Song: Lost and Found

Artist: Katie Herzig, Nashville

Album: The Waking Sleep, 2011

Notes: Obviously the best title of any song in the 'Lost & Found' year 1 roundup celebrating the best unknown songs aired over our first 12 months on the air. Simply an outstanding lost gem which should have been embraced by radio at large by the top-flight non-country musician based in Nashville.

Song: Twenty Years

Artist: Augustana, San Diego

Album: Can't Love, Can't Hurt, 2008

Notes: An absolute rock-pop ballad corker, and the first song played on the first ever 'Lost & Found' broadcast. Perfect melodic construction and execution by the California band which broke through with their 'Boston' hit in 2005.

Song: Annie You Save Me

Artist: Graffiti6, England

Album: Colours, 2011

Notes: First featured anywhere in the USA on L&F, electronic pop/rock highlight from the fab duo of Tommy D and Jamie Scott from superb freshman album. Combo is currently making waves with 'Free'.

Song: Two Shots

Artist: Elle King, New York

Album: Not available

Notes: Rootsy acoustic belter by a new name, Elle should become a huge star in 2012 - so much soul and grit in her performances. Recently snapped up by a major label and working on her maiden album - more at myspace.com/ellekingmusic.

Song: Wandering

Artist: James Taylor, Boston

Album: Gorilla, 1975

Notes: Too good for prime time both then and now, an acoustic lost diamond from the tunesmith icon. No new compositions from Taylor in ten years. Long overdue.

Song: On The Radio

Artist: Andy Stochansky, Canada

Album: Not available

Notes: Song's title defines the word 'irony'. Easy-flowing melodic gem by one of the most overlooked singer-songwriters of the past 20 years who never gets any airplay. Former top session drummer from Canada, now based in LA. More at myspace.com/andystochanskymusic.

Song: Someone To Someone

Artist: Ross Copperman, Nashville

Album: Someone To Someone (digital single), 2011

Notes: Maybe the best straight ahead, no-nonsense pop-rock ballad of last year from still under-appreciated singer-songwriter/pianist who began playing piano at the age of three. Track now available as a download thanks to exposure on 'Lost &Found'.

Song: Melody

Artist: Kate Earl, Alaska

Album: Kate Earl, 2009

Notes: Perfectly assembled pop-rock number from Alaskan-based musician with part Welsh, Dutch, Filipino heritage. Couple of ace albums to date.

Song: Postales

Artist: Federico Aubele, Argentina

Album: Gran Hotel Buenos Aires, 2003

Notes: Easy-swaying groove combining flamenco, accordion, reggae beats, cool female vocals, the magical stew of guitar player/producer, Aubele, one of Argentina's top World Music protagonists. Album produced by uber-hip American electronica whiz-kids, Thievery Corporation.

Song: Into The Fire

Artist: Thirteen Senses, England

Album: The Invitation, 2004

Notes: Strong guitar refrain ringing throughout the song, a sorely overlooked rock nugget from much under-appreciated British combo. If you like Coldplay, Snow Patrol etc., this is must-hear listening.

Song: Dead Hearts

Artist: Stars, Canada

Album: The Five Ghosts, 2010

Notes: Every different stanza of this remarkable recording is so mellifluous and creative: A+ dreamy, ethereal indie-pop from Toronto. Combo founded by Torquil Campbell and Chris Seligman - and featuring female singer, Amy Millan.

Song: Come Back Down

Artist: J. Viewz, New York

Album: Rivers and Homes, 2011

Notes: Delicious rolling electronic/acoustic meld from Jonathan Dagan aka J. Viewz. Originally buried on his 'Work In Progress' a project whereby he released each new song on the internet as soon as it was ready, then rounded them all up for a proper album. More at www.jviewz.com.

Song: Hold Me Now

Artist: Daniel Lee Kendall, Australia

Album: Talk The Night Away EP, 2011

Notes: First single by a promising new singer-songwriter from down under. Shy, softly spoken chap who records most of his indie-folk pop material at home in New South Wales.

