https://open.spotify.com/track/3dPaPD819h1OuFm9C5Goga?si=YXojaSYFSQSYE7lS3uG05A&utm_source=copy-link&nd=1
http://www.continental-collision.com
https://continentalcollision.bandcamp.com/track/the-route-to-tomorrow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMiidrWf6sM&list=OLAK5uy_mC-35nmJO3s19Cjj5Aet7UP0XGkLu3ido
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2moo0YwEYPM

Music, piano, bass, guitar solo and programming drums & synths: Rodolfo Planes (@rplanes)
Lead & backing vocals & lyrics: Mark J. Bennett
Backing vocals: Cecilia Mastropasqua: @cemastro
Rhythm guitar: Gonzalo J. Ares: @gonzalo-julian-ares

Featuring backing vocals by Cintia Galeano 

Image (view of Edinburgh from Gullane, Scotland): Courtesy of Douglas Corrance

This was my third collaborative song with Rodolfo, which we started in 2020. The original instrumental piece he gave me sounded like determined optimism and at that particular moment the pandemic made its way into anything I wrote although the beauty of the song is that anyone can bring their own interpretation to its meaning. Its original title was ‘Camino a Mañana’, that I translated as ‘The Route To Tomorrow’ - I guess I liked the alliteration - even though it was a bit of a tongue twister to sing.

I instantly loved the rhythmic punch of this track and recognised early on that it would require a punchy lyric and vocal. Initially I sung the harmony vocals that Rodolfo devised, but as we later developed into the band ‘Continental Collision’ it made sense to draw on all of the talent available in Ce and Gonza, and here introducing Cintia Galeano. Huge thanks to my wonderfully gifted collaborators, you helped make this song shine. I was stunned (as always) by Rodolfo’s attention to detail, his glorious guitar solos and particularly the drumming throughout. Although I might not add to the instrumentation personally, Rodolfo always encourages me to give him feedback. I am particularly fond of this collaboration and each time we work together I learn so much more. Hope you enjoy it too and many thanks for listening. 

Finding the way,
To get through night and day,
Is just too much.
Making your way
Once more through the fray,
Without losing touch,
Is too much,
For me, yeah.

Waiting in line, 
With no hint of a sign,
Is just too much.
Pretending I’m fine 
Knowing that you’re not mine,
It’s too, it’s just too much,
For me,
All of the time.

This is the route to tomorrow,
Beg, steal or borrow,
To getting through to the other side of all this sorrow.
This is the route to tomorrow,
That I have to follow,
To make it through to the other side of all this sorrow.

I’ll be OK, 
Whatever they say,
I can take it.
Know I can’t stay,
Gotta get me away
From here.
Before it gets too much for me, here.

I can survive,    
I might even just thrive.
If I make it.
I’m still alive,
Watch me as I arrive,
At the other side of all this pain and sorrow  

This is the route to tomorrow,
Beg, steal or borrow,
To getting through to the other side of all this sorrow.
This is the route to tomorrow,
That I have to follow,
To make it through to the other side of all this sorrow.

The Route To Tomorrow - Continental Collision (featuring Cintia Galeano)- Now on Spotify!

I made this for my little sister; it's a string of cameos about the town where we were born and raised - a suburb of Newcastle Upon Tyne.  Low income, but real world, real people, real troubles, real joy, real love, real communities, real humour, real music, real life.  All in gloriously rough 1960's industrial working class North East England monochrome.

For those of you not from that part of the world, lyric translations back to English are available upon request. :)

Started as a scribble, pretended to be a poem for a while, then I decided to noodle along and then.....  Ah, you know how it is.....in Byker town.
__________________________________________________________________

Byker Town

Wallpaper of steam trains
Where the sweeping headlights sprawled
‘Cross the ceiling to the old piano
Up against my bedroom wall
In ‘67 the lid came down
Never played again so fair
I’m walking back to Byker town
I’ll meet you there.

Cross the bridge to get to school
Rope swings underneath
Bull’s eyes from the slaughterhouse 
Bombed out rail yard stark relief
Billy Smart’s big top’s coming down
But I don’t care
I’m walking back to Byker town
I’ll meet you there.

Stench of old men in the Raby Arms
A bottle of dog to take back yem
Dominos and baccy tins
Were all that mattered way back then
Every retail product to be found
In Ernie’s shop just six foot square
I’m walking back to Byker town
I’ll meet you there.

Quayside Sunday mornings
Champion, just the job
A week of meat to feed the bairns
For only fower bob
Scranshins from the chippy van ‘round
The side door of the Mayfair
I’m walking back to Byker town
I’ll meet you there.

Sent out on the Wednesday
In Charlie Shepherd’s finest rags
Over to the smokies
To get free broken kippers by the bag
Dad got paid when Thursday came around
Treats for us to share
I’m walking back to Byker town
I’ll meet you there.

Front step full of babbies
Grazed knees on skinny legs
Back lane rows of nappies
Her face is full of wooden pegs
He’s on the dole no work to be found
Torn bookie slips by his chair
I’m walking back to Byker town
I’ll meet you there.

Nets twitching down the road
Never washed in years
Kids with mucky faces 
Almost clean behind the ears
Never seem to have a frown
Owning only what they wear
I’m walking back to Byker town
I’ll meet you there.

Give up all the baggage I’ve got now
Of life in disrepair
I’m walking back to Byker town
I’ll meet you there.

Byker Town

Written by Terry Reeves
Terry Reeves: Vocals
Hans Albers:  All instruments, Arrangement & Production

SC Version Video: https://youtu.be/uHu4SAWhysc  
Dark Version Video: https://youtu.be/AZQoKfJCTYA 

You may be wondering how this song acquired the title it did.  These very words were actually said to me by one of my wife Jo's three long-standing and very close friends.  Over the years, they had all entered into long-term partnerships which, for differing reasons, ended very sadly, resulting in them being left on their own.  So I was, in a manner of speaking, last man standing.

When they needed a male presence, I was volunteered to help in a variety of ways, e.g. being a pretend boyfriend when one of them was being pestered by someone in whom they were not interested.  There are many more instances I could recount, some of which were definitely in the ‘very unusual’ category but I was always happy to be of help if I possibly could.  Besides which, they often turned out to be exceedingly amusing.

Fast forward a few years to when I was diagnosed with MS, which brought about a condition called Trigeminal Neuralgia, causing pain the like of which I’d not known before.  After a spell taking hefty painkilling drugs that basically turned me into a kind of zombie, my MS specialist suggested ‘Gamma Knife Procedure’.  

This involves (and I kid you not) a metal helmet being screwed directly into your skull at four strategic points, rendering your head totally immobile so that radioactive rays can, with pinpoint accuracy, be fired at your Trigeminal Nerve.  It is indeed a singular sensation to feel blood trickling down your face as said helmet is fixed into place but the benefits that ensued were more than worth the temporary inconvenience.  I was pretty much pain-free for the next two years, after which it did return but all things considered, was extremely pleased with the result.

To celebrate, a dinner party was thrown in my honour, a splendid time guaranteed for all.  It was here that Jo’s friend, whose husband had sadly died, uttered the immortal phrase.  It caused much laughter, as it rightly should have.  I wasn’t in the least offended and, anyway, my very first thought was “What a great title for a song”.

Once again, deep thanks are due to Hans for not only producing two brilliant versions of this song but videos to go with each (links above).  The man has a depth of talent of which others can only dream, myself included.  Thanks so much for listening.  (Terry Reeves)

I was invited to a party
I tingled with the chance
To talk about the future
Step in and out of the past
Who’s that man in the corner?
Wearing a helmet on his head?
This is just my day wear
The gamma ray gun Doctor said
(I heard someone say)

Why ain't you not dead yet?
Why are you still here?
Why are you the only man?
Who smiles and has no fear?

We talked about the weather
And laughed about the grass
The world is tasting plastic
And it doesn't seem to last
Who's that man in the corner? 
With the radiation smile
The glow won't last for ever
Why not enjoy it for a while?
(I heard someone say)

Why ain't you not dead yet?
Why are you still here?
Why are you the only man?
Who has ten layers of veneer? 

We shared some special moments
And showed the battle scars
A pigment of growing older
Figments hidden in a jar
Who's that man in the corner? 
Four holes drilled into his head
Tried to screw me to the wall
Keep me standing and out of bed
(I heard someone say)

Why ain't you not dead yet?
Why are you still here?
Why are you the only man?
Who we seem to volunteer?

Why ain't you not dead yet?
Why are you still here?
Why are you the only man?
Who floats in this atmosphere?

Why ain’t you not dead yet?
I may not be really here
If my name gets mentioned 
I want a smile and not a tear

Keep smiling, I want to smile
Keep smiling, Give me a smile
I want to smile, I want to smile
Yeah, smile...

WHY AIN'T YOU NOT DEAD YET? - Cripple Club & Hans Albers (Video links with description)

I wanted to create a mystical atmosphere in this song. Its a place i am sure we all have been at some time in our lives, a lonely place where we miss the one we love or have loved ..ill leave it up to your imagination hope you love the song.
Johnny

Sleepless Nights

They wake you up,then lay you down
The part in between
Is just waiting around

The TV plays the same old shows
Groundhog day
From beginning to close

When your time is over And your picture's on that door
They won't need locks to keep you there
In room 54

The window shows the world outside
A million miles away 
From your bedside

When your time is over And your picture's on that door
They won't need locks to keep you there
In room 54

Your life's been lived and your time is done
The last great battle
Just can't be won

When your time is over And your picture's on that door
They won't need locks to keep you there
In room 54

Room 54

℗ © Copyright Ian Stokes. All Rights Reserved
Recorded and mixed using Logic. Mastered in Soundcloud
Guitar played: Taylor 714CE tuned B F♯ B E G♯ B
Photography: Thanks go to Nigel and Libby Hume at Hume Photography.
LYRICS:
In the cool of the Arizona morning
There are no words to say
The sun lights up
The eastern sky
At the dawn…….
Of a brand new day

The tumbleweed is turning
Looking to put down some roots
Maybe it’s just my calling
To have dust ……
All over my boots 

I don’t see all there is to see
I don’t hear all there is to hear
There’s light and there’s shade and something in-between
And the distance …………drawing near

I’ve got dust all over my boots
I’ve got dust all over my boots
I’ve got dust all over my boots
I’ve got dust  …………. all over my boots

The slow and steady beat
Of these hooves upon the ground
Horse and rider as one
And at peace ………
With that sound

I don’t see all there is to see
I don’t hear all there is to hear
There’s light and there’s shade and something in-between
And the distance …………drawing near 

I’ve got dust all over my boots
I’ve got dust all over my boots
I’ve got dust all over my boots
I’ve got dust  …………. all over my boots

Dust All Over My Boots

There I was, diligently practicing my palm muted walking basslines when The Boys dropped by.

The practice session never stood a chance.

Here's a little homage to simpler times.
____________________________________________________________________

Neeps ‘n’ Tatties

Don’t need no haute cuisine, come dinner time.
A simple guy like me got simple tastes.
Don’t need no six course menu, sommelier’s fancy wine.
I’m happy drinking beer by the case.
The honest things in life are the ones that always shine,
So get your pan a-boilin’ babe, your neeps ‘n’ tatties do me fine.

Don’t need no fashionista plastic tik tok model girl
I love my honey baby, she always aims to please
Drivin’ me half crazy as she gives a little twirl
She’s muckin’ out the hogs in her muddy dungarees
Keep yer high fallutin’ “A” list, I’ll keep that sweet gal of mine.
Get your pan a-boilin’ babe, your neeps ‘n’ tatties do me fine.

……

Billionaires of tinsel sniffing venison carpaccio
Braised black cherry duck, meets Pol Roger
Praise the Lord I’m still connected to where I wanna go
Me and my sweet baby on our way, we’re headin’ there.
In our home of rustic truth we find pure living, love divine,
So get your pan a-boilin’ babe, your neeps ‘n’ tatties do me fine.

