10 songs

Let’s try an utterly pointless experiment.

It’s Friday afternoon and I have finished (some) of my household chores so I am relaxing at the computer with my iPod, which is attached to a very loud speaker. I am going to play 10 songs on “shuffle” and write something about each one, without googling anything. I am going to be honest and this could be very embarrassing.

1. Vegetables by the Beach Boys. Ah yes, this is from Brian Wilson’s ill-fated but finally completed 40 years later Smile album. It’s about vegetables, believe it or not, and boasts some typical Beach Boys harmonies. Totally bonkers, but indispensable.

2. Waterfall by Atlantic Ocean. I know the tune but I would never have named it, nor the artist, without peaking at my iPod. It’s on one of my “Rush Hour” dance music compilations. I am not going to try and describe it in any great depth because I’ll begin to sound like one of those high court judges saying he’s never heard of the Beatles.

3. Oh Yeah by Chickenfoot. This what we call “hard rock”, performed by a supergroup comprising of Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Chad Smith and Joe Satriani. Some good riffs here but when vocalist Hagar sings of reaching 30 and it being “time to settle down” you have to remind yourself he is now 67.

4. I Wish You Peace by the Eagles. This one is from the One Of These Nights album and written and sung by Bernie Leadon. It’s very un-Leadon and un-Eagles too, with cheesy strings giving it a tired MOTR feel. Not one of my favourites.

5. Shirt by the Bonzo Dog Doodah Band. Here Vyv Stanshall interviews various people, including one carrying a kangaroo, about shirts and whether they are necessary.

6. Intro by Alan Braxe and Fred Falke. Another one from a Rush Hour compilation and another I had to check on the iPod. I am guessing these chaps are very busy on the clubbing circuit, assuming there is one.

7. Gypsy Biker by Bruce Springsteen. This is from the excellent Magic album. Unmistakably The Boss, good driving, chugging song.

8. Promenade Sentimentale by Vladimir Cosma. Not a clue who Vladimir Cosma is but this is a slow-paced solo piano piece from Tom Middleton’s brilliant The Trip compilation and yes I had to look up both the artist and the album from whence it came.

9. The Bomber by the James Gang. Oh quality, this is. Joe Walsh’s band before Rocky Mountain Way. Lots of frantic drumming, thumping bass lines and guitar licks which sound like the sirens warning of incoming bombers. It includes a chunk of Ravel’s Balero played by Walsh on electric guitar. I am not making this up.

10. Long Train Runnin’ by the Doobie Brothers. You all know this one, don’t you? A gorgeous guitar riff, a throbbing bass line and Tom Johnston’s brilliant blue-eye vocals, topped by classic Doobie harmonies. And some lush harmonica in the middle eight. It’s from The Captain and Me album which no right-thinking music lover should be without.

You can wake up now!