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Playlists: easy does it – easy listening and lounge music

July 3, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Take a seat, sip a drink, and soak up the easy sounds …

From the becalming, serene and romantic – bars to hotel lifts, airports and shops with mood-affecting orchestral pieces of the 1950s and 60s, all the way to retro nostalgia in the 1990s and contemporary sounds, guest playlister pejepeine perfectly captures this broad genre topic from a huge wave of nominations

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In calypso, classical, comedy, easy listening, exotica, instrumentals, jazz, lounge, music, musicals, pop, prog, rock, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, film soundtrack, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Quentin Tarantino, Mantovani and Orchestra, Percy Faith Orchestra, Pete Drake and his Talking Steel Guitar, Martin Denny, Bert Kaempfert, Horst Jankowski, Sounds Orchestral, Henry Mancini, Dave Grusin, Ennio Morricone, Carole King, Bob Crewe Generation, Hugo Montenegro, Johnny Pearson, James Last, Gheorghe Zamfir, Stereolab, Saint Etienne, Khruangbin, MACINTOSH PLUS, Nouvelle Vague, Chambao, Unexpected Delight, Flying Lotus, Laura Darlington, Air, Laura Cantrell, Meanderthals, Ozric Tentacles, The Gentle People, Tony Hatch, Electronic Concept Orchestra, Orquesta Serenata Tropical, Piero Piccioni, pejepeine
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Soft furnishings and soothing sounds: easy listening songs and music

June 27, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Sit back, suggest and fill the lounge …

Lounge to exotica, Les Baxter to James Last, tiki bars to the space age, it’s a broad genre that extends into jazz, Latin and electronica and pop, across hotel bars, lifts and film sounds, so this week let’s relax with a cocktail, a soft chair and see what makes us get into the mood …

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In calypso, easy listening, lounge, exotica, soundtracks, songs, playlists, pop, instrumentals, electronica, dance, classical Tags easy listening, lounge music, exotica, James Last, Les Baxter, The Gentle People, Martin Denny, Combustible Edison, Love Jones, Buster Poindexter, Pink Martini, Don Tiki, Pizzicato Five, Yasuharu Konishi, Jackie Gleason, Henry Mancini, Margo Guryan, Machito Orchestra, Ray Conniff, Astrud Gilberto, Joao Gilberto, Patti Page, Piero Piccioni, Piero Umiliani, Lalo Schifrin, Nancy Sinatra, Gábor Szabó, Syd Dale, Herb Albert, Burt Bacharach, Raymond Scott, Stefano Torossi, The Tijuana Brass, John Tartaglia, Joe Torres, Walter Wanderley, Cal Tjader
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Playlists: songs featuring finger-clicking, toe-tapping and foot-stomping

June 26, 2024 Peter Kimpton

The fabulous Nicholas Brothers

Foot stomping and clogging to the click of fingers, flamenco and castanets, these playlists, picked by guest Marco den Ouden from last week’s topic, take a tour of the world from Canada to Mexico, Spain to Japan, with music that’s right on tap

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, dub, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, rock, showtime, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, dance, Billy Joel, Bonnie Milsap, Sudan Archives, The Dead South, Home Free, Embrujo Mestizo, Carmina Quartet, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Hello, The STRiPES, La Bottine Souriante, TEKEYÉ, Sofia Rei, Geri Allen, Timeline, Glenn Miller, Dorothy Dandridge, The Nicholas Brothers, Farru, Tennessee Ernie Ford, The Flares, Dave Clark Five, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Bonnie St Clair, Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, The Honeycombs, Fred Astaire, Paulette Goddard, Diana Ross, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Kak Channthy, Cambodian Space Project, Joe Henderson, John Lee Hooker, Rocio Molina, La Tremendita, Ibeyi, Clyde McPhatter, Lalela Cape Town Choir, Body Avlaia Group, Frederick Ashton, The Royal Ballet, Rosalia, Lancashire Wallopers, James Blunt, Duke Ellington, Don Dixon, Babukisi Arts Group, The Dovells, Wanda Richert, Herb Albert, The Tijuana Brass, Logreybeam, The Tymes, Doug and the Slugs, Selena Ryder, Riverdance, Marco den Ouden
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Make it snappy: songs featuring finger-clicking, toe-tapping and foot stomping

