A personal collection for after hours grooving
One of the UK’s finest songstresses dips into her home listening set..
1 At 17 / Janis Ian
When I was 13, a friend of mine’s Mum lent me some albums one of which was Between the Lines by Janis Ian, I learned the whole album off by heart and used to sing the songs to friends at school during break, the lyrics are amazing, each song telling a complete story. It really inspired me and solidified my dream to become a singer, I had been drawn more towards acting until that point.”
2 Hotel California / The Eagles
As a teenager I used to listen to Radio Luxembourg in secret under the covers when I was meant to be sleeping with my ear pressed up against the old Roberts Radio, they used to have a featured track on the hour every hour called a Powerplay and I just couldn’t get enough of Hotel California by The Eagles, I can remember just having to stay awake for the next play! It’s an amazing song, I love the guy’s voice and the guitars, it reminds me of happy times with my brother and our step brother and sister camping in the back garden and watching the stars and convincing ourselves they were UFOs.
3 Silly games / Janet Kay
This song reminds me of first starting to feel grown up and wishing I had a boyfriend and going clubbing… there’s such yearning in Janet’s voice and check out those high notes!
4 Jolene / Dolly Parton
I just adore Dolly Parton, such a character and this song about a woman fighting for her relationship which is threatened by the beautiful red haired green eyed Jolene is very moving, Dolly’s voice is beautiful and the guitar riff is a total classic.
5 Black Coffee / Peggy Lee
I LOVE vocal jazz and have an extensive vinyl collection including Billie Holiday, Etta James, Dinah Washington, Mitty Collier etc the list is long… my mother dated a jazz drummer when I was about 19 and he made me a cassette of Billie Holliday which I played constantly, I met a piano player and spent the next few years drinking up jazz and blues and performing my favourite standards in restaurants and wine bars, choosing a favourite is impossible of course but this song sums up the tragedy and the longing, the passion and the heartache that I enjoy so much about the genre and Peggy Lee’s voice is like velvet.
6 Morcheeba / The Sea
I just love this song and the whole Big Calm album, beautiful dreamy sunny music. Reminds me of being single before kids when I could indulge myself and listen to whole albums undisturbed over and over again!
7 Woman of Mine / Dean Friedman
When I met my husband it was love at first sight and we were married within 3 weeks, that was 14 years ago, on our wedding night at my flat in Kilburn NW6 we played lots of my old 45s and came across this 70s classic from singer songwriter Dean Friedman and discovered that we had both bought it and had loved it as teenagers.
8 Walking On a Dream / Empire of the Sun
Just love this, came through as a free track on i-tunes, something very special about it, it’s uplifting but desperately sad and haunting too.
9 One Evening / Feist
I was asked to record an advert in the style of Feist/Mushaboom, so that’s how I discovered the band, I now have several albums, just love her voice, the lyrics, the sound, brilliant music.
10 Haitian Divorce / Steely Dan
This is my packing music when I’m on the road, reminds me of carefree days in Brighton hanging out with hippies and playing guitar, jamming, looking for the meaning of life and skinny dipping…. such a skilled bunch of musicians, the Production is amazing.
“Hey DMCWORLD, honestly if you’d asked me to pick a top100 it would have been impossible, these are just a few of the great songs that mean something to me!”
Steven Lee & Granite Starring Katherine Ellis ‘Siempre Tu’ will be released on April 17th 2012 on Launch Entertainment US
