#Frail Autumn,, #Health Matters, #iconic ownership, #meanderings, #podcasts, Vlogcasts

Gray Summers on Cloud 9.

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The artist, Jonathan Gross, used the inside of the VeeDub, Billie, for the book cover illustration. Jon’s father’s Poetical book. One of many.

Above? Maybe my silent internal Mantra too. ‘Off Road to Everywhere’ sounds a fine lifestyle choice to adopt as a mindset.

The VeeDub Bus is, once again, the intentional central part to the new future project ‘Music on the Road’. Needs a better title though. Especially with a vibe for YouTube intentions. Gray Summers on Cloud 9 is in my first thoughts. Before this latest? My 1970s vision was for a cosmic universal concept called ‘Sister Sun and the Tin Moon’. That was for a mystical craft and coffee shop. Angie, my wife has won the shop battle with her Wholefood Shop. Dyfi Wholefoods. Later, in the 1980s, the new idea was ‘Where the Dragons Sleep’. That became my ceramic/pottery making days. Ongoing? The 1990s and ‘The Gift of Latent Imagery Un-Imagined’. It became my venture into black and white film photography. Then of course the training for professions of both Staff Nurse and an interpreter for Deaf people took hold and simply put a stop on any foray into another artistic chase.

Year 2009, I bought the VeeDub Bus Billie. Now called Billie Cloud 9.

Billie Cloud 9.

I started the idea of the iconic vintage VeeDub Bus as central to a project of YouTube vlogposts eight years ago. Around my 60th birthday. That specific time was the start of feeling the need for a total change and giving up my Staff Nurse role. Possibly long before that date, I yearned for a better stress free lifestyle. I never felt comfortable in the health care professional choice I made. My only comfort and blessing is to hold on to the feedback from my colleagues that I was actually a very fine Nurse. Knowledgeable and a great communicator. Strange how one has reflections on one’s own capabilities and determines self weakness. I struggled day to day enormously to be honest. Maybe that is why I was so extra careful and sought deeper knowledge to attach to my role and my practice.

Back to the Cloud 9 project. I bought the Bus back in 2009 as a celebration gift to myself for achieving Staff Nurse qualification. I believe little rumbling thoughts of such artistic dreams were twinkling back then too. Why? My student days of three years training from 2006 to 2009 and the inherent continual stomach ‘butterflies’ gave a valuable insight as to what lay ahead in my soon to be professional reality.

Why initial thoughts of producing Vlogs? Choice of subject material was to be simply ‘Well Being’ lifestyle. Conversational considerations with others of how Covid had impacted on an individual’s lifestyle and what positive results came out of it. Life changing enforced choices. Mine developed over transitional interests prodding at me in presenting themselves. Also from conversations with others. Covid’s impacts and subsequent need to escape the enormity as to what it did to us all. Probably still doing chronically to many of us in its aftermath. The result for myself became evident in my blog theme write ups. Complementary holistic ideals and interests that presented themselves as their need arose.

Vlog’s ideas. Below is a possible Muzak song idea as an introduction ‘Theme Tune’ piece to the ‘Gray Summers on Cloud 9’ YouTube site.

All instruments, apart from the GarageBand drums, are played by Gray Summers. I tinkered about on Acoustic Guitar and AKAI MIDI keyboards.

A while back I began thinking of different musical Musak songs to fill empty spaces within the visual video presentations of recordings for a Summers’ YouTube site. Songs that small sections can be edited out of the fuller versions. To attach to and accompany specific storytelling imagery in short ten to thirty seconds or more visual inclusions.

I’ll intersperse some amongst this blog here.

The Be-Bop Groove.
TADA. A more guitar based version.
TADA. More cute. Fiddly diddly keyboard tune.

My favourite YouTube watches are those who tend to move freely in subject choices. Use of the interesting subjects, hobbies, happenings and moments in life as they present themselves. Back in 2024 I began the songwriting journey again, but instead of joining or creating a band, I decided to try home recording. A Mac Studio system developed.

Grooving with Mr. Summers on Cloud 9.
Billie’s Bus name now changed to Billie Cloud 9.

And so the interest now for a visual Vlog is for an audio and visual storyboard of myself playing my self written songs and alongside, hopefully, a collective of drop in musicians too. The aim is ‘Fun Times playing instruments, Singing with Spirit, Conversation, Well being, and getting (my life at least) back on the road again’. Excuse the pun. Capturing moments of strangeness and beauty. Capturing us musicians, not only playing, but chatting in conversations regarding both our past experiences and current and future plans. A YouTube vibe intentional.

Listen to your heartbeat…….Lighten up.

