Steve Swindells. More Good Stuff.

From The Invisible Man, Disc 1 of The Lost Albums, which were recorded in 1980, but digitally remastered and released on Flicknife Records (http://www.flickniferecords.co.uk) in 2012.

Words and music by Steve G Swindells (c) Copyright Control.  All rights reserved.

Metro-gnome

This is a way too fast version of my song, with me singing. It was, as a result, a bit of a nightmare for me, especially when Dave Brock 'broke a string' and had to leave the stage, therefore not being able to do the high octaves and harmonies, as we'd rehearsed. Strangely enough, it was also the very first time that I'd ever sung lead vocals to a live audience - in this case 4.5K people! 

That's Alan Davey on bass (not difficult to tell) and Huw Lloyd Langton on lead guitar, perhaps Jerry Richards on rhythm guitar. Who played the weird tambourine  - why didn't he just play on the offbeat instead of shaking it around in a meaningless fashion?  The harmonies were by Ron Tree, in the absence of Dave Brock.  The keyboards are way too low in this monitor mix. But the multitrack recordings are safe.  One day...

Words and music by Steve Swindells © Warner Chappell Music.

Shot Down In The Night.  Hawkestra. Brixton Academy. 2000.

Silicon Valley Of The Dolls

We are crawling to the light on broken glass -
where the future somehow turned into the past.
We could be digging ourselves holes, so very fast,
Is this the birth of an emerging underclass?

There will be witchcraft - and full-on wizardry.
Welcome to The Parallel University.

Into the silicon valley of the dolls,
Where masters can be slaves, or so I'm told.
It's the Silicon valley of the dolls,
where they cleanse all the graffiti from your soul.

Give me all your chemistry and teach me how to use it,
I need to lose the smoking bomb, so how can I defuse it?

In squeaky-clean distopian dreams of marble shopping malls,
the dispossessed behind grey bricks, inside the castle  walls.
The government mobsters suck them dry with mystic pizza pi.
And the geeks inherit nothing much – they just get fried before the fall.

There will be witchcraft - and full-on wizardry.
Welcome to The Parallel University.
In to the silicon valley of the dolls,
Where masters can be slaves, or so I'm told.
It's the silicon valley of the dolls.
where they cleanse all the graffiti from your soul.

Silicon valley, silicon valley of the dolls.
Silicon valley, silicon valley of the dolls.


Steve Swindells © All rights reserved.

Bass and guitars:  Ralf Lenz.
Keyboards, vocals, programming, production and mixing: Steve Swindells.

Featured on Steve's new download album 'The Hanging Baskets Of Babylon': https://steveswindells.bandcamp.com/album/the-hanging-baskets-of-babylon

Photograph © Steve Swindells

Silicon Valley Of The Dolls by Steve Swindells (2nd Mix)

Yet another collaboration - we are ROCKING!

This demo mix is based only on international MP3s winging their way across the stratosphere from Niagra Falls to darkest Harlesden in London and back..  The real, full audio-quality mix will be coming soon.  Meanwhile, enjoy the audio taster...

The finished track is available to download and/or stream here: https://steveswindells.bandcamp.com/track/out-of-oblivion

Out Of Oblivion.

Don't go back to medieval… to stone the crows and hang all the queers.
Don't go back to somewhere evil, to force us into fundamental fear.

So let's go figure, where the river disappeared, something bigger
than the wisdom lost throughout the years.

So let's endeavour, to be never pushed aside, we'll be forever
on a winding road to ride… out of oblivion.

Don't go back, let's turn around, Don't go back, let's turn around.

So let's endeavour, to be never pushed aside, we'll be forever
on a winding road to ride... out of oblivion.

Let's turn 'round to face our masters…and show them what is true and what is real.
Let's turn 'round from past disasters and take control from those who wheel and deal.

So let's go figure, where the river disappeared, something bigger
than all the wisdom lost throughout the years.

So let's endeavour, to be never pushed aside, we'll be forever
on a winding road to ride… out of oblivion.

Don't go back, let's turn around, Don't go back, let's turn around .

Lenz/Swindells ©. Copyright Control. All rights reserved.

'Out Of Oblivion' by Steve Swindells, feat Ralf Lenz, 1st demo.

Lead vocal coming soon - I will be singing it at Cave Music Studio in Bath with my brother Frank adding guitar on Saturday March 15th 2025.  Looking forward to that.

