Fortune Teller Song

Here's the video for Fortune Teller Song; directed by Goodtimes Goodtimes' guitarist & entrepreneur Mr Ivor Sims. !! We went to the Peli Rocco Hotel in Brighton last weekend to shoot this at their Doris Day room; was alot of fun, hope you enjoy it!




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Sunday

http://www.goodtimesgoodtimes.co.uk
http://www.twitter.com/lovegtgt
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Hello

I promised myself I wouldn't erase any of these posts no matter what state I was in when I wrote them but I had to take down my last ramblings cause I couldn't make much sense of them myself. Not that it matters much I suppose but still, you know, "stand up straight beside the fireplace" and all that, good impressions is good impressions!
It's great that more and more people are clicking on the site and listening to the songs from the album and sending me very lovely messages saying how much they're enjoying the songs; I couldn't ask for anything more and it feels great to know the music I wrote for you lovely people is already being enjoyed so much.
I did a photo shoot with Jim Naughten www.jimaughten.com yesterday for the record sleeve; taking pictures is usually about as comfortable an experience for me as being kicked in the eye with a 4 inch stiletto heal but Jim was kind and gracious and made me feel comfortable; he took some great great photos which we're going to use for the record. I'll show you the print soon as it's ready. And we're shooting a video this weekend in Brighton - same stiletto heal thing applies - will let you know how that goes.
Shows next week in london and cambridge, details up on the site
http://www.goodtimesgoodtimes.co.uk

Chin up
X
http://www.goodtimesgoodtimes.co.uk
http://www.twitter.com/lovegtgt
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July 26


ugghh..monday. tried to work on some new songs this weekend but with little joy as i've probably been listening to too much "old country" lately so it's all sounds, well, like i wish i was merle haggard which in all honesty, yes i do but that's not really what songwriting is about. it's about finding your own little space and digging in till it sounds like you and no one else; you're own stories in your own way. alright, that's songwriting 101 over for the day.
busy week ahead, back in the studio for a few days with Drew whose helping out with some engineering and mixing up at Battery Studios is Willeseden. It's all sounding mega and less than two months to go now before the album is available. I'm playing two shows on friday - at the kings arms in fulham and then later at the fiddlers elbow in camden, should be good fun.
We're shooting a video for fortune teller song, if all goes to plan (no tempting of fate here - Ivor) this weekend, should be on your screens very soon!
alright; love, life , beautiful, everybody's welcome!
x
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july 22

alright? warm regards from a hot & sticky london summer. things are all moving along here, just been getting the first couple of songs from the record out to people and the response so far is pretty good, which i'm pleased about although i've heard from a few people that were big fans of "glue" who are somewhat suprised with the new - musical direction - and miss the lazy americana sound of old. i'm not really sure what to say that, apart from , i dont miss it at all :)
I was back in the studio this week putting the finishing touches to two songs for the album, they were sounding good but just sitting back and enjoying the ride a bit too much, you know what i mean? well, i prodded them both with a big metal rod and threw some burning coals on them , and they've come out as some bastard sons of springsteen's darkness of the edge of town and mahalia jackson slugging it out with the dead weather after a bottle of Gran Patron. Deliverance indeed.
Been playing gigs most nights of the night around London. I love this the most; if only my amps would stop blowing up, it's a little difficult to make money this way. Bigger amps; that's probably the answer, yeah, to most things i suppose.
alright, i'll check back with you soon.
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June 28th. let it begin.


