I’ve been thinking about compiling a list of songs that have been important to me throughout my life for a while now and, with this being my 50th year on this mortal coil, I felt now was as good a time as any. This is not a list of my 50 favourite songs, more a soundtrack to my life. There are many songs on this list that I continue to listen to today, and some I don’t. Either way, they have been important to me at some point and each has a story of why they made the final 50. The list is heavily weighted to the first half of my existence, but I tend to listen to songs from the 80s and 90s mostly and a great deal of these were discovered before my 21st birthday. The list has been constructed mainly in chronological order from when I first discovered them.
1 – Mull of Kintyre by Wings
My earliest memory of playing a record was this 7 inch single being in my house and my learning how to play it. I’m the youngest of four siblings, so much of my music taste was gained from my older siblings and mother who also loved music. My father was not a big music lover, probably tolerating the rest of us. I have no idea who this single belonged to, but anytime I hear it, it reminds me of my first foray into music.
2 – Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen
This is all down to my mother who had two musical obsessions, Jackson Browne and Bruce Springsteen. This has always been my favourite Springsteen song, from the opening piano, to the lyric about having a guitar and learning how to make it talk, through to Clarence Clemons’ saxophone outro after the final killer lyric about pulling out of a town full of losers.
3 – Ant Rap by Adam & The Ants
Adam & The Ants were the first band that made an impression on my younger self, with the make-up and clothes, double drumming and music videos. Ant Rap was one of the first 7 inch singles that I owned, I forget who bought it for me (probably one of my siblings), but I remember opening the advent calendar style sleeve to reveal each of the band members.
4 – Don’t You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds
I didn’t actually watch The Breakfast Club until many years later, so this song reminds me of listening to album from which the track came from rather than the movie it is synonymous with. I must admit to singing along to it and pretending to be Jim Kerr and mimicking the throwing of the microphone over the shoulder to clap to my imaginary audience.
5 – Violin by Kate Bush
My brother is a massive Kate Bush, so I was introduced to her early. I remember watching a VHS video of her music videos regularly, but it was this song that I remember being obsessed with from a young age. I’m sure it was the cassette tape that we had of the album that I would keep rewinding to hear this song. Later in my teenage years, when I started to learn to the play the guitar, I would come back to this song and the great guitar solo that comes out of nowhere.
6 – Head Over Heels/Broken by Tears For Fears
Saturday morning TV was a stable diet for me being introduced to music and catching the latest music videos being shown. I loved the song Mad World, but Head Over Heels got me, partly due to the great music video. I would watch this over and over and mimic the keyboard solo at the start of the second verse.
7 – Ace of Spades by Motörhead
My eldest brother was responsible for some of my love of heavy metal and classic rock music, although my other brother also had a hand in my love for this track. He introduced me to a comedy show on the television, The Young Ones, which I loved sneakily watching when I perhaps too young to do so. My favourite episode featured this song and many years later I would see the band live with my eldest brother and it remains one of the best metal tracks ever written.
8 – Wishing I Was Lucky by Wet Wet Wet
Whilst I was gaining a love of various rock and pop artists from my brother, my sister was introducing me to some of the great Scottish artists of the 80s. Wet Wet Wet were formed just over the River Clyde in the town of Clydebank, so were very local to us. Popped In Souled Out was one of these albums that I listened to constantly when I acquired a Walkman to play cassettes on.
9 – You’re the Voice by John Farnham
Another song that I had on 7 inch vinyl having been introduced to it via a live performance on the TV. I remember being blown away when a bunch of bagpipers appeared on stage to play the piped section in the middle of the song.
10 – Gimme The Prize by Queen
I was first introduced to Queen by my friend John who lived on the same street as me. I’m sure it was the Greatest Hits album from the early 80s that was played regularly, however, the song that remains my favourite appeared later during the classic sci-fi movie ‘The Highlander’. My other friend, Phil, had the tape of ‘A Kind of Magic’ and Gimme The Prize was the one we played regularly, which included lines from the movie as well as the bagpipe-style guitar solo.
