Burning Boats - Anni(e) Hogan ft Marc Almond, Budgie and JG Thirlwell

Picked up yet another copy of this album when I was in Brum recently and gave it a spin, reminding myself of just what an incredible track this is. For my money Anni(e) Hogan and Marc Almond's partnership over a decade or so produced some of my favourite tracks of all time, like this criminally underrated number...

Get It Right Next Time - Gerry Rafferty

Given last night's result this track seems pretty appropriate today. Thankfully I have little or no interest in sport but always get dragged into the football a little when it's the World Cup or Euros. I have no idea how fans cope with this level of stress and frustration week in and week out... 

Flowers In Our Hair - All About Eve

A gorgeous slice of 80s folk rock pop from the underrated All About Eve. I loved the self titled album as an 18 year old, fast forward almost 4 decades and it sounds just as good as a 56 year old...even if I don't have as much hair to wear flowers in if I was that way inclined. 

Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger) Extended Version - Donna Summer

Gave this 80s utter banger a few spins last night. The sharp eyed will spot that it was co-written by Quincy Jones and Rod Temperton who, amongst other tracks, penned a little ditty called Thriller for some bloke called Michael Jackson. Given that Rod had homes in LA, the south of France, Fiji, Switzerland and Kent I suspect he did pretty well out of that one. 

 

Dollar Bill - Jack White

Jack White's back with another scuzzed up blues belter, possibly one of the best of his career so far. It's always puzzled me that the blues (and jazz too, but that's a whole different box of brass) ain't more popular than it is when it can be as glorious as this, but that's people for you eh? 

PS: If Dollar Bill floats your boat why not go all the way back to Robert Johnson, a mere 90 years ago, and work forward from there...there's enough great blues to keep your ears entertained until the end of time. 

Chairlift - Bruises

Heard this track on 6Music this morning for the first time in ages and, despite it's slightly dark undercurrent, it has a bit of a summertime vibe too. I've only just found out that the lead singer's Caroline Polachek who's done some great solo stuff over the past few years, like this...

The Rainbow Connection - Kermit The Frog and Debbie Harry

What better track to celebrate Debbie Harry's 81st birthday than her legendary duet with Kermit The Frog...