Stripped Back (Studio Album)

by Rebecca Downes

supported by

Joseph Ingram another superb Album as always i absolutely Rebecca's voice is powerful and hits me deep in my soul
highly recommend giving this a few listens you wont be disappointed Favorite track: Take Me Higher.

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

£7 GBP or more
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
JANUARY SALE - PRICE REDUCED TO £8

The album is packaged in a six-page digi-pack with artwork by Rebecca and her co-songwriter Steve Birkett based on photography by Adam Kennedy. It will be signed by Rebecca and she can add a message of your choice - please email your requirements to info@rebeccadownes.com as soon as you have placed your order.

Includes unlimited streaming of Stripped Back (Studio Album) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

ships out within 2 days

£10 GBP or more
JANUARY SALE - PRICE REDUCED TO £6!

This 16-page A4 full colour booklet contains the story of the creation of the album together with a pen-portrait of each song and full lyrics with numerous images of Rebecca throughout, as photographed remotely by the fabulous Adam Kennedy (@adamkennedyphotographer).

It will be signed by Rebecca and she can add a message of your choice - please email your requirements to info@rebeccadownes.com as soon as you have placed your order.

ships out within 2 days

£6 GBP or more
Full Digital Discography

7

releases

Get all 7 Rebecca Downes releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Stripped Back (Studio Album), Wave Them Goodbye Ft Alan Nimmo (Single), More Sinner Than Saint (Studio Album), Believe - Edition II (Studio Album), BeLive (Live Album), Back To The Start (Studio Album), and Real Life (EP). , and , .

Purchasable with gift card

£30 GBP or more (25% OFF)