11 – Wanted Dead Or Alive by Bon Jovi
Around this time as my musical tastes were developing, I started to listen to some hard rock artists. The first that really stuck were Bon Jovi and the Slippery When Wet album. Although I loved all the songs on the album, Wanted Dead Or Alive remains my favourite and was one of the main reasons for me wanting to pick up a guitar and learn how to play it.
12 – Foolish Beat by Debbie Gibson
Before that, however, there was still a bit of pop music to obsess myself with and being a teenager at the time, Debbie Gibson was one of the first artists that I listened to without influence of others. The Out of the Blue album was the first record I bought with my own money, being purchased on a family holiday with some spending money I had been given. I also had the Foolish Beat single in my collection, so choose this song for the list.
13 – Heart And Soul by T’Pau
It was November 1988 that I attended my first live concert. I remember buying the ticket months in advance and having it pinned up on my wall until the day arrived. My sister took me the SSEC in Glasgow and the experience blew me away as a recently turned 14 year old. The opening bars of this song always take me back to that moment.
14 – Birthday by The Sugarcubes
My brother took me to my second concert to see The Sugarcubes, the Icelandic band that launched the singer Bjork. It was also my first experience of the iconic Glasgow Barrowlands music venue that I would attend numerous times to see bands and artists over the years. I loved the Life’s Too Good album and Birthday was the first single released from it.
15 – Jocelyn Square by Love & Money
Back to my sister’s influence and of all the bands she introduced me to, Love & Money remain one of my favourite bands of all time. They didn’t get the commercial success they deserved outside their native Scotland and their work still deserves to be heard. They also headlined the third concert I attended in the Pavillon theatre in Glasgow, again my sister taking me there with the supporting artists including John Martyn and it may have been the McCluskey Brothers and Big Dish too. It was Love & Money I was there to see and I remember running through the rain to catch the last train home singing this song with my sister.
16 – Long White Car by Hipsway
Another band I was listening to around this time was Hipsway. Although my sister’s influence would have been present, it was around this time that my brother got a CD player. This new fancy music listening invention had me in awe and the Hipsway debut album was one of the few discs he had at this time. The idea that you could skip to a specific track without the need of carefully dropping a needle or rewinding and fast-forwarding to a set place was revolutionary. Long White Car has remained one of my favourites from that very album.
17 – Never Tear Us Apart by INXS
As we entered the 1990’s, I started going to gigs with friends rather than siblings and one of the great live bands around the late 80s/early 90s were INXS. A band that knew how to put on a performance, fronted by the charismatic Michael Hutchence, listening to them now reminds me of that time when live music was a sheer joy and you could still see most of the biggest bands and artists without having to take out a second mortgage to pay for the tickets.
18 – Real Gone Kid by Deacon Blue
Again, my sister would have been an influence here and their debut was played to death in our house and on my walkman. In 1989, I made my first trip to Scandinavia, going to Denmark with my school. We took the ferry and over twenty hours later arrived at our destination. It was during the first look around Esbjerg that I spotted the recently released second album (When The World Knows Your Name) for sale on CD. Duly purchased, it was well played in my room when I finally got a CD player of my own.
19 – Nothing Ever Happens by Del Amitri
Another band that has stayed with me throughout my life and I love many of their albums and songs. I’ve seen them live many times, but this song from their breakthrough album is tough to beat and remains one of my daughter’s favourite songs of all time.
20 – Die Hard The Hunter by Def Leppard
By the late 80’s, I was listening more and more to hard rock and heavy metal bands. Def Leppard was one of the first bands I got really obsessed with. My friend Phil introduced me to the Hysteria album and we both got really into them, tracking down and obtaining the previous albums which was not as easy in those days (It took a while before we got our hands on High and Dry, waiting for it to be re-issued). Of course, they were old news to my eldest brother who seen them support AC/DC at the Glasgow Apollo around 1979 and he let me steal his copy of their debut album On Through The Night. Or I think he let me…
21 – Phantom of the Opera by Iron Maiden
Another of my eldest brother’s influence via the brilliant Live After Death album, which he had in double vinyl and VHS tape. My earliest memory, however, was a few years earlier when a Lucozade advert featuring this song appeared on TV. When I started to learn the guitar, this was the riff that I felt if I could play I had made it as a guitarist. I can play it, but not sure about the second part of the sentiment.
