Hi there and welcome to Season 580 of the Ukulele.
I am afraid it has been a sad few days for us: my father-in-law, who had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for the last three years, died on Wednesday and we have been very busy with funeral arrangements etc. since then. To make matters worse, my mother -in-law is back in hospital with heart problems and was not allowed out to go to the funeral. I very nearly requested a substitution as host. But now, after the funeral, I want to try and get back to some kind of normality.
So, the theme of Season 580 is "69 & 70"
This week I can no longer pretend I am still a young man. I am going to be 69 on the 31st March and will be entering my 70th year. Now, way back in 1969 I was fifteen and for me this was the first year in a golden age of singer-songwriters. Previous to this time, particularly in 1967 and 1968, singer songwriters' songs had been burdened with heavy arrangements with lots of brass and orchestras, etc. (Think Cat Stevens' "Mathew & Son" for example). But in 1969 (and into 1970 and beyond) more and more songwriters started to draw back from such arrangements and put out albums in which the human voice and a single instrument were the norm. This put all of the emphasis on the song and was to be a massive influence on me. I started writing my own songs in this period and have never stopped since.
So, for all of you who like to record covers for the Seasons I am asking you to do a song from any singer-songwriter who was largely famous for playing one instrument and writing songs that were issued in 1969 or 1970. The list is huge, but the main exponents were Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Melanie, Leonard Cohen, Carol King, Cat Stevens, Gordon Lightfoot, Dory Previn, John Martyn, Paul Simon and a host of others. Feel free to add songwriters of the period whose names I might not be so familiar with, but who you love.
I will also include in this list tracks from solo albums by members of super groups such as Crosby, Stills Nash and Young that were put out in those years.
For the songwriters, my birthday treat for you is a FREE LUNCH. I'd like you to post songs you have written that you never thought fit a particular theme of the seasons and so have never submitted them. This is your chance to dig through your back catalogue and give us a chance to hear gems that have never fitted any of the varied themes we have had over these 580 weeks. Or else a chance to offer us more recent songs that you have been keen to show off, but that haven't fit recent Seasons themes.
If you'd like to write an entirely new song for this week - then please feel free to write a song inspired by the title of the week "69 & 70".
Most of the usual rules apply:
The video must be newly recorded for this Season, though Rob may submit earlier recordings.
The video must say that it is for SOTU 580 "69-70"
And FOR THIS WEEK ONLY I'd like to hear JUST YOU and YOUR UKULELE, rather than multi-tracking vocals and/or other instruments. To recreate a bit more of that 69-70s Songwriter vibe.
If you choose to submit an original song, please post the lyrics so we can all read them whilst you croon.
Videos must be posted to this thread. But not before midnight on the 25th March, Hawaiian time, in keeping with tradition. (And remember, Season 579 is still in action!)
The Season lasts for 8 days, and ends at midnight Hawaiian time on Sunday April 2nd.
For now I ask you to limit to the number of videos you can submit to ONE a day. This limit may be lifted (or even sharpened up) depending on the state of health of my Mother in Law.
LINK to the PLAYLIST
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