June 20, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Elvis snaps to it

Got that rhythm? This week, songs on which we hear prominently the body percussion rhythms of dexterous human extremities – of fingers, hands, feet and toes, snapping, tapping, and stamping, though not the more common hand-clapping which has been a separate topic

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional, trip hop Tags tap-dancing, finger-clicking, rhythm, Elvis Presley, Fred Astaire, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Sammy Davis Jr, John Dryden, musicals, music, playlists, songs
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Playlists: songs featuring animal sounds

June 18, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Trumpet solo …

Trumpet solos, roar power to the sound of mew-sic, after a melodious menagerie of nominations from last week’s topic, nature-loving playlister Uncleben cleverly tracks down creatural participants for their own perspective on fabulous avine, bovine, elephantine, feline, galline, leonine, lupine, phocaenine and porcine contributions to the genre

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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, krautrock, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, animals, animal behaviour, animal sounds, Kate Bush, The Durutti Column, Cosmo Sheldrake, Culture, King Crimson, George Duke, The Meters, The Presidents of the United States of America, Kramer, Hermeto Pascoal, The Congos, Cano, Lily Hunter Green, The Avalanches, Tomita, Ratatat, The Beatles, Slim Gaillard, Tommy James & The Shondells, Fenster, Adrian Sherwood, Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Prince Fatty, Horseman, Jockstrap, Uncleben
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Zoomusicology: songs and music featuring animal sounds

June 13, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Three-part harmony …

It’s a vast sonic language, mostly beyond our understanding, but with a more subconscious appreciation, has been incorporated in different genres of music, from field recordings and samples, or even those mimicked by the human voice or by instruments

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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, krautrock, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional, trip hop Tags animal behaviour, animals, music, songs, playlists, primates, birds, insects, Carl Sagan, Frans de Wall
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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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Singular differences: 7-inch releases that contrast with album versions

May 30, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Stack of 7-inches

Brutally, or mercifully truncated, radio-edited in musical mix or lyrical content, decorously tarted up with orchestra or other instruments, added or deleted solos, made dancier or more ethereal, it’s time to dig up some the contrasting versions that have surprised, delighted or frustrated you

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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, krautrock, 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, singles, vinyl, vinyl records, radio, albums, Henry Rollins, Ian Gillan, Deep Purple, Alan Partridge, RCA, Gnarls Barkley, Ceelo Green, Danger Mouse, Roy Wood, Nile Rodgers, Tears for Fears, Curt Smith, Todd Rundgren, The Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Kinks, Dave Davies, Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin, Jarvis Cocker, Pulp
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Can you kick it? The score: songs about football and its culture

May 23, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Long player: A young Diego Maradona enjoying one of his other hobbies, 1980

At the zenith of the season, with tournaments ending and beginning, let’s pass our attention to the beautiful game, skill, artistry, eccentricity, but also history, culture, with metaphors, and hopefully avoiding the bad songs, the goal is dig deep into music from around the world …

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In African, avant-garde, calypso, blues, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, psychedelia, prog, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional, trip hop Tags songs, playlists, football, Shostakovich, Diego Maradona, Roy Keane, Zinedine Zidane, Bjork, Brian Clough, Eric Cantona, Bill Shankly, Carlo Ancelotti, John Ashbery, Nick Hornby, Karl Marx, Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, China, World Cup, Pele, George Best, René Higuita, Ron Atkinson, Martin Tyler, sports journalism, Kevin Keegan, Michael Owen, Dion Dublin, Ray Wilkins, Paul Whitehouse, Alan Partridge, Comedy
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Playlists: songs about legs, trousers, pants and other coverings

May 22, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band

Trousers, pants, hotpants and other leggings, not to mention even a couple of legless numbers, from the beautiful to the bawdy, this week’s music definitely doing the talking and walking is picked by guest Marco den Ouden from last week’s topic

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In blues, calypso, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, dub, drone, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, prog, postpunk, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, music, Captain Beefheart, ZZ Top, Freddie King, Willie King, Jeff Healey, Dr Hook, Bull Moose Jackson & His Buffalo Bearcats, Beyonce, Post Malone, Jeffrey Foucault, Luiz Marenco, Sophie Les Bas Bleus, Katzenjammer, Kenny, Omar and the Howlers, The Cheers, David Dundas, The Magic Numbers, AOA, Gene Vincent, Johnny Clegg, Joe Tex, Hot Tuna, Blue Lu Barker, Danny Barker, Suzanne Vega, Clarence Williams, Icky Renrut, Eddie Cochran, Bloodhound Gang, Les Azteks, B-52s, The Four Blazes, Shirley Brown, Chris McDermott, Conway Twitty, Peaches, Boiled In Lead, Skyhooks, First Choice, Chocolate Milk, Will Franklin, John Mayall, Mel McDaniel, Fishbone, Jodi Benson, The Little Mermaid, Marco den Ouden
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Playlists: songs about amphibians

May 14, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Who’s in this week’s lineup?

Frogs, toads, salamanders and axolotls all leap into view in this week’s musical menagerie of amazing amphibious numbers across a fabulous pond of genres from folk to hip hop, jazz and much more, stylishly chosen by guest Suzi 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, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags Moondog, T Rex, Duncan Sisters, Danny Dell and the Trends, Toshiko Akiyoshi and the Lew Tabackin Big Band, Darina Kostadinova, Peter Paul and Mary, The Short Sisters, Johnnie Moore and His New Blazers, Aesop Rock, Ieva Baltmiskyte, John Dowland, Teens of Thailand, Alain Souchon, Jethro Tull, Einstürzende Neubauten, Majkystar, Teho Teardo, Blixa Bargeld, Pearls Before Swine, Bentley Rhythm Ace, amphibians, frogs, axolotl, toads, salamander, Suzi
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Ponder this: songs about amphibians

May 9, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Careful with that axolotl, humans …

Frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, caecilians, and not forgetting the amazing axolotl, in literal or metaphorical contexts, myth or fairytale, sounds or more, these amazing creatures seem to straddle that subjective line between cute, creepy and ugly. But how to they leap up in song?

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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, krautrock, 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, amphibians, frogs, newts, toads, axolotl, salamander, Kermit The Frog, The Muppets, Cameron Diaz, Jamie Lerner, Adrian Forsyth, Sir David Attenborough, Aldous Huxley, Toni Braxton, Kim Young-Ha, climate change, evolution, biology, Grimm Brothers, Annalee Newitz
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Playlists: songs with tautonyms and other repeat-word phrases

May 1, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Record bags: That Damned’s 7-inch sleeve from 1977

Echoing syllables and words across history, the animal kingdom, cultures and genres, this poetic linguistic effect brought a bountiful and vibrant supply of nominations. Guest playlister Maki picks a poetic selection to capture their glory

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In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, electronica, folk, experimental, funk, indie, jazz, krautrock, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags language, playlists, tautonyms, The Archies, Abba, Gillian Hills, The Milkees, Ronnie Cook & The Gaylads, Dub Syndicate, Burning Spear, A Taste of Honey, Talk Talk, Teenage Fanclub, The Damned, Los Bárbaros, Rihanna, Django Reinhardt, Erik Truffaz, Philou Louzolo, Coole Joe, Elivira, Tinariwen, Touki, Soraya, Erykah Badu, Scooter, The Grateful Dead, A Certain Ratio, The Jamaicans, Miriam Makeba, The Delfonics, Fox, Goldfrapp, Otis Redding, Jacques Brel, Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros, Joe Strummer, King Crimson, Iggy Pop, John Lee Hooker, Rockin' Sydney, Middle of The Road, The Mamas and Papas, Dicky Doo and The Don'ts, Baby Ford, Cab Calloway, Fela Kuti, The Undertones, The Stranglers, Fruko y Sus Tesos, Bebe, Maki, Celia & The Mutations
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Playlists: songs featuring superlatives

April 23, 2024 Peter Kimpton

A top shot at songcraft … LDR

Sweetest, biggest, baddest, punniest, funniest, spinniest, dreamiest, wooziest? Many more most ‘ests’ feature this week in the very best of superlative selections by guest playlister Uncleben, taking the very best shot from last week’s many nominations

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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, krautrock, metal, music, musicals, musical hall, playlists, pop, postpunk, psychedelia, prog, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional, trip hop Tags songs, playlists, superlatives, language, George Olsen, Dilated Peoples, The House of Love, Nickel Creek, Jesus & Mary Chain, David Childers, The Modern Don Juans, Utah Phillips, Ani di Franco, Garbage, Christophe Maé, REM, Charlie Rich, Lana Del Rey, Sarah Vaughan, Aswad, The Wild Swans, David Bowie, Clifford Jordan, No-No Boy, Rare Bird, Barry Brown, McCarthy, Gene Clark, The Kane Gang, Weyes Blood, Jockstrap, Uncleben
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Record makers or breakers? Songs about superlatives

April 18, 2024 Peter Kimpton

The GOAT? Or just a goat?

We’re not exaggerating, from most beautiful to the fastest, craziest hottest or worst, this week it’s songs centrally featuring that adjective or adverb that expresses that the thing or person described has possessing more of that particular quality than anything or anyone else of that type

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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, krautrock, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional, trip hop Tags songs, superlatives, language, Record Breakers, Guinness Book of Records, Roy Castle, Isabella Bird, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Pablo Neruda, Dorothy Parker, The Simpsons, Flight of the Conchords, Wyndham Lewis, Claude C. Hopkins, Elias Canetti, Rudyard Kipling, US presidents, Donald Trump
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Playlists: songs using collective nouns

April 17, 2024 Peter Kimpton

We’ve got shoal: silver herring

Congregations to murders, vaquejada to izinyoni, Scotland to England and Spain, Africa to Brazil and beyond, collective nouns add vivd poetry to song lyrics. Guest playlister Maki picks out some collective colour from last week’s theme

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In African, blues, avant-garde, calypso, classical, country, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, indie, hip hop, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, Ewan MacColl, collective nouns, language, animals, birds, fish, Jesca Hoop, Cadaver Club, Scientist, Low, Foo Fighters, Quinteto Violado, The Mahotella Queens, Burning Spear, Killing Joke, The Stranglers, Hildegard Knef, GoGo Penguin, The Housemartins, Martin Green, Eek-a-Mouse, CW McCall, The Green Pajamas, Mau Maus, Honningbarna, Jauría
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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: songs about lighthouses and guiding lights

April 3, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Through the darkness …

Nautical life-saving stories to metaphorical naval-gazing declarations of love, this topic sheds light on different contexts, and across a range of genres, inspired by last week’s nominations, is a bright star in the hands of guest keeper Nicko and his playlists

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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, krautrock, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional, trip hop Tags lights, lighthouses, oceans, islands, Lindisfarne, My Friend The Chocolate Cake, Two Door Cinema Club, Richard O'Brien, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Irish Lights, The Roots, Prince Far I, television, Olivia Chaney, The Waifs, The The, Philip Glass, The Black Keys, Juana Molina, Hawkwind, The Seekers, Meryl Streep, Ashley Park, Karine Polwart, Kris Delmhorst, Archie Roach, Gordon Lightfoot, Don Gibson, The Strawbs, The Fashioneers, Bim Sherman, Bialystocks, Revolver, Roy Ayers, Freddie Slack, Ella Mae Morse, Atlas Sound, No Means No, Aimiina, Mary Finsterer, Paulo Bragança, Blind Willie Johnson, Horace Andy, Mark Korven, Nicko
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Playlists: songs about physical gestures

March 27, 2024 Peter Kimpton

Sound waves and beyond …

Pointing, clapping, nodding, waving, thumbs up, thumbs down, high fives and much more, there’s no end to the lyrical gesticulation on offer signalled from last week’s topic by guest playlister Loud Atlas, whose presentation and choices should attract a salute and long applause

