'Strong' is a song I wrote after a policeman instructed me to leave a city’s shopping street while I was working as a street artist. I was so… can I say ‘pissed’? So I had to write a song about it. This was 1992. I played the streets a couple of years when I was a student.

The lyrics of the song (below) point to a broader and still current subject. Staying strong in dynamic times is important for every one of us I think. Today more than ever probably. Follow your personal believes in peace all :)

Mike


Lyrics, music, vocals, guitar and copyright Mike Spring
Guitar is a Crafter or a EKO steel string acoustic, I'm not sure
Recording: live, analogue (Tascam 4-track)

This is a recording of a song 'just written'. In this respect I should have uploaded it on my other page https://soundcloud.com/sketches-from-holland/tracks but I didn't :)

Mix: In Cubase I edited a small guitar part around 1:03 minutes because I played one chord a little too long which interrupted the meter of the song.
Master: The stereo WAV track I used had been mastered before so it was not clean when I mastered it again. 
Equipment: Steinberg UR824, Ozone 7 adv. (EQ, Imager and Vintage tape) plus Lexicon LXP Native Hall Reverb VST
Picture by Anthea Molenaar, 2011

Lyrics:

Hey what’s your name
I’m not a game to play
Hey we’re the same
You should feel ashamed to say
I don’t belong to this day

[chorus:]
If you think you’re strong
I’ve got something for you
Cause I feel strong
I think my way
Nothing’s gonna change that
I think my way
It makes me what I am
I feel strong
I feel strong

Day by day
Strongen my way   [note: I know this is not proper English 😉]
Leaded by the inner words I pray
Hey I’m not afraid
To feel the shade
Because I know who I am

[chorus]

Strong

Strong (live recording / 1992)

The music of the early new wave band Duran Duran fascinated me through time. The sweet melodies loaded with a romantic somewhat alien character together with the tight rhythms of drums and bass created new musical universes to my ears back in the 80s. My intention here was to make an original piece with the energy and ‘breath’ of the band’s vibes. 

A personal take a joy to make 😊  Have fun listening!

Mike

v67m11

Still wishing for love

Still wishing for love  / a take on the vibes of Duran Duran

'Ink on paper' is an improvised guitar instrumental that can be listened to as the second track of a set starting with 'The Himalayan Letter' (first track). I imagine the letter being read by the addressee... The Himalayan Letter can be found here:: https://soundcloud.com/mike-spring/the-himalayan-letter-open-for

Detail to the track is that I recorded it on the sofa 5 weeks ago and I completely forgot about it. Until I listened to my little experiments and found this piece. I mixed it giving extra attention to the reverb. 

music / guitar by Mike Spring
 
Photo credits: https://www.flickr.com/photos/calliope/234447967/in/photolist-mHBdk-776vPa-hjbY9-6rX2oN-mUJC9-sYMMN-8513JQ-8a2fw8-nyxdqR-4gn61P-4gr9Am-5RWx65-4HAhxX-6KbeKG-asWNj-gJ2gzj-mfHRuu-bVUz1W-61nQq5-6qPM7V-fVScKu-hjfdc-7VsHcM-9JFqkt-5CNP7w-6oWiWv-XQKd5-3gHuLv-6K7TqH-29XGEa-6qTWs5-azdUEh-GqbjE-gnDV6V-6Wqozz-kny6RH-kfgYX-8RhWYb-5FJZaK-6K7SWF-eiy3W-b9Fppr-4Lc4d5-6WuoQN-eWY39-9jb1Wh-9WRX-4YGsBL-6NBWJW-4Jk2iw/

Ink on paper

Blauwer is an acoustic guitar song about the blue eyes of a girl...
The track is part of the album 'Verlangen' originally released on CD in 2004 http://mikespring.bandcamp.com/album/verlangen-album-dutch

Blauwer

Writing love songs happens to be one of mij interests :) So why not make a song about the verb? It's steaming ;) 
 
Cheers and thank you all for listening!  
Mike

Fender Strat USA 2001 Texas Special, Ibanez TS9 tube screamer & Fender tube Amp Junior, Fender Jazz Bass, Simon& Patrick steel string guitar, vocals, Steinberg UR824 interface, Charter Oak tube mic, NI AR drums, mixed in Cubase 8 pro with external VST's. Original 2015.
Arwork by blog.gessato.com/2012/11/28/text-…xtsculpture-sex/


Get High

"Wait A Minute, are we straight up back in the 70's? NayJ. & Mike Spring channeled something extra funky for this slick strutin' workout. NayJ is full on attitude as she sings with soulful sass, warning all the young women out there about the lip licking ways of the dog. Mike Spring drops some greasy riffs on his Fender Strat while his Fender jazz bass locks you deep into the funk groove! This is mad funky y'all! Now get up and dance! -CKP"  (http://musiciselation.com/  https://soundcloud.com/plastic-inevitable  https://www.facebook.com/musiciselation)

"An exceptional Funk track in the best tradition of Motown and P-Funk and who could sing it better and cooler than NayJ? Extra compliment for the groove, which is not just straight 16th, it seems to swing a abit"  https://soundcloud.com/heartscore 
 
Supported by http://www.funkycorner.it  

Personal note: 
NayJ, thank you most dearly for making this original production so worthwhile. You did it again girl!

Here you all can find our earlier collaboration https://soundcloud.com/nayj-2/empty-bucket-nayj-mike-spring
 
Commentary:
When I'd recorded the funky instrumental I asked NayJ if she was interested making a song out of it. She appeared to be excited immediately :))) And oh boy what a song she made! The lyrics point out to how shallow young girls can be aiming for a life in luxury. Obviously she has a message to them… 

Instruments for this original:
•	Fender Strat 3x
•	Fender Jazz Bass 
•	Programmed drums NI Abbey Road series
•	Midi keys
Recorded and mixed in Cubase Pro 8, mastered in Ozone7adv.

The vocal arrangement is created by NayJ https://soundcloud.com/nayj-2 next to the writing of lyrics and the recording of thevocals.


Lyrics:

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO hey
This song is to all the young girls out there
Who's living life like you just don't have a care
Wait a minute wait a minute

Oh
You say you looking for a man
You said you're running out of time
He's gotta have that curly hair
You say he's got to be fine as wine
You said you're looking for a man
Who's going to give you diamond rings
Shower you with bling bling
And promise you everything

Wait a minute, wait a minute, better hear me wait a minute, better hear me, wait a minute

Oh uuuuuuuuu
Oh girl
That ain't the way
You better listen to me
You better hear every word that I say
You better listen real good
You better make sure that it's understood

Cause It's some dogs out there
Wait a minute, wait a minute, better hear me wait a minute, better hear me, wait a minute

Oh girl don't be a fool
While you're starting out nice and fresh
Just make the wrong moves
And you'll be branded with the rest

If you let the wrong guy
Don't you know he'll use you up
Then he'll lick his lips
And be ready for his next sup

Oh yeah yeah wooooooooo yeah yeah
Oh can you hear me, you better hear me girl
You better listen to what I say
Cause It's some dogs out there
And they're headed your way

Oh
They really don't give a care
Just looking for a little play
They will ruin your reputation
And it will become your identification

Oh wooo oh ouw
Girl you wanna a man
A man who will treat you right
You want a man who will put a ring on it
A man who will make you his wife

Don't you know the diamond rings
They don't mean everything
Cause baby if you ain't got love
Girl you ain't got nothing

Wait a minute, wait a minute, better hear me, wait a minute, better hear me, wait a minute

Do you hear me girl
Do you understand
Well if you understand
Then it's time to do your funky future wedding dance

Take you're veil off
Blow a kiss to the left then to the right
Wave your hands up high
Like you're reaching for the sky hey ya
Slide your foot to the left and then to the right
You're gonna take it down real low
Funky Future Wedding Dance
When you know you've got a good man

This song on YouTube: https://youtu.be/O7OTJjn1n4s

Support & Buy

Wait A Minute --- NayJ & Mike Spring ---

Mike Spring posted a wonderful acoustic guitar piece about a month ago and offered it up to Soundcloud as an Open Collaboration - https://soundcloud.com/mike-spring/open-collaboration - Thanks to Mike for sharing such a fine platform.
When I first heard it, I hoped it could make a powerfully poignant song. Let me know if you think it works.

