This is a song written in response to a prompt by the "Muse and Method" group, which consists of some of my creative friends here in Kansas City. The theme this time was to create something based on the words "If Only".

Francine, do you remember how the ocean laid so still
The world seemed perfectly flat there, we had eternity to kill
I don't know what was between us and I guess I never will

But Francine, do you remember how the people looked so small
Way down on the beach below from the balcony so tall
You wouldn't go near the railing, afraid that we would fall
Oh, Francine

And then came the moment I'd longed for, when finally we kissed
I accidentally bit your lip, I was so embarrassed
You pushed away and shook your head, said "I should've expected this"
And you turned and walked, and you left me there
Oh, Francine

If only I'd been smoother on that long-lost summer day
Maybe my life would be better now, you know, I couldn't really say
Or maybe I saved us some trouble and we both wound up okay
Oh, Francine

This is a work of fiction, by the way.

Photo by Henry Tilbury, Jr., circa 1954

Francine

If only…

My friends with the "Muse and Method" creative challenge have issued another prompt. This time the topic is "March".

This track was built with two samples from my personal collection of field recordings. The 4-beat rhythm loop is the percussion section of the Shawnee Mission North High School marching band, recorded at the Overland Park Fall Festival in 2011. The horn sound is an air horn on an antique steam tractor, recorded at the Northwest Michigan Engine and Thresher Show, Buckley, Michigan way back in 1989 and played back through a keyboard sampler.

The Marty Street Hi-Steppin' Boogie

muse and method - begin

Recorded by Forrest York 
@ Aural Canvas, Murfreesboro TN 

Steve Goodhue: 12-string Rickenbacker guitar, vocal
Ingrid Smiles: Fender Telecaster, vocal
Tommy 'Two-Faced' Tumble: Keyboards, clown sounds, vocal
Taffy 'Traffic Cone' Tiara: Bass, Business Manager
Cherry Gemstones: Drums, bird whistle, vocals
Rudy Valentine: accordion, sour grapes
Buster Valentine: banjo, carousel calliope
Kicky 'Goo Goo' Cluster: saxophone, bells 

Special guests:
Forrest York -acoustic guitar
Bill Baker -tuba

Steve Goodhue/Footcandle Music BMI
2025 Snappy Syncs Records, LLC
All Rights Reserved

Two Clowns (long version) 🤡🤡

This is what comes from a coolish April night under a full moon, on the back porch with a banjo in a weird tuning, while the dogs loaf about the back yard.

April Moon

Improvisation for nylon-string guitar fitted with a third bridge and piezo pickup at around the 14th fret, from the wee hours of September 9th, 2016. (See the setup here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/hanktilbury/albums/72157640155318583)

Photo: Detail of a construction dumpster on a sunny day.

Sunlight And Rust

I now present my case for the electric autoharp as a legitimate rock 'n' roll machine. What else makes power chords like this? Imagine this thing in the hands of Link Wray or Pete Townshend...or Johnny Ramone, even!

This also features the little Fender Bronco bass after I re-wired the electronics and gave it a Seymour Duncan '51 P-Bass pickup. So much fun to play!

Photo: Yours truly atop that VW Microbus Dad drove for a couple of years in the early 70s, Heber Springs, Arkansas.

The Rattletrap

If "The Rattletrap" were a single, this would be the B-side...my cigar-chomping record-company boss would have his boys roaring up and down the roads to stock those jukeboxes, from Seattle to Miami and everywhere in between. Everywhere, especially Smackover, Arkansas! The guys in sharkskin suits would hit up those amphetamine-guzzling deejays with a little payola, and the kids would go MAD over that crazy sound! Rack jobbers would barely be able to keep the stores stocked as the must-have record of nineteen-fifty-whatever took off like a flying saucer!

Aah, maybe I'm getting ahead of myself in past tense...anyway, hope you enjoy it.

The Smackover Stomp

Forrest York and Seth Timbs with Ryan York and Andy Vincent.

Two Clowns (long version) 🤡🤡

Steve Goodhue

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