Always Remember Us This Way

The new version of "A Star Is Born" is a bit of an emotional roller-coaster, but heck, there are some good songs in there.

Runaway

Little known fact time - the co-writer of this song, keyboards player Max Crook, played the solo on a Musitron, an early synthesiser, which he invented. Me, I just whistle.

Rave On

I hear that they have made one of those orchestral albums of Buddy Holly songs, featuring his original vocals. Hologram tour to follow soon, no doubt. Here's one of those songs, no orchestra, and no Buddy.

Pay Me My Money Down

I think this one is based on an old sea shanty, but I have to confess I heard it via Bruce Springsteen.

I Put A Spell On You

This was actually a Halloween request, from Alex at SolarAid, but due to circumstances beyond our control, the request only reached me a couple of days ago...

Sweet Black Magic

I thought about playing this around Halloween, but then decided the words weren't about witches at all. So here it is, with the usual warning - just say "no".

Like The Weather

Just over thirty years ago a band called 10,000 Maniacs released an album called "In My Tribe". Glorious vocals and jangly guitars - it was played constantly in my house, and it still sounds as good today. I shake my head every time it fails to appear in Top 100 Album lists. This song is on there, but if you haven't heard it, go and find the original.

Why Can't I Touch It?

Today, in case you didn't know, is Band T-Shirt Day. So to celebrate that fine occasion, I have put this one on (again) and picked a Buzzcocks b-side.

Kodachrome

This was a hit for Paul Simon all over the world, except for the UK. The BBC refused to play it, because they saw it as an advert for Kodak film. Happy days.

Seventeen Summers

I saw a band called Skinny Lister at a festival this summer, and they are quite likely to be the best thing I have seen all year. They can go from sea shanties to wild dancing, to singalong & swayalong numbers like this one.

The Guns Of Brixton

Forgive me for not recording a song from scratch today, but I think it's worth tweaking the rules on this occasion.
Brian Fergus, aka UkeFoote, has a studio in Portland, Oregon, where he regularly conjures up magic on ukuleles, keyboards and vocals. Way back at the start of the year, he offered to help with a song. Knowing my love of The Clash, he even suggested which one. But it was only a couple of weeks ago that I finally got around to recording my part, and sent it off to him. What I didn't know was that he was about to go into hospital for a hip replacement. So, from his sick bed, he has added bass, organ, vocals, and made a proper video out of it. Thanks Brian!

I Don't Want To Talk About It

I always preferred Everything But The Girl's version to Rod's, but now I have heard the original, by Crazy Horse, and that's pretty fine too.

Dirty Old Town

How times change. The dirty old town in question was Salford, now home to Media City, a smart theatre, designer shops, and rather expensive quayside flats. I'm sure Ewan MacColl would have something else to say about it now.

The Close Shave

Back in June I did "New York Girls", the sad tale of a sailor losing his clothes and money to a lady of the night. Here is something similar, but with a couple of twists, and sailors replaced by gold miners.

Ever Fallen In Love (with someone you shouldn't've?)

Lots of bonus points if you get the title of this one correct, especially the bit in brackets.

House Where Nobody Lives

Highly chuffed that Jarrod Dickenson has indicated his approval of my version of his song yesterday. If Tom Waits does the same today, I may decide that this is all a weird dream.

No Work For A Working Man

Jarrod Dickenson is one of the best musical discoveries I have made in the last few years. A modern day troubadour, playing songs that tell stories. Here's one of them.

A Groovy Kind Of Love

Sorry about the paint-splashed clothes (and probably hair too) - this song comes inbetween coats of emulsion on the kitchen walls. Phil Collins always used to have a pot of paint on his piano when he was on Top Of The Pops, so this seems like a good time to do one he had a hit with.

When Will I Be Loved

Thanks to the person who made a donation a few days ago - you know who you are. The target has been reached, but every extra bit will pay for more lamps.
As well as singing perfect versions of songs by other people, Phil Everly wrote a few gems himself. Here's one of them.

WW1 Medley

There's only sort of song to be done today.

Where The Soul Of Man Never Dies

This weekend it seems appropriate to do a song written in 1914. It started life in hymn books, and has since been covered by many, including Johnny Cash, Iris DeMent, & Hank Williams.

Leave Them Alone

Getting on for 40 years ago, there was a one-man band called Johnny G, playing the pubs & clubs around London, and occasionally further afield. Once seen, never forgotten. He did this strange version of Blue Suede Shoes, which I have done my best to remember.

The Bare Necessities

So hard to sing this without throwing in the bits that Mowgli did. I finally caved in after the tongue-twister verse.

Everyday

Not to be confused with the Slade song of the same name. Yes, I've tried it. No, only Noddy Holder can sing it. But here's the Buddy Holly one.

Devil Gate Drive

I would never pick this as a favourite, but I can clearly remember where I was the first time I heard it - at a friend's house when his parents came back from a shopping trip with this new single, as requested. We played it over and over, probably until his parents cried "enough!"

Jolene

Another one in the occasional series of songs that clearly weren't meant to be sung by a man. But what the heck, a good song is a good song.

Hazard

This is one of those songs where the words had passed me by...nice tune, something about a river...until I sat down and read them. So, did he do it?

She's Always A Woman To Me

Not quite two months to go, and there are still a few songs in the "it's a pig to play" pile. This is one of them. No wonder Billy Joel doesn't perform very often if he has to do this one every time.

Whiskey In My Whiskey

A plain and simple drinking yourself into misery song - happy Friday!

Pinball Prison Blues

I don't know who first put these two songs together, but I'm glad they did. It makes one playable, and the other bearable, at least for a bit longer.