I’ve spent a lot of time on the road in the past week, driving to Cornwall and back, listening to 6Music (at least when I had a DAB signal in the car). This is the tune that caught my ear the most. (more…)

For Jamaicans, and an older generation of fans, Horace Andy is one of the legendary reggae singers from Jamaica. For a younger one, he’s synonymous with Bristol as the guest vocalist on some of Massive Attack’s best tunes. (more…)

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Vocal trio The Abyssinians followed their seminal debut Satta Massa Gana with their second single, Declaration of Rights in 1972.

Never has a call to revolution sounded so sweet and heartfelt, the smooth harmonies of Bernard Collins and brothers Donald and Lynford Manning floating over the inventive bass lines of Leroy Sibbles.

With their devotional lyrics singing the praises of Rastafari, The Abyssinians were at the forefront of what would come to be known as “conscious” reggae.

This is the original version of the song, which they re-recorded for their debut album Satta Massa Gana which took its time to arrive belatedly in 1976.

The riddim was also used by Coxsone Dodd for DJ versions by toasters Sir Harry (Musical Rights) and Big Joe (Version Of Rights), as well as a horn version by Cedric Brooks (Father Forgive).

Numerous other artists have covered the song, including Johnny Clarke (with a dub by King Tubby and Prince Jammy) and The Mighty Diamonds, and many more have used the riddim, including Gregory Isaacs (Cease Fire), Sugar Minott (Thank You Jah) and Leroy Smart (Let Your Heart Be Pure).

This startling oddity is about as ‘punk’ as it’s possible to get, despite consisting of nothing but a drum and a voice. It’s one of the angriest tirades you’ll ever hear. It still sounds shocking today. (more…)

It’s taken nearly 45 years for me to find out that Blondie’s 1978 hit single was a cover version. This is the original from two years earlier – the only record ever released by The Nerves. (more…)

Kitsch, camp, catchy and controversial, this was the first song to come out by Adam & The Ants. Deutscher Girls first appeared on the soundtrack of Derek Jarman’s film Jubilee. It didn’t make Stuart Goddard’s name. That would come later. (more…)

The Flys might not have been able to spell their own name but their debut single is another of my forgotten favourites from the punk era. Listening now, it wouldn’t sound out of place on a Power Pop compilation. (more…)

This isn’t the first recording by The Fall, but it’s the first to have been heard on the radio, when John Peel played their debut session in June 1978. (more…)

The first time I saw The Fall was at the opening night of The Vortex, a punk club at the top of Wardour Street just off Oxford Street on 4 July 1977. This was their first recording a year later. (more…)