First album by English singer songwriter Rob Kirk. A diverse collection of self penned tunes and different takes on some covers. Contains the ' tongue in cheek' caravanning song 'Twisted Vanner'. He has lived all of his life at Matlock , Derbyshire , England. Has been writing and playing guitar since he was 10 years old. He decided to record an album after a short period of illness in 2009 , realizing ‘it’s later than you think’. Rob is a professional Disc Jockey for parties and has been around on the DJ circuit for 30 years. He has also set up his own DJ Agency which he has been running since 1985-RK Entertainments. His musical influences come from The Eagles , Crowded House , Glen Tilbrook , Status Quo , John Gill and his younger brother Gavin Kirk who is a singer songwriter who has now lived in the USA for the past 10 years now residing in Seattle after moving from Chicago. Keep Your Options Open – Album Diagnostics. 1. Whistling Rose – Written by Rob Kirk . Originally a song written around the early 80’s and then re written in 1997. Just a song I grew up with. Lead Guitar Leavon Archer and Produced by Leavon Archer . Originally given away to friends and family in a Christmas card in 2007. 2. Because Of You – Written by Rob Kirk in late 2009. Had a couple of verses and a chorus written the night before a studio session to record another track. In between tracks I kept on messing with it . Leavon asked what it was and I said I was not sure yet as it was still in progress. He immediately stopped the other recording and told me to record the song! What you hear happened over a couple of hours in the studio with me writing another verse and a middle section in 5 mins whilst Leavon did some production on the already recorded verses. The lead was played by Leavon at the following weeks recording session. It all happened so quickly. 3. Look Over Your Shoulder – Written by Rob Kirk. Written as‘homage’ to Robs early guitar tutor John Gill (Of Please Y Self). I wanted to reflect John’s style and write something I could hear him singing. John and his band have played a big influence on my ‘tongue firmly in cheek’ style seen on the Twisted Vanner track. Rob catches up with John at the open mic sessions held second Sunday in the month at the White Lion Sessions in Stark Holmes Matlock. 4. Twisted Vainer – written by Rob Kirk. ‘Tongue in cheek ‘ poke of fun at the caravan perceptions ( Bear in mind I am A Caravan Club member!) . Half conceived in a caravan awning at York whilst playing with some friends. We had gone away with Chris Gill , John Gills sister and another of the ‘Please Y Self ‘Skiffle band and her husband Stu . Just an off the cuff silly moment improvised on the spot but we were still laughing the next day. It was still going round in my head making me laugh six months later . I decided to try to write it down . This happened in stages over another 6 months as I kept hearing bits in my head and having to stop the car wherever I was to write them down. Took it to Leavon’s studio and I could tell he thought ‘I was off my rocker’. Mainly finished in one evening but on driving to the next recording session I decided to remove all the original vocals and ‘ham it up’ as per the caravan holiday. 5. Roundabout Of Love – Written by Rob Kirk. Again originally written around the early 80’s . This song has been a part of me from when I was young. Inspired again by my guitar teacher John Gill who encouraged me to write it. I got the chance of John producing it when my wife paid for some studio time with John to do some recording for my birthday . I originally went in the studio to do a version of the Eagles ‘Desperado’ but after three hours of searching for a decent midi file for the backing we had drawn a blank. John asked if I had ever written any songs we could do. The only one prepared enough for recording was this. John said he could remember it and said ‘don’t know why we didn’t do this in the first place’. The session turned out to one of the best days I can remember. Thanks John. 6. Behind Your Eyes - Written by John Gill. ‘Please Y Self’ did a version of this on their ‘Scratch This ‘ album back in the late 70’s and it captivated me with its mix of guitar and harmony vocals. I have played it ever since I was young. Plucking up courage to play it one night at a session at the Fishpond Matlock Bath when John and the band were there. They immediately came and did the backing vocals with me impromptu. It made the hairs stick up on the back of my neck. This version is slightly updated with a lead break and our own take on the harmonies. Getting permission from John to record this made me happy. Enough said. 7. Peaceful Easy Feeling - Written by J Tempchin. Originally recorded and made famous by the Eagles. I have always played this song as per the Eagles original recording but was forced ( by myself !) to play quietly one evening as it was a lovely summers evening and we had sat around the back of our house with a patio wood burner on. I could not play anything too loud so I just picked around with the classic and ’ hey presto’ the arrangement you hear here appeared. This was my first attempt of recording using a software package and I spent many agonising days attempting to get the thing to work. What you hear is exactly what was recorded over three weeks of pushing buttons and learning. 8. You’re The One – Written by Rob Kirk . Just a good old honest set of feelings for my wife and the realisation how much you take people for granted at times. Produced and recorded at Leavon Archers Spare Oom studios in Derby. Leavon plays a stunning haunting lead break on this which builds the whole feel of the sentiment of the song. Originally sent out to friends and family as a single with our family Christmas cards. 9. I Don’t Want To Put A Hold On You – Written by Flint and Flint. Berni Flint won Opportunity Knocks ( the 70’s X Factor) with this back in the 1970’s . I just was picking around on the guitar one day when I realised I had just picked out the song. So I got the original words together and just did it. This was the first and only song I ever recorded using a portable recording studio at Wishing Well ( Home ) . One hell of a learning curve of dedication as I never did find out how to cut and paste to smooth over any glitches in the recording so had to be done over and over again until I got it right. Must have been take 321? Again we decided to put it out ‘raw’ as it was part of my recording history. 10. Going To Stay – Written By Rob Kirk. Written a couple of years ago. Just a tune I was toying with when I heard the words coming very quickly in my head. Written in 10 minutes. Took it to the studio and started to record it when I realised it required a middle section. So I just wrote it on the hoof and stuck it down. This lifted the whole song. I could always hear the backing vocals but Leavon added a twist by slightly shifting the timing out of sync with how we had recorded it. This was the ‘icing on the cake’. Again Leavon’s Spanish style well complimented the song for the lead break. 11. You Do Something To Me – Written by Paul Weller . Just my version of the classic track. Stripped back and laid bare in acoustic format. Simple.