Sometimes you've just got to put the umbrella up, face the cold and rain, and head to the pub for some whiskey and blues, then a coffee to see you home. Feeling good with the blues!

Download the wave file on Bandcamp:
https://chriso1.bandcamp.com/track/whiskey-blues-coffee

Chris O - composition, vocals, National Resonator, Aiersi Resonator, harp, beats, audio engineering. www.chrisokunbor.net

Artwork by Justin James - a rainy night in Hobart www.justinjamesimages.com

Final mix: www.kagenstudios.com

Whiskey, Blues & Coffee

Whiskey, Blues, & Coffee ~ Chris O

A zany celebration of jaw harp, steel guitar and Aussie wildlife, travelling from Berlin to Tasmania.

Rick on jaw harp, chanting, and video-making
Chris on steel guitar, vocals, eye-rolls & audio
c  2021 Ellis & Okunbor
Here's the video: https://youtu.be/cwkF6MZ8E4k

and here's the lyrics:

Possums in the pumpkin patch,
Possums up the tree.
Clogging in boots on the ole tin roof,
Rattling through my sleep,
Rattling through my sleep.

Wombat digging in the underground,
Soft paw shuffle at night.
Hide inside a hollow log,
Lord those Devils can bite,
Lord, those Devils can bite, whoo, they can bite.

Cane toads hanging at the riverside,
Cane toads at my door.
Nobody loves ‘em, everybody hates ‘em,
Ain't gonna sing no more.
Ain’t gonna sing no more, 
Ain’t gonna sing no more!

Nobody loves me, everybody hates me,
Ain't gonna sing no more.
Whoo!

Ein kleiner moondance - Rick Ellis & Chris O

This is my cover of a song by Amber Fults, as part of the #mysongisyoursong project of Make Music Day 2021. https://youtu.be/Yioq18GlzZ8
Singer-Songwriters around the world swap songs, re-interpreting them.


Here's Amber's version of my song "The Lamp of Welcome" https://youtu.be/RoKaS86Flw8

And here's her original version of "Fire Burning"
https://open.spotify.com/track/30jVabsbADXhiiGzXrVap0?si=4a176915f7054954

Fire Burning

Fire Burning #MySongIsYourSong

Here's a really great new remix of the old Blind Lemon Jefferson blues song Stocking Feet Blues by Sandwichtunes (Chris Asteriades).

Asti is a fantastically insightful singer/songwriter/composer, and mixmaster DJ ~ who loves the old vintage blues beats as much as I do. The first time I heard his "Bastard Blues" and "Roll Right" I was totally blown away, and am so happy that he wanted to rework one of my songs.  Go have a listen to this absolutely smashing SC musician.......who also happens to be a great guy as well!!

https://soundcloud.com/sandwichtunes


Stocking Socks ~ Sandwichtunes remix of Chris O Stocking Feet Blues

Chris: Lyrics & melody arrangement/vocals/Brauchli lapslide/audio engineering
Martin: Bass, rhythm, main guitars, shruti, instrumental arrangement & recording.
Another collaboration re-imagining the tradition, with Martin Kirwan…we’ve made this one a free download if you enjoy it. Martin has composed and played the instrumental on layered guitar tracks and shruti, and I've re-arranged the lyrics and vocal melody. As always, I'm blown away by his beautiful playing and imaginative blending of cultural sounds. https://soundcloud.com/tradladsaughrim

This gem can be found in Buntings Ancient Music of Ireland, and the "literal  translation from the original Irish" was undertaken by a Miss Mary Balfour, (there is a slightly different  translation in my 1897 book The Minstrelsy of Ireland). 
The original Irish song was believed to have been collected by an agent of Bunting's associates the McCrackens - a man called Patrick Lynch...who collected over 200 songs from singers around the Mayo area in the early 1800's but this man was never acknowledged in the publication. 
The original tune was believed to have been first published as "Ye Trugh" by Neal in 1724, but Bunting got it from Charles Byrne at a harpist's gathering around the 1790's.

