Wednesday 9th January 2008.

Yes, by McAlmont & Butler, a single and opening track from their first album, The Sound of...McAlmont & Butler, released in 1995 after they'd already split up(only to reform and record a second album to general indifference in 2002). Their last single, Speed, came out in 2006. You can visit their official website here. Butler was Bernard, erstwhile guitarist with Suede and, later, The Tears. He has just co-written the forthcoming debut album from brilliant new singer Duffy, including the single Rockferry, which is well worth hearing here(though you'll have to click on the video to hear the whole song as her record company is too stingy to allow the audio to be downloaded in its entirety)

Munich, by Editors, single and track from their debut album, 2005's The Back Room. Their eagerly awaited second album was released last year and is a pile of bombastic rubbish, which may or may not have something to do with the singer/songwriter's lasting dalliance with insufferable Radio One DJ and professional Scot, Edith Bowman.

London Calling, by The Clash. Nothing else to add, other than RIP Joe Strummer.

Walking With Thee, the title track from the third, 2002 album by Liverpool's Clinic. They've never made it big, but their menacing brand of rock/pop is often featured on late night, imported Channel Four TV series. They're like a scary Half Man Half Biscuit. Sample their most recent album, last year's Visitations, here.

The Last Good Day Of The Year, from the debut, eponymous 1999 album from Cousteau. And, if truth be told, the only decent track on it.

Astounded, by Bran Van 3000, from their 2001 album, Discosis. This track samples Move On Up by Curtis Mayfield.

The Lighthouse, by Hector Zazou, featuring Siouxsie(without her Banshees) on vocals, from Zazou's 1994 album, Songs From The Cold Seas. On this little-heard gem of an album, the prolific French composer collaborates with a succession of female vocalists, including Bjork, Suzanne Vega, Jane Siberry and Barra-born Gaelic singer Catherine-Ann MacPhee. Sample it here.

Pure Shores, by All Saints, from the soundtrack to The Beach(2000).

In My Bed, by Amy Winehouse, from her debut 2003 album, Frank. Sample the rest of it here.

Love Letter, by Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, from their majestic, mournful 2001 album, No More Shall We Part. Sample the rest of its heartbreaking beauty here.

The Disappointed, by XTC, from their 1992 album Nonsuch. Sample all the hits from the career of one of England's most charming and eccentric bands here.

JACK'S BIT OF CRACKLING: Flight, by A Certain Ratio, released as a 12-inch single with Blown Away and And Then Again on Factory Records in 1980. Though embraced as cult favourites, the band never quite achieved the fame of their labelmates, Joy Division. But they've got a great website here.

The Space Race Is Over, Billy Bragg's heartfelt lament for the loss of innocence and the power of imagination, featured on his 1996 album, William Bloke. Sample the rest of it here.

Good Souls, by Starsailor. Classic single, included on their 2001 debut album, the much underrated Love Is Here. Sample tracks from their most recent(2006) album, On The Outside, here.

Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Barry Adamson, from his 1996 album with the rubbish title, Oedipus Schmoedipus. He once played bass guitar with Magazine, don't you know...

Revolutionary Spirit, the debut single by The Wild Swans. The last single released on Liverpool's legendary Zoo label in 1982, the story behind this recording is almost as epic as Paul Simpson's lyrics and vocals. First, it was financed and produced by Pete de Freitas(RIP), drummer with Echo and the Bunnymen who'd just received a royalty cheque for £2,000. He also played the drums on it and is credited as Louis Vincent. Second, it was recorded in mono by mistake, and that was the version the band stuck with. A stereo version was released in the US after de Freitas took the master tape to New York and remixed it with Talking Heads' live engineer, but the band believed the mono version was superior and released that in the UK. Third, the flipside was the equally stirring God Forbid. Fourth, this was the only record this incarnation of The Wild Swans ever released(though they produced a spine-shiveringly exquisite session for Radio One DJ John Peel which was later released on vinyl).

The group then disbanded while Simpson pursued a project with Ian Broudie as the duo Care(see the blog for 12 December below), reforming with new personnel to record their 1990 album, Bringing Home The Ashes. Their second album, Space Flower, saw a drastic change in direction(they went all Happy Mondays) and was only released in the US - until last year, that is, when it was released by Korova as part of a retrospective two-disc set called Magnitude. Sample it here. Then read the full, wonderful story of the band here.

Wonderful Life, by Black, aka Colin Vearncombe. This was the single and title track from the cheery Scouser's debut album in 1987. Check out the wonderful video here.

Young Americans, by David Bowie, released as a single and album in 1975.

Venus As A Boy, by ex-Sugarcubes vocalist, Bjork, from her stunning 1993 debut solo album, Debut.

Horse Overboard, by Microdisney, from their 1987 album, The Clock Comes Down The Stairs.