A song of longing to return to a place of beauty and peace. The " Blue Ridge Mountains" has been recognized by the Nashville Songwriters Association (NSAI)as "Ones to Watch. " These songs are recognized by the NSAI evaluators as songs written by writers who are on the rise!

The Blue Ridge Mountains

A rocking ballad about lost love. This song is a co-write with Roy Blake. Roy also contributed the drum and keyboard tracks. I supplied the guitar tracks and vocal. David Hynes supplied the bass track. Roy also provided the mixing and mastering. Produced by Rich O'Brien and Roy Blake

Gone, Gone, Gone

A rock song about finding out who you are.  I supplied the guitar tracks and vocal. David Hynes supplied the bass track. Roy Blake provided the drum and organ tracks. Roy also provided the mixing and mastering. Produced by Rich O'Brien and Roy Blake. Richard O’Brien © 2022

Photography by Rob Dodson.

The Highway

This rock song is about a young man finds his way in life through a time fo trouble. He finds spiritual direction through his music, which helps him to straighten his life out. Roy Blake provided the drum track. David Hynes played the bass. Roy also provided the mixing and mastering. Produced by Rich O'Brien and Roy Blake. Richard O’Brien © 2022

AI Imagery by Rob Dodson

Bring Me Back

A song about the important things in life. Vocal and 12 String Guitar - Rich O'Brien. Electric Lead Guitar - David Hynes. Mixing and Mastering - Roy Blake.

Photograph - Rich O'Brien

Love, Peace, and Happiness

A rock song about a man searching for his true direction in life. 
Songwriting, 6 and 12 string guitars, and vocal - Rich O'Brien
Bass - David Hynes
Drum Track and Mastering - Roy Blake
AI Imagery - Rich O'Brien

If you would like to see something of the development of this song, please check out this solo acoustic version on Youtube www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rFXkvtoJqg.

For You And You Alone

This is a co-write of Richard O'Brien and Ken Matthiesen. It's a story of a young man who finds out that the road to riches in the corporate world is harder than it seems. 
Rich O'Brien - vocal, electric 12 and 6 string guitars.
Roy Blake - drum track, piano. B3 organ, and backing vocals.
David Hynes - bass.
If you would be interested in seeing a video of an acoustic version of this song, here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89eVFesEca4

Long Dark Journey

This is a co-write with Alex O'Brien (no relation). Alex wrote the lyrics and I wrote the music. Alex says that the lyric for Flyin' was inspired many years ago by a close friend who recognized he was an alcoholic, made the difficult decision to go sober, and then once again 'began to fly' as his health, spirit, and life flourished.
If you would like to see the song's progression, a solo acoustic version is available on my YouTube channel. The link is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlDXPL-iYIs

Alex O'Brien - Lyrics
Rich O'Brien - Vocal, guitars, drum track
David Hynes - Bass
Mastering - Roy Blake
Photography - Rich O'Brien

Flyin'

This is a Prog Rock song with psychedelic lyrics. It is a co-write with Alex O'Brien (no relation), who assisted me with the lyrics. David Hynes provided the bass track and Roy Blake provide the Mastering. I did the rest. AI Imagery - Rich O'Brien.
Lyrics are below:

The sun blazes brightly
We see the daylight clear
The way to go
Away from what we fear
And follow towards the light
We summon from our dreams
The path destiny calls
Or so it seems

CHORUS
Our thoughts arise from a pool of liquid blue
Like the notes resound from a steel guitar
Arising from our sleep, a memory of murky hue
The truth of our lives is heard, an echo from afar

The rain falls
The river floods
The warm blood flows
Through our veins
Time passes by 
Leaves mysteries
We search and search
For eternity

BRIDGE
Shimmering springs wash away our deep despair
As we head to a place to live without a care


REPEAT CHORUS

An Echo From Afar

A song that describes the spirituality of nature.

Written by - Richard O'Brien
Bass - David Hynes
Guitars, Vocals, EZ Drummer 3 and EZ Keys 2 - Rich O'Brien
Photo - Barbara O'Brien

Song Of Nature

This song centers on how relationships can help us to endure the lack of trust caused by the ever present intrusions of technology.

Song written by Rich O'Brien.
Guitars, vocals, EZ Bass, EZ Drummer 3, and EZ Keys 2 - Rich O'Brien.
Produced, MIxed and Mastered by Rich O'Brien.

