Big thank you to https://soundcloud.com/jonathan_beckenstein and Yaron Engler two musicians with a magical touch!

Life is complex, decisions are difficult, so I thought that flipping a bitcoin might help with that. Not sure of the science behind this but it was a lot of fun to  write ! https://youtu.be/Wn1euVtmcOw


A left or a right, I don’t know
A left or a right, I don’t know
Stroke a jawbone
Flip a bitcoin
That’s the sure way to know

Heading for heartache or gold
Heading for heartache or gold
Hard to decide
When to colour your blind
The red or the yellow brick road

Flip a bitcoin
Flip a bitcoin
Flip a bitcoin
So you don’t get purloined
Flip a bitcoin
Flip it again
One more time
Or the best out of ten

The red or the yellow brick road
The red or the yellow brick road
Don’t get purloined
Just flip a bitcoin…….

That’s the sure way to know

Flip A Bitcoin

Flip A Bitcoin (feat. Jonathan Beckenstein)

Never been to Birdland though I’m a big Charlie 'Yardbird' Parker fan. This track, however, is more about the Tweetie variety, they are such a delight, I love listening to their toons. If you have time, I urge you to watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdIoL2YLu7Y . Ghislaine is such a talent, her photos and videos just capture the magic.
  
I’m on my way to Birdland
That’s where I wanna be
Modern day living so unforgiving 
It’s not a place for me

You’re better off in Birdland
It’s so plain to see
Ask the crows coz they all know
Birdland’s the place to be

I just love their beaks
Their feets, their tweets
And they’re so reet petite
So why’re being so thoughtless
Turning up the heat
We’re the pest
Messing up the nest and…
You know the rest  
You know the rest
You know the rest 
  
You’re better off in Birdland
It’s so plain to see
Ask the crows coz they all know
Birdland’s the place to be
Birdland’s the place to be 
Birdland’s the place to be

30 June 2021

Birdland

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ckaz_vKiuk

https://soundcloud.com/janinelevinson vocals
https://soundcloud.com/jonathan_beckenstein guitar
Yaron Engler drum program
Me on vocals, piano, double bass

Always been a little shy when it comes to love songs, a little like the character on the track however,  doing a duet with Janine was not the icing on the cake, it was the cake! 

Then, the magic touch from Jonathan and Yaron in two areas of music where I fail miserably, guitar and drums, big thank you to all three, I couldn’t’ve done it without you!

He tugged at his hair
Shucked his cuffs       
He stared at his feet
And he blushed  
She looked so good in that dress     
Oh but who would’ve guessed
There might be a change in his luck

She said 
Do y'know any jokes?
And he said 
O.k, there was this bloke…’
And the punchline was crass
He fell flat on his ass
But something had floated her boat

Something had floated her boat 
Something had floated her boat
Ignore the Pecksniffs
And listen to this
A boat just needs water to float

A Boat Just Needs Water To Float feat: Janine Levinson & Jonathan Beckenstein

Written by Leiber & Stoller, It was initially recorded by R&B duo, Willy & Ruth, in 1954, then by Elvis in  1956. The genius of Lieber's lyrics were that they usually finished early leaving room for theatrics, something Elvis excelled in.

Treat Me Like A Fool (Leiber & Stoller)

I was so taken back at the compliments I got for my spiced carrot & lentil soup that I decided to put it to music and, as ya know , 'c'est la sauce qui fait la musique'  and who better to provide that than the fabulous https://soundcloud.com/ddjohn on clarinet.

https://youtu.be/cehZZESRFIk

Cumin seeds & chilli 
Dry fried
Cumin seeds & chilli 
Dry fried
Watch them jump around the pan
Jump around the pan
Then set aside

Add a little oil
Stir Fry
Add a little oil
And stir fry
Carrots, split red lentils,
And stock, though not essential,
Is advised 

Milk or plain water
I don’t mind
Milk or just plain water
Water’s fine
When you’ve finished with the blender
There’s something to remember
Before you dine