Song: The Love Cats

Artist: Cure, England

Album: Greatest Hits, 2001

Notes: Terrific, highly original lost belter which was big in Europe but did nothing over here. Astonishingly the Cure has only ever nabbed one top 10 mainstream hit in the US on the Billboard Hot 100: 'Lovesong' in 1989.

Song: Kicking Stone

Artist: Kate York, Nashville

Album: Fly Away, 2011

Notes: Such a pure unaffected vocal style like a mountain stream. Tender, superb, one of the best lost diamond ballads from the past 12 months. Yet another sterling non-country performer who makes her home in Nashville.

Song: Buildings and Mountains

Artist: Republic Tigers, Kansas City

Album: Keep Color, 2009

Notes: Highly melodic and engaging lost gem, a lovely meld of pop, psychedelic rock and folk from indie group's founders Adam McGill and Ken Jankowski from their only album to date.

Song: Shiver

Artist: Natalie Imbruglia, Australia

Album: Counting Down The Days, 2005

Notes: Why wasn't this a hit? Inexcusable. A+ pop roller from Aussie songstress/actress (and ex-X Factor panel judge down under). Hi Simon.

Song: Someone Somewhere

Artist: Jason Reeves, Nashville

Album: From The Magnificent Adventures of Heartache and Other Frightening Tales, 2007

Notes: How good does a song need to be, how melodic and well-crafted must it be to attract a wider audience? Reeves has been making terrific melodic music since 2003 but a big solo hit remains elusive (though he's co-written many Colbie Caillat songs including Bubbly).

Song: You Won’t Let Me

Artist: Rachel Yamagata, Arlington, VA

Album: Chesapeake, 2011

Notes: Standout ballad about unrequited, post-relationship love from the best singer-songwriter album of last year.

Song: Canaan

Artist: Black Dub, Canada

Album: Black Dub, 2010

Notes: Spare, atmospheric, original Americana groove, rolls along so sweetly, a lost nugget buried on superb CD by top producer (U2, Dylan etc.), Daniel Lanois' band, Black Dub.

Song: Baltimore

Artist: Nina Simone, Tryon, NC

Album: Baltimore, 1978

Notes: A mini documentary about urban recession and blight in Baltimore, written with typical understated genius by Randy Newman, delivered over a jazz and reggae-tinged backdrop with refinement by the late, great Nina.

Song: Warm Whispers

Artist: Missy Higgins, Australia

Album: On A Clear Night, 2007

Notes: Truly one of the best lost pearls featured on L&F over the past year, pairing a percussive drum line with deft piano elements on a fabulously crafted recording. Big-time vegetarian, singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, actress and animal rights activist - more at www.missyhiggins.com.

Song: I’d Rather Be With You

Artist: Joshua Radin, New York

Album: Simple Times, 2008

Notes: Two minutes and 40 seconds of near perfect singer-songwriter pop. Still underrated though Radin got his break when his songs were used in the tv series, 'Scrubs'.

Song: Life’s What You Make It

Artist: Talk Talk, England

Album: The Colour of Spring, 1986

Notes: So much splendid, largely undiscovered music in Talk Talk's catalog especially on their third album which still sounds so utterly fresh. Co-written and sung by the group's enigmatic founder, Mark Hollis who has completely disappeared off the map.

Song: Rollin’ Home

Artist: Tyler Hilton, Palm Springs, CA

Album: The Tracks of Tyler Hilton, 2004

Notes: Choice cut from the last album (eight years and counting) by one of the best singer-songwriters out there. Surely a follow-up long-player must emerge this year? ww.tylerhilton.com

Song: Long Journey

Artist: Sarah Jarosz, Austin, TX

Album: Song Up In Her Head, 2009

Notes: Hard to believe Sarah was just 17 years old when she wrote and recorded this sensational, tender lost diamond in her senior year of high school. Stunning maiden album from top emerging bluegrass talent (who is also a dab hand on the banjo).

Song: Hold On

Artist: Shore, Silver Lake, CA

Album: The Shore, 2004

Notes: Astonishingly complete, highly melodic BritPop lost corker by California-based band fronted by Ben Ashley. From their sterling debut album (released on Madonna's Maverick label: well done Madge).

