I have to confess that growing up I only knew the name Brenda Lee from the Golden Earring song Radar Love. I’m not sure I even knew she was a real person. But she was.

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I would not have called myself a big fan but I once went to interview Lionel Richie, in Paris, almost entirely for my own amusement. I shall explain.

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During the short but sweet 2-Tone era, The Beat clocked up half a dozen hit singles of which Mirror In The Bathroom, which reached No.4 in 1980, was arguably the best. 

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Lack Of Afro’s Adam Gibbons teams up with Greg Blackman on his euphoric new single Loving Arms.

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Problem Patterns are a feminist punk band from Belfast blending elements of Riot Grrrl and Queercore.  I can’t say I listen to a lot of “punk rock” these days; not the old stuff from my youth and not the new stuff inspired by it. But I make an exception for this lot.

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Sheer perfection. My Girl is a classic from the opening notes of James Jamerson’s opening bassline, echoed by Robert White’s electric guitar. And then there’s the dancing!

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Here’s a slice of steamy Habibi Funk from Beirut’s master musician Charif Megarbane, guaranteed to liven up any summer’s day.

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Looking at a list of the Lovin’ Spoonful’s string of hits in the mid-1960s, I find I only know one of them… this summertime classic.

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Summer songs don’t get much more summery than this trippy number by Jonathan Wilson, leader of the latterday Laurel Canyon revival.

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Back from a week in Cornwall but still in a summer mood, so here’s today’s slice of cheesy disco fun – the only hit for Lipps Inc.

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