Song: Simple Things

Artist: Dirty Vegas, England

Album: Dirty Vegas, 2002

Notes: Better known as a house music trio which scored a hit with 'Days Go By' in 2001, this is a remarkably mainstream pop-rock bubbler. Band reunited in 2009 and recently released its third album.

Song: All In A Day

Artist: Open Sea, Brooklyn, NY

Album: Little Apple EP, 2010

Notes: Outstanding tender lost pearl from the beautifully matched vocals of Ari Heist and Rosi Golan. The Open Sea is Ari's side project to his already prodigious solo career.

Song: Love Sucks

Artist: Nathan Angelo, Atlanta, GA

Album: Through Playing Me, 2006

Notes: Singer-songwriter and ivory tinkler who claims to be influenced by Motown acts from the 1970s. Now trying to be heard above the noise in New York, he's just released his third long-player, 'Follow Your Heart'.

Song: Won’t You Come Again

Artist: Susie Suh, Los Angeles

Album: Susie Suh, 2005

Notes: Her music has been occasionally featured on 'One Tree Hill' but is otherwise much overlooked. Talented Korean American based in Los Angeles who's recorded two fine albums and an EP to date.

Song: I’m So Happy I Can’t Stop Crying

Artist: Sting, England

Album: Mercury Falling, 1996

Notes: Sting goes country with a shuffling divorce-themed ditty, sarcastic but ultimately touching. It somehow stalled at #94 on the Billboard Hot 100, though a revised version cut by country singer, Toby Keith - which also featured Sting - become a huge country hit the following year.

Song: Not Good Enough

Artist: Kari Kimmel, Nashville

Album: A Life In The Day, 2006

Notes: Straightforward melodic pop-rock, no nonsense harmonic quality. Her sturdy tunes have been featured in dozens of tv shows and movies including 'The Hills', the equally dreadful 'Laguna Beach' and the marvelous 'Wall-E' animated classic.

Song: Driving Away From Home (Jim’s Tune)

Artist: It's Immaterial, England

Album: Life's Hard And Then You Die, 1986

Notes: Quirky, curious but rather winning number from the short-lived Liverpulian combo. Part of the fertile Liverpool music scene of the '80s, the band prided itself on a real smorgasbord of musical genres, mixing new wave, folk, synth, pop even some blues - a fabulous lost nugget.

Song: Trying Not To Lose

Artist: Lucie Silvas, England

Album: The Same Side, 2006

Notes: A L&F regular, a top singer-songwriter almost universally ignored in the US. London born but frequently records in LA, NY and Nashville. Just completed her third long-player which should drop any day now.

Song: Father and Friend

Artist: Alain Clark, Netherlands

Album: Live It Out, 2007

Notes: Rather affectionate and soulful song about the relationship between father and son - recorded by Dutch singer-songwriter, a duet with his actual dad, Dane Clark. Big hit in his home country but it remains a musical secret around the rest of the world.

Song: Close To Me

Artist: Cure, England

Album: The Head On The Door, 1985

Notes: Huge hit in Ireland and Australia but only peaked at #97 in the US. Why? Earlier this year the Cure played their first three albums, in order and in their entirety, at a couple of shows in Sydney, Australia - a mighty musical event they dubbed 'Reflections'.

Song: Gaye

Artist: Clifford T. Ward, England

Album: Home Thoughts From Abroad, 1973

Notes: A soothing sapphire from the 1970s from Ward's sophomore album. Superb tunesmith and pianist who was also a drama and English teacher at a British high school. Recorded more than 10 fine albums before being diagnosed with MS in 1994 - he passed away too young at the age of 57 in 2001.

Song: In My Head

Artist: Until June, Hollywood, CA

Album: Sound of Defeat EP, 2009

Notes: Outstanding lost gem from the LA-based alt-rock trio led by Pianist singer-songwriter, Josh Ballard. They've had a number 1 hit in Greece, but otherwise fly sadly under the mainstream radar.

Song: She Saw The World

Artist: Blue Nile, Scotland

Album: High, 2004

Notes: Largely unheralded by anyone who hasn't heard them and adored by those who have. Firmly fronted by their mainman Paul Buchanan, one of the most talented and enigmatic characters in rock music - much in demand by other A-list musicians including Joni Mitchell and Shirley Manson.

Song: Angel

Artist: Johanna, Iceland

Album: Not available, demo, 2003

Notes: Extremely rare but engaging ballad performed by the then 11-year old Johanna, one of the best vocalists to emerge from Iceland in recent memory. She's now 20 years old, released just one album to date with the fun title, 'Butterflies and Elvis'.

Song: I Try

Artist: Ben Taylor, Martha's Vineyard, MA

Album: Deeper Than Gravity EP, 2006

Notes: A terrific cover of the Macy Gray smash. Ben's eked out a sterling solo career in spite of the huge shadow cast by his family lineage (son of James Taylor and Carly Simon), released three fine albums and a bunch of EPs since 2003.

Song: Sierra

Artist: Boz Scaggs, Canton, OH

Album: Fade Into Light, 1996

Notes: Just sensational, an entirely overlooked lost nugget by veteran musician who is now 67. For many years way back in the '60s and '70s Scaggs used to be in Steve Miller's band.

Song: Voices In My Head

Artist: Naked Eyes, England

Album: Burning Bridges, 1983

Notes: Delicious synth-pop confection by duo of Pete Byrne and Rob Fisher from the lovely ancient city of Bath, better known for their radio staples, 'Always Something There To Remind Me' and 'Promises Promises'.

Song: Raggedy Ann

Artist: Mindy Smith, Long Island, NY

Album: One Moment More, 2004

Notes: Too good for prime time, gorgeous fragile vocal style with a sad self-penned tale. Mindy first arrived on the music scene when she contributed a definitive cover version of Dolly Parton's 'Jolene' to a tribute album to the country legend - who then helped nurture Mindy's career.

Song: No Chance

Artist: Moon Martin, Oklahoma

Album: Escape From Domination, 1979

Notes: Channeling one of his idols, Buddy Holly, to note perfect effect. Started his career as a rockabilly artist then forged a rather cool niche in the late '70s and '80s as a melodic pop-rocker. Also wrote a big hit for Robert Palmer called 'Bad Case of Loving You'.

Song: Good Thing

Artist: Woodentops, England

Album: Giant, 1986

Notes: Top-drawer folk-rock number from the mid-'80s by thoroughly experimental British combo. Group is still around, fronted by Rolo McGinty - check out their website, www.woodentopsmusic.com.

Song: When The Time Is Right

Artist: Griffin House, Springfield, OH

Album: Flying Upside Down, 2007

Notes: Understated but terrific overlooked number from A+ singer-songwriter who almost became a professional golfer. Also check out well-titled 2004 album, 'Lost and Found'!

Song: Under The Milky Way

Artist: Church, Australia

Album: Starfish, 1988

Notes: A one-hit wonder (and a big one) in the US but a very popular band throughout the '80s in their native Australia. One of the most prolific bands ever from down under, they've released 22 studio albums and nine EPs over 30 years.

Song: How Good We Had It

Artist: Hayley Taylor, Los Angeles

Album: One Foot In Front of the Other, 2010

Notes: An emerging singer-songwriter from Michigan now based in the city of Angels. You can often find Haley playing at the venerable Hotel Cafe club in Hollywood (which boosted the careers of other top female songstresses including Sara Bareilles, Meiko, Ingrid Michaelson and Laura Jansen - all L&F preferred vendors).

Song: Oblivious

Artist: Aztec Camera, Scotland

Album: High Land Hard Rain, 1980

Notes: Emerged in the early '80s as perhaps the best of the Scottish new waves bands bursting out of Glasgow. Based around lead singer/guitarist, Roddy Frame, 'Oblivious' was their very first recording from 1980.

Song: Slice of Heaven

Artist: Magnet, Norway

Album: The Simple Life, 2007

Notes: Magnet is the pseudonym used by the ingenious and ever-creative songsmith, Even Johansen - virtually unknown outside Scandinavia. Cut so many worthwhile songs over four albums, including this one.

Song: We Have All The Time In The World

Artist: Louis Armstrong, New Orleans

Album: On Her Majesty's Secret Service (Soundtrack), 1969

Notes: Perhaps the single most important figure in popular music history of the 20th century, one of the vital building blocks of everything that happened to create rock 'n' roll. Ballad theme to the 1969 007 classic movie.

Song: Louis Louis

Artist: Teitur, Faroe Islands

Album: Stay Under The Stars, 2007

Notes: 'Louis Louis, play us a song' - so bloody good, a fabulous tribute to Satchmo from singer-songwriter Teitur Lassen - who just goes by the single name, Teitur - from the Faroe Islands in the Norwegian Sea, but now based in Denmark.

Song: Blanket On The Ground

Artist: Billie Joe Spears, Beaumont, TX

Album: Blanket On The Ground, 1975

Notes: Deeply unfashionable but outstanding trad-Country bubbler from the Queen Mother of the genre. She still performs very occasionally despite a major heart operation in 1993.

Song: Mother Mary

Artist: Foxboro Hot Tubs, East Bay, CA

Album: Stop Drop and Roll!!!, 2008

Notes: Sounding awfully like Green Day - because it is Green Day but under their side project name. Unable to keep their anonymity a secret when they recorded as FHT, lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong issued a statement saying, "The only similarity between Foxboro Hot Tubs and Green Day is that we are the same band".

Song: Lost Soul

Artist: Bruce Hornsby and Shawn Colvin, Williamsburg, VA

Album: Night On The Town, 1990

Notes: "You show me love but maybe I don't deserve it, I've been called - but not been found' - too sad for words. Delivered with trademark perfection by two of the best performers around at the top of their game - with such a depressing melody to boot.

Song: Going Away

Artist: Meg & Dia, Draper, UT

Album: Here, Here and Here, 2009

Notes: Brilliant, bright pop rock from sisters Meg and Dia Frampton (no relation to Peter) with a self-empowering nugget. Their father was a South Korean DJ from whom they developed an early love of music. Currently unsigned.

Song: New Amsterdam

Artist: Elvis Costello, England

Album: Get Happy, 1980

Notes: Two minutes of the genius of Declan McManus and his Attractions from way back when. Costello is one of the smartest wordsmiths in rock history - so damn good at weaving nimble lyrics and double-entendres.

Song: Come Back When You Can

Artist: Barcelona, Seattle, WA

Album: Absolutes, 2009

Notes: Sensational track by a band completely overlooked by all and sundry. They're a piano-based trio in the Coldplay/Death Cab For Cutie mold, based in Seattle - once again dropped by a major label during the recession - obviously too good.

Song: In The Days Before Rock ‘n’ Roll

Artist: Van Morrison, Northern Ireland

Album: Enlightenment, 1990

Notes: Utterly original, blue-eyed soul of the first order, a nostalgic teenage tale about the joys of listening to the radio and hearing music by the great rhythm and blues architects of rock & roll in the 1950s. Full eight-minute version.

Song: So-So

Artist: Brooke Waggoner, Nashville

Album: Fresh Pair of Eyes, 2007

Notes: Quirky, light, breezy lost gem. Brooke's originally from New Orleans but now based in Nashville, one of dozens of bright new talents remaking the soundscape of Music City beyond its country music roots.

Song: Stop The Sun

Artist: Ross Copperman, Roanoke, VA

Album: Not available, 2011

Notes: This great song should be on his next album. Fast becoming an L&F preferred vendor. Started tinkling the ivories at the tender age of three, currently finishing his third long-player.

Song: All That Heaven Will Allow

Artist: Bruce Springsteen, Long Branch, NJ

Album: Tunnel of Love, 1987

Notes: A little-played sapphire from his mighty 'Tunnel of Love' opus (his best album to date?). The tracks on that album are the least played by Springsteen from any of his long-players when he performs live.

Song: Imagine Love

Artist: Lori Carson, Cleveland, OH

Album: Shelter, 1990

Notes: Phenomenal lost ballad by sometime lead singer of the Golden Palominos - but when featured guest vocalist Greg Allman arrives, all bets are off. A song which goes from good to great with his blissful intervention.

Song: Love Me Still

Artist: Gabriel Powell/Chaka Khan, Albany, GA

Album: Albany, 2009

Notes: Restrained, beautiful cover version by unheralded upcoming performer, Gabriel Powell of a song co-written by Chaka Khan and Bruce Hornsby, segued into Chaka's original.