Cover of "Stay" written by Mikky Ekko and Justin Parker

Amanda Sloane - vocal and synths
Stephan Bayley - vocal, ebow guitars, bass
Kevin Woodruff - drums

Recorded at Way Out West Studio March-April 2022, Portland OR
Produced by Stephan Bayley and Amanda Sloane
Mastered by Jacob Detering at Red Pill, St Louis MO

Stay

I was having problems trying write and home record a new song. To clear my head I wrote this light piece about problems trying write and home record a new song. It made me smile and cleared the writers block

Running On Empty

Tell me how to write a song FAWM2 - 06/02/2023 18.18.mp3

Wasteland FAWM 3.mp3

Featuring Columbia River Strings, recorded July 2022:

Mitchell Drury- violin
Jamie Chimchirian - violin
Amy Roesler - viola 
Katherine Schultz- cello

Sanctuary

Our leaders, it seems, continue to fail us, but there's no hiding place for any of us, leaders included, if we reach a 'tipping point'. 

Thanks to Dave Wilson for the Strat fills and lead.
Thanks to Bob Whale for thumbnail artwork.
Thanks to Ian 'Turbine' Denness and Deborah Seabrook for backing vocals.

Blinding Sun   

You might not believe me but the Queen of Sheba told me
That a fool and his dreams are easily parted 
And peace of mind is just a dream from the past
Who took that away don’t get me started
You can’t run
From that blinding sun
No you can’t run
From that blinding sun

One might be a lawyer, one might be a priest
One might be a thief without a face
The seas they rise and they just spit out more lies
While we’re running out of time and out of space
Well you can’t run
From that blinding sun
No you can’t run
From that blinding sun

Please help me breathe
Please help me breathe

Well it’s many years since “Silent Spring” warned us we’d be harvesting
The whirlwind – we’ve known for long enough
They turn deaf ears to our worries and our fears
We’re shouting out but just not loud enough
Well you can’t run
From that blinding sun
No you can’t run
From that blinding sun

No you can’t run
No you can’t run
Oh you can’t run
Oh you can’t run
From that blinding sun

Written by Phil Riley

Blinding Sun

There are times in our lives when it's best to take one day at a time. Sometimes it's all we can do while we wait for the sun to shine again.

Thanks to Dave Wilson for the sweet strat
Thanks to Deborah Seabrook for backing vocals
Thanks to Bob Whale for thumbnail artwork

Take Your Time   

What are you looking for
Water and wine
You have been here before
Too many times
You turn your face away
You don’t know just what to say
		

Take your time
Take your time
Take your time
All will be fine


Why should you be afraid
Of ghosts from your past
One step out of the shade
Is a brighter path
Take that one step when you 
When you are ready to

Take your time
Take your time
Take your time
All will be fine

Though in the grander scheme
We are so small
Out there there is a dream
That waits for your call
You choose the moment when
You shout out but until then

Take your time
Take your time
Take your time
All will be fine

Take your time
Take your time
All will be fine

Take Your Time

There comes a day when the young ones fly the nest and go out into the world on their own. It can be quite an emotional time. This song has a fictitious scenario but  inspired by the real world adventures and peregrinations of Tabitha, my partner's granddaughter.

Thumbnail Art by Bob Whale. Thanks, Bob!

Oh Babe Oh

We hear you coming down our old stairs
Oh-babe-oh
Singing your songs, brushing your hair
Oh-babe-oh
Can we buy some time with our sighs
Now you’re flying the ties that bind
For we all know now is your time
Oh-babe-oh

You’ll be out of our hands by a wide country mile
Oh-babe-oh
Following plans, finding your style
Oh-babe-oh
Your horizons will all be brand new
May your new skies always be blue
And we'll still be under the same moon as you
Oh-babe-oh
Oh-babe-oh


Now you won’t get a dog and you won’t get a cat
Oh-babe-oh
You won’t get a man, well I won’t bet on that
Oh-babe-oh
So fly you free spirit fly
Don’t mind our watery eyes
For we all know now is your time
Oh-babe-oh

Oh-babe-oh
Oh-babe-oh
Oh-babe-oh

Phil Riley
September 2023

Oh Babe Oh

CAN HARDLY

Sometimes it's good to keep things simple. Two acoustic guitar tracks, two vocal tracks and a stomp - hey presto! - and my bedroom 'blues' noodling finally finds an escape route to the outside world!

Lyrics:

I’ve never been in jail
But I feel like I’m in one
I’ve need to be a hero now
But, you see, I’ve never been one
I’m stuck inside a maze of anxiety and doubt

Oh no
Can’t find the right way out

I’m not a happy bunny
I’m not a happy soul
This warren’s such a nightmare
It’s a hell of a hole
Has everyone gone deaf?
Can anybody hear me shout?

Oh no
Can’t find the right way out

I’ve tried this and that way
I’ve been round every bend
I tried following the light
But I reached a dead end
I know there’s a way somewhere
I know there’s a door about

Oh no
Can’t find the right way out

Oh no
Can’t find the right way out

Can't Find The Right Way Out

One Step Forward (Demo).m4a

Texas born singer-songwriter now living in the UK.

One Step Forward (Demo).m4a

Matt Keneson