Never Let That Moment Go



Never let that moment go,
when you're feelin' something special.
Never let that moment go, 
When you know it's something real.

Sometime things just happen that were simply meant to be.
Was it something you created - or something fated…
like two interwoven trees

Right time… right place: you pushed all the right buttons…
And it's written on your face, even though it might seem sudden…

Never let that moment go,
when you're feelin' something special.
Never let that moment go, 
When you know it's something real.

Do you dream in colour, seeing yellow red and blue?
Or is everything in black and white, like a chess game played by two?

Right time… right place: you pushed all the right buttons…
And it's written on your face, even though it might seem sudden…

Don't you think when things are simpler, beyond the roundabouts and swings,
that deeper rhymes and reasons sometimes chime with everything?

Never let that moment go,
when you're feelin' something special.
Never let that moment go, 
When you know it's something real...


Words and music by Steve G Swindells © All rights reserved. 18.9.13.

This track was written with creative input from the very talented and beautiful Lost Boy (pictured right). He played acoustic guitar as I wrote the song. I'd bumped into him in Soho in 2013 and had asked to take his photo. We exchanged numbers and and he came to my place in London NW10.  Then, he disappeared. He was literally 'lost boy'. Anyone know what happened to him? He was/is a rapper and singer-songwriter.

Four albums (three double): steveswindells.bandcamp.com 

I can also be found on Spotify and all streaming platforms.
Multimedia: steveswindells.substack.com

'Never Let That Moment Go' by Steve Swindells. Backing track.

From my Lost Albums (of 1980) out now on Flicknife as a double CD. (http://www.flickniferecords.co.uk).

This is the Big Country rythmn section (who also performed that role with 'the house band' at Live Aid @ Wembley in 1986), with Simon Townsend of The Who on guitar. Cool. And obviousy, it's yours truly on keyboards & vocals and I co-produced it with Mike Pela in 1980 at Pete Townsend's old Eel Pie Studio in Soho.

Words And Music by Steve G Swindells (c) Copyright Control.

And as for Music X-Ray - you have to stop invading my space you blood-sucking motherfucking exploitative cunts!

Breaking And Entering (remastered)

Ge is a very gifted - and gorgeous - Anglo-Egyptian young lady from NW London. We've done three tracks together, and they're all great.  I'd love to do more work with her. She's a total natural as a songwriter (we wrote it together) and has a fantastic voice.  This one is crying-out to be a hit - especially if its covered by Rihanna! I can so hear her tearing this song up. 

Not All Girls Are The Same

This time… baby put your trust in me… baby put your trust in me… this time…

Since I saw you, just the other night, I can't stop thinking' 'bout you, I can't get you off my mind.
Want you to know I aint playing no games, I wanna prove to you that not all girls are the same.

But we fight and argue all the time, but you're my baby, I aint never gonna let you go.
So this time - baby can we work it out?

Since I saw you, just the other night, I can't stop thinking' 'bout you, I can't get you off my mind.
Want you to know I aint playing no games, I wanna prove to you that not all girls are the same.

Baby talk to me - I aint blind to see that there's somethin' on your mind, something' that you're trying to hide.  
But it's obvious that there is no trust, when you're the only one for me, you're the only man that I need.

Please don't stereotype me, them girls aint like me, no, baby put your trust in me, aint no other place I'd rather be.
If you'd give me the chance I'll do that I can, I can…

I aint blind to see that there's somethin' on your mind, something' that you're trying to hide.  
Cos' it's obvious that there is no trust, when you're the only one for me, you're the only man that I need.

Please don't stereotype me, them girls aint like me, no, baby put your trust in me, aint no other place I'd rather be.
If you'd give me the chance I'll do all that I can, I can…

Not all girls are the same.  Not all girls are the same.

Baby talk to me, I aint blind to see that there's somethin' on your mind, something' that you're trying to hide.  
'Cos it's obvious that there is no trust, when you're the only one for me, you're the only man that I need.

Please don't stereotype me, them girls aint like me, no, baby put your trust in me, aint no other place I'd rather be.
If you'd give me the chance I'll do all that I can, I can, I can…


Not all girls are the same.  Not all girls are the same. Not all girls are the same, are the same, are the same…

Baby talk to me, I aint blind to see that there's somethin' on your mind, something' that you're trying to hide.  
'Cos it's obvious that there is no trust, when you're the only one for me, you're the only man that I need.