This project has been a long self promise to myself. Frustrations have existed in getting it from dream status and into reality. Borne years upon years ago life gives you other impacts. Now? The past year and a half has been one of unlooked for traumas. I don’t love my life as much as in the past days where ‘eyes wide open in awe of possibilities’ was a grand Mantra to adopt. So. What has changed in order to give this new hope. Simply the new outdoor project. Music, fresh air, Mother Nature, a project of intent and new aims.

Muzak Beat Vibe.
With quick vocal try out.
Which to choose for Bus inclusions.

The technology of Bluetti rechargeable battery power source, iPad or Laptop and analogue mixing desk alongside various musical instruments is now in place for using out on the VeeDub journeys. The Mac home recording set up in The Den ‘studio’ as the ‘polish it all up back home’ support. And of course the VeeDub Bus too. All these collectives.

I have about 8 versions of this simple song. Made for YouTube video enhancements. To add to and fill more into the visual dynamic really.
Basic Hey Yano
Smoothed out Hey Yano.
Added vocals. Hey Yano.

All instruments (apart from GarageBand drum library choice) and vocal in all these above songs by Gray Summers.

AND A LITTLE VIDEO OF ONE TOO.

And so the story goes.
To where?
No one knows.
Borne out of promises.
Not worn out wishes.

26 thoughts on “Gray Summers on Cloud 9.”

  1. Not able to listen right now but I love the premise … and promise of the vlog. It sounds inspiring and I’m sure you’ll have fun. Having just turned 60 myself, im definitely exploring opportunities that present themselves. Take care and have fun Gray xxx

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    1. Cheers Brenda. The last year was a massive conundrum of weird. Still is to be honest. But all the needed items and intentions to escape this awful Twilight Zone are in place now.

      For inspiration I have been watching countless ‘Vanlife’ YouTube uploads. Different dynamics with other peoples’ interests and intentions to seek freedom. Fascinating stuff in all areas of choice. There are some amazing stories from ordinary people. The adventures they create and the strange encounters and happenings they witness and are a part of.

      Hope you get new ambitions too. My birthday soon…then it is on to realise my 70th next year. Funny how land mark decades can shake life’s foundation at times.

      Thank you kindly Brenda for your support. Much appreciated.

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  2. I love the Theme Tune and feel it fits the overall vibe you may have in mind, Gray. Then of all the other audio clips, I am enjoying the unique sounds of the last three.
    Now, Billie Green (little play on Billie Jean), is looking great! I am so excited to follow your new ventures and journeys!!

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    1. I listened to that Theme Tune a few times last night on the external hard drive. The last bit regards the ‘choir’ has a few different interpretations. Strings, keyboards, etc. But the ‘keyboard’ choir choice was the standout fave. It’s short too, so can be recognised instantly and on the regular individual uploads it will take a different written visual content in presenting the subject for each Vlog introduction.

      It’ll be nice to write new Muzak tunes for the vibe of the Vlog. Of course, if others’ music is involved, that will be the musical vibe. Background music whilst silently going about activities is paramount. I have been watching, as said to Brenda here, Vanlife YouTube uploads. Some are loners that simply stay quiet all through the video and present the beauty of simple life in a Bus. Cooking, drinking, making log fires, wild swimming, etc.

      Some music in the form of Gregorian chants/scales in Solfeggio style tunes for writing script with Fountain Pens inside the VeeDub is a vibe. 😊 Medieval in essence. Or floaty New Age for a visit to some Standing Stones. Who knows. The reality is that it will probably be musicians having a jam and the camaraderie that results. Interspersed with conversation.

      Cheers Sheila. Billie Green does have a nice vibe. All the best.

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      2. I did write a few pieces of that type of music back in the 1980s to support my mythical pottery figures. I didn’t have this type of technology to record them back then. I wanted them for exhibitions. So long gone.

        There are about half a dozen new ‘pop’ songs I’m itching to get started on. But there is a certain feline that is just full on. Just 15 minutes ago he got out of his harness and we eventually found him on the school yard next door. They have dogs! But luckily inside tonight.

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      3. Ooh, “a certain feline” sounds like he was about to have gotten into trouble had you not found him!! Darn it, Frankie!

        And yes, I hear you that we tend to lose some older works. I’m still blamed for Richard losing a few tracks during one of our RV moves. Ugh! What are ya gonna do?!? Stuff happens. I lost some tape YEARS ago that an artist gave me of Atlantis type music they had made! I loved it but think I lost it during one of my many moves. Dang!

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      4. He’s hard work Sheila. Life has been totally taken over now.

        Moving house really is a nightmare where everything is a jumble. And cleaning up clutter? Things put inside books and then given to charity shops are the usual with me. I bought a book about a year ago that had a 1950s weekly rent book inside. Fascinating to see how much a house was for renting back then.

