Where Is My Key

François Hollande's reign as president was marked by a secret love affair, deadly terror attacks and an economic policy U-turn. There was something endearing about the man, however, captured in this infamous speech in English. Hope I don't get deported for this, enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGHMrWKUf1g

Be You - soyez vous            
Be proud of you - soyez fier de vous
Because you can be- parce que vous pouvez être
Do - faire
What we want to do - ce que nous voulons faire

Il a peut-être raison - ge is probably right
Ce vieux président - this old president
C’est un peux déroutant - it’s a bit confusing
Mais aussi très profond - but also deep

Be You !

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)

Golden Dance

Just an old man getting crazy with his looper pedal

Do Like You Wanna Do

I always wanted to make a sonic companion to the last song Bitzone, Frawstakwa, and I made together, “What Difference Does It Make.” I finally got my chance. This one came together real fast. Bitzone sent me a raw beat, I asked Frawstakwa to kick it off, and then I made some arrangement adjustments and laid down my lyrics and vocals based on Frawstakwa’s. Bitzone then finished it up and bada-boom, gotta move, gotta shake!

Massive thanks to Frawstakwa for bringing the fresh ideas and original verse and chorus vocals. And big thanks to Bitzone for always make the tracks more vivid than I could imagine. 

May there always be at least a little time to bounce in your week! 

Track Credits:
Bitzone: Music, Production, Arrangement, Mix, and Master
https://soundcloud.com/bitzone
https://www.bitzones.net/
Frawstakwa: Verse and Chorus Lyrics and vocals
https://soundcloud.com/frawstakwa
the Couch King: Verse Lyrics, Vocals, and Samples
https://musiciselation.bandcamp.com
Intro: Louis Bloomfield

Lyrics: 

Hold up
Lemme tell you
What I’m talking about
To the beat
With a breakdown
That can make you bounce 

Here we are
Coming through
With whatever it takes
Full force
On these fools
All up in your face 
Show and prove
Break it down
To the drum 
And the bass
That good old
One two
Gotta move 
Gotta shake
Bada-boom
Something 
That you can feel
But wait
If you could feel 
Anything at all
Feeling great
Letting it flow
Mind body and soul
On my way
That’s how it goes
So the people them know
See you later

Hold up
Lemme tell you
What I’m talking about
To the beat
With a breakdown
That can make you bounce 

I’m just your everyday reverie of an emcee
You see
I’m but a memory of the way 
You say it be
On this beat 
You project the street 
On the hit of the kick 
The click 
Boom, respect it’s the fire of the heat 
It’s the sweat dripping from the meat 
You expect flowing from that bass 
That slow tempo that’s got you feeling 
You on the creep, you on the chase
Brace fo the bounce putting you in the some headspace 
Race everyone to hear every ounce so tie up yo shoelace 
And let’s go 
Yo, lettin’ the people know

Hold up
Lemme tell you
What I’m talking about
To the beat
With a breakdown
That can make you bounce

The flow is
Summoned 
On command
Dig deep
Within 
Without a plan
Improvise
And
Ka-blam 
That is called conviction
Can you understand
The definition
What is your religion?
Damn
It takes blind faith
To hope that one can trust
In what is true 
What is real
For real
So what it do?
We are here to
Be seen
Be heard
Be who
We truly are 
Hold up then
Please
Tell us
Who are you?
 
Hold up
Lemme tell you
What I’m talking about
To the beat
With a breakdown
That can make you bounce 

I got the feeling the bounce is appealing
Now that the ceiling’s been breaked
We got the unwilling to denounce appearing 
How it is that they never been waked 
Allow the revealing of the fake
Watch out we congealing as we get baked 
Take out that sponge cake, make no mistake 
It got that spring, there’s no remake 
Can feel the earth quake 
The beat is shaking
The bass is rumbling
So deep you feel your belly ache 
What’s at stake 
You gotta know
It’s that flow state 
We on a roll 
So slap on the butter baby
We gravy 
Grab a plate and
Before you go

Bounce
Bounce
To the boogie
The bang
The beat
Box
About
To bring it back
The breakdown
For the block
For my people
I see you
Gimme a pound
Tell me how
Have you been
For now
The breakdown
I’m here for you
Hear me loud 
And clear
We are responsible
For where we’re 
Bound
The breakdown
Heading out
Gotta beat the crowds
To get home
Put my feet up
While I eat on the couch
The breakdown

Hold up
Lemme tell you
What I’m talking about
To the beat
With a breakdown
That can make you bounce

Break Down The Bounce

Bitzone, RS Frawstakwa & the Couch King - Break Down The Bounce

This was my third time working with the Eclectic Collective on a track. Unlike the other couple of times that were based around ideas that I came up with, this time I was just along for the ride! I was happy that Ken reached out and invited me, figuring I could help add some 80s style synth nostalgia to this fun piece. 

