Jim Thomas – Hugh Carson Music

June 2021

THIS MONTH’S AUDIO UPLOADS:

Interlude (Anlg) – SKETCH – 1997:

To begin with, a very short instrumental. I discovered this track on a cassette of similar material that I estimate would have been written back in approximately 1997. A thoughtful number to kick off June’s ten uploads.

Always Be There (Anlg) (Nick Rundall Mix) – Sections – 1996:

One of three versions of Always Be There that Nick Rundall was directly involved in. In this instance, it’s his own remix created during the last of our University years. I always liked this version of the song, and it goes without saying that it’s always a privilege to have some of your creative endeavours recognised by way of someone else’s fine interpretation of them.

Sassy Queen (Picante Mix) – 2008:

An unused additional mix of this track, the original of which had been written for use on the landing page of a Turkish friend’s website – “Sassy Queen“. Probably only of any interest to me, but I like to compare and contrast the different versions of my tracks which tends to then tell the story of their evolution, and with a little luck, will ultimately display a little positive progress!

Worthless – 1992:

The closing track of my 1992 album, Just Enough, is yet another display of manic / hyper song writing. Lord alone knows what I was on at the time, but most of my output during those days was just a free-flow of energy. I think much of the crudeness of these tracks was down to having programmed the backing tracks on a small device (Yamaha QY10) which offered neither sustain nor reverb options, and so to cover up this fact, I just threw in as much busy (and unnecessary) instrumentation as possible. The resultant chaos would then often be overdubbed by additional synth parts (Korg M1), and a whole load of guitar. Talking of which, watch out for Jim Thomas as he summons the spirit of both Jay Graydon and Brian May for his soaring chorus descant lines. And it’s a good chorus. What can I tell you!

Family Film Scene Setter – Section – 2010:

Imagine if you will a 1980s/1990s John Hughes film. A moving overhead shot of a suburban scene in the sprawling leafy suburbs of perhaps Chicago? People are going about their daily business. The paperboy cycles along the streets throwing papers onto lawns. School kids trot merrily along pavements. A man waves at his neighbour whilst washing his car. You get the idea. And this is a sketch of the music that accompanies that opening scene.

I Just Know (Anlg) – Sections – 1993:

Following on from the manic nature of my first album of tracks, I had then clearly been on the beta-blockers or something as I slipped into a more reflective, and to be quite honest with you, self-indulgent phase of writing moody, thoughtful songs whose duration was positively prog rock-esque at times. This particular song in fact weighed in at a soul-destroying eight minutes in its original form. Mercifully, I’ve spared you from such a test of endurance on this occasion. I Just Know is another track featuring the guitar of Jim Thomas as well as some backing vocals from the same source.

Always Be There (Late Version) – Sections – 1998:

Whilst all involved were pretty happy with the original version of the song that had been recorded in the studios at University College Salford back in 1995 or so, I had personally always wanted to tighten a few things up, and to make it all a little more grandiose. And this was my attempt at that. Some things worked well, and others not so much.

Wayward Wolf Theme (Rough Cut Version) – 2012:

Another version of the track that had been intended as the main theme for my Wayward Wolf Film Review podcast. This was the podcast, of course, that never actually was. After much mming, aahing and before it even had a chance to actually commence, I abandoned that particular creative venture. Probably for the best.

Never Knew Love (Stripped Version) – 2012:

Essentially, this is just a late version mix of the song with most synths, piano and backing vocals dropped out, but I rather like the way it exposes Rebecca Saxton’s excellent vocals. The various other versions of this track can be found in August 2020’s mid-month uploads should you feel the burning desire to compare and contrast.

Early 90s Dance Backing Track (Anlg) – SKETCH – 1994:

I assume that this brief snippet that I’ve uploaded here was intended to be an upbeat song of some description, but unlike many backing tracks that I wrote and have then unearthed after many years, I am completely at a loss with this one as to what the melody might have been, let alone what it was going to be called. It sort of holds up on its own as an instrumental though – to some extent at least.

May 2021

May 2021 marks the one year anniversary of the HughCarsonMusic site. That’s 12 months of uploads so far with much more still to come. Enjoy.

