Dear Doctor,
I like to think I'm sociable, but often stall before a big party. What's a really good track for getting into the zone?
I'm giving you Soulful Dress by Sugar Pie Desanto, the jackpot of getting-ready songs. (If you've got a moment, just take a look at this woman in action. She is now 78, but still rocking the splits on stage and feisty as a hurricane.)
But because I know it might take a little longer than 2.51 minutes to get the glam a-going, I'm going to throw on two funky struttin' tunes, too: Donnie Elbert's A Little Piece Of Leather, and Rufus Thomas's Funky Chicken. Head on out knowing you're going to be the life of that there party – and remember to take your lead from Vivienne Westwood, whose advice is "when in doubt, overdress".
If this doesn't give you the social potion you need, take the easy option: stay at home, spend your party money on a good bottle of old world wine, and watch some Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart – I recommend Key Largo. Sometimes the best party is to be found in a comfy pair of slippers.
Dear Doctor,
I'm making a mixtape for a friend who's about to have her first baby. What's soothing for late nights and early mornings?
Reggae all the way. Do not compromise: no nursery songs, no Disney, no One Direction, no Mozart For Babies. And make this reggae deep and low: try Joe Gibbs' African Dub All-Mighty recordings, or The Paragons (it's worth hunting down any of their CDs) to get her waters going. Come the day, the baby will simply groove out of there, easy like a train, chilled to the world. Well, you can only hope.
• What musical advice do you need? Post your questions in the thread below