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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, krautrock, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional, trip hop Tags gestures, psychology, human behaviour, AC/DC, Marvin Gaye, Little Simz, Obongjayar, Brenton Wood, Alanis Morissette, Jake Bugg, Sufjan Stevens, Loyle Carner, Stevie Smith, The Bevis Frond, Richard Thompson, The Meters, Alfred Apaka, The Chiffons, Little Eva, Neil Diamond, Henry Hall, BBC Concert Orchestra, Dan Donovan, Soft Cell, The Lowest Pair, Was (Not Was), Herbie Hancock, The Fairfield Four, Mama Cass Elliot, Vanity Fare, The Guess Who, Slobberbone, Beck, Don McLean, Wreckless Eric, The Ramones, United Bottles, Tom Lehrer, Kismet Original Broadway Cast, Alfred Drake, Dropkick Murphys, Ludovico Bource, The Black Crowes, Ben Platt, Loud Atlas
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'DRINK' OF THE WEEK

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New Albums …

Featured
Kim Gordon - Play Me album.jpeg
Mar 13, 2026
Kim Gordon: Play Me
Mar 13, 2026

New album: Following 2024’s The Collective, the former Sonic Youth frontwoman’s fourth solo LP continues her extraordinary experimental, innovative journey, moving to more melodic beats shorter tracks, and motorik krautrock-style driven coloured by strange sounds, intense emotions and sharply angled and abstract social commentary

Mar 13, 2026
ELIZA - The Darkening Green.jpeg
Mar 11, 2026
ELIZA: The Darkening Green
Mar 11, 2026

New album: The London artist Eliza Caird (formerly under the mainstream pop moniker Eliza Doolittle) returns with more of the cool, slow, sensual, gentle, sophisticated experimental soul-funk style evolving from her 2022 album A Sky Without Stars, here with particularly polished, silky, stripped back grooves and vocals

Mar 11, 2026
Irreparable Parables by Andrew Wasylyk.jpeg
Mar 11, 2026
Andrew Wasylyk: Irreparable Parables
Mar 11, 2026

New album: The Scottish multi-instrumentalist and composer returns with a new selection of soothing, meditative mix of experimental classical and jazz, but this time joined with six different singers represented by the birds on the album artwork

Mar 11, 2026
waterbaby - Memory Be A Blade.jpeg
Mar 10, 2026
waterbaby: Memory Be A Blade
Mar 10, 2026

New album: A delicate, experimental, understated soulful chamber pop debut by the pure-voiced Stockholm-born singer-songwriter (aka Kendra Egerbladh) in 25-minute, eight-track release of lo-fi, lyrically semi-improvised numbers about heartbreak and self-renewal in a world of gorgeous musical sensations

Mar 10, 2026
Joshua Idehen - I Know You're Hurting ....jpeg
Mar 10, 2026
Joshua Idehen: I know you're hurting, everyone is hurting, everyone is trying, you have got to try
Mar 10, 2026

New album: With a strikingly long title, a euphoric and honest full debut LP by the British-born Nigerian poet, spoken word artist and musician based in Sweden, working with his musical partner Ludvig Parment’s sonic layers, packed pacy dance and hip-hop grooves, clever sampling, slower reflections, and articulate expressions of positivity through the ups and downs of grief and hope

Mar 10, 2026
Atlanta by Gnarls Barkley.jpeg
Mar 10, 2026
Gnarls Barkley: Atlanta
Mar 10, 2026

New album: Finally, after an 18-year gap since their last collaboration in the heady days of the hit Crazy, with the St Elsewhere and The Odd Couple LPs a third and supposedly final album from fabulous singer CeeLo Green and producer and musician aka Brian Burton with a mix of soaring soul, hip-hop, pop and RnB with songs filled with vivid lyrical memories and strong, emotive melodies

Mar 10, 2026
War Child - Help(2).jpeg
Mar 9, 2026
Various: HELP(2) - War Child Records
Mar 9, 2026

New album: Not only a timely and topical milestone charity record following the first in 1995 to help bring aid and wide variety of support to children in war zones around he world, but an impressive double-LP array of stellar British and international talent and powerful, poignant 23 songs from Arctic Monkeys to Young Fathers

Mar 9, 2026
Bonnie Prince Billy - We Are Together Again.jpeg
Mar 9, 2026
Bonnie “Prince” Billy: We Are Together Again
Mar 9, 2026

New album: Just over a year after 2025’s The Purple Bird, but from parallel recording sessions and familiar co-musicians, the veteran Louisville-Kentucky singer-songwriter Will Oldham returns with another collection of exquisite, intimate, gently defiant lo-fi folk to troubled times, an ode to community with a beautiful array of acoustic instruments and his poignant, insightful lyrics and delivery

Mar 9, 2026
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Mar 5, 2026
DEADLETTER: Existence Is Bliss
Mar 5, 2026

New album: This second LP by the South Yorkshire/London six-piece expands their post-punk sound palette with a collection of arresting, thrumming songs, often dark and challenging, with richly exploratory lyrics across dystopian and existential questions, yet despite a climate of difficult, shows how gasping for life’s oxygen is essential

Mar 5, 2026
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Mar 5, 2026
Lala Lala: Heaven 2
Mar 5, 2026

New album: Moving from Chicago to New Mexico, Reykjavík, then London and now Los Angeles, the UK-born artist Lillie West’s experimental indie dream pop is a fascinating release about restless escapism while trying to stay where she is

Mar 5, 2026
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Mar 3, 2026
Iron & Wine: Hen's Teeth
Mar 3, 2026

New album: Timeless, poetic, gentle folk-rock in this eighth solo album by the North Carolina multi-instrumentalist and producer Sam Beam, in warm, tender album with a title that suggests the idea of the impossible yet real, and an earthier, darker, more more tactile companion to his Grammy-nominated 2024 album Light Verse

Mar 3, 2026
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Mar 3, 2026
Buck Meek: The Mirror
Mar 3, 2026

New album: The Brooklyn-based Texan guitarist of Big Thief returns with his fourth solo LP filled with tender, thoughtful, beautiful folk-country-rock, a tiny splash of analogue synths, joined by bandmate James Krivchenia as producer, Adrianne Lenker on backing vocals, plus guitarist Adam Brisbin and harp player Mary Lattimore

Mar 3, 2026
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Mar 1, 2026
Mitski: Nothing’s About To Happen To Me
Mar 1, 2026

New album: Following 2023’s acclaimed The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We, now an eighth LP of sublime beauty, wit and melancholy and silken vocal tones from the American singer-songwriter, mixing pop, rock, echoes of Laurel Canyon era, and stories and metaphors of love and loss, insecurity, independence and solitude all set at home – and no shortage of cats

Mar 1, 2026
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Mar 1, 2026
Gorillaz: The Mountain
Mar 1, 2026

New album: Released with an art book, new games, and extended videos, a multicultural, multifarious and multilingual return for the collective cartoon pop-hip-hop project led by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, with many intercontinental guest appearances, and a particular Indian musical and visual flavour centred on fictional Himalayan peak as metaphor for life’s journey and illusionary truths

Mar 1, 2026

new songs …

Featured
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Mar 14, 2026
Song of the Day: Mei Semones - Tooth Fairy (featuring John Roseboro)
Mar 14, 2026

Song of the Day: A charming cross-genre fusion of bossa nova, jazz, folk and chamber pop sung in English and Japanese by the Brooklyn-based American musician with a tale of losing a tooth on the subway and friendship, from the upcoming album Kurage, out 10 April on Bayonet Records

Mar 14, 2026
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Mar 13, 2026
Song of the Day: Robyn - Blow My Mind
Mar 13, 2026

Song of the Day: Quirky, sensual electro-pop with a dash of Kraftwerk by the acclaimed Swedish singer, songwriter and producer Robin Miriam Carlsson, in this latest from the upcoming album Sexistential out on 27 March via Konichiwa / Young Records

Mar 13, 2026
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Mar 12, 2026
Song of the Day: Lava La Rue - Scratches
Mar 12, 2026

Song of the Day: The latest single by the London singer-songwriter is punchy, powerful psychedelic rock number with tearing riffs and lyrics about damage from troubled relationship, abuse and self-harm, from the forthcoming EP Do You Know Everything?, out on BMG

Mar 12, 2026
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Mar 11, 2026
Song of the Day: Alewya - City of Symbols (featuring eejebee)
Mar 11, 2026

Song of the Day: A stylish fusion of electronica, soul, hip hop and Ethiopian rhythmic influences centring on themes of heritage, family by London singer, songwriter, producer and multidisciplinary artist, with drums from eejebee and guitar from Vraell, heralding from the forthcoming new debut Zero out 22 June via LDN Records / Because Music

