Tom Russell Band - U.S. Steel

"U.S. Steel" is lifted from the first album by Tom Russell Band, the 1987 classic The Road To Bayamon. The band went on to record two more fantastic albums - Poor Man's Dream (1989) and Hurricane Season (1991) before Russell went back to his solo career. These albums are among my all time favourite country or country-related albums, comprising some incredibly well-written songs throughout all three. "U.S. Steel" is just one small example.

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Prefab Sprout - Faron Young

In 1985 British group Prefab Sprout released their masterpiece Steve McQueen. The opening track namechecked another American hero, the country singer Faron Young. The song "Faron Young" is not about him as such, but the chorus references one of his biggest hits, "It's Four In The Morning". But first and foremost "Faron Young" is an amazing pop song sounding like a train heading through the night towards a new dawn. And that's one way of seeing the album Steve McQueen, as the best day you've ever spent.

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Londonbeat - I've Been Thinking About You

This is pretty much the opposite of the Foo Fighters clip I posted earlier. The American/British R&B band Londonbeat is slick as mud, but there's no denying that their 1990 hit "I've Been Thinking About You" is a killer dance/pop song. Besides, it's Satuday, and you may need something to get your feet moving. This could do the trick.

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Foo Fighters - Wheels

Foo Fighters' best song and the greatest song Tom Petty never wrote, "Wheels" was released as a single in 2009, recorded specifically for a greatest hits album. What can I say? This just rocks, and how!

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Latin Quarter - Radio Africa

Does anyone remember the British band Latin Quarter? They had a moderately big hit with "Radio Africa" in 1986 (it was first released in 1985) from the fine album Modern Times. Apparently they continued to play together throughout the 90's and are now reunited, according to Wikipedia. That may be, and they may still be good, I don't know. What I do know is that I dearly love this song, a political 80's classic, no less! It's still relevant too.

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Eagles - The Last Resort

"The Last Resort" is one of Don Henley's (co-written with Glenn Frey) finest moments. It's the last song on Eagles' classic 1976 album Hotel California, marking an incredible end to an incredible record. It's basically about how we as people ruin what we find beautiful, a seven and a half minute long ballad that slowly builds in intensity and power. Also, Henley sings the hell out of the song, sounding like he means every word. A stone cold classic!

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Paal Flaata - Wait By The Fire "trailer"

Norway's best (?) singer Paal Flaata releases his new album today, a collection of songs by the renowned American singer/songwriter Chip Taylor of "Wild Thing" and "Angel Of The Morning" fame. The album is called Wait By The Fire and comprises ten wonderful songs, one of them - "Graceland Souvenirs" - brand new, co-written with Flaata's producer Gøran Grini. Apart from "Angel Of The Morning", most likely you haven't heard any of the songs before, as Flaata and Grini have dug dip into the Taylor songbook. Taylor himself says that he has never liked a recording of any of his songs as good as Flaata's take on "Angel Of The Morning". Not bad, considering that Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson, Aretha Franklin, Jackie DeShannon and Johnny Cash are among the people who have recorded his songs! Below you'll find a few samples from the album. I hope you like it and go onto to purchasing the album, as it's one hell of a good record.

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Pet Shop Boys - King's Cross

There's always time for some Pet Shop Boys. Here's a live version from Rio in 1994 of the 1987 classic "King's Cross", originally from the wonderful album Actually. I never tire of this perfect Pet Shop Boys melancholia, it's an absolutely gorgeous song.

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Mary Chapin Carpenter - I Feel Lucky

Mary Chapin Carpenter's honky tonk song "I Feel Lucky" off her 1992 album Come On Come On is by far the most fun song the otherwise seemingly serious singer/songwriter has written. What happens if you win 11 million dollars? Well... "Now, eleven minutes later I was sitting at the bar/I'd bought the house a double and the waitress a new car/Dwight Yoakam's in the corner, trying to catch my eye/Lyle Lovett's right beside me with his hand upon my thigh..." Fun video too!

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Led Zeppelin - Black Dog

Celebration Day fast approaches... on Monday Christmas comes early for all Led Zeppelin out there, and there are quite a few of us. Here's the version of "Black Dog" off their fourth album, released in 1971, that was played at the reunion show at the O2 arena in London in 2007, and it sounds pretty amazing. Massive in every way!

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