Middle of the road from rock to country to light jazz

ThomSongsLive

Look Went

Good Problem To Have

Half Way There

4 RUNNING AGAINST THE WIND

Terry Reeves:  Vocals
Gary Reeves:  Drums
Hans-Michael Albers:  All other instruments, Arrangement & Production
(From the forthcoming album ‘From London To Hamburg’)

Photograph and post production by Dan Duchars.
Hans’ video: https://youtu.be/Lm8WoxCegRE?si=XFq1zX8Gkz3oLDmH

When you’re brainstorming ideas for album covers, you never really think they might involve placing yourselves in the middle of a road as traffic bears down on you.  However, that is precisely what we did.
Now I’m not one to tell tales but it was all Gal’s fault.  He thought our front cover  should feature an image of the entire band, which was quite compelling aside from the fact that we lived in London, Hans in Hamburg and have in reality never met.  But Gal had a mate called Dan (who lives in Norfolk, hence the title), a professional photographer whose comprehensive knowledge of Photoshop could bring the three of us together.
We’d always loved the pre-fame, Astrid Kirchherr portraits of The Beatles, taken during their club-playing, Hamburg days and two of these became our template - in focus subject occupying the foreground, covert and blurred figure (in our case, 2  figures) in the distance.
And so it was that, armed with a pin-sharp shot of Hans, we met with Dan to photograph the background scene which, as outlined previously, was in the middle of a busy side road.  Camera in hand, Dan teetered on a plastic crate as Gal and me  dodged back and forth to avoid a plethora of oncoming vehicles - everything from lorries to mobility scooters - who were, on the whole, very accommodating in the circumstances. Some even smiled and waved - at least I think that’s what they were doing…
We owe Dan so much, not only for his consummate skills and kindness but also for laying his life on the line in the name of art.  This song is for him.  (Terry Reeves)

I met a man called Dan holding a magical light
Viewing future moments, giving individual sight
Shadows from Hamburg, combination of skills
Show London reflection of a figure standing still

Chorus:
A flash of light, picture to follow
In black & white, diverse as tomorrow

Stand high in right places, enchanted vision of art
Friend of ageing musicians, sorcery skills from the heart
A Wizard conjuring cover, Kirchherr’s copy of claim
Painting light into a picture, producing Album in frame

Chorus

Viewing from height - sparks of vision
Seeing it tight - artist precision
Know left from right - avoid collision
Negative in sight - develop position

Chorus

Confidence in commitment, enjoying musical tracks
Working four to an image, platinum vinyl plaque 
Black and white cover photo, a clue why, when and who
Monochrome life connections, enjoy vision past to new

Chorus

A feeling it’s time to give a show
A feeling making history grow
A feeling, a feeling only one way to go
A feeling thinking fast going slow
A feeling Duchars photos will glow
A feeling CC one day will all know

FROM NORFOLK TO LONDON  - CRIPPLE CLUB  (Video)

WHEN THE RIGHT ONE COMES ALONG

When the right one comes along you'll know it
There won't be any doubt
You'll know
No hesitation 
No China Wall
It's as if they were always there

So if you take that fall from grace
Don't stop believing 
Keep a smile on your face
Make the best of a sad situation
learn something in the meantime
Until the darkness becomes sunshine

When the right one comes along you'll know it
There won't be any doubt
You'll know 
No hesitation 
No China Wall
It's as if they were always there

A chamber of cold despair
Waits for those who lock the door
Lock in the fear that’s in the air
It'll crush your soul to the core
Until you first learn to love yourself
And that love will invite that special someone you've been waiting for


When the right one comes along you'll know it
There won't be any doubt
You'll know 
No hesitation 
No China Wall
It's as if they were always there


When The Right One Comes Along

Freedom is an illusion.  At least in this dimension.  But we can always dream.

FREE MAN

Little sister wave goodbye
I ain't comin' back no more Little sister don't you cry
Save your tears and close the door 
I'm gonna be a free man
Lay my bones on rolling water
I'm gonna be a free man
Watch me rove across them borders 
Oh the places I will go
In my favorite ramblin' shoes  Have my Winter Fresh™ in tow
While I shake the hand of someone new 
I'm gonna be a free man
Lay my bones on rolling water
I'm gonna be a free man
Watch me rove across them borders Just wanna be a free man
Though I'm full of rules I can't escape  Like a thorn in the side
It keeps you occupied
It keeps you occupied 
The world is mine to fill my head
until my memory’s almost full
Little sister before I’m dead
I’d like to ride that golden bull

I'm gonna be a free man
Lay my bones on rolling water
I'm gonna be a free man
Watch me rove across them borders 
Just wanna be a free man
Though I'm full of rules I can't escape Like a thorn in the side

It keeps you occupied
Ahhhh hah Ahhh
It Keeps You Occupied
It Keeps You Occupied
I just wanna ride etc…

Credits:
JT : Lead vocal, Keyboards, Guitar, Programming
PK : Vocals, Keyboard, Bass, Programming



Free Man

Sometimes you just make stuff up. A conglomeration of feelings from the past and present coagulating into a song you've heard before but can't put your finger on it. This is one such case.

I’M IN PAIN

I’m in pain - you finally got the best of me
So don’t ask me for my sympathy
I ain’t coming back to you no more
I’m in pain - all these years of crying had me fooled
All your teardrop lies filled a swimming pool
I was such tool but no more

Now when night time comes around
And you’re waiting by the door
Don’t expect me to waltz right in
‘Cause I’m gone Yes, I’m gone

I’m in pain - I will miss the crazy things you do
I will miss the way you make a move
When you’re in the mood to be loved

I’m in pain - all those years I tried to make you see
That the love you had was meant for me
So selfishly I was wrong

I try so hard to forget you
But your face is all I see
You’re a curse that will blow over
Eventually

Credits:
John Tabacco : Vocal, Guitar, Harpsicord, Bass, Drums

I'm In Pain

TELL ME WHY THEN!

When I wake up in the morning
I’m safe and warm
I got food and lots of shelter from the cold
And I got friends to keep me busy with UFOs
It’s a cozy kind of norm

Tell me why then - do I feel this way
I worry over nothing on a dime
Tell me why then - if everything’s ok
I’m really not that happy
I need something to break

Looking back at all the situations up to now
I’ve have had a fairly easy history
Pretty healthy -
Maybe out of shape a tiny “skidge”
But my life has been a breeze

Tell me why then - do i feel this way
I worry over nothing all the time
Tell me why then - if everything’s ok
I’m really not that happy now
I’m not too satisfied
Is that what keeps me moving till I die?
Die Die Die. Till I Die!!!

Credits:
JT : Vocals, Drums, Organ, Bass, FX
Mixed by Bob Ball
Recorded and Mixed at Sonic Underground Studios, Stony Brook, NY 

Tell Me Why Then!

Here is Tony Monson on Britain Radio 355 on the last few days of the station due to the UK Government banning Offshore Stations back in August 1967.

Radio 355 Tony Monson Coffee Break Show 29-July-1967 Clean Audio

I am 67 years old and have written songs all my life I didn't play them much until
was in a car wreck that i should not have lived through!  Now i am singing them live anytime I can.  I started at 65 years old, I am a very late bloomer!

John Tabacco is an American composer, singer songwriter, producer, recording engineer, multi instrumentalist and graphic artist. He has engineered /mixed and mastered music for hundreds of New York recording artists as well as projects released on BMG: The Kemelions, RCA: Faze, Rampage/Rhino: Rhett Forrester, Columbia: Rebbie Jackson, Rykodisc : Bob Marley, Columbia: Chris Jasper, Electra: Sonia Dada and Nickleodeon’s Are You Afraid Of The Dark? He is the CEO of It Iz What It Iz Music Publishing which currently holds over 750 songs in its catalog. He has been an associate producer for IndiMusic TV and hosts a bi-weekly radio program (CLAM RADIO) on college radio WUSB.fm since 1999. He is currently the head of A&R at Modern Voices Digital Distribution.

His musical background consists of extensive study of orchestration with noted 20th century composer John Lessard, harmony with the late electronic music maverick Bulent Arel, and composition with Stony Brook University professor Peter Winkler. He received his BA in Music from Stony Brook University in 1983. 

Like an unfolding musical diary / puzzle, Tabacco’s music and art are constantly being re-worked, juxtaposed and intertwined. His style is a melding of pop - jazz -rock - avant garde / aleatory, classical and comedy.  He has been recording his music non stop since 1979.

Of note: In 1989 the satirical, absurd house song "Go House Yourself" co-written by Tabacco, Pati and DiMauro reached position 39 on Billboard's dance chart. 

In 2014 Tabacco signed a record deal with Texas, indie label, Muffin Records. They released his CD “Unfulfilled Shopping Carts Syndrome” internationally.

Started in music at the age of 14 played in rock bands, country bands, club bands, duo's, trio's

Mountain Songs is a project dedicated to my brother Brian Reeves (aka Rocky Mountain, 1948–2012), an accomplished songwriter, guitarist and arranger.  He was the creative force behind so many of the songs on this page.  If you have time, please click for lyrics and track history. 
This is for you Bri, with love and thanks from us all.   We miss you. (Gary Reeves)

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