HERRCD14 ELWOOD'S GREATEST HITS
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All music and noises © Copyright Paul A. Williams aka Elwood Herring - Please read these notes before downloading

Greatest Hits Mins Description & comments
   78:00 All my best bits on one CD - almost too good to be true! Seriously though, this is a good introduction to my scattershot style of composition. The tracks vary occasionally on this CD, as I keep changing my mind as to what to include and what to leave out, which paves the way for collectors to hunt down rare versions when I become mega-famous!

Download the whole albumwrapped album free from MegaUpload.


  Year CD Mins Description of individual pieces on CD (Click on titles for more info.)
The Hitch-Hiker Suite 1986 8:16 Fast-moving sequenced synth pieces done on the Yamaha CX5M computer. It sounds great but was very time-consuming to do on primitive MIDI equipment. NOTE 1: Any resemblance to "Steel Monkey" by Jethro Tull is entirely coincidental. (I wrote mine first!) NOTE 2: Part 2 had a 'scratch' vocal track added for inclusion on the "Interface" album. (MIDI versions made in 2003 - not as good as the originals, though!)
Upandunder Overture 1979 4:13 My first synthesiser piece - short and sweet, and a bit naive. I still like the tune, and refer to it occasionally in other works. The title is a reference to Eddie Waring of "It's a Knockout" fame, whose catchphrase was "Up and under!" (This is a MIDI remake of the original, made in 2003)
Apatcheye 1981 2:58The wierdest music ever committed to CD? ("Walkin' down de middle o' de road wi' me shoes on...") Never mind what it all means, just listen to the sound quality - turn it up loud and sod the neighbours; in fact why not invite them round and have a party? Just make sure you invite me!
The Last Herring 1983 3:57Which it was - the last Red Herring piece and the first Interface one. Quitars by "Ten Quid Ponn"
One More Lie 1984 6:07A dark sinister-sounding piece, with guest vocals by Spooky the cat. Can you work out what it all means?
November 1984 7:41The longest, most complex song I wrote in the 80's - my "Bohemian Rhapsody" or "MacArthur Park"!
Childhood's End 1983 4:40 This is the final piece of the whole hour-long suite. (Nothing to do with the Pink Floyd song of the same name.) Poignant and nostalgic, re-using the bass line from the opening piece.
The Pizza Car Toe-Rag 2002 6:32 The Herringbone Rag arranged for pizzicato & legato strings. Now that's more like it! (This became the basis of the scherzo of my 4th Symphony.)
Fade Out 1981 7:37One of my favourite guitar improvisations, accompanied by Mr. Weaklark on organ.
Pavanne 1984 4:41Written as an elegy for a girl who was tragically knocked down and killed on a pedestrian crossing. Or was she? I still don't know.
Chinese Cheesecake 1979 4:14 A wierd musical "perpetuum mobile" which doesn't let up for a second. (This is a MIDI remake of the original, made in 2003)
Life Cycle 1982 3:40A farewell lament to a woman, a country and a life in three nostalgic verses. This is also included on the Red Herring CD. Can you spot the famous tune which I pinched the chord sequence from?
Electronic
Intermezzo no.3
2002 7:33 Abstract synth piece made on the Waldorf, but sounding remarkably similar in style to the first two intermezzos I created in 1986 using a completely different setup (see below). Seems I haven't lost my touch! You either love this sort of thing or not; I happen to like abstract music when it's done well like I hope I have done here.
Break 1979 5:07A laid-back bluesy piece, where I multi-tracked myself humming and pratting about in the background. Plus an accidental but perfectly-timed burp!



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