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Playlists: songs from musicals that transcend their genre

November 5, 2025 Peter Kimpton

A revolutionary show: Les Misérables (with revolving stage)

The curtain rises and and it’s time fabulous show! Picking from the many nominations from last week’s topic, Marco den Ouden directs a set of playlists of transcedant numbers from over a century of song and dance landmarks

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In music, musicals, musical hall, songs, pop, rock Tags musicals, playlists, songs, Paul Robeson, Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein, Billie Holiday, George Gershwin, Nina Simone, Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley, Patrick Page, Anais Mitchell, Tommy Korberg, Benny Anersson, Bjorn Ulvaus, Tim Rice, Burton Lane, Alan Jay Lerner, Hugh Masekela, Mbongeni Ngema, Lena Horne, Doris Day, Julie London, Sammy Fain, Paul Francis Webster, Bobby Troup, Rumi, Andrew Choi, Gordon McRae, Richard Rodgers, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Julie Covington, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Fats Waller, Howard Keel, Louis Calhern, Keenan Wynn, Betty Hutton, Irving Berlin, The Flesh Failures, Gerome Ragni, James Rado, Galt MacDermot, Harve Presnell, Alan J Lerner, Frederick Loewe, Carmen Twillie, Lebo M, Elton John, Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil, Jean-Marc Natel, Ejae, KPop Demon Hunters, Marco den Ouden, Treat Williams, Grand Bush, John DeRobertas, Elaine Page, Barbara Dickson, The Doors, Christopher Lee, Muse, Shirley Bassey, Asha Bhosle, Udit Narayan, Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Mathis, Connee Boswell, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, Noelle Cordier, Cecile McClorin Salvant, Marisha Wallace, Marni Nixon, Ramona Davies, Paul Whiteman, Yvonne Elliman, Fred Astaire, Leo Reisman, Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, Mary Kay Bergman, Robert Lindsay, Maryann Plunkett, Sarah Vaughan, Newkid, Angela Lansbury, Cliff Edwards, Lady Gaga, Eydie Gorme, Wini Shaw, Colm Wilkinson
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Playlists: songs defined or redefined by television

November 27, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Are you watching? The musical and visual chemistry of Breaking Bad

Sometimes the visual and audible become inextricable. From nostalgia to drama, guest of the week Loud Atlas channels nominations from last week’s TV topic into playlists that are must-sees and required listening

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In avant-garde, blues, calypso, African, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, exotica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, lounge, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional, trip hop Tags songs, playlists, television, television themes, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Blind Boys of Alabama, Tom Waits, The Wire, The Lightning Seeds, Match of the Day, REM, The Bear, Sven Libaek, Inner Space, Los Jaivas, television news, Irma Thomas, Black Mirror, Barry White, Linda Ronstadt, The Last of Us, Modern English, Stranger Things, Kate Bush, Vince Guaraldi, Fonola Band, Charlie Brown, Colin Hay, Scrubs, The Polyphonic Spree, Lemon Jelly, Spaced (TV series), Badfinger, Breaking Bad, Gioacchino Rossini, The Lone Ranger, The Ventures, Hawaii Five-O, Nick Cave, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Peaky Blinders, Cream, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Alabama 3, The Sopranos, Delia Derbyshire, Doctor Who, The Decemberists, Manifest, The Cramps, Wednesday (TV series), Pérez Prado, advertising, Phil Collins, Booker T and the MGs, The Bee Gees, Baby Reindeer, Oasis, The Royle Family, John Willamson, Burke's Backyard, Blind Faith, 3 Body Problem, Gen Hoshino, Spy x Family, Nat King Cole, Fallout, CCS, Top of the Pops, Gabriel Fauré, Billy Walker, Lola Marsh, Beethoven, Nina Simone, Loud Atlas
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Playlists: songs about underdogs

October 23, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Underdog under dog

From the financially underprivileged to the militarily outnumbered, sporting longshots to those barred by the race, from last week’s topic suggestions, guest Loud Atlas’ powerful picks show how the apparent minnows can become mighty

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In African, avant-garde, blues, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, exotica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, instrumentals, indie, jazz, krautrock, lounge, metal, music, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, psychedelia, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional, trip hop Tags Sly & The Family Stone, Archie Roach, Blind Alfred, Jim Croce, Spoon, Johnny Horton, Bob Marley, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Allison Russell, Peter Sarstedt, Todd Duncan, Nat King Cole, Paul Robeson, Bill Conti, Keith Hampshire, Chumbawamba, Alicia Keys, Joe Walsh, Public Enemy, The Nashville Teens, Boomtown Rats, The Boomtown Rats, Pulp, The Clash, Guignol, Mischief Brew, Danny Kaye, Stornaway, Cast of Hamilton, Ren, Nick Drake, Liza Minnelli, Loud Atlas
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Playlists: songs about D-Day

June 12, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Reflection on Omaha beach in the aftermath of D-Day battles on 6 June 1944

Following the 80th anniversary of one of the most significant events of the 20th century, guest playlister Maki picks poignant and powerful selections abuot that event as well as other do-or-die metaphors inspired by last week’s D-Day topic

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In blues, classical, country, drone, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, jazz, metal, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, traditional, soundtracks, soul, songs Tags D-Day, history, war, second world war, Second World War, Maurice Jarre, Sabaton, Chumbawamba, Seth Lakeman, Chris De Burgh, Iron Maiden, Soulsavers, Dave Gahan, B-Squadron, Mavis Staples, The Charlesys, Sod's Opera, Tom Jones, Robert Wyatt, Nat King Cole, Dave Wright & The Midnight Ramblers, Woody Guthrie, Avett Brothers, Captain Beefheart, James Keelaghan, Bill Frisell, Spear of Destiny, Jim Bradford, Thirty Seconds To Mars, Benjamin Britten, Maki
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Playlists: songs featuring crooners

April 10, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Mic King: Nat King Cole

How do you demonstrate the craft of crooning? It brings a broader range than you imagine. After the many nominations springing from last week’s topic, defining as all about style and using the microphone, guest playlister ParaMhor brings some perfect performance picks …

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In blues, classical, country, folk, jazz, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, rock, songs, soul, traditional, soundtracks Tags crooning, singing, Richard Hawley, Patsy Cline, K.D. Lang, Chris Isaak, Chris Connor, Jimmy Little, Johnny Harman, John Coltrane, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Al Bowlly, Óðinn Valdimarsson, Fred Astaire, Nat King Cole, The Righteous Brothers, Depeche Mode, Billie Holiday, Maggie Gyllenhall, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, Mills Brothers, Neil Young, Yves Montand, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams, Patty Page, Elvis Presley, George Michael, Robert Palmer, Caetano Veloso, Chappell Roan, Crowded House, Nina Simone, Mitski, The Passengers, The Beatles, ParaMhor
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Microphone closeness? Songs featuring crooners

April 4, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse. But how many crooners are there in this photo?

This week it’s time to to get close to the microphone explore the evolution of crooning in the full range, the style, the technique, the good, bad and ugly, emotive, intimate and excellent, the creative, the cosy, and the cringeworthy, the sensitive and sentimental

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In blues, avant-garde, classical, comedy, funk, indie, jazz, musical hall, musicals, music, playlists, pop, soul, songs, soundtracks, traditional Tags crooning, songs, playlists, Tony Bennett, Amy Winehouse, Rudy Vallee, Vachel Lindsay, Frank Sinatra, Scott Walker, Panda Bear, Marc Bolan, Al Jolson, microphone, audio technology, "Whispering" Jack Smith, Frank Crumit, Gene Austin, Art Gillham, Jack LIttle, Lloyd Bacon, Film, film soundtrack, David Manners, Harry Frommermann, Willy Fritsch, Rudi Schuricke, Vic Reeves, Des O'Connor, Morecambe & Wise, television, standup comedy, Louis Armstrong, Dan Grissom, Nat King Cole, Chet Baker, João Gilberto, Harry Connick Jr, Jamie Cullum, Michael Buble, Big Crosby, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Bobby Darin, Marvin Gaye, Elvis Presley, Eddie Vedder, Tori Amos, Billie Eilish, Nina Simone, Nick Cave, Alex Turner, Arctic Monkeys, Richard Hawley
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Playlists: music without percussion

March 13, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Slowdive back in the day … but now reaching a new audience

Jazz, classical, acoustic rock to neo-folk, gentle pop and soul to ambient electronica, there’s a whole texture of sounds audible when the bang of drums and other struck percussion are absent. Inspired by last week’s topic, guest Nilpferd brilliantly guides us through a more delicate, nuanced musical experience

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In classical, African, avant-garde, blues, country, experimental, electronica, folk, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, playlists, pop, prog, psychedelia, rock, songs, soul, traditional Tags songs, playlists, Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Jimmy Giuffre, Astor Piazzolla, Benjamin Britten, Led Zeppelin, The Full English, The Go-Betweens, Stevie Wonder, Kenny Wheeler, Slowdive, Tangerine Dream, Nat King Cole, Huey Lewis and the News, Flying Pickets, Patti Austin, Rachel Unthank and the Winterset, Rachel Unthank, The Grateful Dead, Charles Brown, The Mountain Goats, Black Sabbath, King Crimson, Flying Lotus, Pink Floyd, Stan Getz, Oscar Peterson, Christian McBride, Mark Whitfield, Nicolas Payton, Flanders Symphony Orchestra, Beethoven, Nilpferd
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Playlists: songs inventively using acronyms

October 11, 2023 Peter Kimpton

What letters might form into songs?

