ABOUT THE MUSIC
"Mileage" is a word sometimes used by old Jazz players to describe a positive quality acquired during the journey of a musician.
The first 24 songs on this album were written and produced between the Spring of 2019 - 2021, and the of the songs were added between 2023-2025.
We did not judge the inspirations, but simply did our best to get the songs down.
In this regard, we feel that if you start rejecting what the big guy in the sky sends to you, then maybe he will stop and give them to someone else…
The result is an eclectic collection which crosses many different genres, e.g., Latin ("Alone / Solo,” “Young Love / Amore Giovanne," and “Someday / Un Giorno”), British Invasion ("Mi-Pacifier"), Spaghetti Western (Lonesome Cowboy"), Rock ("Gimme Bad Girls"), Punk ("I Hate You"), Country ("Make'n Babies On A Saturday Night"), Delta Blues ("Blue Balls"), Folk ("Selfishness"), Funk ("Get Out"), Heavy Metal ("Shoot'n Red Hot Metal"), Indian ("IDFK"), Jazz ("Sometimes"), Gospel ("Easter Sunday"), Surf ("Odysseus," and “Killer Twang”).
My son Kieran played the trumpet, saxophone, French horn, piano, and helped to write, edit, and mix the songs. As we are over 40 years apart, he and I did not always agree on the lyrics included in the songs. His generation is more sensitive regarding interpersonal communication, and also more technologically savvy than my own.
Accordingly, I take ultimate responsibility for the songs and hope you will enjoy them.
The songs have been provided in a FLAC format which provides better sound quality than a Mp3 format. They have not been mixed to be heard on cell phone or computer speakers both of which are not able to well reproduce sounds between 20-800Hz, but rather the songs have been prepared for listening on good ear buds, headphones, or speakers.
Most of the songs were recorded using 432 HZ, and not standard 440 HZ tuning for reasons that will not be discussed here.
“Solo / Alone”
My son and I admire and once met Herb Alpert after one of his performances in Portland, Oregon. This song and also “Young Love” have a Latin sound which is reminiscent of his former group the Tijuana Brass. The song “Alone” is about a young woman who connects with a man on the dance floor who is too old to be the one she will one day marry. Both know they can have no future, but live a lifetime in one night of passion. The lyrics are in Italian and Spanish. Trumpet: Kieran S. Lyden. Guitar, shaker, and male vocals: Robert M. Lyden. Bass: Jerry Burke-Perez. Drums: Tom Stamper.
“American Indians”
Sounds like a portion of a movie track. The white man committed genocide with respect to the Native American Indians. Their biggest weapons were not bullets, but the spreading of diseases (also known as a biological weapons) and wiping out the buffalo, thus their food supply. It becomes clearer every day that the one percenters desire and intent to reduce the world’s population. We’re the new American Indians. Vocals, guitar, and bass guitar Robert M. Lyden. Drums: Tom Stamper.
“Blue Balls”
The song is about the problematic experiences of a man with members of the opposite sex. What are men most blue about? Not about their jobs, cars, or who didn’t get a rose on the Bachelorette, but about women who are attractive and a lot a trouble. Open D tuning was used on this song. Guitar and male vocals: Robert M. Lyden. Bass: Jerry Burke-Perez. Drums: Tom Stamper.
“Boola-Boola”
It’s fun to sing. Has two big peaks in the 200 and also 500 Hz range. What does it mean? I don’t know, but in the film “The Buddy Holly Story,” when Buddy’s girlfriend has it all planned out that he is going to hop on the bus with her and go off to college, he stands there…and doesn’t get on the bus. Puzzled, she asks him what is he doing? He tells her that he’s going to make music. She asks him…what is she going to do? He shrugs his shoulders and says “Boola-Boola.” When you decide that you’re going to be crazy enough to write and record music…you have to tell a lot of people “Boola-Boola.” Vocals, guitar, and bass guitar Robert M. Lyden. Drums: Tom Stamper.
“Don’t Stop Me”
One of those break-up songs. In this case, a woman who could not be faithful, and a man who loves her, but he’s leaving. Vocals, guitar, and bass guitar Robert M. Lyden. Drums: Tom Stamper.
“Driving Hard”
Have you ever left a place or situation where you felt mistreated, and not looked back? The big question in this song is where is…home? Vocals, guitar, and bass guitar Robert M. Lyden. Drums: Tom Stamper.
"Easter Sunday"
This song is about peaceful social protest, but the lyrics will not be released at this time. We feel everyone could use a break right now from social drama. The B-3 organ sound in this song was inspired by work of the late Jimmy Smith. The male vocal tracks are recorded and would serve to support female vocal tracks that would include the lead singers, but which have not been recorded. When inspired to write the song, I heard the female vocals sounding like Gospel meets Motown as in the song “Oh Happy Day” by The Edwin Hawkins Singers. Guitar and Male Vocals: Robert M. Lyden. Female Vocals: ____________________. Bass: Jerry Burke-Perez. Drums: Tom Stamper. Saxophone: Kieran S. Lyden. Piano / organ: Robert M. Lyden and Kieran S. Lyden.
