Claudine’s Birthday Party Gig
A rip roaring way to end our season with a beautiful summers afternoon session to celebrate Claudine’s birthday in the depths of south Grays, near the glorious Beach.
We were joined by many many friends of the Fab Club…
Lots of great prizes in the raffle this week too. Gromit back packs, chox wine, cuddly toys…
Compered by the incomparable Leopards, a packed room at the White Hart enjoyed …with a great intro drumroll from
Sue Leopard.
TONE DEAF LEOPARDS kick off – the Sonny and
Then the revenge of the Leopards on Claudine with a Fab 4th Birthday card, activity books, sweets and something pink from Barbie (aaaah!)
Teenager in the Bathroom (in D flat as it’s the only key that Trevor says he can yodel in) – my life was changed by this song – the first one I ever heard the Leopards perform. Fab Choir already in strong voice and it's only the first number…
KEN is on next with his amazingly eclectic collection of music ..firstly with Sonia on lyrics and Gordon accompanying Morningtown Ride, and lots of percussion from round the room.
Then Five Foot Two – with Sonia in support again …Coochie Coochie Coochie Coo…
Now all the way from The Isle of Sheppey the one and only PAUL STEEL –his 35th vegetarian birthday in 2 weeks time we hear – but he claims he can murder a sausage roll…(something Claudine definitely wants to do, but in a different sense).
Time Time Time is his first number. Paul always looks so involved in his emotional songs, and produces beautiful finger picked arrangements. Then a unique version of TANGLED UP IN BLUE – strangely I had forgotten the verse about Southend and Sheerness.
ROCKIN BOB rocks up next – but not from Pitsea Market today – and with a new instrument (or one we have not seen before at least – some of the crowd suggest he should have washed it at 30 deg not 90 deg) – in fact it is a tenor guitar I am told.
First MARTA - haven’t heard him do this one before, then LOVE WAS MEANT FOR ME AND YOU –haven’t heard him do this one either.
BILL PARDON is on next with a new number, and backing accompaniment. Based on a song from Dylan (Like a Rolling Stone possibly) then further developed for work with disadvantaged kids (go Bill!) – he has worked up a backing track with Nick Silvey –and now composed new words for Claudine’s birthday using the same track.
Based loosely on a Dylan track. Bill says it’s called UNAUTHORISED BIRTHDAY SONG FOR CLAUDINE WITH BACKING TRACK – snappy that…
Break next for the delicious buffet – always lots of lovely grub at our party sessions
(but no sausage rolls today…can’t understand why)
For our second half (of three halves) GORDON SHEARS kicks off; in some key yet to be determined he claims (but I don’t believe him)… he opens with Sunday Driver about the fickleness of the rock n roll industry.
Then a sing a long… DON’T GIVE UP THE DAY JOB. Gordon’s songs continue to be really subtle (and funny, and musical).
CLAUDINE AND SONIA ( on the playlist as Claude and Son – or was it Steptoe and Son - to the confusion of Trevor) next. KNOCKING ON HEAVENS DOOR gets us all singing along again.
And then a new song from Sonia…RUNNING BACK TO YOU – great stuff – a really lovely bluesy number showing off Sonia’s voice really well.
The mighty JOE MIGDAL produces all sorts of lovely musical toys and he has such a great voice – what will he do this week??. A song called called CLAUDINE to start off, apparently known for various vices, supported with multitracked chorus from on Joe’s LoopStation.
And a new song called CHANCES about taking the opportunity to do things when you can, backed with a beautiful guitar arrangement.
BARBARA gives us some of her gorgeous Arabic dancing routines. Always hypnotic and elegant, with swirling exotic movement and grace. She makes very complex sequences accessible to us – a little bit of the orient to the sweltering summer belt of South Grays.
She has such interesting soundtracks too – some real World Music to add to our afternoon extravaganza.
BRIAN, BARBARA and DAVE are with us – lovely to see Brian and Barbara again and welcome Dave on bongos, Brian has written a new calypso for the party – CRICKET WORLD CUP CRICKET in celebration of the current cricket test, as well as the neverending World Cup, I presume. Little known fact – Brian was born and brought up in the
And from more temperate climes a very atmospheric arrangement of a shanty from the
Then the third half…after a happy super FaB Club Raffle with many winners
The Leopards leap again to kick off the third half with their unique version of JE NE REGRETTE RIEN – beyond Edith Piaf…far far beyond Piaf
Who can follow the Leopards? MIKE PARROTT of course – the big question is does he have better legs than Mick Turner? A knobbly knees competition is threatened. The last time Mike’s knees will be seen at the Fab Club before his wedding.
ALL I WANT IS YOU – a great love song from the pen of Steve Borowski, is paired with an even rarer song called THINKING OF YOU supported by TINA holding a metal Kazoo (specially tuned for the event – and we’ll forgive Mike the excruciating Mark Bolan Metal Guru joke just this once)
Mlle Noisette (Claudine to you and me) has the special birthday privilege of judging the knobbly knees contest – Clive is the winner
Me (LIZ) on next – a special request from Claudine for OH MY HAVEN’T THEY CHANGED – my bittersweet poem about school (and other) reunions,
then something more upbeat with the men are from Mars, women are from Venus poem SHOES.
LEN – our very own Neil Young – gives us the classic HIDE YOUR LOVE AWAY with a great arrangement and then a real classic Neil Young number complete with harmonica –HEART OF GOLD especially for Claudine.
Claudine gives everyone her thanks for a lovely afternoon. Next season starts 2nd September back in the Same Time Same Place – the White Hart Grays – and Sonia’s birthday is the next one – 16th September. And don’t forget the Leigh Folk Festival from 21st June – 24th June… and the Link FM show every Friday too!...
Liz Montgomery