A trans-Pacific cooperation at it's best. Josh (Entheogenic Psychonaught) asked me if I was interested in working on a project together. I had a basic idea that he transformed with his amazing drum, bass, organ and guitar wizardry into what you can hear. Many thanks to Josh for giving me this opportunity and for all of his time spent on this. 
It's quite amazing what can be achieved through modern technology. I never imagined being able to work with someone on the other side of the world on a music project and that someone other than my family might hear the result (showing my age here).

Far & Wide

Far and Wide (Collab with Entheogenic Psychonaught)

In The Spotlight:

Recorded / mixed: Audacity. 
Guitar / Beat: Synth Mashup
Keyboard: Roland E-X20 
Mic: Rhode USB Mini

LYRICS: 

I used to think
That I would be someone
If you called my name
I used to think that
Every day

I used to think 
That I would feel something
If you held my hand
It was perfect 
In my mind

You were the melody
And I was the harmony
You were a symphony
And I was the leading beat

You were the band
And I was a fan
Then you walked walked away
From my open hand

Cos this is a song
For the artist's way
This is a song
To know it will be okay
We are the art
And the road on which art is made

This is a song for the girl
Who turned my head
Caught my eye
Now she's all alone
In the spotlight

I used to think
That I would be someone
If you called my name
I used to think that
Every day

I used to think 
That I would feel something
If you held my hand
It was perfect 
In my mind

© Tam Hastings, Ben-Tam Jennifer, 2022

In The Spotlight

In The Spotlight (2022)

UN HOMME MAGNIFIQUE


HE’S A SPIRITUAL MAN IN A MATERIAL WORLD
LA VIE A SON PRIX ASTRONOMIQUE
HE CAN’T STAND A SNIPE BUT LOVES ANY BLUEBIRD
LE CIEL EST ORNITHOLOGIQUE
C’EST LOGIQUE 
MAIS ERIC
EST JUSTE UN HOMME MAGNIFIQUE
YES ERIC
C’EST LE CAPITAINE FANTASTIQUE
YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH

HE DOESN’T CARE FOR DOUGH 
AND DOESN’T GO FOR  BLING BLING
IL SE MOQUE DE GAGNER DES BRIQUES
THE SPEEDIEST OF QUAKERS WITH NO SOCIAL STANDING
NON SA CAROTTE N’EST PAS LE FRIC
C’EST LOGIQUE
CAR ERIC 
IL MET LES VOILES SUR SON BRICK
YES ERIC
C’EST JUSTE UN MEC FANTASTIQUE
YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH

HE’S A SMOOTH NAVIGATOR
A LEGENDARY CHRISTMAS CAKE MAKER

 
CAR ERIC
IL MET SES PAROLES EN MUSIQUE
YES ERIC
C’EST LE CAPITAINE FANTASTIQUE
YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH

HE WILL JUMP ON ANY BOAT COS HE CAN’T STAND THE BEACH
AIN’T THAT TYPIQUE OF ERIC
SO YOU CAN ASK MCGURK LE STUMBLE OR DOBSER
THEY’LL TELL YOU WHAT KIND OF MAGIC
IT’S A KIND OF MAGIC


FÉERIC
MAGNIFIQUE
YES ERIC
POÉTIQUE ERIC
SOMETIMES ÉROTIQUE
FANTASMAGORIC ERIC

UN HOMME MAGNIFIQUE (Lyrics) Song for Eric

A tribute to one of my closest friends Andy who passed last year from cancer. He left two beautiful daughters and his wonderful wife behind. 
Also a long lasting effect on me and I never got to tell him he really was one of my kings.
This is a raw live recording because that’s seems  more relevant to him coming from a punk background. 
I worked, socialised and shared some unbelievable memorable moments with Andy stretching over a 30 year period.
He was an original punk rocker in his younger days and played as a drummer in many different punk bands. Carried the tattoos of punk and that period carried him through the rest of his life. Very knowledgeable about music and cultures. 
He always got up behind the kit and blasted out at our soundchecks and when we were breaking down after the gig, he just couldn’t help himself. Always supported live new music and my band projects. 
Andy was one of the Co founders with me of underground music magazine Blag. Known as Andypunkrock to the readers.
I will never forget him and think about him everyday.
You don’t realise until certain people leave you how much it affects you. 
RIP Andy you were One Of My Kings.

One Of My Kings (Acoustic Live RIP)

Lyrics below...
The song evolved into this naturally and I did not perform it based from any personal life experience. Thank you for giving it a try!
Written by J.J. Terrell all rights reserved.

