Monthly Archives: December 2011

2011 – The long list

Thanks for sticking with me, and for all the inspiration along the way. I am fairly pleased with what I achieved. I thought you might be interested to see a list of the songs featured in 2011. Some I look back on with a touch of embarrassment but mostly I wouldn’t change any of them:

Date Song
1-Jan-2011 Curtis Mayfield – Move on Up
2-Jan-2011 Duran Duran – Come Undone
3-Jan-2011 Willie Tee – Walking up a one way street
4-Jan-2011 Beach Boys – Caroline No
5-Jan-2011 Darwin Deez – Radar Detector
6-Jan-2011 MGMT – Electric Feel
7-Jan-2011 Napoleon – Cleopatra
8-Jan-2011 The Supremes – Love is here and now you’re gone
9-Jan-2011 Talking Heads – Once in a lifetime
10-Jan-2011 Gift of gab – Flashback
11-Jan-2011 Jai Paul – BTSTU
12-Jan-2011 Grand Hallway – Raindrops
13-Jan-2011 Frank Wilson – Do I love you (indeed I do)
14-Jan-2011 The Jam – Town called malice
15-Jan-2011 Maxine Nightingale – Right back where we started from
16-Jan-2011 Kanye West – Spaceship
17-Jan-2011 Graham Parker and The Rumour – Heat Treatment
18-Jan-2011 Metronomy – She Wants
19-Jan-2011 Le Kid – Mercy Mercy
20-Jan-2011 Little Comets – Isles
21-Jan-2011 Betty Wright – Shoorah Shoorah
22-Jan-2011 Blondie – Hanging on the telephone
23-Jan-2011 Oasis – Slide Away
24-Jan-2011 The Drums – Let’s go surfing
25-Jan-2011 TV on the radio – Wolf like me
26-Jan-2011 Teena Marie – I need your lovin’
27-Jan-2011 Phoenix – Too Young
28-Jan-2011 The Human League – Don’t you want me
29-Jan-2011 Aretha Franklin – Day Dreaming
30-Jan-2011 Passion Pit – Sleepyhead
31-Jan-2011 Mary Wells – What’s easy for two is so hard for one
1-Feb-2011 Ron Sexsmith – Tell me again
2-Feb-2011 Gomez – Tijuana Lady
3-Feb-2011 Camp Lo – Luchini
4-Feb-2011 Yes Giantess – You were young
5-Feb-2011 Sister Sledge – Lost in music
6-Feb-2011 Neil Young – Cortez the killer
7-Feb-2011 Thin Lizzy – The boys are back in town
8-Feb-2011 Smokey Robinson and The Miracles – Tracks of my tears
9-Feb-2011 The Bamboos – You ain’t no good
10-Feb-2011 J Mascis and the fog – Ammaring
11-Feb-2011 Bjork – All is full of love
12-Feb-2011 United Four – She’s putting you on
13-Feb-2011 The Antlers – Kettering
14-Feb-2011 Theophilius London – Accept the new
15-Feb-2011 Yeasayer – Ambling Alp
16-Feb-2011 J Dilla featuring Pharaohe Monche – Love
17-Feb-2011 Josh Rouse – 1972
18-Feb-2011 The Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter
19-Feb-2011 New Order – Age of consent
20-Feb-2011 Martha and the Vandellas – Heatwave
21-Feb-2011 Miami Horror – Holidays
22-Feb-2011 Flight Facilities – Crave You
23-Feb-2011 Los Campesinos – Death to Los Campesinos
24-Feb-2011 Miles Davis – Someday my prince will come
25-Feb-2011 Freddie Scott – (You) Got what I need
26-Feb-2011 Tears for fears – Everybody wants to rule the world
27-Feb-2011 The Temptations – Get Ready
28-Feb-2011 Doves – Black and white town
1-Mar-2011 Fleetwood Mac – Dreams
2-Mar-2011 Lucky Soul – White Russian Doll
3-Mar-2011 Outkast – SpottieOttieDopaliscious
4-Mar-2011 Marvin Gaye – Come get to this
5-Mar-2011 Van Halen – Jump
6-Mar-2011 Michael Jackson – Thriller
7-Mar-2011 The answering machine – Lifeline
8-Mar-2011 Two door cinema club – Undercover Martyn
9-Mar-2011 The Band – The night they drove old Dixie down
