Bad Tattoo (on the elbow of a junkie's arm)

Here's a song I heard yesterday, and has been lodged in my head ever since. Written by Krabbers, a writer, performer, podcaster, open-mic organiser, and generally all round good guy.

Sorted for Es and Wizz

Remember people - just say no.

Budapest

It's bloomin' freezing out there this morning, but for some reason this song says "summer" to me.

Outside

Today's song is one which will be new to most people. It was written earlier this year by Berni Armstrong, an Englishman living in Catalonia, who frequently produces songs which make you sit up and listen. Here's his take on the macho goings on that often lead to trouble.

May You Never

And that's 300 done. It's all downhill from here.
I watched a DVD compilation of songs from the Old Grey Whistle Test a few nights ago, and John Martyn was on, doing this. I wish I had seen him more when he was around.

Love Of The Common People

Here's a song which has been covered by acts as diverse as The Everly Brothers, Stiff Little Fingers, Bruce Springsteen, and (the one you'll probably know) Paul Young. The t-shirt was bought from the nice SolarAid people in 2008, at the Glastonbury Festival, and re-surfaced last week. Meeting them back then is the reason I am doing all of this.

House For Sale

I thought I had used up all of my Nick Lowe songs, and then this one came along. Andy in California has been a great supporter of this 365 songs thing, and seeing him do a lovely version of this song spurred me on to give it a try.

(What A) Wonderful World

"How do you chose the song each day?"

Well, sometimes it's right next to the one I did yesterday.

Wonderful Life

No, nothing to do with that James Stewart film we all watch at Christmas. This is the song by Colin Vearncombe a.k.a. Black.

Bad Moon Rising

I get the feeling that every ukulele session in the land includes this one in their songbook, and the one I go to is no exception, so it had to crop up at some point.

Dance Yourself Dizzy

The donations have passed the £1500 mark, which means that these 365 songs will pay for 365 lamps to go out to families in Africa. So how to celebrate? Loud shirt & 80s disco classic seems in order.

Space Oddity

This one has been in the pile for 293 days, daring me to give it a go. Oh alright then...but you'll have to do the countdown yourselves.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

The fifth and (possibly) final one in this run of Friday show tunes. From Mary Poppins, and one that, for some reason, doesn't get sung a lot.

This Ole House

When Shakin' Stevens did this, it sounded bouncy & almost jolly. Other versions seem to have a similar feel to them. But the words actually paint a sadder picture. Hardly party time.

Billy The Conqueror

Restoring order after yesterday's smut, here's one written by a ukulele playing friend of mine, John. A story all too familiar to many parents.

Pin In Your Cushion

Yesterday's song was cheeky humour. Today's is thinly disguised filth, from 1931, written by the great Bo Carter, who specialised in this sort of thing.

Isabel Makes Love Upon National Monuments

Jake Thackray used to be a regular fixture on the BBC, but I don't remember this one ever being played. One of his racier numbers.

Stand By Your Man

The next few songs could be controversial, or maybe not, depending on your standpoint. This one upset the feminist movement when it came out in the late 60s, and possibly still does. Tammy Wynette spent the rest of her career defending it. And if a man sings it, well, that's another kettle of fish...

I Got Stripes

Back home again, and a quick Johnny Cash song before the unpacking has to be done. Although he was credited as the writer, it is very much based on an older song, sung by Lead Belly and others.

Love Changes Everything

Show Tunes Friday, episode 4, and something from Aspects Of Love. And no, I'm not going to go for the Michael Ball big finish.

True Love Ways

I suppose the songs from the van are the equivalent of campfire songs, and for some reason, The Everlys and Buddy Holly always seem a good fit. Here's another Buddy.

Vertigo

I can recommend Antje Duvekot, a superb songwriter. This one grabbed me the first time I heard it.

Watching The Detectives

One more from Elvis Costello.

Without Love

Get ready for another few days of songs from the van. Today we have the added noise of cooking. If only you could smell it too - delicious...And it's another Nick Lowe song.

Stranger In The House

Elvis Costello wrote this for George Jones, and they recorded it as a duet. I think his own version ended up on a B-side, but it has always been a favourite of mine.

You're A Lady

This is one from the "how did this get in?" pile. A song I remember stopping to listen to in 1972, because it sounded so different - there weren't too many brass bands in the charts then, or now.

The Last Night Of The World

Show Tunes Friday, episode three. Today it's Miss Saigon.

Take It Out Back

A song by Chuck Brodsky, very under-rated, very entertaining, and well worth discovering. This one is for everyone who has their recycling collected today.

Withered And Died

A bit like Leonard Cohen (see last Sunday), Richard Thompson can be sad and reflective, positively gloomy even, and then the next moment as funny as they come. This comes from the slightly gloomy collection.

Short People

Back to just me today. A Randy Newman song which caused a lot of bother when it came out - a politician in Maryland tried to make it illegal to play it on the radio.

Goodnight Irene

Something a bit special today. For one day only, I have a band.
They are some of the ukulele players from all over the world who take part in a weekly online challenge called The Seasons Of The Ukulele. Each week one person sets a theme, and everyone else chips in with songs which fit the theme.
When I opened this song up to allcomers, they piled in with ukes of all sizes, harmonies, a mandolin, and a technical headache for me!
But after a lot of fiddling & mixing, here they are. On the left we have Ylle (Finland), and John (West Yorkshire, UK). Over on the right, Linda (Arizona, USA), Alan (Texas, USA), Mikkel (Denmark), and, popping up in the chorus, Brian (NSW, Australia).
I proudly present The Fabulous Seasonistas!