Cast of characters:
K2 and the Three [and the Four] -- @k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken–drums, acoustic guitar, song and vocal melody composition
Joseph Shenton -- @joseph-shenton -- lyrics
Gaz Brownie — @user-755327533 — Gaz — vocals, vocal harmonies, and lyrics
one man verity show – @one-man-verity-show – Scotty – electric guitar intro
TexMex Shaman–@texmex-shaman –Stephen– Les Paul Custom electric guitar, mix, production, and mastering
Llanpsych–@llanpsych –Tez– Epiphone Les Paul electric guitar
Tea R. Sea @tea_are_sea -- Terry – low synthesizer
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 – Fender Precision bass and high synthesizer

This song began a few months ago as an idea Ken had to make the quintessential Gen X song. He structured the chords, beat to appeal to anyone of a certain age group, of which most of the folks in the band are a part. He even played wrote it on his acoustic guitar and came up with the vocal melody, which Gaz put a shine on for the final version. Once he had the form of the song down, he tapped the incredibly talented Joseph Shenton to write the lyrics. Gaz not only superbly sung four part harmonies for this, but the came up with the lyrics for the break parts, too. 

When he first envisioned it, Ken thought it would be fun to invite as many musicians as we could onto it. However, for whatever reason, it stalled out and sat untouched for a couple months, with just Stephen's foundational guitar, Scotty's thrilling guitar intro, Terry's lush, low end synth, and Josh's bass to hold it down. Then, Ken had the great idea to invite Gaz to sing it for us. His awesome vocal track inspired us to heat up the kiln again, and put some real effort into bringing it to life. On that note, Josh redid his bass part to match Ken's rocking drums, as well as added the high, melodic synth you hear throughout. Tez came in last with the fiery guitar fills and solo, which you can hear throughout, as well. 

Once it was all in the bag, we tapped Stephen to produce and mix it, which he did in his always pro manner. 

This is the first collab Eclectic Collective has done with Gaz, but we all hope it won't be the last. He is one of the finest singers on the Cloud, and we're honored that he would sprinkle his magic on this song with us. We hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we enjoyed creating it.

Original lyrics by Joseph Stenton:

Where were you on those days gone by
Were you out by the tracks where the lone train whistle cries
Or kicking up rocks on those dusty roads of dirt
Or skating on streets paved with gold
Or wrestling upon the grass beneath endless sky

On days gone bye
On days gone by
To be back there again
For all its lows and for all its highs 

Where were you on those days gone by
Were you tugging at the stars too
In an attempt to release their light
Bonded by hours
To a brotherhood we believed would never die

On days gone bye
On days gone by
To be back there again
For all its lows and for all its highs 

Where were you on those days gone by
From within this dull petrification of time
Comes a crystalline memory
Of those long lost moments, now born free 
Of come what might, come what might be

On days gone bye
On days gone by
To be back there again
For all its lows and for all its highs 

Where were you on those days gone by
With a tape in the walkman
Playing the soundtrack of passing time
To these moments of our lives
That once burned bright but never died

On days gone bye
On days gone by
To be back there again
For all its lows and for all its highs 

Generation X - with Eclectic Collective ft. Gaz Brownie

Awesome track by Hendrik again - EWI trumpet by me - enjoy this funky lunatics' journey :-)
@cosmic-ratzzz

lunatics 232 / Die grosse Reise / Ratzzz & joerxworx

Music: Little Man & Janne Hennie
Lyrics & Vocals: Janne Hennie
Instruments & Mix: Little Man

Lyrics:

1
On a saturday night I feel a little restless, a need for something
And after a few glasses of wine, I think:
Rest can wait until another time
Don't want to be alone 
(So I call you)
Pick up the phone

Du du-dudu-dudu..
Hello?

Chorus:
Will you come and have some fun with me?
The night is young, the wine is strong
Will you come and say hello to my crazy side?
It's pretty wild!

Dudu-dudu-dudu..
Hello?

2
On a sunday night i feel anything but tired, can't sleep
And after twisting my mind, I think:
Sleep can wait until another time
Don't want to be alone
(So I call you)
Pick up the phone

Dudu-dudu-dudu..
Hello?

Chorus:
Will you come and have some fun with me?
The night is young, the wine is strong
Will you come and say hello to my crazy side?
Its pretty wild!

Dudu-dudu-dudu..
Hello?

Pick Up The Phone

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

I hear your laughter, I see your smile
Even though it's been a while
since you waved goodbye to Mother Earth
I can feel your presence, strong and clear

Chorus:
All the good memories of you
Will always be a big part of me
You have a special place in my heart
Makes it beat strong, wherever i go

You are my smiling memory...

You said so many kind words, you were never rude
Even when you had a reason to be
Took care of those who needed a hand
It didn't matter to you, woman or man

Chorus:
All the good memories of you
Will always be a big part of me
You have a special place in my heart
Makes it beat strong, wherever I go

You are my smiling memory..

