WE ARE CHANGING FROM THE SOUNDS ALLIANCE TO THE DANDELION CLOCKS

 
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After a discussion over the direction of the band, we have all agreed that it is time for a change in direction. We have all been songwriters in the past, but in recent years we have performed primarily as a covers band, which has its rewards, but its not been satisfying over the long-term. We are using the Manchester City Blue video shoot as a watershed and in future, we will be writing and performing original material only. I have started a website for the new band at www.thedandelionclocks.co.uk, you can hear a snippet of the final version of Manchester City Blue on this site.

We are definitely going to shoot the video for Manchester City Blue at Eastlands on April 5th and 6th, the track was finally remixed on March 29th.

The Sounds Alliance was formed in 2004 in Bury, Lancashire. The line up is as follows Jo Giblin & Ray Godwin on vocals, Jonathan Ridyard on drums, Alistair Taylor on saxophones, Tom Buggie on bass (not base!). The band was originally formed from ex-pro & semi-pro musicians who are employed by Bury Council. For the fee of a couple of pounds of black pudding from Bury Market, we have die hard City fans had Stuart Hall, Bernard Manning and Frank Sidebottom have declare an intent to be in the video. Likewise world champion swimmer James Hickman broadcaster and GMTV presenter John Stapleton and Al and Nige from Galaxy 102 are also up for the shoot. Andrew Flintoff is out of the country, Ricky Hatton is nearby but in training - we'll see what we can do! More guest celebrity fans still to be confirmed, watch this space...

 

                          

      

It's been fantastic since the Everton game last year, we have featured in a number of local and regional newspapers and were featured in The Sun on September 6th 2005. I was also interviewed by 1089 Talk Sport in the afternoon and drove home from work to see the story on the boards outside newsagents. How surreal is that!

            

Many thanks to www.stylelimousines.co.uk for the use of the AWESOME 8 wheel Hummer limo for the video.

Contact me on info@thesoundsalliance.co.uk

In August 2005, after a few months of waiting I finally received permission from Debbie Harry to modify her lyrics to Union City Blue and record a tribute song to Manchester City Football Club. The Sounds Alliance recorded the track at Gemini Studios in Radcliffe during 2005, it's called Manchester City Blue and it had its first public airing at the City of Manchester Stadium (Eastlands) on Sunday 3rd October at the game against Everton.

It was a real privilege to be invited onto the pitch at half time for an interview and to do the half time draw. It is expected that Manchester City Blue will become part of the culture and history of the club. Especially when we win the FAC cup. All the royalties from Manchester City Blue go to Blondie, we have put this project together for pleasure! Mmmm...Pleasure.

 

Manchester City Blue
 
Oh ho, oh ho, know what we gotta do
Movement, fusion: Manchester City Blue
Tunnel, into the light
Struck by the sight
Blue moon tonight
 
Oh power, passion plays a double hand
Movement, fusion: Manchester City fans
Arrive in blue and white, hearts full of “Pride
In Battle” tonight
With purpose
Movement, fusion: Manchester City Blue
Sublime, passion Manchester City Blue
 
Power, passion plays a double hand
Movement, fusion: Manchester City fans
Action, so fine, we have a plan
Flying, so high, Manchester City fans
 
Oh ho, oh ho, know what we gotta do
Movement, fusion: Manchester City blue
 
Manchester City Blue
Words & music by Deborah Harry & Nigel Harrison
© 1979, Monster Island Music/Chrysalis Music. Additional lyrics by Ray Godwin
 

 

We've recorded a second tribute song to the new stadium called All Roads Lead to Eastlands. There is also a third track which is a tribute to Marc Vivien Foé called Friend of Foé, you can read the lyric here.

Marc Vivien Foé

Many thanks to all those who have placed a pre-order for the CD, we will despatch your copies first!

All Roads Lead to Eastlands is an upbeat yet wistful piece reflecting both literally and audibly, Mancunian culture as seen from the dramatic viewpoint of Werneth Lowe. I first visited the stadium during the rehearsal for the Commonwealth Games in 2004. I drove to the top of Werneth Lowe to witness the firework display from the stadium scheduled for the evening after the closing ceremony. The infamous Manchester rain descended and the view was all but obscured. You can read the lyrics for this song by clicking the following link.

All Roads Lead to Eastlands Lyrics

Rob Hallam of Big Tank, a Channel 4 presenter and ITV1 director aims to get the shoot done by the end of January, but having said that I want the music to be perfect before we do the video, so it may well be put back. Many thanks to Rob for all his efforts with the project (even if he did ask one of City's directors whether the club had a trophy cabinet!). The latest news is we are trying to synchronise a a couple of days during the week with Man City, which also fits in with the fact that some of the band are struggling to get time off work.

On November 25th, we did a recce inside the stadium, including the dressing rooms and the tunnel. The storyboard for the video is under construction and Man City say January will be most convenient for us to shoot the video there (Xmas parties booked in and all that). It looks like we will be able to include the video onto the CD single/EP, which will be great.

I have just resigned to Kid Menthal Music, who will be publishing the new material, with a little luck the CD will be on KM records.

39 Miles

Letter to an Unborn Man

 
 
     

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This site was last updated 04-Apr-2006