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A thread of what I’d consider to be my Top 20 favourite bands and artists, featuring a track from each act. Hope you enjoy them 
20. The Band
King Harvest (Has Surely Come)
Five multi-instrumentalists playing soulful, rural and reflective music steeped in mythic American imagery - although 4/5 Canadian. Hugely influential.
Favourite album: The Band (1969)
King Harvest (Has Surely Come)
Five multi-instrumentalists playing soulful, rural and reflective music steeped in mythic American imagery - although 4/5 Canadian. Hugely influential.
Favourite album: The Band (1969)
19. James Brown
Get on the Good Foot
Born into abject poverty, raised in a brothel, onto superstardom as the ‘Godfather of Soul’. Ruthless bandleader, inventor of funk, rhythmic king. Mr Dynamite.
Favourite album: Ain’t it Funky (1970)
Get on the Good Foot
Born into abject poverty, raised in a brothel, onto superstardom as the ‘Godfather of Soul’. Ruthless bandleader, inventor of funk, rhythmic king. Mr Dynamite.
Favourite album: Ain’t it Funky (1970)
18. The Byrds
I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better
Marrying the electric energy of the British Invasion to folk music, with angelic harmonies and a jangling 12-string. Pioneers of folk rock, psychedelia and county rock.
Favourite album: The Notorious Byrd Brothers (1968)
I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better
Marrying the electric energy of the British Invasion to folk music, with angelic harmonies and a jangling 12-string. Pioneers of folk rock, psychedelia and county rock.
Favourite album: The Notorious Byrd Brothers (1968)
17. Love
You Set the Scene
One of the seminal psychedelic bands of the 60s, recording three great albums before falling foul to sackings, drug addiction and prison sentences. They should’ve toured.
Favourite album: Forever Changes (1967)
You Set the Scene
One of the seminal psychedelic bands of the 60s, recording three great albums before falling foul to sackings, drug addiction and prison sentences. They should’ve toured.
Favourite album: Forever Changes (1967)
16. Happy Mondays
Moving in With
A glorious mix of house music, surrealism, housing estate funk and drugs. Lots of drugs. One of the UK’s most influential and deranged bands. Scallies - pure and simple.
Favourite album: Squirrel and G-Man... (1987)
Moving in With
A glorious mix of house music, surrealism, housing estate funk and drugs. Lots of drugs. One of the UK’s most influential and deranged bands. Scallies - pure and simple.
Favourite album: Squirrel and G-Man... (1987)
15. Stevie Wonder
Living for the City
Blind virtually since birth, yet created colourful, vibrant music teeming with optimism and life. Multi-instrumentalist, child prodigy, social commentator. An indisputable genius.
Favourite album: Innervisions (1973)
Living for the City
Blind virtually since birth, yet created colourful, vibrant music teeming with optimism and life. Multi-instrumentalist, child prodigy, social commentator. An indisputable genius.
Favourite album: Innervisions (1973)
14. Bob Marley & the Wailers
Stir it Up
Songs of faith, mysticism and revolution. Rock-contoured reggae that took the feeling of Trenchtown to the global stage. Reggae's most transcendent and iconic figure.
Favourite album: Burnin’ (1973)
Stir it Up
Songs of faith, mysticism and revolution. Rock-contoured reggae that took the feeling of Trenchtown to the global stage. Reggae's most transcendent and iconic figure.
Favourite album: Burnin’ (1973)
13. The Stooges
I Wanna Be Your Dog
Famed for the primeval antics, and audience-baiting, of enigmatic wildman Iggy Pop. A bleak and noisy rock & roll madhouse that collapsed in on itself in the end.
Favourite album: Fun House (1970)
I Wanna Be Your Dog
Famed for the primeval antics, and audience-baiting, of enigmatic wildman Iggy Pop. A bleak and noisy rock & roll madhouse that collapsed in on itself in the end.
Favourite album: Fun House (1970)
12. The Pogues
A Rainy Night in Soho
Traditional Irish folk, infused with the raucous spirit of punk. Brutal realism, misty-eyed romanticism, drunken snarls, jigs. Sometimes in the same song. MacGowan’s one of the greats.
Favourite album: Rum Sodomy & the Lash (1985)
A Rainy Night in Soho
Traditional Irish folk, infused with the raucous spirit of punk. Brutal realism, misty-eyed romanticism, drunken snarls, jigs. Sometimes in the same song. MacGowan’s one of the greats.
Favourite album: Rum Sodomy & the Lash (1985)
11. Led Zeppelin
Over the Hills and Far Away
All-conquering stadium-rock behemoths, credited with spawning heavy metal - but I won’t hold that against them. Heavy, with a lightness of touch. 70s rock gods personified.
