Sgt.Pepper's Friends

This is AE Houseman's Shropshire Lad. It's set in the beautiful county of Shropshire, with much of it being imaginary. It reflects on the terrible effects of war, the helplessness of man, and I think above all the loss of youth. it's made even more dramatic because of the incredible beauty of Shropshire. Hope you like it!

After a great performance at Sgt Pepper's Friends, how could we let Pete go without asking him to sing four of his own compositions for us?

Lovers by the Sea

Barefoot on the Shore

Reservation Road

Room of Dreams

If only it was that simple. In truth, Pete left his stool after the show and when he popped in to collect it we talked music and drank gallons of tea. Then out came a guitar or three. The weather was awful so we played to an audience of one snoring dog, Sunshine. She loved it. This is a little snippet of that day. Please enjoy.

Making Whoopie, Over the Rainbow, Paper Moon and King of the Road are four great songs that take me right back to my childhood and family parties. The air was always thick with cigarette smoke, booze and laughter. Someone would always sing a song or three and these great tunes would be typical of what we'd listen to. Most of the elders in the family might not be around anymore but the songs are still here. Hope you enjoy the sober versions with me and the guitar. Join in if you know any of them!!

And now for something different. Over the years I've written hundreds of poems. Today, I thought I'd share a few. Hope you enjoy them.

It was cold outside and getting dark. We were about to podcast but I picked up a guitar and recorded four tunes straight from four decades instead. Yesterday (Macca), I Was Only Joking (Sir Rod), Sorry (Tracey Chapman) and How Beautiful Life Can Be (Lathums). 

All different tunes and Jan picks up the shaker again. It's warts and all but I quite like it like that. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it). Roll on springtime!

Yes, that's right. Roger and Chris enjoy a catch-up over a pot of tea and suddenly the memories of crazy nights and crazy bands and artists come flooding back. Just a mention of Chris's magic cape (he actually used to wear a cape) and somehow it opens up Pandora's box of what fun you have seeing live acts. Good job the record button was pressed. Some may say, was it misspent youth?  Not on your Nelly! Hope you enjoy.

They say the course of true love never runs smooth and these four tunes are certainly a testament to that. Vincent (Don McLean),  I Can't Stop Loving You (Leo Sayer), Love at the Five and Dime (Nanci Griffith), and More Like the Movies (Dr. Hook) are four songs that I have always loved. Here they are on acoustic guitar and me, warts and all, as I say. 

Jan walked in as I was singing, picked up a shaker, and added it to the Dr. Hook tune. I like it.

Hope you like these as much as you did the Christmas songs.  

Roger xx

It's that time of year when I thought, it would be good to chat with someone but I'm home alone.

Here are four of my favourite Christmas tunes I've recorded instead. I hope you like them.

The River - A Spaceman Came Travelling - Silent Night - Let It Snow.