Wonderful dedication to a departed friend.  I never developed a taste for beer, but have for fine lyrics, a fine Irish melody, and superb performances that bring it all together through Nat's deft hand on the bass, whistle, and mixer. Cheers!

great job Craig, great vocal's, great lyric's Tony, love it

Has me longing for the old country, lots of gusto in the delivery…cheers Craig:)

The day approaches, and here it has a new anthem!

Special song - old sots - is that a US thing?

I don't know why sometimes your voice reminds me of Warren Zevon. I hope I'm not offending you by saying that. 🙄

Cast of characters:

Mistermark-- @user-432503709 -- Mark – backup organs (Wurlitzer and B3), VST steel drums, vocals, lyrics, composition, production, mix     
J.J. Terrell-- @j-j-terrell—JJ-- Yamaha Genos 2 electric piano voice and lead organ
Llanpsych-- @llanpsych -- Tez – Epiphone Les Paul electric guitar
TexMex Shaman– @texmex-shaman –Stephen– Fender Custom Shop Telecaster electric guitar and mastering
K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken–drums and percussion
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 –Josh – Fender Precision four string bass

This song began with Mark, who fleshed out the entire thing, from the rhythm section, to the organ that you hear in there, to the lyrics and vocals, before he laid it on the rest of us. We all got a chuckle from the tongue in cheek humor of the lyrics, and were excited to work on a song about an anachronistic adventure of a soulful caveman. 
  Ken was first up with his version of the the beat, finding the soul in the rhythm. Josh was next up, of course, using his "normie" bass for the his version of the line. Once the rhythm section was in place, it was JJ's turn to shine, adding his slick, soulful e. piano to the mix. 
  Now that they had a solid foundation on which to play, Stephen and Tez added their guitar magic to the mix. Stephen with the rhythm and the fills, and Tez with the ripping solo at the end. Mark also added the festive VST steel drums that you hear throughout at this point, too. Now that the music was laid down, he perfected his awesome vocals to complete it.
  It was in the can at that point, and just needed Mark to throw a pro sounding mix on it. Then, Stephen mastered it in his always expert way to finish it off.
  Mark wanted to record an old skool classic Soul song (a la Al Green), which he did, all on his own. But then, once he unleashed it onto the EC gang for their interpretation, they ran with it in a whole new, almost tropical direction, and it was decided to release 2 versions of the song, both of which you can find on Mark's page. Stephen does double duty on guitar for both versions. 
  This was a real team effort, even though it's really Mark's baby. The Eclectic Collective has many different methods of creating music. This one was a great exercise in trying to bring about Mark's vision. We hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed creating it.
Original lyrics by mistermark:

Walking through this concrete jungle
I’m just trying to stay out of the way 
just me and ol’ Rex, my furry companion 
we been fielding funky looks all day
then somebody saw me kicking rocks with my bare toes
he said buddy have you lost your way?
then I sat right down and I started to cry
and this is what I had to say…

I’m a caveman, I can’t catch a break
everybody says I’m so passé 
I’m a caveman, it’s too much to take
I’m ancient history or so they say 

Sittin’ in my man cave watching the clock crawl
there's nothing good on my tv 
my big grubby hands can’t flip thru the channels
i cant even hold a cup of tea
I was chatting on the phone making plans with a lady
a little bit of company
but my date split QUICK when I opened the door
man I wonder what’s wrong with me

I’m a caveman, I can’t catch a break now
the ladies say I’m so passé 
I’m a caveman, it’s too much to take
I’m ancient history or so they say

The big city’s fine but something’s on my mind
I feel a little incomplete
I miss my old club, for rustling up some grub
and the touch of grass below my feet
I’ve been around longer than all your creation, 
like the rocks and trees and streams
I wanna get back home, where forever I’ll roam
even if it’s only in my dreams

I’m a caveman
I can’t catch a break 
everybody says I’m so passé 
I’m a caveman, it’s too much to take
I’m ancient history or so they say

I’m a caveman, 
must be come kinda mistake
everybody says I’m so passé 
well I’m a - a caveman
It’s too much to take
but I’m gunna get back some day

Caveman - The Eclectic Collective

熱海で撮影しました。
この鳥はカモメなのかウミネコなのかどっちだったかな。
I took this photo in Atami.
I wonder if this bird is a seagull or a black-tailed gull.

Migratory bird(渡り鳥)

Best of me
Written and Recorded by ThreePhotons Jan 2025


Written in B-flat Major for my wife 😉
Trying for a vintage jazz sound. Thanks for listening. 
-------------------------------------------------------------------


Technical Details:

Rhythm Guitar: Gibson ES 175
Lead Guitar: Gibson ES 335
Guitar Amplifier: Fender George Benson Hot Rod Deluxe
Fender pedal board: Line 6 delay

Bass Guitar: Fender Squire recorded with API 505 DI
Mics: a pair of Royer r10 ribbons on guitars
Mic: AEA R44 vocals
Mic preamps: API 312

Mixer: API 24 channel summing mixer (8200/7800)
Stereo Bus processing (API EQ and API compressor)
Final mix down to a MARA MCI JH110 1/4inch 2-track at 15 ips using ATR Master Tape.

Best of me

the heart of winter
Thanks to Francesco(@francescocartocci ) for the inspiration and for the gorgeous guitar playing.
Our other collaborations:
@soundcloud.com/rosindust/sets/grazie-francesco

initial digital idea (video sketch)
https://youtube.com/shorts/ErjY15S-tYU?si=lupDHa8xz8s_38-c

il cuore dell'inverno  with Francesco Cartocci

Ever since I saw an incredible Canadian band (Recipe From a Small Planet) do a live Reggae jam and seamlessly slide into a cover of 'Watching The Detectives', I wanted to try something similar. In this case, I did the opposite, starting with the cover, and adding a kinda reggae/dub section at the end, which starts at 3:15. 

For the dub portion, I enlisted the help of one of the best talents I know - @Llanpsych (Tez) - to add his magic and 'dubbify' the whole instrumental section at the end. I'm singing and playing all the instruments here using my keyboard, and some echo effects, and Tez did the rest to produce that authentic dub atmosphere into the mix. I recommend listening to that part at least with headphones, and hope you enjoy the result! Thanks so much Tez, I couldn't have done this without your mad skillz!

Sharp ears may notice the following 2 details: 

  -  In the last few seconds, I threw in the theme from 'The Godfather', played on melodica (see credit below). 

  -  at 0:39, you can faintly hear my dog barking in the background. I decided to keep it in, since she barked at the line, "red dogs under illegal legs", which I thought was funny timing!  :)

INSTRUMENTS:
bass, drums, rhythm & lead guitar, organ, piano, electric piano, melodica, steel pan drums, ukulele, synth horns, voice

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
-song art designed using Chat GPT and Photoshop
-original song written by Elvis Costello
-theme from The Godfather, 'Speak Softy, Love' - written by Nino Rota

Watching the Dubtectives (cover + dub mix with Llanpsych)

Rotten to the Core

I always think of Saint Patrick’s Day here in the US as a celebration of the social graces as they involve drinking. We drink together, we laugh and cry together, and friendships typically grow like flowers from those barroom and “parlor” floors. With the big day just a couple weeks away now I wanted to contribute something that expresses my attachment to the many fast friends I hold dear. I dedicate this one to my closest friend who is departed too soon, Rich. Cheers.

Music written by Craig Durgy ©2025
Guitar & vocals by Craig Durgy
Production by Nat Daniels of Gentle Rain Records (including bass, tin whistle & percussion)

Lyrics:

Let’s drink to the morning, 
That peeks through the windows 
And drink as the night melts away
Let’s drink to the memories 
That yesterday knows
And cheers to the friends that remain

I raise my glass cause it’s 
Lighter than toiling
And is drawn to be tested to yours
I drink to the moment 
That we’ll be recalling
And the path to the day it recurs

And if it seems to me, 
It matters not
The hopes and dreams of two old sots
The lesson of time is 
The beverage that binds us
I drink to your smile and our lot

I can see through the weary
As the sun warms your face
And the suds settle down in your glass
Your eyes are not teary
As we take this last taste
And swallow the tears of the past

I raise my glass cause it’s 
Lighter than toiling
And is drawn to be tested to yours
I drink to the moment 
That we’ll be recalling
And the path to the day it recurs

And if it seems to me, 
It matters not
The hopes and dreams of two old sots
The lesson of time is 
The beverage that binds us
I drink to your smile and our lot
I drink to your smile and our lot

The Beverage That Binds Us

Texte Français et Google Traduction

LES VRAIS DU FAUX
Ils ont beau dire, ils ont beau faire
Tous leurs sourires sont à l’envers
Beaucoup de trop, et çà se voit
Se sentant haut tant ils s'y croient.
Sous apparence vivent au-dessus
Dans l'insolence voir même plus
Jouant les meilleurs se sentant beaux
En rois de coeur, qui sonnent faux
Riant de tout, même pas marrant
Quand on s’en fout complètement
Ils s’intéressent sans écouter
Et puis ils laissent tout çà tomber.

