FOLLOWING the success of the Big Live Gig last month, a CD entitled Early Days has been launched by Teesdale community resources, which is based in Barnard Castle.

The CD features the best recordings from a selection of 16 bands and artists from the dale who have used the centre's recording facilities over the last year. All the tracks are original compositions, as the studio has a policy of encouraging musicians to write their own material. The tracks are what producer Mr Andrew Yeadon considers to be the best of well over 100 tracks recorded in the studio during the year.

The album highlights a wide variety of musical styles including rock from Nine Yards, Ortonomy, Flypaper, Roach, The Society and The Atomic Flowers, acoustic tracks from Kashmir, Emma Hedley and John Wesley, "grooving-blues" numbers from Stuart Simpson and Jimmy Nellis, a dub reggae-influenced track by Sophie Allen, a striking piece of storytelling from Dylan, a dance tune from Tina Pinkney and Sarah Jane Watson and a nine-minute epic folk-rock ballad from Dave Watson.

All the songs on the album have been worked on in recording, structuring, arranging, editing, mixing and mastering to make their quality comparable with commercial recordings. A number of musicians were brought in to add an interesting angle to the songs, so the CD features brass sections, piano, double bass, cello, Indian tabla, harmonica, slide guitar, Turkish dabuka, flute and lots of guitar, bass, drums, percussion and electronics.

Mr Yeadon said the CD was illustrative of the amount of musical talent in Teesdale.

"It demonstrates the immense value of the facilities at TCR in realising what would otherwise just remain ideas for people," he added.

The CDs are available from the centre in Birch Road in Barnard Castle on 01833 690150 and at the Teesdale Mercury shop in the town. They are priced at £5, with profits going to help the music project.

Anyone wishing to get involved or wanting further information about the project can contact Mr Yeadon on the above number.