You've Got To Believe in Something

Cast of characters:
RIch O'Brien-- @rich-obrien -- composition, intro guitar solo
TexMex Shaman–@texmex-shaman –Stephen– third guitar solo  
J.J. Terrell–@j-j-terrell -- Clave and organ
K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken–drums, production, and mix
Llanpsych–@llanpsych –Tez–final guitar solo
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)–@josh-clary-1–four-string fretless bass and second guitar solo
This song started as a full composition on all instruments by Rich. He asked Josh if he'd be interested in a collaboration with it. Josh jumped at the chance to share it with the Eclectic Collective. So, he invited the gang to join in, replacing most of the original instrumentation, and adding some new. After Ken had added his driving, foundational drums, Josh added his bass to match. JJ soon after cranked up the funk-o-meter by adding his clave and screaming organ. Then, Josh added a guitar solo, which comes in right after Rich's intro. Stephen was up next with his badass licks in the third solo. Then Tez got a hold of it, and ripped a hole in the ether with his guitar in the last solo.
  Ken was generous enough to produce and mix this for us. And what an outstanding job he did, too. We hope you enjoy listening to this song as much as we enjoyed making it.

Bottled Lightning  (Eclectic Collective)

A song celebrating life and love! This is a co-write with Roy Blake, additional songwriting credit go to Janet Blake and Barbara O'Brien for their contributions to the lyrics.

Rich O'Brien - Vocals, guitars
J.J. Terrell - Organ, piano, bass, and synth Ney.
Roy Blake - Drum track

Alive! (w J.J. Terrell and Roy Blake)

A psychedelic rock tour de force!! This is a co-write with Catherine Rose, who made excellent contributions to the lyrics.

Special thanks to my musical collaborators for using their considerable musical talents to help me bring the vision for this song to life

Rich O’Brien - Vocal, Guitars, Production, and Mix

J.J. Terrell -@j-j-terrell - Organ

Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)–@josh-clary-1– Bass

K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken Karasek - Drums and Percussion

No Longer There (with J.J. Terrell, Josh Clary, and Ken Karasek)

It's a song about the joy of jamming live. Many thanks to David Hynes for providing the bass track.

Let's Go Jam at the Brewery Tonight

This guitar driven track tells the story of a man who dreams that he goes out to California. He wakes up in a house on the beach and he's playing his guitar and singing this song. He is influenced by the draw of freedom to California and wonders about giving up everything to move out there.

California

This is a collaboration with Roberto Ricco. I wrote the song, did the vocals and acoustic 6 and 12 string rhythm guitars. Roberto Ricco supplied some changes to the chord structure, provided the the drums, bass, and keyboards. Roberto also did the production, mixing, and mastering. Richard O’Brien © 2014

Photography by Richard O'Brien

Before the Dawn, After the Rain (Collaboration with Roberto Ricco)

Instrumental that musically describes the journey from San Antone to Mexico as our character flees south

The Journey (Featuring Gus Goad on Bass)

This is the final song of the concept EP, Gunfight in San Antone. 

According to God's Plan (Featuring Gus Goad on Bass)

A soaring, uplifting contemplation of beauty and existence. All instruments and vocal by Rich O'Brien, with the exception of the bass track provided by David Hynes.

Sky Music (Collaboration with David Hynes)

A live rendition of an original song performed on a Taylor 655ce 12 string acoustic.

Glowing Bright

This a collaboration with David Hynes, who supplied the bass track. It is an exploration of the major hexatonic scale in a jamband fashion.

Hexatonic Jam 2

A Long Time Ago

This is a song that I am refocusing on, due to events in the world today. 

This is an original blues rock song that deals with the desire to escape with your lover to a better place. I wrote the song and did the vocal, rhythm, and lead guitar. David Hynes supplied bass and an additional rhythm guitar. 
Richard O’Brien © 2021

AI Imagery by Rob Dodson

Come With Me

I am a singer-songwriter-guitarist. I have a home studio and have produced most of my songs and instrumentals there. Please check out my website at https://robrienmusic.com and get a free download for email list signup.



 I have had several collaborations with other artists that I've met on Souncloud and hope to continue doing so. 

I'm extremely grateful to have had over 25,000 plays and over 1,600 followers and friends among the Soundcloud community. I believe that it is important to support Soundcloud artists and I appreciate their support.


I hope that you will give a listen to these tracks and share your thoughts about music and recording. If You like what you hear, please follow my channel and like and repost my tracks.

Rich O'Brien

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks