This Girl, This Woman - the album.
There were two strands running through this album. One was that it was written during a very reflective time in my life and so the songs are inspired by my own reflections upon life and love drawing on my own personal experiences as well as my sometimes vivid imagination.
The other is the influence of 1960’s music. I was a child in the 60’s and that era has always fascinated and inspired me. Music, culture, design, sport. My favourite singer of all time without doubt is Dusty. My favourite tv series is without doubt the “original” Avengers!
It was a sassy, sophisticated, clever and, cool decade. In making the album, it became apparent very early on that we wanted to share that retro feeling, with in some cases some quite obvious references. This work is inspired by that time, and the 60’s are reflected throughout all aspects of it- musically, lyrically and visually.
1. This Girl, This Woman.
Originally called This Girl with the Soft Blonde Curls.
To kickstart some lyrics I started describing a picture on our kitchen wall at home. A sort of Banksie-style picture of a Marilyn Monroe lookalike with smoke coming out of her mouth and nose. Later I had a dream. It was set in a smart but intimate, basement night club bar- probably a fusion of some clubs I frequented around that time, which as gay clubs in the 1980’s were often underground in more ways than one. An elegant woman came in and strutted across the dance floor to the bar. Despite knowing each other, I felt almost like an onlooker. The woman was at one moment the one in the picture and the next someone I had been close to in my 20’s. The story in the song evolved from how I imagined things may have played out.
2. That's what the Whisky’s For.
The title was a line I came across in a Hemingway book.
Originally it was two completely separate songs-one verging on rock, the other more folky. Not really
knowing where to go with it I had shelved it only to return when the album started to take shape.
It isn't a song about despair but those times when things are just not really going your way and you just
need someone or something to help you out. Or when you want to scream and shout. Or head to the
nearest bar. Amy Winehouse was a definite inspiration. I felt that the sentiment of the song was one that would have been delivered well by her. The reggae ending added by Janette a fitting tribute.
3. Forever My Love
Intended as an offering for that special day that celebrates love this was originally called Valentine. It then turned into a song called The Magician. The lyrics were a way of describing how a person you love can seem at times to be capable of magic. The melody came about when wandering in some woods near our home in Kent. I already had an idea for the lyrics and had watched the film Ray the night before. As I wandered a tune came into my head, inspired in part by What I’d Say by Ray Charles. And a little of Dusty’s Won’t Be Long. Through research into the Ray Charles song I set about trying to create something of that upbeat, gospel feel.
4. Soaking All the Blues Away
I woke one morning, opened the window, heard birds singing and a breeze blowing and in my slightly
dreamlike state, started to hum what became this song. There wasn't any direct inspiration although some of the more haunting Chet Baker songs definitely came to mind. Written initially in the early stages of my M.E. it reflected a very calm, thoughtful time. Someone in critiquing it once asked “what is the point?” Well there isn't really a point. That is the point. Sometimes there doesn't have to be a point. It is about letting your mind run free and questioning what life is all about-not in a negative way, just wondering about the puzzle that life can be. It is a peaceful song or as someone else said, it could be a lullaby.
5. Don’t Judge Me No More
This was a very hard song to craft. Close to my heart this is is about prejudice and discrimination in its many forms. In relation to the bigger subjects like sexuality, race, religion, age, disability- but also about the way we might look, dress, and how we might be judged for that. It was very hard finding the melody for this song. I listened to a lot of different music-Paolo Nutini, Melody Gardot, Elvis, Passenger, the Smiths - much of that may not be obvious as an influence. Rolling Stone magazine described Rehab by Amy Winehouse as having a “banging beat” and I liked that idea for this song
but I was also keen to contrast the colourful spirit of the lyrics with a smoother, cooler sound. Some friends when talking about songs had said that they didn’t listen to the words, others that if the words made them feel uncomfortable then they could focus on the music. Janette suggested listening to some Roberta Flack and it started to fall into place.
6. Brief Encounter.
A mixture of several different ideas that I'd worked on this was initially called Soul Child and then Solitary Woman. It meandered along quite a journey.
It is a story about an imaginary brief encounter. One that started as a diversion, some fun that turned into more. The excitement and anticipation of that coupled with a sense of acceptance that this relationship appears to be one sided. The lover being part time, distant, absent. The references to being solitary, as in “solitary lover” are double edged. They may be about the absent lover being a solitary person or the only lover. However this was born out of a period in my own life when it was both important and necessary for me to have solitude and that is where the original concept started. Looking back over the original scribbles or “doodles” for this song I see that it started life on the back of an Order of Play Programme at the Eastbourne Tennis Tournament. Perhaps the match wasn’t too enthralling. My mind clearly wandered.
7. Turn On the Moon.
Possibly the hardest song for me to write this was created out of a mass of different ideas. It came out of listening to Billie Holiday, Melody Gardot, Eartha Kitt, Amy. It is actually more innocent than it may appear contrary to what the sultry undertones may suggest . It is about waking in the night and what might ensue. But…it started out being about what happens when you are an insomniac. And thinking of other people who may be awake during the night. And how if you lived nearby you could get together to share those moments. Well that’s how this began. Being in a dreamy
state, liking the idea of company or imagining the innocent excitement of a kid sneaking out in the night. But then it is up to you how you interpret it.
8. Heavenly.
A simple upbeat, happy song. For when love is in the air and life feels good. I came up with the lyrics to this whilst wandering on a beach in North Wales when the tide was out. Looking down at the wet sand, the pools of water and tiny fish darting around I started thinking about nature and the wonderful tricks it plays.
9. You Do Me Good.
When people have heard this they do think it is about a person. In fact, it is about my relationship with
London, which was my home for 25 years. Whilst I love Kent I will always be in love with London and this song is about that. Otherwise no hidden meanings.
I listened to a lot of music that I wouldn’t ordinarily listen to as inspiration not least and amongst them Prince and Roy Orbison.
10. Me and Mrs Peel.
The fun song. A big nod to the original Avengers series and in particular the Mrs Peel episodes and all
things 60’s!
Despite seeming to be quite simple it wasn't an easy one for me to put together. I had a basic melody but had to try and pull together several different musical parts including a twiddly jazz bit and ultimately the Bridge. I had the privilege of being seated next to Mrs Peel (aka Dame Diana Rigg) at a dinner in 2017. Quite deliberately by the coordinators because of this song. She appeared quite rightly a little bemused having a complete stranger sitting in between her and one of the hosts, a friend of hers. We did our best to chat in between courses and glasses of wine but it made for a slightly uncomfortable evening-friends there as our guests eying me nervously across the table as I tried to make small talk with Mrs Peel. I did manage to send her off home with the CD however. Who knows if she listened to it or is still any the wiser but I will remain very chuffed to have been able to.