1.	Take Me Higher 05:12	lyrics	buy track
I got a bad bad feeling That this is just not real Ahhh crashing thru that red light This truck has lost its wheels Way down in the church of the blind boy One eye makes you king No don't you walk that line boy Cause they got you in Lock down Freeze frame You got my number but not my name So that's hot now? For one night All I gotta say is Take me high take me higher The next sensation sets the world on ﬁre Got the whole damn nation singing Take me high take me higher This invention’s gonna crash and burn Singing hold on, hold on baby that's ﬁne Ohhhh it's a felony witnessed And not a faceless crime So disturbed and twisted When you walk that line Way down in the church of the blind boy They got you caught in a Lock down Freeze frame You got my number but not my name So that's hot now? The next sensation sets the world on ﬁre Got the whole damn nation singing Take me high take me higher This invention’s gonna crash and burn Singing hold on, hold on baby Next sensation sets the world on ﬁre Got the whole damn nation singing Take me high take me higher This invention’s gonna crash and burn Singing hold on, hold on baby that’s fine Take Me higher Get me higher Lift me higher They got me caught in a Lock down For one night All I gotta say is Take me high Take me higher Next sensation sets the world on ﬁre Got the whole damn nation singing Take me high take me higher This invention’s gonna crash and burn Singing hold on, hold on baby The next sensation sets the world on ﬁre Got the whole damn nation singing Take me high take me higher This invention’s gonna crash and burn Singing hold on, hold on baby that’s fine Baby, that’s fine Take me higher Get me higher Lift me higher Take me higher Take me higher Take me higher For one night All I gotta say is Take me high take me high
2.	Blues For Us 04:30	lyrics	buy track
In the night I thought I’d lose you maybe Get out my head no hurt remains I put my faith behind the bar but baby In the morning it’s the same old pain Paint a heart Shade it blue Gonna wrap it up and send it to you Out of time out of luck Cause I only know it’s never enough Just blues for us Now the weatherman has sent a warning Saying storms are bound for me Where’s the red sky only blue this morning It’s the only colour I can see Paint a heart Shade it blue Gonna wrap it up and send it to you Out of time out of luck Cause I only know it’s never enough Only shows what’s left of our love Only shades of blue now for us Just blues for us Paint a heart Shade it blue Gonna wrap it up and send it to you Out of time out of luck Cause I know that it was never enough Paint a heart Shade it blue Gonna wrap it up and send it to you Out of time out of luck Cause I only know it’s never enough Only shows what’s left of our love Only shades of blue now for us Blues for us Just blues for us Blues for us Never know how much I loved you Never know how much I cared
3.	Screaming Your Name 04:28	lyrics	buy track
Mmmmm… I've got so much to say These bitter pills I take Are weighing down on me When all I need is release And I don't understand Why you cannot see That deep inside I scream And I'm screaming your name, is it over? Can't get away, I told you You're locked inside me And even though I can't breathe All I want is you Screaming your name I've got so much to lose You know that it's the truth That this beast inside Won't ever let this die And I don't understand Why you cannot see That deep inside I scream And I'm screaming your name, is it over? Can't get away, I told you You're locked inside me And even though I can't breathe All I want is you Screaming your name You can't stop this feeling Breaking down your walls And I can't see the meaning What is this really for? Need you to love me, need so much to be loved So I feel like I'm worthy and good enough And I’m screaming your name Screaming your name I know you're locked inside me And even though I can't breathe All I want is you And I'm screaming your name, is it over? I can't get away, I told you You're locked inside me And even though I can't breathe All I want is you Screaming your name Screaming your name Mmmmm… Mmmmm…
4.	Hurts 05:36	lyrics	buy track
Cos when I see you it hurts Hearing your name makes it worse Now I feel like I'm cursed There's nowhere to hide on this earth Cos when I see you it hurts Like a beetle left to die in the sun Heat comes out and I know I'm done Upside down and all on fire And inside all I can do is smile Pain-killers don't stop the pain And my heart it judders into life again Sometimes you need to hear the words It’s all you need to stem the hurt Cos when I see you it hurts Hearing your name makes it worse Now I feel like I'm cursed There's nowhere to hide on this earth Cos when I see you it hurts When I see you it hurts Like a free bird locked in a cage Head turned down to block out the pain Arms folded tight across my chest I can still make out your silhouette Pain-killers don't stop the pain And my heart it judders into life again Sometimes you need to hear the words It’s all you need to stem the hurt Cos when I see you it hurts Hearing your name makes it worse Now I feel like I'm cursed There's nowhere to hide on this earth Cos when I see you it hurts Hearing your name makes it worse Now I feel like I'm cursed There's nowhere to hide on this earth Cos when I see you it hurts Cos it hurts Every time I hear your name now It hurts Everywhere I go it’s too loud It hurts Every time I hear your name now It hurts Everywhere I go it’s too loud Pain-killers don't stop the pain And my heart it judders into life again Sometimes you need to hear the words It’s all you need to stem the hurt Cos when I see you it hurts Hearing your name makes it worse Now I feel like I'm cursed There's nowhere to hide on this earth Cos when I see you it hurts Hearing your name makes it worse Now I feel like I'm cursed There's nowhere to hide on this earth Cos when I see you it hurts Cos when I see you it hurts When I see you it hurts Cos when I see you it hurts
