L, the U and Everything: A-Z of the Music I have J is for

There are a number of options for J in my tour through my record collection.

There is of course the King of Pop himself. Or maybe some Elton John or Jamiroquai.

Instead I went for the guy whose complete works (well up to a certain point) I have the guitar and piano music for, none other than the Piano Man Billy Joel. But what music to pick.



Because anyone listening to the entire Billy Joel collection will know what an amazing pianist he is here is a little bonus.

L, the U and Everything: A-Z of the Music I have I is for...

When it comes to the letter I there can really only be one band that takes the honour in my record collection. Back in the early 80s an Australian penfriend told me to look out for this band. So I regularly checked the local independent record store Musique to see if they had any of their releases. When they appeared LP, 7" or 12" single I bought them. I have quite a large vinyl collection from this band, even before a fateful day on 13 July 1985. That was the day that with the world watching they represented Australia on Live Aid. Here is one of those early pre overnight success records.

L, the U and Everything: A-Z of the Music I have H is for...

Well it time once more to delve into my music collection this time I'm looking at the Hs.

With the MTV Europe Music Awards happening in Belfast at the weekend I could have gone Irish with a little Hothouse Flowers, but maybe that would have been too predictable. Belfast is the home of the Delorean sports car, which starred in Back to the Future so I could have done a little Huey Lewis and the News, though not that track.

There is also the possibility of a little Whitney Houston, or some Human League, maybe even some George Harrison. But instead I'm going to link this week's some to one of those that some of bowlers sang usually and ironically not quietly around town after a really good match.

L, the U and Everything: A-Z of the Music I have G is for Gloria Gaynor

Seeing as my last name starts in G there is surprising a dearth of bands of singers beginning with the same letter in my record collection, I don't own any of Stephen Gately's solo stuff, I do have a little Peter Gabriel, However, on one compilation album is an anthem by an artist with not one but two Gs that just has to be the pick for this week.

L, the U and Everything: A-Z of the Music I have F is for Falco

Catching up to where this series really should be at last we get to F.

It could have been Frankie goes to Holywood, or maybe a bit of Fatboy Slim. There is also some Fine Young Cannibals on tape (therefore from my student days) or more recently some Fun Loving Criminals. Or back to Crowded House with something from Tim Finn.

However, there was a certain one hit wonder that sprung to the top of my list for today. I have the 12" version of that single on vinyl. And as this weekend it was Rock week on X-Factor there can only really be one song.

L, the U and Everything: A-Z of the Music I have E is for Eurthymics

Catching up with the last few weeks before I get back on track there is one more catch up to do.

For the letter E, I could camp it up with a bit of Erasure. Guitar it up with some Eagles. I was even tempted to give you some Christian Folk/Grunge with Eden Burning (although difficulty was finding a clip to embed that was more than just music that I actually own).

Which brings me to today's featured artist, I just couldn't get past the voice of Annie Lennox so you know where I'm going with this. As for tracks there is one that kicks off that everyone knows exactly who is singing and what straight away.

L, the U and Everything: A-Z of the Music I have D is for Duran Duran

I've been a bit lax in recent weeks of updating this series so I think we need a little catch up over the next few hours.

First up there are a number of possibles for D. Neil Diamond may shock you, but seeing as Bangor's bolwing team always celebrated with Sweet Caroline it may not surprise you that much. There is of course the brilliant Divine Comedy, who has appeared before on my blog. My last gig in Edinburgh before I returned was Neil Ham. There is also the possibility of Def Leppard or the Damned, but just to prove how eclectic my musical tastes are there can only really be one band that dominates by Ds whether on vinyl, CD or audio tape.

Over to Simon, Nick and John from the resurgent Wedding Album.

L, the U and Everything: A-Z of the Music I have C is for Crowded House

I was looking through my Cs in my record collection and came across the fifteen year old Farewell to the World album by one of my favourite bands, especially live. I do have all the studio albums as well. Of course the farewell only lasted 10 years as other bands were coming back in the mid 90s so too did Crowded House.

A little bit of Crowded House trivia for you the Finn brothers were actually called Cornelius Mullane and Brian Timothy. So I reckon that they got the best possible names out of what their parents gave them to be pop stars. Corny and Brian Finn, no that's not right.

However, my choice is the live version of the song that I quite often think of in Ireland or Scotland.

L, the U and Everything: A-Z of the Music I have B is for Bon Jovi

As this is the year that I should know all about Life, the Universe and Everything I'm continuing with the music that has got me this far in the hope that it may help provide the ultimate answer. There were a number of possible B's but there will Always only be one option.

L, the U and Everything: A-Z of the Music I have A is for Adams

Today I have my secondy twenty first birthday. Regular readers will know I'm a big Douglas Adams fan, therefore while many years end in ZERO only one is when you find true enlightenment about the ultimate answer in the life, you know the one. The one concerning Life, the Universe and Everything.

Now as this particular milestone falls on a Monday and I don't like Monday's any more than Bob Geldof I thought I'd try and find a way to lighten my and therefore your Monday. Inspired by oneexwidow and seeing as there are 26 letters in the Alphabet and  two lots of 26 in a year (see that A level in maths does come in handy) I shall do as he does one A-Z of records I physically own. On tape, vinyl or CD and one set of stuff I can find off YouTube or Spotify that I like.

So that leads us to A. There really can be only one song, if you ever get me in a Karaoke bar, or you ever heard my band play, you will know that this is my song. Take it away Brian Adams or I would do if every version by the man didn't have embedding disabled.

So instead here is Taylor Swift