Strangetown

Episode #184: Strange Town     (Song starts at 4:41 & 26:00 ) If it’s your first time here, thanks for dropping by. You’ve picked an interesting one - this is a bit of a wild and whacky episode. I’ve picked on an old song from 1987. I was a ‘piano man’ back then, Paul Dredge ( co-writer / long time buddy ) and I were performing as a duo in the evenings, presenting dining music. But we were ready to rock out… in some sort of inner David Byrne (from Talking Heads), style - a zany sort of rock (Now it’s 2023, I still feel the same way - maybe that 80s synth rock album needs to be prioritised..) Back in 1998, we borrowed some 4 tracking (early multi tracking) recording gear. And away we went. We picked song #38 (I’ve now gone on to composed 800+). You’ll get to hear the piano vocal version I recorded as part of this episode  - and you’ll also hear the old 4 tracked version as well. It’s pretty lively, I can’t quite believe where we got to, given it was our first effort at producing a multi tracked recording of a song. When you consider the lyrics..’oh steel blue eyes, see painted city scapes’, they sound pretty mellow, right? Well, there are no rules when it comes to creating music. That’s part of the joy. You have total freedom. It’s like going on a holiday, when there are no firm plans. You roll with what ever comes along. To be honest, the 4 tracked version from April ’98 is pretty rough and ready. We had no idea how to make the borrowed gear ‘go’. But we were determined to do it - and we were going to have some fun. So am I embarrassed to share this in 2023?. The answer is: not even close. What you’ll hear are two enthusiastic, inspired young people. And what we caught on tape really has some merit still, today, I think. I composed the music for this song on the piano (lyrics were written first). As the song took shape, I started to hear a band arrangement in my mind straight away. This became the vision I started with when we recorded. Poor old Paul… he was in charge of the drum machine. I was thumping out a guide track on the old acoustic piano, calling out to Paul speed up & slow down the tempo, repeatedly. To Paul’s credit he didn’t block me and we carried on. I glad we recorded it the way we did it. There is nothing quite like realising a vision, something you have in mind. Here’s my blog with the lyrics, etc www.petepascoe.wordpress.com . Here we go.. ‘from TV to office, rat race to numbness ‘, ..leave it all behind for a while - it’s time for a song and some chat - including the 80s synth rock guitar band recording -  all fun here.

Om Podcasten

Be entertained with a song and an extended chat, ranging from off the cuff banter/humour to life observations and song analysis. Welcome to Song and a Chat. This is the podcast where you'll have the pleasure of listening to a new song each week - plus, you'll get to step into the shoes of a songwriter : You'll hear about the background of the song, the inspiration, how/ why the song came into being.  After the song finishes, I'll go over the lyrics and finish each episode by looking at the song from a songwriting point of view. If you just want the song and no talk, the time where the song kicks in will be in the title of each episode. Hi, my name is Pete Pascoe. I am a performer and composer - I love lyrics and I love a melody. I play piano and sing. I have a number of albums to my name.  I have written over 800 songs. Of course, not all of these songs I written will make it onto an album. As a songwriter, the first step for a new song is ( or was ) to record a demo. Often you catch something unique in this demo - something that is often not replicated in the studio cut....a certain feeling.  If you're looking to be entertained, like listening to new songs and live recordings, I hope you'll enjoy what's on offer here. I have a stack of demos from which I'm sharing one on a weekly basis. Plus I relate anecdotes about my life as a piano man, from around the time each song was written. I treat each show as a mini intimate concert - with extended chat, which ranges from off the cuff banter/humour to life observations and analysis. The idea is : the song can be listened to for pleasure in its own right, or the listener may choose to also be entertained and informed by the story around the song.  I'm really enjoying recording these podcasts. Each week I look forward to getting behind the mic, setting aside my current musical and artistic projects and casting my mind back in time by focussing on a song I've composed. It's turning out to be a satisfying - and sometimes surprising - time of reflection and discovery for me.  The lyrics and the recordings take me straight back to when the song was written. Gain an insight into songwriting and listen to a series of snapshots of life of a songwriter / performer / artist.  It's a great way for me to archive a song and it's 'back story'. Music is to be shared. What point is there In having five songbooks and piles of demos gathering dust?  I welcome feedback - whether you're tuning in to enjoy music for music's sake, you enjoy finding out about the origins of songs, you're looking for tips on songwriting or perhaps you've got tips for me. Either way, I'll be learning plenty as I go along. Thanks for a having a read. Come on and join me for a listen.