Keep Your Mind Open

1. Elvis Costello - Radio Radio
2. Morrissey - Sister I'm A Poet
3. David Bowie - Andy Warhol
4. Rolling Stones - Happy
5. The Byrds - Lazy Days
6. Zoot - Mr. Songwriter
7. The Flamin' Groovies - Slow Death
8. The Temptations - My Girl
9. Sly Stone - Honest
10. Buddy Holly - Brown Eyed Handsome Man
11. Kaleidoscope - Keep Your Mind Open
12. The Week That Was - Learn To Learn
13. X - Los Angeles
14. Holly Golightly - Tell Me Now So I Know
15. XTC - Red
16. The Clique - Superman
17. Hopper - Malcolm
18. Fred Hughes - Don't Let Me Down
19. Arielle Dombasle - Rhum and Coca Cola
20. Friends Of Sound - Chocolate Cake
21. The Divine Comedy - Lucy
22. Nancy & Frank Sinatra - Somethin Stupid
23. Pepe Deluxe - Lying Peacefully
24. The Beatles - I'm So Tired
25. Audrey Hepburn - Moon River

My submission for the January Mixathon over at ZerO. This time the theme is based on the Proust Questionnaire. You can find the full list here.

I decided to omit a few questions and re-jig the running order to make the mix flow better. I also asked for help from my long term fiancee when answering the questions. Hope you enjoy reading the answers and possibly hearing the subsequent mix.

1. Your favourite occupation.

Ideally I want to listen to music all day every day without interruption. Well, hardly any let's say. I thought about maybe a music journalist but really it would be a Radio DJ. One day I'll regret not trying to get into this as a career, maybe it's not too late (I'm 33) but for a while now I believe this particular ship may have sailed..

2. Your favourite poet.

I'm not particularly interested in poetry. Not saying I don't see the appeal. It's just....

I don't know. Morrissey is regarded as a poet isn't he? I'll pick him.

3. Your favourite painter.

Andy Warhol.

4. Your favourite qualities in a person.

A good sense of humour or someone with a positive outlook on life. The track I've chosen here is 'Happy' by the Stones.

5. Your main fault.

My laziness, without a shadow of a doubt. I'm so lazy I can't even be bothered finishing this sen

6. The natural talent I'd like to be gifted with.

As someone who listens to music an awful lot, it may surprise a few that I've never had any inclination to learn an instrument. Maybe see the last answer for reasons why. However I'd love to be a fantastic/prolific songwriter. There's no point in trying though, I know I'm not..

7. Your Idea of misery.

A long slow death. Please make it be quick and painless. And a long long time from now..

8. Your idea of happiness.

My daughter. She's happy. She makes me happy.

9. Your favourite virtue.

Honesty. Both in myself and others. Am I an honest person. Yes, I am. Honest...

10. If not yourself, who would you be.

Can I be myself again but 17 years ago? With what I know now but the way I looked then?

I can? Great!

But whatever choice I make different to the first time can I guarantee that I will find myself in exactly the position I'm in right now, 17 years later ?

No? I'll leave it then..

11. Your favourite motto.

Keep your mind open. It's a big world out there and everyone is different. Give everyone a chance. They may well blow it but c'est la vie..

12. Your chief characteristic.

I consulted my partner about this one. She stated my main characteristics are that I like to learn and that I'm quite selfish.

She's right! I do like to learn..

13. Where would you like to live.

Somewhere warm with lots going on.

14. Your favourite heroines in fiction.

Although not one of my favourite Audrey Hepburn films, I've gone for Holly Golightly from 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'. She is wonderful.

15. Your favourite colour and flower.

My favourite colour is Red. I don't have a favourite flower.

16. Your favourite heroes in fiction.

Superman. I was obsessed with him as a youngster. And although I have the box set of all the films should any (of the first 3) be shown on TV I'll have to stop what I'm doing and watch..

17. What I hate the most.

Hate is a strong emotion. I hate few people. One person I do hate though (for reasons I won't go into here as it's a music site and not a sports, or indeed financial site) is Malcolm Glazer.

Bastard.

18. What you appreciate the most in your friends.

I'm lucky, I have a few circles of friends, and within each any of them can be out of touch for weeks, months, years. But the minute we catch up again it's like they've never been away.

I also appreciate loyalty. We can fall out (usually under the influence of alcohol) but it'll be forgotten as quickly as you can remember exactly what it is that you're trying forget(?!)

19 & 20. Favourite food and drink.

Coca cola. It's an addiction. And it's bad for your waistline. And your teeth. I've got the dentist on speed dial.

Though I must stress my teeth aren't anywhere near as bad as Austin Powers'. That of course is an American stereotype of the English. And wildly inaccurate. On the whole..

21. Your favourite names.

My favourite name is Lucy. Such a pretty name. It was never really considered as a name for my daughter though, as Lucy Gandy doesn't look or sound right. Shame.

22. For what fault have you most toleration.

Stupidity. Many, many people are stupid. It's not their fault..

23. How I wish to die.

Lying peacefully. Asleep, at an old age. Aware for sometime that the end is near, yet not suffering too much. At the age of 112. Or by a Unicorn like derhay suggested..

24. What is your present state of mind.

Tired. This questionnaire is bloody long.

25. Your favourite heroines in real life.

Ms Hepburn again.

26. Your favourite heroes in real life.

I've picked just one. One who stands head and shoulders above the rest in the long line of Sammy's Heroes.

His name? Eric. (see cover art)

Link

The Top 30 Greatest Album Openers

1. New Order - Dreams Never End [from Movement, 1981]
2. Big Star - O My Soul [from Radio City, 1974]
3. Prince - Sign 'O' the Times [from Sign 'O' the Times, 1987]
4. The Clash - Janie Jones [from The Clash, 1977]
5. Orbital - The Girl With The Sun In Her Head [from In Sides, 1996]
6. The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead [from The Queen Is Dead, 1986]
7. The Who - Baba O'Riley [from Who's Next, 1971]
8. Rolling Stones - Rocks Off [from Exile on Main St. 1972]
9. Can - Future Days [from Future Days, 1973]
10. Love - Alone Again Or [from Forever Changes, 1967]
11. The Velvet Underground - Who Loves The Sun [from Loaded, 1970]
12. Al Green - Let's Stay Together [from Let's Stay Together, 1972]
13. Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bop [from Ramones, 1976]
14. Teenage Fanclub - The Concept [from Bandwagonesque, 1991]
15. R.E.M. - Radio Free Europe [from Murmur, 1983]
16. The Pixies - Debaser [from Doolittle, 1989]
17. Roxy Music - Do The Strand [from For Your Pleasure, 1973]
18. My Bloody Valentine - Only Shallow [from Loveless, 1991]
19. Mazzy Star - Halah [from She Hangs Brightly, 1990]
20. The Stooges - 1969 [from The Stooges, 1969]
21. David Bowie - Five Years [from The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, 1972]
22. Sly & The Family Stone - Stand! [from Stand! 1969]
23. Spiritualized® - Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space [from Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space, 1997]
24. Beach Boys - You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone [from Carl and the Passions-So Tough, 1972]
25. Caravan - If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do it All Over You [from If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do it All Over You, 1970]
26. The Kinks - Victoria [from Arthur (Or The Decline and Fall of the British Empire) 1969]
27. Mercury Rev - Holes [from Deserters Songs 1998]
28. Harry Nilsson - Gotta Get Up [from Nilsson Schmillson, 1971]
29. Television - See No Evil [from Marquee Moon, 1977]
30. Zombies - Care of Cell 44 [from Odessey and Oracle, 1968]

