Hi all,
Following a less than satisfactory (90%) stay in the Norwich/Norfolk area; I decide to list all the good things about the stay rather than dwell on the negative, so here's the list (my favouright things):-
My new Dean guitar arrvied (for you guitar heads, explorer style Z79 in black with hot pickups).
Managed to get a re-issue of a Count Basie CD (4 CD's including Joe Williams sings standards)
Listened to 2am: Paradise Cafe by Barry Manilow, some great Baritone sax work by Gerry Mulligan, vocals by Sarah Vaughan, Mel Torme etc.
Elkins Music, Norwich; very good store for singers sheeet music (low/medium voice)
Turkish delight ice cream at Gorleston beach.
GreatYarmouth: Allens music, Barry Manilow songbook (notes on songs) plus Olympia restaurant Southern Chicken with banana and pineapple fritters.
White leather top trainers.
Amber tooth charm.
Picnic in the grounds of Sandringham.
Reading King Tubby's biography.
Paddling in the the Sea.
Lobster tails in seafood sauce at Hunstanton.
Overall the above more than offsets the poor breakfast buffet, and too soft beds in the Hotel we stayed at!
Sifting (extract).
Sifting, just sifting
The good from out the bad.
Sifting, just sifting
Focussing on what aint sad.
Sifting, just sifting
I’ve decided to look to the light
Sifting, just sifting
Peel away the clouds uncover the bright.
The man at the seafood stall gives me plenty seafood sauce
Coating all the lobster tails,
Thanks me for calling, gave me two free forks...
My finest Blues lyrics? Probably not but an exercise in positive psychology ( positive cognitions, setting the filters to the brighter)
My friend Kathy wondered whether I should email those on the poems list re my ceasing -see my earlier post on the dangers of internet postings- so I've decided to email the link to this Blog out.
NB: All contents © Louis J. Casson , Purple Squirrel Poems,
Cryptic Furnace Press 2010 All rights reserved.
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Friday, 9 July 2010
The Sea is calling...
The Seaside next week is calling me. Here's a poem, enjoy.
Shell Speech (extract).
My palm, pressed to my ear, makes two fleshed shells.
Cupping and containing the hollow sea, with sound of surf.
And, if I take off my shoes, the air and motion feels slightly cool
like wavelets, as I waft my feet...
From: "September Songs" © Louis J. Casson , Cryptic Furnace Press, 2007
All rights reserved.
I've always enjoyed the Sea and the waves with the Sun dancing off them. Like clouds watching there is something soothing in the aspect of water, grounding us again to the nature we are part of.
Strangely enough thus week I posted on Linkedin a video clip of Rodney Crowell singing "Till I Can Gain Control Again" -the song contains references to rowing, a lighthouse, and also the killer line "like sunlight dancing on your skin".
Is it the musicians, the words etc? Yes, but more so it's the song (and, as Trisha Yearwoood would sing "The Song Remembers When"). When all the elements come together then it makes for success.
On another note check out the single Gregory by a new band Chapter 24, on Facebook. A refreshing change to my ears, you'll probably like it too. Very good music, I also like the sound of the Fender Mustang bass, simple lines can be so effective.
Had a listen to Dub Fever by King Tubby; Robbie Shakespeare's bass riddims are effective, seem simple - until you try to play them!
NB: All contents © Louis J. Casson , Purple Squirrel Poems,
Cryptic Furnace Press 2010 All rights reserved.
Shell Speech (extract).
My palm, pressed to my ear, makes two fleshed shells.
Cupping and containing the hollow sea, with sound of surf.
And, if I take off my shoes, the air and motion feels slightly cool
like wavelets, as I waft my feet...
From: "September Songs" © Louis J. Casson , Cryptic Furnace Press, 2007
All rights reserved.
I've always enjoyed the Sea and the waves with the Sun dancing off them. Like clouds watching there is something soothing in the aspect of water, grounding us again to the nature we are part of.