22 – Thunderstruck by AC/DC
I went to see AC/DC with my eldest brother in the early 90s and once more they were just a band that knew how to put on a show. Angus Young is a genius guitar player alongside his stage presence and I loved the stage show with huge inflatables, etc.
23 – Poison by Alice Cooper
I think Alice Cooper was my fourth gig, in Dec 1989 when again I attended with my eldest brother who had bought me a ticket for my 15th birthday. My friend Scott was also in attendance in what was his first ever concert. 35 years later and my brother took me again to see him for my 50th birthday and it was one of the best gigs I have been to in years. Poison remains my favourite song, with that brilliant guitar introduction.
24 – Dream On by Aerosmith
My school friend Andrew was obsessed with Aerosmith and introduced me to much of their back catalogue after they had re-emerged in the 80s. I loved their albums from the 80s and 90s, but also listened a lot to their earlier ones, including Toys in the Attic and their debut which features the incredible Dream On. Still one of the best curtain drops (or rises in this case) at the start of a concert that I have witnessed when I saw them in the early 90s in Glasgow.
25 – One by Metallica
You couldn’t listen to heavy metal in the 80s without being exposed to Metallica. I loved the Black album when it was released in 1991 but this song with the iconic music video remains in the memory. Another band I would see live in Glasgow, playing ‘in the round’.
26 – Behind the Mask by Eric Clapton
A school friend of mine, Iain, was learning to play guitar around the same time as me and introduced me to Eric Clapton. I was aware of some of his songs, but he lent me one of his greatest hits albums covering his full career to that point. In the early 90s we went to see him and on the verge of buying the last available tickets at the Virgin Megastore in Glasgow (in the days when tickets were bought in person), the seller noted that he had announced a second gig with tickets going on sale the next day. We returned the following morning and managed to secure front row seats on what turned out to be a memorable night. I went back to see him a decade or so later and it was not the same, playing heavily on the classic blues songs and having two additional guitarists playing solos on almost every song. The first concert when it was just him and all the hits will remain special.
27 – Silent All These Years by Tori Amos
Having introduced me to many artists, including Kate Bush, my brother let me listen to Tori Amos and I was blown away. The first two albums in particular got a heavy rotation in my bedroom and we went to see her live when she was touring the second one. I love many of her songs, but the lyrics of Silent All These Years make it a truly memorable song.
28 – Youth Gone Wild by Skid Row
Back to the rock music and Skid Row were another band I was listening to a lot. Their first two albums were superb and they also performed at my favourite concert to date. I headed down to Donington in 1992 for my only attendance of the Monsters of Rock festival. It was one of the last ones when you went to see a number of bands on one stage perform and Skid Row were the second last on, just prior to headliners Iron Maiden.
29 – Dirty Love by Thunder
Thunder were the one band that I was completely obsessed with as a teenager. I went to see them numerous times, including the aforementioned Donington gig. I actually purchased their debut album in five different formats – vinyl, CD, picture disc vinyl, US import CD (different cover) and Japanese CD (extra live disc). I met them with my friend Paul after a gig once, but made a bit of a prat of myself when I met my guitar-playing/song writing hero Luke Morley, being a bit star struck at the time.
30 – Juvenile Offender by Little Angels
Little Angels were a band of a similar vain to Thunder and I owned their second album on CD which got heavily played at this time. The band supported Bon Jovi when I went to see them at the Milton Keynes Bowl in 1993, a great band live with their ‘Big Bad Horns’ brass section (okay, it was usually 2 people, but it was good to hear). Juvenile Offender is one of my favourite songs due to a big key change at the ‘Run Away’ section and the false ending before a big guitar part.
