[Wicked Deeds]

I thought it would be interesting if we could dig out old demoes from the  distant past. Many of us gave so much to our musical dreams when we were young and those moments can often seem lost forever. 

From the early 1990's here is "Motorway Of Lies". I was the guitarist and songwriter for a band called "Goodbye Hayley Mills."  I lived and breathed music and songwriting.  We disbanded in 1993 after supporting The Stranglers.  Who knows what might have been had the cards been stacked in our favour.  Peter and Jo were the most perfect vocalists, both challenging each other to be magnificent.  We were kids in our early twenties and we believed we ruled the world!

I remember hearing the melody and words "Baby do the Charleston" when the band were sitting 'round in the mixing room.  I knew that I had to communicate this to Jo and boy, was it worth it.  This was performed live in the studio.  At the time we were gigging twice a week.

Please post your old demoes here.

https://soundcloud.com/wicked-deeds/motorway-of-lies
Motor way Of Lies

There goes another, slipped through the net.
I should have known she'd get away.

Of all the thoughts that come to eminence.
Of all the things we should remember;
sweet words never spoken.

Must we strangle our feelings?
Must we stifle emotion?

I feel the wind blow as we drive the motorway of lies.
(baby do the Charleston)
the motorway of lies
(baby do the Charleston)
the motorway of Lies
baby do the Charleston.

There goes another, left by the road;
hitched on the motorway of lies.
Must we strangle our feelings?
Must we stifle emotion?

I feel the wind blow as we drive the motorway of lies.
(baby do the Charleston)
the motorway of lies,
(baby do the Charleston)
the motorway of Lies,
baby do the Charleston.
the motorway of lies,
baby do the Charleston

Driving, not speeding home.
I'm driving, not speeding home.

Written by Paul Vasey. too many years ago.
https://soundcloud.com/wicked-deeds/motorway-of-lies

[PaulAds]

Wow! This knocked me out cold.

My initial reaction, which I typed as I was listening to it on Soundcloud for the first time, was that “it takes me back to a place I wish I had been”

I so wish I’d been able to be part of something this magical.

I think you know how much I admire you and your writing.

This is exactly why ❤️

A daft thing to say, perhaps…but absolutely true…my life wouldn’t have been as good as it now is, had I not heard this recording.

[Skub]

Pure class Paul. Reminds me a lot of Deacon Blue.

This is one from the 80s,used to work really well live.

Seems like 100 years ago now,all those burst balloons. 

https://soundcloud.com/skub1955/not-feelin-blue?si=6b2adb8eadea41c3973259fb873aa8eb&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

[5 guys named Lars]

This takes me back @Wicked Deeds, even though I wasnt even there, it's so evocative of that time and a terrific song. You're absolutely right Paul that the "baby do the Charleston" hook binds it together and it gave me goosebumps. It could be for a time gone by, when I had hope and hair but I'm pretty sure it's because it's a wonderful piece of uplifting music. 

[PaulAds]

That’s a great song @Skub

The guitar is fantastic…you could fell trees with that 👍🏻

I love how the bass player sits back and gives the guitar all the room it needs.

Keep them coming, folks!

[Wicked Deeds]

I'm loving it Davey @skub.  The guitar is so cool as is the driving bass.  In fact, th  whole band have nailed this performance. It's different but also easy to recognise your current musical style.  I bet you all had a great time plying live!

Great performance.

Paul

[Wicked Deeds]

Ahh @PaulAds, you are extremely kind in your appraisal.  It's quite surprisig that our paths didn't cross on the gig circuit in our part of the world.

Motorway of Lies was a 2 track cassette.  The 2nd track being 'Untouchable'. They are very much partner songs as the were written together.  Prior to that it was 'Forgiveness' and 'Shooting Stars', probably the high point of the band in term of band harmony.  I went on to write 'Dancing Horses' and 'Panic and Pain' and a beautiful song called 'Field of Dreams.'
Field Of Dreams put us on the radar for Virgin records and we were quite excited at the time.  I still have the cassettes and I believe 'Untouchable' and Field of Dreams made it to CD. It will be stashed away somewhere in the house.

@Skub, yes this is very much Deacon Blue Territory.

@5 guys named Lars, I remember reading about a Beatles Track is it 'Tomorrow Never Knows' from 'Revolver'.  Lennon could hear a Gregorian monk chant in hi shead and never went with it but he always regretted not doing so.  Similarly I heard the musical note sand the words "Baby do the Charleston. It had to be in there.

Next up please, dig out your old classics!

Paul

[Nick Ryder]

I thought it would be interesting if we could dig out old demoes from the  distant past. Many of us gave so much to our musical dreams when we were young and those moments can often seem lost forever. 

From the early 1990's here is "Motorway Of Lies". I was the guitarist and songwriter for a band called "Goodbye Hayley Mills."  I lived and breathed music and songwriting.  We disbanded in 1993 after supporting The Stranglers.  Who knows what might have been had the cards been stacked in our favour.  Peter and Jo were the most perfect vocalists, both challenging each other to be magnificent.  We were kids in our early twenties and we believed we ruled the world!

I remember hearing the melody and words "Baby do the Charleston" when the band were sitting 'round in the mixing room.  I knew that I had to communicate this to Jo and boy, was it worth it.  This was performed live in the studio.  At the time we were gigging twice a week.

Please post your old demoes here.

https://soundcloud.com/wicked-deeds/motorway-of-lies
Motor way Of Lies

There goes another, slipped through the net.
I should have known she'd get away.

Of all the thoughts that come to eminence.
Of all the things we should remember;
sweet words never spoken.

Must we strangle our feelings?
Must we stifle emotion?

I feel the wind blow as we drive the motorway of lies.
(baby do the Charleston)
the motorway of lies
(baby do the Charleston)
the motorway of Lies
baby do the Charleston.

There goes another, hitched by the road;
left on the motorway of lies.
Must we strangle our feelings?
Must we stifle emotion?

I feel the wind blow as we drive the motorway of lies.
(baby do the Charleston)
the motorway of lies,
(baby do the Charleston)
the motorway of Lies,
baby do the Charleston.
the motorway of lies,
baby do the Charleston

Driving, not speeding home.
I'm driving, not speeding home.

Written by Paul Vasey. too many years ago.
https://soundcloud.com/wicked-deeds/motorway-of-lies

Yeah, I'm loving this and as you say, your duo of lead vocalists have superstar written all over them. I suspect the only reason this band didn't hit the big time is. because you were probably a few years too late. If you'd released this around the time Prefab Sprout were at their height, then this would have rivalled their best work and had a hit with this. I could be completely wrong though.

Great work, Paul.

[Nick Ryder]

Pure class Paul. Reminds me a lot of Deacon Blue.

This is one from the 80s,used to work really well live.

Seems like 100 years ago now,all those burst balloons. 

https://soundcloud.com/skub1955/not-feelin-blue?si=6b2adb8eadea41c3973259fb873aa8eb&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

I can just imagine being in the audience watching you play this and feeling the vibe from the room. It's a monster of a song and production and keeps the interest throughout. Very well done.

Are you still in a gigging band and do you ever play this?

[Wicked Deeds]

@Nick Ryder,

I would need all of the band members to sign their homes and worldly posessions over to me before I would tread the boards again. I would use it as security to ensure everyone behaved themselves.  Unless you've been in a band and also devoted countless hours to the task of being the writer, I doubt anyone would understand what it takes to shape a band into a commercial proposition.  It's so hard finding 4-5 guys who get along but 7 as was the case with this band was a major headache.  It was a labour of love and I was so meticulous in everything I did.  Most band members were happy to make do because they don't understand that you have literally sacrificed your own personal happiness in honing your writing skills.  It's a shame because when everything fell in to place it was pure alchemy.  Unfortunately band members  have different competing goals: someone wants to be in a pop band, another wants to play folk and another heavy metal.  Along the way people become greedy when they think there is a hint of success on the horizon. Then we all have our ego's and conflicting personalities and it literally becomes a powder keg.  I've never been happier as a studio musician. In fact everything I write would have been ideal for Peter to bring his nmagic too.  We did reform as a four piece and record a wonderful album together about 10 years ago.  Now, I'd need to be retired and extremely wealthy in order to play again.  The writing aspect wouldn't be a problem.  Songs always make an appearance. It would have to be about gathering 5 like-minded musicians together.  We'd need a permanent, comfortable  practice studio and regular therapy sesions...........ah impossible dreams.

I think about how well it worked when I presented "Jill Bruce Springsteen and Me" to members of the forum.  That's about the nearest to a band situation I could manage.  Everyone was so generous and courteous.  They left their egos a the door and together we created something that was quite wonderful.  Now that was magical.

In short, I'll never perform again unless it is an open mic night; an acoustic guitar and a make do vocal

[Skub]

I can just imagine being in the audience watching you play this and feeling the vibe from the room. It's a monster of a song and production and keeps the interest throughout. Very well done.

Are you still in a gigging band and do you ever play this?

Ta Nick. That band folded around 1990 and I worked in a band doing corporate events/weddings,etc. It was purely a money making venture,giving the customers what they wanted. There was no requirement for creativity,they want to hear songs they know,not my old pish! I didn't write another song for about 20 years,when I gave up gigging altogether and went back to writing for my own amusement. Kinda full circle,but without the weight of trying to sell music to the disinterested.   

[Nick Ryder]

I can just imagine being in the audience watching you play this and feeling the vibe from the room. It's a monster of a song and production and keeps the interest throughout. Very well done.

Are you still in a gigging band and do you ever play this?

Ta Nick. That band folded around 1990 and I worked in a band doing corporate events/weddings,etc. It was purely a money making venture,giving the customers what they wanted. There was no requirement for creativity,they want to hear songs they know,not my old pish! I didn't write another song for about 20 years,when I gave up gigging altogether and went back to writing for my own amusement. Kinda full circle,but without the weight of trying to sell music to the disinterested.   

I can empathise so much. I was in a wedding band (making very good money) for almost 10 years and it almost killed my love of being a musician. Never, ever again!!!

[Skub]

I can empathise so much. I was in a wedding band (making very good money) for almost 10 years and it almost killed my love of being a musician. Never, ever again!!!

Very true,I got to the point where even listening to music I considered 'work',so I almost entirely stopped listening for pleasure. Surest way to kill what you find enjoyable is to make it a job.