My Top 100 songs of all time (in 2005) Part 2

Moving on then, we come to numbers 80-61.  James Taylor, one of my favourite singers, features in this part of the chart, no less than 3 times, and Elvis makes a second appearance. Michael Jackson makes his one and only appearance in my chart.

80 John Paul Young - Love Is In The Air

79 Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine

78 Elvis Presley - The Girl Of My Best Friend

77 James Taylor - Secret O' Life (From the album 'JT')

76 Buddy Holly - Peggy Sue Got Married

75 Rod Stewart - Ain't Love A Bitch

74 James Taylor - How Sweet It Is (From the album 'Gorilla')

73 Barbara Lewis - Hello Stranger

72 Stevie Wonder - Ribbon In The Sky

71 Michael Jackson - Off The Wall

70 10cc - I'm Mandy Fly Me

69 Wings - Goodnight Tonight

68 The Miracles - Shop Around

67 Al Green - L-O-V-E (Love)

66 James Taylor - Shower The People (From the album 'In The Pocket')

65 Bruce Ruffin - Mad About You

64 Billy Paul - Bring The Family Back

63 Lonnie Donegan - I Wanna Go Home

62 George Benson - What's On Your Mind

61 Beach Boys - Surfer Girl

So now we're heading toward the halfway mark in the countdown. Of the songs here, probably 3 would have moved down in my estimation and the possibility is that two would no long feature in the top 100 at all.

From here on in though, the rest are pretty much still worthy of their places in the Top 100, although some may move down the chart and some definitely have moved up.

Till next time...

My Top 100 songs of all time (in 2005) Part 1

Earlier on this evening I found a list of my favourite 100 songs of all time that I compiled in 2005.

Looking through it, I found songs that are no longer in it, songs that I love more now than I did then and songs in the Top 100 that I don't like as much as I used to.

It's worth noting that as I look through the chart, there are songs there because they bring back good memories rather than how much I liked them - it makes interesting reading. I'm going to start the countdown with songs 100 - 81.

100 Electric Light Orchestra - Starlight (from the album 'Out Of The Blue')

99 The Real Thing - Raining Through My Sunshine

98 Neil Diamond - Summerlove (From the Soundtrack album 'The Jazz Singer)

97 James Taylor - Another Day (From the album 'Hourglass)

96 Percy Faith Orchestra - Theme from 'A Summer Place'

95 Gladys Knight & The Pips - A Letter Full Of Tears

94 The Stranglers - Golden Brown

93 Mink De Ville - Spanish Stroll

92 Aretha Franklin - Until You Come Back to Me

91 Bobby Goldsboro - Summer (The First Time)

90 James Ingram - One Hundred Ways (From the Quincy Jones Album 'The Dude')

89 Dinah Washington - September In The Rain

88 Elvis Presley - Mess Of Blues

87 Stevie Wonder - Send One Your Love

86 Electric Light Orchestra - It's Over (from the album 'Out Of The Blue')

85 Marvin Gaye - You Sure Love To Ball

84 Craig Douglas - One Hundred Pounds Of Clay

83 B52s - Love Shack

82 Elton John Band - Philadelphia Freedom

81 Connie Stevens - Sixteen Reasons

Well, as you can see part one is pretty varied, and it continues that way. I can remember at the time I compiled this list spending days on it, but knowing that the songs at the lower end of the chart are pretty much interchangable and on a different day would be completely different. However, during the time I compiled this chart these were indeed in my order of preference.

How did I place them in an order? I just picked them and decided which I liked more and worked my way up.

Next time, we'll go from song no 80 to 61...

Here we go again....

Well, it's Monday morning and another week starts. Sometimes it feels like Groundhog Day. As usual Monday morning is an early one getting the magazine published. But more of that later.

Let's go back to the weekend first. And in the last blog I said I'd post the link to the first Pure Grooves show at my new time.

Here's the link

Here's the playlist:
1 Temptations - Law Of The Land
2 Billy Preston - Outa Space
3 James Brown - It's Too Funky In Here
4 Hi Rhythm - On The Loose
5 Brief Encounter - Human
6 Milton Wright - Keep It Up
7 Arnie's Love - I'm Out Of Your Life
8 Millie Jackson - Hot Wild Unrestricted
9 Billy Griffin - Serious
10 Nothende - Dance To This (Unrapped Mix)
11 Kabanya-Chemise - Feels Like Love
12 Joey Sommerville - Just Let Go
13 Onephatdeeva - Bad Habit (ATFC Club Mix)
14 Mary J Blige - Just Fine
15 Jocelyn Brown ft Oliver Cheatham - Mindbuster (Miami Collective Remix)
16 Ronny Jordan - Jackal (The)
17 Incognito - Sunburn
18 James Taylor Quartet - Starsky & Hutch
19 Linx - You're Lyin'
20 George Duke - Shine On
21 Evelyn King - If You Want My Lovin'
22 Marilyn Mccoo & Billy Davis Jr - Shine On Silver Moon
23 Charo & The Salsoul Orchestra - Dance A Little Bit Closer
24 JOB Orchestra - Don't Want That Illusion
25 Dennis Coffey - Free Spirit

To hear my recent shows, go to http://www.jamesmurphy.podomatic.com

This week, I didn't attend any events, purely because I needed to recharge my batteries. It's been a busy few weeks and I needed to take a break. Well, a break is stretching it a bit as I still did my Sunday Show and worked on the webmag.

