Album Notes

Sputnik’s 15th album “Red Ukulele” celebrates the versatility of the small but ever more popular Ukulele, & presents an eclectic collection of fresh Uke driven catchy tunes & unique songs that yet again defy easy categorisation.
Collaborating with multi-instrumentalist Hector Gubbins adding Mandolin/Banjo/Guitar & Melodeon to create an alt-folk/country soundscape behind Sputnik’s unique vocal wizardry, driving uke, & impressive artillery of percussion (but no drums!). In a world that needs classification, Sputnik has his own “File under” box! Quirky, but entirely enjoyable, if this album was an endangered species it would be a “Pan-ger” (The warmth of a Panda with the teeth of a Tiger).

"I'd never owned or played a ukulele before, but was drawn to a cheap and lonely looking little red uke hanging in a music shop in Swansea. It had to be red... and once I'd brought it home, (despite the frets being out of line, making tuning almost impossible, and only about 4 chords playable) it didn't dissapoint, and the 'Red Ukulele' songs pretty much wrote themselves."
(SW)

Mr Gubbins plays the banjo, mandolin, guitar, and squeeze box...
Sputnik Weazel Junior plays the tenor sax on 'Love Lost Found'...
Mrs Weazel sings backing vocals on 'Pop Tune'...
Mr Weazel strumms, hits, and vocalises the rest...

These songs were recorded over two sessions @ Weazel HQ, Llandeilo (West Wales),
during the Summer/Fall of 2010. Fuled by vegetarian curry, German lager, & fresh Welsh air...

For lyrics and other info, visit...
WWW.SPUTNIKWEAZEL.CO.UK

The ‘Uke’, is a kind of plucked lute; a Red Uke is a red version...

“We got super glue for wings, wounds, body bags and pop tunes”

Peak Oil - the point in time when the maximum rate of global petroleum extraction is reached, after which the rate of production enters terminal decline...

There’s a couple next door in the Uke Flats, they’re fighting over this and they’re fighting over that
They’re fighting over custody, they’re fighting for it all, they’re fighting for a principle that neither can recall

There’s an old man drinking in the flat upstairs, it numbs the pain of feeling, feeling no-one cares
He watches day time TV with the sound up really high, it stops the nagging question “did I waste my life”

There’s a bright eyed couple with a bright green door, she’s banging on the ceiling glass, he’s sleeping on the floor
They thought about religion then adopted two black cats, there’s all kinds of wild life in the Uke Flats

There’s a drummer with a suitcase and an artist with a rope, they kind of co-exist beyond the homeless drummer joke
They search for truth and beauty (and there’s nothing wrong with that), pulling endless rabbits from a battered buskers hat

Uke flats, Uke Flats, one step from the trailor park and two steps from the back
Uke flats, Uke Flats, life goes on regardless in the Yuke Flats

sputnikweazel.co.uk