Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
No matter the music you are into, the genres you find falling into line with during your life time, there is always a surprise or two waiting to catch you out along the way. Even the most ardent heavy metal fan can sometimes for no reason at all find themselves whistling along to a half remembered song from their pre-metal days. The songs of innocence sometimes outweigh the experience the listener builds up in their mental reserve and sometimes something creeps through, takes root and even makes you smile as you imagine the musicians having a blast recording the simple pleasurable notes.
Joe Brown’s latest album, the cunningly titled The Ukulele Album, is one of those that sneaks through uninvited into the C.D. rack but becomes an invaluable asset to the collection. Generous in spirit, playing like a dream that has made its way all the from the sepia toned days of post war Britain in which on every corner stood a man worth his salt playing a ukulele and something implausibly impossible to disregard. Not just because it’s a damn good album or for the reminder it gives to the listener that not everything needs to be over-blown or hyped up within an inch of its life to make people think they must have it to appear cool but just for the simple fact on how it can make you feel when listening to it and that is with a smile on your face.
Joe Brown is a survivor of the music business since the early burgeoning days when he was a teen star even before the word took on any social significance or meaning. His music has stood the test of time and possibly the reason is that he makes it accessible, no matter what song or genre he covers. Whether it is a very good version of the E.L.O. classic Mr Blue Sky, The Who’s Pinball Wizard or even the seminal beauty of George Formby’s When I’m Cleaning Windows, each song is dealt with passion, laughter and reverence .
Backed by The International Ukulele Club Of Sonning Common on various tracks and Joe’s own band, The Ukulele Album is an album with great love attached to it and one well worth listening to, even just the once. It will certainly put a smile as big as Joe Brown’s famous grin on your face.
Ian D. Hall