Collaborations

The Parting Glass - Open Collaboration Project

"Oh no, don't say it's true..." - David Bowie, Ashes To Ashes, 1980.

Cover art - David Bowie portrait by Chris Pendergraft, 2016.


www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMThz7eQ6K0

Ashes To Ashes, 1980

Do you remember a guy that's been
In such an early song?
I've heard a rumor from Ground Control
Oh no, don't say it's true

They got a message from the Action Man
"I'm happy, hope you're happy too
I've loved all I've needed, love
Sordid details following"

The shrieking of nothing is killing, just
Pictures of Jap girls in synthesis and I
Ain't got no money and I ain't got no hair
But I'm hoping to kick but the planet it's glowing

Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
We know Major Tom's a junkie
Strung out in heaven's high
Hitting an all-time low

Time and again I tell myself
I'll stay clean tonight
But the little green wheels are following me
Oh no, not again
I'm stuck with a valuable friend
"I'm happy, hope you're happy too"
One flash of light but no smoking pistol

I never done good things (I never done good things)
I never done bad things (I never done bad things)
I never did anything out of the blue, woh-o-oh
Want an axe to break the ice
Wanna come down right now

Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
We know Major Tom's a junkie
Strung out in heaven's high
Hitting an all-time low

My mother said, to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom

My mother said, to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom

My mother said, to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom

My mother said, to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom

Ashes To Ashes ... David Bowie ...

soundcloud

Phil McWalter

Music by Massimo Ghianda @m4xgh
Vocals by Bruce Conover
Mixing Matt Warnick
David Bowie Cover

Had to get the train 
from Potsdamer Platz
You never knew that
That I could do that
Just walking the dead

Sitting in the Djungle
On Nürnberger Straße
A man lost in time
Near KaDeVe
Just walking the dead

Where are we now?
Where are we now?
The moment you know
You know, you know

Twenty thousand people
Cross Bösebrücke
Fingers are crossed
Just in case
Walking the dead

Where are we now?
Where are we now?
The moment you know
You know, you know

As long as there's sun
As long as there's sun
As long as there's rain
As long as there's rain
As long as there's fire
As long as there's fire
As long as there's me
As long as there's you

Find one friend and proceed......

Conover/Ghianda cover of the Bowie track
Music by Massimo Ghianda @m4xgh
Vocals by Bruce Conover

http://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/rent-david-bowie-mustique-retreat#package

Where Are We Now?    Conover/Massimo Ghianda

Three Owls are
 Régulo Tortolero: Drums, Bass, Cuatro Venezolano and lyrics 
 Oorlab https://soundcloud.com/oorlab : Lead Vocals and Backing Vocals, Piano, Strings and lyrics
Mark Bennett: Lead and Backing Vocals and lyrics

Recorded at NoHum Studio, El Limón - Venezuela and Oorlab Studio, Amersfoort - Netherlands and Edinburgh, UK 2025. Mixed by: R.T. ©® NoHum Records 2025  All Rights Reserved

Recorded and Produced by Three Owls 
 Art Cover: Mark J Bennett

Régulo (AKA @kings-of-manguareo) in Venezuela started this project a year ago with a piece called ‘Al Paso C’.
After several evolutions involving Dick (Oorlab) and myself, then the new title was suggested by Régulo and we ventured into space, with a ‘Musical Consequences’ scenario. I started off the lyrics, then Régulo added some lines and finally Dick completed them. Soundcloud is a great place for experimentation. Many thanks to my collaborators and also to you for taking part by listening, Mark

Am I the follower?
 Pleiades am I bound? 
Pleiades I am bound,
 I am the follower.

Aldebaran, Aldebaran, Aldebaran, Aldebaran… 
Never going, never going… coming back!

The fiery eye of Taurus,
 Trains its gaze upon, 
Orion’s shiny belt 
And it's perfect triad
 Over all of us
 For all eternity…

As long as the sun will shine
 And the magnetic field  
Stays well aligned 
The World will keep itself  
On course.

The long night will turn around
 Winter solstice is here 
Aldebaran will rise
 The ice will disappear

Aldebaran by Three Owls

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

Mark says - 
In the 5 years I have been working with Rod, I have been encouraged to reach as far as my experience allows me to, with complete support at all times. So far we have completed 11 songs and have experimented with several others that made for a great learning curve for me, with several more at other stages of development... Watch this space, however as we are methodical and patient, therefore it may take some time to get them off the ground.

