Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Nothing is more unpredictable than the whims of public taste. Who’d have thought that two Eastbourne wrinklies, who had made home made recordings and sent them in to Southern Counties Radio’s Sunday morning breakfast show, would find themselves with a CD flying off the shelves? But that’s what’s happened and only those locked into the straightjacket of “cool” music appreciation would fail to admit that Rod and Mike have a lot of fun running through songs like “The Old Rugged Cross”, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” and “Precious Lord”. Tubas burp the bass lines, trumpets and trombones blow evocative lines as if a New Orleans street band was giving a rousing send off to a departed friend and there are kazoos and spoons to keep up the fun. The vocals from Mike are there too to ensure that the old, old story isn’t lost. Only when the guys move away from the old trad sound to a more “modern” approach (like on the jarring lounge jazz “Count Your Blessings”) do they come unstuck. But overall this is an engaging and enjoyable exercise. No doubt more albums will follow.

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