Stuff made with friends

Monday Playlist week of 1/20/2025

Daily Drops

Related tracks: Universe Fuzzing

White Lies

Mr. Keb Mo   A style all his own.  For years I have enjoyed and loved his music.  I can relate to this song.  Nobody can do it like Keb, but I wanted to do a little version.

Henry(Keb Mo cover)

Tricksters triumph over the serpant and eat good.

Swamp Rabbits

Written by Tom Paxton
Performed by Josh McAlexander
used my Ibanez UB 804 upright on this I think it sounds close to acoustic.

The Last Thing on my Mind

It's a special honor that my dear friend Michele Ansani asked me if I would like to work on a song he wrote years ago called 'Alla Fine della Fine delle Fini' (To the end of the end of the ends) which is a great track. When I listened to it I said to Michele that I thought the song is already finished and asked what I supposedly could do with it. He said, that he wasn't going to publish it and wanted me to work on the root idea of the song to create something new.  Thank you so much Michele for being so generous to leave the basic song idea to my purposes (all flaws are mine).

Listen to his wonderful music here, you all know him anyway: https://soundcloud.com/michele-ansani

Michele Ansani: Seed idea
Me: Instruments, vocals, lyrics, arrangement.

Photograph from the top of Half Dome, Yosemite NP, CA, USA by A. Besinger  2022

One day I walked the shores of time
Wiping away the footprints left behind

Tossing stones into the sea  
Just to watch the ripples making their way back to me  

What if these dancing rings were just memories
Would they come to life once more to set me free?


Abandoned this place that I called home ￼
and took that boat I was hiding for so long 

Facing the storms, past the sirens song
The love of gods in mind may have led me wrong

Set course to the end of the end of the ends
So when you step off the edge of the world 
Make sure that your wings are spread 

When I stepped through the gates of Plutonion
Caught between Scylla and Charybdis I would be found

Sacrificed the ones to whom I belonged
A wise man would rather be envied than being wronged

Set course to the end of the end of the ends
So when you step off the edge of the world 
Make sure that your wings are spread 

Set course to the end of the end of the ends
So when you step off the edge of the world 
Make sure that your wings are spread

Off the Edge of the World (with Michele Ansani)

Here is another track produced with https://soundcloud.com/joerxworx. On an (not too) old piano base of mine (https://soundcloud.com/michele-ansani/kepler-1649c-draft), he did his usual excellent work with his saxophones, then I finished the arrangement with some keyboard phrases.

Dedicated to the comet of the century.

Piano and keyboard: Michele Ansani
Alto and tenor sax: joerxworx
Posted on SoundCloud: 2024, October 25

Tsuchinshan–ATLAS

Liking this song a lot and decided to share.
Jean Jacques Goldman is one of my influences 
apologies on my vocal and my guitar mistakes..hope you enjoy! 


Cover Doux JJG | Rina

Lyrics:

In a smoke filled room
Powder burns on your face
Tear drops wash away
All the pain of yesterday
Got to be a better way
To make it through today

Run, run , away

Recorded using Logic Pro..slate mic..Gibson Les Paul gold top…Warwick fretless bass..

Powderburn$

This is a bit of an experiment. Just me and my guitar recorded on my iPhone 16 pro.
Link to. video below.
https://youtu.be/4lXvHYD5VAA

All It Takes is A Smile (+ video)

Well this is the latest from Gaz Brownie , Nat Daniels and myself , it's harmonies all the way , hope you like it ! Next up on the 24th is a song by Tony Harris and myself , a Country/Rock n Roll story . There are so many nearly finished songs to box off and get them out there , available time being an issue ! Don't forget if you get chance to have a listen to me and Charlottes new album - Hopes and Dreams https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nWWNcrIRv08J_eEbL7MJ_1UTdMo0MjJLM
https://open.spotify.com/album/78ewrWZjS41XvHT9mFWd6O?si=yDMcRADSSrOdWlanz6UPMw
Many thanks !

The Tower

It's not often that an entire nation suddenly has its hands unshackled, its mouth ungagged and its cell door left ajar with an open invitation to leave the darkness and step into the light.

So, Syria, what's it to be?

Hmmm...?

_____________________________________________________________________________

Find Seagull's music here:  https://soundcloud.com/farout-music-studio

Find David's music here:  https://soundcloud.com/david-dunhamuser589535203

Artwork by Seagull
_____________________________________________________________________________

Mother Syria

Hold my hand up to the sun to reach this smouldered rubble
Lift my eyes again with little patience left in trust
Assad years, father and son, each the devil’s double
Gassed and burned my cradle nation to blood-soaked mental dust

With his face alight the new guy’s mission, pure, sent from heaven
Promises truth, gold, light and god in his virgin presidential pledge
In the dead of night autocracy voted AK47
New boots crush freedom’s fingertips, as they’re clinging to the ledge

Mother Syria at the crossroads, will your ancient beauty shine,
That cradled understanding of things earthly and divine?

Mother Syria at the crossroads, will your ancient beauty shine,
Or should we prepare the palliatives for your sectarian decline?

Mother Syria at the crossroads, will your ancient beauty shine,
On the path of sane humanity or on diabolos’ design?

Mother Syria will you renounce the suicide bomber’s blast?
Maybe seek out peace at last?

Mother Syria   ...   with Seagull and David Dunham

Lyrics by Tony Harris (a tribute to a SoundCloud friend)
Vocals, Music and Mix by Glen Granthem

MAMA ORDERED A SILVERTONE GUITAR
SEARS AND ROEBUCK BACK IN THE DAY
ELVIS WAS A BIG BIG STAR
ROCK N ROLL WAS HERE TO STAY

LOVED COUNTRY ROCK AND ROLL
COULDN'T WAIT TO LEARN TO PLAY
SORE FINGERS TOOK IT'S TOLL
DECIDED TO LEARN ANYWAY

(CHORUS)
SOMETIMES LIFE'S REWARDS
NOT IN THE CARDS
A SILVETONE GUITAR
WITH BLACK DIAMOND STRINGS
WANT MAKE YOU A STAR
WANT MAKE YOU A STAR

WAS IN THE SUMMERTIME
AFTER BREAKIN' SEVERAL STRINGS
HE WENT TO THE LOCAL FIVE AND DIME
BOUGHT HIMSELF SOME BLACK DIAMOND STRINGS

HIS DADDY WAS A PREACHER MAN
HELPED HIM TO LEARN TO PLAY
DREAMED ABOUT PLAYIN' IN A BAND
HE WAS SOON ON HIS WAY

(CHORUS)

(GUITAR SOLO)

(CHORUS)

PLAYED THE NIGHT CLUBS AND STAGE SHOWS
WELL OVER THIRTY FIVE YEARS
BEFORE HE CAME TO HIS SENSES
THE ANSWER TO HIS MAMA'S PRAYERS

(CHORUS)

2020 © Lyrics by Tony Harris
(revised January 2025) BMI

Black Diamond Strings - Collaboration by Tony and Glenny G's One Man Band

Brand new track and first for 2025. Song called "Universe fuzzing"
Taken from my upcoming full length synthwave album (2025) that will be called "Ultraviolet Cosmos".

youtube link: https://youtu.be/16y888BdiZI?si=rikRzRdc4swOOSyx
----------------------------------------------------
lyrics:
Feel the heat while you're moving around
Feel the beat while you're turning around

there's no wheels for stoping, only thin air poppin


Feel the warmth of the grinding machine
feel the heat from the earth beneath

there's no time machine to revert it, only the future u gotta face it


See these raylights that are flashing, all these memories are crushin' 
all these voices are buzzin' the whole universe is fuzzin'


Read the signs for the future unfold, 
learn from the past and let your dreams on hold

there's no logical planning, only sane present that is running.
--------------------------------------------------------------
(p) & (c) 2025.

Universe Fuzzing

Cast of Characters:
~Mark F-- @mark_f_2019 -- Ibanez EBH1005MS modified three string bass guitar, composition
Llanpsych -- @llanpsych -- Tez – Gibson Les Paul electric guitar end solo, production, and mix
TexMex Shaman–@texmex-shaman –Stephen– Fender Telecaster foundational rhythm electric guitar
J.J. Terrell–@j-j-terrell – organ and synth
Cgmaness – @user-419254289-15129531 – Chris – electric guitar
K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara -–Ken–drums and percussion
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)–@josh-clary-1 –- PRS SE semi hollow body wah guitar, and ooh aah vocals at the end
This song began as a bass composition recorded as a stem by Mark. He named it after a hang out spot he and his friends used to go to as teenagers to drink beer and smoke bowls. He shared it with JJ, who turned it over to the Eclectic Collective so that we could have our way with it. However, Mark didn't use a click track to record it, so when he sent it to us, Ken had to come up with a drum beat based on Mark's structure, to which Mark then redid his bass part. That takes a lot of imagination on Ken's part when we do something that way.
    The first one of us to lay down a part for it was Chris, who added some really freaky textural guitar. Ken was next up, completing the rhythm section with his mighty drums. Ken then redid his part to better match the bass, thus completing the rhythm section with his mighty drums. Then, Stephen laid down the gritty, underlying rhythm guitar that runs throughout. Josh was up next, adding his melodic wah guitar to the mix. JJ came along soon after and laid down the magical synth that runs throughout. Last, but not least. Tez dropped the fiery solo towards the end. 
  Once the music was all laid down, we thought it could use some oohs and aahs at the end, so Josh recorded them as a five part harmony. However, choosing to only use the highest thee parts in the song, our expert producer on this one, Tez, decided to make a coda out of all five. So, stick around for a treat at the end!
  This is the third song the Eclectic Collective has done as a collab with Mark F. He's a very talented solo bassist, whose other music worth checking out on his page, as well. We hope you enjoy listening to this song as much as we enjoyed creating it.

Pryer Manor (Eclectic Collective with ~Mark F)

Funny old world.  Whilst scrumping about on SC my travels took me to Michele's cloud where I alighted on his track as named above. Sharp intake of breath and a hurried message to Michele to ask if he might be so kind as to permit me to pen a few words to accompany it.  He graciously agreed.  Having nothing in mind at the time I hastily back-pedalled and explained that it might be best if he didn't hold his breath....next day I listened again and Mr Spotty Book called over Mr Pen for a chat.  What followed in the next hour or so is somewhat blurred.  I always try to read a text in one take, for integrity's sake.  This was my fourth attempt and the only one I managed to complete.  

I decided to quit while I was ahead.

Thank you, Michele, for the warm nostalgic smile infused in this wonderful music of yours, and for the (unexpectedly moist) journey upon which it took me.

Find Michele's music here:  https://soundcloud.com/michele-ansani
________________________________________________________________________________

All the old little things we have lost

Of course, you know, Dad, that some stuff doesn’t work too well these days.
I’ll forget odd bits and bobs, like, maybe having lunch or doing promised jobs
Blimey, even birthdays on occasion slip the mind
As today’s neurons disconnect, recall’s evasion of my yesterdays so to find.
I actually forgot why I came into this room in the first place
Stood a while, cast about, then saw your face
Your smile leaping out from the old photo there
Engendered mine, returned, locked in loving stare
And propelled me back to play in those monochrome years
You know, our old box brownie’s still tucked away in the cupboard under the stairs.

Remember how it was, Dad,  how we lived, things we had?
Thrupenny bits and ha’pennies and bikes with hard rubber wheels
Plastic shoes and sock holes darned
Sparse but regular high carb, high fat meals
Never did us any harm
Hand-me-downs all around, we craved the latest style
Segs in shoes and outside loos
A homely fireplace, though just the one
We’d huddle round, our toasting forks with crumpets on, and laughing all the while

So I won’t forget all the old little things we have lost
Things so casually into history’s family album tossed
But neither have I lost my tendency to tears, welling soft
From the broken heart that burned for you, 
Then split apart and turned to frost
That day you died, just fifty two, so very young.
Who’d have thought that all those old little things
Would fill the font of memory springs 
From which this tearful smile of mine has sprung.

All the old little things we have lost: some words set to the music of Michele Ansani

In the wake of this tragedy the sun still rises over the City Of Angels. Peace and love to all affected and may recovery be swift to revamp this historic city.

Sun Rose Over The City Of Angels

Pour Them Drinks

I'm very pleased to share our first collaboration with the talented pianist Vicenzo Piano. I hope you enjoy this beautiful piano and orchestral piece!
https://soundcloud.com/vicenzopiano
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArJWBJ3_olE
Composition & piano performance: Vicenzo Piano
Arrangement & orchestration: Franck Charles

Vals De La Luz

A little rap, hip hop, electronic mixed with some double bass for dat ass.

Why Not

Cast of Characters:
E Ruizzo-- https://soundcloud.com/ruizzoidman21centurions --Manuel-- composition, lyrics, Squier Stratocaster electric guitar, vocals, mix, and production
J.J. Terrell-- @j-j-terrell—JJ-- piano, accordion, and horn
TexMex Shaman– @texmex-shaman –Stephen– Jose Ramirez nylon stringed flamenco style guitar, and mastering
K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken–drums, percussion
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 –Josh – four string Fender Precision Bass bass

This song began all the way back when Manuel was 16 and found love that summer with a girl named Carmen. He remembered her, though, and wrote this song about her all these years later. The title of the song means "Your name has the song," and the lyrics spell out the girl's charms using the letters of her name. Check out the lyrics and the translation below. 
  Using that inspiration, Manuel came up with the song structure and the vocal melodies to a rudimentary drum track with his electric guitar. He then asked Josh if the group would be interested in taking it on. Josh, never being one to refuse a challenging piece of music, and always on the lookout for interesting musicians with whom to collaborate, accepted his kind offer and created a project for the rest of the Eclectic Collecitve to join. He started the whole thing off by adding his bass, to which Ken added his innovative drums, to which Josh redid his bass, as is the typical process in the EC.
  Next up was JJ, who you'd think he'd grown up with Spanish music the way he added the horns, accordion, and piano. Then Stephen stepped in and added his psychedelic and intricate acoustic guitar to the stew. 
  It was all done, except for the mix at this point. Manuel did the honors, and did it very expertly. Stephen mastered it to give it more volume and dynamism, too, as he always does. 
  This was the first, but we hope not the last, time the EC has collaborated with Manuel, although we're all fans of the incredible music on his page. He was a true delight to work with, giving honest, encouraging feedback and helping us shape his song to meet his vision. We hope you enjoy listening to this song as much as we enjoyed creating it.

Original lyrics by E Ruizzo:

TU NOMBRE TIENE LA CANCIÓN  /  YOUR NAME HAS THE SONG

Qué es una lágrima en el desierto?  /  What is a tear in the desert?
Cae sin ruido, se evapora y se olvida.  /  It falls without noise, evaporates and is forgotten.
No tiene tiempo de brillar, su vida  /  It has no time to shine, its life
es corta y su camino tan incierto…  /  is short and its path so uncertain...

Ce del calor del desierto y su sol,  /  ‘C’ for the heat of the desert and its sun,
a del adiós por el que lloré tanto;  /  ‘a’ for the farewell for which I cried so much;
erre del río que forma mi llanto;  /  ‘r’ for the river formed by my crying;
eme de miedo, de magia y de amor.  /  ‘m’ for fear, for magic and for love.

E de esperanza, de espacio rosado,  /  ‘E’ for hope, for pink space,
de espina clavada, de suelta emoción;  /  for stuck thorn, for loose emotion;
ene de noche de un tiempo pasado.  /  ‘n’ for night of a past time.

Carmen, tu nombre tiene la canción  /  Carmen, your name has the song
de todo aquello que has significado:  /  of all that you have meant:
Carmen de luz, de sonrisa y de adiós.  /  Carmen of light, of smile and of goodbye.

Tu Nombre Tiene La Canción (with The Eclectic Collective)

Nine inch nails, hurt, cover

Zephyrus abducted and then married the nymph Chloris, transforming her into a goddess: Flora.
The portrait of Flora, together with the scene of the abduction, is depicted in one of the masterpieces of Renaissance art: ‘Primavera’, by Sandro Botticelli (Uffizi Gallery, Florence).

I wrote this song when I was in high school (which means in the mid-70s), so I guess the naivety of the lyrics and the simplicity of the original melody are understandable. Francess (@pianofran : you all know her) worked beautifully on that melody (the archeological version of the song had a definitely different rhythm); we weren't planning to revive the song (the idea was to produce a purely instrumental piece), but the beauty of this piano arpeggio motivated me to give it a try. And so I sang it.
Of course, my gratitude goes to Francess for the magnificent work she has done on this my old music! 🙏

Lyrics (ENG / ITA)

You live in the leaves
of your fears
like a snowdrop
that can never bloom
Sad mechanisms
your tears and your smiles
seek the courage
to break the enchantment

But the wizard who imprisoned you
With golden bracelets
cannot stop the wind
that ruffles your thoughts
and only in little moments
incredulous and light
you imagine that time
listens to your breath

Already the leaves are falling
of your fears
and the wind disperses them
among thousands of plains
Your new smile
like fountain water
chases in the streets
other gazes and new lives

The sky is a hawk
and air a bee
the waters together dance
in your soft fingers
of perfumed musk
you will carry them with you
never more shall you pass
where they still shade
cold, dark bushes

----

Vivi tra le foglie
delle tue paure
come un bucaneve
che non potrà mai fiorire
Tristi meccanismi
i tuoi pianti e i tuoi sorrisi
cercano il coraggio
di spezzare il sortilegio

Ma il mago che ti imprigionò
con braccialetti d'oro
non può fermare il vento
che ti spettina i pensieri
e solo in brevi attimi
incredula e leggera
ti immagini che il tempo
ascolti il tuo respiro

Già cadono le foglie
delle tue paure
e il vento le disperde
fra migliaia di pianure
Il tuo nuovo sorriso
come acqua di fontana
rincorre nelle strade
altri sguardi e nuove vite

Il cielo è un falco
e l'aria un'ape
le acque insieme danzano
nelle tue dita morbide
di muschio profumato
li porterai insieme a te
mai più dovrai passare
là dove ancora ombreggiano
cespugli freddi e scuri

----

Lyrics: Michele Ansani
Music: Michele Ansani & Francess Harris
Piano: Francess Harris
Vocals and arrangement: Michele Ansani
Composed by Ansani & Harris (1976-2025)
Posted on SoundCloud: 2025, February 14

Flora [with Francess Harris] *

The lyrics translated into Italian are taken from the well-known T.S. Eliot, "The Waste Land". Part IV: "Death by Water".

To give a new and different look to this old track I asked to my (and yours) friends (you know them well: @beatingedge). They improved the mix and above all added an instrumental part, on wich I enjoyed myself with other guitar, pad and cello sounds and parts. Obviously, I thank them immensely, with a special thought for Vampira (aka Mary).

LYRICS (ENG - ITA)

Phlebas the Phoenician,
a fortnight dead,
forgot the cry of gulls,
and the deep sea swell
and the profit and loss.
A current under sea
picked his bones in whispers.
As he rose and fell
he passed the stages of his age and youth
entering the whirlpool.

Gentile or Jew
o you who turn the wheel and look to windward,
consider Phlebas,
who was once handsome and tall as you.

----

Phlebas il Fenicio,
morto da quindici giorni,
dimenticò il grido dei gabbiani
e il fondo gorgo del mare,
E il profitto e la perdita.
Una corrente sottomarina
Gli spolpò l’ossa in mormorii.
Mentre affiorava e affondava
Passò attraverso gli stadi della giovinezza
della maturítà
Procedendo nel vortice.

Gentile o Giudeo
o tu che volgi la ruota e guardi sopravvento,
Considera Phlebas,
che un giorno fu bello e alto come te.

----

Music by Michele Ansani & Beating Edge (1981-2025).
Picture is from James Abbott McNeill Whistler, 'The Ocean Wave' (1883-1884), National Museum of Asian Arts, Washington.
Posted on SoundCloud: 2025, March 6

All the old little things we have lost: some words set to the music of Michele Ansani

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