| Where do you even start? My influences probably come from all over the place... I don't think I really sound like any of these, but this is where I came from and some of what I listen to....
We didn't have a lot of music in the house, so the choice was basically The Carpenters and the soundtracks for The Sound Of Music, Mary Poppins or Grease. All got plenty of wear. Love the Andrews.
For me though, it was The Muppet Show albums that pretty much held my attention as a kid. You may laugh, but I hold a firm belief that I owe it all to Jim Henson. Quite aside from the influence on my sense of humour, The Muppets... ah, the Muppets gave me songs like New York State of Mind (which I cover now) Dr. Teeth's fantastic version of Tenderly... Time in a Bottle, Gonzo's beautiful Wishing Song and the odd sixties protest song thrown in for good measure. If you still don't believe me, you'll have to find copies...
When I got older, I was a big fan of The Jam and David Bowie thanks to my sister, still love Paul Weller... then a wide variety of 80's pop ensued, including but not limited to Duran Duran, The Police, Everything But The Girl, but Frank Sinatra was my shameful secret back when it was seriously uncool. I got to see him at the Albert Hall in the early 90's. Unforgettable.
I love any music with a good melody really, but can be equally captivated by a great lyric, harmony, funky bass line or an ass kicking rhythm. From old school indie to Puccini arias, I'm happy as larry. "Reading, Writing and Arithmetic" by The Sundays is a perfect album for me, and the introduction to "O Soave Fanciulla" raises the hair on the back of my neck every time.
Other loves include the voices and songs of Nina Simone, Otis Redding, Curtis Mayfield, Ray Charles, James Brown...
Sidestep to the irreplaceable body of works from Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder
Follow it up with the great American Songbook of Hoagy Carmichael,Cole Porter, Gershwin with any vocalist, but Sinatra is a god, and you can't go wrong with Chet Baker, Billie, Ella or Nat King Cole either....
Adore Jeff Buckley's voice and arrangements...
Love the humour and harmony of Ben Folds Five...
Cannot live without the perennially beautiful songs of The Blue Nile...
And then there's always the Coldplay nod, "Parachutes" again was a perfect album for me, although I've slowly gone off them since X&Y...
Love Rufus Wainwright How could you fail to be impressed by a singer who literally made the sun come out at Hop Farm this year when he sang Hallelujah? lol Apparently someone was listening... it was a great moment anyway.
Lastly, but by no means least, Pat Kane from Hue and Cry has a voice, particularly live, that is enough to literally make me go weak at the knees. And I do mean literally. Phenomenal tone with phrasing and twists of melody that would surprise even the most jaded singer. Listen to the pop songs by all means, there are some diamonds, but you'd be missing out on the b-sides which probably include some of my favourites, the jazz, which is blindingly good and the acoustic stuff - beautiful little songs packed with heart, mind and soul.
Too much to mention really... Various addictions have included an almost non-stop playing of Vince Guaraldi's Peanuts soundtracks... love a bit of Hendrix every once in a while...love a bit of dance music periodically. It's about what mood you're in anyway, isn't it?
Top recommendations from friends recently have been Smokey Norful (ignore the god squad lyric, and just feel that gospel vibe go down your spine) and for music that hits you in the heart, you can't go better than Richard Hawley's "Coles Corner". It's a beautiful album. Just got given a download of "To the Five Boroughs" by The Beastie Boys with the rap taken out and put to soul music. Fantastic. Can't stop listening to it. Cheers James!
Bon Iver has been the non-stop ipod favourite for about three weeks now and I'm really looking forward to Elvis Costello's new one.
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