Will Oldham: Antagonism
Intense, driving track from his 1997 album Joya, unusually released under his own name rather than Palace Music or Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy.
A compendium of musical delights by Alan and Margaret Ashworth

Intense, driving track from his 1997 album Joya, unusually released under his own name rather than Palace Music or Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy.
Written by one of the group members, John Claude Gummoe, this was released in late 1962. In early 1963 it got to No 3 in America and 5 in the … Continue readingThe Cascades: Rhythm of the Rain
Browne and Lindley toured Spain together in 2006, resulting in the live double CD Love Is Strange which came out four years later. The guest singer, Luz Casal, is a … Continue readingJackson Browne/David Lindley/Luz Casal: These Days
This was written by John Madara and David White, co-composers of Danny and the Juniors’ 1958 No 1, At the Hop. Lesley Gore was 17 when she recorded it in 1963, and … Continue readingLesley Gore: You Don’t Own Me
BY the end of 1972, Neil Young was a global superstar. He had found huge success in collaboration with Crosby, Stills and Nash. His third solo album, After The Gold Rush, … Continue readingNeil Young down in the ditch
For many years it was accepted wisdom that Cohen was deadly serious – nicknamed Laughing Lenny. In fact he could be a hoot. Originally on the 1988 album I’m Your … Continue readingLeonard Cohen: Tower of Song
Not quite sure how respectful this is of me and my chums but it rattles along nicely. From the 1987 album Sentimental Hygiene.
I’ve never quite forgiven Neil Sedaka for this cruel deception – when I woke on my 16th birthday I was as plain as I was the day before – but it’s … Continue readingNeil Sedaka: Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen
This may have the most writers of a single song: Georgia Dobbins, William Garrett, Freddie Gorman, Brian Holland and Robert Bateman. Released in 1961, it reached No 1 in America, … Continue readingThe Marvelettes: Please Mr Postman
OFTEN films have been made as a spin-off from radio or TV series, but this week’s choice was the other way round: a radio programme that was a spin-off from … Continue readingMeet the Huggetts