"Arise from thy slumbers, oh fairest of maids!
With me wilt thou wander to Truigha's green shades,
Where sorrel and bright rowan berries abound,
And nuts in rich clusters the branches have crowned.

A bed of fresh ivy to rest thee I'll bring,
The blackbirds and thrushes around us shall sing,
And there with unceasing attachment I'll prove,
How soothing the cares of affection and love.

In my contemporary arrangement I've made the English lyrics flow a bit better. 

Photo by Chris Okunbor

An Seann Triuca

An Seann Triuća (The Old Truigha) Trad. arr. Okunbor & Kirwan. Free download if you like it

Video link:   https://youtu.be/Os82Z9Y-V-k
An old country blues written by Kansas Joe & Minnie McCoy way back in 1930.
My friend Keith Nicholson makes cigar box guitars...so here's a fun lo-fi track with  both the cigar box picking (via piezo & Krivo pickups) and  Canjo rhythm.

Botherin' that thing (video link in description)

video here:   https://youtu.be/Kzodqzwbjr4

A popular Irish song about unrequited love. Brendan and I get the chance to play this live together sometimes.

Brendan Wakely on guitar:  https://soundcloud.com/brendan-wakely
Chris O on vocals and 8 string uke
Home recording

The Salley Garden

The Salley Garden (W.B. Yeats) ~ Chris O & Brendan Wakely *video link in description

Jonnie sent me another beautiful guitar-based instrumental a while ago, and this song emerged. It is a bit of a new genre for me......but the instrumental required a really epic ballad. 

Vocals, Lyrics & Vocal composition ~ Chris Okunbor
All instruments & instrumental composition/arrangement ~ Jonnie Cook
https://soundcloud.com/jonnie-cook


Recording and audio engineering by Eliot Reynolds, Song Cave Studios, Hazelbrook
https://soundcloud.com/reynoleb

Second vocal mixes & mastering by Iwan Gronert, Electric Sound Sculpture Studios, Rotterdam
https://soundcloud.com/iwan-gronert

Slight remix done by me at home, May 2015



The lyrics were created to compliment Jonnie's gorgeous composition, so here it is....!!!

 Just Only You Can ~ Lyrics Chris O, Instrumental Composition Jonnie Cook © 2013


A bird that lay grounded, with a bruised and broken wing,
taking shallow breaths, couldn’t feel a thing.
I stilled down my body, my soul, and my blood,
And steadily and slowly turned my face away from love.

Well its only you, only you can fix this fearful heart.
Only you, just only you, can pull me in your river, so the rhythm can restart.
Only you, only you.

Never thought I would ever find an honest man
Surround me with your loving, as only you can
Never thought I could ever open up this heart
Haaaah…………..let the healing start

Who was that lonely one, who turned her face from love?
Who was the broken one? 
Only you can know.

A heart that was sealed up, behind a wooden gate,
scarred and stranded, in a cold and empty place.
You pried away the timbers, that guard a battered soul,
pulled me in your river so I’ll never be alone.

Only you, only you, only you can fix this fearful heart.
Only you, just only you, can pull me in your river, make the beating start
Only you, only you, Haaaaah

Never thought that I would have a kind and a loving man,
You hold me in your drift-stream, just as only you can
Never thought I would ever fix this fearful heart
Surround me darlin, so the healing can start

Who was that broken one, who turned her face from love?
Who was the lonely one?
Just only you can know.

Just Only You Can ~  Chris O & Jonnie Cook

Well, how wonderful it was to sing and play along with the fabulous Brian Reeves on this track! Thanks so much Mountain Songs for inviting me to work on this very special collab. We were all dancing and singing along in the Studio, and I'm sure Bri was there with us on the top of our Blue Mountain in Australia when we were recording this track.

I did my best to not interfere too much with the original, which was just perfect anyway!

