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Playlists: songs about sunsets and twilight

July 5, 2023 Peter Kimpton

Orange beauty …

It’s a magical and at times surreal period at the end of day. Inspired by all the nominations from last week’s topic, guest playlister Shiv Sidecar picks a set of beautiful lists capturing a full spectrum of light, sounds, moods and genres. What a beauty.

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rocksteady, rock, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags sunsets, twilight, playlists, Michael Chapman, Stevie Wonder, Nitin Sawhney, Gordon Lightfoot, Roy Harper, Sun Dial, Captain Beefheart, Jim Carroll Band, Arcade Fire, Turin Brakes, The Chemical Brothers, Sanford Ponder, Bright Eyes, Great Lake Swimmers, Steven James Adams, Ry Cooder, Mali Music, Damon Albarn, Afel Bocoum, Yothu Yindi, Johnny Shines, Johnnie Taylor, Them, Van Morrison, The Accent, Screaming Trees, Shawn Phillips, Wendy Waldman, Jackie Lomax, Jane, Duke Ellington, Kate Bush, The Eyes, Paul Weller, Jack Bruce, Seth Lakeman, Lisa Gerrard, ShivSidecar, Sidecar Shiv, Eska
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Against all odds: songs about resilience

April 27, 2023 Peter Kimpton

Maya Angelou

Whether in the face of sudden trauma or dealing with ongoing difficulty it’s time pick out songs about bouncing back, finding fortitude, seeking strength and toughness, rolling with punches, being flexible, and sinkable. Here’s some personal stories, and famous examples …

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Tags songs, playlists, resilience, strength, fortitude, psychology, Maya Angelou, Shane Koyczan, Sinead O'Connor, Jack Dempsey, Robert Jordan, Abhijit Naskar, Joe Simpson, Touching The Void, Film, film soundtrack, books, Annette Herfkens, Karen Duffy, Janna Cachola, Kate O’Neill, Bram Stoker, Edwin Morgan, Hugh Mackay, Wim Wenders, Harry Dean Stanton, Ry Cooder, PG Wodehouse
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Playlists: songs about taxation and wealth distribution

October 4, 2022 Peter Kimpton

Who gets the crown? Hint: the bird is the word …

Feeling taxed? Get some relief here. Blues, reggae, funk, punk, post-punk and more, we’ve got a full revenue of great music in store with no duty to pay, courtesy of an excellent distribution by guest playlister Severin picked from last week’s topic

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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, instrumentals, jazz, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, tax, poll tax, wealth, equality, economics, Prince Buster, J.B. Lenoir, The Members, Bob Dylan, Ry Cooder, Massive Attack, Saul Williams, Professor Gabriel Zucman, The Exploited, Daniel Caesar, The Fall, Los Tigres del Norte, Village Man's Store, Mighty Sparrow, Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Sharon Jones, The Dap Kings, Rip Rig And Panic, Fred Wesley and the JBs, The JBs, Fred Wesley Jr, Gene Autry, Crap, Loose Ends, Stick In The Wheel, Duke of Iron, Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Toots and the Maytals, The Heptones, Junior Parker, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Clash, A Tribe Called Quest, Rubella Ballet, Champion Jack Dupree, Busi Mhlongo, Pink Floyd, Lonnie Donegan, Keith Moon, BJ and The Bear, severin, Severin
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Playlists: songs about being single

September 1, 2021 Peter Kimpton
Sparks: the Mael brothers are simply married to their music

Sparks: the Mael brothers are simply married to their music

It’s time to see what resulted at last week’s Song Bar Singles Night. Sad, lonely to deliriously happy and free, the resultant songs go in many directions, all married together in poignant, perceptive and playful lists by guest picker pejepeine

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In avant-garde, country, dance, disco, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, jazz, music, musical hall, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, rock, ska, songs, soul, traditional, soundtracks Tags songs, playlists, being single, relationships, Fousheé, Lush, The Brooklyn Bridge, Nina Simone, Jake Thackray, Melissa Manchester, Mary Gauthier, Sparks, Ariana Grande, Jill Scott, Combo Los Galleros, Lucy González, Lunay, Daddy Yankee, Bad Bunny, The Radiators, Moondog, Bessie Smith, Abba, Beabadoobee, Sunfire, Helen Merrill, Slapp Happy, Original Carter Family, Ry Cooder, Days N' Daze, Billy Idol, Pet Shop Boys, Cameo, Wham!, Chic, Karin Krog, pejepeine
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Unsung: songs by underrated, overlooked artists and bands

April 22, 2021 Peter Kimpton
Ignored and alone, down in the tube station at midnight

Ignored and alone, down in the tube station at midnight

This week it’s time to dig deep and broad for new names that rarely get a mention, certainly never make the charts or win prizes, sell much or get the recognition they deserve. Let’s refresh the synapses of musical hive mind knowledge

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In African, avant-garde, blues, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, dub, experimental, electronica, folk, gospel, funk, hip hop, indie, jazz, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, rock, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, Carl Smith, Stewart Stafford, Truman Capote, Mary-Louise Parker, Mae West, Tom Paxton, Marlon Brando, Rod Steiger, Film, Vincent Van Gogh, John Kennedy Toole, education, teachers, Steve McQueen, racism, gender, Harry Enfield, Paul Whitehouse, Sixto Rodriguez, Anvil, documentary, Jackson C Frank, Blaze Foley, Sibylle Baier, Ry Cooder, Stanley Clarke, Ray Gomez, Harvey Pekar, Kenny Werner, Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, New Order, Kamasi Washington, Ms. Melodie, Heather B, MC Lyte
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Playlists: songs about social mobility

October 21, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Class reflections: Mighty Mo Rodgers

Class reflections: Mighty Mo Rodgers

It’s a life of ups and downs, hopes and dreams. From financial ambition to border immigration, breaking the rules to criticising status quo fools, this week’s playlists, picked from a big crowd of nominations by guest Suzi, are truly classy

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In African, avant-garde, blues, comedy, country, dance, disco, electronica, dub, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, jazz, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, rock, ska, songs, soul, traditional Tags songs, playlists, social class, social mobility, Peter Gabriel, Action Pact, !Action Pact!, Billy Bragg, Tracy Chapman, Ja'Net Dubois, Gentle Giant, Marvin Gaye, The Kinks, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Ry Cooder, Mighty Mo Rodgers, Mischief Brew, Rage Against The Machine, Zoot Money and the Big Roll Band, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, June Christie, The The, Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine, Smokey Robinson, The Miracles, Sly & The Family Stone, Future of the Left, The O'Jays, Yazz, Madeleine Peyroux, Jake Thackray, Suzi, The I.D, Jeff St John
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Playlists: songs featuring steel guitar

August 12, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Smooth liquid sound: a 1947 Rickenbacker

Smooth liquid sound: a 1947 Rickenbacker

Smoothly glidin’, slidin’, pickin’, these playlists with players from the US to India, Hawaii to Sweden picked by guest Marco den Ouden, are a treasure chest of beautiful sounds and genres spanning blues, rock, country and way more across the big neck

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In avant-garde, blues, classical, country, folk, instrumentals, jazz, music, playlists, pop, rock, songs Tags songs, playlists, steel guitars, Sheryl Crow, The Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, Judy Collins, Steely Dan, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Barbara Mandrell, Cindy Cashdollar, First Aid Kit, Jerry Garcia, Ricky King, Bob Brozman, Ledward Kaapana, Luke Vibert, B.J. Cole, Harry Manx, Bill Frisell, Greg Leisz, Lucky Oceans, Paul Kelly, Larkin Poe, Gaby Jogeix, Kimberly Murray, Junior Brown, George Harrison, Son Lux, Christopher Wray, Elmore James, Tammy Wynette, Pete Drake, John Hiatt, Ry Cooder, The Byrds, Lloyd Green, Susanne Sundfør, Taj Mahal, Sandy Denny, Sneaky Pete Kleimow, Juicy Lucy, Glen Ross Vampbell, Neil Young, Ben Keith, Jonathan Richman, Tom Brumley, Matthews Southern Comfort, Gordon Huntley, Alvino Rey & His Orchestra, Chris Rea, Bill Bottrell, Dave Stewart, Orianthi, Kacey Musgraves, Bucky Baxter, K.D. Lang, The Siss Boom Bang, Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers, Mudcrutch, Josh Jove, Julius Rucker, Dan Dugmore, Dr. Nico, L’African Fiesta Sukisa, The Notting Hillbillies, Nashville Chamber Orchestra, Gary Morse, Emily Burridge, Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Jerry Douglas, Doug Beaumier, Santo & Johnny, David Hartley, John Russell, Zane King, Brian Eno, David Rothon, The Waikikis, Convergence, Bob Dylan, Marty Rifkin
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Slide this way: songs featuring steel guitar

August 6, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Resonator, pedal and lap steel guitar are three of the types most often used in this playing technique

Resonator, pedal and lap steel guitar are three of the types most often used in this playing technique

Lap, pedal, resonator or other models, using metal bars, bottles or more, it’s all about the technique. You can do it sitting down, standing up, or sideways, and especially if you close your eyes it’s smooth and, well, so undeniably sexy

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In blues, country, experimental, folk, funk, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, playlists, pop, prog, rock, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, guitars, steel guitars, lap steel, pedal steel, resonator guitars, Bonnie Raitt, Santo & Johnny, Jerry Lordan, Joseph Kekuku, Frank Fairfield, Brownie McGhee, Dobro, Fender, Rickenbacker, Larkin Poe, Ken Hensley, David Lindley, Ry Cooder, Junior Wells, Robert Nighthawk, Bob Whitlock, The Allman Brothers Band, Duane Allman, Sonny Landreth, Steve Miller Band, George Harrison, Jimmy Page, Foghat, Rod Price, Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter, Derek Trucks, Elmore James
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Playlists: songs about nicknames and pseudonyms

January 15, 2020 Peter Kimpton
They call him … Otis Redding. But what other moniker does his emotional music inspire?

They call him … Otis Redding. But what other moniker does his emotional music inspire?

There are many, and they might come from a reputation for sexual prowess, musical style, behaviour or appearance. Whatever the sobriquet, or the source, we can certainly name the result: two fantastic playlists from this week’s guest writer Uncleben

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In avant-garde, blues, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, metal, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, rock, ska, songs, soul, traditional Tags songs, playlists, nicknames, pseudonyms, identity, Bobby Rush, Marianne Faithfull, Nick Cave, Janelle Monae, Memphis Slim, Carl Malcolm, Simon & Garfunkel, The Association, Sons of the Pioneers, Todd Rundgren, Otis Redding, Ray Barretto, Gil Scott-Heron, Moondog, Charlie Parker, Edward Elgar, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Peter Blegvad, Steeleye Span, Steve Miller Band, Pixies, Ry Cooder, Geoffrey Oi!Cott, Jake Thackray, Royal Trux, First Choice, MF Doom, Hamilton Bohannon, Karen Dalton, Uncleben
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Playlists: songs about four-legged livestock

August 14, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Herd the one about …?

Herd the one about …?

Crazy cows, woolly bulls, pigs, sheep, goats, and even a camel and a llama, this week’s musical shepherd George Boyland rounds up wonderfully entertaining herd of songs tracked down from last week’s four-legged topic

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In avant-garde, blues, comedy, country, dance, dub, disco, electronica, folk, funk, gospel, indie, jazz, music, playlists, pop, prog, postpunk, punk, reggae, rock, ska, songs, soul, traditional Tags songs, playlists, animals, livestock, Ella Mae Morse, Sam The Sham And The Pharoahs, Amon Düül, Amon Düül II, AronChupa, Lil Sis Nora, Hugh Masekela, Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, Neil Hannon, The Unthanks, Jane Siberry, Dresden Dolls, Quatermass, Sparklehorse, Pere Ubu, Ry Cooder, Robert Johnson, Dr John, Fotheringay, Papa Freddie, Nelcy Sedibe, Mikaela, Pluto Shervington, George Boyland
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Playlists: songs that defy genre definition

April 24, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Dare to be different. Mitski

Dare to be different. Mitski

Embarking on adventures into the avant-garde, hip-hop, jazz and more, crossing continents and skimming multiple styles from waves of nominations, this week’s guest Nilpferd creates playlists enduringly indefinable

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In avant-garde, blues, classical, country, dance, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, gospel, hip hop, indie, jazz, instrumentals, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, rock, songs, soul Tags songs, playlists, genres, Katzenjammer, Juana Molina, Mitski, The Durutti Column, The Kaleidoscope, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Roxy Music, The Last Poets, Kendrick Lamar, Herbie Hancock, Bohren and der Club of Gore, Thundercat, Sly & The Family Stone, James Brown, Ry Cooder, VM Bhatt, Shirley Collins, Davey Graham, The Real Tuesday Weld, Sudan Archives, Peter Blegvad, Andy Partridge, Ken Nordine, Bjork, Moondog, Portishead, Primus, Scritti Politti, My Bloody Valentine, Andrew Weatherall, Matthew Herbert, Miles Davis, Coldcut
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Playlists: songs influenced by gospel

December 12, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Al Green … holy and sexual in the same line

Al Green … holy and sexual in the same line

Hallelujah! This week’s divine lists, picked by guest magicman from countless nominations, not only shines light on gospel’s music in soul to jazz, disco and more, but will lift hearts and minds though dark times

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In country, dance, gospel, music, playlists, pop, songs, soul, blues Tags songs, playlists, gospel, Billy Ward & The Dominoes, Bed of Roses, The Statler Brothers, Ray Charles, Sam & Dave, Wynton Marsalis, Elton John, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Kahn, Al Green, The Moody Blues, Bobby 'Blue' Bland, Jennifer Holliday, Kanye West, Kirk Franklin, Chance The Rapper, Donny Hathaway, The Impressions, The Staple Singers, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Against All Logic, Nicolas Jaar, Charles Mingus, Labelle, Patti Labelle, Ike and Tina Turner, Ike Turner, Tina Turner, Jackie Wilson, Ry Cooder, Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Garnet Mimms & The Enchanters, The Source, Candi Staton, Frankie Knuckles, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Billy Joel, Bobby Womack, Cannonball Adderley, Emmylou Harris, The Hollies, Jamie Lidell, John Legend, Michael Jackson, Midfield General, Randy Travis, Toots and the Maytals, Change, Nuyorican Soul, Jocelyn Brown, Earth Wind & Fire, Ben Folds Five, Toni Braxton, magicman
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How great thou art: songs influenced by gospel

December 6, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Guitar and singing legend Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Guitar and singing legend Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Big flamboyant, expressive voices to call-and-response choirs, praise and looking for answers? This week we soul search into gospel’s musical styles infused into other genres, from soul to R&B, hip hop to rock, folk and indie

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In blues, classical, country, dance, disco, dub, electronica, folk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, rock, songs, soul, traditional Tags songs, playlists, gospel, soul, church music, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Mahalia Jackson, Bobby Womack, Brian Eno, Yolanda Adams, George F. Root, Philip Bliss, Charles H. Gabriel, William Howard Doane, Fanny Crosby, Ira David Sankey, Dwight L. Moody, Charles E. Gold, The Fairfield Four, The Dixie Hummingbirds, Five Blind Boys of Alabama, Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, The Soul Stirrers, The Swan Silvertones, The Charloteers, The Golden Gate Quartet, The Fisk Jubilee Singers, Reverend Gary Davis, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Ry Cooder, Thomas Dorsey, Bessie Smith, Tampa Red, Ma Rainey, Reverend James Cleveland, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke, Martin Luther King, civil rights, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Ray Charles, James Brown, Clyde McPhatter, Roy Brown, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Kahn, Whitney Houston, Beyonce, Chance The Rapper, Kanye West, Frank Ocean, Leonard Cohen, The Kooks, The Rolling Stones, Bon Iver
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Playlists: songs about substitutes

July 4, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Irreplaceable: The Modern Lovers

Irreplaceable: The Modern Lovers

Replacements for players, soldiers, husbands, lovers, even robot sex – it’s all going on this these superb playlists chosen by our guest lister Marco den Ouden, who also replaces some of his words with those by nominators

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In blues, country, dance, electronica, folk, gospel, hip hop, indie, jazz, music, metal, playlists, pop, postpunk, punk, songs, soul, rock, reggae, prog Tags Songs, playlists, substitutes, football, Jorge Ben, Richard Thompson, Sloan, Millie Jackson, The Modern Lovers, Jonathan Richman, Beyonce, Dr John, Tom Odell, Melvin Bliss, Neil Young, Brad Paisley, Hatsune Miku, The Who, Clout, Gregory Isaacs, Strawberry Switchblade, Lenny Kravitz, Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, Everlast, Prince, Frank Sinatra, The Magic Numbers, Billie Jo Spears, FKA Twigs, Jacques Brel, Elvis Presley, Karla Bonoff, Jesse Fuller, Stevie Wonder, George Jones, Melba Montgomery, The Seekers, Estelle, Yes, Tarnation, Dee D. Jackson, The Beautiful South, Chumbawumba, Fountains of Wayne, Ry Cooder, Mark Lanegan, Isobel Campbell, Marco den Ouden, Marconius
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Playlists: striking songs that end albums

June 20, 2018 Peter Kimpton
How does Two Suns end up? Bat For Lashes is joined by Scott Walker

How does Two Suns end up? Bat For Lashes is joined by Scott Walker

Where will it all end? With medicine, moonlight, sleep or a starship? All of these and much more, as our guest playlist writer ParaMhor picks two superb sets of conclusions to hundreds of nominated songs