Song: Both Sides Now

Artist: Joni Mitchell, Canada

Album: Both Sides Now, 2000

Notes: The best of the best, one of the greatest recordings in popular music history. Bathed in superb orchestration by the London Symphony Orchestra, Joni's exquisite update of her own composition. If you don't like this piece of music finery, please don't tune in, just drop out.

Song: Bonny

Artist: Prefab Sprout, England

Album: Steve McQueen, 1985

Notes: Chord-change momentum par excellence. So much good but undiscovered music from top tunesmith Paddy McAloon and his group, Prefab Sprout over the years. Not a single song by Prefab Sprout has ever made the Billboard Hot 100 and you rarely hear them on the radio. Shame.

Song: Maple Tree

Artist: Angel Taylor, Los Angeles

Album: Love Travels, 2010

Notes: The standout ballad from one of the best female singer-songwriter debut albums of the past ten years, every cut is a winner. An L&F preferred artiste from the beginning. Sophomore album in the works. More at www.angeltayloronline.com.

Song: Kentucky Avenue

Artist: Tom Waits, Pomona, CA

Album: Blue Valentine, 1978

Notes: Finally, the Saddest Song of All Time: a complete movie revealed over 4 minutes and 50 seconds of song, the simple tale of a couple of young lads hanging out together and getting up to no good in their run-down neighborhood - but only in the final two stanzas do we realize that Tom's best friend is confined to a wheelchair.

Song: Waiting For A Train

Artist: Flash & The Pan, Australia

Album: Headlines, 1982

Notes: Weird and wacky synth-pop novelty by a groovy New Wave act from the late '70s. Synth pop duo of Harry Vanda and George Young: George is older brother of Angus and Malcolm Young of AC/DC and Vanda and George Young produced many early AC/DC albums.

Song: Say Goodbye

Artist: Fleetwood Mac, Los Angeles

Album: Say You Will, 2003

Notes: Lindsey Buckingham on top guitar and vocal form using three different sets of rhythms on this extraordinary track. Look out for (another) reunion tour by the group later this year, and a brand new album.

Song: Fly To Me

Artist: Keane, England

Album: Not available

Notes: Extremely rare lost pop-rock winner, little more than a demo incredibly only ever released on the flip-side of a old UK-only single.

Song: Fortunate Son (live)

Artist: Bruce Hornsby, Williamsburg, VA

Album: Here Come The Noisemakers, 1999

Notes: Literate, thoughtful lyrics about the plight of a veteran, married to a deftly played and tragic ivory melody by the supremely talented wordsmith, tunesmith, pianist.

Song: No Man’s Land

Artist: Kristina Train, Savannah, GA

Album: Spilt Milk, 2009

Notes: A mighty but overlooked blue-eyed soul belter, starts off sounding like Norah, ends up like Adele+. Relative newcomer with superb vocal control and power, rightly signed to the iconic blues label, Blue Note.

Song: The Letter That Never Came

Artist: Thomas Newman, Los Angeles

Album: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Original Soundtrack, 2004

Notes: Some musical pieces are so good they don't need lyrics. Just under two minutes of heavenly piano and orchestration by the best film composer out there, Thomas Newman (Randy's cousin).

Song: That Home

Artist: Cinematic Orchestra feat. Patrick Watson, England

Album: Ma Fleur, 2007

Notes: Brief but perfect - 1:43 seconds of pure aural magic, a divine, Coldplay-esque ballad by the fluid British collective with guest vocal by Canadian performer, Patrick Watson. Longer version also on the same album.

Song: You’ve Got The Style

Artist: Athlete, England

Album: Vehicles and Animals, 2002

Notes: Huge in the UK, but little known in the US, literate, melodic alt-rock led by Joel Pott, their most intriguing early single. Four grossly under-appreciated albums by Athlete over the past 10 years.

Song: Lost and Found

Artist: Kim Taylor, Cincinnati, OH

Album: Little Miracle, 2010

Notes: The ideal title and an impeccable ballad to close-out 'Lost and Found's first anniversary show from the still sorely underrated indie songstress. More at www.kim-taylor.net. MANY THANKS TO OUR LOYAL AND EVER-GROWING SUPPORTERS AND RADIO LISTENERS - YOU HAVE SUPERB TASTE.