MUSIC

Hi, & welcome to my music page. If you’ve read the “about me” page you can’t say you weren’t warned. I’ve been playing guitar for over 55 years with little natural aptitude & sloppy technique, but it’s something I’m driven to do and it has given me as much pleasure as it has caused anguish to those within earshot! Neither do I make a claim to having any kind of a singing voice so those of a delicate disposition may wish to navigate away from this page now. My main musical influence over the last 40 years has been Mark Knopfler, first in Dire Straits & then in his solo career. Unfortunately, when it comes to my own compositions, my lyrics usually seem to be firmly embedded in the “comedy song writing” genre.

Mark Knopfler covers:

Expresso Love (2010) (Remastered 2021 with improved software)

Get Lucky (2011)

Golden Heart (2011)

What It Is (2011)

Brothers In Arms (2012): Guitar, vocals & some additional keyboards played over a commercial backing track.

Border Reiver (2013): (based on the live arrangement).

I Think I love You Too Much (2013) : Played live with Dire Straits, The Notting Hillbillies & on the Golden Heart tour but never released by Mark as a studio recording.

Hill Farmer’s Blues (2014): ( based on the live arrangement).

Silvertown Blues (2021).

Our Shangri-La (2024).

Romeo & Juliet (2024). Combining elements of album and live versions.

Other covers:

Chasing Cars (2012): (Snow Patrol). ( Remastered 2022 with improved software)

Handle With Care (2012): (The Traveling Wilburys).

Lola (2014): (The Kinks).

Simple Twist Of Fate (2013): (Bob Dylan).

Suddenly I See (2014): ( KT Tunstall), lyrics slightly amended to suit a male vocal.

Take It Easy (2015): (The Eagles)

Meet Me On The Corner (2016): (Lindisfarne)

Starman (2016): (David Bowie)

Get It On (2017): (T-Rex)

Losing My Religion (2019): (R.E.M.). ( well, – I bought a mandolin ! )

Imagine (2020): (John Lennon). To mark the 40th anniversary of his death & his 80th birthday

Times Like These (2020): ( Foo Fighters). A combination of the acoustic and electric versions.

Stainsby Girls (2021); ( Chris Rea – another “local hero” )

Start Me Up (2021): (The Rolling Stones (R.I.P Charlie))

Maggie May (2021): (Rod Stewart & the Faces). Another outing for the mandolin !

Don’t Dream It’s Over (2022): (Crowded House)

Back In Black (2023): (AC/DC)

Everlong (2023): (Foo Fighters). Drums by Dave Grohl, everything else by me. (I found an isolated drum track of Dave playing this on the internet which saved having to program the drums).

Original Music: