MUSIC APPRECIATION 2014

JANUARY 2014 As always, a thoroughly varied set of records were brought in. In our 18 pieces, we had 3 Big Bands, Medieval chanting, Rhythm and Blues, Folk, Blues, Rock, FolkRock, BluesRock, Rock n Roll and Chopin. Of course we had old favourites Roy Orbison and Fats Waller.

What appealed to me was that members of the group have started to acquire certain records because they heard (and liked) a piece of music at one of our sessions. I call that success for the group. For my part, I’m now looking for a vinyl single of The Spencer Davis Group doing a great version of Georgia On My Mind which was played at this meeting.

We finished with a stunning version of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons on electric guitar by a 14 year old French girl called Tina S. On the video clip, it seemed to be just her sitting in her room getting so much out of the guitar. Precocious talent - Look her up on YouTube.

January 2014 Playlist Nina Simone I Put A Spell On You Eva Cassidy Fields Of Gold Glen Miller Orchestra Tuxedo Junction Hank Marvin & Mark Knopfler Mrs Robinson Tom Rush No Regrets Frederic Chopin Nocturne in G Major Op 37 Josquin des Pres Veni Sancte Spiritus The Spencer Davis Group Georgia On My Mind Nora Jones & Billie Joe Armstrong Barbara Allen Robert Johnson Phonograph Blues Charlie Gracie Just Looking Roy Orbison You Got It Lionel Hampton & Nat King Cole Central Avenue Breakdown The Kinks Waterloo Sunset Santana Black Magic Woman The Harry James Orchestra Trumpet Blues & Cantible Fats Waller Grandad Tina S Vivaldi’s Four Seasons

FEBRUARY 2014 A fine session of very varied records in our monthly trawl through members’ attics and memories. It was like a U3A geography lesson. Or a road trip from The Spotniks in Sweden, through the Hebrides for some Gaelic Runrig, down to Status Quo from Catford, Laura Marling – Hampshire, to France for Primitie de Futur, hop to Ireland for Van Morrison and the Chieftains, cross the pond for The Buena Vista Social Club in Cuba as was a Simply Red concert track.

Plus Simon and Garfunkel from Queens, Noo Yoick, down to North Carolina for Nina Simone and Louisiana for Tab Benoit. Crossing Texas for Camille Howard, we followed the blues trail up to Kansas City for Big Joe Turner and picked up Alison Krauss in Illinois as well as Miles Davis. Stevie Ray Vaughn came in from Wisconsin and Detroit gave up Rare Earth and Frank Wilson. That was some journey (but to be fair, we did have a tea break in the middle).

Highlights were (purely my opinion) Camille Howard – who had a voice like Billie Holiday and rattled a mean boogie out of the ivories as a featured soloist in Roy Milton’s band – before giving it all up to be a nun!. Ian Robey brought us a nice bit of Alison Krauss Country music (but to be kind to Ian’s reputation, we’ll call it Bluegrass). The Laura Marling track was a surprise, starting folksy but built up to a powerful toe tapping finish.

February 2014 Playlist Buena Vista Social Club Chan Chan Status Quo Raining In My Heart Rare Earth Tobacco Road Joe Turner Morning Noon And Night Alison Krauss & Union Station Gravity Simply Red Fairground Nina Simone I Put A Spell On You Miles Davis Summertime The Spotnicks Orange Blossom Special Camille Howard Why Did You Do It Camille Howard Fluff Boogie Laura Marling Sophia Primitie de Futur Eddie and Lonnie Runrig An Ubhal As Airde Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Waters Tab Benoit For What It’s Worth Van Morrison & The Chieftains She Goes Around The Fair Stevie Ray Vaughan Little Wing Frank Wilson Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)

MARCH 2014 The convenor had to go home to find a stylus for the record deck, but once we got going we played 19 pieces of music. As always we had a variety of music dependant on what our members bring in (including on vinyl and CD formats).

We had old favourites The Shadows, Mark Knopfler, not Fats Waller but a tribute to him, and Simon & Garfunkel. Added to the mix was a bit of Rimsky- Korsakoff, some Ukrainian (very topical) Harmonica music, pure guitar Blues, soft Bluesy Jazz, English Folk–Rock, Gaelic Folk-Rock, Mexican Marimba and Flute, a bit of a Brazilian and an unconscious New Orleans emphasis from three different sources.

Part of the New Orleans feel was a small feature on the Neville Brothers (nothing to do with Man U.) who have been making records since the Fifties as a tight band veering from New Orleans jump beat, funk, R&B, devotional ballads – but across it all the amazing quavering voice of Aaron Neville who made Leonard Cohen’s ‘Bird on a Wire’ sound listenable. Who says this stuff isn’t educational?

APRIL 2014 Well, we’ve really dragged ourselves into the 20th Century at our April 29th meeting. We had moving pictures with some of our phonograph recordings. Amazing. Alongside CDs, LPs, singles, cassette tapes and audio from iPad, tablets, etc., we have now mastered the ability to use the projector (with a laptop) together wirh the sound system.

YouTube clips of a Scottish Folk Band, a Jazz pianist (no, not Fats Waller!) and a tribute to recently deceased old guitar pioneer Arthur Smith were interspersed with a range of music from records like John Denver, Joe Cocker, Kenny G (who I now know is a saxophonist), a bit of bluegrass, Caro Emerald, Blue, Kirsty MaColl, Sam Cooke, Diana Krall, Peggy Lee, some tango, Scissor Sisters, Etta James, John Trudell and a local electric folk band called Crossharbour.

A little more ‘rootsy’ this time with the folk bands and blue grass ( which tied in nicely with the Arthur Smith video and highlighted guitar/banjo music derived / ripped off from his ‘Guitar Boogie’, a small unplanned feature this month.

MAY 2014 Our session at the end of May threw up 19 pieces of music and tested the audio visual equipment to the full. Music came at us on LPs, CDs, Cassettes, Singles, Notepad, and YouTube downloads. The spread of styles went from Bing Crosby to the Dubliners, Manhattan Transfer to Seasick Steve, Peggy Lee to Frigid Pink, Beatles to Bobby McFerrin, Ray Charles to Allman Brothers, Nillson to Chris Farlowe, Animals to Chris Rea, Gloria Estefan to Leroy Carr, Red Hot Rhythm to Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry. All that and we manage a coffee break in the middle.

We continue in our adventure into having moving pictures to go with some of the music and we’ll build on that - but they’ll not stop me playing vinyl singles!

May 2014 Playlist Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry Ain’t Got No Home The Beatles I Need You Red Hot Rhythm Red Hot Band Leroy Carr Blues Before Sunrise Bobby McFerrin Watch Me Play Chris Rea Stainsby Girls The Dubliners Seven Drunken Nights Manhattan Transfer On A Little Street In Singapore Chris Farlowe Out Of Time Frigid Pink House Of The Rising Sun The Beatles Roll Over Beethoven Seasick Steve You Cant Teach An Old Dogs New Tricks The Allman Brothers Band Pony Boy Peggy Lee Manana Gloria Estefan Can’t Stay Away From You The Animals Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood Harry Nillson I Guess The Lord Must Be In New York City Ray Charles Careless Love Bing Crosby & Louis Armstrong Now You Has Jazz

JUNE 2014: DYLANESQUE We had a brief musical tribute to jazz singer Jimmy Scott who recently died and then proceeded to our special subject – the music of Bob Dylan. Nine tracks from himself and ten cover versions of his songs. We ranged from early (1962) protest era to the mature (1997) era, from popular to downright obscure (Talkin’ Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues), ending seemingly appropriately with The Times They Are A’Changing.

A very varied bunch of records – especially amongst the cover versions - Melanie, Joan Baez (of course), UB40 & Robert Palmer, Rolling Stones (naturally playing Like a Rolling Stone), Adele and others.

June 2014 Playlist Jimmy Scott Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool Bob Dylan Thunder On The Mountain Brewer & Shipley All Along The Watchtower Bob Dylan All Along The Watchtower Melanie Mr. Tambourine Man Bob Dylan Watchin’ The River Flow Bryan Ferry Make You Feel My Love Adele Make You Feel My Love Joan Baez It Ain’t Me, Babe Bob Dylan Blowin’ In The Wind Donovan Catch The Wind Rolling Stones Like A Rolling Stone Bob Dylan Lay Lady Lay Robert Palmer & UB40 I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight Chris Farlowe Its All Over Now, Baby Blue Bob Dylan Talkin’ Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues The Everly Brothers Abandoned Love Bob Dylan House Of The Rising Sun Bob Dylan Girl Of The North Country Bob Dylan The Times They Are A’Changin’

JULY 2014 Our July session was back to the “bring what you like and we’ll play” format. It started with Billie Holiday, (the heavily socially conscious Strange Fruit). A very mixed bunch of music followed – from quite obscure to the very obscure interspersed with some well known ‘tap your feet to’ music.

We had local band Edmangundi, The K Tones (featuring Nat King Cole on piano), Klara Kormendi, The Association, Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes, Wendy Carlos (doing the Brandenburg on synthesisers), Stacey Kent, Eric Coates (Desert Island Discs theme), Eagles, Frankie Valli, Beach Boys, R.E.M., Tom Petty, Clapton, Hendrix and a tribute to Johnny Winter (the blues guitarist who died the week before).

