#Top20LateNightSongs (random order) 16 - Roxy Music - More Than This Birthday “boy” Bryan might be a bit of a right-winger (just read his Wikipedia page 😳), but it’s hard to begrudge him when he is responsible for some gorgeous moments like this one. C’mon Bry... www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOnd...

#Top20LateNightSongs (random order) - catching up 15 - Future Sound of London ft. Elizabeth Fraser - Lifeforms Love that this is what was considered the height of video technology in 1994... and yes another brilliant Liz vocal performance. www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDSD...

#Top20LateNightSongs (random order) 14 - Eurythmics - This City Never Sleeps I never understood how some people (notably a beloved pop historian that will remain unnamed) don’t like the Eurythmics. How do you not like this little slice of gloom? Seriously, how? www.youtube.com/watch?v=4InA...

#Top20LateNightSongs (random order) 13 - Julee Cruise - Rockin’ Back Inside My Heart The Cruise/Badalamenti/Lynch trifecta is easily one of the best things that happened to 80’s music, to me Julee’s voice is what night sounds like and god this video is good! www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eZU...

#Top20LateNightSongs (random order) 12 - The Smiths - Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me Up there with Heaven Knows... as the ultimate Smiths track, at least for those who missed the wit and humour of the rest of their catalogue. Still gorgeous, though. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WCn...

#Top20LateNightSongs (random order) 11 - George Michael - Cowboys and Angels His death was the one that affected me the most among his pop peers: his huge talent was never truly recognised & he remained an all-round great chap despite the crap he was subjected to. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bno5...

#Top20LateNightSongs (random order) 10 - Cocteau Twins - My Truth - catching up Any song from this excellent LP could be a Late Night Song, actually any Cocteau Twins song could be a Late Night Song. www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc3V...

#Top20LateNightSongs (random order) 9 - Elvis Costello - Almost Blue I’m not as big an Elvis fan as some of my friends here, but some of his songs are undeniably great. This one, for instance, is a sparse, gorgeous little gem that even Chet Baker liked and covered. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH9a...

#Top20LateNightSongs (random order) 8 - Peter Murphy - Marlene Dietrich's Favourite Poem I guess the leap from Bauhaus to “night” isn’t a very big or imaginative one, but this song is just too gorgeous to leave out. Only PM song I know, was on a tape an ex made me. www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRZW...

#Top20LateNightSongs (random order) 7 - CMAT - Euro-Country Can’t believe it took me so long to get into CMAT, but right now I spend most of my waking time with a song off her last LP in my head, including when I’m awake at night worrying about the world’s future. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SVN...

#Top20LateNightSongs (random order) 6 - Saint Etienne - Carnt Sleep Early gorgeousness from the Et. and a classic in the “I want you so much I can’t sleep” genre. Sarah never sounded more wistful... www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzXV...

#Top20LateNightSongs (random order) 5 - Björk - One Day (Endorphin Mix) Not easy to improve an early Björk track, but Andy Weatherall and his mates did it (three times!) on this wonderful EP. The closest I ever got to taking drugs. 😵‍💫 www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Tcb...

#Top20LateNightSongs (random order) 4 - Ultravox - Hiroshima Mon Amour A very nocturnal song from a very nocturnal band. Played side two of Three Into One to death as a teenager. m.youtube.com/watch?v=552O...

#Top20LateNightSongs (random order) 3 - Yo La Tengo - Night Falls on Hoboken Beautiful album closer from one of the defining records of the era. Only YLT could make Hoboken sound like a place you’d want to go to (trust me, you don’t). m.youtube.com/watch?v=6kQa...

#Top20LateNightSongs (random order) 2 - Japan - Nightporter A little obvious, maybe, but I couldn’t miss a chance to post this. Gorgeous at any time of day, perfect for the nighttime. m.youtube.com/watch?v=gYs8...

#Top20LateNightSongs (random order) 1 - Soft Cell - Where the Heart Is (12” obviously) Nothing like a bit of Soft Cell for some late night drama. I think of this as a cousin to Smalltown Boy, describing what happened to him before he runs away and turns away. m.youtube.com/watch?v=7_9q...

