A slew of new people came tonight: Tim, Suzanne, John, Betty and Frank. Ting was here for his second time and PJ for her third, along with Arlene, Ken, Vin, Anne, Rochelle (welcome back). WendySue, Larry, Jack, Jen and Louise. The theme we did was BLUE or the BLUES.

1. Song Sung Blue, Neil Diamond, 1972 (PJ)

We got mixed up at one point and didn't end well, but not a bad opener. We were underway.

2. Blue Skies (paper handout), Irving Berlin, 1926 (Anne)

Written during the Roaring Twenties, three years before the stock market crash and the depression, everything was going up up up and would continue to do so forever. Great melody. The paper handout was a copy out of "The Daily Ukulele" songbook.

3. Bye Bye Blues (paper handout), Les Paul and Mary Ford, 1952 (Anne)

Another terrific melody. We were tentative the first go-round but did better the second time. I loved both of these picks, Anne.

4. Blue Bayou, Roy Orbison, 1963 (Bill)

This might have been one of the first songs I attempted with the group five years ago at my second session, but the first time with a ukulele. When Ronstadt hit with this in 1977, my older brothers said, "Hey, it's the old Roy Orbison song!" I had never heard it and wasn't impressed. Now I think just the opposite.

We are camping in Saugerties as I write, just one hundred miles north of the Bronx. You could throw a baseball from our firepit into the clear, freezing-cold Plattekill Creek if it weren't for the many trees in the way. It's so picturesque here. Blue Bayou sounds scenic as well, though I bet it comes from Roy Orbison's imagination and there is no such real place. But for just $58 a night, you too could be at Tent Site #106 at the Rip van Winkle Campgrounds and be so consumed by the natural beauty that you'll be moved to write a nostalgic song about leaving your baby behind in a beautiful spot. (I must try and remember to put my wife in the car before we head back to Long Island.)

5. I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues, Elton John, 1984 (Dan)

It's one of the last Elton John hits I really liked. It went ok, but we were a little slow.

6. Your Song, Elton John, 1970 (Ken)

This was our best effort so far. We were together and it sounded fine.

7. Nights in White Satin, Moody Blues, 1967 (Ken)

Though we over-emoted on the dramatic end of the chorus ("Oh how I love you."), this went well. It was noteworthy because Jen played Ray Thomas' famous flute solo note for note, and I got to recite the dramatic poem at the end of the song. For those reasons, this was the standout song of the night for me.

8. For My Lady, Moody Blues, 1973 (Bill)

I'm crazy for these guys and this is a particular favorite of mine. Great pick, dear Bill.

9. Blueberry Hill, Fats Domino, 1956 (Ken)

This was an easy one. It sounded good and we didn't make a mistake.

10. Moondance, Van Morrison, 1977 (Arlene)

Here's one you'd think would be very hard if you looked at the chord sheet, because the chords changed every few syllables, yet we did it well. I think I remember a lot of [Am7] to [Bm7], which I converted to an [Am] and a sloppy [D], and it still sounded good. It was fun to get into a groove of those fast changes. I compliment all of us on a good performance.

11. End of the Line, Traveling Wilburys, 1989 (Arlene)

The verses went well but we rushed through the bridges.

12. My Blue Heaven, Fats Domino, 1956 (Arlene)

Another hit for Fats Domino, these were nice chords from Dr. Uke.

13. Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue (Has Anybody Seen My Girl), 1925 (Arlene)

We could do this song in our sleep. It's a uke staple.

14. Singing the Blues, Guy Mitchell, 1956 (Vin)

Nice, smooth song. Our playing was so-so.

15. Summertime Blues, Eddie Cochrane, 1958 (Vin)

The signature sound of this song is the guitar intro. It's played throughout the song. We went from [D] to [G], then [A] to [D], but we were unable to do it fluidly. It did not come off as the fun rock and roll number it was intended to be due to our stiffness. (Sorry, Vin.) There are two other noteworthy versions of this song, one by a one-hit band called Blue Cheer (1968), and another done by the Who, both in a heavy rock style.

16. Lovesick Blues, Hank Williams Sr., 1949 (WendySue)

We had ourselves a yodeling song.

17. There's A Tear in My Beer, Hank Williams Sr., 1950 (WendySue)

We played this pretty well and WendySue sang it as well. Well well well. Good job.

18. Crying Time, Buck Owens, 1964 (WendySue)

I remember Buck Owens as one of the hosts of the TV show Hee Haw and not as a big country star, not knowing any country music. Did New York have a country station in the sixties and seventies?

19. For You Blue, Harrison / Beatles, 1970 (Dan) I love these three chords: [A7] to [D7] with an [E7] turnaround. Great fun to play.

20. Corrina Corrina, Muddy Waters, 1966 (Bill)

What happened here? Big mess. I hope Bill forgives us.

For our next session the theme will be songs by Jimmy Buffet, and because we worried there wouldn't be enough Buffet material everyone would be familiar with, any songs having to do with the beach.

Four of us, Louise, Larry, Jack and me, will be absent for that session because we'll be at the Ashokan Ukefest. Louise and I went last year and loved it. This will be the third time for Larry and Jack. You get to commune with 125 or so kindred spirits, playing chords and singing in the woods. Anyone with 600 bucks to spare will have a lovely, memorable weekend. I urge everyone to consider it for next year.

-- Dan.