SONG 4 : Two Gene Clark Ditties

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Not one, but two Gene Clark songs make up what I'm inaccurately, but steadfastly, calling, Song 4 on my list. Hey - break the rules, man!

Gene Clark wrote many great songs both during his brief time with The Byrds in the mid 60's through to his untimely death in 1991. I've picked Eight Miles High and I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better which are probably his two most well known songs. Gene was a pioneer in many ways; none of his songs are ever straight forward in either lyric or chord structure. Even when they sound simple, they're often not.

Take I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better. Clark doesn't actually sing the title, the actual lyrics, are 'I'll probably feel a whole lot better'. Ambiguous, no?

Anyway, follow this link and enjoy The Byrds storming through I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better and my take on both songs (click on the song title for my essay). CLICK HERE

Cheers

Tim

New Writings

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My quietness on the website recently could be an indication of inactivity. It's a theory and a good one. But it's also not true.

I've been writing three new short stories, alternating between them, trying out new ideas, plot lines and, for one, cooking Spanish recipes.

Yes - in order to write a story ostensibly about cooking, I've been buying Spanish ingredients and making a delicious mixture of food from that country. Catalan Cannelloni, lemon chicken with white wine, serrano ham and onions; chickpeas with chorizo and spinach. And sherry (iced dry fino) which always helps. Even when I'm not writing. This drink also turns up a lot in Franco's Fiesta. Funny that.

Anyway, once my broadband problems mentioned in the post below are fixed - tomorrow apparently - I'll be posting new material.

Welcome also to everyone in Brighton who, unwittingly perhaps, became part of my never ending author tour on Friday night. 

Cheers, Tim

I Remember the 1970's

I do, I really do remember the 70's.

Large collars, wide trousers, brown ties, power cuts, strikes, rubbish public utilities.

Can't get broadband in my new house for two weeks. Literally it feels like I've gone back to the 70's and hanging on the telephone to BT pleading with them for a line.

The fact that this is the 21st Century and the company is Sky makes no difference. These things need to get quicker! I know my expectations have changed in the ensuing decades but progress is unstoppable and times for connectivity need to improve. Yes, Eon and EDF, I'm looking at you too... Having to go to the pub all the time to get my email is not a way to exist. Yeah, really.

Moan over.

I did write a short story yesterday which I need to polish but will post soon. 

Tim

Flash Fiction

Flash fiction, Flashman, Grand Master Flash, flash in the pan...

I'm trying my hand at this new(ish) genre of micro short stories.

I'm following my own excellent advice on editing in order to get my flash stories up - or down - to standard. Basically, edit, eliminate, be ruthless; micro attention to a very precise format. You haven't got the words to develop slowly or the space to gradually build. It's all very in-yer-face stuff. A disciplined exercise, in fact.

I'll post my stories here when I'm happy with them!

Cheers

Tim

Writer's Block

Hi Everyone,

I've just written a piece on overcoming writer's block on my profile within Goodreads. It's something all writers need to overcome at one point or another. In the answer I give, I go through one or two of the strategies I employ to get rid of the dreaded blank page! 

https://www.goodreads.com/author/7329128.Tim_Robson/questions

Regards

Tim

 

New Short Story -

Hi

I"ve posted a new short story. Well, it's posted as a short story. It's really a first chapter I was kicking around for a while. I may come back to original idea sometime but the piece I've shared today works pretty well on its own.

The world of singles. Bars. Bar-flys. Pick up artists. Opening lines. Pea-cocking. It's a deeply cynical world and my Truth story gets right to the heart of this.

Guys - see if you recognise yourself in any of this. Girls, maybe you've been approached by someone like this yourself! Let me know.

Anyway - hope you enjoy it. Click HERE

Cheers

Tim

Solitary Man

Song Number 2 - Solitary Man - in my list of interesting songs is now posted on the About page.

This lesser known Neil Diamond song was his first hit, way back in 1966. Before that, he'd been a pretty unsuccessful song writer.

1966 was an interesting year for Neil; not only did he gain his first solo hit, but also one of his songs was taken up by that year's manufactured group - The Monkees. I'm A Believer became a worldwide smash and Diamond never looked back.

Read about it HERE.

Cheers

Tim

Hello to those of you with my card

So, I met you in a bar, in a restaurant, in a shop, in a public place. In Brighton. Or Burgess Hill.

You were handed a card by a slightly mysterious guy. "Look at my website," he said. And here you are. On my website.

Well - congratulations! Here it is, and here I am.

Hope you enjoy what you see. If you click the Amazon link, even better. Drop me a line anyway - either as a comment or contact me directly at tim@timrobson.eu. Look forward to hearing from you.

Other parts of the country - don't worry I'll catch up with you. As and when!

Cheers!
Tim