Old thoughts, modern times...
by Burt K. Arthur
...I have always been a bit antique...I hold on to alot of old wisdoms, common sense kinda things. Admittedly I try to be a good boy but, well you know we are all just a bit human...this song was written back in 1996 shortly after Robbie Robertson produced the sound track for a Native American Documentry on PBS that sealed my fate to write this song and a number of simular tracks there after...it doesn't really point at an identifier like a specific place in time or an indivgual but...kinda hits on a Philosophical nature about lifes travels in general...and has an uplifting nature about it...I hope at least it does for me...anyway I I have the original recording and it is exciting but I am going to rerecord this song next...in the next couple of weeks I am hoping. in the meantime here are the lyrics for you to ponder...Peace eah!
FreeBorne
Copyright 10/20/1996
Written By: Burt K. Arthur/NorthernBandit
From the land of ice blue water
Where visions are so clear
You can reach right up and touch the sky
Never leave the ground from where you stand
Only in your deepest dreams
Somewhere far away
Could anything compare to this
If comparisons could be made
When you look out into the western sky
Do you imagine what you would see
Is it what you think you want
Or what you think you need
Just because the rumors say
The pastures are so green
When you take a glimpse before you now
Is your spirit truly free
One day someone will be telling you
It is the struggle and the fight
That leads you to happiness
Above the struggle and the strife
Just remember there is one thing
You just can’t forget
That bridges burned along the way
Will haunt you till the end
Like the sunrise in the morning
Just before the break of day
If you watch in the distance carefully
You will see just what I mean
You don’t have to think about anything
You don’t even have to feel
All you have to do is believe
Then being is revealed
Reply
...The amazing thing about the late Sixties and early 70's was that the Music Industry for Rock was just really coming into its own and the talient pool was maturing expodentially...the market had not reach a saturation point and everybody who was just trying to be creative was pushing the envolope in their fields of expertise. All these Artists where drawing from a back long of 30 or 40 years of history starting with Robert Johnson and blowin right up through BB King...and everyone inbetween...Blues infected everything Rock...Musicians were finding their character by interpeting The Blues in a more powerful relm of Les Pauls, Strats...Thunderious Bass and Drummers that could carry the rythme with their Bass Drum alone and the Vocal an equal in the delivery of the source of power in the Music Industry...High Fidelity...the improvement of Stereo and the developement of better recording equiptment sent us all scrambling for the new sounds...we had reason to listen it was exciting...I can remember seemlessly talking with friends and fellow musicians about new equiptment and which new LP I was going out to get cause it was so hot! I also remember a person at one point couldn't keep up with the new technowledgy...the Music industry was on fire. Rock was in the air!
Reply
This Song 'No Man' was directly inspired by this movie " ThunderHeart " with Val Kilmer (ThunderHeart), Graham Greene (Tribal Law Officer).
I have always for no proven connection other them my soul felt close to the Spirit of Native American Peoples...this movie, fictional but with a lot truth not necessarily factual in the sence of the plot of the film...goes the full gammit of issues we face as Human Beings...things that tear at my being and shake my soul to cryout for all peoples who are held down and not allowed to be free as all humans should be.
There is alot to be said for Native American teachings and the truths that they bare...we would be wise beyond our means to listen...The wind calls our names.
Reply
Ok...heres the scoop...I have long admired WishBone Ash a great British Blues Rock Duel Guitar Band...but I could never emulate them in reality so I created this track to honor them with my energy having wanting to perform like them...The drums were recorded from an Alesis HR-16 Drum machine the I use to have but the remainer is all me produced trying to sound like one of my all time favorite Bands...I hope you will enjoy the song as much as I did writing and recording it in 1990...ythis very day as I still enjoy listening to it with the volume up loud! Peace.
Reply
Good Day Eah!
Yesterday I was reading a recent interview with Bruce Springsteen...some might say...ah Blah but I will tell you that was not the case.
In all levels of music and the people that are involved, the undeighable human spirit is a lesson in living! Bruce... talked at great length about the inter twinnings of souls and the dynamic it creates and how his experience has developed toward letting go of so many of the things he thought he needed to have control over...as he mentioned he realized this after they had gone into the studio and completed the album but in all his endevors could not get the record to sound the way he wanted it to...He had ran out of energy and was fizzling.
I have often thought for myself how great it would be to have a producer who liked what I did to that point of seeing a vision of my ideas and take it to the next level but I fear I am beyond any such recognition...but to read the THE BOSS was still in search gives me some solus knowing that even the Best of the Best has his moment of wondering...and has the ability to ask for help.
As Bruce goes on to say he found a 'New' Producer who grabbed hold of and excited the Album, came up with the missing link and put life back into an already energize thought.
That my friends would be quite exciting I am sure...So I wish the best for all of you who play, sing, record...embed yourself in your craft...
Just remember that even though you can do it all, sometimes we at some point need alittle help...don't be afraid to ask...
Reply
Alright...
Redundency at it's finest...
I'll go again at trying to explain myself in regard to the song I just released...for this I share weather you care or not...
In writing this New Song it arrived via a period over the last few weeks of me watching some old Deep Purple youtube shots of my favorite British Hard Rock Band Deep Purple...I have had a collection of ther material for years,,,and had my go around jamming a few of their Classics but never really played any of their songs in a Band...
They like many Rock Groups of the Late Sixtys and early Seventys get a bumRap because their most popular songs got etched into our minds by the MOR staff at so many Radio Stations world wide that at some point we go into 'Shut down mode' at the first few moments of notes of some of their Classic tracks.
This particular song 'On That DAY' is a Blues song with the punctuation on "Heavy" like Deep Purple could provide...monster KeyBoards and Bass, solid Drums, a vocal with a particular point in reference and a Guitar that helps to reinforce the Keyboard and answer back the singer with emotional clarity...Rock, in my belief to be the only way it can be...in your face... with a rythme that does not leave you to drift off but drives you down the road to destiny!
In rememberence of John Lord, Peace!
Reply
Available for your listening just completed
'On That Day'....
Brand New for 2014...This track inspired by Deep Purples keyboard player, the late but not forgotten "John Lord" RIP
Reply
Hey, Hi there again...further update 'Flash' ...to start with my favorite NFL Team won today...The Seattle Seahawks WooHoo!...as a result I felt compelled to work on...'On That Day' and with some suprise finished the recording with a guitar and percussion track added.
Only Seven tracks total...the song is full enough, don't want to "Over Kill" the idea with too much stuff.
Also I bagged using the GT Strat...has a ground problem that I couldn't dance around...kept a lot of noise in the mix no matter if I held the neck or found the zone to stand in...I'll have to repair it when I change the strings...the Floyd Rose Tremolo makes it difficult to work on because I need to pull the strings and pickguard off ( Houses all the electronics )to get to the ground at the Bridge pickup that probabaly needs resodering.
So the picture I am adding...simular but different is because I played Valentine on this song...I think it tune out alright...and I also added a Tamborine to the mix...
Spent about and hour listening after I finished reoording at various levels and adjustment, I want to get the mix as tight as possible...but have stopped untill tomorrow to give my ears a rest.
I am looking forward to playing it for all of you here soon...Over and Out...NB
Reply
Just to reiterate what I have said before, I do this because I love it...Rock, Blues what ever you choose...for me playing music is about the connection, the emotion and the drama in a song, the build up for a slow boiling tempo or the Get in you face drive of a Rocker right from the opening beat or note. it is what makes music matter to me besides the message of the lyric if there is one and we all know it's up to the listener as to how they connect...most usually thats what will make a song great ( Popular ) or 'Pop' as it is commonly known.
As I had told you before I have already started on my first new song for 2014 titled "On That Day" and things are going well. This morning I was able to lay down the basic Drum beat having already completed the Bass Guitar, Keyboards and Vocal...I had a half dozen listen throughs and various adjustment and came up with the mix for the first Bounce in my eight track recording. I am pleased so far.
What comes next is a bit of a juggle, a Lead Guitar part for sure and perhaps some other hand percussion, I experimented a little this morning after jamming with the recorded tracks and have a good idea as where it will go but now it is a matter of time management with little time to spare.
For those who care or pay attention to things like these, something I have learned is that it calls for the right amout of time. My ear has a tendonency to get tried which means it's time to take a rest and then there is the issue of trying not to rush the project, thats when I usually have failures and frustration because I overlook the simole things like saving the recording/data...
The Keyboard turn out fantastic and off sets the Bass Guitar wonderfully. Tha Vocals is pretty good too, The basic Drums well it works, I don't have room for or have a real Kit so I make do...
The really cool part about it is I am enjoying myself and I hope in some way that come out in the recording...
Peace to the World and to all of you my friends, Peace!
Reply
...Ok, so I will admitt I am very British Blues oriented...influenced by a lot of American/British Rock...Deep Purple gets a bum rap like alot of Artist because of popular air play...they wern't just about 'Smoke on the Water'...
I have just completed a Lyric and was working out the Guitar last night on this new song...as soon as I can put together a Hammong sound which is in my head I think I'll start to put together a recording...it already sounds pretty cool...anyway here are the lyrics to start with...I'll keep you posted eah! Peace!
On That Day
Written By: Burt K. Arthur/ NorthernBandit
Copyright 12/29/2013
When your Mama
left you on that day
Oh the Angels did cry
They felt so much pain
Things might have been different
Surely some would say
But you know they could not know
They should not say
When the Autumn wind began to blow
And the sky turned dark and black
Like soot driven snow
And all the birds of air went away
…what a cold, cold day
Sometimes men wonder
and wander in vain
Sometimes they just want to die
but they push on just the same
Ah the sorrow runs deep
And the mighty will fall
All that they’ll have left
Is what they haven’t destroyed
As the sun slowly sinks in the Western Sky
Night comes surrounding everything
like on that dreadful day
and the sun refused to shine
…what a poor, poor boy
Reply
NorthernBandit / Burt K. Arthur / Mississippi Fats / Blog
Old thoughts, modern times...
Old thoughts, modern times... by Burt K. Arthur
...I have always been a bit antique...I hold on to alot of old wisdoms, common sense kinda things. Admittedly I try to be a good boy but, well you know we are all just a bit human...this song was written back in 1996 shortly after Robbie Robertson produced the sound track for a Native American Documentry on PBS that sealed my fate to write this song and a number of simular tracks there after...it doesn't really point at an identifier like a specific place in time or an indivgual but...kinda hits on a Philosophical nature about lifes travels in general...and has an uplifting nature about it...I hope at least it does for me...anyway I I have the original recording and it is exciting but I am going to rerecord this song next...in the next couple of weeks I am hoping. in the meantime here are the lyrics for you to ponder...Peace eah!
FreeBorne Copyright 10/20/1996 Written By: Burt K. Arthur/NorthernBandit
From the land of ice blue water Where visions are so clear You can reach right up and touch the sky Never leave the ground from where you stand Only in your deepest dreams Somewhere far away Could anything compare to this If comparisons could be made When you look out into the western sky Do you imagine what you would see Is it what you think you want Or what you think you need Just because the rumors say The pastures are so green When you take a glimpse before you now Is your spirit truly free One day someone will be telling you It is the struggle and the fight That leads you to happiness Above the struggle and the strife Just remember there is one thing You just can’t forget That bridges burned along the way Will haunt you till the end Like the sunrise in the morning Just before the break of day If you watch in the distance carefully You will see just what I mean You don’t have to think about anything You don’t even have to feel All you have to do is believe Then being is revealed
Reply
Brave New World...
...The amazing thing about the late Sixties and early 70's was that the Music Industry for Rock was just really coming into its own and the talient pool was maturing expodentially...the market had not reach a saturation point and everybody who was just trying to be creative was pushing the envolope in their fields of expertise. All these Artists where drawing from a back long of 30 or 40 years of history starting with Robert Johnson and blowin right up through BB King...and everyone inbetween...Blues infected everything Rock...Musicians were finding their character by interpeting The Blues in a more powerful relm of Les Pauls, Strats...Thunderious Bass and Drummers that could carry the rythme with their Bass Drum alone and the Vocal an equal in the delivery of the source of power in the Music Industry...High Fidelity...the improvement of Stereo and the developement of better recording equiptment sent us all scrambling for the new sounds...we had reason to listen it was exciting...I can remember seemlessly talking with friends and fellow musicians about new equiptment and which new LP I was going out to get cause it was so hot! I also remember a person at one point couldn't keep up with the new technowledgy...the Music industry was on fire. Rock was in the air!
Reply
"You had a vision Ray" Quote from "Thunder Heart"
This Song 'No Man' was directly inspired by this movie " ThunderHeart " with Val Kilmer (ThunderHeart), Graham Greene (Tribal Law Officer). I have always for no proven connection other them my soul felt close to the Spirit of Native American Peoples...this movie, fictional but with a lot truth not necessarily factual in the sence of the plot of the film...goes the full gammit of issues we face as Human Beings...things that tear at my being and shake my soul to cryout for all peoples who are held down and not allowed to be free as all humans should be. There is alot to be said for Native American teachings and the truths that they bare...we would be wise beyond our means to listen...The wind calls our names.
Reply
Blown Clear...
Ok...heres the scoop...I have long admired WishBone Ash a great British Blues Rock Duel Guitar Band...but I could never emulate them in reality so I created this track to honor them with my energy having wanting to perform like them...The drums were recorded from an Alesis HR-16 Drum machine the I use to have but the remainer is all me produced trying to sound like one of my all time favorite Bands...I hope you will enjoy the song as much as I did writing and recording it in 1990...ythis very day as I still enjoy listening to it with the volume up loud! Peace.
Reply
Reflextions in music...Life!
Good Day Eah! Yesterday I was reading a recent interview with Bruce Springsteen...some might say...ah Blah but I will tell you that was not the case. In all levels of music and the people that are involved, the undeighable human spirit is a lesson in living! Bruce... talked at great length about the inter twinnings of souls and the dynamic it creates and how his experience has developed toward letting go of so many of the things he thought he needed to have control over...as he mentioned he realized this after they had gone into the studio and completed the album but in all his endevors could not get the record to sound the way he wanted it to...He had ran out of energy and was fizzling. I have often thought for myself how great it would be to have a producer who liked what I did to that point of seeing a vision of my ideas and take it to the next level but I fear I am beyond any such recognition...but to read the THE BOSS was still in search gives me some solus knowing that even the Best of the Best has his moment of wondering...and has the ability to ask for help. As Bruce goes on to say he found a 'New' Producer who grabbed hold of and excited the Album, came up with the missing link and put life back into an already energize thought. That my friends would be quite exciting I am sure...So I wish the best for all of you who play, sing, record...embed yourself in your craft... Just remember that even though you can do it all, sometimes we at some point need alittle help...don't be afraid to ask...
Reply
Post release Gaba Gaba
Alright... Redundency at it's finest... I'll go again at trying to explain myself in regard to the song I just released...for this I share weather you care or not... In writing this New Song it arrived via a period over the last few weeks of me watching some old Deep Purple youtube shots of my favorite British Hard Rock Band Deep Purple...I have had a collection of ther material for years,,,and had my go around jamming a few of their Classics but never really played any of their songs in a Band... They like many Rock Groups of the Late Sixtys and early Seventys get a bumRap because their most popular songs got etched into our minds by the MOR staff at so many Radio Stations world wide that at some point we go into 'Shut down mode' at the first few moments of notes of some of their Classic tracks. This particular song 'On That DAY' is a Blues song with the punctuation on "Heavy" like Deep Purple could provide...monster KeyBoards and Bass, solid Drums, a vocal with a particular point in reference and a Guitar that helps to reinforce the Keyboard and answer back the singer with emotional clarity...Rock, in my belief to be the only way it can be...in your face... with a rythme that does not leave you to drift off but drives you down the road to destiny! In rememberence of John Lord, Peace!
Reply
New's Alert "Flash"
Available for your listening just completed 'On That Day'.... Brand New for 2014...This track inspired by Deep Purples keyboard player, the late but not forgotten "John Lord" RIP
Reply
New Recording nearly finished...
Hey, Hi there again...further update 'Flash' ...to start with my favorite NFL Team won today...The Seattle Seahawks WooHoo!...as a result I felt compelled to work on...'On That Day' and with some suprise finished the recording with a guitar and percussion track added. Only Seven tracks total...the song is full enough, don't want to "Over Kill" the idea with too much stuff. Also I bagged using the GT Strat...has a ground problem that I couldn't dance around...kept a lot of noise in the mix no matter if I held the neck or found the zone to stand in...I'll have to repair it when I change the strings...the Floyd Rose Tremolo makes it difficult to work on because I need to pull the strings and pickguard off ( Houses all the electronics )to get to the ground at the Bridge pickup that probabaly needs resodering. So the picture I am adding...simular but different is because I played Valentine on this song...I think it tune out alright...and I also added a Tamborine to the mix... Spent about and hour listening after I finished reoording at various levels and adjustment, I want to get the mix as tight as possible...but have stopped untill tomorrow to give my ears a rest. I am looking forward to playing it for all of you here soon...Over and Out...NB
Reply
New Song...'On That Day' Update*
Just to reiterate what I have said before, I do this because I love it...Rock, Blues what ever you choose...for me playing music is about the connection, the emotion and the drama in a song, the build up for a slow boiling tempo or the Get in you face drive of a Rocker right from the opening beat or note. it is what makes music matter to me besides the message of the lyric if there is one and we all know it's up to the listener as to how they connect...most usually thats what will make a song great ( Popular ) or 'Pop' as it is commonly known. As I had told you before I have already started on my first new song for 2014 titled "On That Day" and things are going well. This morning I was able to lay down the basic Drum beat having already completed the Bass Guitar, Keyboards and Vocal...I had a half dozen listen throughs and various adjustment and came up with the mix for the first Bounce in my eight track recording. I am pleased so far. What comes next is a bit of a juggle, a Lead Guitar part for sure and perhaps some other hand percussion, I experimented a little this morning after jamming with the recorded tracks and have a good idea as where it will go but now it is a matter of time management with little time to spare. For those who care or pay attention to things like these, something I have learned is that it calls for the right amout of time. My ear has a tendonency to get tried which means it's time to take a rest and then there is the issue of trying not to rush the project, thats when I usually have failures and frustration because I overlook the simole things like saving the recording/data... The Keyboard turn out fantastic and off sets the Bass Guitar wonderfully. Tha Vocals is pretty good too, The basic Drums well it works, I don't have room for or have a real Kit so I make do... The really cool part about it is I am enjoying myself and I hope in some way that come out in the recording... Peace to the World and to all of you my friends, Peace!
Reply
New Lyric...
...Ok, so I will admitt I am very British Blues oriented...influenced by a lot of American/British Rock...Deep Purple gets a bum rap like alot of Artist because of popular air play...they wern't just about 'Smoke on the Water'... I have just completed a Lyric and was working out the Guitar last night on this new song...as soon as I can put together a Hammong sound which is in my head I think I'll start to put together a recording...it already sounds pretty cool...anyway here are the lyrics to start with...I'll keep you posted eah! Peace!
On That Day Written By: Burt K. Arthur/ NorthernBandit Copyright 12/29/2013
When your Mama left you on that day Oh the Angels did cry They felt so much pain
Things might have been different Surely some would say But you know they could not know They should not say
When the Autumn wind began to blow And the sky turned dark and black Like soot driven snow And all the birds of air went away …what a cold, cold day
Sometimes men wonder and wander in vain Sometimes they just want to die but they push on just the same
Ah the sorrow runs deep And the mighty will fall All that they’ll have left Is what they haven’t destroyed
As the sun slowly sinks in the Western Sky Night comes surrounding everything like on that dreadful day and the sun refused to shine …what a poor, poor boy
Reply