Eleventh Hour 2024

A song about the storms that hit Ditch Plains Beach in January 2024 and the damage to our neighbor's property. This was the first attempt at playing the song live with another person. I wrote it after I had shoulder surgery and recorded it originally on midi.

Whatcha Gonna Do (WT JB) 2 - 16 - 24 V3

I wrote this song about the craziness of our current moment and how everyone seems so damn sure about all these complex issues. So much is seen through the lens of partisanship. I was reacting to that. 
 I was just coming off shoulder surgery so I could not play stringed instruments. So fun today to actually try to play my song on guitar with a kick ass drummer.

Don't Know Much (WT JB) 2 - 16 - 24 V1.4

This song is about a life change. I was just coming off shoulder surgery when I wrote this so I could not play stringed instruments. So fun to play my own song on guitar with a kick ass drummer. A bit of a Talking Heads vibe here.

Pay You Back In Kind (WT JB)  2 - 16 - 24 V1.4

Playing with a talented drummer, we tried making some trippy electronica using Spectrasonics Trillian software. First time for either of us to try making electronic music live.

Broke In Too (WT JB) 2 - 16 - 24 V2.2

I wrote this song recently and played it live for the first time with a professional drummer. Still rough, but fun to have new musical ideas take shape with other musicians.

Held my hands up high
Reach up to the sky
Watch the clouds til they move so slow
You might need less than you know

Dreams can show you how to fly
Leap half a mile no question why
I sure hope to meet you there babe
I’m up all night
Thinking bout simple dreams yeah
Thinking bout simple dreams			
My simple dreams

You know what I need so bad
Remedy for a fever that I’ve had
Felt so heavy feet were made of lead
Was I really still in my bed?

Dreams can show you how to fly
Leap half a mile no question why
I sure hope to meet you there babe
I’m up all night
Thinking bout simple dreams yeah
Thinking bout simple dreams			
My simple dreams

Watching you babe watching me
Sit around watching bad TV
Guess it's some way to unwind
But close my eyes to ease my mind

Dreams can show you how to fly
Leap half a mile no question why
I sure hope to meet you there babe
I’m up all night
 Thinking bout simple dreams yeah
Thinking bout simple dreams			
My simple dreams
My simple dreams

Simple Dreams 3 - 13 - 24 V1.2

A new song idea that I played for the first time with a pro drummer. The song is still very much a work in process. This version did not even have lyrics when we played this. I had to overdub lyrics and bass.

I might need a soul to send       for myself
Song was sung for the top      of the shelf

You don’t even know my real name
I might get  in on the game
I got something to say
No doubt I’m going away
Take me

Had to tell you goodbye because of the heat
Once I laid around in the pines
   But there’s nothing to eat

You don’t even know my real name
I know enough to complain
I never know what I feel 
Which makes me feel sorry
Yes for the time being
Yes call me back

You don’t even know my real name
I’m feeling less or more sane
I don’t need to lead a small claim 

You don’t even know my real name
Nothing there could beat up the same babe
I don't need nothing insane
But    songs   that     say     so 
My     best     sane       things
All together
All the batters sing

You Don't Even Know My Real Name (WT JB) 3 - 13 - 24

First time playing this original song with another person, in this case a world class drummer. The song is about the challenges of living with a split family to enable one child to go to school in a town 120 miles from the other. We have had to split the family to enable this, and it's hard.

Passed you on the highway
Looked and gave a wave
It’s hard to leave on Sunday
But both of us can’t stay

You can send a letter
By the first class mail
I‘ll read it by the window
While the wind here blows a gale

Chorus
Clock is ticking down
Tell me what are you gonna say
I don’t like bad news
So let’s get it out of the way	 
Oh    Oh
Tell me what are we gonna do
Are we gonna get together again
Or remain split in two
 
Tried to make good choices
Tried to do what’s best
Seeing you one day in ten
Don’t feel like living blessed

Kids they hang around you know
One barely leaves her room
No one said it's easy
Checking family on the Zoom

Clock is ticking down
Tell me what you're gonna say
I don’t like bad news
So let’s get it out of the way
Oh    Oh
Tell me what are we gonna do
Are we gonna get together again		
Or remain split in two

Bridge
Bm     E   A   D7
Bm   E   A  A7   		(2x)

Thought it’d be for the better
Intentions pointed true
But distance is a frigid love	
I’d rather be….
Yeah I’d rather be….
With you 
With you

Together Again 3 - 13 - 24 V1.2

Tried this classic Everly Brothers song that was made famous all over again by Robert Plant and Allison Krauss on Raising Sand. This is a beautiful simple song that really begs for a good harmony. I sang the track live with a pro drummer and the overdubbed a harmony and bass. This song suits my Telecaster perfectly.

Stick With Me Baby (WT JB) 3 - 15 - 24 V1.3

Trying out different drum tempos in jam session with pro drummer. This session was about experimentation and trying to find a good groove. In this case, we dove into a two chord funk vamp. I overdubbed bass.

Funk Jam 1 (WT JB) 3 - 15 - 24 V1.4

Trying out different drum tempos in jam session with pro drummer. This session was about experimentation and trying to find a good groove. This particular song was an ad libbed improv. Kinda made up words just to try out a vocal melody line.

Half Insane (WT JB)  3 - 15 - 24 V1.3

Broke out the Telecaster with a pro drummer and tried a Lucinda Williams song that Robert Plant and Alison Krauss covered on their album "Raise the Roof". Just digging into basic rock and roll vibes.

Can't Let Go  3 - 15 - 24 V1.3

Tried a bass only version of this classic Beatles song accompanied by a pro drummer. Rough and loose, but trying to catch a vibe!

I Feel Fine (Bass) 3 - 15 - 24 V1.2

A second version of this original song with a pro drummer. This time using my '68 Gibson SG instead of an acoustic guitar. Fun to hear the evolution of this original song idea. It is still percolating. Got some Nirvana vibes.

You Don't Even Know My Real Name (WT JB) 4 - 2-24 v1.2

A new iteration of an original song idea that started in Montauk with Lars. Different arrangement this time, and a deeper pass at lyrics. Probably not the final song structure, but it's evolving.

Some Way Towards Insane (Third Song WT) 4 - 2-24

A cover version of The Beatles "I'm Only Sleeping". Such a great song by John Lennon. I overdubbed bass and harmony.

I'm Only Sleeping 4 - 2-24 V1.2

This is an early attempt at a new song. I started developing the song idea in late March around the chord progression C  to Gm7 to F. I developed that idea into the chorus and then added verses over Am7 and D7. I played it using a capo on the first fret to get slightly different voicings to the sound. I played this live with a pro drummer and then overdubbed bass and harmony. It's an early idea, but fun to see it emerge. It even has a bridge!

Restless Soul (WT JB) 4 - 2-24 V1.2

This is a new song I started five days ago. Still making adjustments. So fun to have other exceptional musicians try it with me.

Restless Soul (WT CD JB) 4 - 5-24 V1.4

This song is strange hybrid of a funk/blues groove and an folkie ballad structure. I came up with it last night on acoustic guitar and just trying it for first time with a drummer. Overdubbed bass.

Hey Did You Say (WT JB) 4 - 5-24 V2

My neighbor in Montauk DJ Marko is a professional producer and he just produced a new song for an artist named Meg Smith. It's a killer song. I had a recent jam with a pro dummer and we listened to the track and decided to try to play the hook of the song. Probably would have been better if we had played the whole song instead of just repeating the chorus, but we were just messing around. I took a stab at the chords, but I'm not even sure they're right. I did a mumble track live because I didn't have the lyrics but I overdubbed them and added bass and Telecaster. A bit of a Frankenstein, but WT's drumming is fucking dynamite.

Do You Like Me (WT JB) 4 - 16 - 24 V1.3

An original track created as an improvisation with a top notch drummer. As it happened live, this was bass, drums and a mumble track vocal. I overdubbed Telecaster and some actual lyrics.

Didn't Leave You Alone 4 - 16 - 24 V3.2

Acoustic guitar; folk; Americana; jam band influences; blues; rock; old time; bluegrass; grungey stuff. Even some electro and EDM vibes occasionally. I play a wide mix of music with a lot of different people.

Eleventh Hour 2024

John Britton