Steve Swindells. More Good Stuff.

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 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

Another remastered (sorry about the annoying hum) low-fi offering from the cassette archives. Both Frankie and Jill were regular singers at my 'Downbeat' open-mic night (London's first). It opened in The Piano Bar in Frith St, Soho on Thursday nights in 1985 and was an instant hit. Jill went on to become part of the legendary female four-piece 'The Ghastly Girls' (as invented by myself and Caroline Guinness) under the wonderfully ridiculous pseudonym 'Bidet La Douche'. Yes, that's a whole different, and very interesting and amusing story. The Cassette Chronicles should be throwing up a few 'Ghastly Girls' tracks soon too. Can't wait.  We were just way ahead of our time.

I think this track was recorded in the Warner Chappell demo studio in around 1989.


Musical performance, programming and production by Steve Swindells.

Vocals by Frankie and Jill.

Words and music © Steve Swindells.

Image © Steve Swindells

'I Wanna Be With You Tonight' (demo) by Steve Swindells feat. Frankie And Jill

This was recorded at Crosstrax studio, adjacent to the old Bagleys Club in Kings Cross, in 1997. The singer was the lead singer of The London Community Gospel Choir at the time. I simply can't recall her name, so I'll call her 'Gospel Girl' (great singer).  The name of the drum programmer and my co-producer on this track is Ffion Anthony. The point, however, is that this track is amazing. My keyboards are super-fired and the beats reflect that vibe. 'Gospel Girl' is singing up a storm. This track ROCKS (even though I remastered it from cassette)!

Sorry about the annoying audio whine from the cassette.

From The Chronicles Of Cassetteville.

There's also quite a naughty back story to the lyrics. It involved me interacting sexually with a beautiful, Welsh, black Olympic champion in Russell Square in 1997. What did he shout when he came? 'Fireworks'!  Then he hurdled over the fence (okay, I made up the last sentence).   

Words and music © Steve Swindells.

Backing vocals: Gospel Girl and Steve Swindells

Digital Art © Steve Swindells

Imagine a remix by Nile Rogers with him on guitar, and, lets say, Beyonce on vocals! I can dream!

'I Want Fireworks' by Steve Swindells. feat Gospel Girl

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 rousing track from my very productive sessions in Crosstrax studio in a railway arch by Bagley's Club in Kings Cross in 1997.
Terrific drum programming and co-production by Ffion Anthony and another great vocal performance from 'Gospel Girl' (she was the lead singer with The London Community Gospel Choir at the time). 

Image 'Digital Arch' @ Steve Swindells

All instruments played by Steve Swindells.

Words and music © Steve Swindells.

From The Chronicles Of Cassetteville .

'Away From Each Other' by Steve Swindells. feat Gospel Girl.

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 Steve Swindells double download album 'The Unplanned Obsolescence Of Thom Topham'. 

More?  Check out the world's first #MultimediaEBook http://thomtopham.wordpress.com/about

Ahead of my time, as usual.

New York Halloween (remastered)

Written and recorded in my much-loved garden flat, the original Rancho Deluxe, in Willesden Green in 2005 or 6. All noises by me except for the guitars, which were beautifully played by Jerry Richards.  He also co-wrote the song with me (as opposed to Thom Topham).

From my double download album 'The Unplanned Obsolescence Of Thom Topham'. http://steveswindells.bandcamp.com

Check it out for free in the world's first #multimediaebook 'My Unplanned Obsolescence' by my not-so-mysterious alter-ego.

http://thomtopham.wordpress.com/about

Words and music by Richards/Swindells

Digital art © Steve Swindells

The Wisdom Of The Years (remastered)

This is the token. mysterious, left-field-quirky track on 'Who Is Thom Topham?', my double download album coming out soon. I like a bit of double irony with a double download, so just follow this link (http://thomtopham.wordpress.com/about)to enjoy the digital splendour of the world's first #Multimedi EBook, 'My Unplanned Obsolescence' by *ahem* Thom Topham. 

It pops up in one of the chapters, along with 16 other songs which are part of the narrative throughout the 'book', but I can't for the life of me remember which one.  

What do you think I am, a fucking genius?

The lyrics were written in Paris in 1989, I think, when I was visiting regularly with my great friend, the beautiful and fabulous Vicki Edwards, who'd DJ'd for me at many of the hugely successful and cool LGBT+, polysexual and 'straight' (there's no such thing, people) club nights I'd promoted in London and Paris from the early 80s to the mid-90s:  Downbeat (London's first open-mic night which opened in 1985), Bad, Babylon, Upbeat, Jungle Paris, Groove and many more.

The story of Jungle Paris is something else altogether, but the aftermath is this song.

And, yes, we both really did 'pull' the two most beautiful men at the 'Gaultier Soiree!'.  

'We were ghosts of honour at the feast'. 

Words and music © Steve Swindells

Image © Steve Swindells

The Beauty And The Beast (mastered)

High i i we fly, like dolphins in the sky.

Awesome drum programming, bass and afrobeat guitar by Leslie (Bang The Party) Lawrence.

2017, I think. 

Keyboards and vocals by Steve Swindells.

Just a rough audio sketch. Thinking of the inspired dancing...

Film?  Urban driving. Gritty city stuff. Cars. Crowds. Big Sky. Dancing.

It could also be a big worldwide EDM or techo/deep house dance hit, with various remixes.

I'm now seeing the full-on song I wrote (Dolphins In The Sky) as a simple piano ballad.  I guess I'd better record that then!

Words and music © Lawrence/Swindellls.

Visual mashup © Steve Swindells

'Dolphins In The Sky' by FukcNotFight - 3rd Ruff Dub Mashup Mix by LL and SS

This is from the double download/stream album 'The Unplanned Obsolescence of Thom Topham' by Steve Swindells. 

These are the 17 original songs featured in 'My Unplanned Obsolescence', the multimedia 'Thom Topham' autoBLOGography, which you can find at: www.thomtopham.wordpress.com/about

The song was 'written by Thom Topham' (AKA  Steve Swindells) and recorded in 2009 at Rancho Deluxe Studio. Everything is programmed, played, sung (apart from some help from my favourite ex 'Luther' on the backing vocals on this track) and produced by myself, apart from the lead guitar, which was played by Jerry Richards.

Words by  © Steve G Swindells.

Music by @ Alexis Roberts and Steve Swindells
You Go By

I will not try to admit defeat, or walk on by the other side of the street
dragging my feet while you go by, while your clock ticks and every moment in my heart begins to stick in my mind - you go by.

Some people thrive on pressure, if it aint there then they invent it
and others live more leisurely, it's their world and how they present it.

You go by, you never had to try, 'cos you know everyone and everything
and always knew which bells to ring... like mine.

Don't be so fly, no, don't say goodbye 'cos I'll need you in the future.
Call it... time. I wanna call it time, time. I wanna call it - you go by.
Time, time, I wanna call it time. Hey, oh, you go by, you go by.

You go by.

Now listen - I wanna call you sometimes, and no-one's naming names,
but I can't bear too much sunshine, or nights spent playing games.
You go by - like dirty tricks, and every vision in my head begins to click in my mind and you go, you go by.

Hey - you know I wanna call it time, time, time, call it, time, time, time...
You go by, yeah, you... time, I wanna call it, I wanna call it.
Yeah, you go by... you go, you go, you go by.

Words and music © Steve G Swindells.

You Go By(remastered)

Two tracks mixed into one on my new double download/stream album 'The Unplanned Obsolescence Of Thom Topham'.  

Available now from all good digital drug stores! 

Deluxe version - with lyrics, artworks and  credits here: http://steveswindells.bandcamp.com

Words and music Richards/Swindells on the first half, then Steve Swindells.

Electric guitar and sound effects: Jerry Richards.

Drum programming, keyboards, vocals and production:  Steve Swindells.

Recorded in 2006 and 2010 repectfully at Rancho Deluxe Studio.

Additional keyboards (that includes the sax!) added at Rancho Deluxe on the summer solstice of 2019.

Image (iPhone 'Phinger Painting' and graphics/design) © Steve Swindells

For the back-story check out the world's first-ever multimedia ebook.

'The Unplanned Obsolescence Of Thom Topham'.

steveswindells.substack.com

The River - How Do You Measure Pain? (mix 3).

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

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. More Good Stuff.

steve-swindells