Long story short, we find ourselves with 3 copies of the new #SaintEtienne LP (possible 4th one on the way). If anyone in the US or UK is interested in a vinyl copy (shop price + p&p) let me know. It’s very good, obviously. #WeekendSingles #MusicSky #International

Good morning #weekendSingles friends. We’re off to Eastbourne later today and I hope I’ll be allowed one record shop. Any recommendations from your knowledgeable selves?

Just received this in the mail, reliably crushed by the post people: it’s the sound of middle-age coming to an end (I know the feeling), even the uptempo song are melancholic in a very Saint Etienne way. Goodbye #SaintEtienne, see you on stage next year and hopefully on the streets of Brighton. 💔

My mate David tried to convert me to the church of CMAT in the past and I was always like meh, but today at lunch he told me to play this ABSOLUTE BANGER and I am now a believer. All together now: Ciara don’t be a bitch, the man’s got kids and they wouldn’t like this www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTWg...

Didn’t have much luck in London yesterday, so here are some highlights from the last three months, many of which are from the #WeekendSingles crew who’s helping me build a collection in my new home 💜💜

Among the best nights of my middle aged existence: Belinda Carlisle and Sophie Ellis-Bextor raising £60k for Animal People Alliance, thanks in part to a couple of fans who donated a few thou to duet with each. The RVT (@vauxhalltavern.bsky.social) once again showing up for community and charity. 🥰

#ALL50RTS Day 50 - Jessica Pratt - Crossing - 19 Jessica sounds like she was beamed from another dimension & if my constantly banging on about her has converted even one person to the church of JP then my job here is done. Good to see other people picking her songs. m.youtube.com/watch?v=1Hbq...

#ALL50RTS Day 49 - Laura Marling - Caroline 2024 Laura Marling keeps on getting better. You’d think that by album 8 (not counting side projects) she would have run out of gorgeous songs to write, play and sing, but you’d be wrong. And she’s only 35! m.youtube.com/watch?v=8QH0...

#ALL50RTS Day 47 - Portishead - Roads - 94 Tactical vote alert 🚨 m.youtube.com/watch?v=7nxW...

#ALL50RTS Day 46 - Martin L. Gore - Compulsion 89 From the excellent Counterfeit EP and released at the time of my DM obsession, this doesn’t get the credit it’s due. Also features Tuxedomoon and Sparks covers - super-recommended. Sorry for splitting the DM votes. m.youtube.com/watch?v=F54X...

Guess where we were yesterday…🦁

#ALL50RTS Day 46 - Donald Fagen - The Goodbye Look 82 I was surprised to see, after decades of knowing this song, that it’s not about being dumped (can’t say what it’s about). Still, “I believe I just got the goodbye look” remains one of my favourite lines in song. m.youtube.com/watch?v=vATL...

#ALL50RTS Day 45 - Sinéad O’Connor - How Insensitive 92 How wonderfully contrary of her to release an album of jazz standards at the height of her fame. I think it’s lovely and this Jobim number is every bit as good as any of the more celebrated 60s/70s versions. m.youtube.com/watch?v=BiVh...

We’re in a popular beach town in Italy this week and I’m astonished at how in 2025, people of all ages and nationalities are still so awkward around a gay couple. It’s just exhausting.

#ALL50RTS Day 44 - Tori Amos - Mother 1992 It was either this or Waitress from Under the Pink: I chose this because I played Little Earthquakes so many times, it’s probably in my DNA. m.youtube.com/watch?v=2uaA...

#ALL50RTS Day 43 - Everything but the Girl - Meet Me in the Morning I can’t imagine this getting more than my 10 points, doesn’t change the fact it’s a beauty. m.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm2j...

#ALL50RTS Day 42 - Pet Shop Boys - My October Symphony 90 11 points Another no-brainer. Hopefully will do well in the poll, it certainly deserves to. 🍁🍂🎶🎵🎼 Shall I rewrite or revise My October symphony? m.youtube.com/watch?v=yTgr...

