I've never really joined or left any band, I've just put my head down and played guitar while Oysters have formed and re-formed around me. Over the years, many songs and ideas have been stashed and these few are the tip of an iceberg. Even so, to actually get this far, writing sleeve notes, seems like a minor miracle in itself. So here it is, a musical monument to one man's struggle with wood wire and throat.

The Songs
Sheepscar Beck is about the indifference of industry to its workforce, begun in 1986 and finished in Sweden on a tour bus in 1995. That Melancholy Way is about that moment of empathy with people in trouble. Harry Edward was inspired by my son's birth and a desire to play in 5:4. The Leaves of Life is a traditional song first heard from 'Frost & Fire', the Watersons' album found on Topic. Two Crows is a rough translation of 'Twa Corbies', a Scottish ballad about a lover's treachery. Cromwell I & II are named after the 40's Gibson Cromwell they were played on.

Something has got to change was begun on a six week US tour when strains were beginning to show. He feels no pain is about complex post-relationship trauma, need I say more? Elham Valley was written for a melodeon with the range to play it, once owned by John Jones when he lived in the Elham Valley in Kent. Cold Winter's Night - the moment you realise it's over.

Lagan Streams is a traditional tune by the river. Think of you and Money and Love are both on-the-road songs. Raise me up is the age-old mechanism of solace in a cup. Empire Building is about day-dreaming that the world is going to conform to my plan for world domination - oh well!

The Musicians Alan Prosser All guitars, percussion, banjo, guitar synth, key synth, violin, mandolin, bass, bandura (Ukranian zither). Alaric Neville Bass on Something has got to change, bandura on Two Crows, mandolin on He feels no pain, melodeon on Sheepscar Beck, Hammond Organ on Cold Winter's Night Lou Watts Vocals on Two Crows Michelle Jasmin Backing vocals on Money and Love Chill Drums on Money and Love and Something has got to change Lee Drums on Think of you Harry Hamer Drums on Leaves of Life Chopper Cello on He feels no pain Andy Stocks Trumpet and marching bass drum on Leaves of Life Crowd chorus on Raise Me Up was Graham Lord, Jane Lord, Richard Formby and Alaric Neville.

Credits Produced by Alaric Neville and Alan Prosser. Recorded by Alaric Neville at Woodhouse Studio, Hall Place, Leeds, Motorway City of the Seventies. All Alan's photos are by Ginny Scholey except the one on this page which was taken by Nazim Onat at Tønder Festival, Denmark, 1994. Alan's guitar strings are supplied by Newtone Strings, 11B Stainsby Avenue, Heanor, Derbyshire DE75 7EL.