Dan https://soundcloud.com/progrockdan1 is one of the most inventive and exciting people to collaborate with on SC. If you haven't heard his work before you should check out his cloud. Mark

Collaborations with ProgRockDan1 (and Oorlab)

As this is called ‘Wordlessly’ I’ll try to keep this brief. http://soundcloud.com/progrockdan1 approached me with this beautiful and unusual piece and I had his melody going around in my head for months with several sets of lyrics on different themes but I found myself drawn to this almost wordless version. http://soundcloud.com/progrockdan1 loved this but felt a female vocal would give more of a sense of dialogue and suggested https://soundcloud.com/lamara-marie, who brought a whole new dynamic to the piece. Behind the scenes, we ended up in a 3-way philosophical debate on the role of communication within relationships. Our communication was far from wordless.

I’d like to thank Dan and Lamara-Marie for their help and inspiration in this experimental journey. Please check out their clouds and also leave a comment if you have time.

All Music, Arrangement and Mix - http://soundcloud.com/progrockdan1

Additional Lyrics, Lead and Backing Vocals - https://soundcloud.com/lamara-marie

Lyrics, Lead and Backing Vocals - Me

My love and I, 
Have found the way 
To express, 
Our love, 
Wordlessly.

Wordlessly (collaboration with ProgRockDan1 & Lamara-Marie)

After collaborating with Dan on 'Wordlessly', being keen to try another project and seeing that he was interested in all types of music, I suggested we try a country song. Dan sent me a Banjo/Guitar track that made me instantly think of the Travelling Wilburys, with a Beatles-like rhythm and as I knew I couldn't sing like Roy Orbison the challenge was how to approach this. I knew what I wanted the story to be as the music somehow suggested it straightaway - verse with a longing feeling, urgent pre-chorus and then a release - made me think of a long distance love. The song came easily but it took me a long time to gather up the courage to sing a country-style song. I hope you find me treating this unique form of American music with appreciation and respect. I suggested that Dick might help with his great fiddle playing and thankfully he did. We had a little fun setting up the campfire atmosphere. I'm greatly indebted to Dick and Dan for their huge talents and time. Please check out my collaborators' clouds too if you have time. Cheers, Mark

Music: http://soundcloud.com/progrockdan1 
Lyrics and vocals: Mark Bennett 
Fiddle: http://soundcloud.com/oorlab

I’m leavin’ 
’s like grievin’ 
Feels as though my heart’s breakin’ 
I’m workin’ 
Day’s dawnin’ 
Far away from home 

Seven more days till I’m coming on back to you 
Just one week and I’ll be coming on home to you… 
…And when I’m home

I’m prayin’ 
Not strayin’ 
Stayin’ true to my love 
I’m waitin’ 
’ticipatin’ 
When I’ll be back home 

Three more days till I’m coming on back to you 
Few more days and I’ll be coming on home to you 
Only days and I’ll be right there next to you… 
…And when I’m home.

I’m leavin’ 
Completin’ 
My shift is endin’ 
I’m drivin’ 
’s excitin’ 
I’m on my way home.

Couple of hours till I’m coming on back to you 
Few more hours and I’ll be coming on home to you 
Just a few hours and I’ll be right there next to you…

...And when I'm home.

When I'm Home (ProgRockDan1/Oorlab Collaboration)

My idea for the subject matter came from Dan saying the music made him think of mountains and water. In my head I made a leap to a human story I knew of a mother and son who waited for much of WWII at a tiny seaport (Kyle of Lochalsh) in the North Western Highlands of Scotland to occasionally see the husband/father who was on mine sweeping missions with the Arctic convoys. Life expectancy was 6 months but he returned safely. This story would work just as well as a scenario for a fishing village where all the men had been gone for days during a storm.

I can't thank Dan enough for his inspirational piece that triggered these words and likewise Dick made this sound so emotionally charged with his fiddle and harmony vocals. I am greatly indebted to my collaborators for making this possible with endless patience and skill.

Please check out their wonderful clouds. https://soundcloud.com/dan-lockhart/by-the-waters-edge-with-mark-bennett-oorlab-with-video-link
All Music (except for Violin), Vocal - https://soundcloud.com/dan-lockhart
Violin, Harmony Vocal and Video - https://soundcloud.com/oorlab
Lyrics, Vocal and Artwork - me 

Video link - http://youtu.be/UAfy0vtMmsc


By the water’s edge,
All her thoughts are out at sea,
The child in her arms belongs to he,
He who’s gone

Ev’ry storm is a pain in her heart,
Waiting for news that would tear her apart,
Of he who’s gone
By the water’s edge

She is not alone in her wait,
All the women share her fate,
By the water’s edge

Tears of joy from all on the shore,
The ship is home once more.
By the water’s edge

