Another great evening, thanks to the two Graham’s for running the show, especially Graham P for putting together yet another varied, enjoyable and in some cases challenging selection of tunes. Must say I struggled somewhat with the chord sequences in Barnacle Bill !! Of course, Graham K did some fine scrolling.

A smaller Ashes Band this week, no drummer but Tom did an excellent job on the cajon, and thanks to Brian on bass.
Thanks to those who got up and sang to lead on various numbers – Les B; Dave D; Mark; Joy; Graham K; Trevor; Steve and Tom.

Another good STARTIME, our thanks to

• Mark who gave us the Lancashire Hotpot’s Chippy Tea.
• Eddie who gave us Bob Dylan’s Your Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You’re Gone. Assistance provided with Graham’s spectacles.
• Les B who gave us Johnny Cash’s Orange Blossom Special.  The Orange Blossom Special was a deluxe passenger train on the Seaboard Air Line Railroad and connecting railroads between New York and Miami.
• Trevor then gave us Neil Young’s Harvest Moon.  Some great ukulele work on this one, especially that D D6 Dmaj7 riff.  Shame there was no video.

Next week it’s the turn of Dave and Lee Davies.  Set list later.
This Thursday it’s Diane and Dave’s night at the Crown, New Springs.
Details of the AGM and updated Club Constitution are contained on a separate mailing.

Quite a few important friends missing to-day.  It seems like the lurgy is getting everyone, get well soon. But those of us who were fit(ish) and well, enjoyed yet another pleasant evening.  Thanks to David S for putting together a great selection of tunes for us to select from. Thanks to everyone who supported me extremely well in leading the session, time just flew by.
Thanks to this week’s resident band – Dave D on bass (unfortunately no Ken or Brian, but he did very well), Brendan on drums (ably assisted by Tom and Diane), Tom on percussion and Eddie on harmonica.
I am deeply indebted to all those who volunteered to lead the songs, you were great – Eddie, Les B, Joy, Ernie, Trevor, Mark, Dave D, Steve McG and Les H.
Let’s never forget all the cakes from Joy, thanks very much, don’t we just like school holiday time??!!  Scrummy.

Another great STARTIME thanks to

• Tom who gave us an amusing twist on Dean Martin’s song Little Old Wine(Lodge) Drinker Me.  Excellent stuff.
• Les B gave us a song from way back in 1932, written by Bob Nolan, and recorded by many artists such as Frankie Laine and Marty Robbins.  Cool Water.  Les would like to thank all those in his backing choir.
• Steve McGreavy gave us a 1964 protest song written by P F Sloan and recorded by Barry McQuire, Eve of Destruction.  This song reached No 1 on the US Billboard charts and was No3 in the UK in 1965.
• Les H gave us Leon Redbone’s At The Chocolate Bon Bon Ball from his 1992 album Up A Lazy River.

 
Next week it’s our AGM, so please try to be there for a prompt start and we can hopefully get the business part over with ASAP.
 
Next week it’s the turn of the two Grahams.  We trust Graham P will be fir and well by then.
 
Please note that the Ladies turn has been moved back by one week, so they can do a special for us on the Club’s birthday.
 
Could I just repeat the message which I passed on yesterday from Graham Porter to all session leaders.  Could everyone try to keep their song libraries up to date with the latest song revisions sent around by Graham after a lot of hard work making them a truer representation of the originals.  If not, please get your songs from DropBox which is always up to date.  It’s a bit annoying for Graham, after all his efforts, if we continue to present the Club with old song arrangements.  Ta..     Steve

Yet another of those great evenings, thanks to the work of Les H and Steve McG.  Al you were missed, but Steve Mc Greavey did an excellent job. Thanks as always to our resident band, Ken on bass; Tom on percussion, Brian on drums and Eddie on harmonica. Thanks to our soloists this week, excellent work from Tom; Eddie; Carole; Dave D; (Eunice, Diane and Frank); Brian Brittain; Lee; Trevor; Eric and Mark.

They were queuing out the door for STARTIME.  
Our thanks for the entertainment provided by –

• Dave who had a Elvis P moment whilst giving us Brian Hyland’s Ginny Come Lately, No 5 in the UK 1962. Hyland is probably better known for Sealed With A Kiss, and Itsy, Bitsy, Teenie, Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini.
• Brian Brittain gave us Bobby Darin’s Dream Lover, written and recorded by him in 1959.
• Tom gave us Buddy Holly’s Mailman (Bring Me No More Blues), the B-Side of Words of Love (1957), covered in 1964 by the Beatles on their Beatles For Sale album.
• Lee gave us The Plain White T’s Hey There Delilah (2005)
• Graham P gave us Cole Porter’s I Get A Kick Out of You, first sung in the 1934 Broadway musical Anything Goes, then sung by Ethel Merman in the movie version 1936, famously sung also by Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra, amongst others, it featured in the 1974 film Blazing Saddles.
• Trevor and Brian then gave us Harry Belfonte’s Jamaica Farewell (1954), also sung by Sam Cooke (1960)

 
Next week it’s the turn of Brian Brittain and Eric Lilley.  Set list later.
 
Don’t forget that nominations and resolutions for the AGM should be sent to Steve F by latest 15th March.  On 16 March, Steve will send out an agenda and copy of the accounts for that meeting.
 
Note the Leader’s List has been slightly altered with the inclusion of another rare treat from our Ladies on 26th April.

Firstly, we will be having our AGM on Tuesday 29th March at 7:30pm.   

I will revert later with an Agenda for that meeting (hopefully we can keep it short), but please see the attached notice for the meeting, which sets out the procedure for submitting resolutions and nominations, which I trust you will find in order.  If you are not able to attend on that date, please contact Eric at a meeting before that date to obtain a voting slip.
A copy of the current Club Constitution is also attached for member’s guidance.

Thanks to Eunice and Les for another great evening which included many popular numbers.  Great to see a pretty full house, with the return of many of last week’s absentees. Thanks to this week’s Ashes -   Ken on bass; Brendan on drums, Tom on percussion and Eddie on harmonica.

Thanks to the many willing soloists – Tom; Eddie; Carole; both Brian’s; Mark; Graham P; Dave D; Trevor; Bernard; Les H and Eric.

Excellent STARTIME again, thanks to the following

• Les H who gave us George Harrison’s Isn’t It A Pity from his 1970 solo album All Things Must Pass.
• Mark who gave us Ringo Starr’s Act Naturally (1965) recorded on the Beatles Help album.
• Les B wrung our withers with Burl Ives A Funny Way of Laughing, from his 1962 album It’s Just My Funny Way of Laughin’
• Dave D gave us a Graham Porter arranged mashup of Stand By Me (Ben E King 1961) a Leiber and Stoller song and Every Breath You Take (The Police 1983), this song won that year’s Grammy Award for best song.

Next Week it’s Al Cross and Les Harris.  Set list to follow.
It is Diane and Dave’s night at the Crown, NewSprings this Thursday

Note of some gigs you may like to play at.

• 2nd April St Judes Rugby Club – see Diane
• 12th May – McCarthy and Stone, Ormskirk.  It will be a garden party to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday.  Carole and Brian will be away, so we need a leader, a set list and about 12 players.
• 25th June.   We have been invited to play at Veteran’s Day in Standishgate, Wigan Town Centre.
• 3rd July between 1 and 4pm at the Subby Club, about 8 people to play for one their member’s mother’s 90th birthday.  See Eric about this one.

rgds  /Steve