Thanks Gary :-)

Main vocals, guitar & arrangement  ~  Brian Reeves ~ https://soundcloud.com/mountain-songs
Harmony vocals, spoons and uke  ~  Chris O
Second mix at SongCave Studios, Hazelbrook ~ Eliot Reynolds
All put together by Gary Reeves  ~  https://soundcloud.com/mountain-songs

It's Moving Day ~ Rocky Mountain & Chris O collab    ~  Song by Charlie Poole

I've always been a big fan of Travis's fine guitar playing, but was extra blown away by his blues slide instrumental "Saturday Morning Blues"......such fine guitar playing, the technique there with a bucket of soul.

Travis kindly allowed me to sing along with this track ~ I'm doing another all time favorite of mine, Son House's Walking Blues.


Go have a listen to Travis's excellent blues tracks on:
https://soundcloud.com/travis-moody

Vocal recording &  mix by Eliot Reynolds, Songcave Studios, Hazelbrook

Walking Blues ~ Chris O & Mr Travis Moody   (Son House cover)

I often think back on my mentors, working out in the fields in the blazing sun, then coming back home and making timeless songs around the kitchen table.

But this is also a song of our times ~ as the gap between the wealthy and the battlers widens day by day.


Recorded and engineered by Eliot Reynolds at SongCave Studios, Hazelbrook


Workin the Cotton Fields    Chris O © June 2014


You see that man
He’s got something on his mind
See that man
Worries on his mind
Clothes are ragged dirty
Eyes done lost their shine. 

He gets up in the morning before
Rooster cries for day.
Wakes up in the morning,
Rooster ain’t even crowed the day
Comes home in the dark hours
Too tired to even pray
Too tired to even pray

Well there’s bread here on the table, 
Roof above our heads
He puts bread on the table
The children all get fed
But he’s out there workin the Cotton Fields
Worryin.
Out there workin the Cotton Fields
Worryin, hard times ahead.

The Rich are getting richer
While the poor ones scratch for dimes.
And out there in the Cotton Fields
Eyes done lost their shine. 
Out there in the Cotton Fields
Eyes done lost their shine.
Out there in the Cotton Fields
Eyes done lost their shine.

They want us to jump down, turn around
And pick a bale of cotton
Jump down, turn around
And pick a bale of hay.


Workin the Cotton Fields ~ Chris O

https://youtu.be/3fHo4B1x_BY

Seems to be an endless repeated theme for me ~ running away to the countryside, and in recent years this has been the Australian wilderness, from the deep south to the far north.

Dedicated to, and featuring Gary Reeves (aka Mountain Songs) on drums and cymbals (remixed) at the start. Banjo, lap slide guitar (acting as bass), beats and vox by myself. This song is for Gary, who has been a wonderful musical compadre for many of us around the world, via this  Soundcloud Village.

Respect and acknowledgement to the Traditional Owners of the lands, waters and skies in this video, both in Australia and New Zealand. Particular thanks to the Yolgnu people of Gapuwiyak who made me feel so welcome during my short visit to Arnhem Land last year.

Looking Up & Down      Song, recording, audio & video July 2023 - Chris Okunbor (APRA)
I was chained to the city, thinking I could fly,
I gazed at the heavens as the clouds rolled high.
Long, long days working to the plan,
I changed my way of living and I left that town.

Now I'm higher than the mountains, looking down below,
rolling miles above cotton candy snow.
Way beyond the city, just going with the flow.
running to freedom to a place unknown.

Got a window seat, got a beer in hand.
Feeling in my heart for this ancient land.
Well, wild rivers snake,  jeweled seas shine.
Djerimanga Songlines are spinning out my mind.

Higher than the mountains, and the madding crowd,
cruising miles above cotton fields of cloud.
Way beyond the city, going with the flow,
running to freedom, to a place unknown.
To a place unknown.

Looking Up & Down

Looking Up & Down  ~ a song for Gary (video link in notes)

This Blues Baby has been brewing for a while.....one Iwan and I wrote a while back....written in the grand old blues tradition of a little bit of the old, a little bit of the new.
https://soundcloud.com/iwan-gronert

Sit back and enjoy a bit of 12 bar...it was a real blast to be singing along with Iwan's amazing guitar again :-)



Instrumental composition, lead guitar, rhythm guitar and drums ~ Iwan Gronert
Lyrics and vocals ~ Chris O
Mixing and mastering ~ Iwan Gronert

Lonesome Worrisome Blues ~ Chris O and Iwan Gronert

Didi played this wonderful acoustic version on guitar and I added vocals and harp. Totally inspired by Peter Green & the original Fleetwood Mac.
Featured on my 2016 album "Wailin' & Raggin" the Blues".

First published in 1955 and written by Mertis John Jr.

https://soundcloud.com/fingerstyle_guitar
Fingerstyle_Guitar  on acoustic guitar
Me on harp & vocals & mixing

Need your love so bad ~ Chris O & FingerstyleGuitar

A track by Lyrical Smirk - a vocal & instrumental remix of a song Iwan and I covered a while back....a spontaneous collaboration of a favorite John Martyn song "Don't Want to Know".
https://soundcloud.com/iwan-gronert
We both enjoy musical experimentation, and really like this (also spontaneous) remix Lyrical Smirk made.

Nothing Like a Love Song ~ Lyrical Smirk remix of Chris O & Iwan G cover

The Martin, hand claps(clapped, then processed), and the National set up as lapslide.

Chris O ~ Ragged and Dirty Too (Sleepy John Estes/Willie Brown)

Bringing up a young fella whose batteries never run out! 
Chris O ~ copyright 2002
Uke, beats, guitar, vox and audio from the Scruffy Loungeroom Studio

....still needs a bit of brightening for inclusion on the new CD release "Moanin an Wailin the Blues".

Longlife Battery Boy ~ new version (Chris O)

Stockin feet - Jefferson

Photo: The only ring I'm wearing these days, since I married the music!! Gaffer tape....a girl's best friend ...ha ha :-D
All guitar tracks done on the National Resonator....
Song, playing, audio mix Chris O  ~ Copyright September 2015
Inspired by Master Jeweler and top SC Guitarist/Songwriter, Philip Bridle.
One of the last songs for the new CD "Wailin' & Raggin' the Blues".

Hesitating Wedding Ring Blues ~ Chris O

I love good Country Music....and when Tennessee songwriter McTown gave me a call-out recently, we decided to put together a collab.
Thanks David, this was fun :-)

https://soundcloud.com/mctown

Lyrics:     McTown (David L. Graham) 2016
Instrumental & vocal composition:   Chris Okunbor
Guitars, banjo, vox and beats: Chris O
Mix:   Blame me ;-)

You Mine ~ Chris O & McTown

Buy on Bandcamp: "Twisted Roots & Twisted Highways"
https://chriso1.bandcamp.com/track/the-north-country
https://chriso1.bandcamp.com/album/twisted-roots-twisted-highways

Old Irish lyrics from the 1800's or before, set to a contemporary instrumental. (My love she comes from the North Countrie. Martin Kirwan composed and played the instrumental (guitar, shruti, sitar) https://soundcloud.com/martkirwan

Chris O re-arranged & re-wrote the lyrics and vocal melody & added some  bits and bobs to the instrumental (slide guitar, vocals, whistle). Original Lyrics collected in the early 1800's - Southern Ireland (but this sounds like an English song, Shakespeare was writing about this stuff in his sonnets).

Here's Martin's original instrumental that inspired this song to be born:
https://soundcloud.com/martkirwan/last-of-the-leaves

My love she comes from the North Countrie (original version ~ pre 1860)

My love she was born in the north countrie
Where hills and lofty mountains rise up from the sea;
She's the fairest young maiden that e'er I did see,
She exceeds all the maids in the north countrie.

My love is as sweet as the cinnamon tree;
She clings to me close as the bark to the tree;
But the leaves they will wither, the roots will decay,
And fair maidens' beauty will soon fade away.