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In blues, classical, country, dance, electronica, folk, gospel, indie, jazz, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, punk, rock, songs, soul Tags Songs, playlists, endings, Julian Barnes, Neneh Cherry, Pink Floyd, Dexys Midnight Runners, Lorde, FKA Twigs, Lynden David Hall, Bat For Lashes, The Triffids, Paul Kantner, Jefferson Starship, Love, The Rolling Stones, Ry Cooder, REM, The Stone Roses, The Zombies, Roxy Music, Jimi Tenor, Kool & The Gang, Super Furry Animals, Echo and the Bunnymen, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers Band, Funkadelic, David Bowie, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Scott Walker, ParaMhor
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Playlists: songs featuring the harmonica

March 21, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Toots Thielemans

Toots Thielemans

Take a deep breath – you are about to experience a selection of sublime and moving music from film soundtracks, blues and soul greats. Guest playlist writer magicman blows two beautiful lists from last week's nominations

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In blues, classical, country, folk, indie, music, playlists, pop, rock, songs, soul Tags Songs, playlists, harmonica, film soundtrack, Sergio Leone, Ennio Morricone, Franco de Gemini, Charlie McCoy, Little Walter, Chess Records, Paul Butterfield, Stevie Wonder, Burt Bacharach, Sonny Boy Williamson, Sony Boy Williamson II, Brownie McGhee, James Cotton, J. Geils Band, Magic Dick, Larry Adler, Vaughan Williams, Big Walter Horton, John Mayall, Toots Thielemans, Quincy Jones, magicman, The Rolling Stones, Doctor Ross, Herbie Hancock, Blues Traveler, Ry Cooder, Sonny Terry, Sly & The Family Stone, Charlie Musselwhite, Dr Feelgood, Nico Wayne Toussaint, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Chris Wilson, Canned Heat, The Beatles, Muddy Waters
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Playlists: songs with great backing vocals

January 3, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Ray Charles and The Raelettes

Ray Charles and The Raelettes

Aretha and her sisters to Ray and the Raelettes, Louis and Keely to Gladys and the Pips, this week's brilliant backing vocals came from a chorus of nominations topic, led by a masterful guest playlister magicman

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Tags songs, playlists, backing vocals, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, The Jordanaires, Sam Cooke, The Sweet Inspirations, Emily 'Cissy' Houston, Sylvia Shemwell, Dee Dee Warwick, Carolyn Franklin, Erma Franklin, Lou Rawls, Ray Charles, The Raelettes, Mary Ann Fisher, Margie Hendrix, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, 10cc, Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Lol Creme, Kevin Godley, Donna Summer, Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie, Dionne Warwick, Michael Jackson, Brenda Russell, Christopher Cross, Dyan Cannon, James Ingram, Kenny Loggins, Stevie Wonder, The Hollies, The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, The Marcels, Louis Prima, Keely Smith, The Turtles, Flo & Eddie, Dawn Penn, Rose Stone & The Venice Four, Bob Marley, The Wailers, Mory Kanté, Betty Everett, The Tams, Lou Christie, The Delfonics, Todd Rundgren, Diana Ross, Ry Cooder, Gladys Knight, The Pips, Bill Monroe, The Gatlin Brothers, magicman
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Playlists: songs about pirates and piracy

July 5, 2017 Peter Kimpton
Lotte Lenya as Pirate Jenny in Brecht and Weill's The Threepenny Opera (1928) 

Lotte Lenya as Pirate Jenny in Brecht and Weill's The Threepenny Opera (1928) 

German cabaret opera to New York hip-hop, French chansons to Caribbean reggae, sailing in the full breeze of last week's topic, guest pirate commander ParaMhor steers us to open many a musical treasure chest

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In playlists, songs, music Tags songs, playlists, pirates, financial industry, financial crisis, banking industry, Robert Louis Stevenson, Lawrence Lessig, Kurt Weill, piracy, Lotte Lenya, Beastie Boys, Ry Cooder, Richard Thompson, Flogging Molly, Joaquin Sabina, Nina Simone, Home T. Cocoa Tea, Shabba Ranks, The Viceroys, John Cale, Jacques Loussier, Neil Innes, Horrible Histories, Adam and the Ants, Lee Scratch Perry, Mad Professor, Louie Culture, Anthony Selassie, Chrome, Cadaver Club, Procol Harum, Joan Baez, They Might Be Giants, The Pogues, Tom Waits, New Model Army, Abney Park, Gilbert & Sullivan, books, ParaMhor, Monty Python
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Playlists: songs about propaganda

June 7, 2017 Peter Kimpton
Ministry of Untruth? George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four ... with a slight update

Ministry of Untruth? George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four ... with a slight update

George Orwell to the Emperor's New Clothes, Mao Tse Tung to Tiananmen Square, this week's guest writer Marco den Ouden skilfully picks songs from last week's topic that perfectly play with the truth

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Tags songs, Propaganda, politics, George Orwell, Moddi, art, China, Mao Tse Tung, Herbert Marcuse, New Model Army, Dan Gardner, Vietnam War, The Eurythmics, Tom Paxton, Antisect, Sonic Boom 6, Capitol 1212, Ry Cooder, Van Der Graaf Generator, Rollins Band, Henry Rollins, Alabama 3, Roger Waters, John Lennon, Frank Wilkinson, Jack Webb, Raymond Burr, Dragnet, The Naked City, television, news, REM, Lucky Dube, Rage Against The Machine, The Clash, Alan Hull, The Templars, George Harrison, Party Posse, Hot Chocolate, Bob Dylan, Cock Sparrer, Oysterband, Sheryl Crow, Dead Can Dance, Big Band Voodoo Daddy, Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Albert Collins, Billy Bragg, Mischief Brew, Peter Tosh, Chumbawumba, Richard Gere, Chicago (musical), Squirrel Nut Zippers, Hope of the States, Royal Trux, Play Dead, Marco den Ouden, Charlie Chaplin, film
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Playlists: ironic songs

January 11, 2017 Peter Kimpton
The Jam. Now that really is entertainment …

The Jam. Now that really is entertainment …

Verbal, drama and perspective, Jam to Johnnie Taylor, Morrissey to Elvis Costello, this week's guest writer attwilightlarks picks a sharp, satirical and punchy playlist inspired by last week's ironic topic

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Tags songs, 10cc, Tindersticks, UK Subs, The Clash, Curtis Mayfield, Barbecue Bob, Grace Jones, Johnnie Taylor, The Jam, Morrissey, Elvis Costello, The Grateful Dead, Tom Hickox, Ry Cooder, The Kinks, Randy Newman, Belle & Sebastian, The Housemartins, Randy Travis, Those Naughty Lumps, Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, Don McLean, Philip Jeays, Country Joe and the Fish, attwilightlarks, Millie Small
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New Albums …

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Jan 30, 2026
Tyler Ballgame: For The First Time, Again
Jan 30, 2026

New album: With that sublime, soaring, soulful voice, and echoes of Roy Orbison, the Rhode Island-raised singer-songwriter’s truly gorgeous debut LP captures all the range of of the love – warmth, longing, tenderness and heartbreak through classy and crafted retro sound of 60s and 70s rock

Jan 30, 2026
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Jan 29, 2026
Tessa Rose Jackson: The Lighthouse
Jan 29, 2026

New album: Beautiful, intricate, understated, poetic and intelligent, this warm, inviting experimental folk by the Dutch-British singer-songwriter is the first LP under her own name, having previously released three as the artist Someone

Jan 29, 2026
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Jan 28, 2026
Lucinda Williams: World's Gone Wrong
Jan 28, 2026

New album: The acclaimed veteran country, rock and Americana singer-songwriter and multi-Grammy winner’s latest LP has a title that speaks for itself, but is powerful, angry, defiant and uplifting, and, recorded in Nashville, features guest vocals from Norah Jones, Mavis Staples and Brittney Spencer

Jan 28, 2026
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Clothesline From Hell: Slather On The Honey
Jan 27, 2026

New album: His moniker mischievously named after a wrestling move, a highly impressive, independently-created experimental, psychedelic rock debut the the Toronto-based multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Adam LaFramboise

Jan 27, 2026
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Jan 27, 2026
Dead Dads Club: Dead Dads Club
Jan 27, 2026

New album: Dynamic, passionate, heart-stirring indie rock in this project fronted by Chilli Jesson (formerly bassist of Palma Violets) with songs spurred by the trauma of losing his father 20 years ago, retelling a defiant and difficult aftermath, with sound boosted by producer Carlos O’Connell of Fontaines D.C.

Jan 27, 2026
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Jan 25, 2026
The Paper Kites: If You Go There, I Hope You Find It
Jan 25, 2026

New album: Warm, tender, gently-paced, calmly reflective, beautifully soothing, poetic, melancholic alternative folk and Americana by the band from Melbourne in their seventh LP in 15 years

Jan 25, 2026
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Jan 24, 2026
PVA: No More Like This
Jan 24, 2026

New album: Inventive, alluring, sensual, mysterious, minimalistic electronica, trip-hop and experimental pop by the London trio of Ella Harris, Joshua Baxter and Louis Satchell, in this second album following 2022’s Blush, boosted by the creativity of producer and instrumentalist Kwake Bass

Jan 24, 2026
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Jan 20, 2026
Imarhan: Essam
Jan 20, 2026

New album: A mesmeric fourth LP in a decade by the band from Tamanrasset, Algeria, whose name means ‘the ones I care about’, their Tuareg music mixing guitar riffs, pop melodies and African rhythms, but this time also evolves slightly away from the desert blues rocky, bluesy influence of contemporaries Tinariwen with electronic elements

Jan 20, 2026
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Jan 20, 2026
Courtney Marie Andrews: Valentine
Jan 20, 2026

New album: Emotional, beautiful, stirring, Americana, folk and indie-pop by singer-songwriter from Phoenix, Arizona, in this latest studio LP in of soaring voice, strong melodies, love, vulnerability and heartbreak, longing and bravery

Jan 20, 2026
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Jan 18, 2026
Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore: Tragic Magic
Jan 18, 2026

New album: Delicate, beautiful, ethereal, meditative new work by the two American experimental composers in their first collaborative LP, with gentle understated vocals, classic synth sounds, and rare harps chosen from from the Paris Musée de la Musique Collection

Jan 18, 2026
Sleaford Mods- The Demise of Planet X.jpeg
Jan 16, 2026
Sleaford Mods: The Demise of Planet X
Jan 16, 2026

New album: The caustic wit of Nottingham’s Jason Williamson and Andrew Fearn return with a 13th LP of brilliantly abrasive, dark humoured hip-hop and catchy beats, addressing the rubbish state of the world, as well as local, personal and social irritations through slick nostalgic cultural reference, some expanded sounds, and an eclectic set of guests

Jan 16, 2026
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Jan 14, 2026
SAULT: Chapter 1
Jan 14, 2026

New album: As ever, released suddenly without fanfare or any publicity, the prolific experimental soul, jazz, gospel, funk, psychedelia and disco collective of Cleo Sol, Info (aka Dean Josiah Cover) and co return with a stylish, mysterious LP

Jan 14, 2026
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Jan 14, 2026
The Cribs: Selling A Vibe
Jan 14, 2026

New album: A first LP in five years by the likeable and solid guitar indie-rock Jarman brothers trio from Wakefield, now with their ninth - a catchy, but at times with rueful, bittersweet perspectives on their times in the music business

Jan 14, 2026
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Jan 9, 2026
Dry Cleaning: Secret Love
Jan 9, 2026

New album: This third LP by the London experimental post-punk quartet with the distinctive, spoken, droll delivery of Florence Shaw, is packed with striking, vivid, often non seqitur lyrics capturing life’s surreal mundanities and neuroses with a sound coloured and polished by Cate Le Bon as producer

Jan 9, 2026

new songs …

Featured
Robber Robber band.jpeg
Jan 30, 2026
Song of the Day: Robber Robber - The Sound It Made
Jan 30, 2026

Song of the Day: Striking, dynamic, noisy stop-and-start, stylish experimental post-rock and post-rock by the band from Burlington, Vermont, fronted by Nina Cates, heralding their new album, Two Wheels Move the Soul, out on 3 April via on Fire Talk

Jan 30, 2026
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Jan 29, 2026
Song of the Day: Holly Humberstone - To Love Somebody
Jan 29, 2026

Song of the Day: Shimmeringly catchy and singalong, effervescent Abba-esque and Fleetwood Mac-ish piano and synth pop with an eye-catching, vampiric-themed video by the British singer-songwriter from Grantham, heralding her second album Cruel World out on 10 April via Polydor/Universal.

Jan 29, 2026
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Jan 28, 2026
Song of the Day: Nathan Fake - Slow Yamaha
Jan 28, 2026

Song of the Day: Hypnotic electronica with woozy layers of smooth resonance and a lattice of shifting analogue patterns by the British artist from Norfolk, taken from his forthcoming album, Evaporator, out on InFiné Music

Jan 28, 2026
Charlotte Day Wilson - Lean.jpeg
Jan 27, 2026
Song of the Day: Charlotte Day Wilson - Lean (featuring Saya Gray)
Jan 27, 2026

Song of the Day: Stylish, striking, sensual experimental electro-pop and R&B in this fabulous collaboration between the two Canadian singer/ multi-instrumentalist from Toronto, out on Stone Woman Music/ XL Recordings