"Embrasses Mes Larmes"
The title translates as "Kiss My Tears" (away), and the lyrics rhyme in French. This song is about a young woman who puts the brakes on a naïve young man while they are making love. She asks him to listen, and tells him what she wants and how with the use of humorous French idioms. The male and female vocal tracks have not been recorded. Songs can sometimes take on a different form and life than what the writer originally intended, and we feel the ending of this one has come to sound like the theme to a movie. Male vocals: ________. Female Vocals: _________. Piano: Kieran S. Lyden and Robert M. Lyden.
“Fat Tire Com’n”
This song is about a divorcee and a widower who took a road trip together with her two children, and their experience of divine intervention in the form of roadside assistance. Vocals, guitar, washboard: Robert M. Lyden. Slide guitar: Kieran S. Lyden. Bass: Jerry Burke-Perez. Drums: Tom Stamper.
“Get Out”
This song is about the advice you want to give to a friend who is in a bad relationship and needs to get out! Guitar and male vocals: Robert M. Lyden. Bass: Robert M. Lyden and Jerry Burke-Perez. Drums: Tom Stamper.
"Gimme Bad Girls"
The song is about how good girls and boys can be overrated, and bad ones underrated. We grow up being told that “good girls” are good, and “bad girls” are bad. Later in life, we find out that “good” girls can be naïve, spoiled and lack character because they have had life too easy, whereas some “bad” girls who have come from a hard life have more character and humility. When inspired to write the song, I heard it being sung by a British pop band and so did my best to sing the lead and backup male vocals in that manner. Female vocals: Kristen Calvin Gordon and Mia Gaskin. Guitar and Male Vocals: Robert M. Lyden. Bass: Jerry Burke-Perez. Drums: Tom Stamper. Saxophone: Kieran S. Lyden.
“Have Mercy On Me”
This is a silly Country song about how men get played for fools which someone like Dolly Parton could have done with the late Jerry Reed or Waylon Jennings, and now with Lyle Lovett. Male vocals, guitar and bass guitar: Robert M. Lyden. Female vocals: Kylie Linton. Drums: Tom Stamper.
"I Can('t) Hold It"
The word Jazz originally meant sex. There are many songs which treat the subject of love and sex in vague and romantic terms, but not many about two people…who are engaged in the act. How do you do that musically? This is one of two songs in which we explored how to do so, and with some humor. The song is a musical satire about how men sometimes overestimate their prowess and attempt to reassure women only to then lose control and fail, hence the last line: "Oh Babe, I guess…I oversold it." Guitar and Male Vocals: Robert M. Lyden. Bass: Jerry Burke-Perez. Drums: Tom Stamper. Saxophone: Kieran S. Lyden.
“I Can(‘t) Stop It”
A lot of young people become addicted to video games. The song is about an individual who comes to recognize it, and wishes to escape from the virtual world of Peter Pan. Vocals, guitar, and bass guitar Robert M. Lyden. Drums: Tom Stamper.
"I Hate You"
This song is about the mean and stupid things people will sometimes say to one another when they are breaking up, and how ridiculous they sound. The lyrics remind of Frank Zappa. When inspired to write the song, I heard the male vocals being sung by Lux Interior the late lead singer for “The Cramps,” that is, way over the top, and so that is how it was done. Female vocals: Kristen Calvin Gordon and Mia Gaskin. Guitar and Male Vocals: Robert M. Lyden. Bass: Jerry Burke-Perez. Drums: Tom Stamper.
“IDFK”
This song is about the confusion and frustration of a young man who has taken the “red pill” and believes that modern society is sinking like the Titanic. He doesn’t wish to listen to those on the “blue pill” who are going down with the ship. At the end of the second verse there is a long raga-like solo performed on the bass guitar that captures his mental contemplation and emotions. Vocals: Kieran S. Lyden. Guitar: Robert M. Lyden. Bass: Jerry Burke-Perez. Drums: Tom Stamper.
“If Only I’d Known”
This song is about getting over disappointing relationships, growing, and moving forward. The inspiration for the song came from experiences in my life, but also those of a friend who lost her husband as the result of drug addiction. Vocals and guitar: Robert M. Lyden. Bass: Jerry Burke-Perez. Drums: Tom Stamper.
“Killer Twang”
After composing and playing the song…I said to someone “hey, check out this killer twang.” It’s fun to play on the guitar. Vocals and guitar: Robert M. Lyden. Bass: Jerry Burke-Perez. Drums: Tom Stamper.