        I have hundreds of cassettes both mine and my daughter’s too. If they aren’t labelled, as some aren’t, you have no idea of content. My old band’s music I have on cassettes I’m frightened to play now. Need a high quality cassette player to avoid accidents of churning them up. Vinyl rocks best really.

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    1. You’re so right Shep. I miss those days too. My brother is retiring on the 24th September. He has some past colleagues who are musicians and they get together for an open mic night. They’ve asked him if he will join them now he has more time. He’s agreed. He asked if I would like to get involved with John, the Team 23 drummer from my past, playing too.

      John has been playing with a soul band for years on years, but they have now split. So he has done a few jam sessions with a few old buddies from the past. So, there are possibilities.

      Be great for your soul Shep if you did get out there and play harp with joy and happiness. I’ve been watching YouTube videos of musicians and playing from vans. The Possum Scratchers came up. Australian guys who look like they have fun. Older in years too. Tea chest bass, resonator slide guitar, acoustic guitar, brushes on a snare and cymbal and the all important harp player. Bet you know who they are. You are the specialist in knowledge of all things music.

      Cheers for the reply Shep. Much appreciated. 🚐 when they gonna do a VeeDub emoji!

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      2. I have seen these videos Sheila. It was after searching YouTube after reading one of your blogs regarding Supertramp. They do a few classics and are fantastic. I like when a family gets the musician vibe together. Not the TV Partridge Family, but real families. Mind you…..I love the Partridge Family. I have a few PF vinyl albums and all of David Cassidy’s albums. I sang many of his songs on learning how to play my guitar. Dreams are nothing more than wishes is one of my fave albums of all time. Now I want to go back and re-learn how to play those songs again.

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    1. Volkswagens, back in the day, were imported by coach builder companies. Westfalia, Devon, Danbury, etc. are companies that turned the basic model vans, buses/transporters into ‘camper vans’. Furniture, cooking facilities, etc. were built and housed in the original van/bus for families to go on holiday. Mine is a Danbury. The roof is a ‘pop top’. It is opened up when you arrive on holiday or for a day out when you have parked up, to give more space to stand up full height. You cannot drive with the pop top up. When the holiday is over or you want to drive around, you pull it back down again. Lock it back into place. It works with a spring system on a framework. Some Volkswagens have a ‘hard top’. A fibre glass made upper roof that allows space. These are permanent and you can drive around with them. Extra beds can be put up into these spaces so adults and children can have sleeping quarters.

      If no pop top/hard top exists they are called tin tops. Basically the original roof. So you feel a bit cramped if staying for some time and sleeping in them. Hope this helps explain cookie. Cheers. 💫

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    1. It feels good singing others’ songs doesn’t it. That album is amazing. And the Partridge Family Christmas album is my favourite Christmas collective one of all time. I did love the way David Cassidy sang. His voice was very special.

      With having both my brothers as musicians, it was fun. Strangely though, we never all played together in one band. I was the in between who was in a band with one or the other.

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    1. Steve was rock and roll and heavy riffs. Led Zeppelin, Thin Lizzy, etc. fan. Kev was Bowie, Ian Hunter, Steve Harley and Bill Nelson. So heavier rock and roll was early style and later style took on punk and rock pop for myself. Steve now says he loved the XCerts songs with Kev and myself playing. So would have fitted in nicely. I don’t believe he even jammed once with Kev. So, as said, strange! Can never happen now of course. Unless he overlays his guitar onto old songs through the Mac system. But that won’t be a likely project either.

      I have the vinyl Christmas PF album and it is scratchy now. Doesn’t jump, but has that vintage vibe that makes you feel warm from its familiarity over the decades.

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      2. It was a case of Steve being in a busy, performing and recording band when myself and Kev were playing lots of gigs and rehearsing long hours too. Steve did see us live a fair few times. And vice versa. His band were really good. Steve didn’t want to become a ‘punk’. So declined my invitation to be the XCerts’ guitarist. He didn’t like the ‘dressing’ up vibe. He did like the Sex Pistols rock dynamic though. If he did accept, it may well have been a three piece of brothers. I wanted a permanent keyboard player after a while, but never found one for the XCerts. Dave Pepper, the guitarist, could play keyboards well, so added a few overlay parts to some recordings.

        Kev only started playing drums when I needed a drummer for the XCerts. He just picked up the drum sticks and drummed like a natural. He sped to a high level capability in a matter of weeks. I was astounded at the speed he progressed. Steve is a great guitarist, even now, too. So maybe we have/had been given the gift of decent genetics for playing music.

        Cheers Sheila.

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