A compendium of musical delights by Alan and Margaret Ashworth
To my mind Andy Fairweather Low had one of the best voices in 60s pop. This song was written in Italian by Lucio Battisti in 1968 as Il paradiso della vita … Continue readingAmen Corner: (If Paradise is) Half as Nice
Never dreamed I’d be recommending a BeeGees song on here but this, from her 2006 album These Four Walls, is a good ‘un. Honest.
I’ll never forget watching the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 when Abba burst on to the stage, in their weird costumes, with the captivating Waterloo. As pop technicians they take … Continue readingAbba: One Of Us
Old Shakey’s ode to his Pontiac hearse, Mort, which he drove from Toronto to LA, where he met Stephen Stills and formed Buffalo Springfield with him. This was the title … Continue readingNeil Young: Long May You Run
THIS hymn is often dismissed as being just for children, and indeed it was intended for children, but I love its celebration of creation and I have asked for it … Continue readingAll Things Bright and Beautiful
The loneliest sound in the world. Beautiful.
I don’t know why it has taken me so long to get to the genius Joe Meek, who produced this hit in 1962. It reached No 1 in both the … Continue readingThe Tornados: Telstar
LATEST news from the football transfer window – Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, has signed Gary Lineker as a visiting fellow. The fee is unspecified but, knowing the lad, he won’t … Continue readingAnd on the left wing for Oxford, Salt ’n’ Lineker
This was written by Ed Cobb, who was a member of the Four Preps and wrote Tainted Love for Gloria Jones (1964). Every Little Bit Hurts was recorded in 1964 by Brenda Holloway, then … Continue readingBrenda Holloway: Every Little Bit Hurts
Nice live version of the song from his 1970 album Window.