Johnny McAleer
music from the heart and soul
Disc📀graphy
inspiration & instrumentation
It is never easy to describe quite how one has been inspired to compose a song or a piece of instrumental music. Sometimes an impromptu simple two or three chord sequence will suggest a basic melody which seems to materialise out of thin air and from what began as a collection of a few random notes, a tune is suddenly born that craves further development. When accompanying harmonies follow the - along with lyrics in the case of a song - the whole piece begins to flow almost writing itself you might say, wanting to be written. When this happens the achievement one feels having created something that works from seemingly no more than a few simple notes in a short space of time is immensely satisfying. At other times that all essential spark of creativity is harder to come by and the whole process becomes harder to define, more complex, and seemingly elusive. The final composition may take days, weeks even months or years to be realised. But with perseverance the result is equally rewarding. I have listed each of my original compositions accompanied by a description of what it was that inspired and enabled me me to take the spark of an idea and develop it into something expressive and worthy of attention by the listener.
Please, read - and listen - on . . .
a musical A to Z
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Another Place
The inspiration for this song came from three separate sources:
Firstly, the desire and eventual realisation of relocating with my partner from the city I had called home for 43 years to live in the countryside. This brought with it the opportunity to experience an entirely new way of life, set of surroundings and the impetus to integrate into the community by meeting and getting to know new people. What was essentially a leap of faith and huge gamble became a journey into the unknown which could have gone horribly wrong but turned out better than we could ever have imagined. Secondly, numerous memorable visits with family and friends to the site of "Another Place", Crosby Beach, Merseyside, UK. "Another Place" is a piece of modern sculpture by Sir Antony Gormley. It consists of 100 cast iron figures stretching 1.5 miles along the Mersey estuary looking westward. Maybe they are in search of a new home across the sea - Ireland perhaps or America? Or are they thinking wistfully about their former homeland, contemplating a return one day? Only the figures themselves have the answer. Have a listen to the track and see what you think. And last but not least, the ongoing plight of those desperate souls struggling to cross the English Channel in small boats in the hope of finding a new life in the UK away from a dangerous existence in their own homeland. Their situation and our own good fortune could not be more dissimilar.
The lyrics reflect the positive aspects of new beginnings, a sense of adventure and hope for the future set against the negative aspects of fear and trepidation, dangerous journeys into the unknown under desperate circumstances and how life may be forever changed amidst the uncertainty of being accepted in a new and potentially hostile environment.
At Close Of Day
This piece for Piano and Oboe was inspired by some of the spectacular sunsetsexperienced in the peaceful countryside close to Hadrian's Wall on the Cumbria-Northumberland border.
INSPIRED BY the sights, sounds, scents, colours and feelings of Autumn
The eyes BEHIND THE MASK are lost in shadow and mystery.
Look behind the mask and find the truth.
Who is the person behind the mask?
THE RETURN OF THE ROVER - geddit? 😉
writ. Alan Parsons & Eric Woolfson
THIS IS A SONG by British rock band The Alan Parsons Project. It was written by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson and was released as a single from their sixth studio album, Eye In The Sky (1982) It reached No. 3 on the Billboard charts in the U.S. in October 1982, No. 1 in both Canada and Spain, and No. 6 in New Zealand. It was their most successful release.
writ. Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane
WRITTEN IN 1943 by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane this timeless classic was introduced by Judy Garland in the 1944 MGM musical Meet Me in St. Louis. I figured that in 2020 of all years the lyrics were more fitting than ever before.
writ. Jim Croce
THIS IS AN ALL-TIME favourite of mine from a truly talented singer/songwriter who tragically died before his time.
THE JANUARY FULL MOON is often known as the Wolf Moon.
The full Moon names used by The Old Farmer’s Almanac come from a number of places, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred, not just to the full Moon itself.
It’s thought that January’s full Moon came to be known as the Wolf Moon because wolves were more often heard howling at this time. It was traditionally believed that wolves howled due to hunger during winter, but we know today that wolves howl for other reasons. Howling and other wolf vocalizations are generally used to define territory, locate pack members, reinforce social bonds, and coordinate hunting.
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LEAVING
A western-style instrumental inspired by an episode of the cult 1960's TV series "The Prisoner"
MODESTLY SELF-REFERENTIAL it has to be said but in light of the events of 2020 onwards a certain irony prevails. Things will never be the same; we will never be the same. In addition an instruction to do and be something different perhaps?
THIS FOLK/COUNTRY INSPIRED composition entitled “North Country Road” encapsulates in one phrase my northern roots and life’s journey punctuated by the cherished memories of family and friends, places and experiences gathered along the way. The song talks about the uncertainties of the road ahead but is balanced by more comforting sentiments of companionship, familiarity, homecoming, reunion and positivity for a brighter future.
I felt inspired to write this song partly due to the difficult times we are currently experiencing when many people are reflecting on their lives and considering what is important in future. Its overall tone is reflective but not sad. The tempo remains upbeat as it is intended to evoke feelings of optimism for better times ahead.
DEDICATED TO The late, great Neil Innes who left us in 2019. Amongst his many musical contributions Neil brought us The Rutles.
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October Rain
Inspired by a particularly atmospheric rainy day in... well... October as it
happens
DEDICATED TO my maternal Grandfather, John James "Johnny" McAleer, who died long before I was born. By all accounts he was something of a local legend in his home town of Bootle, Merseyside, where he and my Nan raised 8 children between them. Sadly two of their sons died in childhood/adolescence and I can barely imagine the grief they suffered. Johnny was a prominent character in the neighbourhood who loved playing music, dancing and football. He managed the local football team and was also an English Football League referee with a reputation for maintaining and promoting fair play. The story goes that he once had a run in with a local vicar who wanted the game banned as he deemed it too rough. Johnny insisted that the local youth needed a way of letting off steam at weekends: "Local Ref takes on Vicar" read the placards. I like to think Grandad would approve of this little tribute. Here's hoping his particular cloud has a good internet connection ....
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re-imagined by Johnny McAleer
Acknowledging: Sade, George Gershwin, Bananarama and Steely Dan
WITH WARM SUMMER DAYS in mind
A REFLECTION on lost youth, life, friendship, sadness, but also hope...especially dedicated to anyone who remembers as vividly as I do David Bowie's iconic appearance on Top Of The Pops in 1972 as Ziggy Stardust singing "Starman" to an audience of wide-eyed teenagers whose whole idea of pop culture was about to change forever...
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WITH MEMORIES of the magnificent Andalusian landscape and lifestyle and people still very much in mind and in anticipation of a return to sunnier climes.
writ. Joni Mitchell
MY 2020 INTERPRETATION and tribute in celebration of this absolute classic's release in 1970