Tagged with unclejeff64

Uncle Jeff – Thank You!

If you haven’t noticed, I have started winding down this site.  After daily posts for almost three years, I find my interests and time being pulled in directions away from the ukulele universe – not that I don’t still play daily – just that I have other things I want to do more.

August 5th will be my final post, and come September 29th, I will allow the domain name to slip back into the ether.  From now until then, please forgive my indulgence as I use my remaining posts to thanks those who helped make the experience so rewarding.

First up is one of my favorite ukers and a true class act – Uncle Jeff.  Jeff is exactly as gregarious, friendly and giving as you would expect from watching him perform.  From my experience with him, the only mean bone in his body he has honed into one nasty clawhammer so he could kick out some killer tunes.

By the time he asked me to review his new album, the fine Hillbilly Uke, my orbit around the uke was already so wide that I didn’t feel I could do it the justice it deserves.  In shallow stead of the superlative review it warrants, I can only offer this: Jeff – every time one of yours songs comes up in rotation on my iPod, I smile.  Your music makes my day, and I thank you for it!

Don Lawson (AKA Donnie Bubbles)

Song: Strawberry Plains

YouTube Channel: unclejeff64

Buy Hillbilly Uke: iTunes

His Notes: very different from what i usually write.
more chords and words anyway.
100% autobiographical as well.
for me and jeri and that old gray cat.
performed on my 1947 gibson tenor.

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UncleJeff64 – Half Step Down

The patron saint of UkeToob strikes with a great original concept and song….

YouTube Channel: UncleJeff64

His Notes: i wrote this today.
i usually tune my ukes a half-step down (F# B D# G#).
being a graduate of the Dylan/Prine Kristofferson Vocal Academy, it gives me a little more room when i sing and takes a little plinkyness out of the uke itself.
i always knew i was gonna use “half-step down” for a title.
performed on my 1947 gibson tenor uke.
Happy National Ukulele Day!!!

half step down, half step down
you ain’t so far ahead of me
i’m just a half step down

i tune a little flat cause i fret a little sharp
daddy said thank god the boy never
took up the autoharp

half step down, half step down
you ain’t so far ahead of me
i’m just a half step down

only got 4 strings, only use 3 chords
you can carry a tune but i can write the words
better leave that guitar in it’s case
take that 6 string razor go shave your face

half step down, half step down
you ain’t so far ahead of me
i’m just a half step down

i tune a little flat cause i fret a little sharp
daddy said thank god the boy never
took up the autoharp

half step down, half step down
you ain’t so far ahead of me
i’m just a half step down

F# is a half step down from G
B is a half step down from C
D# is a half step down from E
and the G# stands for good lookin’!

half step down, half step down
you ain’t so far ahead of me
i’m just a half step down

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Uncle Jeff – Somebody’s Good Dog

Classic…..

YouTube Channel: unclejeff64

His Notes: no, it ain’t about a dead dog!
it’s a metaphor dang it!

i loved that woman more than she ever knowed
now somebody’s good dog
is layin’ by the road
took him for a ride and left him out in the cold
now somebody’s good dog
is layin’ by the road

i tried to fetch every stick she throwed
now somebody’s good dog
is layin’ by the road
never seen it comin’ cause he’s movin’ too slow
now somebody’s good dog
is layin’ by the road

she said she loved me but it never showed
now somebody’s good dog
is layin’ by the road
took him for a ride and left him out in the cold
now somebody’s good dog
is layin’ by the road
never seen it comin’ cause he’s movin’ too slow
now somebody’s good dog
is layin’ by the road

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UncleJeff64 – You’re the Only One

UkeToob favorite strikes again….

