Things I have learnt this week: (1) As song topics go, the heart is so vague as to be virtually meaningless; (2) It will take more than a meaninglessly vague topic to deter RR regulars; (3) The most downloaded version of Piece Of My Heart on iTunes isn't by Janis Joplin, Erma Franklin or Dusty Springfield, but by Beverley Knight (?!?); (4) Even if you haven't just been dumped, Heart Like A Wheel should not be listened to for the first time alone, late at night, while a bit tipsy; (5) The lyrics to Nirvana's Heart Shaped Box are arrant gibberish.
Last week's nearly-weres: Gene Pitney, Wilco, Bobby "Blue" Bland (what a great, great tune), the Go-Betweens, Camera Obscura and Morrissey. I'm intrigued by murphsup's idea of a RR social. If any London-based contributors want to express an interest, I'll look into it. If nothing else, the music would certainly be eclectic: Dollar, Deep Purple, The Fall...
This week's subject is heaven and hell. In RR's early days, when I was not in full control of my vessel, I made the mistake of squeezing God, Jesus and the devil into one playlist. I soon learnt my lesson: there are always far more relevant songs than you expect so don't combine themes. Now, at least, some of those excellent suggestions should get another hearing. We've only playlisted two pertinent titles before: Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now and Curtis Mayfield's mighty (If There's a Hell Below) We're All Goin' To Go. The words heaven or hell, or at least convincing synonyms (inferno, paradise), must appear in the lyrics.
Kindly click this way for the A-Z and this way for the Readers recommend archive. Deadline is midday on Monday.