5.	Sailing On A Pool Of Tears 05:51	lyrics	buy track
It’s a cold night, I should hold you As you tell me the bad news That you’re locked away from me That you’re leaving me lonely It’s the wrong night to have bad dreams Cause I know what it all means As I’m dragged way down under In the storm and the thunder Longing for the walls to break down No one hears you when you’re drowning Somebody hold back the flood Cause I’m sailing on a pool of tears And I’m waiting, counting down our broken years See I’m sailing on a pool of tears And I’m waiting, as the day disappears It’s a long night, I can’t sleep Waters flowing round my feet And it’s making me colder Like we’ve grown so much older There’s a river underneath us Rising up to defeat us Full of fear full of danger Like a terrible stranger Lonely but for all I stay home Slowly sinking and I’m thinking When is the dam gonna break? Cos I’m sailing on a pool of tears And I’m waiting, counting down our broken years See I’m sailing on a pool of tears And I’m waiting, as the day disappears Longing for the walls to break down No one hears you when you’re drowning Somebody hold back the flood It’s a cold night, I should hold you As you tell me the bad news That you’re locked away from me That you’re leaving me lonely It’s the wrong night to have bad dreams Cause I know what it all means As I’m dragged way down under In the storm and the thunder See I’m sailing on a pool of tears And I’m waiting, counting down our broken years See I’m sailing on a pool of tears And I’m waiting, as the day disappears See I’m sailing And I’m waiting See I’m sailing And I’m waiting
6.	Wave Them Goodbye 04:49	lyrics	buy track
I sense there's something wrong There's a feeling that don't set right here I’m thinking we don't belong Hey, hey baby are you getting the fear? And we should plan an escape Some sort of exit or a strategy For every move that we make Could be our last Baby what do you say? And I just want our backs to the wind again I won't watch us tail-spinning down I smelled danger right at the beginning And I won't leave here alone Just wave goodbye And I won't leave here alone Wave goodbye I feel the walls on fire I see the eagle flying round our heads A case of do or die Hey, hey babe wishin’ we was dead So we should grab our stuff Pack up the bags and Sneak away alone Before our time is up Ooh-ooh baby now I’m taking you home And I just want our backs to the wind again I won't watch us tail-spinning down I smelled danger right at the beginning And I won't leave here alone Just wave goodbye And I won't leave here alone Just wave goodbye And I won't leave here alone Just wave goodbye And I won't leave here alone Just wave goodbye Wave them goodbye Wave them goodbye Wave them goodbye Wave them goodbye, wave them goodbye Wave them goodbye And I just want our backs to the wind again And I won't watch us tail-spinning down And I smelled danger right at the beginning And I won't leave here alone Just wave goodbye And I won't leave here alone Wave goodbye And I won't leave here alone Just wave goodbye And I won't leave here alone Just wave goodbye And I won't leave here alone And I won't leave here alone Wave them goodbye, wave them goodbye Wave them goodbye
7.	More Sinner Than Saint 04:34	lyrics	buy track
Always been more sinner than saint The devil may take me but I can't wait for him There must be an angel out there To gather me up to take some care of me Weighed down by the mission I think I better wake up, this boat’s gonna sink and I'm bound and washed up on the shore I don't belong here any more I’ll only wait so long, ooh ooh I’ll only wait so long, ooh ooh I’ll only wait so long, ooh ooh One sign, one vision One reason for the hope I'm missin One satellite, stars fall One reason to believe once more This rainbow’s got no end The fantasy’s gone, I've stopped pretending This pain grows deep in my heart Too little too late cause I shouldn't have started No sacrifice confessing Nobody with the strength to listen I'm bound and cast down on the floor I don't belong here any more I’ll only wait so long, ooh ooh I’ll only wait so long, ooh ooh One sign, one vision One reason for the hope I'm missin’ One satellite, stars fall One reason to believe once more One sign, one vision One reason for the hope I'm missin’ One satellite, stars fall One reason to believe once more I strayed too far, I left the path and then Confess my sins don’t send me back again, back again I’ll only wait so long, ooh ooh I’ll only wait so long, ooh ooh One sign, one vision One reason for the hope I'm missin’ One satellite, stars fall One reason to believe once more One sign, one vision One reason for the hope I'm missin’ One satellite, stars fall One reason to believe once more I’ll only wait so long I’ll only wait so long I’ll only wait so long Always been more sinner than saint The devil can wait
8.	Washing Over My Heart 03:51	lyrics	buy track
In the last days before you Long miles of grey It was all just to get through This is all I can say Through your rays of summer You saw my world Saw it all and I begged you Come on, make it work yeah Let me dance, to your song Maybe baby I’ll be your special one Sing it out, all night long Calling for a sentimental song Love is here, rain it down Washing all over my heart Though I bought you nothing Just the tunes I make I believe, yes I’m certain Something’s come my way and I said Let me dance, to your song Maybe baby I’ll be your special one Sing it out, all night long Calling for a sentimental song Love is here, rain it down Washing all over my heart Let me dance, to your song Maybe baby I’ll be your special one Sing it out, all night long Calling for a sentimental song Love is here, rain it down Washing all over my heart, Washing all over my heart
9.	Believe 05:27	lyrics	buy track
