Don Woods

The song I have sent you this week is called “DooWop Days” and reminds us of the vocal groups past and present who produce this great style of music. It began in the States with street corner groups singing acapella and progressed into the rock and roll scene….it is similar to a rocky version of “barbershop”….it is a style I have always liked with those wonderful multi voice arrangements…..I’ve sent it because this week I got an Email from a guy called George Galfo who is the only original surviving member of The Mystics and thanked me for including his band in the song. The Mystics had a massive hit in the 50’s with a song called “Hushabye” which is still one of my favourites to this day…so much so I include their riff at the end of the song….the group are still performing and he told me they are soon off to Italy to do a DooWop concert……..that’s the power of the internet and it made my day. And I’d like to say hello to my mate Stevie Davies who plays bass and sings at our wednesday night jam sessions…gr

The song I have sent you this week is taken from one of my DVDs so there are pictures to go with it…pictures you will see in your mind’s eye as you are one of us. Easy to sing about as it is such a great place to live. They have found a “new” planet in our solar system….it’s so far away you can’t actually SEE it and it my not ACTUALLY be there…but by all accounts this is very exciting. Now…is it me or is all this space stuff a complete waste of money…we are told that children are starving and there is not enough money to pay the doctors…then we watch a guy doing sommersaults in a spaceship…not to mention the thing that landed on a comet as the batteries went flat…what happened to that?…plus we have been informed that the richest men in the worlds form 1% of the population and their wealth is equal to the rest of us…the whole thing is a joke. There looks like there’s been a bit of naughtiness in the Tennis fraternity….match fixing indeed….I don’t know why everyone is so surprised…where there’s gambling and

The song I have sent you this week is entitled “Wirral Wonderland” and is a track off one of my DVDs about the area….which you will be familiar with. I mostly send you demos of my songs but this is a finished job…I think you’ll like it….it goes well when matched up with the video. David Bowie has been heavily featured in the news…a sad loss indeed but whether it warrants blanket coverage on the national news is debateable…although he was a one-off…I was totally inspired by him when I first heard the ZiggyStardust album through headphones in 1969…it revolutionised recording techniques …brilliant…he started out as a sax player…my wife worked with a guy who sessioned on his records…a chap called Brian Wilshaw who became a music teacher…how cool is he….he certainly altered the path of popular music. The entertainment level of TV is gradually sinking to an all time low…I watched an episode from the new series of “Open All Hours” with David Jason playing the main character…how can someone of his status be involv

The song I’ve sent you this week was from my more “commercial” era (lol)…..it’s sung by a friend of mine called Sue Young who had a great voice … she did the clubs as well but had a superb session voice…I used to call her “One Take” Sue…..I used to have a demo service where people would send me their songs in rough form (sometimes just a voice) and I would knock them into shape for them to send to publishers…and Sue would sing the female parts…she would have a couple of listens then hit it in one go…she was wonderful to work with.This was a song I wrote for her….we got radio play which gave her some publicity and some extra gigs. I used to use a few session girls singers…one being Pauline Daniels and another Julie Bright…these were the days before the modern trend of females shouting and yelling out songs and destroying them. I watched a programme called “Brucie’s Hall of Fame”….which was supposed to be presented by Bruce Forsyth…but as he’s not well his place was taken by Alexander Armstrong (who we talke

The song this week is a demo I found in the drawer which I had forgotten about….it’s called “Nosey Parker” and was a song I wrote for The Krankies a while back….it was for their panto where Janette played Pinocchio and sang it in the show….I remember her saying how they laughed at the way I sang “church”…and “perch”. I have written a lot of songs for them over the years but I have only seen them do one live….it was for a show in Blackpool where she wanted a mickey take of “I’m a Barbie Girl”….I came up with “I’m a boobie Girl”…which involved Jan coming on with these enormous inflatable boobs which went bigger and bigger as the song went on…it was hilarious. The floods have been unbelievable in Cumbria….people losing everything… I’m wondering whether all those countries we send money to will be having a collection for these poor folk….I very much doubt it. People have to place their belongings outside their property so the insurers can check….and there have been reports of some of it being stolen by organised

