Creedence Clearwater Revival 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine'

Creedence Clearwater Revival 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine'

Nowadays it's more likely that you'll hear about someone's plans to make you blue through social networking sites than the good ol' 'grapevine'. CCR were all about the good ol' days. This cover of Marvin Gaye ramps up the soulful rock factor something wicked. Played at a strategic point in the evening this has just the right ingredients to send people into a real spin. John Fogerty juices all manner of variations out of the classic riff, whilst the rest of the band collectively rip up those vines from the roots and make a bonfire out of them. Heavy.

Ali Farka Toure & Ry Cooder 'Ai Du'

Ali Farka Toure & Ry Cooder 'Ai Du'

Farking brilliant. Yes Ai Du. Talking mellow yellows. Calls for peace in Timbuktu.

The Hassles '4 O'Clock In The Morning'

The Hassles '4 O'Clock In The Morning'

4 am might be considered a bit late to be awake by some people, much too early by others or just normal business hours if you are a dairy farmer, newspaper editor, insomniac or axe murderer. Whatever the take, it's a time when the majority of the population are tucked up dreaming sweet dreams and one can revel in the fleeting tranquility of night's own time. The Hassles were fronted by a young Billy Joel and this track hails from their 1969 album 'Hour Of The Wolf', the rest of which can be taken or left depending on your prediliction for proggy nonsense.

Talking Heads 'Take Me To The River'

Talking Heads 'Take Me To The River'

Stepping into the Noughteens with a smoking cover of the soul staple 'Take Me To The River' from the album 'More Songs About Buildings And Food'. This one is certainly a builder. One of David Byrne's 'rules' when he formed Talking Heads was "no guitar solos". This very nearly has one.

Clarence Carter 'Back Door Santa'

Clarence Carter 'Back Door Santa'

Clarence sidesteps the mince pies and sherry in favour of, erm, well some covert loving actually. It's a good job the real St Nick is making it happen for all the little kids around the world while Mr Carter chances his arm with their mummies.

Bernard Estardy 'Tic Tac Nocturne'

Bernard Estardy 'Tic Tac Nocturne'

Sparse atmospherics from French sound boffin Bernard Estardy, a man in high demand for his studio skills throughout the 60's and 70's working for the likes of Francoise Hardy and Nino Ferrer. This is lifted off one of his library albums of electronic mood music crafted for potential use in films and television. 'Tic Tac Nocturne' has a wonderfully cinematic quality built from not much more than an icy xylophone melody, regular tension mounting bass stabs and an underlying tempo dictated by a sped up clock. Ideal theme for an elaborate Langlaufen sequence in the Alps or similar. Further exploration of Bernard's prolific output yields rewards. Check out 'Ombilic Contact' for a two and half minute slow waltz around the rings of Saturn.

Wanda Jackson 'Funnel Of Love'

Wanda Jackson 'Funnel Of Love'


Eerie slice of lovesick balladry from the 'Queen of Rockabilly' Wanda Jackson. The bonus about having this on a 45rpm record being it also plays extra spooky at 33rpm (see youtube below) the drunk guitars sound like they're lifted from some lost Ennio Morricone western soundtrack filtered through the psychedelic mixing desks of Abbey Road with the vocals sounding a bit like Mick Jagger bombed out on high strength Afghani hash.