31 – Oblivion by Terrorvision
I first came across Terrorvision when they supported Def Leppard at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield. I didn’t know much about them, but was impressed by their set. It was the release of this song from their second album that started my love of them. At first listen, I was not sure of the album this song appeared on, as the songs seemed a bit eclectic, but after the second listen I was hooked. A great band, I’ve seen a few times live and they never disappoint.
32 – Money (Everybody Loves Her) by Gun
Gun were a band that I was aware of from their debut album and enjoyed, although it was their third album that sealed it for me. Their incredible version of Cameo’s Word Up will be most people’s memory from that album, but one of my favourite songs from them was the B side to that single ‘Stay Forever’. I, however, chose this song from their debut album as it remains a favourite and has a great guitar introduction, especially when played live.
33 – Epic by Faith No More
Another band witnessed at the legendary Glasgow Barrowlands, Faith No More always put on a great live show. Epic is perhaps their best known song and had heavy rotation on MTV back in the day and has remained a favourite of mine.
34 – Knock Me Down by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Also seeing the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the Barrowlands seems mind blowing now, given their rise to the stadium rockers that they are now. I’ve never been to a gig that was that packed before, and I suspect that it may have been over capacity. My favourite album remains Mother’s Milk and Knock Me Down is one of their most underrated songs in my opinion.
35 – Jesus Loves You But I Don’t by The Almighty
The Almighty were another band introduced by my friend Phil who was a huge fan following the release of their debut album. It was their third album, Powertrippin’, that grabbed me. They also opened at the Donington 1992 festival, so will remain special if for that reason alone.
36 – Alive by Pearl Jam
If you’ve read some of my previous blogs, you will know that this is my favourite song of all time and specifically chosen as the title for my debut novel for that reason. When grunge hit in 1991, the movement was the equivalent to the punk era of the 1970s or the rock n roll era of the 1950s. Although it was an antidote to the big hair rock and metal acts of the 1980s, I enjoyed both genres equally, but grunge had a new and exciting feel as I finished my school/teenage years. Sadly a band that I’ve yet to see live as they have only played in Scotland twice, first time I was too young (over 18’s only and I was 17) and second time we were expecting our first child. She is now 24 and they have not been back in her lifetime.
37 – Come As You Are by Nirvana
Of course at this time, Nirvana were also riding the wave of grunge and, despite the best efforts of the press, the PJ v Nirvana rivalry didn’t affect the fans. Nevermind is a masterpiece, but I’ve always preferred Ten in comparison. I had the CD single of Come As You Are, so chose that song for this list.
38 – Jesus Christ Pose by Soundgarden
Soundgarden are the only one of the ‘Big Four’ of grunge that I’ve seen live, again at the Barrowlands. I remember hearing this song for the first time and the guitars just ripping through me. Chris had the best vocal range of the four lead singers, but I loved each of them given how different that they were. Sadly, only Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder is still with us and of the three that have passed away, I still find Chris’s death the most shocking.
39 – Would? by Alice In Chains
One of the greatest soundtrack albums is from the movie Singles, released in the early 90s capturing the grunge scene in Seattle. With many bands making cameo appearances, I played the soundtrack CD to death. Would? is the opening track and introduced me to Alice In Chains, although it would not be until much later that I really appreciated how good they are and that Dirt remains one of the best albums ever.
40 – Chloe Dancer/Crown Of Thorns by Mother Love Bone
From the same soundtrack, the incredible double song from Mother Love Bone, the band that spurned Pearl Jam after the death of lead singer Andrew Wood. This is an incredible song that is perhaps the stand out of that album and shows of the loss of such a talent.
