Looking forward to this #PinkFloyd live set from 1975. Of course wanting the standalone CD means having to wait an extra week compared to the vinyl option but hey ho. Hopefully there’ll be a live set from The Animals tour to follow next year, PF as angry as they get but still sounding magnificent. 💿

#DavidsMonthOfMusic 16 Body Part In The Title The Hand That Feeds | Nine Inch Nails | 2005 So many great songs have a hand in the title but I have to say this is up there with the very best of them. youtu.be/xwhBRJStz7w

#SweetKeys 15 You’ll Never Walk Again | Gene | 1999 Epic on a scale that Gene are very accustomed to pulling off. And it’s executed with all the style and grace you would expect from the boys plus it’s so nice having them back together again. youtu.be/blOV2QsJsCQ

#DavidsMonthOfMusic 15 (Brackets In The Title) I Ran (So Far Away) A Flock Of Seagulls | 1982 The bracketed part of the title isn’t listed on the single cover but it’s there on the album version. youtu.be/BJ7NVjZ-Eyg

#SweetKeys 16 Souvenir Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark | 1981 Stepping away from the piano and embracing the synths on this one but the melodies are still as divine as ever. That concludes three 80s classics in a row, late 90s indie tomorrow… youtu.be/XDIYOiQUi2s

#ArtistFave15 1 John Leckie (Producer, engineer, mixer) This Fear Of Gods | Simple Minds | 1980 John Leckie produced SM’s first three albums but reached the zenith with the mighty European travelogue of 1980’s Empires & Dance. A Simple Minds album like no other. youtu.be/hdFbVklPTjE

#DavidsMonthOfMusic 14 A Type Of Weather In The Title June Rain | Suede | 2025 The standout track from Suede’s Antidepressants album of last year. June isn’t here yet but the rain is topical. youtu.be/ncGRNJacjfo

#SweetKeys 17 The Power Of Love Frankie Goes To Hollywood | 1984 Second of three 80s classics in a row and they don’t get much bigger and better than this. A pure tearjerker, Frankie’s third number one single and to these ears one of the most romantic songs ever recorded. youtu.be/hmUeA-O83VM

#ArtistFave15 2 John Leckie (Producer, engineer, mixer) The Light Pours Out Of Me | Magazine | 1978 Magazine’s debut album (Real Life) was produced by John Leckie. So many classic tracks to choose from but it has to be this one. youtu.be/OFGA2HbCa0A

Tried theming this (Post-Punk, Electronic, Indie…) but ultimately going with ten of my favourite songs from ten of my favourite albums / artists. 🎧💿

#DavidsMonthOfMusic 13 From The 2000s Love At First Sight | Kylie Minogue | 2002 Peak Kylie. youtu.be/wf421JsG004

#SweetKeys 18 S.O.S. | ABC | 1984 First of three classic 80s tracks in a row. It still baffles me as to why this wasn’t as big a hit as Poison Arrow, The Look Of Love etc. Still it fits the challenge criteria beautifully but it deserved so much more. youtu.be/P8WqtmB0r8o

#ArtistFave15 3 John Leckie (Producer, engineer, mixer) Street Spirit (Fade Out) | Radiohead | 1995 The Bends was a massive step up for Radiohead and it was no surprise with John Leckie at the helm. So many iconic tracks to choose from but it has to be the haunting closer. youtu.be/LCJblaUkkfc

#DavidsMonthOfMusic 12 Alliterative Title Beautiful Beaches | James | 2021 James at their euphoric best. youtu.be/8HQBbi3eGV0

#SweetKeys 19 In A State | UNKLE | 2003 It starts and ends with the piano. And in between is a cinematic and atmospheric masterpiece of a tune. youtu.be/3_PT5BAK1Cw

#ArtistFave15 4 John Leckie (Producer, engineer, mixer) I Wanna Be Adored | The Stone Roses | 1989 Back to production duties today and The Stone Roses debut album is right up there with JL’s greatest achievements. And for me it’s hard to choose anything else above ‘Adored’. youtu.be/aa10yl8mirk

#DavidsMonthOfMusic 11 Over Seven Minutes Long Desire | Talk Talk | 1988 Seven minutes and one second to be precise but what a seven minutes (and one second). Talk Talk created something special with Spirit Of Eden and Desire has always been my go-to track. youtu.be/tfnmMl3WmBo

#SweetKeys 20 Black Dollar Bills | Hope Of The Ststes | 2003 An incredible song. I first heard it when I saw the video on MTV. Sonically (and visually) it hit me instantly. The plaintive piano adds to the cinematic mood of this highly affecting piece of music. youtu.be/Tf2M4R9yP_E

#ArtistFave15 5 John Leckie (Producer, engineer, mixer) Echoes | Pink Floyd | 1971 John Leckie was an engineer and tape operator on Meddle. On Echoes (Floyd’s finest 23m 36s) he was responsible for overdubs / layering. An astonishing track in both sound and structure. youtu.be/OcDiOUQBFd4

#DavidsMonthOfMusic 10 A Colour In The Title Endless Blue | The Horrors | 2011 A song with a colour in the title and a song of two halves. Both equally magnificent but of course they are, it’s The Horrors. youtu.be/b59x21zzkCM

#SweetKeys 21 Something’s Got To Give The Comsat Angels | 1987 This magnificent song was criminally just a b-side. I still can’t understand how a song of this quality was casually thrown away like that. Anyway, the piano is an integral part of it’s overall majesty. youtu.be/F6NtOwMtIFs

#ArtistFave15 6 John Leckie (Producer, engineer, mixer) From Time To Time | Ride | 1994 I’d fallen away from Ride by the time of their third album (the John Leckie produced Carnival Of Light) but first heard this track on the 2001 OX4 compilation. It’s an absolute beauty. youtu.be/dnj7fvhzkYI

#DavidsMonthOfMusic 9 Artist I’ve Seen Live The Most Glamorous Glue | Morrissey | 1992 I haven’t been to many concerts in my lifetime really but overall Moz just tops the most seen chart. youtu.be/QoI_S_vCXv0

#SweetKeys 22 Song | Blur | 1991 So many Blur options for this challenge but I’m going with Sing from the Leisure album. It still nestles happily in my all time Blur Top 30. youtu.be/zsQ6_9m-iDo

#ArtistFave15 7 John Leckie (Producer, engineer, mixer) Overnight Success | Six.By Seven | 2000 John Leckie produced four tracks on The Closer You Get. Unfortunately he didn’t produce the epic Another Love Song so Overnight Success will have to do instead. youtu.be/LCKgwNsPC30

#DavidsMonthOfMusic 8 From The 2010s Science/Visions | Chvrches | 2013 A highlight (of many) on Chvrches’ debut album. I still don’t think they’ve bettered this one, well not yet anyway… youtu.be/0vJUmipx7XQ

#SweetKeys 23 I Can Only Disappoint U | Mansun | 2000 A greatly overlooked Mansun single. The wonderful piano melody runs throughout the song. youtu.be/35oeHlL9jFI

#ArtistFave15 8 John Leckie (Producer, engineer, mixer) The Sun, The Sea | Verve | 1993 Verve’s debut album A Storm In Heaven was produced by John Leckie. The Sun, The Sea has always been my favourite track on the album and the production is a big reason why that’s the case. youtu.be/o5mbA04h658

#DavidsMonthOfMusic 7 With ‘Good’ Or ‘Bad’ in The Title It’s No Good | Depeche Mode | 1997 Actually it is. It’s very good. youtu.be/hg-cKc0ija0

#SweetKeys 24 Satin Chic | Goldfrapp | 2005 Goldfrapp’s electro-glam stomper Satin Chic from 2005’s Supernature album features some wonderful bar room piano playing running through the song. Shouldn’t really work but it does and so well too. youtu.be/NyxTZy-MTGk

#ArtistFave15 9 John Leckie (Producer, engineer, mixer) Dracula’s Castle | New Order | 2005 John Leckie produced and mixed the much maligned Dracula’s Castle on Waiting For The Siren’s Call. Luckily for me it’s one of the two tracks I really like on the album, so it’s in. youtu.be/aTO8IVOzauM

And whilst we’re talking all things #PetShopBoys surely it’s time for the next B-Side compilation to join the ranks of Alternative and Format? The years 2010-2026 deserve representation in their own right…🤞

Ahead of their Obsure gigs starting tonight, here’s the Top 30 Alternative #PetShopBoys tracks from the PSB Top 30 music challenge from November 2024 on Twitter. I wonder how many of these will get an airing this week? 🤔 Pet Shop Boys Alternative 30 open.spotify.com/playlist/7Lv...

#DavidsMonthOfMusic 6 Used To Hate But Love Now Panic | The Smiths | 1986 I didn’t hate The Smiths but I didn’t particularly like them either at the age of 13. However after hearing Panic in 1986 (aged 14) that changed, they became my favourite band in the space of a year. youtu.be/os90HyZBSUY

#SweetKeys 25 Video Killed The Radio Star | Buggles | 1979 One of my earliest musical memories. The first (and last) song played on MTV, a number one single and a staple of many a compilation. The album version has a delightful piano / orchestral reprise at the end. youtu.be/1zABYZN5jO8

#ArtistFave15 10 John Leckie (Producer, engineer, mixer) Marianne | The Human League | 1980 John Leckie produced The Human League’s Holiday ‘80 EP. Marianne was the lead track although it was Rock ‘N’ Roll / Nightclubbing that was performed on TOTP. youtu.be/CPxfKf1IujM

Sun Pug. #Puglife

#DavidsMonthOfMusic 5 A Place In The Title London, Can You Wait? | Gene | 1995 I can’t think of many (or to be honest any) songs with a place in the title that are better than this. Top tier Gene. youtu.be/GwWeGCQLLYk

#SweetKeys 26 Later Tonight | Pet Shop Boys | 1986 A beautifully understated PSB track sandwiched between the energy rush of I Want A Lover and Why Don’t We Live Together?. youtu.be/ecyKCYwGhRg

#ArtistFave15 11 John Leckie (Producer, engineer, mixer) There’s A Fire | Longwave | 2005 Yes I’ve posted a Longwave track that isn’t “that one”. John Leckie produced their third album and the title track is a particular highlight. youtu.be/PKg1FWHGHnA

#DavidsMonthOfMusic 4 First Track On An Album Kill All Hippies | Primal Scream | 2000 Opening XTRMNTR as the mean to go on. youtu.be/E86gWQs-ios

#SweetKeys 27 People Help The People | Cherry Ghost | 2007 Just gorgeous. It’s not quite as good as Mathematics (but then what is) but a wonderful song all the same. youtu.be/9U5S0XfcPKU

#ArtistFave15 12 John Leckie (Producer, engineer, mixer) Positivity | Suede | 2002 The first single from A New Morning was produced by John Leckie. Suede sound positively mainstream on this one but I’ve always had a soft spot for it. youtu.be/bCLLZiMEHFQ

#DavidsMonthOfMusic 3 An Animal In The Title I Wanna Be Your Dog | The Stooges | 1969 Raucous. And then some. And of course of all the animals, dogs are the best, closely followed by the bison. youtu.be/3gsWt7ey6bo

#SweetKeys 28 The Sailor Song | The Gadsdens | 2009 Before social media I would get most of my musical recommendations from bbc6music. This beautiful track was featured heavily in 2009, if you don’t know it, give it a listen. You won’t be disappointed. youtu.be/L99yz9NAft4

#ArtistFave15 13 John Leckie (Producer, engineer, mixer) This is Pop | XTC | 1978 John Leckie produced the first two XTC albums and numerous singles. I think I read in an interview that the band were his favourite artist to work with. High praise indeed. youtu.be/6VYvfUsfyfs

Looking forward to getting lost in this book over the weekend. #PetShopBoys Volume.

#DavidsMonthOfMusic 2 From The 2020s Post Sex Clarity | Lola Young | 2025 I didn’t get to hear much new music last year because of all the challenges I was hosting but Lola Young is one artist that broke through. This is my favourite track from I’m Only F**king Myself. youtu.be/2HuHrO8vL8k

#SweetKeys 29 Broken China | Danny Wilson | 1987 I bought Meet Danny Wilson after reading a Q magazine review. Mary’s Prayer was the hit but track six Broken China was arguably better. Sophisticated Pop of the highest order and that swoonsome middle eight is to die for. youtu.be/ugdHPv9TA2s

#ArtistFave15 14 John Leckie (Producer, engineer, mixer) Push Me On | Doves | 2009 John Leckie produced Winter Hill and 10:03 on the Kingdom Of Rust album and also this cracker which was a 2009 b-side of the title track. It was included on disc 2 of their first Best Of album. youtu.be/SCqzwI3m2YY