Ian’s Blog 16th June 2024
My science fiction themed song recordings have been given a special feature on the Amazing Stories science fiction magazine website which is pretty amazing really. This is especially so because two of the songs are based upon stories that were originally published in the pulp magazine version of Amazing Stories
https://amazingstories.com/2024/06/when-you-love-science-fiction-so-much-you-just-have-to-write-a-song/
I have uploaded my latest science fiction themed song onto Soundcloud. It is based upon a short story written By Francis Flagg called The Machine Man Of Ardathia which was published in Amazing Stories in the 1920s. It is about a time traveller from the future and it is a story that I particularly enjoyed reading. I can still recall when I read it at Torquay Boys Grammar school in the late 1970s when it was located in Barton Road. The song is on my Wonder Songs album which is due for release next month. My friend Jay is singing with me on the chorus and it was mixed and mastered by Lord Zarquon.
The machine man of Ardathia
From the future he appeared
The machine man of Ardathia
In this room he was here
A quite amazing story
And I tell you it wasn't a dream
I know you won't believe me
When I tell you what I have seen
The machine man of Ardathia
From the future he appeared
The machine man of Ardathia
In this room he was here
A blinding flash of light
Then the time traveller appeared
Inside a large cylinder
That was so crystal clear
Thirty thousand years from the future
From a tube leaped a purple ray
He told me not to be alarmed
And I tried not to be afraid
The machine man of Ardathia
From the future he appeared
The machine man of Ardathia
In this room he was here
In this room he was here
Here is the link to a recent interview about my music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YmJz5Z58jA
My version of A Man You Don’t Meet Everyday was played on this radio show. You can hear it at about 8 minutes 30 seconds into the show.
https://www.mixcloud.com/StrummersandDreamers/
Strummers & Dreamers 553 went out on Cambridge 105 Radio 7-9pm UK time. https://cambridge105.co.uk/
The show includes:
- a showcase of the excellent new CD "Staring at the Moon" by Jenny Colquitt
- news of upcoming gigs in Cambridge by Gerry Colvin and Jack Badcock, among others
- plenty of new music by independent artists
This version of the show is usually repeated on Sunday at 2pm (except on the first Sunday of the month), and the podcast is available via the Cambridge 105 Radio website (search in “On demand”).
I have been rehearsing some of my Ricardian songs in preparation for performing them at the Anchorage Hotel in Babbacombe on Thursday afternoon. I also plan to sing one song that will be a cover which is called Robin Hood. These are the songs that I have on my set list:-
KING IN THE CAR PARK
HOUSE OF YORK
HOW DO YOU REBURY A KING
ACT III SCENE IV
CHARM AND GRACE
WHO LAYS THERE
THE YEAR OF THREE KINGS
PHILIPPA’S SONG
RICARDIAN CHURCHWARD
ROBIN HOOD
Here is a link to the recording of one of the songs:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaWBYm4t_pY
I have been feeling quite sad ever since our cat died last month. She was nearly 19 years old and we had her as a kitten. We brought her home from our holiday in North Wales on a farm near Criccieth. She was the runt of the litter and she used to visit the holiday cottage where we were staying. Just as we were about to leave the farm to return to Torquay my wife told the landlady that she would probably have difficulty dragging our son away from the kittens. The lady said that we could have one. My wife called the kitten Cariad which is Welsh for sweetheart. I have started to record a song about saying goodbye to Cariad. Every time I tried to record my vocals I seemed to get a lump in my throat and tears would well up in my eyes.
Oh our sweetheart Cariad
The goodbye was so sad
And oh how I really can’t deny
The parting made me cry
You were so beautiful
You gave us so much joy
Oh our sweetheart Cariad
The goodbye was so sad
And oh how I really can’t deny
The parting made me cry
You slipped away peacefully
On that unhappy day
Oh our sweetheart Cariad
The goodbye was so sad
And oh how I really can’t deny
The parting made me cry
As I try to sing this song
There are tears in my eyes
Oh our sweetheart Cariad
The goodbye was so sad
And oh how I really can’t deny
The parting made me cry
Our sweetheart Cariad