From catchy hooks to deeper meanings revealed, a combination of letters can be a clever way to compose lyrics or a song title. Guest playlister ajostu unscrambles hundreds of suggestions from last week’s topic to superbly spell it all out

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, jazz, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, acronyms, Ian Brown, The Streets, Wunmi, Me'Shell NdegéOcello, Public Service Broadcasting, Kendrick Lamar, Rina Sawayama, Nat King Cole, Father John Misty, Jesca Hoop, Big Thief, Prefab Sprout, Emmy The Great, Bis, Daryl Hall, Robert Fripp, Peter and the Test Tube Babies, Brakes, Wire, Peter Gabriel, Zeca Pagodinho, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Train, Steely Dan, Serge Gainsbourg, Everyone Was In The French Resistance ... Now!, Young Marble Giants, Scotch Rolex, M.I.A., Hitsujibungaku, SABA, Cornelius
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Playlists: songs about immaturity

May 31, 2023 Peter Kimpton

“Recognise your age, it’s a teenage rampage.” Sweet!

Life’s SO unfair! NOBODY understands! After a huge outpouring of song suggestions on this angst-ridden subject, guest of the week Olive Butler picks out two wonderfully entertaining playlists that really reach for the inner child

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In avant-garde, blues, calypso, comedy, country, dance, disco, electronica, dub, folk, funk, indie, jazz, instrumentals, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, prog, postpunk, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, songs, ska, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, immaturity, adolescence, childhood, The Beatles, The Smiths, Half Man Half Biscuit, Was (Not Was), Cock Sparrer, The Sweet, The Fugs, Van Der Graaf Generator, Black Box Recorder, Suede, Joni Mitchell, Looper, Johnnie Taylor, Nat King Cole, Mott The Hoople, André Williams, Neil Diamond, Pulp, The Jam, Toyah, Lily Allen, The Afghan Wings, The Afghan Whigs, Philip Jeays, Jim Stafford, Chuck Berry, Cat Stevens, The Tams, Paul Anka, Suzi Quatro, Alice Cooper, Patience And Prudence, Sparks, Olive Butler
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Playlists: songs about resilience

May 2, 2023 Peter Kimpton

There’s something inside … Labi Siffre

Love and marriage, fighting alcoholism, fearless drag queens, 400 years of black resilience, to being able to bend rather than be brittle and break – there’s something very strong going on here, thanks for playlists picked by guest magicman inspired by last week’s topic

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, jazz, music, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, psychedelia, prog, punk, reggae, rock, ska, songs, soul, traditional, soundtracks Tags resilience, songs, playlists, Maya Angelou, Mêlée, Kate Bush, Mel & Tim, Fiona Apple, Chk Chk Chk, Grace Petrie, Gerry Rafferty, Dub Syndicate, Aretha Franklin, Joe Walsh, B.J. Thomas, Labi Siffre, Todd Rundgren, Len Chandler, Manic Street Preachers, The Impressions, Mark Stewart & the Maffia, Christina Aguilera, Culture, The Whatnauts, Nat King Cole, Sault, Judy Garland, Little Richard, Long Promised Road, Prince Buster, Andrew Duhon, Jessie Ware, magicman
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Playlists: songs about nightingales and the song thrush family

March 29, 2022 Peter Kimpton

Beautiful hybrid: the speckled nightingale thrush (Catharus maculatus)

They must sing on, and will not stop. From the national bird of Ukraine to a whole variety of vocally dextrous thrushes, this enduring topic, coming from a huge flock of nominations last week, is given full and beautiful playlist flight by guest Severin