Strangely enough thus week I posted on Linkedin a video clip of Rodney Crowell singing "Till I Can Gain Control Again" -the song contains references to rowing, a lighthouse, and also the killer line "like sunlight dancing on your skin".
Is it the musicians, the words etc? Yes, but more so it's the song (and, as Trisha Yearwoood would sing "The Song Remembers When"). When all the elements come together then it makes for success.
On another note check out the single Gregory by a new band Chapter 24, on Facebook. A refreshing change to my ears, you'll probably like it too. Very good music, I also like the sound of the Fender Mustang bass, simple lines can be so effective.
Had a listen to Dub Fever by King Tubby; Robbie Shakespeare's bass riddims are effective, seem simple - until you try to play them!
NB: All contents © Louis J. Casson , Purple Squirrel Poems,
Cryptic Furnace Press 2010 All rights reserved.
Thursday, 24 June 2010
Second Call
For the last three days the words "second call" have beeen in my mind as the seed - core - for another song lyric. From experience I know that it's best to let things simmer until the moment to write the lines out comes.
This morning was right and the lines came along with chorus too; basic idea being a meet between a man and woman, but the man is too busy etc to pick up on the cues from her indicating a romantic interest. only later does he realise the missed chance, and resolves if they meet again he'll listen to the "second call" as it were.
"...Words flowing over me
To fall
Pooled in silence spent."
I typed it up into my PC to the draft document of poems and lyrics for later publication/final revision. Now on thinking about it I think "Second Call" also means a final announcement in the theatre that the play is about to re-start. Perhaps a good name for a future Blues band too?
I did not hear in my mind a tune while writing but the recall of that style of Charles Aznavour - conversational, where he sings/speaks as if sharing a secret with the listener. More later!
NB: All contents © Louis J. Casson , Purple Squirrel Poems,
Cryptic Furnace Press 2010 All rights reserved.
This morning was right and the lines came along with chorus too; basic idea being a meet between a man and woman, but the man is too busy etc to pick up on the cues from her indicating a romantic interest. only later does he realise the missed chance, and resolves if they meet again he'll listen to the "second call" as it were.
"...Words flowing over me
To fall
Pooled in silence spent."
I typed it up into my PC to the draft document of poems and lyrics for later publication/final revision. Now on thinking about it I think "Second Call" also means a final announcement in the theatre that the play is about to re-start. Perhaps a good name for a future Blues band too?
I did not hear in my mind a tune while writing but the recall of that style of Charles Aznavour - conversational, where he sings/speaks as if sharing a secret with the listener. More later!
NB: All contents © Louis J. Casson , Purple Squirrel Poems,
Cryptic Furnace Press 2010 All rights reserved.
Saturday, 12 June 2010
New Blog picture - damage control, Miles Davis
Decided to change the background to my Blog from dark colour to a lighter one, plus picture change too.
Could not find the picture used for my Facebook entry, so picked the one I drew a week or so ago when I was considering setting up a LinkedIn LION group for practsing Arts persons and those sympatico to this field. It's a picture of a friendly but slightly crazy Lion. Why AriARTS? Ari is my Godson, ARTS is as it is. (potential plagiarists out there, kindly note the copyright symbol)
A good day! I seem to have a backlog of lyrics etc to input to the PC, maybe not final - rarely happens- but can save for a look over later. Important not to overwork the materials since the freshness is then lost. Something recording artists find too, the first 2 or 3 takes are the best when you are fresh before tiredness or boredom creeps in.
New guitar scheduled for arrival 29 June -can't wait! I just recall a County & Western Song "The new never wore off my Sweet Baby". New guitars can revive you to play more etc, but you have to watch the price of getting them. I wrote a poem for my Grandad - "Fad" - called "Still Laughing In a Silent Way" which mentioned his old accordion "Silent, full of remembered musics" (He played by ear and was a big fan of Jimmy Shand)
Talking of Jimmy Shand. I was at the philosophy residential weeekend at the Maryvale Institute Birmingham, when we played a Jimmy Shand CD to football on the TV with the TV sound off. Strangely each time the goal was scored, or the players moved up the field- the "highland fling" on the field synched to the music!
Have gone thourough deleting all past poems lyircs posts on Ernie Ball Forum / Linked in Blues forum etc,as much as I can, prevents further appropriation risk.
Miles Davis on SkyArts last night - interesting ideas, i.e. themes, riffs, ideas, in a loose format of improvisation. Good results.
NB: All contents © Louis J. Casson , Purple Squirrel Poems,
Cryptic Furnace Press 2010 All rights reserved.
Could not find the picture used for my Facebook entry, so picked the one I drew a week or so ago when I was considering setting up a LinkedIn LION group for practsing Arts persons and those sympatico to this field. It's a picture of a friendly but slightly crazy Lion. Why AriARTS? Ari is my Godson, ARTS is as it is. (potential plagiarists out there, kindly note the copyright symbol)
A good day! I seem to have a backlog of lyrics etc to input to the PC, maybe not final - rarely happens- but can save for a look over later. Important not to overwork the materials since the freshness is then lost. Something recording artists find too, the first 2 or 3 takes are the best when you are fresh before tiredness or boredom creeps in.
New guitar scheduled for arrival 29 June -can't wait! I just recall a County & Western Song "The new never wore off my Sweet Baby". New guitars can revive you to play more etc, but you have to watch the price of getting them. I wrote a poem for my Grandad - "Fad" - called "Still Laughing In a Silent Way" which mentioned his old accordion "Silent, full of remembered musics" (He played by ear and was a big fan of Jimmy Shand)
Talking of Jimmy Shand. I was at the philosophy residential weeekend at the Maryvale Institute Birmingham, when we played a Jimmy Shand CD to football on the TV with the TV sound off. Strangely each time the goal was scored, or the players moved up the field- the "highland fling" on the field synched to the music!
Have gone thourough deleting all past poems lyircs posts on Ernie Ball Forum / Linked in Blues forum etc,as much as I can, prevents further appropriation risk.
Miles Davis on SkyArts last night - interesting ideas, i.e. themes, riffs, ideas, in a loose format of improvisation. Good results.
NB: All contents © Louis J. Casson , Purple Squirrel Poems,
Cryptic Furnace Press 2010 All rights reserved.
Another two!
My last post concerned the process of "receiving" poems.
Last night just after watching a film on TV I got the words for another one (I got left behind) so I wrote them down in a n ote book to type up later in my PC working file.
Later on going up to bed, I got the first two lines of the chorus of the second piece (I need to know) then had to go downstairs to finish it adding two more verses and a variation on the chorus. This is important since if I just think I'll recall it in the morning, then this may not happen and the piece is then lost.
Looks generally OK and fits with the "tune" in my head (some sort of 60's soul R N B ). But it will need a final lookover before it's finished.
NB: All contents © Louis J. Casson , Purple Squirrel Poems,
Cryptic Furnace Press 2010 All rights reserved.
Last night just after watching a film on TV I got the words for another one (I got left behind) so I wrote them down in a n ote book to type up later in my PC working file.
Later on going up to bed, I got the first two lines of the chorus of the second piece (I need to know) then had to go downstairs to finish it adding two more verses and a variation on the chorus. This is important since if I just think I'll recall it in the morning, then this may not happen and the piece is then lost.
Looks generally OK and fits with the "tune" in my head (some sort of 60's soul R N B ). But it will need a final lookover before it's finished.
NB: All contents © Louis J. Casson , Purple Squirrel Poems,
Cryptic Furnace Press 2010 All rights reserved.
Thursday, 10 June 2010
The dangers of internet postings!
Just decide this morning to cease posting any more poems/lyrics on the internet after meeting someone (no names here, mostly because it may harm their career) who casually revealed they'd set some lyrics of mine to music- "of course I'll give you credit". (!!)
Bad not asking me for the permission beforehand (I am not happy) I'd expected someone who says they're in the music business to have more savvy and knowledge regarding feelings around other artists work, risk of plagiarism, copyright issues etc (I always posted a copyright notice to all my work placed online).
