Listen to Prince and you end up writing songs with titles like this one. A love song, as you can probably guess.
My computer is still not working right; too much hiss when I’m recording and I don’t know how to fix it. Maybe I have an earthing problem but that kind of thing confuses me. [...]
Archive for the 'song' Category
ASAW- 15/11/08 - I’m In Love with A Beautiful Girl
Published November 15th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsA Song A Week - I Wish That I Had - 08/11/08
Published November 8th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsThis week’s song is called I Wish That I Had. My computer has been playing up and recording is very hissy.
This song is about having some faith in yourself.
Play or right click to download
Share This
A Song A Week - 31/10/08 - Stars
Published October 31st, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsThis week’s song is really late. It’s also a song I originally wrote a while ago, so god knows how it’s late….. and some of you have heard it. I’ve redone it adding guitars, vocals, drums and indeed everything. With moving out of the big city - well Waterloo - it seemed apt.
Play or right [...]
A Song A Week - 23/10/08 - Goodbye
Published October 23rd, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsAu Revoir!
Play or right click to download
Share This
A Song A Week - 8/10/08 - Is It Just Imagination
Published October 8th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsThis week’s song is called Is It Just Imagination and is a bit of a belly button gazing song and a bit of a why is the world a mess number. A toe tapper in other words.
Play or right click to download
Share This
A Song A Week A Week - 2/10/08 - Ronnie
Published October 2nd, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsThis week’s song is called Ronnie and is a tribute to Ronnie Lane, bass player and songwriter for The Small Faces and The Faces.
I’ve always loved Ronnie’s music but it wasn’t until I was introduced to his solo stuff that I became a devotee. The Bank of England regularly cover his only solo hit How [...]
A Song A Week - 17/09/08 - The Trader
Published September 17th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsEven later this week but in my defence, I have had toothache and a migraine.
This week’s song is called The Trader and is about someone I know who works in the City of London. I met him and some of his friends recently and was struck by the complete and utter lack of morals; [...]
A Song A Week - 09/09/08 - Formaldehyde
Published September 9th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsThis weeks song is called Formaldehyde. It’s another lighters in the air song I’m afraid. I was hoping to start writing some dubstep or experimenting in some way with these ASAW things but I just don’t have the doggone time. I’m happy just to string some coherent thing together quite frankly, coz it’s getting difficult. [...]
A Song A Week - Insufferable - 02/09/08
Published September 2nd, 2008 in A Song A Week, Gig, Music, gigs, music and song. 0 CommentsThis week’s song is called Insufferable and quite clearly at times I am. Be warned I kick the mic stand about a 3rd of the way through and didn’t have time to redo it so if you are listening at full volume prepare for a Jaws/Carrie moment.*
Play or right click to download
Tonight I’m playing at [...]
ASAW -26/08/08 - Carry It With Me - Plus Some News
Published August 26th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Gig, Music, News, gigs, music and song. 0 CommentsThis week’s song is called Carry It With Me and I’ve written it because me and mine are moving away from Liverpool in October to Glossop in North Derbyshire. I’ve never lived more than 10 miles from where I was born so it’s an upheaval for me but one I think will be good for [...]
A Song A Week - 18/08/08 - Use It Or Lose It
Published August 18th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsWritten with old mucker Brian Chin, this week’s song is called Use It Or Lose It. It’s a bright poppy number which I think is about the state of the nation, or sex appeal. Or both.
Play or right click to download
Share This
A Song A Week 11/08/08 - I Like
Published August 11th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsThis song has been on the boil for a while now and I sung it to Mark Byrne in a hotel room in Inverness and he asked if it was accapella so I thought: what an excellent way to do a song I have no idea how to do… It’s called I Like.
Play or right [...]
A Song A Week - 05/08/08 - Don’t Try This At Home
Published August 5th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Gig, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsThis week’s song Don’t Try This At Home might well refer to the attempted vocal gymnastics about 3/4 of the way through; far too early in the morning for that kind of thing…..
Play or right click to download
From tomorrow (wed) until Saturday I’m in Inverness at Hootannay on wednesday evening, Brockies Lodge thursday evening and [...]
A Song A Week - 29/07/08 - Josephine Says
Published July 29th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsIt has been too hot in my attic roon, far too hot for any sensible activities, so I waited until this morning to do a quick recording of this song Josephine Says. It’s about moving away.
Play or right click to download
We had a fantastic gig at the Bombed Out Church on Saturday; a lovely sunny [...]
A Song A Week - 15/07/08 - Give Me A Chance
Published July 15th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsIt seems that in my universe Tuesday is the new Monday… This week’s song is called Give Me A Chance and is a throwaway number I suppose; an unholy mix of Faces, Dylan and Beatles (I wish) noisy guitars and all that.
Play or right click to download
As usual all the songs in the podcast player [...]
A Song A Week - o8/07/08 - Old Fashioned
Published July 8th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Gig, Music, gigs, music and song. 1 CommentI wrote 3 songs this week and can’t say I was really pleased with any of them. And i ‘ve had a sore throat and all that kind of palaver. Excuses excuses.
I’ve gone with Old Fashioned the one I wrote first because I managed to record it, although I have rewitten the words since. It’s [...]
A Song A Week - 30/06/08 - Indigo
Published June 30th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Captain Pop, Gig, Music, gigs, music and song. 0 CommentsAbout 10% of the songs written this year i consider finished. By that I mean the melody, chords and words rather than the recordings, I’m hoping to re-rcord as many as I can, and this week’s is no exception, it’s partly written. It’s called Indigo and is the first I’ve written with it being a [...]
A Song A Week -23/06/08 - I Asked My Darling
Published June 23rd, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsThis week’s song is called I Asked My Darling and its a doomed relationship song. One of those where someone knows the other person doesn’t love them but they hang on anyway. Tragic huh?
Play or right click to download
Few more Bank of England gigs added with more to come and I’m playing some solo (or [...]
A Song A Week - 16/06/08 - Play The Game
Published June 16th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsA few weeks ago I did a gig in Southport with Andy White to help raise money for the New Victoria Cricket Club who are humble little side playing in the lancashire leagues but who last year managed to beat the Bulgarian national team! They have organised a return to Bulgaria and also this time [...]
A Song A Week -10/06/08 - Betty And Me
Published June 10th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsA day late with this one but worse things happen at sea. It’s called Betty And Me and is just guitar and vocal. Bit hissy sounding but you can pretend it’s an old 45…..
Play or right click to download
Usual rss and podcast feeds to the right.
Share This
A Song A Week -30/05/08 (Early) - Shadows (Anniversary Song)
Published May 30th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsThis, or rather next week’s song is early is because a) I wont be here and b) it’s my 10th wedding anniversary (sorry ladies…..) and I had to write a song about it. See, I had promised a trip to Paris for our 10th but I’m a musician and things never turn out as they [...]
A Song A Week - 26/05/08 - Music
Published May 26th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsI dreamed the other night about Edwyn Collins. I had just watched the documentary about his rehabiltation following 2 strokes, it was really moving and uplifting. In this dream there was a theme tune and this is it. Well as far as I can remember anyway! Not entirely how it went, I think, as [...]
A Song A Week - 19/05/08 - Sweethearts and Swells
Published May 19th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Gig, Music, gigs, music and song. 0 CommentsHere’s song number 22 (two little ducks quack quack) called Sweethearts and Swells. A bit of a Nick Lowe/Elvis Costello vibe going on here I think. Very short slice of power pop.
Play or right click to download
Podcast and feeds over to the right.
Couple of Bank of England gigs coming up this week at The Cavern [...]
A Song A Week -12/05/08 - Have A Good Summer
Published May 12th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsThe song this wek is called Have A Good Summer. I’m not too good with summer days, when everyone is sunbathing I’m in the shade reading and complaining that it’s too hot. I like the evenings though, when it’s warm enough to sit outside in t-shirts.
Me and mine made a little video to accompany the [...]
A Song A Week - 05/05/08 The Farmer & The Badger
Published May 5th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Gig, Music, News, music and song. 0 CommentsThis weeks song is called The Farmer and the Badger. I wrote it olast night about 9pm and have just quickly recorded it. Very last minute as the song I first wrote for this week sounds like a mid-life crisis set to a tune and by the weekend my middle aged angst had hidden itself [...]
A Song A Week - 28/04/08 - All for One
Published April 28th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsNot sure of the title for this one: All For One but I suppose it sums it up.
This song came from being in a part of Liverpool that was like a warzone and meeting some decent people who were scared and scarred by life. Poverty’s not only relative it’s real. If a certain few are [...]
A Song A Week - 21/04/08 - Drinking German Beer
Published April 21st, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsProper German beer is a treat. That’s all that needs to be said really but I’ll go on. In Germany it is poured like guinness, taking 5 minutes or so to settle and be ready. Always worth the wait. That is my tip for this week.
The song is called Drinking German Beer
Play or right click [...]
A Song A Week - 14/04/08 - The Trouble With Me +1
Published April 14th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsThis weeks song is called The Trouble With Me and is all me own work. It was originally to be called The Killer In Me but ended up with the rather more pathetic (in the sympatheic definition of the word) subject matter. I could just have strung a load of words together, however.
Play or right [...]
A Song A Week - 07/04/08 -What You Need
Published April 7th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsNo tricks this week, just guitar and vocal.
The song is called What You Need and the lyric is from a poem of the same name by Lizzie Nunnery.
I’m playing a gig with Lizzie on 18th April (see gig page) in Melling and Lizzie has a fantastic EP out now called Hungry.
Play or right click to [...]
A Song A Week - 31/03/08 - Down By The River
Published March 31st, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsOk, 3 months in now, song number 14. It’s getting difficult, I’ve used all my tricks up. Skin of my teeth this week. Logged on to Trailer Star’s website and came up with a tune for the lyrics of this weeks song ‘Down By The River’. Trailer’s lyrics are slightly more poetic than the way [...]
A Song A Week 17/03/08 - Worthless Gold
Published March 17th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsWell what a week that was. Started off with 3 days in bed laid up on my back (always the best position in bed unless…. well that’s a whole other website). Then a panic for my song for this week. I watched The Move doing Fire Brigade on the BBC iplayer and loved that it [...]
A Song A Week 10/03/08 - Chavasse Park
Published March 10th, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsThis weeks song, Chavasse Park, is a co-write with Lizzie Nunnery. Inspired by a poem of Lizzie’s about the park, down towards the Liverpool waterfront, that has been ‘redeveloped’ as part of the city’s march toward capitalist of culture status. Lots of wonderfully expensive new shops will be opening there very soon. I can barely [...]
A Song A Week 03/03/08 - English Country Heart
Published March 3rd, 2008 in A Song A Week, Music, music and song. 0 CommentsSong number 10. A bit late putting this up as I have a stupendous hangover today. Thank you Rob Ellen…
Another Trailer Star co-write, this is called English Country Heart and I think it’s a bit Teenage Fanclub sounding. This is not a flag waving song. As Joe Strummer said ‘I’m anti-fascist, anti-racist, pro-creative.’
Play or Right [...]
Here’s all the little videos and you tube things I’ve put on the site. I’ll also add these to the Listen/Watch page for when this posting slides off the page. This proves us songsters are ego maniacs. Or at least I am I suppose.
First the homespun hellodeo ones with a link to download the audio.
She [...]
The first Tambourines single revisited as requested. It’s early in the day so the voice is a bit er, y’know.
Play or Audio Download
And in other news (Tony Wilson voice) I’ll be at The Telegraph Pub in New Brighton on Monday 26th March supporting Dick Gaughan. Tickets £10 from the pub. Or email me. Only [...]
16 Tambourines - Live On Telly
Published January 3rd, 2007 in 16 Tambourines, Music and song. 0 CommentsThis is 16 Tambourines live on Granada News doing our single How Green Is Your Valley? We played in the mock-roman building down at the Albert Dock when it had just opened and I can remember the sound was awful and echoey (echoey echoey echoey…). We had originally mimed it in Frodsham overlooking the massive [...]
Here’s what happens if you take an afternoon Sherry or two. Remember, as Half Man Half Biscuit sang ‘It’s cliched to be cynical at Christmas’.
Hope you all enjoy good presents, great company, good health and fun xxx
Play or Audio Download
Share This
Video of moi covering The Beatles’ I’m So Tired at last year’s John Lennon Day in Liverpool City Centre.
Share This
Play Audio or Download
This is an old song I wrote with Captain Pop compadre Brian Chin about wife beating. I knew someone who suffered at the hands of their husband and it took them a long time to get out, either because she was scared or to keep the family together or some other reason.
I [...]
Plus 2 songs Falling Apart and Runaway.
Play or Download
Share This
Play or Audio Download I’m adding a download link to all the little songs I put up here.This has had the volume increased so its a bit rumbly.
I wrote this on saturday intending to play it at the benefit for Action Aid I was doing that night as it’s kind of about us all [...]
I bought a ukulele last week. A friend had got one and so I wanted one too! Also my grandad was in a Ukulele Orchestra many years ago and I fancied a bit of continuim. Or something.
I wrote this song Broke Down. I say I wrote it but 70% of the words are by Shaun [...]
Yet another song in my room. I really must leave the house more often. Thanks to those of you who say they’re enjoying these little posts.
I was going to set up microphones and things to make it sound better, but it sort of defeats the object I reckon. May change my mind though.
Play or Audio [...]
This is an old song called Lucia, based on the life of James Joyce’s daughter who was called…… Lucia! She had a hard time of things by all accounts, being the daughter of a very famous man and having a bright and eccentric personality of her own. You can hear my daughters at the end. [...]
A song I’ve been playing the last few months or so. When things aren’t going right is the theme…..
Play or Audio Download
Share This
Just written this song and at the moment it’s called You Could Be Anywhere. Thought I’d do a little video because I’m into these widget things you get for websites. The vid’s pretty crappy as my camera is knackered and the sound is through the cheap little plastic mic you get with a computer. Excuses, [...]




















A Song A Week - 23/09/08 - The Blame Game
Published September 23rd, 2008 in A Song A Week, Comment, Gig, Music, News, gigs, music and song. 0 CommentsBack to the now traditional only one day late, this week’s song is about self loathing or a sociopath. It might be a mix of both conditions, I’m never quite sure what most of my songs are about, but I know what they mean.
It’s called The Blame Game play or right click to download.
There have [...]