Nothing to do with the Spice Girls or reality TV: I’ve had the basic idea for this kicking around for at least 30 years, but I finally put the words into something resembling a final version. This is a single take recording: I’ll hopefully come back to it when I’ve learned it properly, but this is Harley in country blues mode, so it’s never likely to be particularly polished… The guitar is a D’Angelico archtop, but it doesn’t sound particularly jazzy because, since it was done in one take, the acoustic sound is mixed in with the DI-d electric sound. I rather like it, but your mileage may vary ..read more

I’ve put this up before, but this is a version with electric guitar that I quite like. More jazz than blues, perhaps: I even played it on an archtop guitar. Some days are like a melody But I can’t seem to hold the key I don’t mind losing I just wish I had a little more to lose So I spend my day trying to keep  myself amused Sitting here picking at a rainy day blues I don’t mind losing I just wish I had a little more to lose It seems the road to fortune never ends You play God all week and golf at weekends I don’t mind losing I just wish I had a little more to lose And if we quit the rat-r ..read more

A vaguely jazzy piece I first put together in the 80s, but I’m still trying to get it right. It looks as if this version is going to be on the next album. D. https://whealalicemusic.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/blues-for-davy.mp3 Backup: https://dharley.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/blues-for-davy.mp3 ..read more

https://dharley.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/snowbird.mp3 Backup: https://whealalicemusic.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/snowbird.mp3 I’ve got me a golden needle to help me tie my threads I’ve got a bottle for my baby and a blanket for my head So lay down, mama, lay down and let me be Somehow I feel like old cold turkey has his claws in me If I had a silver dollar like I’ve got one thin dime You know I’d clip that turkey’s wings with another shot of turpentine If I had me a roll as thick as my right leg I think I’d fly back upcountry like a snowbird to its nest I’m going back right now, back to my ..read more

https://dharley.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/paper-city-with-slide.mp3 backup: https://whealalicemusic.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/paper-city-with-slide.mp3 Rough mix, for the present. A cheerful rock ‘n’ roll-ish ditty about the breakdown of the global economy, written in the very early 80s. These days I wonder which will go first: the economy, or the globe. I woke up with my mind’s eye facing your direction: I looked hard and I saw you needed help. You’re choking on paper and tape and legislation, But you can’t produce one thing to help yourself. Paper city at the heart of a paper empire: Y ..read more

https://dharley.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/david-harley-white-lightning-3-remastered.mp3 [backup] https://whealalicemusic.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/david-harley-white-lightning-3-remastered.mp3 Ancient version remastered (somewhat). I don’t currently sing this one, but if I did these are probably the words I’d use. I went down to see my lady But someone spread the news all over town I said ‘I don’t mind what you call me, But won’t you keep your sweet voice down?’ Might have been old white lightning Might have been old sloe gin Might have been barley, or it might have been malt But it’s real ..read more

Hat tip to Ken Bechtel, who for some reason suggested that ‘Dinosaur Tracks’ would be a suitable title for a Harley album. Be that as it may, the album is now available on Bandcamp. Here’s an MP3 the track that’s featured on Bandcamp: ‘Butterfly’ https://whealalicemusic.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/butterfly-over-the-hill.mp3 When I started to do many more of my own songs, back in the 1970s, much of my repertoire was blues-based, and my own songs reflected that bias, including most of the songs here. The performances here are mostly demo-quality, mostly taken from cassettes rather than studio ..read more

https://whealalicemusic.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/a-rainy-day-blues-july-2.mp3 Backup: https://dharley.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/a-rainy-day-blues-july-2.mp3 A Rainy Day Blues (Harley) – all rights reserved Some days are like a melody But I can’t seem to hold the key I don’t mind losing I just wish I had a little more to lose So I spend my day trying to keep  myself amused Sitting here picking at a rainy day blues I don’t mind losing I just wish I had a little more to lose It seems the road to fortune never ends You play God all week and golf at weekends I don’t mind losing I just wis ..read more

https://whealalicemusic.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/pick-my-pocket-2021-3.mp3 A different arrangement for an old blues-y thing. The other version here uses open D, but this one is just a dropped D tuning. By the way, the reference to ecstasy here is nothing to do with MDMA (I don’t think I’d heard of the drug at that point). I found the extra verse below at the weekend: not sure I’ll keep it, as it doesn’t seem quite in tune with the others. Anyway, I didn’t sing it this time round. Pick My Pocket (Harley) Got no fare For a boat or plane I got shoes to walk But I’m here just the same Buddy, yo ..read more

Now available (and listenable) at Bandcamp. 1. Make It Pay 01:30 2. Butterfly (Over The Hill) 03:43 3. The Road 03:13 4. Anywhere 03:12 5. Ten Percent Blues 03:42 6. Now How Long 03:45 7. Blues For Davy 02:01 8. Baby What A Groove 02:52 9. Another Bangor Day 04:12 10. Long Cigarettes, Cheap Red Wine 04:22 11. Moonstruck 01:30 12. Angel [demo version] 02:15 13. East River 03:07 14. Empty Sunday [demo version] 02:09 You might regard this album title as an over-extended pun. Not only does it include more blues/American-influenced material than my previous albums (though I’m not sure how to quant ..read more