Opps, he did it again: Steve`s ex-bandmate Dave Scott Morgan recorded new CD

Picture above: Dave Scott Morgan has a big heart for everyone who wants to hear new songs from him

There are numerous canals in Birmingham that served as transport routes for industry before the invention of the railway. That’s why there’s a lot of water in Birmingham. We are beginning to wonder if there is also a fountain of youth somewhere. One of the reasons for this is Dave Scott Morgan (who played with Steve Gibbons in The Ugly’s and the Balls, wrote the hit „Hiroshima“ and played with the Electric Light Orchestra – ELO – for years) and his steady output as solo artist and in cooperation with his band “Morgansiation”.

• In 2018, he released „Highlands“, a kind of concept album about the Scottish Highlands.
• and the following year the CD „7“ was released.
• In the same year he organised a concert performance of the album „Earthrise“ which he had released in 1984 together with Richard Tandy, his bandmate in The Ugly’s and ELO.
• Shortly afterwards, in 2020, he released „Made in Britain“ a disc of Beatlesque pop.
• With „Signz“ in 2022, he released another work on which critical, sometimes pessimistic observations on the state of the world and the future prevailed.
• He has also worked on various re-releases of earlier publications.
• Since 2023, he has also been broadcasting weekly insights into his song workshop and reviews of his musical past every Thursday at 19:00 (CET 20:00) on YouTube

And now his next CD, which contains exclusively original compositions from his own pen, is already in the final stages of editing and will probably be released before his next birthday on 19 August.

Not a bad achievement. After all, this will be his 82nd birthday!

We visited Dave Scott Morgan in Birmingham and spoke to him about his forthcoming CD of which we received also a preliminary.

The album started with the working title „Citizen Zero“, which has changed to „DSM“, the initials of Dave Scott Morgan:

However, according to Dave, this may still change. In addition, another song could possibly be added to the current eleven-song setlist.

The disc begins optimistically, with „Mrs M“ (presumably referring to Mandy, his wife), in which Scott Morgan recalls the good old culture of letter writing, a cheerful love song with ELO-like interludes

Then the CD picks up speed with „Dockland Light“, one of our favourite songs from this album. Over a solid ostinato rhythm reminiscent of a mighty steam locomotive, it describes an evening journey on the Dockland Railway.  (This is perhaps somewhat contradictory, as the Dockland Light Railway is actually a modern driverless elevated railway, which we remember running relatively silently. However, this does not detract from the musical enjoyment.)

The disc continues with the life-affirming „Love’s Gonna Get You“, its rhythm guitar accompaniment somehow reminding us of Albert Hammond and his song „Free Electric Band“.

Then it’s time to take a breather: after a soulful piano intro, Scott Morgan adds another variation of his voice. While the first three songs feature powerful, gripping vocal parts pointing forwards, a something voice in „Okay“ tempts you to lean back.

Playful but dynamic, „The Law of Motion“ continues. „Always on the Go“ is the one of the ain lines of this song, which for us is a reflection on modern life. „People go, places stay“ is the final statement. Nothing stays the same: „Panta Rei“ in British.

Musically straighter, the album continues with a related theme: „Things (That Happen To You) is the ideal therapy when you are once again struggling with the adversities of everyday life. Scott Morgan’s earthy voice lets you know that you’re not the only one who feels this way. And the guitar parts over the steadily progressing rhythm put you in a mood of optimism. If we had to put together a mixtape on the subject of „new beginnings“, we would put this song between „Ballad of Beacon“ by Wishbone Ash and „Schon morgen“ by the German singer Hannes Wader.

The following song „Kafka & Orwell“ is also a bridge to the previous album „Signz“ with its dystopias. „Kafka and Orwell, this is your song, Yes, it`s true/You were right I was wrong/ Well look around, the future has come and it is true, you were right I was wrong“. The resigned, but not deeply depressive musical declaration of bankruptcy of an optimist.

Dark tones and resignation can also be heard in „Crime of the Century“, a piece is musically folky and in which a beautiful meandering lead guitar in the background lulls you into a deceptive sense of security.

With a beautiful guitar intro over Caribbean vocals beginns „No more lies“ another song of departure, this time with a southern flair. For us it is an call to go out into the world, on the road, leaving behind the abuse and falseness of your previous place of residence. Anyone who doesn’t at least go out for a walk after listening to this song is really beyond help! However, there are also clear warnings and dangers here. „Red lights are flashing“, for example.

„Wonderland“ has already been published in advance on the Internet. It is therefore safe to assume that this song has a specific importance for Dave Scott Morgan.  It begins like a real rocker with a gripping guitar riff, only to continue with sparse accompanying contemplative vocals. Later on its swells and sinks repeatedly. A little mini opera that ends with the chanted slogan „Own nothing, be happy“. Whether this wonderland is the singer’s promised land or rather a warning against to promising visions is up to each listener to decide for themselves.

The CD closes with „The first day of Forever“, in which Scott Morgan quotes himself using the melody and the religious refrain „When I lay my head down tonight, when I say may prayers to the Lord“ from his obituary to Elizabeth II.The song that should perhaps complement the previous selection is „Song for Stan“. Dave wonders how it would fit into the previous series of songs, but it would be a pity if this song, which you can already listen to on YouTube, didn’t make it onto the album. It’s about the Russian officer Stanislav Petrov, who on 26 September 1983 recognised a false alarm from the Soviet early warning system as such and therefore refused to launch Soviet nuclear missiles. By doing so, he violated his own precepts, but probably saved the lives of us all because he prevented a nuclear war between the superpowers. This song would be a reminder that there are also courageous people in Russia who take risks for the ideal of a peaceful world. This is not unimportant information at a time when confrontation is at the forefront and we are slowly beginning to understand that we may have to fear that there will “zero citizens” on this planet in the near future.

The upcoming album by Dave Scott Morgan and his MOrganisation is once again well worth listening to. We are already waiting to see what comes next, in the 83rd year of Dave’s life!