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Cheers Richard and Piri. I wouldn't buy one for me. If I had a recording studio it might be fun to mess around with one but I think it would be a short-lived novelty for me. For me trying to play a real instrument is better because I feel you can get more of a tactile experience. To my ears there is that tangible difference of sound on a real guitar depending on the way a person plays. Not sure if anyone could do it on that thing. The key board sound on there most probably wouldn't allow much use of counterpoint though it might have a polyphonic ability built into it when playing it as a single instrument. Maybe it could be good for someone who wants to have more than one instrument going at a time when by themselves. Possibly it would be interesting to see one in a music store to try if its retail price isn't too high.

Good one Grah another popular reggae song that goes over many people's heads is Bob Marley " No Woman No Cry" as many misinterpret the lyric.  The song "No Woman, No Cry" by Bob Marley was about him growing up in the slum, watching the struggles that a poor woman goes through, and assuring her that everything will be alright The title means "Woman, don't cry" Marley used the lyrics to reminisce about his life in the housing project in Trenchtown the birthplace of reggae music  and his relationship with woman. A sort of a even though things are bad we are going to be alright in this poor ghetto. When many Jamaicans want to say don't cry they say no cry. In the song there is also mention of observing  hypocrites in the Government yard.
The credited writers of this song are the late Bob Marley (1945-1981) as well as a semi-regular collaborator and very close friend of his named Vincent “Tartar” Ford (1940-2008). As the story goes Tartar may have had little, if anything, to do with the actual composition of “No Woman No Cry”. However, Bob still gave him credit in the name of making sure his buddy received royalty checks from the song into the future.
In fact Vincent Ford was a cripple who maintained a soup kitchen in Trench Town. And it was he who fed Marley in his youth when Bob didn’t have anything to eat. This was way before Marley’s rise to stardom. So it can be said that the second verse of this song was largely inspired by Marley’s relationship with Tartar. But even beyond that, Bob had a tendency to attribute songwriter credit to friends and family,.

The royalty payments that Ford got from the song enabled him to keep on running his soup kitchen until his death in 2008.

Good song Richard about how landscapes have changed and the feel of the place you sing about in your lifetime.  Your video has a good folk vibe, and your trio works well together.     

Cheers Jan thanks for having a listen and making a comment. Having Maree use the E sharp as the dominant chord on piano I wasn't sure it would work with my lack of vocal ability. My backing vocals were a bit of car crash over my lousy lead singing, but I thought I put it up anyway in the hope it might have some value as a song.  I was wrapped that Maree decided to be kind and play the keyboards.
Without sounding like a conspiracy theorist, we all have to be a bit weary of tech and its power over everyday people to do good or bad.
I suppose as computers and smartphones take on the role of acting as both our window to the digital world and the means through which myriads of private companies from data brokers to social media companies themselves can now surveil our every action that we the people don't end up in a George Orwell situation.
Having AI mow my lawn could be good or bad but once we take humans out of preforming tasks what are people going to do in order to earn or just entertain. Could you imagine a TV show called AI's Got Talent. I wonder if smart technology makes human smarter or technology smarter. Will having a robot tell me it loves me feel the same as having a human tell me that.

Piri, I like what your saying about vocals on modern recordings.

Listening to modern recording the auto tuned vocals on them ruins it for me for me a few rough edges sound much better. I think they call that the Cher effect.  Give me raw vocals any day by good singers.

Cheers Piri, the Open Mic I have been to have all been as you say everyone joining in. Most will have a band who if you bring a chord chart of what you want to sing they will back you or if you want you can play solo with your own instrument of choice.
Here in Wellington back in the 60's and early 70s we had a lot of Cafe's where people played Folk music where many songs were sang by the performer and audience. Pubs and clubs were more Band orientated in the 70's and 80.s there were plenty of venues for bands. In the 90's a lot of that changed and things like disco's seem to pop up with band venues getting less and less. From the 90's onward to survive many musicians had to go solo and rely on tech to fill out their live sound. Band venues are getting less here now but there are still a few.
Some of its due to the bars not getting the crowds like they use to so the bars don't have the budget to employe bands. A young bloke told me he sings at a Open Mic, that allows some to bring their own backing tracks. I told him if they do that it should be called Karaoke. There is a group here who are really good singers when they play with a band I love them. But when they do gigs with backing tracks it doesn't work for me but many love them with a band or a backing track. One thing I miss now my Mum has passed on is her telling me stories about Big Bands and dancing and singing at Cabarets in the 40's and 50's. A thing she use to call going out and "Tripping The Light Fantastic". I'm ranting I better stop here.     