Nobody, nobody, nobody Nobody gonna put me down Nobody, nobody, nobody Nobody gonna put me down Had too much of that in my life darling It’s time to turn this thing around Ain't no one, ain't no one Ain’t no one gonna mess with me Ain't no one, ain't no one Ain’t no one gonna mess with me Got the strongest link to my blood It's the circle that’s called my family And all this time, I never realised I had the strength inside And all this time I never realised The tears I cried Could make me stronger Could make me sweeter Could make me bolder Make me believe Could make me feel ya Could make this deeper Could make me stronger Make me believe So think on think on child Of all the things you've done So think on think on child Of all the things you've done Throw away all those regrets Oh don’t you think on none And all this time, I never realised I had the strength inside And all this time I never realised, The tears I cried Could make me stronger Could make me sweeter Could make me bolder Make me believe Could make me feel ya Could make this deeper Could make me stronger Make me believe Could make me stronger Could make me sweeter Could make me bolder Make me believe Could make me feel ya Could make this deeper Could make me stronger Make me believe I never realised Had the strength inside Make me believe I never realised All the strength inside Make me believe
10.	Night Train 05:00	lyrics	buy track
Full moon over midnight Like the thunder she rolls On a ball of hot steel and flame Looking for lost souls She ain’t out for the innocents She don’t care for your green Cause your money can’t buy you love Where this freight has been So what you got to offer me? So what you got to say? When you’re called upon to testify Better get down on your knees and pray Cause this engine only pulls one way Aboard the night train Aboard the night train Aboard the night train My God I hear it Rolling down a long black line To a world of pain If the whistle is crying to you And you answer the call It’ll get you one shot of fame But mister that is all Never works like you planned it That don’t mean it’s not real Don’t go thinking you’ll be pulling out When you make that deal So what you got to offer me? I’ve come to take my pay Now you’re called upon to testify Better get down on your knees and pray Cause this engine only pulls one way Aboard the night train Aboard the night train Aboard the night train My God I hear it Rolling down a long black line Rolling down a long black line To a world of pain A world of pain So what you got to offer me? So what you got to say? Now you’re called upon to testify Better get down on your knees and pray Cause this engine only pulls one way Aboard the night train Aboard the night train Aboard the night train My God I hear it Rolling down a long black line Aboard the night train Aboard the night train Aboard the night train My God I hear it, Rolling down a long black line Rolling down a long black line Rolling down a long black line To a world of pain Going to a world of pain
11.	Come With Me Baby 04:15	lyrics	buy track
It’s a broken path That has led you here Like the Indian trail of tears In the aftermath of a frozen heart Let me melt away your fears It’s the time to heal It’s our time to feel Every part of us belongs Now the blinds are drawn, and the sign is hung How could this be wrong? As I whisper to you baby come on Come with me baby come on Come with me baby come on Come with me baby, come with me baby Come with me baby How much time has passed? Many questions asked As I played the loser’s game Now our stars are crossed No more time is lost, night is made for us As I whisper to you baby come on Come with me baby come on Come with me baby come on Come with me baby, come with me baby Come with me baby As I whisper to you baby come on Yeah, come on Come with me baby come on Come with me baby come on Come with me baby, come with me baby Come with me baby Every little sound Every place we found Lifts us from the ground Every touch we share Like a silent prayer Holds us in the air It’s the time to heal Every little sound Time to feel Every place we’ve found Lifts us from the ground Every part of us belongs Every touch we share This can’t be wrong Like a silent prayer As I whisper to you baby come on Come with me baby come on Come with me baby come on Come with me baby, come with me baby Come with me baby Yeah Every little sound As I whisper to you baby come on Come with me baby come on Come with me baby come on
12.	With Me 05:17	lyrics	buy track
Got your kisses up and down my neck Give you something that you won't regret And I got you now I got you now Feeling things that I can't explain I love the heat coming from this game And I got you now I got you now And you're coming with me You're coming with me I'm all tangled up in you And this is something I have to do And I got you now I got you now Leave reality outside the door Cos this is all that's worth living for And I got you now I got you now And you're coming with me I'll take you anywhere you need to go And I'll take it slow And I'm bringing you home I'll take you anywhere you wanna be Won’t you take my hand And I'll make you see You’re coming with me You’re coming with me There’s a fire hidden in your soul Feeling like it's got no place to go But I got you now I got you now Release the pressure inside your head Let your body go where it's lead Cos I got you now I got you now And you're (coming) with me..... I'll take you anywhere you need to go And I'll take it slow And I'm bringing you home I'll take you anywhere you wanna be Won’t you take my hand And I'll make you see You’re coming with me You’re coming with me Won't you stop pretending There's no happy ending Put your trust in my eyes I'll help you realise You’re coming with me You’re coming with me I'll take you anywhere you need to go And I'll take it slow And I'm bringing you home I'll take you anywhere you wanna be Won’t you take my hand And I'll make you see You’re coming with me You’re coming with me You’re coming with me You’re coming with me You’re coming with me You’re coming with me You’re coming with me