Talking about the Sunday Shake Up show, here it is

Here's the link

Here's the playlist:
1 Phyllis Hyman - Don't Tell Me Tell Her
2 Kool & The Gang - Jones Vs Jones
3 Switch - Keeping Secrets
4 Sam Butler - I Can't Get Over You
5 Johnny Bristol - Do It To My Mind
6 Gene Chandler - I'll Make The Living
7 R Kelly - Your Body's Callin'
8 Lance Ellington - Pleasure & Pain
9 Toni Braxton - Another Sad Love Song
10 Robert Parker - I Caught You In A Lie
11 Brenton Wood - Catch You On The Rebound
12 Esther Phillips - Nobody But You
13 Lou Rawls - Trade Winds
14 Stevie Wonder - Bird Of Beauty
15 Lenny Williams - Shoo Doo Fu Fu Ooh!
16 George Duke - Brazilian Love Affair
17 Steve Shelto - Don't You Give Your Love Away
18 Cheryl Lynn - Encore
19 Rick James - Big Time
20 Dazz Band - Let It Whip
21 Quincy Jones ft Patti Austin - Betcha Wouldn't Hurt Me
22 John Handy - Hard Work
23 Gladys Knight & The Pips - Baby Baby Don't Waste My Time
24 Fatback Band - Goin' To See My Baby
25 Melba Moore - This Is It
26 Chi-Lites - You Don't Have To Go
27 Level 42 - Turn It On
28 Shakatak - Invitations
29 Inversions - Loco-Moto

To hear my recent shows, go to http://www.jamesmurphy.podomatic.com

During the show, I had a novel idea that if enough people took part, could raise a fair amount of money for charity. To find out more, take a listen!

Yesterday was spent getting the magazine prepared and finishing it off ready for publishing this morning.

Which brings us up to date.

Here's this week's magazine

Here's the link

There's loads to read in the magazine. Features, Coming Events, Show Links and much more.

And so it's now time to get on with this week. Catch you later...


Comings and goings

Let's start today's blog with this week's download of the Flashback show - that went out on Wednesday and as always, contained loads of great Golden Oldies.

Here's the link

Here's the playlist:
1 Carole King - Smackwater Jack
2 Boz Scaggs - What Can I Say
3 Martha Reeves & the Vandellas - Jimmy Mack
4 Platters - Only You
5 Kenny Bernard - Pity My Feet
6 Tracey Ullman - They Don't Know
7 Barbra Streisand - Evergreen
8 Babys - Isn't It Time
9 Frank Ifield - Wayward Wind
10 Everly Brothers - Cathy's Clown
11 Perry Como - Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes
12 Chris Farlowe - Yesterday's Papers
13 Animals - Baby Let Me Take You Home
14 Tommy Edwards - It's All In The Game
15 Booker T & The MGs - Time Is Tight
16 Bo Diddley - I'm a Man
17 Bert Weedon - Play That Big Guitar
18 Eddie Kendricks - A Part Of Me
19 Cupid's Inspiration - Yesterday Has Gone
20 Smiths - This Charming Man
21 Andy Stewart - Donald Where's Your Trousers
To hear James' recent shows, go to http://www.jamesmurphy.podoamatic.com

Thursday was Requestfest night and also it was St Patrick's Day, so I was thinking that I could well get a few Irish songs requested. I didn't get as many as I would have expected, but once again it was a very varied selection chosen by the people in the pub.

So here's what was played:
1 Thin Lizzy - Boys Are Back In Town
2 Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
3 Nelly - Just A Dream
4 U2 - Beautiful Day
5 Olly Murs - Thinking Of Me
6 Pogues - Fiesta
7 Baha Men - Who Let The Dogs Out
8 Jessie J ft B.o.B - Price Tag
9 Rihanna - S&M (Come On)
10 Feargal Sharkey - A Good Heart
11 UB40 - Red Red Wine
12 House Of Pain - Jump Around
13 DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Boom Shake The Room
14 Nicki Minaj ft Drake - Moment 4 Life
15 Take That - Kidz
16 Lady Gaga - Born This Way
17 Enrique Iglesias ft Ludacris - Tonight
18 Omarion - Entourage
19 James Blunt - High
20 Nizlopi - JCB Song
21 Afroman - Because I Got High
22 Aqua - Barbie Girl
23 Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby
24 Warren G ft Nate Dogg - Regulate
25 Village People - In The Navy
26 Don McLean - Vincent
27 Bon Jovi - Livin' On A Prayer
28 Foundations - Build Me Up Buttercup
29 Pogues & The Dubliners - Irish Rover
30 Michael Jackson - Earth Song
31 Eyeopener - Hungry Eyes
32 Electric Six - Gay Bar
33 Communards - You Are My World
34 Highwaymen - Gypsy Rover
35 Keri Hilson - Turn My Swag On
36 Nicki Minaj ft Eminem - Roman's Revenge
37 Adele - Someone Like You
38 Monkees - Daydream Believer
39 Chicago - If You Leave Me Now
40 A-Ha - Take On Me
41 Bad Manners - Lip Up Fatty
42 U2 - Angel Of Harlem
43 Black Eyed Peas - Just Can't Get Enough
44 Felix Da Housecat - Silver Screen Shower Scene
45 Alicia Keys - Empire State Of Mind (Part II)
46 Bon Jovi - Bed Of Roses
47 My Chemical Romance - Welcome To The Black Parade
48 Chase & Status ft Liam Bailey - Blind Faith
49 Sub Focus - Could This Be Real
50 Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere
51 Journey - Don't Stop Believing
52 Fleetwood Mac - Little Lies
53 Electribe 101 - Tell Me When The Fever Ended
54 Janet Kay - Silly Games
55 Billy Ocean - Caribbean Queen
56 Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax
57 Ian Dury - Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick
59 Bob Marley - No Woman No Cry
60 Eddy Grant - Living On The Frontline
When I finished, it was a quick rush to get back in time for the start of the Pure Grooves show. This was the first week when it's gone out at its new time of midnight - 2am on a Friday morning.

I have to say it was nice to be able to hear the show. I record my Solar shows, due to the time they tend to go out. Sometimes, I'm out working and it's not possible to be there when the show is due to got out, so by recording them, it means that there's never a problem.

However, as I was back home in time, I tuned in to have a listen to it, and at the same time I informed people on facebook that I was in my chatroom on my website, and some of the listeners came into the chatroom. It's always nice when people are there with you as you can shoot the breeze with them and it's usually a laugh.

Some of you will know I'm a nostalgic sort of guy, and last week, I was in one of the facebook groups I'm a member of, and someone had posted a photo of a toy I had as a child. Not just any old toy, but my favourite toy of all time! So what was this toy? It was a Johnny Seven OMA (One Man Army) gun - 7 guns in 1. Myself and my cousin had one each, and even though 35 years have gone by, we still seem to remember this toy and the games we played with it with great affection.

Anyway, I posted the photo of this toy on my cousin's page and within minutes we were on the phone talking about it.

So yesterday I'm at home and guess what arrived? A mug with the Johnny Seven gun picture on it. My cousin only bought it for me. Now I know this sounds like nothing really, but I was grinning like a Cheshire Cat all afternoon. Here's the proof:

See what I mean? Sad I know, but it proves that old saying, "Little things......"

I have to say, I don't think in this age of Wii, DS and suchlike, kids don't have it as good as we did when with a toy and some imagination, we could be transported to this other dimension.

That's about it for now, next time I'll post the link to the Pure Grooves show. See ya soon...

The Northern Soul Marathon Man

If you want to sponsor someone for the Marathon - Sponsor Derek - one of the most positive people I've ever met. Watch the video - He's a fruitcake....but with a massive heart!
You can sponsor him here - http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=dereksmiley

Upsides & Setbacks

It's been ups and downs since I spoke on Thursday. Hectic and also really frustrating. They;re the only words I can think of that will explain it.

On Thursday I was given the opportunity to stage an event here in Cambridge. It was a good offer and a great opportunity to get my name on the map. what's more it was on the only weekend in May that nothing was going on! I've said before about the thriving soul scene here, so  the chance to do something was great.

So I had the date and the venue May 21st at Cambridge Snooker Centre (home of the successful Soul Express events). I wanted to get it off to a great start and give it time to sell tickets, so on Friday I spoke to DJs and confirmed them for the event, and then set about designing flyers and getting them printed up and also putting the event on facebook.

By Saturday I thought it was a bit odd that I'd unusually not even got a like or even a mention from the usual supporters in Cambridge. And my worries were confirmed when I took flyers to one of the shops I usually put posters up. They told me about a big event going on on the same day within a mile of the venue. It's a private party, but with what looks like a huge attendance. It turns out the date for this event had been changed a while back from the 28th to the 21st, but that the news hadn't filtered back to the people who had asked me to do the event.

So I now had to try and re-arrange the date. I thought about doing the 38th of May, but I couldn't do that as I'm doing a wedding that day. The 14th is out because there is already an event planned that day. I looked at the 7th, but that was out because there's a wedding function already booked there that day. A final date of the 4th June was offered, and I've had to leave that as the two DJs who I wanted to play at the event are both booked to play another event on the same date.

I was totally frustrating, so today I decided to cancel the event as it seemed impractical to take it forward. So it's been another lesson to put down to experience. So after running around like a loony trying to put things in place, I'm back at square one. And deflated for a while, but I'll be back to normal in a day or two.

Now along side this I still had the usual things to do such as get a show sorted, then recorded. And also get the magazine completed and ready for publication this morning. All of which I did.

So lets take a look at this week's Sunday Shake Up

Here's the link

Here's the playlist
1 Stevie Wonder - Ribbon In The Sky
2 Heatwave - Mindblowing Decisions
3 Jean Carn - No Laughing Matter
4 Major Harris - Love Won't Let Me Wait
5 Karin Jones - Last Night In My Dreams (1982) (5:11)
6 Kandidate - Can't Say Bye
7 Mica Paris - Sixth Street
8 Amel Larrieux & Glenn Lewis - What's Come Over Me
9 Tommy Simms - Peace & Love
10 Lonnie Hill - Galveston Bay
11 Basic Black & Pearl - There'll Come A Time
12 Unique Blend - Yes I'm in Love
13 Candi Staton - Nights On Broadway
14 Chanson - Don't Hold Back
15 Phil Fearon & Galaxy - Everybody's Laughing
16 Whispers - And The Beat Goes On
17 Gap Band - Burn Rubber On Me
18 War - Galaxy
19 Cerrone - Supernature
20 Foxy - Get Off
21 Kid Creole & The Coconuts - I'm A Wonderful Thing Baby
22 Junior - Mama Used To Say
23 Kool & The Gang - Get Down On It
24 Hall & Oates - I Can't Go For That
25 Odyssey - Going Back To My Roots
26 Shakatak - Sunshine

To hear my recent shows, go to http://www.jamesmurphy.podomatic.com

Also over the weekend, my Pure Grooves show went out.

Here's the link

Here's the playlist:
1 Papik - Staying For Good (Guido Nemola Classic Remix)
2 Seductive Souls Ft Michael Arkk - Is This Love
3 Inaya Day & Ralf Gum - Lose My Worries (Main Mix)
4 David Bendeth - Feel The Real
5 Roy Ayers - Can't You See Me
6 George Duke - I Want You For Myself
7 Roxy 5000 ft Terri Walker & Friends - Never Going Back
8 Ivery Bell - 5 Letter
9 Incognito ft Mario Biondi & Chaka Khan - Lowdown
10 Dionne Warwick - Do You Believe In Love At First Sight
11 Stevie Wonder - Outside My Window
12 Osibisa - Dance The Body Music
13 Eric Benet - Georgy Porgy
14 Hinda Hicks - You Think You Own Me
15 Don E - Love Makes The World Go Round
16 Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway - Back Together Again
17 Ritchie Family - I'll Do My Best
18 Bobby Thurston - You Got What It Takes
19 Madagascar - Rainbow
20 Alton McLain & Destiny - It Must Be Love
21 Sweet Thunder - Everybody's Singin' Love Songs
22 Teddy Pendergrass - You Can't Hide From Yourself
23 Originals - Down To Love Town
24 Celi Bee & The Buzzy Bunch - One Love

To hear my Recent shows, go to http://www.jamesmurphy.podomatic.com

And then this morning we published this week's Pure Grooves magazine

Here's the link

This week's featured artists are the Three Degrees and as well as that there are all the usual features and links etc.

This afternoon, I've put together this week's 'Flashback' show and I recorded that just before I have updated this.

So that just about brings us up to date.

So like I said Upsides and Setbacks......and I'll just keep on keepin' on...

Gratifying times

I've been thinking about doing a survey of my show listeners for a while to see what they think of the shows.

I'd like to think that my shows are quite good and that I come across quite well, but you need other people's opinions to get a true vision.

Yesterday, myself and Debz put together a quick survey which although it's only 10 questions, should give me a better vision of how I'm doing.

Having got some results back so far it looks heartening.

At the same time I thought it was about time I added a Listener's Comments page to the 'On The Radio' web site.

I've been looking through a lot of the comments I've received over the last two years and I've put a lot of them onto the page.  I have to say it very humbling to see in writing what people think of your shows, and also very gratifying.

At the same time, I'm waiting for more surveys to come back - and waiting for the inevitable critical comments. But hey! without them, how do I know where to improve?

If you're a listener and want to take part in the Survey, click here

Speak soon....