The CD sleeve does not contain any notes about how and why the songs came to be written. Some writers prefer it that way; leaving interpretation up to the listener. If you'd rather do that then don't look around this website.

As a listener I have always wanted to know the background to a song I liked. For me it adds to the listening experience. So I've set up this website to give people who, like me, want some background information on a song. The chords and lyrics are intended for personal use only and all copyright is retained.

Information on this site 

If you click on the links on this page they will take you to another page where you will, hopefully, find what you want. Sometimes there is a lot of 'back story' to a song, sometimes there is little. Sometimes I have had to protect real people who the songs are based on. I have always put the lyrics on but not always the chords. This is because the song was played in an open chord tuning. I could probably guess some of the chords I had played but not all of them. My 'technical' musical knowledge is limited and I have played these songs by ear; like a folk musician.  

Am I telling the truth in my songs?

It is usually the case with my songs that a person or incident may have inspired me to write but the song that emerges from the writing process is art not reportage. Poetic licence twists actual events; either for added drama or maybe just to get a rhyme. I argue that truth is a misunderstood concept. There are many kinds of truth. My songs are usually not literally true. 10 000 miles in particular is a fantasy - triggered by a real life situation I came across.

What I like most about songwriting is that it is an outlet for what I want to say about life. One of the biggest compliments I have ever been paid was when a fellow songwriter said I had a clear authorial voice. At least if my songs are crap then they are my crap!

There is a distinct absence of protest songs in my repertoire. I can think of plenty to protest about but I seem unable to express my protests in a song. I'm working on this one but I don't like preaching my point of view. I'm struggling to think of a protest song I actually like as a song. I may well agree with the worthy sentiments but it just doesn't add up to good music as far as I am concerned.

I would like to thank: 

Gregson Lane Folk Club; it has done a great deal to nurture and encourage me as a song writer and performer. Graham and Bernadette Dixon have developed one of the best folk clubs in the North West of England. The club provides an outlet and training ground for many performers and a cracking night for the audience. It's even free to get in on a singer's night and the beer is cheap too.

Importantly for me I got too hear other local songwriters performing. I have to single out Smithereen, their anthemic "Horse on a Hillside" and the powerful "19". Two great songs by Caroline Lovett, "Windy City" and "The Bottom of the Stairs", also inspired me to write my own material. These artists gave me a voice. I learned from these people that people like me can write from their own experience and express their 'souls' (at the risk of sounding pretentious). It's not the kind of inspiration I could have got from a mega star. I am sure big stadium stars write with sincerity bit I don't get to sit next to them and have them explain their songs. So, thanks folks.

James Ryce.

For his invaluable advice, encouragement and for volunteering to play bass on "Its You", "4 am" and "Vegas Baby". I put my bass parts in the mix via a keyboard or using VSTs. James lives in Canada and it was rather exciting to collaborate with another musician half way round the world on this project. James is a gifted musician and, especially a superb singer.

You check James out by clicking his image above and going to his website.

 

His album "20 Years" is a cracking bit of accessible country music. Its available at CD Baby by clicking on this picture of the sleeve. 

I 'met' James via the 2090 Zoom forum. It is an online community for home recorders. People post their creations for advice and critique. I've learned 99% of what I know about recording from the site. It is a friendly community where generous help is readily available. It's a lot of fun too.

Zoom Gear &

Home Recording

And I found out about the 2090 Zoom forum via the Homemade Hit Show (HMHS) a podcast hosted by Tony Butterworth and Dave Criddle. Tony and Dave put out a weekly 45 minutes (ish) of music and songwriting chat every week. It's always a good listen and, again, a valuable source of advice and ideas. A few of my songs have been played on the HMHS and it's always an honour to be on.

For the record

"Cool Against My Feet" was recorded during August 2008 in my home studio. James Ryce added his bass parts during early September in Kingston, Canada. It was mastered by Dominique Brethes at FloW Studios, London in October. So; a journey of some three months from the recording point of view, though the songs themselves go back to 2003.

PS

A good question I have asked myself is 'why am I doing this CD at all?' Even now I'm not convinced my answers are that valid. Some people I knew were recording their music so I thought 'why don't I record mine?' I also wanted to focus on the songs I had written to try and produce 'definitive' versions that I would be happy with. Maybe a writer might tell a good story but the act of nailing it to the page is the real act of writing; but that analogy is flawed. A song is truly alive when it is sung in front of a live audience, that is when it breathes and, importantly, changes. Most of the songs on this CD have been through the refining process of public performance many times. People have requested these songs at gigs and open mic nights. If they are available on a CD then they are to hand for anyone who wants to hear them. I'm not doing this for the money, though I hope to get back some of what I spent. Although I'm a little old to harbour dreams of fame I having a sneaking ambition that someone with a 'name' might decide to cover one of the songs and set me up for a comfortable retirement! I'm not only songwriter to dream that one however.

Ultimately I just wanted to get the songs out there. Wherever 'there' is. A songwriter wants to have their songs heard - otherwise why write them? Bringing out this CD may lead more people to hear my songs. I hope people like them for whatever reason. I'll be pretty chuffed just to see it on my shelf. Nicely shrink wrapped, with a little barcode on it! Whether or not this CD is a 'success' or a 'failure' (whatever that means) in one respect I will not change. I will go on writing songs, because song writing is its own reward.

Best wishes

John Poulton, Preston, England

Autumn 2008