about

The restrictions imposed as a result of the Covid_19 pandemic brought an end to live gigs for us in early March 2020. After that we were only able to do a few live-streamed gigs throughout the rest of the year. It also limited the time that Steve and I could spend together songwriting.

In addition, it raised questions about the wisdom of releasing a studio album of new material at a time when touring would not be possible, so as the pandemic ground on it seemed like we would be treading water for some time.

These circumstances did, though, create the opportunity to do something we had wanted to do for ages, which was to take a fresh look at some of our favourite material and re-present it in a different way. The result is Stripped Back, which contains ten tracks taken from the second studio album Believe and the third studio album More Sinner Than Saint together with two previously unpublished songs we wrote some time ago, that we love but which did not fit on the previous albums.

The album is very much a product of Lockdown times with the bulk of the work done remotely and shared across the web. Even the album images by the excellent Adam Kennedy, were shot remotely

As ever, my thanks are due to the many people who made this possible:

Steve Birkett, my co-songwriter, for whom this has been a real labour of love. Not only has he laid down all of the instrumentation on 11 of the tracks, as well as guitars on Hurts, he has produced, engineered and refined the tunes. As I have said before, I could not wish for a better songwriting and recording partner.

Neil Ablard, Nigel Darvil, Aidan Goldstraw and Vince Yarrington, the superb musicians who make up our gigging band and who deliver a brief but significant appearance here on the track Hurts: I cannot wait for the day when we are back together on stage.

Steve Birkett Jnr for his amazing work on the mixing and mastering of the tracks.

Colin Speller, my manager, who works tirelessly in the background and who has done much to keep me sane during these challenging times.

Ron Kramer, Ben Bernstein and Brian Panella of TriArts Partners LLP who have put a lot of time and effort into promoting the music in the USA as well as in giving us advice and direction.

Lisa Barsdley for her enthusiasm, energy and ongoing support.

Sharon Chevin, for her continuing support in promoting our work.

All those people who from time to time go the extra mile to help promote us, or get us gigs, or put us in touch with people to help us. Once again, I thank John Tate in particular in this regard - still very much my Angel Of The North.

As ever, I am hugely grateful to all those people who support us by buying tickets, merchandise, giving moral support and encouragement and spreading the word. Particular thanks here to the members of the Friends who like Rebecca Downes - the RD Family group on Facebook.

