Things aren't always as good, or as bad as they might at first seem, sometimes we have to look at things from another angle.

There are plenty of 'bar stool critics' around, don't be discouraged by them. If you have faith in yourself you'll get there.

This was written for my wife Fran.

A collection of memories of those times when, if you're lucky, you can stop and look around at the sheer beauty of the world.

This is a kind of compilation of a lot of different parties. They all seemed to be like this in the days when we were young enough to stay up 'til dawn and then start again!

I wrote this song in memory of my father.

This song was inspired initially by my grandmother. The walls of her house were covered with old family photos, and she had a music box that played a tune when you lifted the lid, I was always fascinated by it.

I was about ten years old. My friend John and I would pool our pocket money after church on Sundays to by a packet of five Weights (cigarettes) and a penny box of matches. We'd walk across the fields the long way home while we smoked them.

Just a simple little song, simply played.

LIKE A MOTH TO A FLAME

Click on the links on the left to view the song lyrics.

I chose this as the title track. It concerns the youthful feelings of desire for an older, more experienced woman.

This was written for the "Write a Lincolnshire Folk Song" contest run by BBC Radio Lincolnshire in 2002. It was selected as one of the final ten, and I performed it on finals night at Spilsby Theatre accompanied by Kathryn O'Connor. This version has a more country feel to it and more instrumentation, I hope you like it.

This was a phrase my dear old dad used often, I think the song speaks for itself.

Driving through a small village near my home one Summer's day, I passed an old horse drawn gypsy caravan moving slowly down the road. I saw it again a couple of days later just a few miles further on and got the inspiration for this song.

I was playing with a couple of chords in an open tuning when this tune emerged, so I plugged in my old four track recorder and just let it happen. I was pleased with the result so re-recorded it in the studio, added a little bit of keyboard and a short piece of flute at the end courtesy of Ellen. The tune reminds me of long Summer days spent with Fran, having picnics on the banks of the river Thames at Runnymede.

Busker's blues was written quite quickly and was intended to be just a fun song. When I played it for John and Lizzie they were in no doubt that it had to be included on the album. It became a rule at the studio that everyone concerned with the cd had to put a bit on this track. It will probably be the one that everyone remembers.

Click on the links on the left to view the song lyrics.

This is the first cd to be issued on the Old Black Dog Record label. It's been slow going putting it together, hence the title 'ALL IN GOOD TIME'. I've learned a lot in the process too. I don't consider myself to be a sound engineer by any means, but after much experimentation with different microphone positioning and techniques, and various guitar sounds, I'm quite pleased with the end result. After all the years of getting by with an old four track tape deck, with all its limitations, the new sixteen track digital recorder came as a great asset, although it was a bit scary at first, and I've still got a lot to learn, I'm already looking forward to the next project.

There are as many different versions of this song as there are different ways of spelling the name Riley!

This instrumental appears on the album LIKE A MOTH TO A FLAME. Here it's been re-mastered from the old four track tape. I think the original feel that gave the tune its title is still there.

This song is adapted from a poem by Lord Byron, it's a great song to sing as there are loads of harmonies in there.

Another version of this timeless song, it's a favourite of mine.

I got the inspiration for this song while walking with my dog Barney across the fields surrounding my home in Lincolnshire.

FRANKLIN'S DREAM refers to Sir John Franklin, born in Spilsby, Lincolnshire in 1786. He embarked on his last expedition in 1845 and died in 1847 searching for a passage around the North Pole.

A traditional song that has been sung in just about every folk club that ever was.

Another version of this timeless song, it's a favourite of mine.

My grandfather returned from the Great War suffering, like thousands of others, from shell shock, the after effects of being gassed and the terrible emotional scars of the whole experience.

Many years ago, a very dear friend gave me this poem in the form of a sampler. I've always loved the sentiment and have long wanted to put a tune to it.