Common Sense Dancing: Come On! (Put That Hoedown)

As with My Island and Antasia, Come On! (Put That Hoedown) was a product of a KvR monthly contest. The theme that month was 'Hurry Up!'

I chose a dance, a gardening pun - and a tune that just doesn't let up.. There might be the odd touch of Fairpoint Convention or Mike Oldfield in there somewhere.

The violin was jauntily (and nothing short of heroically) played by Clare Lindley (Stackridge, DLM), flute flauted by John Hackett, and lead guitar by the fabulous Nick Fletcher of the John Hackett Band.

Phew! See you tomorrow!

Common Sense Dancing: I Could Dance With You

Hope you've got your breath back from all that walking yesterday..

Today we have the album's proper introduction with I Could Dance With You.

It makes heavy use of a tape based keyboard machine from the 60s, the Mellotron. Mellotrons were stock in trade for many, mainly 'progressive' bands in the 70s, but their original design was for being a fairly full musical entertainment device, and as such earlier models had a collection of rhythm/backing tapes which could be played behind a 'lead' voice. I Could Dance With You makes use of the Rhumba rhythm from the MkII Mellotron. The harp rolls, strings and clarinets are all Mellotron too..

From the middle onward there is a part which sounds almost like a Clavioline (think 'Telstar' by the Tornadoes, or read this!), but is in fact layered Mellotron violin and viola played via electric guitar and a MIDI interface..

The was a song written with someone in mind who, it turned out, had no interest in me! So it goes.. But I like the song, and will often start my solo gigs with it.

So go, go get your dancing shoes, and I'll see you tomorrow!