[Neil C]

Hi,
Here's a song about compulsive shopping and the severe form that is GAS, Guitar Acquisition Syndrome, condition I have lived with most of my adult life.

Written on a song writing course as an exercise: use a simple title for the chorus and have a bridge or middle eight which took you somewhere very different and then resolved back to the main song.

There's probably not much more to add, other than the prophecy did come true and I picked up another Sigma 12 string on eBay, including hardcase for £100, which you can here on the recording.

Thanks in anticipation for listening to it and your comments.
 
Neil

https://soundcloud.com/neilconnor-2/cant-help-myself-master-25-june-2016
 
Ebay is a sinful place
Temptation all around
Enticing you with their bargains
I’ve got to beat the crowd

I can’t help myself
I can’t help myself
I can’t help myself
Anymore

My fingers are ready at the keyboard
I can feel the draw
I know that I don’t need another
But lets see if I’ll score

I can’t help myself
I can’t help myself
I can’t help myself
Anymore

In the land of shopping channels
Buying more and more, each and everyday
Way beyond Maslow’s laws
“I’m popping to the store”

I can’t help myself
I can’t help myself
I can’t help myself
Anymore

c 2016 N Connor

[MartynRich]

I do love a song that comes in with some storming harmonica...a good all-round bluesy country piece again Neil...I like it. You've got a great mix of instruments as always and the middle 8 is unusual and different, taking us to 60s psychedelic London for a couple of bars (reminded me a little of Small Faces). My only wish is you had brought in the harmonies on the chorus as well, I think they would have given it a bit more of a lift. The outro is good also, showing you do put a lot of thought into your arrangements.

My only other suggestion is this could sound a bit better just slightly speeded up, but "not a lot" as Paul Daniels would say. Other than that I got into the groove!

[CaliaMoko]

I really like the piano in this. And I usually like the sound of 12-strings, so that appealed to me, as well. Never heard of Maslow's Law before, so I had to look that up.

No nits, except I agree with the wish for more harmonies. I'm sort of addicted to harmonies, so I always want more....

Vicki

[pompeyjazz]

Neil, surely you should be running songwriter courses rather than attending them. This is fab as usual but would benefit from some bvs, oooh and aaah sort of stuff. Would like to give it a crack. Pm me if that sounds ok. Cheers John

[delb0y]

Ahhhhh, GAS. We all struggle.

Love the intro - 12 string and harmonica. Can't beat it. Love the middle eight - getting Maslow into a song is a stroke of genius.

Very good song. Really well constructed.

I'm off to buy a mic stand on line (broke mine last night after just three gigs - the previous one lasted thirty years. Might just have a look at the guitars whilst I'm on line...).

Cheers
Derek

[Paulski]

One of your best Neil - +1 on the harp on the intro/extro!
Bit of a Neil Young sound there.
The four minutes went by like a warm breeze though I suppose a few more BMP might lift it a bit.
BTW - that's a great middle 8 and I'm a big fan of them.

Paul

[Jambrains]

Lol, love the lyrics! Been there, done that ;-)
Yeah, the harmonica works a treat as well as the vocals. You sound a bit different than usual (in a good way), found the sweet spot key or been practising hard?
Chorus stuck right way and the sound just fine to mine.
One of your best so far if you ask me, well done!

[shadowfax]

excellent eclectic piece my friend...great arrangement and as usual off the charts intsrumentation..

nearly blew the windows out of the Jeep!!

[Skub]

Loved that middle eight part,like a Peter Gabriel/David Gilmour cross.

Inspired song subject that most can relate to!

Well written and performed,Neil. 

[Movin Flavour]

Neil,

Definitely a song that we can all relate to.

Love those piano sections.

Has hints of Lennon and Tom Robinson.

Those Harmonicas make think I'm drifting into a Beatles song.

Your best to date.

Sandeep

[rightly]

I'll agree here with pompeyjazz.

Lovely song. Doesn't leave much to the imagination.
very well crafted. Thanks.

[Oldbutyet]

Thats right Neil let it all out we all know what you're going through    i went crazy on ebay a few years back got some bargain infact some of them are still in the box      

Nice song Neil and very true but the only thing i dont like about it is, im tempted to go back on ebay   

Thats how good your song is   

[Binladeda]

 Hi Neil,

 I can certainly relate to this one

 But it sounds to me like you really don't
 want to help yourself    I can relate
 to that as well

 Usual great songwriting.....like where it went
 in the 'very different' section.  Really liked the
 'doop doop pop pop along' ? at 2.39

 Put a big smile on my face mate
 Loved it.....

[digger72]

Hi Neil,

I am a recovering GAS sufferer - the "cure" - falling out of love with the guitar.

Liked the song - especially the second half with the addition of the piano bits and harmonica - a nice climax to the song.

Perhaps a tad long?

Digger

[montydog]

Ah yes, the Sigma 12 string - what a legend. I thought I had bad GAS until I saw your music room! Then I realised that it was OK to have A LOT of guitars.

Now this song - something extraordinary has happened to your singing. You sound so relaxed, authoritative and in control. Reaching for a getting those high notes and just sounding so comfortable. Wow.

The song itself is a gem. I love the "I can't help myself, anymore" part. The lyrics tell the story in your usual straight forward way and the musical backing is simply brilliant. Love the piano and acoustic together with your usual sure touch on the bass. Then there is the harmonica which just tops it off brilliantly.

This is up there with "Empty Little House" as your best work on this forum so far.

So good, I've played it through several times and i still want more.

M