The song I’ve sent you is a live recording of part of a concert I did a few years back with James Burton at the Floral Pavilion New Brighton….James was the guitarist on Ricky Nelson’s records in the 50’s and early 60’s and backed Elvis during his Vegas years…I was a huge fan of Ricky mainly because of the great guitar solos on his records .. so to eventually have the privilege of performing his songs with my guitar hero was a bit special…I have since done five concerts with the great man the latest being last July at Fort Perch Rock in New Brighton where we did 14 Ricky hits with those stunning solos….he is a great guy and a pleasure to know….this is “Hello Mary Lou” 2.The BBC have brought back the chat show where Claire Balding interviews sports personalities….sadly it doesn’t work….whereas I like Claire Balding very much she struggles to get any entertainment value out of her guests…sports stars are not showbiz….they should stick to what they do…it’s like those dreadful records footballers used to make

To round off the Christmas play I have sent you two of the remaining songs….”Santa’s Song” and “In Me Christmas Stockin’”…..we have reached the stage where after our main hero Jimmy who doesn’t believe in Father Xmas wakes up on Xmas morning with no presents thus,to his mind,proving his point so he wanders round to his pals house to let him know he is right…meeting the milkman and the postman on the way…neither of whom can convince him he is wrong….he arrives at his mate’s to find him with all his presents….his pal then takes him down the road where Santa is just about to take off for home….he recognises Jimmy and tells him “if you don’t believe …you don’t get”….Jimmy apologises but Santa tells him it’s too late…he’ll have to wait til next year…Santa then sings his song explaining that it’s not just a once a year job.(Santa was played by my mate Carl Chase who can be seen in films like “The Mummy” and “Cut Throat Island”)….Jimmy is shattered….then suddenly he finds himself in his bedroom….he had been dreaming

The song this week is the continuing saga of the musical I wrote for Radio City back in the 80s. So up to now Jimmy,who doesn’t believe in Father Christmas,wakes up to find he’s got no presents….so he sings “There’s No Santa Claus” (which you played a couple of weeks ago)…he then hot foots it around to his mate’s house to prove his point…on the way he meets the milkman who tries to convince him he’s wrong and sings “If you don’t believe in Father Christmas” (which you played last week)…he then continues on his way and bumps into the postman…played by the late Joe Butler….who sings this lament “Letter Box Blues”….the demo is very basic as a lot of schools wanted to do the play so I arranged the songs to suit a single piano. The Lake District has taken a hammering with the recent storms and floods….I was up in Kendal last week….just got out in time. As usual there HAS to be someone to blame….if it’s not the Government for not spending out on flood defences it’s climate change….next it’ll be diesel cars

The song this week is another from the musical I wrote for Radio City which was broadcast back in the 80s. the story so far….the main character Jimmy doesn’t believe in Father Xmas and has woken up on Xmas day to find no toys…so he sings the song you played last week (There’s no Santa Claus)…so he smugly goes round to his friend’s house to prove his point…on the way he bumps into the milkman (played by Paul Damian in the play) who tries to put him straight….to no avail…..this is the demo Paul and I worked from….next instalment next week…..exciting isn’t it? We have just been informed that Messi will be playing his football in Manchester….but he’s only getting paid 800 grand A WEEK……football really is becoming a joke. What is pathetic is there are no LOCAL lads in any of the teams….the game should be called “spot the Englishman”…..and they have the cheek to say it’s not the fans who are paying because the entrance fee is only a small percentage of the club’s income…..so why rip off the supporters with e

The song I have sent you this week “There’s No Santa Claus”…is from the musical I wrote for Radio City in the 80’s. I revolves around a little kid who doesn’t believe in Father Christmas….he wakes up on Christmas Day and hasn’t got any presents…thus proving his point…he then sings this song which asks some good questions…he eventually finds out how wrong he is…but you’ll have to wait til next week for the next instalment. This was the demo the kid worked from….the backing is in his key….that’s my excuse. I watched One Direction on Jonathan Ross….I know I am from a different generation but I’m blowed if I can see what they have….they have sold millions of records so I am obviously wrong…they are so BORING ….For me “bands” have to PLAY….for example McFly or The Sterophonics etc….that’s talent…just don’t get these boy/girl bands who are totally dependant on musicians.........and I don’t know whose idea it was to have Piers Morgan on ITV Breakfast television….it’s like a punishment….he is unbearable….I’ve nev

The song this week is a song is from a Christmas musical I wrote for Radio City in the 80’s…..this is the demo the cast worked from…..the kids in the play sang the song and the play was broadcast on Christmas day two years on the trot….it was also nominated for a Sony Award….the cast included Johnny Kennedy…Paul Damian…the late Joe Butler…Carl Chase… and others. The song also recorded by Penny Page and Googi on vinyl….the play went on to be performed by a lot of schools…all good stuff. ….A friend of mine told me her son and daughter in law went to Rome on their honeymoon….while they were at the train station he went to sort out the tickets and left her with the cases…she felt water dripping on her head so she looked up…when she looked down the cases had gone…passports the lot …. obviously some moron with a water pistol…. I saw her again this week and she told me the same couple were in Paris over last weekend…with their baby…talk about unlucky….it’s nice to see the support we are giving to the French duri

The song I’ve sent you this week is another from the Cheshire Cats album we did back in the day….it’s an oldie called “White Sports Coat” c/w “Butterfly” and is a track I produced for Derek Smith who was the founder of The Cheshire Cats…..he put a lot of work in to keep it all going and was a pleasure to know…he was a massive Elvis fan and used to dress up as the King and delight the crowd…sadly he is another one we lost a few years ago….he was my best mate and I miss him. Speaking of Elvis…Jonathan Ross had Prescilla Presley on his chat show…she is over here to promote a CD which features remasteredElvis tracks singing with the BBC Symphony Orchestra….she was very demure BUT also on the show was Danny Dyer who proved what an absolute YOB he is….playing the cockney “tough guy” with his unnecessary rhyming slang and bad language…poor old Prescill didn’t have a clue what he was talking about…then to top it all on comes Elvis Costello (complete with silly hat)….who Ross announced as “the greatest songwriter th

The song I have sent you this week is another from the Cheshire Cats album we talked about last week….which we made back in the day….this song is “The Battle Of New Orleans” and is one I produced for my great mate “Skiffle” John Lomax…..who sadly passed away some time ago….I put the instrumentation together on the record…. John was a member of The Atlantics Skiffle Group who were one of the first in the area…I saw them in 1958 which was the first time I heard an electric guitar….they appeared on “Top Town” and John went on to make films…one featuring the final plight of Donald Campbell which won him an award….this led to a feature by the BBC called “Days Which Changed The World”…in which they used John’s footage and had an actor playing him. In 2001 I put a skiffle group together with him and we went to Finland to perform at a huge convention…..I loved John dearly and miss him very much. I just don’t get why certain so called celebs think they can sing those Rat Pack standards…..Peter Andre has brought out

The song this week is a track I put together for a Cheshire Cats album back in the day….”Route 66” …which unfortunately I didn’t write but I came across it in a drawer….it is performed by a band we put together for our weekly jam sessions….it was a three piece me on guit…my lad Steve on bass and vocals…and a young fellow called Andy Thory on drums…Steve plays a mean bass …he was a good player and was great to work with…even though he’s the fruit of my loins…..he had his own band called The Black Knights….we sold the album for charity and was very popular at the time….happy days. 2.Last Wednesday was “Back To The Future Day” because in the film trilogy they travel to 21st October 2015…..I remember thinking at the time that on that day I will have been married 43 years…and here we are. The films were absolutely brilliant and dare I say it…ahead of their time….I have the box set and watch it all from time to time … it really is a classic….and it is very interesting how accurate some of the predictions were…

The song I have sent you this week came from an idea I had when getting off the train in Liverpool and saw this guy busking in the subway….it’s called “Subway Songman”. Sugar is on the menu this week…every time you turn on the TV or the radio we are getting reports of record tooth decay in kid’s teeth…all because of sugary fizzy drinks. It’s a miracle how guys of our age survived….I remember having sugar butties when I was a kid…and drinking gallons of lemonade…and I’ve still got my teeth….they are saying that some kids have to have ALL there baby teeth out….and so the scare mongering continues…and the dentists get richer….any day now we’ll be back to the old humbug of lead in toys…it’s about time that cropped up again. Some genius has worked out that supermarkets are misleading us with their pricing….wow there’s a surprise….isn’t it called “business” …and if they can legally get away with something they will…apparently they are saying that things are reduced when they are not….this has always been the case

.The song this week is a live version of Ricky Nelson’s Travellin’ Man which was recorded a few years back when I was in concert with James Burton…the guy who played on Ricky’s records…he is over here again and I’ll be working with him again this weekend…I’ll be singing 14 Ricky Nelson songs….I’ll also be interviewing him before the show…all good stuff. We have had a run through the stuff with him and it’s sounding good….got a great backing band who I’ve worked with before. Every Wednesday night we have a jam session which raises money for sick kids…it’s called The Cheshire Cats and ever so often we have a guest band…this week we had a Viking invasion…we had a band from Denmark called Chimbo’s Revival (look them up on the net)…and they were great….the singer even had a Bill Haley kiss curl….they had the place rockin’….the selection of songs was spot on. On the sport scene there was big excitement over our ladies getting to the semi final of the World Cup….then in true English fashion we blew it in the dyi

The song I have sent you this week is called “More Than A River” and was featured in Radio Merseyside’s tribute to The Mersey….Billy Butler did a live programme from the promenade in new Brighton and gave me a ring and asked me if I would come along and play one of my songs of the river live….couldn’t do it at the allotted time as we were presenting a cheque for £3000 to a local children’s hospice called Claire House…this was on behalf of The Cheshire Cats which is our local organistion which raises money for sick kids…. Some interesting news this week….the police have been criticized for spending time on stupid complaints…for example a woman complained that someone in her sons school rubbed nettles on his arm and he got a rash… Talking of the shortage of money….we can’t afford to pay nurses a decent salary…we can’t afford to make houses affordable…etc…YET the THREE BILLION to renovate the Houses of Parliament will be found… If The Houses of Parliament are such an iconic tourist attraction why not just

The song I have sent you this week is another I have found in my drawer...it is entitled “Deep In My Heart Is Texas”…and is one that got away….it was one of the few collaborations I have been involved in over the years….this stemmed from and idea a friend of mine had…her name is Patricia Knapton….and she came up with the title and a few ideas…I thought the finished job was pretty good but it wasn’t to be….people didn’t GET the title….maybe this play might bring it to someone’s attention….Wagons HO !! 2.It is 800 years since the signing of Magna Carta…(not THE Magna Carta we’ve been told…just Magna Carta)…so there has been quite a lot of fuss on the TV….it’s one of those dates I never forgot…”King John at Runnymede in 1215”….many years ago I went to Sunbury on Thames to visit a relative and he took me to Runnymede .. and in those days it was just like a bandstand in a big field…and I remember thinking “Blimey this is where it all began”….it looks a bit different now…I also remember I was wandering round Lo

This week’s song is called “Laughter is Everything to Me” and was written for my old mate Pauline Daniels back in the day. Pauline has a great voice but she decided to turn to comedy (and did very well) so I wrote this song for her act…the lyrics get the message over and she sings it great ….I used to enjoy recording with her as she was such a good laugh. She hasn’t been too well of late but I think she has recovered…. Sad to hear of the death of Christopher Lee….he was the ONLY Dracula….this was the first horror film I ever saw…I was 13 and sneaked in (as it was an X)…I have never been so frightened…I saw it TWICE and still got the jitters even when I knew what was coming…a classic film. He was one of those characters who made the part his…there is only ONE Superman…Christopher Reeve….only one Batman…Adam West…and only one real James Bond…Sean Connery…all the others are imposters….speaking of Batman… Adam West was doing a book signing in Liverpool in the 90s so I popped along got in the queue bought his

The song I have sent you this week has a tale attached to it which you couldn’t write….It’s called “Small Town Cowboy” and I was commissioned to write and record this for a guy called Brian “Sundance” Brooks back in the day…he had a shop which sold cowboy gear in Birmingham called “Urban cowboy” and I was informed he was going to put on a huge western show in one of the arenas…bringing over all sorts of stuff over from the States….so I came up with this song…the original title being Urban Cowboy….and on the label it was “sung” by Mr.Brooks….there were all sorts of big companies involved but after meeting “Sundance” I requested my money upfront (a habit of mine)…got paid and sorted out the record….only to be informed that Brian had absconded with a few million in his hired Rolls Royce. I gave the 500 records I had pressed to a local charity and that was that….I think I was the only one who got paid…..hence the change of title…that’s showbiz. .I watched the news coverage of the Britains Got Talent show….appa