National Youth Jazz Orchestra - NYJO - Why Don't They Write Songs Like This Any More? 1982

Why Don't They Write Songs Like This Any More? / I’ll Wait Here / Too Much, Too Soon / Don’t Try And Argue With Me / When I'm With You / A Girl Can't Grumble / Don’t Go To Her / No Flowers By Request / Wait And See / Rich Man / I Said There'd Be Thunder / Accident Prone / I Wasn’t Looking For a Love Affair / Leaving Here
Trumpets; Simon Garner, Mike O Gorman, Paul Spong, Paul Higgs, Mark Chandler (or Steve Sidwell)
Trombones; Neil Sidwell, Fayyaz Virji, Ralph Pearson (or Vince Sullivan), Andy Waddicor (or Nigel Barr), Nick Gallant
Saxes; Jamie Talbot, Julian Arguelles, Dave Bishop, Paul Weimar, Garald Levy
Horn; Jane Hannah
Flute; Richard Symonds, Julie Davis
Piano; Andy Vinter
Guitar; Chris Watson
Bass; Dave Hage (or Steve Pearce)
Drums; Mike Smith
Percussion; Hazel Peat, Steve Arguelles, Sarah Timms
Vocals; Litsa Davies
Recorded at Red Bus Studios, London 4.10.82

[@Grithron2]

When it came to writing songs (with words), Bill Ashton - who co-writes almost the entire album - was about as consistent as peanut butter. Everything that was either great or infuriating about him is represented on this album. (When I was rehearsing with NYJO in the '90s, many Ashton songs were treated as a joke, by singers and musicians alike, and none more so than this album's title track).
Considered as collections of songs, the later NYJO vocal albums featuring Lorraine Craig or Jacqui Hicks are better - but this one is for better or worse the most "representative".

[@mikethomas7038]

I have both those vocal albums on CD but they are more readily available I think so didn’t upload. Both great albums!

[@Strongscotch]

As a one time singer with
NYJO, I heartily concur!! (Great to hear these again though!)