Killing Me Softly (Cover)

Der Hunne Vol2

(Written by Terry Reeves)
Gary Reeves: Lead Vocal
Terry Reeves: Spoken Vocal
Hans-Michael Albers: All instruments, Arrangement & Production

Video: youtu.be/4t-H-HHpQ20?si=_reTvkVVmF73vkRi

I was walking down Mare Street, Hackney
Climbing boots and back pack on
Looking for a song of mountains
I had climbed them many times before
Challenge may help to find another door

I’ve climbed arduous N.H.S mountains
Planted flags a'top of wedlock peaks
Hung upside down on magical fountains
With my muscles springing major leaks
My heart is growing smaller by the week

Stood and pointed at hours of darkness
Winds of silence a challenge of their own
Worn out boots a testament to distance
But the misery of counting my toes alone
Sixty three feet behind me as it goes

I have loved being a man of mountains
I hope many will profit from my deeds
I will try to climb just one more mountain
Slide down the other side to save my feet
At the bottom I'll need brand new cleats

This was written over 10 years ago as a George Formby style (Google the name if you’ve never heard of him) ukulele song - a mildly amusing message to Gal to let him know that I was fully aware of the mental health difficulties he was having and that I would always be there if he needed me.

Over the years, we spoke often about the song but nothing much came of it until Gal suggested slowing the tempo and giving it a kind of shuffle beat. As it was about him, I thought he should definitely sing the lead vocal, which I think works rather well. (*Vocalist’s note: It would help if I could still sing…)

You’ll find many personal references to Gal’s life in the lyrics. At the time it was written, he was 63, literally a fatal age for men in the extended Reeves family and he wasn’t having the best of times himself, still wrestling with the grief of a marriage break-up alongside the loss of his big brother and closest friend less than a year before. But even with all of this going on (and not always out of choice) he found there were plenty more mountains to climb.

The transition of the tune from Formby to Albers is a story in itself but suffice it to say that Hans somehow managed to transform it into this rather poignant opus.  He has also made a beautiful film to accompany the piece (see link above). All in all, it testifies perfectly to the reason why Gal’s cleats are somewhat care-worn...and he still has many mountains yet to climb.. (Terry Reeves)

MOUNTAIN MAN - CRIPPLE CLUB

Another unpretentious pop song. I kind of like the chorus and the instrumental bridge. It should be shorter, but it came out that way, with an extra minute.

since she's gone

Eight Ball In The Side Pocket

Now into my seventh decade of living, and celebrating my fiftieth anniversary this month as a guitar player (I should play better than do;), I wanted to drop this "little ditty" as my attempt to keep up with the likes of Bill Liggett (@soundcloud.com/greenfleamusic/tracks) and other notable players on this fine platform.  Actually it's an attempt to keep up with myself, seeing if I can still play what I learned 40-plus years ago, in the case of this song, the introductory licks I learned from a very fine Kansas City lounge musician, Mark Bell in 1979.  For those keeping score, you may remember it from the song "This Motel Room" by Jimmy Buffet--a fun and clever song that details the many nights touring musicians have to endure staying in motel rooms.  I took the initial licks heard throughout the song and built an independent melody line around it, half blues ditty, half musical joke, with a serious moment (you know I have to have one of those:), all with the hope of bringing a smile.  I'm proud to say I can still play it, and maybe, just maybe a little better now than then:)  Bill, just don't ask me to play it live;)

A Little Ditty (David, solo guitar)

Piano Riff with eDRUMS and Bass and solo Theremin w/Kaospad FX

R&N (19)

Vidéo : https://youtu.be/dR5vMkboQXQ

Rempli     (Translated after the French text )

Texte      : Sanzen
Chant     : Muette
Musique : Alain Illos

Poitrine contre poitrine,
ma chair contre ta chair,
je me souviens d'un silence rempli de ton sourire.
Au seuil de l'horizon .... vivent mes songes
et nos premiers regards. et nos premiers regards.
Je n'avais étreint aucun corps,
ni laissé aucune trace dans le sable des plages.
Il n'y avait aucun enjeu. Aucune honte et
le vent nous portait.
le vent nous portait.
Là bas vit ma jeunesse remplie de ton sourire.
Là bas le temps ne passe pas. .. ne passe pas.
Je n'avais étreint aucun corps,
ni laissé aucune trace dans le sable des plages.
Au seuil de l'horizon, vivent mes rêves.
Et le temps infini.
Et le temps infini

Filled

Chest against chest,
my flesh against your flesh,
I remember a silence filled with your smile.
On the threshold of the horizon .... live my dreams
and our first glances. and our first glances.
I hadn't embraced any body,
nor left any trace in the sand of the beaches.
There was nothing at stake. No shame and
the wind carried us.
the wind carried us.
There lives my youth filled with your smile.
There time does not pass. .. does not pass.
I had embraced no body,
nor left any trace in the sand of the beaches.
On the threshold of the horizon, live my dreams.
And infinite time.
And infinite time

Rempli avec Muette

Copyright 2025 Joe Stroffolino 
***
Vocals, Strumming and picking tracks (Taylor 114ce): Joe Stroffolino
Additional Picking Track: Native Instruments Sunburst Guitar
Bass, Drums and Keys: Toontrack EZ Bass, EZ drummer and EZ Keys
Fiddle: PG Music Real track (viola)
Recorded using Logic Pro 11 and mastered with Ozone 11
***
All those times when you tried to play at the at top of your game
lately your enthusiasm’s starting to wane
You’ve been trying so hard to re-ignite that fire in your belly
lately your resolve, it’s turning into jelly 
You've been trying to be the best that you can be
but maybe you’ve been barking up the wrong tree
if your Spidey sense starts to tingle, maybe it’s a sign 
that you should open up the curtains and let in some sunshine
Sometimes you need to listen to your inner voice
Every morning that you wake up you still have a choice 
You’ve been swinging for a home run, but you can’t even seem to get to first base
You feel stuck like a rat in a race, like one of those monkey’s they shot into outer space
There’s days when it feels like you’re hanging by the end of your rope
And you struggling so hard to find a solution so you can cope
if your Spidey sense starts to tingle, maybe it’s a sign 
that you should open up the curtains and let in some sunshine
Sometimes you need to listen to your inner voice
Every morning that you wake up you still have a choice 
You try to make it through each day and sometimes you feel like the missing link
White knuckling your way through all the changes, trying not to be the first to blink
People doing things fast with AI that you're sure would take you several weeks
But you swear you’re going keep doing things the old-fashioned way with your luddite techniques
Your life is like a river that’s constantly flowing, 
You get swept along by the current You’re never sure where it’s going
Sometimes it feels like you’re playing a game of musical chairs
You’re afraid that when the music stops, you’ll be the one whose left standing there

If your Spidey sense starts to tingle, maybe it’s a sign 
that you should open up the curtains and let in some sunshine
Sometimes you need to listen to your inner voice
Every morning that you wake up you still have a choice

All Those Times

this one pretty much wrote itself when i found myself staring at a blank sheet of paper for ages,
tapping my pen annoyingly and waiting for something to happen........a live take with a bit of piano........cheers for having a listen......



           PEN TO PAPER 
 
my pen can write a letter of love
describe to you the stars above
congratulate you on your gain
comfort you when your in pain

console you in your time of need
tell you that you're loved indeed
but if i told you how i feel today
my pen would be cruel

my pen can sign my life away
to own a house i'll never pay
then write it in a thank you note
for the monstrous debt that i now owe

my pen has got me in trouble deep
sometimes so much i cannot sleep
if i were to write about myself
my pen would be cruel

i don't pretend to understand
what's going on upstairs
i just try to keep it to myself
sometimes it's better, to hide it all away
i know to you that that don't make much sense