YouTube Channel: UncleJeff64

His Notes:
this one’s been in the notebooks for years.
first take on my old gibson tenor.
Uncle Jeff Hillbilly Uke is available on iTunes and Amazon.com, or go to PayPal at jghaun@gmail.com 12 bucks. thanks y’all!!

you’re the only one
who could ever change my mind
and make me stop and think about
what all i have to lose
when nothin’ ain’t worth nothin’
i wanna leave it all behind
you’re the only one
who could ever change my mind

i’ve always been the way i am right now
when i set my mind on somethin’
ain’t no turnin’ around
sometimes i think about leavin’
lord knows it’s true
i’d have been long gone already if not for you

you’re the only one
who could ever change my mind
and make me stop and think about
what all i have to lose
when nothin’ ain’t worth nothin’
i wanna leave it all behind
you’re the only one
who could ever change my mind

when the walls start closing in on me
i catch myself thinkin’ about the places i could be
i’m ready to go searchin’ for whatever i can find
you’re the only one
who could ever change my mind

you’re the only one
who could ever change my mind
and make me stop and think about
what all i have to lose
when nothin’ ain’t worth nothin’
i wanna leave it all behind
you’re the only one
who could ever change my mind

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Meylie Mellow & Rel-Bar – She Keeps the Blues Away

Meylie and Rel-Bar with another great cover of a UkeToob favorite, UncleJeff64….

YouTube Channel: MeylieMellow

Their Notes: WE’VE BEEN UNCLEJEFFED!!! Thanks so much to UncleJeff64 for giving away not one but TWO vintage plastic ukuleles from his very own collection: a Playtune Senior and a Mauna Loa… Is this really real?!? We owe you one buddy!

Check out UncleJeff64′s YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/unclejeff64 and get yourself his 12 track CD “Hillbilly Uke”. It’s nothing but the truth!

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UncleJeff64 – Sugar High

I have been woefully neglectful of Uncle Jeff, who is not only one of my favorite ukers, but a damn fine fellow to boot.  He put out an album some months ago, and I promised him a feature, but just haven’t been able to scrape the time together to do it right.  In the meantime, do check out his album – it’s really great!

iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hillbilly-uke/id407433342

YouTube Channel: unclejeff64

His Notes: hadn’t done a video on a plastic uke in a long time….and had never done a proper video on this uke in particular which is exactly like the one i got for my third birthday. (there’s a clip of that around here somewhere….)
wrote this a long time ago. maybe my only “rock and roll” song…..or maybe they’re ALL rock and roll songs. here’s Sugar High, recorded live in my wife’s bathroom.

i’m on a sugar high
you know i can’t stand still
don’tcha know that i
can’t ever get my fill
sugar sugar high
jumpin’ outta my skin
don’tcha know that i
gotta see you again

lord knows she’s always willin’
i never can get enough
i’m like a little kid in a candy store
baby’s got the sweetest stuff

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UncleJeff64 – Don’t Hang Too Many Hats on that Nail

Jeff’s folk/country/bluegrass entry for the Bring The Song Challenge….

YouTube Channel: UncleJeff64

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UncleJeff64 – My Own Good Hole

UkeToob favorite live at the Louie Bluie festival….

YouTube Channel: UncleJeff64

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UncleJeff64 – Lightin’ Bug

Many thanks to Jeff for a great run as our first official Guest Editor!

If the job had anything to do with busting this little beauty out his notebook after 18 years, you can thank me now….

YouTube Channel: UncleJeff64

Lyrics:

i wish i was a lightnin bug shining like a star
the woman that i love would come catch me in a jar
a jar full of whiskey to make me feel so fine
i would fly down to the bottom
i would shine, shine, shine
shine, shine shine

if i was a lightnin’ bug laughing through the trees
dancing like a diamond on a warm summer breeze
i’d fly up to her window where i know she could see
she’d think i was a falling star
she’d make a wish on me, make a wish on me

last night i caught a lightnin’ bug
held it in my hands
held it for a moment, set it free again
that woman has my heart, she’ll have it ’til i die
i set her free because i love her,
i love to watch her fly, i love to watch her fly

i wish i was a lightnin bug shining like a star
the woman that i love would come catch me in a jar
a jar full of whiskey to make me feel so fine
i would fly down to the bottom
i would shine, shine, shine

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