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Apr 06 2022

TO WHERE I AM NOW

I looked out of our window and saw a pale blue backdrop and an army of slow-moving fluffy clouds, beautiful, the planet Earth at its best. That chilly wind was pushing them across the sky as the sun shone and illuminated them like they were getting a little burst of electricity. Some of them were edged with black, remnants of darkness on their march towards the night. Aerials protrude from the roofs opposite, obsolete analogue history. The familiar sight of a Porto crane and a lone seagull lookout, I wonder where they sleep?

I found myself in two psychedelic psupermarkets today, different directions, different products, different prices. In the second of these markets they always play interesting music, it’s weird, it’s like the person that’s in charge likes indie bands, not the usual music you would hear in a place like this but I suppose not all markets are psychedelic. Today, I was experiencing the tragic music they make you exercise to in the pool, in the gym, anywhere that’s public that’s trying to offer you the chance to get fit. I wonder how many more people might be interested if they didn’t have to listen to MTV or horrible pounding dance grooves. Also, why do the trainers shout at you? Especially if you are in a group, training. If I’m there, I don’t need to be shouted at, I’m there already, I’m motivated to be there, so just tell me what I have to do and I’ll do it. I tell you, one day someone is going to steal my idea of the gothic gym, where everyone wears black and listens to underground music to exercise to. It will probably be in LA.

I saw a nice Mercedes 280 SE coupé today. A stylish two-doored saloon from 1970. I also saw a Citroen 2CV and on the same corner a Renault 4GTL. I actually get excited when I see this kind of car. Eccentric shapes, but just normal cars from the sixties and seventies. In those days instead of getting into a faceless metal box, you climbed into someone’s mad idea.

Music today was another band that no one remembers that began with the letter H, Help Yourself. Their self-titled debut was released in 1971 followed by two albums in 1972, Beware The Shadow and Strange Affair. The Return Of Ken Whaley (1973) and Happy Days also in 1973 which I can’t quite figure out if it’s an album or an idea? Their final album 5 lay unfinished until the early 2000s. Various line-up changes might have been responsible for their inability to sell any records but like Heads Hands & Feet, they were influenced by country rock and might have had difficulty in appealing to a British audience (like Bronco who I wrote about some weeks ago). There are many songs that don’t sound like country rock throughout the albums and interestingly the track Old Man from their debut shares the lyrical theme of Neil Young’s Old Man from Harvest and was released a year earlier. The fact is that at times they most certainly had something of a Crosby Stills Nash and Young sound. They didn’t sell any records throughout their career but there are some real gems buried amongst the albums. Check out Brown Lady and instrumental The Electric Fur Trapper from Strange Affair.

Members went on to work with Man and Deke Leonard, with connections to Sean Tyla and Tyla Gang, Ducks Deluxe, Clancy, Bees Make Honey and Rockfield Studios. A much-forgotten area of creative British music in the seventies.

Music Of The Daze

Written by Marty Willson-Piper · Categorized: Blog

Missing

This is my stolen 1965 Rickenbacker 12-string, serial number EB157. If there's any chance of this guitar coming back to me before I go to meet my maker, then that would be wonderful. Please contact me if you have any information.

11209512_1669022976719710_7288437867089763325_n

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Thanks to The Wernickis for a little glimpse into Thanks to The Wernickis for a little glimpse into their new New Mexico listening space 🌵 #nightjar #schoolkidsrecords
Redeyed lad of the lowlands 🎵 📷 @oliviaelek Redeyed lad of the lowlands 🎵

📷 @oliviaelektra 

#danelectro #danelectrobass #redeyerecords #pleasantrylane #pleasantrylanestudio
You usually don’t spend the day in the studio an You usually don’t spend the day in the studio and the night at a gig but if you put the studio next to the gig then there’s a greater chance. So @salimnourallah did just that, he put the gig and the studio next to each other and made it possible for me to spend the day recording and the evening playing live 🎵

