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singer songwriter & guitarist

Songs From The Dress Rehearsal

songs from the dress rehersal

Songs From The Dress Rehearsal 1977 ~ Cornucopia Records

Cornucopia Records, no number (LP, UK, 1977)
Market Square MSMCD132 (CD, UK, March 7, 2005)

Tracklist:
01 Do What You Please (Hey Girl)  3:45 Do What You Please
02 Face Of A Friend  3:46 Face Of A Friend
03 She’s The Woman  3:20  
04 The Greening Wind  5:26  
05 Impressions  3:51  
06 In The Light Tonight  2:49  
07 Make Time For Love  3:07  
08 Coming Into Love Again  3:28  
09 Fairground Rock ‘N’ Roll  6:05  
10 Rain All Around  3:51  
11 Help Yourself To This Song  3:05  
  CD Bonus Tracks    
12 In Limbo  3:35  
13 Man Of Mystery  3:05  
14 Mr Dreamer  3:12  
15 Sing For Salvation  2:56  
16 Love’s An Illusion  2:55  
17 I’ll Be There  3:16  

All tracks written by Steve Tilston

 

Musicians

Steve Tilston, vocals, guitar
Rupert Hine, keyboards
Mike Giles, drums, percussion
John G. Perry, bass
Keith Warmington, harmonica, backing vocals
John Renbourn, second guitar [4]

 

LP produced by Rupert Hine in 1976 at Verwood Studios, Hampshire, England;
Engineered by Mike Giles
CD bonus tracks [12-17] produced by Stefan Grossmann in 1979 at Livingston Studios, London, England;
Engineered by Nick Kinsey

 

 

SONGS FROM THE DRESS REHEARSAL 

An Introduction by Steve Tilston …

All of these songs date from the 1970’s. To the best of my knowledge the earliest was started in 1973, and the most recent 1978, or thereabouts. The first 11 songs make up the original ‘Songs From The Dress Rehearsal’ album, released on my own (short-lived and therefore highly-collectable!) Cornucopia label and recorded in the blistering hot summer of 1976 at King Crimson drummer Mike Giles’ studio in the New Forest of southern England.

I remember it being so hot that trees were spontaneously combusting in the not too far distance. I also remember at first being frustrated at the sound of the fire engines punctuating the recording session, but after witnessing a tree, barely a hundred yards away, crackle and turn into a giant Roman candle, I became (swiftly) more circumspect.

At first, it was daunting having to take a backward step into the mental murk. It’s akin to finding an old dusty diary, that causes sneezing and some little orbital discomfort on the first re-opening.

I freely admit to being a little apprehensive, as quite simply, a lot of these songs document a period in my life that was not the happiest. That said, the more I delved, the more I remembered some wonderfully joyous times and some great people – some of whom I still see, some I don’t and some I can’t.

Apart from the odd chord or two I wouldn’t change a bit of it. 

 

1. Do What You Please (Hey Girl) 

I was 22 and locked into a short intense, but painful relationship, made more piquant from the outset with the knowledge that come the summer, she was going off on o pre-arranged trip around the States with her ex. As the departure date approached the shadow grew longer, but when the time arrived for goodbyes and the plane disappeared in the clouds, the shadow lifted, the actuality being nowhere near as bad as the apprehension.

 

Oh the look in your eyes cuts me quite by surprise 

I can see you’re determined to leave 

and the words of the song they have lingered too long in a head that had 

hoped for a reprieve 

Is your flight number fixed in between and betwixt? 

the arrangements all carefully made 

by the look in your eyes it is time for goodbyes 

yes it’s time for illusions to fade 

Chorus 

But I”m not about to go down on my knees 

There’s nothing new ‘neath the sun you must do what you please 

hey girl what more can I say girl 

having come all this way girl you must do what you please 

And summer returns though it never quite learns 

the best times to shine or to rain 

everybody’s making plans for acquiring sun tans 

while we exchange our postcards and our pain

(Chorus) 

 

2. Face Of A Friend

A love song wrapped up in a resigned yet joyous acceptance of personal insignificance when compared to the mind boggling enormity of the universe. The opening guitar figure was lifted from Foure’s ‘The Dolly Suite,’ which most people of my generation will remember as the theme tune for ‘Listen with Mother,’ “Are you sitting comfortably children?” I certainly was when this first came to me, sitting on the rocks near St Just, Cornwall in the summer of 1973, with good company, bottles of sweet Sauternes (this was all we could lay our hands on) and some duty free grass cuttings, watching the most beautiful sunset slipping down behind the Atlantic. I held on to those images for a couple of years trying to coax out the song, but whenever I’d play those opening bars I was transported back to childhood and I’d get side-tracked. In the end, I gave myself a good talking to and knuckled under. I love Rupert Hine’s spare but perfect use of piano on this one.

 

The sun will kiss this day good bye forever 

though tomorrow it will shine again 

as sure as we are standing here 

twice tongue tied it will rise be yours and mine again 

I won’t ask you forever for that’s a well worn story that has no end 

So if I took you for my lover 

your face 

for the face of a friend

Hey don’t we think were precious 

electricity deliver us from the dark 

though dark conspires to cover all the faces 

that will leave this world without a mark 

oh forever is a star that lights the firmament 

long after its life does end 

So if I took you for my lover

your face 

for the face of a friend 

chorus 

Kick out sophistication I’ve had a belly full of that 

gotta find what’s real 

oh its been so long since I have felt the tears flow 

I am wondering do I still feel? 

Oh but as this perfect sunset bathes our faces 

oh it somehow makes my sadness end 

I’ll kiss the face of my lover 

know the face of my friend

 

3. It’s A Straight Road

I’ve written more sad songs when I’ve been feeling happy and vice versa, This love song was, I think started when I was unattached. Although it sounds as if I’m being specific here, to my ears it has gained a universal quality. I think John’s bass and Mike Giles’ drumming knit beautifully with my guitar part.

 

Today is a day for praising my love 

I don’t compare her to the moon or the stars above 

she’s just the woman I love 

she’s just the woman I love

Our loves the only cloak I wear 

to keep me when the bitter air falls just everywhere 

Right now she’s just everywhere.

chorus 

Its a straight road much further than the eye con see 

cos she’s bringing out the best in me 

so easily oh so easily

And where to end, where to begin? 

to say it in this song I sing. 

right now she’s everything 

she’s just everything 

chorus 

chorus 

It’s a straight road. 

1st verse 

 

4. The Greening Wind 

I was brought up in a village where people smiled and nodded in acknowledgement, so I remember it being quite a culture shock moving to London at the age of 20; grinning inanely at strangers, getting the blank look in return. I must have glowed fluorescent-green on arrival. I left after a couple of years looking slightly mildewed. This one’s about the casting aside of innocence and the growing of extra layers of hide in the big city. Sam Charters, the American musicologist, re-discoverer of bluesman Furry Lewis, and also producer of my second album (‘Collection’, Transatlantic Records 1972) sent me a book of his poems. One of them was called ‘The Greening Wind,’ and I freely admit to taking the title from that poem. John Renbourn plays lead guitar with his usual razzle-dazzle.

 

As I grow older cast over my shoulder the lies 

life gets no clearer as it draws nearer my eyes 

knowing what I know to be true 

concerning me and concerning you 

sent a friend to catch a friend across the crowded memories

 

There in the greening wind lost them both to purgatory. 

lost them for themselves to see 

what would pass and what would be

 

In the greening wind 

In the greening wind. 

 

Village born village bred left to take the city on 

City sounds got in his head and he said that he will be gone

then he said that he might stay got used to those city ways

 

In the greening wind 

in the greening wind.

 

Over the green grass over the hills

got time for growing , got time to kill

gotta find something something that stays

gotta find a way out of this maze.

 

signed and delivered

out on the plate

held onto nothing died a death worse than fate

gotta find me something something that stays

gotta find a way out of this maze

 

Write me down your favourite lines 

see if its true that we disagree 

I tell you now I’m not like you an it’s oh so plain that you’re not like me 

But we both share the air we breathe

alone we come and alone we shall leave

 

In the greening wind oh

In the greening wind

 

As I grow older cast over my shoulder lies 

 

 

5. Impressions 

This is about being locked in a relationship, whereby both patties know it’s dead in the water, but are still trying to keep it afloat. Again John and Mike’s bass and drum perfectly compliment the guitar.