10-Mar-2011 The Bee Gees – More than a woman
11-Mar-2011 The white stripes – Fell in love with a girl
12-Mar-2011 High Contrast – Lovesick
13-Mar-2011 The Four Tops – Reach Out, I’ll be there
14-Mar-2011 The Emotions – Best of my love
15-Mar-2011 Delphic – Doubt
16-Mar-2011 Kate Bush – Cloudbusting
17-Mar-2011 Van Morrison – Sweet Thing
18-Mar-2011 John Lennon – Instant Karma
19-Mar-2011 Donny Hathaway – Jealous Guy
20-Mar-2011 Mos Def – Ms. Fat Booty
21-Mar-2011 The Blue Nile – Easter Parade
22-Mar-2011 Prince – I wanna be your lover
23-Mar-2011 Cloud Control – There’s nothing in the water we can’t fight
24-Mar-2011 Cool Calm Pete – Gitty up baby
25-Mar-2011 The Clash – Train in vain
26-Mar-2011 Sam Cooke – A change is gonna come
27-Mar-2011 The O’Jays – Love Train
28-Mar-2011 Peter and Kerry – Knees
29-Mar-2011 Tom Robinson – War Baby
30-Mar-2011 Eddie Floyd – I’ve never found a girl (to love me like you do)
31-Mar-2011 MF Doom/Mobb Deep – Shook Ones (MF Doom Remix)
1-Apr-2011 Elvin Bishop – Fooled around and fell in love
2-Apr-2011 Joy Orbison – Hyph Mngo
3-Apr-2011 LCD Soundsystem – All my friends
4-Apr-2011 Athlete – Westside
5-Apr-2011 Benoit and Sergio – Walk and talk
6-Apr-2011 Old crow medicine show – Wagon wheel
7-Apr-2011 Broken Bells – The high road
8-Apr-2011 Nina Simone – My baby just cares for me
9-Apr-2011 Blu – Amnesia
10-Apr-2011 Fatboy Slim (Midfield General mix) – Talking bout my baby
11-Apr-2011 Tom Vek – C-C (You set the fire in me)
12-Apr-2011 The Smiths – This charming man
13-Apr-2011 Odyssey – Going back to my roots
14-Apr-2011 Elton John – Benny and the Jets
15-Apr-2011 Family Fodder – Savoir Faire
16-Apr-2011 Steely Dan – Reelin’ in the years
17-Apr-2011 Caribou – Odessa
18-Apr-2011 Muddy Waters – Mannish Boy
19-Apr-2011 Stevie Wonder – Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m yours)
20-Apr-2011 De la soul – Eye Know
21-Apr-2011 Sam and Dave – Soul Man
22-Apr-2011 Errol Dunkley – You’re gonna need me
23-Apr-2011 Ash – Kung Fu
24-Apr-2011 The Police – So Lonely
25-Apr-2011 Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy
26-Apr-2011 Paul Simon – Spirit Voices
27-Apr-2011 REM – Nightswimming
28-Apr-2011 Jamiroquai – Space Cowboy
29-Apr-2011 Madonna – Holiday
30-Apr-2011 Hurts – Wonderful Life
1-May-2011 Big Joe Turner – Shake, Rattle and Roll
2-May-2011 FM Belfast – Underwear
3-May-2011 Tom Petty – Don’t do me like that
4-May-2011 Nguuni Lovers Lovers – Christmas Kitui
5-May-2011 The Beatles – Revolution
6-May-2011 Dodgy – Good Enough
7-May-2011 A tribe called Quest – Can I kick it?
8-May-2011 Jeff Buckley – Last Goodbye
9-May-2011 Scott Walker – Jackie
10-May-2011 Winfield Parker – I’m on my way
11-May-2011 Camera Obscura – French Navy
12-May-2011 Kelis – Millionaire
13-May-2011 Pete Heller – Big Love
14-May-2011 Tricky – Hell is round the corner
15-May-2011 Brian Wilson – Good Vibrations
16-May-2011 The Isley Brothers – Shout
17-May-2011 Manix – Feel real good
18-May-2011 Joy Division – Love will tear us apart
19-May-2011 Owiny Sigoma Band – Wires
20-May-2011 Jill Scott – Family Reunion
21-May-2011 Raekwon – Heaven and Hell
22-May-2011 Donald Fagen – I.G.Y.
23-May-2011 Roni Size – Heroes
24-May-2011 Wilson Pickett – In the midnight hour