Happy days. The record is finished and I'm very excited for people to get stuck into it. It's all sounding better than i could've wished for and without doubt the best songs I've recorded.There's a pretty new site up now for all your gtgt needs... http://www.goodtimesgoodtimes.co.uk
If you're on the mailing list you've already received a link to download the first single from the record, "Fortune Teller Song", for free..if you're not on the list...sign up and you'll be sent the download link.
Making this record was alot of fun; Danton Supple produced the record and helped me create a brand new world for me to work & play; we didnt go into record knowing exactly what kind of record we were going to make but we knew for sure what we did not want ! and that was a comfortable Americana sounding record that nodded and winked towards my record collection. No no no, that would 've been very wrong and very lazy. So there's lots of meshed up guitar sounds and flickers of electronica that put the songs into a very different time & space..hopefully you'll be into it as much as i am. For those of you that heard "Glue"..this is quite different, it's not grime or anything so dont worry, but it is pretty special and the closest i've gotten to putting what's in my head on tape. Hope you will dig , my friends.
I'm out playing shows again from next week, starting at the Underbelly in Hoxton Square supporting Lauren Pritchard next Thursday, 8th July at 8pm. Tickets for this show are advance purchase only, you can get them from the site. Hope to see you then!
x
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The record is very nearly done. Exciting times. Very much looking forward to getting out there and hearing what people think. We've got it down to 12 songs , there might be a few less on the record but we'll see. Back soon..be good x
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Alternate Root Summer Sampler


Vote for "summer" to go on Aternateroot.com's summer sampler cd; click and scroll down to the right..the song is from the album "glue".
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Resuming Transmission.


hello music fans. how the devil are you? Since we last spoke....been busy making this record which is going swimmingly; a few more weeks work on it and then we'll be putting all the wheels in motion. In the meantime, I'm coming out of hiding next week to play a show at the Luminaire in London on Friday with "Two Fingers of Firewater".
looking forward to seeing you there and getting your first reactions on the new tunes.

Marvellous.


Marvellous.

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back soon..
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March 24th Googies Lounge NYC

The record is quickly taking on a heart of its own now and i'm getting quite excited about it all. It's all a huge learning curve for me as well and i'm loving every second. Cant wait to play you some tunes. Think you'll be best pleased.
Making a quick dash over the pond next week to take care of a few loose ends and shoot the cover for the cover..I'll also be playing a little show at Googie's Lounge, upstairs from the Living Room on Ludlow Street so do stop by if your sails are that way bound next Wednesday evening.
be good.
franc
xx


Wednesday March 24th 9.30pm
Googie's Lounge (Upstairs at The Living Room)
154 Ludlow (btwn Stanton & Rivington)
NYC 10001

Facebook Event
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March 9th. TONITE!!! RONI ROCKER"S FABULOUS FUNTIME HOOTENANNY!!!




BY APPOINTMENT TO HER ROYAL MAJESTY, QUEEN ELIZABETH OF ENGLAND YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO
RONI ROCKER'S FABULOUS FUNTIME HOOTENANNY!
A NIGHT OF MUSIC, MAGIC, MARVEL & MAYHEM TO SATISFY YOUR EVERY NEED!!
JOIN THE BONANZA!!
MUSICIANS, MAGICIANS, BEAT POETS JUGGLERS AND CARNIVAL FREAKS OF EVERY KIND WILL AMAZE YOU BEYOND YOUR WILDEST DREAMS!
COME & SEE THE WONDER THAT IS
JIMI "THE LION" FONTAINE
THE DELICATELY DELICIOUS & DELECTABLE
"BEAT THE CITY"
AND.....ALL THE WAY FROM LAS VEGAS....THE POSITIVELY FANTABULOUS
GOODTIMES GOODTIMES
AND MANY MANY MANY MORE!!
ENTRANCE IS FREE: HAPPINESS & AMAZEMENT GUARANTEED....
OR YOUR MONEY BACK!
JOIN US EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT AT THE WORLD FAMOUS
REDAN ON QUEENSWAY.
PERFORMERS SIGN UP AT 7PM OR EMAIL ronirocker@hotmail.com
BOOK YOUR SLOT EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT.
ALL ARE WELCOME!!
LIFE! LOVE! BEAUTIFUL!!!