📷 @drewliophoto 

#galacticheadquarters #happinessarecordlabel #pleasantrylanestudio #salimnourallah #oliviawillsonpiper
TO WHERE I AM NOW A visit in the studio today fro TO WHERE I AM NOW

A visit in the studio today from old mate Mark Burgess from The Chameleons who has been hanging in Texas recently. I was thinking about the two of us growing up in the northwest of England and all these years later finding ourselves in such an unlikely spot together. We fixed a few issues in the universe and I carried on recording some guitars until Mark had to leave. Mark had played at the Galactic Headquarters next to the studio this year as Olivia and I had four years ago and this reminded me to remind myself to remind everyone to remind their friends that we will be playing there with Salim on Saturday, New Year’s Eve, for the ultimate in intimate performance. You can get tickets here (follow link below).

CONTINUE READING: https://martywillson-piper.com/2022/12/to-where-i-am-now-1045

KEEP IN TOUCH: https://linktr.ee/mwillsonpiper

📷 @salimnourallah 

#markburgess #thechameleons #chameleonsvox #pleasantrylanestudio #happinessarecordlabel #martywillsonpiper #oliviawillsonpiper #moatband
📷 @argirgirl 📷 @argirgirl
TO WHERE I AM NOW Sadness manifested in a buildin TO WHERE I AM NOW

Sadness manifested in a building, today we went to visit Paisley Park. Prince built Paisley Park in Chanhassen, about twenty minutes southwest of Minneapolis. It opened in 1987 and he recorded his later albums there. Apart from Prince, REM also recorded and mixed Out Of Time there, recording Kate Pearson’s vocal on Shiny Happy People vocal. Madonna had Prince play guitar on three songs from Like A Prayer and the two co-wrote Love Song, finishing it remotely due to Madonna not being able to stand the cold weather and the rather desolate location of the studio. Of course, there are things around but it’s not in the city and it’s not in the countryside, it’s in a suburb, no distractions, just what Prince wanted.

CONTINUE READING: https://martywillson-piper.com/2022/12/to-where-i-am-now-1032

KEEP IN TOUCH: https://linktr.ee/mwillsonpiper

📷 @argirgirl 

#paisleypark #prince
Marty & Pablo! 📷 Rod MacQuarrie Marty & Pablo!

📷 Rod MacQuarrie
At last, a proper door stop. 📷 @judgeschamber At last, a proper door stop.

📷 @judgeschamber 

#grammysitting 👵
🌵 Texas Acoustic Dates 🌵 31 December - DALL 🌵 Texas Acoustic Dates 🌵

31 December - DALLAS
7 January - CELINA
12 January - HOUSTON
14 January - AUSTIN
15 January - SAN ANTONIO

With @salimnourallah and @joereyesmusic

More info here: https://mailchi.mp/e47ede06acd6/texas-acoustic-dates
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Songwriting & Guitar Guidance with Marty Willson-Piper
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"These are awesome sessions that I highly recommend for guitar players of all levels. Very informative, frank discussions on everything related to guitar and music in general. Definitely a must for anyone pursuing songwriting."
(Stephen G., VA, USA)

"Marty knows how to bypass scales and get to the heart of feel and timing. His musical knowledge spans multiple cultures and genres. Perhaps most importantly, Marty is a cool dude. I highly recommend his guitar guidance." (Jed B., MN, USA)

"Ok, so you’re sitting in your home and Marty is across the world but is actually right here teaching you how to play guitar and write songs. He is a delight to talk to and he is your teacher, meaning he wants to see you get something out of his lessons. You know he’s paying attention and wants to steer you in the right direction. I am so grateful and humbled that he offers his time in this manner. This is an amazing opportunity for anyone who admires anything from his enormous body of work. How often do you get to learn from somebody that inspired you in the first place? Amazing." (Ann S., CA, USA)

Missing

This is my stolen 1965 Rickenbacker 12-string, serial number EB157. If there’s any chance of this guitar coming back to me before I go to meet my maker, then that would be wonderful. Please contact me if you have any information.

11209512_1669022976719710_7288437867089763325_n

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