A song about the break-up of my friend's marriage.
Written and produced by Nigel Spiers
Featuring the amazing talent of Brian Harley on Guitar.
For you guitar aficionados - can you spot where Brian changes pickup during the lead break on his Fender Telecaster? 
Bass - Simon Marks
Drums - Al Olds
Piano - Nigel Spiers

Tragedy

"Spark In The Night" is a song about a relationship break-up.

The song features:

Susan de Jong - Vocals
Mike Arthur - Guitar

Written and produced by Nigel Spiers

From the album: US Odyssey (www.bluesandviews.com).

Spark In The Night

A song inspired by the musical "Chicago" film.

Featuring:
Susan de Jong - vocals.
Carmel Courtney - both Saxes.
The Ooh Ya Ya Gospel Choir - BV's.

Written and produced by Nigel Spiers

From the album "US Odyssey" - www.bluesandviews.com

He's Gone

A song I wrote in homage to some of my musical heroes - Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys.

Featuring:
Nigel Spiers - Vocals, BV's, Song, Lyrics and Production.
Craig Scott - Drums
Miles Black - Piano
Brent Mason - Guitar

Last Night

The original song was written by Milton Ager (music)and lyrics by Jack Yellen in 1924. This song is now in the Public Domain.

My 2021 version features:

Vocals, arrangement and production - Nigel Spiers
Bass - Byron House
Piano - Kevin McKendree
Drums - Brian Fullen
Guitar - Steve Hinson
Trumpet - Don Clark

Big Bad Bill Is Sweet William Now

This song was inspired by my first visit to New York and my first view of The Statue of Liberty. It is about America welcoming refugees from Europe following the First World War.
It changes, as songs sometimes do, to a Love Song in the refrain.

The song features the awesome talents of Susan de Jong (vocals) and Carmel Courtney (Sax).

Song written and produced by Nigel Spiers.

From the album US Odyssey (www.bluesandviews.com).

Come To Me

This song was written after our band played at the famous Southern Blues Bar in Christchurch, New Zealand (unfortunately destroyed in the 2010 earthquake). A young woman was dancing very provocatively right in front of the stage.

Featuring a duet between Nigel Spiers and Jo Lincoln and the sublime playing of Guitar maestro Brian Harley.

Guitars - Brian Harley
Vocals & BV's - Nigel Spiers & Jo Lincoln
Bass - Simon Marks
Organ - Nigel Spiers
Drums - Shannon Forrest (BIAB Real Track).

Song - written, arranged, mixed and mastered by Nigel Spiers - Christchurch, New Zealand.

From the album "Old Dogs New Tricks" - www.bluesandviews.com

Chuggin

Power Of The Blues is a Gospel Song featuring the powerhouse vocals of Jo Lincoln.

Vocals - Jo Lincoln
BV's - Jo Lincoln
Piano - Nigel Spiers
Organ - Nigel Spiers
Bass - Simon Marks
Drums - Big Al Esis

Music, Lyrics, Mixing, Mastering and Production by Nigel Spiers

From the album - "Old Dogs New Tricks" www.bluesandviews.com

Power Of The Blues

Hi Folks,

Here's an old fashioned tear jerker (and who doesn't need one every now and then). Sung by the masterful Susan de Jong and Sax from the remarkable Carmel Courtney.

Other Instruments are MIDI tracks except the Drums which are a Band In A Box 12/8 Real Track.

Music, Lyrics and production by Nigel Spiers.
Mastered by Ian mcallister

You Don't Love Me

Hi Folks,

I've recently been reviewing songs that are about to become in the Public Domain i.e. 95 years old or older. I came across "Doctor Jazz" - one of my favourite songs written by King Oliver and Walter Melrose and first recorded by Jelly Roll Morton. He (Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe) was a an American ragtime and jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer. He claimed to have invented Jazz in 1902 which has lead to a lot of discussion since his death in 1941 at the tender age of just 51. Regardless he was a genius on the piano and also wrote some wonderful songs.

My version is in a Western Swing feel which may make him roll over in his grave. However it was a genre that was in it's hey day in the 20's and 30's and I suspect Jelly Roll would have loved it.

A quiz question - why did he call himself "Jelly Roll"?

Vocals - Nigel Spiers
All instruments including the soloists are Band In A Box Western Swing Real Tracks by PGMusic.

Doctor Jazz

Hi Folks,

Here is a song I recorded some time ago with Susan de Jong and guitarist extraordinaire Mike Arthur. I have recently remixed it.

Vocals - Susan de Jong.
BV's & Live Audience - The Ooh Ya Ya Gospel Choir.
Guitar - Mike Arthur
Pianos - Nigel Spiers & Band In A Box Pianist.
Drums - Band In A Box Real Track - NashvilleSkip10.
Bass - Band In A Box Real Track 752.
All other backing instruments from a Band In A Box Midi Style (unfortunately I don't have a record of the Style.

Music & Lyrics by Nigel Spiers
Christchurch, New Zealand

Let Them Talk

Hi Folks,

Here is a Dixieland tune about my first visit to New Orleans.

Featuring Susan de Jong (Vocals) and Carmel Courtney (Sax).

All backing instrumentation is via PG Music, Band In A Box Midi Tracks:
Style = Dixifast.sty
Best Regards
Nigel

Down In Dixieland

Hi Folks,

Here is a Jazzy Blues song featuring the new Band In A Box Horns Section Realtrack.

Music & Lyrics: Nigel Spiers
Vocals: Nigel Spiers
Bass: 3407
Piano: 1992
Drums: BluesShuffle^5
Guitar: 560
Horn Section: 3998
Sax: 1953
Style: _MISSION.STY

Best Regards
Nigel Spiers

How We Used To Be

Hi Folks,

Here's a funky blues featuring the new Band In A Box Organ Soloist RealTrack played by Charles Treadway.
Music & Lyrics - Nigel Spiers
Vocals - Nigel Spiers
Bass - 2610
Guitar - 421
Drums - FunkSwing^2
Piano - 1995
Organ - 3995
Style - _WRONGED.STY

The Reason For Your Leaving

Hi Folks,

Here's my version of the classic "My Blue Heaven" by Walter Donaldson and George A Whiting. I had to look up the copyright laws for this song and found that (you probably know this already) in most countries Copyright ends 50 years after the death of the composers. However some countries notably the USA and Australia have extended this to 70 years. The longest is Mexico with 100 years.

My version is in the Western Swing style made famous by Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys and other bands.

Band In A Box RealTracks used in this song are:
Bass: 540
Guitar: 1710
Drums: NashvilleSwing^3
Drums: JazzBrushes#1
Piano: 1615
Guitar: 1128
Pedal Steel: 1134
Pedal Steel: 1675

My Blue Heaven

Hi Folks,

Here's a new Swing song I wrote recently featuring Horns and Vocals.

Music & Lyrics - Nigel Spiers
Vocals and BV's - Nigel Spiers

Band In A Box by PG Music Real Tracks:
Bass - 3478 - Neil Swainson
Drums - Nashville Swing8 - Brian Fullen
Guitar - 558 - Oliver Gannon
Piano - 1566 - John Jarvis
Sax - 1953 - Mark Douthit
Horns - 3998 - Chris West

Who's That Knockin'

Hi Folks,

Here's a new song I wrote recently featuring the lovely guitar work of Joe Robinson and the Harp of Pat Bergeson.

Music and Lyrics - Nigel Spiers
Vocals - Nigel Spiers

Bass - Dave Row - 3983
Drums - Fred Etringham - AmericanaSlowRockFred
Harmonica - Pat Bergeson - 3967
Guitar - Joe Robinson - 2928

Something's Going On

Somthing's Going On

Hi Folks,

Here's a new R&B (Rhythm & Blues) style song with maybe just a touch of Ry Cooder thrown into the mix.

Nigel Spiers: Music & Lyrics
Nigel Spiers: Vocals

Drums: Shannon Forrest (BluesRockEv)
Drums: Shannon Forrest (BluesRockFunky16ths)
Bass: Steve Mackey (3458)
Guitar Rhythm: Colin Linden (2905)
Guitar Rhythm: Brent Mason (2904)
Guitar Rhythm: Darin Favorite (1684)
Guitar Soloist: Brent Mason (3201)
Piano: Miles Black (2494)
Ride Cymbal: Unknown

You Don't Love Me Anymore

Hi Folks,

Here's my version of "Every Day I Have The Blues" written by Aaron "Pinetop" Sparks and first performed 1935. It is one of the most covered Blues songs of all time including;  The Count Basie Orchestra with Joe Williams, B.B. King, John Mayer, Eric Clapton, Elmore James, Delbert McClinton, Ray Charles, Fleetwood Mac, Van Morrison, Ella Fitzgerald just to name a few.

Vocals & BV's: Nigel Spiers
Drums: Shawn Soucy
Bass: Dow Tomlin
Lead Guitar: Pat Bergeson
Rhythm Guitar: Andy Reiss
Piano: John Jarvis
Horns: Chris West

Every Day I Have The Blues

"Ain't Misbehavin'" is a 1929 stride jazz/early swing song. Andy Razaf wrote the lyrics to a score by Thomas "Fats" Waller and Harry Brooks[2] for the Broadway musical comedy play Connie's Hot Chocolates.

Ain't Misbehavin'

Hi Folk,

Here is my version of the classic R&B song "Cry To Me" by Bert Berns.
Bertrand Russell Berns (November 8, 1929 – December 30, 1967), also known as Bert Russell and (occasionally) Russell Byrd, was an American songwriter and record producer of the 1960s. His songwriting credits include "Twist and Shout", "Piece of My Heart", "Here Comes the Night", "Hang on Sloopy", "Cry to Me" and "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love", and his productions include "Baby, Please Don't Go", "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Under the Boardwalk".

He died on December 30, 1967, aged just 38 of a congenital heart condition.

Vocals: Nigel Spiers
Piano: Kevin McKendree
Drums: Wes Little
Sax: Chris West
Horns: Chris West
Sax: Tom Keenlyside
Bass: Dave Roe
Bass: Dow Tomlin
Organ: Chris Nole
Guitar: Jack Pearson

Cry To Me

Hi Folks,
Here is a little ditty I wrote recently in the Jump Blues style made popular in the 1940's by artists such as Louis Jordan, Roy Brown, Amos Milburn, Lionel Hampton, T-Bone Walker, Wynonie Harris & Louis Prima.

Music & Lyrics: Nigel Spiers
Vocals: Nigel Spiers
Drums: Wes Little
Bass: Dave Roe
Guitar: Pat Bergeson
Lead Guitar: Brent Mason
Piano: Kevin McKendree
Piano: John Jarvis

Mean Baby Blues

Hi Folks,

Here is my version of the Jazz Standard "On The Sunny Side Of The Street" - a 1930 song composed by Jimmy McHugh with lyrics by Dorothy Fields.
Recorded by just about every Jazz and R&B artist in the last 100 years including: Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Dave Brubeck, Earl Hines, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Erroll Garner, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Tatum, James Booker, Count Basie,  Billie Holiday, Bing Crosby, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Doris Day, Brenda Lee, Frankie Laine, Keely Smith, Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson and Rod Stewart to name just a few.

Featuring:
Vocals and arrangement - Nigel Spiers
Bass: Neil Swainson
Piano - Miles Black
Drums - Craig Scott
Guitar - Oliver Gannon
Sax - P.J. Perry

On The Sunny Side Of The Street

Hi Folks,

Here's my version of the immortal "Stardust". A 1927 song composed by Hoagy Carmichael. It has been recorded as an instrumental or vocal track over 1,500 times.

Vocals: Nigel Spiers
Bass: Neil Swainson
Drums: Craig Scott
Sax: P.J. Perry
Guitars: Oliver Gannon
Organ: Chris Nole

Stardust

Hi Folks,

Here's my version of the Hoagy Carmichael classic "Georgia On My Mind". Written by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell and first recorded that same year by Hoagy Carmichael at the RCA Victor Studios at 155 East 24th Street in New York City. "Georgia on My Mind" has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame twice. The first induction was in 1993 for the 1960 recording on the ABC-Paramount label by Ray Charles. The second induction happened in 2014 for the 1930 recording on the Victor label by Hoagy Carmichael And His Orchestra. 

Arrangement and Vocals: Nigel Spiers
Bass: Neil Swainson
Drums: Craig Scott
Piano: Miles Black
Guitar: Oliver Gannon
Sax: P.J. Perry

Georgia On My Mind

Hi Folks,

Here is my version of the blues standard "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" in a Gypsy Jazz style. It was written by pianist Jimmie Cox in 1923 and originally performed in a Vaudeville-blues style in the aftermath of the 1920–1921 U.S. economic depression.

Vocals & Arrangement - Nigel Spiers
Drums - Rick Reed
Rhythm Guitar - John Jorgenson
Solo Guitar - John Jorgenson
Rhythm Piano - John Jarvis
Solo Piano - John Jarvis
Rhythm Fiddle - Hank Singer
Solo Fiddle - Tim Kliphuis

Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out

Hi Folks,

Here's my version of "Basin Street Blues". Written by Spencer Williams in 1928 and recorded that same year by Louis Armstrong. It has been covered by hundreds of artists including: Bob Wills, The Mills Brothers, Shirley Bassey, Louis Prima, Dave Brubeck, Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Sam Cooke, Dr. John, Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Connick Jr. 

Vocals & Piano - Nigel Spiers
Drums - Brian Fullen
Tuba - Brad Muirhead
Piano - John Jarvis
Trombone - Dennis Esson
Trumpet - Al Matheson
Banjo - Ron Thompson  

Basin Street Blues

Hi Folks,

Here is an original Blues inspired by never ending rain here in New Zealand during January (which is meant to be summer here).

Music & Lyrics - Nigel Spiers
Vocals - Nigel Spiers

Bass - Byron House
Drums - Shannon Forrest
Guitar - Jack Pearson
Harmonica - Pat Bergeson


Rain Rain Rain

Hi Folks,

Here's my latest blues song "Mister Slide". This was inspired by the lovely slide playing of the Dobro and National master guitarist Rob Ickes from Nashville. Tennessee. He has won twenty three International Bluegrass Music Awards, including winning Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year fifteen times. While he predominantly plays in Bluegrass style his blues and Jazz playing is also first class as you will hear on this song. 

Music & Lyrics: Nigel Spiers
Vocals: Nigel Spiers
Drums: Shawn Soucy
Bass: Dow Tomlin
Rhythm Guitar: Jack Pearson
Slide Guitar: Rob Ickes

Mister Slide

Hi Folks - this is my blues/rock version of the classic blues song "Key To The Highway". Blues pianist Charlie Segar wrote and first recorded the song in 1940. Jazz Gillum and Big Bill Broonzy followed with recordings in 1940 and 1941, using an arrangement that has become the standard.

Vocals - Nigel Spiers
Bass - Dow Tomlin
Drums - Wayne kIillius
Rhythm Guitar - Jack Pearson
Organ - Chris Nole
Lead Guitar - Brent Mason

Key To The Highway

I've been listening to Jazz and Blues all my life and still addicted.

NigelSpiers

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