Good on you Richard for keeping this alive.     

A lady on Bills where to bud blog has posted that he is processing the passing of Dondra with the help of family and friends..
My Dementia Blog: www.wheretobud.blogspot.com     

Thank you, Jan I wrote the poem, as my way of saying no matter what is happening music can have a way cutting through that. If its true the musicians kept playing when the Titanic sank I can see why and no doubt there were prayers been fervently prayed at the same time. In times of sadness people sing to lift their spirits. When people are oppressed its hard for the oppressors to take their music away in many cases. Though there are many frustrating moments when trying to play music there is also those eureka moments. Hearing a musician on you tube talking about his eureka moments is what got me started on writing the poem. Sometimes someone playing melodic music is all I need to lift my spirits when feeling a bit down and I suspect that is true for most people in those tough moments.     

Piri, while our guitars sleep the affected people gently weep. Or maybe it should be while my guitar gently weeps the politicians are asleep at the wheel. Though throwing people to the lions today would be considered a crime. Thats what they did in Roman times. Back in the day of the Roman Empire, Emperors thought they were gods.  I often wonder in this day have our politicians moved on. One man's justice is another's injustice one man's song is another's noise. Many workers work hard singing their songs while the hoy polloi put their air muffs on. We are all 90 percent water but what people often see is just what sits above. Diversity is a good state divisive leaders just create hate. The balance between need and greed is always going to be a tricky one. The frustration for all people on earth is how our leaders are using their stewardship of public assets. What is the real agenda of those seeking  power when they open their mouths is it the truth or smoke and mirrors. I don't think there is any country where the people would sing yes the President loves me because what he or she does tells me so.     

RIP  Dondra. Here is a poem written by Strummer Bills beautiful Dondra back in 2015 about the power of love when you find your soul buddy.

The sunshine that you gave to me
Warmed my heart and soul
It chased away the shadows and then my life felt whole

Sunshine painted all the corners of my life
Surrounding me with comfort and taking away the strife
Sunshine, invisible, surrounding me, so warm
Swaddles me, comforts me and so I fear no harm

Reminding me of you and your selfless devotion
I'm fortunate to know a love that so transcends emotion
Your gift flowed gently in the room,  grew into my heart
And took away the gloom.

I never knew you had the Sunshine
That it was saved for me
God leant to you the sunshine
And was pleased that you chose me.
Special gifts like Sunshine are so, so very rare
God trusted you with Sunshine
Because He knows how much you care"
                        ###
Dondra Craig 9/16/2015

Dondra Craig     

Hello Jan, your a good talent and a real good sort it is always good to have you do what you do. Thank you for being you. The things we do and pursue shouldn't be governed by age  but hopefully the good things it can do. Age doesn't define you you're a natural talent.     

Richard, I limit my internet time nowadays as I find it takes me down different rabbit holes and distracts me from doing other things that make me feel good and challenge me in a good way. As my musical dexterity wanes in the last few years I find my creativity instead of sparking a explosion of new ideas in my mind  has become like a flower that no longer blooms making it harder to paint my story in a way that makes my mind dance. Sometimes when I have an idea it does freshen up my mind but when I throw it out there instead of it picking up steam it starts to sink due to me not being able to give it good legs. Having said that there is more to me than trying to write a song so life is good. Age is just a canvas that let my colours blend in a way its freeing not being onto everything. Harry Bernstein started writing his first novel when he was 93. He gained literary fame when it was published when he was96.. He went on to write three more books.