The cumin seeds & chilli 
Dry fried
The cumin seeds & chilli 
Dry fried
If you want some razzle-dazzle
Just add a sprig of basil
Yeah that’s nice

Cumin Seeds & Chilli (feat. DDJohn)

LIVE at the Brunswick in Brighton just before Christmas, a mobile phone recording but it captured the mood. So good to play live again!!!!

https://youtu.be/rlOZFl6fwd4

A rain dance for the bush fires
A sun dance for the floods
A war dance for anyone    
Who doesn’t give a fuck

It’s murder on earth’s dance floor
We may never dance again
It’s time to pick up that dam phone
If you’re a ’Strictly’ fan

It's murder on earth’s dance floor
 t's murder on earth’s dance floor

A shoot out at the oil coral
Sundance at my side
You know that he can bust a move
And he can  jive

Dance like no one’s watching
Dance so full of love
Dance those socks till they come off
Take off those kid gloves

It's murder on earth’s dance floor
It's murder on earth’s dance floor
It's murder on earth’s dance floor
It's murder on earth’s dance floor

Instrumental

Gonna  move your feet, gonna eat less meat
This dance floor needs repair
if ya wanna lift that glitter ball
Dance like Fred Astaire

and dance like no one’s watching
Dance with so much love
Dance those socks till they come off
Take off those kid gloves

It’s murder on earth’s dance floor
It’s murder on earth’s dance floor
It's murder on earth’s dance floor
It's murder on earth’s dance floor

Instrumental

A rain dance for the bush fires
A sun dance for the floods
A war dance for anyone    
Who doesn’t give a fuck

It’s murder on earth’s dance floor
We may never dance again
It's time to pick up that dam phone
If you're a Strictly fan

It's murder on earth's dance floor
It's murder on earth's dance floor
It's murder on earth's dance floor
It's murder on earth's dance floor

Squidly doot, snidely dat, hot dam

Murder On Earth's Dance Floor LIVE!

Hard times, I hope you will forgive the lightness of touch. A big thank you to three magnificent earthlings who allow me to keep dreaming: https://soundcloud.com/janinelevinson, https://soundcloud.com/jonathan_beckenstein and Yaron Engler. 

https://youtu.be/gcvxFj4CPZY

Rocket fuel regular
Or rocket fuel light?
Said the Venusian
He was ever so polite

She said, give me regular
And lit a cigar
He knew straight away
That this girl was from Mars

No smoking in here
You’ll blow us all up
She said, give me ya phone number
And I might look you up

He went red
She remained green
Coz Martians and Venusians
Are like meat with ice cream

Meat with Ice Cream
Meat with Ice Cream

He went red
She remained green
But when you think about it
What’s wrong with meat with ice cream

He gave her his number
That’s  what they did
She gave hime a wink
And he fluttered his lids

Meat with Ice Cream
Meat with Ice Cream
He gave her his number
And a little while later they had green and red kids

Meat with Ice Cream
Meat with Ice Cream
Meat with Ice Cream
You know what I mean

Meat With Ice Cream

Meat With Ice Cream (feat. Janine Levinson & Jonathan Beckenstein)

A lively night at The Brunswick in Brighton last week captured on a mobile phone.  Three generations on stage, Yali, six years old, on bell, Yaron, his dad, on drums, me, his 'grandude', on vocals and keys, also featuring Hamish Livingstone on  the righteous upright bass  and Chris Carpenter on 'Bone',

He Only Delivers The Box (Live)

Wrote this in an attempt to convince myself that I'm not alone. 
‘Winging it’ is a phrase (circa 1885) used by performers ‘depping’ for someone in the theatre, learning the part in the wings before going on stage. 

Photograph: Jess Dixon in his flying automobile.
https://youtu.be/qaWy1qJbmZY

Everyone’s 
Just winging it
Playing it by ear
Ad-libbing it
Life is a fool’s game
Isn’t it?
Isn’t it?

And I don’t mind 
Admitting it
I once had a plan 
But I’m not sticking to it
So easy to drift
Isn’t it?
Isn’t it?

Everyone’s 
Just winging it
Playing it by ear
Ad-libbing it
Life is a fool’s game
Isn’t it?
Isn’t it?

Everyone's Just Winging It

No one knows who wrote the nursery rhyme London's Burning. Was it about The Great Fire of London in 1666, did they have fire engine in those days, who knows? (Maybe Joe Strummer).
https://youtu.be/iZOJ-HzbQUg

A big thank you to Jonathan who played both acoustic & electric and did the mixing. He is such a talent!

London’s burning
Fetch the engine pour on water
London’s burning
I tell ya what I think we oughta
Push that fan up to full throttle 
Fill up all our water bottles 
Think that we are in big trouble
Again 
 
London’s burning
Burning here on Friday Street
London’s burning
Listen to the angry heat
Thomas Faryner’s not to blame
It did not start in Pudding Lane
It’s driving cars and aeroplanes
It’s insane 

London’s burning
People jumping off the bridges 
London’s burning
Some are climbing into fridges
I smell smoke
It gets your throat
And it’s no joke

London's Burning (with Jonathan Beckenstein)

The cakewalk was more than a recreational dance; it also gave a chance for enslaved people to ridicule those who tyrannized them.

Photo: Bert Williams and George Walker who popularized cakewalk dancing more than anyone.

Cakewalk Into Town (Taj Mahal)

Lord Kitchener, the calypso king, arrived at Tilbury docks 21 June 1948, on the Windrush. https://youtu.be/Zlv4dkS-s8w

Despite living and working in the UK for decades, many of the Windrush generation's children were told they were there illegally because of a lack of official paperwork. The scandal, which broke in April 2018, saw the UK government belatedly apologise for deportation threats made.

Footnote: I purchased my first guitar, an Epiphone studio dot and a small fender amp and I decided to add to this track having looked up the three chords, blushin' at my audacity!

Gimme Da Ting (Lord Kitchener)

A rough mix taken from the desk @ The Brunswick a couple of weeks ago. The rain was torrential that evening but it didn't deter the  hardcore audience from turning up.  A little tip of the hat to Thelonious in this one.

Tobie Carpenter (electric guitar) Hamish Livingstone (double bass) Will Barber(drums) Chris Carpenter(subtitles/trombone) (burn.it.smith (vocals/keys)

Ah ben dis donc (Blimey)
 Ça... tu entends? (Can ya hear that?) 
Le mec sur la pétrolette (The bloke on a moped)
 Il monte la colline (Going up the hill) 
Pour voir sa copine (To see his girlfriend)
 Mais ça me donne mal à la tête (Does my head in)
En première vitesse (Always in first gear)
 Roulez jeunesse (Move it youngster) 
Remets le pot d’échappement (Put that exhaust pipe back on) Fous-moi la paix (Leave me in peace) 
Tu me casses les oreilles (Ya breaking my ears)
 J’en ai marre d’entendre ta ronflette (Tired of hearing that dam hum)

Errrrrrrrmmmm
 I think he’s on his way
 Errrrrrmmmmm 
Must love that girl, anyway 
Squiddly deet dat doot doo dat 
Well you know that where I’m at
 Squiddly deet dat doot doo dat doot day

 Ça, tu entends? (Do you hear that) 
Poile au bidon (For Christsakes) 
C’est le mec sur la pétrolette (A bloke on a moped)

Solo

En première vitesse (Always in first gear)
 Roulez jeunesse (Move it youngster)

Le Mec Sur La Pétrolette (Live)

photo: Zdzisław Bekiñski
https://youtu.be/GlnJoClHP5k
Thumbing the nose at bad moods/anxiety. Who wins? The jury is not yet out. Just happy to have achieved a post, it has been a while.

What's that?
It's hollow inside
Can't believe there's nothing in there!
Yep, it's hollow inside
We've been tricked by social media
Hollow inside?
Keep it down or he might here you!
Yep, it's hollow inside
Hmm...

I just want to go back home
(I don't like it here)
I just want to go back home
(I don't like it here)

I just want to go back home
I just want to go back home
(I don't like it here)

What's that?
It's hollow inside
I just want to go back home
Can't believe there's nothing in there!
I just want to go back home 
It's hollow inside
(I don't like it here)

I just want to go back home
It's hollow inside
Can't believe there's nothing in there!
I just want to go back home
It's hollow inside
(I don't like it here)

It's Hollow Inside

This will be the last birthday song for a while, apologies to those who didn't get one.

https://youtu.be/d04wUYFgiGk

Hats off to little Richard
He’s made three score and ten
He no longer does those handstands
Just a backflip now and then

You might catch him with a reefer
Or a Coonawarra cabernet
When he picks up that ol’ Maton,  well..
Who knows what he'll play

Like guitar George
He knows all the chords
But he only uses two
And the the cats from Nashville say, look
There goes Ricky Boo

Take your hat off, be respectful
A milestone’s passing by
Little Richard’s. clocked up  seventy years
Now throw that hat up high!

Throw That Hat Up High

This song is a little thank you to the MRI technician, who was not happy with me, she wanted me to keep still but the electronic sounds were so fabulous and I found it very difficult not to move.

https://youtu.be/4nG-2tyw2Ao

Resonance is majestic
It sure knows how to thrill
Moombahton, juke n'breakbeat
Occasionally deep chill
Girl behind the console
Said I must act more responsible
I need you to keep still

Lay still upon that flatbed
Diagnostics take their time
The protons in the molecules
Need time to realign
The protons in the molecules
They follow scientific rules
Every single time

Moombahton, juke n'breakbeat
A little bit of house
Shot from the anaesthetist
The lights, they just went out
Shot from the anaesthetist
To help with the analysis
Of the Administer of Grime

Lay still upon that flatbed
That is what she said
Lay still upon that flatbed
When I moved, well she saw red
Lay still upon that flatbed
She said that every time
The Administer of Grime

The Administer Of Grime

https://youtu.be/pka8m0L_eko

Thought I'd sneak in a little track before the year is out. I have not been very active on Soundcloud this year, will endeavour to start writing again in the new year, and listen to all the talent that is out there! 

Happy hols 

Antony 
(a.k.a. burn-it-smith)

p.s. Such rhythm in these lyrics, something I have always admired about this artist.

You Never Can Tell (Cover)

For the fabulous few who leave no footprint.
https://youtu.be/i5Q-viLwH9M

In Mesopotamia
There was this mania
Building stuff out of clay bricks

Sumerian powers
Built temples and towers
Ziggurats, that’s what they did

Humans are scoundrels
Trees should hold council
Just ask the bird or the fish

It’s never enough
With this ziggurat stuff
A ziggurat’s never too big  

The bird and the fish
Were thoroughly pissed
With the cat in the hat and his big ziggurat 

Builders were flagging
Whip  kept on cracking
I want a ziggurat bigger than that

Humans are scoundrels
Trees should hold council
Just ask the bird or the fish

It’s never enough
With this ziggurat stuff
A ziggurats never too big

I want a ziggurat bigger than that
I want a ziggurat bigger than that
I want a ziggurat bigger than that
I want a ziggurat bigger than that

I want a ziggurat bigger than that!

I Want A Ziggurat Bigger Than That!

Lost David Lynch this month, he suffered from emphysema, some say being exposed the LA wildfires contributing to his death, who knows, but ‘Drill baby drill’ is madness.
https://youtu.be/fR0b9E4ORwc

Not sure where to start
Not sure what to say
That old bald-headed eagle
Is having a bad hair day

There’s no stars
No stripes
Things just don’t seem right
Sit tight, sit tight, sit tight

Wrote postcard to a friend of mine
Up on Mulholland Drive
Not even sure if he still lives there
Coz he has not replied

No stars
No stripes
On this postcard that I write
Sit tight, sit tight, sit tight

No Stars No stripes

Camera Shy

François Hollande's reign as president was marked by a secret love affair, deadly terror attacks and an economic policy U-turn. There was something endearing about the man, however, captured in this infamous speech in English. Hope I don't get deported for this, enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGHMrWKUf1g

Be You - soyez vous            
Be proud of you - soyez fier de vous
Because you can be- parce que vous pouvez être
Do - faire
What we want to do - ce que nous voulons faire

Il a peut-être raison - ge is probably right
Ce vieux président - this old president
C’est un peux déroutant - it’s a bit confusing
Mais aussi très profond - but also deep

Be You !

Have the number of a good friend on my phone though he’s no longer here still tempted to ring.  https://youtu.be/Emt8UtM0vsI

Jesus would not agree
But I don’t share his pedigree
I believe
When your gone 
You’re gone

Hades just takes the piss
No-one rows you across The Styx
I believe
When you’re gone
You’re gone

 I keep your number on my phone
Hoping that you prove me wrong  
But when I ring it no-one’s home
You’re gone
Gone
Gone

Jesus would not agree
But I don’t share his pedigree
I believe
When your gone 
You’re gone
I believe
When your gone 
You’re gone
I believe
When your gone 
You’re gone

The Atheist

The Atheist  (feat. Jonathan Beckenstein)

Tis a noble sport but it does have its downside. The lifespan of a wrestler is typically reduced by 15-20 years attributed to the health consequences of the sumo diet. They are also banned from driving cars partly due to being too big to fit behind a steering wheel. This song, however, is about another fight which we must win!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSnhY0xBK7k

I’m a sumo wrestler
Don’t fit in a Tesla
I weigh 400 pounds 
Or ‘bout that
And a lotta the food’ll be
Rice, ramen noodles
Yeah
Ya gotta be fat

No gougin ’ no kickin’
Just slappin’ and trippin’
Huff, luffa 
Keep your breathing in sync
Throw salt in the air
Show your palms 
That’s just fair
Make sure your mawashi’s 
Tucked in
   
Le lutteur de Sumo
Il ma fait ‘ah’
Il ma fait ‘oh’
Le lutteur de Sumo
C’est si bon
C’est si beau

No gougin’ no kickin’
Just slappin’ and trippin’
Make sure your mawashi 
Tucked in
 And remind that bozo
Once he touches the doho
It means that he loses
I win

Huffa luffa
Huffa luffa
Huffa luffa

The Sumo Wrestler

Seem to be in permanent countdown mode: global warming,Trump’s tariffs, days left before the visa runs out. So I thought I’d plan an imaginary escape in this song.   https://youtu.be/WfT0n7nuGxE


Let’s start with the countdown
Whoop, whoop I’m going home
ZEHN
There’s nothing worse than Earthlings
NEUN
They have such weird chromosomes 
ACHT
They’re cruel and they’re deluded
SIEBEN
They’re fools, they’re mean, they moan
SECHS
So I’ve pimped up Elon’s spacecraft 
FÜNF
Just hope to take me home
VIER
Tune those raptor engines
DREI
Gotta fixe those propellent leaks
ZWEI
And fingers-crossed I’m blasting off 
EINS
Should be be home in about a week.
WIR HABEN ABGEHOBEN

The Countdown

My mum always played the piano in her slippers, her mother did not want her to damaged the instrument.  She even took her slippers to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama exam, she thought everyone played the piano in slippers. So I recorded a favourite track of hers, in one take, which I was very happy with, though I did shed a tear as I put my slippers on.

The music for "Blueberry Hill" was composed by Vincent Rose with lyrics written by Larry Stock and Al Lewis. The song was turned down by another publisher until being bought and published in 1940 by Chappell & Company. The song was recorded over ten times that year.

Blueberry Hill (Vincent Rose, Larry Stock & Al Lewis)

This song was co-written with a good buddy of mine, Simon Smith. I think he probably wrote the best opening line to a song that I know.

