Instant Sunshine

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For other uses, see Instant Sunshine (disambiguation).

Instant Sunshine is a comedy cabaret quartet. It was formed in 1966 by three doctors at St. Thomas' Hospital, Peter Christie, David Barlow and Alan Maryon-Davis. In 1972 they were joined by the journalist Miles Kington. In 1998 Miles Kington left the group and Tom Barlow joined in his place. Peter Christie is the leading spirit and writes the words and music.

Their style has been compared to Flanders and Swann. The lyrics typically have an element of surreal fantasy (one song begins "Our Budgie has Changed to an Orang-Utang"), while the tunes are usually wistful and mock-sentimental. Their act contains an abundance of comic "business" and sound effects, usually provided by Alan Maryon-Davis. They normally perform in cabaret at private bookings, but on occasion they appear in public performances such as the Edinburgh Fringe. They have also provided theme songs for radio programmes, being particularly known for their contribution to Stop The Week.

They produced at least six LPs, including "The Instant Sunshine LP" (1980), "Live at Tiddy Dols" (1968) and "Here We Go Again" (1968). There are currently three CDs in print, "Instant Sunshine Comes of Age" (1987), "Jubilee" (1992) and "Live at the Old Vic" (2002).

Contents

[edit] Song titles

[edit] Instant Sunshine Comes of Age

  1. The Parish Magazine
  2. A Memorable Meal
  3. Smooth Train Blues
  4. Yodelling Neurosis
  5. My Garden Shed
  6. My Dog Has Fleas
  7. Every Body needs a Body
  8. Wish You Were Here
  9. Spring Collection
  10. Has Anyone Seen My Horse
  11. At the Launderette
  12. Scat Like That
  13. Foreign Relations
  14. Conservation Conversation
  15. Who Mowed the Lawns of Eden?
  16. Never be Tempted by Water
  17. Go Plastic
  18. Platform Three
  19. Sorry
  20. Los Peckham Ryos

[edit] Jubilee

  1. A Bouquet of Roes
  2. Whitehall Farce
  3. What is a Thingummy-jig
  4. Middlesex Man
  5. Pick up the Phone
  6. Eating Food is Wrong
  7. Specs Appeal
  8. If I Keep on Whistling
  9. Shiny Leather Chair
  10. Who Dunnit
  11. Ideal Home
  12. Cucumber Sandwiches
  13. Birds and Bees
  14. Holiday Survival
  15. Westminster Pier to Greenwich
  16. It Happened in the Park
  17. Equal Animal Rights
  18. Alas Poor Hamlet
  19. Mini Mozart
  20. Listen to the Summer
  21. Fleeting Time

[edit] Live at the Old Vic

  1. Sunshine
  2. Birdseed
  3. Platform Three
  4. Knitting for Victory
  5. Herts is Trumps
  6. Smooth Train Blues
  7. The Euro
  8. The Demon in the Drink
  9. Our Show is Live
  10. Lots in the Attic
  11. Lugubrious Lobster
  12. Who Mowed the Lawns of Eden
  13. My Horse and I
  14. Corduroy Trousers
  15. Kiddies Olympics
  16. Conservation Conversation

[edit] Other

  • Heathrow Holiday
  • Rambling Man
  • Beefcake
  • Don't Tell the Abbot
  • Lords Pavilion
  • Doctors
  • We're Awfully Keen on the Arts
  • Top Dogs
  • Bar Stool Sailing
  • Worms
  • Ten Gallon Hat
  • Judges
  • We All Went on a Holiday to Spain
  • Mrs Brown
  • The Monster in the Goldfish Pond
  • Hurdy Gurdy Man
  • Harry Lauder
  • Metamorphosis
  • When I was in Bombay
  • I Wish I Was a Sassenach
  • There's No News Today
  • Casanova
  • Some Dancing
  • A Little Burgling
  • Flibbertygibbet Flo
  • My Lavatory Lady
  • Danish Bacon
  • Squidger
  • Fish and Chips
  • The Kids on the Corner
  • Keep Fit
  • Money Matters

[edit] Book

Barlow, David (et. al) - The Instant Sunshine Book with Hints for Struggling Supergroups (Robson Books, 1980) ISBN 0860511197 - includes music and lyrics for songs from "The Instant Sunshine LP"

[edit] Links