#ALL50RTS Day 41 - The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead 1986 m.youtube.com/watch?v=YS3U...

#WeekendSingles Met yet another singleista this week, the most excellent mr @sussexsedition.bsky.social who came to visit with a bag of singles I could choose from and this is what I got. Martin Stephenson’s Crocodile Cryer is new to me and it’s my new favourite song.

#ALL50RTS Day 40 - The Blue Nile - Let’s Go out Tonight I could have chosen any song from either of the first two albums, no particular reason for going with this apart from how perfect it is, but so are the others. www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5rx...

#ArtistFave15 Grace Jones 1 - Slave to the Rhythm Best Grace song, probably best song by anyone. www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAer...

#ALL50RTS Day 39 - Jane Weaver - The Revolution of Super Visions Jane has been making incredible music for ages and every couple of years she releases another great album. It’s mystifying how few records she’s sold, there is something seriously wrong with people. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zop_...

#ArtistFave15 Grace Jones 2 - La Vie en Rose One of her signature songs and one I feel I’ve known all my life. Beautiful arrangement and production and despite being an odd choice for a cover, it works perfectly. Here’s the full version, because you’ve been good. www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5M7...

Had a coffee with a friend and a 10% gratuity was added to the bill. On the receipt, which I received *after* paying, it says “the gratuity is optional and you can request to have it removed." There is so much I object to this, I don’t even know where to begin. Seeing my friend was lovely, though.

#ALL50RTS Day 38 - Eurythmics - English Summer - 1981 Early Eurythmics aren’t nearly as celebrated as they should. Their debut In the Garden (their “krautrock” LP) is excellent and full of little dark beauties like this. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkeI...

#ArtistFave15 Grace Jones 3 - I’m Not Perfect (But I’m Perfect for You) Grace’s last masterpiece which despite the star-studded video, Nile’s production and relentless push from the new label, was a bit of a flop. I did my part by buying three different versions. www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMyp...

#ALL50RTS Day 37 - Linda Perhacs - Dolphin 1970 From Parallelograms, possibly the most criminally underrated album of all time. Released 55 years ago to general indifference, we had to wait more than four decades for a follow-up. Couldn’t recommend her music more. www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9B8...

#ArtistFave15 Grace Jones 4 - The Apple Stretching A timeless hymn to my other home and my second choice from possibly the best double A-side single of all time.™️ "It's just the apple stretching and yawning, just morning New York putting its feet on the floor" www.youtube.com/watch?v=uszy...

Day 36 - Joni Mitchell - A Case of You 1971 It’s impossible for me to choose a Joni song from the 70s, so I’ll go for the one which seems to be the most popular #ALL50RTS choice. (Insert here diatribe on how women are woefully underrepresented in these challenges) www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTxU...

#ArtistFave15 Grace Jones 5 - Private Life Another brilliant cover of a brilliant song, this time by the Pretenders. This TotP appearance is kind of hilarious with our Ms Jones miming moodily in front of a slightly baffled crowd, but still looking impossibly cool. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Mj1...

#ALL50RTS Day 35 - Björk - Come to Me - 93 Everything that Björk released 1993-2001 is, for me, untouchable and there are probably a dozen non-singles from that period I could have chosen, but few intros give me goosebumps like this one does. tum-tu-tu-tum... www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bdY...

#ArtistFave15 Grace Jones 6 - Pull up to the Bumper The sheer magnificence of this song fully justifies the number of times it’s been remixed, reissued, repackaged and remastered. Love the lyrics’ subtlety, too... www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc1I...

This was a great #WeekendSingles week: on Thursday I got to spend the afternoon with five founding members in London and yesterday I got four great 7”s from Ged, one of Bluesky’s best humans @gerardojoseph.bsky.social Seriously, I’m not worthy. *and* I found the Mint Juleps single for a pound!

#ArtistFave15 Grace Jones 7 - I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango) A Frankenstein of a song that started life as an instrumental in 1974: add lyrics from Alain Delon’s wife, a Compass Point arrangement, some Grace magic and voilà, you get yet another classic. www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIN3...