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.
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.
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 Carrollfor 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.
Despite the track’s title, this is not in fact some wah pedal-infused porn soundtrack music, but rather a CGN Songs commission piece for an enthusiastic retail marketing campaign. A sort of fun, jazzy, slightly Glen Miller-esque track idea, filling your minds with one thing only – the need to shop. And begging the question: “Why don’t you give it a shot? It’s gonna be red hot!” Face it, you’re even reaching for your cheque books as you listen to it. Job done.
Hammer Funk – DEMO – 2012
A funky synth, guitar, bass and brass track. Used a few times in a library music context over the years.
Easy (Anlg) – Section – 1998
A section from Easy, a second track taken from the Carson / Rundall 1998 demo tape. And it’s more or less a carbon-copy of my assessment of November’s track, ‘Givin’ It Up‘, with singer Zubeida’s vocal proving once again to be strong yet ultimately too free / not tight enough, groove-wise, in its delivery. I ran this track by Nick Rundall again recently and he more or less echoed my sentiments. We both agreed that some elements of the production should be revisited again too. Still, Easy remains a strong, radio-friendly pop song of which we’re both fairly proud. A strong song can always be identified as such regardless of how it’s dressed up and delivered. Excuse the occasional tape flutter. It is, after all, a 22 year-old C90 cassette recording!
La Vecchia Piazza – SKETCH – 2011
I envisioned a lovely old cobbled historic Italian Piazza in my mind, and on the back of that I came up with this little ditty. Probably inspired by the sort of location used in film’s such as Cinema Paradiso. Church bells and a gentle Waltz feel.
Music for ChewTV Promotional Ident – 2010
Another commission from the late Humtoo site. Lord alone knows what ChewTV is / was / could be, but this was my bit of throw-away guff to accompany its promotional ident.
This Time (Anlg) – Full Version – DEMO – 1995
Not to be confused with my unrelentingly upbeat CGN Songs track of the same name, this altogether more sombre affair is a melancholic song full of anguish. Not the greatest of lead vocal takes, admittedly, but another strong song, I feel. This demo was recorded entirely using a Yamaha SY85 Workstation, a Tascam 644 midistudio, and an effects unit – can’t recall which though.
Contemporary Latin Track – Full Version – 2010
As a frequent visitor to the Andalucian town of Marbella (Casco Antiguo area, not Puerto Banus) over the years since 1998, I have promised myself for the longest time that I would put together a video in tribute of said area. The HD video footage was shot many years ago and was always just waiting for a suitable soundtrack to accompany it. Hopefully this little contemporary latin number of mine can be just that. The Marbella project is one to be tackled in the future, and given my feelings for that particular part of the world, it will almost certainly be something of a labour of love. Watch this space…
Walking Tall (Anlg) – Full Version – 1995
If memory serves me correctly, Walking Tall was a track I wrote that was inspired in equal measures by 1980’s classic Brat-pack movie, The Breakfast Club, and by the 1980s soundtrack music of David Foster. The track is meant to depict some sort of triumph over adversity. Hold your head up and high. A positive message in a sea of negativity. Or something.
Motific (Anlg) – Full Version – 1994
An instrumental written as an assessment piece during my University College Salford days. The task? To write a piece that was ‘motific’, hence the track title. Excuse the audio quality. It’s a little fuzzy given that it was taken from an old cassette that had been festering in a box in a loft for more than two-and-a-half decades!
This Time (Anlg) – (Early Ideas) – SKETCH – 1995
A shortened sketch version of the This Time track featured earlier in this set of December audio uploads. Essentially this is a sort of early working version experimenting with a few ideas. And it’s another old cassette recording that I was blissfully unaware even existed until this year. Always interesting (for me at least!) to hear a track in progress.
Spring Town, despite never being used for any particularly major project, remains the song from my CGN Songs days that has proven to be most popular with most people over time.
Itchin’ Powder – DEMO – 2012:
An upbeat library track that has been used, in parts, by a number of different creators, a number of times over the years.
Elegy – Section – 2005:
It would be nice to return to this piece and re-do the unconvincing synthetic, delay-heavy acoustic guitar part with actual acoustic guitar. As it stands, as much as I like aspects of this orchestral and light-synth piece, the synthetic acoustic parts can be a little grating and distracting. Sadly, the original working files for this piece have yet to be found and even if they were, I no longer possess the software that I’d need to make the necessary edits. Bummer.
Faroes ’08 Theme (Heading East) – Full Version – 2009:
Following a brilliant second holiday in the wonderful Faroe Islands, in 2008, I set about the gargantuan task of editing the hours and hours of footage that had been recorded, into one approximately half-hour video. Having done so, the project was in need of a theme tune and incidental music, and thus was born this simple theme. In 2009, I packed a van, drove it onto a freight ship at Tilbury port in Essex, and we set sail across the North Sea to Gothenburg, Sweden, where I would then spend the best part of the next two years of my life. It was aboard this vessel – one of the most memorable experiences of my life – that I set about writing this theme tune. It conjures up such fond memories for me of the Faroes trip and of the future adventures that lay ahead of me (in Sweden), and though it may be a rather unspectacular low-key track, it remains one of my favourite pieces of work to this day.
Hide Away – Song Sample – DEMO – 2007:
Hide Away – excuse the slightly out-of-tune vocals in the verse – started its life as an attempt at a ‘thoughtful’ Christmas song. Whilst never having been an atheist, myself, I’ve always been mightily sceptical of those who unwaveringly live and die by the words of ancient religious manuscripts. That said, ‘The West’s’ seemingly hell-bent insistance upon killing off God and Christianity, in recent years – and the wholesome code of morality that it has traditionally offered healthy societies – seems to be having a hugely negative impact upon the rudderless, ‘progressive’ society that has grown in its increasing absence.
Sports Theme – SKETCH – 1991:
I’ve always been fascinated by Sports Themes – a lost art and thing of the past in today’s superficial throw-away media – and almost certainly inspired by the magnificent ITV World Cup theme of 1986 – Aztec Gold – I cobbled together this little ditty, using only the onboard sounds and features of my Yamaha SY85 Workstation. Excuse the awful synth sax sound which takes on the main melody in the second half of the track. Where was David Sanborn when I needed him? That said, there’s a pretty ropey synth guitar solo during the full length version of the aforementioned, Aztec Gold. Just saying…
Around the World – Sections – SKETCH – 2012:
Another library track, with hints of ‘world music’ about it.
Realisation – SKETCH – 1991:
An orchestral sketch of an idea from way back when, using only my Yamaha SY85 Workstation. A project to be developed and ‘fleshed out’ another day.
Happy 70s TV Theme – Section – 2005:
A real laid-back easy listening track perhaps suitable for all of those hugely unfunny, yet strangely nostalgia-inducing sitcoms of the 1970s and early 1980s.
On the Jersey Circular – Section – SKETCH – 2010:
This unfinished provisional sketch was written to be used as occasional incidental music to accompany video footage I’d taken of a memorable holiday we’d had as a family, celebrating my Mum’s 70th birthday. Sadly, this trip was soon followed by big personal upheaval in my life which completely de-railed the project.
A song that laments the end of one of my long-term relationships. I forget who laid down the guitar parts. Possibly Nick Rundall? It’s a song that I’ve occasionally revisited over the years, and thankfully one that continues to please despite its various mix frailties. All vocals are courtesy of me. A brief summary of Forgive Me can be found in the A-Z section of the site.
HERE COMES THE RETRO HAMMER – FULL VERSION – 2010:
Michael Bublé’s silky tones on his smash hit, Home, are a seriously tough act to follow when it comes to cover versions. And although my own version limps along somewhat feebly some way back in the distance, there are still some elements of it that were pleasing, including a new outro section that I devised and tagged onto the song’s end.
Another Yamaha SY85 Workstation sketch. This was a sort of current-affairs TV programme theme that I cobbled together back in my late teen years. Probably inspired by any number of news programmes over the years. Maybe even John Craven’s Newsround, or some other such kids’ show from my childhood.
This was a second, strange CGN Songspitch for a light-hearted scene in a U.S TV show. It was shelved in favour of my CGN Songs partner, Peter Godfrey‘s offering. Sadly, neither was ultimately used, if memory serves correctly.
Sections taken from an instrumental that was loosely inspired by the majestic, ever-so-slow-moving Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia, Argentina. I recall staying in a tiny neighbouring town whose bars were all packed full of locals staring at TV coverage of the glacier, waiting for a section of it to crumble away and fall into the water below. Riveting stuff down that way, apparently.
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.
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.
NEVER KNEW LOVE (REIMAGINED) – FULL VERSION – DEMO – 2014:
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.
NEVER KNEW LOVE (ORIGINAL INSTRUMENTAL) – FULL VERSION – 2012:
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.
NEVER KNEW LOVE (ORIGINAL ROUGH DEMO) – FULL VERSION – 2012:
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.
Dancing To The Tune began life as an obscure demo sent to my CGN Songspartner, Peter Godfrey, by Nat Nollid. Peter extracted what he could from Nat’s fusion of free-style spoken lyrics and steam locomotive whistles (among other things), and brought the backing track firmly into the mainstream turning it into a pop-style dance track. I then fleshed out the lyrics, and set to work on the melodies and harmonies, bringing in Rebecca Saxtonto join me on vocals. Tony As added an excellent rap – recorded remotely – and after much wrestling with the mix-down process, we finally got it where we wanted it. Cheesy dance music. A bit of fun.
This was a fast turn-around commission whilst I was based out in Sweden, to write a piece to be used in conjunction with an ABB promotional video for a compact indoor substation with disconnecting circuit breakers! The video version was, through necessity, far more sparse in its arrangement than the final stand-alone audio version, below.
A brief snippet from an idea that I had for a track depicting the fuzzy dream-like state of consciousness of a man, spaced-out on narcotics of some description.
Whilst going through a ‘long and epic instrumentals’ phase during the mid-90s, I conjured up Rain Dance, a sort of plea to the Gods above to bring rains to the failing crops of some Native people in some fictional land. Or something. In fairness, I’ve just significantly embellished the track’s back story there for the benefit of this little write-up. Rain Dance is a bit of high-energy fun, and full of unashamed wildly inaccurate sonic Native American cultural appropriation – so stick that up your pipes, Progressives!
WAYWARD WOLF THEME (THIRD VERSION) – FULL VERSION – 2014:
A shorter, alternative podcast version of this track was devised for my Wayward Wolf Film Review project, but this is the extended third version which ultimately came to be the principal version. A reggae-infused track intended for use as a stand alone theme, or to be used in parts for library music purposes.
Written whilst walking in the snow during a Dalarna Swedish winter, this track is intended to conjure up images of great icy hardship as intrepid Arctic explorers battle their way through a Blizzard on the frozen tundra. My own journey was more about walking a poodle through a pine forest in January, so you’ll probably want to allow for a little artistic licence there.
NOW THE SUMMER’S GONE – SECTION – ROUGH DEMO – 2013:
2011 and 2012 were pretty rough years for me on a personal level, and partially inspired by the events of those years I wrote this song as a part of the cathartic process of coming to terms with things. It wasn’t until a couple of years later that I finally had the chance to record it (albeit only in a rough demo form), at Specific Media‘s swanky studios in central London, where Rebecca Saxton once again joined me on vocals. I plan to flesh this demo out some day into something a bit more polished and complete, if the opportunity ever arises.
A little number from way back “when I were just a lad,” fused together with a more recent take on the same theme. A minute or so of the former and the entirety of the latter. Nothing spectacular but just one of those little tunes that has somehow stayed with me over time.
One of the first tracks that I wrote using an Apple Mac G4 + Logic Pro Silver combination. It’s incredible to think that you get change out of £200.00 these days for the latest top-of the-range incarnation of Apple’s Logic production software, whereas the crusty bug-ridden lowly ‘Silver’ version that I bought, back in 2004, set me back something eye-watering in the region of £800.00!
This song was actually conceived in about 1991 or so, though was never properly recorded until 1995 in the studios at University College Salford. That said, there probably exists a QY10backing / my own vocals version on cassette somewhere in the vaults. But it wasn’t until I got P.J (vocals) and Phil Mayers (guitar / rap) on board that I could do the track any sort of justice. It’s a little raw in places, but it remains one of the tracks from this era that I can happily return to without cringing my spine loose.
This is a little ditty that I wrote back in the Wayward Wolf Years intended for use as the accompaniment to wedding videos or slide shows. And judging by the number of times it got downloaded from an old Sound Cloud account of mine, it appears to have got plenty of use over time! And I’m glad to have contributed to people’s happy memories over the years. The pictures in the video are from Peter and Sandra’s lovely Swedish wedding all those many years ago.
Think Charlie and The Chocolate Factory here. I’d completely forgotten about this little track actually. But I love the way it turned out, although I can barely remember having worked on it at all. The backing is the work of Peter Godfrey, and all melodies, vocals and lyrics are my handy work. Another of our many CGN Songs collaborations. Couldn’t tell you which chocolate bar this was written for though, or if anything ever came of it.
This sample is of the main chorus idea for a song that was written at the time of (though not necessarily about) the London Riots of 2011. Incredible to think that they were so long ago now. It’s very much a rough cut, but hopefully you’ll get the idea of where this track was ultimately going. I performed all vocals and wrote all lyrics.
Hugh Carson Music 