Redemption Song - Bob Marley
Probably one of my favourite songs ever written. I had always liked Bob's music, but it wasn't until I lived in Jamaica in the 90s that it really hit me how brilliant he was. If you've been there, it's not hard to understand how he drew inspiration from the country and spirit of the people - both are magical. Songs of freedom.
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Imagine (Live Acoustic Guitar Version) - John Lennon
I heard this acoustic version for the first time on a radio station in Los Angeles while driving down the street. I pulled over to listen to it, as I couldn't believe I'd never heard it before. Stunning song, stunning artist, stunning performance. When John Lennon grew his hair, so did I.
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No More Mr Nice Guy - Alice Cooper
I chose this song as I used to love Alice when I was a teen. I saw him in Vancouver the night he fell off the stage, that was tough. I find myself singing Alice's tunes once in a while. Maybe you'll like this one.
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Life on Mars? - David Bowie
Bowie was the first rock concert I ever went to. I saw his Diamond Dogs tour when I was living in Ottawa in the early 70s. His conductor on this tour was Michael Kamen, who I later wrote some of my biggest songs with in the 1990s. I love this song, it's simply amazing. I ended up touring with David in South America many years later, he's one of the nicest people I've ever met. Humbling.
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Night Moves - Bob Seger
Like all of these songs, this is one of those songs I wished I'd written. How did he do it? How did he write about making love in the summer and make it sound so poetic? I tried to do the same on Summer of 69, (which everyone thinks is about the year, but it's not).
Not available on UK iTunes, but you can listen/buy the Night Moves album here
Across The Universe - The Beatles
Lyrics, melody, production ... just an incredible song.
Not available on iTunes. Er, buy the CD?
Tennessee Waltz - Sam Cooke
Next to Ray Charles, Sam Cooke is my favourite singer. Actually, I need to slot Elvis in there too, but anyway, my manager gave me this Sam song to listen to when his Movin' On album came out. It's one of the best vocal performances I've ever heard, not to mention I love the lyric. It's really simple and the production just keeps building and building. You wonder what it must have been like to be one of the musicians in the room watching him sing this.
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God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
I heard this recently and it reminded me of how amazing a song it is. I met Brian Wilson once when we were both being interviewed by MTV. It was a Brian and Bryan interview and we were both asked the same question: what were we doing in 1967? I replied: "I was in school." Brian replied: "a lot of LSD". I laughed, and that was the end of the interview.
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Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley
Here's something crazy - it never occurred to me until recently that this song was written by the great Leonard Cohen. I guess it was Buckley's version that got me, and it got me good. Headphones for this one.
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Reet Petite - Jackie Wilson
I've always wondered if Elvis heard Jackie Wilson and was influenced by him. This song was recorded in 1957 and sometimes when I hear Elvis sing, I wonder if he'd been listening to Jackie, maybe it's just the way singers sounded back then. Anyway, I love this song, it's kind of soul music they don't make any more, and reminds me of when I used to listen to the AM radio in my mothers car, or when I was scrounging around looking for a job before I was a proper musician.
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Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors - The Editors
I thought I'd choose a new song by a new band, and this one leaps out to me. Great energy, interesting lyrics, excellent production. If they are as good live as this record, then I'm right there.
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Bryan Adams was talking to Rosie Swash. His new album 11, is out this week on Polydor records