So the whippersnappers said "Go on boss, you do a playlist - but no Grime or Deep House". Yeah right. So here's a selection of just three of my favourite tracks from each decade. Some you'll know, others you won't. I would say however all these songs have something in common... the composers/producers/artists were influenced by the Beatles! It may not be immediately obvious but that vocal harmony, that chord sequence, that melody, that sound, even that clever or unusual lyric... or just that vocal performance will give the clue.
Oh, and love them (like I do) or hate them - if anyone can say why The Feeling’s Sewn below is the odd one out, first correct answer, lunch on us!
1960s
01 - The Easybeats - Friday On My Mind - '60s Oz Pop at its best. Great guitar riffs
02 - Richard Harris - MacArthur Park - Albus Dumbledore before he became headmaster. Nonsensical lyrics but a classic
03 - The Idle Race - Skeleton And The Roundabout - The great Jeff Lynne before E.L.O. Very Beatles
1970s
04 - Badfinger - Baby Blue - 'Say My Name'
05 - Emitt Rhodes - With My Face On The Floor - Young American - played every live instrument himself on his debut album
06 - Todd Rundgren - I Saw The Light - Amazing songwriter. John Lennon said he copied the Beatles’ "There's A Place" with this
1980s
07 - Donald Fagen - IGY - Steely Dan frontman, from his first solo album. Such a great groove
08 - Freiheit - Keeping The Dream Alive - One year, we will get this on a big Christmas campaign!
09 - Robert Palmer - Can We Still Be Friends - Todd Rundgren wrote this. Amazing cover by this wonderful singer
1990s
10 - New Radicals - You Get What You Give - One hit wonders - but what a one hit to have
11 - Popsicle - Make Up - Swedish Indie band. Hardly known in the UK. Close your eyes and listen. We've all been there!
12 - Shawn Colvin - Round of Blues - Yes a country rock song. Wonderful song. Great lyrics.
2000s
13 - The Feeling - Sewn - Their first single - before they did pop
14 - Corinne Bailey Rae - Like A Star - Could put this on repeat for hours. Brilliant song. Brilliant voice.
15 - The Killers - Human - What does it all mean? Who cares. Pure genius writing
2010s
16 - Katy Perry - Last Friday Night - Pop at its best. Fun, catchy and my favourite pop video.
17 - Lukas Graham - 7 Years - This guy's songwriting/voice is incredible. Check out his album
18 - Zedd (ft Hayley Williams) - Stay The Night - The only song that gets me up dancing - apart from Brown Sugar!
Hope you enjoy.