Inspired by a friend who listed his favourite albums of the past 30 years and I happened to comment that Dreams Never End is my all time favourite Side 1 Track 1. It got me thinking what would be in my Top 20, and so I went about compiling it. As always with me and lists, things got out of hand - 20 became 25 then 30 and could have easily become 50 before I saw sense.

I think you can tell how much you're going to like an album by the opening track, and it's probably no coincidence that each and every album highlighted here is an all time fave of mine. And of course there'll be omissions (no Beatles, Dexy's, Traffic, Scott Walker) but for now, I'm happy with this!

1-15 16-30

The Wonder Years

And that's all the years that myself and Barrydali (a.k.a The Wonder Years) tackled. However we are planning to do more, so if we haven't gottne around to your birth year, or indeed favourite year, leave a comment and we may tackle it in the near future.

The Wonder Years : 1957

1. Buddy Holly - That'll Be The Day
2. Jackie Wilson - Reet Petite
3. Everly Brothers - Wake Up Little Susie
4. Dale Hawkins - Susie Q
5. Johnny Cash - I Walk The Line
6. The Bobbettes - Mr Lee
7. Chuck Berry - Rock And Roll Music
8. Larry Williams - Bony Moronie
9. The Del Vikings - Come Go With Me
10. Don Gibson - Oh Lonesome Me
11. Eddie Cochran - Twenty Flight Rock
12. Eydie Gorme - Too Close For Comfort
13. Sam Cooke - You Send Me
14. Thurston Harris - Little Bitty Pretty One
15. Brenda Lee - Dynamite
16. Little Richard - Tutti Frutti
17. Elvis Presley - All Shook Up
18. Johnny Mathis - Wonderful! Wonderful!
19. Anita O'Day & Oscar Peterson - Old Devil Moon
20. Mickey & Sylvia - Love Is Strange
21. Patsy Cline - Walkin' After Midnight
22. Billie Holiday - One For My Baby
23. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares For Me
24. Miles Davis - Budo
25. Thelonious Monk - Brilliant Corners

The Cavern Club opens in Liverpool. Allen Ginsberg's poem Howl, printed in England, is seized by U.S. customs officials on the grounds of obscenity. Juan Manuel Fangio, driving for Maserati, wins the Formula One German Grand Prix, clinching (with 4 wins that season) his record fifth world drivers championship, including his fourth consecutive championship (also a record); these two records would endure for nearly half a century.

The first edition of Jack Kerouac's On the Road went on sale. Radio telescope of Jodrell Bank, Cheshire, UK, opened. Jailhouse Rock opens nationally and Elvis Presley continues to gain more notoriety. The Piña Colada was invented by Ramon Marrero, a bartender at Puerto Rico's Caribe Hilton.

We said Hello to Spike Lee, Shane McGowan, Sid Vicious, Siouxsie Sioux, Steve Buscemi, Nick Cave & Billy Bragg.

We said Goodbye to Humphrey Bogart, Eliot Ness, Oliver Hardy, Louis B Mayer & Judy Tyler.

1957

The Wonder Years : 1963

1. The Rolling Stones - I Wanna Be Your Man
2. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There
3. Roy Orbison - In Dreams
4. The Chiffons - He's So Fine
5. The Ronettes - Be My Baby
6. Gene Pitney - 24 Hours From Tulsa
7. Skeeter Davis - End Of The World
8. Rufus Thomas - Walking the Dog
9. Del Shannon - Little Town Flirt
10. Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave
11. The Crystals - He's Sure the Boy I Love
12. Vinicius de Moraes - Astronauta
13. Smokey Robinson - You Really Got A Hold On Me
14. The Kingsmen - Louie Louie
15. Dick Dale and His Del-Tones - Hot Rod Racer
16. Mongo Santamaria - Watermelon Man
17. The Murmaids - Popsicles and Icicles
18. Françoise Hardy - Comme tant d'autres
19. Beach Boys - Surfin' USA
20. John Fahey - On the Beach at Waikiki
21. Bobby Bare - Detroit City
22. Bob Dylan - Girl From the North Country
23. Baden Powell - Samba do avião
24. Johnny Cymbal - Mr Bassman
25. The Trashmen - Surfin' Bird
26. Link Wray - Jack the Ripper

President Kennedy is assassinated on November 22 in Dallas while riding in a motorcade with John B. Connally of Texas, who is severely wounded.

Color TV is relayed via satellite for the first time.

For the first time in history, a British group- the Beatles- dominates England's pop music charts.

Dr. Martin Luther King leads a massive march on Washington in support of equal rights for blacks and delivers his famous speech, "I have a dream..." ; and these songs were probably on his i-pod…….

This one’s for Frenchy & Lo-fi jr, hope you like it guys.

1963

The Wonder Years : 1960

1. John Barry - Hit And Miss
2. Duane Eddy - Shazam!
3. Connie Francis - Robot Man
4. Bobby Rydell - Wild One
5. Elvis Presley - Stuck On You
6. Bobby Darin - Beyond The Sea
7. Etta Jones - Yes Sir, That's My Baby
8. Johnny Kidd And The Pirates - Shakin' All Over
9. Gary U.S. Bonds - New Orleans
10. The Four Preps - Down by the Station (Early in the Morning)
11. Sam Cooke - (What A) Wonderful World
12. The Ventures - Walk Don't Run
13. John Coltrane - Giant Steps
14. Hollywood Argyles - Alley-Oop
15. Little Anthony And The Imperials - Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop
16. Jackie Wilson - Night
17. James Brown - Think
18. Barret Strong - Money (That's What I Want)
19. Ray Peterson - Tell Laura I Love Her
20. Iain Gregory - Time Will Tell
21. The Fendermen - Mule Skinner Blues
22. The Shadows - Apache
23. Cal Tjader - Key Largo
24. Fats Domino - Walking to New Orleans
25. The Everly Brothers - Cathy's Clown
26. Art Pepper - Come Rain or Come Shine
27. Johnny & The Hurricanes - Rocking Goose

Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho is the top grossing film,

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is published,

The Beatles make their debut in Hamburg, Germany,

The Flintstones make their television debut.

