The Friday Music Shuffle (8 August 2025)

Out of a clear blue sky, here comes the Friday Music Shuffle. Yes, it’s that ‘fun-packed’ time of the week when my music device selects ten random songs from my collection and I tell you what it’s chosen. If you can stand the excitement – and let’s face it: how could you not? – why not click on the title and listen to the music?

Here we go, two, three four!

1. Upon My Soul by Steve Mason. Love a bit of Steve Mason, this from 2023’s Brothers and Sisters.
2. Now You’re Mine by Gang Starr. Back we go to 2012 and a banger from Hard To Earn. The late Guru – Keith Alam! – was a truly great rapper. That voice.
3. November Has Come by Gorillaz feat. MF Doom. From 2005’s Demon Days, this of course is brilliant.
4. I Just Don’t Know What To Do Myself by Tommy Hunt. The great Dusty Springfield had the big hit with this song, but here from 1962 is Tommy Hunt’s brilliant version.
5. Hurry Up And Wait by The Stereophonics. Here we are now back in 1999 and a banger from Performance and Cocktails. Kelly Jones has one of the great rock voices.
6. And You And I by Yes. Simply wonderful from 1972’s Close To The Edge. Speaking of great voices, there are few better than Jon Anderson’s.
7. (You Gotta Walk) Don’t Look Back by Peter Tosh and Mick Jagger. Well, this 1978 cover of the Temptations song, co-written by Smokey Robinson, shouldn’t really work, but my God it really does. Joyous. From the album Bush Doctor.
8. Gangsta Gangsta by N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton was a game-changer and it still sounds cutting edge today. Yet it was recorded in 1988 and released the year after. Incredible.
9. Top Of The World by The Carpenters. Sweet song from 1972 with cringy lyrics (you can’t “look down on creation” because it isn’t there), blessed by the presence of legendary Wrecking Crew drummer Hal Blaine, ‘Goodbye To Love’ guitarist Tony Peluso and of course the golden voice of Karen Carpenter.
10. Burning Wheel by Primal Scream. Opening track of 1997’s excellent Vanishing Point. Very good!

For me, that was a very special shuffle and I would like to thank lady luck for putting it together. This week’s Desert Island Disc, and I still have the 12 inch single, is (You Gotta Walk) Don’t Look Back by Peter Tosh and Mick Jagger.

I hope you found something you liked. Have a good week till next week.