Favourite album: Physical Graffiti (1975)
Over the Hills and Far Away
All-conquering stadium-rock behemoths, credited with spawning heavy metal - but I won’t hold that against them. Heavy, with a lightness of touch. 70s rock gods personified.
Favourite album: Physical Graffiti (1975)
10. The Clash
White Riot
Musically adventurous, genre-hoppers blessed with two excellent songwriters. Fiery, idealistic and politically charged. More than just a punk band.
Favourite album: London Calling (1979)
White Riot
Musically adventurous, genre-hoppers blessed with two excellent songwriters. Fiery, idealistic and politically charged. More than just a punk band.
Favourite album: London Calling (1979)
9. The Who
My Generation
Introspective, articulate lyrics set to undeniably powerful music. Splintered guitars, hotel rooms in tatters, rock opera’s. One of rock's most innovative and dynamic bands.
Favourite album: Tommy (1969)
My Generation
Introspective, articulate lyrics set to undeniably powerful music. Splintered guitars, hotel rooms in tatters, rock opera’s. One of rock's most innovative and dynamic bands.
Favourite album: Tommy (1969)
8. The Stone Roses
She Bangs the Drums
60s guitar sound, paired with dance; all delivered with unshakable confidence and Manc swagger. The coolest band of my lifetime. Often imitated, never bettered.
Favourite album: The Stone Roses (1989)
She Bangs the Drums
60s guitar sound, paired with dance; all delivered with unshakable confidence and Manc swagger. The coolest band of my lifetime. Often imitated, never bettered.
Favourite album: The Stone Roses (1989)
7. The Doors
Roadhouse Blues
Provocative, uncompromising songs, superb interplay. Fronted by one of the great mythical icons of the 1960s: the whisky-swilling, acid-chomping hedonist, Mr Mojo Risin.
Favourite album: The Doors (1967)
Roadhouse Blues
Provocative, uncompromising songs, superb interplay. Fronted by one of the great mythical icons of the 1960s: the whisky-swilling, acid-chomping hedonist, Mr Mojo Risin.
Favourite album: The Doors (1967)
6. Talking Heads
Once in a Lifetime
Funky spasmodic rhythms, nervous energy and intellectual lyrics. The most accomplished band to emerge from the New York punk scene, and fronted by a West of Scotlander.
Favourite album: Fear of Music (1979)
Once in a Lifetime
Funky spasmodic rhythms, nervous energy and intellectual lyrics. The most accomplished band to emerge from the New York punk scene, and fronted by a West of Scotlander.
Favourite album: Fear of Music (1979)
5. The Velvet Underground
I’m Waiting for the Man
Commercial flops, since recognised as one of the most influential bands of them all. An act ahead of, and out of step with, their time. Experimental, decadent, nihilistic, brilliant.
Favourite album: The VU & Nico (1967)
I’m Waiting for the Man
Commercial flops, since recognised as one of the most influential bands of them all. An act ahead of, and out of step with, their time. Experimental, decadent, nihilistic, brilliant.
Favourite album: The VU & Nico (1967)
4. David Bowie
Rebel Rebel
Influenced the course of pop music, several times. Glam, plastic soul, avant-rock, electronica, dance-pop. Way out in front. Chameleon and white-hot talent. The 70s were his.
Favourite album: Low (1977)
Rebel Rebel
Influenced the course of pop music, several times. Glam, plastic soul, avant-rock, electronica, dance-pop. Way out in front. Chameleon and white-hot talent. The 70s were his.
Favourite album: Low (1977)
3. Bob Dylan
Just Like a Woman
An artist who’s influence on popular music is incalculable. Singer-songwriter, activist, author, poet. A trailblazing, tousle-haired, husky-voiced genius.
Favourite album: Blonde on Blonde (1966)
Just Like a Woman
An artist who’s influence on popular music is incalculable. Singer-songwriter, activist, author, poet. A trailblazing, tousle-haired, husky-voiced genius.
Favourite album: Blonde on Blonde (1966)
2. The Beatles
In My Life
4 lads from Liverpool who conquered the world. Imaginative, experimental, innovative, prolific. Arguably the most influential band of the 20th Century. Pop perfection.
Favourite album: Rubber Soul (1965)
In My Life
4 lads from Liverpool who conquered the world. Imaginative, experimental, innovative, prolific. Arguably the most influential band of the 20th Century. Pop perfection.
Favourite album: Rubber Soul (1965)
1. The Rolling Stones
Gimme Shelter
Setting the standard for rock acts in terms of sex, drugs and bad-boy behaviour. The longest-performing rock n roll band of all time? They’re certainly the greatest. IMO.
Favourite album: Beggars Banquet (1968)
Gimme Shelter
Setting the standard for rock acts in terms of sex, drugs and bad-boy behaviour. The longest-performing rock n roll band of all time? They’re certainly the greatest. IMO.
Favourite album: Beggars Banquet (1968)
