Great Uncle Bulgaria

36 The Animals – House Of The Rising Sun 33 The Kinks – You Really Got Me 28 Sonny & Cher – I Got You Babe 27 Unit 4 + 2 — Concrete and Clay 27 The Moody Blues – Go Now 27 The Rolling Stones – (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction +1 25 The Rolling Stones – Get Off Of My Cloud 25 Sandie Shaw – (There´s) Always Something There To Remind Me 25 The Dave Clark Five – Glad All Over 24 The Rolling Stones – The Last Time 23 The Supremes – Baby Love 23 The Beatles – Ticket To Ride 23 The Seekers – I´ll Never Find Another You 23 Tom Jones – It´s Not Unusual 23 The Kinks – Tired Of Waiting For You 23 Roy Orbison – It´s Over 22 The Beatles – Day Tripper/We Can Work It Out 22 Herman´s Hermits – I´m Into Something Good 22 The Rolling Stones – Little Red Rooster 22 The Beatles – I Feel Fine +1 21 The Byrds – Mr. Tambourine Man 21 Sandie Shaw – Long Live Love 20 The Seekers – The Carnival Is Over +2 20 The Beatles – A Hard Day´s Night 20 The Righteous Brothers – You´ve Lost That Lovin' Feelin' 20 The Searchers – Needles And Pins 20 The Searchers – Don´t Throw Your Love Away 20 The Four Pennies – Juliet 20 The Honeycombs – Have I The Right 20 Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames – Yeh Yeh 20 The Hollies – I´m Alive 20 The Rolling Stones – It´s All Over Now 19 Roger Miller – King Of The Road 18 Roy Orbison – Oh, Pretty Woman 15 The Walker Brothers – Make It Easy On Yourself 15 The Beatles – Can´t Buy Me Love 14 Cliff Richard – The Minute You´re Gone 14 Peter and Gordon — A World Without Love 10 Elvis Presley – Crying In The Chapel -4 10 The Beatles – Help! 08 The Bachelors – Diane -6

OK to carry on now...

17/5 25 The Kinks – You Really Got Me +1 24 The Rolling Stones – (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction +1 24 The Beatles - Help! 25 The Animals – House Of The Rising Sun 24 Sonny & Cher – I Got You Babe 24 The Rolling Stones – Get Off Of My Cloud 23 Roy Orbison - It's Over 22 Unit 4 + 2 – Concrete And Clay 22 The Rolling Stones – It´s All Over Now 22 Tom Jones – It´s Not Unusual 22 The Beatles – A Hard Day´s Night 21 Herman´s Hermits – I´m Into Something Good 21 Roy Orbison – Oh Pretty Woman 21 The Dave Clark Five – Glad All Over 21 The Moody Blues – Go Now 21 The Kinks – Tired Of Waiting For You +1 21 The Supremes – Baby Love +1 20 The Searchers – Needles And Pins 20 The Bachelors – Diane 20 The Beatles – Can´t Buy Me Love 20 Peter & Gordon – A World Without Love 20 The Searchers – Don´t Throw Your Love Away 20 The Four Pennies – Juliet 20 The Honeycombs – Have I The Right 20 Sandie Shaw – (There´s) Always Something There To Remind Me 20 The Beatles – I Feel Fine 20 Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames – Yeh Yeh 20 The Seekers – I´ll Never Find Another You 20 The Rolling Stones – The Last Time 20 Cliff Richard – The Minute You´re Gone 20 The Beatles – Ticket To Ride 20 Roger Miller – King Of The Road 20 Sandie Shaw – Long Live Love 20 Elvis Presley – Crying In The Chapel 20 The Hollies – I´m Alive 20 The Byrds – Mr. Tambourine Man 20 The Walker Brothers – Make It Easy On Yourself 20 The Seekers – The Carnival Is Over 20 The Beatles – Day Tripper/We Can Work It Out 18 Cilla Black – Anyone Who Had A Heart 18 The Rolling Stones – Little Red Rooster 14 The Righteous Brothers – You´ve Lost That Lovin' Feelin' 14 Manfred Mann – Do Wah Diddy Diddy 12 Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas – Little Children 12 Jackie Trent - Where Are You Now 06 Ken Dodd – Tears -6 And suddenly the sun came out and there was great music everywhere (with only 7 or 8 exceptions, one of which has already gone)

17/May/2023 59 Elvis Presley – Rock-A-Hula Baby/Can´t Help Falling In Love 51 B. Bumble & The Stingers – Nut Rocker 48 The Tornados – Telstar -3 43 The Beatles – From Me To You +4 15 The Shadows – Wonderful Land -3

The Shadows don't have a future Womble on drums... That said, I agree with you. The best two Beatles songs have gone, the best Elvis song is riding a wave downwards with one of the worst set to survive and we've got two harmless but essentially novelty instrumentals in the top 3, both of which are worse than some of the Shadows ones which have gone. Very surprised at what we look likely to end up with as qualifiers. They'll be first out come the Final.

