You've Got A Friend In Me

Randy Newman writes some of the best film music, and some of the best songs full stop. This is the one that everyone under the age of 25, and their parents, knows.

Just Can't Get Enough

If I appear to have more wrinkles today, blame the camera on the new phone. Damn you, high definition.

Brown Eyed Girl

A song by Van The Man, one of those people who are anything but predictable when you go and see them. I once saw him walk off stage after an hour, when his hat fell off. Not even a "thankyou and goodnight".

Cruel To Be Kind

How many Nick Lowe songs have I done so far? Probably not enough.

Man With The Blues

A Willie Nelson song from as long ago as 1959. Short of money, having just spent a year selling bibles, vacuum cleaners, and encyclopedias door-to-door, he gave half of the publishing rights to this song to his booking agent, to pay for the recording session.

Downtown

There are a few songs which bring back vivid memories from my very early days, playing at home, with my mother doing housework, listening to the radio. This is one of them.

There Stands The Glass

A song I first heard sung by the late great Ted Hawkins, a Venice Beach busker who ended up touring the UK and living in Bridlington.

Rocket

Somebody on Twitter said that this was the best opening line to a song, ever. So I have given it a try, and do you know what? He could be right.

You Never Can Tell

Way back in April, I did Memphis Tennessee, and here's another of Chuck Berry's great story songs.

Take Care Of All Of My Children

I think that this ought to be up there in the list of favourite funeral songs. It may already be - I just don't go to enough funerals of Tom Waits fans to be sure.

Summertime Blues

Back from the festival, washing machine on, and time for a bit of Eddie Cochran, not done the way he did it.

Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down

A Merle Haggard song, recorded just past midnight,and lit by two SolarAid lamps, which is what this whole thing is about.

Blue Badge Abuser

A little moral tale from those fine purveyors of everyday observations,Half Man Half Biscuit.

At The Indie Disco

Why haven't I done any Divine Comedy songs yet? Time to put that right. You can almost feel the sticky carpet in this one.

Who Loves The Sun

So here I am, at the Beautiful Days festival in Devon. Looking forward to plenty of good music over the next few days. And some sun too.

I'm So Bored With The USA

Coming from a wet motorway services, a little bit of Clash to get me in a festival mood.

Sugar Baby Love

This is a bit of a "what-if" story. When they wrote it, Wayne Bickerton and Tony Waddington were going to enter it for the contest to find the UK entry for Eurovision, 1974. Then they changed their mind, and Olivia Newton-John sang "Long Live Love". Would this song by the Rubettes have beaten Abba?
Anyway, if you are expecting piercing falsetto vocals, prepare for disappointment - this is the mellow version.

Whistle For The Choir

I heard this on the radio yesterday, first time for years, and was humming it all day. Sorry if this does the same for you.

You're So Vain

Debate has raged for years about the identity of the person that this song is aimed at. Carly Simon has said that it is actually about three people, but that verse two is Warren Beatty. Meanwhile, Taylor Swift is in on the secret, but isn't saying...

Galileo

I think Paul Weller said this was the one song he wishes he had written. Can't really argue with that - it is definitely one to treasure. Written by Declan O'Rourke - seek him out.

Moonlighting

I do like a song that tells a story. Here's one that is so full of detail, it could be a film script - the colour of the van, what they ate and drank, even where her mother works. But did they get away with it?

Roy Rogers

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was an album that was with me through my teenage years, and this was one of my favourite tracks, even though I don't think I ever watched Roy & Trigger.

A Kind Of Hush

I usually have to do a bit of digging to check up on the history of the songs I am doing, and today I am pleased to find that Peter Noone is still alive & kicking, and (possibly) doing a radio show in the USA. This one was a hit for him & Herman's Hermits, and again for The Carpenters.

I'm A Believer

Before he hit the big time himself, Neil Diamond did OK writing songs for other people, including The Monkees.

Sad Songs And Waltzes

Willie Nelson has the simple song down to a fine art. This one was recorded by him in 1973, but in fact he wrote it nearly ten years before, when it was recorded by Hank Cochran. And of course, it is a sad song and a waltz.

Don't Sit On My Jimmy Shands

Home again, and something for those old enough to remember taking records to parties. I used to, and as a result I ended up with a Who LP inside a Golden Earring sleeve. I never did find out who got the other side of that deal.

My Old Friend The Blues

Day 2 of the short song / slow upload challenge. Leave out the repeats and this one might be there after the first pint...

Well Alright

This weekend is a challenge. Away in the van, in the middle of nowhere. No phone signal, no WiFi, except a very slow connection at the pub. So...a short song (Buddy Holly is always a good bet), and stay in the pub for as long as the upload takes. I like a plan.

Down The Dustpipe

Something from the early Status Quo years, but written by Carl Groszmann, who also had songs recorded by Ringo Starr and a very young Bee Gees.

I'm Not In Love

Strip away the layers of voices and loops, and there's still a pretty song underneath.

Sittin' On Top Of The World

The Mississippi Sheiks were around in the 1930s, recording a type of primitive country blues, with the occasional slightly smutty verse (verse 4 in this example), probably because their line-up included Bo Carter (see May 28th). This one has been covered many times since.