Randon top tens

Published on Friday 29 February 2008 20:26

Songs about other people who sing songs

1 American Music Club: Johnny Mathis' Feet In which Mark Eitzel desperately appeals to his fellow San Franciscan troubadour (above) for some help with his songwriting, nay, his life. Johnny's sage-like answer? "You gotta learn how to disappear in the silk and amphetamine." Of course.

2 Dexy's Midnight Runners: Geno/Jackie Wilson Said/Come on Eileen The Midnight Runners were maestros when it came to deferential namechecks. Two of their biggest hits respectively paid tribute to soul singers Geno Washington and Jackie "don't call me Jocky" Wilson, while the lyrics to Come on Eileen give a shout out to sobbing songster Johnny Ray.

3 Ian Dury: Sweet Gene Vincent A slice of lyrical genius inspired by Dury's favourite performer which takes a monochrome snapshot of the rock'n'roll condition: "White face, black shirt, white socks, black shoes, black hair, white strat, bled white, died black."

4 Gil Scott-Heron: Lady Day and John Coltrane The terminally chilled proto-rapper offers two jazz legends for the price of one, with some sound advice about curing the blues with a shot of their music. A blast of this fine funk tune from the early 1970s would also do the trick.

5 Camera Obscura: Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken Tracyanne Campbell of Glasgow indie dreamers Camera Obscura responds to Lloyd Cole's sublime query, Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken? on the Commotions' debut album Rattlesnakes.

6 Billy Bragg: Levi Stubb's Tears Another tribute to the cathartic power of music, this one written in the style of a bleak but moving kitchen sink drama. As well as Four Tops vocalist Stubbs, Motown songwriters Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong and Holland-Dozier-Holland also get a mention.

7 Lee Hazlewood: Dolly Parton's Guitar Offbeat testament of devotion containing one of the all-time great love metaphors – "you made me happier than Dolly Parton's guitar."

8 George Jackson: Aretha, Sing One For Me Just not that one you did with George Michael. Or that other one with Annie Lennox. Sing this southern soul number, recently covered by Cat Power.

9 Television: Little Johnny Jewel The debut single from these ground-breaking New Yorkers was a taut, intense paean to James Jewel Osterberg – better known to the free world as the righteous Iggy Pop – which stretched over both sides of the seven-inch single.

10 The Wombats: Let's Dance To Joy Division Well, why not? But only after I've brushed my hair to Iron Maiden and skydived to The Incredible String Band ...