25-May-2011 Beat Connection – Silver Screen
26-May-2011 Elliot Smith – Hanging around in the lost and found
27-May-2011 Gil Scott-Heron – The Bottle
28-May-2011 Suede – Beautiful Ones
29-May-2011 Solomon Burke – Everybody needs somebody to love
30-May-2011 The crusaders – Street life
31-May-2011 Delorean – Stay Close
1-Jun-2011 The Streets – Weak become heroes
2-Jun-2011 Saint Germain – Rose Rouge
3-Jun-2011 The Roots – How I got over
4-Jun-2011 Arthur Russell – This is how we walk on the moon
5-Jun-2011 Gladys Knight and The Pips – Midnight train to Georgia
6-Jun-2011 Dark Dark Dark – Daydreaming
7-Jun-2011 My brightest diamond – Dragonfly
8-Jun-2011 Brook Benton – Rainy night in Georgia
9-Jun-2011 The Frames – God bless mom
10-Jun-2011 DJ Marky – LK (It’s the way)
11-Jun-2011 Fatboy Slim and David Byrne – Walk like a woman
12-Jun-2011 Dexy’s midnight runners – Come on Eileen
13-Jun-2011 Ricardo Villalobos – Fizheuer Zieheuer
14-Jun-2011 Miriam Makeba – Pata Pata
15-Jun-2011 Fat Freddy’s Drop – Hope
16-Jun-2011 Small Faces – Itchycoo Park
17-Jun-2011 The Specials – Ghost Town
18-Jun-2011 Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz – Deja Vu (uptown baby)
19-Jun-2011 Althea and Donna – Uptown top ranking
20-Jun-2011 Bronski Beat – Smalltown Boy
21-Jun-2011 Herman Dune – Tell me something I don’t know
22-Jun-2011 Dennis Brown – Money in my pocket
23-Jun-2011 The source feat. Candi Staton – You’ve got the love
24-Jun-2011 DJ Shadow – Midnight in a perfect world
25-Jun-2011 Primal Scream – Loaded
26-Jun-2011 Eels – Susan’s House
27-Jun-2011 Tune Yards – Bizness
28-Jun-2011 Yuck – Get Away
29-Jun-2011 Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell – Ain’t no mountain high enough
30-Jun-2011 SBTRKT – Hold On
1-Jul-2011 David Bowie – Modern Love
2-Jul-2011 The Flaming Lips – Race for the prize
3-Jul-2011 The L.O.X. – Recognize
4-Jul-2011 America – A horse with no name
5-Jul-2011 Junior Boys – Parallel Lines
6-Jul-2011 Jackie Wilson – Reet Petite
7-Jul-2011 Supergrass – Alright
8-Jul-2011 Bibio – Lover’s Carvings
9-Jul-2011 Lauryn Hill – Ex-Factor
10-Jul-2011 Patti Smith – Gloria
11-Jul-2011 Benis Cletin – Jungle Magic
12-Jul-2011 Stiff Little Fingers – Alternative Ulster
13-Jul-2011 Washed Out – Feel it all around
14-Jul-2011 Daft Punk – Around the world
15-Jul-2011 Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Ffunny Frends
16-Jul-2011 Mr.Fingers – Can you feel it?
17-Jul-2011 The Contours – Just a little misunderstanding
18-Jul-2011 Joni Mitchell – The last time I saw Richard
19-Jul-2011 Prefab Sprout – Cars and girls
20-Jul-2011 Kings of convenience – Misread
21-Jul-2011 Swiftumz – It’s beautiful
22-Jul-2011 The National – Fake Empire
23-Jul-2011 Jay-Z – Dead Presidents II
24-Jul-2011 Amy Winehouse – Tears dry on their own
25-Jul-2011 Youth Lagoon – Cannons
26-Jul-2011 Sigur Ros – Hoppipolla
27-Jul-2011 The Ronettes – Be my baby
28-Jul-2011 Vondelpark – TV
29-Jul-2011 The Avalanches – Since I left you
30-Jul-2011 Elbow – Lippy Kids
31-Jul-2011 Portishead – Roads
1-Aug-2011 Fontella Bass – Rescue Me
2-Aug-2011 The Strokes – Someday
3-Aug-2011 Polysics – Pretty Good
4-Aug-2011 Summer Camp – Ghost Train
5-Aug-2011 Japandroids – Young hearts spark fire
6-Aug-2011 The waterboys – The whole of the moon
7-Aug-2011 Neon Indian – Deadbeat summer
8-Aug-2011 Bob Dylan – The times they are a-changin’
9-Aug-2011 Crystal fighters – Champion sound
10-Aug-2011 Tupac Shakur – Changes
11-Aug-2011 Brenton Wood – Oogum Boogum
12-Aug-2011 Roxy Music – Virginia Plain
13-Aug-2011 Twin Sister – All around and away we go
14-Aug-2011 Johan Johannsen – The cause of labour is the hope of the world
15-Aug-2011 Etta James – I’d rather go blind
16-Aug-2011 S.C.U.M. – White Chapel
17-Aug-2011 Tindersticks – Can we start again?
18-Aug-2011 Fox the fox – Precious little diamonds
19-Aug-2011 Kid Cudi – Man on the moon
20-Aug-2011 Alphabeat – Fascination
21-Aug-2011 Republic of loose – Comeback Girl
22-Aug-2011 Dave Brubeck – Unsquare Dance
23-Aug-2011 The J.Geils Band – Centrefold
24-Aug-2011 Mo Kolours – Biddies
25-Aug-2011 Chic – Good Times
26-Aug-2011 The Cure – Close to me
27-Aug-2011 Terry Callier – Ordinary Joe
28-Aug-2011 Pulp – Mis-Shapes
29-Aug-2011 The Coup – Heaven Tonite
30-Aug-2011 The black seeds – Cool me down
31-Aug-2011 Broken Social Scene – Lover’s Spit
1-Sep-2011 Jean Carne – We’ve got some catching up to do
2-Sep-2011 Kelpe – Beat Imperial
3-Sep-2011 Mcfadden and Whitehead – Ain’t no stopping us now
4-Sep-2011 Ben Folds Five – Kate
5-Sep-2011 Fitz and The Tantrums – MoneyGrabber
6-Sep-2011 Tom tom club – Genius of love
7-Sep-2011 M83 – Midnight City
8-Sep-2011 Ghostface Killah – Save me dear
9-Sep-2011 George McCrae – Rock your baby
10-Sep-2011 Dead Prez vs. Grizzly Bear – Two weeks of hip hop
11-Sep-2011 Ryan Adams – New York, New York
12-Sep-2011 Real Estate – It’s real
13-Sep-2011 Sade – Your love is king
14-Sep-2011 The Field – Then it’s white
15-Sep-2011 Robert Owens – One body
16-Sep-2011 Atmosphere – Say Shh
17-Sep-2011 Roisin Murphy – Through time
18-Sep-2011 Mayer Hawthorne – Make her mine
19-Sep-2011 The Shins – Caring is creepy
20-Sep-2011 Squeeze – Pulling muscles (from a shell)
21-Sep-2011 Say hi to your mom – They write books about this sort of thing
22-Sep-2011 Calibre and High Contrast – The other side
23-Sep-2011 Oddisee – Hip hop’s cool again
24-Sep-2011 Loch Lomond – Elephants and little girls
25-Sep-2011 The Brothers Johnson – Strawberry letter #23
26-Sep-2011 Bill Withers – Use me
27-Sep-2011 The Go! Team – The power is on
28-Sep-2011 Penny and The Quarters – You and me
29-Sep-2011 The Beat – Save it for later
30-Sep-2011 Skinnyman – Love’s gone from the streets
1-Oct-2011 Air – Alone in Kyoto
2-Oct-2011 The Decemberists – Calamity Song
3-Oct-2011 Lil’ Wayne – Dr.Carter
4-Oct-2011 Jonathon Richmann/The Modern Lovers – The morning of our lives
5-Oct-2011 Grouper – Heavy water / I’d rather be sleeping
6-Oct-2011 Ray Bryant – Up above the rock
7-Oct-2011 The Doors – Riders on the storm
8-Oct-2011 Air France – It feels good to be around you
9-Oct-2011 The Ebonys – Do you like the way I love you?
10-Oct-2011 Al Stewart – The year of the cat
11-Oct-2011 David Byrne and Brian Eno – Strange Overtones
12-Oct-2011 Breakbot – Baby I’m yours
13-Oct-2011 Simple Minds – Alive and kicking
14-Oct-2011 Warren G and Nate Dogg – Regulate
15-Oct-2011 The KLF – Build a fire
16-Oct-2011 Phantogram – Don’t move
17-Oct-2011 Irma Thomas – Breakaway
18-Oct-2011 The Stone Roses – I wanna be adored
19-Oct-2011 Amerie – One thing
