Hey Mark man, love this musical composition and arrangement. Very sophisticated playing and such a rich sonic bed on which your splendid vocals lie. Excellent vocal performance, delivering those memorable melodies throughout. Hey my friend, this is very impressive and enjoyable. Way to go with it, all involved!

Fantastic production, great collab and job 👏👍

this is a beauty Mark, when everything fits this well together it’s rare and great to hear…..top shelf man you sound great and that horn player is real good👍

Lucky me to have those great musicians to compose and play with!! Thanks to all of them and all of you listeners

Superb intro. Excellent horn arrangement and fantastic guitar work. I really like what you do with your voice before and after the solo Mark. Wonderfully smooth vocals to match the overall style of the track. Great collab people.

I love this song,  it brings joy and sunshine. And lovely vocal!

oh my it sounds so great all the way through. and mark, well, I hear your lovely personality shining through here. so optimistic and uplifting.  and little moments that make me smile throughout. we all make our way through don't we! perfect sentiment

Brilliant collab guys! Very uplifting all round.  Bravo! :)

One for the ages, literally.  R. Newman keys open, then 60s Chicago style brass morphs to 40s Big Band jazzy, 50s crooner vocal slides in singing 60’s yacht, passes to 70s wailing guitar, fade with cross-era piano & sax jam.  Quite a journey guys.

I feel good vibes‼️ I enjoy this, Thank you‼️

Collaborations with Jussi Welin

A song based on an original composition by Tom https://soundcloud.com/tom-r-gnier and Jussi https://soundcloud.com/juswel
https://soundcloud.com/tom-r-gnier/evocation
Lyrics and Vocals by https://soundcloud.com/markjbennett

We were very keen to work on another collaboration and after several rounds of selections and revisions, I'm glad to be able to share this beautiful song. I feel eternally grateful to Tom and Jussi for their inspirational music and skilled playing (and their patience). I hope we will get to make more music together in the future.

The picture is by Douglas Corrance of the Old Stockbridge Market in Edinburgh.

Everytime I look at you,
I need to recognise that
It is only you who can make me happy. 
Everytime I look at you,
I realise that I do.

Everytime I’m close to you,
My heart races,
I feel like a fool,
And you seem so cool
It’s because I think that I love you,
Everytime I’m close to you,
I realise that I do.

Ainsi va la vie,	
Quand il s'agit de t'aimer.
(Such is life, when it comes to loving you) 
Everytime I look at you,
I realise that I do.

I’m looking for a sign,
That shows just how much you do. 
Everytime you look at me,
I realise that you do.

Ainsi va la vie,	
Quand il s'agit de t'aimer.
(Such is life, when it comes to loving you)
Everytime I look at you,
I realise that we do.

Ainsi Va La Vie - Tom Régnier/Jussi Welin/Mark J Bennett

When Tom approached me with this piano melody, the initial arrangement and the title to which he hoped I’d add lyrics and vocals, I thought it was almost unnecessary as the piece already said everything required. Shortly afterwards, Jussi had added sublime guitar which offered a hopeful balance in the mood. Knowing what Tom was referring to without discussing it openly I wrote these words from a similar position of experience. I contrasted the first verse of a woman at her peak with the second verse of a woman in decline to heighten the emotion. I found that the spoken word approach allowed more emotion to flow from both the music and the words. Tom had the great idea to ask Hidefumi to complete the song with a phenomenal solo. Thank you to everyone who helped make this come together, and a very special thanks to all of you for listening.

Music composition, piano and other instrumentation - https://soundcloud.com/tom-r-gnier
First guitar and guitar arrangement - https://soundcloud.com/juswel
Lyrics and vocals - https://soundcloud.com/markjbennett
Final guitar and guitar arrangement - https://soundcloud.com/boon-suzuki

Image of a painted door in Funchal, Madeira - Douglas Corrance (https://www.facebook.com/DouglasCorrancePhotographer)

She knows just what it feels like now.
I think she’s losing it, I think she’s losing it. 
When she is almost ready, 
She will lose her reserve 
And her inhibition too.
Then she’ll lose herself in herself and then she’ll be free,
To be what she wants, what she wants to be.