This Month’s Audio Uploads:

This Time (CGN Songs) – 2010:

This Time, the CGN Songs track, not to be confused with my mid-90s ballad of the same name, was a track written by myself and Peter Godfrey as a commission for something or other back in 2010. The main story that came out of the recording sessions was my inability, no matter how hard i tried, to hit the highest note in the chorus and subsequently having to draft in a very reluctant Karin Hasselström to help me out. She wasn’t having it, but I think she did a great job and definitely saved the day because I think one more attempt by me and my vocal chords would almost certainly have tied themselves into a round turn and two half hitches.

Sanctuary – 1995:

Sanctuary, despite being all over the place production-wise, has always been one of my favourite songs that I’ve written, thanks in no small part to my old mate, Paul Jackson‘s fantastic vocal which really lifts this track. An unfortunate SMPTE malfuntion during Phil Mayers‘ mid-track rap briefly throws his timing out which is a real shame, but what can you do?

Trumpet Chase (Anlg) – Section – SKETCH – 1996:

I think there was a vague plan to have a female soprano sing some lines on this track if the opportunity ever presented itself. This is a lively piece intended to conjure up dramatic images of a galloping horse and rider going hell for leather over the rolling hills of a British countryside scene. I think I may have gained some vague inspiration from the opening credits of the original Blackadder comedy series.

Hindsight – SKETCH – 1996:

A laid back atmospheric sketch from the SY85 sessions of the mid-1990s.

Making Cents – 2021 Remaster – 1992:

This was one of the more convincing cuts from my first unofficial ‘album’, Just Enough. The lyrics for this song were written during my U.S travels of 1991, specifically when I found myself downtown in San Francisco. The levels of homelessness there were really quite disturbing for an impressionable young 19 year old, and Making Cents is basically all about that. A special mention for Jim ‘Pasty’ Thomas‘ memorable guitar solo.

Generations – Section – SKETCH – 1996:

A section of a further contemplative SY85 sketch no doubt thrown together in a small amount of time.

You’re Gone (Anlg) – Section – ROUGH SKETCH – 1997:

A song that I wish I’d finished. It’s a crusty old cassette recording of a rough sketch, but there’s definitely something about it which still appeals to me to this day.

Rampaging Rickshaws – Sections – 2009:

I was working on an upbeat ‘world’ music track for my audio library which had something of an Asian feel to it. The idea, however, was soon adapted to be a prospective theme track for a documentary about an Indian ashram that Justin Carroll had filmed footage for and was now working on. But it was a big undertaking under difficult circumstances for him, and the project never materialised in the end.

Just enough – Sections – 1992:

A section taken from the title track of my first album. A big thank you once again to Graham Joiner of Audio Restored for rescuing all eight songs from the album, from an old DAT tape of mine, at the beginning of 2021.

Miles Off – SKETCH – 2009:

A very brief snippet taken from a smooth smokey jazz track with Miles Davis-esque muted trumpet overtones. Niiice.

January 2021

This Month’s Audio Uploads:

Up And At ‘Em – 2012:

A brief high energy snippet to get the New Year underway. Blink and you’ll miss it!

Twist It Off – 2009:

This bit of fun got me and my CGN Songs partner, Peter Godfrey, embroiled in a very frustrating waiting game. Having had this track selected – with great enthusiasm, it should be added- by our man in the U.S, for use in a cleaning products commercial, there followed endless in-house politics and company restructuring State-side, which left us with an interminable wait for the final sign-off on this project. These two minutes of dubiously-titled nonsense were great fun to work on though, and I think with regards to hitting the mark, this is probably one of the best things we ever did at CGN Songs. A particular shout out to Mr Justin Carroll for his help in ramping up the lyric-writing nonsense levels whilst we were out in Sweden. “Granny’s got the hang of it…” indeed!

River Of Illusion (Anlg) – Section – 1998:

A third take from the Carson/ Nick Rundall 1998 demo tapes. River of Illusion was by and large one of Nick’s tracks, though I had a strong hand in fleshing out some of Nick’s ideas, re-shaping melodies and lyrics, adding backing vocal ideas and so on. This is just a short section taken from the track’s early stages, and it builds considerably from this point on. Apologies for any hiss and occasional tape warping issues. The digital master copy of this song is sadly corrupted beyond salvation.

The Light (Anlg) – Section – 1992:

Owing to its desperately bad verse sections, one of the tracks that missed the cut from my first ‘album’ Just Enough, was The Light. Bad verses or not, I always rather liked the choruses and indeed the track’s later stages, including a rather poor impression of the kind of spoken monologue Vincent Price did so well in Michael Jackson’s classic, Thriller. Written and recorded during the days of my trusty yet rather limited little effect-less travel companion, the Yamaha QY10, the sounds and production in general is terrible, but thanks to some Korg synth overdubs and some phase-like reverb, the whole thing is made a little more presentable.