John F. Kennedy defeats Vice President Richard Nixon in the presidential race,

Cassius Clay (who later took the name Muhammad Ali) wins his first professional fight.

We said hello to Michael Stipe, Ayrton Senna, Bono, Steve Vai, Mick Hucknall & Sean Penn.

We waved goodbye to Eddie Cochran, Clark Gable, Johnny Horton & A.P Carter.

And the music? Well, we were Shakin’ All Over…

1960

The Wonder Years : 1955

1. Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley
2. Elvis Presley - Mystery Train
3. Muddy Waters - Mannish Boy
4. Big Boy Groves & Band - I Gotta New Car
5. The Louvin Brothers - In the Pines
6. Mitch Miller - The Yellow Rose of Texas
7. Tennessee Ernie Ford - The Ballad of Davy Crockett
8. Elias & His Zig-Zag Jive Flutes - Tom Hark
9. The Platters - Only You
10. Dario Moreno - Papa Loves Mambo
11. Richard Berry & The Pharoes - Louie Louie
12. Fats Domino - Ain't That A Shame
13. Bill Haley and His Comets - Razzle Dazzle
14. The Chordettes - Mr Sandman
15. The Four Lads - Moments to Remember
16. Elmore James - Standing At The Crossroads
17. Sarah Vaughan - Lullaby of Birdland
18. The Fontane Sisters - Hearts Of Stone
19. Peanut wilson - Cast Iron Arm
20. Somethin' Smith & The Redheads - It's A Sin To Tell A Lie
21. Johnny Cash - Cry! Cry! Cry!
22. Pete Seeger - Frog Went A-Courting
23. Cliffie Stone & His Orchestra - The Popcorn Song
24. The McGuire Sisters - Sincerely
25. Lonnie Donegan - Rock Island Line
26. Janis Martin - Barefoot Baby
27. Alma Cogan - Dreamboat
28. Al Hibbler - Unchained Melody

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1955 YOU COULD:

• Eat at a McDonald’s restaurant

• Visit Disneyland

• Use a microwave oven

• Wear clothing made of Dacron polyester

• Watch "Captain Kangaroo" and "The Mickey Mouse Club" on television

CELEBRITIES BORN IN 1955 INCLUDE:

Bill Gates

Bruce Willis Billy Bob Thornton

Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama -- a major event in the Civil Rights movement.

Brooklyn Dodgers win the World Series -- for the first and only time.

Sugar Ray Robinson wins the World Boxing Championship.

Albert Einstein dies.

1955

The Wonder Years : 1967

1. Jimi Hendrix Experience - Purple Haze
2. The Who - I Can See for Miles
3. The Velvet Underground - I'll Be Your Mirror
4. The Chocolate Watch Band - Let's Talk About Girls
5. Cream - Swlabr
6. The Beatles - Penny Lane
7. Pink Floyd - See Emily Play
8. The Small Faces - Tin Soldier
9. The Box Tops - The Letter
10. Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved A Man
11. The Turtles - Happy Together
12. Buffalo Springfield - Mr. Soul
13. Caetano Veloso - Alegria, Alegria
14. Country Joe & The Fish - Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine
15. Doors - People Are Strange
16. Jefferson Airplane - White Rabbit
17. Love - Bummer In The Summer
18. The Monkees - Pleasant Valley Sunday
19. Moby Grape - Changes
20. Traffic - Hole In My Shoe
21. The Bar-Kays - House Shoes
22. Bob Dylan - I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
23. The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset
24. Nico - The Fairest of the Seasons
25. Bee Gees - New York Mining Disaster 1941
26. Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale

The musical Hair premieres Off-Broadway, The Concorde is unveiled in Toulouse, France, BBC Radio 1 is launched.

Desmond Morris publishes The Naked Ape, In Gibraltar, only 44 out of 12,182 voters support union with Spain, Jim Morrison and The Doors defy CBS censors on The Ed Sullivan Show, when Morrison sings the word "higher" from their #1 hit Light My Fire, despite having been asked not to.

We said hello to Kurt Cobain, Evan Dando, Billy Corgan, Will Ferrell, Michael Johnson & Nicole Kidman.

We said goodbye to Vivien Leigh, Dorothy Parker, Woody Guthrie, Che Guevara, John Coltrane & Otis Redding.

Drugs were invented in this year, a few people take them but generally they don’t catch on. Yes 1967, the Summer of Love. Here’s our pick of the tunes of the year. Believe us, this could’ve been a 10CD Box Set. Enjoy….

1967

The Wonder Years : 1959

1. The Clovers - Love Potion #9
2. Elvis Presley - One Night
3. Jackie Wilson - Lonely Teardrops
4. Lloyd Price - Stagger Lee
5. Bo Diddley - Hey! Bo Diddley
6. Johnny Horton - The Battle Of New Orleans
7. Frankie Avalon - Venus
8. Ricky Nelson - It's Late
9. João Gilberto - Chega de Saudade
10. George Jones - Who Shot Sam
11. Dion & The Belmonts - A Teenager In Love
12. Buddy Holly - It Doesn't Matter Anymore
13. Esquivel - My Blue Heaven
14. Fabian - Tiger
15. Marilyn Monroe - I Wanna Be Loved by You
16. Ray Anthony - The Peter Gunn Theme
17. The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five
18. Eddie Cochran - C'mon Everybody
19. The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes For You
20. Preston Epps - Bongo Rock
21. Jack Kerouac - Deadbelly
22. Fats Domino - Margie
23. Marty Robbins - El Paso
24. Kingston Trio - The MTA
25. Chuck Berry - Maybellene
26. Ella Fitzgerald - A-Tisket A-Tasket
27. Jacques Brel - Je t'aime
28. Ritchie Valens - Donna
29. Tom Lehrer - Poisoning Pigeons in the Park
30. Ray Charles - What'd I Say

This was the year in which we had the day the music died. (Feb 3rd) Barbie made her debut on the world stage and soon met Ken who we all know was never good enough for her.

Luna 2 became the first man made object to touch the surface of the moon, when we say touch we mean crashed slap bang into.

Midwives around the world cut the strings and unleashed : .

Sheena Easton, Sade, Kathy Sledge, Perry Farrell, Robert Smith, Brian Setzer, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, Morrissey, Richie Sambora, Suzanne Vega, Joe Elliott, Kirsty McColl, Weird Al Yankovic,

The final curtain call came for

The Big Bopper, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Billie Holliday, Blind Willie McTell, Mario Lanza..

1959

The Wonder Years : 1969

1. Grand Funk Railroad - Time Machine
2. The Stooges - 1969
3. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bad Moon Rising
4. The Grass Roots - Heaven Knows
5. Thunderclap Newman - Something in the Air
6. Laura Nyro - Time and Love
7. The Kinks - Drivin'
8. Smith - Baby It's You
9. R. B. Greaves - Take A Letter Maria
10. Crosby, Stills, and Nash - Marrakesh Express
11. Rolling Stones - Gimmie Shelter
12. Tyrone Davis - Can I Change My Mind
13. Three Dog Night - Easy to Be Hard
14. Serge Gainsbourg - 69 annee erotique
15. Booker & The Mgs - Time Is Tight
16. Os Mutantes - Fuga No II
17. Friends of Distinction - Going In Circles
18. The Flying Burrito Bros. - My Uncle
19. Harlow Wilcox - Groovy Grubworm
20. Townes Van Zandt - Kathleen
21. Nilsson - Everybody's Talkin'
22. Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman
23. The Beatles - Because
24. Nick Drake - River Man

"Well its 1969 ok?" This episode features a special guest appearance from AotM's resident professor of yesteryear RetroJoe who kindly pitched in with some great picks.

Notable events this year include the test flight of Concorde, the marriage of John & Yoko, the murder of Sharon Tate, the Woodstock festival, and the birth of tornadoZ..

1969

The Wonder Years : 1966

1. ? & the Mysterians - 96 Tears
2. Bobby Fuller Band - I Fought The Law
3. The Strangeloves - Night Time
4. The Standells - Dirty Water
5. The Lovin' Spoonful - You Didn't Have to Be So Nice
6. Sam & Dave - Hold on, I'm Coming
7. Percy Sledge - When a Man Loves a Woman
8. The Statler Brothers - Flowers on the Wall
9. Hedgehoppers Anonymous - It's Good News Week
10. The Hollies - Look Through Any Window
11. Simon & Garfunkel - Homeward Bound
12. Ike & Tina Turner - River Deep - Mountain High
13. Bob Lind - Elusive Butterfly
14. The Four Seasons - Working My Way Back to You
15. Norma Tanega - Walkin' My Cat Named Dog
16. The Rolling Stones - Paint It, Black
17. The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
18. Count Five - Psychotic Reaction
19. Donovan - Sunshine Superman
20. Robert Parker - Barefootin'
21. Ray Charles - Crying Time.
22. Tim Buckley - Wings
23. The 13th Floor Elevators - You're Gonna Miss Me
24. The Beatles - She Said She Said
25. The Byrds - Mr. Spaceman
26. Frank Sinatra - It Was a Very Good Year
27. Bob Dylan - Rainy Day Women #12 & 35

The first Star Trek episode, "The Man Trap," is broadcast on September 8. The plot concerns a creature that sucks salt from human bodies.

CBS backs out of plans to broadcast Psycho, deeming the movie too violent for at-home viewing.

In an interview published in The London Evening Standard, John Lennon comments, "We're more popular than Jesus now," eventually sparking a controversy in the US.

England were crowned Football World Champions for the first ( and last ) time.

We Said Hello to John Cusack, Halle Berry, Jeff Buckley, Stephen Malkmus, Sinead O’Connor, Mike Tyson and Eric Cantona.

We said Goodbye to Buster Keaton, Walt Disney, Lenny Bruce, Montgomery Clift and Alma Cogan.

And the Music? Pet Sounds, Revolver, Blonde On Blonde, need we say more?

This episode was brought to you in conjunction with the esteemed RetroJoe..

1966

The Wonder Years : 1970

1. George Harrison - Wah Wah
2. Badfinger - No Matter What
3. The Kinks - Lola
4. MC5 - Shakin' Street
5. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Up Around the Bend
6. B.J. Thomas - Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head
7. Simon & Garfunkel - The Only Living Boy in New York
8. Kris Kristofferson - Sunday Morning Comin' Down
9. Syd Barrett - Golden Hair
10. Crosby, Stills, and Nash - Our House
11. Beach Boys - Forever
12. Van Morrison - And It Stone Me
13. Os Mutantes - Desculpe, Babe
14. Manu Dibango - African Battle
15. 100 Proof (Aged in Soul) - Somebody's Been Sleeping in My Bed
16. The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
17. Edison Lighthouse - Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)
18. The Band - Rag Mama Rag
19. Black Sabbath - Paranoid
20. Canned Heat - Let's Work Together
21. Vashti Bunyan - Rose Hip November
22. John Lennon - Working Class Hero
23. Nick Drake - Northern Sky

Paul McCartney announces that the Beatles have disbanded, In Vietnam, the worst monsoon to hit the area in six years causes large floods, kills 293, leaves 200,000 homeless and virtually halts the Vietnam War

Edward Heath is elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the general election, The Aswan High Dam in Egypt is completed, The Isle of Wight Festival 1970 takes place on East Afton Farm off the coast of England. Some 600,000 people attend the largest rock festival of all time. Artists include Jimi Hendrix, The Who, The Doors, Chicago, Richie Havens, John Sebastian, Joan Baez, Ten Years After, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Jethro Tull

We said hello to Minnie Driver, Mariah Carey, Andre Agassi, Uma Thurman, Naomi Campbell, Beck, River Phoenix & Liam Lynch ( yeah, whatever )

We said goodbye to Tammii Terrell, Slim Harpo, Charles de Gaulle, Janis Joplin & Jimi Hendrix

And the Music? No 60s hangover here…

1970

The Wonder Years : 1982

1. The Clash - Rock The Casbah
2. Men Without Hats - The Safety Dance
3. Grandmaster Flash - The Message
4. Agentss - Agentss
5. The Jam - Town Called Malice
6. Altered Images - Song Sung Blue
7. Devo - Peek-A-Boo!
8. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - You Little Fool
9. Bruce Springsteen - State Trooper
10. Orange Juice - Rip It Up
11. Blancmange - Living On The Ceiling
12. Dalek I Love You - Holiday In Disneyland
13. Pere Ubu - Petrified
14. Associates - Party Fears Two
15. Virgin Prunes - Baby Turns Blue
16. R.E.M. - Wolves, Lower
17. Dexy's Midnight Runners - Liars A to E
18. King Sunny Ade & His African Beats - Mo Beru Agba
19. Joubert Singers - Stand On The Word
20. Laurie Anderson - O Superman

A mish mash from 1982. Compiled for Salman1, Siobhan, and abangaku. We think it sounds great despite the bad press The Eighties got. So these to us are not so much guilty pleasures as just plain pleasures. Happy 1982!

