This is The Stranglers song Golden Brown as you’ve never heard it before – transformed into a slice of smooth jazz. And it’s wonderful.

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It’s not often you hear people describe a guitarist who doesn’t generally do solos as one of the all-time greats. But countless other guitar greats gave that accolade to Steve Cropper.

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This may not be the best tune I’ve ever posted but it’s as important as any, with a powerfully poignant video to match. Just click on the link above to watch it.

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Here’s one of those early-’60s pop oddities – Sandra Barry & The Boyfriend’s – featuring a singer and band who became better known much later.

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Alabama Shakes return after almost a decade on hiatus with Another Life, a comeback single that shows they’ve lost none of their garage-soul fire.

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November’s playlist finds autumnal songs slowly turning to winter sounds, saying hello with one of the greatest tunes of all time by Squeeze and waving goodbye with Soft Cell. (more…)

Swans open their final album Birthing with this slow-burning epic, The Healers, building from ominous beginnings to a deafening crescendo.

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“Life is unfair,” sings Sarah Nixey. “Kill yourself or get over it.” As pop choruses go, it’s a dark one; as dark songs go, Child Psychology is even darker.

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There are two great songs in the pop canon that go by the name of Hallelujah. Leonard Cohen got there first and Jeff Buckley breathed new life into it, but The Happy Mondays came up with their own new song.

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With her bleach-blonde hair, scarlet lipstick and outrageous self-designed creations, Pam Hogg was the archetypal rock goddess. Even though she wasn’t one herself.

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