Song: Twenty Years
Artist: Augustana, San Diego
Album: Can’t Love Can’t Hurt, 2005
Big Hit: Boston
Notes: Song featured on ‘One Tree Hill’ and ‘Numbers’, then disappeared. Why?
Song: Warm Whispers
Artist: Missy Higgins, Australia
Album: On A Clear Night, 2007
Big Hit: criminally, none
Notes: Big-time vegetarian, singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist - she does it all - and only 24.
Song: It’s My Life
Artist: Talk Talk, London, England
Album: It’s My Life, 1984
Big Hit: It’s My Life
Notes: The original and still the best. Band was led by enigmatic Mark Hollis.
Song: Hold On
Artist: The Shore, Silverlake, CA
Album: The Shore, 2004
Big Hit: Incredibly, none
Notes: Founded and fronted by Ben Ashley who’s into Oasis, Verve and the Byrds. Signed to Madonna’s label, Maverick.
Song: Kandi
Artist: One Eskimo, London, UK
Album: One Eskimo, 2009
Big Hit: Kandi
Notes: We aired the original UK, not US, version. London indie quartet featuring lead vocalist and James Blunt soundalike, Kristian Leontiou.
Song: Driving With The Brakes On
Artist: Del Amitri, Glasgow, Scotland
Album: Twisted, 1995
Big Hit: Roll To Me
Notes: This cut is severely underplayed, lots more from Del Amitri in future weeks.
Song: Born In Time: Featured In Old Cacker’s Corner
Artist: Eric Clapton, London, UK
Album: Born In Time
Big Hit: A few
Notes: Old Cacker’s Corner: an overlooked gem by a heritage artist who’s over 60. This song was written by another Old Cacker, Bob Dylan - featured on Clapton’s outstanding ‘Pilgrim’ collection from 1998. His best album to date.
Song: Dear Valentine
Artist: Guster, Boston MA
Album: Ganging Up On The Sun, 2006
Big Hit: Satellite
Notes: Been together nearly 20 years. Very happy for you to record them when playing on stage - very similar to the Grateful Dead in that regard - they just want to share their music.
Song: Simple Together
Artist: Alanis Morissette, Ottawa, CN
Album: Feast On Scraps, DVD, 2002
Big Hit: Lots
Notes: Timeless melody married to impeccable lyrics. Tied the knot last year to rap singer, Souleye - and just had her first baby boy - named “Ever”.
Song: Maple Tree
Artist: Angel Taylor, LA CA
Album: Love Travels, 2009
Big Hit: none - and I’ll keep playing her music until she has one
Notes: Best new female singer-songwriter out there, just 22 years old.
Song: Love’s Divine (acoustic version)
Artist: Seal, London UK
Album: The Rare Collection, 2009. Very hard to find
Big Hit: Lots
Notes: Mr. Heidi Klum, lucky chap
Song: Guitar Man – Least Fashionable Song Of The Week
Artist: Bread, LA CA
Album: Guitar Man
Big Hit: several
Notes: Great music is great music is great music and that immensely unhip song, The Guitar Man by Bread is still a corker. Written by group’s singer, David Gates, recorded in 1972, it marked the high-point of the California-led soft rock movement. The defining “wah-wah” guitar was courtesy of The Guitar Man Larry Knechtel - who played guitar and piano on loads of records as a session guy - including Simon & Garfunkel’s iconic ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’. Incredibly talented session musician, Larry died in 2009 in Washington state.
Song: Shiver
Artist: Natalie Imbruglia, New South Wales, AU
Album: Counting Down The Days, 2005
Big Hit: Torn
Notes: Recently recorded three songs given to her by Coldplay’s Chris Martin for her new album Come To Life (which aren't very good). One of the judges on Australia's 'X Factor' - which is Simon Cowell's new talent(less) show coming to US TV in the fall. Simon is certainly clever, but ruining popular music one song at a time.
Song: Still In The Light
Artist: Tomi Swick, Ontario CN
Album: Stalled Out In The Doorway, 2006
Big Hit: None
Notes: Also plays the bagpipes - well known in Canada, nobody knows him down here. How did we miss this one?
Song: Lifeline
Artist: Mat Kearney, Eugene OR
Album: City of Black & White, 2009
Big Hit: Nothing Left To Lose
Notes: Based in Nashville. Cloth-eared executives at his record label didn’t realize they were sitting on such a great song. Shame.
Song: You Wanted It
Artist: MoZella, Detroit MI
Album: MoZella EP, 2005
Big Hit: none - which is ridiculous
Notes: Along with Angel Taylor, the best new female singer-songwriter out there, just 22 years old. Real name is Maureen McDonald. Opened for Dave Matthews Band, Lifehouse and Michelle Branch among many others. Signed to Madonna’s Maverick label for a while, then moved to Motown - who dropped her last year. My theory? - simply too good.
Song: Leah
Artist: Bruce Springsteen, Long Branch NJ
Album: Devils & Dust, 2005
Big Hit: Lots
Notes: Great song, but he’s becoming a caricature of himself, he’s almost like the Sylvester Stallone of music.
Song: Fortunate Son (live)
Artist: Bruce Hornsby, Williamsburg VA
Album: Here Come The Noise Makers, 2000
Big Hit: The Way It Is
Notes: Talented wordsmith, tunesmith, pianist. Often mixes Fortunate Son with a cover of Pink Floyd’s ‘Comfortably Numb’ live.
Song: Look No Further
Artist: Dido, London, England
Album: Safe Trip Home, 2008
Big Hit: A few, but not enough
Notes: Simple, sad, top-notch. First ever TV appearance with me on CNN International’s ‘World Beat’.
Song: Brooklyn: Featured Saddest Song Of All Time
Artist: Gary Go, Wembley in England
Album: Gary Go, 2010
Big Hit: Not yet
Notes: This is truly the Saddest Song Of All Time: With extremely depressing lyrics, this extremely refined track is from his self-titled debut album released in 2010. Promising newcomer from Wembley in England, just 25 years old, real name is Gary Baker. Cool cat, lovely chap, silly stage name.
Song: Walking
Artist: Pocket Size, London UK
Album: 100% Human, 1999
Big Hit: none
Notes: Club hit in 1999. British synth duo of Liz Overs and Darren Pearson. Listen to this nugget 3 times and you'll never get it out of your head.
Song: How Soon Is Now
Artist: Smiths, Manchester, England
Album: Hatful of Hollow
Big Hit: lots
Notes: Of all the reunions that are still left to take place the Smiths are top of the list for rock fans.
Song: City Boy
Artist: Keb’ Mo’, LA CA
Album: Keb’ Mo’, 1994
Big Hit: none, mostly an albums artist
Notes: Exceptional blues stylist, real name Kevin Moore.
Song: All Together Now
Artist: Farm, Liverpool, England
Album: Spartacus, 1991
Big Hit: none
Notes: Although from Liverpool, the Farm were part of the alternative “Madchester” rave genre in northern England in the late ‘80s early ‘90s. ‘All Together Now’ based on a classical piece Canon in D composed by Johann Pachelbel from 1694.
Song: Endless Dream
Artist: Conjure One, Vancouver, Canada
Album: Extraordinary Ways, 2005
Big Hit: none
Notes: Electronic project assembled by Canadian producer, Rhys Fulber. ‘Endless Dream’ features tremendous lead vocals by New York singer-songwriter, Poe.
Song: Nothing Compares 2 U (live)
Artist: Sinead O’Connor, Glenageary IR
Album: not telling
Big Hit:
Notes: Lungs from heaven, extraordinary live version of Nothing Compares 2 U - a timeless classic which was of course written by Prince in 1985.
Song: Annie You Save Me
Artist: Graffiti 6, London, England
Album: Stare Into The sun advance sampler, 2010
Big Hit: nothing - yet
Notes: Bloody fantastic - brand new and already in real danger of being Lost. Hotly tipped by MTV in their “Freshman Class” for 2011 - though band has been around since 2008. Promising UK duo of Tommy D and Jamie Scott.
Song: I’d Rather Be With You
Artist: Joshua Radin, Shaker Heights OH
Album: Simple Times, 2008
Big Hit: None, which is absurd
Notes: Peaked at number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 - which means it sold about four copies. How is that possible? His songs were used in the TV series, ‘Scrubs’ - but still flies under the radar. New album ‘The Rock and The Tide’ - highly recommended.
Song: Into The Fire
Artist: Thirteen Senses, Cornwall UK
Album: The Invitation, 2004
Big Hit: none - too good
Notes: British rock quartet, didn’t see the light of day outside the UK. Fabulous.
Song: Creep
Artist: Scala & Kolacny Brothers, Belgium
Album: On The Rocks, 2005
Big Hit: none
Notes: Divine version of Radiohead classic without the swearing. Song used in promotion for the Facebook movie ‘Social Network’ last year. Scala is an all-girl choir which specializes in recording choral versions of modern rock classics.
Song: Both Sides Now
Artist: Joni Mitchell, Saskatoon CN
Album: Both Sides Now, 2000
Big Hit: not enough
Notes: Imperial class of Joni Mitchell, with a cover version of her very own Both Sides Now. One of the all-time great recordings. Recorded at Abbey Road studios in London with London Symphony Orchestra. If you only have $10 left in the world, spend it on that album - more edifying than food.
Song: Every Day I Write The Book
Artist: Elvis Costello, London, England
Album: Punch The Clock, 1983
Big Hit: lots
Notes: One of rock’s most erudite authors. Mercifully Elvis has moved on from his lounge-singer phase a few years ago when he was working with Burt Bacharach.
Song: Would You Be There
Artist: Blessid Union of Souls, Morrow OH
Album: Home, 1995
Big Hit: I Believe
Notes: Group has been together for more than 20 years, still out there trying to make it happen - because they believe in what they’re doing.
Song: Last Year
Artist: Lucie Silvas, London UK
Album: The Same Side, 2006
Big Hit: none
Notes: Talented English singer-songwriter, had several hits in Europe but yet to crack the US market.
Song: Rollin’ Home
Artist: Tyler Hilton, Palm Springs CA
Album: The Tracks of Tyler Hilton, 2004
Big Hit: Incredibly, none
Notes: In my opinion the best new male singer-songwriter of the past decade. Occasionally pops up in tv shows as an actor. Check him out at tylerhilton.com. I’m a big supporter of underrated talent.
Song: Believe In You
Artist: Jude Cole, Carbon Cliff IL
Album: I Don’t Know Why I Act This Way, 1995
Big Hit: Baby, It’s Tonight
Notes: Everything a good song should be - smart lyrics, simple memorable melody, lovely execution. Completely overlooked by everyone. Got fed up with people not buying his records - and become a top producer and manager - including Lifehouse and ... MoZella (see above).
Song: One
Artist: U2, Dublin IR
Album: Achtung Baby, 1991
Big Hit: Too many
Notes: This is the song which kept band together during fractious recording of the album in Germany in the winter of 1990.
Song: Cathedral Song
Artist: Tanita Tikaram, Germany
Album: Ancient Heart, 1988
Big Hit: none
Notes: Malaysian/Fijian parents, raised in Germany. I occasionally use instrumental version of this nugget as background music.
Song: Your Woman
Artist: White Town, India
Album: Women In Technology, 1997
Big Hit: this one (moderate hit)
Notes: White Town is Jyoti Mishra, Indian born, UK based. Song used in movie of the same name ‘I Could Never Be Your Woman” starring Paul Rudd and Michele Pfeiffer.
Song: Baby Doll (demo and studio mix)
Artist: The Gabe Dixon Band, Miami FL
Album: demo/The Gabe Dixon Band, 2008
Big Hit: he's way too good to have hits
Notes: Sorely overlooked pianist, singer-songwriter, once played in McCartney’s backing band.