16/5 61 B. Bumble & The Stingers – Nut Rocker 58 Elvis Presley – Rock-A-Hula Baby/Can´t Help Falling In Love 45 The Tornados – Telstar -6 33 Elvis Presley – Return To Sender +2 32 The Beatles – From Me To You +2 19 The Shadows – Wonderful Land 18 Elvis Presley – (You're The) Devil In Disguise

54 The Tornados – Telstar -3 54 Elvis Presley – Rock-A-Hula Baby/Can´t Help Falling In Love -3 54 Elvis Presley – Return To Sender 53 B. Bumble & The Stingers – Nut Rocker 31 The Beatles – From Me To You 17 Cliff Richard & The Shadows – The Young Ones +2 16 The Shadows – Wonderful Land 14 Elvis Presley – (You're The) Devil In Disguise 14 The Beatles – I Want To Hold Your Hand +2 13 The Shadows – Foot Tapper Tight at the top..

14/May/2023 57 Elvis Presley – Rock-A-Hula Baby/Can´t Help Falling In Love 49 Elvis Presley – Return To Sender 48 B. Bumble & The Stingers – Nut Rocker 46 The Beatles – From Me To You 44 The Tornados – Telstar -3 30 The Beatles – I Want To Hold Your Hand +2 21 Elvis Presley – (You're The) Devil In Disguise 22 Cliff Richard & The Shadows – The Young Ones +2 19 The Shadows – Wonderful Land 12 Cliff Richard & The Shadows – Summer Holiday 08 The Shadows – Foot Tapper -3 08 Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas – Bad To Me When I was young I was bought a Stylophone, promoted on TV by our old friend Rolf Harris. On the instructions cassette (!) it encouraged you to plug it into an amp, whereupon it would supposedly sound just like the organ on Telstar. Suffice to say it didn't - much tinnier and prone to random outbreaks of static (which it was with or without being plugged in for that matter).

Steps tribute act?

49 Elvis Presley – Rock-A-Hula Baby/Can´t Help Falling In Love 44 Elvis Presley – Return To Sender 43 The Tornados – Telstar 42 The Beatles – From Me To You 41 The Beatles – I Want To Hold Your Hand 34 B. Bumble & The Stingers – Nut Rocker 23 Cliff Richard & The Shadows – Summer Holiday 21 Elvis Presley – (You're The) Devil In Disguise 21 Cliff Richard & The Shadows – The Young Ones +2 19 The Shadows – Wonderful Land 15 Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas – Bad To Me 13 The Shadows – Dance On 13 Elvis Presley – She´s Not You 13 The Shadows – Foot Tapper -6 11 Cliff Richard & The Shadows – The Next Time/Bachelor Boy +2 10 The Searchers – Sweets For My Sweet

Technically not a good gig but I saw Michael Buble live last night. (GAB's idea not mine). The audience was 90% middle aged women and 10% men along as taxi drivers or showing some support. We saw him about 4 years ago (just before CoVid) and thought he was in better voice then, he's still got the high notes but less of the quality up top. He started with the same two songs as last time in the same order and again (unusually) did probably the 3 biggest hits in the first half hour. Previously I thought he'd come over as a reasonable bloke but last night the between-songs patter was a bit cloying, particularly the bits about how much he loves the UK and how he had spent most of CoVid dreaming about coming back to play Birmingham. Theres flattering your audiences and laying it on with a trowel. He travels with a big band in both senses of the expression, most of them attractive young women who do dance movements with their arms when not playing. As well as the usual dance band stuff he did a selection of Elvis songs, of which Trouble was not the pick and a few soul standards ('how sweet i t is to be loved by you' and 'You're the first my last my everything.') He's a good performer but ultimately he's a very upmarket (£250 for two 'long way from the stage' seats) lounge singer who does mostly cover versions. I don't hate his stuff but not really a fan. Anyway, GAB liked it so that was the main thing.