20-Oct-2011 Grease/Dr.Dre – You’re the one that I want in the next episode
21-Oct-2011 Elvis Costello – Everyday I write the book
22-Oct-2011 Wilco – I might
23-Oct-2011 Minnie Ripperton – Inside my love
24-Oct-2011 Blur – Girls and boys
25-Oct-2011 Al Green – Tired of being alone
26-Oct-2011 The Stranglers – Walk on by
27-Oct-2011 The Steelers – Give it from the bottom
28-Oct-2011 James Vincent Mcmorrow – Higher love
29-Oct-2011 Low – Silver Rider
30-Oct-2011 Common/Joy Denalane – Go!
31-Oct-2011 The Four Brothers – Rumbidzai
1-Nov-2011 Horse feathers – Curs in the weeds
2-Nov-2011 Womack and Womack – Teardrops
3-Nov-2011 The Marvelettes – Please Mr.Postman
4-Nov-2011 The Style Council – Shout to the top
5-Nov-2011 London Elektricity – Will to love
6-Nov-2011 Finley Quaye – Your love gets sweeter
7-Nov-2011 Little Richard – Rip it up
8-Nov-2011 Roy Ayers – Everybody loves the sunshine
9-Nov-2011 My morning jacket – Wordless Chorus
10-Nov-2011 M People – How can I love you more?
11-Nov-2011 Paul Weller – Headstart for happiness
12-Nov-2011 Hot 8 brass band – Sexual Healing
13-Nov-2011 Marc Cohn – Walking in Memphis
14-Nov-2011 Elvis Presley – Jailhouse Rock
15-Nov-2011 D’Angelo – Untitled (how does it feel?)
16-Nov-2011 Daughter – Home
17-Nov-2011 K-Os – Crucial
18-Nov-2011 Crowded House – Weather with you
19-Nov-2011 The chairman of the board – Give it from the bottom
20-Nov-2011 Little Dragon – Twice
21-Nov-2011 Gerry Rafferty – Baker Street
22-Nov-2011 Harold Melvin and the blue notes – Wake up everybody
23-Nov-2011 Foy Vance – Shed a little light
24-Nov-2011 Arrested Development – People Everyday
25-Nov-2011 Josh Ritter – Thin blue flame
26-Nov-2011 Spandau Ballet – 1
27-Nov-2011 The staple singers – I’ll take you there
28-Nov-2011 Soul II Soul – Back to life
29-Nov-2011 Funkadelic – Maggot Brain
30-Nov-2011 The Bar-kays – Open your heart
1-Dec-2011 Batoma Diallo – Bolo Di Yongo Ma
2-Dec-2011 Hall and Oates – You make my dreams come true
3-Dec-2011 StewRat – Disagreements
4-Dec-2011 Mundy – July
5-Dec-2011 Don Henley – The boys of summer
6-Dec-2011 Best coast – The sun was high (so was I)
7-Dec-2011 Miguel featuring J.Cole – All I want is you
8-Dec-2011 Darondo – Didn’t I
9-Dec-2011 Notorious B.I.G. – Juicy
10-Dec-2011 The Futureheads – Hounds of love
11-Dec-2011 Edwyn Collins – A girl like you
12-Dec-2011 How to dress well – Decisions
13-Dec-2011 The soul stirrers – He’s my guide
14-Dec-2011 Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Round and round
15-Dec-2011 Jimmy Ruffin – What becomes of the broken hearted?
16-Dec-2011 Fleet Foxes – Blue Ridge Mountains
17-Dec-2011 Steve Arrington – Feel so real
18-Dec-2011 Gene Chandler – Duke of Earl
19-Dec-2011 Los Hijos del Sol – Linda Muñequita
20-Dec-2011 DTMD – Untitled
21-Dec-2011 Dario G – Sunchyme
22-Dec-2011 Was (not was) – I feel better than James Brown
23-Dec-2011 Gonzalez – Haven’t stopped dancing yet
24-Dec-2011 Razorlight – To the sea
25-Dec-2011 Wham! – Last Christmas
26-Dec-2011 Phats and small – Turn around
27-Dec-2011 Good shoes – The way my heart beats
28-Dec-2011 Lee Fields and the Expressions – Honey Dove
29-Dec-2011 Na Hawa Doumbia – Koro Dia
30-Dec-2011 Kano – Nobody don’t dance no more
31-Dec-2011 Otis Redding – (Sittin’ on) The dock of the bay

