The Irish in Britain, including those of Irish descent, make up a significant part of the UK population. Here, you will find news, entertainment, events, sports and features from the local Irish Post newspaper.

Paul Camilleri: Another Sad Goodbye

By Graham Clifford

After listening to this album I sprinted down to my chemist in the hope the pharmacist would give me some Prozac but was unlucky in my quest.

I probably should have expected such depressing material in a blues album but Paul Camilleri’s lyrics would have produced tears from the Tyrone football team after winning this year’s All-Ireland. In truth there are more beams of light in a solitary confinement cell!

Undoubtedly a fine guitarist and vocalist Camilleri’s lyrics seem like they were penned on the back of an old receipt while waiting in line at Sainburys. The title track Another Sad Goodbye boasts a verse with the words “I’m not a heartbreaker, just got a broken heart. I’m sorry I can’t love you, someone has torn me apart.”

Come on Paul did you get these lines from one of the scriptwriters off EastEnders? Unsurprisingly the best track on the album is an instrumental entitled Mister PC. In it the British artist displays his best talents as a musician. Solid potential can be found in Let My guitar Talk and It’s Too Late and at a push you can see why the Swiss-based Paul is rising to stardom in the land of watches and cheese.

The penultimate track on the album is entitled Ain’t Givin’ Up and if Camilleri follows his own advice he could make a more global impact on the blues scene. However he desperately needs a song writer who has grasped the concept that things don’t always have to rhyme. This album would make a perfect stocking-filler for a friend or family member you’re forced to like but deep down don’t really.

Various Artistes: Hairbrush Divas Party

By Phil Savva

You gotta love it! These wonderful compilation albums that are released in the run-up to Christmas really unveil some occasional gems.

Hairbrush Divas is a three-CD collection of some of those songs you just love to sing — or hum — along to scanning the years and the genres.

CD1 features such delights as Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, The Communards Don’t Leave Me This Way, Tiffany’s I Think We’re Alone Now and the legendary Respect from Aretha Franklin. Alongside these classics are more modern singalongs from Strike (U Sure Do), Madison Avenue (Don’t Call Me Baby), Holly Valance (Kiss Kiss) and The Original (I Luv You Baby).

CD2 continues in much the same vein with all-time greats from Chaka Khan (I Feel For You), Earth, Wind & Fire (Boogie Wonderland), Bobby Brown (Two Can Play That Game) and Sister Sledge (He’s The Greatest Dancer).

Guaranteed to make any party go with a bang. But just when you thought it was safe CD3 actually gives you the real chance to join in with the hits with its sing-along disc. Here you have the chance to display your vocal talents to the likes of Stacy Lattisaw’s Jump To The Beat, The Bluebells’ Young At Heart and D:Ream’s Things Can Only Get Better.

Sheer genius.

Various Artistes: I Love 60s

By Phil Savva

For those of us with even longer memories I Love 60s is another great triple-CD collection of some of the best and perhaps some of the most obscure tracks of that era.

Nostalgia is big business at the moment and this compilation is sure to do well because it has so many instantly recognisable tunes.

The list of artistes is like a who’s-who from the ’60s and one could only imagine the cost of putting together such a line-up nowadays.

For the record, if you’ll pardon the pun, CD1 contains tracks from the likes of The Everly Brothers (Cathy’s Clown), The Animals (We Gotta Get Out Of This Place), Van Morrison (Brown Eyed Girl), Beach Boys (Wouldn’t It Be Nice), Isley Brothers (This Old Heart Of Mine) and The Supremes (Baby Love). CD2 features The Hollies (He Ain’t Heavy), Peter Sarstedt (Where Do You Go To My Lovely), Petula Clark (Downtown), Manfred Mann (Pretty Flamingo) and Fats Domino (Walking To New Orleans).

CD3 completes this trip down memory lane with The Tremeloes (Silence Is Golden), Bobby Vee (Rubber Ball), Lulu (To Sir With Love), Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (Shakin’ All Over) and Marmalade (Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da) to name but a few.

Eighty tracks that defined an era.

WIN COPIES OF I LOVE 60s

Would you like to win a copy of the fabulous I Love 60s triple CD? Well The Irish Post has five copies to give away to lucky readers.

As usual just put your name and address on a postcard marked ‘I Love 60s’ and send it to the usual address. Or you can e-mail us at irishpost@irishpost.co.uk.

Usual rules apply and the editor’s decision is final. Closing date for entries is Friday, December 9.