1982

The Wonder Years : 1965

1. Barry McGuire - Eve Of Destruction
2. Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs - Wooly Bully
3. The Who - My Generation
4. The Sonics - The Witch
5. The Byrds - All I Really Want to Do
6. Unit 4 Plus 2 - Concrete And Clay
7. Phil Ochs - I Ain't Marching Anymore
8. The Zombies - She's Not There
9. Rolling Stones - The Last Time
10. The Beau Brummels - Laugh, Laugh
11. Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues
12. The Fugs - I Couldn't Get High
13. The Yardbirds - For Your Love
14. The Kinks - Tired Of Waiting For You
15. Sonny & Cher - I Got You Babe
16. Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass - Lollipops and Roses
17. Fontella Bass - Rescue Me
18. Martha Reeves And The Vandellas - Dancing In The Street
19. James Brown - Papas Got A Brand New Bag
20. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - Mellow Down Easy
21. Otis Redding - Ole Man Trouble
22. Jackie De Shannon - What The World Needs Now
23. Astrud Gilberto - Look to the Rainbow
24. Donovan - Colours
25. Lovin' Spoonful - Do You Believe In Magic
26. The Beatles - Nowhere Man
27. The Walker Brothers - Make It Easy On Yourself
28. Evie Sands - Take Me For A Little While

Former leader of the Black Muslims, Malcolm X, is shot and killed in New York City

The first commercial satellite, Early Bird, is launched into space by Nasa to transmit telephone and television signals

Dr. Dre, Sarah Jessica Parker, Robert Downey Jr., Shania Twain, Ben Stiller, Moby and gobi are born

Sir Winston Churchill, Nat King Cole, Spike Jones, Stan Laurel and Jazz Pianist Clarence Williams passed away

The Sound of Music, starring Julie Andrews, is the top grossing film

Dune by Frank Herbert is published

Sony introduces the Betamax, a home video tape recorder

And the Music? Well, the music was just grand….

1965

The Wonder Years : 1929

1. The Jungle Band - Dog Bottom
2. Ruth Etting - Button Up Your Overcoat
3. Boswell Sister - Rock and Roll
4. Paul Whiteman & Bing Crosby - Makin' Whoopee
5. Henry Thomas - Old Country Stomp
6. Zutty Singleton, L. Armstrong & His Orchestra - That Rhythm Man
7. Blind Lemon Jefferson - That Crawlin' Baby Blues
8. Jack Teagarden - My Kinda Love
9. Jelly Roll Morton - Turtle Twist
10. Tommy Johnson - Big Fat Mamma Blues
11. Dick Justice - Cocaine
12. Emma Bush - Lei E
13. Tau Moe and His Original Hawaiians - Hula Blues
14. Jimmie Rodgers - Any Old Time
15. Emmett Miller & His Georgia Crackers - Sweet Mama (Papa's Getting Mad)
16. Carolina Tar Hells - Peg And Awi
17. Josh White - Wang Wang Harmonica Blues
18. Annette Hanshaw - Am I Blue
19. Lonnie Coleman - Wild About My Loving
20. Frankie 'Halfpint' Jaxon & Tampa Red - My Daddy Rocks Me
21. Anson Weeks and His Hotel Mark Hopkins Orchestra - Give Your Little Baby Lots Of Lovin'
22. Grayson & Whitter - Tom Dooley
23. Hokum Boys - Put Your Mind On It
24. J. Neal Montgomery and His Orchestra - Auburn Ave. Stomp

That's right, your eyes aren't deceiving you. For the Wonder Years first mix of the year we visited 1929. Listen to this with an open mind and you may change your listening habits forever. Or at the very least enjoy what we were listening to over 80 years ago!

1929

The Wonder Years : 1975

1. David Bowie - Golden Years
2. Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
3. Roxy Music - Love is the Drug
4. Patti Smith - Redondo Beach
5. The Sensational Alex Harvey Band - River of Love
6. Cockney Rebel - Make Me Smile
7. The Dictators - Teengenerate
8. Brian Eno - St Elmo's Fire
9. Archie Bell & The Drells - The Soul City Walk
10. Donna Summer - Love To Love You Baby
11. Johnny Hammond - Shifting Gears
12. Kraftwerk - Antenna
13. Neu! - Isi
14. Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey
15. Chris Squire - Hold Out Your Hand
16. Kim Fowley - Night of The Hunter
17. Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Don't Cry No Tears
18. Bob Dylan - Simple Twist of Fate
19. Led Zeppelin - Kashmir

The year is 1975 and the United States of America are still reeling from the Watergate scandal. By April communist forces take Saigon forcing the unconditional surrender of the South Vietnamese and the protracted conflict is over..

Over the pond in the UK the Birmingham Six are wrongfully sentenced to life in prison and Peter Sutcliffe the Yorkshire Ripper commits his first murder..

This year also saw the sinking of SS Edmund Fitzgerald with the loss of all 29 on board. Ok... We can't seem to find any good news.. Correction, Mike Blasi arrived into the world! This one's for you mate....

1975

The Wonder Years : 1978

1. Magazine - Shot By Both Sides
2. Blondie - Hanging on the Telephone
3. Buzzcocks - I Don't Mind
4. The Adverts - Bored Teenagers
5. Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick
6. Scritti Politti - Skank Bloc Bologna
7. Peter Hammill - The Second Hand
8. The Cramps - Human Fly
9. Talking Heads - Stay Hungry
10. The Only Ones - Another Girl, Another Planet
11. Black Flag - I've Had It
12. Adam & The Ants - Young Parisians
13. The Clash - English Civil War
14. The Police - Roxanne
15. Burning Spear - Marcus Children Suffer
16. Chic - Le Freak
17. The Rutles - Hold My Hand
18. Cheap Trick - California Man
19. Big Star - Thank You Friends
20. Wire - I Am the Fly
21. Devo - Jocko Homo
22. Elvis Costello - (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
23. Warren Zevon - Werewolves of London

In 1978 fitness was the name of the game as normally sensible people donned lycra as the nation was caught in the grip of a jogging craze.