Want you to know I aint playing no games, I wanna prove to you that not all girls are the same.
But we fight and argue all the time...

Baby talk to me - I aint blind to see that there's somethin' on your mind, something' that you're trying to hide.  
But it's obvious that there is no trust, when you're the only one for me, you're the only man that I need.

Please don't stereotype me, them girls aint like me, no, baby put your trust in me, aint no other place I'd rather be.
If you'd give me the chance I'll do that I can, I can, I can…

I want you to know, that you're my baby I aint never gonna let you go,
so this time, baby can we work it out?

I want you to know, that you're my baby I aint never gonna let you go,
so this time, baby can we work it out? Can we work it out?

Not all girls are the same.  Not all girls are the same. Not all girls are the same, are the same, are the same…

Words and music by Saleh/Swindells (c)

This is now on Spotify and all streaming platforms. https://open.spotify.com/album/0y2hIQ1hPohJEAZcQSWGmH?si=PGz2SMJ9SuydHZTu3iOOAw

Not All The Girls Are The Same. By Steve Swindells. feat Ge.

This is a taste of the forthcoming vinyl and CD release of The Barney Bubbles Memorial Benefit Concert which took place in November 2009 at the 229 Club in London.

The limited-edition vinyl version (with two exclusive bonus tracks) is being pressed as I write and will feature stunning artwork by Bob Walker, a three-way gatefold sleeve, sleeve notes by Nik Turner, masses of photos and an amazing poster free with the first 500. A must-have collectors' item.  Check http://www.blackwidow.it for more details.

Join the emailing list at http://www.reverbnation.com/hawklords for exclusive, free downloads and news of gigs, releases, photos, videos and much more.

The DVD of the concert is available to buy direct from the band at hawklords@hotmail.com (also the Paypal address) for £19.99 plus P&P.

A preview of the DVD can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xASkMp0u3AI&feature=channel_video_title

Look-out for Alan Davey's Gunslinger's new CD ‘Unlawfull Odds’ (Flicknife SHARPCD11050) out on the 6th June 2011. There's also news of my upcoming Lost Albums and a new Hawkwind Friends And Relations CD here: http://www.flicknife.n.nu/new

'Opa Loka' by The Hawklords - Live

http://www.reverbnation.com/steveswindellsbamboo

You can find the vocal version by my good friend Thom Topham in his compulsive narrative of a multimedia meisterwork called 'My Unplanned Obsolescence': http://thomtopham.wordpress.com/about

Music by Steve Swindells ©

iPhone Phinger Painting © Steve Swindells

'Hejiro' (instrumental). By Steve Swindells

Ten years ago, my younger brother Frank came round to my loft/studio in New Crescent Yard (London NW10) with his eight year-old son Cassian and we recorded a cool jam in my studio, with Cass free-styling a rap.

I programmed the drums and played the bass (on the keyboard) and keyboards.  Frank played rhythm and lead guitars and violin.

Great playing Frank!

Just recently, we re-discovered the track and asked Cass if he’d agree to let me put it out.  He felt no, as he was so young at the time.

So I just kept some cool Cass/Frank/Steve vocal samples and realised that the track was a perfect fit for my new song ‘I’m A Refugee’. 

This song was inspired when Zaza, a young gay refugee in Kakuma camp, Kenya, got in touch with me via Instagram, to ask if I could help them (see pic). 

I agreed and also pledged to help make the world aware of their plight. 

This song is my first way towards doing that.  Please share.

I'll be adding details of their crowdfunding page as well.

Here's the link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/kakuma-refugee-camp-pride-2023-celebration?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cp_guide_do&member=27304217

Vocals recorded at Cave Studio Bath Nov 24 2023. Engineered and mixed by Vonj.
                       
I'm A Refugee.

I'm a refugee, and I ask you please,
to look out for me and all the hate that I flee.

I'm in no-man's land, can you take my hand,
can you lead me into safety and my dream reality?

My family all disowned me, I was up against the wall,
with nowhere to call home, I was up against it all.

I'm a refugee, and I’m LGBT,
So look out for me and all the hate that I flee.

I am caught-up in this cauldron of misery and strife,
and all I ask for is tasks - that will help me to rebuild my life.

