Guitar & Vocals: Clive Cowan;
Recorded Live (on a smart phone): Preview Club 2017;
This Sound Recording & Arrangement: © C A Cowan 2017 All Rights Reserved;
Music & Words: Copyright © R. Metté;
Copyright approval received;
Audio Post: CCR;

My good friend, musician Roy Metté some years ago wrote and recorded this song which he continues to perform live. The song struck a chord with me (sorry for the pun) and I asked if I may perform it - I had to change the key to suite my Baritone voice. Roy was actually in the audience at this performance!

The recording was made on a hand held smart phone and the audio left much to be desired, however, it cleaned up pretty well in the studio. I promote it here as an example of how I sound live and solo!

Life On The Road

Performance: Checkmate;
Clive Cowan: vocals & guitars;
Martina Opršalová: vocals;
Audio Post & Mastering: CCR;
This Sound Recording & Arrangement: © C A Cowan 1996 All Rights Reserved

Music & Words: Leiber/Stoller/King;
Published by: Sony / ATV Music Publishing;
Copyright Approval has been received to upload this version for streaming

In the nineties I had a band called Checkmate which presented an effective fusion of rock, contemporary folk and Central European influences - employing acoustic and electric guitars, violin, percussion and three part vocal harmonies. The trio finally slimmed to a duo before disbanding.

'Stand by Me', interpreted from the John Lennon version of the Ben E King song, was the last recording we made as a duo and features the lovely voice of Martina Opršalová harmonising with me in what is almost a duet arrangement. I rediscovered this song in my archives on the only surviving cassette tapes of the finished mixes which, although of a fairly high quality for the medium, are technically compromised by today’s standards. Nevertheless, I took this into the studio and mastered it adding a little ‘fairy dust’ in the process, but otherwise it is as originally recorded and mixed.

Stand By Me - Checkmate (1996)

Performance / Songwriter: Clive Cowan;
All Instruments & Vocals: Clive Cowan;
Studio: CCR Recording Studio;

Copyright:  © C A Cowan 1981 All Rights Reserved;
This Sound Recording: © C A Cowan 2008 All Rights Reserved;

Radio Play introduced by DJ Lee Shuttlewood for Radio Caroline: 15/Oct/2011;

Tightrope I wrote a long time ago but has become a bit of a 'signature' song. This version was recorded in 2008 with multiple acoustic guitar parts and harmony vocals. I wanted to keep the acoustic flavour of my solo live delivery and so resisted making it 'electric' or with band accompaniment. There is a live version on my CD 'Live & Solo' from 2001.

Tightrope - Radio Caroline 15/Oct/2011

Performance: Clive Cowan;
All Instruments & Vocals: Clive Cowan;
Studio: CCR Recording Studio;
This Sound Recording & Arrangement: © C A Cowan 2008 All Rights Reserved;

Music & Words: M.Knopfler;
Published by: Mercury Music Group / Universal Music Publishing Group [Rondor Music (London) Ltd];
Copyright Approval has been received to upload this version for streaming

I used to perform an interpretation of Mark Knopfler's 'Romeo & Juliet' but eventually, as happens, it dropped from my repertoire. However, in September 2007 while rehearsing, I spontaneously revisited the song to discover I enjoyed playing it again and shortly after, with a new arrangement, gave it an airing on stage to a very warm welcome. Consequently I decided to record with a view to uploading it for streaming and specifically received the Publisher’s Copyright Permission for this purpose, for which I gratefully thank them! To date, this has not been made available as a purchasable track.

My arrangement varies significantly from the 'Dire Straits' original in order to keep the song focused as an acoustic guitar driven piece and add my own flavour. I also play at a slightly slower tempo, use a different tuning to that used by Mark Knopfler (for his 'National' resonator guitar on which he played the characteristic phrases) and have changed the musical key.

It was not my intention to add the bass, drums and saxophone but instead to maintain a purely guitar arrangement because I wanted to keep the feel of a solo performance. However, as the recording progressed and different arrangements were tried in the studio, this is what was finally decided upon. I think it adds colour, light and shade contrasting the solo guitar of the verse with the richness and dynamic of the chorus, while still maintaining the desired acoustic feel. I am especially pleased with the saxophone part which brings the song to a close.

The descriptive photo was prompted by a 1935 edition of ‘Shakespeare’s Complete Works’.

Romeo & Juliet

Guitar & Vocals: Clive Cowan;
Recorded Live: Riga Music Bar 2001;
Live Sound Engineer: Steve Garrick
Producer & Recording Engineer: Clive Cowan
Audio Post & Mastering: CCR;
Label: CCR Music

From the CD: Live & Solo 2001;
This Sound Recording Copyright © C A Cowan 2001 All Rights Reserved MCPS

Music & Words: E Cherry;
MCPS License

This is the opening track on Clive's 2001 CD 'Live & Solo'. It was digitally recorded direct to stereo, with very little audio production in the studio - and absolutely no overdubs - so it is an accurate representation of what you would have heard had you been there on 31st March 2001... it really is live... and solo!

Clive opened his recent set at the Leigh Folk Festival 2017 with Save Tonight.

Live & Solo

Save Tonight

Performance / Arrangement: Clive Cowan;
All Instruments & Vocals: Clive Cowan;
Live Sound Engineer: Steve Garrick;
Audio Post & Mastering: CCR;
This Sound Recording: © C A Cowan 2001 All Rights Reserved;

Music & Words: T Alexander;
Composition: Copyright Control T Alexander;

From the CD 'Live & Solo' by Clive Cowan; 2001;
Recorded live at Riga Music Bar, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England on 31st March 2001;

From the CD Sleeve Notes:
Hi - this CD is special... because it’s my first ever. Although it wasn’t the original intention, I have been encouraged to make it available in its present form - and it does seem to fit with the promotion of my LIVE and SOLO gigs. It was digitally recorded direct to stereo, with only very little audio production work in the studio - and absolutely no new overdubs added - so it is an accurate representation of what you would have heard had you been there on 31st March 2001... it really is live... and solo!

