Lynda Barnes Lovett accepts that we have to take things seriously sometimes.

"But can't we have a little fun too?" she asks.

Rather than wait for someone else to come up with the answer, Mrs. Lovett has produced one of her own: a CD entitled 'Party with no Fear'. The album contains ten of her original songs, two parodies of well-known songs, and a special Christmas song, which she also wrote, all of which she hopes will are inspire listeners to loosen up, sing along with, and maybe even dance to.

"It's a 'must' for party animals," she says.

And even for those who should be but aren't, namely all the husbands, partners, significant others - call 'em what you will - who ignore their lady's obvious desire to live it up at parties, choosing instead to sit and stare into space, admire someone else's arm candy, or huddle and talk sport all night.

For them, the pull-no-punches lyrics of 'Don't Hold a Grudge' drives the message home.

"I wrote it in a Broadway style, and the men like it," Mrs. Lovett says. "It makes them laugh. They kind of like to be told off."

The story of the album's evolution begins in 1988 when the singer-songwriter and her husband Lee, who also owned a home in Aspen, Colorado, became neighbours of TV/film producer Arthur Rankin.

"He loves music and he loves to laugh - a wonderful man," Mrs. Lovett says. "He introduced us to La Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin (an international organisation devoted to the promotion of Burgundy wines and cuisine), and after about three years he said, 'It would be great if you could do something to liven up the group', so along with his wife Olga we persuaded some of the ladies to get up and sing some songs that I had put some words to."

A former classically trained pianist with perfect pitch, who also taught piano and was an accompanist for the Washington, DC ballet, Mrs. Lovett had no trouble in overlaying spoofy, wine and drinking-related lyrics to familiar tunes, as well as writing some of her own on topics people would related to; so what started as a lark grew into a regular 15-minute show which the members thoroughly enjoyed.

"It was an easy laugh," the singer/songwriter says. "Then, when we really got into it, people said, 'I wish you would do a CD', but making an album that I would just put my name on is a big commitment in terms of time and finances so I just decided to do it myself."

Since she has her own studio, Mrs. Lovett simply got on with the project, altering some of the lyrics to suit the general market. Two of the songs are parodies: 'Blue Nun' is a new take on 'Blue Moon', and 'Drinking from the Sack' a spoof on 'Leader of the Pack'.

'Christmas in Bermuda' is especially dear to Mrs. Lovett's heart because over the years she has come love the Island and its people to such an extent that she thinks there should be some songs which are associated with it, of which she hopes this will be one.

"I think of Bermuda as a classic jewel, and I don't think everything should be reggae," she says. "Bermuda is one of the best places in the world where everyone has a vision of the Island. There is an international connotation when people think of Bermuda, so I think it deserves a few classic songs, and I hope 'Christmas in Bermuda' becomes one of these."

Mrs. Lovett describes her adopted island home as "nice, pretty, clean and orderly" and says she has always felt people here are kind to each other. Just as she fears the "loud, pounding music", often including violent lyrics, can destroy that kindness and lead its listeners into hard-edged, unpleasant areas of life, so too does she believe that other forms of music can soften people's lives and make them happier.

"I really hope the young understand that," she says.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Lovett hopes that the songs originally penned for her fellow wine lovers will bring pleasure to a wider audience.

"It is a one-off because I wanted to have a record of what we had done for the group. It is not a business venture, although I have had some interest from other people who want to record them," she says.

In addition to the CD, which is available at The Music Box, Mrs. Lovett has prepared a song book, complete with scores and lyrics, and illustrated by her brother Joel Barnes, a sample of which can also be seen at The Music Box and is available by special order.