My current top tunes

I like a very broad range of music, some comes from my youth, some I have picked up over the years and some are very current but all are great tunes. I will update this periodically.

Here’s my current favourite songs to listen to (no particular order):

National Health - The Bryden 2-Step (For Amphibians)

This song has been a favourite for some time, I’m always just fascinated by how good the band sounds, and the track sounds like one live take.

Rainbow - All Night Long

The inner crooner in me loves to sing this, I belt this one out whenever I see a tribute band play it.

Zopp - You

This is a new one but has the timeless sound of 1970s Canterbury prog

ELP - Tarkus

What an immense track, and I’ve already told Carl Palmer that I want this playing at my funeral! Tricky prog at its best, what a great keyboard player Keith Emerson was.

ELO - Livin' Thing

I started to get into ELO in the 1970’s and this track is a classic, but I could have picked any from most of their albums

Status Quo - Living On An Island

Quo weren’t a one trick pony and this track showcases a different style (and vocal) to what is usually played

Deep Purple - Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming

I like the way this builds from a quiet song and really showcases what a great vocalist Ian Gillan is.

Haze - Dig Them Mushrooms

Haze are a local prog band that have been going for over 40 years. This is an early classic and is one of my favourite keyboard tracks ever

Stackridge - Rufus T Firefly

I came across this as Frank Zappa was named as an influence. I like Stackridge in their quirky English usual form but this is something else, definitely Zappa-esque.

Queensryche - Revolution Calling

This is a song where you can really get on board with the lyrical message delivered in a great song. Who do you trust when everyone’s a crook?

William Walton - Crown Imperial

I used to fall asleep to Classic FM which got me into this modern classic

Gillan - Men of War

Here’s Gillan again but with his own band. He’s at the top of his vocal game with this belter.

Lindisfarne - Run For Home

This is a great feelgood song from my youth, one of many ‘pop’ songs as we used to call them.

Black Sabbath - Die Young

Another from my younger days listening to Hallam Rock, Ronnie James Dio in great form with Black Sabbath. I also love Neon Knights!

PFM - Appena Un Po

This is my go to flight take off music with active noise cancellation. PFM are an Italian prog band who released some great albums, notably in the early 1970’s, super-talented composers.

Frank Zappa - Son Of Mr Green Genes

I could have picked from many Zappa songs, he is often dismissed as some sort of zany character but Zappa was a very talented composer. On this track I love how it builds and the brass turns to guitar.

XTC - Wrapped in Grey

A vastly underrated band, this was going to be a serious single but was pulled unfortunately. A lovely melody and lyrical excellence, commonplace in any XTC song.

The Drifters - There Goes My First Love

I love the deep vocal on this one, the Drifters delivered many great tunes over the years and this reminds me of growing up

The Beach Boys - Lady Lynda

I’m a sucker for a singalong tune and the beach boys had many but for some reason this one has always been a favourite