In the pantheon of disco music there are two moments that tower above all others. The first is Donna Summer’s I Feel Love – surely the greatest disco song of all time – and this is the second.

(more…)

Linda Lewis was the first female black British singer I ever saw on TV. They were a rarity in the early Seventies – in fact she’s the only one I can think of.

(more…)

Here is another slice of white reggae from the dusty depths of my singles collection. I remember the cover art – by Ralph Steadman – as well as I recall the single.

(more…)

Soul singers don’t come much better than Marvin Gaye and this deep cut comes from a session in 1967 – the year he brought us his best known tune, I Heard It Through The Grapevine.

(more…)

This month: a mix of old soul, punk, postpunk, reggae and contemporary classical from Stone Roses, Ruts, Police, Jam, Bauhaus, 10CC and more.

Gordon Lightfoot, who died yesterday at the age of 84, was a legend in his home country of Canada. He might not have the same global fame but he was revered there as much – if not more – than contemporaries like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell.

(more…)

Happy Beltane to all the old hippies, from the most famous pop idol to come from my neighbourhood, Stoke Newington.

(more…)

Here’s wishing all my gloomy gothic friends in black all the very best for World Goth Day.. with the help of the patron saints of goth.

(more…)

The Last Dinner Party are the latest buzz band to fly out of the traps in 2023. And their single, Nothing Matters, is a banger.

(more…)

The Goon Sax broke up in 2022 only six years after forming in their teens in Brisbane, leaving us with three albums and this gorgeous radio performance.

(more…)