Connections – the Asbury Jukes and Frankie Valli different sides of New Jersey’s music scene; three brilliant blues guitarists in a row (not everyone’s cup of tea but it just worked out that way going round the table).

Too much faffing around by the convenor, getting equipment set up, wasted valuable time at the start and meant we didn’t get to everyone’s second choice – apologies. (the offending convenor has now been sacked and replaced by his evil twin).

July 2014 Playlist Billie Holiday Strange Fruit Eagles Take It To The Limit Stacey Kent They All Laughed Southside Johnny & the Asbury Dukes This Time Baby’s Gone For Good Wendy Carlos Branderburg Concerto Eric Coates By The Sleepy Lagoon Salmangundi Czigary Tzipck The Association Time For Living Jimi Hendrix Purple Haze Eric Clapton Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right Johnny Winter Sliding In R.E.M. Losing My Religion Frankie Valli Sherry Baby The K Tones The Way You Look Tonight Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers To Find A Friend The Beach Boys Good Vibrations Klara Kormendi (didn’t catch the title)

AUGUST 2014 Yet another delayed start with the room not being ready, so Eric was in the clear this time. Anyway we were soon blasting off on both cylinders or should I say speakers, (that's the joke out of the way) into an instrumental session this time. First off was Memphis by Lonnie Mack which was originally done by Chuck Berry. Then onto Steve Ray Vaughan, a great guitarist who in recent times was unfortunately killed in a plane crash. This brought into mind the fate of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Richie Valens. Duane Eddy came next and then Humphrey Littleton, with his 1959 hit, "Bad Penny Blues" which went down tops with the group.

Then in quick succession; Johnny and the Hurricanes, John Lee Hooker, Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler. We had three classical pieces from what was referred to as Culture Corner, namely Beethoven, Elgar and Shostakovic. Next up were Lightnin Hopkins, Black Beard (Ska), Bert Jansch and Jerry Reed. We had the inevitable Link Ray, but not the famous Rumble, instead Lady Nothing, considered by Eric to be a far superior record.

Henry Mancini put in an appearance, followed by Glen Miller's Pennsylvania 6-5000, the punchline 6-5000 being mimed by the Group of course. Then an obscure blue-grass track from one of Ian's anonymous CD’s. Time was running out now so in came Mr Smooth, J.J.Kale. We finished up with another one of Alison's Ska records which was considered good jiving material and although we had the space there were no takers!

All was very enjoyable thanks to our masterly D.J. Eric Rennie.

SEPTEMBER 2014: FILM MUSIC We had a theme for our September meeting – “Film Music”. That brought out a brilliant diverse range of music starting with Fred Astaire’s toe tapping ‘Lets Face The Music And Dance’ (from Top Hat) and ending with Glen Frey’s ‘The Heat Is On’ (from Beverley Hills Cop) sticking in our heads.

Inbetween - the jazzy West Side Story Prologue and America, ‘Finlandia’ by Sibelius (Die Hard2), Doo-wop songs from American Graffiti and Dirty Dancing, a couple of ‘Piano Blues’ from Count Basie and Dr. John, and ‘Hot Stuff’ by Donna Summers (from the Full Monty) which reminded us of Prince Charles being shown how to do the dance steps in the dole office in Sheffield, Dusty Springfield with ‘What Have I Done To Deserve This’ (from Scandal) and Steppenwolf’s classic ‘Born To Be Wild’ (evoking memories of Easy Rider).

Several pieces of theme music from the films Taras Bulba (Yul Brynner & Tony Curtis), Paris Texas (Ry Cooder’s sparse guitar playing echoing the bleakness of the film), Buena Vista Social Club (Ry Cooder, again, brought the old Cuban musicians together again for a filmed concert in Carnegie Hall), the orchestral themes from Austin Powers, Cinema Paradiso and Midnight Cowboy.

Thanks to Lynn Jaremczenko for suggesting the theme. It got us music buffs scrambling through our archives to find appropriate tracks (and it worked well).

OCTOBER 2014: ELVIS DAY Our session brought out the good, the bad and the ugly through Elvis’s back catalogue – a bit like Elvis himself really. We played 20 Elvis recordings and two alternate versions from Willie Mae Thornton and Carl Perkins. We covered records from raw live tracks from the earliest days in 1955 right through to just before his death in 1977. The good were the vast majority – rockers, love songs, big ballads – amongst us we had brought in music from all the different stages of Elvis. Who could argue with Heartbreak Hotel, Blue Moon, Love me Tender, Suspicious Minds, You were always on my Mind.

Graeme gave us an album track from one of Elvis’s 28 dreadful films ‘Drums of the Islands’ (the bad) and the ugly was his iffy (possibly his last) recording of Unchained Melody which the record company surely put out as a cash-in after his death.

The man had a good range. In many ways he wasted his life and talent but the music was great. Even Ian had gone out and bought a collection with Elvis songs on it – dedication to the cause.

October 2014 Playlist

Elvis In The Ghetto Elvis Love Me Tender Elvis Viva Las Vegas Elvis You Were Always On My Mind Elvis Heartbreak Hotel Elvis Jailhouse Blues Willie Mae (Big Mama) Thornton Hound Dog Elvis Suspicious Minds Carl Perkins Blue Suede Shoes Elvis Reconsider Baby Elvis Mean Woman Blues Elvis Maybelline Elvis All Shook Up Elvis American Trilogy Elvis Drums Of The Islands Elvis You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me Elvis Trouble Elvis Treat Me Nice Elvis G I Blues Elvis Blue Moon Elvis There Goes My Everything The Million Dollar Quartet Paralysed Elvis Unchained Melody

NOVEMBER 2014 We had a bring what you like session and got a good mix with a slight unintended Irish folk tint to it. We went from the Beach Boys to Eartha Kitt, Barbra Streisand to Status Quo, Trad Jazz to Paddy Reilly, John Tams from Derby to Perez Predo.

November 2014 Playlist

John Tams Spanish Ladies Gerry Rafferty Baker Street Travelling Wilburys End of the Line Chris Rea Let's Dance Dick Ellis Iced Lightning Perez Prado Guaglione Henry Strutter's Red Hot When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabama Paddy Reilly Once I Loved a Lass Chicago If You Leave Me Know Runrig Eirinn Martin Simpson Jamie Foyers Eartha Kitt (& Jules Holland) Aint Misbehavin' Beach Boys Dance Dance Dance Barbra Streisand Guilty Moody Blues Tuesday Afternoon Percy Faith Orchestra Theme from a Summer Place Alabama Shakes Hold On Status Quo In My Chair

DECEMBER 2014: Trains & Boats & Planes “Get me a ticket for an airplane, ain’t got time to take a fast train.” Good theme – had people rummaging through the records in the attics to find relevant tracks (!). And not a Slow boat to China in sight.

Our musical travels took us from the Carlton Male Voice Choir to John Denver. We went to the City of New Orleans (twice), Rochdale to Ocho Rios (in 3 mins), sailed from Heaven to Philadelphia and changed at Chattenooga to catch the Last Train To Clarksville.

On our way, we went Sailing on a Sea Cruise, then transferred to a Steamboat which may have been the Sloop John Berry. Back on dry land, what we thought was the Orange Blossom Special turned out to be the Freight Train.

We lost our way at one point and ended up on the 2468 Motorway on the Bicycle Race aiming for Staying At Home to be Messing About On The River.

Musically, how diverse do you want it? Glasgow City Pipe Band, Nancy Whiskey Bluegrass, The Monkees, Bob Dylan, Katie Melua, Nancy Whiskey, Eric Clapton, The Boxtops, Arlo Guthrie, Carlton Male Voice choir, (oh, all right – Fats Waller as well).

December 2014 Playlist Tribute to Joe Cocker: Delta Lady

Trains and Boats and Planes: Arlo Guthrie#City Of New Orleans (train) Willie Nelson#City Of New Orleans (train) The Boxtops#The Letter (plane, train) Ian's Bluegrass CD#Orange Blossom Special (train) Bob Dylan#The Hour The Ship Comes In (boat) The Beach Boys#Sloop John B (boat) The Monkess#Last Train To Clarksville (train) John Denver#Calypso (plane?) Rod Stewart#Sailing (boat) Carlton Male Voice Choir#Chattenooga Choo Choo (train) John McRae#Messing About On The River (boat) Jackson C Frank#Blues Run The Game (boat) The Holmes Brothers#Train Song (train!) Frankie Ford#Sea Cruise (boat) Mark Knopfler#Sailing To Philadelphia (boat) Katie Melua#If You Were A Sailboat (boat) Katie Melua#Sailing Ships From Heaven (boat) 10cc#From Rochdale to Ocho Rios (train, plane) Tom Robinson Band#2,4,6,8, Motorway (err - car?) Queen#Bicycle Race (err - bike?) Fats Waller#Staying At Home (err – slippers?) Glasgow City Pipes And Drums#Steamboat (boat) Nancy Whiskey & The Chas. McDevitt Band#Freight Train (train) Eric Clapton#Love In Vain (train)