The Redan
1 Westbourne Grove , LONDON. W2 4UA.
Bayswater Tube.
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March 5th Recording


Back in the studio with Danton this week at Battery Studios in Willesden Green working away on the record..we're in here for the next few weeks so if all goes to plan there'll be a few songs to play you very soon. Other than that, my old friend No Sleep has come back to pay me a visit so i'm just walking 'round with perma jet lagged which yes, is about as fun as it sounds. speak of jetlag i'm going over the pond in a few weeks to play some shows and do a shoot for the cover of the record which should be goodtimes. alright , time to lay down some bass guitar. speak to you soon. fx
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MARCH 1st THE LUMINAIRE

Big show on the 1st at The Luminaire in North London. Tickets are selling out so get in.. see you then!
franc
xx

Facebook Event

Tickets & Info

Goodtimes Goodtimes @
The Luminaire
March 1st 8pm
311 Kilburn High Road
London NW6 7JR
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Played at the lighthouse in battersea tonight. Beautiful.
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Feb 16 it is what it is

http://www.goodtimesgoodtimes.co.uk
http://www.twitter.com/lovegtgt
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Feb 10 The shortlist

http://www.goodtimesgoodtimes.co.uk
http://www.twitter.com/lovegtgt
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Feb 9th checkin in

Hello music fans, just checking in with you. It's been over a week since my last post, hope all is going swimmingly with your good selves. Work is proceeding well with the album, re-writes & take ..after take...after take, along with some magic studio trickery are making way for a special record. Reckon it should be with you by spring time...early summer. Excited? yeah, nice.
What else? Hmm, well there's not much else right now, building a new site for you which to be honest is a complete pain in the ass and I'd much rather be writing tunes then messing about with that stuff but it's almost done, ooh new tshirts..they're n.I.c.e! You know those lovely american apparel tshirts? Yep, like those ones and they'll be ready with the new site next week.
Apart from all that I've really been enjoying staying as far away as possible from all the daylight robbery promoters and just playing my own gigs at pubs all round south (saaf) london. It's a lot more fun for me and I scrape together a few bob as well. Nice. I should list these and get you lovely folks to come down but I'm just enjoying travelling about playing random gigs by myself right now to unsuspecting people. I'm trying out some new tunes and playing all my favourite elvis tunes as well. I'm having fun. Oh, but I do have a gig at the luminaire on the 1st of march - I'll get into trouble if I don't plug that one! - it'll be a grand night of music and carnival freaks of all sorts really hope you can be there, facebook thingy later today.
Righto, almost at kensal green now - a well behaved bakerloo line today, how'd of believed it eh?! Yeah, exactly I'm kidding, been on this flipping train for over an hour. Sort it out boris.
Anyway almost at the studio now and time to make some more sweet soul music.

Watcha.
X
http://www.goodtimesgoodtimes.co.uk
http://www.twitter.com/lovegtgt
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Jan 30th. Will play for sleep

Currently going about my daily activities deprived of shut eye as sleep has become a long forgotten dream to me. For the sixth time this week (today being saturday) I'm awake since 2am and feel like a zombie. I'm using my sleepless nights to learn elvis songs and am building up quite a repertoire. Not sleeping, playing elvis tunes and I've got elvis presley ingraved on the neck of my guitar. I may be going mad music fans; just a heads up there. Carry on.
http://www.goodtimesgoodtimes.co.uk
http://www.twitter.com/lovegtgt
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Jan 20th Murphy's Law

So my day was one of those great ones. I may even look back on this day and think "Crikey! Thank goodness for that!!"
I was very lucky to be at a song writing seminar hosted by Ralph Murphy, a great great songwriter with an unbelievable list of writing and production credits to his name. It was a real eye opener and a chance to learn some lessons in song crafting, and by an accomplished master as well. I learnt so much and I'm mega keen to put things into practice; I really don't want to share the things I've learnt with you but, however, as Ralph himself said...I want you to know everything I know so that we're on an even playing field because then, and only then can I really kick your ass!! Haha!! Too cool :) (still not gonna tell you though!!)

