Collection of songs with a retro feel and/or political topics.

Retropolitan (Album Sampler) Released April 3, 2020)

ALL THE YOUNG DUDES
David Bowie

Billy rapped all night about his suicide 
How he’ll kick it in the head when he is 25 
Speed jive, don't wanna stay alive, when you're 25

Wendy's stealing clothes from Marks and Sparks
And Freddy's got spots from ripping off the stars from his face 
Funky little boat race 

The television man is crazy 
Saying we're juvenile delinquent wrecks 
Oh man I need a TV when I got T. Rex 
Hey mister you guessed 
I'm a dude man

CHORUS 
All the young dudes 
Carry the news 
Boogaloo dudes 
Carry the news
All the young dudes 
Carry the news 
Boogaloo dudes 
Carry the news

Now Jimmy’s looking sweet 
‘Cos he’s dressed like a queen 
He can kick like a mule 
It's a real mean team 
But we can love 
Oh we can love 

And my brother's back at home 
With his Beatles and his Stones 
We never got if off on that revolution stuff 
What a drag 
Too many snags 

Now I drunk a lot of wine 
And I'm feeling fine 
Gonna race some cat to bed 
Is there concrete all around 
Or in my head, just in my head
Yeah I'm a dude man

CHORUS 
All the young dudes 
Carry the news 
Boogaloo dudes 
Carry the news
All the young dudes 
Carry the news 
Boogaloo dudes 
Carry the news

All The Young Dudes (Bowie/Mott The Hoople Cover)

Inspired by Ray Davies of the Kinks and a blistering article by the late AA Gill on Brexit.

ENGLAND  BACK (LIKE RAY DAVIES SINGS)
Words and Music Stephen Randall

He dresses like a girl
She dresses like his boyfriend
His brother temped 
At Marks and Sparks
But only on weekends
His father smoked two packs a day
And played away 
Died peacefully in the end
And all the Dunkirk memories
Died with him
The greatest generation

CHORUS
They want their England back
And God save the Queen
God save the Queen
They want to rule Britannia
Like Ray Davies sings

She waits in line
So patiently
For her National Health glasses
They long for strawberries and cream
And Wimbledon grasses
Wake me up with cup of Tetley
A slice of Hovis
Eggs, bacon and beans
But the rain is falling down
It’s falling down it’s falling down
On Coronation Street

CHORUS
They want their England back
And God save the Queen
God save the Queen
They want to rule Britannia
Like Ray Davies sings

He made his bed each day
Exactly the way
He learned in the army
When Hurricanes and Spitfires fly
Swarm in the sky
And white cliffs cry

CHORUS
They want their England back
And God save the Queen
God save the Queen
They want to rule Britannia
Like Ray Davies sings

England Back (Like Ray Davies Sings)

NONE OF US ARE SUPERMAN
Words and Music Stephen Randall

We all live in our Fortresses of Solitude
We all do the very best we can
Hiding from our own secret identity
But none of us are Superman no
None of us are Superman 
We have to get it while we can 
None of us are Superman      

We all live in our own little Metropolis
Living for work or working to live
But most of us are like the Clark Kents of the world
And none of us are Superman no
None of us are Superman 
We have to get it while we can 
None of us are Superman      

And none of us are Superman no
None of us are Superman 
We have to get it while we can 
None of us are Superman

None Of Us Are Superman

I've been gone a while, bouncing between London, Brisbane, Boston, New York, Las Vegas and San Francisco. This song was inspired by some of those long distance flights. (With production snaps to Bethany Sky Whitman)

RED EYE
Words and Music Stephen Randall
  
Every face looks the same
On this red eye
Am I the only one not asleep?
We sat on the runway
For two hours
Don’t wait up for me

When will we start to-descend
This endless flight just won’t end
Drink and pills won’t get me home

CHORUS
And I got a fear of flying
Try to steer clear of dying
And the clouds confirm I’m flying high
And the fear’s intensifying
Can’t escape, it’s terrifying
Strapped in suspended in the skyyyyyy

And I’ve seen every movie 
On this red eye
I’m so tired but I still can’t sleep
Flight attendant
Pushing dull refreshments
And plastic food that I can’t eat 

Stuck in a middle seat
Curtained from the elite
Drink and pills please get me home

CHORUS
And I got a fear of flying
Try to steer clear of dying
And the clouds confirm I’m flying high
And the fear’s intensifying
Can’t escape, it’s terrifying
Strapped in suspended in the skyyyyyy

And I’ve seen every movie 
On this redeye
I’m so tired but I still can’t sleep

When will we start to-descend
This endless flight just won’t end
Drink and pills please get me home

CHORUS
And I got a fear of flying
Try to steer clear of dying
And the clouds confirm I’m flying high
And the fear’s intensifying
Can’t escape, it’s terrifying
Strapped in suspended in the skyyyyyy

When will we start to-descend
This endless flight just won’t end
Drink and pills please get me home

Red Eye

VINYL
Words and Music Stephen Randall

We missed a beat they day we lost dear John
Imagine what the world would be without his songs
We could dance to a different tune
But nothing moves us now
So let’s party like it’s 1965
When the vinyl had the coolest vibe

Walking past the door at number 3
Reading the graffiti from fan s just like me
Even scratches on my LP sounded sweet
So let’s party like it’s 1965
But I wish that John was still alive

So we climb inside you head
And read the words that you once said
And sing the songs that still live on
And on and on and on and on
And on and on and on and on
And on and on and on and on
And on and on and on and on

Even scratches on my LP sounded sweet
So let’s party like it’s 1965
God I wish that John was still alive

Vinyl

I'm a Brit in America.

I've released eight albums - Naive in 2014, Above The Rain in 2015, Heartlands in 2016, The Freaks and the Brave in 2017, Nashville When I Rise in 2018, Retropolitan in 2020, Oxygen in 2021 and Rock Paper Scissors in 2023.

https://music.apple.com/us/album/oxygen/1567362004
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/retropolitan/1505508938
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/nashville-when-i-rise/1422418349
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-freaks-and-the-brave/id1278535762
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/heartlands/id1131404464
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/above-the-rain/id1023879301
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/naive/id882888725
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/na%C3%AFve/id1202021941
http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/StephenRandall

I also released a tribute song for the victims of the Boston Marathon, We Will Run Again, (100% of the proceeds go to the victims) which is also available on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/we-will-run-again/id858791917

I used to write songs for other artists and thought that getting covers was what it was all about. Whenever I heard the end results of what other artists, producers or A&R people would do with my songs, I mostly found it soul destroying, so I allowed myself to I get distracted for a while - inventing a digital guitar (The Stepp DG1 and DGX) and getting involved in mobile computing (Symbian).  Then about eight years ago I started writing again and this time I wrote for myself and rediscovered my passion. So here I am, a songwriter again. 

I record on a MacBook Pro using Logic Pro X, and play a Fender Jazzmaster (my current go-to), American Fender Tele, '59 Epiphone semi acoustic, Taylor 614ce acoustic, Paul Reed Smith PRS Custom 24, Epiphone Sheraton II Pro, Fender Jazz Bass, Line 6 Variax JTV, Stepp DG1 (of course!), Nord Piano 4/MIDI keyboard, Gretsch Lap Steel and am learning pedal steel on a Sho-Bud Pro pedal steel guitar. 

The Soundcloud community has fostered my motivation for songwriting and music discovery. Thanks for listening - every comment, constructive or otherwise inspires me.

Cheers,

Stephen