This album was conceived, produced and delivered with all our supporters in mind.

All the radio people who play our tracks - it is difficult to thank everyone every time but we are hugely grateful for your support.

Finally, I always thank my amazing parents, John and Brenda Downes, who remain my No. 1 fans and greatest supporters. Given everything that is going on in their lives at the moment, this album is dedicated to them.

Here’s hoping we soon see the end of the pandemic, a return to something like normality and the re-emergence of live music. It’s very much a time to keep believing!

Rebecca xxx

credits

released April 9, 2021

All songs written by Steve Birkett and Rebecca Downes

Rebecca Downes: Vocal and Backing Vocal

Steve Birkett: All instruments and Backing Vocal. Lead vocal on Track 6

Neil Ablard: Drums on Track 4

Nigel Darvil: Hammond on Track 4

Aidan Goldstraw: Piano on Track 4

Vince Yarrington: Bass on Track 4

Musical Arrangement and Production by Steve Birkett

Recorded at Chez Birkett, Olton, Solihull

Engineered by Steve Birkett

Mixed and Mastered by Steve Birkett Jnr

Management: Colin Speller, Rebecca Downes Music Ltd

USA Management: Ron Kramer, TriArts Partners LLP

PR Consultant: Sharon Chevin, The Publicity Connection (www.thepublicityconnection.com)

Marketing Consultant: Lisa Bardsley, Effective Presence Music Marketing (www.effectivepresencemusicmarketing.com)

Sleeve Artwork by Steve Birkett and Rebecca Downes

Original Images of Rebecca: Foldover panel - Rebeca Downes
All others - Adam Kennedy (@akennedyphotographer)

Sleeve Design by Colin Speller

Rebecca Downes and her band are proud to endorse and be supported by:

Blackstar Amps
JHS
Rotosound Strings
Vocalzone

© ℗ Rebecca Downes Music Ltd 2021

license

about

Rebecca Downes Birmingham, UK

Winner of Female Vocalist and Emerging Artist of the Year at the British Blues Awards 2016, and Female Blues Vocalist of the Year at the FORM UKBlues Awards 2018, Birmingham (UK)-based Rebecca is an independent artist creating original blues/rock music with her co-songwriter Steve Birkett and performing within a 5-piece band or as a duo with Steve. ... more

contact / help

Contact Rebecca Downes

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Report this album or account

If you like Rebecca Downes, you may also like:

Hughes Taylor Band: Good Blues, Fast
by Hughes Taylor

supported by 5 fans who also own “Stripped Back (Studio Album)”
go to album
Echoes At The End Of The World
by STONE REBEL

supported by 4 fans who also own “Stripped Back (Studio Album)”

Very chill. I really enjoy this album and hope to collect more of their works. sageraven71
go to album
Parliament
by Mike Nagoda

Cerebral palsy curbed his ability to play guitar the conventional way, so Nagoda learned double slide, this is his debut LP. Bandcamp New & Notable May 8, 2014
go to album
Jack Chrome and the Darkness Waltz
by Russell Morris & Rick Springfield

Russell Morris and Rick Springfield pair grave tales with smoldering blues on this Día de los Muertos-inspired collaborative LP. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 3, 2021
go to album
The King's Blues Box
by B.B. King

Cleopatra Blues recently unleashed a barrage of reissued essentials from Bo Diddley, Lightnin' Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Junior Wells, etc. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 7, 2016
go to album
Buffalo Nichols
by Buffalo Nichols

With virtuosic guitar-playing and evocative singing, Carl “Buffalo” Nichols returns Black stories to folk and blues. Bandcamp New & Notable Sep 9, 2021
go to album
Sky Blue
by Townes Van Zandt

An intimate collection of previously-unreleased recordings from the Texan singer-songwriter: first drafts, alternate takes, covers and more. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 7, 2019
go to album