I saw Michael Buble (GAB's idea, not mine) last night. He did (topically for us) Can't help falling in love. Prefer Elvis' version. Love Elvis 50s stuff. The post-army material is very variable.

43 Elvis Presley – Rock-A-Hula Baby/Can´t Help Falling In Love 39 Elvis Presley – Return To Sender 37 The Tornados – Telstar 35 B. Bumble & The Stingers – Nut Rocker 32 The Beatles – I Want To Hold Your Hand 30 The Beatles – From Me To You 24 Cliff Richard & The Shadows – Summer Holiday 24 Gerry & The Pacemakers – How Do You Do It 24 Elvis Presley – She´s Not You 23 Cliff Richard & The Shadows – The Next Time/Bachelor Boy +2 21 The Shadows – Foot Tapper -2 21 The Shadows – Wonderful Land 21 Elvis Presley – (You're The) Devil In Disguise 21 Cliff Richard & The Shadows – The Young Ones 17 The Shadows – Dance On 17 Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas – Bad To Me +2 14 The Searchers – Sweets For My Sweet 11 Frank Ifield – I Remember You -2 10 Ray Charles – I Can´t Stop Loving You -2

Personally, with the exception of Mr Ifield's (and one or two others') contributions, I think most of them have been an improvement on the early and mid-90s. I agree that things will improve further with the advent of the Stones though.

Dobritsa again please. Got to be right eventually.

11th May 33 Elvis Presley – Rock-A-Hula Baby/Can´t Help Falling In Love 33 Elvis Presley – Return To Sender 31 Frank Ifield – I Remember You 30 The Tornados – Telstar 26 The Beatles — From me to you 26 The Beatles – I Want To Hold Your Hand +1 24 Gerry & The Pacemakers – How Do You Do It 24 The Beatles – She Loves You 23 Elvis Presley – She´s Not You 22 B. Bumble & The Stingers – Nut Rocker 21 Elvis Presley – (You're The) Devil In Disguise 21 Cliff Richard & The Shadows – The Next Time/Bachelor Boy +2 20 Ray Charles – I Can´t Stop Loving You 20 The Searchers – Sweets For My Sweet +1 20 Cliff Richard & The Shadows – Summer Holiday 19 The Shadows – Wonderful Land 19 The Shadows – Dance On 19 The Shadows – Foot Tapper 18 Cliff Richard & The Shadows – The Young Ones 17 Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas – Bad To Me 14 Mike Sarne & Wendy Richards – Come Outside 12 Elvis Presley – Good Luck Charm 11 Gerry & The Pacemakers – I Like It 08 Jet Harris & Tony Meehan – Diamonds 03 Frank Ifield – Confessin´ (That I Love You) -6 Frank Ifield is this round's jive bunny....

Lilham gave the Beatles +2 but didn't add it to the total, next person (er..me) failed to spot this. SLY should now be on 27. Can next person rectify.

10/5 25 Frank Ifield – I remember you 24 The Tornados — Telstar 24 Cliff Richard & the Shadows – Summer Holiday 24 Gerry & the Pacemakers – How do you do it 24 Elvis Presley – Return to sender 21 The Beatles – She loves you +1 22 Cliff Richard & the Shadows – The next time/Bachelor Boy +1 21 Mike Sarne & Wendy Richards – Come outside 21 Elvis Presley – (You're the) Devil in disguise 21 Elvis Presley – Rock-a-hula baby/Can´t help falling in love 21 The Beatles – I want to hold your hand +1 21 Cliff Richard & the Shadows – The Young Ones +1 20 The Beatles — From me to you 20 The Shadows – Wonderful land 20 B. Bumble & the Stingers – Nut Rocker 20 Ray Charles – I can´t stop loving you 20 The Shadows – Dance on 20 The Shadows – Foot Tapper 20 Gerry & the Pacemakers – I like it 20 The Searchers – Sweets for my sweet 20 Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas – Bad to me 19 Elvis Presley – She´s not you 18 Gerry & the Pacemakers – You´ll never walk alone 16 Jet Harris & Tony Meehan – Diamonds  14 Elvis Presley — Good Luck Charm 14 Frank Ifield – Confessin´ (that I love you) -6 14 Brian Poole & the Tremeloes – Do you love me 12 Frank Ifield – The wayward wind