Disco fever had also firmly taken hold making hairy chests and medallions the order of the day as Saturday Night Fever finished up the third top grossing movie, behind Christopher Reeve in red underpants, and more dancing Travolta in Grease.

Sadly the last dance came for Chris Bell, Keith Moon, Sandy Denny, Jacques Brel, and Louis Prima.

Though new arrivals included Sisqó, Julian Casablancas, and Usher... Ok not exactly a fair trade, but who said life was fair? Even in '78.

Hope you enjoy this latest episode. This one's for you Ms Orchid..

1978

The Wonder Years : 1981

1. X - The Once Over Twice
2. Depeche Mode - New Life
3. OMD - Souvenir
4. Television Personalities - I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives
5. The Specials - Ghost Town
6. Julian Cope and the Teardrop Explodes - Reward
7. Robyn Hitchcock - Brenda's Iron Sledge
8. Squeeze - In Quintessence
9. The Barracudas - (I Wish it Could Be) 1965 Again
10. The dB's - Cycles Per Second
11. The Rolling Stones - Start Me Up
12. The Replacements - Takin' a Ride
13. Tom Tom Club - Wordy Rappinghood
14. Japan - Visions Of China
15. The Jam - That's Entertainment
16. New Order - Ceremony
17. The Raincoats - Odyshape
18. The Fall - Middle Mass
19. The Human League - The Things That Dreams Are Made Of
20. Gang Of Four - Paralysed
21. The Cure - All Cats Are Grey

U.S. President Ronald Reagan is shot in the chest outside a Washington, D.C. hotel by John Hinckley, Jr. Bucks Fizz win the Eurovision Song Contest 1981 with the song, Making Your Mind Up.

Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper, is imprisoned for life for 13 counts of murder.

Lady Diana Spencer marries Charles, Prince of Wales. MTV (Music Television) is launched ( the first video they played was??? ). Egyptian president Anwar Sadat is assassinated during a parade by army members who were part of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad organization.

We said hello to Justin Timberlake, Elijah Wood, Paris Hilton, Jessica Alba, Natalie Portman & Beyonce Knowles.

We said goodbye to Bill Haley, Samuel Barber, Joe Louis, Harry Chapin, William Holden, Natalie Wood & Bob Marley.

And the music? Well, if you only ever listen to one 1981 mix, make it this!

1981

The Wonder Years : 1972

1. Stevie Wonder - Superstition
2. The Staple Singers - I'll Take You There
3. Van Morrison - Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)
4. T. Rex - Metal Guru
5. Procol Harum - Conquistador
6. Stealers Wheel - Stuck In The Middle With You
7. America - Ventura Highway
8. Dr. John - Iko Iko
9. Charles Mingus - Taurus in the Arena of Life
10. Curtis Mayfield - Give Me Your Love (Love Song)
11. Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come
12. Todd Rundgren - I Saw The Light
13. Jorge Ben Jor - Fio Maravilha
14. Malo - Suavecito
15. The Raspberries - Go All The Way
16. Lou Reed - Satellite of Love
17. Neil Young - The Needle And The Damage Done
18. Milton Nascimento & Lô Borges - San Vicente
19. O´Jays - Backstabbers
20. Sly & The Family Stone - Family Affair
21. Paul Simon - Mother and Child Reunion
22. John Prine - Illegal Smile
23. Colin Blunstone - Say You Don't Mind
24. Nick Drake - Pink Moon
25. Roxy Music - Bitters End

Bobby Fischer defeats Boris Spassky in a chess match at Reykjavík, Iceland, and becomes the first American chess champion,

Rainbow, a British television programme for children, debuts, Apollo 17, the last manned mission to the Moon to date, is launched

The Broadway production of the musical Hair closes after 1,752 performances

M*A*S*H and The Price is Right debut on CBS

We said Hello to Dwayne Johnson ( AKA The Rock ), Zinedine Zidane, Cameron Diaz, Ben Affleck, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law & Eminem

We Waved Goodbye to Mahaila Jackson, Harry S Truman, Maurice Chevalier & J Edgar HooverAnd the music? Download, listen & drool…

1972

The Wonder Years : 1980

1. ACDC - Back In Black
2. Undertones - My Perfect Cousin
3. Blondie - Atomic
4. Julian Cope and the Teardrop Explodes - Bouncing Babies
5. The Soft Boys - I Wanna Destroy You
6. Dead Kennedys - California Uber Alles
7. Magazine - A Song From Under The Floorboards
8. Bauhaus - Stigmata Martyr
9. Elvis Costello - Love For Tender
10. Adam & The Ants - Antmusic
11. The Jam - That's Entertainment
12. The Sound - Heyday
13. Joy Division - A Means To An End
14. Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime
15. Squeeze - Another Nail In My Heart
16. The Cure - 10.15 Saturday Night
17. The Pretenders - Stop Your Sobbing
18. Specials - Stereotype
19. Young Marble Giants - Credit In The Straight World
20. The Cramps - I Was A Teenage Werewolf
21. Feelies - Loveless Love
22. Suicide - Mr. Ray

It’s 1980! And we’re Rollerblading whilst wearing legwarmers and listening to Sheena Easton on our brand new Walkmans…

Who Shot JR? is talked about heavily from the TV show Dallas. On November 21, the conclusion draws more viewers than any other show in TV history up to that point.

The Summer Olympics are held in Moscow, USSR. The USA boycotts. The favour was returned 4 years later.

Ronald Reagan is elected, defeating Jimmy Carter, and takes credit for freeing the Iranian hostages in his innaugural speech.

Bjorn Borg defeated John Mcenroe in the Wimbledon mens singles final to claim his fifth title in a row.

Mount St. Helens (in Washington) erupts, darkening the skies with ash and destroying the surrounding area for many miles

We said Hello to Christina Aguilera, Macauly Culkin, Alicia Keys, Christina Ricci, Conor Oberst, Ryan Gosling, Steven Gerrard and Jake Gyllenhaal..

We said Goodbye to John Bonham, Ian Curtis, Tim Hardin, Alfred Hitchcock, Steve McQueen, Jesse Owens, Colonel Sanders, Bon Scott, Peter Sellers, Jean Paul Sartre and of course John Lennon….

1980

The Wonder Years : 1971

1. The Who - Baba O'Riley
2. John Kongos - He's Gonna Step on You Again
3. Gil Scott-Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
4. Led Zeppelin - Rock And Roll
5. The Yamasuki Singers - Yama Yama
6. Paul McCartney & Wings - Uncle Albert Admiral Halsey
7. The Beach Boys - Surf's Up
8. Betty Wright - Clean Up Woman
9. Stevie Wonder - If You Really Love Me
10. Marvin Gaye - Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)
11. Caetano Veloso - London, London
12. Harry Nilsson - Me And My Arrow
13. Chico Buarque - Cotidiano
14. Cat Stevens - Wild World
15. Gordon Lightfoot - If You Could Read My Mind
16. Dave & Ansil Collins - Double Barrel
17. The Velvet Underground - Who Loves The Sun
18. East Of Eden - Jig A Jig
19. Al Green - Tired Of Being Alone
20. Leonard Cohen - Famous Blue Raincoat
21. Joni Mitchell - River
22. Carole King - Will You Love Me Tomorrow

1971... The Vietnam War was still going on, the US invaded Laos, and the movies gave us Shaft and Dirty Harry cleaning things up vigilante style . . . ”do you feel lucky punk?”.

American kids of 1971 were busy learning how to enunciate correctly from the Electric Company while shovelling spoonfuls of Count Chocula and Cocoa Pebbles

cereal into their mouths. Meanwhile, the teenagers of 1971 were getting busy in their Ford Pinto’s as Led Zeppelin played Stairway To Heaven.Jim Morrison dies in Paris at age 27. (July 3).

The Allman Brothers' Duane Allman dies in a motorcycle accident at age 24. (Oct. 29). The Big films of the Year were 'A Clockwork Orange' & 'The French Connection'.

But all 1971 really wanted to do was to buy the world a Coke and keep it company - right on!

This one's for our good friend Rob Conroy, and also French Connection's better half, Helen.. Click & enjoy.

1971

The Wonder Years : 1984

1. Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Two Tribes
2. Prefab Sprout - Don't Sing
3. Julian Cope - Sunshine Playroom
4. The Fall - C.R.E.E.P
5. REM - Pretty Persuasion
6. Prince - When Doves Cry
7. GoGos - Head Over Heels
8. The Bangles - Going Down to Liverpool
9. Lloyd Cole - Perfect Skin
10. Tom Waits - Gin Soaked Boy
11. The Pogues - Dark Streets of London
12. Echo & The Bunnymen - The Killing Moon
13. Psychedelic Furs - The Ghost In You
14. Public Image Ltd. - This Is Not a Love Song
15. Microdisney - Dolly
16. Cocteau Twins - Lorelei
17. Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time
18. Sheila E - The Belle Of St. Mark
19. The Pretenders - 2000 Miles
20. The Smiths - William, It Was Really Nothing
21. The Replacements - Androgynous

The film Ghostbusters is released into theaters, becoming a summer blockbuster hit, with the song "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr. becoming a Top 40 hit.

Thirty-six of Britain and Ireland's top pop musicians gather in a Notting Hill studio to form Band Aid, and record the song "Do They Know It's Christmas", in order to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia.

On a Challenger mission, two astronauts become the first humans to fly free of a spacecraft.

And perhaps more significantly Barrydali's 5 year old brother threw his brand new remote control tank out of the window on Christmas day in a jealous rage because his own presents didn't match up. Unbelievably Band Aid have yet to write a song about that. If you're watching Stephen Maguire this ones for you...

1984

The Wonder Years : 1999

1. The White Stripes - Stop Breaking Down
2. The Flaming Lips - Waitin' for a Superman
3. Super Furry Animals - The Door to This House Remains Open
4. dEUS - Put the Freaks Up Front
5. Porcupine Tree - Piano Lessons
6. The Loch Ness Mouse - Judy
7. The Magnetic Fields - All My Little Words
8. Pavement - Carrot Rope
9. Beck - Sexx Laws
10. Aphex Twin - Windowlicker
11. Death in Vegas - Aisha
12. The Auteurs - The Rubettes
13. Jim O'Rourke - Something Big
14. Wilco - I'm Always In Love
15. XTC - I'd Like That
16. Songs Ohia - How to Be Perfect Men
17. Smog - Teenage Spaceship
18. Damien Jurado - Ohio
19. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - I See a Darkness

The big films in 1999 included American Pie, Fight Club, The Green Mile, The Matrix and American Beauty. Star Wars Episode 1 also blasted onto our screens, to a lukewarm response.

Y2K scare, computers are predicted to crash at the end of the year. They didn't.

Nelson Mandela steps down as President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki takes over.

Students Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17, storm Columbine High School in Littleton , CO, killing twelve other students and a teacher, then themselves.

We said goodbye to singers Dusty Springfield, Mel Torme, Guy Mitchell, Curtis Mayfield and Doug Sahm. Entertainer Rod Hull, Football manager Sir Alf Ramsey, Actor Oliver Reed, Film Director Stanley Kubrick, Comedian Ernie Wise and Baseball star Joe Dimaggio.

1999

The Wonder Years

Between 2005 and 2007 myself and Barrydali teamed up 21 teams to compile our own musical summaries of various years throughout the 20th century. The first posting on AotM was under his user name and we tackled his birth year, 1974. Soon after and posted under my user name we tackled my birth year of 1976. We both enjoyed the experience so much, we decided to carry on the mixing, but we needed a separate moniker. We settled on 'The Wonder Years' and proceeded to post another 19 of them. It's been 2 1/2 years since our last posting, but in the past week we've compiled 2 more, 1958 and 1999. Hopefully we'll continue to do more as I for one love making them with Mr Dali. Tonight I'll post our 2 new 'uns and then over the next week post all our others on my blog for the first time. Enjoy these...

The Wonder Years : 1958

1. The Champs - Tequila
2. Luiz Gonzaga - Xamego
3. Esquerita - Rockin' The Joint
4. The Big Bopper - White Lightnin'
5. Link Wray - Rumble
6. Danny & The Juniors - At The Hop
7. Ricky Nelson - There's Good Rockin' Tonight
8. Duane Eddy - Rebel Rouser
9. Sam Cooke - So Long
10. Lord Rockingham's XI - Hoots Mon!
11. Nat King Cole - The Very Thought Of You
12. Don Gibson - Oh Lonesome Me
13. Connie Francis - Stupid Cupid
14. Ramblin' Jack Elliott - New York Town
15. The Poni-Tails - Born Too Late
16. The Everly Brothers - Maybe Tomorrow
17. Eddie Cochran - Summertime Blues
18. Buddy Holly And The Crickets - It's So Easy
19. Wanda Jackson - Just Call Me Lonesome
20. Coasters - Yakety Yak
21. Jerry Lee Lewis - Great Balls Of Fire
22. Dale Hawkins - Juanita
23. Elvis Presley - King Creole
24. Machito - Congo Mulence
25. Jaques Brel - Le Colonel
26. Peggy Lee - Fever
27. Helen Merrill - Bye Bye Blackbird
28. Bobby Darin - Judy, Don't Be Moody
29. Ella Fitzgerald - Isn't It A Lovely Day
30. Billie Holiday - I'm a Fool to Want You

In this year 21 people died in an air disaster in Munich, Germany including 7 Manchester United footballers.