 

I was under the impression that you were gonna get along with me

just a simple listening in two port harmony

there are no more tears to cry my eyes are dry

 

I could get along without you girl but I don’t wanna hove to try

 

It’s just like some problem page in a magazine

I must of come of age I’ve seen this kind of thing on the moving screen

things are said that we don’t mean an the doors they slam

 

Oh I could get along without you girl but sometimes I 

think I can

 

We are on the sometimes road sometimes nowhere

If I had a place to hide then I would go there

 

You said you were under the impression that I was gonna change my ways 

I have no confessions to make I’ve learnt confession never pays 

but I will take the blame this time if you would take your turn 

 

I see we are making the some mistakes again

When will we ever learn

 

We are on the sometimes road to sometimes nowhere

If I had a place to hide then I would go there

 

Oh I was under the impression that you were gonna get along with me 

just a simple listening in two part harmony

there ore no more tears to cry my eyes are dry

 

Oh I could get along without you girl but I don’t wanna 

have to try

oh I could get along without you girl but I don’t wanna 

have to try

 

 

6. In The light Tonight

Van Rooyen was a larger than life character from my schooldays, who after hitch-hiking to Tangier, became a nineteen year old living legend amongst those of us still banged up in school. Three years younger, I was tolerated because I could play the guitar, but at that age, three years was a gulf – after all, I’d only hitched to Cornwall. I was instructed to travel more! As time went by our paths would cross every few years or so and the meetings would pretty much go the way the song suggests. Much later, long after this song was written, we met again, I’d out-travelled him.

 

Oh the last time I saw him Van Rooyen was wearing a smile I’d no way of sharing and the highway were stood on was split by embarrassed tongues goodbye the road needs repairing 

chorus

In the light tonight I saw the lines of time under our eyes 

why ain’t we wise? 

time has took us by surprise

Oh the books that were chosen the passed with the songs that we all sang 

with a voice that now frozen 

and the fires in the forest and youth they were fanned by the truth 

‘hey 

men I see its still smouldering

chorus

There ore bars on the windows and chains on the doorways of every place 

that I linger 

Oh I sing songs to please a song to release 

for a good song is the key for my fingers.

(chorus x 2) 

 

7. Make Time For Love

Looking back now, this song seems naively simplistic and on reflection it is naively simplistic, but no more so than Lennon’s ‘Imagine’. I con however cheerfully say, with hand on heart, that the pursuit of untold pecuniary riches, has not been the main driving force in my life. Bloody good job!

 

Make time for love 

make time for laughter 

there is much more to life than just looking after yourself and counting 

your wealth

Whisper the names of the ones you have befriended 

forgetting the games and the ways you descended into 

if you make time for me I will make time for you

chorus

There’s no special dreams there’s no special answers 

I just pick my way between all the dancers I see 

if I make time for you will you make time for me

chorus 

What could be easier than saying please to a friend 

just watching the world go by 

gets you nowhere in the end 

8. Coming Into Love Again

I think in my early 20’s I was in danger of becoming addicted 

to failing in love. Or was it lust? “Shout it at the ocean, shout 

it from the chimney tops.” 

Coming into love with my eyes wide with wine 

wear it like an emblem like a coca cola sign 

shout it from the ocean, shout it from the chimney tops 

coming into love and I don’t intend to stop 

chorus 

It’s more than the face that’s right 

oh it’s more than the time and place tonight 

stepping out into that light 

coming into love again 

coming into love again 

I talk about this woman with every word I care to speak 

feeling quite romantic 

yes I’m feeling quite unique 

reeling and rolling like a fairground gigolo 

coming into love and I don’t intend to go 

chorus 

 

9. Fairground Rock ‘n’ Roll

Every year a fair would come to the next village … It was a big deal as for back as I could remember and an even bigger deal at 

the age of 13. I still remember those wonderful songs blaring out as a backdrop to all those adolescent dramas spinning round in a technicolour blur. As the song says .. .”you must pay your dues on the whip & the waltzers.”

 

On the weekend around the fair ground 

The bad boys are kicking up the cans 

outside the laughter the young lovers wander 

linger behind the caravans 

You must pay your dues on the whip and the waltzers get used and confused by the girls 

chorus 

In that rock and roll 

don’t it get your soul 

round an round the fair ground we go 

wo wo wo fairground rock and roll 

On the weekend oh around the fairground 

The bad boys are hunting in their packs 

losing their loose change and their looking for plunder 

school girls in green gaberdine macs 

high as a gym slip on bottled sweet cider 

used and abused by the boys 

chorus 

Try your luck three shots for only a shilling 

for punch-drunk fish in plastic bags 

under the floorboards see the young kids are crawling 

searching for fortunes and fags 

I fell in love on the whip an the waltzers 

It was not her smile or her curls 

chorus

 

On the weekend oh into the fairground 

the girl of your sweet dreams she descends 

your heart’s beating faster you must go up and ask her 

or how can you face your laughing friends? 

Just as you move in some fairground Philanderer 

with tattoos he whisks her away 

chorus 

On the weekend oh away from the fairground 

picking up your foot steps and your pride 

leave behind the smells of the hotdogs and the onions 

don’t look back or you’ll take one last ride 

I got bruised on the whip an the waltzers 

Tryin’ to impress some well blessed girl 

(chorus) 

 

10. Rain All Around

A bluesy piece played over a rolling guitar pattern. I thought that it rained a lot in Bristol. That was before I moved into the Yorkshire Pennines. 

 

chorus 

There’s a rain all around me glistenin everywhere 

there’s a rain in my shoes darlin rain fallin’ from my hair 

when they dished up the blues I got the lion’s share 

there’s a rain all around me glistening everywhere 

Fast cast cars they fly by 

watch them come and go 

there’s always one more darlin’ that soaks you through and through 

oh if i were a fish I know what I would do 

I’d dive right to the bottom and come up real slow 

chorus 

11. Help Yourself To This Song

I do love a good strum! My good friend Keith Warmington plays some great bluesy harp on this one. 

If the rain should slap your face 

drive you to another place 

where all the people that you know 

are replaced by ones you don’t 

If that radio wont play 

The kinda music that you crave 

hey what you need without a doubt 

something to drive that city traffic out 

chorus 

Oh help yourself to this song 

Oh if your gonna be gone for long 

you better help yourself to this song 

If the ladies cause you pain 

you know its hard to refrain 

from being what you really are 

If things should take you just a little too far?

 

chorus 

Where you’ve been and where to go 

are things you do not really need to know 

hey what’s a song between two friends 

it’s just a link to join loose ends 

(chorus x 2) 

 

Extra Tracks 

These tracks were recorded as demos for a projected album for Stefan Grossman’s Kicking Mule label, sometime in 1979. They are unreleased until now (about time too). 

 

1. In Limbo 

A bluesy piece in A, with a rolling bass figure interspersed with octave runs. It almost has an Elizabethan tinge to the lyrical content. Apparently, the first documentation of people having ‘the blues,’ was from this period, though not the 12 bar variety. 

 

Oh I’ve got to get out of limbo. 

Oh I’m feeling worst for wear. 

Faces they come and they go in limbo 

Someone lead me from despair. 

Time ticks slowly by in limbo. 

Time is never that good to me 

Every hour seems a day in limbo 

Someone please set me free 

Looking over the ocean, all the new worlds been discovered 

Curses and love potions, sirens and dream lovers 

Oh let me go 

Feel the force rise between my toes 

Bad dreams and vertigo 

Who cares I just gotta’ go. 

I’ve got to get away from limbo. 

Daylight its seldom shines in limbo. 

Daylight making the garden grow. 

Flowers they never bloom in limbo. 

Only seeds of doubt ore sown 

Looking over the ocean etc. 

 

2. Man Of Mystery

A quasi Darwinian question session along the lines of ‘what does it all mean, where’s it all leading to?’ type of thing. This time a rolling bass pattern around a G chord. Versatile or what? 

 

Where too now my friend? 

We’re near the end of what we are 

we have come far from the sea 

Hey look at me man of mystery 

Will we ever know which way the wind does blow 

the fruit free from the knowledge tree? 

Hey, look at me man of mystery 

When are past and gone 

Will we be frozen in the stone? 

Just like a dinosaur yeah just like a dinosaur 

just like a dinosaur hmmmm ………. 

 

3. Mr Dreamer

A song I wrote for o friend (KW) who was ‘going through the mill,’ at the time. I wonted to write a country sounding song with a ‘pianoistic’ accompaniment. 

 

The rain that weeps on the window tells a story 

the wind that robs him of warmth tells a tale 

though truth and youth they seem to rhyme 

a child of the times he could not stay

awake awake Mr Dreamer its today 

The games of chance he had played 

turned against him now 

an so he turned to the lady by his side 

we have loved and we have lived 

you’ve taken now can you give a little love in return 

oh mr dreamer when will you learn 

The way she laughed in his face 

cut him cruelly just like a knife it cut the strands that binds the hearts. 

“You hove wasted all my time 

gonna get you off my mind 

away, away, away, away 

you’re just a dreamer and it’s too late.” 

Out of her door out of her life 

he retreated with just his suitcase, his guitar and a smile 

To have loved and to have lost 

Who cares what the cost and who counts time? 

Yeah who counts time Mr Dreamer friend of mine? 

 

4. Sing For Salvation. 

I have no problem with any of the world’s religions as they all contain at least one ‘beautiful idea’. But right from the word ‘go’ I had a gut wrenching mistrust of religious fundamentalism of any description. It has not changed one jot. 

 

Down on your knees and sing for salvation sing … 

for your souls 

Me, I make no claims just sing for my supper let the song fill the bowl 

Down on your knees and sing for salvation, 

but please 

if you please one more time. 

Did I see your face in some place, weren’t you once a friend of 

mine? 

Down on your knees and sing for salvation. If that’s what you 

really need? 

Catch a rose pluck a thorn even Jesus would certainly bleed 

Down on your knees an sing for salvation see what you think you should see. 

By the way that you pass I know you never would never see me

 

5. Love’s An Illusion. 

I must have been going through a period of cynicism. But even so, I sounded quite happy about it. 

 

chorus 

It’s an illusion true love it’s not what it seems 

look at the confusion everybody’s chasing after dreams 

look out the window true love hits you in the eye 

but its an illusion true love will only make you cry. 

Close all the curtains, pull down the blinds 

There’s too many people who can make up their minds 

which one to love and which way to choose 

Too many people giving each other the blues 

chorus 

Sweet cinderella a rags to riches tale 

it’s a well worn story and you know it never fails 

but I’ve scoured the backstreets and polite society

looking for some lover who was looking out for me 

 

6. I’ll Be There

 

This song was written at a time when I was doing all my travel via train. It was at a time when it was possible to get late night 

trains (what were affectionately known as ‘milk trains’) home. I remember train travel as being very conducive to getting song 

ideas. I get lots of ideas in cars, but having to stop to jot ’em down quite often spoils the flow. 

I am on a fast train coming home I’ll be there 

fidget like a fish upon a pole till I’m there 

if the train should stop I’ll lose control 

but I’ll be there 

chorus 

And every place we pass 

reflected in the glass 

I see her face 

oh train chase that light 

oh train chase that light 

oh train chase that light 

I’ve gotta see my baby tonight 

Seven cities down one more to go 

I’ll be there 

twenty cigarettes down one a glow 

I’ll be there 

Soon familiar sites will start to show 

cos I’ll be there 

chorus 

1st verse 

chorus 

 

 

Credits:

Songs From The Dress Rehearsal 

Tracks 1-11 

 

Produced by Rupert Hine in 1976 at Verwood Studios, Hampshire, England 

Engineered by Mike Giles 

Guitar/Vocals: Steve Tilston 

Keyboards: Rupert Hine 

Drums/Percussion: Mike Giles 

Bass: John G Perry 

Harmonica/Backing Vocals: Keith Warmington 

2nd Guitar (‘The Greening Wind’): John Renbourn

 

Unreleased 

Tracks 12-17 

 

Produced by Stefan Grossman in 1979 at Livingston Studios. London, England 

Engineered by Nick Kinsey 

 

Guitar/Vocals: Steve Tilston 

 

All songs written by Steve Tilston 

Published by Market Square Music Ltd 

 

With thanks to Molly for transcribing lyrics from vinyl 

 

Compilation project supervision: Peter Muir 

Artwork by Chris Sands 

 

A Market Square Record 

MSMCD132 

www.marketsquarerecords.co.uk 

 

® 2004 Market Square Music Ltd 

© 2004 Market Square Music Ltd 

Made in England