I'm not begging, level pegging is my wish in everything.
Though I stumble, I am humble 'til I find my angel wings.

You could bring me home to paradise where everything is love, 
where all the hate in the world is sacrificed to a higher force above.

To love. To joy, every boy  and every girl, 
I'm a refugee - I will be free to rebuild my world.

Rejoice! We have a voice! We are fighting our own corner
against ignorance and greed.

I will be free.  No more a refugee. I will be free.  No more a refugee.
I will be free.  No more a refugee. I will be free.  No more a refugee.



Copyright Steve Swindells 1.1.23. All rights reserved
 




Words by Steve Swindells.

Music by Steve Swindells, Frank Swindells and Cassian Swindells.

I'm A  Refugee

Ten years ago, my younger brother Frank came round to my loft/studio in New Crescent Yard (London NW10) with his eight year-old son Cassian and we recorded a cool jam in my studio, with Cass free-styling a rap.

I programmed the drums and played the bass (on the keyboard) and keyboards. Frank played rhythm and lead guitars and violin.

Great playing Frank!

Just recently, we re-discovered the track and asked Cass if he’d agree to let me put it out. He felt no, as he was so young at the time.

So I just kept some cool Cass/Frank/Steve vocal samples and realised that the track was a perfect fit for my new song ‘I’m A Refugee’.

This song was inspired when Zaza, a young gay refugee in Kakuma camp, Kenya, got in touch with me via Instagram, to ask if I could help them.

I agreed and also pledged to help make the world aware of their plight.

This song is my first way towards doing that. Please share.

They've now escaped the rampant homophobia of Kakuma and reached the relative safety (although that remains to be seen)of the Gorom Resettlement Camp in South Sudan. 

Watch this space for a link to donate. 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/kakuma-refugee-camp-pride-2023-celebration?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cp_guide_do&member=27304217

They are desperate. Or just DM me for a private Paypal address which will get straight to them.



My vocals recorded at Cave Studio Bath Nov 24 2023. Engineered and mixed by Vonj.

Produced by Vonj and Steve Swindells

I'm A Refugee.

I'm a refugee, and I ask you please,
to look out for me and all the hate that I flee.

I'm in no-man's land, can you take my hand,
can you lead me into safety and my dream reality?

My family all disowned me, I was up against the wall,
with nowhere to call home, I was up against it all.

I'm a refugee, and I’m LGBT,
So look out for me and all the hate that I flee.

I am caught-up in this cauldron of misery and strife,
and all I ask for is tasks - that will help me to rebuild my life.

I'm not begging, level pegging is my wish in everything.
Though I stumble, I am humble 'til I find my angel wings.

You could bring me home to paradise where everything is love,
where all the hate in the world is sacrificed to a higher force above.

To love. To joy, every boy and every girl,
I'm a refugee - I will be free to rebuild my world.

Rejoice! We have a voice! We are fighting our own corner
against ignorance and greed.

I will be free. No more a refugee. I will be free. No more a refugee.
I will be free. No more a refugee. I will be free. No more a refugee.

Copyright Steve Swindells. All rights reserved

This track will be released on Spotify, Amazon and all the other streaming platforms worldwide on March 8th 2024.

Words by Steve Swindells.

Music by Steve Swindells, Frank Swindells and Cassian Swindells.

I'm A Refugee. First Mix.

A brand new mix of Chrystal Mesh, from my Bam Boo instrumental, chill-out, online album, which you can download @ http://www.reverbnation.com/steveswindellsbamboo

Music by Steve Swindells © Copyright control. All rights reserved.

All instruments and production by Steve Swindells.

Recorded and re-mixed @ Rancho Deluxe Studio. London NW10.

Photo © Steve Swindells.

Chrystal Mesh 2 (Ambient Autumnal Mix)

A very poetic, melodic, soulful pop song that would suit boyband very well.

Woke Up This Morning

Carried Away

Co-written and recorded with Lady Sovereign (that's her singing  the home-made sample) in my Rancho Deluxe Studio, London NW10 in 2008.

14. My Pocket Guru (instrumental).wav

How religion has corrupted the world.  This is from my new 'Woke Up This Morning' double compilation album of home recordings from the late 80s until 2016.  I played, sang and programmed everything, apart from the guitar, which is played by Jerry Richards.  The album is available on all streaming platforms and steveswindells.bandcamp.com

The Wailing Wall

This was supposed to be on my 'Woke Up This Morning' double album (on all streaming platforms), but some gremlin got in the works. So only the instrumental made it to the final cut. 'Small Change' got duped. Embarrassing. 
Actually, it's coming out on Jan 3rd on Spotify and all streaming platforms as a single.  Boom!

Otherwise, you'll find it on the definitive version of 'Woke Up This Morning' on steveswindells.bandcamp.com

My Pocket Guru

Created in my home studio in the noughties. All noises by Steve Swindells.

Also here - complete with lyrics, credits and shit!

https://steveswindells.bandcamp.com/track/spinnin-around

Spinnin' Around

Never Let That Moment Go


Never let that moment go, when you're feelin' something special.  Never let that moment go,  when you know it's something real.
 
Sometimes things will happen that were simply meant to be.   Was it something you created - or something fated... like two interwoven trees?

Right time… right place: you pushed all the right buttons…  and it's written on your face, even though it might seem sudden.

Never let that moment go, when you're feelin' something special.   Never let that moment go,  when you know it's something real.

Do you dream in colour, seeing yellow, red and blue?  Or is everything in black and white, like a chess game played by two?

Right time… right place: you pushed all the right buttons…  and it's written on your face, even though it might seem sudden.

Don't you think when things are simpler, beyond the roundabouts and swings, that deeper rhymes and reasons sometimes chime with everything?

Never let that moment go, when you're feelin' something special.   Never let that moment go,  When you know it's something real.


Words and music by Steve G Swindells © All rights reserved.

Never Let That Moment Go

Remix 2010. Recorded and produced by Steve Swindells at his Rancho Deluxe Studio. Words and music by Owens/Swindells ©

Photo of Breeze (R.I.P), door-whore Jungle,  DJ. BAD ©Steve Swindells. 

https://steveswindells.wordpress.com/2014/01/12/when-
whitneys-band-jammed-at-the-wag/

From 'Sex N' Drugs N' Sausage Rolls', Steve's #Multimedia collection of short stories, true tales, photos, artworks and original music: http://steveswindells.wordpress.com/about

'Feel So Bad' By Steve Swindells, feat Robert Owens. Steve Swindells remix 2010.

This was co-written with Ge (pictured) and she also sings it beautifully.  Incredibly, this is the first song she'd ever co-written, and only her second time in the studio (which was Rancho Deluxe, my home studio)!

All instruments, programming and production by Steve Swindells.
Words and music by Saleh/Swindells (c) All rights reserved.

Forget About You by Steve Swindells Feat. Ge

© Words And Music By  Steve Swindells. 


All playing, programming, male vocals and production by Steve Swindells.  Recorded in my Rancho Deluxe Studio, London NW10 in 2016.

Words and music by Steve Swindells

Photo © Steve Swindells
Bianca Kinane vocal production by Tom Wilson.
Mixed by Steve Swindells in 2017.

'Only Love Will Win' By Steve Swindells Feat. Bianca Kinane - SS Original Demo Mix

1997.

Lo-fi. Remastered from cassette.

I hope the song still shines through.  Another great vocal performance from Gospel Girl too.

I don't recall who the bass player was, although it does sound like it could have been Dale Davis.

Recorded at Crosstrax Studio, Kings Cross. 1997.

Drum programming by Ffion Anthony.

Keyboards by Steve Swindells.

Produced by Ffion Anthony and Steve Swindells.

Word and music © Steve Swindells.

Image © Steve Swindells.

Part of The Chronicles Of Cassetteville.

I can hear Little Mix doing justice to this track.  It was so prescient to what is happening right now in 2020.

'F.A.Q'. feat Gospel Girl. Demo.

Another remastered track from *gasp* cassette.  it says 'demo' on the cassette label, but I don't remember the awesome backing vocal voices of Paul Johnson, Stephen Dante and Andrew *insert surname* (don't recall it, but he was the lead singer in the Wolverhampton Gospel choir at the time) being recorded on the demo at my Rancho Deluxe Studio in Willesden Green. As I recall, they recorded their backing vocals at Soul II Soul Studio 2 in Kentish Town. So this must also be Carol's lead vocal. Therefore, this 'demo' must be the original mix. 25. 1. 98. 