I look at the sky, and I see you
A dancing light, waving at me
You still bring a smile to my face
And I can feel your presence, strong and clear

Chorus:
All the good memories of you
Will always be a big part of me
You have a special place in my heart
Makes it beat strong, wherever I go

You are my smiling memory...

My Smiling Memory

My Children Activities Songs Do Not Make Sense

Sandcastle Filled with Jelly

"Magic is what we do. Music is how we do it." -- Jerry Garcia

Welcome to my page, my peers, associates, friends, and musical family. I'm a lifelong, multi-instrumentalist musician who records prolifically and joyfully. You'll hear me play guitar, bass (regular four string, and four and five string fretless), mandolin, banjo, keys (piano, organ, synth), lap slide, sitar, and sing on my recordings here. I've been in a few dozen bands in my life, playing everything from bluegrass, jazz, rock, jam band, reggae, funk, afrobeat, Middle Eastern, traditional Irish, singer/songwriter, pop/covers, to experimental/avant garde. 
  Since I found SoundCloud a couple years ago, I've found many talented, creative people with whom to create music. However, in the summer of '23 I formed a band called The Eclectic Collective with some of my favorite musicians I've met through here. It started as a loose collective of musicians and coalesced into a core group of musicians who find other musicians with whom we'd like to make music, then run their songs through our process, and in effect add a full band. That core of The Eclectic Collective includes Tez (Llanpsych), J.J. Terrel, Ken (K2 and the Three), Stephen (Texmex Shaman), Chris (cgmaness), and Mark (mistermark). A couple of other musicians are frequent collaborators, as well, including Artur of Surfers Like Us, and Steve Vervaet of Steve's World. More recently, we've been joined by Carl of The Beautiful Dark fame. 
  The magic of music is amplified exponentially by each person adding to it. So, we really try to add our sorcery all kinds of music from all kinds of artists. Sometimes, we keep it within the group, but a lot of what we do is collaboration with other artists. Therefore these days, 100% of what I do is collaboration, within the group or with other artists on the side.
  I, and we, are also available for hire if you have a song or lyrics and you really want to add bigger instrumentation or a band and good production to it. 
  A small sampling of the artists whom I consider primary influences, and whom you will hear coming through my fingers include Phish, The Flaming Lips, The Grateful Dead, Radiohead, Rye Cooder, Steve Earle, Miles Davis, Fela Kuti, Arcade Fire, Mikey Dread, Yellowman, Purpleman, The Meditations, Michigan and Smiley, Lee Perry, Dillinger, Django Reinhardt, Impossible Recording Machine, The Allman Bros Band, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Cream, Bela Fleck, Les Claypool, Sam Bush, David Grissman, John Prine, Talking Heads, Beastie Boys, MMW, Moe., Morphine, Ween, Steve Lukather, Michael McDonald, John Abercrombie, Dave Holland, John Scofield, Victor Wooten,  Cannonball Adderly, Thelonious Monk, Flea, Parliament Funkadelic,  Frank Zappa, Prince Paul, Pete Rock, Thievery Corporation, Amon Tobin, Chet Baker, Joao Gilberto, Stan Getz, Astrud Gilberto, Carol Kaye, Tame Impala, Mumford and Sons, Japanese Breakfast, LCD Soundsystem, Beach House, Sean Lennon, and Billy Strings, but of course there are many more. I also really like and am influenced by traditional Iranian, Palestinian, Indian, Sri Lankan, Sudanese, Mauritian, Somalian, Egyptian, West African, and Syrian music. I welcome anyone who plays non-western music to contact me for a collaboration, too.
 I'm overjoyed to have found my community on SoundCloud. This is a truly unique forum where everyone is sincerely trying to build each other up. The profoundly supportive and positive SoundCloud community has really opened up an exciting new world of collaboration for me. That is the main reason I'm in the Cloud, actually, to connect with other musicians and make music that I enjoy listening to, and hopefully others do, as well. I am ALWAYS looking to collaborate with interesting musicians, mostly though BandLab, which is where I record almost exclusively. It's a solid, free digital audio workstation hub where you can share recording projects, even if it's not where you make your recordings.
  Everything I do is live instrumental, not programmed, and using no computer beyond my phone. That's not to say that I would be opposed to using that kind of tool, it's just not my preferred medium with which to paint. If you like my music, please share it. If you want to collaborate, my BandLab handle is @bingo_pajama. Feel free to contact me at cornbreadband@hotmail.com, as well, even if you aren't on BandLab.
  If your music is primarily AI, please don't come around my page, as I'm not at all interested in complimenting a machine.
  Here's a link to music I've recorded live with a group of musicians here in Pittsburgh called The Northumberland Street Ramblers.
Check out The Northumberland Street Ramblers on #SoundCloud
https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/fU4Me