Black Velvet
Brand New Bag
Brown-Eyed Girl
Chain of Fools
(Sittin' on the) Dock of the Bay
Everybody, Needs Somebody to Love
Flip, Flop, Fly
Gimme Some Lovin'
I Can't Stand the Rain
I Got You (I Feel Good)
I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
Jackie Wilson Said
Land of a Thousand Dances
Lets Stick Together
The Letter
Messin with the Kid
Mr Pitiful
Mustang Sally
My Girl
New Orleans
Pearl's a Singer
Son of a Preacher Man
Soul Finger
Stuck in the Middle
Superstition
Sweet Soul Music
Unchain My Heart
Under the Boardwalk
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A bold choice of song by Louise. This 1990 number 2 hit from
Canadian songstress Alannah Myles is a bit of a tough one, and it is an example
of the confidence Louise has gained by taking more and more lead vocals. The
Sons prove they can rock with the best of them, especially with Matt on guitar.
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Number 25 all the way back in 1965 believe it or not. Musics
most sampled artist and renowned wife-beater James Brown, knows how to take a
simple idea and make a great tune. Funky!
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Well you will probably be as surprised as me to find that this
one from the Irish maestro Van Morrison never actually made the top 75 (that's
if it was indeed released as a single).
This is the first time the band have featured an acoustic guitar and as soon as
Rob learns a fifth chord we may well use it again.
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Aretha Franklin's 1967 chart entry (no 39) is another one
reprised by the Commitments with vocals by Angelina Ball and Maria Doyles.
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Written with the guitarist Steve Cropper this was sadly Otis
Reddings last recording, and is a soulful reminder to the talent that was lost
on Sunday, 10th December 1967 in a plane accident. As is usually the case it
was his biggest hit in the UK reaching number 3 in February 1968. *The
dedication by Kippa at the top of the Sons version is to drummer Gary
Burroughs, who had sat in with the band many times, and sadly died in 2001.
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This 1964 rifftastic monster sadly never made the charts in the
UK making it probably the best known song never to do so! Solomon Burkes loss
was the Blues Brothers gain, as this is surely their anthem. As in the case of
James Brown's "I Feel Good" in relation to the Sons first set, they
have always finished the second set with this one.
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Again not a lot is known of the origin of this one, I do
remember an album by Bill Haley and his Comets containing the track (ok I admit
it - I was in a pubescent Rock 'n' Roll band, and this was a song we did). The
version by the Sons appears again on "Briefcase Full of Blues" and it
wails!
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A true classic, The Spencer Davies Group took this to number 2
in 1966, and has been covered many times since then. This arrangement is from
the Blues Brothers again, and it is from the original soundtrack of the first
film. Everyone should have at least one Blues Brothers album, and if you
haven't seen the film, beg, steal or borrow one NOW!
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Take your pick - Ann Peebles (41 in 1974), Tina Turner (57 in
1985) or Eruption (5 in 1978) or even the Commitments soundtrack version voiced
by Angelina Ball. Whichever, its a cracking song. Oh and Lou and the Sons do a
pretty good version as well!
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To give this 1966 James Brown stormer it's full title, I can't
recall a time in the last 6 years when the Sons have not ended the first set
with this song, and it still remains a band favourite. Buy any of the
"Best of" CDs available and find out where all modern so called R 'n'
B artists get their ideas!
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A number 6 Hit for Robert Palmer and UB40 in 1990 this Bob
Dylan written song is given a 2002 Sons re-mix. The harmony vocals are a
definite feature, but it's one of those songs the band may have to have
patience with.
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Dexy's Midnight Runners took this Van Morrison song all the way
to number 5 in 1982, famously appearing in front of a backdrop with a picture
of overweight Scottish Darts player Jocky Wilson on Top of the Pops! An
irresistible singalong intro and a great sax arrangement.
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The Full Monty soundtrack revived this all over again in the
90's, as did Inni Kimosi (here come's the hotstepper) which successfully
sampled it. A hit (no 22) first though for Wilson Pickett in 1966, and a song
which never fails to please.
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Destined, I would say to become a Sons Anthem, although as
Kippa says "It's taking all of my will power, not to lapse into a Bryan
Ferry impersonation".