The subject matter of this song may be based on a different scenario but it is also a token of my gratitude to my inspirational collaborator and friend Rod, who has given me much confidence to rise to the ambition of his musical creativity and meticulous arrangements. Thank you all for giving this song your time.

Rod says - 
This song was conceived a long time ago to be sung in Spanish, but Mark did a magnificent adaptation with his English lyrics, and the meaning is 100% faithful to the original spirit, even though he hadn't heard the original song in Spanish. Technically, there are three voices together, consolidating a multi-vocal performance. The synth sounds emulate my old analog and FM synths, and the guitars were routed through an old console to achieve the vintage sound I was looking for.

Rodolfo Planes - Music composition, instrumentation, arrangement, production and mix - @rplanes
Me - Vocals and lyrics
Image by Douglas Corrance

Thank You (Rodolfo Planes/Mark J Bennett)

I would like to tell you just how grateful I am,
And also how important you’ve been here in my life.
I know I don’t need to draw you a diagram,
Thank you for being there all this time as my wife.
I have to tell you just how good you’ve been for me,
And I hope that I have also been there for you,
When you needed me through all this trouble and strife.
 
No need to show me all of your gratitude,
I already know how much you show that you care,
When you were prepared to move to my latitude,
Then I was convinced I was ready to share,
My life with you whatever it threw at the both of us.
I know that it’s true, no matter what you care to say.
I’ll always need to express all of my thanks to you 
This will always be true on that I swear.
 
I would like to tell you just how grateful I am,
And also how important you’ve been in, in my life.
I have to tell you just how good you’ve been for me,
And I hope that I have also been there for you,
When you needed me through all this trouble and strife.
Then I was sure that I was ready to share,
My whole life with you, whatever that meant for the both of us.
I know that it’s true, whatever you say.

This song on Continental Collision's own cloud - https://soundcloud.com/user-517923604/thank-you

Also available on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/5pfvPjop9XCJPrVL9a60U0

Thank You - Continental Collision (Rodolfo Planes & Mark J Bennett) on Spotify

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.

Desamor - Tom Régnier, Jussi Welin, Boon Suzuki & Mark J Bennett

When Lee Lucas posted a collaborative version of this song before Christmas https://soundcloud.com/lee-lucas/lee-lucas-mark-j-bennett-the-parting-glass, he suggested that I put out an open invitation for anyone to collaborate with the original stem. Of course, I appreciate that grafting any type of arrangement on to an acapella vocal track isn't easy but I'd welcome any approach. This is an Irish traditional song but it may well withstand a modern arrangement. The vocal stem has lots of reverb and echo on it but should you need a drier stem to work with, just message me and I can send a naked version. Also feel free to take some liberties with this should it lend itself in any other treatment. 

I raise my glass to those brave enough to listen to me tightrope-walking and also to those who might consider taking on this challenge. Cheers!


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

Of all the comrades that e'er I had
They are sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e'er I had
They would 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 I'll softly call
Good night and joy be with you all

A man may drink and not be drunk
A man may fight and not be slain
A man may court a pretty girl
And perhaps be welcomed back again
But since it has so ought to be
By a time to rise and a time to fall
Come fill to me the parting glass

Good night and joy be with you all
Good night and joy be with you all

The Parting Glass - Open Collaboration

This is Mark's open collab and a wonderful vocal performance of the trad song. I put some watercolour washes on it.

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

The Parting Glass - Open Collab with MarkJBennett

The Man Who Sold The World - My Tribute To David Bowie

I just miss the man and his work. They were golden years. So glad I grew up in them. 
I really enjoyed putting this snippet together, the vocals, perc, bass, guitars et al; you get to enjoy the skills used when you deconstruct it... so thanks for the lessons DB and your assembled cast of masters.

I JUST MISS THOSE GOLDEN YEARS

Man Who Sold The World - David Bowie Tribute - Miranda Foxx FREE DL

I held out as long as I could...
A tribute to David Bowie.  

Music by https://soundcloud.com/christian-rossle

I do not own this music.