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, country, dance, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, indie, instrumentals, jazz, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, rock, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, birdsong, birds, nightingale, thrush, Camille Saint-Saëns, Go_A, Maude Maggart, Irving Berlin, Lady Blackbird, Laura Veirs, Nat King Cole, Bellowhead, Johnny Osbourne, Rocco Deluca, Gilberto Gil, Laurie Lewis, Roxy Music, Julee Cruise, Sam Lee, The Beatles, Everly Brothers, Michael Jackson, Cab Calloway, Rachel Unthank, Rachel Unthank and the Winterset, Brinsley Schwarz, Dionne Warwick, Peggy Lee, In Gowan Ring, Xavier Cugat, David Rotheray, Los Mirlos, Djivan Gasparyan, Paul McCartney, Wings, Trisha Yearwood, Nina Simone, The Eagles, Norah Jones, Yona, Sinead O'Connor, Buffalo Springfield, Lambchop, Marcos Valle, Stacey Kent, Jim Tomlinson, Jackie Oates, The Whiskey Rebellion, Larissa Kovalchuk, Prefab Sprout, Juan Perro, Igor Stravinsky, Sarah Vaughan, Pauline Vallance, severin, Severin
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Playlists: songs about tradition

December 21, 2021 Peter Kimpton

British and German troops buck tradition, but also honour it, during the Christmas Day truce of 1914, to play football instead of war

Ancient religions to strange festivals, drinking rituals to counting sheep to chasing cheeses, small slices of history to long formed social behaviour, enjoy wonderful stories and playlists picked by guest Marco den Ouden from last week’s topic

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In blues, comedy, country, experimental, folk, instrumentals, jazz, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, rock, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, tradition, Topol, Fiddler On The Roof, musicals, Steeleye Span, Jake Thackray, Giorgio Moroder, The Maccabees, Die 3 Besoffskis, Takashi Hirayaus, Bob Brozman, Les Innocents, Shikata Akiko, Lila Downs, Mike Harding, Tim Minchin, Nat King Cole, Hen Ogledd, Samingad, Dadawa, The Saw Doctors, Show Of Hands, Sea Power, B Movie, Billy Idol, The Fantastics, Richard Thompson, Linda Thompson, Joni Mitchell, NIck Lowe, Careg Lafar, Heilung, Peter Gabriel, Waylon Napadogan, John McCutcheon, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Chloe Adams, The Kickstands, Stan Getz, Stanley Clarke, Jon Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Sufjan Stevens, John Coltrane, Alex Khaskin, Swing Out Sister, Peter Green, Simani, Big Crosby, The Irish Rovers, National Lampoon, Marco den Ouden
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Playlists: songs for the spirit of 2021

January 6, 2021 Peter Kimpton
There’s only one direction to go in 2021, and Derrick shows the way …

There’s only one direction to go in 2021, and Derrick shows the way …

From party bangers to soulful sensitivity, guest playlister DJ Bear aka PopOff! kicks off the new year with poignancy and positivity inspired by a tonne of nominations. After all what other way is there to go but up?

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In dance, disco, dub, folk, funk, indie, music, playlists, pop, reggae, rock, songs, soul, traditional Tags songs, playlists, 2021, new year, Talking Heads, Steve Winwood, Fleetwood Mac, Florence and the Machine, Seal, Billy Ocean, Derrick Morgan, The Streets, D:Ream, William DeVaughn, Pink, Andrew W.K., AC/DC, INXS, Elton John, The Police, Show Of Hands, Dr John, Mavis Staples, Friday Saturday & Sunday, Nat King Cole, The The, Emily Scott Robinson
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Playlists: songs about the colour orange

June 5, 2019 Peter Kimpton
What orange-ments are playing out this week?

What orange-ments are playing out this week?

Fresh, funky, bright and effervescent, spreading from Jamaica to India, France and America and all the way to Japan, this week’s guest playlister Hoshino Sakura captures the essence of this colour in all forms, sky to fruit to street

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In avant-garde, blues, colours, comedy, country, dance, dub, disco, electronica, experimental, folk, gospel, indie, instrumentals, jazz, metal, playlists, pop, postpunk, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, ska, songs, soul, traditional Tags songs, playlists, colours, orange, flowers, fruit, Jamaica, Prince Buster, The In Crowd, Earth Wind & Fire, Eddie Henderson, Sujatha Majumdar, Reuben Wilson, Judy and Mary, Passepied, Nat King Cole, Ellis Regina, Clara Nunes, Gilbert Bécaud, Arcángel, Johnny Cash, Al Stewart, Richard Thompson, REM, Sascha Funke, Chemical Brothers, Cult With No Name, David Devant and His Spirit Wife, The Vines, Queen Sea Big Shark, Roxy Music, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, Hoshino Sakura
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Playlists: songs about Paris

February 13, 2019 Peter Kimpton
King of swing: Django Rehinhardt

King of swing: Django Rehinhardt

Jacques Dutronc to Jacqueline Taieb to Joni Mitchell, all the sights and sound of the great French city are captured in deux listes belles by our guru du semaine fantastique, swawilg. Take a stroll, stop at a café and enjoy …

