CLASSIC CLIPS

In the clips below, I have selected  just a few examples of some superb playing of the banjo uke and the ukulele from well-known English players from the present and the past. There are many more I could give you, and in many other styles of playing as well, but for the time being enjoy these clips from ‘You Tube’.

1. Andy Eastwood’s live ‘on-stage’ rendition of ‘The William Tell Overture’ is a fabulous way to begin these classic clips. His technique is superb and his 1929 Ludwig banjo uke sounds fabulous. Click HERE to watch Andy Eastwood.

2. The late, great, Billy ‘Uke’ Scott was a younger and less well known contemporary of George Formby, but unlike Formby, Billy wrote almost all of his songs himself, and technically he was reckoned by many to be an even better player of the banjo uke. Very few clips of him performing are publicly available, and these are two of a very small number that I have so far been able to find. This amateur recording of Billy was made back in 1990 and isn’t of the best quality, but it is enough to give you a flavour of just how good this man was. His technique, timing and rhythm are brilliant, and he plays his 1930’s Abbott ‘Monarch’ banjo uke to perfection. Click HERE to watch Billy ‘Uke’ Scott. Click HERE watch his fantastic rendition of ‘Lady of Spain’ played on a ‘Martin’ Soprano Ukulele.

3. Although he died back in March 1961, the late, great George Formby was one of the greatest entertainers that Britain ever produced. He had few of the perceived attributes for show business let alone stardom; he wasn’t good looking and they said that he couldn’t sing, couldn’t act and couldn’t tell jokes, all of which meant that he was going nowhere fast. But his fortune changed when one night (in the Alhambra Theatre, Barnsley) for a bet, he played a ukulele on stage at the end of his act, and the rest - as they say - was history. He made his name in the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s, singing popular, amusing, and uplifting songs in the dark days before, during and after World War Two. The combination of his unusual voice, the songs, and his tremendous playing of the banjo uke (and occasionally, of the ukulele), were simply dynamite.

These clips of George Formby playing the banjo uke are all real gems. The first shows him playing the song ‘Grandad’s Flannelette Nightshirt’ from the film ‘Let George Do It’ (1940). A great song, great playing, and great acting. Enjoy it HERE. From the same film, enjoy George Formby playing another great song ‘Daring Young Man’ on his ‘Big’ Gibson UB-3 HERE. Another clip of George Formby shows of him playing the song ‘Biceps, Muscle and Brawn’ from the film ‘Keep Fit’ in 1937. The rhythm of his banjo uke playing is tremendous, as is the beautifully played solo on his 1927 Abbott ‘Monarch’ banjo uke. Click HERE to watch it. In the next clip George Formby is seen playing his banjo uke to the lovely Kay Walsh in the 1937 film ‘Keep Fit’. The rhythm in the solo of this song is tremendous, and you can watch George playing it HERE. Thirdly we have George playing ‘Home Guard Blues’ which was recorded in 1942 during the filming of ‘Get Cracking’ (which was released in 1943). Watch him play this song on his Ludwig banjo uke HERE. Finally, the song on this clip is the record version of ‘Riding in the T.T. Races’ dubbed over shots from the film ‘No Limit’ in 1935. On this record, George plays a slow solo on his Ludwig banjo uke. Listen carefully to it then try and play it like he did, and you’ll realise just how accomplished his playing was. It may not have been his fastest, but I’ve always thought thought that this solo was one of his best that he ever played on the banjo uke. The solo he plays in the 1935 film itself (which he played on a ukulele) isn’t a patch on this. Enjoy this version of it from (with added audio and info) HERE.

4. Jack Jones was a great friend of mine and I still reckon that he was the best banjo uke player that I have ever heard. He never played quickly but his rhythm was fantastic and his technique was simply superb. He died in 2002 but he will always be sadly missed by those of us who knew him. The first clip dates from 1992 and shows Jack in his prime, playing the song ‘Believe it or Not’ on his Gibson UB-3. Enjoy it HERE. The second, later clip, shows a frail looking Jack singing one of his favourite songs, ‘On the Other Side of the World’. Click HERE to watch it. The solos in both of these clips are terrific.

5. Peter Moss is a musical genius. Not only can he play at least nine musical instruments to an incredibly high standard, but he is also a really nice, helpful and friendly bloke as well. Listen to his terrific talent in his rendition of ‘Rockin’ The Uke’ HERE.

6. Steve Helme is another great musician, a long-standing friend of mine and a great bloke as well. Hugely talented on a number of different instruments he loves the banjo uke, and a great example of his playing can be found by clicking HERE.

7. I’ve known Steven Sproat for more years than I care to remember. He always was a tremendous uke player and now he’s better than ever. He’s a good friend and a really nice bloke, so I hope you enjoy this great rendition of ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’ recorded in 2007 at the New York Ukulele Festival by clicking HERE.

9. The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain are absolutely brilliant and they have played a huge part in the rise in popularity of the ukulele throughout the past decade and more. Their shows are a combination of accomplished musicianship, wonderful humour, and fantastic entertainment, so if you’ve never been to see them you should do so at the earliest opportunity. Here is Hester Goodman singing ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ in a performance of the UOGB from 2009. Click HERE to enjoy the lovely ukulele playing, the wonderful rhythms, and the excellent singing.

10. There are a whole host of young talented players around these days, so enjoy ‘Take Five’ played by Brittni Paiva by clicking HERE.

Thanks for listening to these clips. There are lots of fantastic players out there like James Hill, Jake Shimabakuro, Ray Bernard, Andrew Palmer and Mike Warren, so if you see any good video clips of any of them, please let me know and I’ll add them to my site.

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John Croft, Glan Tanat, Llanyblodwel, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 8NQ, England.

Tel: (+44) 01691 828850

Email: theukuleleman.com@gmail.com