Here’s some classic conscious reggae from Rod Taylor, produced by Mikey Dread, released back in 1978 and sounding just as great today.

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Patti Smith made her debut with this 1974 single pairing an improvised version of Hey Joe with her autobiographical poem Piss Factory.

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The Dead Kennedys made an indelible mark on punk rock with their debut single California Über Alles in the summer of 1979.

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Earth, Wind & Fire recorded Happy Feelin’ as an album track back in 1975, a quarter of a century before it formed the basis of a hit single.

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Short-lived power pop band The Motors enjoyed their biggest hit in the summer of 1978 with Airport, which reached No.4 in the singles chart.

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Last night, at the last minute, I managed to blag tickets to see Lindisfarne – a band I thought had broken up decades ago.

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David Crosby took a break from his CSNY supergroup to launch a solo career in 1971, teaming up with The Grateful Dead and other Bay Area musicians.

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Bob Marley captured the concerning mood of the times with his warning of impending global catastrophe – as relevant today as when he sang it in 1979.

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Labi Siffre was a West London boy but paid tribute to a beauty spot in Staffordshire on his song Cannock Chase.

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