Music is the spice of life, it touches the soul and we are all the richer for it. Please enjoy this offering in the spirit in which it was played... and I hope to see you soon.

Rock On!

Clive

Kilimanjaro (Live)

Performance / Arrangement: Clive Cowan;
All Instruments & Vocals: Clive Cowan;
Recording Studio; Audio Post & Mastering: CCR;
This Sound Recording: © C A Cowan 2010 All Rights Reserved;

This is a Medley for promotional purposes complied from edited excerpts from:
Tightrope: C.Cowan;
Romeo & Juliet: M.Knopfler;
Kilimanjaro (live): T.Alexander;
Stand By Me: Leiber/Stoller/King;

Please also listen to the complete versions.


Tightrope (2008):
Music & Words: C Cowan;
Copyright: © C A Cowan 1981 All Rights Reserved;

Romeo & Juliet (2008):
Music & Words: M Knopfler;
Published by: Mercury Music Group / Universal Music Publishing Group [Rondor Music (London) Ltd];
Copyright Approval has been received to upload this version for streaming;

Kilimanjaro (2001):
Music & Words: T Alexander;
Composition: Copyright Control T Alexander;
Kilimanjaro is from the CD 'Live & Solo' by Clive Cowan; 2001;
Recorded live at Riga Music Bar, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England on 31st March 2001;

Stand By Me (1996):
Performance: Checkmate;
Clive Cowan: vocals & guitars;
Martina Opršalová: vocals;
Music & Words: Leiber/Stoller/King;
Published by: Sony / ATV Music Publishing;
Copyright Approval has been received to upload this version for streaming

Medley Promo

Performance / Songwriter: Clive Cowan;
All Instruments & Vocals: Clive Cowan;
Studio: CCR Recording Studio;

Copyright: © C A Cowan 1981 All Rights Reserved;
This Sound Recording: © C A Cowan 2008 All Rights Reserved;

Radio Play introduced by DJ DrWart Hoover for Severn FM: 28/Aug/2017;

Tightrope I wrote a long time ago but has become a bit of a 'signature' song. This version was recorded in 2008 with multiple acoustic guitar parts and harmony vocals. I wanted to keep the acoustic flavour of my solo live delivery and so resisted making it 'electric' or with band accompaniment. There is a live version on my CD 'Live & Solo' from 2001.

Tightrope - Severn FM with DrWart Hoover 28/Aug/2017

Performance: Clive Cowan;
All Instruments & Vocals: Clive Cowan;
Studio: CCR Recording Studio;
This Sound Recording & Arrangement: © C A Cowan 2008 All Rights Reserved;
Music & Words: M.Knopfler;
Published by: Mercury Music Group / Universal Music Publishing Group [Rondor Music (London) Ltd];
Copyright Approval has been received to upload this version for streaming;

Title: Radio Play Romeo & Juliet by Clive Cowan, introduced by Lee Shuttlewood for Radio Caroline 11/Aug/2012;

I used to perform an interpretation of Mark Knopfler's 'Romeo & Juliet' but eventually, as happens, it dropped from my repertoire. However, in September 2007 while rehearsing, I spontaneously revisited the song to discover I enjoyed playing it again and shortly after, with a new arrangement, gave it an airing on stage to a very warm welcome. Consequently I decided to record with a view to uploading it for streaming and specifically received the Publisher’s Copyright Permission for this purpose, for which I gratefully thank them! To date, this has not been made available as a purchasable track.

My arrangement varies significantly from the 'Dire Straits' original in order to keep the song focused as an acoustic guitar driven piece and add my own flavour. I also play at a slightly slower tempo, use a different tuning to that used by Mark Knopfler (for his 'National' resonator guitar on which he played the characteristic phrases) and have changed the musical key.

It was not my intention to add the bass, drums and saxophone but instead to maintain a purely guitar arrangement because I wanted to keep the feel of a solo performance. However, as the recording progressed and different arrangements were tried in the studio, this is what was finally decided upon. I think it adds colour, light and shade contrasting the solo guitar of the verse with the richness and dynamic of the chorus, while still maintaining the desired acoustic feel. I am 
especially pleased with the saxophone part which brings the song to a close.


Romeo & Juliet - Radio Caroline 11/Aug/2012

The official SoundCloud page for singer-songwriter Clive Cowan.

Clive is an established musician and singer, songwriter, guitar player whose roots are in Folk-Rock, but with eclectic influences ranging from hard rock to classical. He has played many stages large and small: concerts, festivals, functions, pubs & clubs, restaurants, and private homes. He creates a full sound using subtle guitar effects and vocal harmonies, and adds his own style to an eclectic mix of classic favourite songs as well as his own compositions.

Additionally he has composed and orchestrated on the keyboard, although this work is currently confined to the studio. His instrumental 'Evening Mist' (Opus No.1 in C Maj) is a pastoral piece composed as a celebration of 'Peace, Harmony and in Exaltation of Nature', which has incited enthusiastic comments from Australia to Singapore, the Ukraine through Moscow and mainland Europe to Canada and Argentina. One wonderful comment from a listener in Moscow describes it as being, "like a sound of thoughts, when you are up at the big mountain at night... dreamy tune".

Clive Cowan Music