Music, guitar playing and audio engineering by Mike Spring, 
Netherlands, mix 2016
Lyrics and vocals - Mark J Bennett

Believing,
You’re leaving,
Souls cleaving
Apart.

Bereaving
I’m grieving
Like breathing
By heart.

Relieving
And releasing
A healing 
To start.
  
Pre-ordained,
Parting of the ways.
Maligned in,
Terminal decline.
Where’s the ‘good’ in
Saying goodbye?
Au revoir, Adiós, Ciao…
A different word,
In a different way 
Won’t make it OK.
Goodbye darling,
Darling, it’s goodbye…

Goodbye darling,
Souls cleaving
Apart.
Goodbye darling,
Like breathing
By heart.
Goodbye darling,
A healing 
To start.
Goodbye


Goodbye (with Mike Spring)Download Available

This has been made from Mike Spring's original Open Collaboration post 
https://soundcloud.com/mike-spring/minor-road-blues-open-for

All music/Guitar/Typewriter percussion - https://soundcloud.com/mike-spring
Lyrics and Vocals - Mark J Bennett.
Thank you Mike for sharing this opportunity with me.

MINOR ROAD BLUES

Robert’s at the crossroads
Jack, he’s on the road 
Johnson’s at the crossroads
Kerouac’s on the road.
Me, am just sittin’,
Waitin’ on the money,
That I’m owed

Hittin’ keys on this contraption,
Ain’t made me no money yet 
Still lookin’ for a piece of the action,
While I’m gettin’ deeper in debt.
Perhaps, you’re inclined to a little benefaction,
I’ll take me whatever I can get.

Robert’s at the crossroads
Jack, he’s on the road 
Johnson’s at the crossroads
Kerouac’s still on the road.
Me, am just sittin’,
Waitin’ on the money,
That I’m owed

Minor Road Blues (With Mike Spring)

FUNK STATION originally started off with Terry’s funky guitar riffs. Terry performs on a regular basis together with his funk band FU5ION https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU6mqscd8ag  You can find Terry's original instrumental here https://soundcloud.com/user-719649280/bounce
 
I liked Terry's guitar play right away and after some time had passed I asked Terry for a collaboration. I told him that I had some interesting ideas to let it grow :) After having edited Terry’s recordings for a straight drums I added my lyrics/vocals and bass guitar, some percussion and an appropriate amount of claps & snaps. Since I am a great admirer of Jamie’s keys playing I asked Jamie Rhind to add his instrument and he did this so well I must say. It changed the flavor of the piece immediately. Next I found the wonderful sax player David Milzow from Germany willing to add his wonderful saxophone solo. From the start I held in mind to ask NayJ for adding her vocals too and thus make a funky duet together. Well… she did! :)) So now we can all  proudly present to you our FUNK STATION!

The track is kind of a wink to ‘Soul Train’ the most funky and inspiring television show in the Seventies. You can find those on YouTube and I can recommend to have a look and listen because this show was just amazing. All great funky R&B soul singers and bands from that era came along. For instance The Jackson Five, Donna Summer, Tower of Power and James Brown. Since the funk stole my heart for many years I felt now was the opportunity to celebrate the funk all the way. For the occasion I chose to give it a cinematic ambiance by creating a logical environment for our sweet funky station. I blended the music with a number of outdoor and indoor samples to put it all together so that it would sound like it’s recorded in a station hall. I sincerely hope you guys enjoy the result as much as we did recording/producing it!

My sincere gratitude goes out to David Milzow, Jamie Rhind, NayJ and not in the least to Terry Harris who inspired us all with his funky guitar playing. Thank you all so much!