By The Water's Edge (with Dan Lockhart & oorlab) with Video link

Hot on the heels of 'By The Water's Edge', Dan came up with another maritime sounding arrangement that he was keen to share with Dick Vestdijk and myself. The original music was very inspiring and my immediate suggestion was on the theme of 'impressment' - the press-ganging of sailors into naval service against their will. No sooner had I suggested this than Dick had drafted a great start to the fine lyric we have now. I added a verse then Dick completed the lyric and delivered a guide vocal that took my breath away. I thought we should leave it at that, however we all continued to work on multiple versions with a variety of arrangements and vocal set-ups. What we were seeking was something organic and natural sounding, as if a couple of sailors were singing in a tavern about their life at sea, surrounded by other impressed seamen. The quality of musicianship, imagination and patience that Dan and Dick brought to this continues to astound me. As well as their generosity and skill, they really are great guys to collaborate with. I look forward to many more projects.

I'm sure Dan and Dick will gladly respond to any comments posted here. Thanks for taking the time to listen.
 
Original Music, All Other Instrumentation and Final Mix - https://soundcloud.com/dan-lockhart
Guitar, Harmonica, Lyrics, Vocals and Vocal Melody - https://soundcloud.com/oorlab
Additional Lyrics and Vocals - me
 
Also attached is a link to a beautiful video made by https://soundcloud.com/oorlab
- https://youtu.be/I2mUn3yWxPs
 
They took me from the harbour,
 
While I was still asleep,
 
Chained and gagged and bent and ragged,
 
Human turned to sheep.
 


In the days of impressment,
 
Flogging instead of caressment,
 
A captain cruel, an empire’s tool
 
... ship of fools.



Though the sails are torn,
 
The bow cleaves straight,

For the Equator.
 
Unto its fate.
 


The King's shilling will be my lot,
 
My fate's sailing, willing or not,
 
The wind's ailing and I've been bought.
 
The wind’s ailing, It's come to naught.



This coin of treason,

Was in my cup,

The pressgang thugs will never stop,

My love, the world's a station, cruel & dim,

Where is the truth & dignity,

How can this law be for the free?

The King's shilling will be my lot



They robbed me from my hometown,

And pressed me on their ship,

Forced to fight their dirty war,

Slave under their whip,


In the days of impressment,

No law forbade his arrestment,

Sailor’s freedom for what it’s worth,

Where is the justice on this earth?

In the days of impressment.



The King's Shilling Will Be My Lot (with Dan Lockhart & Oorlab) + videolink

Like "The King's Shilling Will Be My Lot' this song started with a maritime theme from Dan, to which Dick found the highly original subject of Napoleon's jailor on the island of Saint Helena. There are conspiracy theories (rumours of arsenic poisoning, etc) about what really happened in Napoleon's last years, although both sides of the story are well documented. Dick was inspired by some research he made via the British Library's website. For more information follow these links -
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_Lowe
http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Napoleons-Exile-on-St-Helena/

It is always a pleasure to get the opportunity to work with such wonderful collaborators. Please check out their clouds if you haven't already. This will become part of a set of songs that relate to nautical themes with more to follow soon.

Original Music, All Other Instrumentation - @dan-lockhart
Guitar, Violin, Additional Drums, Lyrics, Vocals, Vocal Melody, Final Mix and Video - @oorlab
Additional Lyrics, Vocals and Artwork - me

Link to video - youtu.be/_PVXdPRpitc

Hudson Lowe took his ship
To horizons far & wide, 
As long as he was sailing,
He felt no need to hide,

Fighting for King & country,
God & honour ran through his veins,
Securing domains,
In campaigns,
With the insane.

Writing letters from quarters,
Beyond the sea,
From an island full of rats,
And devoid of trees.
The Emperor still conniving,
For an escape, that he was striving.

Hudson Lowe
So long ago
Played his part,
In this final act

The Emperor & his jailor,
Prisoners in time, 
Six times met face to face,
In Longwood’s walls of his disgrace 
The Corporal was waiting 
For his final hour,
Using his power,
The Ferryman’s come.

Endless streams of blood,
In Europe's ground, Europe's soul. 
This prison below the equator,
For them both, it would take its toll.

Where is the purpose,
Of rising through the ranks,
When your ship is stranded,
On history's treacherous banks.

Yet Hudson Lowe
So long ago
Played his part,
In this final act
Hudson Lowe
Long ago
Played his part,
Final show.

The Ballad Of Hudson Lowe (with Dan Lockhart and Dick Vestdijk)+videolink

Another song to add to our collection of 'Songs from the Sea'. As before, Dan offered a slow celtic air, which had such a beautiful melody that it felt like a 'boat song'. I was inspired to write a lyric about the herring fishing industry that was once so important to so many nations. Dick and Dan added some more lyrics, then the tempo had to quicken to convey the joy of the fishermen returning home and once it had all three of us singing, it began to really take shape. Thank you for taking the time to listen and comment.

