Each day of January I have some fun with FunADay Dundee
For 2025, the plan is to reimagine songs and tunes from the past.
2nd hand studio is my new studio in the heart of Dundee, where I'm looking forward to experimenting with lots of music!
Throughout the month I'll pick from 200+ pieces I've released to work on.
I'll try out some different instruments to give the music a new lease of life, with a couple of collaborations too!
Track 01
Red Robin
Flute, Mandolin, Tambourine, Cajon, Bass
The original was a simple tune on "Piano for the Young at Heart" - getting lots of streams recently . . . the reimagined version has flute on melody, with mandolin chords and some percussion on tambourine and cajon.
Red Robin
Flute, Mandolin, Tambourine, Cajon, Bass
The original was a simple tune on "Piano for the Young at Heart" - getting lots of streams recently . . . the reimagined version has flute on melody, with mandolin chords and some percussion on tambourine and cajon.
original
reimagined
Track 02
Loons Road
Electric Guitars, Bass, Drum kit
This was originally written for orchestra during the "Streets of Dundee" project in 2023. The reimagined version features electric guitars and bass, plus live drums.
Loons Road
Electric Guitars, Bass, Drum kit
This was originally written for orchestra during the "Streets of Dundee" project in 2023. The reimagined version features electric guitars and bass, plus live drums.
original
reimagined
Track 03
Ballad of Lorraine and Frank
Vocals, Guitar, Accordion
This was originally recorded at TPot studio with Robin Wynn Evans on a snowy day in 2013 for the "Simple Life" album. I played an upright piano in the studio, then later added drums, bass, accordion. The reimagined version is stripped right back to acoustic 6-string guitar, plus an accordion + some backing vocals.
Ballad of Lorraine and Frank
Vocals, Guitar, Accordion
This was originally recorded at TPot studio with Robin Wynn Evans on a snowy day in 2013 for the "Simple Life" album. I played an upright piano in the studio, then later added drums, bass, accordion. The reimagined version is stripped right back to acoustic 6-string guitar, plus an accordion + some backing vocals.
original
reimagined
Track 04
The Mask
Synthesisers: microKORG, drum machine
Originally for brass quartet as part of "Exhibition Pieces" - a dark, ominous piece, reimagined with synth sounds and an 80s drum machine . . .
The Mask
Synthesisers: microKORG, drum machine
Originally for brass quartet as part of "Exhibition Pieces" - a dark, ominous piece, reimagined with synth sounds and an 80s drum machine . . .
original
reimagined
Track 05
Sailing on an endless ocean
Orchestra
Originally this was a simple piano piece on "Piano for the Wild in Spirit" - here given a full orchestral arrangement - plus a bonus addition "Close of Day" from the same album.
Sailing on an endless ocean
Orchestra
Originally this was a simple piano piece on "Piano for the Wild in Spirit" - here given a full orchestral arrangement - plus a bonus addition "Close of Day" from the same album.
original
reimagined
Track 06
Sleeping in the sun
Vocal/Piano
Originally written and recorded in a few minutes to complete the album "grow thrive bend break" in 2021, this is a very short song inspired by my dog :) - reimagined on acoustic piano.
Sleeping in the sun
Vocal/Piano
Originally written and recorded in a few minutes to complete the album "grow thrive bend break" in 2021, this is a very short song inspired by my dog :) - reimagined on acoustic piano.
original
reimagined
Track 07
Stolen Moment
Vocals acapella
Originally this song was performed with vocal and piano, here it's reimagined acapella - with a mixture of vocal lines supporting the main melody. (ps - it's the only song I've entered in a competition - and it got the runner-up prize at Nairn Festival 2013!)
Stolen Moment
Vocals acapella
Originally this song was performed with vocal and piano, here it's reimagined acapella - with a mixture of vocal lines supporting the main melody. (ps - it's the only song I've entered in a competition - and it got the runner-up prize at Nairn Festival 2013!)
original
reimagined
Track 08
Yarrow Terrace
Synths, drum machine
Originally a dark orchestral piece from "Streets of Dundee", reimagined on synths with added drum machine!
Yarrow Terrace
Synths, drum machine
Originally a dark orchestral piece from "Streets of Dundee", reimagined on synths with added drum machine!
original
reimagined
Track 09
Don't Give In
Indie Rock Band
I wrote this song way back in 1997, though it never saw the light of day until 2019 album "stars from a sidecar". That version was a folky acoustic number - but this electric guitar driven indie-rock may be a bit closer to what I imagined in the nineties...
Don't Give In
Indie Rock Band
I wrote this song way back in 1997, though it never saw the light of day until 2019 album "stars from a sidecar". That version was a folky acoustic number - but this electric guitar driven indie-rock may be a bit closer to what I imagined in the nineties...
original
reimagined
Track 10
All O'er the World
Electric Rockabilly
Originally a piano-led country ballad from "stars from a sidecar", written about my globetrotting days - it's been reimagined a tone higher, in a rougher electric rockabilly style with electric guitar, accordion and live drums...
All O'er the World
Electric Rockabilly
Originally a piano-led country ballad from "stars from a sidecar", written about my globetrotting days - it's been reimagined a tone higher, in a rougher electric rockabilly style with electric guitar, accordion and live drums...
original
reimagined
Track 11
Boldness Grows
Woodwind ensemble
Originally a solo piano piece from "Piano for the Wild in Spirit", this one is reimagined as a woodwind ensemble - featuring flutes, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and 3 saxes.
Boldness Grows
Woodwind ensemble
Originally a solo piano piece from "Piano for the Wild in Spirit", this one is reimagined as a woodwind ensemble - featuring flutes, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and 3 saxes.
original
reimagined
Track 12
Best is yet to come
Electronica
Another solo track from "Piano for the Wild in Spirit" - here it's reimagined with additional electronica . . .
Best is yet to come
Electronica
Another solo track from "Piano for the Wild in Spirit" - here it's reimagined with additional electronica . . .
original
reimagined
Track 13
Garadhban Forest
Electric Guitar plus Orchestra
Originally, this piece was composed after walking the West Highland Way - the name refers to a wee forest where we camped on the first night! It's reimagined with the addition of electric lead guitar, played by Jake Davidson, who added his own improvisations too.
Garadhban Forest
Electric Guitar plus Orchestra
Originally, this piece was composed after walking the West Highland Way - the name refers to a wee forest where we camped on the first night! It's reimagined with the addition of electric lead guitar, played by Jake Davidson, who added his own improvisations too.
original
reimagined
Track 14
Clachan Sands
Violin plus Orchestra
Originally inspired by breathtaking beaches on North Uist in the Outer Hebrides, this was first written for solo piano. It was then expanded to an orchestral arrangement featuring oboe and flute, this reimagined version features Kayleigh Paley on solo violin.
Clachan Sands
Violin plus Orchestra
Originally inspired by breathtaking beaches on North Uist in the Outer Hebrides, this was first written for solo piano. It was then expanded to an orchestral arrangement featuring oboe and flute, this reimagined version features Kayleigh Paley on solo violin.
original
reimagined
Track 15
Some People Say
Indie Rock
Originally written in the 1990's, and performed with my band in Glasgow during my student days . . . but I've never managed to get a recorded version I was happy with! Here's a wee demo with electric guitar, bass and live drums . . it was a lot of fun to make!
Some People Say
Indie Rock
Originally written in the 1990's, and performed with my band in Glasgow during my student days . . . but I've never managed to get a recorded version I was happy with! Here's a wee demo with electric guitar, bass and live drums . . it was a lot of fun to make!
original
NONE EXISTS
NONE EXISTS
reimagined