Twisted Roots & Twisted Highways

The North Country ~ Chris O & Martin Kirwan (Trad. Arr. Okunbor & Kirwan)

It was a real joy to be able to sing this traditional folk song with Josh. It is a very old folk song originating in Britain, but this version was collected in North Carolina. It was inspired by a field recording of Lee Monroe Presnell, in 1951, who was born in 1876.... a variation of the traditional song "William and Nancy" with William being a soldier in this version. I arranged the last verse based on a number of different versions found in England and America.

Vocals and Upright Bass ~ Josh McAlexander
 https://soundcloud.com/josh-mcalexander
Vocals, dulcimers, dobro and beat ~ Chris O

I Went to See My Molly (Trad.) Josh McAlexander & Chris O

Here's the final version of this song, with old timey fiddle added. A traditional song from the USA and Britain, arranged by Chris & Josh.

Josh McAlexander on vocals and upright bass.
https://soundcloud.com/josh-mcalexander
Chris O on dulcimer, resonator and vocals (and mix)
Simon Watts on fiddle.

I Went To See My Molly ~ with fiddle. Chris O, Josh McAlexander, ft. Simon Watts on fiddle

Hard Time Killing Floor ~ Skip James cover

A jazzy blues celebration of the end of the 9-5 working week, unwinding to music in  a bar. Co-written with my friend Steve from South Africa. We sometimes played the little bars together in the mid 70's, and reunited for a song a few decades later via cyberspace! The guitar track is a phone capture. Steve was a tapper before tapping began: listen here to the guitar wizard in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQIUkbvMNnE

Guitar & instrumental composition ~ Steve Newman
Vocals and lyrical composition ~ Chris Okunbor

Unwinding      2019 Okunbor & Newman

Heading down a street called Main, just one thing on my mind
Shake off the troubles of the work day, I'm needin' to unwind
Goin' to a place where the sweet jive rules
Down at the house of blues.

Resonator steels are beaming spotlights
Harps bend and fire the fuse
Wails pierce the stillness of the winter night
Outside the house of blues
Mmm they're heating up that cold night air

Cruisin' down where the music rules
I know that you're gonna be there too
Swayin' to the rhythms of the old skool
I think I'm gonna join you at the bar of jazz & blues

When the jazz gets Friday night a-jumpin'
And the beer is bitter sweet.
Crowd is a hummin', bass is a-thumpin'
Carving up the heat.
Mmm we love to move 
with that old skool bluesin' beat.



Image of the rainy pavement from freeimages.com

Unwinding ~ Chris O & Steve Newman

An old blues from Blind Willie McTell sung by Chris O, remixed by Mr Magic ecklecticmick - a real fun electroblues number. 

Check out Mick's tracks on https://soundcloud.com/lazertran8


River Jordan- ecklecticmick remix featuring Chris O

A Traditional Blues with hat tipping Skip James & Robert Petway.

Resonator/Slide & Vocals ~ Chris

Engineered by Eliot Reynolds at Songcave Studios Hazelbrook

http://youtu.be/3Q9TtngeTqc

Catfish Blues ~ Chris O Arr. (Traditional Blues)

This was written at a time when regular folks were being asked to tighten their belts by the rich politicians, and wait longer and longer to retire. Then along came COVID-19....so maybe when the world recovers the "workin til 100" line may not be an exaggeration.

https://soundcloud.com/fossil60
Derek on slide & instrumental composition, me on vocals and lyrics/vocal melody.

Grab and Plunder Blues      copyright Okunbor & Phillips 2019

They told us, we could have it all; the money, mansions and the time.
Some good years, we couldn't see the fall; they robbed us blind with a smile.
Moanin', rollin' workin' 'til the drop, tight belt is turning to a noose.
Moanin' the work'll never stop, talkin' bout the grab and plunder blues.
Ooh, I’m talkin’

Steering broken down motors; no way to fund a drivin’ wheel.
Finding the rent is a killer; nothin’ in the kitty for a meal.
Moanin', rollin', workin' 'til the drop, tight belt is turning to a noose.
Moanin' the work'll never stop, talkin' bout the grab and plunder blues.