NayJ – vocals https://soundcloud.com/nayj-2
Terry Harris – guitar https://soundcloud.com/user-719649280
Jamie Rhind – keys and synths https://soundcloud.com/jamie-rhind
David Milzow – saxophone https://soundcloud.com/david-milzow
Mike Spring – production & audio engineering, lyrics, vocals, bass guitar, percussion (congas, tambourine), claps & snaps

Another interpretation of the Soul Train Show https://soundcloud.com/ddjohn/soul-train-blues. Steph laid down a fantastic ode to the era I think.

LYRICS

Say where your goin’
Get infused for feelin’ the Funk
Hear that guitar smokin’
Watch that Soul train comin’

Say what your doin’
Clap along ‘cause you feel the Funk
Brothers and sisters pokin’
Catch that train on Funk Station runnin’

Ooooh Ooooh
Do do what you wanna do
Get wooed, funk your mood
Do do what you wanna do

Ooooh Oooh
Do do what you wanna do
Funk your mood in the hood
Do do what you wanna do

Say how your doin’
Move your hips and feel the Funk
Get your bodies movin’
Beat that train on Funk Station groovin’

Say where your strollin’
We’ve got it comin’ the Funk
And keep it rollin’
Keep your funky muscles flowin’

Say what your lookin’
Now do you feel the Funk
Hear those barrels cookin’
It’s our Funk Station crookin’

Say you better start movin’
You can’t whisk the Funk
Your funk train should be runnin’
Now don’t keep me punnin’

Ooooh Ooooh
Do do what you wanna do
Get wooed, funk your mood
Do do what you wanna do

Ooooh Oooh
-
Funk your mood in the hood
Do do what you wanna do

Ooooh Ooooh
Do do what you wanna do
Don’t get prude, funk your mood
Do do what you wanna do

Ooooh Oooh
-
-
Funk your mood’n taste the food

Ooooh Ooooh
Do do what you wanna do
Get wooed, funk your mood
Do do what you wanna do

Ooooh Oooh
Do do what you wanna do
Funk your mood
In the hood
Do do what you wanna do

Ooooh Ooooh
Do do what you wanna do
-
Do do what you wanna do
Ooooh
Oooh

FUNK STATION

FUNK STATION - NayJ · Mike Spring · Terry Harris · Jamie Rhind · David Milzow

Hey guys,

We are proud to present a collaboration in a unique blend of electronic music (TFB) and electric instrumental guitar (MS). Have fun listening and thank you for the love!

Martin def knows his way around in the electronic genre. Check him out if you haven't already...  https://soundcloud.com/thefreebass-1
Martin's original is here https://soundcloud.com/thefreebass-1/tfb-why-we-should-avoid-thefreebass

Mike 



version# V045 24bits M02 24bits Dither 16bits

Why we should avoid

Why we should avoid  *** TFB & Mike Spring ***

Welcome to Mike Spring’s corner of in-your-face songwriting

This page is inspired by the charm of pure songwriting. It is about the creating of a song, improvised music and raw demo’s. Naked not afraid ;)

‘Sketches from Holland’ is created by MIKE SPRING. This page holds raw recordings of original songs played live solely or invented in the heat of the moment. Tracks may be mono and not mixed. 
Once my inspiration is lit into a song idea a musical train starts rolling off hill. Often I finish a piece. Sometimes it stays a sketch and is forgotten about many years.

Thank you for listening!
Mike
The Netherlands (Holland)
2015/02/07

(all rights reserved)


Netherlands based singer-songwriter/guitarist/composer/sound engineer.
headphones recommended

Dear listener, Feel free to leave comments and I'll try to reply.

I've been making music for around 16 years now but because of the wonderfully generous community that is SC, I have learned so much in a short time. I look forward to learning even more by collaborating. 
I suppose my strengths are in lyric-writing and singing. I feel fortunate to have been able to work with some stunning compositions by some very talented SCers.

My very best to you, Mark

Some links to recent Continental Collision streaming sites, etc are available below:

Popular tracks tagged #mike spring