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In blues, classical, country, dance, disco, electronica, folk, indie, jazz, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, rock, songs, soul Tags songs, playlists, Paris, France, Clifford Brown, Michael Hurley, Zaz, Django Reinhardt, Jacques Dutronc, Jacqueline Taleb, Claude Nougaro, Terry Callier, Marianne Faithfull, The Style Council, Tracy Thorn, Matt Monro, Joni Mitchell, Eartha Kitt, Rufus Wainwright, Tony Joe White, Les Négresses Vertes, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Petit Yodé et L'enfant Siro, Joe Dassin, Nat King Cole, Beausoleil, Julie London, Pierre Bensusan, Madeleine Peyroux, swawilg, Unholy Modal Rounders
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Playlists: songs and music by trios

November 28, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris

Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris

Intricate jazz to country three-part harmony, postpunk, pop, indie, hip-hop, Cuban traditional to perfect Persian drumming, playlister Nilpferd picks a perfect ‘triumph-virate’ of holy trinities across genres

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In blues, country, dance, disco, folk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, rock, songs, soul, traditional Tags songs, trios, playlists, Jimmy Giuffre Trio, Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Trio Matamoros, Trio Chemirani, GoGo Penguin, London Grammar, Tony Williams Lifetime, Bill Evans Trio, The Police, Zounds, Sleater-Kinney, Di Meola Mclaughlin De Lucia, Trio, Johnny Winter, Crosby Stills & Nash, The Fugees, Nat King Cole, Nonstop Body, Dinosaur Jr, J Mascis, Le Trio Joubran, Jaco Pastorius, Sonny Rollins, Bronski Beat, Traffic, Morton Schantz, Aufgang, Nilpferd
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Playlists: great songwriting 1900-1955

April 18, 2018 Peter Kimpton
The Boswell Sisters

The Boswell Sisters

Armstrong and Astaire to the Boswell Sisters and Al Bowlly, Whispering Jack Smith to Sarah Vaughan, this week's guest playlist writer DiscoMonster digs out many a treasure in a golden age of discovery

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In blues, country, folk, classical, gospel, jazz, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, songs, soul, soundtracks Tags Songs, playlists, First World War, Second World War, Gus Elen, Harry Champion, Scott Joplin, Marion Williams, "Whispering" Jack Smith, Lucienne Boyer, Carlos Gardel, Trio Matamoros, Me Trixie Smith, Trixie Smith, Duke Ellington, Lucille Bogan, Vernon Dalhart, Rezso Seress, Robert Johnson, Louis Armstrong, Fred Astaire, Larry Clinton, Bea Wain, The Boswell Sisters, Al Bowlly, Dorival Caymmi, Chiyoko Shimakura, Nat King Cole, Jesse Powell, Fluffy Hunter, Jimmy Liggins and His Drops of Joy, Howlin' Wolf, The Orioles, Sarah Vaughan, Clifford Brown, Elsie Carlisle, DiscoMonster
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In the lap of the gods: songs about sitting or standing

November 23, 2017 Peter Kimpton
A different sort of lap dance

A different sort of lap dance

This week's topic will not only bend your minds, but also your knees. From standing up to authority or reaching other heights, to staging a sit-in, suggest songs that refer to any associations in titles or lyrics

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In music, playlists Tags Songs, sitting, standing, Shaun Ryder, Black Grape, Paul 'Kermit' Leveridge, chairs, design, Marc Bolan, Elvis Presley, jazz, Mark E Smith, Dave Grohl, Jerry Lee Lewis, Tori Amos, Peter Marshall, Winston Churchill, Game of Thrones, television, theatre, Rosa Parks, racial segregation, Amy Winehouse, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Nat King Cole, Alan Moore, Gustave Flaubert, Roman Polanski, Guinness Book of Records, Japan
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Well tasty: songs about meals and mealtimes

December 8, 2016 Peter Kimpton
Dinner at Jack Rabbit Slims. Care to dance?

Dinner at Jack Rabbit Slims. Care to dance?

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, elevenses, afternoon tea or midnight snacks? This week it's time to serve up a musical smorgasbord that's as much about the social setting and time of day as the food

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In songs, music Tags meals, dinner, breakfast, lunch, eating, family, food, Pulp Fiction, film, Steven Wright, Francis Bacon, Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Winston Churchill, Rocky Balboa, A Tribe Called Quest, Frank Zappa, animals, school, Orson Welles, Milton Friedman, France, Italy, Withnail & I, Tim Berners-Lee, Oliver Stone, Gene Simmons, Britains Got Talent, Festen, The Sopranos, Goodfellas, Nat King Cole
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Playlists: songs about renewal, rebirth and starting over

September 21, 2016 Peter Kimpton
Ibeyi, aka tempestuous sisters Naomi and Lisa-Kaindé Díaz

Ibeyi, aka tempestuous sisters Naomi and Lisa-Kaindé Díaz

From cleaning up to getting dirty, leaving the country to new life at forty, black eyes to old blues, this week's guest writer Marco den Ouden's playlists show brilliant breadth of perspective on ways to start again 

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In playlists, songs Tags songs, Marconius, starting over, rebirth, renewal, Ibeyi, Lavern Baker, Avril Lavigne, Linkin Park, Shania Twain, Bruce Springsteen, Camera Obscura, Evanescence, Bright Eyes, Johnnie Taylor, Sophie Tucker, Frank Sinatra, Alter Bridge, Peter Gabriel, Nina Simone, Johnny Nash, Mel & Tim, Nat King Cole, Stranger Cat, Erik Turffaz, Sophie Hunger, Amy MacDonald, Bob Dylan, Two Door Cinema Club, Sandra Nkake, Timelords, Odyssey, Fastball, Beautiful South, The Beautiful South, Nilsson, Peter & The Test Tube Babies, Jethro Tull, AKB48, Ruth B, Marco den Ouden
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New Albums …

Featured
Spíra by Ólöf Arnalds.jpeg
Dec 5, 2025
Ólöf Arnalds: Spíra
Dec 5, 2025

New album: A gorgeous, delicate, ethereal first release in a decade by the Icelandic singer-songwriter, acoustic instruments and her gentle, high, pure voice, all in her native language, caressing this listening experience like pure waters of some slowly trickling glacial stream

Dec 5, 2025
Melody's Echo Chamber - Unclouded.jpeg
Dec 5, 2025
Melody's Echo Chamber: Unclouded
Dec 5, 2025

New album: A fourth album, here full of delicious uplifting, dreamily chic, psychedelic soul pop by the French musician Melody Prochet, with bright, upbeat, optimistic numbers and a title lifted from a quote by the acclaimed Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, about achieving equilibrium

Dec 5, 2025
Devotion & The Black Divine by anaiis.jpeg
Dec 2, 2025
anaiis: Devotion & The Black Divine
Dec 2, 2025

New album: Following a summer Song of the Day - Deus Deus, a review of the autumn release and third LP by the London-based French-Senegalese singer-songwriter of resonantly beautiful, dynamic, sensual soul, gospel, R&B and experimental and chamber pop, with themes of new motherhood, uncertainty, religion, self-love and acceptance

Dec 2, 2025
De La Soul - Cabin In The Sky.jpeg
Nov 26, 2025
De La Soul: Cabin In The Sky
Nov 26, 2025

New album: The hip-hop veterans return with their first without, yet including the voice of, and a tribute to, founding member Trugoy the Dove, AKA Dave Jolicoeur who passed away in 2023, alongside many hip-hop luminary guests, with trademark playful skits, and all themed around the afterlife

Nov 26, 2025
The Mountain Goats- Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan.jpeg
Nov 26, 2025
The Mountain Goats: Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan
Nov 26, 2025

New album: An evocative musical journey of a concept album by the indie-folk band from Claremont, California, fronted by singer-songwriter John Darnielle, based on a dream of his in 2023 about a voyage to a fictional island by the titular captain, charting adventure, wonder and tragedy

Nov 26, 2025
Allie X - Happiness Is Going To Get You.jpeg
Nov 26, 2025
Allie X: Happiness Is Going To Get You
Nov 26, 2025

New album: A hugely entertaining, witty, droll, inventive, chamber and synth-pop fourth LP with a goth twist by the charismatic and theatrical Canadian artist Alexandra Hughes, who brings paradox and dark themes through sounds that include string quartet, harpsichord, classical and pure pop piano with killer lyrics

Nov 26, 2025
Tortoise - Touch.jpeg
Nov 25, 2025
Tortoise: Touch
Nov 25, 2025

New album: A welcome return with a cinematic and mesmeric groove-filled first studio LP in nine years, and the eighth over all by the eclectic Chicago post-rock/jazz/krautrock multi-instrumentalists Dan Bitney, John Herndon, Douglas McCombs, John McEntire and Jeff Parker

Nov 25, 2025
What of Our Nature by Haley Heynderickx, Max García Conover.jpeg
Nov 24, 2025
Haley Heynderickx and Max García Conover: What of Our Nature
Nov 24, 2025

New album: Beautiful, precise, poignant and poetic new folk numbers inspired by the life and music style of Woody Guthrie as the Portland, Oregon and New Yorker, now Portland, Maine-based singer-songwriters bring a delicious duet album, alternating and sharing songs covering a variety of forever topical social issues

Nov 24, 2025
Tranquilizer by Oneohtrix Point Never.jpeg
Nov 24, 2025
Oneohtrix Point Never: Tranquilizer
Nov 24, 2025

New album: Ambient, otherworldly, cinematic, mesmeric, and at times very odd, the Brooklyn-based electronic artist and producer Daniel Lopatin returns with a new nostalgia-based concept – constructing tracks from lost-then-refound Y2K CDs of 1990s and early 2000s royalty-free sample electronic sounds

Nov 24, 2025
Iona Zajac - Bang.jpeg
Nov 24, 2025
Iona Zajac: Bang
Nov 24, 2025

New album: A powerful, stirring, passionate and mature debut LP by the 29-year-old Glasgow-based Scottish singer with Polish and Ukrainian heritage who has toured as the new Pogues singer, and whose alternative folk songs capture raw emotions and the experience of modern womanhood, with echoes of PJ Harvey, Patti Smith, Aldous Harding and Lankum

Nov 24, 2025
Austra - Chin Up Buttercup.jpeg
Nov 19, 2025
Austra: Chin Up Buttercup
Nov 19, 2025

New album: This fifth studio LP as Austra by the Canadian classically trained vocalist and composer Katie Stelmanis brings beautiful electronica-pop and dance music, and has a bittersweet ironic title – a caustically witty reference to societal pressure to keep smiling despite a devastating breakup

Nov 19, 2025
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Nov 18, 2025
Mavis Staples: Sad and Beautiful World
Nov 18, 2025

New album: A timelessly classy release by the veteran soul, blues and gospel singer and social activist from the Staples Singers, in a release of wonderfully moving and poignant cover versions, beautifully interpreting works by artists including Tom Waits, Curtis Mayfield, Leonard Cohen, and Gillian Welch

Nov 18, 2025
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Nov 18, 2025
Stella Donnelly: Love and Fortune
Nov 18, 2025

New album: Finely crafted, stripped back musical simplicity combined with complex melancholic emotions mark out this beautiful, poetic, and deeply personal third folk-pop LP by the Australian singer-songwriter reflecting on the past and present

Nov 18, 2025
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Nov 17, 2025
Picture Parlour: The Parlour
Nov 17, 2025

New album: Following last year’s EP Face in the Picture, a fabulously stylish, smart, swaggering glam-rock-pop debut LP by the Manchester-formed, London-based band fronted by the impressively raspy, gritty, vibratro delivery of Liverpudlian vocalist and guitarist Katherine Parlour and distinctive riffs from North Yorkshire-born guitar Ella Risi

Nov 17, 2025

new songs …

Featured
Flea - A Plea.jpeg
Dec 5, 2025
Song of the Day: Flea - A Plea
Dec 5, 2025

Song of the Day: A striking, powerful new single by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers bassist (aka Michael Balzary), who brings a fusion of jazz and spoken word with a fabulous band on an impassioned number about the state of the US in a culture of hatred, social and political tensions, out now on Nonesuch Records

Dec 5, 2025
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Dec 4, 2025
Song of the Day: The Lemon Twigs - I've Got A Broken Heart
Dec 4, 2025

Song of the Day: Despite the title, this new double-A single (with Friday I’m Gonna Love You) has a wonderfully uplifting guitar-jangling beauty, with echoes of The Byrds and Stone Roses, but is of course the brilliant 60s and 70s retro sound of the Long Island brothers Brian and Michael D'Addario, out on Captured Tracks

Dec 4, 2025
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Dec 3, 2025
Song of the Day: Alewya - Night Drive (featuring Dagmawit Ameha)
Dec 3, 2025

Song of the Day: A sensual, stylish, dreamy electro-pop single by the striking British singer-songwriter, producer, multidisciplinary artist and model Alewya Demmisse, musically influenced by her rich Ethiopian-Egyptian heritage and early childhood upbringings in Saudi Arabia and Sudan

Dec 3, 2025
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Dec 2, 2025
Song of the Day: Radio Free Alice - Rule 31
Dec 2, 2025

Song of the Day: Stirring, passionate indie postpunk by the band based in Melbourne, Australia, with echoes of The Cure’s core sound, new wave, and 90s indie-rock influences, and out on Double Drummer

Dec 2, 2025
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Dec 1, 2025
Song of the Day: Sailor Honeymoon - Armchair
Dec 1, 2025

Song of the Day: Catchy, punchy, fuzz-guitar indie rock with a droll lyrical delivery and some echoes of Wet Leg come in this new single by the trio from Seoul, South Korea, out on Good Good Records

Dec 1, 2025
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Nov 30, 2025
Song of the Day: Ellie O'Neill - Bohemia
Nov 30, 2025

Song of the Day: A beautiful, poetic finger-picking debut folk single with a mystical, distantly stormy twist by the Dublin-based Irish singer-songwriter from County Meath, out now on St Itch Records

Nov 30, 2025
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Nov 29, 2025
Song of the Day: Danalogue - Sonic Hypnosis
Nov 29, 2025

Song of the Day: A full flavour of future-past with mesmeric, euphoric retro acid house and electronica in this new single by Daniel Leavers, producer and the founding member of The Comet Is Coming and Soccer96, out now on Castles In Space

Nov 29, 2025
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Nov 28, 2025
Song of the Day: Cardinals - Barbed Wire
Nov 28, 2025

Song of the Day: Another striking, passionate, punchy, catchy single by the Irish postpunk/indie-folk-rock band from Cork, heralding their upcoming debut album, Masquerade, out on 13 February via So Young Records

Nov 28, 2025
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Nov 27, 2025
Song of the Day: Frank Popp Ensemble (with Paul Weller) - Right Before My Eyes
Nov 27, 2025

Song of the Day: A strong, soaring, emotive, soulful release by the German artist co-written by British singer and former Jam frontman who here sings and plays guitar, the lyrics about witnessing the increasing injustices and demise of the world, out on Unique Records / Schubert Music Europe

Nov 27, 2025
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Nov 26, 2025
Song of the Day: Tessa Rose Jackson - Fear Bangs The Drum
Nov 26, 2025

Song of the Day: Using a musical metaphor, beautiful, crisply rhythmical, soaring piano and atmospheric indie-pop-folk about facing your fears by the Dutch/British singer-songwriter, heralding her forthcoming new album The Lighthouse, out on 23 January 2026 on Tiny Tiger Records

Nov 26, 2025
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Nov 25, 2025
Song of the Day: Melanie Baker - Sad Clown
Nov 25, 2025

Song of the Day: Catchy, candid, cathartic indie-grunge-pop by the British singer-songwriter from Cumbria in a melancholy but oddly uplifting emotional work-through of depression, love and exhaustion, out now on TAMBOURHINOCEROS

Nov 25, 2025
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Nov 24, 2025
Song of the Day: Holly Humberstone - Die Happy
Nov 24, 2025

Song of the Day: Luxuriant, breathy, femme-fatale dream pop with a dark, southern gothic, Lana del Rey-inspired, live-fast-die-young theme, and stylish video by the 25-year-old British singer-songwriter from Grantham, out on Polydor/Universal

Nov 24, 2025

Word of the week

Featured
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Dec 4, 2025
Word of the week: crapulence
Dec 4, 2025

Word of the week: A term that may apply regularly during Xmas party season, from the from the Latin crapula, in turn from the Greek kraipálē meaning "drunkenness" or "headache" pertains to sickness symptoms caused by excess in eating or drinking, or general intemperance and overindulgence

Dec 4, 2025
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Nov 20, 2025
Word of the week: discalceate
Nov 20, 2025

Word of the week: A rarely used, but often practised verb, especially when arriving home, it means to take off your shoes, but is also a slightly more common adjective meaning barefoot or unshod, particularly for certain religious orders that wear sandals instead of shoes. But in what context does this come up in song?

Nov 20, 2025
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Nov 6, 2025
Word of the week: erythrophyll
Nov 6, 2025

Word of the week: A seasonally topical word relating to the the red pigment of tree leaves, fruits and flowers, that appears particularly when changing in autumn, as opposed to the green effect of chlorophyll, from the Greek erythros for red, and phyll for leaves. But what of songs about this?

Nov 6, 2025
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Oct 22, 2025
Word of the week: fennec
Oct 22, 2025

Word of the week: It’s a small pale-fawn nocturnal fox with unusually large, highly sensitive ears, that inhabits from African and Arab deserts areas from Western Sahara and Mauritania to the Sinai Peninsula. But has it ever been seen in a song?

Oct 22, 2025
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Oct 9, 2025
Word of the week: gongoozler
Oct 9, 2025

Word of the week: A fabulous old English slang term for someone who tends to stand or sit for long periods staring at the passing of boats on canals, sometimes with a derogatory or at least ironic use for someone who is useless or lazy. But what of songs about this activity and culture?

Oct 9, 2025

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