Song: Let Her Go

Artist: Passenger, England

Album: All The Lights, 2012

Notes: A recent single, a restrained acoustic corker showcasing an engaging vocal style somewhere between One Eskimo and Ed Sheeran (he's opening on some US Autumn dates for Mr. Sheeran). Passenger is the performing name of Brit-born, Aussie-based tunesmith, Mike Rosenberg. Ace album, more at www.passengermusic.com.

Song: Ace of Hearts

Artist: Chris Rea, England

Album: Wired To The Moon, 1984

Notes: Old school no-nonsense pop rock delight, filled with smart hooks and featuring his gritty trademark vocal style. Outrageous that none of Rea's 25-album back catalog is available for sale in the US either online or on CD.

Song: Come Home

Artist: Chappo, Brooklyn, NY

Album: Moonwater, 2012

Notes: Sparkling Modern Rock collage about love but also about the freedom of getting rid of all the junk we amass. Chappo is a Brooklyn-based quartet, formed five years and fronted by lead chappie, Alex Chappo. If you like the Klaxons, Interpol or the Flaming Lips you might get a buzz.

Song: No One’s Gonna Love You

Artist: Band of Horses, Seattle

Album: Cease To Begin, 2007

Notes: Lost gem which only ever scored in Denmark of all places. Getting more popular with each new release, their fourth album, 'Mirage Rock' will drop next month produced by the great Glyn Johns (who's worked with everyone including the Beatles, the Clash and the Stones).

Song: Closer

Artist: Mindy Smith, Nashville

Album: Mindy Smith, 2012

Notes: A+ Americana from the best in the business, blessed with a ghostly pitch-perfect tender vocal style. A neat candle-lit video clip accompanies this top cut available at www.mindysmithmusic.com.

Song: Johnny Johnny

Artist: Prefab Sprout, England

Album: Two Wheels Good, 1985

Notes: Another sterling overlooked nugget by one of the most overlooked, literate melodic pop-rock outfits from the 1980s, fronted by the brilliant Paddy McAloon. Song was originally named, 'Goodbye Lucille #1' - and parent album originally titled 'Steve McQueen'.

Song: Light As A Feather

Artist: Jesse Harris, New York

Album: Watching The Sky, 2009

Notes: Lovely acoustic jangler by a singer-songwriter still deeply unheralded in the mainstream as a solo artist in his own right (he wrote Norah Jones' 'Don't Know Why'). The New York native has also collaborated with the likes of Lizz Wright, Bright Eyes, soul great Solomon Burke and the marvelous Madeleine Peyroux.

Song: My Culture

Artist: I Giant Leap featuring Robbie Williams & Maxi Jazz, England

Album: 1 Giant Leap, 2002

Notes: Fabulous meld of smart hip-hop, electronica and pop/soul lyrically tracing ancestral culture and the roots of our fathers and forefathers. Duo of Duncan Bridgeman and Jamie Catto who recorded this superb one-off World Music album comprising songs recorded all over the world with different musicians including Michael Stipe, Baaba Maal from Senegal, Michael Franti and Asha Bhosle.

Song: Even The Losers

Artist: Pat Green, San Antonio, TX

Album: Songs We Wish We'd Written - Volume II, 2012

Notes: A rousing, straight-down-the-middle Country-rock update of the Tom Petty original (on Tom's epic 'Damn The Torpedoes' opus from 1979) by the Texan Country performer whom 'People' magazine once dubbed, "the Bruce Springsteen of the Southwest".

Song: Madly

Artist: Tristan Prettyman, San Diego

Album: Hello, 2008

Notes: A catchy acoustic bubbler which should have been a hit. Top surfer as a teenager, inspired to pursue a music career after hearing an album by Ani DiFranco when she was 15. Tristan's third album will hit retail soon, 'Cedar + Gold'.