41 – Comfortably Numb (Live) by Pink Floyd
I discovered Pink Floyd rather late, only appreciating them by the mid 90s when an old manager of mine lent me the Division Bell album. From there, I discovered the classics including Dark Side of The Moon which remains in my top 3 albums of all time. I have chosen Comfortably Numb, however, from The Wall album, but for my list I insist on using the live version from Pulse. The main reason is the song has my favourite guitar solo of all time and the recorded version creates the ultimate sin of fading it out towards the end. The version on Pulse, however, has perhaps the greatest version of the solo ever recorded.
42 – You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette
Around this time an unknown artist burst onto the music scene with her Jagged Little Pill album. I quickly became obsessed with this album and played it constantly. Add in some members of Red Hot Chili Peppers and this song was the stand out. I went to see her live, again at the Barrowlands and met the band in the Cathouse afterwards. I believe the late Taylor Hawkins was there so I must have met him at the time. My eldest daughter is a huge fan now and we will be off to see her next year, 29 years after that show.
43 – Yes by McAlmont & Butler
I met my wife in 1996 and this was an album she was listening to at this time. I remember rushing out to buy my own copy and this was the big song taken from it. I had enjoyed early Suede, so loved some of the guitar playing on this album.
44 – Ocean Drive by Lighthouse Family
A band that my wife and I went to see live a few times and always enjoyed. This track has extra special meaning as it was the first song I played in the flat we first owned together.
45 – My Father’s Coat by James Grant
With the splitting up of my beloved Love & Money in the mid 90s, I had to wait a full decade before James Grant finally released his first solo album. We went to see him live many times in the period as I wanted to make up for lost time. It was tricky trying to pick one song from his 5 albums to date, but I’ve gone with My Father’s Coat which is a perfect example of a story within a song. I did attend the Love & Money gig when they reformed in 2011, but I’ve equally enjoyed his solo work.
46 – What Comes to Pass by Kevin McDermott Orchestra
I was a late to the KMO party and only really started listening to them with the release of their greatest hits album, Fair and Whole in 1998. I did get to see him live at the fabulous King Tut’s Wah Way Hut in Glasgow (the venue of my 21st birthday party) when Del Amitri’s guitarist Iain Harvey played with him. What Comes to Pass is a standout track for me.
47 – So Long, Jimmy by James Blunt
One of the few albums that was played in full in the car, that all the family enjoyed, was Back to Bedlam, James Blunt’s debut. I’ve always held the opinion that this song is a tribute to Jimi Hendrix, but I’m not sure if this has ever been confirmed by James himself. Still, it’s one of my favourites from the album.
48 – Guaranteed by Eddie Vedder
I watched the movie Into The Wild not realising that Eddie Vedder had composed the soundtrack, but recognised his singing straight away. I didn’t know the back story to this film based on true events and was stunned by both it and the soundtrack album, which ranks among the best soundtrack albums in my opinion (with Singles, of course). I went on to read the book which the film is based and also one written by the main character’s sister. Guaranteed is a brilliant song and one I listen to often.
49 – Way Down We Go by Kaleo
Another band we agree on as a family is the Icelandic band, Kaleo. I took my eldest daughter to see them live in Glasgow, before returning with the whole family to make a pilgrimage-like trip to the Glasgow Barrowlands. Having seen so many great bands and artists there over the years, it was somewhat special to return with my whole family.
50 – Experience by Ludovico Einaudi
When my eldest daughter was learning piano, her teacher introduced her to Einaudi. She actually got to meet the great pianist before a concert in Edinburgh and his music is often played as a soothing soundtrack. Our rescued Lurcher, Ludo, is named after the great musician, so I had to include him on the list.
If you’ve made it to the end of this mammoth blog, thank you for reading. I guess this may be the closest I get to an autobiography and I don’t think I’ll be asked to appear on Desert Island Discs, but if I am the eight will certainly come from this list. Many of the songs have been referenced in my books, especially by Classic Rock fan DS Lyle in the DI Christie novels, so if you fancy reading these, check them out in the ‘Books’ tab of this website. And look out for the fourth DI Christie novel due out in December, with a festive Classic Rock touch to it…
Ross Alexander Writer 