Original Music, All Other Instrumentation, Vocals, Additional Lyrics, Final Mix - @dan-lockhart
Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Additional Lyrics - @oorlab
Vocals, Lyrics and Artwork - me
The image, I believe to be of 'Herring Girls' in Scarborough, North Yorkshire but I can't be sure and unfortunately I have no source to thank and credit either.

Sunrise on the horizon,
Beyond tired and cold,
Dawn begins to brighten,
Homeward if this course we hold
'Til we roam again

Homeward, 
Landward,
With our nets full,
Of the silver darlings

With only wood and nails,
Between us and peril,
With the wind in our sails,
And herring for the barrel,
'Til we roam again.

Homeward, 
Landward,
With our nets full,
Of the silver darlings

Neptune and Saint Peter,
Bring us to the shore,
Bounty from the ocean
Harvest the sea once more
'Til we roam again.

Homeward, 
Landward,
With our nets full,
Of the silver darlings

Homeward, 
Landward,
Home

The Silver Darlings (with Dan Lockhart & Dick Vestdijk)

The story of Grace Darling to me as a child felt like the ultimate example of female heroism imaginable. This year celebrates the bicentenary of her birth. For more information on her life please visit these links –
http://www.gracedarling.co.uk
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Darling
http://rnli.org/aboutus/historyandheritage/museums/Pages/Grace-Darling-Museum.aspx

This song was different from most of our other collaborations in the way it developed. It started from a lyric for almost all of the song from myself, which Dick added to, especially in the chorus as well as coming up with the music and vocal melody. Dan came on board later with backing vocals and more instrumentation as well as the final mix.

I’d like to thank Dan and Dick yet again for their patience and creativity and for enabling me to realise this piece. I’d also like to thank some other fellow Soundclouders from the North of England for some invaluable advice whilst we were researching this subject -
https://soundcloud.com/the-secret-red-orchestra
https://soundcloud.com/sciencebase
and https://soundcloud.com/gibson-j-4-5

Mark J Bennett – Lyrics, Vocals, Artwork
https://soundcloud.com/dan-lockhart – Backing vocals, Mandolin, Bass and Final Mix
https://soundcloud.com/oorlab – Music, Additional Lyrics, Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Drums and Video.

Videolink - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V31JV3Bqz8&feature=youtu.be

Witnessing the wreck from her window,
Showed her mettle when facing peril.
With her father, she braved the storm
Little thought of fear or harm.
Survivors clamour for dear life,      
On half a ship as if cut by a knife.
Grace be brave, daughter of the lighthouse.
A ray of hope, when all else fades.

Rowed a mile in a Northumbrian coble,
Was an act so selfless and noble.
They rescued four men and Sarah Dawson,
Too late for the vicar and her children.
Newspapers clamour for her story,
And bathe in her reflected glory.
Grace be brave, daughter of the lighthouse.
A ray of hope, when all else fades.

Eighteen were saved from the sixty-two, 
Gifts and donations they did accrue,
From circus, Duke and even the Queen.
Such fuss, they could not have foreseen.
Artists clamour for her likeness,
Yet something faded from her brightness.
Grace be brave, daughter of the lighthouse.
A ray of hope, when all else fades.

Unwanted celebrity was hard to maintain,
The pressures of fame, proved a strain.
Already reclusive on her island retreat,
Her admirers became indiscreet.
Visitors clamour for a token,
Grace’s calm, forever broken.
Grace be brave, daughter of the lighthouse.
A ray of hope, when all else fades.
Grace be brave, daughter of the lighthouse.
Grace be brave, daughter of the lighthouse.


Grace Be Brave (with Dan Lockhart & Dick Vestdijk)+Videolink

https://soundcloud.com/markjbennett Mark J. Bennett did a wonderful version of The Parting Glass, and put out his vocal acapella as an Open Collaboration. 
https://soundcloud.com/markjbennett/the-parting-glass-open-collaboration

Already 11 version have seen the light of day

https://soundcloud.com/markjbennett/sets/the-parting-glass-open


The Parting Song is reportedly older than 1770 and popular in ireland and Scotland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Parting_Glass

Currently well known by the version of Ed Sheeran.

Thanks to Dan https://soundcloud.com/dan-lockhart  and Eric https://soundcloud.com/pleudoniem for comments on an earlier version. 

Parting glass - Mark J. Bennett open collaboration

This was created to pay tribute to David Bowie.

You can find the video here:
https://youtu.be/6O8JRSHv2X0

You can find the album Songs of the Sea on Bandcamp.
https://oorlab.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-the-sea

As a group Dick, Mark, and I had already worked on several Songs of the Sea we decided to combine the thoughts.  We identified a suitable tribute in Bowie's journey from the US to Japan on the Oronsay March/April of 1973.