Artwork: Margaryta Yermolayeva (Ukraninan born artist and wife of good friend)
rytamargaret@hotmail.com
ebay.com/str/bestpostcards
margaryta-yermolayeva.pixels.com

I SAW THAT SMILE WHEN YOU GOT OFF THAT TRAIN
WERE THOSE TEARS OF JOY? 
OR DROPS FROM THE RAIN?
COME HERE YOU LITTLE ANGEL
I'LL HOLD BACK YOUR PAIN

ITS BEEN SO LONG
SINCE I HELD YOU IN MY ARMS
AWKWARD, DIFFERENT NOW
TIME’S NEEDLE WILL DARN

IM JUST A CAST AWAY
ON THIS ISLAND IN THE SEA
YOU KNOW I WILL HEAL YOU

STARING FOR A TIME OFF INTO SPACE
GLOWING SHEEN OFF YOUR SLEEPING FACE
YOU POOR THING, YOU’VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT

HILLS THAT ARE GREENER AND TURQOISE SEAS
FLOWERS EVERY NIGHT
BABY CATCH UP ON SOME SLEEP
ILL RUB YOUR BACK WHILE YOU LAY THERE AND DREAM

ITS BEEN SO WRONG
FOR ALL THIS TIME AWAY
FROM ONE ANOTHERS TOUCH
THE WAY YOU SAY MY NAME

IM HERE FOR YOU NOW
BABY I MEAN FOR KEEPS
YOU KNOW I WILL ALWAYS HOLD YOU

YOU ARE THE ONE AND ONLY THING 
MY STARS, MY SUN, MY MOON
MY HEART HOLDS YOUR KEY
LORD GIVE ME STRENGTH AS I GET DOWN ON A KNEE

TRAVELING THROUGH THIS LIFE WITH YOU
UPS AND DOWNS, WOW WE MADE IT THROUGH!
THE KIDS ARE LONG GONE
IT LOOKS LIKE JUST ME AND YOU

WE HAVE ALWAYS PUT EACH ONE FIRST
THATS WHY AS YOU LAY DYING
OH, GOD PLEASE! IT HURTS
JUST A SECOND CHANCE!
OH GOD PLEASE

THE RAVEN FLEW

OOH OHH OHH OHH 

I HOLD NEAR
YOUR VOICE I STILL CAN HEAR
HELPING ME THROUGH TROUBLED TIMES 
SEE YOU SOON GIRL  I STAND IN LINE.

Promise

Jazz variations made after listening to a rap track by Dtrot the Pilot, a vast talent....first time listening...and I mean really listening... to a rap track....specifically....listening to the musical patterns. After immersion in Dtrot the Pilot's track (Whatcha Feelin) for over an hour...this came out. Thank you Dtrot. You inspired me.

Jazz (Horn) Variations on listening carefully to a rap track

DO I HAVE THE WORDS
AS A MAGIC POTION
TO TRY AND HEAL THE WORLD
WHAT A SILLY QUESTION
ME I
FEED THE BIRDS
PROVIDE THEM WITH SEEDS
ON THE GROUND
OR IN THE REEDS
I DO
I DO

DREAMING MIGHT BE HEARD
AS THE ONE SOLUTION
BUT FEEDING THE BIRDS
IS ANOTHER OPTION
YOU TRY
THEN YOU TELL YOUR FRIENDS AROUND
IN THE MEANTIME IT’S MY ROUND
HMM 
HMM

FEED THE BIRDS MAN
FEED THE BIRDS
AND ALL YOUR PROBLEMS WILL BE SOLVED
HEAL THE WORLD LOVE
BEND THE CURVE
FEED AN  EAGLE OR A DOVE


PICK UP ANY TREE
ADORN IT WITH A FEEDER
AND SOON YOU WILL SEE
BIRDIES OF A FEATHER
DROP BY
IN THE SUN OR IN THE SNOW
AND THAT’S ALL  YOU HAVE TO KNOW
BY NOW

FEED THE BIRDS MAN
FEED THE BIRDS
AND ALL YOUR PROBLEMS WILL BE SOLVED
HEAL THE WORLD LOVE
BEND THE CURVE
FEED THE ANGELS FROM ABOVE

FEED THE BIRDS (Lyrics)

Happy Friday!

Makin that bacon and I'm bringin it home 
Theres a pretty woman waitin for me
We're hittin the beach
gettin takeout for dinner but  I know that all that takeout ain't free

Cool cool morning on a summer day
the alarm clock won't give up
I gotta punch my card so that I get payed
Pour my coffee in my cup

We all spend our weekdays workin
take our orders from above
but I guess it's not the worst thing
when we're doin it all for love

We're lucky to be worthy of
all of the good good things 
that make up our lives
and give us reason to put up

Now it's real easy to just hang your head
and only look at all of the bad
but for everyday that you get out of bed
you got to think of all that you have

So when you punch the clock all day and night 
think of the roof that's sittin above
cause the money ain't comin
if you're not there runnin 
for the things and the people you love.

We're lucky to be worthy of
all of the good good things that make up our lives and give us reason to put up

We're hittin the beach
gettin takeout for dinner but  I know that all that takeout ain't free

Cool cool morning on a summer day
the alarm clock won't give up
I gotta punch my card so that I get payed
Pour my coffee in my cup

So when you punch the clock all day and night 
think of the roof that's sittin above
cause the money ain't comin
if you're not there runnin 
for the things and the people you love.

Makin that bacon and I'm bringin it home
Theres a pretty woman waitin for me
We're hittin the beach
gettin takeout for dinner but  I know that all that takeout ain't free

Makin that bacon and I'm bringin it home
Theres a pretty woman waitin for me
We're hittin the beach
gettin takeout for dinner but  I know that all that takeout ain't free


V5.81 - DC - DB - MA - HL

Punchin The Clock

God Sent

Mick on vocal, organ, conga & harmonica, Rob on guitar

Baby Please Don't Go

A song from my self-titled debut album from 2009, recorded while rehearsing for a 10th anniversary concert in June 2019 in Southern Germany.

FEED THE BIRDS (Lyrics)

IMRE LODBROG