This was co-written at my place in Willesden Green by M.J. Cole, Shanks, Carol Leeming and myself. 

Words and music © Coleman/Leeming/Shanks/Swindells

Produced by M.J. Cole, Shanks and Steve Swindells.

Image © Steve Swindells

Message Of Love (original mix) By The Cartel. Feat Carol Leeming

Another remastered track from *gasp* cassette. it says 'demo' on the cassette label, but I don't remember the awesome backing vocal voices of Paul Johnson, Stephen Dante and Andrew Pearce (the lead singer in the Wolverhampton Gospel choir at the time) being recorded on the demo at my Rancho Deluxe Studio in Willesden Green. They recorded their backing vocals at Soul II Soul Studio 2 in Kentish Town, arranged by me.  Therefore, this 'demo' must be the instrumental of the original mix.  Production, Instrumentation and programming by M.J. Cole, Shanks and Steve Swindells. 25. 1. 98.

Words and music © Coleman/Leeming/Shanks/Swindells


Image © Steve Swindells

Message Of Love (original mix) by The Cartel.  Instrumental (with backing vocals).

Another great vocal from 'Gospel Girl' (and me - see how well we blend on the verses and backing vocals) at my Crosstrax Studio recording sessions in 1997. The songs keep on coming! Off CASSETTE! This is another digitised and remastered track from The Chronicles Of Cassetteville.

All instruments: Steve Swindells

Drum programming: Ffion Anthony.

Produced by Ffion Anthony and Steve Swindells.

Words and music © Steve Swindells

Image © Steve Swindells

'Together' final Mix, by Steve Swindells. feat Gospel Girl.

From the double download album 'The Unplanned Obsolescence Of Thom Topham', which is featured as part of the narrative in my alter-ego Thom Topham's groundbreaking #MultimediaEBook 'My Unplanned Obsolescence'.
It's currently free to peruse in its entirety here: http://thomtopham.wordpress.com/about

Electric guitar: Jerry Richards.

All other instruments, programming, vocals and production by Steve Swindells.

Words and music © Steve Swindells

Image © Steve Swindells

Waiting For The Fall.  Remastered.

Anxiety


Set me free - it's time to say goodbye.

Anxiety is a friend to me, it helps me keep on fighting
to find a place where I can be free... of anxiety
to do my thing, yeah I can feel the love.
And now I'm singing… every lock must have its key.

I'll tell you something
You can beat the dread.
If you let the spirit lead you
from (both) your heart and from your head.

Anxiety, let's wave goodbye, you were sent to test my strength,
for every low there is always a high.
Anxiety, I have to leave, I don't need to be brought down.
With every laugh and every sigh, it's time to say goodbye… to anxiety.

Set me free - it's time to say goodbye.

Words and music © Steve Swindells  21.9.12 

All noises, programming and production by Steve Swindells.

Recorded in his Rancho Deluxe studio in Sept 2012.

Download here: https://steveswindells.bandcamp.com/track/anxiety-ss-remix-2018

Digital artwork 'Up' © Steve Swindells

Anxiety (Remix.5.9.18).

From the Steve Swindells double download/stream album 'The Unplanned Obsolescence Of Thom Topham'. 

steveswindells.bandcamp.com

steveswindells.substack.com

Words And Music © Steve Swindells

Torn Genes. Remastered.

I am indebted to Keith Kniverton for sending me this slightly ropey (in terms of audio quality) demo of my song 'Turn It On Turn It Off', which must have been recorded totally live at The Mill House (the residential rehearsal facility owned by Rockfield Studios in Monmouthshire), where the Hawklords/wind were resident sometime in 1979.  I seem to remember sunshine and no money, with me doing all the cooking on no/low budget. I have no memory of why Martin Griffin (and the great Bob Calvert) left, and how the brilliant Simon King came to be playing drums with the band again, albeit briefly. It's a loooong time ago!

This first version of the track features the classic line-up of Simon King (drums), Harvey Bainbridge (bass & harmonies), Dave Brock (guitar & harmonies) and myself on vocals and keyboards.

It later appeared as one of the stand-out tracks on my 1980 album Fresh Blood (featuring Simon King, Huw Lloyd-Langton and Nic Potter), which is now  - I'm pleased to say - remastered and available on iTunes and all the usual online outlets  - via Atomhenge/Cherry Red.