10/5/23 89 Del Shannon – Runaway 75 The Shadows – Apache 71 Roy Orbison – Only The Lonely 62 John Leyton – Johnny Remember Me 60 Helen Shapiro – Walkin´ Back To Happiness +4 29 Petula Clark – Sailor -6

84 Del Shannon – Runaway 82 The Shadows – Apache 59 John Leyton – Johnny Remember Me +2 56 Roy Orbison — Only The Lonely 50 Helen Shapiro – Walkin´ Back To Happiness +2 45 Petula Clark – Sailor 39 Johnny Tillotson – Poetry In Motion 12 Helen Shapiro – You Don´t Know 09 Shirley Bassey – Reach For The Stars/Climb Ev'ry Mountain -6

Well done Perhaps, thanks for running CC. Happy with top of 4th quartile, aiming for mid table mediocrity in 3rd quartile next (this) year.

8/5/23 75 Del Shannon – Runaway 74 The Shadows – Apache 57 John Leyton – Johnny Remember Me +2 56 Petula Clark – Sailor 48 Roy Orbison – Only The Lonely 46 Helen Shapiro – Walkin´ Back To Happiness +2 31 Johnny Tillotson – Poetry In Motion 29 Elvis Presley – (Marie’s The Name Of) His Latest Flame/Little Sister 21 Helen Shapiro – You Don´t Know 16 The Everly Brothers – Temptation 15 Jimmy Jones – Good Timing 14 Shirley Bassey – Reach For The Stars/Climb Ev'ry Mountain -6

68 Del Shannon – Runaway 66 The Shadows – Apache 48 Petula Clark – Sailor 47 Helen Shapiro – Walkin´ Back To Happiness 47 Roy Orbison – Only The Lonely 45 John Leyton – Johnny Remember Me 38 Johnny Tillotson – Poetry In Motion 36 Elvis Presley – (Marie’s The Name Of) His Latest Flame/Little Sister 25 Jimmy Jones – Good Timin´ 24 Shirley Bassey – Reach For The Stars/Climb Ev'ry Mountain 23 Helen Shapiro – You Don´t Know 20 The Everly Brothers – Temptation -1 18 Johnny Kidd & The Pirates – Shakin´ All Over +4 15 The Marcels— Blue Moon 0 Eden Kane – Well I Ask You (unsuccessfully) for clemency -5 Fun fact. Eden Kane is the older brother not of Harry but of Peter Sarstedt (of 'Where do yo go to my lovely' fame)

34 Roy Orbison – Only The Lonely 30 The Shadows – Apache 30 The Marcels – Blue Moon 30 Jimmy Jones – Good Timin’ 30 Del Shannon — Runaway +1 28 Shirley Bassey – Reach For The Stars/Climb Ev'ry Mountain 27 Elvis Presley – Are You Lonesome Tonight 27 Petula Clark – Sailor 26 Johnny Kidd & The Pirates – Shakin’ All Over +2 26 Helen Shapiro – Walkin’ Back To Happiness 26 John Leyton – Johnny Remember Me +1 24 Helen Shapiro — You Don’t Know 23 Elvis Presley – It’s Now Or Never 21 The Everly Brothers – Temptation 21 Elvis Presley – (Marie’s The Name Of) His Latest Flame/Little Sister 20 Michael Holliday – Starry Eyed 20 Johnny Preston – Running Bear 20 Anthony Newley – Do You Mind 20 Cliff Richard & The Shadows – I Love You 20 Johnny Tillotson – Poetry In Motion 18 Eden Kane - Well I Ask You 16 The Temperance Seven – You’re Driving Me Crazy 16 Floyd Cramer – On The Rebound 16 Adam Faith – Poor Me -6 (and a pretty poor Buddy Holly impression to boot) 16 The Everly Brothers – Cathy’s Clown 15 Danny Williams – Moon River 15 Elvis Presley – Surrender 14 The Highwaymen – Michael 14 Eddie Cochran – Three Steps To Heaven 14 The Shadows – Kon-Tiki 14 Frankie Vaughn – Tower Of Strength 14 Everly Brothers – Walk Right Back/Ebony Eyes 11 Ricky Valance – Tell Laura I Love Her Another oldie who knew nearly all of these already. Two people here on one of my DDP teams. The drummer in Johnny Kidd and the Pirates went on to find musical fulfilment in The Wombles. Shakin' all over is pretty good too though.

Mary Hopkin is 73. Catch a fish and light a fire, drink some wine with me....