Song: Red

Artist: Daniel Merriweather, Australia

Album: Love and War, 2009

Notes: Underrated blue-eyed soul singer from Melbourne down under with a mature full vocal sound. Strong sophomore album which was produced by Mark Ronson (who famously created the soulful sound around Amy Winehouse).

Song: Seagull

Artist: Saturday Sun, England

Album: Seagull EP, 2012

Notes: Too good, a completely unknown, obscure A+ acoustic nu-folk ballad showcasing the vocal grit and instrumental craft of a new British quartet. More at facebook.com/saturdaysunmusic.

Song: I’m Your Puppet

Artist: James & Bobby Purify, Pensacola, FL

Album: Purify Bros., 1976

Notes: A peerless 1976 update of their own original 1966 hit, solid soul, an absolute stormer of a recording. R&B duo were non-existent siblings of James Purify and Ben Moore, though James' original singing partner in the '60s was his cousin, Robert Lee Dickey (hence the 'Bobby' factor).

Song: Protection

Artist: Massive Attack feat. Tracey Thorn, England

Album: Protection, 1994

Notes: Haunting and cool, themed on healing and staying safe and protected, a top collaboration between the trip-hop electronica pioneers and L&F preferred artiste, Tracey Thorn. Features a percussive sample of James Brown's 'The Payback'.

Song: Don’t Let Go

Artist: Bryan Adams with Sarah McLachlan, Canada

Album: Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (Soundtrack), 2002

Notes: High romance from two Canadian superstars, though McLachlan's contribution elevates this number, both in terms of her vocal grace and subtle piano playing. An overlooked duet from the animated film soundtrack (the movie featured the voice of Jason Bourne).

Song: Amigo

Artist: Black Slate, England/Caribbean

Album: Amigo, 1980

Notes: Blissed out reggae, an A+ rock steady lost nugget from 1980 by an aggregation of British and Caribbean artists, popular on the club scene around northern Europe in the mid-'70s.

Song: Learn Me Right

Artist: Birdy & Mumford & Sons, England

Album: Brave (Soundtrack), 2012

Notes: Nice Celtic flavors on a neat, already lost collaboration by the Mumford boys with the extraordinary 16-year old artiste, Birdy. An overlooked pearl from the Pixar-produced summer movie hit.

Song: Spanish Stroll

Artist: Mink Deville, Stamford, CT

Album: Mink Deville, 1977

Notes: Fronted by blue collar, post-punker, Willy DeVille a Latin-laced punkish rocker from a fine eponymous debut album - which was subsequently hailed by American Hit Network: "Under-promoted, under-appreciated and ultimately under-sold, a sleeper masterpiece that sounds as good today as it did in 1977." Willy passed away too young at 58 in 2009.

Song: Crazy Dreams

Artist: Paul Brady, Ireland

Album: No available, 1980

Notes: Underrated Irish singer-songwriter with one of his earliest singles, a superb pop-rock roller, sadly not available in its original form (an updated recording can be downloaded). Exclusive to L&F, courtesy of Mr Brady - more at www.paulbrady.com - and check out his ace, new anthology, 'Dancer In The Fire'.

Song: Elephants

Artist: Rachael Yamagata, Arlington, VA

Album: Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart, 2008

Notes: Immensely thoughtful, tender ballad themed on getting over a lost love deftly using animal analogies and metaphors. One of the very best, Rachel is much in demand, also recorded with the likes of Bright Eyes, Ray LaMontagne and Ryan Adams.

Song: On My Way

Artist: Passion Pit, Cambridge, MA

Album: Gossamer, 2012

Notes: Fab anthemic chorus offset by wispy verses, wacky electro-folkish-pop from their noble new album. From a very personal album composed by frontman Michael Angelakos about his demons and recovery from a nervous breakdown following bouts with alcoholism and depression.

Song: Straight Lines

Artist: New Musik, England

Album: From A - B, 1980

Notes: Despite recording a steady stream of immensely catch synth-pop confections in the early '80s, New Musik never had a hit on these shores. Mainman, Tony Mansfield went on to enjoy successful career as a top producer - you can spot similar polished, textured production on big hits by another synthpop combo, Naked Eyes.

Song: Pass It Around

Artist: Donavon Frankenreiter, San Clemente, CA

Album: Pass It Around, 2008

Notes: Sand in the mellow grooves, breezy, easy-flowing surf-pop from one of the genres leading lights. Album features Grant Lee Phllips and Ben Harper among its many guests.

Song: What Am I

Artist: von Grey, Atlanta

Album: von Grey EP, 2012

Notes: Delightful four-part harmonies courtesy of Kathryn, Annika, Fiona and Petra von Grey ' a quartet of sisters who are building a growing following having performed more than 200 shows over the past two years, including some opening slots for Sarah McLachlan.

Song: Coming Down

Artist: Dum Dum Girls, New York/Los Angeles

Album: Only In Dreams, 2011

Notes: Dark, deeply-minted but anthemic dream-pop sound of an all-female quartet fronted by Kristen Gundred (aka Dee Dee). Influenced by (and sounding like) Mazzy Star.

Song: I’m Coming Home

Artist: Johnny Mathis, Gilmer, TX

Album: I'm Coming Home, 1973

Notes: Yes, Mr. Mathis on L&F! This week's guilty pleasure and the best use of the triangle instrument in the history of popular music. In addition to Johnny's unique vibrato, A+ strings and horns, a genius arrangement and overall production and songwriting by the legendary Thom Bell. Astonishingly, Mathis has been signed to the same label, Columbia Records, for 56 years.

Song: True Faith

Artist: New Order, England

Album: Singles, 2005

Notes: The group's finest moment, though it failed to crack the Top 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. Produced by Stephen Hague who's produced dozens of British acts including the Pet Shop Boys and Peter Gabriel.

Song: Eat Dirt

Artist: Susan Justice, Aruba

Album: Eat Dirt, 2012

Notes: An all-too-real autobiographical account of a questioning teenager trying to break free from a cultish upbringing, domineering parents and trying to break free from religious dogma. Very promising maiden album by the literate songstress.

Song: The Closest Thing To Crazy

Artist: Katie Melua, Georgia (former Soviet Union)

Album: Call off the Search, 2003

Notes: So sweet, a tender whimsical love ditty from Katie's jazz/bluesy pop meld debut album. She was a breakout star in the UK, becoming one of the youngest millionaires in the country after the banner success of her debut album and this single.

Song: And So It Goes (live)

Artist: Billy Joel, Bronx, NY

Album: 12 Gardens Live, 2006

Notes: The Saddest Song of All Time - period.

Song: Going Back To My Roots

Artist: Odyssey, New York

Album: The Very Best of Odyssey, 1998

Notes: Terrific funky guitar refrain underpinning this dance-soul corker from 1981. A cover version of a song originally written and recorded by the legendary Lamont Dozier by the R&B troupe originally based in New York though they ended up having far more success around Europe.

Song: Lessons Learned

Artist: Cary Brothers, Los Angeles

Album: Covers Volume One, 2012

Notes: One of five strong cuts which complete his new EP, a cool update of a composition by underrated Denver indie-folk duo, Matt & Tim. Rachel Yamagata glorious as ever in the background.

Song: If There Was No You

Artist: Brandi Carlile, Ravensdale, WA

Album: Give Up The Ghost, 2009

Notes: An affectionate acoustic ruby from an album produced three years ago by the peerless Rick Rubin, the most diverse producer in rock music history (he founded hip-hop label, Def Jam, and has helmed groundbreaking albums by the likes of Tom Petty, Neil Diamond, the Avett Brothers, Adele and Johnny Cash among dozens of others).

Song: Streets of Your Town

Artist: Ivy/Go-Betweens, New York/Australia

Album: Guestroom, 2002

Notes: A ten-year old update of the Go Betweens lost classic by the New York indie-popsters Ivy, merging effortlessly into the original by the much-missed Australian combo.