Jan 27, 2026
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Jan 26, 2026
Song of the Day: Lime Garden - 23
Jan 26, 2026

Song of the Day: Wonderfully catchy, witty, quirky indie pop about age and adjustment by the Brighton-formed quartet fronted by Chloe Howard, heralding their upcoming album Maybe Not Tonight, out on So Young Records on 10 April

Jan 26, 2026
Madra Salach - It's A Hell Of An Age - EP.jpeg
Jan 25, 2026
Song of the Day: Madra Salach - The Man Who Seeks Pleasure
Jan 25, 2026

Song of the Day: A powerful, slow-simmering and gradually intensifying, drone-based original folk number about the the flipsides of love and hedonism by the young Irish traditional and alternative folk band, with comparisons to Lankum, from the recently released EP It's a Hell of an Age, out on Canvas Music

Jan 25, 2026
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Jan 24, 2026
Song of the Day: Adult DVD - Real Tree Lee
Jan 24, 2026

Song of the Day: Catchy, witty, energised acid-dance-punk with echoes of Underworld and Snapped Ankles by the dynamic, innovative band from Leeds in a new number about a dodgy character of toxic masculinity and online ignorance, and their first release on signing to Fat Possum

Jan 24, 2026
Arctic Monkeys - Opening Night - War Child - HELP 2.jpeg
Jan 23, 2026
Song of the Day: Arctic Monkeys - Opening Night (for War Child HELP 2 charity album)
Jan 23, 2026

Song of the Day: A simmering, potent, contemplative new track by acclaimed Sheffield band, their first song since 2022’s album The Car, with proceeds benefiting the charity War Child, heralding the upcoming HELP (2) compilation out on 6 March with various contributors

Jan 23, 2026
White Denim - Lock and Key.jpg
Jan 22, 2026
Song of the Day: White Denim - (God Created) Lock and Key
Jan 22, 2026

Song of the Day: The Austin, Texas-formed LA-based rockers return with an infectiously catchy groove fusing rock, funk, dub, soul, and down-dirty blues with some playful self-mythologising and darker themes, heralding 13th album, 13, out on 24 April via Bella Union

Jan 22, 2026
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Jan 21, 2026
Song of the Day: Holy Fuck - Evie
Jan 21, 2026

Song of the Day: The Canadian experimental indie rock and electronica quartet from Toronto return with a pulsating new track of thrumming bass and shimmering keyboards, heralding their forthcoming new album Event Beat, out on 27 March via Satellite Services

Jan 21, 2026
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Jan 20, 2026
Song of the Day: KAVARI - IRON VEINS
Jan 20, 2026

Song of the Day: Exciting, cutting-edge electronica and hardcore dance music by innovative the Birkenhead-born, Glasgow-based artist Cameron Winters (she), with a stylish, striking video, heralding the forthcoming EP, PLAGUE MUSIC, out digitally and on 12-inch vinyl on 6 February via XL Recordings

Jan 20, 2026
Asap Rocky - Punk Rocky.png
Jan 19, 2026
Song of the Day: A$AP Rocky - Punk Rocky
Jan 19, 2026

Song of the Day: The standout catchy hip-pop/soul/pop track from the New York rapper aka Rakim Athelston Mayers’ (also the husband of Rihanna) recently released album, Don’t Be Dumb, featuring also the voice of Cristoforo Donadi, and out on A$AP Rocky Recordings

Jan 19, 2026

Word of the week

Featured
Zumbador dorado - mango bumblebee Puerto Rico.jpeg
Jan 22, 2026
Word of the week: zumbador
Jan 22, 2026

Word of the week: A wonderfully evocative noun from the Spanish for word buzz, and meaning both a South American hummingbird, a door buzzer, and symbolic of resurrection of the soul in ancient Mexican culture, while also serving as the logo for a tequila brand

Jan 22, 2026
Hamlet ad - Gregor Fisher.jpg
Jan 8, 2026
Word of the week: aspectabund
Jan 8, 2026

Word of the week: This rare adjective describes a highly expressive face or countenance, where emotions and reactions are readily shown through the eyes or mouth

Jan 8, 2026
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Dec 24, 2025
Word of the week: bellonion (or belloneon)
Dec 24, 2025

Word of the week: It sounds like a bulbous, multi-layered peeling vegetable, but this obscure mechanical musical instrument invented in 1812 in Dresden consisted of 24 trumpets and two kettle drums and, designed to mimic the sound of a marching band, might also make your eyes water

Dec 24, 2025
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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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