A hit for and written by the American band Canned Heat in 1970 when it reached
number 2 as "Let's Work Together" the Sons have chosen the Geordie
Crooners version (number 4 1976, and re-mixed all the way to number 12 in
1988).
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Possibly at 1 minute and 48 seconds, this beauty by the
American band The Boxtops is the shortest song ever to make the top 5 (number
4, 1967). This arrangement by Sheffield's finest, Joe Cocker which was a number
39 hit in 1970, is a Sons favourite.
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No information as to the original artist on this one, as it's
never been a chart hit. There is a version by Rory Gallagher available on
album. The Sons version though is taken from the live Blue Brothers album
"Briefcase Full of Blues". This isn't from either soundtrack, but
culled from live shows that Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi along with the superb
Booker T and the MGs did during the late 70's/early 80's. If you like this
track dig one out.
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Like many of the "classic" soul records, this one
didn't chart in the UK when released in 1964. It became popular when featured
in Alan Parker/Roddy Doyles 1991 film The Commitments and can be found on the
soundtrack with Andrew Strong taking the vocal.
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OK, OK I know some people hate this one, but just as many want
to hear it . . . again. This Bonny Rice song was a number 28 hit for Wilson
Pickett in 1966 and covered live by a whole load of bands since then, it was
revived to the radio by Andrew Strongs great vocal on the Commitments
soundtrack. I doubt whether there has been a gig at which Kippa has not been
asked . . . do you do that Ride, Sally Ride?
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This is a Sons of the Desert arrangement of the much covered
Smokey Robinson/Ronald White song. It charted twice in 1965 at number 43 for
the Temptations, and a version by "The Man" Otis Redding which
reached a giddy (for him) number 11. Find this version on "The Very Best
of Otis Redding" released Christmas 2000.
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Number 16 for Gary U.S. Bonds in 1961 and also a number 24 hit
for . . . . . wait for it . . . . . Bern Elliot and the Fenmen in 1964. No I'd
not heard of them either but at 22 weeks they have spent more time in the chart
than Van Morrison!
This is the Blues Brothers 2000 version, and although the film is a bit dodgy
and not as good as the first, the soundtrack is smoking! I said "Hey, hey,
hey, hey, yeah!" Never mind.
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Elkie Brooks number 8 hit from 1977 may seem an odd choice if
you see it on paper (or on a website), and indeed took some time to get past
the rehearsal room door as it didn't seem to fit in. The plain fact is
everybody knows this song and thanks to Louises faithful reading of it, it has
become a Sons favourite.
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Dusty Springfield's number 9 hit from 1968, is given a fairly
faithful reading by the band, and Louise seems well suited to it.
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A well known number 33 effort in 1967 from the not so well
known American 7 piece the Barr-Kays (4 of whom lost their lives, along with
Otis Redding). A great instrumental, as instrumental's go.
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Stealers Wheels 1973 number 8 singalong is given the Sons
treatment thanks to John Welford's great sax arrangement and Kippa and Lous
vocals. Makes the current reworking by Louise sound tame by comparison.
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Stevie Wonders 1973 number 11 barnstormer with one of the best
known drum intros, and an irresistible riff never fails to hit the mark, a
masterpiece! Kippa at his best.
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Arthur Conleys 1967 classic tribute to soul reached number 7 in
the charts, and can be found on any soul collection worth it's name - if not,
demand your money back!
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Presently, along with many others in the album charts is part
of Ray Charles "Best of" Collection. Not listed as a chart entry in
the UK by the afore mentioned Grandaddy of soul, the Sons have taken
Sheffield's Joe Cockers version from November 1987 as a popular opener for Set
One, giving Kipp an early chance to show the audience who's boss.
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Must be one of the most recorded songs ever! Take these 3 for
starters. Tom Tom Club (22 in 1982), Bruce Willis (2 in 1987) and strangely
enough the original by the Drifters which performed the worst, 45 in 1964. I
bet when the writing team of Resnick and Young gave the Drifters the song they
never dreamed that it would take 23 years and a bloke in a vest to achieve a
number 2 hit!
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