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[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Accordion]
[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Flute] The crowd immediately recognised the opening bars of this song and applauded loudly, at which time Gilbert stopped playing and jokingly said "And the next."
[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Foot Stomps] Upon finishing the song Gilbert said "I keep looking up, I must look down" (because of the empty seats in the circle). He then went on to tell us how Michael Flatley (Riverdance) used keep an empty seat in the front row for his recently deceased grandmother. "Judging by this I must have thousands of dead relatives." (Audience laughter).
[Gilbert
: Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing
Vocals]
[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] At this stage a latecomer was being shown to his seat and spotting this Gilbert drew our attention to him by saying "Look another arrival." he then spoke about Andy Williams wanting to record "We Will" and the language difference between the Americans and the English. "Matrimony is not a word that Americans use and I don't agree with English lyricists writing about L.A. and New York. I think they should be writing about Ulster, Belfast and Portadown." This was met with cheers of approval.
[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Saxophone, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] While moving to the second keyboard for the next song, Gilbert looked around the hall and added "This certainly is a beautiful place.....maybe we might fill it one day."
[Gilbert : Synth, Mick Parker : Synth]
[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Saxophone, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals]
[Gilbert : Synth, Mick Parker : Synth, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals]
[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Julian Webster Greaves : Flute] Afterwards Gilbert told us " I love that song even though I wrote it."
[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] "If you know this one then sing along, I think you're in good voice. There is a lovely echo here."
[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Saxophone, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals]
[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] "This song is is an old one which you'll know but is done in a slightly different style."
[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Saxophone, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals]
[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth]
[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Harmonica] "I pinched the melody for the first song that I ever wrote and added my own lyrics. Everybody said that the melody was great but that they hated the lyrics. (Audience laughter) So this is the very first official song that I wrote. I have a soft spot for it and I hope to record it one day but I have been saying that for twenty years. When it comes time to record a new album I normally have enough new material for it and haven't had to dig out old songs."
[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth & Accordion, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] "A bit of country" we were informed.
[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth] "They say that music is inspirational and lyrics are perspirational. My inspiration for a song comes from a good title. I thought that this was an interesting title for a song." Gilbert was quick to point out that his wife has never thrown plates at him but he has seen it happen.
[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Flute, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals]
[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Flute, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] Gilbert sang the usual Spanish chorus. But proudly impressed the audience by singing the Japanese and French versions with no problems.
[Gilbert : Vocals] Gilbert introduced this song by explaining how he got the idea for it. "The basis of this song is the rhythmic sound made by women washing clothes on the rocks at the riverside in the Peruvian jungle. Because it is a mundane job the women create a rhythm as they wash the clothes on the riverbank. This sound was recorded for a World Music CD and I got to hear it and found it interesting. I wanted to use it as part of a song but instead decided to use it as a backing with no music". Gilbert stood to sing this song.
[Gilbert : Vocals, Mick Parker : Electric Piano, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] During this song Gilbert walks and dances around the stage.
[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Flute, Helen Hardy : Backing Vocals] Gilbert lost his way on the keyboard during middle of the song but recovered while laughing to himself.
[Gilbert : Electric Piano] Gilbert introduced this song by saying "I like Billy Connolly but I can't say that I am a fan of his language, too many Fs. Gilbert likened bad language to going to the bathroom....good to do, but not good to be seen or heard. This is a song never released by Gilbert but was played here to show his love of words and language.
[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Saxophone, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] During the 70s when Feminism was at it's height I wrote this song because I thought that it had a good title. I either had a good sense of humour or a deathwish, I've been beaten up so many times by women about it.............and I've loved every minute of it." I could have called this song "A Woman's Place Is On The Phone" or "A Woman's Place Is Off The Bone" or "A Woman's Place Is Not At Home." We then went on to have the 'Battle of the Sexes" where the men sang the line "A woman's place is in the home" and the women replied "If that's the case you're on your own". The result tonight was a draw.
[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth] "The last time we were here in '78 we sang a hymn type song with a choir. One girl from the choir had to come forward and sing with me. That little girl was Caron Keating, Gloria Hunniford's daughter. And she sadly passed away recently. Supporting us that night in '78 was David McWilliams who wrote "The Days of Pearly Spencer" and he too has since passed away and not forgetting John Peel who sadly died recently. I'd like to dedicate this song to them all, it's called "Lost A Friend"."
[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] This was done in reggae style.
[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Tambourine] Gilbert left the stage momentarily but returned to wild applause.
[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Saxophone & backing Vocals, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals]
[Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Tambourine & Backing Vocals, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] Gilbert finished the show as is now customary by standing on top of the keyboard, singing the song with the audience and left the stage to a standing ovation.
Gilbert played and sang 32 songs tonight representing material from 12 different albums. The breakdown was as follows:
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