She knows not who she feels like now.
I know she’s losing it, I know she’s losing it. 
As if she's gone already, 
She has lost her reserve 
And her inhibition too.
Already lost herself in herself and now she’s elsewhere,
Knows not what she wants, nor who she used to be.

She's Losing It - Tom Régnier/Jussi Welin/Mark J Bennett/Boon-Suzuki

Tom again approached me with a beautiful piano melody and an initial arrangement that he hoped I’d add lyrics and vocals. Shortly afterwards, Jussi gave the whole thing a wonderful rhythm and the first lead guitar you will hear.  Tom once again had the great idea to ask Hidefumi to complete the song with a powerful guitar solo in the coda. Thank you to everyone who helped make this come together, and a very special thanks to all of you for listening.

Music composition, piano and other instrumentation - @tom-r-gnier
First guitar and guitar arrangement - @juswel
Lyrics and vocals - @markjbennett
Final guitar and guitar arrangement - @boon-suzuki

I caught the light, 
shine on your hair.
You caught me 
beginning to stare.
You lift your head, 
and my heart soars.
Our eyes meet,
and I know I’m yours
Never be the same again, 
that’s for sure.

Your cheek lit up, 
a vivid blush 
While I could feel, 
my heartbeat rush
I went to move, 
was frozen still
Your every gesture, 
gave me a thrill 
Do I believe in love,
at first sight?
This sensation was, 
a perfect delight 
Is it possible, 
that it’s mutual,
and not merely,
the usual?

You lift your head, 
and my heart soars.
Our eyes meet,
and I know I’m yours
Never be the same again, 
that’s for sure.

Do I believe in love at first sight?

Love At First Sight - Tom Régnier, Jussi Welin, Mark J Bennett & Boon-Suzuki

Tom Régnier https://soundcloud.com/tom-r-gnier approached me with a beautiful piano piece and with the words 'Kiss Me Goodbye' to ask if I could make a song lyric out of this. After receiving my short sung part and having superb contributions from Jussi Welin https://soundcloud.com/juswel (Guitars and guitar arrangements) and Georg Boehme https://soundcloud.com/georg-boehme (Flute & Horns), Tom described it more as a journey than a song and I think he is right.
Painting by Paul Cézanne.


Kiss me goodbye
Now is the time
For us to part
Let it show
With all of your heart
Kiss me goodbye, let me go

Kiss Me Goodbye - Tom Régnier & Friends

"New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings." - Lao Tzu

"It's strange, but true, that the most important turning points of life often come at the most unexpected times and in the most unexpected ways." - Napoleon Hill

A weekend improvisation, dedicated to the turning points in our lives that often show up unexpectedly, after heavy, difficult times.  As you listen to this piece, you will hear the "turning point" emerge in the music around the 3:22 mark.

A companion piece to "Starting Again."

The Turning Point

Another awesome electronic collaboration with David a.k.a. @blackmarketbrains ! I love his minimal techno beats so asked him to send me one that included one of his cool old movie samples.I was inspired right away to lay down some melodic loops and even a bit of guitar.

Cover image is public domain, an illustration from an old edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

Forge the Creature! w/ Black Market Brains

⁂©⌚📏📐🗃🌍All Rights Reserved 08-2025
©Creator, Mastering, Mixer, Pro License: Lady ElectroTrek
***
This track is Protected by Page Defender & will be put into a 🎶🌟🌈Legacy EP placed into permanent Discography even after I die ;)
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/electrotrek/evolution

