Album: “Bad Idea” by Marky Dawson

Pianist, singer/songwriter and general all round entertainer Marky Dawson is set to release his first recordings since 2015’s Piano/Vocal EP. The new album featuring 11 tracks; titled “Bad Idea” and aims to let the ideas present on that EP grow. With the addition of a band adding kick to Marky’s well-established Blues and Boogie Woogie Roots as well as more mature ballad writing. It was written mainly during the two Lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, using previously unfinished ideas and new ideas which came along during the process. All songs apart from “Youth” were recorded live as a trio at Rokit Studios in London, with vocals and other instruments being added later along with production by Mark Rose. The track “Youth” was separately recorded and produced by Matt Black at Hangover Hill studios in Dorset. The entire project took around two years from the first session to the last.

Mikey is an insanely talented all-round entertainer and has brought together a selection of hand-picked musicians to breathe life, animation and bring creativity into these original compositions. The album kicks off with the title track, a song about temptation and it is heavily inspired by dance momentum of Boogie Woogie and Jump Blues. The ever present piano, coupled with Saxophone and infectious Jazz-style rhythm. The lyrics are like Marky has slipped on a pair of devil horns and is up to no good, he knows he shouldn’t but he will for the hell of it. He of course like most of us wants to have his cake and eat it!!

Track two is the sublime “Wings of a Phoenix”; where two people contemplate the state of their relationship and if it is realistic to stay together. Marky Explains “In the end, they do”! Largely inspired by a painting “Rekindling the Romance” from a series of paintings called “Marriage a la mode” by Mychael Barratt”; in the theatrical style that he displays previously, Marky gives an impressive vocal performance on this uplifting love song and couples beautifully with the delightful additional vocals of Georgina Blessitt. Imagine the chemistry of Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone in “La La Land” and you’ll get the idea.

Have you ever been sat in your own home and heard unpleasant noises coming from your neighbours, loud music, DIY…drills, hammers or even noisy passionate love making? In my case it is normally my teenage boys upstairs screaming at the X-boxes at all hours of the night. “I Hear Ya Knockin” is a song for all those moments. Its raucous 1950’s inspired Rock n’ Roll. The piano and sax once again combine to provide the focus of this upbeat tune and I dare anyone to listen without at least tapping your feet or feeling the drive to start moving. Imagine a 1950’s dancing hall full of appropriately dressed youngsters dancing to the Jitterbug, Swing dancing, the Madison, the Stroll, and the Hand Jive.

“Youth” is the oldest song in Marky’s back catalogue, it was first written when Marky was an adolescent 15-year-old. It’s an incredibly mature tune to come from one so young, the song is about looking forward to looking back; about growing older and enjoying your time with the people who make you happy. It’s tender, emotive and has some special instrumentation to match the mood and the atmosphere of that time. It captures a moment in time and innocence that never can be returned to as the clock of time goes by and our experience increases.

“Getaway”, Marky explains “this song is about a man trying to convince his friend to be his getaway driver”. He’s convinced he is compelled by circumstance to carry out this great heist. For some reason this song conjurors up the 1976 film “Bugsy Malone” starring Scott Biao, Florence Garland and Jodie Foster; featuring pedal cars and splurge guns. Knowing Marky’s nature I could not imagine for one minute he’d get away with a real heist, but featuring in a film would be more realistic and I’m sure it would end with Marky covered in foam from splurge guns after being gunned down. The song features some wonderous harmonies, and the tune has a real dramatic feel to it with car chase sounds and police sirens.

Being brought up in Poole in Dorset is almost customary to have tunes that involve the sea and the next two tunes feature Marky’s experience living by this picturesque shoreline. “From the Kitchen to the Bus Stop, to the Sea” was written at the height of the pandemic and it’s about wanting to get out into the Sun, Sea and Sand. He was clearly tired of the lockdown restrictions and of being stuck inside. It’s wonderfully upbeat and has a big injection of sunshine, showing positivity at a difficult time.

“Coastline Calling” was written together with Poole local Marylyn Cropley; who was an organizer of Free Play Which was one of the first open mics nights that Marky would play at just 16 years old. The song is about homesickness and how living in a big city, compared to the fresh air of a seaside town can create this. For this Marky goes into ballad mode as it’s a love song of sorts. Imagine Marky looking out of a high rise window, looking over a sea of concrete – daydreaming about the warm breeze of a summer evening at Sandbanks. It’s emotive and the delicate melodies of the piano, along with Marky’s descriptive lyrics really creates the precious moment that this song gives. This track is certainly one of the highlights of this collection.

With “Oh! Baby”, Marky aims to be a pastiche of New Orleans born singer/songwriter and pianist, the legendary Fats Domino with its hard triplet rhythm, do-wap Saxophone accompaniment from Derek Nash. With its wonderfully catchy instant hit lyrics, it won’t take anyone long to get into this tune. It has radio friendly qualities and is a great tribute to one of the greatest musicians of his time.

Track nine “Interlude 7:22” was the last song written for the album, which was created during a jam that Marky and Chris came up with whilst sound checking prior to a gig. Marky takes up the story : “The singer is finally coming home, aware they have taken advantage of their partner in being away so long. After taking the 7:22am train they meet at Waterloo station at midday, only to find their partner has had enough. Having arrived with the singer’s belongings packed, defeated they head out on the next available train. Arriving at 7:22pm, back where they started”. It must be said the backbone of this tune is Chris Chambers’ instantaneous drumming techniques with his impeccable timekeeping. Marky adds more of his gifted piano skills and his warm vocal tone, coupled with some impressive harmonies. Just imagine the interesting journey that the song went through from soundcheck to studio, it has so many proficient layers to it.

The penultimate track of this collection is “Two Wrongs” (Don’t Make a Right); this song is about couples who use hurting each other as currency, rather than working their problems out in the relationship. Some people call it scoring points against each other. It’s a great observation point that I’m sure lots of people can easily relate to. The songs feature some great emotions and here this artist is showing the best of his creativity and the skill he has with his instrumentation.

The final track “Perfect World” is about an ideal situation with two people looking to the future together or maybe it’s just a single person thinking about what could have been. We all know there is no such thing as a “Perfect World”, but we can all dream of one”. Here Marky has his daydreaming head on, it is just like his Judy Garland moment, dreaming of Somewhere over The Rainbow….. A perfect conclusion to this great collection of songs.

Marky is a true all-round entertainer who particularly excels at his work with the piano. Bringing this collection of musicians has wholeheartedly brought these songs to life and shows just what Marky’s creative mind is capable of. These songs are worthy of use within films or theatre and maybe just maybe in a Perfect world a talent like this, will fulfil his entertaining dream.

Track Listing
Bad Idea
Wings of a Phoenix
I Hear Ya Knockin’
Youth
Getaway
From The Kitchen to The Bus Stop, To the Sea
Coastline Calling
Oh Baby
Interlude 7:22
Two Wrongs
Perfect World

The album in full will be released on May 1st 2024. Exclusively on Download here.

The Album Personnel are…
Marky Dawson- Piano/ Vocals
Mark Rose- Bass/ Production
Chris Chambers- Drums
Derek Nash- Saxophones
Georgina Blessitt- Vocals on Wings of a Phoenix
Adrian Keefe- Guitar on Perfect World
Fliss Gorst- Tenor Sax on Coastline Calling
Dave Borasten- Flugelhorn on Coastline Calling

Links
https://www.markydawson.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/markydawsonmusic
https://marky-dawson.bandcamp.com

Article by David Chinery (Chinners).