See you in 2012,
RjK

31st December

Otis Redding – (Sittin’ on) The dock of the bay

I got there!!

It feels right to have begun with Curtis Mayfield and ended up with Otis Redding. Two soul icons and heroes of mine to bookend my meanering year in youtube. This is fitting as it is with soul music that my musical infatuation began in earnest. I am equally glad that there was much variety in the music in between.

Thanks very much for coming on the journey with me. I hope you all have a great new year’s and that 2012 treats you well.

I intend to continue with the blog into next year but I may be slightly less rigorous about posting a new artist everyday (the research involved began to take it’s toll!). I will try some different things and see how they go. Look out for a few things over the coming days that I have been working on, such as my top 30 songs of the year. 

RjK

Aside

Kano – Nobody don’t dance no more

This is a favourite from my university days. It is languid and funky and I think the hip hop meets garage flavour is interesting. 

RjK

Aside

Na Hawa Doumbia – Korô Dia

I wanted to slip one more world music tune in before the year’s end. This is taken from one of my big finds of the year, the blog Awesome Tapes From Africa.

The lady featured is from Mali and I find her singing style to be incredibly arresting. Her vocal style is almost otherworldly and this gives the song an urgency that I find hard to resist.

RjK

28th December

Lee Fields and The Expressions – Honey Dove

This is one of the best soul songs I heard for the first time in 2011. I know very little about the artist (he doesn’t even have a wikipedia page!!) The vocals are intense and affecting, and overall the song has a timeless sound. 

I can’t live without your love, why can’t we make it like it was?

RjK

Aside

Good Shoes – The way my heart beats

This was recommended to me by a colleague a while ago.It isn’t the usual kind of thing that grabs my attention but I kind of like it. It is energetic and fun.

RjK

Aside

Phats and Small – Turn Around

Just about to head out to an rugby match/school reunion. I imagine it will be taxing both on the pitch and in the bar afterwards. I thought it was appropriate to post something from my school days and this came to mind. 1990’s-tastic. Enjoy.

Hey! What’s wrong with you? You’re looking kind of down to me….

RjK

25th December

Wham! – Last Christmas

My favourite Christmas song and luckily enough I hadn’t posted a Wham! song as yet, although I have been very tempted several times. Also a great video here, a trait present in a lot of Wham! songs (see Tropicana, club).

I hope everyone has enjoyed a pleasant holiday.

RjK

Aside

Razorlight – To the sea

Big night last night. Big night. Good fun though. I will keep this brief as all the carousing has left me feeling a little jaded!

This song has one of my all time favourite intros, jangly and relentless, it is the perfect beginning to a guitar pop song. Not a massive fan of Razorlight otherwise but this is great.

RjK

Aside

Gonzalez – Haven’t stopped dancing yet



I am at my boy Rory’s wedding today. Big day! So I wanted to post something wedding-y and this came to mind. It is upbeat and relentless. The kind of thing I hope to hear on the dance floor later, while I am tearing it to pieces.

RjK