Tempting Hell
John McGrail
This is the first song I ever wrote that required 3 (count 'em ) capo's. Now that doesn't make it a good song. What it sounds like is important and I think it sounds good. How about you?
These links will take you to John McGrails Singles available at CD Baby, Spotify and iTunes
These links will take you to The Headwhiz Consorts Singles at CD Baby and Spotify and iTunes
Reap What We Sow
John McGrail
Cleveland based singer songwriter John McGrail has been writing music for the last 40 years and performing for over 35 of those years. His tastes are wide as is exemplified by the variety of artist with whom he has shared a stage. He has performed with or opened for Ellis Paul, the Irish group The Chieftains, East LA Tex-Mex group Las Cafeteras, The Cowboy Junkies, New Age artist Larkin, native American songwriter Bill Miller and political folk songwriter Dan Bern amongst others.
Categorized as a folk musician he accepts that and on some level even agrees, but his influences range far beyond that and they all contribute to the ‘folk’ music that he creates. Analysis of his tunes would find things like odd meters, Floydian textures, and the occasional stinging guitar solo. Then there are the lyrics... well there are those who have described him as the Dark Prince of Cleveland Folk.
Do Not Stand in My Way
John McGrail
Progressive Folk
This song has a unique history. It was originally supposed to be on my first album “The Sun” way back when however a technical glitch kept it from appearing on that historic recording. That was back in 1995. It then sat for the next 24 years collecting dust (not the album just the light particles that float around in the air and eventually settle on things.). Well this year I pulled it out and ‘dusted’ it off and started to work on it again. I am glad I did as the 24 years it sat the technology that has become available has allowed me to realize the song in a way that fills it out much more than I could have back in 1995. Just having the Mind Fry Orchestra available to me was a huge boost to how this turned out. That technical glitch was, retrospectively, a blessing not a curse.
Here are the lyrics:
You see as you do I don’t why must you go on
there’s no right or wrong only how we feel
I don’t see how you can feel alone
I am by myself and yet at home
Chorus: do not stand in my way for I will not force you out I will merely have to wait I will merely have to wait
do not take this wrong I mean no harm to you this is all I can do all I can do please believe my plea I mean to speak the truth I can not be boxed I need a room with a view
stand in my way and I’ll stand aside I will not push will not push they’ll be no peace until we realize there’s no peace without trust what do you know how does it feel our desires would have to be as one will you take what is yours or keep what you steal the end then has certainly begun
I may see as you do someday that does not mean I will change my view that is then now is the time of which we speak it is all I can do all I can do
The Misanthrope's Cry
John McGrail
Modern Progressive Folk
This is a solo acoustic guitar piece.I don't write very many of them but the occasional nugget pops up. I like this one when I can actually play it properly. Here are the lyrics:
Merely What You Can
John McGrail
A little rock, a little blues, a little folk a little bit of everything.
This is a tune that first appeared on a cassette only release (remember them.... no? I'm so old.) called "The Millet Stalk" by my old band A Grey Sky. I've been rehashing these tunes and putting them out as single over the last few years. Here is some more hash for you.....
Here are the lyrics:
You know you will not cry Though you claim you want to die Is this the only place to try your resistance Don’t resist me I must ask you to agree or leave On my insistence.
Oh no no no You do not understand I’m not telling you what to do Merely what you can.... Merely what you can
The things to which you agreed You no longer seem to believe You want me to concede or reconsider? Your anger wells inside Though you cannot claim I lied you still find a way to be bitter
Sometimes I know just how you feel Sometimes I feel that way myself You know its not heaven though it might be hell Sometimes you just can’t tell
Your tears are freeze dried Tell me why oh why Can you claim inside a vision As you look and you squeal Claiming what is false and what is real Acting like you feel you’re on a mission
The Plague of Oran
The Headwhiz Consort Moderne Internationale
Experimental Orchestral Jazz Rock
Once again they have done it. Taking their Experimental World Jazz into the realm of modern classical music without abandoning their “roots”, if a band such as this can claim to have roots... and yet... they have roots as large and deep as the Baobab tree itself. Once again they are assisted by conductor Raul Espinoza leading the Mind Fry Orchestra deft blending of the orchestra with the Consort. Stunningly stunning!
Orphan
John McGrail
Progressive Folk
This is a tune that came to me after my father passed. It is a simple and straight forward look at the idea contained in the title. It is a peculiar feeling when one no longer has parents on this earth.