“Leaves Are Falling”
This song is about a man who late in his life becomes a musician, and then writes and produces a collection of songs with the help of his son that he will leave behind. And so it's my death song...better to write one while you're alive, rather than to scare the hell out of people afterwards. (LOL) Vocals and guitar: Robert M. Lyden.
“Lonesome Cowboy”
This song is about a lonesome cowboy who rides on the open range, and whistles a melody which serves to fill not only the vast expanse of landscape, but also the emptiness he feels inside. Guitar: Robert M. Lyden. Bass: Jerry Burke-Perez. Whistling: Robert M. Lyden and Kieran S. Lyden.
“Make’n Babies On A Saturday Night”
The song includes an introduction like one the late Jerry Reed might have done. This song is about the circle of life, and how back in the old days when a man and his wife spent most of their lives working hard on a farm, they would sometimes put the bed out in the field at night, and make everything...feel alright. In the last verse, when the farmer is old and dying, he asks his wife to put their bed out into the field and stay with him until the end. Vocals and guitar: Robert M. Lyden. Bass: Jerry Burke-Perez. Drums: Tom Stamper.
“Mi-Pacifier”
This song is about the modern preoccupation and addiction to cell phones which now serve as modern pacifiers. At the end of the song, the chorus of telephone ring tones conveys that…cell phones have taken over the world. When inspired to write the song, I heard the male vocals being sung by a British rock band, and so sang the lead and backup vocals in that manner. Vocals and guitar: Robert M. Lyden. Bass: Jerry Burke-Perez. Drums: Tom Stamper. Telephone arrangement: Kieran S. Lyden.
“Marauder”
Sounds like part of a movie sound track. Bandidos invade a town to pillage and rape, but in the end a woman gets revenge. Vocals, guitar, and bass guitar Robert M. Lyden. Drums: Tom Stamper.
“Millennials”
Climbs and falls over an octave like “Flight of the Valkyries” by Wagner. I have only provided the instrumental version here because I feel the lyrics ought to be sung by someone who is a Millennial. Vocals, guitar, and bass guitar Robert M. Lyden. Drums: Tom Stamper.
“Naughty Knock-Knock”
This song is about a musician who stops to pay a visit to a lady of the night with whom he has a prior history, and includes some humor. When inspired to write the song, I heard it being sung by Howlin’ Wolf, but who can do that? We ended up scrapping most of the lyrics because the imagination of listeners upon hearing the music...can do even better than words. The microphone captured the drummer Tom Stamper and I laughing about the sound effects at the end of the song. Vocals and guitar: Robert M. Lyden. Bass: Jerry Burke-Perez. Drums: Tom Stamper. Saxophone: Kieran S. Lyden.
“Odysseus”
This song is about the mythic journey of the hero of Odysseus…a torturous path that men sometimes travel on the way to enlightenment. I feel it should have been sung by the late Leonard Cohen, but that was not possible. The instrumental version has a lot of twang. Vocals and guitar: Robert M. Lyden. Bass: Jerry Burke-Perez. Drums: Tom Stamper.
“Pray for the Rest of Us”
The song was inspired by the Ukrainian defenders of Mariupol who were surrounded and fighting to the end. Vocals, guitar, and bass guitar Robert M. Lyden. Drums: Tom Stamper.
"Really Bad Things"
This song is about how men and women will sometimes think with their "ding-a-lings" and "little beans" and then get themselves in a lot of trouble. Wedding bells sound at the end. When inspired to write the song, I heard the male lead being sung by someone like Jim Kerr of “Simple Minds” or the late Roy Orbison, and so I went for that kind of vocal sound. The female vocals were performed by Kristen Calvin Gordon and Mia Gaskin. Guitar and Male Vocals: Robert M. Lyden. Bass: Jerry Burke-Perez. Drums: Tom Stamper. Saxophone: Kieran S. Lyden.
“Sadness”
One morning I played two chords by accident in such a way and thought “gee, this sounds really sad.” I felt that something could be done with it, and the result in the brief song entitled “Sadness.” Guitar and Male Vocals: Robert M. Lyden
“Selfishness”
This song calls out modern civilization which is destroying itself and the world's environment because of narcissism and selfishness. At what at first seems to be the song's ending there begins a dark musical journey into the abyss. Guitar and Male Vocals: Robert M. Lyden and Kieran S. Lyden. Bass: Jerry Burke-Perez. Drums: Tom Stamper. The sounds and musical journey after falling into the abyss: Kieran S. Lyden.
