, and was part of the Nakedology version of the song that the band played live.  Unfortunately, a reasonable sounding, decently-played Nakedology version of the song is not available, as far as I know.

Chaotic Motions

Another song that I wrote in my sleep, hence the slightly surreal lyrics (of which I understand every single word).  Never really hit the smokey robinson/otis redding hybrid that I was after, but great rythmn guitar from J. Judge.

Tower Of Emotion (Nakedology Version)

If you like any of this stuff, then you should also check out Nakedology on Soundcloud.  You might also want to look at two videos by Nakedology on YouTube titled MDF and Something In The Air That Night.  I will upload a selection of stuff by the band 77F, and some more solo stuff by myself, in the hopefully not-too-distant future.  Raise your glass to further echoes from the past!!

Blair McQuarrie