Sunday 30 September 2018

Got A Little Secret

For anyone who thinks that Leonard Cohen was a bit of a misery - there was often humour too.


Saturday 29 September 2018

Together In Electric Dreams

From a 1985 film of the same name, and a hit for Phil Oakey & Giogio Moroder.


Friday 28 September 2018

Easy Terms

It's Show Tunes Friday again, and one from "Blood Brothers", the emotional rollercoaster that wins the prize for the musical I have seen most times - five I think. This is from the bit where Mrs Johnstone has to give away one of her twins, sob, sob...


Thursday 27 September 2018

This World

This is one I only heard recently, written by Malvina Reynolds, who also wrote "Little Boxes" and "Morningtown Ride".


Wednesday 26 September 2018

The Air That I Breathe

Albert Hammond appeared on the big Radio 2 concert in Hyde Park the other week, and was given a grand total of two songs. Criminal. The man has written dozens of hits, and could have done an hour. Here's one of them.


Tuesday 25 September 2018

Spider's Nest Blues

This week's additional challenge, courtesy of the Ukulele Underground forum, is to do a song about spiders. This one is mostly based on something the Memphis Jug Band recorded back in the 1930s. The thought of a spider landing in my tea would certainly cause me pain.


Monday 24 September 2018

My Hometown

This is the one I had intended to play yesterday - Bruce's 69th birthday. Anyone who has seen his three and a half hour shows will find that hard to believe. Long may he keep going.


Sunday 23 September 2018

There Ain't No Pleasing You

This one has jumped to the front of the queue after yesterday's sad news. What a bloke. What a song.


Saturday 22 September 2018

Nobody Does It Better

Whoever it was that asked for a James Bond song, I hope they are still around, because it was ages ago. This one has finally emerged from the pile of possibles.




Friday 21 September 2018

Oh What A Circus

I hereby declare that the next few Fridays will be Show Tune Days. Because I have a few possibly lined up, and it makes me do them, rather than wimp out and go for another Buddy Holly song. So, we will start with something from Evita.


Thursday 20 September 2018

No Expectations

This is a Rolling Stones song which has been covered by many. The Johnny Cash version is worth a listen - how to up-tempo a down-tempo song. And here's mine.


Wednesday 19 September 2018

Who Knows Where The Time Goes

This Sandy Denny song has been a favourite of mine for many years. Versions by Sandy, Judy Collins, and Kate Rusby, often fight for top spot in my affections. But until today I had never tried to play it. So thank you to Rusty, a uke player from Australia, who gave me a clue to how it can be done, and to Storm Ali for giving me a day at home to play around with the chords.

Tuesday 18 September 2018

Rome Wasn't Built In A Day

I think this one probably puts Nick Lowe at the top of the #365ukesongs songwriter appearances leader board. And rightly so. When I saw him do this one at a solo gig, just him and his guitar, it seemed like a perfect lesson in songwriting.


Monday 17 September 2018

Sally MacLennane

Shane MacGowan can certainly squeeze a lot of words into a song. I could really do with someone behind me, hitting themselves on the head with a tin tray and yelling "Far Away!", but no, it's just me again.


Sunday 16 September 2018

We Are Going To Be Friends

I'm probably a couple of weeks late with this one, a simple tale of going back to school, courtesy of The White Stripes.


Saturday 15 September 2018

Rock Around The Clock

Not the first rock 'n roll song, but the one which sent youths all over into a cinema wrecking frenzy. I cannot be held responsible for any damage caused when listening to this one.


Friday 14 September 2018

Bankrobber

Joe Strummer was rather fond of the ukulele, so here's one from The Clash, given the plastic uke treatment.










Thursday 13 September 2018

Indoor Fireworks

I heard a discussion on the radio recently about the most inappropriate songs for the first dance at a wedding. This one would be pretty high on the list, one of Elvis Costello's finest.


Wednesday 12 September 2018

Tuesday 11 September 2018

My Land Is A Good Land

Eric Andersen was part of the Greenwich Village folk scene in the 60s, and is still performing today. This caught my ear when I heard one of his early albums recently.





Monday 10 September 2018

The Ugly Duckling

After yesterday's Good & Bad, here comes the Ugly, and many happy memories of Ed Stewart & Junior Choice.


Sunday 9 September 2018

Just How Bad Do You Wanna Be Good

This is one of those songs that I look at and think "where on earth did I hear this?" I really can't remember, but having been challenged to do songs about the good, the bad, and the ugly, this kills two birds with one stone.


Saturday 8 September 2018

Friday 7 September 2018

Thursday 6 September 2018

Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Hands up if you can sing along to the first verse of this song. Keep your hand up if you know the other verses...thought not. Best known as the theme song from Cheers, the whole song was released by Gary Portnoy in 1983.

Wednesday 5 September 2018

Be My Baby

Another of those 60s classics that I get drawn to. Somewhere in my loft I have a box of Phil Spector singles. Hope that doesn't make me a bad person.

Tuesday 4 September 2018

Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness

It's another wi-fi hotspot challenge. Hang around near a cafe long enough, and the upload is done. This one is by John Prine, another master of telling a story with three chords.

Monday 3 September 2018

Those Were The Days

A bit too breezy outside, so it's another one from the van, a bit of an oldie (yes, fifty years) which was a hit for Mary Hopkin.

Sunday 2 September 2018

They Don't Know

The hazards of recording outside. You get to the end of the second verse and a huge caravan rumbles past. Carry on regardless...

Saturday 1 September 2018

Learning The Game

It's time for more Songs From A Van. So, as darkness approaches, somewhere in Norfolk, some gentle Buddy Holly.