Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain 'Live In London #1' (Self Release) Released 08/12/08

Much has been made of the ukulele as a traveling instrument for McCartney, Beck et al. John Hegley wouldn't consider leaving home without one. Taking the uke to hand, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain Live In London comes about as effervescent as a liver tonic, as vivacious as Dom Perignon's favorite tipple, and about as boisterous as a Yorkshire-man in a jolly pie shop. And it's got the kind of tunes that have created a loyal following amongst the converted. Those looking for a full orchestral band will find only an eight piece of virtuoso uke playing, with not a tad of piano, drums or pesky banjo. That's right, eight ukes folks - step right up!

To a baying audience of "We want the ukes...", UOGB Live In London takes in a jumping version of the jazz standard 'Running Wild' with classics such as 'Born To Be Wild' given a daisy fresh makeover, 'Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll' reaffirms they're very good indeed, while the un-cappable 'Wuthering Heights' whoops a whale or two, the verse with Yorkshire brass accent - "...it gets dark/ it gets right lonely on the other side of the moors from you Samuel Oglethwaite..." as "Heathcliff" singalongs stir up a romp. Look to 'Whistling Bach' and the jaw will drop with an OMG, 'tis that good. The melange that is 'Melange', meanwhile, fuses verses from 'Hey Jude', 'Angels', 'Brown Sugar', 'Under The Boardwalk', 'I Believe In Miracles', 'Sympathy For the Devil' and 'Heroes' in a popcorn popping manner, as the vocalists wrap verse about each other. You clever bunnykins.

Ad libs and narration make for a cosy bon homie as UOGB introduce 'Life On Mars' with "This is a song about plagiarism that wasn't even our idea" and then tumble 5 songs amongst proceedings, including 'My Way' and 'Born Free' with not a trace of any solid curds. "I do hope you like folk songs, because here's another one. Born out a of love of Simon & Garfunkel and government sterilisation", kicking off a barn-dance version of 'Anarchy In The U.K.' with the cherishable verse - "...I use the enemy/ I use the ukulele...", while humorous asides greet 'Yes Sir, I Can Boogie' - "And now a folk song. A European folk song. In fact it's really a Eurovision folk song" which oozes boogie oogie as the uke's make for a dance with ants-a-pants. Other standouts include the Tarantino popularised 'Misirlou' showing wit and discourse with pizzicato uke and a Grecian (t)urn, while Robert Johnson's 'Hot Tamales (They're Red Hot)' is whoopee hot, and cool, ya-ow, a blewsy toon to wake the ghosts as "red red red red" is delivered ad infinitum to runaway ukes. 

Elsewhere the uke takes the backstage as UOGB allow the songs expression with shared vocal duties on the warm glow of 'Teenage Dirtbag', the a Capella version of 'Pinball Wizard' like a piratical Steeleye Span, while 'Satellite Of Love' comes with added bing bang bongs. 'Tis easier for a Fender Stratocaster to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a ukulele to enter the hall of fame. But the hall is being penetrated. Well, cajoled. Perhaps UOGB feed on pure ambrosia? UOGB Live In London proves they don't slumber on their diddy cases and any good tune can be better uked.