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Having taken part in many evenings at Lord's Cricket Ground, The Pub at Hambledon and elsewhere, all celebrating the music and poetry of cricket, under the watchful eye of cricket historian and ex-BBC Producer, David Rayvern Allen, it seemed crazy not to commit some of this material to tape.

Signum Records agreed to release this cricket disc and Songs of Cricket was born.

Just a few of the many pieces possible are here, but along with wonderful guests, The London Quartet cover centuries of cricket music.

• One of the earliest known cricket songs, from the late 17th or early 18th century, The Radnage Cricket Song
• A John Arlott / Yetties song
• A song telling the tale of Shane Warne and that delivery to Mike Gatting
• Medleys of School Songs & Australian songs [including one written by Sir Donald Bradman]
• The Peter Warlock song - The Cricketers of Hambledon, discussing the beginnings of the English game
• A setting of the In / Out cricket tea towel
• The Opening number from the Tim Rice / Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cricket - Hearts and Wickets
• A medley of modern TV themes/songs created by wunderkind, Alexander L'Estrange

Our Guests are:

Richard Stilgoe - a veteran of the David Rayvern Allen evenings, Richard shows his love for the game, and naturally his wit and wisdom in two solo songs and we sing two of his pastiches

Rory Bremner - verbal dexterity to the fore, he interrupts us now and again with some hilarious cricket voices

Eliza Lumley - the West End star sings two solo songs and also a duet about Andy Flower!

Tim Rice - our old friend adds gravitas, as 'the Earl' in his own, The Summer Game

Mainly accompanied by the Musical Director of Billy Elliot, pianist Chris Hatt (and he does a piano solo too).

All ably produced by the conductor of Tenebrae, Nigel Short

An unmissable CD for lovers of cricket ... and everyone else as well!