My songs

Hi all. I've written a fair few songs over the years. I recorded decent enough demos of them and put them on You tube. If anyone is interested in listening to any, here is a link to my page. There are some covers on there to, plus some of when I was in a band called 'Flooky' – rough recordings, but in the early 80s we had no sophisticated equipment or anything – they were just recorded using a Boombox machine. Let me know what you think.

https://www.youtube.com/@johncarterbrown991/videos

Not my kinda music - but it's well done

Thanks for listening J3mbo. It's always a case of each to his own.

John, some of us are taking time to have a listen to your songs. So, please don't feel that your post is being ignored

John, First Mate has put the link on in General at the bottom of the topic "What a Racket." I've listened to Killing Floor so far, but I will listen to others.

John, I'm going to be totally honest and I really hope that you are okay with this.
I have had six listens to your song "Killing Floor" as I strongly feel that you should always give a song more than one or two listens before making any judgement.
For me, the best part of the song is "on the killing floor". But, this part could be greatly enhanced with better sounds and changes to the singing.
To be harsh, I am not comfortable with the lyrics and feel that they are not appropriate.
Also, I find the guitar is too dominant in parts and there is too much guitar with the same sound.
The bass needs lifting in parts and more interesting.
A much more powerful drum beat rather than a click of a drum machine sound and more powerful sounds to give more value to the song.
The emotional strength iand emotional character are missing in the vocals. The lyrics project an image of anger and aggression, but it is sung with calmness.

Hi ianp.
I'm ok with your comment my friend. The song is just a bit of fun, and like I said, only a demo version of what it could be if recorded in a pro studio. The drum click-track just serves as a guide, and can easily be removed. The rest of the mix comes down to personal preference of course. I take on board your review of the song, and thank you for listening to it. Good luck with any of my other songs you may listen to.

John, I forwarded your link to "General" to raise some interest. I also had a listen to three songs not long after your posting, but decided not to write anything until I had given some of your songs a number of listens over a few days.
I have had a listen to about seven of your songs, but I would like to have a few more listens to them before making any comments.
By the way, I would just like to say that it is very interesting to listen to your compositions and I really hope that you fully enjoy playing and creating music.

Thanks again ianp.

Thanks Mollie.

Hello Jacks, I'm not a pro like you but, I like writing songs too, I've looked at some of yours and, They are ok tuneful and entertaining but nothing jumps out and grabs me, So I'd like to show you some of mine and I've never performed on stage so mine are, a guy in his bedroom doing his thing,
too many cars on the road

and sometimes I go in my shed and sing in there

on me own

Hi Tom. Thanks for the feedback, and the links.. Of the two songs, I like 'on me own' the best. It made me chuckle. I think the key is a bit high for you though – might sound better in C ? How many songs have you written then?

thanks jacks, I know I'm not a very good singer, I've made uncountable songs mostly for people who I like and sometimes for people I dislike so they only mean something to those people, here's one that, I changed the words to an existing song with my own words in protest to irresponsible dog owners,
please don't let your dog sh1t on my drive

Here's another you might like, its about my aging body and how things are getting harder to do but,,,

there's still fire down below

Then there was the time I was building a shed and it gave me the

blues

All very entertaining stuff Tom. Thanks for the links.

why thank you kind Sir,

Tom, I have had a listen to many of your music performances and found them entertaining; also, your guitar and keyboard skills are better than what you have claimed.
Jacks, you asked tomplum about how many songs he has written; I think that he has written many. Regarding myself, I have written some songs.
Sorry for not getting back to you, Jacks, but I have been trying to find enough "time and space" to have a further listen to your songs.

Thank you Ian, Just up the road from me is a lady who plays the organ in St Pauls church, she also plays the piano and started at the age of 13,
I was doing a job at her house a few years ago and noticed the piano and she told me that herself and a friend meet on a tuesday afternoon for a musical couple of hours , Her friend by coincidence is also a friend of mine too and he played the organ in another church so I was invited to join in, Which I did, Cathleen only plays to written tunes, Les, the other guy only started when he retired but could read music and liked popular tunes of his day So we were three players of different levels and each played tunes in turn, I think we all enjoyed it for a while but both of them are older than me and ill health brought it to a stand still when Les, sadly died,

I'm sure that it was an enjoyable time, Tom. So sad that Les died.
Some years ago, I was part of a musicians gathering, which I came across one day and went along to see what it was like. All the musicians, which was a small group of about six people, were, as to say, complete strangers when I first met them. Like you, we each played songs to the others. But, we only played our own compositions: there was no interest at all in covering other songs.
It was extremely enjoyable and extremely interesting.

another time I went up to a ' night class' guitar course run by a good guitarist who used to frequent this forum in a skool, there I met similar minded folks with guitars and we formed a meeting every week in another room of that skool , We called ourselves the ' almost over the hill' and we carried on for a while and I enjoyed that but, I started working away and that fell apart, I think now my priorities were wrong, I needed to work to support my family, I often wonder if my parents should have advised me better, suppose John Lennon's mum was to say to him at 15 years old, " hey John stop buggerin' about with that guitar and find a proper job"

John, I've had a number of listens to "Beautiful Dreamer" and there are parts which I quite like, such as: the riff, the opening vocal lines and some touches in other parts. But, I feel the intro. is too long and the first 20 seconds aren't necessary as these sounds, for me, aren't justified; sounds as though you have tried to create an interesting intro in a style of Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing". Also, the riff is repeated too many times before the listener is introduced to the vocals.
The opening drum (at 21 seconds) and the riff are strong enough to begin the song.
What do you think of the song?
By the way, how many songs have you written?
Also, Tom, you have never answered Jacks question regarding the number of songs you have written.

No I have't Ian because, I don't know, I sit down and make them up as i go along and many go out of my mind as fast as they come in, not everyone is recorded or written down, Its like asking you if, do you know every conversation you have with a person you ever had ? I've made loads of videos on plumbing tips as well, I don't know how many of those either, ? Every day is a new day with new paths to walk up,

Thanks for your reply, Tom.
Regarding songs, it's the same for me. I know that it is over one thousand, but no idea of the exact number.
In a similar way, I sometimes cannot remember a song after a number of hours.
I recall coming up with a song which I felt was extremely good; at the time, I didn't have a blank cassette. The next day, I couldn't remember how the song went and I still have no recording of that particular song.

A lot of my songs will mean nothing to ' joe public' but the person they are written for will usually be happy, I've a link below i wrote for a username of Miss Pickles on the screwfix forum, She was an excellent poster, very Whitty and interesting but, a tad naughty at times and had been given a ' final warning 'from the admin . Another of her admirers was, Phil the paver so he got a mention too,

Miss Pickle

from that forum I myself got banned for being cheeky and I wrote a cheeky tune to the site admin, Screwfix Peter and because of that got my ban extended from 3 months to a lifetime ban, You'll see why in the tune
Screwfix Peter

To ianp.
Thanks very much for your interest, and comments about 'Beautiful Dreamer.' I agree that the intro is too long – I must have got carried away with it I think. Your reference to a 'Money for nothing' similarity is interesting and I hear it, but since Knopfler is one of my favourite guitarists he was bound to pop up as it were now and again. I like the song, and I could change it I suppose, but I'd rather not. I don't have my recording gear set up right now, as we moved house a while back, and intend moving again soon. The song was written a long time ago. I have 40 songs, plus a couple of instrumentals on You tube. It's good to get feedback - critical or otherwise – and I thank you for listening.

Mark knopfler is a fav of mine too, his first hit in the 70's with sultans of swing was a epic tune and I think every guitarist wanted to copy it, his style of country pickin' and string bends opened up a new level of rock, Then he also promoted the resonator guitar which, until then was predominately a blues instrument and he gave that new life as well, Sales of them went upwards, He's a quiet man and doesn't live the rock n roll lifestyle , he can walk the streets and sit in a corner cafe and blend in , A gentle giant of pop rock and gets, money for nothing

Jacks, I really hope that you don't feel greatly offended by my words as I certainly have no wish to offend you. I always believe in giving facts and my honest opinion as I feel that pretentious opinions are totally pointless and are disrespectful.
Naturally, it is extremely difficult to project a person's character and all characteristics via this forum, but I am a musician and music is a great interest of mine.
Regarding music uploads, there are approximately 60 uploads on YouTube of mine and I have written more than one thousand songs.
I haven't professionally recorded for quite a number of years, because of certain commitments. But, I have continued to write.

Hello again Ian. Would you care to post a link to your songs on You tube for me/us?

Hello Jacks, I am looking at passing on your request, but via other means.

OK Ian, thanks.

How can I pass on information to a WW member via Admin.?

Jacks, I tried to contact you via your YouTube channel, but there was no means to do so.

Hi Ian. Here is my email address if that helps. johnandmandy115@gmail.com

Jacks, I've sent you an email.

Ian I'd be interested in listening some of your tunes if you'd care to post a link to some,

Please contact jacks

Thanks Ian, My initial response is , WOW, very professional and good vocals and musician skills, Did you gig in pubs/clubs or further up the feed chain ?

Tom, I posted it only for you - as you were interested - and removed it quite quickly as I didn't want it left on here.
Regarding the song:
- I wrote it, one evening, on my acoustic upright piano and it took me about half-an-hour to complete the full song with all lyrics
- I wrote it all (all parts using various instruments)
- I arranged and produced it.
Additionally, it was written and recorded a long time ago.

By the way, THANK YOU!
Your words mean a lot to me and I am greatly thankful that you took the time and interest to listen to it.

We did gig in many pubs in Wigan and the surrounding area and had a strong following.
Also, many local musicians came to watch us as we were regarded as one of the leading bands and the band to become successful.
Additionally, we were a strong part of the local music scene and worked hard to gather more interest in original music and to lift the music scene in Wigan.
A few of us (myself included) tried to organize a large open-air music event at Haigh Hall, but the Council wouldn't accept our proposal and turned the whole thing down.

By the way, have you had a listen to any of the other songs?

No not yet but I will now I know where to find you on youtube and I'll let you know which i like best cheers,

I listened a couple tonight and, ' circles ' stood out and i enjoyed that one, I thought the synth was unnecessary, It did't add anything to the enjoyment,

another I liked was, justice time, Live at the Grapes Inn,

Happy to hear that you enjoyed "Circles", Tom.
It was written spontaneously and the synth. was used as it was handy and just to put down those instrumental parts. At the time, my thought was to have a flute playing that synth. part.
What is extremely strange is, the song was never recorded again and we just shelved it after that basic cassette recording: but, we did this often.

spontaneous songs are often the best, I find when I make a spontaneous tune any attempt to improve it, fails and eventually , its discarded

Songs were written in different ways and sometimes restructured. It is extremely hard to describe in details and to give a clear insight to how we worked as there were so many different ways, such as: some songs were written when the two of us just decided to sit down with our acoustic guitars and write a song or one of us had an idea (riff or some nice chords or a verse or any small part of a song) and we built on that idea.

I've never had the benefit of a , like minded person having an input so, I'm jealous of that, That's the missing link in my musical life i think, As a famous quote from the musical tv program ' Fame' , the musical director said to a person who owned a , keyboard that played, the chords, rhythms and you could make songs on your own , said,

" thats musical masterbation " and he's right, ALL good sounds come from groups, bands,and a collection of persons having an input that makes harmony and a . ' not perfect timing' , A perfect example is the rolling stones, no one can read music or count the timing but, The blend of Keef's strumming and Charlie Watts drumming makes the band a tight and together for Mick to do his stuff,

Tom, one of the creative parts of writing with one or more other writers is the conceptual difference. An idea from one person can activate an idea from another person and this offers a greater and more versatile development.
Additionally, a subconscious competitiveness grows and this can lead to further experimentation, more interesting styles and different genres of music being introduced.