“Shoot’n Red Hot Metal”
Armed conflict is something to be avoided. However, it is sometimes necessary to prevent even greater harm from befalling the world, as was the case for the United States during World War II between 1941-1945. There have not been many songs written for soldiers who are going into battle and harm’s way. When you are faced with a dangerous situation, the act of singing can help you to remain calm and focused. So long as your jaw is loose, you won’t freeze. This song is a battle hymn for our troops when they are going into action. Trumpet and French Horn: Kieran S. Lyden. Guitar and Male Vocals: Robert M. Lyden. Bass: Jerry Burke-Perez. Drums: Tom Stamper.
“Un Giorno /Someday”
The Beatles had “Yesterday” about regret, whereas “Someday” is about romantic longing and hope. Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, and piano Robert M. Lyden. Drums: Tom Stamper.
“Sometimes”
This song is about having a Buddhistic attitude towards the ups and downs of life, and the need to keep an inner and outer smile on your face. We often can’t see what is around the corner or know why some things happen, but later we will see…why it had to be. The positive lyrics and silly instrumental parts could possibly help to bring some enlightenment and joy to young people in grade school and high school bands. Trumpet, Saxophone, Trombone and French Horn: Kieran S. Lyden. Guitar and male Vocals: Robert M. Lyden. Bass: Jerry Burke-Perez. Drums: Tom Stamper.
“Take Your Panties Down”
A silly country song about a couple who got through the stages of life, and save their wedding dress for special occasions. Vocals, guitar, and bass guitar Robert M. Lyden. Drums: Tom Stamper.
“They”
The inspiration for this song came upon learning of David Bowie’s passing in 2016. It is about how musicians have to be in touch with both the masculine and also feminine sides of their personality in order to achieve wholeness and be successful as creative artists. Not he, not she…but they. Guitar and Male Vocals: Robert M. Lyden. Bass: Jerry Burke-Perez. Drums: Tom Stamper.
“UH-HA”
Boy meets girl. Boy hesitates and loses girl. Girl gets boy. He gets lucky, but them realizes that…he needs to find a job. Vocals, guitar, and bass guitar Robert M. Lyden. Drums: Tom Stamper.
“Virtual Reality”
We are slaves. People have nothing, or next to nothing, and the future...looks worse. Vocals, guitar, and bass guitar Robert M. Lyden. Drums: Tom Stamper.
“Why Doesn’t Anybody…
There exists a different version of this song in which the lyrics “Get it on” are swapped out for “Wanna F—K,” but it’s not intended for a general audience. Kids today seem to be more interested in their cell phones and exploring virtual reality, than actually meeting someone and experiencing life. Vocals, guitar, and bass guitar Robert M. Lyden. Drums: Tom Stamper.
“Yaateeh”
Yaateeh is derived from a Navajo word that is sometimes used as a greeting which means “everything on earth and in the heavens is good.” Link Wray and Dick Dale were both part American Indian. I once had a great conversation with Dale about music, karate, and the merits of using soy milk for baby formula. This song is a Chant or mantra and my way of saying thanks for their inspirational music and expressing that “everything is good on earth and in the heavens.”
“Giovane Amore / Young Love”
This song is about the excitement, but also the fragility of love at first sight. Young love can provide some very high highs, but also very low lows and you never forget the experience. As with the song “Alone,” the provided lyrics are in Italian and Spanish. Trumpet: Kieran S. Lyden. Piano: Robert M. Lyden and Kieran S. Lyden. Guitar and male vocals: Robert M. Lyden. Bass: Jerry Burke-Perez. Drums: Tom Stamper.
“Tightrope”
While playing the James Bond Theme, I found myself improvising and so recorded this track. It would be something for a "tightrope" scene in one of the upcoming Bond films. Hans Zimmer what do you think?
“Love Was Here And Gone”
A song about the fragility of love and relationships.
“Boogie”
The original bass line riff was contained in the song “Sometimes,” and has now been further developed.
“Post-Apocalyptic Reverie”
“Reverie” by Claude Debussy is a beautiful song, and is used to intensify the contrast between a pre and post-apocalyptic world. Something for a film like “Blade Runner.”
“Never Tell”
If I had a nickel for every time a married woman rolled her diamond under her finger trying to hide it on a Saturday night, I would probably have…a dollar. Unlike the character in the song, I have never (knowingly) pursued a married woman because…you can never tell.
“Ready or Not”
This song is about a guy who has up his mind about a girl…and he’s driving to her place to tell her so and make love. However, the lyrics to this song could possibly be misunderstood by some of the over-sensitive members of the present generation, and so I’m not publishing them here.
“Sidewinder”
One of those riffs that just happen sometimes when you are not thinking and simply fooling around on the guitar.
“Misunderstood”
Another musical idea which happened early one morning, but then took weeks to put together. There is version of this song with lyrics, but I feel they detract from the melody which sounds like something for the closing scene of a future Ocean’s 15(?) movie.