Girlfriend Trouble

Great little song by Loudon although I'm not sure he'd recognise it the way I do it. Think it is off the Album 'Final Exam'. I still have it on cassette somewhere, you should check it out. There is some really fun stuff coming out of the Wainwright dynasty.

Golfing Blues (Loudon Wainwright III)

No longer pink

People say 
We’re on the blink 
La vie en rose
No longer pink
It’s black & white
And that ain’t right 
No, no, no 

Then they say
You’ll rue the day
There’ll be hell to pay
There’s no white Knight
Who’s on his way
No, no, no

No one knows 
Where the wind blows     ,
Might even end up
On skid row
Hope it’s not
My time to go
No, no, no

Never known them                                         
Be so rash
Watch the way 
They splash the cash
Sometime think
I smell a rat
Yo, yo, yo
 
Some say
We’re on the blink 
La vie en rose
No longer pink
It’s black & white
That ain’t  right 
No, no, no 
                                  
I wonder where 
That arrow goes
When covid
Draws back his bow 
Where the wind blows
No one knows
No, no, no

No Longer Pink

When Bruce sent me this cool little riff with a ‘no rules’ brief, I was delighted.  At the time, I was reading an article about Trump's self-confessed  brilliance on a cognitive test which looked a little like the Alzheimer’s test my Mum took, but what do I know. I'm afraid my Mum failed but she was brilliant in other ways. Anyway, the two things got concatenated, Yaron added some big drums and ‘One Stable Genius’ came into being.

Bruce Conover: https://soundcloud.com/conover vocal & percussion
burn.it. smith https://soundcloud.com/burn-it-smith vocal, piano & extra keys
Yaron Engler: Big drums and orchestral percussion

Bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo 
Bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo  
I said, bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo-boo-boo 
Bida, biba, biba, biba, biba, biba, biba

Bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo 
One Stable Genius, I guess you know who
Bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo 
The sound of my brain just thinking things through
I said, bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo-boo-boo 
Just give me the test, I’m best but that I just knew

Bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo  
That’s not a rat it’s a big kangaroo
Bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo 
It’s an elephant? That can’t be true!
I said, bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo-boo-boo
One s table genius talking to you
Bida, biba, biba, biba, biba, biba, biba

One stable genius, I guess you know who
The size of my brain is insane but that I just knew
One stable genius, I guess you know who
The size of my brain is insane but that I just new 

Bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo 
Bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo  
I said, bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo-boo-boo
Oh yeah, bida, biba, biba, biba, biba, biba, biba

One stable genius, I guess you know who
The size of my brain is insane but that I just knew
One stable genius, I guess you know who
I gonna press that red button before I am through

One Stable  Genius (ft. Bruce Conover)

https://youtu.be/56UurN6nL78

For those of you who haven't seen the film Groundhog Day, it is about the same day on continual repeat. I needed to write something to  lift my spirits, I know the foot stompin' is a little out of control but when my foot is happy, so am I, so I stuck with the first take. Hope it raises a smile.  Antony (a.k.a burn.it.smith)

Lyrics

I'm a tellin’ you gees
She's the bees knees
And nope there isn't a 'but'
Magnificent writer
Pants couldn't be tighter
Voice as sweet as a nut

Now here's the thing 
She's big on bling 
Down to her cowboy boots
Everything rocks
With a beep beep beep bop
Watch her bend those blue notes

Jumpin’ jack nabbit
The girls a maverick
Wonder what she’s gonna play
Goose pimple, you bet
On the back of  my neck
I wish it was Groundhog Day

She strikes a chord
Oh my lord
There’s a bead of sweat
She ain’t ready yet
She’s gonna play her hit
Oh hold shit
How much better does it get?

Jumpin’ jack nabbit
The girls a maverick
I wonder what she’s gonna play
Goose pimple, you bet
On the back of my neck
I wish it was Groundhog Day

I wish it was Groundhog Day

Piano player, singer,  righteous upright bass & concatenator of disparate factors.

burn.it.smith

Pinned to spotlight

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