I believe them about crediting myself but... begs this has raised the question of potentially who else is doing the same and not telling me, possibly also then passing the work off as theirs by merely cut n pasting?
Sadly the only way to be safe is not to post anything I do not want taken and used. So all internet postings of my lyrics/poems - or other writings - are now ceased.
Bad not asking me for the permission beforehand (I am not happy) I'd expected someone who says they're in the music business to have more savvy and knowledge regarding feelings around other artists work, risk of plagiarism, copyright issues etc (I always posted a copyright notice to all my work placed online).
I believe them about crediting myself but... begs this has raised the question of potentially who else is doing the same and not telling me, possibly also then passing the work off as theirs by merely cut n pasting?
Sadly the only way to be safe is not to post anything I do not want taken and used. So all internet postings of my lyrics/poems - or other writings - are now ceased.
Thursday, 27 May 2010
A notebook beside my bed and other tips
Hello readers,
First a big thank you for the response to May last posting before 23 May, - over 320 hits on the EBMM Forums site.
Even if there are only a few comments, it'still good to know that my pieces are being read/enjoyed (evey Arts person needs an audience). Not exactly sure what is happening or why, but when good things happen you don't argue too much!
Had a really restless Tuesday night. The "Muse" as it were kept sending me lyrics and lines, so it was up and down the stairs to write them down since in the morning I can't recall them. My wife advises me to keep a notebook and pen beside the bed in case - good tip. Strangely the pieces are to fit into a musical set at the turn of the century, the piece posted today on the Ernie Ball Forum, Current Events, being one of them ("Seems I've Haven't...").
I got two pieces first, then the "book" (storyline) for the musical i.e. the storyline in to which all the songs appear. You'll see this in all the classic musicals - "book and lyrics by..." and up to now.
Makes sense but - as I gathered from watching the SkyArts Songbook session with Don Black, also Opera on the BBC - in a musical or Opera the song/lyrics and the music have to reflect the characters and the action on stage. A stand alone song has more freedom to be (not related to a plot or specific character as such)
For some reason thinking about the above I recall once hearing a BBC program by Benny Green, where he would present songs from musicals; one example being a musical concerning graft at City Hall, the money beng stashed in a tin box. The chorus lyrics went:
"In a little tin box, a little tin box,
That a little tin key unlocked..."
Wonder what was that musical and who wrote it?
NB: All contents © Louis J. Casson , Purple Squirrel Poems,
Cryptic Furnace Press 2010 All rights reserved.
First a big thank you for the response to May last posting before 23 May, - over 320 hits on the EBMM Forums site.
Even if there are only a few comments, it'still good to know that my pieces are being read/enjoyed (evey Arts person needs an audience). Not exactly sure what is happening or why, but when good things happen you don't argue too much!
Had a really restless Tuesday night. The "Muse" as it were kept sending me lyrics and lines, so it was up and down the stairs to write them down since in the morning I can't recall them. My wife advises me to keep a notebook and pen beside the bed in case - good tip. Strangely the pieces are to fit into a musical set at the turn of the century, the piece posted today on the Ernie Ball Forum, Current Events, being one of them ("Seems I've Haven't...").
I got two pieces first, then the "book" (storyline) for the musical i.e. the storyline in to which all the songs appear. You'll see this in all the classic musicals - "book and lyrics by..." and up to now.
Makes sense but - as I gathered from watching the SkyArts Songbook session with Don Black, also Opera on the BBC - in a musical or Opera the song/lyrics and the music have to reflect the characters and the action on stage. A stand alone song has more freedom to be (not related to a plot or specific character as such)
For some reason thinking about the above I recall once hearing a BBC program by Benny Green, where he would present songs from musicals; one example being a musical concerning graft at City Hall, the money beng stashed in a tin box. The chorus lyrics went:
"In a little tin box, a little tin box,
That a little tin key unlocked..."
Wonder what was that musical and who wrote it?
NB: All contents © Louis J. Casson , Purple Squirrel Poems,
Cryptic Furnace Press 2010 All rights reserved.
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