Words and music by Steve G Swindells (c) All rights reserved..

Turn It On Turn It Off (Hawklords/wind Demo 1979)

Quality is a bit dodgy, but it's the real deal.

It was recorded onto cassette, I think!

Brock, Bainbridge, King and me.

The pic is of me in the porch of Rockfield studio's  Mill House, where we recorded this first demo, in the beautiful adjoining, linked ex-chapel, where we rehearsed.

Words and music by Steve Swindells (c).

Shot Down In The Night. Original demo. 1979.

The initial backing track of this laid-back gem was recorded on my vintage Korg T2 in my parents' idyllic summer house over-looking the canal in Bath in 1996, where I wrote it, whilst living there briefly for a few months.  I then took it, along with a few other demos, to James Warren's (The Korgis, Stackridge)studio in Bath. We added James's guitars, my vocals and our backing vocals and did this mix. 







Words and music © Steve Swindells

Image © Steve Swindells

PS - I note that this 'master' is actually slightly distorted.  Not good!  So I will deal with that.

Way To Go (remastered)

This is a new improv, multitrack recording which I created in its entirety in my studio Rancho Deluxe on the 1st of Sept 2012. It's now an extra track on my Bam Boo album which you can stream and download at http://www.reverbnation.com/steveswindellsbamboo


Music  by Steve G Swindells (c).  All rights reserved.

The House Of Healing

It was not my unplanned obsolescence...

Or was it?



Steve Swindells wrote the original instrumental (www.reverbnation.com/steveswindellsbamboo), then Thom Topham added the lyrics and melody.  Okay, Thom Topham is made up. He's my Bowie-esque alter-ego.

Hejiro

Unplanned obsolescence... hejiro...

Get the message... and light a candle.

Everything that you felt was the real and not the dark.

Don't get depressed, no, then fly right off the handle,

'cos your fate's in your hands and it's time to light that spark.

Hejiro - a slight thought of a presence.

Hejiro... it was not my unplanned obsolescence.

All those daydreams that turned to nightmares.

With that hatred and pain that you never ever asked for.

Where was the love, where was the somewhere,

when you worked for the hope, without ever needing to wear a mask?

Hejiro... hejiro... unplanned obsolescence.

Hejiro... hejiro.

 Words and music (c) Swindells/Topham 

All programming, playing and production by Steve Swindells.

Vocals by Thom Topham (not really).

Featured in Thom Topham's autobiography, along with loads of hyperlinked songs, links and pictures: https://thomtopham.wordpress.com/about

From my double download/stream album 'The Unplanned Obsolescence Of Thom Topham'. Get it here with lyrics, artworks and credits (just like a virtual LP!): http://steveswindells.bandcamp.com

Available in all the usual digital drug stores very soon.

Image (iPhone 'Phinger Painting') © Steve Swindells.

Hejiro

This classic demo was recorded In 1990 at Orinoco Studios in Old Kent Road. It features Caroll Thompson, Juliet Roberts, The Duggan Sisters, Kym Mazelle, Sarah Jane Morris, Zeeteah Massiah, Sylvia Mason-James and Victoria Wilson James. It was a wonderful, vibey, good-time session and I thank these wickedly talented women for donating their time and awesome vocal performances.  There's a video too... and Caroline has found it in her cellar! The quality is pretty bad - it's over 30 years old, after all - but the vibe is captured beautifully.  I'm hoping to get it digitally restored, but don't hold your breath! It could be a lost cause.



The idea was - and still is - for it to be re-recorded as the first all-female, global, charity record for women living with HIV and AIDS and sexual abuse.  I'm looking for some huge names, like Madonna, Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Mary J Blige, Little Mix, Barbra Streisand and Mariah Carey etc.  Let's do this grrrrrls!

My preferred producer would be the great Quincy Jones.

Just in case you wondered, this man is gay. Perhaps better qualified to write the song than a straight man? I wrote the lyrics from the perspective of a very close female friend who was one of the first women to get diagnosed in the UK in the late 80s.  

All instruments and programming by Steve Swindells. 
Arranged and produced by Steve Swindells 
Words And Music by Steve Swindells. All Rights Reserved.

Remastered from cassette(big thanks to my mum Audrey for finding it the other day - bonfire night) by Steve Swindells.  Sorry about the lo-fi tape hiss! 

iPhone 'Phinger Painting' © Steve Swindells.

Positively Woman. Remastered

Track #2 from this ongoing collaboration.  Hadas is so talented, and I'm really enjoying working with her and, now  we've progressed with this very special song, with Mark on bass and his magical ukulele!

Don't Stop


Don't go chasing love in a place where you don't seem to find your name. 
I've been holding on for too long to see your face; I was wrong.

Don't stop even if you're going away, even if you're here to stay. 
Don't stop even if you're going away, even if you're here to stay.
Even if you walk away .

Marching trees, open winds for every thing to change, you know.
Rhythm souls,  the dead sea scrolls shine a light our way. We know 

Don't stop even if you're going away, even if you're here to stay. 
Don't stop even if you're going away, even if you're here to stay.
Even if you walk away.

Balas/Kirzhner/Swindells © All rights reserved.

Vocals:  Hadas Balas
Bass and Ukulele:  Mark Kirzhner.
Shaker: Marlon Bramble
Programming, keyboards, production and mix by Steve Swindells @ Rancho Deluxe Studio, London NW10.

Yeah!

Don't Stop - by Hadas Balas and the NCY collective.

Steve Swindells is a singer/songwriter/musician/producer and artistic polymath. He owns all the rights to the tracks featured on here (PRS/MCPS) -  apart from the Hawklords, Tre Nation, Findike and Spirits Burning tracks (and 'Shot Down In The Night' and 'Turn It On Turn It Off', which Steve wote, but are published by Warner Chappell) - so all the other tracks and co-writes are available to sample (with permission and a suitable publishing split!) and to cover and/or licence.

The Plastic Sturgeons, Steve's ad-hoc, all-star jamming band, were honoured to be joined by one of the best bass players in the world, Guy Pratt (just google him - I'll mention Pink Floyd and Michael Jackson for starters) at their live gig at The Real Music Club In Brighton. Then Amy Winehouse's bass player and musical director Dale Davis guested at the next super-jam @ The Brunswick in Brighton on Nov 23rd.  That was Steve's 61st b/day party too. All tracks were recorded by the most excellent Roy Weard.

Steve's new(old) double CD The Lost Albums was released in 2012 on Flicknife Records (http://www.flickniferecords.co.uk) and you can read the first review of it here: http://www.recordcollectormag.com/reviews/review-detail/8099 - also available from iTunes, Amazon.co.uk, Play.com and HMV.com

Steve's 1974 Album 'Messages' was digitally remastered and reissued on Esoteric/Cherry Red, in 2009, as was his classic 1980 album Fresh Blood (Atomhenge/Cherry Red). The latter is also available on Spotify, iTunes etc etc.

Steve's double compilation album of home recordings and demos from the late 80s through to 2013 is called 'New Crescent Yard' and is available to download for just $10 here, as his new album 'The Hanging Baskets Of Babylon' : http://steveswindells.bandcamp.com and they are also on most streaming and download platforms.

Steve's burgeoning multimedia EBook 'Sex N' Drugs N' Sausage Rolls' is now free to peruse (for a limited period) on http://steveswindells/wordpress.com/about

Steve also played with the re-convened Hawklords (he was in the band in 1978/9), which features the cream of the ex-members of Hawkwind and The Hawklords. Steve also played quirky keyboards on The Hawklords' 2012 release 'We Are One' before leaving the band.

http://www.facebook.com/TheHawklords

Stream and download (please 'fan' for loads of free downloads) more of Steve's songs and music at:
http://www.reverbnation.com/steveswindells

Then there are the ambient/chill/healing albums - perfect for film, library and TV music.  These CDs are now available to buy direct from the artist. 

http://www.reverbnation.com/steveswindellsbamboo

http://www.reverbnation.com/steveswindellsenigmaelevations

And please 'like' me @ http://www.facebook.com/SteveSwindellsMusic

Don't forget to check-out my Bowie-esque alter-ego Thom Topham too:
http://soundcloud.com/thom-topham and http://www.reverbnation.com/thomtopham

The double DanMingo album featuring Jon Moss, Winston Blissett, Dale Davis, Jerry Richards, Kit Morgan and Moos in now available as a download and to stream on all the usual digital suspects.

Steve released the double album 'The Unplanned Obsolescence of Thom Topham' and it's available to download/stream on all digital outlets.

steve-swindells

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