The Bluesfather

Bluesfather Music

A selection of Bluesfather (as The Emmerson/Trepka/Clarke Band) recordings for you to play or download:

  • Black heart - (5.2MB 128kbps mp3)
  • Cut away - (3.6MB 128kbps mp3)
  • Slow implosion within - (2.9MB 128kbps mp3)
  • My babe - (4.4MB 128kbps mp3)
  • Hoochie coochie man (live at Henry's Cellar Bar) - (5.8MB 128kbps mp3)

    • The first four songs are off the current CD while Hoochie Coochie Man is a wee bonus. It was recorded by Al on his MP3 Player at The Emmerson/Trepka/Clarke Band's last ever gig at Henry's Cellar Bar on Good Friday 2007. It distorts a bit to begin with but, thanks to the sterling efforts of the lovely Nora at the sound desk (our grateful thanks), it resolves into an atmospheric live recording. It's wholly unrehearsed with some amusingly improvised vocals from Nick which had Al and the Bluesfather in stitches throughout; lead guitar from Nick; second guitar, blues-harp and supporting vocals from the Bluesfather; bass from Al. It's The Emmerson/Trepka/Clarke Band at their good-time best, just having fun making music.


The Bluesfather on the internet

There are other versions of three Bluesfather songs from the CD, Accidents and Emergencies, but of variable quality, out there:

  • Cybermoor has very early, rough versions of Label and My Friend from May 2005 with the Bluesfather on guitar, slide guitar, vocals and blues-harp, recorded in a bedroom in Causewayside, Edinburgh by Blues-son 2. Click on the banana and go to Geordie Showcases 1 and 2.
  • Is My Music has live recordings of The Bluesfather and Label from Spring 2006 again with the Bluesfather on guitar, vocals and blues-harp, recorded at performances at Gotham Town, Neville Street, Newcastle upon Tyne. This site is currently under revision so you may not find what you want.

Those album covers

Someone asked the Bluesfather recently whether the images on the album covers had any deeper meaning. Well, this is hardly Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band or John Wesley Harding territory but it wouldn't be the Bluesfather if there wasn't something behind the upfront image.

  • Accidents and Emergencies is fairly easy. The title of the album started off as A & E, which were the musical keys most of the songs were written in. It was a short step to characterise the whole album as "Accidents and Emergencies: songs of life's small triumphs and tragedies".
  • This is the modern blues is a bit more complex, even arty. The idea here was that the traditional blues imagery of shotgun shack, store-front church, railroad marshalling yard, etc. was simply historic and of little relevance now. Everyone gets the blues so the idea of sitting on a modern chair (based on a design by PEL) in a featureless, even sterile, white room while looking at a painting by Mark Rothko, who tragically took his own life, with a glass of water and some ghastly NHS palliative for depression to hand, contained in an overall artistic format which is in debt to Patrick Caulfield's manically-constructed Pop isometrics, seemed to sum up the concept of "this is the modern blues." That's two medical images in a row. Perhaps the Bluesfather should be concerned!

    • Current Recordings

    This is the modern blues: Emmerson/Trepka/Clarke

    Take thrice daily in days of fear and contradiction or when experiencing a slow implosion within.

    Track listing:

    1. Black heart (RogerEmmerson) 5.32
    2. Cut away (Roger Emmerson) 3.51
    3. Venice (Roger Emmerson) 4.04
    4. Quiet life in the city (Nick Trepka) 3.51 (live)
    5. A time of love (Roger Emmerson) 3.27
    6. Gaffer tape (Roger Emmerson) 3.10 (instr.)
    7. Slow emplosion within (Nick Trepka) 3.07
    8. My babe (Willie Dixon, arr. e/t/c) 4.40 (live)
    • Vocals: Roger (1,2,3,5,8) and Nick (4,7)
    • Electric guitar: Nick (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8)
    • Acoustic guitar: Roger (1,2,3,5,6,8)
    • Electric bass: Al (1,2,4,5,6,8)
    • Fretless electric bass: Al (3,7)
    • Blues harp: Roger (4,7,8)

      • Release date: April 2007

      Available exclusively at Bluesfather gigs

      Earlier Recordings

      Accidents & Emergencies: The Bluesfather

      Songs of life's small tragedies and triumphs.

      Track listing:

      1. Label 3.41
      2. It looks pretty good from here 3.55
      3. My friend 3.06
      4. Venice 4.01
      5. Love completes her 3.01
      6. Gaffer tape 3.22
      • Words and music: Roger Emmerson
      • Guitar, slide guitar and vocals: Roger Emmerson
      • Guitar: Ed Lauret