And what should have been there

1. Hot Love by T.Rex
because this made a 10-year old boy fall in love with music.

2. I Want You, I Need You, I Love You by Elvis Presley
because Elvis is the greatest male vocalist ever.

3. Different Drum by Linda Ronstadt
because Linda is the greatest female vocalist ever

4. Saturday Night by the Blue Nile
because the Blue Nile are one of music’s best kept secrets, this song is magnificent and their rendition of it at Derby’s Assembly Rooms is probably the most moving live performance I have ever seen.

5. Man in the Corner Shop by the Jam
because Weller is THE MAN

6. In the Garden by Van Morrison
because there are few better examples of songs where the words, the music and the performace just gel together so brilliantly.

7. You Could be Happy by Snow Patrol
because I can’t think of any better "lost love" song. When I hear the "somehow everything I own smells of you" lyric my crusty old heart just melts.

8. Don’t Dream It’s Over by Crowded House
because Neil Finn is so good that he just had to be somewhere on this list.

9. Cole’s Corner by Richard Hawley
because I keep promising friends that I’ll refund the money if they buy the album (of the same name) and don’t like it – haven’t spent a penny!

10. Everybody Needs A Healer by Brian Houston
because when a fan emailed Janice Long calling Brian the third Belfast genius after George Best and Van Morrison, I found myself agreeing. Nobody has stated our need for Christ so perfectly.

And I’ve run out of tracks without fitting in Johnny Cash, Dylan, Springsteen, Tori Amos, China Crisis, Bowie or the Beatles – oh the joys of music!

Justcoffeforme