Mar 11, 2026
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Mar 10, 2026
Song of the Day: Huarinami - Carried Away
Mar 10, 2026

Song of the Day: Explosive, stylish, gritty, restless indie-psychedelic punk with angular, angry guitars, driving bass and wonderfully arresting vocals by Pauline Janier (aka Cody Pepper) fronting the French London-based four-piece in this single fuelled by the frustration of big-city life, and heralding their sophomore EP Nothing Happens, due for release on 6 June

Mar 10, 2026
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Mar 9, 2026
Song of the Day: Avalon Emerson & The Charm - Written into Changes
Mar 9, 2026

Song of the Day: Following the singles Eden and Jupiter and Mars, another stylish, experimental indie synth-pop release by the New York artist with the title track of upcoming second Charm moniker album, out on 20 March via Dead Oceans

Mar 9, 2026
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Mar 8, 2026
Song of the Day: Aldous Harding - One Stop
Mar 8, 2026

Song of the Day: An enigmatic, oddly stylish, stripped back, piano-based new experimental folk single by the New Zealand singer-songwriter, namechecking John Cale, and from her upcoming album Train on the Island out May 8 via 4AD

Mar 8, 2026
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Mar 7, 2026
Song of the Day: Max Winter, Asha Lorenz & Rael - Candlelight
Mar 7, 2026

Song of the Day: A dark, stylish, striking fusion of hip-hop, trip-hop, spoken word, and jazz by the London-based rapper and friends, and the the first single from the collaborative mixtape Like the season!, out on Secret Friend

Mar 7, 2026
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Mar 6, 2026
Song of the Day: SPRINTS - Trickle Down
Mar 6, 2026

Song of the Day: The feisty, ferociously fun Dublin post-punk band return with a punchy, on-point angry new number about the flawed economic term, watching systems fail in slow motion, housing crisis, rising costs, culture wars, climate collapse, and frustratingly being told to stay patient while everything burns

Mar 6, 2026
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Mar 5, 2026
Song of the Day: Jordan Rakei & Tom McFarland - Easy to Love
Mar 5, 2026

Song of the Day: Elevating, soaring soul with the high vocals of the New Zealand-Australian singer and songwriter joined by one half the British band Jungle, heralding the collaborative EP Between Us, out on 24 April on Fontana Records / Universal Music

Mar 5, 2026
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Mar 4, 2026
Song of the Day: José González - A Perfect Storm
Mar 4, 2026

Song of the Day: A beautiful, delicate, evocative and profound new single about impending Earth disaster by the Swedish indie folk singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist from Gothenburg, heralding his fifth album Against the Dying of the Light out on 27 March via Imperial Recordings / City Slang

Mar 4, 2026
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Mar 3, 2026
Song of the Day: Jesus Cringe - Disastrology
Mar 3, 2026

Song of the Day: A striking collision and fusion of space rock, prog rock, jazz, and sci-fi cinema, with an orchestral, avant-garde, tumultuous interplay between violin and baritone saxophone by the Belgian artist Alexis Pfrimmer, expressing the characterisation of solitary figure witnessing Earth’s collapse before escaping into space, and out on Epictronic

Mar 3, 2026

Word of the week

Featured
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Mar 12, 2026
Word of the week: wallfish
Mar 12, 2026

Word of the week: It sounds like the singing finned picture ornament Big Mouth Billy Bass that became popular in the late 1990s, but this is a much older noun, derived in Somerset, England, pertains to the climbing gastropod that can slowly climb up any surface

Mar 12, 2026
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Feb 25, 2026
Word of the week: xiphias
Feb 25, 2026

Word of the week: Get the point? This is the scientific name for the swordfish, in full Xiphias gladius (from the Greek and Latin for sword), that extraordinary sea creature with the long, pointy bill. But what of it in song?

Feb 25, 2026
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Feb 12, 2026
Word of the week: yanggeum
Feb 12, 2026

Word of the week: A form or hammered dulcimer, this traditional Korean instrument, with a flat and trapezoidal shape, has seven sets of four metal strings hit by thin bamboo stick

Feb 12, 2026
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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
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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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