We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

DOG SONGS

by Jack Howard

/
  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    The CD version of Dog Songs includes Portland, Sydney and Montreal from the vinyl/digital release Lightheavyweight. This record wasn't available on CD so three of the tracks are here. The three well-known covers (Coz I Love You, Who Is He and Sharp-Dressed Man) are only available on the digital version.

    Includes unlimited streaming of DOG SONGS via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 2 days

      $20 AUD or more 

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Rather than buy the new CD for $20 and the new book for $30, get both together for $45. Bargain!

    Includes unlimited streaming of DOG SONGS via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 2 days
    edition of 300 

      $45 AUD or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    The download of Dog Songs includes three of our regular cover versions (not on the CD) - the fabulous Coz I Love You by Slade, which the inimitable Fiona Lee Maynard sings; an extended jam-fest of Bill Withers' Who Is He featuring solos from Ed, Nick and myself; and ZZ Top's Sharp-Dressed Man sung by the ever-stylish Nicky Del Rey. All of these songs go completely off at the end of our Sunday night Dogs Bar residency gigs. Hope you enjoy them!
    Purchasable with gift card

      $15 AUD  or more

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 18 Jack Howard releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Time Keeps on Ticking, Were You Born To Be Alive?, We're So International, Lightheavyweight 2, SECRETS AND WHITE LIES, EPIC BRASS LIVE AT THE GERSHWIN ROOM, DOG SONGS, LIGHTHEAVYWEIGHT, and 10 more. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      $101.40 AUD or more (35% OFF)

     

1.
We go about our lives with the blinkers on Trying to pay the rent, trying to make some sense Get a job, drive a car, meet a boy or a girl and remember to smile Freedom of choice, freedom of the press, freedom’s just another word to keep us in check The revolution will be brought to you by instagram We try to find a way as we follow our dream, is the road less travelled just a dead end street? The money jungle awaits with open arms Bang on a drum, blow your own horn Be the lead singer in a rock n roll band Make up your mind, make up a life, it’s all make believe And the world it turns And the earth it burns While the people yearn For a reason to believe Something’s missing, something’s got to give Somewhere someone’s surely takin’ the piss It’s a cartoon world full of fools and freaks You don’t have to be cruel to be kind You’ve got to stay strong and make up your mind You gonna use your powers for good And the world it turns And the earth it burns While the people yearn For a reason to believe
2.
Let Me Live 04:24
Down by the jukebox and the pool table he sits He's a lovely man, he's got a heart of gold And he's dreaming of 1982 and the Seaview Ballroom He's a lovely man, lost his short-term memory He sings hallelujah, hallelujah Let me live Says he still loves you and you kiss him as a friend He carries that kiss like a treasure to have and to hold Down in this dark corner Outside the stars are shining and a last tram rattles by He's such sweetheart, don't let him take you down He sings hallelujah, etc. He wanders down the strip searching for food and luck and a last song for the evening Something blue, something emotional That ghost down the road is a friend of mine, be kind to the spirit of the night Something blue, something emotional He sings hallelujah, etc.
3.
City Lights 04:09
Man, look at those city lights Far above the trestle bridge And the foggy form of Eureka Are we feeling lucky tonight? The planes land silently And the ghosts of ANA boys The dirt bikes rust in the creek below Where in the hell does that train line lead anyway? City lights, city lights, far away Down there, first kisses And jokes I never understood Down there, small moments of glory Etched like a turning point in the epic novel of my life The novel of my life City lights, city lights, far away The distinctive beauty And the unforgettable sound Of an HD Holden going past Ah, sweet memory, blast me from my sleep City lights, city lights, far away
4.
Melbourne 04:33
A small stage, red curtain Well-lit, cheek bones on show Sparse crowd, a resonant twang Attention focussed, deep within Hearts aflutter, the boys and girls The mystery train, they’re all aboard Intoxicated, the thrill of the night Figures blur, words unsure -- You start to fall, you fall far A hand caressed, uncertain smile You start to fall, you fall again You never know if it’s real -- To give and not to give To have and not to have You fall again
5.
Simple Men 04:41
Simple men need simple themes Simple lives, simple dreams Get a job, take a pretty wife Pave your way to a better life One, one plus two, two plus three, three plus four Must be more Grand illusion, time is slipping away Blind delusion, the earth is spinning round and round Seeds of doubt start creeping in Open doors start closing Look around, the kids have grown Father, husband, carpenter but what lurks within? One, one plus two, two plus three, three plus four Must be more Grand illusion, time is slipping away Blind delusion, the earth is spinning round and round Make a will, plan your death A stack of unpaid bills steals your last breath The wind it blows, the sun it shines Birds are singing out beyond the power lines Grand illusion, time is slipping away Blind delusion, the earth is spinning round and round
6.
Restlessness 06:33
She wakes at two in the morning Climbs silently out of bed Avoids the creaks in the floor so as not to wake the dead She stands naked in the kitchen Framed in that cold and steaming light Her brain spins like a mouse on a wheel But neither food nor drink nor love Can cure that endless restlessness There's nothing but infomercials and christians on tv So she comes and stirs me awake with her expert hands Oh such excellent kisses, such sweet surprise She loves me in stealth like a thief in the night But neither food, etc. I still hear those echoing footsteps Clear and stark in the hallway
7.
No trust no love, no lord above No truth just lies Bending the words and the deeds to suit your price Panic in the city, the infidels are here white boy, black girl, black boy, white girl Running scared Panic in the city, the vandals are on the loose Just you, just me, just a kiss away from a decent dream No grey, no doubt Just team Australia, six and out No face, no fear Stirring up hate while we turn the other cheek chorus No voice, no say Just do what you’re told every day No pain, no gain Let and let live Let’s end this stupid game.
8.
Frankenstein 04:23
9.
Red Rose 03:39
10.
Home 03:30
It's so late and I don't have a car Oh so late and home is oh so far Now I will sit here underneath this bridge I'll watch the trains go by Just me and my foolish pride I would hate to bore you with my tale But since it's late and since you're in no state To refuse, I'll bend your drunken ear I'll buy you one more beer Just me and my foolish pride Oh but home is not as far as it seems Home is never as far as it seems. I only have one sorry tale to tell If I tell it over and over, I might tell it well Now I will sit here underneath this bridge I'll watch the sun rise high Just me and my foolish pride Oh but home, etc. credits
11.
12.
Who Is He? 07:00
13.