Neeps ‘n’ Tatties

℗ © Copyright Ian Stokes. All Rights Reserved
Recorded and mixed using Logic. Mastered in Soundcloud
Guitars played: Morris Nylon String in standard tuning
Photography: Thanks go to Nigel and Libby Hume at Hume Photography.
I thought it was time to start writing and recording some new songs, with a view to putting together a new solo album over the winter. For this song I have returned to my nylon string Morris guitar. Hope you like it!
LYRICS:
Sitting…. In my rocking chair
Rollin…….. with the beat
Pickin …..out a tune
Keeping time… tapping my feet

Maybe I’m getting old 
Maybe I’m getting slow 
Maybe things don’t seem like they used to do
Maybe, maybe not…. I don’t know 

Sitting….. in my rocking chair 
Close my eyes and see
All the places I have been
Just rollin … with the beat

Maybe I’m getting old 
Maybe I’m getting slow 
Maybe things don’t seem like they used to do
Maybe, maybe not…. I don’t know

My Rocking Chair

Ever felt like life is passing you by?

You're just crossing off the days?

Ticking down the time?
_______________________________________________________________

Ticking

Ticking down the time.
Nowhere at the speed of light,
Nothing in my mind.
A dream of futures past.
Precious in my heart,
But it never came to pass.
Rearranged all my drawers of memory's worn out socks,
Corrected all my broken lifetime's kitchen clocks.
Just ticking down the time.

Ticking down the time.
Backwards at the speed of life,
Burdened in my mind.
Who stole it all away?
The clarity of thought
That defined me yesterday.
Dusted all the volumes on my memory's shelf,
Time-lapsed photographic of my former self.
Just ticking down the time.

Tomorrow calls in shades of black,
I swear these walls are staring back,
We waltz our falls in spiral mime,
Just ticking down the time.

Ticking down the time.
Lights out on the road ahead,
Fog come down behind.
Ready to anoint
The corpse of a life history
Shrivelled to a point.
JPEG'd out the detail of the smiling years,
Algorithmically compressed into this room of tears,
Where I'm just ticking down the time.
_______________________________________________________________

Photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash

Ticking

Quite some time ago, I made a quick “live” recording of this classic old Beatles song. It was just to serve as an example of how Nat & I might try doing a proper recording at some future time. But as Nat has so often managed to do, she added her beautiful harmonies and piano work and other production touches to make something out of it that we both now feel is worth posting. And in celebration of a new year (2023) and hopes for love to conquer all, for us all, we wish a very Happy New Year to all our friends and fellow artists!
Craig Durgy: vocals & guitar
Nat Daniels: vocals, piano, bass & production
Written by Lennon-McCartney

It’s Only Love

It's Only Love (Beatles Cover - Live)

I know that we shared the girl
but I am not the boy that  you once knew
and if if you were in trouble
would I still look out for you

oooh ooh

and if if I was to live
throughout this whole life again
I yeah I have come to doubt
whether I would even call you friend

or would I just sit right there and rue  the day
I'd ever seen your bloody face before

and if if you were cold would I offer you my coat
and if say one day you were lost
would I show you where to go

or would I just sit right there and rue the day
I'd ever seen your bloody face before

I know things are strange
not the way they used to be
sometimes we all change

what Became of you and
what Became of you and
what Became of you and me
what Became of you and me
what Became of you and me 


sometimes I like to remenisce
think back on all the places
where we used to go
Jukebox purple hearts and questions
but how the hell am I supposed to know

remember when we used to venture South
closing time and they're gonna throw us out
but we we just wanna stay
and re-live all our yesterday's today

or would I just sit right there and rue the day
I'd ever seen your bloody face before

 would I just sit right there and rue the day
I'd ever seen your bloody face before

I know things are strange
not the way they used to be
sometimes we all change

what Became of you and
what Became of you and
what Became of you and me
what Became of you and me
what Became of you and me 



What Became Of You And Me

Welcome to 2024 and thank you for visiting my Soundcloud page. 
It's great to connect with so many talented musicians here on Soundcloud! On this page you'll find my original songs (including 4 albums) and acoustic guitar instrumentals (including 2 EP's), together with various notes about guitars played, tunings, recording etc.

I am in the process of writing my fifth album which I hope to record at some stage during the year..

Musical influences for me have been many and varied including for example Bert Jansch, John Martyn, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Mark Knopfler, BB King, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Fairport Convention, Paul Simon,  JJ Cale, Eric Clapton, Colin Hay and John Mayer.

Hope you enjoy listening to my music.

Photography: Thanks go to Nigel and Libby Hume at Hume Photography.