Dans les amis, nos confidents
Il reste les vrais, heureusement
Pouvoir se dire et franchement
Les beaux, les pires des sentiments.

Ils congratulent dans le mépris,
Nous prennent pour nuls et puis aussi
Sans de scrupule en font leurs vies.
En tête de rang, la bonne place
Tous les gênants ils les déplacent
Se faisant grand  ils les remplacent.
L'hypocrisie en bandoulière
Car çà aussi ils savent la faire
Ils continuent, se croyant fort
Tout au-dessus, voir plus encore.

Dans les amis, nos confidents
Il reste les vrais, heureusement
Pouvoir se dire et franchement
Les beaux, les pires des sentiments.

Tout çà se voit et on le sent 
Alors pourquoi perdre son temps
Laissons tomber une fois pour toute
Plus les garder sur notre route.
Car peu importe, faut avancer
Fermant  nos portes, les oublier
Laissons les dirent, laissons les faire
Prendre un soupir à l'ordinaire
Sentiments sains, bons ressentis
Pour que demain, saine soit la vie.

Dans les amis, nos confidents
Il reste les vrais, heureusement
Pouvoir se dire et franchement
Les beaux, les pires des sentiments.

THE TRUES FROM THE FALSE

No matter what they say, no matter what they do
All their smiles are upside down
Too many, and it shows
Feeling high as they believe in it.
Under appearance live above
In insolence see even more
Playing the best feeling beautiful
In kings of hearts, who ring false
Laughing at everything, not even funny
When we don't care at all
They are interested without listening
And then they drop it all.

In friends, our confidants
There are still the real ones, fortunately
Being able to say oneself and frankly
The beautiful, the worst feelings.

They congratulate in contempt,
Take us for rubbish and then too
Unscrupulously make their lives out of it.
At the head of the row, the right place
All the troublesome ones they move them
Making themselves big they replace them.
Hypocrisy on the shoulder
Because that too they know how to do
They continue, believing themselves strong
All above, even more.

In friends, our confidants
There are still the real ones, fortunately
Being able to say oneself and frankly
The beautiful, the worst feelings.

All this can be seen and felt 
So why waste your time
Let's give up once and for all
No longer keep them on our way.
Because it doesn't matter, you have to move forward
Closing our doors, forgetting them
Let them say it, let them do it
Take a sigh at the ordinary
Healthy feelings, good feelings
So that tomorrow, life will be healthy.

In friends, our confidants
There are still the real ones, fortunately
Being able to say oneself and frankly
The beautiful, the worst feelings.

LES VRAIS DU FAUX

The track is inspired by the rise of AI in the ARTS.....which I see as coming from the "dark side". I don't condone it and am very much opposed to it. We can already see the confusion it has caused regarding copyright etc. I have no doubt that in the short term it will prevail, however "real" art will survive as long as all artists (musical and otherwise), continue to create. Not having a crystal ball, prevents one, maybe for the better, seeing how the future pans out.  
Meanwhile from a musician's/composer's aspect, I shall endeavour to play and create without the use of AI. Neither will I listen to it in any shape or form.
Alan



Don't Deal With The Devil

Music : Janne Hennie & Little Man
Vocal & lyrics : Janne Hennie

Thought I had everything I needed to feel free
But somewhere along the way, I lost me
Without direction, or knowing what to do
I blamed you...

I had a vision of finding something more
A stronger me
But I wasn't sure
where to look, I had no clue
So I blamed you....

I searched every corner, but still couldn't find
The freedom I was looking for
I went blind
Didn't even consider to look for the truth
I just blamed you....

I got tired of searching around
My longing for freedom
I just couldn't find
Couldn't bear to look anymore
So I blamed you....

What was I thinking?
Why couldn't I see
My own freedom was always within me
But I was blind
I was a fool
Blamed it all on you.....

I Blamed You

J'ai le plaisir de partager avec vous mon morceau - Thallo
Issu de mon nouveau set
Projet intimiste jazzy/rock/blues/funk/hiphop, qui jongle entre old school et modernité, porté par un son de guitare rond, vivant, chaud, organique
Ici l'objectif est d'arpenter des terrains cosys, calmes et poétiques.

Thallo

Singer/Songwriter concentrating on traditional country, folk and pop rock. Working as part of the duo Daniels & Durgy; https://soundcloud.com/danielsdurgy

The Beverage That Binds Us

Durge

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