about

Dog Songs is a “best of” our Dogs Bar St. Kilda residency (now into its fourth year). We play there once a month on a Sunday and it has really led to the re-generation of The Brothers (and a Sister) and of my own music. It’s a dancing crowd but also a listening one and the punters love the originals as much as the cheesy covers that we occasionally break into.

All tracks were recorded late 2019/early 2020 at Hothouse Audio with Craig Harnath and Gez Giddings. Craig also mixed and mastered them.

The band has grown from strength to strength over this time. Cal McAlpine plays drums, Rob Walker plays bass, Ed Bates plays pedal steel, Nicky Del Rey plays guitars, sings backing vocals and sings lead here on Sharp-Dressed Man; and Fiona Lee Maynard plays percussion, sings backing vocals and sings lead here on Red Rose and Coz I Love You. Amy Valent Curlis, our unofficial second sister, plays congas, hubcaps, castanets and various bits of metal. I sing and play trumpet and flugel horn.

Some of these songs are brand new. Some are old favourites going right back to the first steps I took into a solo career post-H & C. I wrote all of them except for Frankenstein (Gary Burgess), Coz I Love You (Noddy Holder and Jim Lea from Slade), Who Is He (Bill Withers) and Sharp-Dressed Man (ZZ Top).

Big thanks to Gavan and Sonya Breen at Dogs Bar for their great support and to all of the Dogs Bar staff and punters.

Thanks to our families including the dogs and cats.

credits

released September 3, 2020

Jack Howard - vocals, trumpet and flugel horn
Nicky Del Rey - guitar, backing vocals, lead vocal on Sharp-Dressed Man
Ed Bates - pedal steel
Rob Walker - bass
Cal McAlpine - drums
Fiona Lee Maynard - backing vocals, percussion, lead vocals on Red Rose and Coz I Love You
Amy Valent Curlis - congas, hubcap, castanets, bowed cymbal, triangle

Engineer - Gez Giddings
Production and mastering - Craig Harnath at Hothouse Audio
Artwork - Jack Howard

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Jack Howard Melbourne, Australia

Jack Howard played trumpet with Hunters and Collectors and for the last 20 years, he's been releasing his own highly- regarded music. Along the way, he's also played with The Living End, The Violent Femmes, Rodriguez and a host of others. In 2017, Jack toured the world with Midnight Oil as their trumpeter/multi-instrumentalist. He released his memoirs, Small Moments Of Glory in 2019. ... more

contact / help

Contact Jack Howard

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Jack Howard, you may also like: