An occasional collection of songs suggested for you using a given theme.
Today we look at 'Colours' songs. To make it more challenging, I have not used the same colour twice!
1. Blue Monday - New Order
Where else could we start? Iconic track from an iconic Manchester band. One of the high points of the 80s electronic scene.
2. Black - Pearl Jam
Incredible song off their classic debut, 'Ten' - check out this great MTV Unplugged version.
3. White Light / White Heat - Velvet Underground
I think I first knew this through David Bowie covering it live on his Glass Spider tour (sadly only seen on video). The original version is a great rock song and perhaps one of the most accessible Velvet's tunes. Listen to the original below - I have also included that Bowie version as a bonus.
4. Purple Rain - Prince
Where do you start with this - from His Royal Purpleness?
An epic track - seven minutes of pure music heaven from one of the greatest and cleverest musicians of the last forty years.
5. Blonde on Blonde - Nada Surf
This is a fantastic band that I have come rather late to. Let Go was their third album and has a number of cracking tunes on it - but this one meets the brief, seeing as it has a colour in the title - twice!
I have included the live KEXP session version from a few years back. If you like this, they played the whole Let Go album on that session and it is well worth checking out in full.
6. Green Grow the Rushes - R.E.M.
I think Fables of the Reconstruction is possibly my favourite R.E.M. album. The songs have a darkness to them, but maintain wonderful melody, along with Michael Stipe's enigmatic and generally mysterious lyrics. Here is them playing it on classic German music tv show, Rockpalast.
7. Red Rain - Peter Gabriel
The beautiful opening track from Gabriel's game changing So album. Funnily enough, the first version I heard was an R.E.M. cover!
8. Pink Flag - Wire
This is the title track of the debut album by punk pioneers Wire. They were labelled in with the punk scene, but aside from sounding a bit raw, there was little I could see in common with The Clash or The Damned. Generally quite minimalistic and often abstract - they are well worth checking out if you were not aware of the already.
9. Bright Yellow Gun - Throwing Muses
One of their catchiest ever songs - and one of the strangest videos. I love this band so much - this is a great entry song for the unitiated.
10. Gold Heart Mountain Top Queen Directory - Guided By Voices
In Bee Thousand, seminal lo-fi gods Guided By Voices (GBV) delivered one of their pivotal works, including many songs that remain fan favourites thirty years later - including this offbeat gem.
So, there you have it - my first playlist - hope you find something in here you like!