God of Time & Evolving Science

Evolution

Trippin

Lyrics: David L. Graham
Music, vocal, instruments & mix: PJ

Had Love A Time Or Two

Made in August 2025

Video; https://youtu.be/4nQXqMd0q4o

Colours Of Nature

Photo from left to right: JJ, Josh, and Ken
Cast of characters:
The Beautiful Dark -- @thebeautifuldark -- Carl — Ovation guitar, lead vocals, lyrics, and compostion
Mistermark-- @user-432503709 -- Mark –- VST Chinese gong and VST cello
J.J. Terrell– @j-j-terrell – light VST Latin percussion, synth, and piano
K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken -- drums
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 –Josh – Warwick fretless four-string bass, chant vocals at the end 
TexMex Shaman– @texmex-shaman –Stephen — ebow, production, mix, and mastering

 This song is the fourth Carl has written and composed with a member of Eclectic Collective in mind. This time JJ is being honored, and we all agree that he deserves it, too. Carl is a wonderful singer, songwriter, composer, and musician, and we're all grateful that he's joined our collective. 
  Here's what Carl had to say about it. "The music for this was a personal song written to myself which I never really released as I was trying to say goodbye to my own ego in the song. From that point of view I have always seen the piece as a great bit of personal therapy for me. None of the original lyrics survived and JJ gets painted by the new words .. But I thought it would be nice to reuse the composition for this. There was no big reason for it only when I decided to start a 60bpm song for JJ on piano .. I started playing Goodbye Ego and the rest is history..."
  We tackled this song like we would any other, though. Mark was first up on this, adding his VST magic in the form of a Chinese gong, as well as the cello you hear throughout. The subject of our adulation came next, with JJ adding not only his hot, yet minimal Latin percussion and essential piano, but moody synth, as well. Ken added his spicy drums after that, and once they were down, Josh jumped in with his four string fretless bass to complete the rhythm section. Josh also added the vocal chant at the end.
  All that was left was for Stephen to mix it all down for us, which he did in his always pro manner. But before he did, he also added some subtle, yet stirring ebow on his guitar. 
  As stated above, this is a continuation of our songs about us. Hope no one thinks it's arrogant. When Carl presents us with these little treasures, it's hard not to run with them, though. Always a ton of fun to make music together. We hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we enjoyed creating it.
Original lyrics by The Beautiful Dark:

Praying hands
Whatever cause
Once our greater good not lost
Bored children create their fun
We shelve French horn for this fine one
"Nice one lads" We read it all!
Vacation taken
To JJ calls
Neighbour to good Mickey Moore
Find Michigan piano pure

JJ calls
Just for us
Love lit up
Just for us

Down the road city of cars
To Howell front deck
Dad and Guitars
We jam that love then tell the world
Love and service human highway knurled
Good bi-product of happiness sought
With Croatian fun to cloud we court

Terrell Terminator in Jungle
Predator for good
Keys like Mr Bungle
Faith in more like we could
He Thanks you
It's lifestyle
Built from a porch
Good collective friend
Keep lighting that torch

Some moments sealed, marked and moulded
Pure intention
Dark blindfolded
Howl from human to Howell good soul
Keyed keystone as collective role

JJ calls
Darkness falls
Love lit up
Just for us
Love lit up
Just for us
Love lit up
Just for us
JJ calls

JJ calls
Just for us

JJ Calls (Eclectic Collective)

(Music: Hans-Michael Albers, Lyrics: Terry Reeves)
Terry Reeves:  Vocals
Hans-Michael Albers: All instruments, Arrangement & Production

Today, 22nd. August 2025, marks 13 years since our dear brother Bri succumbed to the deadly combination of leukaemia and Guillain-Barré syndrome.  Watching him through 2012, unable to do anything for himself and increasingly confined to a hospital bed is something none who loved him will ever forget.  
He has never been (and never will be) forgotten, not only for the music he created but for the force of nature he most certainly was.  In 1964, our Mum & Dad bought him an entry level acoustic guitar as a Christmas present and his progress on the instrument was something to behold.  By the time he was 18, he’d bought himself a Gibson Les Paul on HP (24 payments of five pounds and thirteen shillings per month) from Selmers in Charing Cross Road, London.  He joined a band, somehow co-opting me in as lead singer at the tender age of 15 (still a schoolboy, no less) and over the ensuing ten years, formed bands of whose line-up I was always a part, graduating from singing to percussion and eventually drums.
There being guitars laying around the family home, Tel took to playing and encouraged by Bri, never stopped.  Fast forward another five years and he too started writing songs so that by ’82, the 3 of us decided to form a band (Root Division) to play them.  It’s a truly special thing to be in the same band as your brothers and recording those songs became something Tel and me still remember with an abiding nostalgia.  No wonder we still talk about those days…
This song started life as an instrumental, written by Hans and of course, it’s brilliant as is but Tel liked it so much, he asked if he could write some lyrics and a vocal melody.  Being a generous fellow, our dear friend from Hamburg said he’d love to hear what Tel had in mind.
His basic idea was to incorporate as many references as he could to Cripple Club tracks, in celebration of the firm friendship we have formed in together recording what amounts to over 50 songs.  There may be a few of you who can spot one or two…
So this is for you, Bri.  We love and miss you, sweet brother.
(Gary Reeves)

Last Summer day reasons
Hamburg always shines
Shadows of Superheroes
Another surprise will come in time
Click toward a pension
From birth but never knew
Surprised to find a blackbird
In the flames as the music grew

Touch wood for satisfaction
CC music every day
Root of strong existence 
Step off the world to feed the phrase
Another Titan message
Titanic stories past
Image of a fraying edge
Never thought hang of time would last

It’s the time, it’s the place
It’s the only performance I can show my face

Last chance for singing
Avoid resistant tide
Pleasing distant garage
Remember 4 to 3 to 5
Stars in space that linger
Soaking up the blue
Palette of sunshine yellow
Mix to green for go - but for who?

T,G & H, Two and you!

LAST SUMMER'S DAY BLUES - CRIPPLE CLUB

With this music I would like to caress the mind and hearing of you who are listening!

Con questa musica vorrei accarezzare la mente e l’udito di te che ascolti!

Piccole Amenità (Small Amenities)

Can't Get Bayou (But I Can't Get By Without You Either)

Tom's piano melodies are so inspirational, not just to me (Mark) but also to Jussi, Georg and Boon. The energy of this piece carried us all off on a wonderful journey. We hope you enjoy the joyful enthusiasm that Tom initiated. Tom also gave me the key line, 'My Way Through' and I had to run with it as it made so much sense with this uplifting and hopeful music. Thanks for listening.

Tom Regnier -  @tom-r-gnier Music composition, piano and other instrumentation
Jussi Welin - @juswel First guitar and guitar arrangement
Georg Boehme - @georg-boehme Horns and horn arrangement
Boon Suzuki - @boon-suzuki Final guitar and guitar arrangement
Mark Bennett - Vocals and lyrics

Wherever you’re bound you know I’ll, 
Make my way through 
Sure may take a little while
 But I’ll make my way through

Wherever I’m bound I know I’ll,
 Make my way through
 It may take a longer while 
Till I make my way through

Wherever you’re bound,
…You’re bound
I know that I’m bound, yeah!

When I get there you know I’ll
Make my way through
Sure may need a broader smile
But I’ll make my way through.

My Way Through - Tom Régnier & Friends

Dear listener, Feel free to leave comments and I'll try to reply.

I've been making music for around 16 years now but because of the wonderfully generous community that is SC, I have learned so much in a short time. I look forward to learning even more by collaborating. 
I suppose my strengths are in lyric-writing and singing. I feel fortunate to have been able to work with some stunning compositions by some very talented SCers.

My very best to you, Mark

Some links to recent Continental Collision streaming sites, etc are available below:

My Way Through - Tom Régnier & Friends

markjbennett

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