my pen can tell you how and why
my love for you could never die
write the words with even flow
so you would never have to know

my pen is guarded at the gate
it hides my secrets can't escape
and if they did then you would know
my pen can be so cruel

misanthropy, philanthropy, 
evilness and empathy    
my pen belongs in their mirrored halls
it's inky eye looks through them all

there's nothing it can't see right through
the things you thought that no one knew
now written there right in front of you
the pen can be so cruel

my pen can talk what i can't speak
and go where i don't want to be
from a prison cell to a sunburst sky
turn the truth against a lie

write a wrong into a right
turn a long day into night
the burden can be so heavy
when the pen can be so cruel

Pen To Paper

Cast of Characters:

Joe Stroffolino-- @joseph-stroffolino -- Taylor 114ce acoustic guitar, main vocals, harmony vocals, lyrics, composition

Llanpsych -- @llanpsych -- Tez – Epiphone Les Paul electric guitar

K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara -–Ken–drums and percussion

Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)–@josh-clary-1 –- four string Fender Precision Bass, and Roland organ

TexMex Shaman–@texmex-shaman –Stephen– Tom Anderson Custom T electric guitar, mix, mastering, and production

  
This song began when Joe, feeling a bit nostalgic, wrote the lyrics and composed it on his acoustic guitar. He recorded it and sang it with expert harmonies, then decided to share it with Eclectic Collective. We were all very excited to get work on our second song with Joe, as we all admire his songwriting.

  First up was Tez this time, oddly enough. He was able to identify all the fill spots and light up the solo without the rest of us even adding anything yet. Next came Ken, who usually goes first, adding his steady grooving drums and tasty percussion. Once the drums were down, Josh completed the rhythm section by adding his fretted bass. He also worked out an organ part to give the whole sound a bit of thickness. Also adding some thickness and texture, Stephen added a clean electric rhythm part, as well. 

  Once we had it in can we asked Stephen to mix and produce it for us, which he did in his always expert fashion. 

  This, as mentioned, is Eclectic Collective's second song with Joe, and we all enjoyed bringing it to life with him. He's a wonderful collaborator and an all around good dude. Do yourself a favor and go check out his page, which is rich in great songs. We hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we enjoyed making it.

Original lyrics by Joe Stroffolino:

If you find yourself in trouble and you think you've lost your way. 
Here's hoping that you find a path to a better day.
I sure hope that you're happy.  I'm wishing you the best.
I hope you find what you're looking for as you continue on your quest.
I hope you find all the answers to all those questions vexing you.
I hope you can find a way not to bite off more than you can chew.
I sure hope that you're happy.  I'm wishing you the best.
I hope you find what you're looking for as you continue on your quest.
You spread your wings and you flew so far away from me.
I hope that you're enjoying your new reality
All those places that you said that you wanted to see.
I hope they're as good as you expected them to be.
I want you to know that you hold a special place in my heart.
I think about you often even though we are apart.
They say that when you love somebody sometimes you gotta be willing to let them go.
You gotta let them spread their wings and fly wherever the wind decides to blow. 
I sure hope that you're happy.  I'm wishing you the best.
I hope you find what you're looking for as you continue on your quest.
I hope that you're happy. I hope that you're doing well.  I sure hope that you're doing swell.You spread your wings and you flew so far away from me.
I hope that you're enjoying your new reality

Hope That You Are Happy - (Eclectic Collective with Joe Stroffolino)

Songs with a twinge of humor (and some a bit more serious).  
I do not use AI to create my songs. 
Recently I have had the urge to pick up my guitars (Taylor 114ce and Fender Squire) and I have been trying to use more guitar in my songs.  
My go to .vst plug ins are  EZkeys 2, EZ Bass and  EZ drummer 3) and my DAW is Logic Pro 11. 
I welcome your comments and enjoy listening to all the great music on SoundCloud. 
All songs are originals and copyrighted.