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The Whitley Bay singer-songwriter tries to summarise the sounds on his new double A-side using three other tracks
Whitley Bay songwriter Tommy Arch steps forward with a sound shaped by years on the live music circuit, blending soul, blues and folk with straight‑to‑tape grit. After opening for names like Kingfish, Damian Lewis and Beans On Toast, and releasing last year’s EP The Wind That Blew South, he returns with a new double A‑side, Lovehearts and The Cold Side of the Bed, ahead of a hometown headline launch at The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle on 11th September.
Lovehearts is a warm, tender cut with a country‑Americana twang, saloon‑bar piano and a 1950s slow‑dance sway, its effortless blend of vocals with Hels Pattison giving way to a hair‑raising organ solo and a more intense final vocal that brings it home beautifully. The Cold Side Of The Bed leans bluesier, with a big‑band edge and a soulful, guttural vocal that nods to some of the great artists of Stax and Chess Records. Across both tracks, the production, songwriting, musicianship and vocal delivery are flawless — pulling the spirit of yesteryear into the modern day with real aplomb.
Here, Tommy tries to encapsulate the sounds within the songs using three other tracks…
Ray Charles – Here We Go Again
The first song I have chosen is this Ray Charles version of an old country classic, Here We Go Again. I used it as a big reference point for recording Lovehearts and fell in love years ago with the country duet sound! Ray Charles is in general a big one for me in the old inspiration list, I’d advise anyone who hasn’t taken a deep dive on him to do so immediately!
Etta James – I’d Rather Go Blind
The second song is I’d Rather Go Blind By Etta James. Once again, I used this as a big reference when recording The Cold Side Of The Bed. I’d originally intended the song to be kind of stompy 4/4 country thing but late on before the session, I settled on the 6/8 moody blues vibe that Etta does better than almost anybody.
Bob Marley & The Wailers – It Hurts To Be Alone
The last song is a very difficult one because there are endless songs to chose from! But here is It Hurts To Be Alone by The Wailing Wailers before it became Bob Marley & The Wailers. This mid 60s sound coming out of Jamaica has always been a giant inspiration for me, the American Soul, R&B mixed with the melodious, sun drenched sound of Jamaica. What’s not to love?