First Time Last Time – Sketch – 2012:

The early working stages of a little up-beat country number that I was working on. Though intended for a sassy female lead vocal, you’ll have to endure my ‘place-holding’ falsetto offering in this version. I like to think that this track has some legs though, were I ever to turn my attentions to it properly in the future.

End in Sight (Anlg) – Rough Demo – 1996:

One of the many short instrumental track demos I did in the mid-nineties. Incomplete, but some nice ideas to work with here.

Because Of You – SKETCH – 2012:

Another track in its early working stages, and another track with my vocals purely as a guide. Nothing more. Because of You is a song intended for either a female lead voice or perhaps a kind of soulful El DeBarge style vocal. You’ll note a general lack of lyrics. Just one of the many elements of this track that was never completed. It is just a sketch of an idea, after all.

Mellow Guitar Track – Full Version – 2010:

A sparsely produced, thoughtful instrumental intended for use as library music. NB: No actual guitars were used or indeed harmed in the making of this track.

Death To The Pop World (Anlg) – Section – 1992:

This song was taken from my 1992 ‘Festive E.P’ and features the guitar work of Jim Thomas. One of a number of ‘albums’ we messed about on back in the early ’90s. Not so much me wishing death on the pop world, more a lament that pop music was not now (in 1992) what it once had been. Christ, if the pop world was indeed experiencing a crisis of identity and quality back then, what the hell kind of barrel-scraped diseased entity would I be bemoaning nowadays in 2020! The mind boggles.

In Honour (Anlg) – SKETCH – 1996:

I rediscovered this orchestral number recently on an old analogue cassette. Some nice ideas scattered around in here, but I have little to no recollection of ever having written it.

August 2020: Mid-Month

Mid-Month Audio Uploads:

Something a little different this time. Five versions of the same track, giving you the opportunity to trace this song from its humble origins and through its many incarnations.

Never Knew Love was a song that started life as one of Peter Godfrey’s short instrumentals. I always liked this one of his for its relaxed country feel fused with what I’ve always thought was a touch of that old magical Mike Post theme, “Hill Street Blues”. A great combination.

It gave me an idea for a country-style song which I had initially intended to offer to the excellent Benn Sisters. For the demo recording, Rebecca Saxton once again did a wonderful job for me on lead vocals, whilst Jim Thomas somehow defied all of the odds to record the guitar parts in one of the most ridiculous recording sessions I’ve ever been involved in.

Never Knew Love - SONG - Lyrics

NEVER KNEW LOVE (LATE STAGE VERSION) – FULL VERSION – DEMO – 2012:

Carson/Godfrey

This late stage version is probably as close to how I had originally envisioned this song to be. It’s only a temporary mix, so forgive the occasional issues with that.

HCM Dividing Line

NEVER KNEW LOVE (REIMAGINED) – FULL VERSION – DEMO – 2014:

Carson/Godfrey

A departure from the song’s original country feel with this altogether more mellow version, complete with occasional bird song.

HCM Dividing Line

NEVER KNEW LOVE (RAW VERSION) – SONG SAMPLE – DEMO – 2013:

Carson/Godfrey

In an attempt to try and ‘beef up’ the mix a bit, I opted for less harmonic movement, dirtier percussive samples and feeding the guitar parts through a touch of distortion. It was an interesting idea, but one which I ultimately aborted. If you’re going to go with something a little edgier, it’s always far more effective to record a track with that in mind rather than trying to achieve such a sound purely through the mixdown process.

HCM Dividing Line

NEVER KNEW LOVE (ORIGINAL INSTRUMENTAL) – FULL VERSION – 2012:

Godfrey

I’ve called this instrumental ‘Never Knew Love‘ for the sake of continuity here, but Peter Godfrey’s instrumental was actually known as ‘Country & Western Track’ or something along those lines. Whether it was intended or not, listen out for the “Hill Street Blues’ gliding synth influence that really gives this track its old-school charm.

HCM Dividing Line

NEVER KNEW LOVE (ORIGINAL ROUGH DEMO) – FULL VERSION – 2012:

Carson/Godfrey

A very rough skeletal demo version, and the basis for all further work that was to be done on this song. It’s also the only version that was ever recorded incorporating the extended coda section towards the end.