Information on Bowie's maritime journeys can be found here:
http://cruiselinehistory.com/david-bowie-with-a-fear-flying-sailed-on-many-liners-and-cruise-ships/


Mark J. Bennett - backing vocals and lyrics
Dan Lockhart - guitar, bass, chords
Dick Vestdijk - vocals, lyrics, other instruments.

Lyrics:

was it love of sailing
or fear of flying
you took this ship
the man who fell to earth

Oronsay
On the Oronsay
to the rise and fall

Was it stardust
quicksand from which
dreams are woven
or fear of losing
your wits
the man who sold the world

was it a way
in your eyes
or in the papers

Oronsay
On the Oronsay
to the rise and fall

did you dine
at the captain's table
across the pacific
and follow the sun
come back again
to where you begun

reborn
as a Blackstar

Oronsay
On the Oronsay
to the rise and fall

Dine at the Captains table is reference to a film from 1959 in which the Oronsay was portrayed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Captain's_Table

Songs of the Sea can be found here:
https://soundcloud.com/oorlab/sets/songs-of-the-sea

You can find Oorlab music here:
https://soundcloud.com/oorlab

You can find Mark's music here:
https://soundcloud.com/markjbennett



Oronsay (Tribute to David Bowie with Oorlab and Mark Bennett)

Mark placed this open collaboration up many months ago.   I heard it and thought it was an odd, sober song.  I dug a little into the history of this song and discovered that it is a great classic sung by many people.  I made my own version and shared it with Mark.   I thought I may never release it for other's to hear.

I heard many people play it in so many different manners.  Then I head many fantastic alterations of Mark's version.  I felt surely my version had nothing to add to all of those wonderful renditions.  So it sat for many months.

A while back Mark discussed with me the idea of releasing it.  I went back and listened to it.  I decided that it was not terrible (which too often some of my songs are not fit for human consumption).  Today seemed the right day to post it and send my parting glass to Prince.

Here is my(very traditional) arrangement:

Dm                           C
Of all the money that e'er I spent
     Dm                  C
I've spent it in good company
    Dm                       C
And all the harm that ever I did
 Dm     C      Dm
Alas it was to none but me
    F
And all I've done for want of wit
   Gm         F
To memory now I can't recall
   Dm                     C
So fill to me the parting glass
     Dm        C      Dm
Good night and joy be with you all

If I had money enough to spend
And leisure to sit awhile
There is a fair maid in the town
That sorely has my heart beguiled
Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips
I own she has my heart enthralled
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all

Oh, all the comrades that e'er I had
They're sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e'er I had
They'd wish me one more day to stay
But since it falls unto my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I'll gently rise and softly call
Good night and joy be with you all
Good night and joy be with you all

You can find many excellent versions of Mark's collaboration here:
https://soundcloud.com/markjbennett/sets/the-parting-glass-open

Please take a minute and send a parting glass to Prince

The Parting Glass to Prince

Stefan K - Rock Flexible (Official) shared an inspiring instrumental, asking if anyone would like to contribute some vocals. I found the piece to have an ominous atmosphere that builds into something more triumphant. This is my take on it which is a rather dark ecological wake up call (as if we should still need that!) with the invaluable help of Dick Vestdijk (Oorlab) with whom I’ve worked on ten other collaborations. A very special thank you to both Stefan and Dick. Thanks for listening.

Original music – Composition/arrangement/instrumentation/production - https://soundcloud.com/rock-flexible 

Lead vocals, backing vocals and some additional lyrics - https://soundcloud.com/oorlab 

Lead vocals, backing vocals and lyrics – me

Photograph by Douglas Corrance

Is it just me,
Or is it you?
How can we,
See this through?

Is it because,
We're at a loss?
We can find our way,
Out of this.

Time is short,
And can't be bought.
Who will make time,
While we're in decline?

Too late to be denied,
We can’t hold back the tide.
Nowhere left to hide,
Time's not on our side.

Who’ll count the cost 
Of the Earth’s loss?

Is it just me?
Or is it you?

Too late to be denied,
We can’t hold back the tide.

Nowhere left to hide,
Time's not on our side.

(Meet me in the afterglow)

Time's Not On Our Side - A Rock Flexible Open Collaboration with Oorlab & MarkJBennett

Kings of Manguareo Present:
All of Me(Mark Simons / Gerald Marks)

Three Owls are:
Mark Bennett: Vocals
Dick Vestdijk: Violin
Régulo Tortolero: Cuatro, Bass, Brushes, Cymbal, Maracas
Recorded between Edinburgh (Scotland), Amersfoort (Netherlands) and El Limón (Venezuela) and
Mixed at NoHum Studio, April 20 2016 / July 16 2018, El Limón-Venezuela by R.T.
Photo: R.T. ©® 2006

All of Me

All Of Me (Mark Simons / Gerald Marks)

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: