Songwriter Chip Taylor proved he was an angel of the evening at two sell-out nights at The Greys.

Taylor, who wrote the hit Wild Thing, has been in and out of the music business since the Sixties and has consistently produced superb material both for other artists and himself.

For example, the title track from his forthcoming album, Let's Leave This Town, stands shoulder to shoulder with one of his earliest songs, the touching Storybook Children.

By turns philosophical (Farmer's Song), witty (101 In Cashbox), tender (A Hole In The Midnight) and wistful (Son Of A Rotten Gambler), it is easy to see why so many diverse artists choose to perform his work.

That list includes such stars as Johnny Cash, who played the uproarious Clean Your Own Tables, and Shaggy, who recorded Angel Of The Morning.

Accompanying Taylor in the duets and on the Texas fiddle was 23-year-old violinist Carrie Rodriguez who has a soulful, heartbreaking voice well suited to country music.

The small venue gave the concert a sense of intimacy and friendship which the audience and stars seemed to appreciate.

Taylor said as much as he left the stage to join the audience for a drink.