About 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 possible Capatin Pop song (See Shut Up & Sing in the Music link). I’ve been speaking to fellow crew member Brian Chin about doing some more of that stuff and he likes the idea so we are throwing stuff at each other. He’s sent me a boss instrumental track.
The idea I had was for what I call retro-onica but it’s turned out nothing like that! Quite a nice tune though I think.
All the song a week things are in the podcast player on the right (subscribe for free through iTunes and others) but I’ve also expanded this WHOLE page (phew) so you can scroll down and pick and choose.
The photo for the banner at the top was taken by Will Woodrowe at The Cavern as was the one I’ve used for a gig poster (see below). Download print and distribute as you see fit. Or put it on the wall over the damp patch. Then again most of you probably don’t put posters on walls anymore. Bloody wallpapering.
This 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?
Few more Bank of England gigs added with more to come and I’m playing some solo (or duo, not sure yet) in Inverness at The Tartan Heart and Belladrum Festivals between 6th and 9th August. Full details soon.
I have a compilation CD available at gigs called Cherry Bowl. It’s 22 songs taken from It Just Is, Shake It and Shut Up & Sing, if you’d like to buy one drop me a line. I might be making it generally available but not had time to organise it. All the songs can be bought at iTunes if you are into that kind of place (I am) and I’m hoping to also make everything available at full uncompressed bit rates with full artwork in the near future. So many plans so littler time.
A 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 to Romania, in July, taking with them various bits and pieces of cricket gear they will donate out there. These are still very poor countries and cricket teams are very low on list of priorities but sport is a great way of forging friendship (forget about Chelsea for a moment) and it is a brilliant thing they are doing. Visit the New Victoria website for more details.
At the fundraiser I was asked if I would write a tour song for them. They wanted it dumb and sing alongable and it is certainly dumb! I understand they are going to do a video for it and will stick it on youtube when available. Will keep you informed.
The song is called Play The Game and is a bit of a departure I suppose but I have had previous where dumb sport singalongs are concerned, so it’s not totally unexpected.
A 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…..
This, 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 should, particularly if it takes money. Not that I’m mean, just skint.
So what’s a poor boy to do? Write a song.
It’s called Shadows (Anniversary Song) and I started writing it on Monday and finished it last night. It’s a very happy song because who wants to dwell on the times I’ve been an idiot over the years? Not me.
In the end the only thing that matters is love as long as you can survive. It’s easy to count your blessings when you have some, so allow my indulgence and enjoy the song.
As it’s about half way through the year, I’m hoping to sort the A Song A Week thing out so it can be explained and the songs accessed easier. In the meantime use the podcast player to the right to listen and download.
I 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 dreams are full of the unattainable.
Play or right click to download.
Great couple of gigs this week with The Bank of England at The Cavern. Really exciting and dynamic though I say so myself, others told us the same, so there:).
We are going to keep on learning and rehearsing new songs and old and will be playing more often. Thanks if you came down to either of them.
Here’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.
Couple of Bank of England gigs coming up this week at The Cavern as part of the International Pop Overthrow week; Wednesday 21st at 10pm and Sunday 25th at 1.30pm.
All gigs are free admittance.
Sorry, we’ve had to cancel the Crosby Festival gig.
The 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 song in our modest back garden. Here it is the mp3 is available underneath or from the music player in the right hand column, where you can also find the rest of the A Song A Week songs.
This 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 away. You’ll get that song when my crisis lasts a full week.
Somebody asked me to write about Badgers and for some reason I have. Not being a country boy I don’t know the full ins and outs of the farmer/badger wars but both are symbols of our country.
Usual podcast and feeds to the right of this site.
The full band is going to play a set at Stamps in Crosby Village on Sunday 11th May at 6pm. We now have a wurlitzer played by Liz Rothwell and its all sounding good if ragged.
Not 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 getting incredibly rich, it’s because they have access to money that might otherwise go toward the common good. Ok, I’m an old school lefty, but it strikes me as mad that people have to pay for higher education; public transport is so unstable and expensive that without a car there’s little point in leaving your immediate enviroment and looking at an horizon; social clubs are dying and it’s sad, they were (and in the odd case still are) are a self policing place were generations/neighbours met and got to communicate. It just seems like the world is one big con about money.
So of course I’ve put it all right in a little 3 minute pop song.
Play or right click to download
10 points if you know where I’ve stolen part of the last verse from.
Proper 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.
This 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.
Also, a recording of the band playing Sweet Libra in my attic. It’s a single mic in the middle of the room and is onlt the third time we’d played it through. I like the vibe though.
We’ve been rehearsing for some gigs in May and beyond. Martyn is no longer playing bass with us - BUT he’s still my best mate and will probably jump on stage Spinal Tap style in the future. Steve Rothwell has moved from da drums to bass; Chris is still tethered to the guitar; Mark Byrne has joined is to hit the drums in a boss fashion. I’m loving it.
This version of Sweet Libra is not in the Song A Week podcast - my demo of it is -(see right hand columns) but The Trouble With Me Is.
No 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.
Ok, 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 I’ve rendered them but he’s an Arsenal fan and with all the big games against them coming up I’m going to do anything to make him feel bad. Really bad. This song has a nagging chorus which might just see him off.
I’m going to have to change things to get through a whole year of songs without just repeating myself but how I don’t know yet. I still have a number of ideas/lyrics and things sent into me but I can’t just force it so I have to wait and let them happen somehow. Which is good in a way but also shows up my lack of any real musical ability and leaves me alone with my tricks, which I can’t disclose being a member of the Magic Songwriters Circle.
Podcast subscriptions to the right of the page as per. Jokers to the left, ho ho.
Anyone with any lyrics/ideas etc let me know. Those of you who have sent stuff but haven’t seen them turned into songs, I apologise, hopefully, soon come.
This weeks song is called Buddy Holly Sung The Songs. I wrote it for Spencer Leigh’s Buddy Holly Special on Radio Merseyside.
I love Buddy Holly’s music and so it was a real privilege to appear on the show with Tommy Allsup, Buddy’s guitarist and the man who lived because he lost the toss of a coin to see who would travel on the plane that killed Buddy, The Big bopper, Richie Valens and the pilot Roger Peterson. I played a version of Everyday, my Buddy song, then joined Tommy’s band to play Rave On (I hid a bit as i didn’t know the right chords………).
Here’s a couple of photos kindly sent to me by Dave Acaster. Tommy, a phenomenal guitarist is in the hat.
I went for a drink with Jimmy Stevens a fine singer-songwriter who had a superb album out in the early 70’s entitled ‘Don’T Freak Me Out. it’s available from Jimmy via ebay. Jimmy still plays in Liverpool and was good mates with Jimmy Campbell sadly deceased Liverpool songwriting legend. Jimmy’s album features John Bonham and Peter Frampton among others.
A seriously great 2 hours of music only spoilt by the BBC only allowing the rugby commentary on the listen again facility….. city of culture………..
Thanks to Spencer and the Radio Merseyside staff for putting together a great show and for inviting me on.
Well 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 was just guitar, bass and drums, no overdubs so I wanted to do this weeks really raw like that. It sounds more like The Jam though but I’m ok with that. No sooner had I written it than Spencer Leigh the wonderful and knowledgeable host of Radio Merseyside’s On The Beat Show phoned to ask if I’d do another song on the Saturday (15th March) Buddy Holly Special and could it be one I’d write specially for the show. Well I ask you! So I did and maybe that will be next weeks song. I’ll certainly be doing a post about Spencer’s show which was absolutely a corker with none-stop Buddy Holly music. Tell you all about it next week.
Song below. Podcast stuff in the right hand column.
Sooooo, here’s song fonumber 12; Worthless Gold. Rough and ready and proud of it.
Don’t forget the EP From Speke To Waterloo (see previous entry) is out today and as it’s my daughter’s birthday you should buy it so I can lavish her with presents. She deserves them. Happy birthday Rosa xxx
The new and indeed, first EP from Steve Roberts & The Bank of England is now available to buy. You can choose from your favourite digital music store (see below) or buy a CD version from here.
The CD is £2.50 including p&p.
The songs have been picking up some nice bits of airplay both locally and around the country but I could do with more! If you know of a local Radio DJ who might be interested let me know.
Steve
This 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 wait…
I really like this song but would love to re record it as like many of the ASAW tunes, it’s been put together pretty quickly. Anyway, here it is song number 11. Don’t forget it’s also available via podcast and RSS. Choose your weapon from the right hand column.
Song 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.’
Podcast info all available in the right hand column.
I’m going to be on Radio Merseyside on Sat 15th March on Spencer Leigh’s programme, between 6.30 and 8pm. It’s a Buddy Holly special featuring Buddy’s guitarist Tommy Allsup and I’m going to be playing a version of the wonderful Everyday. Can’t wait for that.
This weeks song is a transatlantic affair. When I used to run Acoustic Engine gigs, one of the great bits of it was having songwriters from all over the world come along and play for us. Doug Hoekstra from Chicago via Nashville was one of the first. Doug’s songs are quiet (live anyway) and intelligent pieces so I just had to make a racket when writing this one to Doug’s lyric.
I’ve slightly altered the odd word and added one or two of my own. I think this song may be about keeping hold of our child like qualities, but I could be wrong.
I wrote it on my ukelele - you have been warned.
Quiet Loner has emerged from his bunker to let me have his version of Postmark Birmingham. I love this and it put a big smile on my face. More reflective than mine, I know you’ll really enjoy it. Play or Right Click to download
It’s been pointed out to me that Johnathan Coulton was the first person to do this song a week thing. Well thank you for that and there’s me thinking I was a new original. You can listen to him here.
Song number 7 is another collaboration with Quiet Loner. The words to this one are all his and great words they are.
I had some fingerpicking to do on this song - not my strong point - and as I was singing at the same time it took me 9 goes to get it done. See how hard I work? I’m worth every bloody penny of my salary if you ask me…….
You can also play it in the podcast feed player to the right (if you fiddle with the controls of it you get the download link) or you can add the podcast via your own favourite feed.
I’m a Libran but I don’t subscribe to the astrological ways of thinking. I suppose I believe that we can all have bits of whatever any particular sign is supposed to have as characteristics.
When I started writing this number, I noticed the bit about wanting balance and it occurred to me that that’s a Libran trait (or supposedly….) so I googled Libra and filled in the blanks so to speak, allowing myself a weak gag about hair.
I must confess to sharing a number of the characteristics but as I was worryingly starting to believe that yes, I am a ‘LIBRAN’, my brother Chris who had called round, pointed out that such things as being a romantic and gullible etc are indeed shared by some people born in, say April. So that’s ok then.
Chris played the guitar solo as well as advising me in my hour of astrological weakness.
Remember these A Song A Week numbers can be collected on the easy podcast player to the right, posted on your myspace site, shared with others or subscribed to using iTunes and the other podcast receivers on the right of the page. Till next week x.
5th song in the A Song A Week thing. One for all you double entendre lovers, ‘As Hard As This Is’ is co-written with Quiet Loner (aka Matt Hill). The Loner supplied lyrics and a title and I came up with tune and music and a few extra words. Countryish, I tried to do some slide guitar stuff but I’m expert enough to know I’m no expert. Please fill a glass with bourbon and have a listen. Play or Right Click to Download
Listen to all of them in the podcast to the right and subscribe using your favourite subscribe thing.
It has been persisiting down this weekend and I thought rather than fight it I’d embrace it. My studio is in the roof of my house and has velux(?) windows which are rather noisy when it rains. So this weeks song opens with the sound of the downpour captured by the vocal mic. Good eh?
I’m waffling but that’s what blogs are good for. The song is called Gone and is a pretty simple 4 chord trick coloured with my lovely 12 string guitar. It also has a falsetto bit at the end I’ll never be able to do again ever, so there you go.
If you’ve been around my site you may know of my song I Surrendered about domestic abuse and my disgust for it. Good friend Daniel Rachel has a single out this week which aims to raise money and just as importantly awarenessabout this all to common behind closed doors sadness. His message below. Buy it this week if you can.
Steve x
Dear Friend and pledger
Thank you so much for being one of the first 200 pledgers, your support has been magnificent. Now is the time to honour your pledge.
‘Let It Be Mine’ is released today. If you buy the single over the next 6 days, all the profits will go to Tender, the arts organisation driving to stop domestic abuse and sexual violence.
I really need your support to make ‘Let It Be Mine’ a UK chart hit.
Please buy it today for Tender
Many thanks
Daniel Rachel (links below)
Download for just 79p, at your favourite download store;
“Daniel’s support of Tender is so inspiring for us - a strong, clear male voice speaking up against domestic abuse and sexual violence. Putting this record in the charts will take our vision far and wide. If you want to help us make a difference to the future, buy the single today.”
I wanted to write about a car or driving - because I’ve just passed my test- had chords and a tune, but couldn’t come up withe the proper words. In desperation I turned to a source of great words Shaun Belcher (aka Trailer Star) and found a song of his Bled Dry. Shaun has this wonderful ability to present everyday things in an iconic, kind of nostalgic beauty (I have been drinking…and Shaun I should have asked you first x). I changed some words and added one or two others but most of them are his fault. Piano and vocal, wish I was Tom Waits.
You can also subscribe to these A Song A Week Songs through iTunes and others (see right) but there’s no guarrantee the songs will be great. Doing my best
Here’s the second of the A Song A Week tunes. It’s called Shalalalalalala and was written after watching the last of the debutantes programme on the BBC’s iPlayer (don’t you love the beeb? I do.)
Had a bit longer to write/record this so bit hi-fier sounding than the first one. Now have to crack on with the next one.
Play or Right click to save As always, if you subscribe to my podcast - see right hand side - either through the feed player or iTunes, or any of the other podcast providers listed (see colourful buttons)you’ll get them automatically.
Some nice messages about the first one even though it was a rather drunken sketch. Thanks and keep them coming.
Hope Christmas was fun and the New Year happy (and both the other way round too).
Was an up and down kind of year was 2007 personally, but fortunately mostly up.
I’ve not made any resolutions, or at least I wasn’t going to until I started typing this bit, so now I will! Wahey.
I’ll write a new song and every week post it on here. At least 50 ayear… Exercise the muscles. I’ve stolen the idea from Liam Dullaghan who did a song every day throughout December for the second year running. My initial idea was to rip his great idea off and have a song a day for the year, but that way madness lies. So I’m ripping it off on a weekly basis. Listen to Liam
I’m expecting many of the songs to be a bit useless but YOU NEVER KNOW. I have no idea what the sounds will be, but probably me on acoustic guitar and a bit of yodelling. Give me some thoughts/suggestions please.
Here’s the first one and it’s called ‘You’. Recorded and written on my return home this New Years Eve, feeling a bit tipsy a bit happy/sad. But hopeful. Awwww. Now I’ll have to write more songs or I’m a fink. Or something. Play or Right click to save If you subscribe to my podcast - see right hand side - either through the feed player or iTunes, you’ll get them automatically.
Other recordings will be seeing the light of day soon, the first one will be a new version of ‘From Speke to Waterloo’, which is a full bandy version featuring the legendary Bank Of Englanders Chris, Martyn and Steve. Lovely.
Let’s hope 2008 is a time when we remember we are all one people/family under the same roof. As Pete Wylie says, let’s make it 2000 and Great!xx
