Song: Stay Home
Artist: EG, England
Album: Turn Me On I'm A Rocket Man, 1996
Notes: Better known as a top producer for the likes of James Blunt, Adele, Duffy and Pink, completely lost gem from Eg White. Also a cover of a song by Jellyfish.
Song: All I Want
Artist: Kate Earl, Chugiak, Alaska
Album: Kate Earl, 2009
Notes: Fresh, big sound with wicked chorus from top new talent, real name, Kate Smithson. Two brilliant albums.
Song: Currently
Artist: Keaton Simons, Los Angeles
Album: Can You Hear Me, 2008
Notes: Easy swaying, old-school vocals and a tasteful arrangement. Stepson of actor Eric Roberts, great website: keatonsimons.com.
Song: Snowday
Artist: Now The Rabbit Has The Gun, Los Angeles
Album: Now The Rabbit Has The Gun, 2011
Notes: Wacky trio of excellent songwriters, (Michael Seminari, C Todd Nielsen and Dwight Bakerrio). Promising alt-rock combo, 50% of live show receipts go to "charity: water".
Song: Across The Stream
Artist: Elsianne, Peru/Canada
Album: Hybrid, 2007
Notes: Band name led by Peruvian singer, Elsieanne Caplette and musical partner, Stephane Sotto, based ion Montreal. Fabulous ethereal musical stew.
Song: Chasing Cars (Live Acoustic)
Artist: Snow Patrol, N. Ireland/Scotland
Album: Digital only track
Notes: Terrific, stripped-down acoustic version of their massive global rock hit.
Song: This Guy’s In Love With You
Artist: Herb Alpert, Los Angeles
Album: The Beat of Brass, 1968
Notes: Evergreen, schmaltzy original version of a Bacharach & David classic. Alpert co-founded A&M Records (he's the "A").
Song: Make Me Believe
Artist: Angel Taylor, Los Angeles
Album: Love Travels, 2009
Notes: Yet another corker from the best new female singer-songwriter of recent years. Our weekly preferred artiste.
Song: Red
Artist: Daniel Merriweather, Australia
Album: Love and War, 2009
Notes: Top-drawer blue-eyed soul from award-winning Aussie performer now based in New York and London.
Song: Say You Will
Artist: Eric Clapton, England
Album: Back Home, 2005
Notes: Lilting pop-rock reggae from the future Sir Eric Clapton (why hasn't he been knighted yet?)
Song: Shiver
Artist: Natalie Imbruglia, Australia
Album: Counting Down The Days, 2005
Notes: Just a fabulous overlooked gem from Aussie singer who worked with Chris Martin a couple of years ago. One of the judges on Australian version of Cowell's new tv brand, 'The X Factor'.
Song: Saving Grace
Artist: Pete Murray, Australia
Album: Summer at Eureka, 2008
Notes: Another great Aussie find, huge down there, unknown up here. All of his albums are superb, with a new one on the way ('Blue Sky Blue').
Song: The Call
Artist: Regina Spektor, Russia
Album: Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian soundtrack, 2008
Notes: Simple, melodic, good lyrics, beautifully executed by Spektor for closing frames of Narnia movie. She's recorded so many lost gems.
Song: Life Gets In The Way
Artist: Gary Go, England
Album: Gary Go, 2009
Notes: So talented, real name is Gary Webb from London. First six tracks on his debut album are priceless.
Song: Falling or Flying
Artist: Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Waitsfield, VT
Album: This Is Somewhere, 2007
Notes: Curious, rather eerie and lovely sound from Vermont-based combo led by Harry's sister, featured on 'Grey's Anatomy'.
Song: When It Comes Around
Artist: Reed Foehl, Boston
Album: Spark, 2004
Notes: Top-notch indie folk rock, now based in Colorado. Song featured on movie soundtrack to 'Just Friends'.
Song: The Master of our Discussion
Artist: Boom Bip featuring Nina Nastasia, Los Angeles
Album: Not available, 2011
Notes: Quiet, mystical but winning music from inventive instrumentalist called Brian Hilton (Boom Bip) who runs his own label (lexrecords.com).
Song: Song Beneath a Song
Artist: Maria Taylor, Athens, GA
Album: 11:11, 2005
Notes: First class female singer-songwriter, formerly lead singer with Azure Ray. Also recorded with Michael Stipe and Joshua Radin among others.
Song: Sailing To Philadelphia
Artist: Mark Knopfler, Scotland
Album: Sailing To Philadelphia, 2000
Notes: Also featuring James Taylor, deftly chronicling the pioneering spirit and work of British land surveyors, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon - the chaps who marked the Mason Dixon Line.
Song: If She Doesn’t Smile
Artist: Fantastic Something, Greece
Album: Ambition, The History of Cherry Red Records, 2008
Notes: Extremely obscure, slightly wimpy vocals by Greek brothers Alexis and Constantin Veis - but sensational melodies and acoustic strumming. Early '80s.
Song: Love Save The Empty
Artist: Erin McCarley, Garland, TX
Album: Love Save The Empty, 2009
Notes: Splendid chorus, sweeping string arrangements, top songwriting by sorely overlooked recent newcomer. Her maiden album is a complete corker.
Song: China Girl
Artist: David Bowie, England
Album: Let's Dance, 1983
Notes: Global smash co-written by the Thin White Duke with chum, Iggy Pop. Original (and poorer) version on Pop's 'Idiot' album from 1977.
Song: Stay
Artist: Dean Geyer, South Africa
Album: Rush, 2007
Notes: Sterling, melodic pop-rock from young musician now based (and big in) Australia. Song written by Andy Stochanksy.
Song: That Summer
Artist: Andy Stochansky, Canada
Album: 100, 2005
Notes: Absurdly overlooked, A+ singer-songwriter from north of the border. Too good for prime time, produced by Goo Goo Dolls frontman, Johnny Rzeznik.
Song: How Long
Artist: Karla Bonoff, Santa Monica, CA
Album: New World, 1988
Notes: One of the best singer-songwriters of the '70s/'80s. Slightly dated arrangement, but a pearl at its core, whole album is superb.
Song: No Roots
Artist: Faithless, England
Album: No Roots, 2004
Notes: Recently split up after six albums over 16 years together, highly creative UK electronica combo, this cuts features co-founder, Rollo Armstrong's sister - Dido on vocals.
Song: Holding On and Letting Go
Artist: Ross Copperman, Roanoke, VA
Album: Not available, 2011
Notes: Upcoming single by promising musician now based in Nashville. Played piano since the age of three. Check him out on myspace.
Song: Fireflies
Artist: Rhett Miller with Rachel Yamagata, Austin, TX
Album: The Believer, 2006
Notes: Oddball slice of tasty blues and country inflections, rather fun lyrical interplay between two fine performers.
Song: A Case Of You
Artist: Joni Mitchell, Canada
Album: Both Sides Now, 2000
Notes: An absolute orchestrated masterpiece from the Canadian legend. If you don't like this, please find another show.
Song: Freezing Rain
Artist: Hurricane Bells, New York
Album: Tonight Is The Ghost, 2009
Notes: Splendid indie-Americana rock, band name of one guy, Steve Schlitz. He wrote, recorded, played and mixed album entirely on his own on his MacBook. Brilliant. More at HurricaneBells.com.
Song: Appassionato
Artist: World Leader Pretend, New Orleans
Album: Punches, 2005
Notes: Instrumental My Dear Watson - a brief but lovely 1:40 instrumental, orchestral pause for thought from sadly defunct band.
Song: Broken Things
Artist: Gabriel Powell, Albany, GA
Album: Albany, 2009
Notes: Too sad for words, blissful, sensitive cover version of a Julie Miller original by insanely talented new gospel-based soul/pop singer from the deep south.
Song: Inbetween Days
Artist: The Cure, England
Album: The Head On The Door, 1985
Notes: Infectious, sturdy, rolling modern rock from Robert Smith and chums, only peaked at #99 on Hot 100. Crazy.
Song: Insensitive
Artist: Jann Arden, Canada
Album: Living Under June, 1994
Notes: Successful singer-songwriter from Canada with the bitter post-relationship belter, ironically composed by another musician, her friend, Anne Lore.
Song: Just For Now
Artist: Imogen Heap, England
Album: Speak For Yourself, 2005
Notes: Unmistakable wispy soprano, a lost pearl from her sophomore album. Why isn't Heap a bigger act?
Song: The Great Divide
Artist: David Knopfler, Scotland
Album: Release, 1983
Notes: Dire Straits' co-founder (with brother Mark - with whom he shares similar top-notch sandpaper vocal style). Overlooked nugget featuring a music box intro.
Song: Castles In The Air
Artist: Colourfield, England
Album: Virgins and Philistines, 1985
Notes: Perfectly constructed lost gem with a winning, dramatic orchestral bridge. Written/sung by Specials original member, Terry Hall.
Song: Castles In The Air
Artist: Don McLean, New Rochelle, NY
Album: Believers, 1981
Notes: Same title, completely different song by legendary tunesmith. For all the brilliance of his songwriting, an underrated vocalist.
Song: What’s Going On
Artist: Coldplay and U2, England/Ireland
Album: Digital only single
Notes: Dreadful karaoke update of Marvin Gaye chestnut by guys who should know and do better.
Song: What’s Going On (Marvin Gaye)
Artist: Marvin Gaye, Washington, DC
Album: What's Going On, 1971
Notes: Eco-driven, lyrically way ahead of its time, the timeless soul classic by the late, great...
Song: Overkill (acoustic)/Overkill (original)
Artist: Colin Hay/Men At Work, Scotland/Australia
Album: Man @ Work, 2003/Cargo, 1983
Notes: Even better than the original, acoustic rendering by its writer of his original band's hit (segued).