http://www.goodtimesgoodtimes.co.uk
http://www.twitter.com/lovegtgt

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Jan 18th Blue Monday

Apparently today, the last Monday of January is meant to be the saddest day of the year. The miserable blues are at the height of their strengths today. or so they say anway. I dont mind cold january too much; its that feeling of everything and anything is just around the corner. Well that's me anyway.
Today for me wasnt so much blue monday as pain in the ass monday as i spent most of the day recording vocal and guitar parts for two songs for the record only to be find out that i hadnt set the tracks up right and so had to do the whole lot again. How very very dull. Anyway, its done now and i'm back on track.
I know there hasnt been a cover for you to download for a few days; sorry music fans, there's more of the way soon. In the meantime catch up on the "A Song A Day" link on the site.
Alright, be good.
Franc
X
http://www.goodtimesgoodtimes.co.uk
http://www.twitter.com/lovegtgt
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Jan 15th 'buca blues

I'd like to express my gratitude to the gentleman at my show last night who kept on putting shots of sambuca on the stage for me between songs. If this was a measure of how much you enjoyed my playing then thank you kindly. I am at present in a world of pain; we call this the 'buca blues.
I dont think there'll be a free cover for you to download today music fans (see above).
X
http://www.goodtimesgoodtimes.co.uk
http://www.twitter.com/lovegtgt
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Jan12th choon!

Alrighty. super excited about thursday; not played one of my gigs in a while and it's going to be splendid. I say one of "my" gigs as i've been playing a bunch of gigs around pubs , doing mostly covers to pay the rent and stay out of trouble before the new record is finished. I was meant to play at two different places on sunday (not at the same time of course, that would be silly and quite unlikely) but I managed to blow my PA and on top of that my guitar pick up has just decided it doesnt want to work anymore so i had the dubious pleasure of going to the PA centre on denmark street and now not having a penny..again...yawn!! anyway, no bother, not fussed, come down on thursday, it'll be special. oh and keep up with my covers will you! Our journey into song storytelling and folklore continues with one of the best of the best; strawberry fields. it's perfect. everything about it wants me to be so much better than i can be. enjoy my take on it. see you thursday.
xx
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Jan 10th Burning Love



Greetings from COLD london. My fingers are missing their gloves very much. I've got a good one for you today; from the King's very own songbook; "Burning Love", one of the all time greats which i couldnt ignore for my series of song exploration! I've tried to make this a little my own; hope you enjoy; as ever you're feedback is welcomed (as long as you say i'm amazing, if not, straight to the gallows you go! tar & feathered along the way.) Have a day of playing today, a few local pubs round where live, it's fun and it pays the rent. happy days. Alright, need to try and get some sort of set together for today's marathon run, check in with you soon. Download today's tune at the usual link along with any of others you may have missed:

http://goodtimesgoodtimes.co.uk/A_Song_A_Day/

be good.
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Jan 8 Slide Away

Alright. Hope you saw the invite for the london show next thursday; it's the first show of the year; a little acoustic hootenanny to break in the new year so if you're in town would be lovely to see you there; it's at fiddlers elbow in kentish town on the 14th and i'm on at 10.
Ok so i got a song done for you lovely people today; it's by one of my favourite song writers who also made me want to pick up a guitar in the first place; i've added a bit of Gram Parsons country flavour to this Noel Gallagher penned gem of a song. Go to the "A Song A Day" link on the site and download from there.
Be good
Xx
http://www.goodtimesgoodtimes.co.uk
http://www.twitter.com/lovegtgt
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Jan 7. 2-4-6-8 Motorway

Stuck on the motorway trying to get to where i need to be this evening so no song for you to download today music fans, sorry. But do catch up on any you might have missed from link on my site
Got the go ahead to start recording next week which i'm super happy about but it'll probably mean "A Song A Day" might not be EVERY day as i have a mountain ahead of me to climb. Stay well. X

http://www.goodtimesgoodtimes.co.uk
http://www.twitter.com/lovegtgt

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Jan 6th let it snow!


Ah london snow! pretty as a picture. alas my adidas sambas are not designed for this particular weather so i'm somewhat wet & bruised right now. Anyway, it's good to be back and i'm raring to go, will keep you posted on proceedings for the new record and hope to have some tracks to play yo very soon indeed! I'm playing an acoustic show on the 14th so come down, details on the site. Did you get yesterday's "A Song A Day" ? Ooh La La was written by (THE GREAT!) Mr Ronnie Lane when he was in The Faces, a super group of sorts that make a couple of cracking little records back in the day. I highly recommend a cheeky google search to kill the time at work tomorrow if you've not heard of them..(why on earth not?!) you know, when they'd tour, instead of paying to have a support band on the road with them they'd spend the money on buying a bunch of booze and handing it out free to the crowd before they went on stage so everyone (including the band of course) would be suitably plastered by the time the curtain dropped and so ready for a good time. What good sports they were; no myspace numbers or blog posts for them; get hammered, play rock 'n roll & have a good old knees up. happy days! I could go on taking about Ronnie Lane and the Faces for a while but i'm sure you've all got better things to do then listen to me harp on about rock 'n roll's golden age.
So in keeping with this moody winter weather, i thought a slice of something dark would do the trick for today's "A Song A Day" , now those at you that know me know i'm somewhat of an "avid" Bruce Springsteen fan so you should expect a few more of the Boss's tunes on this series of song exploration! I started it off, on the 26th of December with my own little rendition of "Darkness on the Edge of Town" (still available for you to download if you haven't already by the way!) and today's tune is also a title track from one his records "Nebraska". He recorded the whole album on a 4-track tape machine in his home and it still stands tall as one of the (greatest) most important "story teller" records according to this budding music journo! It' on the "A Song A Day" page and if you're reading this on facebook visit the site when you get a chance...
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Jan 4th Labi the Great


Welcome back music fans. Hope you've been enjoying our little song exhibition so far. Many thanks to all of you who have let me know they're enjoying the tunes and for your suggestions of new songs to do. Leave it to me and I'm sure there'll be a few more surprises in store before you know it. I'm enjoying posting a different song each day but i think i'll be sticking to interpreting other songwriters (that's a nice way of saying i'm laying down some covers!) rather than stick up demos of my own songs. I'd rather you listened to mine in all their finished "glory". ha! speaking of which , I'm heading back to london tomorrow , my Italian soggiorno is over and i'm looking forward to heading back to the Blighty and get cracking on finishing the new record. We're spending all of this month recording in various rooms / studios / fields / motorways and the month after tidying it all up and applying some studio trickery when and where necessary. I'll keep you posted as ever, i'll get some visuals to you as well.
So, back to "A Song A Day", today's tune is called "It Must Be Love"; written by Labi Siffre, an English singer-songwriter in the early 70s, i dont know how much success he had it with it but most of us know the Madness version of it. It's a great song; as far as songwriting goes, i think its very Beatlesy; short & sweet with really tight little section changes and brilliant jazzy chords throughout to keep it really interesting. I think it's beautiful..hope you dig! Download here or catch up on all the other songs here.
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Jan 2nd fortune teller's song


Moonriver. Tune! That'll have to be added to my "A Song A Day" series very soon. Hey, if you think of any songs you'd like to hear on "A Song A Day" just let me know and as long as it's not grime, or terrible, i'll see what i can do. Listened to a bit of Django Reinhardt today; it's the kind of music that just floors you on first listen. He only had two fingers and was a better guitarist then i'll ever dream to be. practice, sunbeam..practice! Anyway, today's tune is up on the page, you can listen here or click from the site . It's called Fortune Teller's Song , hope you enjoy it; let me know what you think.
be good
franc
x
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01/01/10

Ok, well to start this year off.... I think you'll like this. Don't miss out on today's "A Song A Day" free download. What A Wonderful World, indeed.
If you've missed any you can catch up here
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