Rick Derringer was one of those names that I heard a lot growing up, without ever being able to place him or recognise a particular song.

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If James Brown was the godfather of soul, then Sly Stone was the wayward genius of a younger brother who followed him into the family trade.

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You’d be forgiven for thinking this might be a deep cut from the back catalogue of Amy Winehouse. But it’s not the Queen of Camden – Kendra Morris comes from 4,000 miles away.

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There’s something about Matt Berninger’s mournful, melancholic baritone that gets me every time. His voice, and his way with words, and his gift for melody.

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In the first half of the ’70s Brinsley Schwarz were the flag bearers of pub rock – the backlash to prog that led directly to punk. Bob Andrews played keyboards.

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Comet Gain went back to the garage for their DIY album Réalistes in 2002, with this big dirty ballad one of its highlights.

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Junior Delgado was one of the lesser celebrated figures of reggae music – with one of the most prolific and longer-lasting careers.

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BC Camplight opens up about his depression, his addiction and the childhood abuse that has haunted him on Two Legged Dog.

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Sly & The Family Stone were never funkier than on this tune, with Larry Graham’s bass to the forefront of Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).

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The Edgar Winter Group briefly caught my imagination when I saw them play their signature song Frankenstein on TV in 1973, featuring the late Rick Derringer on lead guitar.

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