Part 2 suffered a delay due to a weather cancellation 2 weeks ago. Wind, rain, snow, downed wires and trees was a bit too much to consider driving around in but all was good for last night and we had one of the best sessions I can recall. Joining me on this evening was Jen, Ken, Dan, Bill, Wendy Sue, Anne, Suzan, Larry, Louise, and Rich.

The first 4 songs were mine (Arlene). FROM ME TO YOU was easy, Ken liked it but why was I the only one ooooooo'ing? I think we sounded great.

LET IT BE is from the final studio album before the group broke up. I remember hearing an interview with Paul where he said the group had been having problems and he knew they were done. It was during this tense time he had a dream in which his dead mother told him "let it be." Thus, the inspiration for the song and album. Anyway, this was an easy 4-chord song. Not one of my favorite songs and I'm not even sure why I included it.

WHEN I'M 64 was good. Louise said it was fun and Ken said it was a good chord sheet. Funny story: A few years ago someone I worked with would not reveal her age but with a little sleuthing on my part I learned she was 64. Every now and then I would hum this song when she was near me. One day she says to me "Nice tune." haha This should be on our concert play list. Short, easy and tuneful.

YOUR MOTHER SHOULD KNOW, AAAAAAH, another great one and we had so much fun with it. Add a G7 and C to the ending. Add to the the list.

I wanted to do some more but we moved on from my picks on to others. Let the record show that I wanted to do SHE LOVES YOU, MISERY, and BESAME MUCHO (which I really think would have been fun). Also from Part 1 we did not do I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER, NORWEGIAN WOOD, THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD, FOOL ON THE HILL. Have a look at the BESAME MUCHO video on YOUTUBE. The boys (and they were quite young then) had such a good time with it. Very campy. It was part of an audition recording for them.

IF I FELL (Ken) is such a pretty song but gosh, 8 of the 14 chords are bar chords. I loved Dan's response: "bloody hell" when he saw them. Yah - I thought the same thing. But Ken played it beautifully. What a talented fella! By the way, I don't usually sit next to him and it was a treat to observe and hear his skillful strumming on some of the songs. I think it's called fanning. Look here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh_iiVDVooQ

I'M SO TIRED (Ken) was next. From the White Album. Inspired by John's unrelenting insomnia while at a meditation camp with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in India. Ken had fun belting out "for a little piece of mind." And we had fun listening to him do it.

THE NIGHT BEFORE (Ken) was pretty good and after a long recess "The Parentheses" were employed as back-up singers and we really pulled it off well. Another for a concert list.

Dan suggested I DON'T WANT TO SPOIL THE PARTY and it was tuneful and fun to play in spite of the sad lyrics. Louise said the chord changes were fun. I agree.

GIRL (Rich) had us enjoying Ken's sipping sound effects. Another saddish sounding song but I think we played well and we all liked it.

THIS BOY (Ken) was the B-side of I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND and was also played on their second visit to the Ed Sullivan Show. It's melodic in a 50's doo-wop style. I thought it was interesting. Concert list!

The next 7 were from Bill. OCTOPUS'S GARDEN: It is said (on the internet so it must be true) that Ringo was on a boat when the captain told him octopuses travel around picking up stones and shiny things to build gardens. And that inspired him to pen this song. I'm OK with that. Your basic F, G7, C, Am 4 chord song. Always a crowd pleaser. Concert list!

ONLY YOU was a Platters hit in the 50's. Very un-Ringo-ish if you ask me but always a pretty song to sing. Fun sound effects from Ken. Yeah, put it on the list.

PHOTOGRAPH - We've done this one before and always seem to have the same problem. Great on the chorus and not so good with the verse. A pretty song and I am sure we will visit it again in the future.

YOUR SIXTEEN: Move over WOOLLY BULLY. This should be the one to pull out from now on when we want to impress.

DON’T PASS ME BY - Ringo's first solo composition. He first played it for the Beatles in 1962 but it was not recorded until 1968. Nice song.

IT DON’T COME EASY - Another nice one.

OH! DARLING - Bill made up this very nice chord sheet. The original is in the key of A but he gave us a much friendlier version in the key of C. Finally the crowd loosened up and joined me in singing out the "oooooh's." Another list contender.

Dan provided chord sheets for IT'S ONLY LOVE and SEXIE SADDIE. Both very nice standard Beatles pieces. Sexie Saddie actually refers to the Maharishi who Lennon disapproved of because of complaints of lewd sexual advances with women attending his ashram. As a matter of fact Maharishi was the original title but Lennon was persuaded to disguise his target.

Our next theme will be WOMEN SINGER-SONGWRITERS. So many to choose from, Dolly, Carol King, Joannie Mitchell, Pink Adel, Norah Jones, Cher, Madonna, Mandy Moore, Alanis Morrisette, Martina McBride, Donna Summer, Toni Tenille, Carly Simon, Bonnie Raitt, Barbra Streisand, Gwyn Stefani, Lady Gaga, Bette Midler just to name a few.

Until then you keep strumming,

Arlene.