JOE BROWN

 

THE UKULELE ALBUM

 

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Released November 5^th 2012 Joe Brown Records (UGCD 008)

 

Joe Brown can justifiably lay claim to being the current King of the Ukulele. He has been cited by some of the world’s biggest rock performers as a world class player.

 

The top two ukulele performed favourites world-wide are ‘Over The Rainbow’, recorded by thousands of people, and  ‘I’ll See You In My Dreams’ – recorded and popularised on uke by only Joe.

 

Anyone who saw Joe close the George Harrison Tribute concert with ‘I’ll See You In My Dreams’ can be in no doubt as to his skill set and feel for a song.  No stranger to this particular one though he has actually been performing it for over two decades.

 

(Joe may have even introduced the uke to his good friend George, he certainly used to buy them for him whenever in Nashville.)

 

The ukulele has been an instrument Joe has always loved and played. In 1963 it even got him into big trouble. Joe was one of the very first artists to have a record banned by the BBC – his recording of the old George Formby song ‘With My Little Ukulele In My Hand’ performed on the ukulele was deemed way too risqué!

 

In 2006 Joe was approached by major USA ukulele manufacturer KALA, the direct result of ukulele sales having increased world-wide more than tenfold since the Concert For George. Kala credited Joe with much of that success and they asked him to design and endorse his own Signature Series. The Joe Brown Signature Series appeared in 2009.

 

So this Autumn sees the release of an album long overdue – “The Ukulele Album”.

 

As its name suggests it features the ukulele on every track, but not as a novelty. It is given its full weight as an instrument alongside raunchy electric and acoustic guitars, mandolins,

banjo and lap steel and slide guitars with surprises galore. It’s generally a long way from George Formby (whom Joe met) though one of George’s songs is featured.

 

‘Ace Of Spades’ (the first single), ‘Pinball Wizard’ and the ELO hit ‘Mr Blue Sky’ are just three to get the inimitable Joe treatment. Full track listing follows.

 

Joe is joined on the album not only by his band, including his producer son Pete, but also by his daughter Sam Brown. Unable to sing through operations going wrong, Sam has since developed her own ukulele clubs in Henley and London and 35 of her ukulele pupils, under her expert tutelage, make group contributions to several tracks on the album.

 

Joe was brought up in the music hall tradition, segueing into Skiffle and then fully embracing Rock ‘n’ Roll. He spans the musical divides and is possibly the last British artist to do so.

 

His career has covered all aspects of entertainment – TV and radio broadcast, film, musicals, concerts – and his popularity has never waned.  His music is contemporary while his shows embrace both new and old. Recently awarded an MBE and a Mojo Award for services to music, Joe tours regularly playing sell-out dates across the country. This Autumn sees him on the road again in support of the album.

 

Joe makes the perfect world ambassador for the Ukulele. He has long expounded that it should replace the recorder as the starter instrument of choice in schools.

 

‘I’ll See You In My Dreams’, Joe’s version, recently featured world-wide in the hit TV series CSI and the song is now the unofficial anthem for this humble, globally appealing instrument.

 

Joe’s new CD has already been called the Definitive ukulele album. The first single from it, “Ace Of Spades”, will be released on October 29th.

 

 

The Ukulele Album

 

1          When I’m Dead and Gone

2          Mr Blue Sky

3          Tickle My Heart

4          I’m Not In Love

5          I’ll See You In My Dreams

6          Hula Girl

7          You’ve Got Your Troubles

8          Pinball Wizard

9          When I’m Cleaning Windows

10        I Like Ukuleles

11        The Ace Of Spades

12        There’s No Pleasing You

13        Where Were You Last Night

14        I Like You

15        I Like Bananas

 

 

www.joebrown.co.uk

JOE BROWN AUTUMN TOUR 2012

SEPT
19	CRAWLEY, THE HAWTH THEATRE	01293 553636
20	CANTERBURY, THE MARLOWE THEATRE	01227 787787
23	CHRISTCHURCH, THE REGENT CENTRE	01202 499199
24	SOLIHULL, THE LIBRARY THEATRE	0121 704 6962
25	SOLIHULL, THE LIBRARY THEATRE	0121 704 6962
29	SKEGNESS, THE EMBASSY CENTRE	0845 674 0505
OCT
1	DARLINGTON, THE CIVIC HALL	01325 486555
2	MANSFIELD, THE PALACE THEATRE	01623 633133
3	RUNCORN, THE BRINDLEY THEATRE	0151 907 8360
7	CLACTON, THE WESTCLIFF THEATRE	01255 474000
12	DORKING HALLS	01306 881717
14	BROXBOURNE , CIVIC HALL	01992 444504
15	EPSOM, THE PLAYHOUSE THEATRE	01372 742 555
16	SWANSEA, THE GRAND THEATRE	01792 475715
18	HARLOW, THE PLAYHOUSE THEATRE	01279 431945
19	WAVENDON, THE STABLES THEATRE	01908 280800
20	WAVENDON, THE STABLES THEATRE	01908 280800
21	WAVENDON, THE STABLES THEATRE	01908 280800
24	STAFFORD, THE GATEHOUSE THEATRE	01785 254653
25	DERBY, THE ASSEMBLY ROOMS	01332 255800
26	ABERGAVENNY, THE BOROUGH THEATRE	01873 850 805
28	LICHFIELD, THE GARRICK THEATRE	01543 412121
29	SHREWSBURY, THE SEVERN THEATRE	01743 281281
31	ALDERSHOT, THE PRINCES HALL	01252 329155
NOV
1	WIMBORNE, THE TIVOLI THEATRE	01202 885 566
2	REDDITCH, THE PALACE THEATRE	01527 65203
3	REDDITCH, THE PALACE THEATRE	01527 65203
4	KINGS LYN, THE CORN EXCHANGE	01553 764864
6	FAREHAM, THE FERNEHAM HALL	01329 231942
8	STEVENAGE, THE GORDON CRAIG THEATRE	01438 363 200
9	CROMER, THE PIER PAVILION	01263 512495
10	CROMER, THE PIER PAVILION	01263 512495
14	HORSHAM, THE CAPITOL THEATRE	01403 750220
15	I.O.W, THE SHANKLIN THEATRE	01983 868000
17	NEWPORT, THE RIVERFRONT THEATRE	01633 656 757
18	YEOVIL, THE OCTAGON THEATRE	01935 422884
20	CHELMSFORD, CIVIC THEATRE	01245 606505
DEC
6	BURY ST EDMUNDS, THE APEX THEATRE	01284 758000
9	BURGESS HILL, MARTLETTS HALL	01444 242888
14	HENLEY, THE KENTON THEATRE	0208 368 6496
15	HENLEY, THE KENTON THEATRE	0208 368 6496
16	HENLEY, THE KENTON THEATRE	0208 368 6496

 

Tickets are priced £22.50 – £25 with normal theatre concessions; check locally as show times vary.