Wondering how I would fund another collection, an angel from Sweden (in the form on one Ulf Zandhers) said he knew a place in Malmo where we could record for free... with his intervention and the good will of the studio owner/engineer, the wonderful Dennis Johansson, Leigh and I went to the 9-Volt studio in December 2009. It was a great experience (I love Swedish people!). The result was what has subsequently been described to me as a 'breakup album'. That wasn't quite how I concieved it, but it does contain a fair smattering of songs of love gone wrong. You don't make omlettes, etc... I suppose And I Have is the defining song of this collection. There are some songs of social comment there, too, Lord Mancroft's Reply being one. I like The Things I'll Remember Most and Warp and Weft, though. Both can be read optimistically...

TRACKS: Two in the Margins : Three Promises : And I Have : Lord Mancroft's Reply : The Things I'll Remember Most : Iceberg : Long Time Gone : Warp and Weft : Beware : Borrow One, Borrow All : Flat Shoes : Ragangen efter Pers Erik

Recorded and released in mid 2008, this is a strong set of mainly socio-political songs - a definite follow-on in subject matter from A Land For the Many. Ramona Egle guests and her fiddle, low whistle and harp playing are a feature of the cd. This is a collection that rewards careful listening with The Terrorist, Little Red Riding Hood and the enigmatic Backwards Man helping create an atmosphere redolent of life in Britain in this time. Andee and Leigh play their usual stalwart roles; note A's vocal arrangements on Lammas Leaves and John Matthews and L's guitar and harmonies on New Girl.

Available for the first time in November 2006, this is the first recording of TSHB proper. I was particularly pleased with my vocal performances on the cd and with the lovely four-part harmony vocals. This represents the folk-influnces in my history - an appropriate style for much of eh socio-political writing I was producing at the time. Andee's mandolin playing is an important ingredient in the character of the album and along with Leigh's thoughtful guitar embellishments and John's sensitive percussion creates a sympathetic setting for Simon's songs.

Sadly, it was the first and last time John was to record with this line-up. He died in 2008 from pancreatic cancer. A great person, musician and friend.

Having played together for two years as a duo, I felt Leigh and I should commit our interpretations of some of my songs to cd. These songs represent the best of our sets over that time. We called in friends and friends of friends to sit in on the recording - amongst them Fran Newberry on cello, Rich Ansell on keyboards, Ian MacNorton on bass and my daughter Kate on backing vocals. Significantly, a friend of Rich's, John Fisher, an experienced and talented percussionist and arranger, agreed to play on the recording. He later proposed the permanent line-up that became TSHB. Revealing the rock/pop side of my writing, the cd, however, features Sight and Feeling, a folk-influenced staple of the current set.

Recorded in just three days, this is a stripped-down set of songs - mostly played 'as live' - on which I'm accompanied by one other musician; my son Joe. Joe's guitarwork beautifully augments these intimate songs of love and loss. Escaping to Boscastle and Maria's Kisses, amongst others, still feature in the band's live sets.

My first cd was a solo affair, but one on which many of my musical friends from over the years joined me. Rich Ansell, long-time collaborator played keys and synths, Russian neurosurgeon Eric Lee contributed electric guitar, Derek (The Amazing Mr.) Smith played acoustic guitar, Gill Redmond, Cello and Chris Evans melodeon. I sometimes think of this as my 'White Album'; it's a hotch-potch of styles and influences, but I think it points the way to much of what I'm doing currently. Jeffrey and Robert and I has been reprised on A Land for the Many and you'll often hear One Day, One Day if you catch me in a club or at a festival.

TRACKS: Forgive the Child : Little Metka : It's Lovely : Daffodils : Andrea : I Love You(#1) : The Thrill it Gave : From Time to Time : Coming Apart at the Seams : No Sympathy : The Way : Jeffrey and Robert and I : What Have You Done? : Photograph : One Day, One Day : Memories : Forbidden Fruit : Listen to This : I Love You(#2) : A Lovely Thing to Do