I consider my life to have been blessed, a charmed existence. By the time I was eight years old, Cliff Richard and The Shadows were my heroes, I tried for a long time to perfect Cliffs quiff, lashing on brylcream to hold the creation in place. At the age of ten, my Father bought me Please Please Me, The Beatles first album; I was somehow totally consumed by the new wave of British music. This infatuation grew with the Memphis sound of Stax Records and the soul of Detroits Tamla Motown, I learnt geography from the cities that these and other labels were based in. I read all I could about the artists, songwriters and producers, trying to understand their individual jobs in the process of record making. By the age of fourteen, I knew someway, somehow, I had to be involved in the record business, not able to play any instrument and living in a provincial town like Walsall, it seemed a tall order, and was met with derision from friends and some of my family. However, music was the only thing that made me feel totally alive and filled me with passion.
Today, looking back, my career seems like an impossible dream, however, it happened. Here are some of the records over the years that formed the musical tapestry of my life.
| Carole King | It’s too late |
| James Taylor | You’ve got a friend |
| T.Rex | Hot love |
| Beatles | She loves you |
| Paul McCartney & Wings | Band on the run |
| Bread | Make it with you |
| Astrud Gilberto | The girl from Ipanema |
| Janis Ian | At seventeen |
| Eagles | Hotel California |
| Frank Sinatra | I’ve got you under my skin |
| Dean Martin | Everybody loves somebody sometime |
| Steely Dan | Do it again |
| David Bowie | The jean genie |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | Bad moon rising |
| Dusty Springfield | The look of love |
| Cliff Richard | The next time |
| George Benson | On Broadway |
| Aretha Franklin | Until you come back to me |
| Rod Stewart | Maggie May |
| Glenn Miller | Moonlight Serenade |
| Sam Cooke | You send me |
| Slade | Gudbuy TJane |
| Michael Jackson | Rock with you |
| Tom Jones | Its not unusual |
| Elvis Presley | Jailhouse Rock |
| Ella Fitzgerald | Everytime we say goodbye |
| Beach Boys | Then I kissed her |
| Barry White | Can’t get enough of you babe |
| Andy Williams | Can’t take my eyes off you |
| Marvin Gaye | Come get to this |
| Doris Day | Move over darling |
| Ricky lee Jones | Chuch es in love |
| Aztec Camera | How men are |
| Sugar Minnott | Good thing going |
| Bobby Goldsboro | Summer the first time |
| Four Tops | I’m in a different world |
| Shanice | I love your smile |
| Todd Rungren | I saw the light |
| Isaac Hayes | Joy |
| Johnny Cash | Ring of fire |
| Junior Walker | What does it take |
| Chic | I want your love |
| Al Green | Tired of being alone |
| Perry Como | And I love you so |
| Major Harris | Love wont let me wait |
| Doobie Brothers | What a fool believes |
| Frank & Nancy Sinatra | Something Stupid |
| Andrew Gold | Never let her slip away |
| Bonnie Rait | Nick of time |
| Bee Gees | Night Fever |
| Hall & Oates | I cant go for that |
| Prince | Purple Rain |
| B J Thomas | Raindrops keep falling on my head |
| Fontella bass | Rescue Me |
| Ray Charles | I can’t stop loving you |
| Otis Redding | Sitting on the dock of the bay |
| Carpenters | Close to you |
| Diana Ross | I’m still waiting |
| Supremes | Reflections |
| Temptations | Aint to proud to beg |
| Barbara Streisand | Evergreen |
| Squeeze | Up the junction |
| Spinners | Could it be Im falling in love |
| Patsy Cline | Crazy |
| Crystal Gayle | Don’t it make my brown eyes blue |
| Thin Lizzy | Boys are back in town |
| Kinks | Waterloo Sunset |
| Dionne Warwick | Do you know the way to San Jose |
| Isley Brothers | This old heart of mine |
| Fleetwood Mac | Dreams |
| Sly & Family Stone | Family Affair |
| Petula Clark | Downtown |
| Norah Jones | Don’t know why |
| Chris Rea | Fool if you think its over |
| Stevie Wonder | Lately |
| Boz Scaggs | Its Over |
| Georgie Fame | Sitting in the park |
| Who | I cant explain |
| Curtis Mayfield | Move on up |
| Sam & Dave | Soul Man |
| Ben E King | Stand by me |
| 5th Dimension | Wedding Bell Blues |
| Bing Crosby | White Christmas |
| Jackie Wilson | I get the sweetest feeling |
| Style Council | You’re the best thing |
| Beatles | Get Back |
| Percy Sledge | When a man loves a woman |
| Robert Palmer | Every Kinda people |
| Arthur Conley | Sweet soul music |
| Smokey Robinson | Tracks of my tears |
| Chicago | Saturday in the park |
| Shadows | Foot tapper |
| Bob Marley | Waiting in vain |
| Mark Morrison | Return of the Mack |
| Soul to Soul | Keep on moving |