mid September, 2025.
Although I’m not out gigging, of course I still play the guitar most days, something I am compelled to do. I’m addicted… If you want to see which I’m up to musically, have a look at http://www.youtube.com/slideytunes or indeed here – my main website (Which is much more personal), or send an e mail: tom@tomdoughty.com
Newsletter.
Some years ago, partly using the money from CD sales, (those were the days), I bought my first jukebox. A 1957 Wurlitzer Centenary. It looked a million dollars but sounded like 50….
A couple of years ago the Wurlitzer was passed on to a friend and I replaced it with this stereo AMI Continental from 1962. It looks and sounds brilliant and I was just listening to a Day in the life – “10,000 holes in Blackburn, Lancashire”. Such insight those two men had when they were writing songs. The vast majority of reported news and remains similar and negative, most of the good news being shelved. Nowadays, I try to preserve my optimism and avoid the shite whenever I can.
The music we have collected for this baby ranges from the 40s to the 70s, most of it is very up beat and brings miles of smiles.
Playing my own music has the same effect, but more so. There are advantages to not gigging too, like the freedom to explore anything I want to musically and not to feel bound by practice, set lists and knowing I have 90+ minutes of music to play. Hard work as a solo performer. I do miss gigs, particularly the best ones. When it goes well there’s nothing better than the community feeling of a live gig in front of a warm, receptive audience.
The present.
Last year I released a new track, Kolkata Delta which is available digitally everywhere, I’m hoping the income revenue stream will reach as much as 50p eventually. Personally, I don’t care but but I do feel for current musicians and recognise just how much more difficult it is now that the vast majority of music is just streamed – almost for free.
Projects
Live studio work.
There is an ideal studio near to where I live and I feel so comfortable, relaxed and assured in the company of Dave Speakman, the musician and engineer who owns the place. I’ve done a couple more recordings there since my last newsletter. https://www.davespeakman.co.uk/ . Due to the great atmosphere that Dave creates, I have so far been able to complete these pieces in one take.
So here are two instrumentals. Both are recorded on a beautiful 1930s Hawaiian Martin guitar that was left to me by John Pearse. I miss John and over the years, (well since 2001), he gave me support and inspiration to get on with this thing of being a musician. I guess he believed in me and that meant a lot. John amassed an impressive guitar collection and highlighted several instruments that I could choose from after his death. (This was all unknown to me at the time, but was in the form of conversations between John and his wife Linda). So this beautiful Hawaiian guitar came to my custodianship around 2010.
For several years I was a bit afraid of playing it in case I scratched it, but eventually I realised it was more important to use it and enjoy it.
Of these two pieces, the first shorter work is something I made up as I was warming up for the longer instrumental, which is a new version of a track called Maggie’s pies.
https://youtu.be/W7XBZvniglg
https://youtu.be/KswjBoxz5jc
Next for the studio I have a project which will need me to do two or three guitar parts and also to sing harmony. It’s a challenge, but what could possibly go wrong Tom? 🙂
(I also make soup)
House Concerts
Our joyous winter project of house concerts continues next month. All the artists are booked and hopefully the merry band of invited guests will return to enjoy some great music. Generally I don’t play at these, but last year I did on two occasions. Just one quick song to start the second half. Once on my own and once with my friend Tim Edey, who is our wonderful December artist.
https://youtu.be/E9PuRq5wscY
https://youtu.be/In8n7uLkzbk
Listening and Reading..
I absolutely love playing music and a close second is listening to music. It does things to me that nothing else can. My most recent listing experiences have been about two musicians who are coincidentally linked.
I came across the New Orleans piano player James Booker. Phenomenal player, who sadly like so many others died too soon. I did a lot of listening and quite a bit of reading, then in eBay, managed to find a copy of the DVD ‘Bayou Maharaja’. Well worth hunting out if you can find a copy.
The other side to this rabbit hole I fell into, was to revisit my passion for Nick Drake. Both of these brilliant musicians died through substance abuse. In James Booker’s case self prescribed (and potentially Hospital neglect); in Nick’s case, medically prescribed. I wonder if either of them intended to leave us at that time.
A few weeks ago I finished a book that I couldn’t put down, it’s called ‘The Heart’s Invisible Furies’ by John Boyne. It takes the reader on a Journey which starts in the womb and covers a whole life. (stick with Cyril, he won’t let you down) ; I like journeys, me…..
I woke up early this morning (this is not a new Blues song), and found myself listening to something relaxing on the radio. Just lying there on my own little journey as still as a mouse and taking in this sound : https://youtu.be/iRZ98HX1MO8?si=DYUdDJDRx50gEJmg
Hope you’ve been having a lovely summer and wishing you all the best for the next year. We will be disappearing back up to our glamping pod in Yorkshire as soon as we can escape.
Thank you all for your support.
Tom
