Gavin Sutherland

THE DEAL

Some country blues with a dash of home made rock and a few odds n' sods from the great library of chops, licks and grooves that at some time or another, in some way or another, found a way into my heart. All I had to do was melt it all down and stir it back up into the wonderful noise we call rock'n'roll. Serve chilled.

This record was made in the North of Scotland during January and February, 2008. It was written, performed and produced by Gavin Sutherland and recorded and mastered by James Hunter.

And it goes a little like this . . . .

The Deal
The whole thing's a deal. Your deal, my deal, good deal, bad deal. Have you read George Monbiot's "Captive State"? Worth a look. When Thom read it he said he'd never take the government seriously again.
"Maybe I'm a giver, Maybe I'm a thief,
You can look at me in wonder, or disbelief . . ."

Strange
So the guy in the spaceship is looking down on the little planet we call Earth, trying to work out what the two legged uprights are all about. Every time he thinks he's got it, a new, unexpected factor leaps into the equation. They love each other, they hate each other, they give to each other, they steal from each other. It's all very strange!
"Some people cruisin' round out there, in a black limousine,
Some people dead on their feet, I think you know who I mean!"

My World
We all live in our own little worlds. I live in my world. Where do you live?

The Way It Goes
Time to boogie down. I fell in love with rock'n' roll when I heard Eddie Cochran singing "Somethin' Else" on a pal's little Dansette record player. Don't know what life would be like if Eddie and the lads hadn't taught us how to rock. We owe them a massive thank you.

Dreaming
Not at all sure where this tune came from. I walked into the studio one morning, sat down at the piano and started singing it like I'd known the song all my life. I wish it was that easy every time.

Morocco Jive
I remember stepping off the ferry in Tangiers harbour and thinking "Wow, I'm in Africa!" It was just so different from anywhere I'd ever been and looked so different from anything I'd ever seen. The whole vibe blew me away. I was browsing through a book in the library a few months back when I came across some art work that reminded me of Morocco. I closed my eyes and drifted back there, laid back, feet in the sand with a warm wind blowin' from the Promised Land.

The Raven
According to the Ancient Lore of Caledonia, The Raven's eye is on us day and night. Abuse the land that provides for us and we'll be punished! Watch "The Age Of Stupid" when you get the chance. It's very important.
"Black rain's comin' down on you, it's gonna chill you to the bone,
Dark fear's gonna walk with you, wherever you go . . ."

Are You Ready?
This song is dedicated to the memory of Mississippi's greatest rocker, Ellas Otha Bates, the legend we call Bo Diddley, the only man in history to have a rhythm named after him. The "shave and a haircut, two bits" was so powerful Bo only needed a couple of guitar chords to get his point across. That's genius.

Kelly's Waltz
In my previous life as a pub philosopher I tried to work out what it was all about. Maybe if I made a list of all the things it wasn't I might, sooner or later, stumble on what it was? I eventually conceded that it is what it is, and that's that. Anybody fancy a dance?

Close Of The Day
The chorus of this song appeared in my head as I was driving home along the coast road. I know I should carry a note book or something to capture the ideas as they come along, (you never know, your last idea could be your last idea!) but I'm never ready for anything like that. Knowing how easy it is to forget new tunes I pulled over by a village phone-box. The idea seemed to make perfect sense. I dialed my home number, put a few coins in the box and waited till the answer machine asked me to leave a message. After the tone I burst into song, oblivious to all that was going on around me. When I'd finished I put the phone down and turned to walk away. Oh no! The local skateboard posse had gathered outside the phone-box! Their silence said it all. My unorthodox use of the telephone had left them all quite speechless. Feeling a little uncomfortable, I nodded, said "Hi" and made my way back to the car.
OK, it had been an unsettling experience for all concerned, but I still think it was a good idea. It's not often you get a chance to run something past an audience so early in the process.

And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like to introduce you to a couple of bonus tracks I recorded for the Special Edition CD version of The Deal . . . .

A Big Storm Blowing
Looks like we're back to The Raven and the Black Rain. This one's dedicated to all the armchair scientists out there who seem to know everything about everything. Can't believe how many people are still in denial of what's going on all around us. Don't want to keep banging on about green stuff but when I see how things are just falling apart it really winds me up!

Where Would I Be? (If You Weren't Here)
I wrote this song for all the people who have shown me kindness over the years. You know who you are. Cheers!