Photo by https://flic.kr/p/4Qakk



Let's Dance (David Bowie Tribute) with Christian Rossle

I'm happy to post here this cover of "Jump they say",  brilliantly orchestrated and brought to life by "Phil & friends" :-) It's from David Bowie's 1993 "Black tie, white noise" album. To be honest I'd never heard this song before, but I took to it immediately and thoroughly enjoyed doing my bit :-) 

Thanks again Phil for the opportunity, and a big hand to Rick and Lisa for their top notch contributions :)

Initiative, guitars, synths and other sonic oddities : https://soundcloud.com/Phil-McWalter
Backing vocals: https://soundcloud.com/Faerytale https://soundcloud.com/Phil-McWalter
Drums/Percussion: https://soundcloud.com/Rick-4-1
Trumpet: James Morrison
Cheap David Bowie impressions : https://soundcloud.com/jean-michel-george

The original post can be found here : https://soundcloud.com/phil-mcwalter/jump-they-say-ft-jean-michel-george-faerytale-rick-medlock-phil-mcwalter

Lyrics :

When comes the shaking man
A nation in his eyes
Striped with blood and emblazed tattoo
Streaking cathedral spire
They say
They say
They say

He has no brain
They say
He has no mood
They say
He was born again
They say
Look at him climb
They say 'jump'
They say 'jump'

They say
He has two gods
They say
He has no fear
They say
He has no eyes
They say
He has no mouth

They say hey that's really something
They feel he should get some time
I say he should watch his ass
My friend don't listen to the crowd they say 'jump'
They say 'jump'
Watchout!
Watchout!
They say hey that's really something
They feel he should get some time
I say he should watch his ass
My friend don't listen to the crowd say 'jump'
Got to believe somebody
They say 'jump'
Got to believe somebody
They say 'jump'
Got to believe 
They say 'jump'
Got to believe somebody
Jump!

Jump They Say - David Bowie Cover (in collaboration with Phil McWalter, Faerytale & Rick Medlock)

When Mark J Bennett posted his a Capella, vocal rendition of this classic song as an open collaboration, I was immediately drawn to his wonderful and heartfelt performance. I then stumbled upon the version done by Matthew Wilson, in which he created a flawless piano accompaniment for Mark's vocal. To their magnificent work, I added some orchestral touches and present the outcome of this three way collaboration here. We all hope you enjoy our collective work. 

To hear more of mark's music, go here: https://soundcloud.com/markjbennett

and to hear more of Matthew's work, check out his page here: https://soundcloud.com/matham-wilsoned

The Parting Glass

This is my input on Mark Bennett's collaboration project "The Parting Glass".  I promised to do it ages ago but was finding it difficult to find the right approach and also match the slight shifts in timing in Mark's lovely original acapella. My version doesn't match the musical standards of some of the previous contributors because I lack their skills, but hopefully offers a different view of the song. To me, this is a song sung by a person who knows he's not coming back, hence the way I have ended it.

The Parting Glass - Mark J Bennett - ft enlimila

From the album
"Say Goodbye to Ground Control" 
now available on Bandcamp
Mixed, Mastered, co produced by Russ Sinfield https://soundcloud.com/russell-sinfield
Blackwhole art by Angelo Atencio

Lyrics:

"how did we come to this place
and sacrifice our time and space
for all these riches that aren't real
distracting us from how we feel?

like a black hole that pulls you in,
we're told we failed when we begin.
who would discourage us to shine
instead of making us divine?

but we'll succeed collectively 
to make our own reality
free to live inside our hearts - 
that kind of freedom is always ours.

so give the TV back it's soul,
say goodbye to ground control,
take that chance and step outside,
and don't forget, enjoy the ride."

Quantum Singularity

My second collaboration with Mark, here the first:
https://soundcloud.com/fugaaa/crazymodernjazzorchestra-crazy-happyness-gianni-fuga-and-mark-bennett
"The Parting Glass" is a traditional Irish folk song written a good few hundred years back, and one that became very popular with the Scots even as far back as the 18th century. It was that popular in Scotland that it may have even inspired the great Robbie Burns to write the poem "Auld Lang Syne" which was put to music and became even a more of a tradition for the Scots to bring in the new year.