Brazil win the Fifa World Cup in Sweden.

Nikita Khrushchev becomes president of Russia.

Sir Edmund Hillary reaches the South Pole.

The Hula Hoop is launched, 100 million are sold.

Popular films in this year include Vertigo, King Creole, Gigi, Bridge on the River Kwai and South Pacific.

We said hello to singers Michael Jackson, Toyah, Paul Weller, Gary Numan, Kate Bush, Madonna and Prince. Actors Gary Oldman, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Bacon, Tim Robbins and Viggo Mortneson. Actresses Michelle Pfeiffer, Holly Hunter, Jamie Lee Curtis and Miranda Richardson.

We said goodbye to footballer Billy Meredith, Julia Lennon and singer Martha Powell.

1958

My Top 50 Tracks of 2009

1. Yeah Yeah Yeah's - Zero
2. Apples In Stereo - King Of Carrot Flowers Pt. 3
3. Animal Collective - My Girls
4. Discovery - Swing Tree
5. Beach House - Norway
6. Gregory Pepper and His Problems - Drop The Plot
7. The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Young Adult Friction
8. Micachu - Vulture
9. Anna Jarvinen - Äppelöga
10. Atlas Sound - Walkabout
11. Lucky Elephant - Edgar
12. Bill Callahan - Faith/Void
13. St. Vincent - The Strangers
14. Jonathan Johansson - En Hand I Himlen
15. Islands - Vapours
16. Wilco - You Never Know
17. Emiliana Torrini - Jungle Drum
18. Metric - Help, I'm Alive
19. Richard Swift - Lady Luck
20. The Drums - Let's Go Surfing
21. I Monster - Goodbye Sun
22. Mayer Hawthorne - Maybe So, Maybe No
23. Fanfarlo - Fire Escape
24. The Mummers - March Of The Dawn
25. Royksopp - Happy Up Here
26. God Help The Girl - Come Monday Night
27. Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
28. The Asteroids Galaxy Tour - The Golden Age
29. Neon Indian - Deadbeat Summer
30. Phoenix - Lisztomania
31. Yeasayer - Ambling Amp
32. Discovery - Carby
33. Matt & Kim - Daylight
34. Yo La Tengo - Periodically Triple or Double
35. Say Hi - November Was White, December Was Grey
36. Super Furry Animals - The Very Best Of Neil Diamond
37. Butcher Boy - Clockwork
38. Seeland - Goodbye
39. The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love 1
40. Wave Machines - I Go I Go I Go
41. Memory Tapes - Bicycle
42. Health - Die Slow
43. Girls - Hellhole Ratrace
44. The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition
45. Chester French - She Loves Everybody
46. Volcano Choir - Island, IS
47. Headlights - Get Going
48. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is The Move
49. The Boy Least Likely To - When Life Gives Me Lemons I Make Lemonade
50. The Whitest Boy Alive - 1517

My finest 50 of '09.

1-25 26-50

25 albums I loved in 2009

Last year I compiled a Top 50 singles and a Top 50 albums list of 2008. This year I decided instead of the arduous task of compiling an album list I would instead design a collage of my top 25 albums. Much simpler I think. It's in no particular order, though Veckatimest came close to the Top, my No1 album of '09 is 2nd row, 2nd from the right - Discovery (LP). Just wonderful!

The Top 50 singles list is on it's way..

Goodbye '09

1. Jim Carroll Band - People Who Died
2. Willy DeVille - It's So Easy
3. Vic Chesnutt - Glossolalia
4. Jack Rose - Kensington Blues
5. John Martyn - Dreams By The Sea
6. Billy Lee Reilly - Red Hot
7. Ellie Greenwich - You Don't Know
8. Les Paul - Little Rock Getaway
9. Eddie Bo - Hook & Sling
10. Edmund Hockridge - No Other Love
11. Koko Taylor - Wang Dang Doodle
12. Mercedes Sosa - Galopa Murrieta
13. Hank Locklin - You're the Reason
14. Al Martino - Here In My Heart
15. Louis Bellson - Mouth To Mouth Resucitation
16. Mbah Surip - I Love You Full
17. Blossom Dearie - Give Him The Ooh-La-La
18. Derek B - Bad Young Brother
19. Michael Jackson - Rock With You
20. Viola Wills - Gonna Get Along Without You Now

1. The Stooges - No Fun [Ron Asheton]
2. The Cramps - Human Fly [Lux Interior]
3. Buffalo Springfield - Sad Memory [Dewey Martin]
4. The Seeds - Mr Farmer [Sky Saxon]
5. The Four Aces - Why Do You [Al Alberts]
6. NRBQ - Encyclopedia [Steve Ferguson]
7. Nikki Sudden & Rowland Howard - Girl With No Name [Rowland Howard]
8. Peter, Paul and Mary - Leaving On a Jet Plane [Mary Travers]
9. New Lost City Ramblers - Keep On the Sunny Side [Mike Seeger]
10. The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem - Patriot Game [Liam Clancy]
11. Wilco - Jesus, Etc [Jay Bennett]
12. Big Brother & The Holding Company - All Is Loneliness [James Gurley]
13. The Ronettes - I Wonder [Estelle Bennett]
14. The Ventures - Perfidia [Bob Bogle]
15. Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich - Zabadak [Dave Dee]
16. Peter and Gordon - A World Without Love [Peter Waller]
17. Lynyrd Skynyrd - I Know A Little [Billy Powell]
18. Flowered up - Phobia [Liam Maher]
19. !!! - Me & Guiliani Down By The Schoolyard (A True Story) [Jerry Fuchs]
20. Soft Machine - Out Of Tunes [Hugh Hopper]

A look back at those in the music world we lost in 2009.

We also said goodbye to actors Patrick Swayze, Patrick Mcgoohan, Edward Woodward, Richard Todd, Dom Deluise and David Carradine. Actresses Bea Arthur, Brittany Murphy, Farah Fawcett, Mollie Sugden, Wendy Richard and Maggie Jones. Stephen Gately from boyband 'Boyzone', Ted Kennedy, chef Keith Floyd, comic Soupy Sales and film director John Hughes.

And countless others I've neglected to mention, no doubt, in a big year for celebrity passings (hence for the first time in 5 years a double disc). R.I.P.

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