Ooh, hear me howling.
Aah hear me moaning.

Waiting for the pension ‘til a hundred; payment with a letter from the Queen.
Days of entitlement are over, except for politicians on a scheme.
Moanin', rollin' an workin' 'til the drop, tight belt is turning to a noose.
Moanin', the work'll never stop, I feel I’ve got the grab and plunder blues.

Lord, hear me howling, tight belt turning to a noose.
Oh, hear me moanin’,
Moanin’ bout the grab and plunder blues.

Grab & Plunder Blues ~ Chris O & Fossil60

A cover of a Bukka White classic, grooved up Aussie style.  
Guitars, vocals and arrangement ~ Chris O
Featuring Charlie McMahon on Didgeridoo.
Recorded at Song Cave Studio, Hazelbrook.
Remixed by Iwan Gronert ~ Electric Sound Sculpture Studio....thanks Iwan :-)



Jitterbug Swing - Remix by Iwan Gronert.  Chris O ~ ft Charlie McMahon on Didg

https://youtu.be/2bh5B0MGWfg

Such a lovely little town, it deserves its own love song.

Banjo, lapslide & vocals Chris O
Audio Chris O

Salt River Town        (c)Chris Okunbor, October 2020

Springing rains are here again, ground is soaking down.
Rolling clouds come darkening, chasing folks from town.

Front porch singing, banjo ringing.
Front porch ringing, banjo singing.

Gonna get me a line, get me a pole, go fishing in a crayfish hole.

Rollin rains are here again.
Springing clouds come a-darkening,
Around, Salt River Town.

Rollin rains are here again,
springing clouds come a-sparkling,
the waters round Salt River Town.

Sister's Creek's got a crayfish creep, but they're running like the devil from me.
Flathead hiding at the Bend in the River, now its hurry on home for tea.

Front porch ringing, banjo singing.
The front porch ringing, banjo singing,
wise-up, about what’s enough.

Darkening clouds are here again.
And the rolling rain comes a-blowing in,
Whoa, Salt River Town.

Hear the ringing, hear the singing.
Front porch ringing, banjo singing,
learning, the meaning of enough.

Oh you know we love, 
the waters around Salt River Town.

Salt River Town

Salt River Town  (a love song for my little town) ~  Chris Okunbor

January 16th B.C(Covid) Getting ready for a Sydney gig - a song to play with Mark N' the Blues. 
A song by Little Mack Simmons "Never leave my homework undone".

IPhone voice recorder - trying out SC Mastering. Slightly clearer.

How a lazy woman rehearses with Interstate musicians ~ before a gig :-D

A fun collaboration of a song by Willie Dixon, made when my friend Tanya was in her last days of the 14 day quarantine in a hotel in Tasmania. She recorded some drums and finger cymbals on her phone and we stitched this blues classic together. 

A few additions are still needed when we get together in the home studio in person.

SPOONFUL  ft Tanya Catelli on drums & Chris O banjo

Chris, hailing  from North West  Tasmania in Australia, is a singer-songwriter who pens originals, and  plays vintage music the way it used to be.  Her mashup of  Folk, Blues,  &  Americana  draws on a lifetime of  encounters with places, people, and the magic of nature;  echoing  a multitude of  global grassroots traditions. 
Traveling around carrying her “band” like a pack pony ~ lap-slide, banjo, uke, as well as a few plain ole guitars, she  regularly performs in Australia and Europe.
Growing up in Merseyside, England, Chris was exposed to the vibrant music scene of the late 60’s and 70’s,  and her music is has been influenced by  traditional folk, country blues, and  world music .
In 2016 she represented her State at the International Blues Challenge & National Women in Blues Showcase in Memphis,  and her second album,  “Wailin’ & Raggin’ the Blues” was  a   finalist for “Best Self-produced CD with the Blues Foundation , USA.  Her third album, “Twisted Roots & Twisted Highways” was  a finalist for Blues & Roots Radio Album of the Year in 2018.
www.chrisokunbor.net

Popular tracks by Chris O (2)