Results
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The Wombles Song - Mike Batt - Len Jenkins
The Wombles are fictional pointy-nosed, furry creatures that live in burrows, where they aim to help the environment by collecting and recycling rubbish in creative ways. They were created by author Elisabeth Beresford, and originally appeared in a series of children's novels from 1968 that featured the inhabitants of a burrow on Wimbledon Common in London, England.The characters gained a higher national profile in the UK in the mid-1970s as a result of a BBC commissioned children's television show, and a number of spin-off novelty songs also became hits in the British music charts. The Wombles pop group was the idea of British singer and composer Mike Batt who wrote the series' theme tune, and who went on to perform and produce a number of successful albums and singles with 'The Wombles'.This is a brass band arrangement of that well-known theme tune. Caution! This may provoke a sing-along.
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Postman Pat - Bryan Daly - Len Jenkins
The original music for the phenomenally successful Postman Pat series was composed by Bryan Daly (who sadly died in January 2012) and included not only the well-known theme tune "Postman Pat & His Black and White Cat", but also the tuba solo "Walking in Greendale", both of which are now available, arranged for brass, from Wobbleco Music. The theme tune was originally sung by Ken Barrie and was released as a single in the UK where it reached number 44 in the charts in July 1982. The Postman Pat TV series and the later Postman Pat SDS TV series continue to delight and entertain children not least because of the instantly recognizable theme tune. What is less well known is that Bryan was also one of the most sought-after session-musician guitar players of the 1960's and 1970's, a first-call studio musician for the likes of Burt Bacharach, and his performances grace numerous classic hit recordings that have remained radio staples to this day. This "twin-pack" contains 2 arrangements: one of which follows faithfully the original theme and is generally A4 in size, and another which is a march/fete edition and is slightly easier to play. They are printed back-to-back and by folding the parts in half, the march/fete edition becomes lyre-ready.
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Walk, Don't Run - Johnny Smith - Len Jenkins
"Walk, Don't Run" is an instrumental composition written and first recorded by jazz guitarist Johnny Smith in 1954. Chet Atkins also recorded it. However, the most well-known version is by a rock band called The Ventures from Tacoma (near Seattle) who released their version of the tune as a single in spring 1960. It was an instant success. In 1964, The Ventures released an updated version called "Walk Don't Run '64," which also made the Top 10 in the US, and there were 4 further editions up until 2000. In the UK, the tune was covered by the John Barry Seven. Rolling Stone magazine rated the Ventures' version of "Walk, Don't Run" as number 82 on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time.
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Left Bank Two - Wayne Hill - Len Jenkins
In the 1960's, a group of session musicians had some studio time left over and asked if anyone had something they wanted to try. The young vibes player, Wayne Hill came up with this tune, which they recorded on the spot, almost as a 'throwaway' piece. To viewers in the UK, it is best known as the music used in "The Gallery" sequence of 'Vision On', which was a British children's television programme, shown on BBC1 from 1964 to 1976. Tony Hart, artist and co-presenter of the programme, made pictures in a variety of sizes and media, and encouraged children to submit their own paintings to "The Gallery" for display on TV. They did so in their thousands. The piece has been used in a number of adverts including those for Volkswagen, Castrol Oil and Waitrose, and TV programmes such as NBC's America's Got Talent, The X Factor (U.S) and the BBC panel show QI. Left Bank Two features a Vibraphone solo with Brass Band accompaniment. For those bands that do not have a Vibraphone, an alternative solo for a B flat instrument is included.
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Dance The Night Away - Raul Malo - Len Jenkins
"Dance The Night Away" is an upbeat song by The Mavericks taken from their 1998 album Trampoline. The song was released as a single that same year and reached No. 4 in the UK charts.The music video of the song, set in a supermarket in America, exemplifies the infectious pull of the tune and its persistent rhythm which eventually gets everyone involved. This is an ideal piece for fetes and concerts alike, and should be played in a pronounced 'latino' style for maximum effect.
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Bad Moon Rising - John Fogerty - Len Jenkins
"Bad Moon Rising" is a song written by John Fogerty and performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival. It was the lead single from their album Green River and was released in April 1969, four months before the album. It reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks in September 1969 and has been recorded by at least 20 different artists, in styles ranging from folk to reggae to psychedelic rock. The last line of the chorus, "there's a bad moon on the rise", is sometimes misheard as "there's a bathroom on the right" and Fogerty occasionally sings the misheard lyric in concert. The song has become notably popular in Argentina as a football chant and in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a modified version, titled "Brasil, decime que se siente" ("Brazil, Tell Me How It Feels") was sung with Spanish lyrics that taunted Brazil, their traditional rival. It went viral and became very popular (in Argentina).
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Runaway - Max Crook & Del Shannon - Len Jenkins
"Runaway" was made famous by Del Shannon in 1961 when it was released in the February of that year and quickly became an international hit. At its height it was said to be selling at the rate of 80,000 singles per day and in the June made number one in the UK. It was written with Max Crook who had invented his own clavioline-based electric keyboard called a Musitron which features in the original recording. The song was originally recorded in A minor, but the producer sped up the finished recording to just below B-flat minor. The iconic synthesiser sound in this arrangement is reproduced as a solo on Soprano cornet, and should be within the capabilities of most players provided attention is paid to the breathing regime.
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Paint It Black - Mick Jagger & Keith Richards - Len Jenkins
"Paint It Black" (originally released as "Paint It, Black") was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and first released as a single on 6 May 1966. It became the Rolling Stones' sixth number one in the UK and has remained influential as the first number one hit featuring a sitar. The song came at a pivotal period in The Rolling Stones' recording history, a time that saw the song-writing collaboration of Jagger and Richards assert itself as the principal composers of the band's original material. Its lyrics are for the most part meant to describe bleakness and depression and describe the extreme grief suffered by one stunned by the sudden and unexpected loss of wife, lover or partner. It famously plays during the end credits of the film Full Metal Jacket. Beginning in the style of an ironic minuet, which can be by-passed by starting at bar 54 where the heavy rock beat takes over, the piece is interesting and within the capabilities of 3rd or 4th section bands. For those bands with a drummer and one percussionist, an alternative percussion part is provided.
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Christmas Lederhosen - Lennox Rhodes - Len Jenkins
As Christmas approaches, many of us in the UK and Europe will visit a 'German Christmas Market' (Weihnachtsmarkt) where the pervading atmosphere is a heady mixture of chocolate, honey and, of course, music. We are pleased to offer in that vein, a confection of various Christmas tunes with a typical 'Oompah' feel that will give atmosphere to your events in the festive season. Enjoy! Graham
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It's Alright - Mike Moran - Len Jenkins
"It's Alright", the theme song for the BBC TV series New Tricks, was written by Mike Moran, whose credits also include composing the song "Barcelona" for Freddy Mercury, the theme to the UK crime series 'Taggart' and the Lynsey de Paul entry to the Eurovision Song Contest. As a producer, he has worked on The Queen Album and Elaine Paige's Piaf. New Tricks follows New Scotland Yard's mythical Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad, which is staffed by retired police officers who have been recruited to look into unsolved crimes, including murders. Whilst this particular squad is fictitious, the concept is based firmly on fact. Although New Tricks does have serious plots, the series also contains a fair amount of humour, usually revolving around in-house banter, and the lyrics to Mike Moran's song does it justice. Dennis Waterman, who played Gerry Standing, one of the team, was the obvious choice of vocalist, although the song was never released commercially. Sadly Dennis died in May 2022.