My friend Mark Bennett, singing, made an open collaboration:
https://soundcloud.com/markjbennett/the-parting-glass-open-collaboration
I first heard it in the beautiful version of my friend Lee Lucas:
https://soundcloud.com/lee-lucas/lee-lucas-mark-j-bennett-the-parting-glass
Here the other versions:
https://soundcloud.com/markjbennett/sets/the-parting-glass-open

It sounded like a beautiful song (I didn't knew this traditional song), so I wanted to try and put the music, suggesting Mark to add some vocal harmony, he once again sang the whole song ...
Here's the result, I hope you like it.

The Parting Glass (Traditional)

Mark J. Bennett - Vocals
Gianni Fuga - Piano and other

The words are as follows:

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

Of all the comrades that e'er I had
They are sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e'er I had
They would 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 I'll softly call
Good night and joy be with you all

A man may drink and not be drunk
A man may fight and not be slain
A man may court a pretty girl
And perhaps be welcomed back again
But since it has so ought to be
By a time to rise and a time to fall
Come fill to me the parting glass

Good night and joy be with you all
Good night and joy be with you all

Mark Bennett: The Parting Glass - ft. Gianni Fuga

Recorded at home, this is my first set of proper recordings since A Driven Man.

The Parting Glass - with Mark J. Bennett

ChangesOneBowie

Ziggy Stardust (2012 Remaster)

The wonderful 'Yeah Yeah Drums' courtesy of Rick Medlock @rick-4-1 
and 'Other Yeah Yeah Stuff' including sore throat: Me @phil-mcwalter

THEY WANNA BE YEAH, YEAH, YE YE YEAH

You said you were a voice of distinction
You never said what you’re thinking, whatcha drinking?
We had to make a selection
Based on lack of direction, introspection
Look at all the love island people
They want to be painted
They want to be hung
And come and see all of the others 
They want to be yeah, yeah ye ye yeah

You said you were a girl for the future
Your university tutor became neuter
Sailed away from the mainland
Even played for a rock band
Burnt your feet on the sand
Danced with all of the locals
Who had business proposals
Tattoos and steeples, eyebrows and needles
You looked at their downloads 
They want to be yeah, yeah ye ye yeah

We always tell them it’s free
But it’s not freedom
They might live in Poundland
But they pay too much
Robbers and bankers
Pissoirs and crappers
Polluting the single river of love
They look to each other
At our sister and brother all singing
Just like the land and the sea (land of the free)
You can heat up the airspace
We might wish for the stars
But we don’t get too much
The do’ers and seekers
In their wellies and sneakers
Wading through the widening river of blood
We call to each other
At our sister and brother 
All singing
Yeah, yeah ye yeah!

We told them all that they were survivors 
Subscribers and tigers, fighters and snipers
They all wanted in on the action 
Climbed inside our contraption, sought satisfaction
We always tell them it’s freedom
But it aint freedom when you’re out in the cold
The kids, mum’s, dad’s and the hopeless
They want to be yeah, yeah ye ye yeah
Guaranteed for the future 
Powered by wireless 
Victims on radar, au revoir
Order all of your favourites 
The lost and the dreary they wanna be yeah, yeah ye ye yeah
They wanna be yeah, yeah ye ye yeah, they wanna be yeah, yeah ye ye yeah

You said you were a voice of distinction
You never said what you’re thinking, so whatcha singing for?

©Phil McWalter Jun 2018

They Wanna Be Yeah Yeah Ye Ye Yeah

THEY WANNA BE YEAH YEAH YE YE YEAH

All Fab Percussion played by: @rick-4-1
All The Other Stuff: @phil-mcwalter

LET ME CLEAN YOUR GUN

Me and you we used to have some fun girl
Now your gonna leave and break me all apart 
Well let’s keep it classy if you’re gonna shoot me through the heart
Cos if I’m your murder victim
Let me clean your gun

Oil it up 
I’ll clean your gun
Oil it up 
I'll clean your gun

When we went out it was always with a bang girl
So funny that it ends the very same way
Well let me get dressed up and die young and pretty for you honey
Cos if I’m your latest target
Let me clean your gun

You talk like you had thought about it
But even when you brought about it
I was not so sure that you were talking straight or aiming straight
But now the conversations pointed 
Let me clean that gun you dirty girl
Yeah!

Set your sights a little higher, one in the barrel or one up the spout, 
If we could maybe talk a little more we could just work it out
But lets not use that trigger thang
Yer 'cos if I’m your murder victim
Let me clean that gun you dir-dirty girl
Yeah!



Nov 2018 © Phil McWalter

(LET ME) CLEAN YOUR GUN

LET ME CLEAN YOUR GUN

Following an online conversation I had had about keeping first vocal takes; ie keeping it real: I hadn't even really worked out how to sing this! It was first thing in the morning hence the un-oiled larynx on the opening phrase, so it was down to feeling my way through! Be gentle, but only For Awhile...

FOR AWHILE

Waiting to feel better
But time can hold me down
What’s the point of colour
If all we do is glance
Is there joy in being cared for
When all they do is pass
Our thoughts are just our own
We only write a few down
Yeah and tomorrow always comes
For awhile, for awhile
Write some music
Have a laugh
Laugh at me
Laugh at you
All you do is glance
And tomorrow always comes
For awhile, for awhile...
The morrow always comes
For awhile, for awhile



© Phil McWalter Feb 2019
Images/Artwork: Cape of Good Hope SA by Phil McWalter

FOR AWHILE

I pictured this whilst watching the powerful river swirl and push unstoppably onwards beneath the bridge... 
(There's a fugal element inspired by the rolling surface coruscations)

THE THAMES BY NIGHT

The Thames By Night

I DON'T FEEL RIGHT!

Well I woke up this morning and I was sick on the dog
Sick on the cat and sick in the bog
I don’t feel right! 
Yeah, Lordy Lord!
I don’t feel right! 
Oooh my soul!
I took a little something to avoid the derision
It ain't had much effect 'cept on my vision
WTF was that?!?
Please don’t leave me! (alone)
Yeah I don’t feel right!

I woke up this morning and I was sick on the dog
Sick on the cat and sick in the bog 
I took a little something from the baby sitter
It aint done nothin, but it sure taste bitter
Please don’t leave me! (alone)
I don’t feel right!
Please don’t leave me!  (alone)
I don’t feel right!

(More than inspired by my sojourn with The Mosquitos: 

“This isn’t  having much effect”
(1... 2... 3...)
“DON’T LEAVE ME!!!”

We were in bits... 🤣🤣🤣 )

I DON'T FEEL RIGHT

I DON'T FEEL RIGHT!    (Explicit)

Life on Mars - David Bowie Cover

!!!HOT NEWS!!! New Valuable Friends vinyl album and CD available! ALSO 2nd Deluxe Vinyl & CD+Booklet "Songs That Mean Something" See links below. 

Composer/Guitarist/Producer

Songs: We find them unpainted in our hands, throw them up into the air of our imagination, turning them in the colours we see after we close our eyes until they feel just right, and sometimes we catch them perfectly, without blemishing them...

My music is on most platforms for your ease.

Wow!!  417K+ plays and 4,000+ valued followers and friends on SC alone, that provide lots of wonderfully helpful comments that fuel the next track! Really big thanks to the SC community for listening and providing such brilliant feedback and support. It means so much to myself and my collaborators - huge thanks.

I work in different styles, as the inspiration, dreams or bubonic plagiarism comes! I use Logic Pro X on Mac.
 
I write, produce and play all my own stuff (unless otherwise stated), play vintage Tokai Strats mainly, PRS Torero, Steinberger, Gretsch G2627T, Classical, Fender Dreadnought, Yamaha and Rickenbacker basses, keyboards and sax. I use Native Instrument's Komplete, Omnisphere 2 and my own organic samples.

I mix on Sennheiser HD 280 Pro's and HD 650's (closed and open headphones) when not making a bigger noise through my Yamaha HS8 studio monitors. I use Focusrite Clarett 2Pre ThunderBolt and Apogee audio interfaces, Neumann & iSK condenser & AKG dynamic mics. 

Hardware: Feb 1978 Marshall JMP 50W Combo, BOO & BOSS stomps

I love collaborating with other musicians and will compose with, play guitar for, produce, arrange, master or even just hum along with other SC musicians. Please ask!

P.S. I am a long standing member of the Performing Rights Society and PPL through my old TV and theatre work as well as my record and publishing deals.