Under The Beach
One of the earliest songs from this baker's dozen collection and it is the first tune simply because it is the oldest on
offer. Not yet past its sell by date, thank you for asking. Originally, a song based around four
chords and due to be a filler in an otherwise strong electric set but the thing developed a life
of its own and has been for some time much favoured by the band. When MDR cease to gig as an
electric four piece this was a song which always seemed like a good one to hang our respective
cowboy hats on. Am I gassing too much? Okay, we like it. It's another of those songs about the
refusal to play the game, to sit on the beach away from the crowd, about little things meaning a
lot, about a hot Greek island and concentrated daydreaming. Ever done it?
I am sure you have. So, nice Fender Rhodes sound, good harmonica part, nifty bass playing on the
big electric double bass.
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Kites In The Sky
A trip along the M5 motorway on a summer sunday and stumbling upon a flotilla of kites in the
sky. Here's a great place to waste the day in the long grass and do nothing. Should have been
home hours ago but why should I worry, eh? Is that self interest? Egocentric? Of course, my
dear. Do you have a problem with that? We don't have a problem about you having a problem with
that..or with us. That's your prerogative.
A good chorus, splendid sound. I had seen a man
wrestling with a monster kite alongside the River Avon and engaged him in converstation. He let
me have a go. What a big beast was that kite. We had a fight and it won. You should have a go,
too.
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Sleeping Rough
I am not proud of sleeping on the pavement but I have done it and dined out on those stories
for years. I don't recommend it as a way of sneaking pleasure and I am sure that your friends
would be happy for you to tell other tales other than hear you boasting about your failure. My
friends are well versed in my tales of failure. Steve like this song because..err, why, Steve?
I don't know. I usually like things if I did an OK job on the bass, but this...I just like
the singing and the words.
Maybe because it was very spontaneous and th guide vocal was the one that we kept. I think that
we had rehearsed the chords once or twice in his room and then went off to record the thing two
days later. Maybe that is the way that it should be. Emma sings grandly, the hand drums are
played splendidly. That tabla is great, isn't it? The double bass bits are nice and swoopy.
Have I got the right song here? You sure?
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Now You're Not Here
We send this to you. There's a floating song which MDR return to regularly every four months in a rehearsal room and usually plays no part whatsoever in the live set. So is this it? No, this is a reworking of the chords with new words and which is seldom likely to appear in the live set. Because? MDR have no idea. No, not about anything but simply about this question. Okay, we'll consider it, okay?
Back to the song...guitar, bass, percussion and piano and a story about famous people who are little known. People with ability who disregard their well-being and have failed to complete their work by the time that the last bus leaves the terminus. You may well recognise the snippets of info in the story to recognise the artists in question, but have no worries if the story means little to you because it is in many ways an irrelevance. More...
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Hail The Popstar In A Dress
Celebs have nothing on you. A stripped down song with tabla and nylon strung guitar to the fore. Ramblings on the nature of fame and dissatisfaction with the celebrity magazines which are full of people MDR do not know. Proud of their isolation, are they?
Too true.
MDR have yet to appoint their own style guru but the interviews will be based on all kinds of odd things. Does he have a dog? Can he play the accordion? Does he wear slippers? Did he ever yearn for a Ford Cortina as a young man? Truthfully, the band do not really care that much. Style or content? You know the answer to that one or you would have logged off long before now. Am I right?
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No Standing Allowed
We like this song for its dreamy lyric, the trippy flute and the tabla. And all the other bits
that go with it. MDR as the double decker bus which sets off with no route plan. Where the hell are they going to end up? Do they care about this? Clearly not. Hold on tightly, says the driver, no standing allowed. The band are sitting down to enjoy the scenery despite the fact that there is no qualified bus driver on hand to keep everyone - apart from the band - happy. Do they need one? Same place, same time next year? Hope so. I say, that really is no way to run successful business? Do you have no plan at all? Sorry, man, we have better things to do other than trying to figure out what comes next. Fatalists, eh? Nah, nothing to worry about.
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